Supreme Court grants bail to attesting witness in Rajasthan Power of Attorney forgery case

Catch up on the top legal developments this week (20-26 July 2026), including student protests, pre-trial incarceration, sexual assault of minor daughter, social audit, community service, taarikh pe taarikh, Zara trade mark, childrens fundamental right to play, freedom of press, and more. Dharmendra Pradhan Steps Down as Education Minister Amid Mass Student Protests; Pralhad Joshi Takes Additional Charge Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has stepped down from his post following intense nationwide student demonstrations and agitations at Jantar Mantar over examination irregularities. Acting on the Prime Ministers advice, the President of India accepted his resignation under Article 75, while Cabinet Minister Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the Ministry of Education. Delhi High Court appoints Anu Grover Baliga as Special Judge of Fast Track Court for Paper Leak matters, following PMs announcement On 23 July 2026, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice D.K. Upadhyaya by a notification, has appointed Anu Grover Baliga1 as the Special Judge of the newly designated Fast Track Court to exclusively try offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 , along with connected offences. The newly designated Fast Track Court will function at the Rouse Avenue District Court, Delhi, where all matters under the Act and connected offences will be listed and heard by Judge Baliga. Government Announces Fast-Track Courts for Examination Paper Leak Cases Hospitalisation Was to Save His Life, Not Confine Him: Delhi HC Declines to Order Transfer of Sonam Wangchuk to Medanta; He Sets 3 Conditions to Break His Fast Delhi HC Directs Production of Comprehensive Medical Record Before Proceeding in Plea Seeking Sonam Wangchuks Transfer to Medanta Hospital Doctors agree he needs constant monitoring; at the hospital he chooses: Inside the Court order directing Sonam Wangchuks transfer to Medanta Hospital SCAORA condemns lathi charge & tear gas against students, youth at Chalo Sansad protest, calls upon authorities to investigate allegations of excessive force SCBA condemns lathi charge on students at Chalo Sansad protest; President Vikas Singh writes to PM Modi & Home Minister Amit Shah seeking judicial enquiry PIL Filed in Supreme Court Seeking Standard Investigation Procedure and Time-Bound Probe for Paper Leaks; Urges Reconsideration of Selvi Ruling SUPREME COURT HIGHLIGHTS BAIL | Pre-Trial Incarceration Beyond 11 Months Unwarranted Where Strict Bail Conditions Can Adequately Safeguard Prosecutions Interests; Bail Granted In Raju Prasad v. State of Rajasthan , 2026 SCC OnLine SC 1353 , the Supreme Court granted bail to an attesting witness accused in a forged Power of Attorney case, holding that prolonged pre-trial incarceration was unnecessary where strict bail conditions could safeguard the prosecutions interests. DEBT AND MONETARY LAWS | Pre-2016 DRT Recovery Certificate Is Not Decree or Order u/S. 9(2) Presidency-Towns Insolvency Act; Cannot Trigger Insolvency Proceedings The appeal concerned with the interpretation of Section 9(2) , Presidency-Towns Insolvency Act, 1909 (Presidency-Towns Insolvency Act), and whether a recovery certificate issued by the Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) can be treated as a decree or order for initiating insolvency proceedings. Reaffirming the principle that insolvency laws must be strictly construed due to their serious civil consequences, the Supreme Court in H.D.F.C. Bank Ltd. v. Kishore K. Mehta , 2026 SCC OnLine SC 1320 ,held that a recovery certificate issued by the DRT before the before the insertion of Section 19(22-A) , Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 (Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act), i.e., 2016 Amendment, could not be treated as a decree or order under Section 9(2) , Presidency-Towns Insolvency Act and, therefore, could not form the basis of an insolvency notice under Section 9(2) , Presidency-Towns Insolvency Act . Also Read:

Lawyers should note that the Supreme Court has reaffirmed its stance on pre-trial incarceration, holding that prolonged detention is unwarranted where strict bail conditions can safeguard prosecution interests. This ruling may have implications for future cases involving similar circumstances.

Source: Original reporting via SCC Online Blog