Law Optional Current Affair(10th - 18th Aug, 2025)

For every serious law optional UPSC aspirant, staying updated with current legal affairs is as crucial as mastering theory. At De Facto IAS, we ensure our students don’t just read the news—they understand the law behind it. Here's your weekly legal current affairs roundup with case briefs, constitutional debates, and international law—everything you need for your Mains answer-writing edge.

1.Consent to Arbitration Bars Later Challenge on Non-Arbitrability

Case Title: Sanjit Singh Salwan & Ors. v. Sardar Inderjit Singh Salwan & Ors. (SC, 2025)

The Supreme Court has clarified that once parties voluntarily consent to arbitration and secure a consent decree, they are stopped from later disputing the award on the ground of non-arbitrability.

Background: The dispute arose among trustees of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Charitable Trust. Initially, a suit for perpetual injunction was filed, but the Trial Court rejected the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 CPC as barred by Section 92 CPC.

During the pendency of appeal, the parties submitted that they had resolved the matter via arbitration and sought disposal in terms of the settlement. Consequently, the District Court incorporated the arbitral award into a consent decree.

Detailed PDF can be download from here

2. ECI To Publish Omitted Voters’ List With Reasons, Allow Aadhaar For Claims

On August 14, 2025, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish on the websites of Bihar’s District Electoral Officers a district-wise list of nearly 65 lakh voters omitted from the draft electoral rolls prepared after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The Court further ordered that reasons for deletion—such as death, migration, or duplication—must be disclosed. This list is also to be uploaded on the Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar’s website and must be EPIC number searchable.

Detailed PDF can be download from here

3.Consumers Won't Confuse 'Blenders Pride' With 'London Pride'

Case Title: Pernod Ricard India Pvt. Ltd. & Anr. v. Karanveer Singh Chhabra

On August 13, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Pernod Ricard seeking an interim injunction against the alleged infringement of its whisky brands Blenders Pride and Imperial Blue by the respondent’s product London Pride.

The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan upheld the findings of the Indore Commercial Court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had rejected Pernod Ricard’s interim relief plea.

The Court observed that the marks in question were not identical, and the word “Pride” is publici juris, being widely used in the liquor industry. The dominant elements – Blenders, Imperial Blue, and London – were visually and phonetically distinct, creating different overall impressions.

Detailed PDF can be download from here

4. SC Strikes Down Army’s Gender-Based Seat Policy in JAG Branch

The Supreme Court has invalidated the Indian Army’s policy of earmarking separate vacancies for men and women in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch, holding that appointments must be based purely on merit.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan ruled that the Army’s practice of fixing six vacancies for men and only three for women, despite claiming a gender-neutral policy, violated Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. The Court emphasized that gender-neutrality is distinct from gender-equality.

While gender-equality implies providing equal representation to both sexes, gender-neutrality requires that selections be made irrespective of gender, solely on merit.

Detailed PDF can be download from here

5. Israel’s Approved Plan to Occupy Gaza City

Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved a plan to militarily occupy Gaza City as part of a broader campaign against Hamas, aiming to neutralize militant threats and establish a security buffer, before transferring administrative control to an unnamed Arab civilian entity.

The operation is projected to last several months and could result in the displacement of approximately one million Palestinians. As preparations intensify, Israeli authorities have already begun mass relocation efforts, moving civilians from conflict zones in Gaza City to southern areas.

Detailed PDF can be download from here

Join Latest Batch

Weekly Focus

The Lotus Case (France v. Turkey, PCIJ 1927)

Facts: The dispute arose from a collision on the high seas in 1926 between a French ship (S.S. Lotus) and a Turkish ship (Boz-Kourt), resulting in the sinking of the Turkish vessel and the death of eight Turkish nationals. Upon arrival in Constantinople, Turkey arrested and prosecuted Lieutenant Demons, the French officer on watch duty, for criminal negligence. France objected, arguing that only the flag state (France) had jurisdiction over incidents occurring on the high seas.

Detailed PDF can be download from here