Indian Evidence Act, 1872

The respondent was elected to the Lok Sabha from Amethi in the 1984 general election. An elector filed an election petition alleging several corrupt practices, but the petition failed to disclose material facts and particulars required by Section 83 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The High Court dismisse…

Md. Shahabuddin, a sitting MP, was in custody with more than forty criminal cases pending. Because of serious threats to public order, the Patna High Court, exercising its power under s.9(6) of the CrPC, issued a notification that the Court of Session would hold its sittings inside Siwan District Jail, and the Bihar Go…

The appellant Pravin was convicted under IPC sections 395, 397 and 450 for a daylight bank dacoity, and under the Arms Act for possession of an unlicensed firearm. He challenged the conviction on the ground that the identification parade was a farce, photographs of the accused had been shown to witnesses, and the recov…

The case involved a dacoity on 22 December 1987 at the house of Sanfula Devi, during which three persons were murdered and valuables stolen. The trial court convicted twelve accused under Sections 396 and 120‑B IPC, and the High Court added convictions under Sections 302 and 34 IPC. The Supreme Court examined whether t…

The appellant, Ram Vijay Singh, was convicted under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 for murder and claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the 20 July 1982 incident. He relied on a 1982 High Court bail order based on a radiologist’s report, an alleged age of 15½‑17½ years, and an arms‑licence application showing a birth date of 30…

Raj Kumar, a 32‑year‑old who was a regular visitor to a neighbour's house, was asked to stay overnight while the parents irrigated fields. He raped the 14‑year‑old girl Gounjhi, caused grievous injuries and she died of asphyxia by strangulation. A 10‑year‑old brother witnessed the assault; DNA analysis linked the appel…

The appellant, a senior police officer in Sikkim, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He submitted a detailed statement of his assets (Exhibit D‑4) after the FIR, but the prosecution alleged a much larger unexplained amount and …

Param Hans Yadav and Sadanand Tripathi were convicted for the murder of Collector Mahesh Narain Prasad, Yadav having thrown a bomb and later confessing that he acted on Tripathi's orders. Yadav's confession, both judicial and extra‑judicial, was obtained after he was assaulted and was therefore not voluntary. The Supre…

Ram Chander was convicted of murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court upheld his conviction while acquitting a co‑accused. The appellant argued that the Sessions Judge had violated the principle of a fair trial by rebuking and threatening key eyewitnesses…

The dispute concerned immovable property of the late Ramaiah Reddy, who executed a registered will on 12 March 1980 in favour of his minor children Sharmila and Umesh. A later will dated 20 May 1995, executed by the same testator, did not expressly revoke the 1980 will. Umesh filed a partition suit based on the 1995 wi…

The Supreme Court examined appeals against a Designated Court (TADA) judgment that convicted three men for the murder of Additional Collector L.D. Arora under the IPC and acquitted them of TADA charges. The key issues were the admissibility of confessional statements made by co‑accused under TADA s.15 against an accuse…

The appellants Vikram Singh, Jasvir Singh and Sonia were convicted for kidnapping a 16‑year‑old boy, Abhi Verma, for ransom, administering chloroform and pentazocine which caused his death, and for conspiracy under Sections 302, 364A, 201 and 120‑8 IPC. The Supreme Court examined the sufficiency of circumstantial and e…

The petitioner, a student, filed a writ of habeas corpus under Article 32 of the Constitution on behalf of C. Daniel and C. Paul, who were allegedly taken by jawans of the 21st Sikh Regiment from Huining village to Phungrei camp on 10 March 1982 and thereafter disappeared. The respondents (Union of India, State of Mani…

The appellants were convicted of murder based on circumstantial evidence that they had last seen the deceased alive, were seen walking near the crime scene, purchased meat, and allegedly pointed out the spot where a blood‑stained stone was recovered. The Supreme Court examined whether each circumstance was proved beyon…

The case arose from a partition suit filed by the deceased Lajesh Saxena seeking a share in the joint Hindu family property. The trial court allotted shares, which the High Court altered by increasing the daughter’s share to one‑eighth and rejecting the validity of three wills under Section 68 of the Evidence Act. The …

Shamsher Singh Verma was charged under IPC 354 and the POCSO Act for allegedly molesting his nine‑year‑old niece. The accused filed an application under Section 294 of the CrPC to have a compact disc containing a recorded conversation between the victim's father, the accused's son and his wife played in court and sent …

The deceased Kayyum gave three dying declarations after being assaulted. The first (before a doctor) and second (before a magistrate) named Syed Shaukat and Salim but not Mohammed Arshad; the third (before an investigating officer) named Arshad as having struck the victim with a wooden stick, citing a monetary dispute.…

Vikramjit Singh (Vicky) was convicted by the Sessions Court and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife, Meena Rani, based on a prosecution case that alleged he killed her due to an illicit relationship. The prosecution relied on a knife allegedly recovered after a confession, jewellery found nearby, and a series…

Babubhai Udesinh Parmar was convicted of raping and murdering a minor girl, Savita, primarily on the basis of a confession recorded by a Chief Judicial Magistrate under Section 164 of the Cr.P.C. The Supreme Court found that the confession was recorded without observing the statutory safeguards: it was taken on oath (w…

The appellants were convicted for kidnapping and murdering two children based largely on circumstantial evidence, including the testimony of a child witness, a taxi driver, extra‑judicial confessions, fingerprint matches, recovered clothing, and a ransom‑demand letter. The trial and High Courts upheld the convictions a…

The accused were charged under Sections 302 and 34 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act for the murder of Shivnandan Prasad. Eye‑witnesses identified Brijandan Prasad as the sole shooter, while the other four accused were alleged to have participated in brick‑batting but not in firing. The defence argued that discrepanci…

The appellant, Anil Raju Namdev Patil, was convicted of kidnapping a five‑year‑old boy for ransom, the boy’s murder and related offences, and sentenced to death and five years’ rigorous imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that the charge of kidnapping for ransom with intent to murder (Section 364‑A IPC) was never framed…

The Municipal Board of Saharanpur sought to levy water tax on Imperial Tobacco's factory and residential buildings under Section 128(1)(x) of the U.P. Municipalities Act, 1916, claiming that the entire complex lay within a 600‑foot radius of a public stand‑pipe and was situated in a "common compound". The respondent ar…

The appellant, an illiterate Harijan widow, sued to cancel a sale deed she had executed in favour of the respondent, alleging fraud, that she thought she was executing a will, and that the deed was obtained without consideration. The trial court, appellate court and Allahabad High Court all held that the deed was volun…

