Murali Krishnan & Vasudha Misra.Like the years that preceded it, 2016 turned out to be very eventful for the Supreme Court of India. Tussles with the Executive and within the Collegium, retirement of as many as six judges and judgements of significant impact ensured that the Supreme Court of India remained in the news throughout the year..Equations between the Supreme Court and the Union government have been strained ever since the Supreme Court struck down National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) last year. The troubled relationship continued this year too, as the Chief Justice publicly berated the Centre for not clearing the names recommended by the Collegium for judgeship. Refusal to transfer judges alleged to be close to ruling dispensation, also led to strong words within the court room..In addition, the Memorandum of Procedure has not been finalised yet and the tiff between the two wings is not likely to end anytime soon..Early this year, the court was also privy to a rare spate of events as certain lawyers went berserk in Patiala House court and beat up media personnel and certain litigants. This led to contempt case in the Supreme Court against three lawyers..Many happenings within the premises of the Apex Court gave the press a field day, such as a Bench delivering a stunning coup de grace to retired judge Justice Markandey Katju, by slapping him with a legal notice after inviting him to argue in a review petition.’.The Supreme Court Bar Association also witnessed a great deal of unrest as the President Dushyant Dave and Secretary Gaurav Bhatia were at loggerheads. The tenure of the Executive committee was, thus, marred by conflicts this year. As the year came to a close, Senior Advocate RS Suri got elected as the new President of the SCBA..Read on ahead for a comprehensive round-up of the year that was, and all that happened!.January 4: Ex-Chief Justice of India, SH Kapadia passes away..January 5: Supreme Court upholds ban on sale of large diesel vehicles in Delhi..January 8: Justices MY Eqbal and Arun Mishra have a verbal duel in open court..January 11: Hearing in case relating to entry of women in Sabarimala temple restarts in Supreme Court after 7 years..January 12: The apex court grills Prashant Bhushan on the credibility of petitions filed by CPIL..Notification allowing Jallikattu stayed by Supreme Court..January 15: For the first time in Supreme Court history, three Constitution benches sit at the same time..Court seeks Centre’s response on the Right to Die..January 18: The Supreme Court directs the Centre to consider a common Nodal Ministry for all tribunals..January 19: CPIL replies to CJI Thakur’s queries on “PIL filing mechanism”; Fali Nariman resigns from CPIL..January 20: SARFAESI cannot override State rent control laws..January 22: Meghalaya High Court’s designations of Delhi-based lawyers challenged in Supreme Court..January 27: Court issues notice to the Centre over the Congress party’s petition challenging the Central Government’s decision to impose President’s rule in the state of Arunachal Pradesh..January 28: Apex court bench appoints Justice Sanjay Mishra as the Lokayukta for Uttar Pradesh, while recalling their previous order appointing Justice Virendra Singh for the post..February.February 1: Don’t disband the Bar Council of India, after petitioner moves Supreme Court against a Madras High Court judgment..February 2: Supreme Court refers Section 377 curative petition to a Constitution Bench..Court entrusts Justice RM Lodha to oversee refund of money by PACL..Supreme Court AoR Exam 2015 results published, 165 new AoRs for Supreme Court..February 4: Public Service Commissions within RTI ambit, rules Court. .Sonia and Rahul Gandhi challenge Delhi High Court decision in the National Herald Case..February 8: New office bearers for AoR Association; Gopal Singh elected President, Nandini Gore is Secretary..February 11: Supreme Court directs all States and Union Territories to formulate a uniform scheme to compensate physically handicapped victims of rape or sexual exploitation..Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and K Ramamurthy appointed Amicus Curiae by the Supreme Court in Sabarimala temple case..February 12: No relief for Gandhis as Court refuses to interfere with National Herald proceedings..Justice MY Eqbal retires..Rift between SCBA President Dushyant Dave and Secretary Gaurav Bhatia comes to fore as Dave absents himself from the farewell function of Justice MY Eqbal..February 15: Supreme Court withdraws judicial work from Madras High Court judge, Justice CS Karnan. In response, Justice Karnan passes a suo motu order staying his own transfer..SCBA President Dushyant Dave resigns..February 17: Patiala House Violence takes unprecedented turn, rogue lawyers go on a rampage against litigants, scribes for the second time in a week..February 18: JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar moves Supreme Court for bail..February 19: Notice issued to Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit and run case..Court refuses to hear Kanhaiya Kumar’s bail plea, transfers plea to Delhi High Court..February 23: Final Hearing in the Jayalalithaa case commences in the Supreme Court..Ex-Chief Justice of India, Justice HL Dattu appointed Chairperson of NHRC..Justice CS Karnan of Madras High Court writes to CJI Thakur; Blames “mental frustration” for his conduct and agrees to “foster harmonious attitude”..February 24: Officers of private banks are “public servants” under Prevention of Corruption Act, rules Court..February 26: Supreme Court agrees to hear petition on National Courts of Appeal; KK Venugopal and Salman Khurshid appointed Amicus..Court issues notice in plea seeking contempt of court action against three lawyers who indulged in violence in Patiala House court complex..February 29: Court issues notice in challenge to Triple Talaq, Polygamy under Muslim Personal law..Centre opposes Subramanian Swamy’s plea against hate speech provision in Indian Penal Code..March.March 2: Court issues notice in challenge to All India Bar Exam, but remarks it is not averse to the exam..March 3: Supreme Court Registry rebuked by Justice Arun Mishra..March 4: Court issues notice to the Central government and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in appeal by Cellular Operators Association of India against the judgment of the Delhi High Court in the call drops case..March 8: Can a legislator be disqualified if and when a chargesheet is filed against him or should it be done only upon conviction? Question Referred to a Constitution Bench..March 9: Banks move the Supreme Court, seeking the arrest of Vijay Mallya over the recovery of loans worth Rs. 9,000 crore, Court issues notice..March 11: Battery of lawyers appear to defend Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Bonds Act..March 15: Dushyant Dave withdraws SCBA President resignation after CJI Thakur’s request..March 17: Shyam Divan secures interim relief for Haryana in Satluj-Yamuna Link canal case..March 18: Court modifies its judgment regulating government advertisements. Now, photographs of Chief Ministers and Governors of States can also be used in government ads..Constitution Bench of