Year 2021! The year that started with the hope of the COVID-19 Pandemic nearing an end with countries starting vaccination, ended up becoming deadlier than the year gone by. A year of losses for many, 2021 was also the year when the Supreme Court judges lost one of their own. Justice MM Shantanagoudar, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, breathed his last on April 24, 2021.

Read: The Judicial Legacy of Justice MM Shantanagoudar

As the Nation was crippled with hardship and adversity, the Supreme Court refused to bog down and went on to deliver 865 judgments, which is a lot more than the number of judgments delivered in the 2020.

The year also witnessed the appointment of 9 judges, including 3 women judges and if all goes well, Justice BV Nagarathna, might take oath as the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027!  Read more…

5 judges, including the former CJI Justice SA Bobde, retired. Justice NV Ramana took oath as the 48th Chief Justice of India. Read more…

Also read:

·        Chief Justice SA Bobde retires: A look at his legacy and justice in the time of COVID-19

·        A Winner All Along – Justice Indu Malhotra

·        Messiah of the sufferers: Bidding adieu to Justice Ashok Bhushan

·        A Multifaceted Expert — Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman

·        A Champion who applied technology to optimize human potential and capabilities – Justice Navin Sinha

Let’s go through the most important of the 865 judgments delivered by the Supreme Court in the year 2021. 

CONSTITUTION BENCH VERDICTS

Only 3 Constitution Bench judgments were delivered in the year 2021. Read all about them here.


THE MOST TALKED ABOUT CASES

Central Vista Project

The year began with the Supreme Court giving a go-ahead to the Central Vista Project in a 2:1 verdict. While the majority found itself compelled to wonder if it can dictate the government to desist from spending money on one project and instead use it for something else, Justice Khanna, in his dissenting opinion, observed that citizens have the right to know and participate in deliberation and decision making. [Rajiv Suri v. Delhi Development Authority,  2021 SCC OnLine SC 7]

Read: Supreme Court gives a go-ahead to Central Vista Project in a 2:1 verdict

Also read: Justice Khanna dissents in 2:1 verdict clearing the Central Vista Project

Farm Bill and Farmer Protest

While the repeal of the Farm laws came at the fag end of the year, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of these Laws right in the beginning of the year after noticing that despite the peaceful protest, a few deaths had already taken place as Senior Citizens, youth and children were exposing themselves to not just the cold weather but also to COVID-19. [Rakesh Vaishanv v. Union of India,  (2021) 1 SCC 590]

Read: Supreme Court stays implementation of Farm Laws

Also read: Farmer Protests| Shashi Tharoor and 6 journalists not to be arrested for now over tweets on protester’s death during Republic Day Tractor Rally

Here’s a list of some more unmissable high-profile cases:


THE WAY FORWARD

The structures of our society have been created by males and for males. As a result, certain structures that may seem to be the “norm” and may appear to be harmless, are a reflection of the insidious patriarchal system.

Nitisha v. Union of India

2021 SCC OnLine SC 261

In 2021, the Supreme Court showed the way forward by giving many progressive orders/judgments. One of the top stories from the year 2021 was where the Court said that the administrative requirement imposed by the Indian Army authorities while considering the case of the Women Short Service Commissions Officers (WSSCO) for the grant of Permanent Commission (PC), of benchmarking these officers with the officers lowest in merit in the corresponding male batch was arbitrary and irrational.

In another important ruling, before taking the oath as the Chief Justice of India, Justice NV Ramana noticed that the conception that housemakers do not “work” or that they do not add economic value to the household is a problematic idea that has persisted for many years and must be overcome. He added that the issue of fixing notional income for a homemaker, therefore, served extremely important functions.

Here is the list of all the judgments that take us as a nation a step forward:


SEDITION AND FREE SPEECH

By way of a series of judgments and orders on free speech, the Supreme made clear that, a citizen has a right to criticize or comment upon the measures undertaken by the Government and its functionaries.

In a big move, the Supreme Court also agreed to decide the constitutionality of Section 124A IPC after it was submitted before the Court that the decision of the Court in Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar, 1962 Supp. (2) SCR 769 required reconsideration. [Kishorechandra Wangkhemcha v. Union of India, (2021) 6 SCC 177]

Read everything here:


IBC – THE IMPERFECT LAW?

