Author: Mahendra Rathore

Guardians of the Air, or Architects of Overreach? The Supreme Court and the Fragile Architecture of Pollution Governance in India

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India’s Supreme Court has become a key player in environmental protection, stepping in where executive agencies fail. With nearly half of pollution control posts vacant, the Court has invoked Article 21 to enforce laws, from banning firecrackers to relocating polluting industries. While Public Interest Litigations have advanced environmental justice, critics warn of judicial overreach and weak implementation—only 18% of Court orders are fully enforced. The judiciary’s role is vital but cannot replace executive action. Strengthening institutions and accountability is essential to restore constitutional balance in tackling environmental crises.

Rajasthan High Court Grants Stay in Defamation Case Against Drishti IAS Founder Vikas Divyakirti

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The Rajasthan High Court, in Kamlesh Mandoliya v. Vikas Divyakirti, stayed defamation proceedings against Dr. Vikas Divyakirti over alleged derogatory remarks about the judiciary in a viral lecture video. The Ajmer court had summoned him under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal defamation, rejecting his free speech defense. However, Justice Sameer Jain observed that the comments were made in an academic context and fell within Article 19(1)(a) protections. The High Court halted the trial court’s actions pending further hearing, highlighting the balance between free expression and protecting judicial reputation in the digital era.

Supreme Court Intervenes in 7/11 Mumbai Blasts Case: Judgment Stayed as Precedent, But Acquitted Individuals Remain Free

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The Supreme Court has placed a limited stay on the Bombay High Court’s 7/11 Mumbai train blasts acquittal judgment, stating it cannot be used as a precedent in other cases. A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh balanced the acquitted individuals’ liberty with the State’s concerns about the ruling’s wider impact on MCOCA trials. While the acquittals remain, the Court will hear Maharashtra’s appeal later. The High Court had earlier acquitted all 11 accused, citing investigative lapses and unreliable evidence. The Supreme Court’s move quarantines the ruling’s legal effect without reversing the acquittals.