Constitution of India

The appellant, a political figure, was appointed Secretary of the first Board of Directors of the Vaishalli District Central Cooperative Bank under Bye‑law 29, which allowed the Registrar to nominate the Board for up to one year at a time. The Board's term was repeatedly extended by directions from the Chief Minister, …

The appellant, Lakha Singh, contested a civil suit filed by the respondent, Balwinder Singh, for specific performance of an agreement to sell agricultural land and for the recovery of Rs.16,00,000 earnest money. The trial court held the transaction to be a loan rather than a sale and ordered the appellant to refund the…

The petitioner challenged the constitutional validity of Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalized adultery, and Section 198 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which restricted the right to prosecute for adultery to the husband. A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that …

Gulshera Khanam, the landlady of a shop, sought eviction of tenant Aftab Ahmad on the ground that her married daughter, a co‑owner of the building, needed the adjacent shop to expand her medical clinic. The lower authorities held that the daughter, as a female with a legal right of residence, fell within the definition…

The Tamil Nadu Rural Development Engineers Association, whose members were originally appointed as Overseers in the Highways Department, were absorbed into the Rural Development (RD) Department as Overseers and later promoted to Assistant Engineers. They contended that their prior service should be counted for seniorit…

The appellant, V.K. Sasikala, was on trial for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. While her examination under Section 313 CrPC was in progress, she applied for certified copies and, alternatively, inspection of certain unmarked and unexhibited documents that had been forwarded to the court under Section 1…

The President of India made a reference under Article 143(1) of the Constitution seeking the Supreme Court's opinion on whether auction is the only permissible method for disposal of all natural resources, following the Court's judgment in the 2G case which had quashed spectrum licenses and directed auction. The Court …

The appellant, Har Devi Asnani, purchased a residential plot for Rs 18 lakh and paid stamp duty of Rs 1,17,000, but the Sub‑Registrar re‑valued the land at Rs 2,58,44,260, leading the Additional Collector to demand a deficit stamp duty of Rs 15,70,000. The appellant challenged the demand in the High Court, which dismis…

The husband of the appellant, an editor of a Manipuri daily, was detained under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980 on allegations of extorting money for the UNLF and causing a terror wave. The appellant challenged the detention, arguing that the grounds were vague, unsupported by material, and that there w…

Jagir Singh, a driver with Punjab Roadways, was absent without leave for about three months in 1979. The State sent a registered notice and published a newspaper notice urging him to report, but he failed to do so, leading to termination of his services on 3 August 1979. The workman sought reinstatement and back wages,…

The Allahabad High Court staff—including Section Officers, Private Secretaries, Bench Secretaries and Assistant Registrars—filed writ petitions seeking higher pay scales on parity with their counterparts in the Delhi High Court. The Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court merely forwarded their representation to the …

The landlords (appellants) sued the tenant (respondents) for eviction under the Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates (Control) Act, 1947, alleging non‑payment of rent for the six‑month period January‑June 1978. A notice of demand was served on 14 July 1978, giving the tenant until 14 August 1978 to pay. The tena…

The State of West Bengal leased surplus land, acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for a railway project, to a private company without conducting a public tender or auction. The appellants, heirs of the former owners and a vegetarian group, challenged the lease as arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the C…

The landlord applied to the Rent Controller under Section 13(3)(ii),(iii) and (iv) of the Central Provinces and Berar Letting of Houses and Rent Control Order, 1949, seeking eviction on grounds of habitual rent default, sub‑letting and bona‑fide personal need. The Controller found the tenant guilty on all grounds and g…

The appellants were convicted by a Designated Court for murder, attempt to murder, causing hurt and an offence under Section 3 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) arising from an altercation at a video parlour that led to a fatal assault near a hotel. On appeal, the Supreme Court held tha…

Goodwill Paint and Chemical Industry, a manufacturer of "thinner", filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of Section 5 of the Poisons Act, 1919 and a 1973 Delhi Poisons Rules amendment that classified thinner as a poison. The petitioners argued that the provision gave the State a…

The Bench Secretaries of the Allahabad High Court were split into Grade I and Grade II, with the former receiving a higher pay scale, while all performed the same duties. They challenged this bifurcation before the High Court, arguing that it violated Articles 14 and 39(d) of the Constitution guaranteeing equal pay for…

A public‑interest writ under Article 32 of the Constitution was filed concerning the deplorable conditions at the Mental Hospital, Kanke, Ranchi. The Court ordered the State of Bihar to file a counter‑affidavit and directed a Chief Judicial Magistrate to inspect the hospital, whose report revealed severe shortages of w…

Ikramuddin Ahmed Borah, a Sub‑Inspector of Police in Assam, was appointed by the Principal Police Training College under the Assam Police Manual. He was dismissed by the Superintendent of Police, Darrang, invoking clause (b) of the second proviso to Article 311(2) of the Constitution on the ground that an inquiry was n…

The appellants, convicted of life imprisonment for the 1971 murder of Kunwar Bahadur, sought acquittal on the ground that a man of the same name was found dead in 1983, suggesting the original victim was alive for twelve years. The Supreme Court, invoking its power under Article 136, ordered the District Magistrate of …

Rajinder Kumar Kindra, a salesman, was dismissed after a domestic enquiry found him guilty of misconduct for allegedly negligently keeping his private cheque‑book unattended, which the employer claimed enabled the manager‑cum‑cashier to defraud the company. The dispute was referred to an arbitrator under Sec. 10(A)(1) …

Kalvakuntla Kavitha, a former Member of Parliament and Legislative Council, was charged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in CBI and Enforcement Directorate investigations relating to a Delhi excise policy conspiracy. She applied for bail, invoking the special treatment granted to women under the provi…

The State of Punjab enacted Section 4(5) of the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006, reserving 50% of SC quota for Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs. The High Court struck down this provision, relying on E.V. Chinnaiah, and the Supreme Court dismissed a related SLP. In a three‑Judg…

The petitioners, graduate Assistant Engineers of the general category, challenged the seniority of reserved‑category Junior Engineers who had been promoted to Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADE) under Rule 12 of the Tamil Nadu Highways Engineering Service Rules. The issue was whether Article 16(4A) of the Constitution …

