Constitution of India

Mrs. X, a 22‑year‑old woman, was about 24 weeks pregnant when a medical board diagnosed her fetus with bilateral renal agenesis and anhydramnios, conditions that rendered the fetus non‑viable and posed a risk to the mother's physical and mental health. She filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seek…

Bharat Petroleum advertised for retail outlet dealerships; the appellant was ranked first with 78.04 marks and respondent No.7 second with 77.75 marks. Respondent No.7 complained that the appellant's land was under a partition suit and that the appellant had not received a Letter of Intent, leading the High Court Singl…

Eight legal heirs sold a Delhi property to Kuldeep Singh in 1980, with the balance consideration to be paid after obtaining permission from the Land & Development Officer. A minor heir, Rajinder Kumar, challenged the agreement, and Kuldeep Singh filed a suit for specific performance which was decreed ex parte in 1984 a…

The Indore Development Authority issued a circular on 31 January 1986 allowing housing cooperative societies to develop land they owned, provided they were registered, had purchased the land before the declaration of Section 50(2) of the Madhya Pradesh Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Adhiniyam, 1973, and handed over vacant pea…

The petition challenged the constitutional validity of the Constitution (Seventy‑second Amendment) Act, 1992 which inserted sub‑Article (3B) into Article 332, providing that seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Tripura Legislative Assembly would be reserved based on the existing number of ST members rather than on populat…

The State of Haryana issued circulars under Section 432 of the Criminal Procedure Code granting remission of sentence to prisoners confined in jail and those on parole or furlough on a specified date, expressly excluding persons convicted of rape or dowry death. Five respondents were on bail and one, Mohinder Singh, wa…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against a High Court order that had set aside a confiscation order against the owner of a truck that was found carrying 120 teak logs illegally. The truck was stopped by forest officials; the occupants opened fire and fled, and the vehicle was seized under Section 15(6) of the Madhy…

The Supreme Court examined whether Rules 16 and 30 of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Establishment (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1973—rules that dealt with recruitment quota and seniority—came into force on 1 March 1974 or on 23 January 1975. The Court held that the proviso to Article 229(2) of the …

The Election Commission of India sought to requisition a large number of officers and staff of the State Bank of India for election duties under Article 324(6) of the Constitution. The State Bank Staff Association challenged the requisition, arguing that the Commission had no power under Section 26 of the Representatio…

K. Ashok Reddy filed a writ petition seeking a declaration that High Court judges could not be transferred under Article 222 of the Constitution, alleging that transfers were arbitrary, biased and eroded judicial independence, and that the Supreme Court's Judges' Case‑II had wrongly excluded judicial review, conflictin…

Printers (Mysore) Ltd. and other newspaper publishers challenged the Central Sales Tax authorities' demand that they pay tax at the higher 10% rate on raw materials used for printing, arguing that the amendment to the definition of "goods" in the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 (which excluded newspapers) should not depriv…

The petitioners, convicted of murder and sentenced to death, sought commutation to life imprisonment on the ground of an inordinate delay in execution. The Supreme Court examined conflicting precedents on whether a two‑year rule or any fixed period of delay makes a death sentence inexecutable. It held that only the del…

The appellant, convicted of culpable homicide amounting to murder for a 1994 incident, claimed he was a minor at the time of the offence, asserting a plea of juvenility under s.9(2) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Despite earlier courts treating him as an adult based on a bank‑accou…

The appellant sought execution of a final decree in a partition suit, while the first respondent objected under Section 47 CPC, claiming the decree was void for lack of territorial jurisdiction. The executing court dismissed the objection, holding that such a jurisdictional challenge must be raised at the earliest oppo…

United Riceland Ltd., a dealer engaged in purchasing and dehusking paddy for export, was assessed purchase tax for the assessment year 1990-91 under the Haryana General Sales Tax Act, 1973. The dealer challenged the assessment, arguing that the exemption under Section 9(1)(b) should remain effective until the amendment…

The suit concerned tenancy of premises in Goa, where the plaintiffs (respondents) sought declaration of tenancy and possession against the defendants, including the legal representatives (appellants) of a deceased defendant. The appellants filed an additional written statement after being impleaded, which the trial cou…

A search under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act was conducted on 17 January 2001 at the premises of Suresh N. Gupta, uncovering undisclosed income of Rs.1,62,427. The Assessing Officer levied tax at the 60% rate prescribed by Section 113 and imposed a 17% surcharge relying on the Finance Act, 2001. The assessee challe…

The case concerned employees in Greater Bombay who were appointed to ministerial posts without selection by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (PSC). The State Government had issued a Resolution on 1 March 1974 allowing such non‑PSC employees to continue in service, but treating PSC‑selected employees who were a…

The husband (Mohd. Shamim) and his relatives were accused by his wife, Nahid Begum, of offences under Sections 406, 498A and 34 IPC. During the hearing of an anticipatory bail application, an Additional Sessions Judge facilitated a settlement whereby the appellants paid Rs. 2.25 lakh and agreed to pay a further Rs. 50,…

The Assam State Legislature enacted the Bharat Hydro Power Corporation Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Act, 1996 to acquire a stalled hydro‑electric project and vest it in the State Electricity Board. The appellants, Bharat Hydro Power Corporation Ltd. and its partner, challenged the Act as ultra vire…

R. Vishwanatha Pillai was appointed to posts reserved for Scheduled Castes on the basis of a caste certificate that was later found to be false. An anthropological enquiry and a Scrutiny Committee confirmed that he did not belong to a Scheduled Caste, leading to the cancellation of his appointment. The Supreme Court he…

The appellants were direct recruits appointed as Employment Officers in West Bengal between 1976 and 1982, while respondents 6‑30 were promoted on an adhoc basis in 1978‑79 with a six‑month tenure and a clause that the promotion was subject to West Bengal Public Service Commission (PSC) approval. The PSC approved their…

The Punjab Government issued notifications under Sections 3 and 4 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 to declare the territorial area of a new Gram Sabha (Khanpur) and to establish it, thereby excluding parts of the existing Gram Sabha (Wazidpur). Sarpanch and a Gram Panchayat member of Wazidpur challenged the notif…

The Supreme Court examined a massive promotion anomaly in the Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Department where numerous junior clerks were promoted to Supply Inspector posts in violation of seniority rules, depriving senior employees of their rightful promotions. The petitioners argued that these promotions breac…

