Daily Bulletin

The Supreme Court has ruled that private individuals can file criminal complaints against election candidates for furnishing false information in their affidavits under Section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu held that the legislature's decision not to include this section within the restrictions of the Code of Criminal Procedure was a deliberate omission. This judgment empowers voters to directly challenge false declarations by candidates.

The Supreme Court has affirmed that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right for all individuals, including children. In its order dated October 15, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Chandran rejected blanket bans on internet access for minors as disproportionate. The Court has directed the Union of India to formulate a framework with appropriate safeguards, such as parental consent mechanisms and a 'child mode' with enhanced privacy.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins at 30 percent on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, a move expected to reduce their retail prices by up to 70 percent. The revised prices, issued under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, will be effective from November 9, 2026. This decision aims to make critical cancer treatments, such as pembrolizumab and osimertinib, more affordable.

The Supreme Court is examining a petition challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) modifications to Form 6 for the re-entry of deleted voters. The petition argues that using this statutory form for re-entry forces a false declaration, punishable under the Representation of People Act, 1951. On October 12, a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant clarified that its earlier judgment had neither approved nor disapproved the new form, noting that the ECI's plenary powers under Article 324 cannot override an express statutory mandate.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory to Meta, directing it to review its content recommendation algorithms on Facebook and Instagram. The advisory instructs the company to ensure its systems do not disproportionately expose users to a single narrative. This action follows the circulation of content related to recent protests in Delhi and calls for stronger checks on content that could incite public disorder.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which came into force on July 1, 2024, has introduced specific provisions against organised crime and for women's safety. For the first time, mob lynching has been defined as a distinct offence under Section 103(2), with a penalty of life imprisonment or death for a group of five or more committing murder based on race, caste, or community. The law also mandates life imprisonment or the death penalty for the gangrape of a woman below eighteen years.

Following a stampede at a Kolkata Durga Puja that resulted in 19 deaths, seven individuals, including the puja committee secretary and vice-president, have been arrested. They face charges under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for culpable homicide and other offences. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident at Chorbagan Sarbojanin, which has been attributed to severe security gaps like a single exit gate.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken action against seven e-commerce platforms for the unauthorised sale of hazardous explosives, resulting in the delisting of 3,940 sellers. Platforms including IndiaMART and Justdial were found listing substances like Ammonium Nitrate and Gun Powder without verifying licenses. Subsequently, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) upheld a ₹10 lakh penalty imposed by the CCPA on Dial4Trade for similar violations.