Welcome to the latest edition of Judgement Junction ! In the week from 29 December 2025 to 3 January 2026, the Supreme Court and several High Courts delivered decisions that cut across bail jurisprudence, environmental governance, social welfare implementation, criminal justice, and institutional accountability. These developments range from the Supreme Court’s intervention in the Unnao rape case and its decision to revisit the Aravalli Hills framework, to High Court orders on contaminated drinking water in Indore, digitisation of temple assets in Karnataka, and accountability for illegal demolitions in Uttar Pradesh.
I. Key Legal Developments:
Supreme Court Stays Delhi HC Order Granting Bail To Kuldeep Sengar In Unnao Rape Case
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Development: The Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court's order that had suspended the life sentence and granted bail to former Uttar Pradesh MLA, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, in the Unnao rape case. Sengar was convicted in 2019 for the 2017 kidnapping and rape of a minor. The Supreme Court intervened after a challenge by the CBI, noting that the case raises "substantial questions of law" regarding the applicability of aggravated offence provisions under the POCSO Act and the interpretation of "public servant" concerning abuse of dominance over a minor. Sengar remains in custody due to a separate conviction.
Supreme Court Stays Its Aravalli Hills Judgment, To Set Up Fresh Expert Committee
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Development: The Supreme Court has temporarily halted the implementation of its previous judgment concerning the revised definition of the Aravalli Hills due to concerns about the misinterpretation of a committee report and the court's observations. The Court has stayed its earlier directions, ordered all further mining activities in the area to cease, and will form a new high-powered expert committee to re-examine the definition, ecological impact, and risks of unregulated mining. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on January 21, 2026.
Indore Water Contamination: MP High Court Directs Municipal Corporation To Ensure Pure Water Supply, State To Provide Treatment To Affected
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Development: The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to ensure a regular supply of clean drinking water to Bhagirathpura residents following multiple deaths and widespread illness caused by water contamination. The Court also ordered the State Government to cover the treatment costs for all affected individuals and mandated a status report detailing patients, fatalities, and medical facilities provided before the next hearing.
Lalu Prasad Yadav Moves Delhi High Court Against Corruption Charge In IRCTC Scam
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Development: Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Bihar, has filed a petition with the Delhi High Court to contest a trial court's decision to frame corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating charges against him and his family members. These charges stem from the alleged IRCTC scam, a case brought by the CBI. The agency claims that while Yadav served as the Railway Minister, IRCTC hotel contracts were granted through a rigged tender process. In return, prime land and shares were allegedly transferred to entities connected to his family. The case is scheduled for a hearing on January 5th, 2026.
Supreme Court To Pronounce Judgment On Bail Pleas Of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel, Gulfisha & Others In Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case On Monday
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Development: The Supreme Court has reserved its decision, expected Monday, on the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and others involved in the Delhi riots "larger conspiracy" case under the UAPA. The accused are challenging a Delhi High Court order denying them bail, arguing for relief based on over five years of prolonged incarceration, trial delays, lack of direct evidence, and parity with co-accused already granted bail. The Delhi Police, however, oppose bail, maintaining that the case involves a pre-planned conspiracy to destabilize public order.
Union Govt Writes To X Corp Over Alleged Misuse Of 'Grok' AI To Generate Obscene Content, Seeks Action Taken Report Within 3 Days
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Development: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a notice to X Corp regarding the alleged misuse of its AI service, "Grok," to generate and spread obscene and sexually explicit content, particularly targeting women. MeitY cites violations of the IT Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021, and has warned X Corp that continued non-compliance could lead to the withdrawal of its "safe harbour" protection under Section 79, exposing the platform and its officers to penal action. X Corp has been directed to submit an action taken report within 72 hours.
‘Frame Humane Policy’: Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeks Union's Response On Regularisation Of Contractual MGNREGA Employees
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Development: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Union of India to submit a response and develop a comprehensive regularization policy for contractual Accounts Assistants under the MGNREGA scheme. The Court underscored the vital role of these long-serving grassroots staff in the flagship welfare scheme's success and ordered the Union, as the nodal authority, to file an affidavit detailing its official stance and outlining a regularization policy consistent with constitutional principles and Supreme Court rulings.
Supreme Court Introduces SOP Mandating Timelines For Oral Arguments To Streamline Hearings
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Development: The Supreme Court has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline court proceedings and reduce delays. The key mandates of this SOP require counsel to submit and strictly adhere to proposed durations for oral arguments, and limit written arguments to a maximum of five pages, which must be filed three days before the hearing. This measure aims to enhance efficiency by curbing prolonged oral arguments.
