Constitution of India

The Supreme Court examined whether the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces should be applied from 1 January 2006 or from 1 September 2008, and what financial up‑gradation entitlement it confers. It held that the MACP Scheme became operative on 1 September 2008, superseding …

The respondent, initially appointed as a Road Gang Mazdoor in 1988, repeatedly sought promotion to higher municipal posts on the basis of her Diploma in Civil Engineering, filing numerous writ petitions. The Madras High Court directed her appointment as Town Planning Inspector, despite the fact that the post is governe…

The Supreme Court, by a 3:2 majority, set aside the practice of 'talaq-e-biddat' (triple talaq) as unconstitutional. The case arose from a petition by Shayara Bano, who was divorced by her husband through triple talaq. The majority held that triple talaq is manifestly arbitrary and violates Article 14 of the Constituti…

A gang‑rape on 16‑12‑2012 involved a juvenile who was placed before a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB). Dr. Subramanian Swamy and others approached the JJB seeking impleadment and an interpretation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 so that the juvenile could be tried as an adult. The JJB d…

The Supreme Court examined a sale of mortgaged property under the SARFAESI Act where the auction purchaser paid only 25% of the price initially and the balance after 11 months. The borrower had sent a letter consenting to accept the balance payment and authorising issuance of a sale certificate, which the Bank accepted…

The respondents were appointed as Masters, Physical Training Instructor and Hindi Teacher on a purely ad‑hoc basis between 1994 and 1996 by District Education Officers, and their services were regularised on 1‑Oct‑2003. After regularisation they claimed that the ad‑hoc period should be counted for seniority, but the de…

Ram Ashish Dixit, an officer of Gorakhpur Kshetriya Gramin Bank, was found guilty of irregularities in loan disbursement and was punished with stoppage of one increment for three years. He was considered for promotion from Junior Management Grade‑I to Middle Management Grade‑II in 1995, 1997 and 1999 but was not promot…

The husband and wife were married on 26 March 2011 but lived apart from the outset, and the husband filed a petition under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act seeking a declaration of nullity within three months. During mediation the parties agreed to dissolve the marriage by mutual consent and filed a joint petition …

The case concerned departmental trap investigations conducted by Railway Vigilance officers against three railway ticket examiners who were alleged to have demanded excess money from decoy passengers. The respondents were charged under Rule 3 of the Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966 and, after departmental inquiri…

Madan Chandra Brahma was appointed temporarily in Gauhati Bank in 1969 and later promoted to officer. After successive mergers, he became an officer of Central Bank of India in 1990. He claimed retirement at age 60, invoking clause 1.2 of Regulation 19 of the Central Bank of India (Officers) Service Regulations, 1979, …

The Confederation of Ex‑Servicemen Associations filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking free and full medical aid for ex‑defence personnel, their families and dependents, arguing that such aid is a fundamental right under Articles 14 and 21. The Union of India responded that the Ex‑Servicemen Contributory Health…

The Supreme Court dismissed writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Representation of People (Amendment) Act, 2003, which amended the Representation of People Act, 1951 to remove the requirement of domicile/residence in a State for election to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and introduced an …

The respondent, Zakir Hussain, was appointed as a daily‑wage conductor on a two‑year probation and was terminated for unsatisfactory performance without any enquiry. He appealed to the departmental authority, which dismissed his grievance, and then filed a suit in a civil court seeking a declaration that the terminatio…

The case concerned the inter‑se seniority of officers in the Delhi Higher Judicial Service appointed either by direct recruitment from the Bar or by promotion from the Delhi Judicial Service. The Delhi High Court had prepared seniority lists that excluded promotees appointed under Rules 16 and 17 on the ground that the…

The appellant, a senior advocate and former legal advisor to a cooperative bank, refused to return the bank's case files after the retainership was terminated, demanding payment of alleged fees of Rs. 97,100. The bank filed a complaint before the State Bar Council, which was transferred to the Bar Council of India; the…

The State (Excis e Superintendent, Malkapatnam) sought to fill 723 posts by selecting candidates whose names were sponsored through the employment exchange, while the respondents, who applied independently, were excluded. The respondents approached the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, which issued interim direct…

Three brothers sold land to Harbhajan Singh; the fourth brother, Ujagar Singh, filed four pre-emption suits which were decreed on the condition that the pre-emption money be paid by 30 August 1970. The pre‑emptors appealed for a reduction of the amount and obtained an extension of time for deposit, but their appeals we…

Karnani Properties Ltd., a real‑estate company that lets premises and provides services such as electricity, water, cleaning and lift maintenance, was referred to an Industrial Tribunal over a dispute concerning wages, dearness allowance and gratuity. The company challenged the Tribunal’s award on the grounds that it d…

The respondent, an employee of Prathama Bank, was dismissed after a disciplinary inquiry in which he was not given adequate opportunity to examine the documents relied upon against him. He filed a suit challenging the validity of the inquiry and seeking reinstatement. The bank contended that the bank was not a "State" …

The petitioners, members of the Scheduled Caste, challenged their exclusion from appointment as Sub‑Judges in the Delhi Judicial Service despite being on the merit list of the 1980 competitive examination. The High Court had fixed the number of reserved vacancies based on the number of candidates qualifying for general…

The State of Andhra Pradesh issued orders fixing maximum prices for certain cooked food items served by catering establishments under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Several hoteliers challenged the orders, arguing that the term "foodstuffs" in the Act does not cover cooked food and that the price fixation was arb…

Gian Singh Mann, a judicial officer of the Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch), challenged the High Court's order withdrawing his judicial work and his subsequent premature retirement, seeking reinstatement and promotion to the Selection Grade and the Punjab Superior Judicial Service under a reservation claim. He fi…

G.R. Luthra and D.R. Khanna were recruited to the Punjab Judicial Service in 1950, Luthra securing a higher rank and a permanent post while Khanna obtained a lower rank and a temporary post. After the creation of Haryana and the Delhi High Court, both officers continued serving in Delhi and were placed senior to Khanna…

Swapan Kumar Mullick worked for United Bank of India for 36 years and resigned in 2006 citing mental depression, opting for provident fund benefits rather than pension. A 2010 circular issued under a bipartite settlement offered a new pension option to employees who had not previously opted for pension, and Mullick app…

The dispute arose from a civil suit concerning the partition of ancestral land, which led to a decree directing the Tahsildar to mutate the name of the first respondent in revenue records. The Tahsildar failed to comply, prompting a contempt petition that was initially allowed by a Single Judge but later set aside by a…

