Supreme Court of India

Timeline

1. 15 Oct2026
   Supreme Court

   Supreme Court: right to internet access extends to children¹²³

   A Supreme Court bench of Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. V. Chandran held that access to the internet is a fundamental right of every individual, children included. It declined to endorse blanket age-based bans and called for parental controls, removal of abuse material and child modes on platforms.

   • Decided 15 October 2026 by Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. V. Chandran
   • Held that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a), and children enjoy it too
   • Court declined to endorse blanket age-based bans on children's internet use
   • Called for stricter parental controls, removal of child sexual abuse material and child-mode controls on platforms
   • Case: Just Rights for Children Alliance v. S. Harish
2. 15 Oct2026
   Supreme Court

   Supreme Court: conversion alone does not carry over backward class status⁴⁵

   A Supreme Court bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar dismissed Tamil Nadu's appeal against the Madras High Court order striking down GO 31 of 2024. It held that conversion to Islam alone does not make a person a member of the notified backward class Muslim communities.

   • Supreme Court ruled on 15 October 2026, dismissing Tamil Nadu's special leave petition
   • Bench: Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar
   • Tamil Nadu GO (Ms) 31 of 9 March 2024 let converts be certified under seven notified Backward Class Muslim sects; the Madras High Court struck it down in June 2026
   • Court said a person who converts to Islam does not by that act become a member of the notified backward class communities and the old caste status cannot be transposed
   • Petitioner: Sameer Ahamed (Labbai Muslim category)
3. 5 Oct2026
   Supreme Court

   CJI says Supreme Court never approved altered Form 6⁶⁷

   CJI Surya Kant said the Court had not cleared any modified Form 6 and would check Election Commission records on who changed it, during SIR litigation.

   • On 5 October 2026 CJI Surya Kant said the Supreme Court had not approved any modified Form 6 and wanted to see who modified it
   • Remark came in a plea challenging alleged unilateral decisions of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
   • ECI had said in a 26 September note that the Form 6 declaration for SIR was upheld by the Supreme Court
   • The online Form 6 was altered in July to require applicants' parents' details from the previous SIR
4. 23 Sep2026
   Supreme Court

   Supreme Court two-judge bench refers 2023 Election Commissioner Act challenge to CJI⁸⁹¹⁰

   Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma split on whether to refer the challenge to the 2023 Election Commissioners Act to a larger bench and sent the matter to CJI Surya Kant to constitute a bench.

   • Order on 23 September 2026 by Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma
   • The 2023 Act's selection panel: PM, Leader of Opposition and a Union Cabinet minister, replacing the CJI
   • Anoop Baranwal (2 March 2023) set an interim panel including the CJI
   • Art 145(3) needs at least five judges for substantial constitutional questions
5. 14 Sep2026
   Supreme Court

   Supreme Court launches Jan Soochna Seva Hindi summaries on Hindi Diwas¹¹¹²¹³

   The service gives short Hindi text, audio and video summaries of key judgments and may extend to other languages.

   • Announced on 14 September 2026, Hindi Diwas
   • Hindi summaries of selected judgments plus 15 to 30 minute audio and video bulletins
   • To expand to other Indian languages in phases
6. 1 Sep2026
   Supreme Court

   Supreme Court uses Article 142 to quash FIRs over NEET-UG 2026 protests¹⁴¹⁵

   A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana used Article 142 on 1 September 2026 to quash FIRs over the 20 to 25 July NEET-UG protests, directed a pan-India compensation policy within 90 days for families of students who died by suicide, and allowed a fresh FIR against 2,873 people identified by Delhi Police.

   • Order dated 1 September 2026
   • Compensation policy within 90 days
   • Fresh FIR allowed against 2,873 individuals identified by Delhi Police
   • Court also set up a panel on police use of force
7. 21 Aug2026
   Supreme Court

   Supreme Court cuts mandatory bar practice for civil judge exam from three years to one¹⁶¹⁷¹⁸

   On Friday 21 August 2026 the Supreme Court (CJI Surya Kant, Justices A. G. Masih and K. Vinod Chandran, 2:1 with Justice Chandran dissenting) cut the mandatory prior practice for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) exam from three years to one, adding a year of judicial academy training and a year of clerkship.

   • Judgment of 21 August 2026 in All India Judges Association v Union of India, modifying the May 2025 ruling
   • One year of practice for notifications issued on or after 1 April 2027
   • Selected candidates get one year at the State Judicial Academy plus a one-year structured law clerkship
   • Notifications issued between 20 May 2025 and 31 March 2027: candidates deemed to have completed one year of practice
   • Revised scheme to stay in force for five years
8. 17 Aug2026
   Supreme Court

   Supreme Court orders nationwide survey of elephant corridors¹⁹²⁰²¹

   On 17 August 2026 a Supreme Court bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana ordered a nationwide survey of elephant corridors, said states cannot obstruct them citing crop damage, and barred fireballs and mashaals to drive elephants away.

