Judgments of 2010

The appellant, Daya Shankar Yadav, was appointed as a constable in the Central Reserve Police Force in 2003. In the verification roll he filled in July 2004, he answered ‘no’ to questions asking whether he had ever been arrested, prosecuted, detained, fined or convicted, despite a criminal case having been registered a…

The appellant, Ram Chandra Bhaghat, was convicted under Section 493 of the Indian Penal Code for deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage and cohabiting with the complainant for nine years, during which they had two children. The appellant argued that no belief of a lawful marriage was induced, contending that …

The Central Bureau of Narcotics alleged that Bahadur Singh, a servant in a dhaba, was found with a key that opened a locked box containing 17.45 kg of opium. The trial court convicted him under Sections 8 and 18 of the NDPS Act, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted him, holding that there were no reliable independent…

The appellant was charged under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code for raping a girl aged 10‑12 years. The trial court acquitted him due to lack of medical proof, but the High Court set aside the acquittal, finding the victim’s and her mother’s statements credible and interpreting the medical report as indicating par…

The petitioner bought a diesel Fiat Siena Weekender and complained of engine rattling noise, leading the dealer to replace the engine and other parts. Unsatisfied, he demanded a new vehicle or a refund of the purchase price and expenses, filing complaints before the District Forum, State Commission, and finally the Nat…

The Supreme Court examined whether IIT Kanpur could limit the extension of retirement age to 62 years only to teachers and staff treated on par with teachers, as per communications from the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The first respondent, an Assistant Registrar, claimed entitlement to the extended age but …

NCC Blue Water Products Ltd., a 100% export‑oriented unit, manufactured shrimp and shrimp seeds and sold them in the domestic tariff area (OTA) without the removal authorization of the Development Commissioner, contrary to the Exim Policy. The revenue issued a notice demanding excise duty under the proviso to Section 3…

The appellants filed a regular first appeal under Section 96 of the CPC against a trial court decree. The High Court of Karnataka set aside and modified the decree but did so without framing points for determination, without discussing the factual and legal issues, and without providing adequate reasons, rendering its …

The case arose from a tripartite agreement between the Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL), Indian Explosives Ltd (IEL) and Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) for the supply of ammonium nitrate. IEL later filed a criminal complaint alleging that senior FCIL officials (the appellants) and a third party suppressed the …

The Managing Director of Gujarat Co‑operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. received two unusually large telephone bills for international "party" calls and alleged that the calls were made from other numbers. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) held the bills correct; an administrative appeal was rejected and …

The Supreme Court examined the compensation awarded for 196 acres of land acquired for the expansion of Tamil Nadu Magnesite Limited under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The claimants argued that the land, although used agriculturally, was a potential house site and should be valued at Rs 1,75,000 per acre, as determi…

The appellants, R. Hanumaiyah and others, filed a suit seeking declaration of title and a permanent injunction over Survey Nos. 30 (a tank) and 31 (barren land) alleging ancestral ownership. The trial court decreed in their favour, but the Karnataka High Court set aside the decree, finding that the plaintiffs had not e…

Gian Singh was convicted under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). While his appeal was pending, he sought to compound the offences and filed a petition under CrPC Section 482 to quash the FIR, which the High Court dismissed. The Supreme Court examined whether a non‑compoundable offence such as …

The Himachal Pradesh Government declared a consolidation scheme for Revenue Estate Damtal Khas under the Himachal Pradesh Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1971, allocating land to Harbhajan Singh and Damtal Temple. After valuation and exchange orders were made, neither party took possession…

The case concerned a dispute over the demarcation of a Wakf estate created by a 1936 deed, which divided the property into 75% for the descendants (Wakf‑al‑al‑aulad) and 25% for religious purposes. A suit for demarcation was filed in the Calcutta High Court, which held that the demarcation was incorrect and that the Wa…

The Supreme Court heard a Special Leave Petition (CrL) No. 6568 of 2009 filed by Manoj Yadav against Pushpa @ Kiran Yadav concerning the grant of maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The issue arose because several states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttar Prad…

The appellant, a teacher‑training college established in 1987, admitted students without statutory recognition and repeatedly sought state approval. After the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Act, 1993 came into force in 1995, the college failed to apply for recognition under the Act. The State Government …

The Supreme Court examined whether a candidate from Rajouri could contest a Legislative Council seat reserved for a resident of Poonch District under the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution. The election was held after the Returning Officer accepted the Rajouri candidate’s nomination, despite an objection that he was ineligib…

