Explore this week’s biggest legal developments, including Supreme Court concerns on Lack of proper Ladies’ Bar Rooms, High Court rulings on POSH, tenancy, employment, family law, MACT compensation, and important tribunal decisions. Here is the full week in review.
TOP STORY OF THE WEEK
Lack of proper Ladies’ Bar Rooms a constitutional concern; Supreme Court suggests Young Lawyers’ Professional Assistance Fund to prevent brain drain from the Bar
InSarika Tyagi v. Union of India, 2026 SCC OnLine SC 1192, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a group of women advocates practising in different courts across India, seeking judicial intervention regarding lack of adequate facilities for women advocates in court complexes and the financial hardships faced by young advocates during the initial years of practice, the Division Bench considering the significance of the issues and their implications for the legal profession, issued notice to all respondents and made tentative and illustrative observations intended to facilitate discussion among stakeholders. Read more about SC guidelines HERE
SUPREME COURT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Injunction| High Court Cannot Substitute Mandatory Injunction with Compensation When No Such Relief Claimed
In Rajat Kumar v. S D Adarsh Jain Kanya Maha Vidyalaya Sadhaura, 2026 SCC OnLine SC 1161, while hearing a batch of civil appeals arising from a long-standing property dispute involving alleged encroachment over a common open space and unauthorised construction on a residential wall, The Court held that the High Court committed a manifest error in setting aside concurrent findings of the trial court and the first appellate court on considerations extraneous to the reliefs sought in the suits. Emphasising that a court cannot compel a successful litigant to accept compensation in lieu of an injunction when no such relief was claimed or consented to, the Court found the impugned exercise legally unsustainable and contrary to the scheme of the CPC. Read more about HC cannot substitute injunction with compensation HERE
Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal| “Just Compensation” Even if Conventional Head Was Omitted
In Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Kalu Ram1, while hearing cross-appeals filed by the insurance company for the reduction of the award on account of contributory negligence and by the claimant for enhancing the award, the Division Bench held that claimants shall be entitled to an additional amount of ₹80,000 towards filial consortium. Accordingly, the total compensation payable to the claimants was enhanced from ₹81,21,900 to ₹82,01,900 along with interest at the rate awarded by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT). Read more about Supreme Court awarding filial consortium to parents of motor accident victim HERE
Nomination Rejection| Rejection of Nomination Papers During the Pendency of Elections
In Meenakshi Natarajan v. Election Commission of India, 2026 SCC OnLine SC 1133, while hearing a writ petition arising out Returning Officer’s order dated 9 June 2026, which rejected the nomination of petitioner, a candidate of the Indian National Congress (INC), for a Rajya Sabha seat from the State of Madhya Pradesh in the biennial Rajya Sabha elections, ground that she had failed to disclose a pending criminal case in the affidavit filed along with her nomination papers in Form 26, the Division Bench refused to entertain the present petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. Read more about Rejection of Nomination Papers During the Pendency of Elections HERE
MAJOR HIGH COURT RULINGS THIS WEEK
Advocate fees| Advocate Entitled to Agreed Professional Fees Adjustable Against Compensation Amount
In Prem Singh v. C.S. Rathore, 2026 SCC OnLine Del 4612, an appeal arising from a regular second appeal challenging the Additional District Judge (ADJ)’s judgment and decree dated 22 December 2023, wherein the decree granted in favour of appellant (client) for recovery of ₹60,000 but simultaneously allowed the counterclaim of respondent (appellant’s advocate) for recovery of professional fees amounting to ₹36,000, directing adjustment of that amount from the decretal sum, the Single Judge Bench affirmed the impugned judgment, holding that an advocate entitled to agreed professional fees adjustable against compensation amount. Read more about professional fees being adjustable against compensation amount HERE
Breach of Contract| Relieving letter is consequential upon acceptance of resignation; employer justified in withholding it where resignation is in breach of service bond
