Complete Current Events  notes on Some Notable legal and Constitutional developments in last 12-18 Months for BPSC and Other Competitive Exams in 2025

legal and constitutional Developments

Complete Current Events  notes on Some Notable legal and Constitutional developments in last 12-18 Months for BPSC and Other Competitive Exams in 2025

.Current Events – 8(Legal and Constitutional Developments)

Legal and Constitutional Developments

1. Women’s Reservation (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam / 106th Amendment Act, 2023)

  • Enacted: Reserved one-third (33%) of seats in Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly for women. Came into effect after a delimitation exercise post-census; valid for 15 years.
  • Judicial developments:
    • Delhi High Court declined to hear a petition seeking early implementation before the delimitation is done.
    • Supreme Court dismissed two PILs challenging the deferment clause (census + delimitation) as infructuous—petitioners may approach High Courts instead.
    • SC’s stance: Refused to entertain pleas challenging immediate enforcement—petitioners directed to High Courts.

2. State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (SC judgment, August 2024)

  • A Constitution Bench (7 judges) held that states can sub-classify SCs and STs (i.e., create sub-quotas) for reservations in education and public employment. This overturned the 2004 E.V. Chinnaiah ruling and recognized socio-economic diversity within these groups.
  • The ruling empowers targeted affirmative action for the most marginalized within reserved categories.

3. State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor of Tamil Nadu (SC judgment, April 2025)

  • Supreme Court ruled that a Governor cannot exercise an absolute or pocket veto on bills passed by the State Legislature nor can they re-reserve a re-passed bill for Presidential consideration. It also laid down judicial review standards for delay/access exercising assent under Articles 200 and 201. This reinforces federalism and curbs gubernatorial misuse.

4. Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

  • Central Act enacted to combat unfair practices (like paper leaks, cheating) in public examinations. Passed Lok Sabha in February 2024, received Presidential assent, and came into force in June 2024.

5. Kunal Kamra v. Union of India (Bombay HC, Sep 2024)

  • The Bombay High Court—via a split verdict resolved by a third judge—declared the 2023 amendment to IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules unconstitutional. The amendment had established a government “fact-checking” unit to flag/remove content; the court held it violated freedom of speech and exceeded the IT Act’s authority. Appeal pending at the Supreme Court.

6. Devadasi Prohibition Bill in Karnataka (2025)

  • Karnataka government proposed the Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2025, which:
    • Criminalizes involvement in devadasi dedication ceremonies
    • Establishes inheritance rights for children born to devadasis (upon proof of paternity)
    • Prescribes prison terms and fines, with elevated penalties for repeat offenses or temple premises.

7. Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025

  • Introduces seats for Muslim women on Waqf Boards, includes representation from diverse sects and non-Muslim legal professionals and includes welfare provisions like scholarships, legal aid, and vocational training for Muslim widows/divorcees.

8. Domicile-based Reservation for PG Medical Seats – SC Verdict (Jan 2025)

  • The Supreme Court ruled that domicile-based reservation in PG medical admissions (state quota) violates Article 14 and is unconstitutional. It upheld that PG admissions must remain merit-based and open to all Indian citizens, except for limited UG reservation like MBBS.

9. SC Considering Creamy Layer in SC/ST Reservations

  • The Supreme Court agreed to examine whether reservation benefits should be prioritized for the most socially and economically backward within quota communities—essentially allowing for a “creamy layer” concept in SC/ST categories.

Objective Questions : Legal and Constitutional Developments

1        The Women’s Reservation Act (106th Amendment, 2023) will come into effect after:

          A)       Next general election

          B)       Current census

          C)       Delimitation post-census

          D)       Presidential order

2.       Supreme Court’s response to PILs challenging deferment of Women’s Reservation Act was:

          A)       Immediate implementation ordered

          B)       Declared unconstitutional

          C)       Dismissed as infructuous

          D)       Stay on Act

3.       In State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (Aug 2024), the Supreme Court held that states can:

          A)       Increase SC/ST percentage

          B)       Sub-classify within SC/ST

          C)       Omit quotas

          D)       Reserve for OBC women

4.       The State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor (Apr 2025) ruling prohibits:

          A)       State lawmaking

          B)       Pocket veto by Governor

          C)       Judicial review

          D)       President’s assent

5.       The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, aims to curb:

          A)       Electoral fraud

          B)       Paper leaks in public exams

          C)       Property disputes

          D)       Cybercrimes

6.       In Kunal Kamra v. Union of India, the Bombay HC invalidated rules setting up

          A) Gender quotas

          B) Governor veto powers

          C) Government fact-checking unit online

          D) Devadasi system

7.       The Karnataka Devadasi Bill, 2025 proposes to give devadasi children:

          A) Education rights only

          B) No rights

          C) Inheritance rights with paternity proof

          D) Free land

8.       The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 mandates

          A) Removal of Muslim women from Waqf Boards

          B) Inclusion of Muslim women on Waqf Boards

          C) No change

          D) Merger with Wakf Act

9.       The SC ruling on PG medical admissions said domicile-based quotas are:

          A) Valid

          B) Invalid under Article 14

          C) Valid for PG but not UG

          D) Up to state discretion

10.      The Supreme Court agreed to examine applying “creamy layer” concept to:

          A) OBC only

          B) SC/ST categories

          C) Women’s quotas

          D) All quotas equally

11.      The Women’s Reservation Act has a validity of:

          A) 5 years

          B) 10 years

          C) 15 years

          D) Permanent

12.      Governor’s pocket veto ruling reinforces

          A) Central supremacy

          B) Absolute veto

          C) Federalism and checks on governor’s power

          D) Legislative override

BPSC
Legal and Constitutional Developments

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