The appellants, Jay Vee Rice and General Mills, were granted exemption from sales tax under the Haryana General Sales Tax Act but collected purchase tax on paddy as part of the price received from the District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC). The assessing authority held that the purchase tax so collected must be d…

The Government of Karnataka issued a preliminary notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to acquire irrigated and dry lands belonging to Hirabai and others for a lift irrigation project. The Land Acquisition Officer initially fixed compensation at Rs.15,000 per acre for irrigated land and Rs.1…

The appellant, IBA Health (India) Ltd., challenged a winding‑up petition filed by the respondent, Info‑Drive Systems Bhd., which alleged non‑payment of commission fees under a deed of settlement. The petition relied on Sections 433(e) and 434 of the Companies Act, 1956, claiming the appellant had neglected to pay a deb…

The appellant, a Basic Health Worker, was merged into the Multipurpose Health Assistant cadre by G.O.M. No. 85 (21‑01‑1978) but lacked the essential Sanitary Inspector Training Course (SITC) certificate required for that post. The State Administrative Tribunal, in earlier decisions (R.P. No. 2860/1987 and O.A. No. 5410…

The landlords (Jai Singh and others) filed an eviction suit under Section 14(1)(b) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 alleging that the Delhi Transport Corporation (OTC) had sublet the premises to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) without written consent. The Additional Rent Controller (ARC) and the Additional …

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 case arose from the suicide of a 21‑year‑old woman, Sunita, who alleged that the accused, Amit, had exploited her sexually after promising marriage and threatening to expose her. The trial court convicted Amit under IPC s.306 (abetment of suicide) and s.376 (rape), sentencing him to life imprisonment for the latter…

The appellants, owners of a parcel of land in Surat, challenged the State of Gujarat's acquisition of the land for a primary school, alleging procedural defects under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. They claimed no hearing under Section 5A, no locality publication under Section 6(2), the award under Section 11A was bey…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal filed by tenants challenging a Bombay High Court order that dismissed their writ petition under Article 226. The petition sought a writ of certiorari against the landlord’s eviction suit, a pure civil dispute between private parties. The Court held that writ jurisdiction is a remedy…

The DAV College Managing Committee, holder of a registered trademark for "DAV" and "Dayanand Anglo Vedic", filed four suits in the Delhi District Court under Section 134 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 against several schools in Chennai that were using the same mark. The Chennai schools filed transfer petitions under Sect…

The appellant was accused of killing his mother with a burnt wooden stick. The prosecution relied on an alleged extra‑judicial confession made by the appellant before a village Panchayat, witnessed by four persons, and on the recovery of the alleged weapon at the appellant's request. The trial court and the High Court …

The appellant, a manufacturer of coated fabrics, sold its products to wholesalers in polythene bags at the factory gate and additionally packed three rolls in hessian cloth for transport to up‑country customers. It claimed a refund of excise duty on the basis that the cost of the hessian cloth, being secondary packing,…

The State of Madhya Pradesh had leased land to Nerbudda Valley Refrigerated Products Company and later permitted a change of use subject to payment of lease rent. The company applied to the Nazul Officer for a No‑Objection Certificate (NOC) without paying the rent, and the officer rejected the application. The company …

The appellants challenged the constitutional validity of the phrase "promoting insurgency" in Section 2(1)(e) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999, arguing that the State legislature lacked competence and that the provision conflicted with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004. The…

The appellant, Dharmabir, was convicted of murder and attempted murder committed in August 1991 when he was 16 years, 9 months old. At the time of the offences the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 did not deem him a juvenile, but the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, which defines a juvenile as a …

Two service officers (appellants) were not parties to original applications filed before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) by the respondents. The High Court allowed the appellants to be impleaded in a writ petition challenging the CAT's judgment and set aside that judgment. The appellants then appealed to the …

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) allowed a senior employee (the second respondent) to retire on medical grounds after he had turned 55, and the employee also requested that his son (the first respondent) be appointed on compassionate grounds. The son later applied for such appointment, but FCI rejected it, citing a …

The respondents, officers of the Uttar Pradesh State Civil Service, claimed that the quinquennial cadre review of the IAS for Uttar Pradesh was due in April 2003 and that the review conducted in August 2005 should be given retrospective effect so that they could be considered for promotion. The Union of India and the C…

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…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed to the Supreme Court under Article 136 against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of Guru Charan, Sunil, Pramod and Brahma Pal for the alleged murder of Ramesh Narain and Jitendra (Guddu) and the murderous assault on Nathu Singh. The trial court had convicted the accused under IPC …