In Bharat Aviation (P) Ltd. v. Rahul Sudhindra Soni2, a writ petition challenging the interim order of the Industrial Court directing issuance of a relieving letter and service certificate to an employee who resigned in breach of a service bond, a Single Judge Bench held that the order dated 13 January 2025 was unsustainable. The Court emphasised that issuance of a relieving letter is only a consequential act following valid acceptance of resignation and highlighted that when non-acceptance of resignation is justified due to violation of contractual stipulations, the employer cannot be compelled to issue such documents. The Court further observed that the apprehension of unhealthy competition and poaching of trained engineers was not without substance and accordingly set aside the Industrial Court’s order, directing expeditious adjudication of the complaint. Read more HERE
Drugs Controller’s Licensing Condition| Pharmacies Can Sell Below MRP But Cannot Display Vague Discount Boards
In Pharmadude Pharmacy Vannappuram v. State of Kerala, 2026 SCC OnLine Ker 5906, a batch of three writ petitions concerning the validity of a Circular dated 4 September 2024 issued by the Office of the Drugs Controller, one petition sought implementation of the circular while the other two challenged its legality. The impugned circular required applicants seeking grant or renewal of drug licences to incorporate an undertaking in the affidavit accompanying their applications that they would not display discount boards in their pharmacies. It also mandated modification of the affidavit by replacing the expression “misleading claims” with words relating specifically to discount-board claims. A Single Judge Bench upheld the validity of the circular and held that the licensing authority possesses incidental regulatory powers to prescribe reasonable conditions while granting or renewing drug licences. Read more about Drugs Controller’s Licensing Condition HERE
Family Law| Immigration Uncertainty During H-1B Visa Transition a Genuine Child Welfare Concern
In Sanam Talwar v. Shabeer Gerewal, 2026 SCC OnLine Del 4736, while hearing an appeal filed under Section 19, Family Courts Act, 1984 challenging the Family Court’s order dated 5 June 2026, allowing an application moved by the respondent-father under Section 26, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and permitted the minor child to be brought to India from the United States of America (USA) during the summer vacation. The Division Bench held that child welfare and immigration stability prevail over overseas visitation claims. While balancing the respondent’s visitation rights with the child’s welfare, educational continuity, and immigration-related uncertainties, the Court modified the Family Court’s visitation order, and directed that the child should remain with the respondent in USA during the vacation period without being brought to India. Read about Delhi HC judgement on Child welfare over overseas visitation rights HERE
Fundamental Right to Worship| Preliminary Objections Raised on Maintainability of Petition; Directions Issued
In Hindu Front for Justice v. Union of India, 2026 SCC OnLine MP 11410, while hearing a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, a Division Bench evaluated several preliminary objections raised by the respondents with respect to the maintainability of the petition, before moving on to the primary issue of “religious character” of the “disputed area”. The Court issued various directions emanating from the ruling of the Court, holding the “disputed area” of Bhojshala complex to be Bhojshala Temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) and centre of Sanskrit learning, not a Jain Temple, and disposed of multiple writ petitions and an appeal through a common order as the issues raised and reliefs sought by the parties were same and upon the same subject-matter. Read more about Bhojshala Case HERE
Also Read: MP HC Holds Bhojshala Complex Is Temple of Goddess Vagdevi, a Protected Monument
Medical malpractice | Electro-Homeopathy Regulated Under Medical Practitioners’ Statutes; Registration Mandatory
In Travancore Cochin Medical Council v. Rajesh K., 2026 SCC OnLine Ker 5699, the Court held that the practice of Electro-Homeopathy is regulated under the statutory framework governing Homeopathic medical practitioners and that no person can lawfully practice Electro-Homeopathy in Kerala without complying with the registration and qualification requirements prescribed under the applicable medical practitioners’ statutes. Read more about how Electro-Homeopathy is regulated HERE
Medical Termination of Pregnancy| Termination of Pregnancy Beyond 26 Weeks Allowed
In X v. State of Maharashtra, 2026 SCC OnLine Bom 4020, while considering a writ petition seeking permission for termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks, the Division Bench placed reliance on the Medical Board’s report and allowed termination of pregnancy beyond 26 weeks in view of serious foetal abnormalities, anticipated medical complications, and the petitioner’s financial condition. Read more about Medical Termination of Pregnancy HERE
Motor accident claim| In Absence of Income Proof, Minimum Wages Act Governs Notional Income in Motor Accident Claims
