The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern warning to chief secretaries of states and Union territories regarding the submission of affidavits in a case about compliance issues in higher educational institutions. The court, led by Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N V Anjaria, stated that if the affidavits are deemed mere formalities, it may impose 'heavy personal costs' on the officials involved. The court has given a deadline of May 18, 2023, for the submission of revised affidavits, as previous responses from several states were found lacking in detail and completeness. The court appointed Dr R M Sharma and former IPS officer Ashok Prasad to assist in monitoring compliance, and it emphasized the importance of rectifying deficiencies in the affidavits. Additionally, the Union Education Ministry has been warned of potential contempt proceedings for failing to provide a competent English stenographer to assist Dr Sharma, as previously ordered. The court has also directed an interim honorarium of ₹4 lakh (roughly $4,800 USD) to be transferred to Dr Sharma for his team’s assistance in this ongoing process.