India Supreme Court Gadling bail hearing

In late July 2026, the Indian Supreme Court faced repeated recusals of judges in the bail petition of activist lawyer Surendra Gadling, who is detained under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for alleged involvement in the 2016 Gadchiroli iron‑ore mine arson and other Maoist‑related cases. On 21 July, a third judge, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, stepped aside, prompting the court to reassign the matter to a different bench after earlier withdrawals by Justices M. M. Sundresh and A. S. Chandurkar. The bail plea had been adjourned over ten times, and senior counsel emphasized the need for a fair hearing.

By 27 July, the Supreme Court heard the petition before Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, with the third recusal still in effect. Advocates highlighted procedural delays, the absence of a permanent public prosecutor, and called for the case to be transferred to another bench to ensure impartiality. The situation underscores ongoing judicial scrutiny of Gadling’s cases, including the Bhima‑Koregaon matter, and the broader challenges of adjudicating high‑profile activism prosecutions.