Manupatra Academy

Explore. Learn. Upskill. All Things Law

Courses, Cases, Research, and Resources in One Place

New

Internships

Opportunities : Playbook : Videos

Learn More

Law Notes (1^st - 5^th Year)

Structured notes with flashcards to help law students grasp core subjects quickly.

Know More

Manupatra Certified Legal Research Program

Module-based learning : Legal research skills : Certification test

Learn More

Courses

Structured learning : Practice-oriented modules : Different stages of legal practice

Learn More

News and Recent Judgment Gist

News
Gist

1. DHS proposes $70,000 fee for initial OPT and $30,000 for subsequent OPT for F-1 students

DHS proposes $70,000 fee for initial OPT and $30,000 for subsequent OPT for F-1 students

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed charging $70,000 for each F-1 student seeking initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT, according to a proposal by the Trump administration. DHS says the move is aimed at tackling fraud and abuse, strengthening the integrity of the immigration system and protecting US workers. OPT is a temporary employment programme for eligible F-1 international students in the US that allows them to work in a job directly related to their major or field of study, either before completing their studies or after graduation. Students must receive a recommendation from their designated school official (DSO) before applying for employment authorisation from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and eligible F-1 students can receive up to 12 months of OPT at each education level. Eligible STEM graduates can receive an additional 24-month extension. Under the current system, students face fees of roughly $500, making the proposed $70,000 charge 140 times the current amount; the proposal would also establish a $30,000 fee for subsequent OPT. DHS argues that some participants, employers and institutions have exploited existing rules, and says its Student and Exchange Visitor Program has identified schemes involving problematic worksites and so-called "pay-to-stay" arrangements in which students may maintain immigration status without receiving legitimate educational or employment benefits. The department argues the higher fees would encourage schools to exercise greater oversight before recommending students for OPT. The proposal would require the SEVP-certified school to pay the fee before its DSO recommends an F-1 student for OPT, applying when a school recommends a student rather than being tied to a specific employer, though the financial impact could ultimately extend to students, employers and educational institutions depending on how costs are handled. The proposed fee specifically concerns eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students seeking OPT and is not a blanket $70,000 fee on every international student in the US; students who do not seek OPT would not be subject to the charge simply because they hold an F-1 visa. The proposal is not yet final: the rule is subject to a 30-day public comment period before DHS can decide whether to finalise it, and DHS has said it would wait 60 days after finalisation before implementing the rule to give schools, students and employers time to prepare.

2. Loanees do not mortgage constitutional rights with banks, Madras High Court says

Loanees do not mortgage constitutional rights with banks, Madras High Court says

The Madras High Court has held that a citizen who takes a loan from a bank, or stands as guarantor for a loan taken by another, does not mortgage his constitutional and legal rights to the bank. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan made the observation while dismissing an application filed by Bank of Baroda seeking review of his August 24, 2026 order revoking a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Kondepati Ganga Prasad, who was a guarantor for a high-value loan availed by GVR Infra Projects. The judge said the right to travel freely across the world is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, as declared by the Supreme Court in Maneka Gandhi Vs. Union of India (1978), and that any restriction on that right must be in accordance with law. He held that the term 'law' under Article 21 implies legislation, and that a letter written by the manager of the bank to the Bureau of Immigration cannot be treated as 'law'. He warned that if a nationalised bank were permitted to do this, every private creditor or non-banking finance corporation would be emboldened to approach the police for issuance of an LOC to prevent their debtors from going abroad. The judge added that the constitutional rights of the petitioner do not come to an end with the commencement of a mortgage with the bank. In the present case, the guarantor proposes to go abroad to earn and repay the amount after returning, while the bank insisted that he repay first and then travel; the judge described this as a catch-22 situation and a vicious circle that has to be broken. He also observed that no business venture is started with an intention to create a loss, and that the bank was aware when issuing the loan that some loans would become sticky or Non-Performing Assets, pointing to Bank of Baroda's separate stressed accounts branch as showing the high number of such accounts. The judge recorded the submission of the bank's counsel that it had lodged no criminal complaint of fraud against the guarantor with the Central Bureau of Investigation or the State police, and that the bank officials responsible for clearing the loan to the private company had not been prosecuted. He concluded that since there is no fraud either on the part of the petitioner or the bank's managerial staff, a mere defaulter cannot be forced to stay within the country to ensure repayment.

3. NIA court in Jammu rejects Shabir Ahmad Shah's bail plea in 1996 Srinagar funeral violence case

NIA court in Jammu rejects Shabir Ahmad Shah's bail plea in 1996 Srinagar funeral violence case

A special NIA court in Jammu on Tuesday rejected the bail application of Hurriyat Conference member Shabir Ahmad Shah in a 30-year-old case of mob violence during a terrorist's funeral procession in Srinagar. Special judge Prem Sagar observed that there is a well-founded apprehension that, if released, Shah is likely to continue such activities to the detriment of national security and public order. The judge said granting bail at this stage could prejudice the fair conduct of the trial and may adversely affect the confidence and security of protected witnesses. The case arises from an FIR registered on July 17, 1996, after large-scale violence during a funeral procession in Srinagar in which an unruly mob led by Shah, the late Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the late Abdul Gani Lone and other separatists carried the body of slain terrorist Hilal Ahmad Beigh towards Eidgah while raising anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans. According to the prosecution, the mob turned violent when police tried to regulate the procession and, instigated by inflammatory speeches by Shah and other Hurriyat functionaries, resorted to heavy stone-pelting and attacked police personnel. The NIA has said armed terrorists mixed with the procession and fired indiscriminately at police. In April this year the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the investigation to the NIA, which re-registered the case. Arguing against bail, Shah said no step was taken against him for 30 years and that a stale investigation resurrected without explanation cannot justify deprivation of personal liberty. He contended that the revival of the 1996 FIR was aimed at preventing his release after the Supreme Court granted him bail in March 2025 in a 2017 terror funding case, in which he was arrested in June 2019. He also said co-accused allegedly part of the same procession had long ago been granted bail. The court, concurring with the NIA which opposed the plea, held that every case under the UAPA has serious consequences and must be examined with reference to the nature of allegations, the centrality of the role, protected witnesses, risk of intimidation and the possibility of reactivation of networks. It also rejected the ground of parity with the other accused persons.