the Court to decide if BCI can “prescribe pre-enrolment training”..Supreme Court holds that a High Court cannot exercise suo moto jurisdiction and stay the operation of a statutory provision unless a person aggrieved has assailed such a provision..March 19: Melee in Milon Banerji hall as SCBA crisis deepens..March 29: Dushyant Dave back as President of SCBA after Executive Committee accepts resignation withdrawal..Court (finally) gives SEBI green signal to sell Sahara’s properties..March 30: State law officers’ appointments subject to judicial review, rules Supreme Court..April.April 4: Nirbhaya hearing begins after being consigned to cold storage for more than two years..Court dismisses PIL for use of Hindi in Supreme Court and High Courts, nearly imposes cost of 1 lac..April 8: Raju Ramachandran, Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae in Delhi gang rape case..April 11: Supreme Court recalls its 2013 judgment by which it had quashed the National Eligibility Entrance Test as unconstitutional..April 13: Eleven more selected in Delhi Judicial Service Exam, 2014 pursuant to the case in Supreme Court on the same..April 18: Senior Designations put on hold until the petition filed by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising challenging the designation process is finally decided..April 22: Centre moves Supreme Court against judgment of Uttarakhand High Court which had quashed imposition of President’s rule in the State. Court orders that High Court judgment be kept in abeyance..April 24: CJI Thakur breaks down at the Chief Justices conference..April 26: Centre opposes the idea of National Court of Appeal..April 27: NGO Sankalp Charitable Trust moves Court praying that NEET be held this year..April 28: Court accepts schedule given by CBSE for holding NEET..Apri 28: Remove senior designations, say 56% of those who participated in Bar & Bench survey.April 30: Gujarat Senior Yatin Oza writes to CJI on High Court judges’ allegiance to Modi, Amit Shah, contempt case reaches Supreme Court..Caste revives on re-conversion, reiterates Supreme Court..May.May 2: Court issues notice to Centre and States in PIL praying for uploading First Information Reports on the official websites of the concerned police departments..Court constitutes committee headed by RM Lodha J. to oversee functioning MCI..May 3: RTI activist Sudhir Yadav files PIL in Supreme Court seeking a ban on Whatsapp and other messenger services having end to end encryption (Reported by Bar & Bench on May 3)..May 4: Collegium recommends L Nageswara Rao, Ashok Bhushan, DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar JJ. for elevation to Supreme Court..May 6: Court orders floor test to be held in Uttarakhand Assembly on May 10..Court issues notice to Centre and CBI in ML Sharma’s PIL on Agusta Westland..May 9: Phase 1 candidates can appear for phase 2 of NEET, rules Court..May 10: State Bar Councils asked to complete verification of advocates by June 30..Congress wins floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly by 33:28 margin..May 11: Court strikes down the regulations framed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) which prescribed a penalty for call drops on telecom operators..Centre tells Supreme Court it will revoke President’s rule in the State of Uttarakhand..Court acquits four of the sixteen accused in the 1993 Rajdhani train blasts case..May 12: Court issues notice to Central government in PIL for doubling judges’ strength.May 13: Bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra upholds the constitutional validity of provisions relating to criminal defamation..Court closes for summer vacation, four new judges sworn in..May 26: Supreme Court issues notice to States in Indira Jaising’s plea for compensation to rape victims..Court allows Italian Marine Salvatore Girone to return to Italy..May 27: Private broadcasters have to share clean feed with Prasar Bharti, Star India loses battle in apex court..Court refuses early hearing and stay in challenge to NEET ordinance..June.June 7: Bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy reserves judgment in Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case..June 10: Court stays BCI notification revoking exemption to AoRs from CoP verification..June 11: Senior Advocate and “gentleman lawyer”, Vinod Bobde passes away..June 28: Five LGBT citizens move apex court to recognise “sexuality” as a Fundamental Right..June 29: Court holds that Union Government is the appropriate government for TADA remissions..June 30: Supreme Court clarifies that only the transgender community counts as the ‘third gender’..Persons with disability entitled to reservation in promotion, rules Supreme Court..July.July 5: Court stresses on urgent need for an overhaul of the Advocates’ Act..Summary Court Martial should be used rarely, rules Supreme Court..July 8: Supreme Court condemns excessive use of force by Armed Forces in Manipur..July 11: Court issues notice to Centre in petition alleging non – implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme..July 12: Former CBI Director Ranjit Sinha guilty of influencing cases, concludes ML Sharma inquiry in Coalgate case..July 13: Supreme Court restores Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh..Constitution Bench of the court to hear the petition seeking the establishment of a National Court of Appeal..July 18: Court accepts Lodha Committee recommendations on BCCI..Court issues notice to the State of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the Central government in a plea seeking allocation of subordinate judges between the two States..July 19: Supreme Court begins hearing to ascertain the Constitutional validity of entry tax..In a significant pronouncement, the Supreme Court holds that it is empowered under Articles 32 and 142 to direct transfer a civil or criminal case pending in any Court in the State of Jammu and Kashmir to a Court outside that State and vice versa..Life sentences to run concurrently and not consecutively rules Court..July 22: Notice to Centre, Election Commission in PIL against convicted law makers..Court rules that a land owner is “consumer” despite entitlement to developed flats..Justice FM Kalifulla retires..July 24: Collegium clears 24 names for elevation to Madras High Court, rejects 6..July 25: Supreme Court files response in challenge to senior designation process; Admits that there are no Rules for Senior Designation but maintains process ‘fair and transparent’..In a landmark ruling, Supreme Court allows abortion for 24 week old foetus carried by a rape victim..Court rejects plea for lower qualification marks for Scheduled Castes in Haryana Judicial Service..July 26: Court disposes of petitions relating to the Delhi Judicial Service Exam of 2014; Issues directions to improve the existing examination system..July 29: Court issues notice to Central government in a petition filed by eight doctors of the Indian Army challenging the retirement age of fifty-eight..August.August 1: Court strikes down the validity of Rules which allow former Chief Ministers to occupy bungalows for their entire lifetime..Plea against Amit Shah in Sohrabuddin case dismissed..August 