India’s Legal Milestones in 2024: Key Verdicts, Reforms, and the Road Ahead
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In 2024, India’s judiciary underwent significant transformation as the Supreme Court addressed politically sensitive issues and countered critiques of “judicial evasion.” Landmark judgments, institutional reforms, and debates on controversial laws marked the year, setting the tone for critical legal developments in 2025.
Key Verdicts and Interventions of 2024
- Major Judgments
- Electoral Bonds Scheme: Declared unconstitutional, focusing on political funding transparency.
- Bilkis Bano Case: Revoked Gujarat’s remission for gangrape convicts in a high-profile case.
- Bulldozer Demolitions: Established guidelines to prevent illegal actions.
- Politically Charged Cases: Granted bail to opposition leaders, reinforcing judicial impartiality.
- Mandir-Masjid Disputes: Prohibited new district court cases on religious site ownership.
- Addressing Long-Standing Issues
- Constitution Benches deliberated on critical matters, including:
- Aligarh Muslim University’s minority status.
- Taxation on industrial alcohol.
- Constitution Benches deliberated on critical matters, including:
- Impact of the Rulings
These efforts built upon the reforms initiated during the tenure of former CJI U.U. Lalit and were advanced further under CJI D.Y. Chandrachud.
Challenges and Opportunities in 2025
- Judicial Leadership Transitions
- Three CJIs will assume office in 2025:
- CJI Sanjiv Khanna (till May).
- Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai (194 days).
- Justice Surya Kant (November 2025–February 2027).
- Frequent changes in Collegium composition pose challenges to institutional reforms and reducing case backlogs.
- Three CJIs will assume office in 2025:
- Reforms and Public Expectations
- Digital transparency initiatives under Justice Chandrachud have raised public scrutiny, necessitating further adaptations by the judiciary.
Major Cases Anticipated in 2025
- Religious and Cultural Issues
- Places of Worship Act (1991): Constitutionality of freezing religious character as of 1947 under challenge.
- Hijab Ban: A three-judge bench will review Karnataka’s school ban on headscarves.
- Essential Religious Practices: Revisiting doctrines influencing cases like Sabarimala (2018).
- Citizenship and Secularism
- Challenges to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, questioning exclusionary provisions and implications for secularism.
- Gender Rights
- The ongoing debate on criminalizing marital rape amid concerns about societal consequences.
- Investigative Powers
- Judicial review of the Enforcement Directorate’s powers and safeguards surrounding arrests.
Contentious Legislative Reforms on the Horizon
- One Nation, One Election
- The introduction of simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and Union Territory legislatures is a key reform in 2025.
- Criminal Law Revisions
- New laws under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, have drawn both praise for modernization and criticism for provisions like:
- Renaming sedition as “deshdroh.”
- Lengthening detention periods.
- New laws under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, have drawn both praise for modernization and criticism for provisions like:
- Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
- Implementation of Uttarakhand’s UCC (January 2025) introduces rules like mandatory registration of live-in relationships and penalties for non-compliance. Similar initiatives in other BJP-ruled states face scrutiny.
- Sub-Classification of Scheduled Castes
- State powers to create sub-quotas within Scheduled Caste reservations may reshape affirmative action policies.
Conclusion
The events of 2024 highlighted the judiciary’s evolving approach to pressing legal and social challenges. With high-profile cases and sweeping legislative changes on the agenda, 2025 is set to be another transformative year for India’s legal framework. The Supreme Court must navigate these developments by balancing judicial oversight with respect for legislative intent, ensuring the preservation of justice and constitutional values.
Q1: What were the key highlights of India’s judiciary in 2024?
In 2024, the Supreme Court delivered landmark judgments on politically sensitive issues, implemented institutional reforms, and engaged in significant debates on contentious laws. These efforts aimed to address longstanding criticisms of judicial evasion.
Q2: How did the Supreme Court contribute to institutional reforms in 2024?
The Supreme Court continued reforms initiated during former CJI U.U. Lalit’s tenure and advanced digital transparency under CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, enhancing public scrutiny of judicial processes.
Q3: What was the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Electoral Bonds scheme?
The Supreme Court declared the Electoral Bonds scheme unconstitutional, addressing transparency concerns in political funding.
Q4: What decision did the Supreme Court make in the Bilkis Bano case?
The court reversed the Gujarat government’s remission for convicts in a high-profile gangrape case, underscoring justice for the victim.
Q5: What measures did the Supreme Court implement against illegal bulldozer demolitions?
The court issued guidelines to curb illegal practices related to bulldozer demolitions.
Q6: Did the judiciary address politically motivated cases?
Yes, the Supreme Court granted bail in several politically charged cases, reaffirming its independence.
Q7: How did the court handle disputes on religious sites?
It prohibited fresh district court cases on ownership disputes involving religious sites, aiming to reduce communal tensions.
Q8: Who are the Chief Justices expected to preside in 2025?
Three Chief Justices will hold office in 2025:
CJI Sanjiv Khanna (until May).
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai (194-day tenure).
Justice Surya Kant (November 2025–February 2027).
Q9: How does frequent leadership transition affect judicial reforms?
Frequent changes in the Collegium and short tenures can hinder continuity in institutional reforms and addressing pendency.
Q10: What cases involving religious issues are pending for 2025?
Key cases include:
Challenges to the Places of Worship Act (1991).
Review of Karnataka’s hijab ban in schools.
Reassessment of essential religious practices post-Sabarimala (2018).
Q11: What are the challenges to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019?
Petitions argue that the Act’s exclusion of Muslims violates principles of secularism, equality, and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution.
Q12: Is the issue of marital rape expected to be resolved in 2025?
The debate on criminalizing marital rape continues, with deliberations focused on balancing rights and concerns over societal impact.
Q13: What is the “One Nation, One Election” reform?
This reform proposes simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state legislatures, and Union Territory assemblies to improve electoral efficiency and reduce costs.
Q14: How have new criminal laws changed legal frameworks in India?
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, replaces colonial-era laws, introducing progressive measures while sparking debate on contentious provisions, such as rebranding sedition and extending detention periods.
Q15: What is the significance of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?
Uttarakhand’s UCC, effective January 2025, requires mandatory registration of live-in relationships and imposes penalties for non-compliance. Similar codes face scrutiny for potential encroachment on personal freedoms.
Q16: How will sub-classification of Scheduled Castes impact reservation policies?
State-specific sub-quotas could significantly reshape affirmative action policies, raising debates on equity and representation.
Q17: How did the Supreme Court balance judicial intervention and legislative intent?
The judiciary navigated sensitive cases by asserting constitutional principles while showing restraint to respect legislative authority.
Q18: Why is the Supreme Court’s approach in 2024 considered pivotal?
The Court’s actions in 2024 reflect a shift towards greater accountability, transparency, and responsiveness to social and political issues, setting a precedent for future challenges.
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