Amin Merchant imported eight consignments of goods classified under Customs Tariff sub‑heading 2208.10 and paid duty at the rate of Rs 300 per litre or 400% whichever was higher, as prescribed in the Finance Act. He contended that the Finance Minister’s budget proposals for 1993‑94 and 1994‑95 required a lower duty (85…

The appellant Union of India challenged a Central Administrative Tribunal order that granted pension benefits to a deceased canteen employee who retired before the cut‑off date of 1 October 1991. The employee’s husband had retired on medical grounds on 12 July 1990 and died on 28 March 1991. Earlier Supreme Court judgm…

The appellants, three members of the Rajasthan Higher Judicial Service, were compulsorily retired on 31 March 1999 under a notification that reduced the retirement age to 58 years, with an exception allowing extension to 60 years for officers deemed to have continued utility. They challenged the order, arguing that the…

Hari Ram Gupta retired in 1980, before the Uttar Pradesh Palika (Centralised) Service Retirement Benefits Rules, 1981 came into force. He filed a writ petition seeking a pension under the 1981 Rules, contending that Rule 3(2) and (3) gave the Rules retrospective effect and that the phrase "finally withdrawn" allowed hi…

The respondents, who were assistant teachers, were deputed at the Government's expense in 1966 to obtain higher qualifications such as graduation and B.Ed. The Government issued a Finance Department memo on 22 October 1964 stating that only employees who attended training at their own cost would be eligible for two adv…

Four members of the General Reserve Engineers Force (GREF) were tried by a Court‑Martial convened under a warrant of the Chief of the Army Staff authorising the Chief Engineer and were convicted of offences under Sections 63, 39(a) and 41 of the Army Act. They challenged the jurisdiction of the Court‑Martial, the effec…

Organon (India) Ltd., later known as Infer (India) Ltd., obtained a wholesale licence for poppy husks in Madhya Pradesh and entered into a contract to export 1,000 tonnes to the Netherlands. The company sought a permit from the Collector of Excise, Mandsaur, to move the husks to Bombay for export, claiming that no exci…

The appellant, a government servant, was allotted a government residential accommodation and was a tenant of a residential building owned by the respondent landlord. The landlord invoked Section 14(3)(a)(iv) of the Himachal Pradesh Urban Rent Control Act, 1987 to obtain possession, arguing that the tenant was liable fo…

Dr. Shiv Jatan Thakur, a member of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), claimed that, as a member, he was entitled to the same facilities and amenities as the Chairman, invoking the Constitution and the BPSC (Conditions of Service) Regulations. He also sought punitive action against the Chairman for allegedly re…

The petitioners, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Doordarshan, appealed against High Court orders directing LIC to publish a rejoinder to a criticism of its premium policy in its magazine and directing Doordarshan to telecast a documentary on the Bhopal gas disaster. The issues were whether a State‑owned c…

The State of Orissa contracted Dandasi Sahu for an irrigation project; after completion and final payment, Sahu claimed extra work and invoked the arbitration clause. The arbitrator awarded Rs 15,23,657 plus interest without giving reasons. The Sub‑ordinate Judge set aside the award, but the Orissa High Court restored …

The Union of India challenged a demand for differential excise duty on dyes manufactured by ATIC Industries Ltd., arguing that the definition of "related person" in the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944 was unconstitutional and that ATIC's wholesale buyers, Atul Products Ltd. and Crescent Dyes & Chemicals Ltd., were "r…

The Supreme Court examined whether state-imposed domicile or residence requirements for admission to MBBS and postgraduate medical courses violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equality. It held that wholesale reservation based solely on domicile is unconstitutional, but a limited reservation of up to 70% of seats (…

The Supreme Court considered whether assessees engaged in broadcasting television signals to subscribers are liable to pay both entertainment tax under State enactments (Entry 62, List II of the Constitution) and service tax under the Finance Act, 1994 (Entry 97, List I). The Court held that the activity of broadcastin…

The appellant challenged the arrest of his son, Kessireddy Raja Shekhar Reddy, alleging that the police failed to provide appropriate and meaningful grounds of arrest, thereby violating Article 22 of the Constitution. The son was arrested on 21 April 2025 by the CID in connection with offences under Sections 420, 409, …

The appellants were convicted under Sections 302, 307 and 34 of the IPC for the murder of Sukha based primarily on the testimony of the complainant and other prosecution witnesses. During bail proceedings, three eyewitnesses submitted affidavits stating that the appellants were not involved, but the investigating offic…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal appeal filed by the State of West Bengal challenging a High Court order that had set aside the conviction of an accused under the POCSO Act and IPC for raping a 14‑year‑old girl who later married him and bore a child. The Court restored the conviction for offences under Section 6 o…

Patel Engineering Ltd. challenged three arbitral awards dated 29‑03‑2016 concerning payment for extra lead under a contract with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO). NEEPCO filed applications under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; the Additional Deputy Commissioner upheld the…

R.P. Singh, an Assistant Engineer in CPWD, faced departmental proceedings for alleged misconduct. The Inquiry Officer found the charges unproved, but the Disciplinary Authority disagreed, sought advice from the UPSC, received a recommendation to reduce his pay, and imposed the penalty, communicating the UPSC advice onl…

Y.P. Sarabhai, a Manager (Security) of Union Bank of India, remained absent from duty from June to November 1997 without sanctioned leave, allegedly to evade a transfer to Chennai. The disciplinary authority, after a detailed enquiry, found him guilty of contravening Regulation 13 of the Bank's Conduct Regulations and …

Three short‑term army personnel were convicted by a Summary Court Martial of serious misconduct and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment and dismissal. They challenged the proceedings before the High Court on the ground that Army Rule 180 was not observed, and the High Court set aside the martial proceedings and ordered …

The Punjab Subordinate Selection Board conducted a written test for Assistant District Transport Officer posts and later lowered the qualifying standard, calling additional candidates for interview. The appellants, who were not selected, challenged the selection on grounds of arbitrariness, excessive interview marks, a…

The appellant, a Muslim member of the Manipur Bar Council, was appointed to the State Waqf Board under Section 14(1)(b)(iii) of the Wakf Act, 1995. After a former board member (respondent No.3) lost his Bar Council seat, he challenged the appointment, arguing that Explanation II to Section 14(1)(b) only applies to MPs …

