Madras HC: Police Must Issue Written Summons Under Section 179 BNSS
The Madras High Court directed police to summon complainants or witnesses only through written summons under Section 179 BNSS, specifying a date and time, and to record enquiry minutes in the station diary. Justice Ilanthiraiyan noted rising complaints of harassment during police enquiries but clarified courts wouldn’t ordinarily interfere with investigations conducted within Chapter XIII BNSS’s framework, reiterating that magistrates too cannot dictate the mode of investigation despite their supervisory role. (R. Raja v. Commissioner of Police, 2026)
SC: T.M.A. Pai Judgment Ended Subvention Scheme Retrospectively
The Supreme Court held that the medical college subvention scheme ceased upon the final T.M.A. Pai Foundation judgment (31 October 2002), rejecting claims that it continued for the full 5-year course for students admitted earlier. Justices Datta and Nagu held Supreme Court declarations are retrospective unless stated otherwise, and prospective protection applied only to inconsistent statutes, not executive schemes. The college’s failure to substantiate its fee/expense claims with evidence proved fatal. (Union of India v. Sri Devraj URS Medical College, 2026)
BCI Proposes National Legal Academy for Lawyers in Goa
The Bar Council of India announced plans to establish a National Legal Academy at its IIULER campus in Goa, offering compulsory 10-day to 2-week training for young lawyers nationwide. BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, addressing IIULER’s 2026 orientation, said trainees would interact with judges, professors, and senior advocates as part of the programme, describing it as a major responsibility entrusted to the Council for standardising early-career legal training.
SC Extends Section 498A Protection to Live-In Relationships
The Supreme Court held that Section 498A IPC (now Section 85 BNS), covering cruelty by a husband or in-laws, extends to live-in relationships qualifying as “relationships in the nature of marriage” where intent to marry is intrinsic. Justices Karol and Kotiswar Singh held distinguishing such relationships from marriage for cruelty protection violates Article 14, noting live-in relationships are an urban reality the law must accommodate — though the ruling is limited strictly to Section 498A. (Dr Lokesh B H v. State of Karnataka, 2026 INSC 784)
SC: Exporters Can Claim IGST Refunds After Rule 96(10) Omission
The Supreme Court ruled that exporters with pending IGST refund applications when Rule 96(10) of the CGST Rules was omitted (effective 8 October 2024) without a saving clause can now claim refunds without restriction. Justices Pardiwala and Vinod Chandran held the rule’s omission without a savings clause meant it ceased to have any effect on pending proceedings, ending complications the government itself said the rule caused. (Goodluck India Ltd v. Union of India, 2026 INSC 821)
SC: No Service Tax on Notional Split of Composite ATM Contracts
The Supreme Court held that service tax couldn’t be imposed on a notional 33% “installation and commissioning” component that Revenue tried to carve out from Diebold’s indivisible turnkey ATM contracts with banks for the period July 2003–April 2006. Affirming CESTAT’s order, the Court held the Finance Act, 1994 didn’t then authorise splitting composite contracts to tax a notional service element, and dismissed all Revenue appeals. (Commissioner of Service Tax, Chennai v. Diebold Systems, 2026 INSC 808)