This week in Indian law: The Supreme Court issued a binding directive requiring all High Courts to dispose of bail applications within two months. The Court also directed state governments to frame rules for statutory registration of Sikh marriages under the Anand Karaj ceremony. 10 significant developments this week across criminal law, family law, and constitutional rights.
Top story
SC Directs High Courts to Dispose Bail Applications Within 2 Months
Category: Criminal Law | Date: 20 September 2025 | Source: Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court issued a landmark directive requiring all High Courts across India to dispose of bail applications within two months of filing. The Court observed that prolonged pendency of bail applications effectively converts the right to bail into an illusory remedy, with many undertrials spending months or years in custody while their bail petitions await hearing. The directive applies to all categories of bail applications — regular bail, anticipatory bail, and default bail — and requires High Courts to establish dedicated bail benches and streamlined listing procedures. The Court directed the Registrar General of each High Court to file quarterly compliance reports detailing disposal rates and reasons for any delays beyond the two-month benchmark.
Why it matters: India's undertrial population constitutes over 75 per cent of its prison population. Delayed bail hearings are a primary contributor to this crisis. This directive, if effectively implemented, could significantly reduce unnecessary pre-trial detention and alleviate prison overcrowding.
Read more: Veritect analysis
Court judgments
SC Directs States to Frame Rules for Sikh Anand Karaj Registration
Court: Supreme Court of India | Date: 19 September 2025
The Supreme Court directed state governments to frame rules within six months enabling statutory registration of Sikh marriages performed under the Anand Karaj ceremony. The Court observed that while the Anand Marriage Act 1909 provides legal recognition to Anand Karaj marriages, many states lack implementing rules, creating practical difficulties for Sikh couples seeking marriage certificates. The directive requires states to designate registering authorities, prescribe forms for registration, and establish a timeline for processing registration applications.
Key point: States must frame implementing rules within six months; in the interim, Sikh couples may approach the District Registrar with proof of Anand Karaj ceremony for provisional registration.
Supreme Court of India · Veritect analysis
Also this week
- Waqf Amendment stay continues — The Supreme Court's interim stay on select Waqf Amendment provisions remains in force; next hearing date awaited.
- Income-Tax Act transition — CBDT working groups finalise first batch of transition circulars; expected release by early October.
- Online Gaming Act rules — MeitY continues industry consultations on licensing framework; draft rules expected by October.
- SEBI compliance milestones — First phase digital accessibility compliance deadline approaching for larger regulated entities.
- IBC developments — Bhushan Power rehearing and other significant resolution matters expected in late September.
- BNSS jurisprudence — The September term has now produced a substantial body of criminal procedure interpretations under the new code.
By the numbers
- 2 months — Maximum time High Courts now have to decide bail applications under the SC directive
- 75%+ — Proportion of India's prison population that consists of undertrials
- 6 months — Deadline for states to frame Anand Karaj marriage registration rules
Looking ahead
- Late September: SC hearing on Bhushan Power IBC revival and NI Act cheque bounce guidelines
- October: RBI MPC meeting — rate decision to set Q3 monetary direction
- October: CBDT first batch of Income-Tax Act 2025 transition circulars
- October: SC expected to deliver Constitution Bench rulings in pending matters
This is the Veritect Weekly Legal Roundup for Week 38 of 2025. For daily updates, visit our legal news page. Subscribe to receive this roundup every Monday morning.
Veritect provides this content for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.