The suit concerned a house inherited by the late K. Basavaraja Urs and his son K.B. Ramchandra Raj Urs (defendant No.1). Plaintiffs Sarah C. Urs and P. Chandrakantaraj Urs entered into an agreement to purchase the property on 24 April 1979, with the late father acting through his son as power of attorney. Rs.1,00,000 w…

The case involved the murder of Zahida Begum and her son Ishlam, whose bodies were recovered from a septic tank after appellant No.1, Asar Mohammad, confessed and led police to the site. The trial court convicted all three accused under Sections 302 and 201 IPC, sentencing them to death (later commuted to life). On app…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against the High Court’s order acquitting Ahmed Shaikh Babajan and four co‑accused of murder (Sec. 302 r/w Sec. 34 IPC) and house‑breaking (Sec. 456 r/w Sec. 109 IPC). The facts involved a dispute over possession of a flat, the alleged assault and death of the tenant’s son, and claims …

The appellants were convicted for murder under IPC s.304(Part I) read with s.34 based primarily on the deceased's statements recorded in the FIR and under s.161 CrPC, which the trial and High Courts treated as dying declarations under s.32 of the Evidence Act. The Supreme Court examined the principles governing dying d…

The accused, Kuntala Mishra, a midwife, was alleged to have murdered her daughter‑in‑law Geeta by strangulating her with a petticoat string after a dowry dispute. Geeta had undergone a D&C operation and was under the effect of phenargan, rendering her drowsy. She was found dead in the accused's quarters; the accused cl…

The deceased, Renuka, died from burns after an alleged incident where her husband doused her with kerosene. A dying declaration was recorded by a magistrate on the night of the incident, in which she accused her husband of the act. The trial court convicted the husband under Sections 302 (murder) and 498A (dowry harass…

Suman Verma was appointed as Extra Departmental Branch Post Master (EDBPM) in 1996, satisfying the statutory qualifications of passing the Matriculation Examination and possessing agricultural land. Respondent No.6 challenged the appointment before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), asserting that she had highe…

The appellant Mukesh Singh was convicted of murder, robbery and related offences based primarily on the identification of the injured eyewitness Sushil Kumar, who identified him in court after the accused had refused to attend a test identification parade (TIP). The accused argued that his refusal to participate in the…

The State of Maharashtra alleged that the appellants were members of an organized crime syndicate operating the illegal "Mumbai Matka" gambling network. Police raided a gambling den, recorded confessions of several accused, including the appellants, by an Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl. SP) under Section 18 …

An FIR (No.477) recorded the death of Amarjit Singh and injuries to his nephew Manjeet Singh, naming five persons as perpetrators. Only one accused, Sartaj Singh, was charge‑sheeted; the other four private respondents were placed in column‑2. During trial, the victim (PW1) reiterated the allegations against the private…

The State of Haryana prosecuted 148 workers for offences including murder arising from a factory fire. After the prosecution examined 102 witnesses and the accused gave statements under Section 313 CrPC, the defence sought recall of several prosecution witnesses under Section 311 CrPC, alleging that the lead counsel ha…

Sasan Power Ltd entered into Agreement‑I with the American company NAC, which contained an arbitration clause governed by English law and seated in London. Two years later the parties executed Agreement‑II, a tripartite deed involving Sasan Power, NACC India (a subsidiary of NAC) and NAC, which transferred NAC's rights…

The appellant had earlier mortgaged a portion of a house to a third party and later executed a single document selling the entire house to the respondents, which contained a right to redeem the mortgage. The respondents attempted to redeem, were refused, and filed suit for redemption and specific performance. The trial…

The appellants, two brothers, were convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and causing hurt (Sec. 324 IPC) for the death of their uncle Devaji and injuries to his children during a property‑related dispute. They claimed they acted in private defence after being attacked by the deceased and his son, who allegedly came armed.…

The promoters of a proposed company purchased a house and land before incorporation and later transferred the title to the incorporated company, which was declared the owner by a decree. The promoters, acting as directors, subsequently entered into a sale agreement with the appellants and also leased the property, lead…

The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board classified a lawyer's office as a commercial establishment and demanded commercial tariff for electricity consumption. The landlord, who owned the premises, challenged the demand in the High Court, which held that a lawyer's office is not a commercial establishment and the commercia…

The appellant, Gilbert Pereira, was accused of murdering a young girl and robbing her of gold ornaments. The prosecution relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the victim’s body found in a house the appellant could access, blood‑stained clothes and knife matching the victim’s blood group, injuries on the…

The appellant, S. Thangappan, was a tenant of premises used for an automobile workshop. The respondent, P. Padmavathy, filed an eviction petition under the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960, alleging non‑payment of rent from October 1982 to May 1983, the need for demolition and reconstruction, and…

The appellant was convicted of murder, theft of jewellery and concealment of evidence under IPC sections 302, 404 and 201. The prosecution relied on a series of circumstantial facts – the appellant’s presence with the victim, possession and disposal of the victim’s gold chain, ring and watch, the discovery of the body …

The Supreme Court examined petitions seeking directions to set up State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs) in several states that had failed to do so under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The Court held that the word "may" in Section 21 of the Act does not make the power to constitute SHRCs discretionary; it is…

The appellant, Anuj Kumar Gupta, was convicted for the murder of Chhotu Kumar Das based largely on a confessional statement he gave to the investigating officer (PW‑9) that led police to the victim’s body in a river. The trial court sentenced him to death, which the High Court later commuted to life imprisonment. The a…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for stabbing and further assaulting the deceased, who later died. The prosecution relied on a dying declaration recorded by a police officer after medical certification of fitness, corroborated by an eye‑witness, forensic blood‑group evidence, the recovered kn…

The appellant Shudhakar was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly setting his wife on fire. The deceased gave three dying declarations: the first, recorded by a Naib Tehsildar, exonerated the husband and claimed the fire originated from a stove; the second and third, recorded later by a Tehsildar and …

The case involves the kidnapping of a 16‑year‑old girl in 1992. The girl was later found and gave a written report alleging kidnapping, but her trial testimony was later embellished with claims of sexual abuse and an attempt to sell her into prostitution. The trial court acquitted all three accused due to contradiction…

The deceased Shanti Bai set herself on fire in 1988 and, in her dying declaration, exonerated all members of her matrimonial home. The trial court convicted her husband and mother‑in‑law under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 498A (cruelty) based largely on the dying declaration and a letter she had written, …

