
A landmark, many significant rulings of 2019
It was an eventful year for the Supreme Court that decided matters of constitutional and political importance. Below is our pick of some of the key judgments in 2019:
Ayodhya verdict
The judgment on November 9 brought to conclusion a dispute that had spanned more than half a century, cost thousands of lives and changed the political landscape of the country. A Constitution bench awarded the disputed site of 2.77 acres to the child deity, Ram Lalla Virajman, while ordering that Muslim parties be given an alternative site of 5 acres to construct a new mosque.
In its 1,045-page judgment, the court acknowledged the illegalities committed by Hindu Parties. The title to the site was, however, awarded to the Hindus on the ground that their claims to possession stood on a better stead.
The court also directed the central government to form a trust to oversee the construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site. The review petitions filed by Muslim parties were dismissed by the court on December 12.
Finance Act and the money bill route
This verdict on November 13 ruled on the significant issue of government adopting the money bill route to pass laws in Parliament.
As per Article 110 of the Constitution, a money bill contains only provisions relating to taxation, borrowing of money by government, appropriation of money out of Consolidated Fund of India and expenditure from or to the Consolidated Fund of India.
A money bill originates in Lok Sabha and once passed by a simple majority, it is send to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendations. These recommendations are not binding.
The current government, which does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha, has used the money bill route on more than one occasion to pass contentious laws. The Finance Act 2017, which brought about significant changes to the functioning of tribunals and appointment and service conditions of its members, was challenged on the ground that it cannot be classified as a money bill.
The government had relied on the Aadhaar verdict of 2018. The Aadhaar Act, which was passed as money bill, had been given a stamp of approval by the Supreme Court in the Aadhaar judgment. However, the court expressed doubt regarding the correctness of the Aadhaar judgment. Since the Aadhaar judgment was delivered by a bench of five judges, the Court ordered that a seven-judge Bench should decide this issue.
Sabarimala review
A five-judge bench by a majority of 3:2 held that Sabarimala temple entry of women case deserves a relook. The court had, in September 2018, struck down a law that had prohibited entry of women between 10-50 years into Sabarimala temple. The judgment had sparked violent protests.
On November 14, the SC bench headed by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi ruled that the review petitions should be kept pending and decided only after the court answers similar issues in three cases relating to Muslim and Parsi women.A seven-judge bench of the court will now decide these crucial issues.
Rafale review
A three-judge bench turned down the review petitions filed against the 2018 verdict of the top court which had rejected prayer for an SIT probe into deal between Indian government and France’s Dassault Aviation for the purchase of 36 Rafale jets. The court on November 14 held that it cannot order a roving and fishing inquiry when dealing with a contract.
Besides, the judgment allowing review petitions challenging its 2018 order that had diluted provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989; and the judgment affirming that the office of the Chief Justice of India falls within the ambit of Right To Information Act, too, received considerable attention.

Disagreeing with govt is not sedition, says SC
- India’s sedition law has an interesting past — it was introduced by the British in 1870, decided to be dropped from the Constitution in 1948 after discussions of the Constituent Assembly.

Centre plans tourism push to mark 75 years of Independence
- India will also promote tourism by celebrating 2022 as the Visit India Year through a promotion campaign highlighting India’s strengths like heritage, culture, art, wellness and yoga.

2 held for murder of sexual assault survivor’s father
- The ADG has constituted teams of police personnel from Aligarh to assist the Hathras police.

Teen held for murder of girl after rape bid
- The incident took place on Sunday afternoon, when the girl went to a wheat field, owned by the family of the accused, to collect fodder and water.

Only Centre can enforce new digital media rules: I&B ministry to states
- The provisions under the new rules relate to the code of ethics for digital news publishers, setting up of a grievance redressal system and the requirement of disclosure of information to Centre, the ministry said.

Spectrograph designed for Uttarakhand telescope
- The instrument will support the 3.6 metre Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) in Uttarakhand, an official release from the department of science said on Wednesday.

‘Ceasefire need of the hour... desirable for both India, Pak’: Lt-Gen BS Raju
- Lt-Gen BS Raju said a quiet LoC will allow us to address the challenge of terrorism in a focused manner.

ED begins probe against Franklin Templeton
- The central agency has registered a case on the basis of an FIR registered by Chennai Economic Offences Wing in September last year.

Experts slam claim that human activity not behind recent flood
- Dhyani added that the burden on the ecology due to construction on Himalayan slopes made the region prone to disasters.

Supreme Court issues notice on Gautam Navlakha’s plea for default bail
- Navlakha claimed in his petition filed through advocate Shadan Farasat that the 90-day period for filing of charge sheet was over and he was entitled to default bail under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

GJM leader close to Bimal Gurung arrested under POCSO in Sikkim
- Lama was being considered as the GJM candidate for the Kalimpong assembly seat in the coming polls later this month.

Centre differs with SC on additional courts for cheque bounce cases
- Unhappy with the response, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to appear in the case along with Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikramjeet Banerjee, who presented the note to the Court.

Man in Maharashtra wanted to ride horse to office to overcome spinal problem
- The officer withdrew his request after an orthopaedic surgeon said his purpose would not be served by buying a horse.

India signs pact with Philippines for supply of BrahMos missile
