Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

The petitioner, Vasanta Sampat Dupare, was convicted of rape and murder of a four‑year‑old girl and sentenced to death, a sentence that was affirmed on appeal, reviewed, and followed by rejected mercy petitions. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a fresh sentencing hearing in accordance with the procedur…

The appellant, Sukdeb Saha, challenged the Andhra Pradesh High Court's refusal to transfer the investigation of his 17‑year‑old daughter's suspicious death at a coaching institute to the CBI. He alleged that the local police investigation was biased, incomplete, and that crucial forensic evidence and CCTV footage were …

The appellant, a police constable, was summoned to the Senior Superintendent's office and allegedly detained illegally for six days during which he suffered severe genital mutilation and other injuries, as confirmed by medical reports. His wife complained to the police seeking registration of an FIR against the officia…

The appeal concerned the interpretation of Section 2(d) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, where the appellant, a mentally retarded adult, argued that "age" should include mental age so that she could be treated as a child. The Court examined the POCSO Act's objects and reasons, its d…

The appellant, an Assistant Commandant in the CRPF, was subjected to multiple disciplinary enquiries after a complaint alleged that he made threatening statements and exhibited misconduct. He was later diagnosed with a permanent mental disability (40‑70%) and classified as unfit for duty. The appellant challenged the d…

Ms. Z, a 35‑year‑old destitute woman with mild mental retardation and HIV‑positive status, alleged that she had been raped and sought termination of her 18‑week pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. The government hospital failed to perform the termination, involving the appellant’s father and…

The petitioners, a charitable trust and an individual, sought enforcement of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 to improve conditions in state‑run care homes for persons with cognitive disabilities, citing overcrowding, inadequate health care, abuse and lack of education. The Court examined whethe…

The case concerns Accused X, convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering two minor girls, for which a death sentence was imposed. The petitioner challenged the conviction on two grounds: (i) the trial court failed to conduct a separate pre‑sentence hearing as required by Section 235(2) of the CrPC, and (ii) the petit…

The Supreme Court entertained a miscellaneous application seeking implementation of guidelines for recording evidence of vulnerable witnesses in criminal matters, following earlier pronouncements in Sakshi and Bandu @ Daulat. The Court examined the need for special centres to provide a barrier‑free environment for vuln…

The petitioner, Common Cause, a registered society, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a declaration that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, and for directions to recognize 'living wills' or advance directives. The case was referred to a Constitution B…

The Supreme Court of India considered the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which criminalized 'carnal intercourse against the order of nature' with any man, woman, or animal. The petitioners challenged the provision insofar as it criminalized consensual sexual acts between adults o…