Flashback 2023: Top Five Landmark Supreme Court Judgments: In 2023, the Indian judiciary made significant strides in clearing pending cases, despite a record high of 80,439 pending cases in the Supreme Court. Remarkably, the apex court managed to resolve around 52,220 cases, a notable improvement from previous years, as per the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG). Here are five pivotal judgments handed down by the Supreme Court in 2023:

1. Same-Sex Marriage

In a split 3:2 decision, the SC upheld the Special Marriage Act, 1954, and declined to legalize same-sex marriage. The court clarified that the right to marry is not a fundamental right for queer individuals. However, it directed the government to form a committee to address the rights of homosexual couples in India.

2. Shiv Sena Turmoil

In a case involving Maharashtra politics, the SC ruled against the Maharashtra governor's decision to order a floor test against CM Uddhav Thackeray. The judgment highlighted the illegality of the governor's action but noted that Thackeray's voluntary resignation couldn't be reversed.

3. Delhi LG vs AAP

Another bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud clarified that the Government of NCT of Delhi, not the Lieutenant Governor, oversees the capital’s civil servants and daily administration. Subsequently, the Parliament passed a bill overturning this judgment.

4. Article 370

A bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud upheld the government’s move to revoke Article 370, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The SC endorsed the Article’s temporary nature and directed assembly elections by September 2024, along with reinstating the statehood promptly.

5. Right to Die with Dignity

In January, the Supreme Court modified guidelines for terminally ill patients seeking to withdraw life-support systems. The SC, citing the Common Cause vs Union of India (2018) case, declared that the Right to Die with Dignity falls under Article 21, a fundamental right. The revised guidelines now stipulate that doctors with five years of experience, instead of the previous 20, can serve on the medical board. The judgment emphasized a swift decision within 48 hours by the boards.

These landmark judgments in 2023 reflected the Supreme Court's profound impact on crucial issues, ranging from individual rights to constitutional matters, leaving a lasting imprint on the legal landscape of the nation.

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