Important Supreme court verdicts of 2018
Here’s a table summarizing important Supreme Court verdicts of 2018 in India:
| Case Name | Date | Key Issue/Topic | Verdict/Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India | September 26, 2018 | Aadhaar and Right to Privacy | Upheld the constitutionality of Aadhaar for welfare schemes but struck down its mandatory use in private sectors. |
| Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India | September 6, 2018 | Section 377 (LGBTQ+ Rights) | Decriminalized homosexuality by partially striking down Section 377 of the IPC. |
| Joseph Shine vs. Union of India | September 27, 2018 | Adultery Law | Declared Section 497 of the IPC (Adultery law) unconstitutional, decriminalizing adultery. |
| Sabarimala Temple Case (Indian Young Lawyers Association vs. State of Kerala) | September 28, 2018 | Women’s Entry in Sabarimala Temple | Allowed women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple, striking down the ban on women aged 10–50 years. |
| Shafin Jahan vs. Asokan K.M. (Hadiya Case) | March 8, 2018 | Right to Marry (Personal Liberty) | Upheld the right of an adult woman to marry and convert as per her choice, reinforcing personal liberty. |
| Centre for PIL vs. Union of India | July 6, 2018 | Chief Justice as the ‘Master of Roster’ | Reaffirmed that the Chief Justice of India is the ‘Master of the Roster’ and has exclusive authority to allocate cases. |
| Common Cause vs. Union of India | March 9, 2018 | Passive Euthanasia | Legalized passive euthanasia and recognized living wills, ensuring dignity in death under Article 21. |
| Independent Thought vs. Union of India | October 2018 | Child Marital Rape | Clarified that sexual intercourse with a minor wife amounts to rape, furthering child protection laws. |
| Bhima Koregaon Case | August 2018 | Arrests of Activists | Ordered house arrest for activists accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence, raising concerns on liberty and dissent. |
Important Supreme court verdicts of 2019
Here’s a table summarizing important Supreme Court verdicts of 2019 in India:
| Case Name | Date | Key Issue/Topic | Verdict/Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayodhya Land Dispute Case | November 9, 2019 | Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Land Dispute | Awarded the disputed land to a trust for constructing a Ram Temple and allocated alternative land for a mosque. |
| Sabarimala Review Case | November 14, 2019 | Entry of Women into Sabarimala Temple | Referred the case to a larger bench while allowing the 2018 verdict permitting women of all ages to stand. |
| Rafale Deal Case | November 14, 2019 | Rafale Fighter Jet Procurement | Dismissed review petitions, upholding the government’s clean chit in the Rafale fighter jet deal. |
| Right to Information for CJI’s Office | November 13, 2019 | Transparency of Judiciary | Declared that the Chief Justice of India’s office falls under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. |
| SC/ST Reservation in Promotions | February 2019 | Reservation in Promotions | Upheld the validity of reservation in promotions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in public employment. |
| Kashmir Internet Shutdown Case | December 2019 | Fundamental Rights (Article 19) | Declared that access to the internet is a fundamental right under Article 19 and directed the review of internet restrictions in Jammu & Kashmir. |
| Entry of Women in Armed Forces | February 2019 | Gender Equality in Defense Services | Directed the Indian Army to grant permanent commissions to women in non-combat roles. |
| Contempt of Court (Prashant Bhushan Case) | December 2019 | Contempt of Court | Found lawyer Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt for remarks about the judiciary while defending freedom of speech. |
Important Supreme court verdicts of 2020
Here’s a table summarizing important Supreme Court verdicts of 2020 in India:
| Case Name | Date | Key Issue/Topic | Verdict/Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anuradha Bhasin vs. Union of India | January 10, 2020 | Internet Shutdown in Jammu & Kashmir | Declared access to the internet a fundamental right under Article 19, ordering a review of internet restrictions in J&K. |
| Reservation in Promotions Case | February 7, 2020 | SC/ST Reservation in Promotions | Held that reservation in promotions is not a fundamental right and left it to the discretion of the states. |
| Permanent Commission for Women in Armed Forces | February 17, 2020 | Gender Equality in Armed Forces | Directed the government to grant permanent commissions to women officers in non-combat roles in the Army and Navy. |
| Shaheen Bagh Protests Case | October 7, 2020 | Right to Protest vs. Public Order | Held that public places cannot be indefinitely occupied for protests, emphasizing the balance between protest rights and public convenience. |
| Prashant Bhushan Contempt Case | August 14, 2020 | Freedom of Speech vs. Contempt of Court | Found Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt for tweets critical of the judiciary while imposing a token fine of ₹1. |
| Central Vista Project Case | December 2020 | Redevelopment of Central Vista in Delhi | Allowed the Central Vista redevelopment project, stating it met legal and environmental norms. |
| Babita Puniya vs. Union of India | February 2020 | Permanent Commission for Women in Army | Ordered equal opportunity for women to serve in commanding roles in the Army, rejecting gender stereotypes. |
| Habeas Corpus for Detained Leaders in J&K | March 2020 | Detention of Political Leaders in J&K | Directed the release of political detainees in J&K after prolonged detention following the abrogation of Article 370. |
Important Supreme court verdicts of 2021
