Constitution of India

The Karnataka Government ran a Secretariat canteen through a committee and appointed workers on an ad‑hoc basis. The workers claimed they were state employees entitled to regularisation and pay parity with government staff. The Karnataka High Court, treating the canteen as a Government Hospitality Organisation, ordered…

The respondents were daily‑wage workers engaged on a muster‑roll under a Central Scheme and were paid from Central Government funds. After the scheme was completed and closed due to lack of funds, their services were terminated. They filed a writ petition in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which issued an interim dire…

The respondents were daily‑wage workers engaged on a muster‑roll under a Central Government scheme in Himachal Pradesh. After the project was completed and closed due to lack of funds, they were dismissed. They filed a writ petition in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which issued an interim direction ordering their re…

The Rajasthan Service Rules, 1951 were amended in 1964 to introduce a liberalised family pension scheme (Rule 268‑H) that could be elected only by government servants who were in service on 29 February 1964 or who joined thereafter. The Sevanivatra Karamchari Hitkari Samiti, an association of retired employees, challen…

A.K. Choudhary, a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Bihar, sought promotion to the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre. The Selection Committee excluded him in 1976, relying on adverse entries in his confidential roll for 1973-74 and 1974-75, which were communicated to him only after the decision and later expunged by t…

Rousanara Begum married S.K. Salahuddin in 2005 and divorced him in 2011. At the time of marriage her father gave Rs 7 lakh and 30 bhori of gold, which the appellant sought to recover under Section 3 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986. Lower courts awarded partial amounts, but the Calcutta …

The State of Jharkhand challenged the tax treatment of oxygen gas sold by Linde India Ltd to Tata Steel, contending that it is not a "raw material" for steel production under Section 13(1)(b) of the Bihar Finance Act, 1981 and therefore should attract the normal 3% sales tax rather than the concessional 2% rate. The Hi…

The case arose from the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, for which several accused were convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court. The State of Tamil Nadu proposed to remit the life sentences of the convicts, prompting the Union of India to file a wri…

A complaint alleged that a former MLA and her husband conspired to illegally obtain government land using forged documents. The Special Judge framed charges, which the High Court set aside, quashed the charges against all accused, and transferred the case to another court, claiming the accused were denied a fair trial …

The appellant, a Congress party member, was accused of instigating party workers to fire on BJP supporters, resulting in a murder eight days later. He applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, which the High Court rejected. The Supreme Court, relying on the Constitution Bench decision in Sibbia's cas…

The Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust sought to have its Malayalam film "Pazhassi Raja" screened as a special entry at the International Film Festival of India 2009, but the Feature Film Jury rejected it. The Trust filed multiple writ petitions in the Delhi High Court, which denied interim relief, prompting a Special Leav…

The appellant issued a cheque of Rs.95,000 to discharge a lawful debt, which was later dishonoured for insufficient funds. He was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and sentenced, with the conviction affirmed by the High Court. The parties subsequently settled their dispute and sought to comp…

The petitioners challenged the prospectus of Maharshi Dayanand University for MD/MS/PG courses, alleging that the absence of reservation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates violated Article 15(4) of the Constitution. The High Court dismissed the writ petition and the appellants appealed to the Supreme Co…

The case involved six accused persons charged under IPC sections 302, 149 and 148 for the murder of four individuals. The trial court convicted four of the accused and sentenced them to death. The Allahabad High Court, however, acquitted the accused and dismissed the State's appeal. The complainant (informant) and the …

The appellant filed a suit for permanent and temporary injunction in 2002. The respondents, served with summons, repeatedly sought extensions to file their written statement under Order 8 Rule 10 of the CPC, but the trial court rejected their application and set a date for recording evidence. The respondents filed a re…

The Supreme Court allowed the State of Rajasthan's appeal against a single High Court judge, Justice Shethna, who, while hearing a criminal revision petition, improperly called for the record of a writ petition already disposed of by a Division Bench, made intemperate allegations against the Chief Justice and former ch…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of Section 5(6) of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, and broader questions concerning the powers of administrative tribunals under Articles 323‑A and 323‑B of the Constitution. Relying on the earlier decision in S. P. Sampath Kumar v. Union of India, the Court observed that…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the second proviso to clause 11(1) of the Punjab Foodgrains Dealers Licensing and Price Control Order, 1978 (as amended 1980), which allows the licensing authority to suspend a foodgrains dealer’s licence for up to ninety days without giving the dealer a reasona…

Sandip Agarwal, director of a company that enjoyed duty‑free import benefits under the DEEC scheme, was found to have diverted the imported goods to the domestic market, constituting smuggling. He was detained under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (C…

Dr. B.K. Mishra (Respondent No.1) was selected for promotion to Professor under a 16‑year time‑bound scheme in 1990 with retrospective effect from 1‑Feb‑1985, but the promotion was provisional pending approval of the Bihar State University Services Commission. The Commission delayed action and later questioned the cons…

The case concerned promotion of Junior Engineers in the Electrical and Mechanical wings of the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department to the post of Assistant Engineer. The State Government had issued an office memorandum on 7 January 1980 reducing the service‑experience requirement from ten to seven years, and the High…

The petitioners, a company and its secretary, challenged a tax demand order issued by the Deputy Assessor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, seeking a writ of certiorari under Article 32 of the Constitution. They asked the Supreme Court to quash the composite tax demand of Rs.14,07,328. The Court examined whether s…

Prem Singh, a welder, worked for about 37 years in a work‑charged establishment of the Uttar Pradesh government and was later regularised before superannuation. He claimed that the period spent in the work‑charged establishment should be counted as qualifying service for pension under the Uttar Pradesh Retirement Benef…

Hindustan Lever Ltd., a tea manufacturer, claimed exemption from entry tax on packing materials used for tea under a 1993 notification and a reduced rate under a 1998 notification. The issue was whether packing material could be classified as "raw materials, component parts or inputs" within Entry 80 of Schedule I of t…

The petitioners, convicted of murder and sentenced to death, challenged the constitutionality of Order XL Rule 3 of the Supreme Court Rules, 1966, which mandates that review petitions be disposed of by circulation without oral argument. The Supreme Court examined whether Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees…

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) advertised a peon post with a maximum qualification of Class IX, excluding candidates with higher education. Triveni Sharan Mishra, a graduate pursuing an M.A., applied claiming only higher secondary qualification and was appointed. After two years, LIC discovered his highe…

