LEGAL NEWS

Supreme Court Issues Notice on Biometric Verification in Elections (13 April 2026)

• On 13 April 2026, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Union Government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a plea seeking biometric voter verification at polling booths.

• The petition demanded fingerprint and iris-based authentication to prevent duplicate, fake, and fraudulent voting.

• The plea was filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, stressing the concept of "One Citizen, One Vote."

• A Bench led by CJI Surya Kant observed that such a system would involve high cost and major logistical challenges across India.

• The Court also noted that implementing biometric verification may require amendments in existing electoral laws.

• The petitioner argued that the present method of verification through voter ID and manual checking is prone to misuse due to errors, outdated photos, and weak validation.

• The Court indicated that the issue could be examined further before the next General Election, considering feasibility and legal requirements.

• The matter involves key legal provisions like Article 324 (powers of ECI) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, while also raising concerns about privacy and biometric authentication failures, similar to Aadhaar-related issues.

Justice Yashwant Varma Resigns Amid Impeachment Proceedings

• Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu.

• His resignation came amid ongoing impeachment proceedings against him.

• The controversy began after burnt currency notes were reportedly found at his official residence.

• Justice Varma was earlier transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court following the incident dated 14 March 2025 in New Delhi.

• After his return to Allahabad, he was instructed not to be given any judicial work.

• Justice Varma denied any connection with the cash, calling it a conspiracy against him.

• A three-member inquiry committee was constituted to examine the matter.

• A High Court judge can be removed only by the President, based on a motion passed by both Houses of Parliament with a special majority, under Article 217(1)(b), Article 218, and the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968.

Supreme Court Dissolves Marriage Using Article 142 Over Misuse of Legal Process

• The Supreme Court dissolved a marriage by exercising its special powers under Article 142 to ensure complete justice.

• The case involved a wife who initially agreed to a mutual consent divorce and signed a mediated settlement, but later withdrew consent after receiving money.

• As per the settlement, the husband paid ₹75 lakh (first instalment), ₹14 lakh for a car, and returned the jewellery mentioned in the agreement.

• After accepting these benefits, the wife backed out and filed a domestic violence case against the husband and his family.

• She further alleged that jewellery worth ₹120 crore and gold biscuits worth ₹50 crore were hidden from the settlement to avoid tax scrutiny.

• The Court rejected these claims, observing that such allegations were not mentioned in the settlement agreement or even in private communication.

• The Bench termed her conduct as highly egregious, stating that allowing such withdrawals would weaken the credibility of mediation settlements, which are legally binding once validated.

• Using Article 142, the Court dissolved the marriage, quashed all civil and criminal proceedings, and directed the husband to pay the remaining ₹70 lakh as the final settlement amount.

APPOINTMENT

Major General Roman Gofman Appointed as New Mossad Chief (Israel)

• Israel has appointed Major General Roman Gofman as the new head of its foreign intelligence agency Mossad, in an unusual leadership decision.

• The appointment was formally confirmed on 13 April 2026, and he will take charge on 2 June 2026.

• Gofman will succeed David Barnea, who is completing his five-year tenure as Mossad chief.

• The selection was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had chosen him earlier in December 2025.

• The decision is considered unconventional because Gofman is a career army officer with no previous intelligence agency experience.

• Born in Belarus (1976), he migrated to Israel at the age of 14 and joined the Israeli military in 1995, serving in the armoured corps.

• He was seriously wounded during clashes near Sderot after the October 7 Hamas attack, which triggered major regional conflict.

• Mossad handles external intelligence operations, Shin Bet manages internal security, and Aman is Israel's military intelligence wing.

SPORTS

India Wins 16 Medals at 2026 Asian Boxing Championships

• India ended its performance at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with a total of 16 medals.

• The medal tally included 5 gold, 3 silver, and 8 bronze, reflecting a strong overall campaign.

• In the men's 50 kg final, Vishvanath Suresh won gold by defeating Japan's Daichi Iwai with a dominant 5-0 verdict.

• His victory brought India its first Asian men's boxing title in the last five years.

• In the men's 60 kg category, Sachin Siwach secured a silver medal after losing to Kazakhstan's Orazbek Assylkulov in the final.

• Indian women boxers delivered an impressive show by winning 10 medals in total.

• The women's medal count included 4 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze, contributing significantly to India's overall success.

• India finished second behind Kazakhstan in the gold medal standings but won the highest number of medals overall.

ECONOMY NEWS

ADB Raises India's Growth Forecast to 6.9% for Current Financial Year

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has increased India's GDP growth forecast from 6.5% to 6.9% for the current financial year.

• This revision was mentioned in ADB's flagship report Asian Development Outlook.

• ADB stated that India's growth remains strong due to high domestic demand and improving economic momentum.

• The report also noted that easing financing conditions are supporting investment and expansion.

• Another positive factor highlighted was the impact of lower US tariffs on Indian goods, boosting trade prospects.

• In contrast, the report warned that the overall Asia-Pacific growth outlook is weakening for 2026 and 2027.

• Regional growth is projected to slow down to 5.1% in both 2026 and 2027, compared to 5.4% last year, due to West Asia conflict and trade uncertainty.

• ADB, headquartered in Manila, was established in 1966, has 69 member countries, and works to reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable development.