Here’s a table summarizing important Supreme Court verdicts of 2021 in India:
| Case Name | Date | Key Issue/Topic | Verdict/Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maratha Reservation Case | May 5, 2021 | Validity of Maratha Quota in Education & Jobs | Struck down the Maratha reservation as unconstitutional, ruling that the 50% reservation cap cannot be breached. |
| Pegasus Spyware Case | October 27, 2021 | Right to Privacy and Surveillance | Appointed an independent committee to investigate allegations of Pegasus spyware use on citizens. |
| Sedition Law Case (Section 124A of IPC) | July 2021 | Validity of Sedition Law | Expressed concerns about misuse of the sedition law and hinted at its reconsideration, leading to ongoing judicial scrutiny. |
| COVID-19 Oxygen Supply Case | April–May 2021 | Right to Life (Article 21) During Pandemic | Directed the government to ensure adequate oxygen supply to hospitals during the second COVID-19 wave. |
| Farm Laws and Protests | January 12, 2021 | Farm Laws and Farmers’ Protests | Stayed the implementation of three contentious farm laws and formed a committee to facilitate dialogue. |
| Central Vista Project Case | January 5, 2021 | Redevelopment of Central Vista in Delhi | Upheld the legality of the Central Vista project, allowing construction to proceed. |
| Right to Protest Case | October 21, 2021 | Public Protests (Shaheen Bagh Review) | Reiterated that public spaces cannot be indefinitely occupied for protests, balancing rights with public order. |
| Environment vs. Development (Sterlite Copper Case) | August 2021 | Industrial Closure Due to Pollution | Refused to allow the reopening of the Sterlite Copper plant in Tamil Nadu due to environmental concerns. |
| EWS Quota Case | August 2021 | 10% Quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | Referred the matter of EWS reservation validity in educational institutions and jobs to a larger bench. |
Important Supreme court verdicts of 2022
Here’s a table summarizing important Supreme Court verdicts of 2022 in India:
| Case Name | Date | Key Issue/Topic | Verdict/Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWS Reservation Case | November 7, 2022 | Validity of 10% EWS Quota | Upheld the 103rd Constitutional Amendment providing a 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections in education and public jobs. |
| Hijab Ban Case | October 13, 2022 | Right to Wear Hijab vs. Uniformity | Delivered a split verdict on whether banning hijabs in Karnataka schools violates constitutional rights, referring the case to a larger bench. |
| Abortion Rights Case | September 29, 2022 | Reproductive Rights of Women | Declared unmarried women also have the right to safe abortion up to 24 weeks under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. |
| Freebies Case | August 3, 2022 | Election Promises and Freebies | Directed the formation of a committee to examine the impact of freebies promised by political parties on state finances. |
| PMLA Case (Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs. Union of India) | July 27, 2022 | Constitutionality of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) | Upheld the broad powers of the Enforcement Directorate under the PMLA, reinforcing anti-money laundering measures. |
| Election Commissioners’ Appointment Case | December 2022 | Independence of Election Commission | Directed that appointments of Election Commissioners must be made by a committee including the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, and Leader of Opposition. |
| MediaOne Ban Case | March 2022 | Freedom of Press | Lifted the government ban on MediaOne, reinforcing the importance of press freedom. |
| Places of Worship Act Case | October 2022 | Validity of 1991 Act | Upheld the Places of Worship Act, emphasizing the need to maintain the secular character of the nation. |
| Delhi Municipal Corporation Case | May 2022 | Delhi Government vs. Centre | Held that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over services except for public order, police, and land. |
| Live Streaming of Court Proceedings | September 27, 2022 | Transparency in Judiciary | Allowed live streaming of constitutional bench hearings, enhancing public access to judicial proceedings. |
Important Supreme court verdicts of 2023
Here’s a table summarizing important Supreme Court verdicts of 2023:
| Case Name | Date | Key Issue/Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Demonetisation Policy Case | January 2, 2023 | Upheld the 2016 demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1000 currency notes. |
| Chief Election Commissioner Appointments | March 2, 2023 | Directed appointments of CEC and ECs via a committee comprising the PM, Leader of Opposition, and CJI. |
| Jallikattu and Bull-taming Sports | May 18, 2023 | Upheld amendments permitting traditional sports like Jallikattu, Kambala, and bullock-cart races. |
| Article 370 Abrogation | October 2023 | Validated the 2019 abrogation of J&K’s special status under Article 370. |
| Same-sex Marriage Recognition Case | October 17, 2023 | Declined legal recognition of same-sex marriages, deferring the issue to Parliament. |
| Divorce on Irretrievable Breakdown | May 2023 | Allowed SC to directly grant divorce on grounds of irretrievable breakdown. |
| Delhi Government vs. LG | May 11, 2023 | Gave the Delhi government control over services except public order, police, and land. |
| Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case | August 2023 | Stayed conviction in the Modi surname defamation case, reinstating Lok Sabha membership. |
| Manual Scavenging Compensation Case | July 2023 | Ordered ₹30 lakh compensation for manual scavenging deaths and ₹20 lakh for disabilities. |
| Broadcast Ban on MediaOne | April 2023 | Lifted the ban on MediaOne, emphasizing the importance of press freedom. |