Air fares regulation to Ram Rahim’s acquittal, key cases in Supreme Court today

The Supreme Court of India is poised to hear several high-profile cases today, addressing critical issues ranging from child marriage enforcement to the regulation of digital content platforms.

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi will also be hearing several important matters, including the one pertaining to the bail plea of Satyendar Jain, a former Delhi minister who has been in jail for his alleged involvement in a money laundering case.

Furthermore, the Delhi High Court will hear a matter concerning the alleged black marketing of tickets for the concerts of Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh and British band Coldplay.

Important cases to be heard by the Supreme Court
Verdict on child marriage:
A significant verdict is expected regarding a petition filed by the NGO ‘Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action’. The organisation has argued that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, enacted in 2006, is inadequately enforced, leading to the persistence of child marriage in various regions. Despite legal prohibitions, reports indicate that millions of girls are married before the legal age of 18, often due to socio-economic pressures.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala will pronounce the verdict. In the last hearing, the top court had urged the Centre to ensure the appointment of child marriage prohibition officers in every district and directed it to specify the policy steps it has taken for enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.

Prosecuting persons involved in child marriages will not resolve the problem which has social dimensions, the Supreme Court had said in July while reserving its verdict on the PIL filed by the NGO.

Verdict on air fares:

The court will also deliberate on the powers of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) to regulate tariffs for non-aeronautical services at airports, which includes services such as lounges, parking, and retail outlets.

The significance of this case lies in its potential impact on passenger costs. As air travel grows in India, there are concerns about the affordability of airport services, and the court’s ruling could clarify AERA’s authority, possibly leading to more transparent pricing structures that benefit consumers.

The Delhi High Court, in May this year, observed that the airline industry is very competitive while noting that it would not be appropriate to pass any directions for the capping of airfares across the country.

“You look at any airline flying today, it is a highly competitive industry. An auto rickshaw fare is more than the airline fare today,” the Dlehi High Court had said.

Another key issue involves a plea seeking the establishment of a regulatory board for Over-The-Top (OTT) and streaming platforms in India. With the rapid growth of digital content consumption, concerns about content moderation, misinformation, and inappropriate material have surged.

Advocates for regulation argue that a structured oversight mechanism is essential to balance creative freedom with accountability and ensure that content adheres to societal norms.

“Unlike films shown in theatres, OTT content doesn’t go through a certification process before release, which has led to a rise in explicit scenes, violence, substance abuse, and other harmful content, often without proper warnings,” advocates Shashank Shekhar Jha and Apurva Arhati had said in their plea that was filed in September.

Sadhguru and Isha Foundation case:

The Supreme Court will review a police report related to the Isha Foundation, established by spiritual leader Swami Jaggi Vasudev. This case gained prominence after a habeas corpus petition was filed by a father who alleged that his two daughters were being held against their will at the foundation’s ashram.

The Isha Foundation strongly denied the accusations, stating that the two women, aged 42 and 39, are living at the centre of their own free will.

The Madras High Court had allowed a police investigation, which the Isha Foundation had contested in the Supreme Court. Earlier in October, the top court paused the Madras High Court order that allowed police action against Isha Foundation and transferred the case to itself.

Plea against Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s acquittal:

The Supreme Court will hear a plea from the Punjab government challenging the acquittal of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, in a high-profile murder case from 2002. Singh, along with four others, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court later overturned this decision.

Abbas Ansari bail plea:

The court will also review a bail plea from Abbas Ansari, an MLA from Mau and son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. The top court had earlier adjourned the hearing on Abbas Ansari’s bail plea in connection with a case relating to allegedly illegally meeting his wife in Chitrakoot jail.

Bhavani Revanna’s bail plea:

The Supreme Court will consider a petition from the Karnataka government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Bhavani Revanna, the mother of Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of sexual assault.

The case involves allegations of abduction related to one of the victims of her son’s alleged crimes.

Plea by Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai:

Additionally, the Supreme Court will hear a petition from Ajay Rai, the UP Congress chief, who is seeking the cancellation of ongoing proceedings against him under the Gangster Act in a lower court in Varanasi.

Non-bailable warrant against Bollywood director Rajkumar Santoshi:

The Supreme Court will hear the petition of Bollywood director Rajkumar Santoshi against the issuance of a non-bailable warrant by a Delhi court.

A person named Prashant Malik had filed a case against Rajkumar Santoshi. It is alleged that in 2018, Prashant Malik had given a loan of about Rs 70–75 lakh to Rajkumar Santoshi, which the latter did not return.

Corruption case against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa

The Supreme Court will hear the petition filed by former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in a corruption case. In the last hearing, the court asked Yeddyurappa to make the Karnataka government a party in his petition and issued a notice to the state.

The Karnataka High Court had raised a private complaint against BJP leader Yeddyurappa and his family members for allegedly taking bribes to give a government contract.

Earlier, a local sessions court had rejected the petition seeking investigation into corruption allegations against Yediyurappa because the then Governor refused to approve it.