Service Law September 2025: A Look at the Month’s Biggest Cases
Covering all the important service law cases across various High Courts and the Supreme Court, this roundup provides a quick summary of cases and links to other roundups.
Supreme Court
Supreme Court dismisses 13 SLPs in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam case, including bail plea by former IAS Anil Tuteja
The liquor scam case traces back to a 2022 chargesheet filed by the Income Tax Department in a Delhi Court. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), government officials allegedly accepted bribes from liquor distillers in exchange for manipulating liquor procurement through the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited.
Family Law September 2025 | Important Case Law and Judicial Updates
Explore the key family law developments of September 2025, featuring the Supreme Court and various High Courts on adoption, annulment of marriage, custody, divorce, maintenance and much more.
‘Arbitral award must be within parameters of arbitration agreement’; Supreme Court upholds setting aside of award granted in favour of SEPCO Electric Power
“When a party is unable to analyse, comment or argue on a contention raised by the other party, it will certainly be deemed as a breach of natural justice and thereby, also a violation of the most fundamental notions of justice.”
Supreme Court urges High Courts to encourage filing of anticipatory bail applications first before Sessions Court; discourage direct interference
“A balance has to be struck to protect individual liberty of accused and to secure an environment that is free from any fear in the hearts of victims of the alleged perpetrators. Although grant of bail is a discretionary exercise, the courts must be cautious to exercise the discretion judiciously.”
‘Manner of granting bail revealed procedural irregularities at grassroot levels of judiciary’; Supreme Court directs special training for two judicial officers
“The case at hand exhibits an exceptional factual prism, impelling a deeper scrutiny beyond the conventional principles governing the subject. Unfortunately, the High Court while passing the impugned order also overlooked the germane factual position and saw the issue as merely being one of cancellation of bail.”
Supreme Court grants interim bail in POCSO case; Orders housing, employment, and counselling support to facilitate convict’s reunion with prosecutrix and minor child
The District Magistrate, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh, was directed to allot a government quarter, out of those available for Class IV employees in Palari Block to the convict and his family on a temporary basis, until further orders of the Court.
Supreme Court upholds Advocate’s 3-year suspension for misconduct; Bars License renewal without its nod
Rejecting the plea for leniency, the Court dismissed the appeal with exemplary costs of ₹1 lakh. Significantly, it directed the Collector, Agra, to attach the Advocate’s properties for recovery of the cost amount, which was ordered to be paid to the respondent.
Supreme Court issues bailable warrants against Advocate to account for FIR in 1971 Forgery Case; Stays arrest of 71-year-old woman
“It is quite unfortunate that the Allahabad High Court has illogically turned down the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner who is a 71-year-old woman, and when she is neither seller nor purchaser nor a witness or the beneficiary of the sale deed dated.”
Supreme Court seeks detailed State Report in Karnataka multi-party land sale; Orders probe into forged sale deeds, registration irregularities
The proceedings highlight the Supreme Court’s emphasis on procedural clarity and its resolve to tackle systemic issues in property disputes, carrying significant implications for due process in the registration and sale of immovable property.
Mere non-production of seized contraband during trial may not be fatal if there is reliable evidence in respect of its seizure: SC
The Court further restored the case of the file of the High Court for fresh decision in accordance with law as neither the High Court nor the Trial Court has enlisted the entire evidence available on record; therefore, it was difficult for the Court to take a decision with precision.
Supreme Court upholds Kerala HC Verdict: Political Parties are not workplace and not liable to constitute Internal Complaints Committee under POSH Act
Supreme Court upheld the Kerala HC decision that political parties are not legally obligated to establish an Internal Complaints Committee under the POSH Act, because there is no employer-employee relationship among the members of political parties, and they do not meet the criteria of a “workplace” as defined under the Act.
Supreme Court dismisses Rajasthan’s claim over Khetri Estate; Affirms validity of Raja Sardar Singh Will and Probate in favour of Khetri Trust
Supreme Court held that a State has no locus standi to challenge a Will of a private citizen by claiming to be a person interested in the estate of the deceased due to the action taken under Escheats Act.
‘Circumstantial evidence chain broken’; Supreme Court acquits two, including death row convict, in rape and murder of 7-year-old girl
Where two views were possible, the one favourable to the accused had to be adopted. In the instant case, the prosecution failed to prove motive, the ‘last seen theory’ stood contradicted, and the scientific evidence was marred by inconsistencies and loopholes. In such circumstances, it was held wholly unsafe to uphold the conviction, much less the extreme penalty of death.
Supreme Court bans photography and videography inside its High Security Zone
The Supreme Court of India has barred photography and videography inside its High Security Zone, empowering security personnel to restrict violators and directing disciplinary action against advocates, litigants, interns, media personnel, and staff found breaching the new guidelines.
NCDRC cannot travel beyond pleadings and build a new case: Supreme Court sets aside order in medical negligence case; directs Rs 10 lakh refund to doctor
The complaint case categorically asserted that the nursing home was ‘inadequately and ill equipped’ to handle emergencies during deliveries. There were no allegations that the antenatal care and management of Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, were deficient in any manner.
Supreme Court reiterates need for HC to timely upload reasoned order after pronouncing operative part of judgment, following a notable delay of almost 2.5 years in a case
The practice of delay in uploading the reasoned judgment deprived the aggrieved party of the opportunity to seek further judicial redressal, particularly in criminal matters wherein the appeal was dismissed affirming the judgment and order of conviction passed by the Trial Court.
DISCOMS must share coal shortage costs equally, cannot claim priority for power supply based either on prior date of agreement or coal source: Supreme Court
Supreme Court reaffirmed that none of the DISCOMs, including GRIDCO could claim priority for power supply based on the date of their agreements or based on any specific coal allocation reference. The principle to be followed was that coal supply must be proportionately allocated among the DISCOMs based on the quantum of energy supplied to them.
ECI Implements Supreme Court Order: Aadhaar Now Valid for Identity in SIR Bihar
Supreme Court allowed Aadhaar as the 12th identity document for SIR Bihar, clarifying it can prove identity but not citizenship.
Article 226 cannot be invoked to quash FIR, once cognizance of offence has been taken; remedy under Section 528 BNSS can be availed: Supreme Court
In the present case, the High Court could have examined the petitioner’s grievance, since it is evident from the petition, that the petitioner sought to invoke the twin jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution and Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to quash the FIR.