   • Order of 17 August 2026
   • Environment Ministry to survey whether states have built obstacles in corridors
   • States cannot block corridors because of crop damage
   • Fireballs and mashaals barred; report sought in about six weeks
   • Wildlife Institute of India identified 150 corridors in 2023
9. 27 Jul2026
   Supreme Court

   Supreme Court: 15-day police custody under BNSS s 187 need not be within first 15²²²³

   In State of Andhra Pradesh v. Suda Suresh Veera Venkata Naga Raju (27 July 2026) the Supreme Court held that Section 187 BNSS lets police custody of up to 15 days in total be sought in parts, not only within the first 15 days of remand.

   • Judgment dated 27 July 2026, bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta (2026 INSC 744)
   • Aggregate police custody cap stays 15 days
   • Custody may be sought in whole or in parts within the first 40 days (60-day detention cases) or 60 days (90-day cases)
   • Set aside an Andhra Pradesh High Court condition barring police custody after the first 15 days
   • Advocate's presence during interrogation under BNSS s 38 need not be continuous
10. 24 Jul2026
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court restricts unauthorised sharing of court-proceeding recordings²⁴²⁵²⁶

    On 24 July 2026 a Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant passed an interim order barring extraction, reposting, monetisation or hosting of audio-video recordings of court proceedings without permission from the SC Secretary General or a High Court Registrar General. The Court said news reporting is not restricted (a later clarification said reporting cannot include audio or video clips); notices went to platforms including Meta, X, Google and YouTube. The case is Harshita Grover v. Union of India (W.P.(C) 751/2026).

    • On 24 July 2026 a Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant passed an interim order barring extraction, reposting, monetisation or hosting of audio-video recordings of court proceedings without permission from the SC Secretary General or a High Court Registrar General
    • The Court said news reporting is not restricted (a later clarification said reporting cannot include audio or video clips); notices went to platforms including Meta, X, Google and YouTube
    • The case is Harshita Grover v. Union of India (W.P.(C) 751/2026)
11. 16 Jul2026
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court orders states to frame early-release policy for elderly and terminally ill prisoners²⁷²⁸²⁹

    On 16 July 2026 a Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, directed all states and UTs to frame a policy for early release of elderly and terminally ill prisoners within three months. The policy must be framed with State Legal Services Authorities, give a uniform definition of terminal illness, set up independent medical boards and use the e-Prisons portal; compliance affidavits are due in six months and the matter is listed on 19 January 2027.

    • On 16 July 2026 a Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, directed all states and UTs to frame a policy for early release of elderly and terminally ill prisoners within three months
    • The policy must be framed with State Legal Services Authorities, give a uniform definition of terminal illness, set up independent medical boards and use the e-Prisons portal; compliance affidavits are due in six months and the matter is listed on 19 January 2027
12. 14 Jul2026
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court approves gender-sensitivity guidelines for judges in sexual offence cases³⁰³¹

    On 14 July 2026 the Supreme Court approved the National Judicial Academy expert committee report on judicial sensitivity in sexual offence cases and directed all courts to follow its expressions; coverage peaked in early August.

    • Order dated 14 July 2026 in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Crl) No. 1 of 2025
    • Bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Justice V. Mohana
    • Arose from an Allahabad High Court order of 17 March 2025
    • All courts directed to follow the handbook's expressions; to be uploaded on SC, High Court and district court sites
    • Police and prosecutors to follow it when recording FIRs and chargesheets
13. 13 Jul2026
    Supreme Court

    CJI Surya Kant forms four special benches for oldest pending cases³²

    The Supreme Court's new roster, effective 13 July 2026, created four dedicated benches to hear only its oldest cases: Justices P. K. Mishra and S. V. N. Bhatti (civil) and Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan (criminal). The benches sit on non-miscellaneous days, Tuesday to Thursday. CJI Surya Kant said about 93,000 matters appear pending, of which nearly 10,000 are defective awaiting cure of objections.

    • The Supreme Court's new roster, effective 13 July 2026, created four dedicated benches to hear only its oldest cases: Justices P. K. Mishra and S. V. N. Bhatti (civil) and Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan (criminal)
    • The benches sit on non-miscellaneous days, Tuesday to Thursday
    • CJI Surya Kant said about 93,000 matters appear pending, of which nearly 10,000 are defective awaiting cure of objections
14. 3 Jun2026
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court releases draft regulations for AI use in courts³³³⁴³⁵

    The Supreme Court's AI Committee released draft Regulations for Use of AI in Courts, 2026 on 3 June, later extending the comment deadline to 15 July. The draft permits AI for research, translation and transcription but bars it from deciding cases, bail determination or witness assessment.