Karnataka High Court Seeks Detailed Report On Digitisation Of All Temple Valuables, Assets
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Development: The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Government to submit a detailed, unified, and current status report on the digitisation and public online disclosure of temple assets and valuables across the state. The directive was issued while rejecting a petition by a suspended temple employee facing theft charges. The court specifically requested comprehensive data on the phase-wise digitisation progress, inventory and valuation of movable and immovable holdings, custody, audit status, reported losses or theft, and the technology/security architecture used for hosting the information on the Endowment Commissioner’s website.
Sabarimala Gold Theft Case: Kerala High Court Flags Investigative Delays, Strengthens SIT as More Missing Gold Comes to Light
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Development: The Kerala High Court expressed serious concern over the slow and inadequate investigation into the alleged gold theft from the Sabarimala temple, especially as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) reported that the full extent of the gold is yet to be recovered and that gold is also missing from other sacred artefacts, including the Siva and Vyali images. Justice Jobin Sebastian denied bail to former Travancore Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar and jeweller Roddam Pandurangaiah Naga Govardhan, citing that not all perpetrators have been arrested. To bolster the probe, the High Court approved the addition of two more Circle Inspector-rank officers to the SIT. So far, only 584 grams of gold have been recovered.
Bombay High Court Holds Emergency Hearing From CJ’s Residence After Court Staff Asked To Perform Election Duty
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Development: The Bombay High Court, in a late-evening hearing at the Chief Justice's residence, intervened to stop the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner from ordering subordinate court staff to report for election duty during the court's winter vacation. A special bench, including Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Ashwini Bhobe, cited a 2008 Administrative Judges' Committee decision that exempts court staff from such duties. The Court immediately restrained the Commissioner's order, directed him to file a personal affidavit explaining his legal basis, and barred any future requisition of court staff for election duty. It also sought affidavits from the State Election Commission, the Election Commission of India, and the Maharashtra Government.
Tripura Student’s Tragic Death: Plea In Supreme Court Seeks Recognition Of ‘Racial Slur’ As Hate Crime & Guidelines To Tackle Discrimination
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Development: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court following the death of a 24-year-old student from Tripura in Dehradun, allegedly due to racial abuse and violence. The PIL requests interim guidelines until specific legislation is enacted, including recognizing racial slurs as hate crimes, establishing statutory mechanisms to document bias motivation during the FIR stage, and creating dedicated nodal agencies and special police units to handle racially motivated offenses.
Supreme Court To Examine Maternity Leave Cap Order For Adoptive Mothers
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Development: The Supreme Court has agreed to review the constitutionality of Section 60(4) of the Code on Social Security, 2020. This provision limits 12 weeks of maternity leave for adoptive mothers only to cases where the adopted child is under three months old, effectively denying leave for adopting older children. The challenge, which was permitted as an amendment to a pre-existing petition against the repealed but substantively similar Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, argues that this distinction violates Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution.
Court Issues Proclamation Against Three, Including Businessman Mubeen Shah, Architect Tony Ashia, Accused Of Spreading Anti-National Propaganda And Misinformation To Fuel Secessionist Sentiments In Kashmir
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Development: A special NIA court in Srinagar has initiated proceedings under Section 82 CrPC against three accused, including businessman Mubeen Ahmad Shah and architect Tony Ashia, in a case of anti-national propaganda filed by Counter Intelligence Kashmir. The court issued proclamation notices as the accused have been absconding despite standing arrest warrants. They have been directed to appear by 31st January, 2026. The court warned that failure to comply would result in the initiation of property attachment proceedings under Section 83 CrPC.
Supreme Court Vacation Benches Including Of CJI Surya Kant Sits During Winter Break For First Time
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Development: The Supreme Court, breaking with historical practice, convened vacation benches during the winter break for the first time. The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, personally presided over the court on two occasions to handle urgent cases concerning life, liberty, and those needing immediate judicial action. Previously, vacation benches were only held during the longer summer recess.
Blast Victims’ Kin Paid ₹ 42 Lakh Compensation Each, Sigachi Management Informs Telangana High Court
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Development: The investigation into the fatal June 2025 blast, which killed 54 workers, is concluding, with the State informing the Telangana High Court that no culpability has been established yet, and a chargesheet is forthcoming. Sigachi Industries stated it paid ₹ 42 lakh to each deceased worker's family, noting the State is responsible for the rest of the announced ₹ 1 crore compensation. The company also covered compensation and medical expenses for injured workers. This was revealed during a hearing for a PIL alleging serious lapses and regulatory failures.
Only Sandalwood Festival Permitted At Thiruparankundram Hills, No Animal Sacrifice: Madras High Court
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Development: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, through Justice S Srimathy, has once again banned animal sacrifice at the Thiruparankundram hills. The court restricted the Dargah's activities to the Santhanakoodu Urus (sandalwood festival) only, limiting participation to 50 individuals. Additionally, the carrying, cooking, or consumption of non-vegetarian food from the base to the top of the hill is strictly prohibited. Authorities are ordered to ensure rigorous enforcement of these conditions.
