Supreme Court Judgments of 2025: Essential Notes for UPSC Beginners

The Supreme Court of India is the highest court for the improvement of the legal and constitutional framework of the nation. It is crucial to be aware about recent decisions, especially for General Studies Paper II (Polity, Governance, Constitution) and Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) among those applying for The Civil Services Examination. Below is a short summary of the most important Supreme Court decisions in 2025 according to the UPSC exam syllabus.

Online Access is a Fundamental right

A new interpretation was given to Article 21 in the Constitution in April 2025, the Supreme Court stated that access to the internet is a fundamental right. This ruling states that the government must make the system more accessible to the most vulnerable populations like disabled people, rural, elderly, and those who are economically disadvantaged. This case demonstrates how fundamental rights are evolving in the digital age.

Right to Veto Bills by Governor

On April 8, 2025, a Bench of the Supreme Court Division ruled that the withholding of assent on ten bills of the state legislature by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi over an extended period of time was unlawful. The Bench believed that according to Article 200 of the Constitution, the Governor should either give assent, send the bill back to the House of the Legislature or refer it to the President. The Court underlined that the Governor is not allowed to veto indefinitely or to have an absolute veto and this strengthens the equilibrium of power between the executive and the legislature.

Alteration of Arbitral Awards

In April 2025, the Supreme Court dealt with the authority of courts to make changes to arbitral awards under Section 34 and 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The case concerned Gayatri Balasamy who worked at ISG Novasoft Technologies Ltd. and wanted to challenge an arbitral award. The Court heard opposing views about whether Indian courts could alter arbitral awards and made it clear what they could and could not do under their jurisdiction, which is a very informative piece on the law of arbitration.

Maintenance and Welfare of parents and senior citizens act

The Supreme Court made a major decision and affirmed the rights of senior citizens in the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. The case was concerned with a gift deed made by a senior citizen. The Court stressed that the Act is a positive law that is intended to secure the well-being of elderly people and justified the powers of the authorities to transfer the possession of the property to senior citizens where they do not meet their maintenance requirements.

Regulatory Powers of Digital Content and Government Takedown

In one interpretative case, regarding the Sahyog portal of the government, the Karnataka High Court held that the Indian government initiative to grant power to the police and other law-enforcement agencies to request and obtain social media content takedowns directly without legal approval was legal. The Court justified the portal as a civic benefit to combat abuse of the internet platforms, particularly when it comes to crimes committed against women, and rejected arguments about censorship.