Constitution of India

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the second proviso added to Rule 4 and the proviso to Rule 17 of the Civil Services Examination Rules, which restrict candidates allocated to IPS or Central Services Group A from re‑appearing in the next examination unless they resign. The petitioners argued tha…

The Jalgaon Municipal Council, having received a gift of land, sought to develop it by constructing an administrative building, a vegetable market and a commercial complex on a self‑financing basis, appointing a private developer (Respondent No. 6) to execute the project and to dispose of occupancy rights for a fee. Re…

The respondent, an officer of State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, retired at the statutory age of 58 and sought an extension of service under Regulation 19(1) of the Bank's Officers' Service Regulations, 1979. The Bank refused, citing lack of continued utility, good health, and integrity, and the High Court dismissed his p…

The Calcutta Port Sharmik Union, representing about 15,000 bargemen (Dandees and Majhis) at Calcutta Port, claimed that they were "dock workers" under the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948 and therefore entitled to the wages and allowances recommended by the Central Wage Board. The Wage Board had exclud…

The Supreme Court examined two writ petitions challenging orders of preventive detention under the National Security Act, 1980 issued against Alijan Mian and Jadunandan Sah, who were already in jail and likely to be released on bail. The detaining authority justified the detention on the ground that, if released, the p…

The Indian Medical Association filed a writ petition alleging that Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., its managing director Acharya Balkrishna and proponent Baba Ramdev, violated an undertaking given to the Supreme Court on 21 November 2023 by holding a press conference on 22 November 2023 and publishing advertisements that claim…

The dispute concerned the inclusion of Rajni Kant and Anjani Kumar as heirs of the late Chandra Deo Singh in land records (khata) under Section 9A(2) of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953. The respondents claimed they were legitimate children born out of a long‑standing live‑in relationship between the deceas…

The appellant, M/s Green Earth Asphalt & Power P. Ltd., filed a criminal complaint under Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging offences by the firm and its partners. The High Court, invoking Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, quashed the entire criminal proceeding, reasoning that the compla…

In a murder case, the Sessions Court granted anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC to Deputy Superintendent of Police Narendra K. Amin. The State of Gujarat appealed, contending that the court failed to consider the prosecution’s apprehension that the accused could influence or coerce witnesses and that custo…

The landlord, Balvant N. Viswamitra, sued the heirs and legal representatives of a deceased tenant for possession of land after the tenant defaulted on rent. The landlord attempted service of notice by registered post, certificate of posting and affixing it on the premises, but could not obtain the heirs' names and add…

The landlord sued Singer India Ltd for eviction under Section 14(1)(b) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, alleging that the American tenant had transferred possession to the Indian company without the landlord's written consent. The transfer resulted from a court‑sanctioned amalgamation compelled by a Reserve Bank of India…

The respondents, language teachers employed by the State of Haryana, sought promotion on the ground that the Certificate of Junior Basic Training (J.B.T.) should be treated as equivalent to the required Orientation Training (O.T.). The State had issued a notification on 12 March 1976 declaring J.B.T. equivalent to O.T.…

Lakshmi Precision Screws Ltd. terminated the employment of Ram Bahagat under Clause 9(f)(ii) of its Certified Standing Orders after he was absent for ten days without leave. The company sent a notice on 17 October 1990 asking him to report within 48 hours, warning that failure would be deemed disinterest and his name w…

Vicco Laboratories, a manufacturer of ayurvedic products, hired Art Commercial Advertising and its partners to produce a television serial titled "Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi" for Doordarshan, paying them a fixed sum as sponsorship. Vicco claimed it was the producer and owner of the copyright and the exclusive right to use the …

The appellant, sister of Bham Faisal Gulam Mohammed, filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his preventive detention under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974. The detenu was arrested for attempting to smuggle diamonds and was supplied with grounds o…

The appellant, Rais Ahmad, filed a writ petition under Article 226 before the Allahabad High Court. His counsel had obtained leave of absence from the Chief Justice on the ground of illness up to 23 April 1996 and sent an illness slip for the hearing scheduled on 24 April 1996, but the slip was not brought to the notic…

The Supreme Court entertained a class-action writ petition filed by Vishaka and NGOs seeking enforcement of the fundamental rights of working women under Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution, prompted by a gang‑rape incident in Rajasthan. The Court held that sexual harassment of women in the workplace viola…

Syed Yousuddin Ahmed, a Deputy Executive Engineer of the Andhra Pradesh Government, claimed that four incentive increments (personal pay) he received should be counted as part of his emoluments for pension calculation. The Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal held that the incentive increments were part of his emolum…

Smt. Gayatri Devi Pandey, originally appointed as a School Psychologist and later regularised as an L.T. Grade teacher, was subsequently appointed on an ad‑hoc basis as Assistant Psychologist and promoted to Vocational Guidance Counsellor. She sought regularisation in these posts, but her representation was rejected. T…

The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued an order on 18 November 1981 granting a 5% weightage to candidates whose basic education was in Telugu medium for appointments to non‑gazetted posts, expressly limiting the benefit to selections made through the State Public Service Commission (SPSC). The State Administrative Tri…

Hardeep Singh, a constable on probation in the Haryana Police, was dismissed without a charge sheet or hearing after participating in a peaceful union protest. He challenged the order, arguing it was a punitive dismissal that required compliance with Article 311(2) of the Constitution and Rule 16.24(ix)(b) of the Punja…

The Osmania University Teachers Association challenged the Andhra Pradesh Commissionerate of Higher Education Act, 1986, alleging that it was a duplicate of the University Grants Commission Act and fell within the Union's exclusive legislative field under Entry 66 of List I. The State argued that the Act pertained to e…

The Supreme Court, hearing a writ petition filed by Sheela Barse and others under Article 32, examined the right to a speedy trial for child accused of offences punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years. Relying on the earlier Hussainara Khatoon decision, the Court affirmed that the right to speedy trial is imp…

The State of Uttar Pradesh charged Laloo and three others with the murder of Babu Jaleshwar Singh on 24 September 1974. The prosecution relied on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses (PW1‑3), corroborative statements of PW5 and PW6, medical evidence of a fatal neck wound, and a First Information Report (FIR) prepared b…

The petitioners, a group of medical graduates, applied for admission to the post‑graduate medical course at the Srinagar Medical College for the July 1980 semester and appeared for the entrance test, but the result was never declared and no admissions were made for three consecutive semesters (July 1980, November 1980,…