The petition challenged the appointment of several Union Ministers on the ground that they had criminal antecedents or were facing charges for serious offences, seeking a declaration that such appointments were unconstitutional and requesting the Court to frame guidelines for ministerial appointments. The Court examine…

Mohd. Qureshi filed a complaint alleging extortion by Arun Gawali and his gang, which was registered as FIR No. 241/2005. He later claimed that the police forced him to lodge the complaint and applied before the Metropolitan Magistrate to withdraw it; the application was rejected. The complainant and his wife approache…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai had taken the statutory "steps" required under Section 126 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act to commence acquisition of land reserved for a public purpose, after the appellants served a purchase notice under Section 12…

The appellant, Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation, resumed an industrial plot allotted to the respondent, Cork Manufacturing Co., alleging breach of a contractual construction deadline. The respondent filed a suit for permanent injunction, claiming the resumption order was illegal, that it remained in pos…

The appellants, an importer of mammoth fossil ivory and a carver, challenged the ban on their ivory under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, arguing that mammoth ivory is not covered by the term "ivory" and that the prohibition violates Articles 14 and 19(6) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined the statut…

The appellants, Indian Handicrafts Emporium and others, were traders who had legally imported ivory and manufactured articles from it before the 1991 amendment to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 prohibited any trade in imported ivory. They challenged the constitutional validity of the amendment on grounds of viola…

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh against an Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal order that directed re‑determination of seniority and promotion for non‑gazetted posts in the Commercial Tax, Revenue and Police Departments. The Tribunal had held that the State Government's 1…

The Supreme Court examined the claim of Company Paid Staff employed in the offices of the Official Liquidator and Court Liquidator across several High Courts, who had served for 10‑25 years on low pay without permanent status or retirement benefits. They filed writ petitions seeking to be regularised as Central Governm…

The petition, filed by Smt. Sarojini Ramaswami on behalf of her husband Justice V. Ramaswami, sought a mandamus directing the Inquiry Committee constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 to furnish a copy of its report to the Judge before it was submitted to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, alleging a violation of n…

In 1991 a motion signed by 108 Lok Sabha members to remove Justice V. Ramaswami was admitted by the Speaker, leading to the constitution of an Inquiry Committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. Two writ petitions (W.P. 140/1992 and W.P. 149/1992) were filed under Article 32 seeking to quash the motion, the committ…

The Supreme Court examined a public interest litigation filed by H.S. Chowdhary under Article 51A challenging the Central Bureau of Investigation's request to issue a Letter Rogatory to Switzerland in the Bofors scandal. The Court held that the petitioner and intervening parties (Janata Dal, CPI(M), Indian Congress (So…

The Supreme Court examined the “sealed‑cover” procedure used when a government employee’s promotion is pending but disciplinary or criminal proceedings are underway. It held that the procedure can be invoked only after a charge‑memo or charge‑sheet has been served, and that preliminary investigations do not trigger it.…

The petitioner, D. Misra, secured 470 marks in the written exam and 30 marks in the viva‑voce for the Probationary Munsif post, but was omitted from the select list prepared by the Orissa Public Service Commission. The Commission had introduced a rule requiring a minimum 30% score in the viva‑voce, based on the advice …

The petitioners, life convicts for murder, were released on bail pending appeal and were granted a remission of 19 months and 12 days while on bail. The State, relying on a Governor's order and a subsequent letter, excluded prisoners on bail or with suspended sentences from remission under paragraph 637 of the Punjab J…

The petitioners, a Kerala distributors association, challenged the constitutional validity of amendments to the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1976 (ss.4(7) and 4(8)), Section 15 of the same Act, and Section 8A of the Kerala Motor Transport Workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 1985, arguing that these provisions made the pa…

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of most provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), including the definition of money-laundering, attachment of property, search and seizure, arrest, bail conditions, and burden of proof. The Court interpreted Section 3 to have a wider reach, c…

An FIR was lodged in April 1984 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code alleging that the appellant, then Managing Director of a district agency, conspired with a Deputy Commissioner to award a contract to a private firm. The State Government denied sanction for prosecution on two occasions (19…

The State of Maharashtra appealed a High Court order that quashed demand notices issued to Swanstone Multiplex Cinema Ltd. for entertainment duty collected during a period of statutory exemption. The multiplex had collected the full 45% duty from patrons even though the Act provided a three‑year full exemption and a tw…

The appellant, Japani Sahoo, filed a criminal complaint on 5 February 1996 alleging assault and extortion by the respondent, an Inspector of Police. The Sub‑Divisional Judicial Magistrate took cognizance of the complaint only on 8 August 1997, more than a year after the alleged offence, and later issued summons and a n…

The respondent, a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) that was a partner in a firm, effected a partial partition on 13‑April‑1979 and the Income Tax Officer (ITO) recognised it under Section 171(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. For AY 1980‑81 the HUF filed a return excluding income from the partitioned assets. The Finance Bill…

The case involved an international arbitration dispute between V.A.V.U. Beratung GmbH & Co. KG and National Fertilizers Ltd., wherein the respondent had obtained a stay order in 1991 that remained in force for nearly seven years. The petitioner sought relief from the Supreme Court, arguing that such a prolonged interlo…

The Supreme Court upheld the West Bengal Health Service Act, 1990 and the West Bengal Health Service Rules, 1993, rejecting challenges that the statutes were beyond the State's legislative competence and violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. The Court held that the Act merely regulates conditions of se…

J.F. Pathan was detained on 12 October 1988 under Section 3(1) of the Gujarat Prevention of Anti‑Social Activities Act, 1985. He had earlier been detained in 1985 under the National Security Act and in 1986 under the same PASA Act, both orders later quashed by the Gujarat High Court. The detaining authority, in forming…

The case arose from a strike by teachers in Uttar Pradesh in 1977, after which the State appointed 2,257 "reserve pool" teachers on a temporary basis under Ordinance No.25 of 1977. Subsequent Ordinances No.10 and No.22 of 1978 sought to absorb these teachers and give them preferential treatment in future vacancies, whi…

The petitioners, a group of Munsiffs appointed in 2003 by direct recruitment, challenged the High Court's order fixing their inter‑se seniority on the basis of roster points under the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005. They argued that seniority should be determined by the merit order prepared by the State Public…

