March 2025 Legal Compendium Overview

Supreme Court Rulings:

Lynching as a Distinct Offense:

• Recognized under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as a separate offense.
• Supreme Court directs for a status report to ensure compliance and implementation.
• Emphasizes the shift in legal frameworks to address mob violence effectively.

Film Screening - Empuraan Controversy:

• Kerala High Court upholds screening despite concerns over communal violence.
• Reinforces Censor Board certification as a legal standard for public appropriateness.
• Highlights skepticism towards possible publicity-seeking motives in public interest litigations.

Prayagraj Development Authority Demolitions:

• Supreme Court mandates compensation for illegal demolitions, stressing due process.
• Ruling reinforces the right to shelter under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• Emphasizes judicial scrutiny over administrative actions affecting civil liberties.

Riot Investigations - Kapil Mishra Case:

• Delhi Court orders further investigation into BJP leader's involvement in 2020 Delhi riots.
• Highlights judicial oversight and accountability in politically sensitive cases.

Sambhal Jama Mosque Whitewashing:

• SC respects historical agreements in religious site maintenance.
• Highlights judicial restraint and respect for ASI and historical contracts.

FIR Registration Clarifications:

• Supreme Court elucidates differences between CrPC and BNSS provisions.
• Mandelates preliminary inquiry to protect against frivolous FIRs.

Consent & Deception in Relationships:

• Telangana High Court rules on deceptive practices constituting rape under false marital pretenses.
• Establishes legal responsibility for truthfulness in disclosing marital status.

Gender Neutral Language in Legal Decisions:

• Supreme Court of Pakistan draws from Indian SC judgment to challenge patriarchal language.

Freedom of Expression Protections:

• Supreme Court rules to protect free speech, emphasizing against criminalizing dissenting or artistic expressions.

Voluntary Service Charges in Restaurants:

• Delhi High Court rules against mandatory service charges, emphasizing consumer rights.

Important Legal Insights:

Manual Scavenging Compensation:

• Supreme Court orders compensation for manual scavenging deaths, enforcing existing bans and accountability.

Learner License and Negligence:

• Ruling clarifies that holding a learner's license doesn't imply automatic negligence in accidents.

Consent in Relationships and Promise of Marriage:

• Clarifies legal interpretations of deceit in promises of marriage versus consensual relationships.

Consumer Rights in Arbitration:

• Consumers can bypass contractual arbitration clauses, reinforcing access to consumer forums.

Judicial Accountability:

• Calls for investigation against judicial figures emphasize transparency and uphold integrity standards.

Critical Questions Addressed:

• Impact of lynching classification under BNS.
• Role of Censor Board certification in legal decisions.
• Legal implications of non-compliance with due process in demolitions.
• Judicial oversight in politically sensitive investigations.
• Consumer rights in the context of arbitration clauses.
• Necessity and implications of judicial reviews of concluded cases.

Conclusion:

The March 2025 legal updates emphasize evolving judicial standards, the protection of individual rights, judicial oversight in various legal contexts, and the reinforcement of constitutional mandates across different legal scenarios.