The pendency of cases in the Supreme Court of India has reached a record high of 88,417, despite the court functioning with its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges. Data from the National Judicial Data Grid shows that in August 2024, the filing of fresh cases (7,080) significantly surpassed the disposal rate (5,667), resulting in a disposal rate of 80.04%. The backlog includes 69,553 civil cases and 18,864 criminal matters. Efforts to reduce the case log, such as having more Benches work during the long summer recess, have not yet stemmed the rising tide of litigation.
- The Supreme Court is currently operating at its maximum sanctioned judicial strength of 34 judges.
- The gap between case institution and disposal remains the primary driver of the increasing backlog.
- A significant portion of the pendency consists of civil cases, which account for nearly 70,000 of the total.
The Supreme Court is set to deliver a verdict on petitions seeking a stay on the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Petitioners argue that the Act facilitates a 'creeping acquisition' of Muslim properties and encroaches upon the minority community's right to freedom of religion. They specifically highlight concerns that the Act would invalidate 'unregistered waqf-by-users,' many of which lack formal deeds. The government defends the legislation as a necessary measure to counter rampant encroachment on public and private properties and to bring transparency to Waqf administration.
- The Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 was cleared by Parliament in early April 2025.
- Petitioners claim the law violates the right to freedom of religion and targets minority properties.
- A key issue is the status of 'waqf-by-users' which lack formal documentation.
In September 2025, Nepal experienced a massive youth-led uprising triggered by a government ban on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The protests, driven by Gen Z activists without traditional political affiliations, led to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. An interim government has been formed under former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki. The movement challenged the established political 'musical chairs' between major parties and demanded new leadership. However, the dissolution of Parliament has sparked a constitutional crisis, with questions raised regarding the legality of the move under Article 76(7) of Nepal's Constitution.
- The 2025 uprising was largely coordinated through social media platforms like Instagram and Discord.
- Protesters demanded an end to the political dominance of the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, and Maoist-Centre.
- Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as interim Prime Minister to conduct elections by March 2026.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, along with new Rules and Orders. This legislation replaces several colonial-era laws, including the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920. A significant change is granting Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam the powers of a first-class judicial magistrate, allowing them to issue arrest warrants. The rules also mandate the recording of biometric information for all foreigners and require educational institutions to report the academic performance and conduct of foreign students to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
- Foreigners Tribunals in Assam now hold the powers of a first-class judicial magistrate.
- The new law replaces the Passport Act of 1920 and the Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939.
- Educational institutes must provide semester-wise reports on foreign students' academic performance and conduct.
The Kerala Cabinet has approved the draft Kerala Forest Amendment Bill, 2025, which seeks to amend the Kerala Forest Act, 1961. This legislation empowers the Chief Wildlife Warden to order the immediate killing of wild animals that attack or injure individuals within residential areas. Notably, this is the first time an Indian state has introduced such an amendment. The bill aims to bypass time-consuming procedures in the existing Central Act, removing the requirement for Union government permission to declare animals in Schedule II as vermin in specific conflict scenarios. It also includes provisions to promote sandalwood cultivation on private land.
- The Chief Wildlife Warden is now empowered to order the killing of animals attacking humans in residential zones without prior Union government approval.
- The bill amends the Kerala Forest Act of 1961 to streamline response times in human-wildlife conflicts.
- It specifically targets animals listed in Schedule II that pose an immediate threat to life.
The Supreme Court has directed the Union government to ensure 'upward mobility' for meritorious candidates with disabilities. The court ruled that if a candidate with a disability scores higher than the cut-off for the unreserved category, they should be moved to the unreserved list, leaving the reserved seat vacant for another person with a disability. The bench stated that denying this mobility defeats the purpose of reservation under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and constitutes 'hostile discrimination.' This principle applies to both initial recruitment and promotions, ensuring that reservation serves its objective of opening windows for mainstream participation.
- Meritorious candidates with disabilities who qualify on their own merit must be counted against unreserved seats.
- This practice ensures that more people with disabilities can benefit from reservation quotas.
- The court emphasized that the law must view disability as a lens to reveal institutional frameworks rather than a deficit.
Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan has been sworn in as the 15th Vice-President of India. The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of several dignitaries. Radhakrishnan also assumes the role of Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Following the ceremony, he held a meeting with floor leaders of various political parties to discuss House proceedings, though some opposition parties stayed away citing short notice. He succeeded Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned in July for health reasons. Radhakrishnan emphasized that a strong Opposition is an essential element of a functioning parliamentary democracy.
- C.P. Radhakrishnan is the 15th Vice-President of India.
- The Vice-President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
- The President of India administers the oath of office to the Vice-President.
The Union government informed the Supreme Court that it will hold a high-level meeting with state officials and law enforcement agencies to establish exclusive courts for trying offences under special statutes like the NIA and UAPA Acts. This move aims to address the overwhelming pendency in regular courts, which delays trials for serious national security offences. Currently, out of 52 designated courts, only three are exclusively dedicated to NIA cases. A Supreme Court bench emphasized that proceedings under special statutes cannot be delayed due to general court backlogs, as swift justice is essential for maintaining national security and the rule of law.
- The government plans to create exclusive courts to expedite trials for NIA and UAPA cases.
- High pendency in regular courts is currently hindering the swift disposal of national security-related trials.
- Only a small fraction of currently designated courts are exclusively handling NIA cases.
Despite the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, tribal women in India continue to face significant gender injustice regarding ancestral property rights. Most tribal communities follow customary laws that exclude daughters from inheritance, a practice the Supreme Court recently scrutinized in Ram Charan and Ors. vs Sukhram and Ors. (2025). While the Hindu Succession Act was amended in 2005 to grant equal rights to daughters, Section 2(2) specifically excludes Scheduled Tribes. The article advocates for the codification of tribal laws or a separate act to ensure gender parity and protect tribal women from land alienation, ensuring their fundamental right to equality is upheld.
- Tribal women are often denied inheritance rights under customary laws, unlike women covered by the Hindu Succession Act.
- The Supreme Court has emphasized that excluding daughters from ancestral property negates the fundamental right to equality.
- Only 16.7% of ST women possess land compared to 83.3% of ST men, according to the 2015-16 Agriculture Census.
The article discusses how the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, significantly narrows the scope of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. By amending Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, the DPDP Act broadens the definition of 'personal information,' making it easier for Public Information Officers (PIOs) to deny requests. Critics argue this transforms the RTI into a 'Right to Deny Information,' undermining transparency and accountability. The amendment removes the 'larger public interest' test for personal information, potentially shielding corrupt officials and ghost employees from public scrutiny, thereby threatening the fundamental right to information guaranteed under the Constitution.
- The DPDP Act amends Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, removing the provision that allowed disclosure if it served a larger public interest.
- The new definition of 'personal information' is extremely broad, potentially covering almost any data related to an individual.
- This shift threatens the fundamental right to information guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw a Union Ministry memorandum that exempts atomic mineral mining from public consultation. Stalin argues that coastal regions, rich in rare earth elements, are ecologically fragile and home to endangered species and natural barriers like mangroves. He emphasizes that such projects demand rigorous scrutiny and community involvement. The CM cited a 2020 Supreme Court verdict (Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. Rohit Prajapati) stating that substantive changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework cannot be made through executive instructions like office memoranda, which cannot override statutory notifications.
- The Union Ministry issued a memorandum exempting atomic and strategic mineral mining from public hearings.
- CM Stalin argues this weakens participatory democracy and threatens ecologically sensitive coastal ecosystems like the Gulf of Mannar.
- The EIA Notification of 1994 originally made public hearings mandatory for such projects.
The Supreme Court Collegium, led by the Chief Justice of India, has recommended the appointment of regular Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Soumen Sen of the Calcutta High Court has been recommended as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court. Justice P.B. Bajanthri, currently the Acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, is recommended for the permanent position. Additionally, Justice M. Sundar of the Madras High Court has been recommended to lead the Manipur High Court. These recommendations are part of the ongoing process to fill judicial vacancies and ensure efficient functioning of state-level judiciary.
- The SC Collegium is the body responsible for the appointment and transfer of judges in the higher judiciary.
- Recommendations were made for the High Courts of Meghalaya, Patna, and Manipur.
