In 2018, West Bengal withdrew its consent to be under the CBI's jurisdiction. In 2021, as the CBI's activities in West Bengal continued, the state government filed an Original Suit in the Supreme Court arguing that the Union government had unlawfully and unconstitutionally deployed the CBI. The Union argued that the case was not maintainable at all, as it did not control the CBI, and that Original Suits can only be filed against the State. The Court's decision to uphold the maintainability of this petition is likely the beginning of an important debate on Union-state dynamics in the area of law and order. As the Court gears up to hear the case, which is likely to be heard this month, we explain everything that has happened so far.

Is the Supreme Court a man's world?

75 Years after the establishment of the Supreme Court, the institution has seen just 11 women judges in its corridors. Where does the problem lie?

As part of Supreme Court Observer's special series commemorating 75 years of the Supreme Court, we're presenting this video, capturing the highs and the lows for gender diversity at the top court.

Check out the special series now! We've written about the very first judges of the Supreme Court, on the Court's architecture and its meaning, Courts in cinema and more!

On 1 August 2024, a seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the validity of sub-classification within the reserved categories in a 6:1 majority. In an interview with the Supreme Court Observer, Dr Anup Surendranath, Prof. of Law at the National Law University, Delhi discussed the legal and social impact of the decision. He believes that while the judgement gets a lot right, its group-based approach to reservation and the extension of the ‘creamy layer’ exception to SC/STs, raise questions.

As a part of our special series celebrating 75 years of the Supreme Court of India, we published a story on the evolution of Public Interest Litigation jurisprudence since it was conceived in the late 1970s. Does it still function as a tool for social justice? We also published a story on the lives, interests, and careers of the first eight judges of the Court. Though the ensemble had things in common, their individual stories revealed many differences.

On 1 August 2024, a seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the validity of sub-classification within the SC/ST groups in a 6:1 majority. The Majority also noted that the Scheduled Castes notified under the Presidential List of 1950 were not a homogeneous group as they faced varying degrees of discrimination. This decision overrules the five-judge bench decision of the Court in E.V. Chinnaiah v State of A.P. (2004). As many as six opinions were written in this 565-page judgement. In this video, we break down the key findings and observations of the Court.

When it comes to Constitution Bench activity, the first half of 2024 was action-packed for the Supreme Court. Currently six Constitution Bench cases heard by a bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud are pending final verdicts. These decisions are expected to be delivered before the Chief retires in November. We summarise the cases in this explainer.

Yesterday, a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in a 8:1 majority held that state government's have the power to tax mineral land and mineral rights under Entry 49 and 50 of the State List.

The issue was pending for over 25 years with various stakeholders, including mining companies, arguing that the state government's cannot tax mines and minerals after the enactment of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957.

This contention was rejected by the majority. However, Justice B.V. Nagarathna dissented. She stated that the decision of the majority can lead to "adverse economic consequences."

SCO Explains the judgement and reasons in the majority and dissenting opinions.

On 12 July, the Supreme Court granted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal interim bail. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under charges of money laundering. The ED claimed that he was the kingpin of the Delhi Liquor policy scam, where he allegedly demanded bribes and kickbacks for Aam Aadmi Party leaders and granted favours to private players in the liquor business. A lot has transpired since his arrest in March 2024. Kejriwal has petitions pending at different stages in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. SCO Explains the whole story of Arvind Kejriwal.