The petitioner, a widow, sought a revised family pension after the Supreme Court directed its determination in 2008. She later filed contempt petitions alleging non‑compliance with that direction and with a subsequent order dated 1 September 2010 directing the Accountant General of Uttar Pradesh to calculate and report…

The Andhra Pradesh government enacted the Mutually Aided Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2006, which retrospectively excluded dairy‑milk co‑operative societies from the 1995 Act and deemed them to be registered under the 1964 Act, thereby increasing state control. Eight district milk unions challenged the amend…

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) conducted examinations for chartered accountants and was asked by Shaunak H. Satya, a failed candidate, to disclose the instructions, model answers and related materials given to examiners and moderators under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI). The issues we…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by Babubhai Jamnadas Patel challenging the Gujarat High Court's orders directing the police to file progress reports and monitor the investigation of FIR No.187/2008 relating to alleged offences under Sections 420, 465, 466, 467 and 120‑B IPC. The issue was whether a High Court may …

Life convicts filed writ petitions seeking premature release on the basis of remissions earned. The Punjab and Haryana High Court held that the applicable government policy was the one in force at the time of conviction and directed the State to reconsider the applications. On appeal, the Supreme Court clarified that r…

B.N. Sharma, a retired member of the Rajasthan Judicial Service, sought promotion to the Rajasthan Higher Judicial Service. After filing a writ petition that was withdrawn with liberty to re‑file, his representation was rejected by the High Court’s Full Court, prompting a second writ petition which the High Court dismi…

The appellants were convicted of murder under Sections 302/149 IPC for the killing of Munnabhai, but the Madhya Pradesh High Court Division Bench was split on the convictions of seven of them. The matter was referred to a third judge under Section 392 of the CrPC, who refused to revisit the convictions of three appella…

M/s DLF Universal Ltd. proposed a garden colony of 270 country‑type villas on agricultural land along the Arkavathi River. The Karnataka State Government approved the scheme on 29 June 1991, imposing conditions prescribed by the State Pollution Control Board to prevent water pollution and ensuring water supply from bor…

The appellants, sisters Suchita and Madhuri Patil, obtained caste certificates claiming they belonged to the Mahadeo Koli Scheduled Tribe and were admitted to medical and dental colleges on that basis. The Verification Committee, after examining ancestral, school and anthropological evidence, held that they were Koli o…

The Karnataka Government amended its Public Works Engineering Department Service (Recruitment) Rules in 1985, backdating them to 1 January 1976 to allow Junior Engineers who obtained a degree to be transferred to the Assistant Engineer cadre with retrospective seniority and a one‑third service weightage. A group of dir…

Nelson Motis, a government servant, was removed from service on 4 February 1984 after an inquiry found several charges proved. He challenged the removal before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which set aside the penalty on procedural grounds and noted his acquittal in a related criminal case. The Tribunal ordered …

The dispute concerned a garden lease of a Nazul plot in Lucknow that vested in the State of Uttar Pradesh. City Montessori School (CMS) had the highest bid in a 1995 auction, but the State cancelled its bid and later converted the leasehold to freehold in favour of the alleged lessee for a nominal sum. CMS challenged t…

The State of Gujarat appealed against the Gujarat Value Added Tax Tribunal and the High Court, which had allowed M/s Ambuja Cement Ltd. to exclude Value Added Tax (VAT) and the value of purchases on which no tax credit was claimed from its taxable turnover of purchases under Section 11(3)(b) of the Gujarat Value Added …

The Supreme Court examined petitions seeking the cancellation of the 2024 NEET (UG) exam on the ground that the question paper had been leaked in Hazaribagh and Patna and that the exam’s integrity was compromised. The Court evaluated evidence from the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (…

The Governor of Jharkhand issued a 2016 notification reserving 100% of Class III and IV district‑level teaching posts for local residents of thirteen scheduled districts. This was challenged as violating Articles 14, 16(2), 16(3), 35 and the non‑obstante clause of Paragraph 5(1) of the Fifth Schedule. The High Court de…

The respondent, a former agricultural assistant of the Central Bank of India, was dismissed in 1982 on charges of impersonating his brother in a recruitment test. An industrial tribunal in 2008 held the dismissal unjustified and ordered reinstatement without back wages. The respondent filed a 2009 writ petition challen…

The Supreme Court considered a group of civil appeals challenging service‑tax assessments on composite (indivisible) works contracts that were levied for periods before the Finance Act, 2007 introduced a definition of "works contract" under s.65(105)(zzzza) of the Finance Act, 1994. The Revenue argued that service tax …

The petitioner, Siddharth Mukesh Bhandari, filed FIRs in 2019 and the accused filed Special Criminal Applications under Article 226 of the Constitution and Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quash of the proceedings. The Gujarat High Court initially stayed any coercive steps on 10‑Oct‑2019, an order that the Supreme Court…

The appellant, a senior advocate, challenged several disparaging remarks made by a High Court judge against him in four separate cases where he represented a party. The judge's comments criticized the counsel's conduct without giving him an opportunity to be heard, and the remarks were deemed unnecessary for the adjudi…

Petitioner Rajinder Goel, a senior judicial officer, was recommended for compulsory retirement by the Full Court of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the ground of multiple unexplained large bank transactions. The High Court’s Administrative Committee had earlier initiated disciplinary proceedings, and although two …

The appellant Ritesh Sinha was implicated in a fraud case and the police sought a voice sample to match a recorded phone conversation. The Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered him to appear and give his voice sample, which the appellant challenged under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. The High Court upheld the magistrate's ord…

Col. Rajnish Bhandari appealed against the Union of India challenging the constitutionality of Section 497 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and the continuation of prosecution under Section 63 of the Army Act after an acquittal subject to confirmation. The Court, relying on the Joseph Shine judgment, held that Section 49…

The petitioner, Dharmendra Kirthal, challenged the constitutional validity of Section 12 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti‑Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, which mandates that trials before Special Courts have precedence over any other trial of the accused, keeping other proceedings in abeyance. He argue…

The Supreme Court dismissed the criminal appeal of Budhadev Karmaskar, who was convicted of murdering a sex worker, and suo motu converted the matter into a public interest litigation to address the plight of sex workers nationwide. The Court held that sex workers are human beings entitled to life with dignity under Ar…

The appellants, permit‑holders of tourist buses, were fined for loading luggage on the roof of their vehicles and challenged the fines on the ground that Rule 128(9) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 does not expressly forbid such carriage and that the restriction violates their Article 19(1)(g) right to trade.…