The Supreme Court examined the Madhya Pradesh Niji Vyavsayik Shikshan Sansthan (Admission Regulation and Fee Determination) Act, 2007, which appeared to vest the State with complete control over admissions and fee fixation in private unaided medical and dental colleges. Relying on earlier judgments (T.M.A. Pai Foundati…

The case concerned an application under Section 92(1)(f) of the Code of Civil Procedure for sanction to sell a piece of land belonging to a religious public trust (Garhwaghat Math). The District Judge granted the sanction, after which Swami Shankaranand, a disciple and in‑charge of another Math, appealed, claiming an i…

The appellants sought to compel a cooperative bank in Kerala to fill seven additional clerk/cashier vacancies, arguing that the Registrar's approval was not required and that the bank's financial health should not affect cadre strength. The High Court had directed the bank to fill the vacancies, but the Supreme Court h…

Dr. Monica Kumar and her brother filed petitions under s.482 CrPC to quash two criminal cases filed against them while they were MBBS students, alleging that the complaints were motivated by the vindictive actions of the college chairman, Dr. P. Mahalingam, after a loan dispute. The High Court refused to quash the proc…

The petitioner, a wife, filed a divorce on the ground of desertion and later challenged a criminal complaint filed by her husband under IPC s.497 accusing Dharma Ebenezer of adultery with her. She argued that s.497 violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution by discriminating against women and denying the alleged v…

The case concerned claims by thousands of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) workers who had been employed as temporary, badli or part‑time staff between 20 May 1985 and 4 March 1991, seeking regularisation (absorption) under the Srivastav Award and earlier Tulpule and Jamdar Awards. The Supreme Court examined w…

The petitioners, a society, challenged several provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, alleging they violated Articles 14 and 50 of the Constitution. The main contentions were that the Chief Justice of India or his nominee, as a mere member of the selection committee, should have primacy in appointing the Lo…

The petitioners, led by Avishek Goenka, raised a public‑interest writ alleging that prepaid SIM cards were being sold without proper identity verification, posing security risks and violating Department of Telecommunications (DoT) notifications. The petitioner sought strict enforcement of verification norms, physical r…

The Punjab Roadways, Moga challenged High Court orders that directed the State Transport Authority to grant regular stage‑carriage permits to private operators on routes where State Transport Undertakings (STUs) had either not utilized or had surrendered their permits. The dispute centered on the interpretation of the …

The appellant, a confirmed employee of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, challenged her termination by filing a suit in the District Court and seeking an interim injunction. She subsequently filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution without disclosing the pending suit, later withdrawing the suit. …

The petitioners, a union of daily‑rated gardeners employed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., a government company, sought regularisation, continuance of service and equal pay, alleging that they had worked more than 240 days a year for several years and that artificial breaks were created to deny them permanence. The Alla…

P. Chandrasekharan and others appealed to the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order that allowed the cross‑objections of the respondents in a suit for possession of two parcels of land. The appellants argued that the High Court had erred by ignoring documentary evidence and misinterpreting the deed of sale, t…

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., a government company, claimed a statutory right to renew a lease originally granted to Burmah Shell under the Burmah Shell (Acquisition of Undertakings in India) Act, 1976. The lease, with a nominal rent of Rs 50 per month, had expired in 1985 and the company issued a notice in 1989 t…

The appellant, a former Deputy General Manager of State Bank of India, sought promotion to General Manager (TEGS VII) and an extension of service beyond the age of superannuation. Both claims were rejected by the Bank after a structured interview and a three‑member committee assessment, respectively. The appellant alle…

The Bar Council of India filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging Rule 11 of the Kerala High Court Rules, which bars an advocate found guilty of contempt from appearing, acting or pleading in any court until he purges the contempt. The Council argued that the rule violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Cons…

The Delhi High Court, on a public‑interest writ filed by a parents' federation, held that several unaided recognised schools in Delhi were commercialising education by charging excessive fees and transferring surplus funds to their managing societies. The schools appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging the Director …

Manudevarya, a Research Assistant with the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, received a non‑practicing allowance (NPA) of Rs.75 while doctors and physicians in the same institution received Rs.150. The Government issued a policy in 1991 enhancing NPA for doctors and physicians in pay scales Rs.2000‑3500 and a…

In a Zila Panchayat election in Uttaranchal, three candidates received six, five and one first‑preference votes. After eliminating the lowest‑vote candidate, the remaining two each had six votes, and no one met the quota required under the Hare‑Clarke system. The Returning Officer declared the post vacant, a decision u…

The case involved the murder of Gram Sarpanch Sitaram Anjanalelu, for which six persons were convicted by the trial court under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC. On appeal, the Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld convictions of two accused (A‑1 and A‑3) only under Section 326 and acquitted the rest. The Suprem…

The case concerned several police officers who had been promoted on an officiating basis with a stipulation that they would not receive seniority until selected under the Bihar Police Manual Rules. The High Court had granted seniority and promotion to Brij Bihari Prasad Singh and Kameshwar Prasad Singh, relying on the …

Varkey Joseph, the youngest brother of the deceased Mathew, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for killing his brother after a property dispute. The trial court and Kerala High Court upheld the conviction based largely on circumstantial evidence and testimony obtained through leading questions during chief e…

The Chakma refugees, who migrated from East Pakistan to Assam in 1964 and were later shifted to the North‑East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh) in 1966, were allotted land under a government resettlement scheme but subsequently occupied land donated by a local Raja inside a protected inner‑line area. The State d…

The respondent, S.L. Abbas, a garden curator in the Botanical Survey of India, was transferred from Shillong to Pauri and challenged the order before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), alleging that his wife’s posting, his children’s education, his health, and the non‑application of the Government of India Offi…

The dispute arose over the appointment of a dealer for a fair price shop in Andhra Pradesh, where an advertisement gave preference to experienced, unemployed educated persons, ladies and handicapped individuals. The appellant, a commerce graduate with prior experience, was rejected in favor of a respondent who had only…

The Supreme Court considered a contempt petition filed by JSW Steel Ltd., which had become the successful resolution applicant for the insolvent Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd. After the National Company Law Tribunal approved the resolution plan, the State of Chhattisgarh issued demand notices for sales tax, VAT and entry…

