India on Friday issued a firm response to a message written by Zohran Mamdani, stating that elected representatives in democracies should respect the independence of judicial institutions in other countries and refrain from commenting on ongoing legal matters. The reaction followed the circulation of a handwritten note addressed to jailed activist Umar Khalid, who is accused in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. At a regular press briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs underscored that public office carries responsibilities that require restraint, particularly on sensitive judicial issues. Responding to questions on the matter, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said India expects public representatives to be respectful of the independence of the judiciary in other democracies. He added that expressing personal views or prejudices on such matters does not befit those holding public office and that attention should instead remain on the duties entrusted to them by their constituents. The remarks came after a photograph of the note written by Mamdani was shared publicly by a close associate of Khalid. The message, written on the day Mamdani was ceremonially sworn in as mayor of New York City, conveyed personal sentiments and support for Khalid. According to those familiar with the interaction, the note was handed to Khalid’s parents during their visit to the United States in December 2025. The development has drawn attention in India amid ongoing legal proceedings related to the violence that erupted in parts of the national capital in February 2020. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of India declined to grant bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, observing that the two stood on a qualitatively different footing compared with other accused, given the nature of the allegations and the evidence cited by the prosecution. In the same order, the apex court granted bail to several other accused, including Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmad, noting that their alleged roles appeared limited in scope. The court, however, made it clear that similar relief could not be extended to Khalid and Imam at this stage. Officials indicated that India’s response was rooted in principle rather than politics, emphasizing the need for mutual respect among democratic institutions across borders. The government maintained that judicial processes in India are governed by law and evidence, and external commentary by foreign public figures on active cases is neither appropriate nor constructive. The episode has also highlighted the sensitivities surrounding international commentary on domestic legal matters, particularly in high-profile cases. Indian officials reiterated that while democratic societies value free expression, elected representatives are expected to exercise caution and uphold the norms of diplomatic and institutional respect when addressing issues beyond their jurisdiction.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was placed in custody on Saturday and transferred to federal police headquarters in Brasília, deepening tensions in a country still reckoning with the political turmoil that followed the 2022 election. The detention came two months after the Supreme Court convicted him of attempting to orchestrate a coup to overturn his loss, although authorities have indicated that the latest move is not aimed at enforcing that earlier sentence. The development has

The Supreme Court is preparing for a closed-door conference on Friday to consider whether it will take up a major dispute over President Donald Trump’s birthright citizenship order. The order, issued on the first day of his second term, declares that children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily are not entitled to American citizenship. Federal courts across the country have uniformly blocked the order, preventing it from taking effect in any

Delhi woke up to another morning covered in thick smog, with air quality remaining in the ‘severe’ category for the third consecutive day. The Supreme Court expressed deep concern over the worsening air pollution and advised senior lawyers to attend hearings virtually, stressing that wearing masks alone would not provide sufficient protection against the toxic air. Justice PS Narsimha questioned why lawyers were appearing in person despite the availability of virtual hearing fac

Justice Surya Kant, one of the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, has been officially appointed as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI). The announcement was made by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who congratulated Justice Kant on his appointment via X (formerly Twitter). He will take charge on November 24, 2025, succeeding Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and will hold office until February 9, 2027. Justice Surya Kant, who hails from Haryana, has a distinguished judicial

The Supreme Court of India has allowed the use of green firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) during the Diwali season under strict regulations. The court’s decision permits their use between October 18 and 21, but only during specific time slots—between 6 am and 7 am, and from 8 pm to 10 pm on the day before Diwali and the day of the festival. The move is part of an effort to strike a balance between cultural celebrations and environmental protection amid growing co

Days after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration has moved to request additional federal funds aimed at expanding security measures for top officials. The proposal seeks $58 million in new allocations to strengthen protections for members of the executive and judicial branches, as well as to provide enhanced coverage for Supreme Court justices. This decision follows a series of violent incidents across the United States that have alarmed security ag

The Supreme Court of India highlighted the resilience of the Indian Constitution on Wednesday by drawing comparisons with the ongoing turmoil in neighboring Nepal and Bangladesh. During a hearing of the presidential reference case, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Vikram Nath pointed to violent protests shaking both countries. CJI Gavai remarked, “We are proud of our Constitution, see