- The process involves the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court making selections based on seniority and merit.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is contemplating the creation of Border Wing Home Guards (BWHG) along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Similar to the force patrolling the India-Pakistan border, BWHGs are drawn from local civilian populations in border areas. They serve as an ancillary to the Indian Army and ITBP during emergencies and help in intelligence collection. Currently, BWHGs are operational only in Rajasthan. The move aims to enhance the presence and surveillance capabilities along the 3,488-km border with China following the 2020 Galwan clashes and ongoing border tensions.
- BWHGs are a voluntary force drawn from local populations to assist regular border guarding forces.
- They are currently authorized in seven states, including Punjab, Gujarat, and North Eastern states.
- The force provides 'ancillary support' and is crucial for gathering local intelligence.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, providing clarity on India's immigration framework. A significant aspect is the protection of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu from forcible repatriation, provided they entered before January 9, 2015. While the order offers relief from deportation, it does not automatically grant citizenship. Many refugees remain classified as 'illegal migrants' under the Citizenship Act, 1955, which remains a legal hurdle for naturalization. The order follows their exclusion from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and aims for a more humane approach.
- The 2025 Order exempts specific groups from passport and visa requirements for staying in India.
- It protects Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who arrived before January 2015 from being forcibly sent back.
- The 'illegal migrant' tag remains a legal hurdle for these refugees seeking Indian citizenship.
The President has given assent to a new law in Manipur designed to regulate the issuance of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates. Introduced to prevent fraudulent claims and ensure uniformity, the law establishes Scrutiny Committees to verify suspicious certificates. Manipur currently recognizes seven SC communities and four OBC communities, with reservation quotas set at 2% and 17% respectively. While states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh already have similar legislation, this move aims to bring transparency to Manipur's administrative processes and ensure that benefits reach the genuine intended recipients amid ongoing ethnic sensitivities.
- The law establishes Scrutiny Committees with the power to verify caste certificates suo motu to prevent fraud.
- Manipur's reservation policy provides 2% for SCs, 17% for OBCs, and 31% for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Decisions by the Scrutiny Committee are final and can only be challenged in the High Court.
The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to include Aadhaar as one of the 12 valid documents for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls. This intervention follows the exclusion of over 65 lakh electors from the draft rolls. The ECI had previously argued that Aadhaar was proof of residency rather than citizenship, but the Court dismissed this, noting that other accepted documents also do not conclusively prove citizenship. The ruling emphasizes that procedural rigidity must not disenfranchise eligible citizens, particularly marginalized groups, women, and migrant workers who rely heavily on Aadhaar for identification.
- The Supreme Court ruled that Aadhaar must be accepted as a valid document for voter verification to ensure inclusivity.
- The ECI's previous exclusion of Aadhaar led to the removal of 65 lakh potential voters from Bihar's draft rolls.
- Statistical analysis revealed disproportionate removal of women and migrant workers during the revision process.
Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, has been elected as the 17th Vice-President of India. He secured a decisive victory with 452 first preferential votes, defeating the Opposition's joint candidate, Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, who received 300 votes. The election saw a high turnout, with 98.2% of the total electorate casting their ballots. While the Opposition claimed a "moral victory" due to an improved vote share compared to 2022, reports of cross-voting from Opposition ranks bolstered the NDA's tally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the VP-elect, expressing confidence in his ability to strengthen constitutional values.
- C.P. Radhakrishnan won the election by a margin of 152 votes against Justice B. Sudershan Reddy.
- The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members from both Houses of Parliament.
- The election was conducted via the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Election Commission (EC) to include Aadhaar as the 12th 'indicative' document for identity proof during the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi clarified that while Aadhaar can be used to verify identity or residence, it cannot be treated as evidence of Indian citizenship. The court noted that despite previous directives, booth-level officers were refusing to accept Aadhaar. The EC is now tasked with publicizing this order to ensure voters can use Aadhaar for filing claims or objections during the revision process.
- Aadhaar is now officially recognized as the 12th indicative document for identity proof in Bihar's electoral roll revision.
- The Supreme Court emphasized that Aadhaar serves as proof of identity or residence but is not proof of Indian citizenship.
- The Election Commission retains the authority to verify the authenticity and genuineness of any Aadhaar document submitted.
The Union Home Ministry recently exempted undocumented Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who entered India before January 9, 2015, from penal provisions under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. However, a senior official clarified that these refugees remain ineligible for Long-Term Visas (LTVs). While the order removes the 'illegal migrant' tag, it does not grant immediate citizenship. In contrast, members of six minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are eligible for LTVs and subsequent citizenship after 11 years of stay. This distinction highlights the specific legal framework governing different refugee groups in India.