Chhattisgarh High Court Grants Bail To Chaitanya Baghel In Liquor Scam Case
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Development: The Chhattisgarh High Court has granted bail to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in two cases concerning the alleged liquor syndicate scam (2019-2023). The bail covers both the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case filed by the Enforcement Directorate and the original predicate offence investigated by the ACB/EOW. The Court based its decision on factors like his co-accused already being out on bail, the delay in his arrest, and the time he spent in custody, while noting that the substantive merits of the allegations will be determined at trial.
Kerala HC Grants Bail To Assistant Director Booked For Allegedly Sexually Harassing Actress Inside Dulquer Salmaan’s Production Company Office
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Development: The Kerala High Court, through Justice Jobin Sebastian, has granted bail to assistant director Midhil Babu, who was arrested on December 3rd. Babu is accused of sexually harassing an aspiring actress within the office of Dulquer Salmaan's production company, Wayfarer Films Pvt. Ltd. The bail was allowed subject to conditions, notably the surrender of his passport, following the earlier rejection of his anticipatory bail plea during the initial investigation. The charges against Babu fall under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and include offences related to outraging modesty, making unwelcome sexual advances, and wrongful restraint.
Kerala High Court Stays Appointment Of KMML Law Officer After Plea Alleges Favouritism In Recruitment Process
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Development: The Kerala High Court has issued an interim order staying the appointment of the Law Officer at Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML). This decision comes in response to a petition alleging favouritism, irregularities, bias, and a lack of transparency in the recruitment process. The petitioner specifically challenged the weightage given to interview marks and questioned the eligibility of the first-rank holder. Consequently, the Court has restrained KMML from issuing the final appointment order to the top candidate.
Recently Enrolled Advocates Move Delhi Hc Over Exclusion From Bar Council Electoral Roll Due To Pending AIBE Results
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Development: A group of recently enrolled advocates has moved the Delhi High Court challenging their exclusion from the electoral roll for the forthcoming Bar Council of Delhi elections on the ground that their All India Bar Examination (AIBE) results are pending. The petitioners contend that they have effectively cleared AIBE-XX based on the provisional answer key, and argue that pendency of results or non-issuance of a Certificate of Practice is not a valid ground for disqualification under the Bar Council of India Rules, alleging that they are being prejudiced due to administrative delay by the BCI.
II. Details Of Important Decisions:
A. Delhi High Court
Working Mothers Can’t Be Forced To Exhaust Themselves While Fathers Evade Responsibility Of Child: Delhi High Court
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Verdict: The Delhi High Court dismissed a father's argument that a working mother's plea for minor child maintenance is a misuse of law, ruling that a custodial mother's employment does not reduce the father's financial responsibilities. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma emphasized that fathers cannot evade parental duties based on the mother's income, acknowledging the dual burden on working mothers. The Court, while affirming the children's entitlement, slightly reduced the father's interim monthly maintenance payment from ₹ 30,000 to ₹ 25,000.
B. Bombay High Court
The Bombay High Court Suspends Manikrao Kokate’s Brother’s 2-Year-Jail Term, Grants Bail In The 1995 Fraud Case
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Development: The Bombay High Court has granted interim bail to Vijay Kokate, the brother of former minister Manikrao Kokate, by suspending his two-year sentence in a 1995 case involving the illegal acquisition of a government flat through document tampering. The relief, pending further orders, was granted because of the short duration of the sentence and the fact that Vijay Kokate was on bail throughout the trial and appeal. This mirrors the relief previously given to Manikrao Kokate, whose conviction was later stayed by the Supreme Court.
C. Madras High Court
Preventive Detention Laws Are Draconian, Can’t Be Used To Settle Political Scores Or Silence Dissent: Madras High Court
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Development: The Madras High Court granted interim bail for 12 weeks to YouTuber Varaaki, who was preventively detained under the Tamil Nadu Goondas Act. Hearing the habeas corpus petition, the Court called preventive detention laws "draconian" and warned they must be "exercised sparingly and in good faith," citing the apparent misuse of detention based on foisted cases and unrelated disputes. The judgment stressed that these laws cannot be used to "settle political scores or silence dissent."
D. Allahabad High Court
Allahabad High Court Imposes ₹ 20 Lakh Cost On State For ‘illegal’ Demolition Of Property
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Development: The Allahabad High Court has ordered the Rae Bareli district administration to pay ₹20 lakh in costs, restore possession of vacant land to the petitioner, and conduct an enquiry against officials for the illegal demolition of the petitioner's property. The Court ruled the demolition, which was carried out without due process (no notice or opportunity of hearing) and followed by a unilateral correction of revenue records, violated Article 300A of the Constitution and disregarded Supreme Court guidelines.