The dispute involved two lawyers practicing before the same courts in Kodaikanal who filed cross‑FIRs against each other for the same incident on 18 December 2017, alleging assault, threats and injury. Both FIRs named the same offences under Sections 294(b), 323 and 506(1) of the IPC, and the matter had been pending fo…

The State invited tenders for irrigation works and the appellant, having quoted the lowest rates, entered into three contracts. He later raised nine claims, of which the arbitrator awarded several and rejected others. The State sought to set aside the award under sections 30 and 33 of the Arbitration Act, 1940, and the…

Sundeep Kumar Bafna, convicted of offences punishable with death or life imprisonment, applied to the Bombay High Court for surrender and regular bail under s.439 CrPC after his anticipatory bail was denied. The High Court dismissed the bail plea, holding that only a magistrate could entertain it and directing the appe…

Mahipal Singh was accused of rigging entrance examinations for medical and veterinary courses and was charged under several IPC provisions. The CBI invoked Section 3 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against him in four cases, leading to his remand under MCOCA. The Delhi High Court set aside the…

The Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad appointed the appellant, a Superintending Engineer, to officiate as Chief Engineer. The senior-most respondent challenged the appointment, arguing that in the absence of a merit‑based selection the senior officer should be given the charge. The Allahabad High Court quashed the…

The respondents, former employees of E.I.D. Parry (I) Ltd., retired under a voluntary scheme in 1984 and received gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Because their monthly wages exceeded Rs 1,000, they were not covered by the definition of "employee" in Section 2(e) of the Central Act, and therefore could…

The tenant, Jagdish Lal, held a lease for a shop let for "Maniari" (general merchant) business at Rs 600 per month. He later started a restaurant serving tea and cold drinks, which the Rent Controller deemed a change of user under Section 13 of the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent & Eviction) Act, 1973 and ordered evicti…

K.G. Kulkarni, a former sorter in the Railway Mail Service who was working as a clerk in the Speed Post Section, was denied an opportunity to appear for the departmental examination for promotion to Postal Superintendent/Postmaster Group B. He challenged the decision before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which se…

The Supreme Court examined the applicability of the Mysore Agricultural Department Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1961, to determine the inter‑se seniority between directly recruited officers and promotees in the Karnataka Agricultural Service. The appellants contended that the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal erred in …

The appellants, owners of saw‑mills, challenged the constitutionality of the Madhya Pradesh Kashtha Chiran (Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 1984 and the M.P. Transit (Forest Produce) Rules, 1961, contending that the mandatory maintenance of detailed records (Forms D‑1, D‑2, D‑3) and the consequent risk of confiscation violated t…

The State of Punjab appointed a general‑category employee as Junior Technical Assistant and later promoted a Scheduled Caste candidate to the sole Assistant Superintendent post, which was reserved under the roster. The aggrieved general‑category employee sought a mandamus to de‑reserve the post, arguing that reservatio…

The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner issued a notice under Section 7B of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 to Shillong City Bus Syndicate for failure to pay EPF contributions for Jan‑Sept 1972. The syndicate contended that the Act did not apply to the Khasi Hills Autonomous Distr…

The respondent, S.K. Sharma, a bank manager, was charged with temporary misappropriation of a loan amount and was removed from service after a departmental enquiry. The enquiry officer relied on statements of witnesses, but the respondent was not supplied copies of those statements nor of certain documents as required …

The Karnataka Government framed Special Rules in 1977 to appoint local candidates belonging only to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Tribes to Class‑III posts without any merit‑based selection. Several local candidates from other categories were also appointed, and the Special Rules compelled the termina…

The Automobile Products of India Employees Union (appellant) and the Association of Engineering Workers, Bombay (respondent) contested the recognition of a trade union under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions & Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971. After a series of applications for cancellation and…

The appellant, a permanent uncovenanted employee of Tata Iron & Steel Co., rendered 29 years of continuous service and resigned, thereby becoming eligible for retiring gratuity under the 1937 Retiring Gratuity Rules. The company refused payment, invoking Rule 10 which purported to give it absolute discretion to pay or …

The appellant, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife appointed in 1980, submitted a resignation on 18 April 1993 but withdrew it on 23 November 1993 before it was accepted. Despite the withdrawal, the State later accepted the resignation effective from 31 March 1993, leading to a series of writ petitions under Article 226. The Hi…

Two former judicial officers of Jharkhand challenged orders of compulsory retirement issued by the High Court’s Screening and Standing Committees, alleging that the committees ignored later service records, that promotions should erase earlier adverse entries, and that the retirements were not in public interest. The S…

The appellant Department of Customs appealed against the discharge of Sharad Gandhi, who was accused of attempting to export a sand‑stone Buddha head classified as an antiquity. The prosecution relied on Sections 132 and 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act, 1962 for false declaration and fraudulent evasion of a prohibition. T…

The Supreme Court examined the interpretation of the proviso in Section 24 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, to determine whether it applies to sub‑section 24(1)(b) or to 24(2). The petitioners (Delhi Development Authority) sought to conti…

The petition arose from the kidnapping of a six‑year‑old girl, Lalita Kumari, whose father reported the incident to the police but the FIR was registered only after a month and no investigative action was taken. The petitioner sought a writ of habeas corpus, contending that the police had a statutory duty under Section…

The Union of employees of Grand Kakatiya Sheraton Hotel challenged Sections 47(3) and 47(4) of the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, which provided a "service compensation" after only one year of continuous service. The Supreme Court examined whether these provisions were in fact a gratuity, whether th…

Petitioners K. Madalaimuthu and A. Arumuga Nainar filed a contempt petition against IAS officers M. Devaraj and M. Muthusamy, alleging willful disobedience and disrespect of a Supreme Court order dated 4 July 2006 that directed their promotion in the Tamil Nadu Registration Service. They also sought to set aside a subs…

The appellant, a constable of the Railway Protection Force, was charged with leaving his post and the station without permission, leaving arms and ammunition unguarded, and filing a leave application that was not approved. The disciplinary authority found the charge proved and imposed removal from service under Rule 15…

The employee, Ajay Kumar, was dismissed by Indian Railway Construction Co. Ltd. while on probation for allegedly assaulting a senior officer and creating a violent scene. The employer dispensed with a disciplinary enquiry, invoking loss of confidence and impracticability, and relied on Rule 30 of its Conduct, Disciplin…