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appealed against the High Court's order discharging Ramesh Chander Diwan of offences under Sections 120B and 420 of the IPC, on the ground that no sanction under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) had been obtained. Diwan, originally appointed by the Governmen…

The appellant filed a civil suit in 1987 seeking cancellation of a sale deed, but the respondents repeatedly obtained adjournments and were eventually set ex parte, leading to a decree in 1991. The respondents later filed applications under Order IX Rule 13 and the Limitation Act, which were dismissed, and their subseq…

The appellant, Ramanuj Kumar, filed a petition for divorce under Sections 13(1)(ia) and (iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging irretrievable breakdown of his marriage to Priyanka. The parties had been living separately for over eleven years, with the appellant caring for their elder daughter and the respondent carin…

The dispute involved multiple claims over the same property, with the original plaintiff seeking specific performance of an agreement to sell and the appellant (original defendant No.8) seeking to be impleaded as a defendant under Order 1 Rule 10 of the CPC. The trial court allowed the appellant’s impleadment, but the …

The petitioner, convicted of murder and related offences, served 16 years of a life sentence and applied for premature release under Chhattisgarh Prison Rule 358. The appropriate government sought the opinion of the Special Judge who, without providing detailed reasons or considering the factors laid down in Laxman Nas…

The case arose from a protracted dispute over a one‑acre property in Bengaluru that had been sold multiple times, leading to conflicting claims and a series of suits for declaration, possession, and execution. The decree‑holders obtained a decree for possession, but the judgment debtors and subsequent purchasers repeat…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of G.O. Ms. No.3/2000 issued by the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Government, which provided 100% reservation for Scheduled Tribe candidates in teacher posts in scheduled areas. The Court held that under Paragraph 5(1) of Schedule V, the Governor may only exclude or modify an existing…

The State of Bihar advertised 40 Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) posts in 1985 and filled them by December 1987. Unsuccessful candidates, including the appellants, lobbied the government and were appointed on 13 April 1988 despite the merit list being exhausted, an appointment the Court held to be illegal and fo…

The petitioner, an orthopaedic surgeon, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to enforce the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and related regulations to curb the high incidence of road accidents in India and to improve post‑accident care. The Court examined the extensive data on accide…

The case concerned promotion of Section Officers/Junior Engineers to the post of Assistant Engineer in the Pondicherry Public Works Department under the 1965 Recruitment Rules. The Supreme Court examined whether its earlier decision in N. Suresh Nathan & Ors. v. Union of India bound courts on the method of considering …

The predecessor of the appellant filed a suit on 21 May 1990 for declaration of title, possession and setting aside a sale deed. During the pendency, two further sale deeds were executed, and an interim order of status quo was granted. Thirteen years later, on 11 June 2003, the appellant sought to amend the plaint to c…

Gurmail Singh, a senior employee of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), was promoted to Upper Division Clerk (UDC) in 1986 and later opted for UDC as his induction post, thereby losing the revised Lower Division Clerk (LDC) pay scale that his junior colleagues received. He filed a writ petition challenging the B…

The Supreme Court examined whether the sale of electricity by National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPCL) to electricity boards in other states constituted an inter‑State sale and could be taxed by the states under their Electricity Duty Acts. It held that electricity is a "good" and that its generation, transmissi…

The Union of India challenged two orders of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that had granted higher pay‑scales to a laboratory assistant and a malaria technician beyond those prescribed in the Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1986. The Supreme Court held that the Tribunal had overstepped its jurisd…

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay resolved in 1975 to reserve promotion posts for backward classes, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and denotified and nomadic tribes. Although a seniority‑wise list of eligible backward‑class employees was prepared, the corporation denied promotions to several ap…

The appellant, who had appeared for the All India Post‑Graduate medical entrance examination of 1992, was not allotted any seat despite having higher marks than some candidates who were later admitted in Kerala. After the first, second and third admission lists were issued, the remaining vacant seats were surrendered t…

Dr. A.K. Sabhapathy challenged Kerala's use of the first proviso in Section 38 of the Travancore‑Cochin Medical Practitioners' Act, 1953, which allowed the State to exempt certain persons from the registration requirements for practising modern (allopathic) medicine. The State had issued notifications (May 4 1977, Sept…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over 19 Bighas 8 Biswas of agricultural land originally granted by maufi to a temple in former Gwalior State. After the maufi grant was revoked, the land became Aukaf property and was managed by the temple's Pujari, who was only a manager under a Parwana issued pursuant to Section 1…

The petitioner, a former member of the Bihar Education Service, sought enforcement of a 1971 Supreme Court mandamus directing the State to compute his pension based on his promotions to Class II and Class I. Despite the Chief Minister’s orders in 1974, the State computed his pension as if he retired from Class I only, …

The petitioner, a direct recruit Joint Commercial Tax Officer (JCTO) appointed in 1966, challenged a fresh combined inter‑se seniority list prepared by the Government in 1977 which placed him below a transferee recruit in the 1967 list. The High Court had earlier quashed the original seniority list and directed a fresh…

The petitioners challenged the constitutionality of Section 7(1) of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which replaces the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet Minister in the Selection Committee for appointing the C…

The dispute concerned an agreement dated 11‑02‑2004 whereby Gurmeet Singh sold land to Jai Parkash for Rs.4,00,000, of which Rs.3,50,000 was paid as earnest money. The defendants argued that the agreement was a loan/security document intended for marriage expenses, while the plaintiffs contended it was a genuine sale c…

The State of Bihar challenged the appointment of an arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, arguing that the Bihar Public Works Contracts Arbitration Tribunal Act, 2008 excluded the Central Act for works contracts. The parties had a contract dated 22 June 2012 containing an arbitra…

The petitioners, married on 30‑Nov‑2008, filed a dissolution suit under Section 13‑8(1) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The Delhi Family Court ordered them to wait six months before filing a second motion under Section 13‑8(2). The wife filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking a decree of div…

The petitioner, a Pakistani national, had completed a nine‑year sentence imposed by a Sessions Court but remained detained in Central Jail, Jaipur. He filed a writ of habeas corpus under Articles 32 and 21 of the Constitution, alleging illegal detention. The State of Rajasthan expressed no objection to his release, and…

Jagdish, a Class‑3 life convict sentenced in 1999, applied for premature release after serving more than ten years. The High Court ordered his case to be considered under the remission policy dated 04‑02‑1993, rejecting the newer short‑sentencing policy of 13‑08‑2008. The State appealed, arguing that the later policy, …

Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid, two criminal cases (197/92 and 198/92) were registered and investigated by the CBI. The Uttar Pradesh Government, after consulting the Allahabad High Court, established a Special Court at Lucknow via a notification dated 9 September 1993, but later issued an amendment on 8 …

The case concerns several army officers who were tried by General Court Martial for espionage, some convicted and others dismissed administratively under Section 18 of the Army Act, 1950. Their writ petitions challenging the Court Martial proceedings and the administrative dismissals were dismissed by the Delhi High Co…

The Commissioner of Police, Mumbai detained Shri Ramchandra Rammi​lan Mishra @ Pandey under Section 3(2) of the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (Bootleggers) Slumlords and Drug Offenders Act, 1981 to prevent activities prejudicial to public order. The detenu challenged the detention, contending that the …

The respondent (landlord) sued the appellants (father and son) for mandatory injunction to vacate a shop premises, alleging that a deed of licence executed in 1981 had terminated. The trial court and first appellate court found the appellants to be tenants, but the High Court reversed, treating the deed as a licence to…

Kuladhar Phukan, a judicial officer of the Assam Judicial Service, was appointed ad‑hoc as Deputy Secretary in the Assam Legal Service in 1986 after his application was forwarded by the High Court and his services were spared. He was later regularised and promoted in the Legal Service without any consultation with the …

The appellant, convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, filed an appeal that remained pending in the Madhya Pradesh High Court for many years without being listed for hearing. The High Court rejected her bail application, prompting a petition before the Supreme Court. The Court held that speedy trial is …

The appellants sought a restrictive voters list under the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies (Second Amendment) Act, 2000, arguing that the amendment should apply to societies that had already become members before the amendment. The High Court dismissed their writ, holding the list was finalised before the amendment. T…

Ferro Alloys Corp. Ltd (FACOR) sought a mining lease for chromite in Sukinda Valley after the Central Government, following a high‑power expert committee (Sharma Committee), reduced the area previously granted to Tata Iron & Steel Co. (TISCO). The Committee assessed the needs of all claimants, including FACOR, and the …

Mohd. Aslam filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking reconsideration of the Supreme Court's judgment in Manohar Joshi v. Nitin Bhaurao Patil, alleging it was incorrect. The Court held that Article 32 cannot be invoked to challenge the correctness of a decision on its merits or to obtain its reconsideration. It fu…

The Secunderabad Cantonment Board levied octroi on goods entering the cantonment and the levy was challenged on the ground that the Board lacked authority under Section 60 of the Cantonment Act, 1924 because no municipality in the State imposed octroi and because there was no machinery for assessment. The High Court up…

The appellant, N.K. Haji, ran a primary school and applied for its upgradation to an upper primary school under the Kerala Education Rules. Although the initial 1975 notification did not list his school, the Government later issued a revised order sanctioning the upgradation, which was challenged on the ground that the…

The petitioners, long‑serving researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), challenged the termination of their services after the completion of research projects, alleging that they were entitled to continued employment given their 10‑15 years of service and advanced age which limited other job p…

The Supreme Court allowed an appeal by A.M. Mathur, former Advocate General of Madhya Pradesh, against a High Court order in which Justice B.M. Lal had dismissed a review petition and made disparaging remarks about Mathur's conduct. The Court held that such derogatory comments were unwarranted, lacked jurisdiction, and…

The petitioners, recruited to the Indian Foreign Service (Branch B) through limited departmental examinations, were promoted to integrated Grades II and III and placed in seniority lists dated June 1979 and June 1983. They challenged these lists, arguing that the lists were prepared on a quota‑rotation system that gave…

The petitioners, claiming to be social activists, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking that the Union and State governments formulate and implement Community Kitchens to combat hunger, malnutrition and starvation, and also sought a National Food Grid beyond the Public Distribution Scheme. The Court noted that…

The Supreme Court examined whether the statutory vesting of enemy property in the Custodian for Enemy Property under the Enemy Property Act, 1968 amounts to an expropriation that transfers ownership to the Union of India, thereby invoking Article 285's tax exemption. It held that the Custodian acts only as a trustee fo…

The Union of India appealed against a Madras High Court order that directed it to grant a Freedom Fighter's pension to A. Alagam Perumal Kone under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme. The petitioner had first applied for the pension in 1997, but the application was rejected and the order became final. Thirtee…

The petition sought judicial directions on the selection of chairpersons, judicial, administrative, technical and expert members of various tribunals under the Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and Other Authorities (Qualification, Experience and Other Conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017. The Supreme Court, after …

The appellants, small‑scale shopkeepers near the Shirdi Sai Baba shrine, had a 1979 compromise decree granting them rehabilitation on their occupied plots. Subsequent town‑planning, development‑plan and highway‑control‑line notifications rendered the decree practically impossible to execute, prompting the Nagar Panchay…

The case arose from the 2009 hooch tragedy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where spurious country‑made liquor containing methyl alcohol caused 147 deaths and 205 injuries. Ravindersingh @ Ravi Pavar (appellant) and Jayesh Hiralal Thakker (respondent) were charged under several sections of the IPC and the Bombay Prohibition Act …

The appellants filed a partition suit and the respondents later applied under Order XVI Rule 1(1) and (2) read with Section 151 of the CPC to file a list of witnesses, naming the appellants' advocate, N.R. Karnath, as a witness. The trial court allowed the list but rejected the request to summon the advocate because no…

The respondents were acquitted by a trial court of offences under IPC sections 498A and 304B. The State of Rajasthan filed an application under CrPC section 378(1) seeking leave to appeal the acquittal, which the Rajasthan High Court dismissed without recording any reasons. The Supreme Court held that an order refusing…

The appellant, Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sahakari Bank Maryadit, challenged a 1997 order by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies that amended recruitment rules to include reservation for SC, ST, OBC and physically handicapped persons. The High Court set aside the order as ultra vires, and the appellant appealed. The Supr…

The appellant, a lessor, leased land to the respondent, a tenant, and later filed an eviction petition under the Andhra Pradesh Tenancy Act, 1956, which was initially allowed, giving him possession. The tenant appealed and the Sub‑Collector set aside the eviction, ordered restitution and remanded the matter for fresh d…

