Here is the daily roundup of important judgments and orders from the Supreme Court and the High Courts for August 15, 2026.
‘This Should Not Be a Proxy Kind of War’: Bombay High Court On Reopening of Arnab Goswami Case
The Bombay High Court examined whether the State could reopen a criminal case after a closure report had been accepted. Justice Milind Jadhav cautioned that legal proceedings should not become a “proxy kind of war” and stressed the judiciary’s constitutional role while directing the matter for further hearing. Read more...
Supreme Court Seeks Centre’s Response On Mandatory Reporting Of Child Sexual Abuse Material By Social Media Platforms
The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s response to a plea seeking enforcement of mandatory reporting requirements for child sexual exploitation and abuse material by social media intermediaries. The Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran also directed the petitioner to implead the concerned intermediaries in the proceedings. Read more...
“Should India Remain An Underdeveloped Country?” Supreme Court Questions Centre Over Front-of-Package Food Labelling
The Supreme Court has urged the Union Government to seriously consider front-of-package labelling for pre-packaged foods. The Bench highlighted public health concerns, particularly those affecting children, and referred to international examples. The Court granted the Union two weeks to place its final decision on record and listed the matter for September 10, 2026. Read more...
NEET UG 2026: Calcutta High Court Rejects Plea To Change Category To EWS After Merit List
The Calcutta High Court dismissed a plea by NEET UG 2026 candidates seeking to change their declared category to EWS during West Bengal counselling. Justice Amrita Sinha held that allowing such a change after publication of the merit list could disturb inter-se merit and prejudice candidates who had declared EWS status within the prescribed stage. Read more...
Delhi High Court Seeks Wider Resolution on Accessibility of Films for Persons with Disabilities
The Delhi High Court has directed stakeholders to jointly deliberate on wider accessibility concerns affecting persons with disabilities while watching films. The order followed a petition concerning accessibility features in Pushpa 2: The Rule. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed the stakeholders to seek a workable resolution within prescribed timelines. Read more...
Wife, Three Children Entitled to Consortium: Supreme Court Enhances Motor Accident Compensation to Rs 12.47 Lakh
The Supreme Court enhanced compensation payable to the wife and three children of a deceased accident victim to Rs 12.47 lakh. It held that each claimant was entitled to consortium, including parental consortium for the children, and directed payment of the additional amount with 7.5% interest. Read more...
Income Tax Act | Settlement Application Must Be Decided Within 18 Months Under S.245D(4A): Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court ruled that the 18-month statutory period for deciding an income-tax settlement application is mandatory. It held that a subsequent transfer between Interim Boards cannot restart limitation. The Court consequently quashed the Chennai Interim Board’s October 2023 order and the consequential December 2023 rectification order. Read more...
Karnataka HC Allows Investigation Against Earth Recycler Over Alleged Re-Labeling And Resale Of Expired Food Products
The Karnataka High Court dismissed Earth Recycler Pvt. Ltd.'s plea seeking quashing of an FIR alleging re-labelling and resale of expired products. Justice M. Nagaprasanna held that allegations under the BNS could be investigated alongside Food Safety Act violations, while requiring statutory food-safety procedures to be followed during further proceedings. Read more...
Police Can Debit-Freeze Bank Accounts Without Prior Magistrate Approval Under Section 106 BNSS: Karnataka HC
The Karnataka High Court has ruled that police may debit-freeze bank accounts as an immediate investigative measure under Section 106 BNSS without prior Magistrate approval. Justice M. Nagaprasanna held that Section 107 governs judicial attachment, while Section 106 permits immediate action followed by reporting to the Magistrate. Read more...
Reporting Official Arrest Without Defamatory Intent Cannot Attract Criminal Case: Kerala HC Quashes Defamation Case
The Kerala High Court quashed criminal defamation proceedings against Malayala Manorama’s Chief Editor, Editor and Reporter over an arrest report. Justice C.S. Dias held that the complaint failed to establish the required intention or knowledge to harm reputation, noting that reporting an official action based on the occurrence report did not disclose the essential ingredients of defamation. Read more...
S.42 NDPS Act: Substantial Compliance Sufficient Where Delay May Risk Removal Of Contraband: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court dismissed Kashmir Ram’s appeal against his NDPS conviction, holding that Section 42 requirements were substantially complied with. It also rejected challenges concerning Section 50, delayed sample dispatch, independent witnesses and evidentiary inconsistencies, and upheld the 10-year imprisonment and ₹1 lakh fine imposed for commercial quantity recovery. Read more...
5-Km Protest by School Children Over Bad Road Prompts Allahabad HC to Take Suo Motu Cognizance
The Allahabad High Court took suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report concerning the lack of a proper road to a school in Hamirpur. The Bench noted that children had walked 5 km during a protest. The Court issued notices to the State and concerned officials and sought details of remedial steps. Read more...
Composite Appeal Maintainable Where Common Judgment Decides Two Suits By Same Plaintiff: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled that a composite appeal can challenge a common judgment in two suits filed by the same plaintiff when both matters were clubbed and tried together. The Court held that filing one memorandum instead of separate memoranda was a curable procedural defect where both decrees were challenged and requisite court fees were paid. Read more...
Laser Imagers Used With Different Machines Must Fall Under CTH 9033: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court upheld the classification of Carestream’s imported laser imagers under CTH 9033 00 00. The Court held that because the accessories could be used with machines falling under different tariff headings, they could not receive classification under CTH 9018 and instead fell under the residuary heading. Read more...
