Soibam Rocky Singh

New Delhi

Principal Law Correspondent at The Hindu

Principal Correspondent at @The_Hindu Ex- @htTweets and @DDNational Tweets without @the_hindu are personal views.

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Articles

Dead fish, cramped cages: report finds illegal pet trade in city despite existing rules

2 days ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

A new report has uncovered rampant cruelty and widespread legal violations across pet shops in the Capital. Conducted by the Animal Law Cell at the University of Delhi’s Faculty of Law, the report titled ‘Violations of Pet Shop Rules, 2018 across Delhi’ found that not a single one of the 34 surveyed shops complied with the rules.
Do restaurants have the right to charge a service fee?

1 week ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

The story so far:The legal tussle over the legitimacy of service charges in restaurants has been fiercely contested for three years in the Delhi High Court, with both the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), representing consumer interests, and restaurant associations refusing to back down. What’s the issue?
One judge for 18.7 lakh people: vacancy, pendency crises plague High Courts

1 week ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

In a rare and candid observation, the Delhi High Court last week cited the “acute shortage of judges” as a key reason for its inability to hear all cases listed in its daily cause list. The comment serves as a sobering reminder of the systemic challenges confronting the judiciary. Also Read | Explained: The clogged state of the Indian judiciaryThe observation came during the hearing of a routine application by a man accused of cheating and forgery, who was seeking permission to travel abroad.
DSLSA job fair gives wings to survivors’ cherished dreams

2 weeks ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

‘Project Virangana’opens new job avenues for rape and acid attack survivors through skill training and employment opportunitiesNishtha*, 38, clutched her training certificate from the Institute of Hotel Management, Pusa — a small document carrying the weight of a long journey. In the quiet corridors of the Rouse Avenue District Courts Complex, hope echoed not through legal arguments or verdicts but through the promise of a fresh start.
Why are civil disputes being criminalised? | Explained

3 weeks ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

The story so far: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna recently came down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh government over the growing trend of ordinary civil disputes being converted into criminal cases. His remarks came during the hearing of an appeal filed by two individuals, facing a cheque bounce case, who were also slapped with criminal charges including breach of trust, intimidation, and criminal conspiracy. What were the CJI’s remarks?
Delhi’s illegal borewell boom running on empty

3 weeks ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

With groundwater reserves depleting and illegal borewells mushrooming, Delhi stands at a tipping point — one borewell closer each day to an environmental crisis. Early this month, the Delhi High Court came down heavily on local authorities over the illegal extraction of groundwater in the national capital, calling it “nothing less than a sin”.
Only 12% of High Court judges declare assets

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

Among the 769 judges currently serving in the 25 High Courts of India, only 95 — or a mere 12.35% — have chosen to disclose their assets and liabilities on their official websites. The recent incident involving Justice Yashwant Varma has intensified discussions about transparency within India’s judiciary. On March 14, a fire broke out in the storeroom of Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi.
Over half of district judges in Delhi lack official residences

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

There is an acute shortage of official accommodation for judicial officers in Delhi, with over half of the district judges lacking government housing. Against the sanctioned strength of 897 judicial officers, only 348 residences are available, leaving a shortfall of 549 residences, as per a Delhi High Court document issued in March. This shortfall has not been addressed despite the judiciary’s growing strength. The number of government homes has remained stagnant since 2018-19.
Restaurants cannot enforce service charge, against consumer rights: Delhi HC

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

The Delhi High Court on Friday (March 28, 2025) ruled that service charge or tips is a voluntary payment by the customer, and it cannot be made compulsory or mandatory by hotels and restaurants. “The practice undertaken by restaurant establishments of collecting service charge, that too on a mandatory basis in a coercive manner, is contrary to consumer interest and is violative of consumer rights,” Justice Prathiba M. Singh said.
Few Delhi HC judges disclose assets, transparency declines over years

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Soibam Rocky Singh

Only seven Delhi High Court judges have disclosed their assets on the official website out of a current strength of 39 judges.