The respondent, a Junior Management Officer of Bank of India, was found guilty of submitting inflated and false travel, lodging, boarding and halting allowance bills while on deputation and was compulsorily retired under the Bank of India Officer Employees (Conduct) Regulations, 1976. He challenged the retirement throu…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the acquisition of land for a road project in Himachal Pradesh, where possession was taken in 1968 but formal acquisition under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was delayed. A 1985 public‑interest writ directed the State to complete acquisition and to pay the…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity and practical effect of numerous amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) made by the 1999 and 2002 Amendment Acts. It held that the requirement of filing an affidavit under Section 26(2) and Order VI Rule 15(4) imposes additional responsibility on deponents…

The appellants, manufacturers of pan masala and gutka, challenged state notifications issued under Section 7(iv) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 that prohibited the manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of these products in the interest of public health. The questions before the Supreme Court wer…

Biman Krishna Bose had a mediclaim policy with United India Insurance Co. Ltd. After the insurer failed to pay a claim for his wife's hospitalization, Bose pursued the matter through consumer forums and the Supreme Court, eventually obtaining a decree for payment. While the litigation was pending, the policy fell due f…

The Rajasthan Medical and Health Subordinate Service Rules, 1965 created two distinct cadres – a Nursing cadre and a Compounder cadre. Two employees, Bansi Lal Sharma and Shanti Lal Jain, challenged the rules, alleging that the bifurcation arbitrarily denied Compounder Grade‑I employees a promotion channel to higher nu…

A writ petition was filed after a voluntary organisation reported inhuman conditions at a Bihar "Care Home" for female inmates. The Supreme Court, after a district judge’s inspection, found the facility to be a dilapidated, overcrowded hovel lacking basic amenities, adequate food, clothing, water, sanitation, and medic…

The case concerned recruitment to the Delhi Judicial Service under the Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970. The High Court, after the written examination, added two marks to each candidate’s paper as a "moderation" and prepared a second list of candidates who then qualified for the viva‑voce, despite not meeting the sta…

Star Wire (India) Vidyut Pvt. Ltd. operates a 9.90 MW biomass plant that became commercially operational on 3 May 2013. The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) amended its 2010 tariff regulations by a notification dated 12 August 2015, classifying projects commissioned in FY 2013‑14 differently from those …

The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA), created under the U.P. Industrial Area Development Act, 1976, challenged income‑tax notices on the ground that it qualified as a "local authority" and was therefore exempt under section 10(20) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 as amended by the Finance Act, 2002. The ce…

The Punjab & Haryana High Court, on suo moto basis, registered a public interest litigation after noticing that empanelled advocates of four public sector insurance companies were not appearing in a motor accident case and alleged non‑payment of fees. The Division Bench directed the insurers to adhere to all three GIPS…

Arnesh Kumar, husband of Sweta Kiran, was charged under IPC s.498-A and the Dowry Prohibition Act s.4. He sought anticipatory bail, which was denied by the trial court and the High Court, prompting a petition before the Supreme Court. The Court examined the statutory framework governing police arrests without a warrant…

The Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, a state corporation, had two categories of engineers—those transferred from the former Local Self‑Government Engineering Department and those directly recruited. While the State amended its fundamental rules to raise the superannuation age from 58 to 60 years for government servants, the Ni…

The Commissioner of Police, Delhi, cancelled the candidature of two applicants, Mehar Singh and Shani Kumar, for the post of constable after a Screening Committee found them unsuitable despite their acquittal in criminal cases involving serious offences and moral turpitude. Both candidates had disclosed their involveme…

The appellants, convicted of murder under Section 302 and kidnapping for ransom under Section 364A of the Indian Penal Code, were sentenced to death. They challenged the constitutional validity of Section 364A on the grounds that prescribing death for kidnapping for ransom violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitutio…

The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) sought review of a Supreme Court judgment that fixed compensation for land acquired for an industrial township, alleging that the market value was based on a fraudulent sale deed (Exhibit P1) between two companies allegedly under common management and that th…

The petitioners, Rashtriya Chini Mills Adhikari Parishad, challenged a Uttar Pradesh Government order to sell six sugar factories by filing a writ petition under Article 226 before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court. The Division Bench held that the Lucknow Bench lacked jurisdiction because only one factory …

The appellant, a married daughter, applied for allotment of a fair‑price shop under the dependent quota after her mother, the previous dealer, died. The Sub‑Divisional Magistrate and the Deputy Commissioner rejected her claim, relying on a clause in the 2016 Uttar Pradesh Essential Commodities Order that excluded "marr…

The State of Punjab appealed a High Court order that granted regular bail to Balraj Singh, who was accused of directing a heroin trafficking network from inside jail and was charged under Sections 21(c), 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. The High Court had relied on the length of the respondent's custody and the anticipat…

The marriage between Dr. Sonal Talpada and Dr. Veerbhan Singh, solemnised in 2007, quickly deteriorated, with the parties cohabiting for only two to three months and living apart for about fifteen years thereafter. The husband filed a divorce petition in 2009 alleging cruelty, primarily the wife's persistent refusal to…

The respondents filed a suit seeking declaration of title and possession of land, which the appellants contended was forest land vested in the State of Andhra Pradesh. The State was a party in the trial court and the first appellate court but was not impleaded in the second appeal before the High Court. The High Court …

The petitioners, appointed as instructors under the centrally funded Adult and Non‑formal Education Scheme in Haryana, were paid a fixed salary of Rs.200 per month and treated as temporary employees, while squad teachers under the State Social Education Scheme were regularised with a pay scale of Rs.420‑700. The petiti…

The Municipal Board of Pilibhit charged the managing director and officials of L.H. Sugar Factory with failing to pay octroi on 804 maunds of sugarcane brought by rail into the factory on 30 November 1967, alleging a violation of the 1960 octroi bye‑laws. The appellants contended that a 1936 Government order under sect…

The State of Odisha appealed against the High Court's order directing that applications for rehabilitation assistance be considered under the 1990 Rules, despite the later 2020 Rules. The petitioners argued that the 2020 Rules, which mandated that pending cases be dealt with under their provisions, should apply even to…

The appellant, a Scheduled Caste candidate with benchmark disabilities, secured a high rank in the NEET‑UG 2024 examination and applied for admission to the MBBS UG course at AIIMS, New Delhi under the SC‑PwBD quota. The Vardhman Mahavir Medical College’s disability certification board deemed him ineligible under NMC n…

The Supreme Court examined a public‑interest writ petition challenging COVID‑19 vaccine mandates, the disclosure of segregated clinical trial data, the emergency approvals of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN, the adequacy of the adverse‑event‑following‑immunisation (AEFI) system, and the policy of vaccinating children. It held t…