The State of Karnataka appealed to the Supreme Court under Article 136 for special leave to challenge the Karnataka High Court's dismissal of its appeals against the conviction of Surender Kotiankar under Sections 408 and 477A of the Indian Penal Code. The High Court had rejected the State's request for enhanced senten…

The petitioners, Kirloskar Ferrous Industries Ltd. and a shareholder, challenged the constitutional validity of the explanations appended to Rule 38 of the 2016 Minerals Concession Rules and Rule 45(8)(a) of the 2017 Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, which require that royalty, District Mineral Foundation (DM…

Bali Ram, a CRPF constable, was medically invalidated in 1998 after developing severe ophthalmic disability. He sought only a disability pension, but the Single Judge invoked Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 and ordered his reinstatement with full service benefits. The Union of India and other CRPF…

The case concerns the management of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, which has been historically managed by the Travancore royal family. After the integration of princely states, a Covenant in 1949 and the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950 preserved the Ruler's control over the …

The Supreme Court upheld its earlier order that any prayer for stay or to impede the progress of investigations or trials in the coal block allocation cases must be made only before the Supreme Court, thereby limiting the High Court's jurisdiction under Articles 226 and 227. The Court held that this restriction is perm…

The writ petition filed by V. Vasanthakumar sought a mandamus directing the Supreme Court to consider proposals for establishing National/Regional Courts of Appeal to alleviate the massive backlog and improve access to justice. The petitioner argued that the Supreme Court has increasingly functioned as a regular appell…

The case arose from political turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh where the Governor, without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, preponed the 6th session of the Legislative Assembly from 14 January 2016 to 16 December 2015 and issued a message directing the manner of proceedings, including the removal of the Spea…

The Delhi Race Club challenged the constitutional validity of the Mysore Race Courses Licensing Act, 1952 (as extended to Delhi) and its 2001 amendment that raised the licence fee for horse racing ten‑fold. The club argued that Section 11(2) gave the Administrator unfettered power to fix fees without guidance, amountin…

The accused Mustkeem, Nandu and Arun were convicted for the murder of Ram Pal Yadav under IPC s.302/34 and the Arms Act based largely on circumstantial evidence, hostile eyewitnesses, and weapons recovered after the accused’s disclosure. The Supreme Court found that key witnesses had turned hostile, statements were ret…

The State of Andhra Pradesh appealed to the Supreme Court against a High Court order acquitting several accused, including D.V. Chandrasekhar (A‑3). While the appeal under Article 136 was pending, Chandrasekhar died, and his wife filed a petition asserting that the appeal had abated. The Court examined whether an appea…

The vendor, a life tenant of a property, entered into a sale agreement with HPA International to sell his life interest and the reversionary interest of the remaindermen, subject to obtaining a High Court sanction. The sanction suit was opposed by the reversioners and, after two years of delay, the vendor served a noti…

The Supreme Court allowed a civil appeal by the mother, sister and brothers of Abdul Rehman, a 20‑year‑old college student who was killed when a municipal truck hit his bicycle. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the Allahabad High Court had dismissed the claim for compensation, relying on the testimony of two inte…

The appellants, owners of agricultural land in Gujarat as well as land in other Indian states, challenged Sections 6(3A), 4, 10 and 11 of the Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling Act, 1960, on the ground that the provision which requires the land held outside Gujarat to be taken into account while computing the ceiling a…

The petitioners, class‑IV employees designated as Storm Water Drains (SWD) Beldars and Mates of the New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC), sought the pay‑scales recommended by the Shiv Shankar Committee (SS Committee) which had already been granted to other class‑IV staff of the NDMC. The NDMC had extended the SS Commit…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Chit Funds Act, 1982, challenged by various chit fund companies and individuals on the grounds that it infringed their right to carry on business under Article 19(1)(g) and that Parliament lacked legislative competence, alleging the Act dealt with money‑lend…

The petitioners, retired railway employees who had opted for the Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) scheme, challenged twelve Railway Board notifications that allowed certain CPF retirees, after specified cut‑off dates, to switch to the pension scheme while denying the same option to other similarly situated retirees. T…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of two accused (Mohd Iqram and another) in the murder of Rashmi. Police, on routine patrol, heard shrieks, saw three persons scaling a wall, apprehended two, and were led to the victim who later died of strangulation. The trial court convi…

The petition under Article 32 sought a writ of quo warranto against the Chief Minister and a Minister, alleging that their appointment was invalid because they were members of the Rajya Sabha and not of the State Legislature, thus supposedly falling outside Article 164(4). The Supreme Court examined Articles 163, 164(1…

The Supreme Court examined the procedure for designating Senior Advocates after concerns were raised in Jitender @ Kalla regarding the 100‑point assessment and the role of bar members in the Permanent Committee. It considered whether the point‑based system introduced in Indira Jaising I and modified in Indira Jaising I…

Vijaya Bank required its senior middle‑manager, Prashant B. Narnaware, to serve a minimum of three years and to pay Rs 2 lakhs as liquidated damages if he resigned earlier, as stipulated in clause 11(k) of his appointment letter. The employee resigned after less than two years and paid the amount under protest, subsequ…

The appellant's land was acquired in 1976‑77 under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, but no compensation was ever paid. After repeatedly seeking payment, the appellant filed a writ petition which was dismissed by a single High Court judge on the ground of a 42‑year delay. The Division Bench of the High Court then directe…

The petitioners, victims of Endosulfan pesticide use in Kerala's Kasargod district, sought enforcement of a Supreme Court order dated 10 January 2017 that directed the State Government to pay Rs 5 lakhs compensation to each affected person and to arrange medical facilities. Five years later, only eight petitioners had …

The petitioners, a group of MBBS graduates who had participated in the NEET‑PG 2021 counselling process, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the quashing of the National Board of Examinations' notification fixing the NEET‑PG 2022 exam for 21 May 2022, a postponement of the exam, a fresh date after eight week…

Common Cause and Centre for Public Interest Litigation filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking to restrain the Union and State governments from using public funds for advertisements that project individual functionaries or political parties, and asked the Supreme Court to lay down guidelines. The Court, invoking…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and other captive power generators challenging the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (RERC) Renewable Energy Obligation Regulations of 2007 and 2010, which require them to purchase a minimum quantum of electricity from renewable sources. The appell…