The appellant, Kirpal Singh, was convicted for murdering Ram Kumar Singh after allegedly firing a gunshot during a family dispute. The trial court and High Court relied on the medical testimony confirming a homicidal death and on eyewitness accounts of the appellant's wife and son, which were corroborated by the FIR fi…

Narata Singh, a former work‑charged employee of various Punjab State departments (Irrigation & Power, Bhakra Dam, Beas Dam) from 1952 to 1978, was retrenched and later joined the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) as a work‑charged employee in 1982, regularised in 1984 and retired in 1990. He sought to have his earl…

The Supreme Court examined a special leave petition filed by Rajbir (the husband) and his mother, who were convicted for the murder of Rajbir's pregnant wife Sunita under Section 304B of the IPC. The trial court had sentenced Rajbir to life imprisonment, but the Punjab & Haryana High Court reduced his term to ten years…

Thathamsetty Suresh was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of his wife and sentenced to life imprisonment. He filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court seeking relief from the conviction and sentence. The Court examined the post‑mortem report, which showed multiple ante‑mortem head injuries ca…

Manoj Yadav challenged a High Court order granting his wife maintenance of Rs.4,000 per month under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, contending that a Madhya Pradesh amendment capped maintenance at Rs.3,000. The Supreme Court granted the husband time to challenge the constitutional validity of the state amen…

Xerox India Ltd. imported three multi‑functional machines that combine printing, scanning, copying and fax functions and sought classification under heading 8471.60 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1985. The Deputy Commissioner and subsequent authorities classified the machines under the residual heading 8479.89, prompting a…

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 case concerned a Will dated 4 September 1976 in which the testatrix bequeathed certain properties in absolute terms to her two daughters, with a later clause stating that after the daughters' deaths the remaining property should devolve to their female children. After one daughter died intestate, her sons took poss…

The Revenue appealed against the finding that Shital International’s knitted pile fabric, processed by carding, knitting, shearing and back‑coating, was "unprocessed" and therefore attracted nil excise duty under Notification No. 06/2000‑CE and related notifications. The Supreme Court examined whether these processes a…

The appellants were appointed as contractual teachers under the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Contractual Teachers (Conditions of Appointment and Service) Rules, 2001. Their appointments were challenged in two public interest litigations on the grounds that the advertisement failed to reserve seats for ex‑servicemen and tha…

M/S Chaudhary Ship Breakers imported an old vessel under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at a price of US$992,887.20. After inspection revealed corrosion, the parties executed an addendum reducing the price to US$929,388.60, which was reflected in the bill of entry. The Deputy Commissioner later assessed customs duty b…

The appellant, S.N. Prasad, had given a letter of guarantee for a loan but never signed the tripartite loan agreements that contained an arbitration clause. The lender, Monnet Finance Ltd., filed an application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, impleading the appellant in the arbitration. …

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., a manufacturer of kerosene, claimed a concessional excise duty rate under Notifications 5/98‑CE and 5/99‑CE, which were intended for kerosene used as an illuminant in oil‑burning lamps. The Department denied the claim, holding that the benefit was only for kerosene supplied to the Public Di…

A complaint under the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was filed against the appellant. The Chief Judicial Magistrate initially dismissed the complaint, finding no case, but the Additional Sessions Judge remanded the matter for a fresh review. On remand, the magistrate re…

The appellant's land was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and an award was passed determining a market value. The appellant challenged the award, and the reference court enhanced the market value, granted a 30% solatium, a 12% annual increase, and interest of 9% (later 15%) on the total amount. While the e…

Three in‑service doctors were admitted to 2008 postgraduate medical courses based on a prospectus that required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in accordance with a 1996 government circular prescribing a Rs 2 lakh bond for five years of service. The government later invoked a 2007 amendment circular raising the bond t…

The Supreme Court heard an appeal against the Madras High Court's approval of amended bye‑laws of the Madras High Court Advocates' Association, which had been made while removal suits against the President and Secretary were pending. The appellant challenged the High Court's jurisdiction to interfere in the Association…

The appellant, a small‑scale fruit‑processing unit, claimed exemption from West Bengal sales tax on the basis of Notification No. 1428‑FT dated 26‑May‑1994, asserting that its investment in plant and machinery was below Rs.5 lakhs after accounting for depreciation. The assessing authority held that the investment excee…