The appellants were appointed as permanent civil servants of the Jammu & Kashmir State before 1963 and were posted in industrial units. After the incorporation of Jammu & Kashmir Industries Ltd., the Governor issued an instruction entrusting those units to the company, but the appellants continued to work in the same p…

The respondent, an Executive Engineer in Gujarat, was suspended pending disciplinary proceedings and was compulsorily retired under Rule 161(1)(i)(aa) of the Bombay Civil Services Rules, 1959. The High Court set aside the retirement order, holding it punitive because it was passed without a completed enquiry and withou…

The petitioner sought a writ directing the State of Maharashtra to hold a Common Entrance Examination for admission to its medical colleges, invoking Regulation 5(2) of the Medical Council of India’s 1997 Regulations. Maharashtra argued it fell under Regulation 5(3) because the CBSE board contributed only a small fract…

The petitioners, a group of contract carriage operators, were denied fresh permits under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 because the Karnataka Contract Carriages (Acquisition) Act, 1976 (ss. 14 and 20) barred any new applications and gave a monopoly to the State Transport Undertaking. They challenged the refusals before t…

The petitioners were workers in railway canteens classified as statutory, non‑statutory recognised, and non‑statutory non‑recognised. They sought to be treated as railway employees and to receive the same service conditions as other railway staff. The Court examined the statutory duty under Section 46 of the Factories …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 15 of the Punjab Pre-emption Act, 1913 (as applied in Haryana), which gave a right of pre-emption based on consanguinity. Petitioners argued that the classification violated Articles 14, 15 and 19(1)(f) of the Constitution, while the State defended it on…

The petitioners, New India Sugar Works, challenged a Uttar Pradesh government order imposing a levy on khandsari sugar, arguing that the levy should not apply to sugar produced before the order and that the fixed levy price did not cover manufacturing costs, violating their constitutional rights. The Supreme Court held…

The petitioners, who were denied admission to the MBBS courses of the Government Medical Colleges in Srinagar and Jammu for 1980‑81, challenged the State's reservation policy that earmarked 17% of seats for "rectification of regional imbalances" by classifying certain villages as socially and educationally backward. Th…

Mrs. Frances Coralie Mullin, a British national, was detained on 23 November 1979 under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974. She filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that her right to make a representation under Article 22(5) was violated because the represen…

Mantoo Majumdar and Basdev Singh were detained for over seven years in Bihar prisons on the basis of alleged involvement in 1971-72 offences, without any charge sheet or completed investigation. They filed a habeas corpus petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the legality of their continued detentio…

The appellant, a third‑generation Christian, sought to bury his deceased father, a pastor, in his native village of Chhindawada where his ancestors had been interred. Villagers objected, the Gram Panchayat refused, and the High Court dismissed his writ petition, directing burial at a designated Christian cemetery in Ka…

The retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Madhya Pradesh, who retired in 2001, sought a higher pension by invoking the Indian Forests Service (Pay) Second Amendment Rules, 2008 which created an apex scale of Rs.80,000 for the upgraded post of Head of Forest Force. The Central Administrative Tribunal …

The Oriental Insurance Company appointed Pradip as an Assistant on the basis of a caste certificate claiming he belonged to the Dhangad Scheduled Tribe, whereas he actually belonged to the Dhangar community, a non‑ST group. The Scrutiny Committee invalidated his claim, but Pradip filed a writ petition seeking protectio…

The Director of Land Records and Survey, Assam advertised 160 seats for the Assam Survey and Settlement Training Institute and selected 160 candidates. Subsequent lists of candidates were prepared, but the Government refused to approve them, prompting petitions. The petitioners argued that appointments could be made fr…

The Supreme Court examined petitions filed by Supreet Batra and others seeking a third round of counselling for MBBS/BDS admissions under the 15% All‑India quota, arguing that several states had not completed the prescribed counselling within the dates fixed by the Court‑framed scheme, leading to vacant seats. The Cour…

The Rajasthan High Court had appointed a two‑Judge Committee, constituted by the Acting Chief Justice, to recommend merit criteria for promotion of Higher Judicial Service officers to the selection scale. The Full Court approved the Committee's recommendations and the Governor issued appointments, but several officers …

The respondents, who were Class III government servants in Orissa, reached the statutory retirement age of 58 and claimed that, as "workmen" under the second proviso to Rule 71(a) of the Orissa Service Code, they were entitled to remain in service until the age of 60. The Orissa Administrative Tribunal held them to be …

The Consumer Education and Research Centre filed a public‑interest writ under Article 32 seeking protection for workers in asbestos mines and industries, alleging that the right to health and medical care is a fundamental right under Article 21 read with Articles 39(c), 41, 43 and 48A of the Constitution. The petition …

The Government of India issued Office Memorandum No. 18(4)-EV/79 on 25 May 1979, which stipulated that half of the dearness allowance should be treated as pensionable pay, changing the pension calculation from 3/10 to 5/10 of the ten‑month average salary. B. Rama Murthy challenged the memorandum before the Central Admi…

Ashok Kumar was detained under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 on allegations of illegal foreign‑currency and gold transactions. The grounds of detention were served on 21 March 1987, but the material documents on which the Detaining Authority relied…

The case arose from suo moto proceedings initiated by a revenue officer under Section 44(2a) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953, which were reopened after a High Court order in 1982. Ashit Nath Das appealed the final order before the 9th Additional District Judge and, after obtaining the opinion of the Ad…

The United Commercial Syndicate, acting as purchasing agent for Lingo Sulphite Corporation, entered into an agreement with the Uttar Pradesh State Sugar Corporation to buy 28,300 quintals of molasses at the statutory price of Rs 9 per quintal, with a fallback clause allowing payment of Rs 25.10 per quintal if the statu…

The appellant, C. Selvarani, born to a Christian father and a mother who allegedly converted to Hinduism, applied for a Scheduled Caste (SC) community certificate to secure a government job reserved for SC candidates. The authorities rejected her application on the ground that she does not profess Hinduism, Buddhism or…

Head Constable Surinder Singh entered the complainant's residential office while intoxicated, drew his service pistol, aimed it at the complainant and fired a shot that struck the ceiling. The prosecution proved the bullet was fired from his pistol and that he intended to kill, despite no motive being established. The …