Assistant Sub‑Inspector Risal Singh was dismissed by the Superintendent of Police under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution, who dispensed with a disciplinary inquiry and gave no reasons for the dismissal. The appellant challenged the order, arguing that a reason must be ascribed when an inquiry is waived, and the Hi…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a 2010 notification issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) introducing the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to postgraduate medical courses across India. Petitioners challenged the MCI's competence under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, to imp…

Thirteen BJP MLAs wrote to the Governor withdrawing support from Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, prompting the Governor to ask the CM to prove his majority and the CM to file a disqualification application under the Tenth Schedule against them. The Speaker issued show‑cause notices, gave only three days to respond (in…

The appellants, tenants of two 240 sq ft shops, were originally paying Rs 60 per month. After a landlord‑tenant dispute, the High Court Single Judge stayed their eviction and first raised the rent to Rs 600 per month (Sept 2005). In Feb 2007, following a landlord’s offer and the tenants’ acceptance, the Judge further i…

The appellant, Santosh Kumar Satishbhushan Bariyar, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, while his co‑accused received life imprisonment. The appellant challenged the legality of the Sessions Judge's grant of pardon to the approver (PW‑1) under Sections 306 and 307 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and argue…

The case concerned the tenure of members of the Sikh Judicial Commission under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, and the validity of several notifications issued by the Punjab Government and the Central Government. The appellant, Kashmir Singh, challenged the removal of commission members and the re‑constitution notificati…

The Supreme Court examined SEBI’s action against the promoters of Ritesh Polyster Ltd., whose 1995 public issue was found to be a fraudulent hoax. SEBI directed the promoters – including the father, his wife and two sons who were minors at the time – to disassociate from the capital market for ten years under Sections …

The respondents were convicted under Section 61(1) of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 for illegally transporting 2,000 litres of rectified spirit and were sentenced by the trial court to one year imprisonment. The High Court, noting that the offence occurred 19 years earlier, reduced the sentence by granting probation unde…

The case concerned the inter‑se seniority of lecturers of Kumaon University after their ad‑hoc appointments were regularised under the Uttar Pradesh Regularisation Rules, 1979. The first respondent, Madan Mohan Joshi, was placed lower in the seniority list than a junior colleague, Savita (Mohan) Dhondyal, prompting a w…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court's reduction of a seven‑year rigorous imprisonment awarded to Babbu Barkare @ Dalap Singh for rape under Section 376 IPC to the eleven months already served, on the ground that the accused was an illiterate labourer from a rural area. The Supreme Court held tha…

In the 1995 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, both the appellant Baburao and the first respondent Manikrao filed nominations from Nilanga constituency. The respondent's name appeared in the electoral rolls of both Nilanga and Latur constituencies. Baburao objected, claiming that this dual entry disqualified t…

The Supreme Court examined the Allahabad High Court’s extensive directions issued in the wake of the 1994 Uttarakhand agitation, which ordered massive compensation to victims, large fund allocations for regional development, and pre‑emptive rulings on the need for sanction under Section 197 of the CrPC, the composition…

The petitioner, a member of the Rajasthan Higher Judicial Service, was suspended and subjected to a departmental enquiry by the High Court on allegations of administrative irregularities. The petitioner challenged the initiation of the enquiry, arguing that a prior order by the Chief Justice had already exonerated him …

The case concerned dependents of teaching and non‑teaching staff of non‑government aided schools in Uttar Pradesh who, after the death of the employee, applied for compassionate appointment under the U.P. Intermediate Education Act, 1921. The District Inspector appointed them to Class IV posts, but the applicants filed…

Vishal Jeet, claiming to be an advocate, filed a fresh contempt petition (CRL No. D4I06 of 1998) against the Union of India and others, alleging that he had been denied membership of the Central Advisory Committee. An earlier contempt petition (No. 1/1994) on the same grievance had been dismissed by the Supreme Court. …

The petitioners, former casual labourers of the South Eastern Railway appointed between 1964‑69 and retrenched between 1975‑78, sought inclusion in the live casual labour register and re‑employment according to seniority, also requesting that vacancies not be filled from the open market. They relied on Railway Board ci…

The former Jharkhand minister Anosh Ekka was convicted in two separate cases arising from the same set of allegations of acquiring disproportionate assets and misusing his office. The High Court rejected his application for suspension of sentence and bail during the pendency of the appeal, prompting a special leave pet…

The husband and wife, married in 2000, lived separately from 2022 and entered into a mediated Settlement Agreement in May 2024 that provided for a mutual‑consent divorce, payment of Rs 75 lakh, a car purchase, jewellery hand‑over and other financial transfers. The first motion for divorce was granted after the husband …

M/s Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt Ltd lodged an FIR alleging forgery and fraud against three respondents under several IPC sections. The respondents filed a petition under Article 226 and Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashment of the FIR and obtained a blanket interim order from the Bombay High Court directing the po…

In Madhya Pradesh, twenty‑two INC legislators tendered resignations, six of which were accepted by the Speaker. The Chief Minister, fearing loss of majority, sought a floor test, and the Governor, on the basis of material indicating a possible loss of confidence, directed a trust vote on 16 March 2020. The Assembly was…

The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association challenged the amendment to Regulation 9(4) and (8) of the Post‑Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, which allowed reservation of 50% of state‑quota seats for in‑service medical officers. The petitioners argued that such reservation exceeded the legislative competen…

K.K. Mishra, a Congress spokesperson, allegedly made three statements about the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh during a press conference. The State Government sanctioned the public prosecutor to file a complaint under Section 199(2) of the CrPC on the same day, leading to Mishra's conviction under Section 500 IPC for…

The plaintiff, a holder of agricultural land exceeding the ceiling prescribed under the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973, sold the land to the respondents on 16 July 1975, after the Act had come into force. The Land Ceiling Tribunal in 1976 declared the sale void and the land dee…

The petition arose after a fire in a thatched‑roof school in Kumbakonam killed 93 children, highlighting the unsafe conditions of many Indian schools. The petitioner sought directions that every school provide education in safe premises, invoking Articles 21, 21‑A and 51‑A(k) of the Constitution. The Court examined whe…

