FIRs quashed against VC, varsity officials over religious conversions

The Supreme Court on Friday quashed FIRs against the vice-chancellor and other officials of the Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Science (SHUATS), Prayagraj, over their alleged involvement in forced religious conversion.

A Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra quashed the FIRs against SHUATS VC Rajendra Bihari Lal, Director Vinod Bihari Lal and other officials who were facing prosecution under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.

“Institution of the complaint and the quality of material gathered during the course of investigation of the FIR fails to inspire confidence and is quashed,” the Bench said.

SC asks TN to wait for Prez Reference verdict

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Tamil Nadu government to wait for its verdict on the Presidential Reference to decide its plea challenging Governor RN Ravi’s decision to refer the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (Amendment) Bill-2025 to the President, instead of granting his assent.

“You will have to wait for the outcome of the Presidential Reference. You will have to hardly wait for four weeks. The reference has to be decided before November 21 (CJI’s retirement),” a Bench, led by CJI BR Gavai said.

Upholds Muslim widow’s inheritance rights

An agreement to sell a property does not transfer the ownership rights, the Supreme Court has said, ruling that all assets left behind by a deceased person form part of ancestral property to be distributed as per the Muslim law.

A Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra expressed strong displeasure over the poor quality of English translation of a trial court judgement, stressing that translations must faithfully capture the meaning and spirit of the original text to ensure fair adjudication in appellate proceedings.