Madras High Court has reserved its verdict in the ongoing Thiruparankundram Hill dispute, where Hindu devotees and the Sikkandar Badhusha Dargah are at odds over lighting the Karthigai Deepam atop the hill. The decision could impact religious customs and temple rights.
The Supreme Court ruled that equity cannot override a testator’s clear intent, upholding a registered will that excluded one daughter. The Court reaffirmed that a validly proved will must prevail over claims of fairness.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Telangana High Court’s decision setting aside a media gag order in the Megha Engineering defamation case, reaffirming constitutional limits on prior restraint and strengthening press freedom protections.
The Supreme Court heard Lok Prahari’s plea on ad hoc judge appointments and addressed concerns raised by retired judges over bench composition. CJI Surya Kant said High Court Chief Justices may decide benches administratively, leading to a modification of the main judgment.
The Supreme Court ruled that bail in murder cases cannot be granted solely based on gender or custody period. Setting aside the Karnataka High Court order, the Court stressed the need to examine serious allegations and specific overt acts.
The Supreme Court has adjourned till January the plea filed by Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, challenging his arrest in the alleged liquor scam. The Court said the matter cannot be heard piecemeal and will take it up for detailed hearing in the first week of January.
The Supreme Court heard a plea seeking reservation for women in Bar Council elections and modified its earlier directions for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. CJI Surya Kant said greater women representation will strengthen Bar leadership and should not be treated as an adversarial issue.
Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing has added cheating charges in the Rs 60 crore fraud case involving Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra. The couple has denied all allegations, saying the matter is sub judice before the Bombay High Court.
The Kerala High Court has stayed Enforcement Directorate proceedings under FEMA against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac in the KIIFB Masala Bonds case, granting interim relief and halting adjudication for three months.
The Supreme Court dismissed a plea on water bottle labelling as “luxury litigation,” stressing that importing foreign standards is impractical. The Court urged focus on ensuring access to safe drinking water in villages lacking basic potable water facilities.