The case concerned a vacancy for the post of High School Assistant (English) (HSA‑English) that arose on 1 April 2005 in a Kerala government school. Respondent No.1, an Upper Primary School Assistant, claimed she was the only UPSA qualified (B.Ed. in English) at that date and sought promotion, while the petitioner, a L…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Sanjeeta Das against a decree of divorce granted by the Orissa High Court on the basis of an affidavit in which the husband, Tapan Kumar Mohanty, offered to pay Rs 10 lakh as maintenance. The husband had earlier filed a petition under Sections 13(1)(ia) and 13(1)(ib) of the Hindu…

The appellant lodged an FIR alleging murder and later filed a protest petition that was treated as a complaint, leading to two parallel criminal proceedings: one based on a police charge‑sheet and another on the complaint. The accused in the police case were the witnesses in the complaint case and vice‑versa, and none …

The mother of the respondents filed an eviction suit against the father of the appellants, claiming title to a house based on a 1957 sale deed and seeking to evict the defendant as a tenant. The trial court upheld her title but dismissed the eviction because no landlord‑tenant relationship was proved; the appellate cou…

Golden Chariot Airport held a licence to operate a restaurant at Mumbai Airport, which was initially for three years and later extended twice. The licence holder claimed the licence was irrevocable based on alleged oral assurances and sought to prevent eviction after the licence expired. The Supreme Court held that the…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by the Chandigarh Housing Board challenging orders of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission which directed the Board to refund earnest money and interest to members of co‑operative housing societies. The Court held that the society members are the ultimate beneficiaries …

The appellant, Ramesh Gajendra Jadhav, was appointed as a regular lecturer of Geography in a college based on an advertisement that described the vacancy as a part‑time post in the open category. Due to a clerical error, the university later approved the post as a full‑time position reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) ca…

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…

Mannu Sao was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 201 for murdering his wife, Bimla Devi, whose body was found burnt. He claimed she had committed suicide by self‑immolation, but the post‑mortem showed death by throttling before the burns. The trial and High Courts upheld the conviction based on a chain of circumstant…

The petitioners, the husband and son of a 39‑year‑old housewife who died in a road accident, claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal initially awarded Rs 6 lakhs based on the notional income provision of Clause 6 of the Second Schedule but reduced it to…

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 case arose from a violent incident in which the nephew of a first informant, Rajesh, was shot dead and others injured after a dispute over goods. The appellant, Daya Kishan, was convicted under Sections 302, 307, 323 and 148 read with Section 149 of the IPC, the first conviction being based on alleged participation…

The appellant Shaukat and his father Sabbir were charged with killing Wilayat and injuring Rahmat over a dispute about digging earth from a village pond. The trial court convicted Shaukat under Sections 302 and 307 IPC; the High Court reduced the conviction to Section 304(Part I) and 308 IPC, invoking Exception 4 to Se…

The suit concerned a schedule property inherited by the mother (P) after her husband's death. After P's death, her daughter I possessed the property, but upon I's death, Defendant No.1 (a relative of P) took possession and claimed ownership based on a Will dated 18‑June‑1974 allegedly executed by P in favour of I. The …

The West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) appealed an order of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity that had remanded the determination of wheeling charges for Hindalco Industries Ltd. for the year 2005‑06. Hindalco argued that no units of power were wheeled during that period, so no wheeling charges …

The appellant, a candidate in the Ex‑Servicemen (BC‑B) reserved category, was initially appointed as a constable but his appointment was later quashed on the ground that ex‑servicemen candidates have priority over dependents. The High Court directed that his case be considered in the general category, but the Superinte…

The respondent, a temporary assistant teacher appointed under the Scheduled Tribes quota, had his tribe certificate invalidated by the Scheduled Tribe Caste Scrutiny Committee, leading to termination of his services. He later claimed Special Backward Class (SBC) status and sought reinstatement under a Government Resolu…

The appellant-wife, K. Neelaveni, complained that her husband had contracted a second marriage, given gold ornaments, subjected her to cruelty and forced her to abort a pregnancy, leading to a police charge‑sheet under IPC sections 406, 494 and 498A. The accused filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking quash o…

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, …

Anita Sawant, the landlady, owned a house which she let to a tenant. On 1 October 1988 the defendants forcibly evicted the tenant and took possession of the premises. The landlady filed a suit under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 for recovery of possession against the defendants. The Supreme Court examined …

On February 3, 2000, a truck carrying 100 quintals of paddy belonging to the petitioners was stopped by a food inspector, and the grain was seized and later confiscated under Clause 6(2) of the Madhya Pradesh Essential Commodities (Exhibition of Price and Price Control) Order, 1997. The petitioners challenged the seizu…