Arvind Kumar married Sadhna and, along with his mother Prem Bai, repeatedly demanded additional dowry items. Sadhna, unable to meet these demands, was allegedly harassed and tortured, leading her to set herself on fire and die within 1.5 months of marriage. Both were convicted under IPC s.306 (abetment of suicide) and …

The case involved a firm, M/s V.V. Enterprises, purportedly engaged in prize ticket business and collecting public deposits. Police seized about Rs. 1.18 crore from its premises, and the Assessing Officer found the firm’s books incomplete and could not explain the source of the deposits, treating the amount as undisclo…

Sada Kaur, a widow of a Dhaliwal Jat from Tehsil Muktsar, remarried her deceased husband's younger brother in the Karewa form. The brothers of the deceased sued for a declaration that her remarriage caused forfeiture of her life interest in her first husband's estate, seeking a two‑thirds share. The central issue was w…

Manoj Pratap Singh was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a seven-and-a-half-year-old mentally and physically disabled girl. The prosecution proved its case through a complete chain of circumstantial evidence, including DNA matches, blood‑stained clothing, the victim’s body recovered at the appellant’s direc…

The appellant aunt and nephew were convicted for murdering the deceased husband, an Upper Division Clerk, based on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution proved that the death occurred at 1.30 a.m., the victims were found dead in bed, the accused were present, and the nephew’s statement under Section 27 led to the re…

The appellant, Rajput Jabbarsingh Malaji, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering his brother Jethusing by striking him on the face with an axe. The prosecution relied on the dying victim's wife (PW‑3) who identified the appellant, corroborated by two brothers (PW‑5, PW‑6) whose statements were recorded under…

The landlord, Ram Niwas, filed an eviction suit against tenants Gurubachan Singh and another, alleging default in rent and unauthorized sub‑letting of a shop to the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) at Rs 2100 per month for four months. The tenants contended that they had deposited rent in court under Se…

Dashrath was convicted under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and accepting a bribe. He challenged the conviction on four grounds: the sanction to prosecute was mechanically granted, the investigation was conducted by an Inspector of Police contrary to Sect…

The appellant, Maghavendra Pratap Singh (Pankaj Singh), was convicted for the murder of businessman Goverdhan Aggarwal and related offences under Sections 302, 201, 120B of the IPC and the Arms Act, based largely on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution’s case lacked any eyewitnesses, direct forensic linkage, or rel…

The plaintiffs filed a suit claiming ownership of several properties on the basis of a Will dated 20‑05‑1991 executed by the deceased Sri Sangappa and sought to declare a trust created by the defendants void. The defendants challenged the genuineness of the Will, pointing to numerous irregularities such as the use of d…

The appellant, Dipakbhai Jagdishchandra Patel, was implicated in a counterfeit currency case after co‑accused 1‑3 claimed the fake notes originated from his residence. No counterfeit notes were actually recovered from his home and the only incriminating material was the co‑accused statements recorded by police under Se…

The Delhi Administration appealed the acquittal of Vidya Gupta, a sweet shop vendor, who was charged under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for storing adulterated ghee used to make jalebis. The Supreme Court held that Section 7, read with its explanation, deems any person who stores adulterated food for t…

The wife, Lalita, committed suicide within five years of her marriage, alleging daily quarrels and dowry demands by her mother‑in‑law and father‑in‑law. A dying declaration recorded by a Sub‑Divisional Magistrate detailed the harassment and the in‑laws’ presence at the time of the act. The trial court acquitted the acc…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Patrangi Ramanaiah, who was stabbed by a group of accused during an unlawful assembly. The trial court and High Court had convicted most of the accused under Sections 302, 148 and 324 IPC, relying on eyewitness testimony, a dying declaration, and forensic evidence, while acquitt…

Raman Kumar was convicted by the High Court for dowry death under Sections 304B and 498A of the IPC based on the death of his wife Suman Bala, who allegedly died from burns after being allegedly harassed for dowry. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had proved the essential ingredients of a dowry death,…

Maharani Sharmishthabai Holkar executed a detailed Will on 4 November 1992 that referred to three appendices containing the specific distribution of her assets. The appendices were not signed by the attesting witnesses and were not in existence at the time of execution. Applications for probate were filed by the execut…

The appellant, Om Parkash Batish, owned a residential building and had engaged a casual worker, Ram Lal, for a short period to carry out repair work. While on the roof of an adjoining textile mill, Ram Lal suffered an electric shock and died. The respondents filed a claim for compensation under the Workmen Compensation…

The Managing Director of State Bank of Hyderabad initiated departmental proceedings against P. Kata Rao, an employee, on twelve charges, some of which overlapped with criminal charges for which he was later acquitted. The enquiry officer found him guilty of most charges and the appointing authority dismissed him; the d…

The accused were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act for kidnapping an industrialist and extorting a Rs 1 crore ransom. The conviction rested primarily on a detailed confessional statement recorded by the DCP from co‑accused A‑12, which was later retracted. The appellants argued tha…

The case concerned the abduction of businessman Jayendra Mahendra Tripathi in January 1994, for which a ransom was demanded. A co‑accused, A‑9, gave a detailed confession to the police under Section 15 of the TADA Act, which was later retracted. The Supreme Court held that the confession was recorded in compliance with…

Girdhar Shankar Tawade was tried for abetment of suicide under IPC s.306 and cruelty to a woman under s.498‑A. The prosecution relied on contradictory oral testimony of the deceased's brother and cousin, three letters written by the deceased, and a dying declaration. The trial court and the High Court convicted him on …

The three accused (Ezhil, Saravanan and Mohammed Iqbal) were charged with robbery, murder and related offences after a car they were travelling in was intercepted carrying articles belonging to the deceased, Masukuthu Ali, whose body was later found stabbed. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including …

The respondents (plaintiffs) sued the T.N. Electricity Board for Rs. 46,08,820, claiming that the freight rates for transporting iron and steel were to be paid on a multi‑slab basis as indicated in a handwritten addition to a letter appended to their tender. The High Court Division Bench accepted this claim, holding th…

The Supreme Court examined whether Rule 5 of the Hot‑Re‑rolling Steel Mills Annual Capacity Determination Rules, 1997, which allows the annual capacity of production (ACP) to be deemed equal to actual production for the 1996‑97 year, creates a legal fiction and is ultra vires Section 3A of the Central Excise Act, 1944.…

The appellant Manmeet Singh (alias Goldie) was convicted under Section 396 of the Indian Penal Code for dacoity with murder, based on an alleged robbery of a large sum of money and the killing of Mohinder Singh. The prosecution alleged that five or more persons participated in the dacoity, but only the appellant was id…

