Rest The Case Weekly Brief : Top Legal Updates & Court Highlights

Supreme Court Extends Registry Working Hours, Reopens on All Saturdays from July 14, 2025

New Delhi | July 2, 2025
In a move aimed at reducing case backlog and improving public access, the Supreme Court of India has announced a significant extension of its registry working hours. Starting on July 14, 2025, the registry will now remain open on all Saturdays, including the previously non-working 2nd and 4th Saturdays. As per the Supreme Court (Amendment) Rules, 2025, notified in the official Gazette under G.S.R. 385(E), the registry's weekday working hours (Monday to Friday) will continue from 10 AM to 5 PM, with the last intake for new filings set at 4:30 PM. Urgent matters may still be submitted after this cut-off, subject to the Registrar’s discretion. On Saturdays, the registry will function from 10 AM to 1 PM, and filings will be accepted until 12 noon. The notification also clarifies that during partial court days and Christmas/New Year holidays, timings may be adjusted by specific orders from the Chief Justice of India.

The decision is part of ongoing efforts to streamline the court’s administrative processes, enhance efficiency, and make judicial services more accessible to lawyers and litigants alike. Legal experts believe this step could significantly reduce pendency, especially in procedural matters where registry clearance is critical. This amendment updates provisions originally set in the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, and reflects changes made over the years, including those in 2014, 2019, 2024, and earlier in 2025. Litigants and lawyers are advised to take note of the revised timings and plan submissions accordingly to avoid last-minute delays. For the official notification and detailed rules, please visit the Supreme Court of India website or refer to Gazette Notification G.S.R. 385(E), dated June 14, 2025.

July 4, 2025 – Delhi Introduces New GST Rules for Gaming and Casinos

New Delhi | July 4, 2025 - The Delhi government has formally brought into effect new GST rules for online gaming and casinos, aligning with central tax reforms announced earlier. Under Notification No. 49/2023‑State Tax, effective retrospectively from October 1, 2023, a uniform 28% GST is now levied on all types of online games, whether based on skill or chance, as well as on actionable claims in casinos like chips and tokens. The tax will be calculated on the entire amount players deposit or stake, rather than just on platform fees or net winnings. This move eliminates the earlier distinction between skill-based and chance-based games and significantly broadens the tax net. The new rules also make it mandatory for overseas gaming platforms offering services to Indian users to register under GST, file monthly returns (including GSTR‑5A), and pay tax on total deposits collected, even when paid in virtual currencies. Government officials argue that the change will help boost revenue and curb illegal betting activities, while industry voices caution that it could increase gaming costs for users and raise compliance requirements for operators. The update marks a major shift in how India regulates and taxes its fast-growing digital gaming and casino market.

New Financial Rules in India from July 1, 2025: What Businesses Need to Know

New Delhi | July 5, 2025 — Starting July 1, 2025, India has put in place several new tax and financial rules that directly affect businesses and individuals across the country. One of the big changes is about GST Returns, once you file your GSTR‑3B form, it will now be locked, meaning you can’t go back and change it. If you find mistakes later, you will need to use the GSTR‑1A amendment process to correct them instead of editing the original return. This aims to make the GST system clearer and reduce errors. Another rule sets a three-year limit to file late GST returns like GSTR‑1, 3B, 4, and 8. After three years from the original due date, it won’t be possible to file these returns or fix them, so businesses must be extra careful to file on time. To ease the pressure on the main GST e-way bill portal, the government has opened a second portal (ewaybill2.gst.gov.in) so businesses can generate e-way bills without system slowdowns.

In income tax, the last date to file returns (ITR) for this year has been extended to September 15, 2025, giving taxpayers more time to complete and file accurately. Another important update is that the Aadhaar card is now mandatory if you want to apply for a new PAN card. This step helps improve identity verification and reduce fraud. These rules were brought in through a new notification to match state laws with central policies. Experts say these changes will make tax filing more reliable and help businesses avoid fines, but companies need to update their compliance systems to keep up.

The InvITation To Reform: SEBI’s New InvIT Amendment, Explained

New Delhi | July 8, 2025: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed changes to the rules for Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), aiming to make it easier for private InvITs to convert into publicly listed ones. The draft circular is now open for public feedback until July 22, 2025. Currently, when a private InvIT becomes public, it must follow strict rules: the sponsor must hold at least 15% of units locked for 18 months, any extra units are locked for a year, and even non-sponsor investors face a one-year lock-in. These rules were meant to protect investors, but have made conversions complicated and less appealing. SEBI now plans to simplify this process. The proposed amendments suggest relaxing or removing sponsor lock-in requirements and reducing the lock-in period for non-sponsor investors from one year to six months, or possibly removing it altogether. This would give more flexibility to sponsors and improve liquidity for investors wanting to trade units sooner. Another key proposal is to simplify the paperwork. Private InvITs moving to public status would only need to share the same information required for a typical follow-on public offer, instead of a longer and more detailed disclosure document.