2: Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice UU Lalit directs Odisha government to pay enhanced compensation to victims of communal violence in Kandhamal..August 5: Court issues directions to combat milk adulteration..August 9: Court asks Law Commission to examine problems of statutory appeals, tribunalisation..Court rules that subordinate judges need not resign to appear for District judge selection..Gujarat government challenges the decision of the Gujarat High Court which had struck down an Ordinance that provided for 10% reservation for those belonging to economically weaker sections in unreserved categories..August 12: In a rare outburst, Chief Justice TS Thakur warns the Central government that the Court will consider withdrawing judicial work from two judges – Justice Valmiki Mehta of the Delhi High Court and Justice MR Shah of the Gujarat High Court if the transfer of these judges are not given effect to..Court lifts ban on registration of Diesel cars in Delhi, imposes environment cess..BCI hit with Rs. 25,000 penalty for inaction in CLAT matter..Court holds that though the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right, it is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, as well as public order..August 16: CBSE directed not to levy fees for providing answer sheets under RTI Act..August 17: Constitution Bench to decide whether information on judges’ appointments and assets will fall under the RTI Act..August 22: Court holds that it is not necessary to make tribunal a party to the proceedings unless required by law..August 24: Can Indian parties choose foreign seat of arbitration? Supreme Court’s Sasan judgment fails to resolve uncertainty..August 26: Bar Council of India tells Supreme Court that it has approved Jammu & Kashmir State Bar Council Draft Rules, paves the way for establishment of State Bar Council in Jammu & Kashmir..August 29: Court issues notice in Maharashtra Law CET petition..Centre directed to explore possibility of uniform welfare measure for advocates’ clerks..August 31: Court exonerates Senior Advocate Yatin Oza of contempt for his letters to the CJI criticising two Gujarat High Court Judges..Singur land acquisition by Tata struck down..Twenty-six former High Court judges designated as Senior Advocates by Supreme Court in a decision taken in a full-court meeting..September.September 1: Rahul Gandhi refuses to withdraw remarks labelling RSS as the ‘killers of Mahatma Gandhi’..September 2: Public rift in Supreme Court Collegium comes to fore after Justice Jasti Chelameswar expresses “unwillingness” to attend collegium meetings..Supreme Court issues notice in challenge to Maharashtra government’s beef ban..“Personal laws cannot be re-written in the name of social reform”, Muslim Personal Law Board tells Court in the case relating to Triple Talaq..September 5: Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of the suicide by Amity Law School student Sushant Rohilla..Court quashes criminal case against cricketer MS Dhoni in ‘Lord Vishnu’ picture controversy..September 7: Senior counsel Shyamala Pappu passes away..Court orders that FIRs have to be placed online..September 8: Court reserves judgment in Govindachamy’s appeal in Soumya rape case..September 9: Supreme Court comes out with a new circular reducing the fees for utilization of the crèche facilities, as a consequence of petitioner Anindita Pujari’s PIL..Court issues notice in the appeal filed by the State of NCT of Delhi against the judgment of the Delhi High Court which had held that Delhi is a Union territory..September 15: Supreme Court scraps Govindachamy’s death penalty, upholds punishment for rape..September 16: Court issues notice to the Central government and the Election Commission of India in a petition seeking establishment of Special Courts to try criminal cases against members of legislature, executive and judiciary..September 19: Cheque for repayment of installment but described as “security” covered by S. 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, rules Supreme Court..Google, Yahoo and Microsoft directed to “auto-block” pre-natal sex determination ads..Court seeks Shahabuddin’s response in plea for cancellation of his bail..September 20: Court asks Centre to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB), an expert resolution body. Court also directs the Karnataka government to release 6000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu..September 21: Petition filed by law aspirant Kedar Warad against Maharashtra’s CET for law dismissed due to material suppression of facts..September 22: Five judge constitution Bench presided by Justice Anil R Dave directs fresh round of counselling for NEET in Madhya Pradesh to be conducted, effectively setting aside the earlier rounds of counselling..September 23: Rajeev Dhavan loses cool in the SEBI Sahara hearing, upsets CJI Thaur who warns of withdrawing Senior designation..Kerala govt. changes stance (again) in Sabrimala case, submits that it will support entry of women..September 28: Bar Council of India files its counter affidavit in the PIL petition filed by academician Shamnad Basheer concerning the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT); Seeks permission to conduct CLAT also..Justice RM Lodha Committee submits status report to the Supreme Court on the implementation of the July 18 judgment against BCCI..September 29: Bench of Justices AK Sikri and L Nageswara Rao rules that the second and third round of NEET counselling would be a centralised counselling for all the deemed universities and not a university-wise counselling..September 30: Court sets aside bail granted to former RJD parliamentarian Mohammad Shahabuddin by the Patna High Court..SCBA President Dushyant Dave and Secretary Gaurav Bhatia at loggerheads again..October.October 3: Justice C Nagappan bids farewell to Supreme Court..October 4: Supreme Court upholds death penalty for Bangalore’s Jack the Ripper, BA Umesh Reddy..Court seeks guidelines for State Bar council elections..October 5: Justice V Gopala Gowda retires..October 6: Court rips into Delhi High Court for shoddy assistance in a case, summons High Court Registrar..Supreme Court strikes down the words “adult male” in Section 2(q) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, lays down that a woman can also file a complaint against another woman, accusing her of domestic violence..October 7: The review petition in Kerala native Soumya’s murder case up for review before the Supreme Court; decision on whether accused Govindachamy was guilty of murder forms the focal point of the arguments..Court stays Patna High Court judgment which had struck down the liquor ban in Bihar..October 10: Supreme Court delivers split verdict in Manipur judges’ recruitment case..October 14: US city of Naperville proclaims October 14 as Justice Jasti Chelameswar day..October 17: Court asks former judge Justice Markandey Katju to appear for hearing in Soumya case..Court issues notice to Meghalaya High Court in challenge to Senior designation rules framed by the High Court..October 20: Supreme Court extends final date for verification of lawyers under BCI (CoP) Rules..October 21: Court reserves judgment in Indira Jaising’s challenge