The State Trading Corporation (STC) entered into a tripartite agreement with Global Steel Holding Ltd. (GSHL) and Global Steel Philippines Inc. (GSPI) for the sale of steel coils, which later gave rise to settlement agreements under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. GSHL and GSPI defaulted on the settlement p…

The Supreme Court examined the legality of resolutions passed by various Bar Associations refusing to represent certain accused persons in criminal cases. It held that every individual, irrespective of the nature of the alleged crime, has a constitutional right to be defended and that it is the lawyer's duty to accept …

The respondents were appointed to bank positions reserved for Scheduled Tribes on the basis of caste certificates claiming membership in the Konda Reddy community. A District Level Committee later cancelled those certificates after an enquiry, leading to their termination. The High Court quashed the committee’s orders,…

The Supreme Court heard a civil appeal challenging a Patna High Court order that had quashed several land allotments made by the State Government to a private company, on the ground that the allotments were irregular. The petition was filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by a spokesperson of a recognized politic…

The petitioners, an unaided school governed by the Delhi School Education Act, challenged the Election Commission’s practice of deploying teachers from government schools for election‑related duties during school hours, alleging that it disrupted education and violated the right to education. The Delhi High Court had d…

The petitioners, including former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, challenged prosecutions under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the IPC on the ground that no prior sanction under Section 197 of the CrPC was obtained and that the complaints were filed with malafide intent. The Court examined the scope of …

The Supreme Court considered a dispute where the State of Madhya Pradesh, under a new excise policy, purchased foreign liquor from a wholesaler, Bhupendra Singh Bhatia, at rates fixed by a district‑level purchase committee in April‑May 1996, pending a final decision by a state‑level committee. After the state‑level com…

The Punjab Water Supply & Sewerage Board (the Board) engaged several workers on a contractual basis for water and sewerage schemes and later terminated their services. The workers filed writ petitions seeking regularisation of their employment under a policy scheme issued by the State of Punjab. The High Court directed…

The widow Nirmaljit Kaur filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking production of her minor daughter, alleging that the husband's siblings forcibly took the child after his death and concealed her whereabouts. The respondents claimed the child had lived with them since birth and produced a passport, later asserting…

Bhag Singh was tried under Section 18 of the NDPS Act and acquitted by the trial court because the prosecution case rested solely on official witnesses and lacked an independent witness. The State of Punjab sought leave to appeal the acquittal under Section 378(3) of the CrPC, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court dism…

The Bharat Diamond Bourse, a company limited by guarantee, claimed exemption under Section 11 of the Income Tax Act for AY 1989‑90 and 1990‑91, asserting it was a charitable institution. The Assessing Officer denied the exemption, holding that the Bourse’s objects were not charitable and that it had breached Section 13…

The Air India Statutory Corporation, originally a statutory authority and later a company, employed union members as contract labour for cleaning and related services. The Central Government, as the appropriate Government under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, issued a 1976 notification abolish…

Special Leave Petitions were filed against interim orders of the Madras High Court. On 14 January 1994 the Supreme Court ordered the parties to approach the High Court for an early disposal of the matter and to inform the Supreme Court of the result, expressing confidence that the High Court would give due attention. T…

St. Stephen's College, a constituent and aided college of Delhi University, claimed minority status under Article 30(1) of the Constitution and challenged two University circulars that fixed a uniform admission deadline and required admission solely on the basis of marks. The College also sought to continue its intervi…

Employees of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court sought a 25% reservation in the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Service (Judicial) recruitment rules for promotion/transfer from positions such as Assistant Registrars, Readers, Court Officers and Librarians. The High Court, after consulting the Public Service Commission and a Vigilanc…

Deepak Theatre held a licence under the Punjab Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1952. The licensing authority classified the theatre's seats into four categories and fixed admission rates, which the theatre challenged as ultra vires and a violation of its Article 19(1)(g) right to carry on business. The High Court initially h…

Two Delhi Police personnel, Ram Ratan (Head Constable) and Hawa Singh (Constable), were arrested for assaulting a rickshaw puller and seizing TV parts, offences under IPC sections 392 and 34. While the criminal case was pending, the Commissioner of Police detained them under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1…

The petitioners, a consortium of newspaper publishers, challenged the imposition of customs and auxiliary duties on imported newsprint under the Customs Act, 1962 and the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, arguing that the levy infringed their freedom of speech and expression (Art. 19(1)(a)) and the right to practice a professi…

The appellant, Mihir Rajesh Shah, was arrested for a fatal hit‑and‑run involving his BMW, but the police failed to provide him with a written copy of the grounds of arrest as required by Article 22(1) of the Constitution and Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The High Court upheld the arrest de…

The Supreme Court examined the demolition of Manoj Tibrewal’s ancestral house, which had been declared part of a national‑highway widening project. The State authorities demolished the house after only a public “munadi” announcement, without any written notice, without disclosing the extent of encroachment, the width o…

Lombardi Engineering, a Swiss design consultancy, entered into a contract with Uttarakhand Vidyut Nigam Ltd for a hydro‑electric project, which was later transferred from UPDCC to the respondent. After the respondent terminated the contract, Lombardi invoked the arbitration clause in the General Conditions of Contract,…

The minor daughter of Jitesh Sharma challenged the High Court's order that reduced the maintenance awarded by the Family Court from Rs 20,000 to Rs 7,500 per month. The Supreme Court observed that the High Court had not required the parties to file the uniform affidavits of disclosure of assets and liabilities prescrib…

The Supreme Court heard appeals arising from the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of Jaypee Infratech Ltd., a subsidiary of Jaiprakash Associates Ltd., after IDBI Bank filed a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and home buyers sought clarification on their voting share in…

The Union of India floated a tender for Digital Radio Trunking Systems for the Army, and three bidders, including Siemens, were shortlisted. After commercial bids were opened, Siemens claimed to be the lowest bidder but alleged that the Evaluation Committee artificially inflated its price by multiplying a unit rate wit…

The dispute concerned co‑tenancy rights over land recorded in Khata No. 111 in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. The appellants claimed ancestral rights based on a pedigree tracing back to the original ancestor Saltanati, while the respondents asserted exclusive rights as successors of Adhin, whose name was entered after a sett…

The appellants, tea manufacturers, challenged the constitutional validity of the Tamil Nadu Scheduled Articles (Prescription of Standards) Order, 1977, which regulated tea as an essential commodity. They argued that tea is not a "foodstuff" under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and that the Central Government had …

