2026 | Page 184 of 197

Reimagining India’s Power Toward Viksit Bharat @2047: Ministry of Power releases Draft National Electricity Policy 2026 for public consultation

Power Ministry has issued draft National Electricity Policy 2026 which aims for a future-ready energy ecosystem that strengthens reliability, sustainability, and economic competitiveness.

Op Eds OP. ED.

Engendering Pendency and Delays

by Gautam Kumar Choudhary*

Case Briefs High Courts

Bombay High Court: Major victim cannot be detained in protective home against her wish; Detention under Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act unsustainable

“Mere fact that the victim was alone, by itself, could not have been a justifiable ground to detain her in a protective home.”

Case Briefs High Courts

Delhi HC refuses interim relief against IRCTC’s termination of catering contract; cites multiple passenger complaints and unsatisfactory service

“There are multiple complaints of over-charging, service quality, hygiene, food quality, etc. against the appellant, which presents a troubling state of affairs as regards the on-board catering services being offered by the appellant on the subject train.”

Legislation Updates Rules & Regulations

Comprehensive Overview of the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025: Repealed Laws & Major Amendments

The Repealing and Amending Act, 2025—effective from 20 December 2025—streamlines India’s legal framework by repealing 71 obsolete Acts and amending 4 major legislations. The repealed laws span from 1886 to 2023, including several parent Acts and numerous amending Acts related to arbitration, labour laws, banking, insolvency, constitutional orders, and regulatory reforms. Key amendments have also been introduced in the General Clauses Act, Code of Civil Procedure, Succession Act, and Disaster Management Act to ensure statutory clarity and coherence.

jurisdiction to investigate Prevention of Corruption offences

Case Briefs Supreme Court

State Police or its specialised agency can investigate Prevention of Corruption Act offences against Central Government Employees: Supreme Court

“The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) is also a wing of State Police. The offences under the PC Act are also cognizable and can, therefore, be investigated by the State Police or VACB.”

Legislation Updates Rules & Regulations

Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026: Unpaid Toll Fees to Impact NOC, Fitness and Permits

MoRTH has amended Central Motor Vehicle Rules introducing unpaid user fee and strengthening the compliance towards user fee payment at the toll plazas on National Highways.

doctor's prosecution without obtaining competent medical opinion

Case Briefs High Courts

Medical negligence cases should be referred to doctors’ board for independent & competent opinion: Punjab and Haryana HC quashes complaint against practicing doctor

The Professor of Surgery who was supervising the treatment of the victim deposed in his sworn deposition that it was not a case of negligence on the part the doctor who had operated her.

Law School News Moot Court Announcements

Call for Participation |PESU National Moot Court Competition 2026 in collaboration with Fox Mandal Solicitors & Advocates

PES University, in collaboration with Fox Mandal Solicitors & Advocates, announces the PESU National Moot Court Competition 2026 focusing on Constitutional and Criminal Law advocacy.

Case Briefs High Courts

Delhi High Court dismisses Somnath Bharti’s Election Petition; Non-joinder of alleged corrupt candidate held fatal and incurable

“If the ROPA itself mandates that non-joinder of a necessary party leads to dismissal of an election petition, the Court cannot use CPC provisions to cure that defect.”

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Wait-listed candidate has no vested right to appointment beyond the statutory life of reserve list: Supreme Court

“The judiciary would do well to remain circumspect of these practical realities, and interpret service rules in a manner that furthers the very object of a selection process, that is, the selection of the most suitable candidates from suitable candidates for appointment in a timely manner.”

Case Briefs High Courts

Forcing an arrestee to strip, photographing him/her and circulating images is institutional humiliation; direct assault on human dignity: Rajasthan High Court

“The right to dignity does not evaporate upon arrest. Even a person accused of an offence continues to be clothed with basic human rights.”

Case Briefs District Court

Inconsistent and uncorroborated witness testimonies fatal to prosecution: Tis Hazari Court acquits accused under Sections 509, 506 IPC

“The lack of clarity with respect to the actual place of occurrence of the alleged incident along-with lack of specific allegations in testimony cast serious doubt over the case of prosecution.”

Op Eds OP. ED.

Name Clashes: Resolving Conflicts between Corporate Identities and Trade Marks

by Devesh Agarwal*

WATCH NOW

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Reframing Arguments in Court | Sidebar Tales Ep. 1

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi explains how effective advocacy lies in reframing an argument until it persuades while judicial criticism remains firm, never humiliating. Watch full interview in Sidebar Tales by SCC Times, exclusively on the SCC Online YouTube channel.

Suspension invalid if not reviewed within 90 days

Case Briefs High Courts

Suspension becomes invalid if not reviewed within 90 days as per Rule 10(6) of CCS(CCA) Rules; Subsequent review cannot revive it: Himachal Pradesh HC

“As per Rule 10(7) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, the order of suspension made or deemed to be made would not be valid after a period of 90 days unless it was extended after review for a further period of 90 days.”

Legislation Updates Rules & Regulations

Delhi HC amends rules to include ‘complainant’ and ‘victim’ within the term “parties” in criminal cases

“This amendment shall come into force from the date of its publication in the gazette.”

Law School News Others

Call for Participation | Aequitas Conventus 2.0, 2026: Advancing Legal Aid and Pro Bono Culture through Law and Compassion

CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Delhi NCR Campus announces Aequitas Conventus 2.0, 2026, a national conclave promoting legal aid, pro bono culture and compassion-driven advocacy.

taxability of share substitution in amalgamation

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Supreme Court clarifies when share substitution on amalgamations is taxable under S. 28 Income Tax Act

Business profits must be concrete and commercially realisable, not mere paper adjustments. In amalgamation, substitution of shares that yield realisable assets of definite value constitutes taxable income under Section 28 of Income Tax Act, 1961, guided by the doctrine of real income to tax genuine gains while avoiding illusory ones.

Jobs & Internships

Supreme Court Invites Applications for Law Clerk-cum-Research Associates (2026—27): Short-Term Contract, ₹1,00,000/Month

Supreme Court has invited applications for Law Clerk-cum-Research Associates, with registration starting on 20-01-2026 and the final submission date set for 07-02-2026.