to the process followed by the Supreme Court for designating lawyers as Senior Advocates.October 24: Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah Trust submits in Court that women will be allowed till the inner sanctum sanctorum of the Dargah, bring an end to the litigation concerning the same.Supreme Court of India expresses great displeasure at Bombay High Court for failing to provide parties with copies of orders passed by the High Court..October 25: Multiple Bar Associations file appeals against the Delhi High Court verdict in the One-Bar-One-Vote Case..October 26: Centre files affidavit in Shamnad Basheer petition, washes its hands clean of CLAT..Court rules that constitutional principle of equal pay for equal work would extend to temporary employees as well..October 27: Supreme Court reserves judgment in case relating to electoral malpractices popularly termed “Hindutva case”..October 28: Court threatens to summon PMO officials in judicial appointments case, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi saves the day for Centre..October 31: Court issues notice in petition regarding commercial exploitation of National Anthem..November.November 7: Kerala Government submits that it is willing to allow women into the Sabarimala Temple..NDTV moves Court against one day ban..Sentencing of the accused in Nirbhaya case violates Articles 14 and 21, argues amicus Raju Ramachandran..November 9: Demonetization reaches Supreme Court, as two lawyers file PILs, thereby beginning a flurry of demonetization-related petitions..New e-Committee, sees former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court Sunil Ambwani J. replacing Justice Lokur..November 10: Supreme Court gives advisory opinion that the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004 is unconstitutional..November 11: Justice Shiva Kirti Singh’s last working day in Supreme Court..Court issues notice of contempt to its former judge, Justice Markandey Katju, for a blog post on the Soumya verdict..Judicial Appointments: Thirty-four of seventy seven names cleared, no pending files – AG Mukul Rohatgi tells Court..Supreme Court passes landmark judgment upholding the validity of entry tax in a 7:2 majority judgment. Justices Ashok Bhushan and DY Chandrachud dissent..November 15: Common Cause moves Supreme Court for SIT probe into raids on Aditya Birla, Sahara Groups.November 16: Tamil Nadu’s Review Petition against Jallikattu judgment delivered in 2014, which outlawed the practice, dismissed by the Supreme Court..Court directs Central government to constitute a nodal agency to deal with complaints regarding presence of online advertisements information and search terms related to sex determination..November 17: Central government moves Supreme Court seeking a stay on proceedings in various courts in the country in cases relating to the discontinuation of Rs 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes..Court reserves judgment in the case relating to definition of the term ‘industry’ under the Industrial Disputes Act..November 18: Last working day for Justice Anil R Dave, vacancies in Supreme Court rise to seven..Stand-off between the Judiciary and Executive continues as Supreme Court tells the Central government that the Collegium has decided to stand by its recommendation of forty-three names which the Central government had returned to the Collegium..Gujarat lawyer moves Court against stall of transfer of MR Shah J..November 21: Supreme Court passes judgment calling for “systemic overhaul of the entire infrastructure” of Consumer Fora across the country; notes that district consumer forums in many states have become dysfunctional and riddled with schoolyard politics..Court orders status quo in relation to auction of Taj Man Singh hotel..November 23: Supreme Court issues notice in the Central government’s transfer petition in relation to twelve demonetisation-related petitions filed across seven different High Courts..November 24: Court reiterates ‘DB Modak’ directions in case relating to copyright over Supreme Court judgments..November 25: Supreme Court bans sale of firecrackers in Delhi NCT..November 26: Constitution Day celebrated, Supreme Court releases book titled ‘Courts of India – Past to Present’..November 28: Identifying the “creamy layer” within Other Backward Classes: Supreme Court issues notice in a batch of petitions challenging the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) policies..BJP and Congress withdraw appeals in the foreign funding case..Will pending criminal cases in economic offences be a bar for grant of security clearance under the Standard Operating Procedure for National Security Clearance? Court issues notice in a petition by Subramanian Swamy raising this issue..November 30: Supreme Court passes order directing movie halls across the country to play National Anthem before showing feature films..December.December 5: Common Cause moves Supreme Court for appointment of CBI Director..December 6: Who has the power to grant minority status to educational institution? Supreme Court to decide..December 7: Litigants’ canteen inaugurated..December 8: Retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju tells Supreme Court that he is ready to apologise in the contempt case initiated against him by the Supreme Court for his remarks against Supreme Court judges..December 9: Court upholds its constitutional power to hear the appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal final award in 2007..December 14: Senior Advocate RS Suri elected President of Supreme Court Bar Association..Supreme Court holds that High Court judges shall continue to be frisked at airports in accordance with the central government’s procedure..December 15: Court directs that no new liquor shop licenses shall be granted for shops that exist along National and State highways across the country. Court also orders that such shops whose licences have already been renewed, shall be allowed to ply no later than April 1 next year, while existing licenses would also expire by April 1..Supreme Court dismisses Muslim officer’s plea to keep a beard while serving in the Air Force..December 16: Supreme Court slams Jammu & Kashmir High Court for wrong disturbing observations regarding “absolute sovereign power” of the people of Jammu & Kashmir; Holds that SARFAESI Act is applicable in the State of Jammu & Kashmir..Constitution Bench to adjudicate demonetization issue as the 3-judge bench hearing the matter refers nine questions of law to larger Bench; Court refuses to grant any interim relief..Advocate Prashant Bhushan cites Justice Khehar’s elevation file in Sahara-Birla raids hearing, seeks postponement of matter inviting the wrath of the Bench.Can the sentence of life imprisonment be qualified by the word “rigorous”? The Supreme Court of India will decide this issue as a Bench comprising Justices PC Ghose and UU Lalit issues notice to the State of Chhattisgarh in a petition filed by one Ram Kumar Sivare..December 19: The President of India clears the appointment of Justice JS Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India. Justice JS Khehar will be the 44th Chief Justice of India and the first one from the Sikh community.