The respondents, appointed as JBT teachers in Haryana in the early 1980s, already possessed B.Ed. or equivalent qualifications before their appointments. They claimed entitlement to a higher pay scale under a 1957 Punjab Government circular that linked higher qualifications to higher grades. The State issued a 1990 Gov…

The appellant, Baby, challenged a Land Tribunal order that held she was not a cultivating tenant. The High Court set aside the Tribunal's decision under Section 103 of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963, on the ground that the Tribunal failed to consider several material documents. The Supreme Court examined whether suc…

Mis Anand Commercial Agencies, a partnership engaged in manufacturing groundnut oil, imported oil from Karnataka and was taxed at the higher rate of 6½ paise per rupee under Entry 24(a) of the Andhra Pradesh General Sales Tax Act, 1957. The firm contended that this rate was discriminatory and violated Articles 301‑304 …

The petitioner, S.P. Anand, filed a public‑interest litigation under Article 32 challenging the appointment of H.D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister on the ground that he was not a member of either House of Parliament, alleging violations of Articles 14, 21 and 75 of the Constitution. The Court examined the constitutional …

The petitioners challenged the acquisition of their land by a Gram Panchayat for a school, arguing that the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) had lost jurisdiction after initially dropping the proceedings due to the Panchayat’s lack of funds. The Supreme Court held that the LAO retained power to reopen the inquiry and mak…

The Market Committee, Hodal appealed against a High Court order that had set aside a land acquisition award on the ground that the government’s dispensing with the enquiry required under Section 5A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was invalid. The award had been made on 19 May 1984, possession taken, and compensation …

The appellants, a trust operating a hall on land allotted by the Cochin Devaswom Board, challenged the Board's unilateral increase of the annual licence fee from Rs.227.25 to Rs.1,50,000 and the subsequent demand for arrears. The High Court upheld the fee increase but, beyond the scope of the writ petition, directed th…

Vinishma Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a company with experience supplying sports kits in several Indian states, challenged a tender issued by the State of Chhattisgarh for supplying sports kits to government schools because the tender required bidders to have supplied goods worth at least Rs.6 crore to Chhattisgarh governme…

The Supreme Court examined the definition of "respondent" in Section 2(q) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which limited it to an "adult male person". The Court held that this restriction bore no rational relation to the Act's purpose of protecting women from all forms of domestic violence a…

The case concerned the inter‑se seniority of nine directly recruited judges (appellants) and eleven promotee judges (respondents) in the Bihar Superior Judicial Service after the creation of Jharkhand. The dispute arose because the Jharkhand High Court, relying on a committee report, declared the promotees senior to th…

The appellant, a subordinate judicial officer, was ordered by a High Court Single Judge to expedite a criminal trial and to explain delays. After the trial judge submitted a detailed written explanation citing massive case pendency, witness numbers, and administrative bottlenecks, the High Court dismissed the accused’s…

Arvinder Singh filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that he, his wife Nidhi, and other family members were illegally detained, assaulted, and tortured by police officers in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The District Judge conducted an inquiry, examined witnesses and concluded that the police had fabricated record…

The case concerned a promotion grievance of government servants in U.P. Jal Nigam, where the petitioners sought relief through a writ under Article 226 of the Constitution instead of first approaching the specially constituted U.P. Public Service Tribunal. The Allahabad High Court had earlier directed the parties to av…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute concerning promotion of a reserved‑category employee to the post of Office Superintendent in Bihar. The State had issued a circular with a roaster that earmarked the second vacancy for Scheduled Castes and the fourth for Scheduled Tribes, while other vacancies were unreserved. The r…

This public interest litigation concerned the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts, and the transfer of High Court judges. The case was referred to a nine-judge bench to reconsider the majority view in S.P. Gupta v. Union of India (1982), which held that the Central Government had primacy in judic…

A. Sudha, who had secured 54.7% in her B.Sc. but only 43.1% in the PUC (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), was admitted to a private medical college based on a letter from the college principal stating she was eligible for MBBS admission. The university later cancelled her admission, citing the requirement of at least 50% m…

Two senior District and Sessions Judges of Himachal Pradesh filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the High Court Collegium's failure to reconsider their names for elevation, despite a Supreme Court Collegium resolution directing such reconsideration. They alleged that the High Court Chief Justice acted alo…

The case concerned a two‑year‑seven‑month‑old girl whose mother died in an unnatural death. The child had been in the care of her maternal aunts and grandparents since she was 11 months old. The father, who had been arrested and later released on bail, filed a habeas‑corpus petition before the Madhya Pradesh High Court…

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) issued a 2017 notification repatriating employees on deputation to their parent cadres in the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). The employees challenged the repatriation, and the High Court initially stayed the orders, directing them to repo…

The appellants, mother and brother of Ranjana Diwan, alleged that her death in 2016, officially recorded as suicide, was suspicious due to six ante‑mortem injuries and possible influence by her husband, a senior judicial officer, over the police investigation. They filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking a fair…

NHPC Ltd. provides free bus transport for its employees and their children in Himachal Pradesh. The State assessed passenger tax on this service under the Himachal Pradesh Passengers and Goods Taxation Act, 1955, which the High Court had held did not apply to gratis transport. The State later enacted the Himachal Prade…

The Supreme Court heard petitions filed by 512 convicts serving life sentences in Uttar Pradesh seeking premature release. The state had issued a Standing Policy on premature release on 1 August 2018, which was amended on 28 July 2021 to impose a condition that a life‑convict could be considered for release only after …

The Union of India and others entered into a road‑construction contract with M/s Puna Hinda, which contained an arbitration clause for dispute resolution. After completing the work, the contractor submitted a final bill of Rs 23.68 crore, claiming payment for certain bills that the government alleged were already settl…

The Supreme Court of India considered the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which criminalized 'carnal intercourse against the order of nature' with any man, woman, or animal. The petitioners challenged the provision insofar as it criminalized consensual sexual acts between adults o…

The case arose from a complaint alleging that a senior police officer, V. Dinesh Reddy, had amassed disproportionate assets, which was later claimed to be forged and signed by a fictitious MP. An investigation led to a charge sheet against Umesh Kumar under IPC sections 468, 471, 120‑B and 201, and the appellant sought…

