Latest News The Delhi High Court recently granted relief to a POCSO convict The Delhi High Court recently granted relief to a POCSO convict, noting that the prosecution failed to establish beyond doubt that the survivor was a minor at the time of alleged offence [Karan Kumar v. State & Anr.]. Justice Amit Sharma observed that the survivor’s date of birth mentioned in her school register was not on the basis of any proof of birth document issued by any Corporation or a Municipal Authority or a Panchayat. Rather, the entry was made based on what was conveyed by her parents. The bench also took into account the survivor’s assertion that she was a major at the time of incident, born on the day of Holi in March, 1998 and her age given by the parents is incorrect. As such, the bench observed, “it was incumbent upon the prosecution to establish that the victim’s age was less than 18 years by conducting ossification test or any other latest medical age determination test conducted on orders of the Committee or the Board.” It held that the prosecution failed to discharge its obligation to prove that the survivor was a child in terms of Section 2 (1)(d) of the POCSO Act.

Latest News On Environment Day Kerala High Court Orders Government To Disclose Capsized Ship MSC Elsa’s Cargo Details On Environment Day (5th June 2025), the Kerala High Court directed the State government to release all available information concerning hazardous cargo and oil spill from the sinking of Liberian cargo ship MSC Elsa-3 on May 24 off the coast of Alappuzha [TN Prathapan v. Union of India & Ors.] A Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji passed the direction while hearing a public interest petition (PIL) filed by Congress leader and former Member of Parliament TN Prathapan. The PIL sought the Court’s intervention to ensure proper compensation, environmental clean-up, and enforcement of action under both Indian and international law.

Latest News UK Supreme Court Roundtable titled Maintaining Judicial Legitimacy and Public Confidence Speaking at the UK Supreme Court Roundtable titled ‘Maintaining Judicial Legitimacy and Public Confidence’ on 3rd June 2025, the CJI said that the Supreme Court has always been prompt in taking immediate and appropriate measures to address the instances of misconduct and corruption surfacing within the judiciary. He said that whenever such instances came to light in India, the Supreme Court took immediate measures to address the allegations of judicial impropriety, while ensuring transparency and integrity in the process. The Chief also highlighted the proactive steps taken by the Indian judiciary to build public trust. Referring to transparency initiatives, he said the Apex Court judges have started voluntary disclosure of their assets. Stressing on the importance of accessibility and public communication, the CJI said all Constitution Bench hearings at the Apex Court were live-streamed. Speaking about the e-SCR portal, which offered free access to Supreme Court judgments, he said the initiative greatly benefitted law students, researchers and citizens by enabling one-click access to court rulings.

Latest News Advocates who are physically present in court can have their names recorded in court orders In a judgment delivered on 19th March 2025, the Supreme Court directed that only those advocates who are physically present in court and arguing the matter can have their names recorded in court orders. A 2-Judge Bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma passed an order stating that besides the arguing counsel, one counsel assisting the arguing counsel and the advocate-on-record (AoR) can also have their appearance marked. The Bench further stated that a Senior Advocate shall not appear without an AoR in the Supreme Court.

Latest News Court expressed its displeasure at the translated documents filed in a case relating to employment The Supreme Court on 18th March 2025 expressed its displeasure at the translated documents filed in a case relating to employment of a teacher which it said were mistranslated. The 2- Judge Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar noted that ‘reinstatement’ was translated as ‘re-establishment’ rendering a paragraph meaningless. It directed the document to be filed in original along with an official transcript. The Bench further called upon the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association to ascertain how advocates-on- record (AoRs) should address the situation since they are expected to certify such documents.

Latest News Supreme Court reaffirmed the supervisory jurisdiction of Indian courts A 3-Judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising of CJI Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan on 18th March 2025 reaffirmed the supervisory jurisdiction of Indian courts in disputes arising from agreements governed by Indian law, even when the arbitration is agreed to be governed by a foreign centre. The decision clarifies the interplay between conflicting arbitration clauses in international commercial agreements governed by Indian law.