Murali Krishnan & Vasudha Misra.Like the years that preceded it, 2016 turned out to be very eventful for the Supreme Court of India. Tussles with the Executive and within the Collegium, retirement of as many as six judges and judgements of significant impact ensured that the Supreme Court of India remained in the news throughout the year..Equations between the Supreme Court and the Union government have been strained ever since the Supreme Court struck down National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) last year. The troubled relationship continued this year too, as the Chief Justice publicly berated the Centre for not clearing the names recommended by the Collegium for judgeship. Refusal to transfer judges alleged to be close to ruling dispensation, also led to strong words within the court room..In addition, the Memorandum of Procedure has not been finalised yet and the tiff between the two wings is not likely to end anytime soon..Early this year, the court was also privy to a rare spate of events as certain lawyers went berserk in Patiala House court and beat up media personnel and certain litigants. This led to contempt case in the Supreme Court against three lawyers..Many happenings within the premises of the Apex Court gave the press a field day, such as a Bench delivering a stunning coup de grace to retired judge Justice Markandey Katju, by slapping him with a legal notice after inviting him to argue in a review petition.’.The Supreme Court Bar Association also witnessed a great deal of unrest as the President Dushyant Dave and Secretary Gaurav Bhatia were at loggerheads. The tenure of the Executive committee was, thus, marred by conflicts this year. As the year came to a close, Senior Advocate RS Suri got elected as the new President of the SCBA..Read on ahead for a comprehensive round-up of the year that was, and all that happened!.January 4: Ex-Chief Justice of India, SH Kapadia passes away..January 5: Supreme Court upholds ban on sale of large diesel vehicles in Delhi..January 8: Justices MY Eqbal and Arun Mishra have a verbal duel in open court..January 11: Hearing in case relating to entry of women in Sabarimala temple restarts in Supreme Court after 7 years..January 12: The apex court grills Prashant Bhushan on the credibility of petitions filed by CPIL..Notification allowing Jallikattu stayed by Supreme Court..January 15: For the first time in Supreme Court history, three Constitution benches sit at the same time..Court seeks Centre’s response on the Right to Die..January 18: The Supreme Court directs the Centre to consider a common Nodal Ministry for all tribunals..January 19: CPIL replies to CJI Thakur’s queries on “PIL filing mechanism”; Fali Nariman resigns from CPIL..January 20: SARFAESI cannot override State rent control laws..January 22: Meghalaya High Court’s designations of Delhi-based lawyers challenged in Supreme Court..January 27: Court issues notice to the Centre over the Congress party’s petition challenging the Central Government’s decision to impose President’s rule in the state of Arunachal Pradesh..January 28: Apex court bench appoints Justice Sanjay Mishra as the Lokayukta for Uttar Pradesh, while recalling their previous order appointing Justice Virendra Singh for the post..February.February 1: Don’t disband the Bar Council of India, after petitioner moves Supreme Court against a Madras High Court judgment..February 2: Supreme Court refers Section 377 curative petition to a Constitution Bench..Court entrusts Justice RM Lodha to oversee refund of money by PACL..Supreme Court AoR Exam 2015 results published, 165 new AoRs for Supreme Court..February 4: Public Service Commissions within RTI ambit, rules Court. .Sonia and Rahul Gandhi challenge Delhi High Court decision in the National Herald Case..February 8: New office bearers for AoR Association; Gopal Singh elected President, Nandini Gore is Secretary..February 11: Supreme Court directs all States and Union Territories to formulate a uniform scheme to compensate physically handicapped victims of rape or sexual exploitation..Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and K Ramamurthy appointed Amicus Curiae by the Supreme Court in Sabarimala temple case..February 12: No relief for Gandhis as Court refuses to interfere with National Herald proceedings..Justice MY Eqbal retires..Rift between SCBA President Dushyant Dave and Secretary Gaurav Bhatia comes to fore as Dave absents himself from the farewell function of Justice MY Eqbal..February 15: Supreme Court withdraws judicial work from Madras High Court judge, Justice CS Karnan. In response, Justice Karnan passes a suo motu order staying his own transfer..SCBA President Dushyant Dave resigns..February 17: Patiala House Violence takes unprecedented turn, rogue lawyers go on a rampage against litigants, scribes for the second time in a week..February 18: JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar moves Supreme Court for bail..February 19: Notice issued to Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit and run case..Court refuses to hear Kanhaiya Kumar’s bail plea, transfers plea to Delhi High Court..February 23: Final Hearing in the Jayalalithaa case commences in the Supreme Court..Ex-Chief Justice of India, Justice HL Dattu appointed Chairperson of NHRC..Justice CS Karnan of Madras High Court writes to CJI Thakur; Blames “mental frustration” for his conduct and agrees to “foster harmonious attitude”..February 24: Officers of private banks are “public servants” under Prevention of Corruption Act, rules Court..February 26: Supreme Court agrees to hear petition on National Courts of Appeal; KK Venugopal and Salman Khurshid appointed Amicus..Court issues notice in plea seeking contempt of court action against three lawyers who indulged in violence in Patiala House court complex..February 29: Court issues notice in challenge to Triple Talaq, Polygamy under Muslim Personal law..Centre opposes Subramanian Swamy’s plea against hate speech provision in Indian Penal Code..March.March 2: Court issues notice in challenge to All India Bar Exam, but remarks it is not averse to the exam..March 3: Supreme Court Registry rebuked by Justice Arun Mishra..March 4: Court issues notice to the Central government and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in appeal by Cellular Operators Association of India against the judgment of the Delhi High Court in the call drops case..March 8: Can a legislator be disqualified if and when a chargesheet is filed against him or should it be done only upon conviction? Question Referred to a Constitution Bench..March 9: Banks move the Supreme Court, seeking the arrest of Vijay Mallya over the recovery of loans worth Rs. 9,000 crore, Court issues notice..March 11: Battery of lawyers appear to defend Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Bonds Act..March 15: Dushyant Dave withdraws SCBA President resignation after CJI Thakur’s request..March 17: Shyam Divan secures interim relief for Haryana in Satluj-Yamuna Link canal case..March 18: Court modifies its judgment regulating government advertisements. Now, photographs of Chief Ministers and Governors of States can also be used in government ads..Constitution Bench of