The International Airport Authority of India (IAAI) terminated a licence with a private ground‑handling firm, after which the firm’s workers formed a cooperative society and entered into a contract‑labour agreement with IAAI. The workers later sought absorption as regular employees, alleging that the contract was a sha…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Haryana Local Area Development Tax Act, 2000, which imposed an entry tax on goods entering local areas. The key issue was whether such a tax qualified as a "compensatory tax" and therefore fell outside the prohibition of Article 301 of the Constitution. The …

The Supreme Court examined the plight of children who reside in jails with their mother‑prisoners, whether under‑trial or convicted, and found that existing provisions were inadequate. Relying on constitutional guarantees (Articles 14, 15, 21, 23, 24, 39, 42, 45, 46, 47) and international child‑rights norms, the Court …

The appellant, Swamy Atmananda, challenged a Madras High Court order that had granted a writ of mandamus under Article 226 directing the respondents to assist in taking over management of certain institutions in accordance with a decree of a civil court. The High Court had allowed the writ petition, treating it as an a…

Dr. Karan Singh, son of the former Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir, claimed that 563 heirloom articles in the state Toshakhana were his private property. After a 1983 representation to the Ministry of Home Affairs was rejected, he filed a writ petition which was partially allowed by the High Court, declaring 42 items his. …

A news magazine sought permission from the Additional Sessions Judge to interview an under‑trial prisoner, Babloo Srivastava, in Tihar Jail. The Sessions Judge granted a blanket permission, which the High Court modified by imposing conditions that the prisoner must consent and the interview must not offend the court or…

The petitioners, members of the West Bengal Higher Judicial Service, were compulsorily retired at age 58 by orders of the Governor, allegedly on the basis of a High Court pre‑retirement assessment and the State's power under Rule 75(aa). They contended that the retirement age had been raised to 60 years by the Supreme …

The case involved six accused, including Hari Singh, Satbir and Gulbir, who were convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for the death of Mange Ram. The trial court and High Court upheld the convictions, but the Supreme Court was asked to consider whether the earlier rejection of Special …

Three private electricity supply companies in Tamil Nadu, whose licences were granted under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910, were initially ordered to be acquired by the State under the 1954 Act, but the orders were stayed. The Tamil Nadu Private Electricity Supply Undertakings (Acquisition) Act, 1973 later nullified …

The Thana Electricity Supply Company held a licence to supply electricity which the Maharashtra State Electricity Board exercised its option to purchase upon expiry. The Indian Electricity (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 1976 replaced the market‑value basis for the purchase price with a depreciated book‑value amount and a…

The petitioners, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh Electric Supply Companies, challenged the Assam Electricity (Assam Amendment) Act, 1973 and the Tinsukia & Dibrugarh Electric Supply Undertakings (Acquisition) Act, 1973 on the ground that the statutes were colourable, lacked a real nexus with Article 39(b) and (c) of the Constit…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959 applies to government establishments and whether it obliges any employer to recruit only candidates sponsored by employment exchanges. It held that government offices are "establishments in public sector" and th…

The Mizo Chief Council filed a writ petition under Article 32 on behalf of tribal chieftains alleging that the State had acquired their traditional lands without paying due compensation, violating their fundamental right to property. The petition was filed in 2014, more than six decades after the 1955 notification that…

The respondent was appointed as Veterinary Compounder in the Central Cattle Breeding Farms in 1999 by the then Director In‑charge without obtaining prior written approval of the competent authority as required by the Central Cattle Breeding Farms (Class III and IV) Recruitment Rules, 1969. The Department later issued a…

The Karnataka State Financial Corporation (KSFC) had granted a loan to an industrial concern and obtained personal guarantees and hypothecated properties from its directors. When the industrial concern defaulted, KSFC invoked Section 29 of the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 to take possession of the guarantors'…

The case concerned a pension fund set up as a trust by Mis Dunlop India Ltd. After the beneficiaries had been paid, the trustees applied to the Calcutta High Court under Section 34 of the Indian Trusts Act seeking a direction on the surplus fund. The High Court refused to entertain the application, holding that Section…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of Section 33B (also called Section 338) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, inserted by the 3rd Amendment Act, 2002, which barred candidates from disclosing any information not expressly required by the Act despite Supreme Court directions. The Court held tha…

The respondent, Drive‑In Enterprises, operated a drive‑in cinema where patrons could view films while seated in their motor cars. The State of Karnataka imposed an entertainment tax on the admission of each motor vehicle into the auditorium under sub‑clause (v) of clause (i) of Section 2 of the Karnataka Entertainment …

The New Bank of India, a loss‑making nationalised bank, was merged with Punjab National Bank under the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980. The Central Government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, framed a Placement Scheme to determine the inter‑se seniority of the tran…

The appellants challenged the constitutional validity of the Goa, Daman and Diu Barge Tax Act, 1973, arguing that a 'barge' is not a 'boat' within the meaning of Entry 58, List II of the Seventh Schedule, which permits states to tax 'animals and boats'. They contended that the term 'boat' should be limited to vessels p…

The National Power Transmission Corporation (NPTC) was created to take over assets and employees of several generating corporations, including the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). NTPC and the Government issued instructions and a circular effecting the transfer, which the Corporate Executive Association of NT…

The Supreme Court considered numerous writ petitions filed under Article 32 and special leave petitions under Article 136 by pavement hawkers and squatters alleging that the New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) violated their fundamental right to carry on trade under Article…

The appellant, Prakash Warehousing Co., obtained a licence and later an assignment of rights over two corporation godowns and, with the corporation’s knowledge, allowed a second respondent to store goods under an agreement. The corporation later formalised the appellant’s status as principal occupier by a deed dated 17…

Around 450 former Burmah Shell employees who retired between 1979 and 1984 had earlier obtained a Supreme Court order enhancing their pension to match that of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) pensioners, while the claim for restoration of the commuted portion of their pension was abandoned. In a fresh wri…

The Supreme Court examined a series of appeals concerning senior government employees who were paid less than their juniors in the same cadre after promotions under Andhra Pradesh Fundamental Rules. The seniors argued that this violated the constitutional principle of "equal pay for equal work" under Articles 39(d), 14…

