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The Supreme Court and several high courts delivered decisions whose impact extended far beyond the courtrooms, reshaping the debate on federalism, rights, governance, and public safety.
Take a look at the top cases that sparked debate in 2025:
Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025
One of the most politically sensitive legal battles of the year was the challenge to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Several petitions questioned the constitutional validity of the changes affecting waqf properties – religious endowments for charitable and community use.
A Supreme Court bench led by the then Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Vikram Nath, heard arguments that the amendments gave excessive powers to district collectors to decide whether land claimed as Waqf belonged to the government or not. The petitioners also challenged the removal of the “Waqf by user” concept and the change in the structure of Waqf Boards, arguing that these were violative of Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court refused to strike down the entire law, but blocked key provisions, including the section requiring a person to practice Islam for five years to create a waqf. The court said that these measures were put in place “to protect the interests of all parties and to balance equity during the pendency of this batch of cases”.
Stray dogs and public safety
The issue of stray dogs emerged as an unexpected issue. Acting on reports of increasing incidents of dog bites, especially in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance and issued several directions.
The initial orders were to catch stray dogs, sterilize them and house them without abandoning them. Following protests from animal welfare groups and objections from civic bodies, the court reconsidered its stand. In August, a larger bench clarified that sterilization, vaccination and releasing back into the same area will continue to be the rule under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, except in cases of rabies or aggressive behaviour.
In November, the court directed that stray dogs found in hospitals, schools, railway stations and other institutional premises be removed, sterilized and shifted to shelters, and not released back into those areas.
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Voter List
The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR) became a major election-law controversy, especially ahead of assembly elections in many states.
A Supreme Court bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta examined claims that the SIR was being used as a backdoor citizenship verification exercise. The petitioners warned of mass disenfranchisement due to removal without due process.
While accepting the Election Commission’s right to modify the rolls, the court cautioned that citizenship determination falls under a separate legal framework. The interim directives required acceptance of a wide range of identity documents and mandated personal notice and hearing before any annulment.
Consent to President’s reference on time limit for bills
In a rare constitutional development, President Draupadi Murmu invoked Article 143 and sought the Supreme Court’s opinion on whether courts can impose deadlines on governors and the President to approve bills.
The reference came after a two-judge bench’s judgment in April had set a deadline for governors to take a decision on pending state legislation. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by the then CJI BR Gavai heard the case.
In November, the court opined that deadlines cannot be judicially imposed on governors or the President, and described the earlier directions as “erroneous” and suffering from “legal infirmities”. However, it was clarified that governors do not have “autocratic” powers to sit on bills indefinitely.
Aravalli Hills and Environment Administration
Environmental regulation has again come into limelight with the Supreme Court orders on mining in the Aravalli range. Accepting the expert’s recommendations, the court adopted a similar definition to identify hills rising 100 meters above the local relief as part of the Aravalis.
The bench directed the Environment Ministry to prepare a management plan for sustainable mining and till then banned new mining leases. The decision was seen as a step towards landscape-level environmental protection, especially in Rajasthan and Haryana. This decision also sparked debate among workers and political parties.
However, the top court put the new definition on hold while proposing the formation of a new committee to analyze the matter in depth.
Justice Yashwant Verma cash recovery controversy
In March, the judiciary faced an unprecedented moment after bags of unaccounted cash were found at the official residence of then Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Verma.
After an internal inquiry, the then CJI Sanjiv Khanna wrote to the President and the Prime Minister recommending further action. Justice Verma was transferred to the Allahabad High Court and by August the Lok Sabha Speaker initiated impeachment proceedings.
A parliamentary panel is currently investigating the matter. Justice Verma accused him of a conspiracy to frame him under corruption charges.
Tribunals Reform Act repealed
In November, the Supreme Court invalidated key provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, saying Parliament had re-enacted measures previously struck down by the court.
The bench ruled that excessive executive control over the appointments and tenure of tribunal members violated judicial independence and directed the government to work towards setting up an independent National Tribunal Commission.
Experience mandatory for judicial services
In May, in the case All India Judges Association vs Union of India, the Supreme Court reinstated the requirement of a minimum of three years of legal practice for entry into the judicial services.
The court acknowledged that courtroom experience is essential for effective adjudication and later clarified that already appointed judges would not be affected. States have started amending the recruitment rules accordingly.
Nithari murder accused released
In November, the Supreme Court acquitted Surendra Koli in the last case related to the Nithari massacre of 2005–06 and ordered his immediate release.
The court ended one of India’s most notorious criminal cases nearly two decades after skeletal remains were found in Noida, citing weak evidence and procedural lapses.
Digital arrest scam and CBI investigation
Amid the rise in cyber crime, the Supreme Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate “digital arrest” scams on a pan-India basis.
The bench gave the agency a “free hand” under the Prevention of Corruption Act to investigate the alleged role of bankers, especially in cases involving mule accounts.
Uproar over Unnao rape case
On December 23, the Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
The grant of bail sparked a huge controversy and the victim approached the Supreme Court challenging the direction.
The Supreme Court stayed the Delhi HC order on 29 December. A special leave bench headed by CJI Surya Kant and comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and AG Masih said there are several important questions of law which require registration (in the case).
CJI Surya Kant said, “If the convict has been released on bail, such order would not ordinarily be stayed by this court without hearing such person. But in view of the circumstances, where the convict is already in imprisonment in a case of culpable homicide, we stay the execution of the order of the Delhi High Court. Sengar will not be released.”
The year 2025 reshaped the legal and political debate
Apart from the judgments, 2025 also saw rare institutional developments – three Chief Justices of India in the same year, public disclosure of judges’ assets, reservation policy for SC/ST employees in the top court, and even a shoe attack on a sitting CJI during court proceedings.
Together, these decisions and events ensure that the judiciary will remain at the center of India’s political and constitutional conversations in 2025, influencing governance, civil rights and the balance of power between institutions.