LEGAL NEWS

Supreme Court Collegium Clears New High Court Judge Elevations

• The Supreme Court Collegium approved the elevation of 10 advocates as judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

• The recommended advocates include Monica Chhibber Sharma, Harmeet Singh Deol, Puja Chopra, Sunish Bindlish, Navdeep Singh, Divya Sharma, Ravinder Malik, Pravindra Singh Chauhan, Rajesh Gaur, and Minderjeet Yadav.

• The Collegium system consists of the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most Supreme Court judges, and it recommends appointments to higher judiciary.

• The Collegium mechanism is not expressly mentioned in the Constitution but evolved through judicial interpretation of Articles 124 and 217.

• In a separate resolution, the Collegium also recommended three judicial officers for elevation as judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

• These officers are Sunitha Gandham, Alapati Giridhar, and Purushottam Kumar Chintalapudi.

• Under Article 217, High Court judges are appointed by the President of India after consultation with the CJI, the State Governor, and the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.

• The Punjab and Haryana High Court, located at Chandigarh, is a common High Court for Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, exercising writ powers under Articles 226 and 227.

Supreme Court Refuses Adjournment in Challenge to CEC Appointment Law

• On 6 May 2026, the Supreme Court refused the Union Government's request to adjourn hearings challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.

• The petitions are being heard by a two-judge bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.

• The 2023 Act governs the appointment, tenure, and service conditions of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners.

• A key issue is that the Act removes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection committee.

• Under the Act, the appointment committee consists of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

• The petitions challenge this composition as being unconstitutional and contrary to principles of independent election administration.

• Earlier in March 2023, a Constitution Bench had directed that appointments should be made by a committee of PM, Leader of Opposition, and CJI until Parliament enacted a law.

• The Court also rejected a request to stay appointments made under the 2023 Act, while the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought adjournment due to his appearance in the Sabarimala case.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Vietnamese President To Lam Receives Ceremonial Welcome in India

• To Lam received a ceremonial welcome in India during his first official visit to the country.

• The visit reflects the growing strategic and diplomatic engagement between India and Vietnam.

• India and Vietnam established formal diplomatic relations in 1972, and cooperation has expanded steadily over the years.

• Bilateral relations include political dialogue, defence collaboration, maritime security, trade, energy partnerships, and cultural exchange.

• A ceremonial welcome is a standard diplomatic protocol for visiting heads of state, involving guard of honour, national anthems, and official greetings.

• Vietnam's capital is Hanoi, and it is an important country in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.

• The partnership is also linked with India's Act East Policy, which focuses on deeper ties with ASEAN nations including Vietnam.

• Such high-level visits strengthen mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and reinforce India-Vietnam strategic partnership.

Nepal Promulgates Constitutional Council Ordinance

• Nepal President Ram Chandra Poudel promulgated the Constitutional Council Ordinance to introduce changes with immediate legal effect.

• The ordinance relates to the functioning of Nepal's Constitutional Council, which plays a key role in constitutional appointments.

• The Constitutional Council is constituted under the Constitution of Nepal, 2015 and recommends appointments to major constitutional posts.

• These appointments may include the Chief Justice and heads of constitutional bodies and commissions.

• An ordinance is a temporary law-making instrument issued when the legislature is not in session.

• In Nepal, ordinances are promulgated by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

• Such ordinances remain valid for a limited duration unless later approved by the legislature.

• The move reflects Nepal's constitutional structure as a federal democratic republican state, where executive decisions are taken within the framework of the 2015 Constitution.

APPOINTMENTS

R. Balasubramaniam and K.V. Raju Appointed as NITI Aayog Members

• R. Balasubramaniam and K.V. Raju have been appointed as members of NITI Aayog.

• NITI Aayog was established on 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission.

• It is a non-constitutional and non-statutory body that works as an advisory institution for policy formulation and long-term development planning.

• NITI Aayog plays an important role in promoting cooperative federalism by coordinating between the Centre and States.

• The Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.

• Its structure includes a Vice-Chairperson, full-time members, ex-officio members, special invitees, and a CEO appointed by the Union Government.

• The Planning Commission, formed in 1950, earlier served as the main central planning body before being replaced.

• Unlike the Planning Commission, NITI Aayog follows a bottom-up approach, focusing on state participation and outcome-based development strategies.

Shashi Shekhar Vempati Appointed CBFC Chairman

• Shashi Shekhar Vempati has been appointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

• The CBFC is a statutory body functioning under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

• The board operates under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

• CBFC is responsible for certifying films, trailers, and cinematographic content before they are released for public viewing in India.

• The headquarters of the CBFC is located in Mumbai and it is popularly known as the "Censor Board."

• The CBFC issues certificates under four main categories: U, U/A, A, and S, based on age suitability and content guidelines.

• U allows unrestricted viewing, U/A requires parental guidance for children below 12, A is restricted to adults, and S is meant for a specialised audience.

• Shashi Shekhar Vempati previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, bringing administrative experience to the film certification body.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

India to Host First International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit

• India will host the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit on 1–2 June 2026 in New Delhi.

• The summit will witness participation of Heads of State/Government from member and observer countries along with over 400 conservation experts, scientists, and policymakers.

• The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is an inter-governmental international organisation headquartered in India.

• IBCA focuses on conservation of seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.

• As of 28 April 2026, the alliance has 24 member countries, while Kazakhstan, Namibia, and Thailand have observer status.

• The theme of the summit is "Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem", stressing biodiversity and ecological balance.

• The summit will adopt the Delhi Declaration, aimed at setting joint priorities and enhancing cross-border cooperation for big cat protection.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the summit, and winners of the Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2026 will be honoured on 2 June 2026.