Kumari Suneeta, daughter of a Central Government servant transferred to Maharashtra, applied for admission to Nagpur Medical College under Rule C6(ii) which provides a concession for such children. She was denied admission on the ground that the rule limited the concession to two seats in all Government Medical College…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of sub‑sections (3) and (4) of section 44 of the Maharashtra Housing and Development Act, 1976, which prescribe a specific method of calculating compensation for land acquired in municipal areas. The petitioners (the State of Maharashtra and the Housing Authority) appeal…

The petitioners, holders of stage‑carriage permits under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, challenged Scheme No. 50‑M which reserved certain routes for exclusive operation by the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation. When the scheme came into force, the permits of some operators whose routes overlapped the reserved ro…

The appellant, Zubair P, a teacher with BA and MA in Economics and a B.Ed. in Social Sciences, had passed the State Eligibility Test (SET) in Malayalam and was appointed as Higher Secondary School Teacher (Economics) on 15 July 2021. The State of Kerala and other respondents objected, contending that the Kerala Educati…

The Tiruchirappalli District Cricket Association (TDCA), a society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, was challenged by a former office‑bearer (respondent No.2) who sought a fresh voters list and a free, fair election, invoking directions from the High Court that were based on the S. Nith…

The appellants, a group of agriculturists and a nearby school, challenged a Change of Land Use (CLU) dated 13‑12‑2021 that permitted a cement‑related grinding unit on land classified as a rural agricultural zone in the Sangrur Master Plan. The High Court had upheld the CLU, relying on a subsequent approval recorded on …

Mahadeo Krishna Naik, a bus driver for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was dismissed after a fatal accident in 1996. The Labour Court upheld his dismissal, but the corporation later obtained a Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) award that placed sole blame on the lorry driver, a fact it failed…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the High Court of Punjab and Haryana's recommendation to promote thirteen in‑service judicial officers to Additional District and Sessions Judges under the 65% promotion quota of the Haryana Superior Judicial Service Rules, 2007. The State of Haryana refused to accept t…

The petition challenged the increase in seats of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Legislative Assembly and the constitution of a Delimitation Commission under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the Delimitation Act, 2002. The Court held that Article 170, which governs State legislatures, does not a…

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Rule 19(b)(II)(vi) of the Tamil Nadu Development Control Rules and Regulation 29(7)(a), which require that layouts exceeding 10,000 square metres reserve 10% of the area as open space for communal and recreational purposes and transfer that land to the local authority free of co…

The petitioners alleged that political parties had failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions in Public Interest Foundation v. Union of India, which required disclosure of pending criminal cases of candidates. The Court examined data showing a rise in the proportion of MPs with criminal cases and noted the pa…

Two candidates contesting the Pune Municipal Corporation elections filed writ petitions in the Bombay High Court challenging a nomination rejection and a symbol allotment by the State Election Commission. The High Court dismissed both petitions on constitutional and alternative‑remedy grounds. The aggrieved candidates …

The petitioners sought a direction to the Union of India and the State of Chhattisgarh to prepare and fund a rescue plan for the endangered Asiatic Wild Buffalo, to prevent inter‑breeding with domestic buffalo and to relocate villages from Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary. The State of Chhattisgarh argued that it lacked suffi…

Jagraj Singh married Birpal Kaur in 1993; the wife later filed for divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act alleging desertion and cruelty. The trial court ruled it lacked territorial jurisdiction but nonetheless decided the merits, denying divorce. The High Court, invoking Section 23(2) of the Act, ordered b…

The appellant, Deepa Gourang Murdeshwar Katre, was appointed on a temporary basis as an English lecturer in a government‑aided college where the post was reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates. For six successive years no Scheduled Caste applicant applied, and the college repeatedly appointed her on a temporary basis.…

Kishore Kumar Khaitan filed a suit seeking a declaration of tenancy and a perpetual injunction against the owners of a building, also applying for an interim injunction. The trial court refused an ex‑parte injunction; the Additional District Judge then issued an ex‑parte order directing the parties to maintain the stat…

Four employees of the Postal Services Department were transferred from the Agartala Division to the Meghalaya Division on the ground of alleged misbehaviour with a senior lady officer. They challenged the transfer before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which did not interfere, and subsequently filed writ petitions…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Sections 57, 58 and 59 of the Madhya Pradesh Commercial Tax Act, 1994, which require clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents to furnish transaction details and impose a penalty of three times the tax evaded if they fail to do so. The High Court had struck down thes…

The U.P. State Bridge Corporation Ltd. terminated the services of 168 muster‑roll employees after they remained absent for more than ten consecutive days, invoking Clause L‑2.12 of its Certified Standing Orders. The employees, represented by a union, filed writ petitions under Article 226 challenging the termination. T…

The appellants, manufacturers of liquor, challenged Karnataka's 1989 amendment that appointed Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL) as the sole distributor of liquor, arguing that the interim stay order of 20 November 1989, which required payment of compensation to MSIL if the appeals were dismissed, should not bind th…

The appellant, appointed as Deputy Director (Feed and Fodder) in 1987, claimed that his post was a regular Class I veterinary cadre post and sought the revised pay scales of 1987 and 1988 and seniority over two respondents appointed later to cadre posts. The State argued that the post was an ex‑cadre position created w…

The appellant's wife was assaulted and robbed on a running local train in 1981. She pulled the alarm chain, but the guard and motorman failed to stop the train, and she later died from her injuries. The Railway Board denied compensation, holding that liability arose only in railway accidents, and the High Court upheld …

The petitioners were detained under Section 3(2) of the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 and filed representations against their detention on 23 August 1995. They alleged that the State and Central Governments failed to dispose of these representations promptl…

The Supreme Court entertained a social‑action writ filed by the Indian Council for Enviro‑Legal Action on behalf of villagers of Bichhri, who suffered severe water, soil and health damage due to untreated effluents and toxic sludge from private chemical industries. The petition sought directions against the Union of In…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of Sections 44AC and 206C of the Income‑Tax Act, 1961, which allow tax to be levied on a presumptive basis on traders of specified goods. Petitioners argued that the provisions were ultra‑vio​les, beyond Parliament’s competence under Schedule VII, Entry 82, and violated Articles …

The Supreme Court dealt with writ petitions filed under Article 32 challenging the acquisition of land previously bought by cooperative housing societies for residential purposes when the area was later notified for the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA). The Court examined the validity of the acquisiti…