The appellant was accused, along with a co‑accused, of kidnapping and murdering a 16‑year‑old girl in Assam. The prosecution relied on three circumstantial links: the victim was last seen with the appellant, the appellant’s extra‑judicial confessions to several villagers, and the recovery of the dead body after those c…

The case involved a fraud scheme where fake telegraphic transfers were used to withdraw Rs. 6.7 crore from a bank, the proceeds of which were allegedly used to purchase 205 gold bars that were later seized from accused Nandkumar Babulal Soni. The trial court convicted Soni under Sections 120B and 411 of the IPC, direct…

The appellant, Nanjappan, entered into a 1987 sale agreement to sell his sole property for Rs 45,000, receiving an advance of Rs 25,000, with the balance to be paid within 2½ years. The time for execution was extended repeatedly, ultimately spanning eight years, and the respondents paid a total advance of Rs 42,500. Th…

The appellant, P. Mani, was convicted of murdering his wife by allegedly setting her on fire, based solely on her dying declaration. The High Court upheld the conviction, holding the dying declaration reliable and noting the appellant's alleged absconding and lack of injury as circumstantial support. On appeal, the Sup…

The appellant, Bishwanath Prasad Singh, sold a piece of land to the respondents on 24 June 1977 and simultaneously executed an agreement for reconveyance, the parties agreeing that the sale would become absolute only upon payment of Rs.3000 within 23 months. The respondents claimed the transaction was a usufructuary mo…

The appellants Mangu Khan, Sirdar Khan and Subedar Khan attacked an informant, his father and brother over a dispute concerning a bund, using lathis, farsi and tanchia. The father and brother were killed on the spot while the informant sustained injuries. The trial court convicted all five accused under Sections 148, 3…

The case involved descendants of a common ancestor who had partitioned their agricultural land in 1955 and later their residential properties. A memorandum of partition (Exh. P‑12) dated 3 August 1955, later confirmed by a settlement (Exh. P‑1) on 31 January 1971, listed the properties allotted to each party. The dispu…

The case involved a murder at Sadar Hospital where Hare Krishna Singh and six others were alleged to have fired upon the deceased Jitendra Choudhary, resulting in his death. The appellants challenged their convictions on several grounds, including the prosecution’s failure to explain injuries sustained by Hare Krishna …

The State of Haryana charged Sher Singh and his two sons with the murder of Sher Singh's half‑brothers, alleging they assaulted and burned the victims in a village courtyard. The trial court convicted them under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, sentencing Sher Singh to death and the others to life imprisonment; the High…

The case concerned the murder of Narayan in 1985, for which Munna Lal, Sheo Lal and Babu Ram were convicted under section 302 IPC based largely on the oral testimony of two eye‑witnesses, PW‑2 (Ram Vilas) and PW‑3 (Hemraj), and medical evidence. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of these witnesses, noting PW‑2…

The appellant, his brother and father were tried for murder (IPC s.302) of the appellant's wife; the trial court acquitted them after witnesses turned hostile. The Karnataka High Court, however, convicted the appellant under IPC s.304B (dowry death) and s.498A without a specific charge for s.304B. The Supreme Court exa…

Bhagwan Singh, a co‑owner of undivided joint‑family agricultural land, sold portions of the land in specie to strangers who later sold parts to Karan Singh (the appellant). Bhagwan Singh filed a suit for pre‑emption under the Punjab Pre‑emption Act, 1913, claiming his co‑owner right. The trial court dismissed the suit,…

The respondents, co‑owners of land sold by a widow who possessed only a limited estate, filed a suit under Section 15(1)(b) of the Punjab Pre‑emption Act, 1913 seeking pre‑emption of the sale. The trial court decreed in their favour and the decree was upheld on appeal, but the second appeal was dismissed. While these p…

The Union of India, as the owner of land covered by an Old Grant, issued a notice to resume a 3.398‑acre property in Landour Cantonment occupied by Vijay Krishna Uniyal, who sued for a permanent injunction claiming ownership based on a 1980 sale deed and long possession. The trial court, the first appellate court and t…

The appellants challenged the acquisition of their land for a residential‑commercial scheme, arguing that the State had improperly invoked the urgency clause under Section 17(4) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to dispense with the hearing mandated by Section 5A. The High Court had dismissed the writ petition, but on …

The plaintiff purchased a plot from a housing cooperative society by a registered sale deed dated 29‑12‑1981 and was placed in possession. The defendant later encroached on the land and erected a hut, prompting the plaintiff to sue for possession and mesne profits. The trial court and first appellate court dismissed th…

The appellant and four others were tried for murder, rioting and attempt to murder. Eye‑witnesses PW4 and PW6 testified that the appellant and his brother fired at the deceased Sukhdev Singh, while a defence witness DW5 also admitted the appellant’s firing. The trial court acquitted three accused on the basis of doubt …

Parveen Kumar was married to Raksha Devi, who filed multiple complaints alleging cruelty, including an FIR under Section 498-A and a maintenance petition under Section 125 CrPC. Within two years of marriage, she died by ingesting aluminum phosphide tablets, and her brother lodged an FIR accusing the husband of cruelty …

The appellants, sons of the deceased donor, claimed that a property gifted by their father to the respondent was ancestral and that the donor lacked authority to execute the gift deed, alleging the deed was forged. The trial court held the property ancestral, a view affirmed by the first appellate court, but the Gujara…

S.P.S. Rathore, a senior police officer, was convicted under Section 354 IPC for molesting a minor girl, Ruchika, after she was forced into his office and embraced against her will. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of a single eye‑witness, PW‑13 (Aradhana), whose account was corroborated by other witne…

The appellant Dhal Singh Dewangan was accused of murdering his wife and five daughters. The prosecution relied on statements of village witnesses (PWs 1,2,3,5) that they heard the appellant’s mother (PW‑6) accuse him, and on circumstantial evidence such as the presence of a blood‑stained knife and the appellant’s uncon…

The deceased Rajni died from severe burns after kerosene oil was poured on her and she was set alight. Her dying declaration named her husband Mahender Singh, her brother‑in‑law Prem Kumar Gulati and his wife Simla as participants, but did not specify who actually poured the oil or lit the fire. The trial court and Hig…

Delta Distilleries supplied Indian Made Foreign Liquor to United Spirits under a contract that made the buyer responsible for sales tax. A dispute arose over a set‑off/refund claimed by Delta from the Sales Tax Department, which United Spirits argued reduced its tax burden. The arbitral tribunal allowed United Spirits …