The appellants, contractors licensed to vend arrack, challenged the Kerala government's demand for excise duty on a designated quantum of rectified spirit, arguing that the duty was unconstitutional, arbitrary and payable only on spirit actually imported. The State had amended Rule 8 of the Kerala Abkari Shops (Disposa…

The State allotted 11 acres of land to a tribal respondent. The appellant entered into a sale agreement with the tribal and applied to the Collector for permission to alienate the land under the Bombay Revenue Code. The Collector and Commissioner refused, stating that land assigned to Scheduled Tribes cannot be sold or…

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, was embroiled in a leadership dispute when a faction of members requisitioned a special general meeting to move a no‑confidence motion against President B.S. Adityan and the Executive Council. The Executive Council de…

Shiva Prasad Das, a forester appointed by the Conservator of Forests, was suspended by the District Forest Officer pending a disciplinary enquiry into alleged negligence. He challenged the suspension before the Orissa High Court, arguing that it violated Article 311(1) of the Constitution and Rule 12 of the Orissa Civi…

The petitioners, owners of khandsari sugar factories in Uttar Pradesh, challenged the applicability of the U.P. Krishi Utpadan Mandi Adhiniyam, 1964 (as amended in 1970) to their product, arguing that what they produce is "khandsari sugar" and not "khandsari" covered by the Act, and that the levy of market fee and lice…

The appellant was allotted a flat in 1951 under an order of requisition issued by the State Government under the Bombay Land Requisition Act, 1948, without the order specifying a public purpose. He occupied the flat, paying rent irregularly, and later the building was purchased by the third respondent who sought derequ…

The appellant, a District Judge, sought to have his seniority counted from his earlier service as an Assistant Judge under the Bombay Judicial Service Recruitment Rules and to receive the salary and allowances of the selection‑grade pay scale, as well as posting as an Inspecting District Judge. The Bombay High Court re…

The appellants, who were promoted to Assistant Judges from the Junior Branch of the Maharashtra Judicial Service, claimed seniority over four Bar recruits (respondents Nos. 2‑5) who were appointed as Assistant Judges under the proviso of Rule 5(2)(i)(b) before being promoted to District Judges. The High Court dismissed…

The petitioner, a driver‑constable in the Delhi Police Force, challenged the lower pay scale applicable to driver‑constables compared to drivers in other Delhi Administration departments, invoking the principle of "equal pay for equal work" under Articles 14, 16 and 39(d) of the Constitution. He argued that his duties,…

Mohd. Tahir Hussain, an under‑trial accused in multiple FIRs including rioting and the murder of an IB official, has been in custody since March 2020 and sought interim bail to contest and campaign in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. The Delhi High Court allowed only a custodial parole for filing his nomination, prom…

The appellant, a practicing advocate, applied for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) under the partially blind category, submitting a disability certificate showing 70% visual impairment. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPC) had issued a notification, based on a State Government order consulted with t…

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) enacted the 2009 Determination of Annual Rent Bye‑laws, introducing a Unit Area Method (UAM) for fixing rateable value, replacing the earlier method based on annual rent under Section 63 of the NDMC Act, 1994. A batch of writ petitions filed by property owners challenged the const…

Pooja Pal, the widow of slain MLA Raju Pal, alleged that the state police and administration were complicit or indifferent in the murder of her husband and sought a fresh investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The High Court dismissed her writ petition, but the Supreme Court held that when an inves…

Bussa Overseas & Properties Ltd. sought a refund of excess provisional customs duty under Section 18(2) of the Customs Act, 1962. The customs authority directed the claim to be made under Section 27(2) and the appellants contested this, filing a writ petition. The High Court dismissed the writ and, on review, rejected …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is a "State" under Article 12 and concluded that, although it is not, it performs public functions and is therefore amenable to writ jurisdiction under Article 226. The Court upheld the Probe Committee’s findings that Gurunath Meiyappan…

Vinesh Kumar Bhasin, a retired officer of State Bank of Patiala, applied for relief under the bank's Exit Option Scheme three days before his statutory retirement and was denied. Claiming disability from a road accident, he alleged discrimination and lodged complaints with the Commissioner and Chief Commissioner for Pe…

The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued G.O. No. 304 (Nov. 20, 1979) to take over the Divisional Accountants cadre from the Accountant‑General’s administrative control and to create a separate state cadre, offering those officers the option to join the state service. Accountants of the Subordinate Accounts Service (SAS…

The Calcutta Municipal Corporation was formed by merging three municipalities, including Garden Reach, under the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. Respondent No.1, who had been an Education In‑charge in Garden Reach Municipality on a pay scale of Rs. 380‑910, was placed after the merger in the post of Education…

Chandra Mohan Tiwari and Ram Pal Singh Sengar were convicted of murder after the Madhya Pradesh High Court set aside a trial court acquittal. They appealed to the Supreme Court under Section 379 of the CrPC and Section 2(a) of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970, challenging the…

M.L. Jain, a former High Court Judge, had his pension fixed at Rs 21,500 per annum in 1985, later increased to Rs 46,100 per annum after amendments to the High Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Act, 1954. He challenged the ceiling of Rs 8,000 on the special additional pension imposed by clause (b) of paragraph 2 of …

The petitioners, Air‑Conditioned Coach Incharges‑Attendants of the Northern Railway, filed writ petitions under Article 32 alleging they were denied overtime allowance that their counterparts in the Western, Central and Eastern Railways received for extra duty exceeding 96 hours in two weeks. They claimed this differen…

The appellant, appointed as a Sales Tax Officer on a two‑year probation, continued in service without a confirmation order and was terminated after three years. He challenged the termination before the Gujarat High Court, which dismissed his writ petition and the subsequent appeal. The Supreme Court examined three cont…

The mortgagor Parisa Chougule executed two possessory mortgages in favour of Ganesh Dattatraya Kulkarni and later a simple mortgage. After his death, his adult son Bhupal, acting as manager and guardian, sold four of the ten mortgaged lands to the mortgagee for Rs.3050, the amount largely covering the mortgage debts. T…

The appellants, sons of K.S. Vaiyapuri Chettiar, claimed ownership of six house doors in Town Survey No. 666/2 based on sale deeds executed in the 1940s and a decree for specific performance. The respondents, occupying the doors, argued that they held the property by long‑term permissive leases and had acquired title b…

The Supreme Court examined a challenge by the Balmer Lawrie Workers Union (a non‑recognised union) to the constitutional validity of Section 20(2)(b) of the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971 and to Clause 17 of a settlement that required a 15 % deduction from ar…

