Here is the Daily Roundup of Important Judgments and Orders from the Supreme Court and the High Courts for September 16, 2026.
Second Wife Cannot Be Automatically Prosecuted For Bigamy Without Knowledge Of Existing Marriage: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court granted anticipatory bail to Rajalakshmi in a matrimonial case, observing that Section 82 of the BNS primarily concerns a person marrying again while having a living spouse. The Court found no material at the bail stage showing her knowledge of the existing marriage and imposed reporting and surety conditions. Read more...
Supreme Court Clarifies Disability Pension Rules For Ex-Servicemen, Says 2008 Rules Retain Burden On Defence Establishment In Claims Within 15 Years
The Supreme Court dismissed around 271 appeals concerning disability pension claims by ex-servicemen. It held that the 2008 Entitlement Rules removed the earlier automatic presumption but retained the claimant-protective burden framework. For claims raised after 15 years, however, Rule 7 shifts the burden onto the ex-serviceman. Read more...
Illegal Arrest Cases Should Lead To Release Without Bail, Allows Legal Re-Arrest After Following Arrest Formalities: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has directed criminal courts to release persons whose arrests are found legally defective without granting bail. Justice A. Badharudeen said such persons should be treated as being at the pre-arrest stage, while police may seek their re-arrest after completing mandatory legal formalities. The Court separately granted bail to Jose M.P. Read more...
Karnataka HC Upholds Son’s Eviction From Mother’s Home Under Senior Citizens Act Amid Harassment Claims
The Karnataka High Court dismissed Dr. M.S. Mahesh’s challenge against his eviction from the residential premises occupied by his elderly mother. Justice Suraj Govindaraj held that Section 22 of the Senior Citizens Act empowers authorities to protect a senior citizen’s peaceful residence where continued harassment justifies removal. Read more...
Two Criminal Cases Not Enough to Brand Person ‘Goonda’: Allahabad HC Quashes Proceedings Against Abhishek Tyagi, Awards ₹50k as Damages
The Allahabad High Court quashed proceedings against Abhishek Tyagi under the Uttar Pradesh Control of Goondas Act, holding that two criminal cases separated by three years did not establish habitual involvement. Justice Sandeep Jain also awarded ₹50,000 damages and directed payment within one month. Read more...
Advocate Disrupts Court Proceedings, Karnataka High Court Sentences One-Day Imprisonment And ₹2k Fine
The Karnataka High Court convicted advocate Pankaj Kaushik for criminal contempt after finding that his conduct disrupted proceedings and involved derogatory allegations against judicial officers. The Division Bench of Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice Venkatesh Naik T sentenced him to one-day simple imprisonment and imposed a ₹2,000 fine. Read more...
TNRERA Cannot Decide Disputed Property Title, Parties Must Approach Civil Court: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court declined to quash a TNRERA project registration challenged by N. Balakrishnan. Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy held that while TNRERA must consider statutory requirements, disputed property title questions cannot be decided by the regulatory authority and must remain before the competent civil court. Read more...
Delhi HC Denies Bail To Men Over 12-Year-Old Child’s Death From High-Voltage Electric Fence
The Delhi High Court refused regular bail to Karan Singh in a case involving the death of a 12-year-old child after contact with an electrified fence. The Court considered the absence of safety devices and warning signs, the satellite image, and the investigation concerning management of the land before dismissing the bail application. Read more...
Alternative Customs Appeal No Bar to Writ in “Obscene Adult Sex Toys” Import Dispute: Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court has held that a writ petition filed by Pracha Aalloy Private Limited against a customs order describing imported goods as "obscene adult sex toys" is maintainable, rejecting the Revenue's plea that the company should have filed a statutory appeal instead of approaching the High Court. Read more...
John Doe Suits Cannot Be Blocked By Procedural Technicalities When Defendants Are Unknown: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court allowed Cubes Entertainments’ petition after the Ernakulam Munsiff Court refused to number its John Doe suit over unidentified reviews of “Kattalan” on BookMyShow. Justice Easwaran S. held that procedural requirements could not defeat the purpose of proceedings against unidentified persons. Read more...
Kerala High Court Grants Pre-Arrest Bail To Advocate In Alleged Court-Hall Assault Case
The Kerala High Court granted pre-arrest bail to an advocate accused in a Palakkad court-hall incident. Justice Dr. Kauser Edappagath found custodial interrogation unnecessary and imposed conditions requiring cooperation with the investigation, regular appearance before police, protection of witnesses and restrictions on leaving Kerala. Read more...
Madras HC Dismisses Election Petition Against K.A. Sengottaiyan Over Notary Attestation Issue
The Madras High Court dismissed V.B. Prabhu's election petition challenging K.A. Sengottaiyan's Gobichettipalayam election. Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan held that the petition failed to plead essential material facts showing how the alleged defect in Form No.26 attestation materially affected the election result. Read more...
Delhi High Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Inquiry Into Alleged Lathi Charge During CJP Protest
The Delhi High Court dismissed Nitin Naresh’s PIL seeking an inquiry into conflicting media reports and the Delhi Police’s statement regarding an alleged lathi charge during a Cockroach Janata Party protest, holding that the dispute did not present a public-interest issue warranting PIL jurisdiction. Read more...
Criminal Cases Against Kidney Donor Cannot Alone Bar Organ Donation: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court directed a hospital to forward an organ transplantation application to the District Level Authorisation Committee. The Court held that the proposed donor’s involvement in criminal cases, by itself, could not justify withholding the papers or prevent consideration of the donation application under the applicable law. Read more...
