Supreme Court Observer
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Supreme Court Observer is a living archive of the Supreme Court of India. Subscribe to this channel for legal updates and incisive journalism on the Court.
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The Supreme Court Observer is the media partner for the 7th edition of the Courts and the Constitution Conference, jointly organised by NALSAR University of Law, the Law and Other Things Blog, and BML Munjal University.

The Conference has emerged as a leading forum for rigorous and reflective engagement with constitutional governance and adjudication. It examines the most significant constitutional developments from the previous calendar year, as it brings together voices from the bench, bar, academia, journalists and the student community.

Stay tuned to scobserver.in for coverage and highlights from the conference.
☀️ Good morning!

⚖️ On Tuesday, the Court held that the Scheduled Caste status does not extend to individuals who convert to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism. We analyse the verdict: https://bit.ly/4dJx8bG

9️⃣ Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard challenges to the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply judgement which widened the scope of “industry” under the Industrial Disputes Act. We look at nine judgements that were cited in the decision: https://bit.ly/4bO31NH

👨🏻‍⚖️ The Court is currently functioning at 33 judges, one short of its sanctioned strength. We take a look at the number of days taken by the Collegium to publish a recommendation for Supreme Court appointments each time a new CJI assumes office. Read: https://bit.ly/4suxKXf
🌅 Good Morning

⚖️ Last week, the Supreme Court held that religious conversion results in “immediate and complete loss” of Scheduled Caste status. We examine its implications. https://bit.ly/4dJx8bG

👨🏻‍⚖️ Currently the Supreme Court is functioning with 33 judges, one short of its sanctioned strength of 34. Is it unusual for the Collegium to delay filling a vacancy for so long after a new CJI takes charge? https://bit.ly/4suxKXf

⛑️ Our explainer distils some of the key precedents that informed the definition of "industry" laid down in 1978: https://bit.ly/4bO31NH
☀️ Good Morning!

🌐 The Supreme Court of the United States recently held that Internet Service Providers are not liable for piracy and copyright infringement committed by its users. In our newsletter, we explore the global concern around ISP liability in piracy prevention: https://bit.ly/4v0yGV7

⚖️ How long does the Collegium take to publish recommendations for SC appointments each time a new CJI assumes office? Read: https://bit.ly/4suxKXf

📩 In the latest issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports, we bring you five key judgements from 23-27 March. Read: https://bit.ly/4cevqOl
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☀️ Good Morning!

🗳️ Yesterday, the Supreme Court observed that the West Bengal SIR was on track and recorded that more than 47 lakh objections have been disposed of. Read: https://bit.ly/4bNCzVX

🌸 Media attention remained high on the Chief Justice’s court this session, as controversies erupted around judicial action on curriculum framing and the Court’s retreat from regulations on caste-based discrimination. More in the 2026 Spring Session Review: https://bit.ly/41Ehpn7

📬 In the latest issue of SCO.LR, we bring five important judgements on reservations in TET, permanent commission for women in the armed forces, caste status for persons who convert, and more! Read: https://bit.ly/4cevqOl
☀️ Good morning!

⚖️ In our latest analysis, we write about Justice KV Viswanathan’s recent recusal and what makes it one of the most unusual in the Supreme Court’s recent history. Read: https://bit.ly/4m7fpNx

🎤 In our coverage from the 7th Courts and Constitution Conference 2026, we bring you highlights from the panel which revisited the ECIs SIR before the 2025 Bihar elections. Read: https://bit.ly/3PD8srH

🌸 Key highlights of the Spring Session in the Supreme Court included a nine-judge bench hearing on a 48-year old matter regarding the definition of “industry”, a mixed bag of bail directions in the 2020 Delhi Riots case and denial of tax exemption for Tiger Global. Read: https://bit.ly/41Ehpn7
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☀️ Good Morning!

📊 Part 1 of our Collegium series brings you the first publicly available data set listing all the members of the Collegium since 1993. Read: https://bit.ly/4crAqPS

📄 The Union government recently stated that the average time to dispose a PIL is “not known”. Two days later the Court disposed of a four decade old MC Mehta petition. In our analysis, we write about the closure and why these numbers matter. Read: https://bit.ly/4cruXsh

⚖️ March 2026 saw the return of nine-judge benches after almost two years. The Court also delivered key decisions in cases of significance. Our monthly review: https://bit.ly/4bUzELb
☀️ Good Morning!

🗳️ Yesterday, a Bench led by CJI Surya Kant directed that the investigation into the gherao of judicial officers in Malda during the West Bengal SIR be taken over by the National Investigation Agency. Read: https://bit.ly/4veSYKC

🌐 While the draft amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 appear to be attempts to protect the Indian internet user, they risk imposing control under the aegis of seeking intermediary accountability. Read more in our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4m9AQgY

🗃️ March 2026 closed with 93,143 cases pending in the Supreme Court. This is an increase of 1141 cases compared to last month. Read: https://bit.ly/3O0BKQv
☀️ Good Morning!

⚖️ On Day 1 of the Sabarimala review, a nine-judge bench heard arguments from the Union against the essential religious practices test. Our report: https://bit.ly/3NOG05B

🗃️ Over last year, the Court witnessed the highest jump in pendency with over 12,000 cases added to the docket. We analyse the data: https://bit.ly/3O0BKQv

📄 Five unmissable judgements from 24 March to 4 April are featured in our latest Issue of SCO.LR. Read: https://bit.ly/4sZ6GzQ
☀️ Good Morning!