The Kurwai Nagar Panchayat constructed a bus stand on its own land and, invoking powers under the Madhya Pradesh Municipalities Act, imposed a parking fee of Rs 20 per day or Rs 600 per month on vehicle owners. The fee was challenged through a writ petition, which the High Court dismissed, but a Division Bench later se…

Four CRPF personnel survived an ambush on 13 March 1999 in which five members of their escort vehicle were killed. They were charged with disobedience of orders, gross misconduct and cowardice, and a departmental inquiry found them guilty, leading to their dismissal. The appellants challenged the inquiry on grounds of …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Biennial Cadre Review (BCR) scheme of the telecom department, which upgraded the pay scale of the senior 10% of Grade III employees without creating new posts, attracted reservation provisions under Articles 16(4) and 16(4A) of the Constitution. The Court distinguished upgradation…

The petitioners, Geeta Devi & Ors., challenged the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court's order dismissing their appeal against a single High Court judge's decision that had rejected a miscellaneous appeal arising from a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award. The central issue was whether such an intra‑court appea…

The petitioners, land holders affected by a consolidation scheme for Shamlat Deh lands, filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution alleging displacement because they were not parties to an earlier High Court writ petition (Civil Writ Petition No. 18310 of 1998) that had been dismissed. The earlier petit…

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay acquired lease‑hold land of the respondents under Section 126 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, relying on a 1972 notification that the land was earmarked for extending a sewage purification plant. Before the acquisition proceedings were completed, the…

The respondent, a Civil Judge Class‑II, sought confirmation and seniority dating from 5 February 1973, alleging that the High Court's Full Court was influenced by the Chief Justice's unsatisfactory remarks and that the Grievance Committee's comparative assessment was ignored. The High Court's Division Bench set aside t…

The appellant, a fertilizer and foodgrain dealer, had large stocks seized under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. After part of the stock was confiscated, the remainder was ordered to be released, but the State failed to do so and the goods later deteriorated in quality and quantity. The appellant sued for compensat…

Amar Singh died leaving two widows, each allotted one‑third of his agricultural land as maintenance. The petitioner, Amar Singh's adopted son, obtained one‑third from Har Kaur and sued Jagir Kaur, the other widow, for a declaration that she had no interest in the land. A 1945 compromise decree allowed Jagir Kaur to ret…

The respondent, a civil judge appointed on probation under the Bombay Judicial Service Recruitment Rules, 1956, continued in an officiating capacity after his two‑year probation expired and was terminated by a simple one‑month notice. He claimed he had been deemed confirmed under Rule 4(2)(iv) and that the termination …

The Supreme Court examined applications concerning the eco‑sensitive hill station of Matheran, Maharashtra, where heavy monsoon rains were causing soil erosion on the main access road and hand‑pulled carts were being used for transport. The petitioners sought permission to lay paver blocks on the Dasturi Naka–Shivaji M…

The Tamil Nadu government launched the "Ungaludan Stalin" welfare scheme, naming it after a living political leader. An opposition Member of Parliament filed a representation before the Election Commission under Clause 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, and subsequently a writ petition…

The Peoples Rights and Social Research Centre (PRASAR), a Delhi‑based NGO, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking relief for the widespread occurrence of silicosis among workers in mining, construction, stone‑cutting and sand‑blasting industries. The petition alleged violations of fundamental rights under Artic…

The petitioner, Nikhil Himthani, who completed his MBBS in a Uttarakhand medical college without entering through the State PMT, secured the 60th rank in the NEET‑PG for Uttarakhand and sought admission to a postgraduate medical seat. The State of Uttarakhand issued an Information Bulletin prescribing eligibility claus…

Cicily Kallarackal filed Special Leave Petitions challenging Kerala High Court judgments that entertained writ petitions against orders of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). The Supreme Court examined two issues: (1) whether a High Court can entertain writ petitions under Article 226 against N…

The respondent filed a summary suit under Order XXXVII of the CPC for recovery of Rs.2.66 crore on account of dishonoured cheques. The appellants sought leave to defend and the trial judge granted conditional leave, directing them to deposit Rs.2 crore within two months or have the leave revoked. The High Court upheld …

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) entered into a contract with M/s Gayatri Construction for Phase‑III of the Telco‑Bhosari road. The contractor failed to complete the work within the stipulated 12‑month period, leading PCMC to invoke a termination clause and invite fresh tenders for the same stretch of …

Raghunath G. Waingankar claimed a pension under the Goa Freedom Fighters Scheme, asserting participation in the Goa Liberation Movement and a bullet injury, but lacked primary documentary proof and relied on a certificate and newspaper cuttings. The State Government rejected his claim, and the High Court, invoking its …

The Tamil Nadu Government dismissed about two lakh employees who went on strike, prompting the employees to file writ petitions under Articles 226/227 challenging the dismissals and the validity of the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act, 2002 and Tamil Nadu Ordinance No.3 of 2003. The High Court initially st…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by several accused convicted of murder and offences under the Arms Act. It addressed whether the two‑year delay by the Patna High Court in pronouncing its judgment violated the right to speedy justice under Article 21 and the right of appeal. The Court held that such unexplained delay…

The petitioners were employees of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation who retired before 1 April 1977 and received only provident fund benefits, as no pension scheme existed then. In 1982 the Corporation framed the Death‑cum‑Retirement Benefit Regulations, which introduced a pension scheme effective from 1 April 1977, w…

Senior advocate Shanti Bhushan filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a declaration that the term “Chief Justice” in the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 should be read as a collegium of the five senior judges, thereby limiting the Chief Justice of India's sole authority to allocate cases and constitute benches. The C…

The appellants, Sirajul and others, were summoned in a criminal complaint under Section 307 IPC filed by respondent No.2, a co‑accused who had been convicted in a cross‑case relating to the same 1992 incident. The complaint was lodged in 2008, sixteen years after the alleged offence and more than a decade after the cro…

The Supreme Court examined whether a letters patent appeal could be filed against an order of a Single Judge that arose from civil court proceedings or other tribunals. It held that orders of civil courts are only reviewable under Article 227 of the Constitution and therefore are not amenable to writ jurisdiction under…

The respondents, who had worked as part‑time contingent casual labourers in the Central Excise Department for 8‑14 years, sought regularisation and a relaxation of the age limit for recruitment to the post of Sepoy. The Central Administrative Tribunal directed the department to relax the age limit, and the High Court m…