The petitioners (Shiv Sena, NCP and INC) challenged the Governor of Maharashtra’s decision to invite the BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to form the government after President's Rule was revoked on 23 November 2019. They argued that the Governor’s action violated constitutional principles, including Article 14 and the doc…

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) filed complaints against the City Municipal Council (CMC) of Krishnarajapuram and its former commissioners for discharging untreated sewage in violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The High Court quashed the proceedings under Section …

The Constitution Bench examined whether, for computing the period of limitation under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the relevant date is the filing of the complaint or the institution of prosecution, or the date a magistrate takes cognizance. The Court resolved a conflict between earlier decision…

Raja Khan filed a civil suit in Hamirpur (Allahabad Bench jurisdiction) for lease of land in Bahraich (under Lucknow Bench) belonging to a Waqf Board. The High Court's Single Judge, hearing a writ petition filed in the Allahabad Bench, issued ex‑parte interim orders directing the respondents to allot the land and to en…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by landowners challenging the acquisition of their lands under the 1981 notifications of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and seeking fresh notifications and higher compensation. The High Court had repeatedly summoned senior state officials—Principal Secretaries of Public…

The petitioner, great‑grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, learned that an urn allegedly containing Gandhi's ashes was kept in a safe‑deposit locker of the State Bank of India, Cuttack, deposited in 1950 by the then Secretary to the Chief Minister of Orissa. After repeated requests to the Orissa government and the bank for rele…

The appellants, who were temporarily appointed as Health Inspectors between 1958 and 1962, challenged the Andhra Pradesh Government's order that retrospectively regularised the services of temporary promotee Health Inspectors (respondents No. 4‑121) under Rule 37(e) of the Public Health Subordinate Service Rules. They …

The Orissa Judicial Services Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of Rule 7 of the Orissa Superior Judicial Service Rules, 1963 and a 1987 notification for direct recruitment of advocates to the Superior Judicial Service. The petitioners argued that direct recruitme…

The All Bihar Christian Schools Association, a religious minority society, challenged the Bihar Non‑Government Secondary Schools (Taking over of Management and Control) Act, 1981, alleging that sections 3 and 18 interfered with its Article 30(1) right to establish and administer minority schools. The Court examined whe…

The Special Area Development Authority (SADA) of Korba, created under the Madhya Pradesh Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Adhiniyam, 1973, levied property tax on Western Coalfields Ltd., Bharat Aluminium Co. Ltd. and other government‑owned companies, despite an agreement that SADA would not tax them and claims that the companie…

The appellant filed a criminal complaint in 2013 alleging offences under the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. A magistrate took cognizance of the offences and committed the case to a Special Court constituted under Section 14 of the Atrocities Act. The High Court q…

The Azam Jahi Mill was closed in 2002 and its workers were allotted quarters. While 134 ex‑employees continued to occupy the quarters and were later allotted 200 sq yds of developed plots free of cost as a rehabilitation measure, 318 ex‑employees vacated the quarters and were denied similar plots. The Workers Associati…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of appeals challenging a Punjab High Court full bench decision that denied daily‑wage, ad‑hoc and contractual employees the right to equal pay with regular staff. The Court clarified that the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’ applies to temporary employees who are appointed agai…

The Association of Leasing and Financial Service Companies challenged the levy of service tax under Section 66 of the Finance Act, 1994 (as amended) on financial leasing, equipment leasing and hire‑purchase services, arguing that Parliament lacked competence under Entry 97 of List I because Article 366(29A) treated suc…

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted Munni Ram and others for assault, homicide and offences under the Cattle Trespass Act arising from a dispute over trespassing buffaloes. The trial court convicted the accused, but the Allahabad High Court acquitted them after finding the prosecution witnesses unreliable and giving …

The appeal concerned four acres of government land that had been granted to four temples for the purpose of generating income for poojas and temple maintenance. The descendants of the original poojari obtained hereditary trustee status under Section 63(b) of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&…

The case concerned the nature of the power exercised by the Chief Justice of a High Court or the Chief Justice of India under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to appoint arbitrators when parties fail to do so. The petitioners argued that this power is judicial, requiring the Chief Justice to …

In the Solan constituency election, the petitioner Mohinder Nath Sofat challenged the election of Krishna Mohini on two grounds: the alleged improper rejection of the nomination papers of Pritam Chand and Mohan Singh, who were alternate candidates of unrecognised parties, and the alleged illegal acceptance of Jagdish C…

The appellant, the heir of Pt. Chet Ram Vashist, had obtained approval for a lay‑out plan of his private colony, which reserved certain plots for parks and schools. After municipal water supply became available, he applied to the Delhi Municipal Corporation for removal of building restrictions, and the Standing Committ…

The Supreme Court entertained three public‑interest writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union of India to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court and the High Courts. The Union initially claimed the issue was non‑justiciable, relying on S.P. Gupta v. Union of India, but later withdrew that obje…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of clause (b) of Section 32 of the Andhra Pradesh Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1960, which exempted all buildings constructed on or after 26 August 1957 from the Act's rent‑control provisions. Petitioners argued that after more than two decades the e…

The former Tamil Nadu Transport Minister V. Senthil Balaji was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for alleged involvement in a large‑scale job‑racketeering scheme, with the Enforcement Directorate filing a complaint under Section 3 of the PMLA punishable under Section 4. The High Court rejecte…

The State of Haryana sought a direction to conduct the entire recruitment of Junior Civil Judges through the Haryana Public Service Commission and to modify the Supreme Court's 12 February 2009 order that had placed the selection under a committee comprising High Court judges, the State, and the Commission. The Court e…

The Supreme Court examined a slew of petitions seeking a referral of the M. Nagaraj judgment to a larger bench, focusing on the validity of its requirement that States collect quantifiable data on the backwardness of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) for promotion reservations. The Court held that while t…

The petitioners filed a writ under Article 32 seeking a declaration that Supreme Court proceedings of constitutional and national importance be live‑streamed and that a regulatory framework be established. The Court examined whether live‑streaming is compatible with the constitutional mandate of open courts, the rights…

Lok Prahari, a society, filed a public‑interest litigation seeking a declaration that a stay of conviction granted by an appellate court does not remove the disqualification of a sitting MLA/MP under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and that the legislative seat becomes vacant from the date of c…

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, which provides a unique identity number to residents based on biometric and demographic data. The petitioners challenged the Act on grounds of violation of the right…