    • Draft Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Courts, 2026 were released by the Supreme Court's AI Committee in early June 2026 (about 3 June); consultation was extended to 15 July 2026
    • AI may be used for tasks such as legal research, translation, transcription and case management, but not for deciding cases, sentencing, bail determination, witness credibility or recidivism/flight-risk assessment
    • The draft proposes a permanent apex regulatory authority at the Supreme Court and AI committees in every High Court
15. 29 May2026
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court upholds DNA test order where paternity is directly in issue³⁶³⁷³⁸

    In CP v AP (2026 INSC 600), Justices Sanjay Karol and N. Kotiswar Singh dismissed an appeal against a trial court and Chhattisgarh High Court order for a DNA test in a suit seeking a declaration of paternity. The Court weighed privacy against the claimant's interest and stressed that such tests are not to be ordered routinely.

    • Judgment delivered 29 May 2026, citation 2026 INSC 600
    • Bench: Justices Sanjay Karol and N. Kotiswar Singh
    • Appeal dismissed; trial court and Chhattisgarh High Court orders upheld
    • Paternity was directly in issue in a civil suit; privacy and res judicata objections rejected
16. 16 May2026
    Legislation

    President promulgates ordinance raising Supreme Court strength to 38 judges³⁹⁴⁰⁴¹

    Following Cabinet approval on 5 May, the President promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance on 16-17 May, raising judges excluding the CJI from 33 to 37 and total strength from 34 to 38 to tackle backlog.

    • Cabinet cleared the corresponding Bill on 5 May 2026
    • Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance 2026 promulgated 16 May (gazette), announced 17 May
    • Judges excluding CJI raised from 33 to 37; total strength from 34 to 38
    • Issued under Article 123; must be approved within six weeks of Parliament reassembling
17. 26 Feb2026
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court bans NCERT Class 8 textbook over chapter on judicial corruption^42434445

    A bench led by CJI Surya Kant on 26 February took suo motu cognisance of a Class 8 NCERT social science textbook chapter on corruption in the judiciary, imposed a blanket ban, ordered seizure of copies and issued show-cause notices on contempt. The Solicitor General apologised for the Centre. The Court later closed the suo motu case.

    • Order on 26 February 2026 by a bench led by CJI Surya Kant
    • Blanket ban on the Class 8 NCERT book; physical and digital copies to be seized
    • Show-cause notices to the NCERT director and the Department of School Education secretary on why contempt should not follow; hearing listed for 11 March
    • Solicitor General Tushar Mehta offered an unqualified apology; NCERT called it unintentional and promised a rewrite for 2026-27
    • A later report says the Supreme Court closed the suo motu case after clarifying its order
18. 29 Jan2026
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court stays UGC Equity Regulations 2026 after campus protests⁴⁶⁴⁷⁴⁸

    The Supreme Court on 29 January stayed the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations 2026, calling them prima facie vague and open to misuse. The 2012 regulations stay in force meanwhile.

    • Stay ordered 29 January 2026 by a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
    • Court called the regulations prima facie vague and open to misuse
    • Rule 3(1)(c), limiting caste discrimination to SC, ST and OBC, held in abeyance
    • 2012 UGC equity regulations continue under Article 142; notice returnable 19 March
19. 29 Dec2025
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court stays its own Aravalli definition order, sets new expert panel⁴⁹⁵⁰⁵¹

    The Supreme Court put on hold its 20 November judgment that had accepted a 100-metre elevation test for defining Aravalli hills. It ordered a fresh expert committee after concerns that the definition would strip protection from large parts of the range.

    • Original order: 20 November 2025 accepting a uniform definition (landform 100 m or more above local relief)
    • Stay on 29 December 2025 by a vacation bench headed by CJI Surya Kant, to last until a fresh expert committee is constituted
    • Court asked for names of environmentalists and forest experts for the new committee
    • Stay continued at the hearing listed for 21 January 2026
20. 29 Dec2025
    Supreme Court

    Supreme Court stays Delhi High Court bail to Kuldeep Sengar in Unnao case⁵²⁵³⁵⁴

    On 29 December a vacation bench led by CJI Surya Kant stayed the Delhi High Court order that had suspended Kuldeep Singh Sengar's life sentence in the 2017 Unnao rape case. Sengar stays in custody pending a hearing set for January 2026.

    • Delhi HC order suspending Sengar's life sentence dated 23 December 2025
    • Supreme Court vacation bench headed by CJI Surya Kant stayed it on 29 December on CBI's plea and issued notice
    • Sengar not to be released; he is also serving a 10-year sentence in the custodial death case of the victim's father

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Sources

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