The Nagaland Senior Government Employees Welfare Association challenged the Nagaland Retirement from Public Employment (Second Amendment) Act, 2009, which mandated retirement after 35 years of service or upon attaining age 60, whichever came first, alleging it was arbitrary, irrational and violative of Articles 14, 16 …

Lt. Col. Ajay Wahi, an officer of the Army Medical Corps, sought premature retirement on medical grounds and was granted voluntary retirement. He claimed a disability pension, which was denied under Regulation 50 of the Army Pension Regulations that bars any disability pension for officers who retire voluntarily. Wahi …

The Supreme Court examined whether employees hired on daily‑wage, nominal muster‑roll, consolidated‑pay or as contingent workers in Andhra Pradesh could be regularised after five years of service and whether the 1998 amendments to the Andhra Pradesh (Regulation of Appointments to Public Services and Rationalisation of …

The Government of NCT of Delhi invited applications for L‑52 liquor licences for 2004‑05, but later announced a policy to stop issuing fresh licences. The appellants, who had applied before the policy change, claimed that they had an accrued right and a legitimate expectation to be granted licences, especially after so…

The appellant’s husband, Rajesh, who runs a lending firm, was declared a ‘notorious goonda’ and detained under Section 3(1) of the Kerala Anti‑Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007 based on a police recommendation citing several criminal cases. He was already on bail in those cases, and the detaining authority did n…

The Supreme Court examined appeals challenging the High Court's order on six disputed Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) questions. It evaluated the correctness of answer keys for Questions 56 and 77, upheld the High Court's answer for Question 78, and found that Questions 88, 115 and 116 were either improperly framed or…

The appellant, Jatinder Kumar Sapra, sought a decree of divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage, alleging ill‑treatment by his wife, while the wife alleged cruelty by the husband. Both the Family Court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court dismissed his petition under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu M…

The petitioners challenged the Bihar Superior Judicial Service Rules, 1951 and the Gujarat State Judicial Service Rules, 2005 for prescribing minimum qualifying marks in the viva voce interview for district and civil judges, alleging violation of the All India Judges (2002) decision, Articles 14 and 16, and procedural …

The appellant, a former Uttar Pradesh judicial officer who retired voluntarily and joined the Central Administrative Tribunal, was subjected to a departmental enquiry for alleged misconduct in awarding excessive compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, allegedly favouring subsequent purchasers. The enquiry found ch…

The Chief Election Commissioner (EC) sought an order restraining the media from reporting oral remarks made by the Madras High Court, which alleged that the EC was "singularly responsible for the second wave of COVID‑19" and should face murder charges. The High Court’s oral observations were not part of its written ord…

The petitioners, Classical & Vernacular (C&V) teachers appointed under the 1998 Haryana service rules, were deemed converted to Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT) under Rule 9(5) of the 2012 Rules and claimed promotion to the post of Elementary School Headmaster. The High Court held that the conversion made them members o…

The father filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking custody of his 1½‑year‑old daughter who had been looked after by the child's maternal aunt and uncle after the mother’s death and the father's prolonged illness. The High Court ordered the child be handed over to the father, granting the writ. The appellants challenged t…

The Supreme Court dismissed a writ petition filed by Subrata Roy Sahara challenging an order dated 4.3.2014 directing his arrest and detention for non-compliance of earlier orders to refund money collected through Optionally Fully Convertible Debentures (OFCDs). The Court held that the two Sahara companies flouted orde…

The Supreme Court examined the Karnataka Government Order of 29‑April‑1994 that mandated mother‑tongue or Kannada as the medium of instruction in classes I‑IV of all government‑recognised schools. The Court clarified that ‘mother‑tongue’ in Art. 350A refers to the language of the linguistic minority group, to be determ…

The Court examined whether a composite contract for the manufacture, supply and installation of lifts constitutes a "sale of goods" or a "works contract" for tax purposes under Article 366(29A)(b) of the Constitution and related sales‑tax statutes. The petitioners argued that the installation component made the contrac…

The Union of India appealed against Hindustan Zinc Ltd. challenging the company's claim of Modvat/Cenvat credit on inputs used to produce sulphuric acid and other chemicals that were cleared to fertilizer plants at nil duty. The issue was whether Rule 57CC of the Central Excise Rules, which mandates separate accounting…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 6‑A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (inserted by Section 26(c) of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003), which required prior approval of the Central Government before the CBI could inquire into or investigate alleged offences u…

The petitioners, owners of residential houses in Mukundur village, claimed that seepage from a canal had caused damage to their homes and sought a mandamus directing the Land Acquisition Collector to complete acquisition proceedings as per a government letter. The High Court had ordered the Collector to pass awards, bu…

The appellants were initially engaged as Voluntary Health Workers on a nominal honorarium and were later absorbed as Primary Health Workers by the Chief Medical Officer without following the prescribed recruitment procedure. After serving for about fifteen years, they were terminated on the ground that their original a…

The appellants, school teachers appointed on contract under the Chandigarh Education Service (School Cadre) Recruitment Rules, 1991, sought regularisation of their posts, arguing that their long tenure entitled them to be absorbed into the regular service. The Central Administrative Tribunal dismissed their application…

The case arose from a violent intrusion by A‑1 and his associates into the house of Mohammed Ishaq, during which household articles were seized and several occupants were assaulted. The trial court convicted A‑1 under IPC sections 148 (unlawful assembly), 392 (robbery) and 452 (house‑trespass) and sentenced him to rigo…

The appellants were charged with multiple offences arising from an incident in August 2002 and were initially remanded to police custody under Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C. After a charge‑sheet was filed, the Sessions Court took cognizance and the High Court granted them bail. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was lat…

The appellant, N. Kannadasan, was an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court who was not confirmed as a permanent judge and later appointed as President of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under Section 16 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Writ petitions challenged his appointment on the grounds t…

The case involved six accused bank officials and businessmen charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption for allegedly abusing a cheque‑discounting facility of State Bank of India. The Special Judge and the High Court convicted all six under Sections 120‑B and 420 of the IPC and, for three of them, under …

The Supreme Court examined whether the assessment order against Mis. Greenworld Corporation was passed under the undue influence of the Commissioner of Income Tax, Shimla, thereby rendering it a nullity. It held that a revisional authority under Section 263 can intervene only when an order is erroneous and prejudicial …