The police, acting on secret information, seized four sealed bags containing 150 kg of poppy husk from the appellant's residence. No samples were taken at the time of seizure; instead, the Station House Officer later broke the seals, mixed the contents, and collected samples before resealing the bags. The appellant was…

The State of West Bengal appealed the Calcutta High Court's acquittal of Orilal Jaiswal and his mother, Gujarati Debi, on charges of abetment of suicide (Sec. 306 IPC) and cruelty (Sec. 498A IPC). The Supreme Court examined whether the victim’s mother, brother and other close relatives provided sufficient evidence of c…

The case concerned the death of Sudha, who was found burnt in a Delhi flat; the prosecution alleged that her mother‑in‑law Shakuntala and husband Laxman Kumar deliberately set her on fire to avoid dowry demands, while the defence claimed an accidental fire from a kerosene stove. The trial court convicted all three accu…

The appeals challenge the Special Judge’s order on charge (24‑12‑2021) and charge‑framing order (03‑03‑2022) against Karnataka Emta Coal Mines Ltd (KECML) and its former MD for alleged conspiracy to illegally sell coal washery rejects. The Court examined whether the CBI’s investigation was predicated solely on the 2013…

The appellant, Irfan, was convicted and sentenced to death for allegedly setting fire to a room that killed his son and two brothers, based primarily on two dying declarations. The prosecution argued that the appellant had motive and that eye‑witnesses saw him pour inflammable substance and lock the door. The defence c…

The appellant, T.K. Reddy, was convicted of murdering his wife Ramulamma by allegedly setting her on fire, based primarily on a dying declaration recorded by a magistrate (Exhibit P‑2) that accused him of the act. A second dying declaration recorded by police (Exhibit P‑5) claimed the wife had set herself on fire due t…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Mehbub Samsuddin Malek and two co‑accused convicted for a communal riot in Baroda. The driver (appellant No.1) stopped his bus opposite a mob of armed Muslim youths, got down, and conversed with them, after which the mob attacked the passengers, leading to deaths. The Court held…

The State of Uttarakhand appealed the acquittal of Girish Singh and Jodh Singh, who were charged under Sections 304B r/w 34 and 306 r/w 34 of the IPC for the alleged dowry death of Ishwari Devi, who committed suicide by burning within seven years of marriage. The High Court convicted them, relying on unproduced letters…

The Supreme Court examined an editorial published by Arun Shourie that criticised a report of a Commission of Inquiry headed by a sitting Supreme Court Judge, Justice Kuldip Singh. Dr. Subramanian Swamy filed contempt petitions alleging that the editorial scandalised the Court. The Court was asked to decide (i) whether…

The appellants were seized at night while travelling in a jeep that contained ten bags of poppy husk (total 410 kg). They were convicted under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment. On appeal they argued that the prosecution failed to …

The appellant, Kaliya, mother‑in‑law, was convicted of murdering her daughter‑in‑law, Guddi, who was burnt alive in the appellant's house. Guddi’s dying declaration, stating that Kaliya poured kerosene on her, was recorded by a doctor and a nurse, but the original document was lost and only a carbon copy was produced. …

Ayyappan Textiles Ltd., a manufacturer of cotton yarn under heading 52.03, was inspected on 30 August 1993 and two registers and a file of weekly test reports were seized. The Central Excise Department issued a show‑cause notice alleging that the company had been producing yarn of higher counts (40s, 43s, 60s, 82s) tha…

The case concerns the murder of MP Magunta Subbarama Reddy, his gunman, and injuries to two witnesses. Accused No.1, Pantangi Balarama Venkata Ganesh, a member of the Peoples War Group, was arrested on the day of the incident with a pistol, cartridges and a pink shirt bearing his blood. Eye‑witnesses, DNA profiling lin…

Kavita was accused of throwing her two children into a well and then jumping in, after which she allegedly made an extra‑judicial confession to three villagers that she could no longer endure her husband's torture. The trial court and the Madras High Court convicted her of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and attempted suicide (S…

The case arose from a violent incident on 14 November 2012 in which members of a political rival family were attacked, resulting in three deaths. The prosecution relied on three key witnesses – PW‑1, PW‑2 and a 10‑year‑old child PW‑9 – as well as fingerprint and weapon‑recovery evidence to secure convictions of accused…

Maharana Pratap Singh, a constable in the CID dog squad, was dismissed from service in 1996 following departmental proceedings that found him guilty of four charges, while he was later acquitted of the related criminal charges. The appellant challenged the dismissal, alleging denial of due process, vague charges, and t…

The appellant, Puran Chand, was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping a 17‑year‑old girl who later attempted suicide. He appealed, claiming false implication due to enmity, a 20‑day delay in filing the FIR, and that the medical report showing an intact hymen created reasonable doubt. The Supreme Court held that th…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Munshi Singh and others for the murder of Sobran. The trial court had found the testimony of three eye‑witnesses unreliable and, relying on ballistic evidence that contradicted their statements, acquitted the accused. The High Court upheld this acquittal, holding th…

The trial court convicted Nirmal Singh under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 for possessing poppy husk recovered from his house and sentenced him to ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine. The Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him, holding that the parameters of Section…

The appellant, the aunt of the husband, was convicted under Section 498A of the IPC for allegedly participating in dowry demand that led to the death of the wife. The prosecution alleged that the husband, his brother, and the aunt demanded jewellery and cash, and that the husband and brother strangulated the wife while…

The case concerns the murder of Suhas on 5 July 2011, for which three accused—Netaji Achyut Shinde (A‑1), Samadhan Shinde (A‑2) and Balasaheb Shinde (A‑3)—were charged under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. A telephonic intimation at 17:45 was treated by the trial court as the FIR, leading to the conviction of A‑2…

The appellant partnership firm claimed title to four godowns in Nasik based on a registered deed of sale executed in 1974 by the respondent's father. The respondent occupied the property as a licencee and later contested the deed, alleging it was a security for a Rs.50,000 loan. The trial court dismissed the suit, hold…

The appellant was part of a group that abducted Bhagvandas Sindhi and attempted to extort money; when the victim resisted, the appellant allegedly fired a revolver at him, causing a fatal head wound. The weapon and a bullet were later recovered, and a ballistic expert testified that the bullet was fired from the seized…

The victim Aruna suffered severe burns after the appellant Jaishree allegedly poured kerosene on her and set her alight; Aruna died fifteen days later. During her dying period she gave five dying declarations, which were recorded by medical staff and police. The trial court convicted Jaishree of murder under Section 30…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Balveer Singh for the murder, concealment and conspiracy to murder his wife, relying heavily on the testimony of the 7‑year‑old daughter, Rani, as the sole eye‑witness. The High Court acquitted the accused, holding that the child’s delayed statement and residence with an inimical …

