Current Affairs - Bills and Acts

The Supreme Court exercised its extraordinary constitutional powers under Article 142 to ensure complete justice while issuing an interim stay on the UGC Regulations, 2026. Since the earlier 2012 Regulations had already been repealed, the Court relied on Article 142 to prevent a regulatory vacuum by directing that the 2012 framework would continue until further orders. This provision empowers the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary for doing complete justice in matters before it, even if such directions go beyond existing statutory provisions, reinforcing its role as the final constitutional arbiter.

Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was introduced through the 2018 amendment with the objective of protecting honest public servants from frivolous and vexatious investigations related to decisions taken in good faith. It mandates that investigative agencies obtain prior approval from the competent authority before initiating an inquiry or investigation into official acts of a public servant. The provision has sparked intense legal debate, as reflected in the Supreme Court’s split verdict balancing the need to safeguard bureaucratic decision-making while ensuring that anti-corruption investigations remain independent, effective, and consistent with the constitutional principle of equality before law.

The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the right to personal liberty, which includes the right to hold or renew a passport, flows from Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The Court emphasised that personal liberty is not a concession granted by the State but a fundamental constitutional obligation. In the Mahesh Agarwal vs Union of India case, it clarified that the mere pendency of criminal proceedings cannot automatically deprive an individual of passport rights. Any restriction on such rights must follow due process of law and meet constitutional standards, reinforcing the expansive and protective scope of Article 21.

The Bombay High Court clarified that using civilian awards such as the Bharat Ratna or Padma awards as prefixes or suffixes to a person’s name violates Article 18(1) of the Indian Constitution. Article 18(1) prohibits the State from conferring titles, ensuring equality among citizens. Although these awards are constitutionally valid as honours recognizing excellence, they are not titles and must not be treated as such. Misuse of these honours as name attachments undermines the constitutional principle of equality and can lead to forfeiture under Regulation 10, reinforcing the need for strict compliance with constitutional values.

The SPREE-2025 (Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees) has been launched under the provisions of the ESI Act, 1948. This Act forms the foundation of India’s Employees’ State Insurance framework, providing health insurance and social security benefits to workers. SPREE-2025, active from 1st July to 31st December 2025, encourages unregistered employers and employees, including temporary and contractual workers, to register voluntarily without the fear of retrospective penalties or inspections. By simplifying compliance and promoting wider registration, the initiative strengthens India’s social security net while ensuring that more workers receive the health and insurance benefits guaranteed under the ESI Act, 1948.