the Court to decide if BCI can “prescribe pre-enrolment training”..Supreme Court holds that a High Court cannot exercise suo moto jurisdiction and stay the operation of a statutory provision unless a person aggrieved has assailed such a provision..March 19: Melee in Milon Banerji hall as SCBA crisis deepens..March 29: Dushyant Dave back as President of SCBA after Executive Committee accepts resignation withdrawal..Court (finally) gives SEBI green signal to sell Sahara’s properties..March 30: State law officers’ appointments subject to judicial review, rules Supreme Court..April.April 4: Nirbhaya hearing begins after being consigned to cold storage for more than two years..Court dismisses PIL for use of Hindi in Supreme Court and High Courts, nearly imposes cost of 1 lac..April 8: Raju Ramachandran, Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae in Delhi gang rape case..April 11: Supreme Court recalls its 2013 judgment by which it had quashed the National Eligibility Entrance Test as unconstitutional..April 13: Eleven more selected in Delhi Judicial Service Exam, 2014 pursuant to the case in Supreme Court on the same..April 18: Senior Designations put on hold until the petition filed by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising challenging the designation process is finally decided..April 22: Centre moves Supreme Court against judgment of Uttarakhand High Court which had quashed imposition of President’s rule in the State. Court orders that High Court judgment be kept in abeyance..April 24: CJI Thakur breaks down at the Chief Justices conference..April 26: Centre opposes the idea of National Court of Appeal..April 27: NGO Sankalp Charitable Trust moves Court praying that NEET be held this year..April 28: Court accepts schedule given by CBSE for holding NEET..Apri 28: Remove senior designations, say 56% of those who participated in Bar & Bench survey.April 30: Gujarat Senior Yatin Oza writes to CJI on High Court judges’ allegiance to Modi, Amit Shah, contempt case reaches Supreme Court..Caste revives on re-conversion, reiterates Supreme Court..May.May 2: Court issues notice to Centre and States in PIL praying for uploading First Information Reports on the official websites of the concerned police departments..Court constitutes committee headed by RM Lodha J. to oversee functioning MCI..May 3: RTI activist Sudhir Yadav files PIL in Supreme Court seeking a ban on Whatsapp and other messenger services having end to end encryption (Reported by Bar & Bench on May 3)..May 4: Collegium recommends L Nageswara Rao, Ashok Bhushan, DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar JJ. for elevation to Supreme Court..May 6: Court orders floor test to be held in Uttarakhand Assembly on May 10..Court issues notice to Centre and CBI in ML Sharma’s PIL on Agusta Westland..May 9: Phase 1 candidates can appear for phase 2 of NEET, rules Court..May 10: State Bar Councils asked to complete verification of advocates by June 30..Congress wins floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly by 33:28 margin..May 11: Court strikes down the regulations framed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) which prescribed a penalty for call drops on telecom operators..Centre tells Supreme Court it will revoke President’s rule in the State of Uttarakhand..Court acquits four of the sixteen accused in the 1993 Rajdhani train blasts case..May 12: Court issues notice to Central government in PIL for doubling judges’ strength.May 13: Bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra upholds the constitutional validity of provisions relating to criminal defamation..Court closes for summer vacation, four new judges sworn in..May 26: Supreme Court issues notice to States in Indira Jaising’s plea for compensation to rape victims..Court allows Italian Marine Salvatore Girone to return to Italy..May 27: Private broadcasters have to share clean feed with Prasar Bharti, Star India loses battle in apex court..Court refuses early hearing and stay in challenge to NEET ordinance..June.June 7: Bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy reserves judgment in Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case..June 10: Court stays BCI notification revoking exemption to AoRs from CoP verification..June 11: Senior Advocate and “gentleman lawyer”, Vinod Bobde passes away..June 28: Five LGBT citizens move apex court to recognise “sexuality” as a Fundamental Right..June 29: Court holds that Union Government is the appropriate government for TADA remissions..June 30: Supreme Court clarifies that only the transgender community counts as the ‘third gender’..Persons with disability entitled to reservation in promotion, rules Supreme Court..July.July 5: Court stresses on urgent need for an overhaul of the Advocates’ Act..Summary Court Martial should be used rarely, rules Supreme Court..July 8: Supreme Court condemns excessive use of force by Armed Forces in Manipur..July 11: Court issues notice to Centre in petition alleging non – implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme..July 12: Former CBI Director Ranjit Sinha guilty of influencing cases, concludes ML Sharma inquiry in Coalgate case..July 13: Supreme Court restores Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh..Constitution Bench of the court to hear the petition seeking the establishment of a National Court of Appeal..July 18: Court accepts Lodha Committee recommendations on BCCI..Court issues notice to the State of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the Central government in a plea seeking allocation of subordinate judges between the two States..July 19: Supreme Court begins hearing to ascertain the Constitutional validity of entry tax..In a significant pronouncement, the Supreme Court holds that it is empowered under Articles 32 and 142 to direct transfer a civil or criminal case pending in any Court in the State of Jammu and Kashmir to a Court outside that State and vice versa..Life sentences to run concurrently and not consecutively rules Court..July 22: Notice to Centre, Election Commission in PIL against convicted law makers..Court rules that a land owner is “consumer” despite entitlement to developed flats..Justice FM Kalifulla retires..July 24: Collegium clears 24 names for elevation to Madras High Court, rejects 6..July 25: Supreme Court files response in challenge to senior designation process; Admits that there are no Rules for Senior Designation but maintains process ‘fair and transparent’..In a landmark ruling, Supreme Court allows abortion for 24 week old foetus carried by a rape victim..Court rejects plea for lower qualification marks for Scheduled Castes in Haryana Judicial Service..July 26: Court disposes of petitions relating to the Delhi Judicial Service Exam of 2014; Issues directions to improve the existing examination system..July 29: Court issues notice to Central government in a petition filed by eight doctors of the Indian Army challenging the retirement age of fifty-eight..August.August 1: Court strikes down the validity of Rules which allow former Chief Ministers to occupy bungalows for their entire lifetime..Plea against Amit Shah in Sohrabuddin case dismissed..August 