General Awareness

LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS - April 2024

Apr 2024

May 28, 2026

Assam passes Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026

The Assam Assembly on 27 May 2026 passed The Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026, establishing a single civil framework for all residents. The 126‑member House approved provisions governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and live‑in relationships, including a ban on polygamy and mandatory registration of marriages within 60 days and live‑in relationships within 30 days. Deliberate non‑compliance could attract a fine of up to Rs 10,000. The Bill reflects ongoing national debates on family law reforms and aims to harmonise personal laws within the state.

Date of passage: 27 May 2026
Polygamy banned; marriages must be registered within 60 days
Live‑in relationships must be registered within 30 days
Fine for non‑compliance up to Rs 10,000
Aims for a uniform civil code within Assam

May 26, 2026

Supreme Court strengthens bench with more judges

The Supreme Court of India will function with an increased sanctioned strength of 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. Excluding the CJI, the number of judges rises from 33 to 37. The expansion, enacted through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, is aimed at reducing pendency and improving access to justice. Legal experts say more judges can help handle constitutional matters and complex appeals more efficiently. The move signals a strengthened judiciary capable of addressing rising caseloads and upholding constitutional governance. The change aligns with broader efforts to enhance judicial capacity and public confidence in the system.

Sanctioned strength increased to 38 judges including CJI.
Excluding CJI, judges rise from 33 to 37.
Aims to reduce pendency and improve access to justice.
Implemented under Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
Expected to aid constitutional matters and appeals.

Justice Anupinder Grewal appointed NCLT President

Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal has been appointed President of the National Company Law Tribunal, replacing the previous head. A former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Grewal will oversee matters involving company law, insolvency, and corporate disputes. The NCLT operates under the Companies Act, 2013 and also handles IBC-related matters. His appointment is significant for corporate governance and the speed and quality of tribunal decisions. The leadership change is expected to influence judicial processes and the resolution of complex corporate cases in India’s business environment.

Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal named NCLT President.
Former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
NCLT handles company law, insolvency, corporate disputes.
Appointment may affect tribunal efficiency and decisions.
Links to governance and corporate law administration.

May 12, 2026

CJI Surya Kant launches One Case, One Data initiative with Su Sahay

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant launched the One Case, One Data initiative on 11 May 2026 at the Supreme Court. The project connects judicial data from the Supreme Court, High Courts, district courts, and taluka courts into a unified digital system. It supports case management, online verification of case information, and automated data retrieval. The programme provides reciprocal access to case information for High Courts and required government departments to improve transparency. The accompanying AI chatbot, Su Sahay, was developed by the National Informatics Centre with the Supreme Court Registry to guide citizens seeking court services online.

One Case, One Data links court data across multiple levels.
Aims to improve case management and data retrieval.
Reciprocal access to information for High Courts and agencies.
Su Sahay chatbot assists citizens on court services.
Developed by NIC in collaboration with the Supreme Court.

May 06, 2026

Cabinet Approves Increase in Supreme Court Judge Strength

On 5 May 2026, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. Including the CJI, total judges would rise from 34 to 38. The change requires an amendment via The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. The Supreme Court currently handles vast caseloads, with more than 92,000 pending matters. The additional judges would enable more benches and faster hearings. Expenditure will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India. Last adjustment occurred in 2019, when sanctioned strength rose from 30 to 33.

Date and decision: 5 May 2026 Cabinet approval
Strength rises to 37 judges (38 with CJI)
Amendment Bill required
92,000+ pending cases
Funding from Consolidated Fund

May 01, 2026

Dispute over acting NCLT president persists until Centre decision

Legal debates on the acting president of the National Company Law Tribunal continued until the Centre’s final decision. Proponents argued for senior‑most judicial member selection, while critics questioned process. The Centre defended its established convention, and following the 29 April 2026 appointment notification, petitions were rendered infructuous. The episode underscores ongoing scrutiny of tribunal leadership amid corporate law workloads, insolvency cases, and the balance between administrative conventions and judicial oversight in India’s legal system.

Dispute over acting NCLT president
Arguments for seniority‑based selection
Centre cites established conventions
Appointment notified on 29 April 2026
Petitions later termed infructuous
Highlights governance in corporate law tribunals

Delhi High Court closes petition on NCLT acting president

The Delhi High Court closed a petition challenging the acting president appointment at the NCLT after the Centre’s final appointment notification. The bench observed that with a full‑time president now in place, interim arrangements no longer remained relevant. The petition had argued for parity in appointment based on seniority, but the Centre maintained its chosen method. The closure reduces ongoing litigation around interim leadership and clarifies tribunal governance during insolvency and corporate disputes. Legal observers note this as a procedural resolution within India’s corporate law framework.

Court: Delhi High Court closes petition on NCLT acting president
Reason: Centre’s formal appointment notification in place
Petition argued for seniority‑based parity
Interim arrangements deemed irrelevant
Resolution reduces ongoing litigation
Affects leadership for insolvency and company law cases

Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal named NCLT President

The Union government approved Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, a former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, as President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The appointment was notified on 29 April 2026 and will run for five years or until the age of 67, whichever comes first. This resolves a protracted leadership dispute and clarifies the tribunal’s governance during ongoing insolvency and corporate disputes. Earlier petitions challenging the acting president were heard by the Delhi High Court, which deemed the matter infructuous after the Centre’s notification. The NCLT President will oversee key corporate law adjudication nationwide.

Appointed: Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal
Position: President, National Company Law Tribunal
Notification date: 29 April 2026
Term: five years or until age 67
Resolves leadership dispute; strengthens governance
Delhi High Court deemed petitions infructuous

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