**Justice Bela Trivedi Concludes Tenure at Supreme Court of India**
Justice Bela Trivedi marked her final day at the Supreme Court of India on Friday, concluding a distinguished career at the apex court. Although her official retirement is set for June, she chose to complete her responsibilities ahead of schedule. Justice Trivedi was one of three women who took the oath as Supreme Court judges and was among nine new appointees. Notably, she is the first woman judge from the Gujarat High Court to ascend to the Supreme Court.
**Significant Judgments During Tenure**
Throughout her tenure, Justice Trivedi made substantial contributions to Indian jurisprudence. In a pivotal 2024 ruling, she was the sole dissenter in a 6:1 majority decision that permitted states to create subclassifications within Scheduled Castes (SCs) for the purpose of allocating reservations to more disadvantaged groups, which she argued was unconstitutional.
On the eve of her last working day, Justice Trivedi led a bench that highlighted the insufficient number of exclusive courts for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The bench urged the Union of India and state governments to take necessary actions to establish POCSO courts and ensure timely adjudication of cases.
Justice Trivedi also participated in a bench that upheld the constitutional validity of the “power to arrest” provisions under the Customs and GST Acts, clarifying the conditions under which this power should be exercised.
In a notable case, her bench dismissed an appeal from sitting Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, who challenged summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Additionally, her bench denied bail to AAP leader Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case, instructing him to surrender before the Special Court.
Justice Trivedi was involved in a split verdict regarding an appeal against a high court order that refused to quash an FIR against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, focusing on the interpretation of Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
She was also part of the five-judge Constitution bench that upheld the constitutional validity of the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019, which provides for 10% reservation for economically weaker sections in state jobs and educational institutions.
In a significant ruling, Justice Trivedi was part of the three-judge bench that denied bail to Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leader K Kavitha in the Delhi Excise Policy scam case, directing her to first approach the trial court.
Justice Trivedi’s contributions to the judiciary have left a lasting impact, and her departure marks the end of an era at the Supreme Court.
**FAQ**
**What is Justice Bela Trivedi known for during her tenure?**
Justice Bela Trivedi is recognized for her significant rulings on constitutional matters, including her dissent on subclassifications within Scheduled Castes and her advocacy for the establishment of POCSO courts.