- The MHA notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order under the new 2025 Act to protect refugees from deportation.
- Registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals entering before January 9, 2015, are exempt from passport and visa requirements.
- Unlike the six minority communities covered under the CAA framework, Sri Lankan Tamils currently cannot apply for LTVs.
The GST Council is considering a new paradigm of indirect tax regimes involving fewer rates and rationalized structures. A Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted to look into these changes, aiming to simplify the existing multiple-rate structure (0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%). Key proposals include reducing GST on health and life insurance, cancer drugs, and certain consumer goods to boost demand. While some sectors like healthcare and renewable energy welcome these moves, others like the textile and insurance industries have expressed concerns regarding input tax credits and increased costs. The removal of the compensation cess is also a major point of discussion.
- The rationalization process aims to reduce the complexity of the current GST structure and nudge economic growth.
- Proposed cuts include reducing GST on cancer drugs and potentially exempting certain insurance premiums.
- The compensation cess, currently levied on luxury and 'sin' goods, is slated to expire or be restructured.
Activists have raised concerns over the declining Central budget allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). They argue that reduced funding is leading to a shortage of available work, effectively pushing the scheme back to its pre-2006 status. This trend particularly affects rural women, who constitute over 50% of the MGNREGS workforce. In the current financial year, women completed 56% of the total person-days. The scheme has historically been a tool for gender pay parity in rural areas, where women previously earned significantly less than men for similar work, making its funding crucial for social equity.
- Women represent more than 50% of the workforce in MGNREGS projects across India.
- Reduced budget allocations are causing a 'starving' of the welfare program, leading to work unavailability.
- MGNREGS provided rural women with equal pay for the first time, bridging the gap in agricultural wages.
The CoWIN portal, India's digital platform for COVID-19 vaccination management, has been facing a significant outage since early August. This has prevented citizens from accessing and downloading their vaccination certificates, which are still required for international travel visas and certain job applications. Owned and operated by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, CoWIN serves functions including registration, appointment scheduling, identity verification, and certification. Despite official assurances that the issue would be resolved, the outage has persisted for weeks, highlighting dependencies on digital public goods for essential documentation and the need for robust maintenance of such infrastructure.
- CoWIN was developed as a digital public good to manage over two billion vaccination doses in India.
- The platform consists of five modules: orchestration, vaccination cold chain, citizen registration, vaccinator, and certificate/feedback.
- Vaccination certificates remain essential for international travel and visa processing for many countries.
The article discusses the ongoing conflict between State Governors and elected governments regarding the appointment of Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs). Using Kerala as a case study, it highlights the Governor's claim that the Chief Minister has no role in V-C appointments based on 2018 UGC rules. The draft 2025 UGC Regulations further aim to divest State governments of this role. Historically, Governors were colonial instruments retained post-independence to ensure academic independence. However, recent trends show legislative moves in states like Punjab and West Bengal to replace Governors with Chief Ministers as Chancellors to ensure hands-on academic leadership.
- Governors often act as political agents of the Centre, leading to friction with State governments over university administration.
- The 2018 UGC rules mandate that search-cum-selection committees for V-Cs consist of persons of eminence not connected to the university.
- State legislatures in Punjab and West Bengal have passed laws to make the Chief Minister the Chancellor instead of the Governor.
The ongoing legal battle regarding bail for activists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) highlights concerns over extended pre-trial detention. Section 43D(5) of the UAPA makes bail nearly impossible if the court finds the accusations 'prima facie true,' a standard hardened by the Supreme Court’s Watali (2019) judgment. Critics argue that this framework allows the legal process itself to become a form of punishment, especially when trials are delayed for years. The article emphasizes that constitutional guarantees of liberty under Articles 19 and 21 must be protected against state overreach and vague definitions of terrorist acts.
- Section 43D(5) of the UAPA prohibits bail if there are reasonable grounds to believe the accusations are prima facie true.
- The Supreme Court's Watali judgment (2019) restricts detailed examination of evidence at the bail stage, favoring the prosecution's narrative.
- Long incarceration without trial is increasingly viewed as a violation of fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution.