Journal
Weekly briefings on Indian law — Supreme Court judgments, regulatory changes, and practice insights for lawyers across India.
Week of April 13–19: CJI Calls UCC a 'Constitutional Ambition,' SC Rules 'Can' Does Not Create Arbitration Mandate, and Sabarimala Hearings Continue
This week's biggest developments — CJI Surya Kant observed that the Uniform Civil Code has 'nothing to do with religion' while hearing a challenge to Muslim inheritance law, the Supreme Court held that the word 'can' in an arbitration clause does not create a binding obligation, the nine-judge bench continued Sabarimala reference hearings, and the Court issued binding SOPs for legal aid appeals.
Week of April 6–12: Sabarimala Reference Begins Before Nine-Judge Bench, SC Refuses Stay on Adani-JAL Plan, and e-Courts Phase III Launched
This week's biggest developments — the Supreme Court's nine-judge bench commenced hearings on the Sabarimala reference involving seven constitutional questions on religious freedom, the SC refused to stay Adani's Rs 14,535 crore Jaiprakash Associates resolution plan while directing NCLAT to hear Vedanta's appeal, and CJI Surya Kant launched the Rs 7,210 crore e-Courts Phase III project.
Week of March 30 – April 5: Parliament Passes IBC Overhaul and Jan Vishwas Bill, SC Upholds Tax Concession Withdrawal, and Environmental Clearance Verdict Reserved
This week's biggest developments — Parliament passed the IBC Amendment Bill introducing out-of-court resolution and cross-border insolvency, the Jan Vishwas Bill decriminalised 717 provisions across 80 Acts, the Supreme Court ruled states can withdraw tax exemptions with one year's notice, and the CJI-led bench reserved judgment on post-facto environmental clearances.
Week of March 23–29: SC Rules Conversion Ends SC Status, Corporate Laws Amendment Bill Sent to JPC, and Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot Launches
This week's biggest developments — the Supreme Court held that conversion to Christianity extinguishes Scheduled Caste status, the Corporate Laws Amendment Bill was introduced and sent to JPC, NHAI's Rs 29,000 crore retrospective compensation plea was rejected, and the government launched an AI legal aid chatbot on WhatsApp.
Week of March 17–23: SC Strikes Down Adoption Cap, Condemns Bar Hooliganism, and Vedanta Takes on Adani at NCLAT
This week's biggest developments — the Supreme Court expanded maternity rights for adoptive mothers, condemned violent bar conduct in Barabanki, and the Vedanta-Adani insolvency battle reaches NCLAT. Plus: NIA busts drone warfare network, National Lok Adalat settles 2.84 crore cases.