Daily Bulletin

The Supreme Court has declared that internet access is a fundamental right under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. While hearing a petition by the NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran ruled against blanket restrictions on children's internet access. The court instead recommended a system based on parental consent and a dedicated 'child mode' for social media to ensure online safety.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on 137 anti-cancer drugs at 30% to make treatment more affordable. The measure, effective from November 9, is expected to reduce the Maximum Retail Prices of these non-scheduled medicines by up to 70%. This decision expands upon a 2019 pilot and was taken under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.

The Supreme Court has directed the Union of India to form a committee to recommend regulations for curbing unethical marketing practices by pharmaceutical companies. The directive came during a hearing of a petition by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Associations of India concerning 'freebies' given to doctors. A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta ordered the committee to consider suggestions and submit its recommendations to address the issue.

In a special Sunday sitting, the Supreme Court affirmed the rights of peaceful protesters, directing authorities in Delhi to ensure no illegal detention and to maintain normal metro and rail services. A bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana also ruled that lawyers and journalists must not be impeded from carrying out their professional duties. The court ordered that free movement of people should be permitted, subject to necessary traffic regulations.

The Supreme Court has directed all State and Union Territory governments to confer police station status on their Anti-Human Trafficking Units (ATHUs) by issuing appropriate notifications. A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan issued the directive to ensure effective implementation of the Victim Protection Plan. The Union Government has been instructed to coordinate with states to ensure compliance before the next hearing on December 14, 2026.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Nestlé India and Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) for allegedly misleading claims on their food products. HUL was cited for claims on its Horlicks products regarding bone strength and the use of “No Added Sugar”. Nestlé India received notices for inconsistencies in the labelling of its Nescafé beverages and for marketing a renal health powder without prior approval.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the victim's right to a speedy trial is equal to that of the accused, affirming that a victim is a definite stakeholder in the criminal justice system. A bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar held that a victim has the locus standi to petition the High Court under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for the expeditious disposal of a trial.

The Kerala High Court has observed that contractors should be held responsible for the decrepit condition of the Posts and Telegraphs (P&T) apartments, questioning why taxpayer money should fund rectifications. Justice Devan Ramachandran made the remark during a hearing where an IIT Madras study found the building needed immediate repairs. An amicus curiae highlighted severe issues, including leakages, corrosion, and inadequate clearance from a 110 kV power line.