Jagdish Narain Shukla filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking the implementation of a Lokayukta report that alleged corruption by former minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui and former MLC Husna Siddiqui, claiming they had purchased assets at undervalued prices using income from unknown sources. The Lokayukta, under S…

The petitioners, children of a former Director of Animal Husbandry, were charged under Section 56 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) for receiving foreign exchange. While the cases were pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the State Government, with the High Court's resolution, transferred them to a…

The Supreme Court examined whether agreements between a developer and flat purchasers constitute "works contracts" under Art.366(29‑A)(b) and whether the State can levy sales tax on the goods used in such contracts. It held that a construction agreement, even when coupled with a transfer of immovable property, remains …

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) amended its Rule 18 to introduce a "One Bar One Vote" principle, restricting voting rights to advocates who regularly practice before the Supreme Court. Two SCBA members, B.D. Kaushik and A.K. Manchanda, challenged the amendment and obtained an interim injunction restraining its…

Mis. Sharp Industries Ltd. manufactures aluminium foil laminated on one side with polyester film and on the other with polyethylene and sought classification of the product under Tariff Headings 76.07 and 76.12 (aluminium foil "backed"). The Revenue argued that the product should fall under Tariff Headings 39.20.38 and…

The petition sought directions on whether user agencies diverting forest land for non‑forest purposes must compensate by paying the Net Present Value (NPV) of the lost forest benefits and what guidelines should govern NPV calculation. The Court examined the statutory framework of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, th…

The appellant, U.P. State Spinning Co. Ltd., challenged a Allahabad High Court order that quashed the dismissal of workmen R.S. Pandey and another on the ground that the dismissal was effected before receipt of the show‑cause reply. The High Court had entertained a writ petition under Article 226 despite the existence …

The petitioners, manufacturers in Haryana, challenged the constitutional validity of the Haryana Local Area Development Tax Act, 2000, alleging it violated Article 301 of the Constitution and was not saved by Article 304(b). They argued that the Act imposed an entry tax on goods moving into local areas, effectively a s…

M&T Consultants entered into a self‑financing agreement with the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) to erect house‑numbering, sign‑boards and direction boards in selected circles as a pilot project. The corporation invited other advertisers through a circular, but the writ petitioner, S.Y. Nawab, claimed that the pe…

The Supreme Court examined whether the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (especially sections 6, 23(1‑A), 23(2) and 28) were incorporated into three State Acts – the Punjab Town Improvement Act, the Nagpur Improvement Trust Act and the Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad Act – or merely referred to. It he…

Ajit Singh, a former Private Secretary to the Deputy Election Commissioner, challenged the appointment of M.L. Sarad as Private Secretary to the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging that the appointment violated the 1974 Recruitment Rules and that the 1979 amendment of those rules was mala fide and conferred arbitrary…

The Trade Fair Authority of India Employees' Union demanded housing, regularisation of casual workers and wage revision, but management failed to act, leading the Union to call a one‑day strike on 21 January 1987 after a denied request for a general body meeting. Management responded by suspending and later dismissing …

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) adopted CPWD rules that required different periods of service for promotion of Graduate Engineers (3 years as Junior Engineers) and Diploma‑Holder Engineers (8 years) to Assistant Engineer, and similarly different experience for promotion to Executive Engineer. Diploma‑Holder engin…

Panipat Woollen & General Mills Co. Ltd. had two textile mills that were placed under liquidation and closed in May 1972. The mills were listed as "sick textile undertakings" in the First Schedule of the Sick Textile Undertakings (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1972, causing their management to vest in the Central Gov…

The case concerned a plot of evacuee land that was auctioned to the appellant under the Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954, but the appellant failed to pay the balance and the sale was cancelled. The Central Government, exercising powers under the Act, set aside the cancellation and granted t…

The appellants, excise contractors licensed to sell arrack, challenged the State of Mysore's collection of sales tax on the total price of arrack, which included excise duty and cesses. The Mysore High Court held that sales tax could not be levied on excise duty, health cess or education cess and ordered a refund of th…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the detention of Ajay Dixit under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980. The District Magistrate had listed six past criminal incidents as grounds, alleging that Dixit was likely to act prejudicially to public order. The Court held that t…

The petitioners, licensed manufacturers of firearms, challenged the Union of India's reduction of their monthly production quotas after the Arms Act, 1959 came into force. They argued that the curtailment caused hardship, was arbitrary, and that they were denied a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(g) to carry on th…

Jamshed Ansari challenged the constitutional validity of Rules 3 and 3A of the Allahabad High Court Rules, 1952, which require an advocate not on the High Court roll to file an appointment with a local advocate before appearing. He contended that the rules violated Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution and were ultra vi…

The appellant, a retired CRPF Commandant, was alleged to have been involved in the loss of arms and the supply of contraband ganja while in service. Earlier disciplinary proceedings were quashed by the High Court, but the authority later issued fresh memoranda of charges in 2008 and 2009 after obtaining presidential sa…

Gurvail Singh was convicted of murdering four persons under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and was sentenced to death. The High Court upheld the death sentence, but the Supreme Court commuted it to life imprisonment with a direction that the petitioner serve 30 years without remission. The petitioner filed a writ petit…

Jagdish Kaur, a Class‑IV peon, sought promotion to a Class‑III clerk post but was denied because she had not passed the Punjabi typing test at 30 w.p.m. The Punjab and Haryana High Court struck down the typing‑test requirement as illegal, prompting the State of Punjab to appeal. The Supreme Court examined whether the P…

Raj Homes Pvt. Ltd. and another challenged the Madhya Pradesh Government’s Rule 14, which imposes a flat-rate premium on agricultural land diverted to non‑agricultural use, alleging that the rule exceeds the powers granted under sections 59(5) and 258(iii) of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code and violates Article 14…

Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) executed works contracts in Andhra Pradesh and subcontracted portions to registered VAT dealers. The State of Andhra Pradesh assessed tax on L&T by adding the turnover of the subcontractors, treating the arrangement as two deemed sales – one from the subcontractor to L&T and another from L&T …

The appellant, a Technical Assistant with a superannuation age of 60, was offered promotion to Key Board Operator (KBO) on the condition that he could revert to his original post and retire at 60. The department neither accepted nor rejected this condition and later superannuated him at 58, the KBO retirement age. The …