The Supreme Court heard an appeal concerning the erosion of the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga lingam at Ujjain, allegedly caused by water, impure puja offerings and inadequate maintenance. The Court clarified that it does not interfere with the manner of religious rituals but may order preventive conservation measures to p…

The State of Uttar Pradesh alleged that Sunil, along with his brother‑in‑law Suresh Pal Singh, murdered the complainant's father, mother and two sisters. A confessional statement by the deceased brother‑in‑law led to the recovery of a knife and blood‑stained clothing, but the prosecution could not directly link Sunil t…

Mumbai Waste Management Ltd. (MWM) was allotted a western Maharashtra belt for hazardous waste collection under a 2005 letter of award. Later, SMS Infrastructure Ltd. received a consent for overlapping areas, prompting MWM to challenge the curtailment of its territory, arguing that the 2008 Hazardous Waste Rules stripp…

Two Indian fishermen were killed when an Italian-flagged vessel, M.T. Enrica Lexie, allegedly opened fire while its Naval Military Protection Squad (NMP) was on board. The Kerala Police detained the vessel and a Circle Inspector issued a notice prohibiting it from sailing without permission. The vessel challenged the d…

The case involved S.N. Goyal, a Branch Manager of State Bank of India, who was found guilty of temporarily misappropriating customers' funds. The disciplinary authority first recommended a reduction in pay, which the appointing authority tentatively approved but did not communicate. After consulting the bank’s Chief Vi…

The author Dr. P.V. Narayana published a novel titled "Dharmakaarana" depicting the 12th‑century saint Basaveshwara, which included a controversial Chapter 12 alleging the saint's sister bore an illegitimate child. Several eminent persons complained that the chapter insulted religious sentiments, prompting the Karnatak…

Masooda Parveen, the widow of Ghulam Mohi‑ud‑din Regoo, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking compensation and a compassionate appointment, alleging that her husband died in army custody and that the Army violated Section 6 of the Armed Forces (J&K) Special Powers Act by not promptly informing the nearest poli…

The respondent, a daily‑wage substitute to a regular EDA, claimed she had completed 240 days of service before 7 May 1985 and sought regularisation under a 13 Nov 1987 circular that allowed such substitutes to be appointed as EDAs in vacant posts. The Central Administrative Tribunal directed that if she had indeed comp…

The appellant, whose mother had been provisionally allotted a plot by Jubilee Hills Cooperative Society, sought the same plot or an alternative after the society cancelled the provisional allotment for non‑payment and allotted the land to another member (S). The appellant obtained an award from the Assistant Registrar …

The case concerned Flight Lieutenant G.S. Bajwa, who was dismissed by a General Court Martial under the Air Force Act, 1950 for disobeying a medical examination order. Bajwa claimed that the trial violated his fundamental rights because he was denied a defence counsel of his choice at State expense and was not provided…

The Central Government issued the Kerosene (Restriction of Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Order, 1993 fixing a "declared price" that may include charges, rates, duties and taxes prescribed by the State. Madhya Pradesh’s Director and district Collectors fixed wholesale and retail kerosene rates using a "rounding off…

Harendra Arora, an Executive Engineer, was charged with irregularities and, after an enquiry, was dismissed. The enquiry report required by Rule 55A of the Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1930 was not furnished to him, leading the Uttar Pradesh Public Services Tribunal to quash the dismissal.…

The respondent, a former employee of the Allahabad High Court, received four premature salary increments by orders of the Chief Justice but the State of Uttar Pradesh excluded those increments when calculating his pension. The respondent challenged this in a writ petition, which a Full Bench of the Allahabad High Court…

Dr. Ashok filed a public‑interest petition under Article 32 seeking a ban on 40 insecticides and chemicals deemed hazardous to health. The Union of India set up an expert committee, issued notifications cancelling the registration of certain insecticides and restricting others. Manufacturers challenged the cancellation…

The State of Karnataka, by the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Act 1989, inserted sub‑section (4) in Section 3 of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1957, imposing a special additional tax on each occasion a motor vehicle carries passengers in excess of its permitted capacity. The respondents chal…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ of habeas corpus filed by Dhananjay Sharma alleging illegal detention by Haryana police on 15‑1‑1994. The police officials (SSP Anil Davra, Addl SP Sham Lal Goel and SHO Rajinder Singh) denied the allegations and filed false affidavits, while also pressurising the taxi driver Sushi …

Gazi Khan, detained under Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1989, filed a representation under Article 22(5) of the Constitution. The representation was disposed of after an unexplained delay of 27 days, including a 7‑day gap with no explanation for the…

M.C.S. Rao, born in Andhra Pradesh and belonging to the Gouda community, held a Scheduled Tribe certificate and applied for MBBS seats in Maharashtra seeking reservation benefits. His application was rejected because the Gouda community is not listed as a Scheduled Tribe in Maharashtra. The petitioner argued that the c…

Vishal Jeet filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking a CBI inquiry into police negligence, the forced prostitution, Devadasi and Jogini systems, and rehabilitation of victims. The Court observed that prostitution is a socio‑economic problem requiring preventive, not merely punitive, measures and t…

The petitioners, social workers who staged a peaceful dharna for school teachers, were arrested, convicted under Section 186 IPC and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. After serving the sentence they were detained further and alleged that police handcuffed and paraded them in public without any written authority, v…

The case involved engineers of the Maharashtra Service of Engineers contesting the seniority and promotion rules that distinguished between direct recruits and promotees (officiating Deputy Engineers). The Supreme Court examined whether continuous officiation should count for seniority under Articles 14 and 16, the con…

Elel Hotels and Investments Ltd. and other hoteliers challenged the Hotel Receipts Tax Act, 1980, which imposed a 15% tax on the gross receipts of hotels whose room charges were Rs.75 or more per day per individual. The petitioners argued that the Act was beyond Union legislative competence, falling under the State Lis…

Express Hotels and other petitioners challenged the constitutional validity of luxury taxes imposed by Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal on hotel and lodging services, arguing that Entry 62 of List II of the Constitution only permits taxes on tangible goods, not services, and that the statutes violated Art…

The appellants, owners of premises in Ranchi, leased the property to the respondents for 20 years, a lease that expired on 31 July 1971. The respondents gave a notice on 16 July 1971 claiming a month‑to‑month tenancy and the appellants filed an application under section 12 of the Bihar Buildings (Lease, Rent and Evicti…