2: Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice UU Lalit directs Odisha government to pay enhanced compensation to victims of communal violence in Kandhamal..August 5: Court issues directions to combat milk adulteration..August 9: Court asks Law Commission to examine problems of statutory appeals, tribunalisation..Court rules that subordinate judges need not resign to appear for District judge selection..Gujarat government challenges the decision of the Gujarat High Court which had struck down an Ordinance that provided for 10% reservation for those belonging to economically weaker sections in unreserved categories..August 12: In a rare outburst, Chief Justice TS Thakur warns the Central government that the Court will consider withdrawing judicial work from two judges – Justice Valmiki Mehta of the Delhi High Court and Justice MR Shah of the Gujarat High Court if the transfer of these judges are not given effect to..Court lifts ban on registration of Diesel cars in Delhi, imposes environment cess..BCI hit with Rs. 25,000 penalty for inaction in CLAT matter..Court holds that though the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right, it is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, as well as public order..August 16: CBSE directed not to levy fees for providing answer sheets under RTI Act..August 17: Constitution Bench to decide whether information on judges’ appointments and assets will fall under the RTI Act..August 22: Court holds that it is not necessary to make tribunal a party to the proceedings unless required by law..August 24: Can Indian parties choose foreign seat of arbitration? Supreme Court’s Sasan judgment fails to resolve uncertainty..August 26: Bar Council of India tells Supreme Court that it has approved Jammu & Kashmir State Bar Council Draft Rules, paves the way for establishment of State Bar Council in Jammu & Kashmir..August 29: Court issues notice in Maharashtra Law CET petition..Centre directed to explore possibility of uniform welfare measure for advocates’ clerks..August 31: Court exonerates Senior Advocate Yatin Oza of contempt for his letters to the CJI criticising two Gujarat High Court Judges..Singur land acquisition by Tata struck down..Twenty-six former High Court judges designated as Senior Advocates by Supreme Court in a decision taken in a full-court meeting..September.September 1: Rahul Gandhi refuses to withdraw remarks labelling RSS as the ‘killers of Mahatma Gandhi’..September 2: Public rift in Supreme Court Collegium comes to fore after Justice Jasti Chelameswar expresses “unwillingness” to attend collegium meetings..Supreme Court issues notice in challenge to Maharashtra government’s beef ban..“Personal laws cannot be re-written in the name of social reform”, Muslim Personal Law Board tells Court in the case relating to Triple Talaq..September 5: Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of the suicide by Amity Law School student Sushant Rohilla..Court quashes criminal case against cricketer MS Dhoni in ‘Lord Vishnu’ picture controversy..September 7: Senior counsel Shyamala Pappu passes away..Court orders that FIRs have to be placed online..September 8: Court reserves judgment in Govindachamy’s appeal in Soumya rape case..September 9: Supreme Court comes out with a new circular reducing the fees for utilization of the crèche facilities, as a consequence of petitioner Anindita Pujari’s PIL..Court issues notice in the appeal filed by the State of NCT of Delhi against the judgment of the Delhi High Court which had held that Delhi is a Union territory..September 15: Supreme Court scraps Govindachamy’s death penalty, upholds punishment for rape..September 16: Court issues notice to the Central government and the Election Commission of India in a petition seeking establishment of Special Courts to try criminal cases against members of legislature, executive and judiciary..September 19: Cheque for repayment of installment but described as “security” covered by S. 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, rules Supreme Court..Google, Yahoo and Microsoft directed to “auto-block” pre-natal sex determination ads..Court seeks Shahabuddin’s response in plea for cancellation of his bail..September 20: Court asks Centre to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB), an expert resolution body. Court also directs the Karnataka government to release 6000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu..September 21: Petition filed by law aspirant Kedar Warad against Maharashtra’s CET for law dismissed due to material suppression of facts..September 22: Five judge constitution Bench presided by Justice Anil R Dave directs fresh round of counselling for NEET in Madhya Pradesh to be conducted, effectively setting aside the earlier rounds of counselling..September 23: Rajeev Dhavan loses cool in the SEBI Sahara hearing, upsets CJI Thaur who warns of withdrawing Senior designation..Kerala govt. changes stance (again) in Sabrimala case, submits that it will support entry of women..September 28: Bar Council of India files its counter affidavit in the PIL petition filed by academician Shamnad Basheer concerning the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT); Seeks permission to conduct CLAT also..Justice RM Lodha Committee submits status report to the Supreme Court on the implementation of the July 18 judgment against BCCI..September 29: Bench of Justices AK Sikri and L Nageswara Rao rules that the second and third round of NEET counselling would be a centralised counselling for all the deemed universities and not a university-wise counselling..September 30: Court sets aside bail granted to former RJD parliamentarian Mohammad Shahabuddin by the Patna High Court..SCBA President Dushyant Dave and Secretary Gaurav Bhatia at loggerheads again..October.October 3: Justice C Nagappan bids farewell to Supreme Court..October 4: Supreme Court upholds death penalty for Bangalore’s Jack the Ripper, BA Umesh Reddy..Court seeks guidelines for State Bar council elections..October 5: Justice V Gopala Gowda retires..October 6: Court rips into Delhi High Court for shoddy assistance in a case, summons High Court Registrar..Supreme Court strikes down the words “adult male” in Section 2(q) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, lays down that a woman can also file a complaint against another woman, accusing her of domestic violence..October 7: The review petition in Kerala native Soumya’s murder case up for review before the Supreme Court; decision on whether accused Govindachamy was guilty of murder forms the focal point of the arguments..Court stays Patna High Court judgment which had struck down the liquor ban in Bihar..October 10: Supreme Court delivers split verdict in Manipur judges’ recruitment case..October 14: US city of Naperville proclaims October 14 as Justice Jasti Chelameswar day..October 17: Court asks former judge Justice Markandey Katju to appear for hearing in Soumya case..Court issues notice to Meghalaya High Court in challenge to Senior designation rules framed by the High Court..October 20: Supreme Court extends final date for verification of lawyers under BCI (CoP) Rules..October 21: Court reserves judgment in Indira Jaising’s challenge