4. Mumbai police book two sisters for Rs 7 lakh extortion bid over rat-in-dosa video

Mumbai police have registered a case against two sisters for an alleged extortion bid of Rs 7 lakh related to a rat-in-dosa video. Instead of arresting the two women, the police served notices on them

5. US man jailed for $8-million streaming fraud using 10,000 bot accounts and AI songs

A US man has been jailed in connection with an $8-million streaming fraud involving artificial intelligence-generated songs and bot accounts. At times, he used as many as 10,000 bot accounts at once.

1. Yogesh Premjibhai Suvariya and Ors. vs. State of Gujarat and Ors. (23.09.2026 - SC)(MANU/SC/1129/2026)

The Supreme Court of India addressed the issue of whether the criminal proceedings against Yogesh Premjibhai Suvariya and others, directors of Shivamy Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., for alleged cheating and d

2. Chhaganbhai Kohyabhai Pateliya and Ors. vs. The State of Gujarat and Ors. (06.10.2026 - SC)(MANU/SC/1128/2026)

The Supreme Court of India addressed the issue of whether Chhaganbhai Kohyabhai Pateliya and others, who were daily-wage skilled workers in the State of Gujarat, were entitled to an increment due on J

3. M.K. Ravi Varma and Ors. vs. National Institute of Technology and Ors. (23.09.2026 - SC)(MANU/SC/1127/2026)

The Supreme Court of India addressed the issue of whether financial benefits granted to M.K. Ravi Varma and others, who were Lecturers/Assistant Professors, could be withdrawn by the National Institut

4. Santosh B. Naik vs. State of Goa and Ors. (06.10.2026 - SC)(MANU/SC/1126/2026)

The Supreme Court of India addressed whether a Secondary School Certificate from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) satisfies the requirement of having "passed 10th standard under 10+2 sy

5. Martanda Singh vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Ors. (01.10.2026 - SC)(MANU/SC/1125/2026)

The Supreme Court of India addressed the issue of whether a consensual relationship, which ended with a criminal case alleging sexual exploitation under the pretext of marriage, constituted criminal l

View More Gist.. View More News..

Law Students Hub

Notes : Flashcards : Landmark Cases & more…

Learn More

New

Legal Glossary

Complex terms decoded : Easy explanations

Learn More

On-demand Courses

Recorded classes : Comprehensive reading material :Quiz

Learn More

Self-Paced Certification

Courses to upskill or reskill

Learn More

Webinars

Recordings of experts views :Diverse topics

Learn More

Law Teachers Hub

Readings : Resources for legal educators

Learn More

Legal Posts

Explainers : Blogs : Articles : Case Analysis

Learn More

Survey Reports

AI Adoption : Technology in law

Learn More

Illustrated Cases

Legal Design : Supreme Court Cases : Multilingual Exploration

Learn More

Our Partners

Why Join Manupatra Academy

Brought to you by Manupatra the leaders in legal tech domain.

Curated Resources: A vast repository of meticulously compiled resources tailored for educators and learners.
Diverse Courses: An array of courses designed to cater to various levels of expertise, from beginners to advanced.
User-Friendly Interface: Accessible on any device, our intuitive interface ensures seamless navigation.

What Our Learners Say

User-Friendly Interface: Accessible on any device, our intuitive interface ensures seamless navigation.

Certification Courses 3-Day Civil Drafting Workshop

It was extremely beneficial and practical… really helped me understand the nuances of civil drafting and boosted my confidence in preparing real pleadings.

Certification Courses 3-Day Civil Drafting Workshop

The sessions were so insightful and well-structured… the faculty explained every concept with patience and clarity, which made learning much easier.

Certification Courses 3-Day Civil Drafting Workshop

Honestly, it was a great learning experience… the course covered everything from plaints to petitions in such a smooth and engaging way.

Certification Courses 3-Day Civil Drafting Workshop

The workshop was very hands-on and practical… I really liked the live feedback and the real examples shared during drafting exercises.

Certification Courses 3-Day Civil Drafting Workshop

Very well conducted and informative… I just wish it could’ve been a bit longer because the sessions were that helpful.

Certification Courses Mastering Microsoft Word for Legal Work

The session was honestly eye-opening! I never realized how much time I was wasting on formatting until now.

Certification Courses Mastering Microsoft Word for Legal Work

Really practical and focused on what lawyers actually need… I can already see how it’ll save hours in my daily work.

Certification Courses Mastering Microsoft Word for Legal Work

The trainer made even the technical tools so easy to understand… and I loved how they used real pleading examples.

Certification Courses Mastering Microsoft Word for Legal Work

Very relevant for lawyers and interns alike… it bridges the tech gap we all face while working on documents.

Certification Courses Mastering Microsoft Word for Legal Work

A concise and super useful masterclass… I now feel confident managing citations, templates, and formatting with ease.