The State issued a notification under the West Bengal Land Development and Planning Act, 1948 to acquire land for the "resettlement of immigrants" and later declared the acquisition. The landowners discovered, through internal letters, that the land was actually intended for a hospital for crippled children run by the …

The accused were charged under Section 16(1)(a)(i) read with Section 7 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for adulterating turmeric powder. After the prosecution presented some evidence, a plea‑bargaining arrangement was reached among the prosecution, the defence and the magistrate, leading the accused to…

The petitioner, Dinesh Biwaji Ashtikar, sought admission for his children in a nearby unaided school under the 25% quota mandated by Section 12 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, but the school refused and the High Court dismissed his writ on the ground that he had not followed the onl…

The deceased Dr. Mahendra Prasad died in 2021 leaving three sons; one son, Ranjit Sharma, died after his father’s death and his wife Geeta Sharma filed a maintenance petition under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, claiming she was a dependant. The Family Court dismissed the petition, holding she was not a…

The petitioners, old Indian settlers of Sikkim, challenged the definition of “Sikkimese” in Section 10(26AAA) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and the proviso that excluded a Sikkimese woman who married a non‑Sikkimese after 1 April 2008 from the tax exemption. They argued that the exclusion of settlers whose names were not…

The appellant, C. Haridasan, entered into an agreement to sell Kanam and Kuzhikoor rights in 2005, paid a nominal advance and was to pay the balance within six months after the defendants provided title documents. The defendants failed to provide the documents, the plaintiff delayed serving a legal notice until Novembe…

The Supreme Court, hearing a writ petition under Article 32, examined the severe air and water pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region, identifying stubble burning, construction and demolition activities, open waste dumping, unpaved roads, garbage burning and traffic congestion as major contributors. It held…

The appellant Madhu and his co-accused Sibi were convicted for robbery and murder of Padmini Devi based largely on confessional statements to police and circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court held that the confessions were inadmissible because they did not lead to the discovery of any unknown fact, violating Sectio…

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by the State of Rajasthan challenging High Court orders that had granted regularisation and salary parity to employees of aided hostels and part‑time cooks/chowkidars in government hostels. It held that employees of privately‑run aided hostels are not state employees and the gov…

The petitioners, a citizens' organization, filed a writ under Article 32 challenging the appointment and continuation of Shri P.C. Pandey as Director General of Police (DGP) of Gujarat, alleging dereliction of duty during the 2002 communal riots and claiming that his presence would prejudice ongoing investigations and …

The petitioner filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) 568 days after the Madras High Court judgment of 18 September 2006, claiming the delay was caused by the pendency of a review application filed within the prescribed period. The central issue was whether the prosecution of a review proceeding could be considered a "su…

The appellant challenged the allocation of two parcels of land in Jabalpur—one to a newspaper proprietor and another to YMCA—arguing that the State of Madhya Pradesh, acting under a purported policy decision, had exceeded its statutory authority and violated the Master Plan prepared under the Madhya Pradesh Nagar Tatha…

The Bombay Port Trust (BPT), an instrumentality of the State, engaged consultants to value its land and proposed a massive rent revision for its lessees, issuing notices of termination and higher rent. Lessees challenged the revision as arbitrary and violative of Article 14, leading a Single Judge to strike down the no…

The President referred a matter to the Supreme Court under Article 317(1) seeking the suspension and removal of Shri Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, on grounds of grave misconduct. The Chairman's six‑year term ended on 8 September 2002 and he had tendered a resignation…

The Calcutta Municipal Corporation filed a special leave petition challenging the High Court’s order that quashed prosecution of Pawan K. Saraf for alleged adulteration of compounded asafoetida under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. The trial court had relied on a Public Analyst’s report finding the sampl…

The respondent, a Civil Judge, was graded 'A' by the Judgment Scrutiny Committee, had a clean confidential record and performed well in the interview, leading to his inclusion in the interview committee's select list for promotion to Additional District Judge. The Full Court of the Bombay High Court later excluded his …

The appellants, originally Assistant Inspectors (Control) at the India Security Press, were appointed on deputation as Inspectors (Control) at the Bank Note Press before any recruitment rules under Article 309 existed. After the Bank Note Press later framed recruitment rules, the appellants were permanently absorbed, a…

The Supreme Court entertained a public interest writ petition under Article 32 concerning large‑scale electricity theft, loss of coal wagons and related malpractices by the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board (UPSEB). After hearing counsel for the petitioners, the State, UPSEB and an amicus curiae, the Court ordered …

The appellant claimed Scheduled Tribe (Konda Reddy) status to obtain reservation benefits in the Central Civil Services Examination, but the Union Public Service Commission doubted his claim and ordered an enquiry. Multiple authorities—including the Deputy Tehsildar, Tehsildar, R.D.O., and the District Collector—examin…

The Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition filed by the Indian Triathlon Federation against an order of the Assistant Judge, City Civil Court, Madras, as the petition was withdrawn. The Court also dismissed a transfer petition seeking to move the appeal from the City Civil Court to the Arbitration Board under…

The appellant, a sanitary inspector, and the respondent, a teacher, were married for 25 years and have an adult child. The appellant previously faced a desertion suit, and the present appeal arose from a cruelty petition where the respondent alleged the appellant's immoral conduct, which was not proved. The Supreme Cou…

The case arose from a 1992 altercation in Ajmer that resulted in the death of Idris and injuries to several persons, leading to two FIRs (cross‑FIRs). The trial court convicted four accused (Yasir, Khalil, Akil and Farukh) under Sections 302 and 324 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonmen…

The Chief Information Commissioner of Manipur and another filed two RTI applications under Section 6 seeking details of magisterial inquiries, but received no response from the State Public Information Officer. They lodged complaints under Section 18, prompting the Commissioner to direct the officer to disclose the inf…

The appellant Mahavir Singh was appointed Lambardar of Village Thurana by the District Collector under the Punjab Land Revenue Rules, which consider factors such as hereditary claim, land ownership, service to the State, character and age. Respondent No.1, Khiali Ram, challenged the appointment before the Punjab and Ha…

The appellant's daughter was killed when a tempo, owned and driven by Respondent No.2, ran over her. The vehicle was insured with National Insurance Co., but the insurer claimed the policy was cancelled because the premium cheque was dishonoured, invoking Section 64‑VB of the Insurance Act, 1938. The Motor Accidents Cl…