The appellant, a neighbour, abducted a three‑year‑old girl from her home under the pretext of giving her biscuits, subsequently raping and murdering her. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 364, 376, 377, 302 and 201 and imposed death for the murder, which the High Court affirmed. On appeal, the Supreme Co…

The Supreme Court examined contempt proceedings initiated suo motu by the Allahabad High Court against police personnel accused of illegally detaining a man whose whereabouts were unknown. The High Court had presumed the detainee dead under Section 108 of the Evidence Act, despite only 4½ years having elapsed, and conv…

Sardar Singh, his wife Saraswati and his brother's wife Savitri were charged with murder and with concealing evidence under Sections 302/34 and 201/34 of the IPC. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence: the deceased's illicit relationship with Saraswati and Savitri, the discovery of his body buried in…

Dwarka Prasad was convicted of murder under sections 302 and 307 IPC. The prosecution alleged that he and a co‑accused attacked the deceased and a witness with knives, motivated by a prior altercation, and that the FIR was lodged several hours after the incident. The accused claimed he was guarding his grandfather's fi…

The appellants, Kulwant Singh and others, were charged with murder, attempt to murder and causing hurt arising from a land‑boundary dispute in which two of the victims, Kartar Kaur and Partap Singh, were injured and later died. The trial court acquitted them on the basis of private defence, but the High Court convicted…

The case involved a murder arising from a rivalry between two village groups, leading to the death of Ramkumar. Five persons were tried; the trial court convicted all under Sections 148, 302 and 149 of the IPC, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The Rajasthan High Court acquitted three of the accused of the charges …

Harbans Lal was convicted for the murder of his wife Punni Devi, who died from burns, along with his two sons. The trial court sentenced all three to life imprisonment; the High Court acquitted the sons but upheld the husband's conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the prosecution's case, which rested mainl…

The plaintiff, Bhikubai, claimed possession of a house inherited from her brother Rakhmaji, asserting that under the Bombay School of Hindu law a female bandhu is an heir. The respondents argued that the family, having migrated from Mathura, was governed by the Banaras School where a female bandhu cannot inherit, and t…

The appellants were convicted under Sections 364, 302, 120-B and 201 of the IPC for the abduction and murder of Gurpal Singh, based largely on the testimony of an alleged eyewitness, CCTV footage, and confessional statements made to police. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of the eyewitness, noting material o…

The case arose from a land‑dispute over a pathway between the prime accused Surjaram and the deceased Ladduram, which escalated into a violent clash on 18‑07‑1989 resulting in two deaths and several injuries. The trial courts and the High Court delivered mixed judgments, convicting some accused under Section 302 r.w. S…

The appellant, K.V. Prakash Babu, was convicted under Sections 498‑A and 306 of the IPC for the suicide of his wife, who allegedly suspected him of an extra‑marital affair. The prosecution alleged that the husband's alleged relationship and the resulting suspicion constituted mental cruelty that drove the wife to kill …

The case involves the death of Roshni, who suffered 100% burns and gave a dying declaration to a Judicial Magistrate in hospital after a doctor certified her fitness to speak. The trial court acquitted the four accused, rejecting the dying declaration and relying on the victim's brother's testimony that the accused wer…

The CBI appealed against the Delhi High Court’s order quashing a Special Judge’s grant of pardon to respondent No.2 (Abhishek Verma) under Section 306 of the CrPC, who had confessed to forging a fax message on the instructions of respondent No.1 (Ashok Kumar Aggarwal). The Supreme Court examined the scope of the court’…

The CBI filed a case against Ashok Kumar Aggarwal for possessing disproportionate assets and obtained sanction for prosecution under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The respondent challenged the validity of the sanction, alleging that material was not placed before the Finance Minister and that th…

Govind Singh, a former Social Security Minister, resigned on 12 January 2002 and filed his nomination as an independent candidate on 23 January 2002. He was elected MLA from the Sherpur (SC) constituency on 13 February 2002. The defeated candidate, Harchand Kaur, filed an election petition alleging that Singh had indul…

The appellant, Gangaram Shantaram Salunkhe, was convicted under IPC Section 302 read with Section 34 for the murder of Bhaulal Jadhav. The prosecution relied on two eye‑witnesses (PW4 and PW5), a dying declaration of the deceased recorded by PW6, and medical evidence. The appellant challenged the identification, arguin…

The Tamil Nadu Government had granted an exemption from purchase tax on sugarcane to sugar mills in the cooperative and public sectors in 1975. In 1988 it withdrew the exemption for mills exceeding a turnover ceiling and made the withdrawal retrospective to April 1988. Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd. and related mills, which…

The trial court acquitted Ms. Uma and co‑accused of murder, holding that the prosecution had not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, particularly discounting medical evidence in the absence of an eyewitness. The State appealed, and the Madras High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting the appellants on charges …

The case arose from a caste‑based election dispute in Melavalavu village where six Dalits were murdered and forty persons were charged, seventeen of whom were convicted under IPC sections 302, 149 and 34 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The appellants challenged their convictions on the ground that the Fir…

The landlord filed an eviction application under Section 14(1)(b) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, alleging that the tenant, Guizar Singh, had sublet the premises to his brother Avtar Singh. The Rent Controller and the Rent Control Tribunal relied on an affidavit filed by Avtar Singh before the Income Tax authorities, in…

The State of Karnataka alleged that a police constable (A1) borrowed money from a fellow police officer who later demanded repayment, leading A1's wife (A2) to invite the victim to their home and murder him with two choppers. The trial court convicted A2, A3 and A4 under Section 302 read with Section 34, while acquitti…

The case arose from a 2005 drug seizure in Chandigarh where the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recovered heroin from a car driven by Satnam Singh and later arrested Balwinder Singh based on a confession recorded under Section 67 of the NDPS Act. The High Court had upheld both convictions, relying on the confessional st…

The respondent, Ballabh Vyas, claimed ownership of a small shop (Mulgi) based on a registered sale deed dated 27 June 1985 and sought eviction of the appellants, who were tenants succeeding the original lessee Balraj. The appellants denied the respondent’s title, asserting that Balraj had purchased the property for Rs.…

The accused Rajendran, a jobless alcoholic, was alleged to have strangled his wife and set fire to their hut, resulting in the deaths of his wife and two daughters. The trial court, relying on a series of corroborative circumstantial facts – including repeated quarrels, the accused’s presence in the house at the time o…

