In 2022, the Supreme Court delivered 1263 judgments, which is a lot more compared to the previous two years that witnessed 696<\/a> and 865<\/a> judgments, respectively.<\/p>\n This year, the Supreme Court was presided over by 3 CJIs. When CJI NV Ramana retired in August, he passed the baton to CJI UU Lalit, who stayed in the office for only 74 days but made a huge impact by marking the beginning of much needed institutional changes in the way the Supreme Court functions<\/a>. When CJI Dr DY Chandrachud took over<\/a>, he promised to take forward the legacy and also bring instrumental changes in all levels of judiciary.<\/p>\n In 2022, the Supreme Court bid adieu to 8 judges, including 2 Chief Justices.<\/p>\n It is noteworthy that 9 judges are due to retire in 2023.<\/p>\n Also read <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 2 New CJIs, 8 Retirements, 3 Appointments- Reflecting upon a hectic 2022 for the Supreme Court Judge Strength<\/a><\/p>\n 69781 cases were pending before the Supreme Court (till 31.10.2022<\/a>), including 498 Constitution Bench matters (till 13.12.2022<\/a>).<\/p>\n Just like 2021<\/a>, only 3 Constitution Bench<\/strong><\/span> judgments were delivered in the year 2022. However, with Constitution Benches now sitting more regularly than ever, we can expect a good number of Constitution Bench matters being heard and decided in 2023. Read all about the 2022 Constitution Bench verdict & the matters to look forward to in 2023, here.<\/a><\/p>\n The Court also referred<\/span> <\/strong>some important matters to larger Bench\/Constitution Bench:<\/p>\n From keeping the Sedition law in abeyance to suggesting a separate Bail Act, the Supreme Court has passed some important judgments\/orders with the intent to bring a change<\/span> <\/strong>in the existing system:<\/p>\n When the Prime Minister of India was left stranded for 20 minutes on a Punjab highway amidst serious security lapse,<\/strong><\/span> the Supreme Court appointed a committee headed by Justice Indu Malhotra to look into the matter<\/a>. After Justice Indu Malhotra headed Enquiry Committee submitted its report, the Supreme Courts asked the Central and Punjab Governments to take further action<\/a> in the matter.<\/p>\n There were some cases that shook the conscience of the entire nation<\/span><\/strong>. From Bilkis Bano\u2019s plea challenging the remission of her rapists to the fate of the juvenile accused in the Kathua Gang rape and murder case, here\u2019s how the Supreme Court has dealt with them in 2022:<\/p>\n See more under POCSO, below<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n From plea challenging SIT\u2019s clean chit to PM Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots to Navjot Singh Sidhu\u2019s involvement in road rage case dating back to 1988, some High-Profile cases<\/strong><\/span> also came up before the Supreme Court:<\/p>\n The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the amendments to the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 vide the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020<\/a>, after observing that the \u201caspirations of any country cannot be fulfilled on the hope of foreign donation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Supreme Court delivered a 545-pages long verdict on the validity of the Prevention of Money Laundering<\/span><\/strong> Act, 2002 but later agreed to hear the review petition after noticing that \u2018at-least two issues required reconsideration\u2019.<\/p>\n In an unrelated case, the Court held that handing over cash to a public servant would be considered \u201cproceeds of crime\u201d under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002<\/a>.<\/p>\n When Maharashtra\u2019s political drama<\/span><\/strong> travelled to the Supreme Court, here is what the Court ordered:<\/p>\n After Vijay Mallya<\/span><\/strong> \u201cneither showed any remorse nor tendered any apology for his conduct\u201d of transferring a huge sum of over Rs. 3 billion to his children instead of repaying his debt of more than Rs. 9000 crores to the banks, the Supreme Court imposed sentence of four months and fine of Rs.2,000\/- on him for contempt of Court and directed that Rs. 3 billion be deposited by him and beneficiaries at 8% interest per annum<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Setting aside Delhi High Court\u2019s verdict in the issue relating to the Bullet Train Project<\/strong><\/span>, the Supreme Court observed that even Republic of India can\u2019t deviate from terms and conditions of a fully foreign funded contract<\/a>. It is important to note that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has invested Rs.1 lakh crores in the Bullet Train Project.<\/p>\n From recognising the right to safe abortion of unmarried persons to interpreting the concept of \u2018family\u2019 to include in its ambit the domestic, unmarried\/queer relationships, the Supreme Court gave some progressive judgments, especially focusing on smashing the patriarchal mindset and uplifting women<\/strong><\/span>:<\/p>\n When a Right to Information<\/strong><\/span> application sought the copies of resolution and decision taken in the Supreme Court Collegium<\/strong>\u2019<\/span>s meeting dated 12.12.2018 regarding elevation of Chief Justices of Two High Courts, the Supreme Court observed that all collegium discussions can\u2019t be in public domain and that only final decisions to be uploaded on Supreme Court website.<\/a><\/p>\n In 2021, the Supreme Court had ordered independent probe in the Pegasus Spyware Case<\/a> after observing that \u2018National security cannot be the bugbear that the judiciary shies away from\u2019. <\/a><\/em>The Expert Committee submitted its report<\/a> before the Supreme Court in 2022.<\/p>\n Some journalists found themselves entangled in legal trouble for allegedly hurting religious sentiments<\/span><\/strong>:<\/p>\n The year began with Supreme Court extending period of limitation for filing of matters<\/a> as the COVID-19<\/span><\/strong>\/Omicron cases were at a surge. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is apparently making a comeback just the World was slowly returning to normalcy almost 3 years:<\/p>\n While, in Kathua Gang Rape and Murder case, the Supreme Court observed that it was gathering an impression that the leniency with which the juveniles <\/strong><\/span>are dealt with in the name of goal of reformation is making them more and more emboldened in indulging in such heinous crimes<\/a>, <\/u><\/em>the Court also directed, in another case, that Guidelines must be in place for preliminary assessment of children above 16 years of age for trial as adults<\/a>, after observing that mental capacity & ability to understand consequences of acts are not same.<\/a><\/p>\n 2022 was also the year of getting a chance at life<\/span><\/strong> for some convicts:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Yearly-Roundup-1.png\")
<\/p>\nThree Chief Justices of India in three months\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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Judge Strength <\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nRetirements <\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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The Firsts<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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Pendency <\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nImportant Judgments\/Orders<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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