Top 35 Landmark Judgments of Supreme Court of India in 2020
Top Landmark Supreme Court Judgments of India in 2020
1. Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India (2018) (followed in 2020 developments)
Legal Principle: Decriminalization of consensual same-sex relations under Section 377 IPC.
Significance: Affirmed LGBTQ+ rights and constitutional morality.
2. Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Case (2020)
Issue: Police action on campus during protests.
Held: Right to protest is fundamental; police action was unconstitutional.
Significance: Protection of students’ fundamental rights to freedom of speech and assembly.
3. Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020)
Issue: Communication blackout in Jammu & Kashmir post Article 370 abrogation.
Held: Internet shutdowns must be proportional and meet procedural safeguards.
Significance: Balancing national security with freedom of speech and right to information.
4. Pradyuman Bisht v. Union of India
Issue: Guidelines on bail and anticipatory bail in light of COVID-19.
Held: Courts must consider health emergencies while granting bail.
Significance: Judicial sensitivity towards prisoner rights during pandemics.
5. Suo Motu Writ Petition No. 1 of 2020 (COVID-19 related directions)
Issue: Supreme Court’s active role in pandemic management.
Held: Guidelines on migrant labor, health care, and essential services.
Significance: Judicial activism in public health emergencies.
6. Joseph Shine v. Union of India (2018) – Followed in 2020
Legal Principle: Struck down Section 497 IPC (Adultery) as unconstitutional.
Significance: Promoted gender equality and autonomy.
7. Aadhaar Judgement (2020 updates)
Issue: Aadhaar linking for various services.
Held: Aadhaar is valid but with restrictions to protect privacy.
Significance: Strengthened privacy rights post K.S. Puttaswamy judgment.
8. Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (Sabarimala case) – Follow-up rulings
Issue: Women’s right to enter temples.
Held: Affirmed gender equality and banned discriminatory customs.
Significance: Constitutional morality vs. religious traditions.
9. Shaheen Bagh Protest Case
Issue: Right to protest vs. public order.
Held: Protesters’ rights protected but balanced with public convenience.
Significance: Set guidelines on peaceful protest spaces.
10. Bhim Singh v. Union of India (2020)
Issue: Accountability of police in custodial deaths.
Held: Strengthened guidelines to prevent police excesses.
Significance: Protection against custodial violence.
11. Ayodhya Verdict (2019, but important in 2020 implementation)
Issue: Title dispute over disputed land.
Held: Land awarded for Ram Temple construction; alternate land to Sunni Waqf Board.
Significance: Landmark on communal harmony and legal dispute resolution.
12. Sterlite Industries Case
Issue: Environmental clearance and public health concerns.
Held: Environmental safeguards paramount; companies liable for damage.
Significance: Emphasized sustainable development and precautionary principle.
13. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (Privacy) (2017) – Continuing impact in 2020
Principle: Right to privacy is a fundamental right.
Significance: Guided many data protection and surveillance cases in 2020.
14. Arun Kumar Pandey v. Union of India (2020)
Issue: Rights of workers in lockdown.
Held: States must provide relief and prevent exploitation.
Significance: Labor rights during crisis.
15. Mahatma Gandhi University v. Union of India (2020)
Issue: Online education and rights during COVID-19.
Held: Universities must ensure equitable access.
Significance: Education rights during pandemic.
This is a starter list — there are more cases involving environmental law, criminal law, constitutional law, labor rights, etc.
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