NEW DELHI: Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, is set to retire in February, and this has once again drawn attention to an important issue before the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the court discussed the need to speed up a decision on the legality of a new law that impacts the appointment of Election Commissioners. This law gives significant control to the Central government.
The Supreme Court transferred 24 writ petitions regarding Amazon and Flipkart’s anti-competitive practices to the Karnataka High Court, following a request from the Competition Commission of India (CCI). This consolidation aims to unify ongoing cases related to alleged violations of the Competition Act, 2002, enhancing efficiency and consistency in rulings.
New petitions have been filed challenging the Supreme Court’s December 12 interim order, which prohibits courts from action on worship-related disputes until February 17, 2025. Petitioners seek modification of this stay, contesting the constitutionality of the Places of Worship Act, with political support advocating for its enforcement amid ongoing public debate.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that petitions filed by couples seeking protection after inter-caste or love marriages are consuming about four hours of court time every day. To address this issue, the court has directed the states of Haryana, Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to take specific steps to streamline such cases. The High Court has issued clear instructions to local police stations and district-level officials to handle these cases more efficiently. The aim is to prevent courts from being burdened with matters that could be resolved at the administrative level.
The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has paused new lawsuits while reviewing challenges to the Places of Worship Act. Advocate Hari Shankar Jain advocates restoring demolished Hindu temples, claiming the ruling benefits Hindus. The court will evaluate ongoing cases concerning religious structures in due course.
Today, On 12th December, the Supreme Court instructed all courts to refrain from handling cases regarding surveys of religious sites under the Places of Worship Act, 1991. This decision seeks to maintain communal harmony and secularism while reviewing several petitions challenging the Act’s provisions, emphasizing legal consistency and caution in sensitive matters.
Today, On 12th December, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna directed that no additional suits be registered until the next hearing regarding the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prohibits changes to religious structures from before India’s independence. Ongoing legal challenges question the Act’s constitutionality, emphasizing the importance of maintaining communal harmony.
The Allahabad High Court became the epicenter of legal battles surrounding the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. A series of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have been filed, questioning the role of authorities and the actions of the police during the unrest near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, which left five people dead and over 20 police officers injured.
The Supreme Court deferred its hearing on petitions challenging the Centre’s ban on the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” until January 2025. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that a counter affidavit would be submitted within two weeks. The government labeled the documentary as biased propaganda.
The Supreme Court, today (24th Sept) led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, will review petitions on Sept 24 concerning sub-classification within Scheduled Castes for reservation benefits. The Court had previously ruled that states can implement such classifications based on data demonstrating backwardness. This decision overturned a past ruling affirming SCs as a homogeneous class.