The trial court decreed specific performance of a sale agreement between the plaintiffs and the defendant. The defendant appealed and, during the pendency of the appeal, filed an application under Order XLI Rule 27(1) of the CPC to lead additional documentary evidence. The High Court admitted this evidence without firs…

The case arose from a violent incident on 12 July 1978 in which two brothers, Prem Shanker and Hari Shanker, armed with a knife and a lathi, assaulted and caused the death of Mohan Mishra. The trial court convicted them under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC, but the Allahabad High Court acquitted them on the groun…

Kheraj Ram, suspecting his wife's infidelity, murdered his wife, two daughters and his brother‑in‑law on the night of 10‑10‑1992. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC and imposed death, relying on a series of circumstantial facts – motive, prior quarrels, his presence with the victims, an extra‑judicial …

The case involved nine accused who conspired to kidnap foreign nationals in India to demand the release of jailed militants. The main conspirator, Umar Sheikh, escaped after an exchange of hijacked‑plane passengers, while six co‑accused were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA…

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…

The appellant, Sanjay Rajak, was convicted under IPC s.364(A) for kidnapping a 5‑6‑year‑old child and sentenced to life imprisonment. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: a classmate’s testimony that a man with a covered face, addressed as "uncle" by the child, abducted him; parents’ identification of the…

The election for the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly was won by MD Alauddin Khan by a margin of two votes over Karam Thamarjit Singh, who filed an election petition under Section 100(1)(d)(iii) alleging impersonation of dead voters in certain polling stations and seeking a recount and declaration of the election as vo…

The appellant Ohan Singh was convicted for the death of his brother Shiv Ram, who died after being struck on the head with an iron rod during a family property dispute. The prosecution relied on Shiv Ram's dying declaration, recorded by a Head Constable after a doctor certified that he was fit to speak, which identifie…

The appellant, Davinder Singh, was convicted by the trial court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court for offences under Sections 376, 452 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, based on the allegation that he threatened the prosecutrix with a knife at her residence. On appeal before the Supreme Court, the appellant contended…

The appellant accused were convicted of pre‑meditated murder based on the "last seen together" theory, alleged extra‑judicial confessions, recoveries of alleged weapons and a motorcycle, and serological evidence. The Supreme Court examined whether the time gap between the accused being last seen with the deceased and t…

The case concerned the alleged murder of Amina and her three daughters by setting them on fire, for which the accused, Aejaz Ahmad Sheikh's brother, was initially convicted and sentenced to death. The High Court later acquitted him, prompting appeals by the State and the complainant. The Supreme Court examined the reli…

The State of Uttar Pradesh initiated disciplinary proceedings against Ram Prakash Singh, an Assistant Engineer, alleging embezzlement of Panchayat funds. The enquiry officer prepared a report without examining any witnesses, without furnishing the report or supporting documents to the respondent, and the disciplinary a…

The case involved a violent clash between members of two political parties in Kerala, resulting in the murder of a CPI(M) member. Sixteen accused were charged, but the trial court acquitted A-10 to A-16 while convicting five others. The High Court upheld the convictions but reversed the acquittals of A-10 to A-13, rely…

The appellant, M.A. Antony, was convicted of murdering six members of a family in Kerala and sentenced to death, along with other imprisonments, based largely on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution relied on motive, the appellant's presence at the crime scene, forensic evidence such as fingerprints and scalp hair,…

The State of Punjab prosecuted Harjagdev Singh for the murder of his parents. The accused was arrested, gave a disclosure statement that led to the recovery of the murder weapon, and subsequently made a confession before a Judicial Magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC admitting his guilt. The trial court convicted …

The plaintiff, legal representatives of the deceased Brij Raj Singh, sued the defendants for possession of land on the basis of a registered gift deed dated 18‑Jan‑1961, executed by the donor Kanwar Chander Raj Saran Singh and presented for registration by a duly authorised attorney. The trial court held the deed valid…

Govindasami was accused of murdering his uncle Nagamalai, the latter's wife, two sons and a daughter in May 1984. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: a land‑dispute motive, a wrist‑watch recovered from the crime scene that belonged to the accused, a blood‑stained lungi and a promissory note found on him,…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of five accused (Al, A2, A3, A4, A5) for the murders of Savitri Devi and her grandson Sunil and related robbery. The Sessions Court had sentenced them to life imprisonment, but the Karnataka High Court enhanced the sentences of Al, A2 and A3 to death. The Court held that the H…

The Sai Publication Fund, a trust created by devotees of Sai Baba to spread his teachings, published and sold books, pamphlets and related material at nominal cost. The Commissioner of Sales Tax contended that the trust was a "dealer" under the Bombay Sales Tax Act, 1959, invoking the amended definition of "business" i…

The appellant Devender Pal Singh was arrested after being deported from Germany and recorded a confessional statement under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). The Designated Court convicted him of offences under TADA and the IPC, including criminal conspiracy, and sentenced h…

During the peak of militancy in Punjab, two teenage sons of Diwan Singh were abducted from their home by four armed men, including the appellant Sucha Singh, and were later found shot dead. The parents were present in the house at the time of the abduction. The prosecution proved the abduction and the subsequent murder…

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 …

The case arose from a long‑standing rivalry between two neighbouring families over stone slabs that blocked drainage. On 5 October 1984, after a morning altercation in which the appellant's faction slapped the deceased's father, the deceased Natarajan and his brother either pursued the appellant (prosecution version) o…

The State, represented by the CBI, appealed against a High Court order that barred the prosecution from examining a forensic document expert, S.K. Gupta, whose opinion linked a typewritten slip on a grenade parcel to a specific college typewriter. The issue centered on whether an expert's opinion on typescript falls wi…

The accused were tried for murder, dacoity and robbery after the victim's jeep was allegedly hijacked; the trial court acquitted them of murder and dacoity but convicted them of robbery. The State appealed, and the Gujarat High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting the accused of murder and related offences. The Sup…

The appellant Naresh Kumar was convicted under Section 306 of the IPC for allegedly abetting his wife Rani's suicide in 1993, based largely on the fact that she died within seven years of marriage and that he repeatedly demanded money for a business. The prosecution relied on the testimony of the deceased's brother and…

The appellant Vahitha was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly strangling her five‑year‑old daughter in the house of her mother‑in‑law. The prosecution relied on the testimony of the mother‑in‑law, two other family members, and two independent neighbours who saw the appellant near the child's body, as well as …

The case involved the murder of money‑lender RL and his wife during a robbery of their house‑cum‑shop, where the accused A‑1 (Gordhan Lal), A‑2 (Bharat Kumar) and A‑3 (Ramesh) were convicted of murder, robbery and related offences. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence, including blood‑stained cl…