to the process followed by the Supreme Court for designating lawyers as Senior Advocates.October 24: Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah Trust submits in Court that women will be allowed till the inner sanctum sanctorum of the Dargah, bring an end to the litigation concerning the same.Supreme Court of India expresses great displeasure at Bombay High Court for failing to provide parties with copies of orders passed by the High Court..October 25: Multiple Bar Associations file appeals against the Delhi High Court verdict in the One-Bar-One-Vote Case..October 26: Centre files affidavit in Shamnad Basheer petition, washes its hands clean of CLAT..Court rules that constitutional principle of equal pay for equal work would extend to temporary employees as well..October 27: Supreme Court reserves judgment in case relating to electoral malpractices popularly termed “Hindutva case”..October 28: Court threatens to summon PMO officials in judicial appointments case, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi saves the day for Centre..October 31: Court issues notice in petition regarding commercial exploitation of National Anthem..November.November 7: Kerala Government submits that it is willing to allow women into the Sabarimala Temple..NDTV moves Court against one day ban..Sentencing of the accused in Nirbhaya case violates Articles 14 and 21, argues amicus Raju Ramachandran..November 9: Demonetization reaches Supreme Court, as two lawyers file PILs, thereby beginning a flurry of demonetization-related petitions..New e-Committee, sees former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court Sunil Ambwani J. replacing Justice Lokur..November 10: Supreme Court gives advisory opinion that the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004 is unconstitutional..November 11: Justice Shiva Kirti Singh’s last working day in Supreme Court..Court issues notice of contempt to its former judge, Justice Markandey Katju, for a blog post on the Soumya verdict..Judicial Appointments: Thirty-four of seventy seven names cleared, no pending files – AG Mukul Rohatgi tells Court..Supreme Court passes landmark judgment upholding the validity of entry tax in a 7:2 majority judgment. Justices Ashok Bhushan and DY Chandrachud dissent..November 15: Common Cause moves Supreme Court for SIT probe into raids on Aditya Birla, Sahara Groups.November 16: Tamil Nadu’s Review Petition against Jallikattu judgment delivered in 2014, which outlawed the practice, dismissed by the Supreme Court..Court directs Central government to constitute a nodal agency to deal with complaints regarding presence of online advertisements information and search terms related to sex determination..November 17: Central government moves Supreme Court seeking a stay on proceedings in various courts in the country in cases relating to the discontinuation of Rs 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes..Court reserves judgment in the case relating to definition of the term ‘industry’ under the Industrial Disputes Act..November 18: Last working day for Justice Anil R Dave, vacancies in Supreme Court rise to seven..Stand-off between the Judiciary and Executive continues as Supreme Court tells the Central government that the Collegium has decided to stand by its recommendation of forty-three names which the Central government had returned to the Collegium..Gujarat lawyer moves Court against stall of transfer of MR Shah J..November 21: Supreme Court passes judgment calling for “systemic overhaul of the entire infrastructure” of Consumer Fora across the country; notes that district consumer forums in many states have become dysfunctional and riddled with schoolyard politics..Court orders status quo in relation to auction of Taj Man Singh hotel..November 23: Supreme Court issues notice in the Central government’s transfer petition in relation to twelve demonetisation-related petitions filed across seven different High Courts..November 24: Court reiterates ‘DB Modak’ directions in case relating to copyright over Supreme Court judgments..November 25: Supreme Court bans sale of firecrackers in Delhi NCT..November 26: Constitution Day celebrated, Supreme Court releases book titled ‘Courts of India – Past to Present’..November 28: Identifying the “creamy layer” within Other Backward Classes: Supreme Court issues notice in a batch of petitions challenging the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) policies..BJP and Congress withdraw appeals in the foreign funding case..Will pending criminal cases in economic offences be a bar for grant of security clearance under the Standard Operating Procedure for National Security Clearance? Court issues notice in a petition by Subramanian Swamy raising this issue..November 30: Supreme Court passes order directing movie halls across the country to play National Anthem before showing feature films..December.December 5: Common Cause moves Supreme Court for appointment of CBI Director..December 6: Who has the power to grant minority status to educational institution? Supreme Court to decide..December 7: Litigants’ canteen inaugurated..December 8: Retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju tells Supreme Court that he is ready to apologise in the contempt case initiated against him by the Supreme Court for his remarks against Supreme Court judges..December 9: Court upholds its constitutional power to hear the appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal final award in 2007..December 14: Senior Advocate RS Suri elected President of Supreme Court Bar Association..Supreme Court holds that High Court judges shall continue to be frisked at airports in accordance with the central government’s procedure..December 15: Court directs that no new liquor shop licenses shall be granted for shops that exist along National and State highways across the country. Court also orders that such shops whose licences have already been renewed, shall be allowed to ply no later than April 1 next year, while existing licenses would also expire by April 1..Supreme Court dismisses Muslim officer’s plea to keep a beard while serving in the Air Force..December 16: Supreme Court slams Jammu & Kashmir High Court for wrong disturbing observations regarding “absolute sovereign power” of the people of Jammu & Kashmir; Holds that SARFAESI Act is applicable in the State of Jammu & Kashmir..Constitution Bench to adjudicate demonetization issue as the 3-judge bench hearing the matter refers nine questions of law to larger Bench; Court refuses to grant any interim relief..Advocate Prashant Bhushan cites Justice Khehar’s elevation file in Sahara-Birla raids hearing, seeks postponement of matter inviting the wrath of the Bench.Can the sentence of life imprisonment be qualified by the word “rigorous”? The Supreme Court of India will decide this issue as a Bench comprising Justices PC Ghose and UU Lalit issues notice to the State of Chhattisgarh in a petition filed by one Ram Kumar Sivare..December 19: The President of India clears the appointment of Justice JS Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India. Justice JS Khehar will be the 44th Chief Justice of India and the first one from the Sikh community.