Supreme Court Upholds UPSSSC Answer Key, Rejects Candidate’s Claim For Extra Mark In 2016 VDO Recruitment Exam
The Supreme Court set aside an Allahabad High Court order that awarded a candidate one extra mark in the 2016 UPSSSC Village Development Officer exam, ruling that the Commission's original answer key was not patently erroneous. Read more...
Delhi High Court Seeks Centre’s Stand on Policy to Regulate Addictive Social Media Design
The Delhi High Court asked the Central Government whether it is considering a policy addressing social media design features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay and personalised feeds. The Bench sought instructions from the Centre and adjourned the PIL for three weeks for a response. Read more...
EPF Act: Supreme Court Questions Automatic Penalty Under Section 14B, Refers Issue To Larger Bench
The Supreme Court has referred to a larger Bench the question of discretion under Section 14B of the EPF Act to impose damages. It also directed successful resolution applicants to pay EPF dues with statutory interest in four quarterly instalments while preserving their right to seek waiver or reduction of damages. Read more...
Delhi High Court Reserves Order on Ajeet Bharti’s Anticipatory Bail Plea in SC/ST Act Case
The Delhi High Court reserved its order on YouTuber Ajeet Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea in an SC/ST Act case. Justice Saurabh Banerjee heard arguments concerning the alleged remarks, their context, the need for custodial interrogation and the disputed video transcript before reserving the matter for orders. Read more...
Stray Dogs: Kerala HC Directs Monthly Monitoring of Compliance With Supreme Court Directions
The Kerala High Court has directed its High-Level Monitoring Committee to file monthly compliance reports concerning Supreme Court directions on stray dog management. The reports must cover local committees, implementation status, reasons for partial or non-compliance and euthanasia figures. The matter will be reviewed monthly by the Bench. Read more...
Allahabad HC Sets Ayush Malik at Liberty, Upholds Adult’s Right to Choose Religion and Life Partner
The Allahabad High Court set Ayush Malik at liberty after finding no lawful justification for continuing restraint on his personal liberty. Justice Sandeep Jain held that an adult’s voluntary choice of religion and life partner cannot be displaced merely because those decisions are opposed by family members. Read more...
Insurer’s Office at a Place Does Not Give Tribunal Jurisdiction Over Motor Accident Claim: Supreme Court Explains S.166(2) MV Act
The Supreme Court upheld the transfer of K Rashik’s motor accident compensation claim from Chennai to Chittoor. It held that an insurer’s business presence in Chennai did not confer territorial jurisdiction under Section 166(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Court directed the Chittoor Tribunal to decide the claim expeditiously. Read more...
Menstrual Hygiene in Schools: Supreme Court Replaces Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin Rule With Biodegradable, Compostable Standard
The Supreme Court modified its earlier menstrual hygiene directions by replacing oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins with biodegradable, biocompatible and compostable products meeting ISO 17088 and IS 5405 standards. The Court also directed States and UTs to improve compliance reporting, conduct surprise school inspections and identify gaps in menstrual hygiene facilities. Read more...
Kerala HC Grants Pre-Arrest Bail To Woman Accused Of Throwing Newborn From Hospital Window, Says No Material Shows 'Intention To Cause Death'
The Kerala High Court granted pre-arrest bail to a 20-year-old woman in a case concerning a newborn allegedly thrown from a hospital bathroom window. Justice Kauser Edappagath noted the absence of material showing an intention to cause death, the applicant's clean record, and the near-completion of investigation. Read more...
Supreme Court Upholds Cancellation of Anganwadi Supervisor Appointment for Lack of District Experience
The Supreme Court dismissed Sunita Lahu Panchpande’s appeal against cancellation of her Anganwadi Supervisor appointment. The Court held that the applicable Government Resolution and recruitment advertisement required 10 years of Anganwadi experience in the same district. It upheld the Bombay High Court’s directions and granted her time until September 30, 2026. Read more...
Calcutta High Court Quashes 498A Case After Mutual Consent Divorce, Says Continuation Would Abuse Judicial Process
The Calcutta High Court quashed a Section 498A IPC proceeding after a couple obtained mutual consent divorce and settled their matrimonial claims. Justice Uday Kumar held that the complainant’s undertaking to withdraw the criminal case, followed by the divorce and settlement, supported quashing the prosecution under the High Court’s inherent powers. Read more...
Age Of 70-Year-Old Accused Alone Cannot Warrant Anticipatory Bail In Molestation Case: Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court rejected anticipatory bail to a 70-year-old applicant accused of repeated misconduct towards a 21-year-old woman. Justice Sanjeev J. Thaker considered witness statements, the complainant’s consistent account, an earlier alleged incident and subsequent allegations, while clarifying that the observations were tentative. Read more...
Break In Chain Of Custody Makes FSL Report Unreliable, Supreme Court Acquits Two In NDPS Case
The Supreme Court acquitted Abdul Rajik and Govind after finding serious gaps in the sampling and custody of alleged charas. The Court held that the prosecution failed to establish an unbroken chain connecting seized material with FSL samples. The convictions were therefore set aside. Read more...
Demand, Acceptance Of Bribe Not Proved Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Supreme Court Acquits Former RPF Officer
The Supreme Court acquitted former RPF officer Bharat Raj Meena in two CBI corruption cases arising from alleged bribes for transfers and postings. The Court found gaps in the prosecution evidence, including reliance on approvers, lack of independent corroboration and failure to establish Meena's acceptance of the alleged gratification. Read more...
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