The case concerned Williamson Financial Services, which earned composite income from growing, manufacturing and exporting tea. The assessee claimed a deduction under s.80HHC of the Income‑Tax Act on the entire tea income before applying the 60:40 apportionment mandated by Rule 8(1) of the Income‑Tax Rules, 1962. The As…

The widow of Ram Niwas, a project casual labourer who was later treated as a temporary employee under a scheme approved by the Supreme Court, applied for family pension after his death in 1988. The Railway Administration rejected the claim, citing the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993, which they said did not exte…

Doiwala Sehkari Shram Samvida Samiti Ltd., a private mining firm, applied for a ten‑year lease for minor minerals under Rule 9‑A of the U.P. Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 1963. After the bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh, the new State of Uttarakhand adopted the rules with modifications and introduced a policy that, as…

The Uttaranchal Forest Development Corporation engaged daily‑wage workers for measuring wood and protecting timber. When work ceased, the workers were retrenched under Section 6‑N of the U.P. Industrial Disputes Act. The Labour Court held the retrenchment valid, saying the corporation was not an "industrial establishme…

The petitioners, industrial undertakings linked with Coal India Ltd., challenged the company’s new e‑auction scheme which required them to pay a price higher than the previously notified price for coal. They sought interim relief to continue receiving coal at the notified price. The Supreme Court, after hearing both si…

K.K. Roy was appointed as Law Officer‑cum‑Draftsman in the Government of Tripura to a single‑post cadre that had no promotional avenues. He filed a writ petition seeking at least two promotional avenues, and the High Court directed the State to create a graded pay scale. The State appealed, arguing that the employee ha…

The Maharashtra Health Sciences Common Entrance Test of 2001 contained errors in the biology paper of one version, leading the State to re‑evaluate answer sheets and issue a revised merit list that displaced several already admitted students. To accommodate the displaced candidates, the State Government sought a one‑ti…

Pradyut Bordoloi, a Clerk Grade‑I in Coal India Ltd., filed his nomination for the Margherita Legislative Assembly seat. A complaint alleged that his employment constituted an "office of profit" under the Government of India, invoking disqualification under Article 191(1)(a) of the Constitution and Section 10 of the Re…

The Karnataka Electricity Board (KEB) amended its 1969 Recruitment and Promotion Regulations to introduce a 1:1 ratio for promotion to the post of Junior Engineer between technically qualified direct recruits and technically unqualified promotees, within a 35% promotion quota. Direct recruits challenged the amendment a…

The appellant challenged the preventive detention of Maheshraj under Section 3 of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Act, 1974, arguing that his representation to the Advisory Board was not considered by the Karnataka Government, thereby violating Article 22(5) of the Constitution. The det…

The G.S.I.C. Karmachari Union filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the Gujarat Small Industries Corporation's resolution of 29 August 1987 that sought to implement a roster system for reservation in promotions of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe employees retrospectively from 1 January 1976. The petiti…

The case concerned officers of the Rajasthan Police Service who were promoted from the Senior Scale to the Selection Scale. The respondent, Fateh Chand Soni, challenged the seniority list prepared on the basis of the date of appointment to the Selection Scale, arguing that such appointment did not constitute a promotio…

The Union of India challenged the validity of Sections 24 and 25 of the Cine Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1981 and a 1986 notification requiring employers and employees to contribute to a provident fund. The Madras High Court upheld the Act but ordered the respondent, Mis. Murugan …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the U.P. High Court (Abolition of Letters patent Appeals) (Amendment) Act, 1972, which sought to eliminate letter‑patent appeals in land‑reform matters. Petitioners contended that the Act exceeded State legislative competence, violated Article 14’s equality guar…

The petitioners, permanent Class‑II officers, were promoted to the Senior Time Scale (STS) of the Indian Telecommunication Service Group A under Rule 27(b) of the Telegraph Engineering Service (Class I) Rules, 1965, as temporary officiating appointments between 1975 and 1979 and thereafter served in those posts for 10‑…

The respondent, Dhanalakshmi Paper and Board Mills, set up a paper‑board factory and began production on 7 May 1964. It claimed a concessional excise duty rate under a Government of India notification dated 1 March 1964, but the revenue department denied the benefit because clause (a) of Proviso 3 required that a manuf…

The appellant, Daya Ram Tripathi, a physically handicapped candidate, cleared the 1982 Combined State Services Examination and was entitled to a reserved post in the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Civil Service (Executive Branch) under a 2% reservation policy announced by GO No. 43/90/66 dated 18 July 1972 and reaffirmed by …

The Supreme Court examined the dismissal of an assistant of Hindustan Steel Ltd. who was removed from service under Standing Order 32 on the ground that his continued employment was "inexpedient". The employer dispensed with the disciplinary enquiry prescribed in Standing Order 31 and did not record any specific reason…

The Supreme Court considered two distinct matters. In Official Liquidator v. Lakshmikutty, the Court held that Section 529 of the Companies Act, 1956 incorporates the set‑off rule of Section 46 of the Provincial Insolvency Act, so that where a creditor and a company in winding up have mutual dealings, only the net bala…

Harjit Singh Mann challenged the election of S. Umrao Singh on three grounds: the alleged late filing of his nomination paper, failure to make the required oath, and alleged bribery by the respondent. The Supreme Court held that the nomination paper was filed after the statutory deadline of 3 p.m., a mandatory defect u…

The appellants, Sadakat Kotwar and another, were convicted for stabbing two victims, PW7 and PW8, with a dagger, causing grievous injuries to vital parts of the body. The prosecution presented ten witnesses, including the injured eye‑witnesses PW7 and PW8, whose testimonies were found reliable. The appellants argued th…

Petitioners, police personnel of Manipur Police, filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a mandamus to quash oral observations made by the Supreme Court on 30 July 2018 in the EEVFAM case and to obtain the bench's recusal, alleging that those observations would prejudice the investigations and trial. The Court ex…

The case concerned the promotion of Dr. Premlata Joshi to the post of Director, Medical Health in Uttarakhand. The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) evaluated candidates' Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) and, contrary to the Government Order dated 16‑April‑2003, classified officers into "very good", "good" and "…

The Constitution Bench examined whether a police officer must register a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) upon receiving information of a cognizable offence, or may first conduct a preliminary inquiry to test its veracity. Relying on the literal meaning of …