The importer M/s. Ganesh Das Bhojraj claimed exemption from customs duty on green beans under Notification No.129/76-Cus, but the Central Government amended the exemption by Notification No.40/87-Cus, imposing a 25% duty. The importer contended that the 1987 notification, although published in the Gazette of India, was…

The State of Karnataka prosecuted four respondents for the murders of two brothers, alleging they were killed with an axe and sickle. The trial court convicted them under IPC sections 302, 34 and 324 based on eye‑witness testimony, recovered blood‑stained weapons, and post‑mortem reports. The Karnataka High Court acqui…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Laxman Naik, who was convicted of raping and murdering his 7‑year‑old niece. The prosecution case was built entirely on circumstantial evidence, including eyewitnesses who saw the accused and victim together, the accused’s false statements about the victim’s whereabouts, medical…

The appellant's premises were raided by Customs officials, leading to the seizure of gold, silver, and cash and the filing of two criminal complaints under the Customs Act, 1962 and the Gold Control Act, 1968. After the trial magistrate closed evidence, the prosecution sought, under Section 540 of the old Code (now Sec…

The appellants Thammaraya and Basappa were convicted for murder and concealment of dead body under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC based largely on circumstantial evidence and alleged disclosure statements that led to the recovery of certain articles. The prosecution's case hinged on the recovery of a gold chain, d…

The respondent Mohammed Basheer claimed ownership of about two acres of jenmam land, asserting that it was not a private forest under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971 and that a certificate of purchase issued by the Land Tribunal under s.72K of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 vested title…

The plaintiff, Shamsudeen, claimed inheritance rights in two properties originally owned by his grandmother Zainam Beevi, alleging that he was the son of Mohammed Ilias (a Muslim) and Valliamma (a Hindu) born before Ilias's death. The defendants contested his paternity, arguing that the marriage between Ilias and Valli…

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…

The appellants Shaikh Rafiq and Fatimbee were convicted for the murder of Noor Miya Mohd. Hussain, allegedly after they, together with the deceased's daughter‑in‑law Jaibunisa, came to his house and, following a dispute, poured kerosene on him and set him alight. The conviction rested solely on a dying declaration reco…

The deceased, married to the brother of the appellant, was allegedly poured with kerosene and set alight by the appellant and her mother. She escaped the house, was rescued by neighbours, and later died from extensive burns. While in the hospital, a dying declaration was recorded by a Munsif Magistrate with the assista…

The appellant Dastagir Sab and another were convicted of rape under Section 376(2)(g) of the IPC. The prosecution proved that the victim had seen the accused on three occasions before the assault, that the accused were chased, caught, and allegedly confessed, and that semen was found on the victim's clothing. The defen…

The Supreme Court examined a murder case where Sanjiv Kumar was seen entering and exiting the victim's house with a knife, was found with blood‑stained clothes, and a knife bearing human blood was recovered from his residence. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the recovery of blood‑stained cl…

The appellant S.D. Soni was married to Varsha, who was found dead in their matrimonial home. The defence claimed suicide, citing a note (Exh. 80) and alleged poisoning, while the prosecution alleged homicide, pointing to internal injuries to the pancreas and spleen and a fabricated suicide note. The Court held that the…

The case concerned a suit for possession of a house in Bikaner, claimed by Bhim Singh and Himmat Singh (plaintiffs) on the basis of a patta issued in their names, while the defendant Kan Singh asserted ownership as a surviving coparcener and alleged the transaction was benami. The trial court held the plaintiffs were o…

The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of Harpal Singh @ Chhota and co‑accused for kidnapping, abduction for ransom and conspiracy under IPC §§ 364A, 395, 412, 471, 1208 and Arms Act § 25. The Court found the victim’s testimony – recorded under §§ 161 and 164 Cr.P.C. and reiterated at trial – to be truthful and suffi…

The appellant Surinder Kumar was convicted under Sections 304B and 498A of the IPC for the death of his wife, Kiran Bala, who suffered 90% burn injuries and gave a dying declaration blaming him for dowry demands. The appellant challenged the admissibility of the declaration, arguing that his wife was too injured to mak…

The appellant, Kunjumon, entered a house with a common intention to commit robbery, threatened an 11‑year‑old girl and subsequently dragged a 90‑year‑old woman from her cot, beating her on the head with a wall clock, leading to her death. He was convicted by the trial court and the High Court under IPC sections 302 (mu…

In the 1999 Karur parliamentary election the returned candidate won by 2,847 votes. The defeated candidate filed an election petition alleging irregularities in the counting of about 15,000 rejected votes across five categories, but the petition disclosed only vague, general allegations without the required particulars…

The Supreme Court examined a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for the reclamation of tank fisheries covering about 1,495.93 acres. The petitioners argued that "land" under Section 3(a) does not include tank fisheries and that the acquisition was not for a public purpose, rendering the n…

Murari Lal was convicted of murder and related offences on the basis of two key pieces of evidence: a wrist‑watch belonging to the deceased recovered at his instance, and a handwritten note found beside the dead body that a handwriting expert identified as being written by the appellant. The appellant contended that th…

The appellant, Surinder Kumar, was accused of setting fire to his lover Kamlesh Rani, who later died from severe burns. The sole evidence against him was a dying declaration recorded by an executive magistrate at a hospital, which alleged that Kumar had poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. The trial court rejecte…

Jaswant Singh filed several suits concerning ownership of land in Simbli, Hoshiarpur, and the parties entered into a compromise on 27 November 1972 which led to a decree on 8 December 1972. The dispute later centered on the interpretation of that compromise—whether Singh owned 12.5 acres or only 8 acres—and on the admi…

The appellants, licensees of arrack shops, were convicted under Section 57A(iii) of the Kerala Abkari Act, 1967 for selling liquor adulterated with methanol. Samples taken from their godowns revealed the presence of the noxious substance, and the prosecution argued that the licencees had either mixed or permitted the m…

Three brothers—Raj Mohammad, Niaz Ali and Gulzar Ali—were convicted for the murder of Tara Chand, a factotum of Jai Paul, based on circumstantial evidence, letters showing motive, and recovered weapons. The prosecution relied on letters seized from the accused, expert handwriting analysis, and statements by the accused…

Banarsi Das filed a suit for permanent injunction claiming peaceful cultivation of land he alleged to have inherited, while the defendants asserted ownership and produced documentary evidence of a sale deed. The trial court dismissed the suit; the District Judge reversed that decision and decreed in favor of the plaint…