While stating that “there is nothing like a perfect law and as with all human institutions, there are bound to be imperfections”, the Supreme Court, in a 465-pages long judgment, upheld the validity of several provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2020, albeit with directions given in exercise of powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India. [Manish Kumar v. Union of India,  (2021) 5 SCC 1]

Read: IBC (Amendment) Act, 2020 upheld, albeit with directions

This judgment was followed by a series of judgments and orders on IBC. Check out the list below to read more:


RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

“In their blooming and blossoming, we all bloom and blossom.”

Vikash Kumar v. Union Public Service Commission,

(2021) 5 SCC 370

This year witnessed many Supreme Court Judgments and orders on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Check out this list to know more:


DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPERANCY

No-one is above law; this was the Supreme Court message as it stressed on importance of transparency by Political Parties and Government Institutions.

Read here:


THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PROPERTY

In a case where State took possession of surplus land in absence of surplus land, this Supreme Court’s verdict served as a reminder that right to property is still a constitutional right under Article 300A of the Constitution of India though not a fundamental right. The deprivation of the right can only be in accordance with the procedure established by law. [Bajranga v. State of Madhya Pradesh,  2021 SCC OnLine SC 27]

Read: Right to property is still a constitutional right under Article 300A of the Constitution


WHEN A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WAS STRUCK DOWN

In a rare move, the Supreme Court held that the Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011 which inter alia inserted Part IX-B was ultra vires the Constitution insofar it is concerned with the subject of Cooperative Societies for want of the requisite ratification under Article 368(2) proviso. [Union of India v. Rajendra N. Shah2021 SCC OnLine SC 474]

Read: Part IX-B of Constitution relating to cooperative societies unconstitutional for want of ratification by half of the States; Provisions relating to multi-State cooperative societies severable and valid: SC


THE “EVEN MORE DESERVING PARTIES”

Section 89 of CPC and Section 69-A of Tamil Nadu Court Fees and Suit Valuation Act, 1955 contemplate the refund of court fees in all methods of out-of-court dispute settlement between parties that the Court subsequently finds to have been legally arrived at and not just to those cases where the Court itself refers the parties to any of the alternative dispute settlement mechanisms listed in Section 89 of the CPC.

The Court observed that the parties agreeing to out-of-court settlement are “even more deserving”. [High Court of Madras v. MC Subramaniam(2021) 3 SCC 560]

Read: Parties agreeing to out-of-court settlement without judicial intervention under Section 89 CPC can’t be denied benefit of refund of court fees


BANKS AND BANKING

While the Constitution bench looked down upon the “mechanical” conversion of complaints under Section 138 NI Act from summary to summons trial and directed that the magistrates “must” record reasons, many other important decisions were given in 2021.

Read here: 


CONSUMER PROTECTION

The Supreme Court took cognizance of Government’s lackadaisical attitude towards consumer empowerment and observed that the ground reality is quite different as there is little endeavour to translate this Legislative intent into an administrative infrastructure with requisite facilities, members and staff to facilitate the decision on the consumer complaint.

Here are the important rulings on Consumer Protection that you cannot miss:


FROM “DEATH” TO “LIFE”

In 3 cases, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentences of the convicts to Life Imprisonment and in one case, 3 death row convicts were acquitted of all charges.

Read here:


MOTOR ACCIDENTS CLAIMS

Read how a one-stop online platform for all parties involved and Motor Vehicle Appellant Tribunals will help in achieving a hassle free disposal of Motor Vehicle Accident claims:


ARBITRATION

No year goes by without the Supreme Court delivering some important ruling on Arbitration and the year 2021 was no different.

Read the updates here:


A GUIDE FOR THE BENCH!

“The Magistrates are the first lines of defence for both the integrity of the criminal justice system, and the harassed and distraught litigant.”

Krishna Lal Chawla v. State of U.P.,

2021 SCC OnLine SC 191

In 2021, the Court also delivered a number of judgments on the issues of pendency of cases, judicial vacancies and overall standard to be followed by the members of bench while dealing with case.

Read all about these judgments here:


COVID-19

As the second wave of COVID-19 brought the nation to its knees, the Supreme Court did everything in it’s power to ensure that the loss is minimized.

Read all the important judgments here:

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