The respondent, Md. Ibrahim, was engaged on a daily‑wage basis as a driver in three separate spells between 1980 and 1983. He filed an application under Sections 61 and 62 of the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Relations Act, 1960 seeking classification as a permanent driver, alleging discrimination because a junior employee…

The Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) operated two thermal power plants with differing pay scales for identical posts, prompting employees at the Faridabad plant to sue for equal pay based on the doctrine of "equal pay for equal work". The lower courts granted higher pay and designation to the plaintiffs, relying …

The respondents, Home Guards in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, had served continuously for 12‑23 years and sought regularisation and equal pay with regular employees. The Central Administrative Tribunal directed the government to frame a scheme for their absorption, invoking the principles laid down in State of West Be…

The insurer, National Insurance Co. Ltd., issued a cover note for a mini‑bus after receiving a third‑party cheque for the premium, but the cheque was never encashed and the cover note was cancelled. The bus met with an accident and the victim, Yellamma, claimed compensation under s.166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. …

The appellants, tenants under the Indian Mercantile Association, filed a writ petition under Section 103-A of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Act, 1976, seeking relief that the High Court dismissed on the ground that an alternative statutory remedy—an appeal—was available. The appellants contended that rel…

Tata Motors Ltd., a manufacturer of motor vehicle chassis and parts, claimed a set‑off of sales tax for purchases of steel that later became scrap, invoking Rules 41D and 41E of the Bombay Sales Tax Rules. The Maharashtra Sales Tax Laws (Levy, Amendment and Repeal) Act, 1989 retrospectively withdrew that set‑off benefi…

D. Saibaba, a practising advocate, was accused by his estranged wife of professional misconduct for continuing to hold a telephone booth allotted in the handicapped quota. The Bar Council of India directed him to surrender the booth and, after his failure to do so within a short period, ordered his deletion from the ro…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by the State Bank of India challenging a High Court order that set aside a staff circular which barred the bank from dealing with a non‑recognised officers' association. The petitioners argued that the circular violated Rule 24 of the Verification of Membership and Recognition of Tr…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Fast Track Courts Scheme introduced under the Eleventh Finance Commission, which sought to appoint retired judges, promote judicial officers ad‑hoc, and enlist members of the Bar to clear pending cases. Petitioners challenged the scheme on grounds that the Constit…

The Union of India appealed a Punjab & Haryana High Court order that set aside a non‑speaking award given by an arbitrator under Section 7‑B of the Telegraph Act, 1885, on the ground that the award lacked reasons. The respondents had challenged the award by a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution. The Uni…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) auctioned a plot of land in 1980, which was won by Skipper Construction Company (Skipper). Skipper paid only 25% of the price, repeatedly defaulted on the balance, and despite court orders continued to sell space in the proposed building, collecting about Rs. 25 crore from purchase…

The Union of India appealed against a Bombay High Court order that directed customs authorities not to reject a refund claim on the ground of limitation under Section 27 of the Customs Act, 1962. The respondent, Kirloskar Pneumatic Co. Ltd., had imported goods, paid duty, and later sought a refund, filing a writ petiti…

The petitioners, members of Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samiti, filed a writ petition under Article 32 on behalf of Hakim Seikh, who suffered serious head injuries after falling from a train and was repeatedly denied admission in several government hospitals due to lack of beds and facilities, eventually receiving treat…

The Supreme Court examined the Railway Board's 15 May 1987 memorandum that altered recruitment and pay scales for Traffic/Commercial Apprentices. It held that the memorandum did not revise pay for all apprentices but only for higher‑grade Traffic/Commercial Inspectors, and that the Board acted within its authority unde…

The appellants, holders of diplomas in Mechanical Engineering, applied for the post of Assistant Motor Vehicles Inspector in Andhra Pradesh but were rejected because the State's Transport Subordinate Service Rules required a degree. They challenged the State rule, arguing that the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Section 213(…

Mrs. Payal Jindal married Capt. Ashok Kumar Jindal on 24 January 1988. The husband filed a petition for divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act on 16 August 1988 alleging cruelty. The wife denied the allegations and sought transfer of the case from the Family Court, Pune to Delhi, obtaining a temporary stay …

The Diesel Locomotive Works invited tenders for ferrous scrap, stipulating that earnest money be paid by cash or a demand draft drawn on the State Bank of India. Poddar Steel submitted the highest bid accompanied by a certified banker's cheque from Union Bank of India, which the Tender Committee verified and accepted. …

The petitioner, a directly recruited accountant of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, was served a charge sheet and his services were terminated by a simple notice before the conclusion of a disciplinary enquiry. The Supreme Court examined whether the termination was a genuine exercise of power under Reg…

The Supreme Court examined whether processes such as bleaching, mercerising, dyeing, printing and other treatments of cotton and man‑made fabrics constitute "manufacture" under the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944, and whether the 1980 amendment expanding the definition of manufacture is constitutionally valid. The Co…

Bhagwant Singh, a senior Indian Revenue Service officer, filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution alleging that his daughter Gurinder Kaur was murdered in a dowry‑related dispute and that the Delhi police investigation was irregular, delayed and failed to collect crucial evidence. The Supreme Court ex…

The appellants, major pharmaceutical manufacturers, challenged the Bihar Finance Act, 1981 which imposed a 10% surcharge on dealers with a gross turnover exceeding Rs.5 lakh and prohibited those dealers from passing the surcharge on to purchasers. They argued that the provision conflicted with the Drugs (Price Control)…

The petitioners, dealers under the Central Sales Tax Act, challenged the constitutional validity of sub‑section (2‑A) of section 9 of the Act (as amended in 1976) and the retrospective validation of penalties, alleging excessive delegation of legislative power and violations of Articles 19(1)(f), 19(1)(g) and 20(1) of …

The petitioners, members of the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF), were convicted by Court‑Martial under section 63 of the Army Act, 1950 for participating in a protest and were dismissed from service. They challenged the constitutional validity of applying section 21 of the Army Act and rules 19‑21 of the Army …

The State of Mysore and its officers appealed against High Court orders that had set aside demands for non‑agricultural (N.A.) assessment levied under Rule 71 of the Hyderabad Land Revenue Rules (amended 4 July 1958) and Rule 81 of the Bombay Land Revenue Rules (amended 27 March 1958). The petitioners argued that the r…

