Legal Roundup: Major Court Orders & Updates (26 Jul – 2 Aug 2025)

Heatwave Deaths in India: Supreme Court Orders Government to Ensure Safety Rules

New Delhi, July 26, 2025 - The Supreme Court of India is paying close attention to the rising number of deaths caused by extreme heatwaves in the country. A petition has been filed urging the government to take strong and urgent steps to protect people who are most at risk, such as outdoor workers, laborers, and children. The petition points out that thousands of people have died due to heatwaves in recent years, with over 700 deaths reported in 2024 alone.

The petition asks the court to make sure the government creates clear rules to protect people during heatwaves. These rules should include things like allowing workers to have flexible hours, providing enough water to stay hydrated, shaded rest places, and medical help when needed. It also suggests forming a special committee to monitor how well the government and employers follow these rules and to ensure people affected by heat-related illnesses or deaths get proper compensation.

The Court has asked several government ministries to reply about the measures they are taking. This comes at a time when experts warn that heatwaves are becoming more common and severe in India because of climate change. The Court will hear more on this issue after receiving the government’s responses.

Allahabad HC Declares Interfaith Marriages Without Conversion Illegal

Prayagraj, July 27, 2025 – The Allahabad High Court has ruled that marriages between people of different religions are not legally valid if one partner has not converted to the other’s religion. This decision came during a case where a man was accused of kidnapping and marrying a minor girl without proper legal procedures. The man said he married the girl at an Arya Samaj temple, and they lived together. But the court rejected this because the girl was underage, and no religious conversion took place, which the law requires for interfaith marriages in this context. The court pointed out that some Arya Samaj temples give marriage certificates even if the legal conditions are not met, sometimes charging money for these certificates.

Because of this, the court asked the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate such temples carefully. An officer will look into how these marriage certificates are issued without following the rules. The report is expected by the end of August. The man faces serious charges, including kidnapping and rape, and the court emphasized the importance of protecting minors and following the law regarding conversion in interfaith marriages.

This ruling sends a strong message that interfaith marriages without proper religious conversion and legal procedures are not allowed by law, especially when minors are involved.

Supreme Court Clears J&K Civil Judge Recruitment Without 3-Year Practice Condition

New Delhi, July 28, 2025- The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition challenging the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) recruitment notice for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division), which did not include the condition of having three years of experience as a practicing advocate. The Court clarified that the recruitment advertisement was issued before its judgment dated May 20, 2025, which introduced the mandatory three-year practice rule. A bench headed by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, along with Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, observed that since the notification was released on May 14, 2025, the newly set rule cannot be enforced on this recruitment process. The judges stated that laws or rules introduced through court rulings apply only going forward and cannot affect actions that took place before the decision.

The Court also dismissed any suspicion that the recruitment notice was timed deliberately to avoid the impact of the new rule. There was no evidence to support such claims, the bench said. The petitioners were allowed to withdraw their plea, and the recruitment process will continue without changes.

This decision means that candidates who applied for the J&K civil judge post under the earlier rules will not be affected by the later ruling. The Court’s verdict helps to maintain clarity in public recruitment and prevents disruption in ongoing processes.

Supreme Court Clarifies MSME Revival Framework Applies Only When Businesses Request It

On July 31, 2025, the Supreme Court of India issued an important judgment about how the MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) revival framework works alongside recovery actions taken by banks under the SARFAESI Act. The case involved an MSME business whose loan was declared a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) by the bank without the bank first checking whether the business was under financial stress or giving it a chance to use the revival process.

The Court ruled that banks are not required to look for early signs of trouble in MSME loan accounts before classifying them as NPAs and starting recovery actions. Instead, the special protections under the MSME revival framework are only applicable if the MSME borrower actively informs the bank about their difficulties and requests help under the framework.

This means the MSME business must take the initiative to tell the bank they want to use the revival scheme. If the business does this in time, the bank must pause recovery and consider the revival plan. However, if no such request is made before recovery steps begin, the bank can continue with enforcing its rights and cannot be delayed by the revival framework.

The Supreme Court emphasized that these rules are designed to help MSMEs but are not meant to be used as a way to avoid paying loans once enforcement proceedings are underway. The judgment balances the need to protect small businesses while also safeguarding banks' ability to recover their funds.

This decision provides clear guidance for both MSMEs and lenders on when and how the revival framework applies, encouraging timely communication and cooperation to solve financial stress effectively.

Supreme Court Warns: Himachal Pradesh’s Entire State Could Disappear Without Protecting Environment

Mumbai, August 1, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India has raised a serious alarm about the environmental dangers facing Himachal Pradesh. The Court warned that if the State’s environment continues to be harmed by unchecked construction and other activities, then the whole State might disappear from the country’s map in the long run. This warning came during a hearing about a government order that declared Shri Tara Mata Hill as a protected “Green Area” and banned private building on it. The court supported this decision strongly, saying that making money by allowing construction should never happen if it harms nature and the environment.

The judges pointed out many problems caused by unplanned construction. They talked about how cutting down trees illegally, building on steep hills without proper care, and blocking natural streams have caused soil to wash away and landslides to happen more often. These problems have made recent disasters like cloudbursts in places like Kullu and Manali even worse.

Another big concern mentioned was that forest guard posts have been removed in some areas, leading to more illegal logging and damage to forests. The Court also noticed that tourism is putting extra pressure on the environment, causing traffic jams, problems with waste disposal, water shortages, and risky hotel building in fragile and dangerous hill areas.

The Supreme Court asked the Himachal Pradesh government and the central government to act quickly. It ordered the state government to send a detailed report within four weeks explaining what steps they are taking to fix these problems. The next hearing is set for August 25, 2025.

This decision from the top court sends a warning: Development and earning money are important, but they should never come at the cost of nature. Protecting the environment is essential to save the state from disasters and to keep life safe for everyone living there.

In short, the Supreme Court wants to remind all that taking care of the environment and planning carefully are key to the future of Himachal Pradesh. Without strong protection for nature, the state may face serious harm that could threaten its very existence.