Former United States President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Sunday, August 31, declaring that America would be completely destroyed without the tariffs he imposed during his time in office. His comments came only days after a federal appeals court ruled that the majority of those tariffs were unlawful, sparking yet another political and legal clash over one of the central elements of his economic policy. Writing on TruthSocial, Trump insisted that wit

The Opposition INDIA bloc has chosen Justice B Sudershan Reddy (retd) as its candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election scheduled for September 9, 2025. The former Supreme Court judge will face off against CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA's candidate, who is the Governor of Maharashtra and a prominent BJP leader from Tamil Nadu. As the Vice Presidential election approaches, let’s take a closer look at J

Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday addressed criticism regarding the Supreme Court's handling of emergency cases, often referred to as the shadow docket, during a conference in Kansas City attended by judges and legal professionals. In recent years, the court has faced increasing scrutiny for issuing decisions on urgent matters, particularly those involving policies from the Trump administration, without providing extensive explanations or holding full hearings. Critics have argued that

In a notable alimony case heard by the Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai expressed strong criticism of a woman’s demand for Rs 12 crore in alimony, along with a BMW car. The woman, who had been married for just 18 months, was seeking an extravagant sum for her maintenance, despite being well-educated with qualifications including an MBA and experience as an IT expert. During the hear

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the constitutional mandate of the Election Commission (EC) to revise electoral rolls in Bihar but raised serious concerns over the timing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. With Assembly elections looming in the state, the top court emphasized that while cleaning up the voter list was necessary, executing the exercise just months before the elections raised valid questions.

Washington, June 27 – The United States Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a significant legal victory on Friday by narrowing the authority of federal judges to issue sweeping nationwide injunctions, a move that could allow his contested immigration policies—including the attempt to limit birthright citizenship—to advance in parts of the country. However, the court stopped short of ruling on the constitutionality of Trump’s order, leaving the future of the bir

The United States Supreme Court has handed President Donald Trump a significant legal victory by refusing to expedite a case challenging his broad reciprocal tariffs on imports. The court’s decision, delivered Friday, rejected an urgent scheduling request made by two family-owned companies that aimed to invalidate several of Trump’s import duties. The companies, Learning Resources Inc. and Hand2Mind Inc., had asked the justices to bypass the usual judicial process and conside

The Supreme Court of India has come down hard on the Enforcement Directorate (ED), accusing the central agency of “crossing all limits” during its recent raids on Tamil Nadu’s TASMAC – the state-run liquor distribution corporation. These raids, conducted in March and again in May, have drawn sharp criticism from the judiciary for targeting a government-owned monopoly and allegedly overstepping legal protocols. A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice BR Gav

The Supreme Court of India is currently hearing a significant challenge to the Waqf Amendment Act, a controversial law passed earlier this year that alters the composition and functioning of Waqf bodies across the country. The hearing, led by a bench headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai, features strong opposition from prominent legal figures who argue that the amendments infringe on religious rights and question the very definition of secularism in India. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal,

In a firm stance on refugee policies, the Supreme Court of India today denied a Sri Lankan national’s request to remain in the country, stating, "India is not a dharmashala (free shelter) that can entertain refugees from all over the world." The remark came from Justice Dipankar Datta, who was sitting on a bench alongside Justice K Vinod Chandran, while hearing the plea of a man convicted under anti-terror laws. The petitioner, a Sri Lankan Tamil, was arrest

The United States Supreme Court on Thursday appeared divided as it considered two major legal questions: the fate of former President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, and the broader judicial practice of nationwide injunctions that lower courts have used to block such policies. Although none of the justices openly supported the constitutionality of Trump’s controversial order—which attempts to deny citizenship to certain individuals born

In a rare and potentially historic clash between two of India's highest constitutional offices, President Droupadi Murmu has openly questioned a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandates timelines for approving bills passed by legislatures. This bold move marks the first time in independent India’s history that a sitting President has directly contested a decision made by the apex court, highlighting a deepening constitutional debate over the separation of powers. The Supr