Seven-judge Supreme Court Bench to hear if legislative privilege overrides free speech

The Supreme Court has said a seven-judge Constitution Bench would commence hearing from October 6 a series of long-pending petitions questioning whether legislative privileges can override citizens’ fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant passed the order in a case travelling back to April 2003. The Hindu had published an editorial criticising then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal attacked in Maharashtra’s Nanded; one held

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal suffered a hand injury in an attack by two unidentified persons allegedly wearing the attire of a Nihang, in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday (August 13, 2026).

One of the suspects has been taken into custody and investigation is under way, Nanded Collector Rahul Kardile said. Police said preliminary information suggests that they used a kirpan (dagger) that was with them to carry out the attack.

Mallikarjun Kharge condemns ‘shuddhikaran’ ritual after his Uttarakhand visit; J.P. Nadda expresses regret in Rajya Sabha

On the last day of the Parliament Monsoon Session on Thursday (August 13, 2026), Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge in the Rajya Sabha condemned the ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ceremony reportedly held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after he addressed a rally there on Saturday (August 8).

Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the Shri Ram Sena, which conducted the ritual, had links to the BJP and the purification was done because Mr. Kharge is a Dalit. He accused the BJP of promoting caste-based divisions and described the incident as deeply objectionable.

Parliament passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill

Parliament on Thursday (August 13, 2026) passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to restrict states’ powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands. Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on Wednesday (August 12, 2026).

The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on Thursday (August 13, 2026), with Rajya Sabha’s approval, the legislative process is complete. The Bill will become law after it receives the President’s assent.

Supreme Court agrees to take up MP’s plea against use of face-recognition tech on NEET-UG protesters

The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 13, 2026) agreed to confront the Centre, Delhi Police Commissioner with questions raised by Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament A.A. Rahim. He moved the Supreme Court on the deployment of facial recognition technology and allied mass-surveillance measures against students and individuals who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party-linked protests over the NEET-UG exam paper leaks.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant addressed senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy and advocate Subhash Chandran that Mr. Rahim’s petition would be tagged with the main NEET-UG protest petitions, which have questioned the police crackdown on students and the use of pellet guns.

Supreme Court asks government to consider plea flagging ‘high-risk’ AI in public welfare

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday (August 13, 2026) asked the Union Government to consider a petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer flagging the lack of a comprehensive statutory regime on the government’s use of “high-risk” Artificial Intelligence technology in areas affecting public access to food, health benefits, wages, pension, scholarship and grant of welfare subsidies.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked the government to consider the detailed petition of advocate N.K. Goswami as a representation for taking comprehensive action.

Muzaffarnagar riots: Court allows withdrawal of case against 25 BJP leaders, Hindu activists

A special MP-MLA court has allowed the prosecution to withdraw a case against 25 BJP leaders and Hindu activists, including Uttar Pradesh Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal, former Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan and former State Minister Suresh Rana, in connection with a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots-related case.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate/MP-MLA court judge Devendra Kumar Faujdar allowed the prosecution’s application seeking withdrawal of the case on Wednesday, prosecution officer Rahul Singh said.

Tata Trusts accepts Chandrasekaran’s resignation, initiates process to find successor

The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, which controls 27.9% holdings in Tata Sons, has accepted the resignation of Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran and initiated process to search for his successor.

“On 12th August 2026, our nominee directors received an email from Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons Private Limited, wherein he conveyed his decision to not offer himself for re-appointment as Chairman upon the expiry of his current tenure on 20th February 2027,” Tata Trusts said in a statement.

Air India to undertake full screening of its pilots for prohibited substances and medications from August 13

Air India will undertake a full screening of all its pilots for prohibited substances and medications from Thursday (August 13, 2026).

The move comes days after Air India flight AI 2379 Phuket- Delhi encountered a momentary loss of altitude and a series of technical snags that also resulted in 24 aboard getting injured. The pilot-in-command subsequently tested positive for marijuana during a screening, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decision to conduct comprehensive screening of Air India’s pilots was conveyed to the airline’s cockpit crew through an email.

Karnataka credits rain for Cauvery water allotment to Tamil Nadu; TN says it was not voluntary and seeks more water

Karnataka in the Supreme Court of India on Thursday (August 13, 2026) said good rainfall in a distress year made right an erroneous direction upheld by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to daily supply Tamil Nadu with 3,500 cusecs of water at the inter-State border Biligundlu till August 12.

Karnataka said it was fortunately able to overcome the challenges of a distress year and worsening El Niño conditions to ensure the supply of water from its Kabini reservoir due to large inflows owing to good rainfall in the Wayanad area above the Kabini catchment, which lies in Kerala.

Published - August 13, 2026 06:06 pm IST