Dr. Narayan Warman Nerukar was charged under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and Section 120‑B IPC. After a prolonged trial, he invoked Section 482 of the CrPC to have the proceedings quashed on the ground of delay. The Delhi High Court quashed the case, holding that the right to a speedy trial had b…

The appellant's grandfather bought a house in the appellant's name but later sold it to the appellant's step‑mother. The appellant sued for a permanent injunction to prevent his father and step‑mother from interfering with his possession, but the suit and subsequent appeals were dismissed. On appeal, the appellant offe…

The Union of India acquired land in Delhi under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and awarded compensation, which was subsequently enhanced by the Land Acquisition Officer and the Additional District Judge. The High Court, relying on the 1984 Amendment Act, further enhanced the compensation by granting a 30% solatium and …

The Supreme Court dealt with a long‑running dispute concerning the absorption of about 5,000 stipendiary graduates employed under Karnataka's 1977 unemployment relief scheme into Group ‘C’ civil service posts. The Court had earlier ordered the State to fill 3,691 vacancies with these graduates and to create super‑numer…

The State of J&K filed a writ petition under Article 226 for implementation of a decree that had been modified by a compromise. The High Court issued an ex‑parte interim order on 19‑03‑1990 directing the State to give 50% of the agreed timber upon a bond, and listed the matter for hearing in May 1990. Before the schedu…

The petitioners, canteen workers in three defence establishments at Kanpur, retired after 22‑Oct‑1980 and claimed that their service in the canteens prior to that date should count as qualifying service for pension. The Union of India contended that before 22‑Oct‑1980 the canteens were managed by Canteen Managing Commi…

Three categories of Doordarshan staff artists (Cameraman Grade‑II, Sound Recordist and Lighting Assistant/Lightman) challenged a government order that gave them lower fee scales than their counterparts in the Film Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. They argued that they performed identical duties…

The petitioners filed special leave petitions more than three years after a High Court judgment, seeking to increase the compensation for land acquired to Rs.17.50 per square yard, relying on two Supreme Court decisions that had enhanced compensation for adjacent land. They argued that the Land Acquisition (Amendment) …

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 129‑A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, which authorises police or other state‑appointed persons to seize and detain a motor vehicle used without registration or permit, infringes the fundamental right to practice any trade or profession under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constituti…

Junu Gayary, a widow, filed a writ petition under Article 226 alleging that her husband was taken into custody by the Indian Army and later killed, with the army attempting to portray the death as an encounter. The Gauhati High Court, after an enquiry by the District & Sessions Judge, found prima facie evidence of the …

An accused in an NDPS case complained that his advocate had charged exorbitant fees and withdrawn from representation, seeking a refund. The Bar Council disciplinary authority examined the complaint, absolved the advocate, and ordered a partial refund of Rs.4 lakhs. The High Court, however, convicted the advocate of cr…

The appellants, companies engaged in iron and steel production, entered into Memorandums of Understanding with the State Government of Jharkhand for mining leases of iron ore in the Ghatkuri area. The State Government recommended their applications to the Central Government for prior approval. However, upon discovering…

The appellant, Narmada Bachao Andolan, challenged the amendment dated 7 June 1991 to Clause 5.1 of the 1991 Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Policy for the Upper Beda dam project in Madhya Pradesh, alleging it was ultra vires, arbitrary and violated the right of oustees to land in lieu of acquisition. The petition…

The State of Haryana appealed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order granting bail and suspending the life sentence of Hasmat, who had been convicted of murder (IPC s.302 r/w s.149) and related offences. Hasmat had applied under CrPC s.389 for suspension of sentence pending appeal, and the High Court relied …

The case concerned the Pong Dam oustees displaced by the dam in Himachal Pradesh, who were to be resettled in Rajasthan under inter‑state agreements. Rajasthan amended its 1972 colonisation rules in 1992, extending the non‑transferability period from 20 to 25 years and introducing Rule 6‑A allowing re‑allocation of rev…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Cess and Other Taxes on Minerals (Validation) Act, 1992, which sought to validate state levies on minerals that had been struck down by earlier judgments. The Court held that Section 2 of the Act validly creates and retrospectively validates the levy and col…

The Department of Telecommunications invited tenders for cellular licences in four Indian cities, leading to a two‑stage evaluation and the selection of eight operators. Several rejected bidders challenged the final list before the Delhi High Court, alleging bias (due to a member’s son working for a bidder), arbitrarin…

Hindustan Lever Ltd. sought to impose a ceiling on dearness allowance for workers earning above Rs 500 per month, arguing that the existing slab system caused over‑neutralisation of the cost‑of‑living index and distorted wage differentials, especially vis‑à‑vis junior executives. The Industrial Tribunal placed such a c…

The petitioners, Radio Operators Grade III (Naik) of the Central Reserve Police Force, challenged their placement in the Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1973 pay scale of Rs.225-308 with a special pay of Rs.30, claiming entitlement to a higher scale of Rs.260-430 based on qualification requirements and pari…

The petitioner, a judicial officer, challenged a decision that he be compulsorily retired at the age of 58 under Rule 71(a‑1) of the Orissa Service Code. He argued that the Supreme Court had raised the superannuation age for judges to 60 years and that the rule was inconsistent with the All India Judges Association jud…

The West Bengal government advertised land for an integrated school and allotted a 50‑katha plot to cricketer Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly later requested a larger plot to meet ICSE affiliation norms and offered to surrender the original plot. Within a month the government allotted a 63‑katha plot without a fresh advertisem…

The Supreme Court considered a public‑interest writ petition seeking a declaration that the term "sexual intercourse" in Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code should be interpreted to include all forms of penetration, thereby expanding the definition of rape. The petition also sought procedural directions for recording …

The case arose when a flour mill owned by the writ petitioners was found to be stealing electricity, leading to an FIR and trial under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910. While the trial was pending before a Metropolitan Magistrate, Andhra Pradesh amended the Act (2000) to create Special Tribunals and Courts, increase pu…

The petitioners challenged Clause 4(x) of the Motor Vehicles (New High Security Vehicle Registration Plates) Order, 2001 and the eligibility conditions in various State NITs, alleging that they created a monopoly in favour of a single private manufacturer, violating Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. The petitioners…