These proposed changes are part of SEBI’s larger goal to encourage more private InvITs to list publicly by reducing compliance burdens while still ensuring transparency. Industry experts believe this could boost investor interest and make India’s infrastructure sector more attractive to both domestic and global investors. Public comments on the draft are open until July 22, after which SEBI will finalise the new rules. The amendments are expected to help InvITs become a more flexible and investor-friendly option in India’s growing capital market.

New Delhi | Reuters Twitter Accounts Blocked In India After Govt Order, X Considers Legal Action

New Delhi | July 9, 2025 - Social media platform X (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk, has accused the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) of ordering it to block 2,355 accounts, including @Reuters and @ReutersWorld, under Section 69A of the IT Act on July 3, 2025. The orders, issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, required X to comply immediately or face criminal penalties. X described this as “ongoing press censorship” and said it was exploring legal action to challenge what it sees as disproportionate government control over online speech. After the blocking sparked widespread criticism from journalists, civil society, and press freedom advocates, Reuters’ accounts were restored on July 6. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) denied issuing any new or specific order targeting Reuters, explaining that their accounts might have been included by mistake in a broader list aimed at accounts linked to security concerns. The ministry claimed it had asked X to unblock Reuters promptly, but alleged the platform took over 21 hours to act.

While Reuters’ handles are now visible again, the fate of the other 2,353 accounts mentioned in the blocking order remains unclear. The incident has renewed debate over the balance between national security and press freedom and comes as X is already pursuing a legal challenge in the Karnataka High Court against broader government takedown practices. Observers say the outcome of these disputes could shape the future of online free expression and platform regulation in India.

Supreme Court Steps In: Suo Motu Case to Stop ED & Police From Summoning Lawyers Over Client Advice

New Delhi | July 9, 2025: The Supreme Court has taken suo motu (on its own) action to look into whether investigative bodies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and state police are going too far by calling lawyers for questioning about the advice they give their clients accused in criminal cases.

The case comes after growing concerns in the legal community that such summons undermine the principle of confidential communication between a lawyer and their client. The immediate trigger was a summons issued by Gujarat Police to an advocate, which the Supreme Court stayed on June 25, observing that forcing lawyers to disclose what they discuss with clients could seriously affect the right to a fair trial. The issue drew wider attention when the ED called well-known senior advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal to appear about legal opinions they had given on ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) matters. Following backlash and criticism from bar associations, the ED withdrew those summons and later directed its officials that any future summons to lawyers must be approved by the director himself.

Recognizing the broader implications for the independence of the legal profession and the justice system, the Supreme Court registered the matter under the title “In Re: Summoning Advocates Who Give Legal Opinion or Represent Parties During Investigation of Cases and Related Issues.” A special bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria is scheduled to hear the matter on July 14.

The Court’s move is widely seen as an effort to set clearer limits on how far investigative agencies can go, and to ensure lawyers can advise clients freely without fear of being summoned or harassed. The outcome could have a significant impact on legal practice and the protection of client confidentiality in India.

India Proposes Flexibility Overhaul for Fast‑Track Arbitration Under Section 29B

New Delhi | July 10, 2025: The Legal expert Manav Jha published an analysis arguing that India’s fast‑track arbitration law under Section 29B of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, demands urgent reform. The current framework, introduced in 2015 to resolve disputes within six months based on written submissions, with oral hearings only if unanimously requested, permits a fast‑track only before or at the tribunal appointment. Jha warns that this restricts parties from choosing this faster route even after fully understanding the case complexity. Drawing comparisons with the more adaptable expedited procedures of institutions like ICC and SIAC, Jha highlights that the Indian statute’s inflexible timing undermines party autonomy and procedural efficiency. He further points out the irony that while the legislative intent allowed fast‑track “at any stage,” the actual text contradicts the broader spirit of the law.

To address these flaws, Jha proposes two targeted changes: permit parties to opt into fast‑track arbitration at any point before oral evidence begins; and, where the decision follows completion of pleadings, reduce the award timeline from six months to three. He argues that these amendments would restore alignment between the legislative intent and statutory language, improve fairness and speed, and bring India’s arbitration system in line with global norms .

Jha concludes that Section 29B remains well-meaning but hamstrung by outdated drafting. A few strategic tweaks could transform it into a genuinely flexible, efficient mechanism capable of delivering timely, cost-effective dispute resolution in India.