Northern India Caterers (India) Ltd., which runs a hotel and restaurant, challenged a Delhi sales‑tax assessment on the ground that meals served to casual diners were taxable as a sale. The Supreme Court had earlier held that such service was not a sale because diners could not take away unconsumed food and the transac…

The State of Uttar Pradesh sued Kishori Lal for the shortfall of Rs 20,100 that arose when the excise licences he won at a public auction were resold at a lower price because he failed to deposit one‑sixth of the bid amount as required by the Excise Rules. The respondent argued that no contract was completed under Arti…

Senior advocate R.K. Anand was held guilty of contempt for attempting to suborn a court witness in a criminal trial where he represented the accused. The Delhi High Court punished him with a four‑month ban from appearing before the High Court, a fine of Rs 2,000 and recommended that he be stripped of his senior‑advocat…

The appellant, a member of a scheduled tribe, purchased a parcel of land in Sundergarh that had previously been transferred among tribal owners and later sold to a non‑tribal with statutory permission. The respondent encroached on the land and claimed title by adverse possession, arguing that more than twelve years of …

The State of Bihar and others entered into a contract with Jain Plastics & Chemicals Ltd. for the supply of PVC pipes and fittings, but the company delayed delivery, leading the appellants to terminate the contract and procure the fittings at a higher price. The appellants deducted the additional cost from the final pa…

The appellant, a tenant inducted in 1973, challenged an eviction suit filed by the landlord in 1990, arguing that the suit was barred under Section 20 of the U.P. Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972 because the ten‑year exemption period for newly constructed buildings had expired. The k…

R.C. Sood, then Registrar of the Rajasthan High Court, was suspended by the High Court under Rule 13 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1958, on the allegation that he altered a draft recruitment advertisement, changing the age eligibility date from 1 January 1994 to 1 January 1…

The State of Haryana filed a special leave appeal after the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed a First Information Report (FIR) that had been lodged on a complaint alleging that former Chief Minister Ch. Bhajan Lal had amassed wealth through corrupt means. The Supreme Court examined whether the allegations disclosed…

The respondent, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was appointed by the State of Uttar Pradesh as Secretary of the Zila Sainik Board on a contractual basis for a fixed term, which was successively extended up to 30 August 1985. His services were terminated on 29 March 1985, and he filed a writ petition challenging the te…

The appellants challenged the validity of Section 15 (as amended) of the Rajasthan Imposition of Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings Act, 1973, alleging it violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The High Court had upheld the provision, and the matter reached the Supreme Court. The Court observed that the Act was enacted…

The respondent, a Deputy Director in the Madhya Pradesh Department of Geology and Mining, was compulsorily retired under Rule 56 of the Fundamental Rules after a Screening Committee, which included the Head of Department S.S. Dave, recommended his retirement. The respondent challenged the order by filing a writ petitio…

Mafabhai Motibhai Sagar was convicted of murder and related offences and sentenced to life imprisonment. After the Supreme Court directed a speedy decision on his remission application, the Gujarat Government granted remission but imposed four conditions, two of which the appellant challenged as vague and arbitrary. Th…

The appellants filed a civil application under Article 227 before the Gujarat High Court, which was orally dismissed on 1 March 2023 without the judge indicating that reasons would follow. More than a year later, a detailed reasoned order dated 1 March 2023 was uploaded, having actually been prepared on 12 April 2024 a…

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) sought to acquire 952.18 acres of land in Panchkula for a mixed‑use development, but the landowners objected under Section 5A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, claiming exemption for fruit trees and alleging that their structures were authorized. The High Court quashed th…

Professor (Dr.) Sreejith filed a writ petition challenging the appointment of Dr. Rajasree as Vice‑Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, alleging that the appointment violated UGC Regulations which require a search committee to recommend a panel of three to five names. The Kerala High Court had dismis…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from ONGC's invitation of Expressions of Interest for natural gas allocation. Three firms submitted bids; one later revised its offer to lift gas within 65 days, prompting ONGC to re‑invite fresh bids. The original writ applicant, Nobel Cera Coat, filed a petition seeking a …

The case concerned promotion of Class IV civil court staff to Class III posts in Bihar. The original selection used an 85‑mark written test and 15‑mark interview, but the High Court directed a fresh examination with 90 marks for the written part and 10 for the interview. The appellants participated in the fresh process…

The State of Maharashtra terminated the services of 256 workmen employed on 25 lift‑irrigation schemes after transferring the schemes to a sugar factory. The workmen claimed entitlement to reinstatement and backwages, arguing that the termination was a breach of Section 25N of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, while t…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of sections 2(3) and 2(5) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Repeal) Act, 2004, which allow a Review Committee to deem cases registered under the repealed POTA as withdrawn when it finds no prima facie case. The petitioners (relatives of Godhra‑train victims) argued that th…

The appellant, a tenant of agricultural lands Gut Nos. 2325 and 2326, became a deemed purchaser under the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948 on the tillers' day of 1 April 1957. He repeatedly expressed unwillingness to purchase the land, and the Mamlatdar and Agricultural Lands Tribunal recorded his statem…

The Nizam of Hyderabad (Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan) challenged the inclusion of certain immovable properties and an annual payment of Rs.25 lakhs in his net wealth for wealth‑tax purposes. The Supreme Court held that properties for which full consideration was received and possession handed over, even without a registered …

Rama Kant Misra, a workman with over 14 years of service and secretary of the workers' union, was charged on 18 November 1971 with using abusive and threatening language towards a senior officer over a wage deduction. An inquiry found the charge proved and recommended dismissal, which was effected on 6 April 1972 befor…

South Eastern Coalfields Ltd, which operates coal mines in Madhya Pradesh, challenged the levy of a terminal tax by the municipal council on the basis that municipal statutes cannot apply to Scheduled Areas. The company argued that Article 243ZC of the Constitution excludes Part IXA (municipalities) from Scheduled Area…

The petitioners challenged NLSIU's admission notice dated 03‑09‑2020 which introduced a separate online National Law Aptitude Test (NLAT) instead of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) scheduled for 28‑09‑2020. The Court examined whether the petitioners had locus, whether the notice required prior recommendation of th…

The petitioners, ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, sought approval and recognition under Section 11(2) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 for MBBS courses. The Medical Council of India (MCI) conducted several inspections, including a surprise compliance‑verification inspection on 24‑April‑2017, and f…