Electronics Corporation of India Ltd entered into an agreement with a Norwegian firm for technical services and sought a No Objection Certificate under s.195(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to remit payments without tax deduction. The Commissioner rejected the application, holding that s.9(1)(vii) deemed the fees to acc…

The Uttar Pradesh Government, under Section 14(1)(a) of the U.P. Sugarcane (Purchase Tax) Act, 1961, granted a remission of purchase tax of Re. 0.51 per quintal to twenty sugar factories in the eastern zone that purchased sugarcane yielding low recovery, while denying the same relief to other similarly situated factori…

Ram Chander, a Grade B shunter, was removed from railway service for assaulting his superior. An ex parte enquiry found him guilty, and the General Manager imposed removal. The appellant appealed to the Railway Board under Rule 18(ii) of the Railway Servants (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1968, but the Board dismissed th…

The Supreme Court examined two matters concerning the withdrawal of criminal prosecutions under Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. In Criminal Appeal No. 287 of 1979, the Court held that a committing magistrate can grant consent to withdraw even when the offence is exclusively triable by a Court of Sessi…

The senior manager of Punjab & Sind Bank was dismissed for conniving with an officer and a gunman to misappropriate customer funds. The two co‑offenders received lighter penalties – compulsory retirement for the gunman and a pay reduction for the officer. The manager challenged the dismissal, alleging discrimination un…

The respondent, A.S. Raghavendra, was appointed by Bharti Airtel Limited as Regional Business Head (South) in the grade of Senior Manager (B2)‑Sales with a salary of Rs.22 lakh per annum and supervised four Account Managers. After resigning in 2011, he claimed his resignation was forced and filed a petition before the …

Level 9 Biz Pvt. Ltd. challenged a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that allowed HIMUDA to withdraw its cancellation of an earlier tender and let the originally successful bidder, M/s Vasu Constructions, execute the project on the same terms despite the tender having been cancelled on grounds of irregularities. The Hi…

The appellant, a Junior Telecom Officer promoted to Sub‑Divisional Engineer under the seniority‑cum‑fitness quota, challenged the seniority list prepared by the Department of Telecommunications, arguing that seniority should be fixed according to dated executive orders and that the ROTA rule should apply. The seniority…

National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL) paid $38 million for urea to a Turkish company, Karsan, but never received the product. The manager of Karsan, Tuncay Alankus, was extradited to India and faced criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court, on 4 September 2006 and again on 14 December 2006, restrained Alankus from withdrawing…

The appellants, owners of a stud farm and agricultural land, challenged the re‑acquisition of their 52.74 acres by the State of Haryana, arguing that the land had already been released and that the State’s decision to re‑acquire it violated Sections 5‑A and 6(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and the constitutional …

Sterlite Industries obtained environmental clearance and consent orders to set up a copper smelter in Tuticorin in 1995. The Madras High Court ordered its closure, citing lack of a mandatory public hearing, violation of a 25‑km distance condition from an ecologically sensitive area, and an inadequate green‑belt require…

Abdul Nasar Adam Ismail was detained under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) to prevent future smuggling. He challenged the detention on two grounds: that the detaining authority had not independently considered his representation and that t…

The Supreme Court entertained a contempt petition filed by environmental activist M.C. Mehta against Ashok Kumar Chhabra, who continued to operate a hot‑mix plant in Delhi despite the Court’s 1996 order directing closure of all hazardous (Ha) hot‑mix plants and subsequent orders allocating him an alternative site. The …

Sansar Chand Atri, a former Indian Army soldier who retired with pension after 18 years of service, applied for a civil service post reserved for ex‑servicemen under the Punjab Recruitment of Ex‑Servicemen Rules, 1982 (as amended 1992). The Punjab Public Service Commission rejected his candidature, holding that because…

The landlord filed an eviction suit under Section 21(1)(a) of the Uttar Pradesh Premises (Regulation of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, claiming a bona‑fide need for the premises to start a cloth business. The prescribed authority rejected the claim, but the appellate authority reversed that decision and ordered eviction…

The petitioners sought additional compensation for land acquired under a 1971 notification after a High Court enhanced the award for other claimants to Rs.135 per square yard. The petitioners had earlier obtained a reference under Section 18 and an enhancement under Section 26, but they did not appeal to the High Court…

The petitioners were Sub‑Assistant Engineers who had been appointed as temporary Assistant Engineers on an ad hoc basis between 1972 and 1976, with extensions up to 26 February 1980. They sought seniority from the date of their initial ad hoc appointment, claiming they were direct recruits and not promotees. The State …

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) Workers' Union filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing DTC to implement, from 1 January 1986, the Fourth Pay Commission recommendations for its employees, as per Office Orders dated 15 September 1983 and 7 February 1984. The Union argued that employees w…

The Bihar State Co‑operative Marketing Union (BISCOMAUN) was placed under administration by the State Government, after which its administrator, R.K. Singh, reported alleged financial irregularities involving former Managing Director P.P. Sharma, advisor G.D. Mishra and Chairman Tapeshwar Singh in the purchase of sub‑s…

The appellants, a bidi manufacturing partnership and dealers in tendu leaves, challenged the Madhya Pradesh General Sales Tax (Amendment) Act, 1968 and the 1971 amendment which re‑classified tendu leaves as non‑raw material and taxed them at a higher rate. They alleged violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(g), 286(3), 301 a…

The appellant, a working woman tenant, paid all rent arrears to her advocate, who failed to deposit the amounts with the court or pay the landlord. The Delhi Rent Controller, relying on Section 15(7) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958, struck out the tenant's defence and proceeded with the eviction. The High Court dis…

The Supreme Court examined whether visually impaired candidates are suitable for judicial service and whether recent amendments to the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service Rules (Rule 6A and the proviso to Rule 7) violated constitutional equality and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The Court held that vis…

The writ petitions challenged the constitutional validity of the practice of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) solely by the executive. The Supreme Court examined Article 324(2) and Constituent Assembly debates, concluding that Parliament was intended to enact a law gover…

The petitioners challenged the President's Constitution Orders 272 and 273 (5 August 2019) that made the entire Indian Constitution applicable to Jammu & Kashmir, arguing that the orders were unconstitutional. They sought a reference to a larger Bench, contending that two earlier Supreme Court judgments—Prem Nath Kaul …

The State of Himachal Pradesh acquired land for a road widening project and, to expedite the process, entered into negotiated settlements for compensation. A Negotiated Award dated 11‑09‑2008 fixed the land value and barred any enhancement under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, while a Supplementary Negotiated A…