E. Telangana High Court
Telangana HC Slams Improper Enhancement Of Penalty, Quashes Dismissal Of Government Employee
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Development: The Telangana High Court upheld the quashing of a government employee's dismissal and dismissed the state government's writ appeal. A division bench ruled that the state's action of enhancing the penalty to dismissal by invoking Rule 40 of the Telangana Civil Services Rules, after the employee had already accepted and undergone the lesser punishment imposed in prior disciplinary proceedings, was legally unsustainable. The Court concluded that the earlier judgment required no interference.
F. Himachal Pradesh High Court
Entry-Tax Interest & Penalty From Employer’s Delay Cannot Be Shifted To Contractor In Arbitration: HP High Court
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Development: The Himachal Pradesh High Court upheld an arbitral award, ruling that the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd. (employer) could not recover statutory interest and penalties for the delayed payment of entry tax from its contractor, HCL Infotech. The Court found the delay was the employer's fault, specifically due to its failure to deduct and deposit the tax on time, and thus dismissed the Board's challenge to the arbitrator's decision.
G. Andhra Pradesh High Court
A.P. High Court Dismisses Pleas Challenging Reservation Process In Group-2 Recruitment
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Development: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has upheld the reservation process used by the AP Public Service Commission for the 2023 Group-2 recruitment. Dismissing all petitions that sought to cancel the notification and issue a fresh one, the Court ruled that the recruitment was carried out in strict compliance with the relevant Government Orders and judicial precedents. A key finding was that roster points become applicable only at the final selection stage. Furthermore, the Court emphasized that interrupting or restarting the process would have a detrimental impact on the thousands of candidates who have successfully completed the examination stages.
AP High Court Restores Arbitral Awards In Hindustan Shipyard Case; Says Arbitrators Can Modulate ‘Exorbitant’ Liquidated Damages
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Development: The Andhra Pradesh High Court reinstated thirteen arbitral awards against Hindustan Shipyard Limited, ruling that an arbitrator has the jurisdiction to adjust excessive liquidated damages, especially when both parties cause delays. The Court clarified that this adjustment is not a revision of the contract, but rather an affirmation that liquidated damages under Section 74 of the Contract Act represent an upper limit and must align with reasonable compensation. Consequently, the High Court upheld the arbitrators' decision to partially reimburse the contractors.
H. Other Tribunal & District Court Orders
CAT’s Hyderabad Bench Quashes BrahMos DG Jaiteerth R Joshi’s Appointment
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Verdict: The Central Administrative Tribunal’s Hyderabad bench has invalidated the appointment of Jaiteerth R. Joshi as Director General of the BrahMos missile programme, labeling the decision “manifestly arbitrary.” The Tribunal set aside the Centre’s 25th November, 2024 order, ruling that the authorities failed to justify the “exercise of discretionary powers” under the applicable SOP and neglected the comparative service records and eligibility of other shortlisted candidates, specifically a Distinguished Scientist from DRDO.
Bengaluru Court Discharges HD Revanna From Sexual Harassment Case
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Verdict: A Bengaluru trial court discharged JD(S) MLA H.D. Revanna from a sexual harassment case, citing that the four-year delay in lodging the complaint meant the limitation period had expired. The court declined to condone the delay under Section 473 of the CrPC, as the delay was not satisfactorily explained.
Underwear Evidence Tampering Case: Kerala Court Convicts MLA Antony Raju
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Verdict: Sitting Kerala MLA and former Transport Minister Antony Raju has been convicted by the Nedumangadu Magistrate’s Court in a 33-year-old case involving the tampering of material evidence. Raju, who was a young lawyer at the time, and former court clerk K.J. Jose were found guilty under multiple IPC sections. The case stems from a 1989 drug smuggling prosecution of an Australian national where evidence was manipulated (specifically, the underwear used to conceal contraband was replaced with an incompatible size), leading to the accused's acquittal. The trial was restored by the Supreme Court in November 2024, which resulted in the present conviction.
IV. Appointments, Collegium Recommendations And Transfers Section:
The Supreme Court stayed bail granted to Kuldeep Sengar in the Unnao rape case and its prior Aravalli Hills judgment to enable fresh expert review on ecological boundaries and mining impacts. High Courts directed Indore Municipal Corporation to supply safe water amid contamination deaths, sought Union response on MGNREGA staff regularisation, ordered Karnataka temple asset digitisation with audits, and flagged Sabarimala gold theft probe delays while bolstering the SIT. Further orders established Supreme Court SOPs capping oral arguments and written submissions, advanced pleas classifying racial slurs as hate crimes, examined maternity leave limits for adoptive mothers, and notified transfers like Justice Soumen Sen to Kerala High Court alongside elevations of new Chief Justices for Patna and Jharkhand.