Year Ender: Landmark Verdicts Of 2024: Supreme Court At Helm Of Change

The Supreme Court delivered several landmark verdicts Of 2024 that reshaped India’s legal and policy framework. These judgments addressed crucial constitutional, social, and political issues, setting the tone for significant reforms.

On February 15, 2024, the apex court declared the 2017 Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional. A five-judge Constitution Bench, led by the then Chief Justice of India (CJI), ruled that anonymous political donations compromised participatory democracy. The court stated that the scheme favoured corporate interests over individual rights, undermining free and fair elections.

In another historic decision on March 4, 2024, the court overturned its 1998 Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bribery case judgment, shielding legislators from bribery charges related to legislative functions. The bench asserted that such immunity under Articles 105(2) and 194(2) could not shield corrupt practices.

On August 1, 2024, the court approved sub-classification within the SC/ST reservation quotas, aiming to ensure equitable benefits for the most disadvantaged sub-groups within these communities.

October 13, 2024, marked a critical ruling on prison caste discrimination. The court directed that caste-based practices in jails must end, deeming them a colonial legacy. It mandated a revision of prison manuals within three months to eliminate such biases.

The court’s November 13, 2024, verdict on bulldozer justice introduced guidelines ensuring due process before demolitions. It emphasized that arbitrary demolitions violated fundamental rights, holding officers personally liable for unlawful actions.

In another significant judgment, the court upheld the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, allowing citizenship for individuals who migrated before March 25, 1971, while directing the formation of a specialized bench to address related cases.

The court also ruled on the UP Madrasa Board Act, declaring it constitutional. The SC also stipulated that religious education should remain voluntary. It barred the board from awarding higher degrees like Fazil and Kamil.

2025: A Year Anticipating Landmark Verdicts
The coming year promises to be equally consequential, with several high-stakes cases lined up. Among them is a petition challenging the new law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. Filed by Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jaya Thakur, the petition argues that the law undermines impartiality in electoral appointments.

The court will also hear challenges to the Places of Worship Act, of 1991. Places of worship Act prohibits altering the character of religious places as they stood in 1947. Petitioners have sought its repeal, while others, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, have defended its constitutionality.

Additionally, the court will deliberate on the Delhi government’s petition opposing the central government’s law granting the LG control over services in Delhi.

Other notable cases include challenges to the Money Laundering Act, Petitions on marital rape, and opposition to the 2017 triple talaq ban.

These cases underscore the judiciary’s pivotal role in shaping India’s democratic and social fabric. The cases above-mentioned make 2025 a year to watch closely.