Ravi Yashwant Bhoir, elected President of Uran Municipal Council, was disqualified for the remainder of his term and barred for six years under Section 558 of the Maharashtra Municipal Councils Act on allegations of misconduct, including failure to call a General Body meeting and awarding tenders at higher rates. The S…

Prahalad Patel was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering Daulat, the brother of two witnesses, after a petty dispute over thrown bushes. The prosecution presented eye‑witness testimony, corroborative statements from the victim's brothers, medical reports indicating homicidal injuries, seizure of the axe, and fo…

The deceased Surender Kumar, a 29‑year‑old villager, was fatally injured when a tempo (HR‑34‑8010) struck him. His widow and three minor children filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the High Court rejected the claim because the FIR did not rec…

The State of Goa appealed the acquittal of Sanjay and Anjali Thakran for murder, robbery and criminal conspiracy of a newly‑wed couple. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence – the accused were last seen with the victims, some jewellery and clothing were recovered from them, and the accused gave no ex…

The appeal challenged a Division Bench order that the Chief Justice's 2003 notice directing contempt matters to be listed before any judge with the roster to dispose of the main case violated the Contempt of Court Rules. The Supreme Court examined whether such a listing procedure was permissible under the Contempt of C…

The Supreme Court examined whether the provision of telephone services by telecom operators constitutes a sale of goods, a service, or a composite contract of both, and consequently whether State governments can levy sales tax under Entry 54 of List II. The petitioners argued that the transaction is purely a service, i…

The Municipal Council of Kota levied a "dharmada" tax on goods entering its limits under a 1968 notification issued pursuant to Section 104(2) of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 1959. Delhi Cloth & General Mills Co. sought an injunction restraining the levy, arguing that dharmada was not an octroi and thus unauthoriz…

Indore Textiles Ltd., a closed public limited company, had its management taken over by the Central Government under Section 18AA of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. Shortly before the expiry of that takeover, the Madhya Pradesh Governor promulgated an ordinance, later replaced by the Indore Texti…

The Gujarat Rural Debtors Relief Act, 1976 was enacted to protect poor rural debtors from exploitation by non‑institutional money‑lenders. Section 14(2) provides that when a debtor’s debt is discharged or reduced, any property pledged as security must be released and returned to the debtor. The Gujarat High Court struc…

The landlords (appellants) filed an eviction petition under Section 21(1)(a) of the U.P. Urban Building (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, claiming a bonafide need for a shop premises. The prescribed authority dismissed the petition, but the appellate authority reversed the decision, holding the need…

U.P. Financial Corporation (U.P.F.C.) granted a loan of Rs. 29.70 lakhs to Gem Cap (India) Pvt. Ltd., which soon became a sick unit and defaulted on repayments. U.P.F.C. issued a notice under Section 29 of the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 to take over the unit for recovery of Rs. 38.57 lakhs, prompting the co…

A news report prompted the People's Union for Democratic Rights to file a writ petition alleging that migrant labourers on the Salal Hydro‑Electric Project were denied statutory benefits. The Supreme Court examined reports of the Labour Commissioner, which revealed that the project, executed by the National Hydro Elect…

The Supreme Court examined a land acquisition dispute where the General Government Servants Co‑operative Housing Society Ltd. sought to acquire land for residential houses. The land had been sold by the Central Government to the first respondent, Wahab Uddin, after being declared evacuee property under the Displaced Pe…

The petitioner, a former army captain, was accepted as a Class ‘A’ Tahsildar candidate on 13 September 1974, underwent training and was substantively appointed as Tahsildar on 3 January 1978. He sought to have his military service during the Emergency (1963‑68) and thereafter counted towards seniority from 26 September…

The case concerned a petition by Sandeep Singh Bora (appellant) challenging a High Court interim order that directed the Returning Officer to allot a party symbol to respondent Narendra Singh Deopa and allow him to contest the Zila Panchayat election after his nomination had been cancelled for alleged non‑disclosure. T…

The dispute arose from a partnership where Rajia Begum claimed a 50.33% stake based on an Admission Deed dated 17 April 2007, which she alleged was forged. The High Court, in one proceeding, referred the suit to arbitration under Section 8 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, while in another it refused to ap…

The State of Tamil Nadu filed a suit under Article 131 of the Constitution against Karnataka and the Union of India, seeking a declaration that Karnataka's construction of check dams and diversion structures on the Pennaiyar River without Tamil Nadu's consent was illegal and violated the fundamental rights of its inhab…

The petitioner, a 25% permanently disabled candidate with focal hand dystonia, sought a scribe, compensatory time and other accommodations for various recruitment examinations, arguing that the Office Memorandum dated 10.08.2022 limited such facilities to only Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The Court exami…

The respondents booked an apartment with Godrej Projects and paid a 20% earnest money deposit as per the Apartment Buyer Agreement. After the developer offered possession in June 2017, the respondents cancelled the purchase citing a market recession and demanded a full refund of Rs.51,12,310 with interest. The NCDRC or…

The appellant, Vinod K. Bhagora, served as a Postal Assistant for the Central Government from 1983 to 1993 and then joined the Gujarat State Government as a Senior Assistant after obtaining a No‑Objection Certificate and tendering a technical resignation. He sought to have his ten years of Central Government service co…

The petitioners, teachers appointed in West Bengal madrasas, filed contempt petitions seeking release of their salaries after the Supreme Court upheld the West Bengal Madrasa Service Commission Act, 2008, overturning a High Court decision that had declared parts of the Act unconstitutional. The Supreme Court had earlie…

The State of Rajasthan advertised vacancies for Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in 2013, requiring candidates to possess the Rajasthan State Certificate in Information Technology (RSCIT) by 22 March 2013. The respondent, a widow, applied after the deadline without the RSCIT qualification and was rejected. She obtained the q…

The Bangalore City Cooperative Housing Society sought acquisition of 207 acres of land for a housing scheme, entering into an agreement with the State Government and an estate agent who was paid over Rs 5 crores to secure the acquisition. The High Court quashed the acquisition, holding that no housing scheme had been f…

The respondent, a government engineer, was charged with misconduct and suspended. He repeatedly requested copies of documents relied upon in the charge‑sheet, but the department failed to provide them, violating Rule 7(5) of the Uttar Pradesh Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999. The enquiry officer a…

