Keeping Pace with Legal Change
In Patanjali Foods Ltd. v. Union of India, the Supreme Court held that encashment of a bank guarantee is not equivalent to payment of customs duty under Section 27. Therefore, the doctrine of unjust enrichment does not apply, and the government must refund amounts secured through such guarantees without demanding compliance with refund procedures.
The Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling in Ravinder Singh Sidhu vs. State of Punjab (2025 INSC 727) establishes principles for clubbing multi-state FIRs, enhancing judicial efficiency. Addressing multiple FIRs filed across states for related offenses, the Court emphasized consolidating cases to prevent procedural abuse and ensure fairness, as seen in Sidhu’s case involving Punjab and Haryana. The verdict aligns with Article 21’s right to a fair trial, streamlining investigations while safeguarding defendants’ rights. It sets a precedent for handling cross-jurisdictional disputes, reducing redundancy.
The Supreme Court of India, in a landmark ruling on May 19, 2025, mandated equal pensions for all retired High Court judges under the ‘One Rank One Pension’ principle, regardless of their entry route or tenure. The decision eliminates disparities between permanent and additional judges, ensuring a uniform pension of ₹15 lakh annually for Chief Justices and ₹13.5 lakh for other judges. It upholds Article 14’s equality clause, reinforcing judicial independence by standardizing post-retirement benefits. The ruling also extends family pension rights, addressing long-standing inequities.
The Supreme Court’s verdict on Rofiqul Hoque’s citizenship case clarifies the burden of proof under Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, 1946. The Court ruled that authorities cannot arbitrarily label individuals as foreigners without primary evidence, emphasizing natural justice and the principle of audi alteram partem. Hoque, initially declared a foreigner by Assam’s Foreigners Tribunal due to documentary discrepancies, had his citizenship restored. The decision critiques random suspicions and reinforces procedural fairness, impacting citizenship disputes amid Assam’s NRC exercise. It alleviates concerns over minor errors in documentation.
This paper examines a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling clarifying consumer rights in flood damage cases under consumer law. The decision addresses liability for property damage caused by state actions, emphasizing the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause and state law remedies. It enables affected consumers, like Texas landowners, to seek compensation for flood-related losses due to government infrastructure projects. The ruling highlights the balance between public projects and private property rights, offering a framework for future litigation. It underscores the importance of clear legal pathways for consumers seeking redress.
The case started with a horrific acid attack on a Mathural, Uttar Pradesh, woman on June 8, 2014. Three accused—Hakim (accused number one), Umesh (accused number two), and Gyani (accused number three)—intercepted the victim returning home from a temple visit near a railway crossing. Driven by retribution over an earlier grievance, the three carried out a premeditated attack. Umesh threw acid on the victim while Hakim and Gyani held her, resulting in extreme damage including 90% loss of eyesight in one eye and permanent facial disfiguredness.
Section 25 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, stipulates that an act not intended or known to likely cause death or grievous hurt is not an offense if the person harmed is over eighteen and has consented to the risk. For example, if two adults agree to fence for amusement and one is injured without foul play, no offense is committed.
The idea of equality in pensionary benefits for retired High Court judges was reiterated by the Supreme Court of India in a historic ruling that was originally penned by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai. This principle applies to retired judges regardless of their service background. When it comes to concerns concerning pensions, gratuities, and other terminal benefits, the Supreme Court ruled that all judges, regardless of whether they were promoted from the Bar or the District Judiciary, must be treated in the same manner. In addressing problems pertaining to discrimination, service breaks, and the applicability of the New Pension Scheme, the Court placed particular emphasis on the constitutional duty of equality that is found in Articles 14 and 16. By making this decision, the independence of the judiciary is strengthened, and the dignity of constitutional office is maintained.
Section 24 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, addresses the issue of criminal liability in cases where an offense requires specific intent or knowledge, and the act is committed under intoxication. According to this provision, if an individual voluntarily becomes intoxicated and commits such an offense, they are held legally responsible as if they possessed the required intent or knowledge, regardless of their impaired state. However, if the intoxication was involuntary—meaning the substance was administered without their knowledge or against their will—this may serve as a defense, acknowledging that the individual lacked the capacity to form the necessary intent or knowledge due to the involuntary intoxication.
As soon as the CLAT results were announced, students discovered that several Logical Reasoning questions were flawed. The ambiguity of certain puzzles and the lack of clear premises led many to believe their scores were unfairly affected. Within hours, petitions began pouring into high courts in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and other cities. Candidates demanded the removal of disputed questions, correction of answer keys, and reissuance of merit lists. The urgency of admission deadlines heightened the pressure on courts to act quickly. This immediate legal response underscored the high stakes of the exam and the depth of nationwide frustration.