The case concerned an FIR registered on 18 October 2022 alleging assault, criminal intimidation and related offences against eight persons, including Sajal Bose, his wife Nabina Bose and Chandidas Joardar. The High Court quashed the proceedings against two co‑accused but refused to grant the same relief to the three ap…

The Supreme Court examined a public‑interest writ petition filed by Save Mon Region Federation alleging that the Arunachal Pradesh government had repeatedly awarded public‑works contracts through non‑tender methods, favoured firms linked to the Chief Minister and other officials, and failed to maintain proper procureme…

The Goa Public Service Commission advertised for Junior Scale posts, conducted a computer‑based screening test, a written examination and an oral interview, and fixed a cut‑off of 26 out of 40 marks (60%) for the interview. Respondents who cleared the written test but failed to meet the interview cut‑off challenged the…

Pradeep Oil Corporation was granted land by the Government under the Government Grants Act to erect petroleum storage tanks and related structures. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi assessed property tax on the tanks, treating them as "buildings". The corporation argued the grant was a lease, making the corporation li…

A Medical Officer employed by Coal India Ltd and posted at its subsidiary Eastern Coalfields Ltd assaulted his senior officer and other staff, leading to disciplinary proceedings that resulted in his dismissal by the subsidiary's CMD. The dismissal was challenged in the Calcutta High Court, which quashed the order and …

The appellant, a public‑spirit organization, challenged the State of Madhya Pradesh's reservation and allotment of 20 acres of Nazul land to the Shri Kushabhau Thakre Memorial Trust (later respondent No.5) on the ground that the process violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The land was allotted without any public a…

The appellant, Kailash, elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, challenged a High Court order that refused to accept his written statement filed after the 90‑day limit prescribed by Order VIII, Rule I of the CPC. The Supreme Court examined when the trial of an election petition begins, whether the CPC time‑li…

The Gupte Cardiac Care Centre & Hospital filed a suit in Nashik seeking recovery of Rs.28.35 lakh after a heart‑lung machine purchased from a German manufacturer and its Indian dealer performed unsatisfactorily. The dealer, Olympic Pharma Care Pvt. Ltd., filed a suit in the Delhi High Court for the balance price of Rs.…

The appellant, a director of a Maharashtra cooperative society, was the sole nominee for the post of Chairman. The returning officer refused to declare him elected because the quorum for the special meeting was not met, despite the nomination being in order and unwithdrawn. The appellant filed a writ petition seeking a…

The State of Kerala and Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. disputed the effect of the 1983 amendment inserting Section 49(5) into the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. The company had a special agreement under Section 49(3) for electricity at concessional rates and enjoyed a partial exemption from electricity duty under the Keral…

Ramjit Upadhaya, a convict serving a sentence under Section 302 IPC in Central Jail, Varanasi, was killed by a co‑accused inmate. His wife and three children filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking compensation, arguing that the State failed to protect his life while in custody. The State contended that the Utta…

The State of Uttar Pradesh, through the Director of Education, issued a show‑cause notice to the Committee of Management of S.K.M. Inter College under Section 16‑D(2) and (3) of the U.P. Intermediate Education Act, 1921, alleging mismanagement, misappropriation of funds and other irregularities. The Committee's explana…

The appellant, a landlord, obtained a decree of eviction against B.R. Cotton Mills Ltd. (respondent No.1) but the High Court granted the tenant eight weeks to vacate subject to an undertaking not to part with possession. Respondent No.1, through its director, filed the undertaking without stating that it was in possess…

The Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, a deemed university, conducted admissions to its B.E. programme based on a Combined Entrance Test and a merit list, admitting students up to serial number 1127 and later admitting ten additional candidates to meet expected drop‑outs, leaving a total strength of 178 ou…

The appellants, diploma‑holder supervisors in the Andhra Pradesh Engineering Subordinate Service, challenged the State’s rule that granted graduate supervisors a higher pay scale than non‑graduate supervisors, invoking the principle of equal pay for equal work under Article 39(d) and alleging violation of Articles 14 a…

The appellant challenged the Maharashtra Government's Rule B(2), which restricted MBBS admissions to students who had studied within the jurisdiction of a particular university, arguing it violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The High Court had upheld the rule, relying on a deferred Supreme Court order concerning t…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation Ltd., a government‑owned company under section 617 of the Companies Act, qualifies as "the State" under Article 12 of the Constitution and whether clause (i) of Rule 9 in its service rules – which allows termination of a permanent employe…

The State of Uttar Pradesh issued a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 on 8 January 1980 to acquire 60 plots of land for a market yard, simultaneously exempting the proceedings from Section 5‑A by an order under Section 17(4). A subsequent notification under Section 6 authorised the Colle…

The appellants, a contractor and a store manager, were charged with offences under Sections 304 Part II, 304A, 182 and 201 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the deaths of two employees who were electrocuted while working on a sign board using an iron ladder. They filed discharge applications under Section 227 of the …

The Assam government advertised 104 constable posts in 2014, conducted selection in 2016, and after a change of political regime, the incumbent PCCF highlighted serious anomalies, leading the government to cancel the select list. Two writ petitions challenged the cancellation and a fresh advertisement; the Gauhati High…

Sadhana Chaudhary, a former Additional District Judge of Uttar Pradesh, was dismissed from service on the ground that she had allegedly awarded excessive compensation in two land acquisition cases, which the enquiry committee deemed "shocking blunders" and indicative of extraneous considerations. The High Court upheld …

The respondent, Radhey Shyam Rai, was dismissed from his post as Computer Officer in the Uttar Pradesh Ganna Kishan Sansthan, a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, and challenged the dismissal before the High Court, raising the question of whether the Sansthan is a 'State' within the meaning of Art…

J.M.D. Alloys Ltd., an industrial electricity consumer, was alleged to have tampered with the seal of its CT/PT terminal box and to have drawn electricity beyond its contracted load, leading the Bihar State Electricity Board to issue a compensatory bill under Clause 16.9 of its tariff. The petitioner challenged the bil…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo‑motu criminal contempt petition, examined statements made by writer Arundhati Roy in an affidavit that alleged the Court was acting with bias, silencing dissent and damaging its reputation. The Court held that such statements scandalised the authority of the Supreme Court and amounted t…

The petitioner, a forward‑community scientist, married respondent No.4 after being told she belonged to a forward caste, later discovering she was from a Scheduled Tribe. He filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 415, 419, 420 read with 34, alleging cheating due to the caste misrepresentation. The respondents ob…