The Gupta group, originally holding a 50.9% stake in Aar Gee Board Mills, alleged that the Garg group illegally allotted 9,507 equity shares, reducing the Gupta shareholding to a minority and constituting oppression and mismanagement under Sections 397 and 398 of the Companies Act, 1956. The Company Law Board set aside…

The Supreme Court examined whether Prasar Bharati could transfer staff originally appointed by Doordarshan and Akashvani despite the absence of a formal deputation order under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990. The Court observed that the employees had been working under the Corporation’s control, receiving its salary and o…

Girish Jayanti Lal Vaghela was appointed as a Drugs Inspector on a six‑month renewable contract from 1996, without a public advertisement or selection under the recruitment rules. When the UPSC advertised a regular selection in 2001, the upper age limit of 30 years (relaxable by five years for government servants) appl…

The Milk Producers Association and other milk‑selling families (the appellants) had illegally occupied government land in Bhubaneswar and were ordered to vacate. The State, through the Chief Minister, had earlier promised to rehabilitate them in villages outside the city, but later withdrew the promise because the vill…

Dove Investments Pvt. Ltd. and others had taken a loan of Rs.4.5 crore from Gujarat Industrial Investment Corporation (GIC) which was secured by 25,92,800 shares pledged by three other companies. GIC lodged the share certificates and transfer forms with Dove for registration, but the application was filed two months af…

Ram Saran was appointed as a Constable in the Central Reserve Police Force by falsifying his date of birth on a school certificate. After 27 years of service, a departmental enquiry found him guilty of furnishing false information to secure appointment, a violation of Section 11(1) of the CRPF Act and Rule 14 of the CC…

The petitioners challenged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under Article 32, alleging that its cancellation of a television rights tender violated their fundamental rights and that the Board should be treated as a "State" within the meaning of Article 12, making it subject to judicial review. The Court…

The dispute concerned promotions to Executive Engineer in the Haryana Electrical Inspectorate (Group‑A) Service. The service rules required a degree or diploma in Electrical Engineering from a recognised university or its equivalent. The appellants held diplomas issued by the State Board of Technical Education, which t…

Rainbow Colour Lab and other photographers challenged demand notices issued by the State of Madhya Pradesh on the ground that their turnover from taking photographs, developing negatives and printing prints was subject to sales tax. The State, relying on a circular issued after the 46th Constitutional Amendment, treate…

The petitioners, members of the Hindu Bawa community who migrated from Sindh, claimed that they were entitled to reservation benefits for Nomadic tribes under the Maharashtra Government Resolution of 21 November 1961, which listed "Gosavi" and its synonyms, including Bawa. The State of Maharashtra issued a later resolu…

The petitioners, direct recruits to the Karnataka Administrative Service (Junior Scale), challenged a Karnataka Government order dated 3 March 1976 that listed 133 temporary posts alongside 152 permanent posts, arguing that the temporary posts should be counted in the cadre strength of 285 for applying the quota betwee…

Four accused were caught red‑handed with lethal explosives and convicted under Section 5 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987, receiving five years' rigorous imprisonment. They appealed under Section 19 of TADA seeking sentence enhancement, contending that under Section 377(3) of the Crimin…

The Supreme Court examined the allotment of shops in a new marketing complex by the New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC) to long‑standing roadside stall‑holders on a concessional licence fee and with relaxed trade‑zoning restrictions, while other traders obtained shops at higher fees and with strict zoning. The appella…

The Supreme Court entertained a petition under Article 136 of the Constitution, noting that the controversy was already covered by its earlier order in C.A. 3204/95 where delay was condoned and the matter was remitted to the High Court. Accordingly, the Court set aside the Rajasthan High Court’s order dated 12 January …

Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd (HAL) sought to upgrade its penicillin‑G production and evaluated proposals from several firms, ultimately selecting Max‑GB (a joint venture of Gist Brocades and Max India) for technology transfer. The appellants (Torrent Gujarat Biotech, SPIC and PBG) alleged that HAL’s Managing Director acte…

The case concerned promotion to the post of Superintendent in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Two parallel streams of posts – Deputy Superintendents/Revisors and Senior Assistants/Translators – were governed by Rule 10 of the 1992 Recruitment (Conditions of Service) Rules, which required a minimum of three years’ serv…

The assessees, Super Cotton Bowl Refilling Works, repaired and refilled cotton bowls used in textile calendering machines and sought a declaration under section 35 of the Uttar Pradesh Sales Tax Act, 1948 that their activity did not constitute "manufacture" or "sale". The Commissioner of Sales Tax held that both questi…

The landlord sought eviction of his tenant under Clause 13(3) of the C.P. and Berar Letting of Houses and Rent Control Order, 1949, alleging wilful default in rent payment and a bona‑fide requirement for possession. The tenant argued that he paid rent in lump‑sum instalments, which the landlord accepted without objecti…

Serosoft Solutions and Dexter Capital Advisors were in arbitration over unpaid fees. During the arbitration, the respondent sought additional time to cross‑examine the appellant's witness RW‑1, which the arbitral tribunal rejected, holding that sufficient opportunity had already been given. The respondent appealed to t…

Vashist Narayan Kumar, a reserved‑category candidate, applied for the post of Police Constable and cleared the written exam and Physical Eligibility Test. The online application, filled at a cyber‑café, mistakenly recorded his date of birth as 08‑12‑1997 instead of the correct 18‑12‑1997 shown on his school mark sheet.…

The Supreme Court, by a 4:1 majority, upheld the constitutional validity of the Central Government's notification dated 8th November 2016 demonetising all series of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 bank notes under Section 26(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The majority held that the word 'any' in Section 26(2) includes …

The appellant, Prem Singh, was convicted of murdering his two sons by manual strangulation and of causing the disappearance of evidence by throwing their bodies into a canal. The trial and high courts held that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt through a cogent chain of circumstantial evidence, th…

The Delhi High Court suo motu initiated contempt proceedings against the editor, city editor, publisher and cartoonist of the newspaper Mid Day for publishing articles and a cartoon that alleged judicial impropriety by former Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, deeming the publications contemptuous of the Supreme Court. The …

The Supreme Court examined the chronic delay in disposal of serious criminal cases in district courts, noting that many stays were issued by High Courts under Art. 226 of the Constitution and Sections 397/482 of the CrPC. It evaluated the Law Commission's "rate of disposal" method and the criticisms thereof, and consid…

Krishna Narayan Tewari, an officer of Allahabad Bank, was suspended in 2004 and subjected to a disciplinary enquiry that concluded he was guilty of misconduct, leading to his removal from service in 2005. His departmental appeal was dismissed, and he filed a writ petition before the Allahabad High Court, which quashed …

