Supreme Selections: Top Supreme Court Judgments of January 2025

13 February, 2025

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Overview of January Month

After winter vacation, the Supreme Court (SC) of India reopened on January 02, 2025, and resumed its normal functioning. The top court heard multiple cases in January, delivering various judgments and orders. Let us explore some of the judgments pronounced by the Supreme Court in January 2025.

Important Verdicts of January Month

Grave Injustice: Plea of Juvenility

Judgment Name: Om Prakash @ Israel @ Raju @ Raju Das vs. Union of India & Anr. (January 08, 2025)

Bench: Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Aravind Kumar

Articles and Acts Involved: {The Constitution of India, 1950- Article 32} and {The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973- Section 313}

Judgment Brief and Decision: In this case, the bench was dealing with a case where grave injustice had been perpetrated, on account of the consistent failure on the part of the judicial machinery to recognize and act upon the constitutional mandate vis-a-vis the plea of juvenility. The SC set aside a life sentence imposed on the accused on the ground that he was a juvenile when he committed the crime. It said that the High Court has committed an error in its reasoning. The bench added, “We would only state that this is a case where the Appellant has been suffering due to the error committed by the Courts. We have been informed that his conduct in the prison is normal, with no adverse report. He lost an opportunity to reintegrate into the society. The time which he has lost, for no fault of his, can never be restored.” The bench opined, “From the custody certificate filed on record, it appears that the Appellant has undergone imprisonment for almost 25 years, during which time, the society has undergone significant transformation which the Appellant might be unaware of and find difficult to adjust with.” Moreover, the top court directed, “the Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority to play a proactive role in identifying any welfare scheme of the State/Central Government, facilitating the Appellant’s rehabilitation and smooth reintegration into the society upon his release, with particular emphasis on his right to livelihood, shelter and sustenance guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.”

Availability of Basic Toilet Facilities in Courts/Tribunals

Judgment Name: Rajeeb Kalita vs. Union of India & Ors. (January 15, 2025)

Bench: Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan

Articles and Acts Involved: {The Constitution of India, 1950- Articles 21 and 32}, {Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019}, and {Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948}

Judgment Brief and Decision: The SC observed, “Toilets/washrooms/restrooms are not merely a matter of convenience, but a basic necessity which is a facet of human rights. Access to proper sanitation is recognized as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.” It directed, “The High Courts and the State Governments/UTs shall ensure the construction and availability of separate toilet facilities for males, females, PwD, and transgender persons in all Court premises and Tribunals across the Country.”