Electoral Integrity, Human Trafficking, Stray Dogs, UAPA Bail, Benami Property and More: Supreme Court May 2026 — Every Landmark Judgment in One Place

Electoral Roll Revision Upheld

The Supreme Court in May 2026 upheld the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, rejecting writ petitions that challenged the exercise. The Bench held that the SIR process does not conflict with the Representation of the People Act, 1950 or the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and does not undermine free and fair elections. The Court traced the power to conduct the SIR to Section 21(3) of the RP Act read with Article 324 of the Constitution, observing that Article 324 is not a dead letter. For compliance teams tracking election-related regulatory risk, the ruling confirms that the ECI retains broad constitutional authority over roll revision, even where the exercise draws political controversy.

TET Deadline Extended to 2028

In review petitions against the Anjuman Ishaat-e-Taleem Trust verdict, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that in-service teachers appointed before the RTE Act, 2009 and with more than five years of service remaining must qualify the Teacher Eligibility Test. The Court held that Section 23 of the RTE Act always contemplated acquisition of prescribed qualifications by serving teachers, and that TET is a mandatory requirement rooted in Article 21-A. Rejecting arguments on retrospectivity, conflict with the NCTE Act and alteration of service conditions, the Bench nonetheless used Article 142 to extend the compliance window from two years to three, setting 31 August 2028 as the final deadline. Institutions running schools should note the revised timeline for staff qualification.

Other Key Rulings and Updates

The Court issued notice to the National Testing Agency in a petition by the Federation of All India Medical Association concerning the NEET-UG examination, directing the NTA to file an affidavit on steps taken to implement recommendations of the High-Level Committee of Experts. In the suo motu stray dogs matter, the Court considered applications seeking modification…