The Gujarat Lokayukta post remained vacant since 2003 and the State Government sought to appoint Justice R.A. Mehta under the Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986. The Act requires the Governor to appoint the Lokayukta after "consultation" with the Chief Justice of the High Court and, where applicable, the Leader of Opposition.…

The respondent, an Agriculture Engineer, was alleged to have committed misconduct and, after retiring on superannuation on 31 July 1982, a disciplinary inquiry was initiated on 28 July 1984. He challenged the jurisdiction of the Government to prosecute a retired servant, arguing that the Governor must be personally sat…

The appellant, an association of small‑scale Khair‑wood based industries, challenged a government policy that imposed a complete ban on registration of such units after 11 December 1986, arguing that it discriminated against units registered after that date and violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court…

Rup Diamonds, a recognised export house, was granted six imprest licences for importing uncut diamonds and fulfilled the associated export obligations. After several years, it applied in 1986 for revalidation and endorsement of these licences under paragraph 185(4) of the 1982-83 Import‑Export Policy, but the Joint Chi…

Dr. G. Sadhasivan Nair, a former lecturer and later professor at Cochin University of Science and Technology, sought to have his eight years of practice as an advocate counted as qualifying service for his superannuation pension under Rule 25(a) of the Kerala Service Rules. The University rejected his claim, relying on…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute where Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) terminated the LPG distributorship granted to ex‑servicemen respondents under a letter of allotment that referred to a "standard agreement" which was never supplied or executed. The Court held that, because the standard agreement was not concl…

The appellants' land was compulsorily acquired in 1981 for an Indian Army field firing range under the Rajasthan Land Acquisition Act, 1953, and although compensation was awarded, it was never fully paid. The State Government issued a series of policy circulars, culminating in the circular dated 13 December 2001, promi…

Punjab Financial Corporation (PFC) had granted a term loan of Rs 24.25 lakh to M/s Surya Auto Industries, secured by mortgage of immovable property. The borrower defaulted, paying only Rs 2.70 lakh, ignored several statutory notices and refused concessions offered by PFC. PFC invoked Section 29 of the State Financial C…

The appellant, Mohindra Hire Purchase, filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act leading to the accused's acquittal. The appellant then sought special leave to appeal the acquittal under Section 378 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the applicatio…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of Coal India Ltd.'s electronic auction (E‑Auction) scheme for allocating coal to non‑core sector consumers. The petitioners argued that coal is an essential commodity and that the scheme's variable pricing, lack of a fixed price, and inclusion of core‑sector entities vi…

A group of Amins employed by the West Bengal government sought to be placed in the same pay scale as Surveyors, invoking the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’. The High Court had earlier granted such parity in a number of writ petitions without examining the distinct qualifications and duties of the two posts, an…

Devi Dass Gopal Krishen Ltd. and another, manufacturers of edible oil in Punjab and Haryana, sold their product in Jammu & Kashmir where a notification dated 7 March 1991 under Section 5 of the Jammu & Kashmir General Sales Tax Act, 1962 exempted local manufacturers from sales tax. The tax rate on edible oil was later …

The appellants, representing teachers and staff of aided non‑government schools in Madhya Pradesh, challenged orders of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner directing contributions to the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) for the period 1 August 1982 to 1 December 1988, alleging that the Madhya Pradesh Ashaskiya Siks…

The landlord M.S. Zayed sued tenant K. Raghavan for possession of a portion of a house under Section 21(1)(h) of the Karnataka Rent Control Act, claiming a reasonable and bona‑fide need for the premises. The trial court found the landlord's need genuine and granted possession, but the Karnataka High Court, on revision …

Mis. Upadhyay & Co. was permitted to collect tolls on the Shastri Bridge for a limited period and later sought to continue collection at revised rates. Various writ petitions were filed in the Allahabad High Court, resulting in interim orders, a Supreme Court set‑aside of those orders, and a High Court direction dated …

The Supreme Court examined amendments made by the Madhya Pradesh Government to the 1973 Recruitment Rules for Assistant Teachers under the Operation Black Board Scheme, which introduced a proviso allowing the State to prescribe selection criteria and procedures in specific circumstances and set the qualification as Bas…

Ram Nath Dewan executed a 1942 will granting his wife Satyawati a life estate in the Doctor's Lane house and directing that after her death the property go to his legal heirs. After Ram Nath's death, the son (first defendant) contested the will, claiming a later 1950 will, and the parties litigated until a 1955 settlem…

The plaintiffs filed a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement and were ordered by the High Court to amend the plaint to implead the purchaser, Kabari Pvt. Ltd. Although the amendment was allowed in 1982, the plaintiffs failed to act on it for about ten years despite being aware of their own laches and the ne…

The appellants challenged the acquisition of land near Surat railway station under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, after filing objections to the notification. The Revenue Department advised that, considering the objections and a revenue circular, the acquisition could not be sanctioned, while the Urban Development Dep…

Super Forgings and Steels (P) Ltd., the tenant, appealed against an eviction order passed under Section 10(3)(a)(iii) of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960. The landlord, the late Thyambally Rasuljee, had sought possession on the ground that he did not occupy any building of his own for his bus…

Ludhiana Steel Private Ltd. disputed a bill from Punjab State Electricity Board for electricity supplied between 6 Oct 1986 and 16 May 1988, alleging the meter under‑recorded consumption. The company sought injunctions and approached the Electrical Inspector under Section 26(6) of the Indian Electricity Act, but the In…

The State of Karnataka appealed against a Karnataka High Court judgment that acquitted Appa Balu Ingale and others of offences under Sections 4 and 7 of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. The accused were alleged to have used a gun threat to prevent Harijan (Dalit) villagers from drawing water from a newly dug b…

Sant Lal Bharti, claiming ownership of premises in Punjab, filed a writ petition challenging the constitutional validity of Section 4 of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, on grounds of violation of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) and alleged unreasonableness. The High Court dismissed the petition in limine bec…

Babasaheb Maruti Kamble was convicted of murder, rape and kidnapping, receiving a death sentence for murder, life imprisonment for rape and two months' simple imprisonment for kidnapping. The Sessions Court referred the death sentence to the High Court, which affirmed both conviction and death penalty. Kamble filed a S…

The Central Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha (CESU) appointed its Chairman, a retired officer, to also discharge the functions of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and paid him a consolidated honorarium. A public‑interest litigation sought a writ of quo warranto to quash this arrangement and directed recovery of the ho…