LawCurate – Curated legal news, case analysis, and structured legal thought.

After Zeba Khan, every bail application needs this affidavit: Supreme Court lays down six-head disclosure framework for all courts

In Zeba Khan v. State of U.P., the Supreme Court laid down a six-head disclosure framework requiring bail applicants to disclose criminal antecedents, custody details, trial status, and coercive processes, supported by an affidavit. This explainer examines the framework, its implications for criminal practice, and provides a draft affidavit for…
Continue reading →: After Zeba Khan, every bail application needs this affidavit: Supreme Court lays down six-head disclosure framework for all courts
Documents generated through a public AI chatbot are not protected by attorney-client privilege: United States v. Heppner

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York has held that 31 documents a criminal defendant created using Anthropic’s Claude chatbot are not protected by the attorney-client privilege or the work product doctrine. This explainer examines the legal reasoning in United States v. Heppner and compares the…
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Supreme Court: Creditor cannot appropriate corporate debtor’s security deposit towards pre-CIRP dues after moratorium

The Supreme Court dismissed appeals by the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited, holding that a security deposit made by a corporate debtor remains its property even after insolvency proceedings begin, and cannot be unilaterally set off against pre-CIRP dues once the moratorium under section 14 of the IBC takes…
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Conversion to Christianity ends Scheduled Caste status, but tribal identity not automatically lost: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court held that conversion to Christianity ends Scheduled Caste status immediately under the 1950 Order. It also clarified that Scheduled Tribe status follows a different test and does not depend on religion alone.
Continue reading →: Conversion to Christianity ends Scheduled Caste status, but tribal identity not automatically lost: Supreme Court
“Complete dereliction of constitutional duty”: Supreme Court dismisses West Bengal’s plea against Kolkata Metro Orange Line order

The Supreme Court dismissed West Bengal’s Special Leave Petition against a Calcutta High Court order directing traffic blockades for the Kolkata Metro Orange Line construction at Chingrighata, holding that the state’s conduct reflected an “obstinate attitude” aimed at stalling the metro rail project and amounted to a dereliction of constitutional…
Continue reading →: “Complete dereliction of constitutional duty”: Supreme Court dismisses West Bengal’s plea against Kolkata Metro Orange Line order
Nothing left to decide: Supreme Court closes Sonam Wangchuk detention plea

The Supreme Court disposed of the habeas corpus petition filed by Dr Gitanjali Angmo challenging Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk’s detention under the National Security Act, holding the plea had become infructuous after the Central government revoked the detention on March 14. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal’s request to keep the matter…
Continue reading →: Nothing left to decide: Supreme Court closes Sonam Wangchuk detention plea
Grant of bail must rest on merits, not on monetary deposits, Supreme Court reiterates

The Supreme Court set aside the Jharkhand High Court’s conditional bail orders, reiterating that anticipatory bail cannot be made conditional upon the deposit of a disputed amount. The Court held that bail must be decided on merits alone and criminal courts cannot function as money recovery forums.
Continue reading →: Grant of bail must rest on merits, not on monetary deposits, Supreme Court reiterates
Supreme Court holds US divorce decree on irretrievable breakdown not enforceable under Hindu Marriage Act, grants divorce under Article 142

The Supreme Court ruled that a divorce decree passed by a US court on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage is not enforceable in India when parties are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, which does not recognise this ground.
Continue reading →: Supreme Court holds US divorce decree on irretrievable breakdown not enforceable under Hindu Marriage Act, grants divorce under Article 142
Supreme Court quashes extortion FIR against former Zee Rajasthan head, calls complaint a “fictional story” based on vague allegations

The Supreme Court held that section 173(3) BNSS required a preliminary enquiry before FIR registration in such cases, and criticised the Rajasthan Police for acting with “unusual expediency” at the behest of an influential complainant.
Continue reading →: Supreme Court quashes extortion FIR against former Zee Rajasthan head, calls complaint a “fictional story” based on vague allegations
Supreme Court urges Centre to legislate paternity leave as social security benefit, says proximity is not identical to presence

While reading down section 60(4) of the Social Security Code, 2020, the Supreme Court urged the Union Government to introduce a law recognising paternity leave, observing that the absence of statutory paternity leave reinforces gendered caregiving roles and denies fathers any meaningful opportunity to participate in early childcare.
Continue reading →: Supreme Court urges Centre to legislate paternity leave as social security benefit, says proximity is not identical to presence