The year commenced with a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court affirming the validity of the 2016 demonetization scheme and concluded with another significant ruling upholding the 2019 decision by the Narendra Modi government to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Here are some of the major judgments of 2023. (HT File Photo)
2/7
SC upholds demonetisation: The Supreme Court Constitution Bench, by a 4:1 majority, upheld the Union Government's decision taken six years ago to demonetize the currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 denominations on its first working day of 2023. The majority opinion stated that the Centre's notification dated November 8, 2016, is valid and meets the criteria of proportionality. (HT File Photo)
3/7
SC allows Jallikattu: On May 18, the Supreme Court upheld the amendments made by the legislatures of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka to The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. These amendments allow for bull-taming sports such as Jallikattu, kambala, and bullock-cart races. (PTI)
SC on Rahul Gandhi’s defamation case: On August 4, the Supreme Court stayed the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case related to his alleged 'Modi' surname remark during a political rally in 2019. (File Photo)
5/7
SC says no to same-sex marriage: India's top court, on October 17, refused to legalize same-sex marriages, passing the responsibility back to Parliament in a ruling that disappointed campaigners for LGBTQ rights in the country. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud also urged the government to uphold the rights of the queer community and end discrimination against them. (AP)
5
A family takes shelter in a lorry, in Gingle area of Uri. In Uri district, locals remain in distress as they suffer damage to their livelihood. Several shops in the border village have been targeted in Pakistan's shelling across the LoC.
9
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
10
White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel where 133 cardinals are gathering on the second day of the conclave to elect a successor to late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025 . (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
15
A damaged portion of Bilal Mosque is seen after it was hit by an Indian strike in Muzaffarabad. The selection of targets was done based on extensive intelligence, primarily due to Pakistan's changing strategies aimed at concealing terror camps.