In S. Seshamma v. Boya Bazari, 2026 SCC OnLine AP 1888, while hearing a motor accident civil miscellaneous appeal, filed against the order passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarding compensation of ₹1240000 to the appellants, a Single Judge Bench of V. Sujatha, J., enhanced the compensation to ₹1692060 with interest at 7.5 per cent per annum from the date of filing of the petition till the date of realisation, after holding the respondent insurer liable for paying the compensation to the claimants. The Court considered the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (MWA) to calculate the annual income, applied multiplier of 15, deducted one fourth towards personal and living expenses and awarded additional 40 per cent towards future prospects and ₹40000 to each claimant under the head of loss of consortium. Read more HERE
PoSH| Whether a Shared Autorickshaw Used for Office Commute Constitutes a “Workplace” Under POSH Act
In Siddhesh Pradeep Satpute v. SBI, 2026 SCC OnLine Bom 3824 while hearing a case concerning the scope of the expression “workplace” under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), the Division Bench stated that in the present case, although the petitioner was going to his office, the said transportation had not been provided either by his employer or Respondent 3’s employer. In these circumstances, such transportation would not fall within the definition of a “workplace” as defined by Section 2(o)(v), POSH Act. Thus, the Court held that the alleged incident had not taken place at a “workplace”. Read more about “Workplace” Under POSH Act HERE
Tenancy| Acceptance of Pagri Does Not Render Tenancy Perpetual or Confer Ownership Rights on Tenant
In Shyam Lal & Sons v. Mithlesh Devi, 2026 SCC OnLine Del 4748, while hearing a regular second appeal arising out of a landlord-tenant dispute concerning eviction from a commercial shop, a Single Judge Bench held that acceptance of a pagri/advance amount by the landlord did not alter the nature of the relationship between the parties or render the tenancy perpetual and non-terminable. The Court observed that neither the rent agreement nor the memorandum of understanding (MoU) executed between the parties conferred any ownership rights upon the tenant or extinguished the landlord-tenant relationship. Read more about acceptance of pagri HERE
Also Read: No surrender of tenancy without agreement or decree: Bom HC
Also Read: Better Possessory Title Prevails Over Mere Occupation: Delhi HC
TRIBUNAL UPDATES OF THE WEEK
Companies Act| MCA Holds No Trade Mark Needed to Seek Company Name Rectification under Section 16(1)(a) of Companies Act
In ONA Forensics Laboratory (P) Ltd v. DNA Forensic Test Solutions (P) Ltd., while giving a significant ruling on corporate name disputes, the Regional Director, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Delhi, allowed an application filed by ONA Forensics Laboratory under Section 16(1)(a), Companies Act, 2013 (the Act) and directed DNA Forensic Test Solutions Private Limited to change its name within 3 months. Rejecting the respondent’s objection that an applicant without a registered trade mark cannot invoke Section 16, the authority clarified that Section 16(1)(a) of the Act provides an independent remedy where a subsequently incorporated company’s name is identical with or deceptively resembles the name of an existing company. Read more about Company Name Rectification under Companies Act HERE
Unfair Trade Practice |Sale of Non-BIS Certified Toys on Snapdeal an Unfair Trade Practice
Taking suo moto cognizance of sale of non BIS certified toys on an E-commerce platform by Stallion Trading Company (Opposite Party), the Bench held that the sale of uncertified toys contravened the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020, posed a serious risk to consumer safety, and constituted an unfair trade practice — thereby warranting regulatory action against the seller. Read more about Sale of Non-BIS Certified Toys on Snapdeal HERE
THIS WEEK’S KEY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF THIS WEEK
LAW MADE EASY
OP.ED.
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Expanding the Door, Narrowing the Gate: Fast-Track Mergers and the Tax Attribute Problem by Tanmay Satvik
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Fragmented Consent and Fractured Rights: Resolving the Account Aggregator-Consent Management Paradox under DPDP Rules in Light of the Booming Fintech Sector by Sambhav Mukherjee
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A Case for a Human-Centric AI Legislative Framework in India by Sara Mishra
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The Right to Digital Erasure: Cryptographically Verifiable Machine Unlearning by Shantanu Vyas and Shambhavi Tripathi
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Material Re-Expression Test: Combating Generative AI-Driven Refurbishment of Content That Has Normalised Intellectual Camouflage by Arya Mishra and Rudraksh Pathak
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The Mirage of the Server: Analysing the Conflict between Indian Data Sovereignty and Extraterritorial Cloud Laws by Divyansh Godara and Pragya Bhadana
KNOW THY JUDGE
Also Read:
1. Civil Appeal No. 8706 of 2026
2. Writ Petition No. 334 of 2026