The Supreme Court examined land measuring 29 Bighas and 17 Biswas that had been vested in the Government of Rajasthan under the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act, 1952. The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) had later issued acquisition notifications under the Rajasthan Land Acquisition Act, 1953 and …

The original landholders, whose holdings exceeded the ceiling under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, were assessed as surplus and transferred a major portion of the land to Mayur Sahkari Awas Samiti in 1982. The Act deemed such surplus land vested in the State, but the authorities never took physical …

Rajesh Kohli, a probationary District & Sessions Judge in Jammu & Kashmir, was found unsatisfactory by the High Court's Full Court and his service was terminated by the State Government. He challenged the termination, alleging that the order was stigmatic, that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to recommend terminatio…

The Institute of Engineering and Rural Technology (IERT), a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, decided to close one of its centres, retrenching 105 employees. The employees filed a writ petition seeking their absorption under the Uttar Pradesh Absorption of Retrenched Employees of Government…

The Supreme Court examined whether J. Jayalalithaa, convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment, could be appointed Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after her party won a majority. The Court held that a person convicted and sentenced to imprisonment of two years or m…

The State of U.P. prosecuted Dharmendra Singh and Narendra for the pre‑meditated murder of five members of a complainant’s family, including children and an elderly man, after a personal grievance and an attempted molestation. The trial court convicted them under Section 302 IPC and sentenced them to death, calling the…

Dr. J.N. Banavalikar, a Specialist Grade‑I in tuberculosis and chest diseases, was given the additional charge of Medical Superintendent of R.B.T.B. Hospital (a Delhi Municipal Corporation hospital) and served for about five and a half years. He was later removed from that post and Dr. Sudhakar Patnaik, a senior pathol…

The Supreme Court examined applications for mining leases of chromite in Orissa, focusing on the Rao report prepared by the Secretary of the Ministry of Mines. It held that the Rao report is a decision of the Central Government under Section 30 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and there…

The Supreme Court examined the Kerala Building Tax Act, 1975, which imposed a non‑recurring tax on buildings based on a "capital value" calculated as sixteen times the building's annual value. The petitioners challenged the Act on four grounds: (1) it was beyond the State's legislative competence because it taxed the c…

The Rajasthan High Court advertised 120 vacancies for Civil Judges and published cut‑off marks for each category except the Persons with benchmark disabilities. Appellants Rekha Sharma (40% visual disability) and Ratan Lal (55% locomotor disability) applied under the disabled category, appeared for the Preliminary Exam…

The appellants, appointed as Land Records Inspectors (LRIs) through a limited departmental examination for vacancies that arose in 2008‑09, 2009‑10 and 2010‑11, were placed in seniority lists dated 2012‑14 and later treated as appointed in 2014‑15. They claimed seniority should be computed from the year the vacancy aro…

The petition filed by Shailesh Manubhai Parmar, the Chief Whip of the INC in Gujarat, challenged the Election Commission's circulars that introduced the "None of the Above" (NOTA) option in Rajya Sabha (Council of States) elections. The Court examined whether NOTA, which was introduced for direct elections to Parliamen…

Four doctors of the Provincial Medical Service applied for voluntary retirement under Rule 56(c) of the Uttar Pradesh Fundamental Rules, but the State Government did not accept their notices. The High Court allowed the doctors' writ petitions, treating them as retired. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the explana…

The appellants, manufacturers of edible oils, challenged two Central Government notifications that prohibited the import of crude palm oil through Kerala ports, arguing that the notifications were ultra vires the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and violated Article 14 by arbitrarily discriminating …

The appellants were convicted under Sections 302 and 364A of the IPC for kidnapping a 16‑year‑old boy, demanding a Rs 50 lakh ransom and murdering him, and were sentenced to death. They challenged the constitutionality of Section 364A on the ground that its mandatory death or life imprisonment provision was disproporti…

Prof. K.V. Rajendran, an associate professor, alleged that a Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) and other officials tortured him in 1998 and that the State police investigation was inadequate. He repeatedly approached the High Court seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but t…

The respondent, Sanjay Kumar, was convicted of raping and murdering an 18‑year‑old girl, Divya Rani, and was sentenced to death by the Sessions Court. The High Court of Allahabad commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, holding that the case did not fall within the "rarest of rare" category. The State of Uttar…

The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (AMC) of Narela claimed exemption from income tax under section 10(20) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, asserting it was a "local authority". The Finance Act, 2002 added an exhaustive Explanation to section 10(20) defining "local authority" as a Panchayat, Municipality, Municipal C…

The All India Federation of Tax Practitioners challenged the levy of service tax on chartered accountants, cost accountants and architects under the Finance Acts of 1994 and 1998, arguing that such tax fell within State List Entry 60 (taxes on professions) and was barred by Article 276. The Supreme Court examined the c…

The Canteen Mazdoor Sabha filed a civil appeal challenging a Jharkhand High Court decision that set aside an Industrial Tribunal award granting canteen workers the same pay scales as MECON’s VIP Guest House and Tea Club employees. The core issue was whether a master‑servant (employer‑employee) relationship existed betw…

The Supreme Court heard writ petitions filed as public‑interest litigation by two MPs alleging that former Bihar Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi had unduly influenced the transfer of an Income‑Tax Appellate Tribunal member, the appointment of a Special CBI Judge, and the change of public prosecutors in…

The Committee of Management of Kanya Junior High School, a Jain‑run minority institution, terminated Assistant Teacher Santosh Upadhyay for acts of indiscipline after a show‑cause notice, suspension and enquiry. She challenged the termination, arguing that under Rule 11 of the Uttar Pradesh Recognised Basic School Rule…

The case concerned the Karnataka Tax on Entry of Goods Act, 1979 and its amendment in 1993 which inserted the words "retrospectively or prospectively" in Section 3(1). The petitioners challenged the validity of the amendment for lack of the President's assent under Article 304(b) of the Constitution, and also questione…

The Uttar Pradesh government imposed administrative charges on molasses sold by sugar factories under Section 8(4) of the Uttar Pradesh Sheera Niyantran Adhiniyam, 1964. The Commissioner of Central Excise held that these charges should be included in the assessable value of molasses under the Central Excise Act, 1944, …

The Supreme Court considered several Special Leave Petitions and a writ petition challenging orders of various High Court Chief Justices or their nominees made under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to appoint or refuse to appoint an arbitrator. It held that such orders are administrative in …

