Authorized limelight: Crucial Supreme Court developments of 2023 | India News

In 2023, the Supreme Court of India undertook a transformative journey, applying highly developed reforms these as updated e-filing techniques and 166 Particular Bench sittings. The Supreme Court docket efficiently disposed of 52,220 cases, a noteworthy raise from the preceding year’s 39,800, this development was tempered by a spike in scenario filings, reaching 53,753.
The calendar year 2023 observed the Supreme Court docket make numerous landmark decisions that will reverberate through modern society for a long time to arrive:
Supreme Court’s verdict on demonetisation
A 5-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Courtroom on January 2 upheld the validity of Centre’s November 2016 selection to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 forex notes.The the greater part held that the government’s steps ended up justified for the suitable needs of eradicating fake currency, black dollars, and terror financing.

The five-decide Structure bench of the apex courtroom, headed by Justice S A Nazeer, stated the Centre’s conclusion-creating process could not have been flawed as there was consultation in between the Reserve Lender of India (RBI) and the Union authorities for a time period of 6 months. The courtroom reported the notification dated November 8, 2016 can’t be stated to be unreasonable and struck down on the floor of final decision-producing method.
Supreme Court upholds Posting 370 abrogation
On Monday, December 11, the Supreme Court made a landmark conclusion pertaining to the controversial make a difference of Article 370. The Supreme Court upheld the government’s choice to repeal Posting 370, which conferred special status upon the previous condition of Jammu and Kashmir. It directed that actions be taken to carry out assembly elections by September 30 of the pursuing year.
The verdict was sent by a 5-judge structure bench consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant.

CJI DY Chandrachud explained, “Posting 370 of the Constitution was an interim arrangement owing to war conditions in condition. Constituent assembly of J&K was by no means intended to be permanent physique.”
Challenge to the practice of jallikattu
In a unanimous choice on Might 18th, the Supreme Court docket upheld the exercise of jallikattu, kambala, and bailgada sharyat, overturning the 2014 ban. The court emphasised the Tamil Nadu government’s efforts to minimise cruelty to animals and refrained from extending fundamental rights to animals, resulting in issue among the animal rights activists.
Also study: Supreme Court docket upholds Tamil Nadu law passed to overturn court’s jallikattu ban
Accountability of civil providers in the NCT of Delhi
A constitutional tussle among the Union and the Nationwide Funds Territory (NCT) of Delhi concluded on Could 11th. Irrespective of the preliminary acquire for the Delhi government in the Supreme Courtroom, the Union nullified the judgement by an Ordinance, returning control above ‘services’ to the Union and granting the Lieutenant Governor ‘sole discretionary’ energy about civil servant appointments in the NCT.
Appointments of election commissioners
In March, the Supreme Courtroom issued a directive to set up a committee composed of the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, and the Chief of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to oversee the appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners (ECs).
Also go through: Main Election Commissioner, election commissioners to be appointed by a panel of PM, CJI and chief of opposition: Supreme Court
Justice KM Joseph, main a five-choose bench, presided in excess of the hearing of a sequence of petitions advocating for reforms in the method for appointing customers of the Election Fee of India. The bench emphasised that the electoral method ought to unquestionably be fair, positioning the responsibility on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to promise the integrity of elections.
Maharashtra Shiv Sena split
On May perhaps 11th, the Supreme Court waded into the tumultuous political waters of Maharashtra, declaring the gatherings major to Mr. Eknath Shinde’s increase to power as unlawful. Though leaving the disqualification of rebel Shiv Sena associates to the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the courtroom rebuked Governor B.S. Koshyari for ordering a flooring take a look at dependent on intra-get together disputes.
Also browse: Sena vs Sena: SC presents Maharashtra speaker final option to established sensible time-frame for determining disqualification pleas
Supreme Courtroom halts Rahul Gandhi‘s conviction in defamation circumstance
In August, the Supreme Court halted the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a defamation situation related to his “Modi surname” remark. The courtroom emphasised the will need for the trial courtroom decide to deliver motives for imposing the maximum punishment for a non-cognizable offence.

A 3-decide bench comprising Justices B R Gavai, P S Narasimha, and Sanjay Kumar noted the broad implications of the demo court’s buy in the scenario and asserted that the “purchase of conviction ought to be suspended until finally ultimate adjudication.”
The Supreme Court docket dealt with Rahul Gandhi’s appeal from the Gujarat Superior Court’s conclusion, which experienced denied a continue to be on his conviction. The Gujarat High Courtroom experienced remarked that granting a remain on the conviction would be an exception alternatively than a rule.
Exact-sexual intercourse marriage verdict
In a landmark selection on October 17th, 2023, the Supreme Courtroom, in a slender 3-2 ruling, declined to grant legal recognition to similar-intercourse marriages. The bench, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasised that such issues drop within the jurisdiction of the legislature, exclusively the Parliament. Nevertheless, the court docket did not depart the LGBTQ community without hope, directing the Union of India to form a higher-powered committee to discover the rights and entitlements of individuals in queer interactions, outside the house the establishment of marriage.

SC’s ability to grant divorce less than Short article 142
On Might 1st, a constitution bench clarified that the Supreme Court docket has the electricity to grant divorce right below Post 142 of the Constitution, specifically in situations of irretrievable breakdown of marriage. Nonetheless, the court docket cautioned versus the indiscriminate use of this ability.
Validity of unstamped arbitration agreement
A constitution bench, led by Justice K.M. Joseph, ruled on April 25th that unstamped arbitration agreements are not enforceable until finally stamp responsibility is paid out. The the greater part argued that recognizing the validity of arbitration agreements without the need of stamp obligation payment would undermine the regulation, even though dissenting judges lifted concerns around possible delays in arbitration proceedings.