The appellant, a disinherited daughter, challenged a will executed by her ailing father one day before his death, which left all property to the sons of her sister. She alleged that the beneficiary's father had taken an active role in drafting the will and that suspicious circumstances surrounded its execution, despite…

Dipak Kumar Biswas, a permanent government auditor, resigned to take up a lecturer post in a private aided college in Meghalaya, relying on the principal's assurance that the Director of Public Instruction's approval was a formality. After five months his appointment was terminated because the Director had not given pr…

The appellant Vihaan Kumar was arrested on 10 June 2024 for alleged offences under the IPC, but he was not informed of the grounds of his arrest as required by Article 22(1) of the Constitution and Section 50 of the CrPC. The High Court held that the information given to his wife and the entry in the police diary did n…

The complainant alleged dowry demands, mental and physical harassment by her husband and in‑laws, and implicated the appellant Geddam Jhansi (her mother‑in‑law’s sister) and her son Geddam Sathyakama Jabali as pressurising her to obey her husband’s wishes. The High Court declined to quash criminal proceedings under Sec…

The State of Punjab appealed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s acquittal of Gurpreet Singh and three co‑accused under sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Amarjit Kaur. The trial court had convicted them based on the eyewitness testimony of the victim’s husband and daughter, the reco…

Petitioner Rajkumar sought enforcement of the Supreme Court’s earlier directions in Rashidul Jafar for premature release of life‑imprisoned convicts, alleging that Uttar Pradesh had not considered eligible prisoners despite the existence of the Uttar Pradesh Prisoners (Release on Probation) Act, Rules and a Standing Po…

Bir Singh (complainant) advanced a Rs 15 lakh loan to Mukesh Kumar (accused) and received a cheque which was dishonoured for insufficient funds on two occasions. After a statutory notice went unanswered, a criminal complaint under Sections 138 and 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 was filed. The trial court c…

The appellant's land was reserved for a primary school under a development plan and a purchase notice was served under Section 49 of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, 1966. The State Government confirmed the notice and the appropriate authority filed an acquisition proposal within the period prescribed by Sec…

Respondents 1‑3 instituted a suit for specific performance of a sale of immovable property. They later filed an application (P‑2) and a joint statement (P‑4) claiming a compromise and seeking dismissal of the suit, but subsequently respondent 1 filed an affidavit (P‑5) alleging that he had never filed the suit and that…

The appellants Angana and others were convicted under IPC s.326 read with s.34 and sentenced to four years' rigorous imprisonment. They had been on bail during the trial, and most co‑accused were acquitted. While their appeal was pending before the High Court, they filed an application under Section 389 of the CrPC see…

The State of Orissa filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the constitution of a Water Disputes Tribunal and an interim injunction against the State of Andhra Pradesh, which was constructing a side‑channel weir and flood‑flow canal on the Vansadhara river despite a 1994 agreement to share the river’s waters equ…

The petitioner filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the correctness of a decision that had become final on its merits. The petition sought reconsideration of that final decision. The Court examined whether Article 32 can be invoked to obtain a fresh look at a final order. Relying on th…

Uptron India Ltd., a manufacturing concern, terminated the services of Ms. Shammi Bhan, a confirmed permanent employee, invoking clause 17(g) of its certified standing orders which provided for automatic termination if a workman overstayed leave for more than seven days. The employee challenged the termination before t…

The appellants challenged the constitutional validity of the Rajasthan Urban Lands Tax Act, 1964 as amended in 1973 to levy tax on both lands and buildings, arguing that the amendment exceeded the State's legislative competence and rendered the entire legislation "still‑born." The High Court dismissed the writ petition…

The Supreme Court examined the Election Commission's directives that empowered district collectors and police to determine a person's citizenship and delete alleged foreign nationals from electoral rolls. Petitioners challenged the procedure, arguing that notices relied solely on police reports, limited the documents t…

The Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission advertised for Munsiff posts, conducted a written exam and a viva voce interview. Unsuccessful candidates (petitioners) challenged the interview, alleging manipulation, lack of faculty‑wise marking, absence of tape‑recording, bias favouring certain candidates, ineligibility…

A writ petition before the Bombay High Court challenged a communication of the Municipal Corporation that barred development of a parcel of land near chemical factories. The High Court set aside the communication, thereby affecting the interests of the factory owners who were not parties to the writ petition. Those own…

The appellant, I.T.C. Ltd., chartered two imported fishing trawlers from the respondents but later claimed the vessels were defective and that the charter party was void due to a mutual mistake about the refrigeration system and alleged violation of import licence conditions. The respondents filed an application under …

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) initially issued a notification under s.57(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 to invite applications for stage‑carriage permits, but the RTA was later found to be improperly constituted for lacking a non‑official member as required by s.44. After being reconstituted, the RTA did n…

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition filed by advocate Laxmi Kant Pandey, seeking to restrain private agencies from sending Indian children abroad for adoption and to direct the Union, the Indian Council of Social Welfare and the Indian Council of Child Welfare to fulfill their duties. Relying …

The appellant, a former promoter and non‑executive chairman of Amtek Auto Ltd., was arrested in July 2024 on allegations of massive bank fraud and money‑laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). Despite cooperating with the investigation and being the sole accused taken into custody among 28…

The petitioners challenged the Punjab government's alteration of the sports‑quota admission criteria for MBBS/BDS courses, which expanded the "zone of consideration" from Classes XI‑XII to include Classes IX‑X after applications had been filed. They argued that the mid‑stream change was arbitrary, violated Article 14’s…

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) conducted an open auction for a 3,150‑sq‑m industrial plot, fixing a reserve price of Rs.25,600 per sq m. Golden Food Products India submitted the highest financial bid of Rs.29,500 per sq m, which was accepted as the highest bid. The GDA later cancelled the bid, citing that si…

The Bihar Road Construction Department issued recruitment advertisements in 2019 for Assistant Engineer posts under the Bihar Engineering Services Class‑II Recruitment Rules, 2019. The written examinations were held in March 2022 and provisional merit lists were published in June‑July 2022. After the merit lists were i…

The Union of India filed a transfer petition under Section 25 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 to move a disciplinary case filed by Alapan Bandyopadhyay before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Kolkata bench to the Principal Bench in Delhi. The Delhi Principal Bench allowed the transfer, but the Calcut…