The President of India referred the conduct of the Haryana Public Service Commission Chairman Mehar Singh Saini and three members to the Supreme Court under Article 317(1) for alleged misbehaviour, including irregular selections, use of bogus certificates, and refusal to cooperate with vigilance investigations. The Cou…

The case concerned a dispute between Sub‑Inspectors (General) and Sub‑Inspectors (Stenographers) of the Odisha Police regarding inter‑se seniority and promotion. The appellants argued that the Administrative Tribunal and the High Court wrongly relied on letters from the Home Department and Law Ministry as executive ins…

The State of Tamil Nadu detained Abdullah Kadher Batcha under Section 3(1)(i) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 on 11 August 1999. The detenu filed a representation on 4 September 1999 requesting copies of documents that formed the basis of his detention, including…

Mis. Canon Steels Ltd appealed to the Supreme Court against the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s dismissal of its customs appeal, arguing that the High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction because the original adjudication order was passed in Mumbai and the appellate order by CESTAT was issued in Delhi. The Supreme Court…

The appellants, clerical staff appointed after 6 June 1980, challenged a University notification that gave a higher pay scale to clerks appointed before that date, invoking the principle of equal pay for equal work. The University had revised pay scales on 6 June 1980 and, following the Anomaly Removal Committee’s reco…

Indira, an English teacher who became Head of Department in Applied Sciences at a government polytechnic, sought promotion to Principal of an Engineering Institute. Under the Haryana Technical Education Department (Group‑A) Service Rules, Rule 9(1)(c)(i) allowed promotion only from Heads of Departments in Engineering, …

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) organized a bandh in Kerala, prompting a petition that the bandh violated citizens' fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The respondents contended that the bandh interfered with the freedom of speech, assembly and personal liberty of the public at large…

The Department of Space (Union of India) sought land in Tamil Nadu for a rocket‑launching station under a notification issued pursuant to Article 258(1) of the Constitution. After the Land Acquisition Officers awarded compensation, owners obtained a reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and the …

The Supreme Court heard a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Constitution (Fifty‑Second Amendment) Act, 1985, which inserted the Tenth Schedule (anti‑defection law). The key disputes were whether Paragraph 7 of the Schedule, which bars all courts from hearing any matter relating to a member’s d…

The petitioners, Sarguja Transport Service, obtained a transport permit which was later set aside by the State Transport Appellate Tribunal. They filed a writ petition (M.P. No. 2945/85) under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution, which the High Court allowed them to withdraw and dismissed as withdrawn. Subsequently th…

The plaintiffs, four sons of the former Maharaja of Jodhpur, claimed a retrospective annual allowance of Rs 30,000 each, based on a 13 September 1946 order issued by the Maharaja. They argued that the order was a "law" under Section 3(ii) of the United State of Rajasthan Ordinance I of 1949, which continued the laws of…

The appellant, a former District Manager, challenged a High Court order that directed the magistrate to order further investigation into his alleged role in the misappropriation of foodgrains, despite the magistrate having taken cognizance only against a lower‑level employee. The Supreme Court examined whether the High…

Kam​al Nath, President of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking (i) VVPAT verification at 10% of polling stations and (ii) that the Election Commission of India (ECI) publish the draft electoral roll in a searchable PDF (text‑searchable) format. The petitioner relied on C…

The appellants, registered dealers under the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act, challenged the denial of input tax credit (ITC) on inter‑state sales where Form C was not filed, contending that Section 19(5)(c) of the Act and Rule 10(9)(a) of the Rules were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court held that the provision is a v…

The petitioners challenged the constitutionality of the practice of designating Senior Advocates under Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Order IV Rule 2 of the Supreme Court Rules, alleging violations of Articles 14, 15, 18 and 21 of the Constitution. The Court examined whether the power to confer the designati…

The appellant, who had served LIC for over 23 years and resigned after turning 50, sought pension under the Life Insurance Corporation of India (Employees) Pension Rules, 1995, which were given retrospective effect. The corporation denied the claim, arguing that resignation forfeited pension rights. The Supreme Court e…

The case concerned a 3,450‑sq‑metre plot (FP No.110) in Pune that was originally reserved for a garden and later for a primary school under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 (MRTP Act). After the land was acquired, the developer, who was the son‑in‑law of the then Chief Minister, obtained a developme…

The appellants, institutions recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and offering B.Ed. courses, were granted additional intake without NAAC accreditation. The NCTE later issued Regulations 8(4) and 8(5) requiring NAAC accreditation with a Letter Grade B for such institutions, which the appellan…

Fourteen daily‑wage workers in the Uttarakhand Irrigation Department had worked for more than six years, completing at least 240 days each calendar year. The Labour Court ordered their regularisation, but the Uttarakhand High Court dismissed the writ petition, holding that the workers were entitled to regularisation. O…

The appellants, Chargemen Grade II of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, were placed in Grade IV of Category I under Rule 6(4)(a) of the DRDO Technical Cadre Recruitment Rules, 1995 because they lacked the qualifications prescribed in Schedule III. They challenged the rule as violative of Articles 14 an…

Minor Dimple Gupta, through her mother Narain Dassi, filed an application under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code seeking maintenance from Rajiv Gupta, alleging he was her father. The trial magistrate held that she was the illegitimate child of the respondent and ordered maintenance, relying on the mother’s te…

John K. John filed criminal complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that Tom Vargheese issued two cheques which were dishonoured for insufficient funds. The trial court and the appellate court held that the respondent was guilty, but the Kerala High Court, on revision, acquitted him, fin…

The Empire Jute Co. Ltd. entered into a sale contract for raw jute with the Jute Corporation of India, which was subject to a Production Control Order compelling the mill to purchase jute at a fixed price. The appellant alleged the supplied jute was of inferior quality, refused to purchase, and filed a writ petition ch…

The case concerned the grant of a Modified Rationing (MR) dealership in West Bengal. Both Swapan Kumar Pal (appellant) and Achintya Kumar Nayak (first respondent) applied, and the Sub‑Divisional Controller, after applying criteria of financial solvency, possession of a godown and trade proficiency, recommended the firs…

The appellants, originally appointed as Supervisor Grade‑A, were promised a second examination to be graded as Chargeman Grade‑II under a 1967 scheme, but the examination was never held and a "pick‑and‑choose" policy was adopted. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) ordered that the appellants be given notional se…