9️⃣ Yesterday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta concluded arguments in the Sabarimala Reference and critiqued the Courts use of “constitutional morality” in cases involving religion. Read: https://bit.ly/4tFLvmq

⚖️ The Supreme Court did not maintain a public record of the Collegium’s membership or resolutions until 2017. To bridge this gap, we bring you the first publicly available dataset on Collegium membership in Supreme Court history: https://bit.ly/4crAqPS

📬 Our new Issue of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports, brings five important judgements from last week. Read: https://bit.ly/4sZ6GzQ
On Day 3 of the Sabarimala Review, a nine-judge bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, including Justices BV Nagarathna, MM Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, A.G. Masih, P.B. Varale, R. Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi, will hear submissions by parties in favour of the review.

Follow thread for live updates from the hearing
https://x.com/scobserver/status/2042106655283015906
🪴 Good Morning!

🛕 Yesterday, the Union outlined the scope of religious rights and the role of a religious denomination in the Sabarimala reference. The Bench repeatedly questioned the limits of judicial intervention in disputes over religious practices: https://bit.ly/4t0MNrU

📚 In “An Accidental Lawyer”, Senior Advocate K.K. Venugopal describes the Supreme Court proceedings surrounding the Babri demolition in 1992. Our excerpt from his book: https://bit.ly/48FpZWz

🌐 The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has invited feedback on the draft amendments to the IT Rules 2021 by 14 April. In our newsletter, we examine what they would mean for the digital media landscape. Read: https://bit.ly/4m9AQgY
A nine-judge Constitution Bench heard arguments this week against the 2018 decision permitting entry of women to the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

Our hearing reports capture the Union government’s stand on the Essential Religious Practices doctrine, constitutional morality, and menstruation as a form of untouchability.

Day 1: https://www.scobserver.in/reports/sabarimala-review-day-1-of-the-9-judge-constitution-bench-hearing/

Day 2: https://www.scobserver.in/reports/sabarimala-review-day-2/

Day 3: https://www.scobserver.in/reports/sabarimala-review-day-3-parties-in-favour-of-reference-to-continue-arguments/

Stay tuned for Day 4 next week!
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🌅 Good Morning!

👨🏻‍⚖️ Last week Justice Yashwant Varma, facing impeachment proceedings, resigned from the Allahabad High Court. This exit revives a constitutional question that has remained unresolved for 15 years. Read: https://bit.ly/4sy5HWa

⚖️ This week, a nine-judge constitution bench is scheduled to continue hearing the Sabaribala Review. Last week, the Union government argued against the Court’s intervention in disputes concerning essential religious practices: https://bit.ly/4t0MNrU

📖 In his autobiography, Senior Advocate K.K. Venugopal describes the Supreme Court proceedings before and after the Babri demolition. Our excerpt: https://bit.ly/48FpZWz
☕️ Good Morning!

👨🏻‍⚖️ Justice Yashwant Varma’s withdrawal letter to the Parliamentary Committee points to three specific evidentiary failings of the inquiry. We explain. Read: https://bit.ly/4tNRJRe

🏛️ Justice Varma’s resignation is the third instance where the accountability mechanism failed to reach its legal conclusion, leaving open an unresolved constitutional lacuna: https://bit.ly/4sy5HWa

🗳️ In the West Bengal SIR, the Court observed that while concerns of exclusion from electoral rolls have been raised, the statutory appellate framework cannot be bypassed through interim directions. Hearing report: https://bit.ly/480S4Y9

📬 Volume 4 Issue 2 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) is here! In this Issue, we have shortlisted five key judgements from 6 April to 10 April 2026. Read: https://bit.ly/4sBWpsh
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🌅 Good Morning!

9️⃣ A nine-judge Constitution Bench is scheduled to resume hearings in the Sabarimala Reference today. Last week, SG Tushar Mehta submitted that customs prohibiting entry of women to the temple are not discriminatory: https://bit.ly/4t0MNrU

⚖️ On Monday, the Supreme Court stayed death sentences awarded to three convicts. Our analysis breaks down the grounds under which the sentencing was reopened: https://bit.ly/3QD0MG2

📬 Our latest issue of Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) shortlists five unmissable judgements from last week: https://bit.ly/4sBWpsh

👨‍⚖️ Justice Rajesh Bindal retires today after a three year long tenure at the Court. Stay tuned for his notable judgements and his tenure analysis in numbers! Our profile: https://bit.ly/3O1FO32
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🪻 Good Morning!

9️⃣ Yesterday, Senior Advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for the Travancore Devaswom Board, argued that entry of women was prohibited in Sabarimala Temple to preserve Lord Ayyappa’s character of a naishtika brahmachari: https://bit.ly/4tHCTve

⚖️ On Monday, the Supreme Court stayed death sentences awarded to three convicts and directed the Karnataka government to file mitigation reports in their cases within 16 weeks. Read: https://bit.ly/3QD0MG2

👨🏻‍⚖️ Yesterday, Justice Rajesh Bindal retired after serving a tenure of 3 years as a judge of the Supreme Court: https://bit.ly/3O1FO32

✏️ Justice Bindal’s notable judgements: https://bit.ly/4vzhB4L

📈 Justice Bindal’s tenure in numbers: https://bit.ly/4sGFtRB
🌸 Good Morning!

📱 What do legal practitioners and professionals have to say about the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence in the listing of cases at the Supreme Court? Find out here: https://bit.ly/4dNjKUa

9️⃣ Today, the Supreme Court is scheduled to continue hearing arguments in the Sabarimala Reference. Previously, Senior Advocate AM Singhvi argued that courts cannot test religious beliefs on external standards. Read: https://bit.ly/4tHCTve

🗳️ Yesterday, the Supreme Court directed that appellants in the West Bengal SIR who received successful orders in the Appellate Tribunals could vote in the West Bengal elections. Read: https://bit.ly/4mCyrvC

⏲️ On 13 April, the Supreme Court issued notice in a bail plea and questioned executive delay in courts by relying on statistics produced in the trial court roznama. Read: https://bit.ly/42cMyyh