The Union of India appealed against an award of solatium and interest granted by an arbitrator under Section 8 of the Jammu & Kashmir Requisition and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1968, where the respondents' lands had been acquired for defence purposes. The Supreme Court examined whether the 1968 Act, like th…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973 empowers a development authority to levy a development fee on applicants for plan sanction. The High Court had held that no such power existed, but the Supreme Court read Sections 14, 33, 41, 56 and related provisions as confe…

Two sugar factories in North Mysore challenged the constitutional validity of Section 3(3C) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and a 1966 government notification that placed them in Zone 1 for sugar price fixation, alleging loss and denial of a notice‑hearing. The factories argued that the zoning violated their fun…

The appellants, junior doctors who were on house‑job on 22‑Aug‑1989, had been admitted to the second year of a postgraduate degree course under the Uttar Pradesh "Residency Scheme" which was given retrospective effect from 1‑Aug‑1987. The High Court, hearing writ petitions by other doctors, held that clause 5 of the sc…

Rajendra Jha, a dresser in the Steel Authority of India, was dismissed on charges of misconduct. Because an industrial dispute was pending, the management sought approval of the dismissal under section 33(2)(b) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court held the domestic inquiry invalid but also ordered tha…

The State Government of West Bengal issued three notifications under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, to acquire land belonging to the respondents for what it claimed was a public purpose—first for the expansion of a private company's factory and later for industrial development. The respondents objected, alleging that …

The appellant, a police constable, was summoned to the Senior Superintendent's office and allegedly detained illegally for six days during which he suffered severe genital mutilation and other injuries, as confirmed by medical reports. His wife complained to the police seeking registration of an FIR against the officia…

The case concerned allegations that the Superintendent of a women’s protection home in Patna administered intoxicating substances to inmates and facilitated their sexual exploitation. The accused, respondent No.2, was granted bail by the Patna High Court despite the victim not being notified, contrary to Section 15A(3)…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition under Art. 32 challenging the failure of several State Governments and Union Territories to implement mandatory provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS Act), including grievance redressal officers, State Food Commissions, social audits and vigilance committees.…

The petitioners challenged the cancellation of their appointments and termination of service on the ground that they had either omitted or misrepresented information about criminal prosecutions, arrests, convictions or pendency of cases in the verification forms required for recruitment. The Supreme Court was asked to …

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector, married a woman (the second wife) by concealing that he was already married, collected money from her family and threatened them. The second wife filed a complaint alleging offences under Sections 494, 495, 417, 420 and 498A IPC. The High Court quashed the complaint under Section 498A, h…

The Kerala High Court directed the State to implement the 1975 Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of Lands and Restoration of Alienated Lands) Act, but the State failed to comply, leading to multiple extensions and a contempt petition. The State subsequently enacted the 1999 Kerala Restriction on Transfer…

The petitioners alleged that the respondents, who were parties to a family property dispute, sold and transferred portions of the disputed land and allowed construction despite two interim orders of this Court dated 26‑April‑2004 and 10‑January‑2005 that prohibited any creation of third‑party interest without notice to…

The father (respondent No.2) lodged an FIR under Section 366 IPC alleging that Nitin Agnihotri (respondent No.1) abducted his daughter. The High Court quashed the FIR and, despite finding no police lapse, imposed a cost of Rs.50,000 on the State and the complainant. The State appealed, contending that cost should not b…

The petitioners, two Christians, challenged Section 118 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 which barred Christians from bequeathing property for religious or charitable purposes unless a will was executed at least twelve months before death and deposited as prescribed. They argued that the provision discriminated again…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of appeals concerning searches under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. It held that an empowered officer must inform a suspect of his right to be searched before a Gazetted Officer or Magistrate, and that this duty is imperative, not merely directory. Failure t…

The case concerned an IAS officer, Rajiv Yadav, who was allocated to the Manipur‑Tripura cadre despite his preference for the Union Territories cadre, his home state. He challenged the allocation before the Central Administrative Tribunal, arguing that the reservation of SC/ST candidates for their home states in the ca…

The appellants, appointed as direct recruits to the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Civil Service, challenged seniority lists that placed demobilised armed‑forces officers (respondents) above them. The respondents had been recruited under the Uttar Pradesh Non‑Technical (Class‑II) Services (Reservation of Vacancies for Demobi…

The landlords (Venkatlal G. Pittie & Anr.) sued their tenant (Bright Bros. Pvt. Ltd.) for eviction, alleging that the tenant had erected permanent structures in violation of clause (p) of s.108 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 and s.13(1)(b) of the Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control Act, 1974, and…

The petitioner Jharia was convicted under IPC s.302 read with s.34 and sentenced to life imprisonment, a conviction upheld by the Rajasthan High Court while his co‑accused were acquitted. He applied for special leave to appeal to the Supreme Court under Article 136, but the petition was dismissed, as was a subsequent r…

Silppi Constructions Contractors submitted technical bids for two government tenders but their bids were rejected on the ground that they failed to meet eligibility criteria and that adverse remarks against their sister company were taken into account. The petitioner appealed the rejection, but the appellate authority …

The appellants, engaged as Work Charged and Muster Roll workers in various departments of the Government of Assam before 1 April 1993, rendered continuous service for decades. The State, through a Cabinet decision dated 22 July 2005, regularized about 30,000 similarly situated workers, but due to clerical lapses the ap…

The case concerned two teachers who challenged actions taken against them by the Air Force School, Bamrauli, alleging that the school was a "state or authority" under Article 12 of the Constitution and therefore subject to writ jurisdiction under Article 226. The majority held that the school, managed by the Indian Air…

The Supreme Court examined a Government Order dated 29 June 2024 issued by the Madhya Pradesh Government that made District Collectors and Divisional Commissioners – officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) – the reporting, reviewing and accepting authorities for Performance Appraisal Reports (PAR) of Indian…

Pinky Meena, a former Government Teacher, applied for and was selected as a Civil Judge in the Rajasthan Judicial Service. After resigning from her teaching post, she completed her probationary training but was later served a show‑cause notice and discharged on allegations of simultaneously obtaining LL.B. and B.Ed. de…

The petitioner, a lifetime trustee of the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust, alleged that respondent No.6 failed to give notice of a Board of Trustees meeting as ordered by this Court on 14 February 2014, constituting willful contempt. The Court had earlier stayed the meeting scheduled for 7 February 2014 and order…