The respondents instituted a suit under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) before the District Court in Tamil Nadu, seeking relief concerning a public trust. The appellants argued that a 1960 notification empowering Subordinate Courts under Section 92 removed the District Court's jurisdiction, relying on a…

The respondents, who were daily‑wage workers such as plantation watchmen, wireless operators and helpers, claimed regularisation of service after more than ten years of continuous employment. The State of Karnataka contended that the respondents were not recruited under the prescribed recruitment rules and that the reg…

The respondents were appointed as primary school teachers on an honorary basis without possessing the T.C.H. qualification, which was the minimum prescribed qualification for the post. They served continuously for a long period and later claimed regularisation of their services. The High Court allowed their claim, but …

Trimex International FZE Ltd. sent a commercial offer by email on 15 October 2007 for the supply of bauxite, containing an arbitration clause. Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. accepted the offer on 16 October 2007, confirming five shipments. A dispute later arose and Vedanta denied the existence of a concluded contract and the e…

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…

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) invited a tender for cable supply and awarded the highest vendor rating (V‑1) to NICCO, while Telephone Cables Ltd (the respondent) received a lower rating and a small order. The respondent alleged arbitrariness in the rating, obtained a writ order directing BSNL to reassess the rating a…

The appellants filed settlement applications under Chapter XIX‑A of the Income Tax Act and disputed the levy of interest under sections 234A, 234B and 234C for default in advance tax. The Supreme Court was asked (i) whether these interest provisions apply to Settlement Commission proceedings, (ii) what the terminal poi…

The case arose from a violent clash over disputed land in Jind, where several accused, armed with pistols, lathis and other weapons, assembled and attacked a group of persons, resulting in the death of Krishan and injuries to others. The trial court convicted the appellants under Sections 302, 307, 323, 324, 148, 449 I…

The appellant, D. Velusamy, filed an appeal against a family court and High Court order that granted maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC to the respondent, D. Patchaiammal, on the basis that she was his wife. The appellant contended that he was already lawfully married to another woman, Lakshmi, in 1980, and that…

The petitioners, who were Assistants and Stenographers employed by the National Institute of Educational Planning & Administration and the Sahitya Academy, claimed entitlement to the revised pay‑scale of Rs.1640‑2900 that had been granted to their counterparts in the Central Government by the IV Pay Commission and the …

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 petitioner, a construction company, submitted the lowest bid for a government construction project and furnished earnest money as required by the tender notice. After the bids were opened, the petitioner sent a letter correcting a figure in its bid, which increased the bid amount substantially. The employer treated…

The appellant, an Assistant Editor of a newspaper publishing company, was dismissed after a disciplinary inquiry that found him guilty of misconduct. He subsequently claimed gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, but the employer denied it, invoking the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Cond…

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…

L.M.L. Ltd imported a CD‑ROM that stored images of engineering drawings and designs and claimed nil customs duty under Notification No. 17/2001, seeking classification under tariff heading 49.06 (original hand‑drawn plans) or 49.11 (other printed matter), alternatively under sub‑headings 8524.39/8524.90 or as software …

The appeal concerned a decision of the Madras High Court that remanded a matter before the Wakf Tribunal because the Tribunal had failed to consider certain points. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether, under Section 83(5) of the Wakf Act 1995, the Wakf Tribunal is deemed a civil court and can exercise the sa…

Narinder Kumar was charged with murdering Kola Ram after a heated exchange during a Baisakhi procession, where he allegedly returned with a 12‑bore gun and shot the victim. The prosecution relied on consistent testimony of four eye‑witnesses, corroborated by medical and forensic evidence linking the appellant to the sh…

Mohd. Ayub Dar was convicted by a designated TADA court for conspiracy under Section 3(3) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 and for murder under Section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code, Samvat 1989. The conviction rested primarily on a confession recorded under Section 15 of the TADA Act, w…

The case arose from a dispute over a suit property originally held by Budhiya Vesta Patel, who transferred his rights to respondent No.9 via a Development Agreement and an irrevocable Power of Attorney (POA). After Patel's death, his heirs (the appellants) executed further irrevocable POAs in favour of the same respond…

The Supreme Court examined the compensation payable for 162.5 acres of land acquired in 1990 under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for a housing project in Sonepat, Haryana. The Collector initially awarded Rs 2 lakh per acre, which was later enhanced by the reference court and the High Court using a belting method. The …

Sansar Chand, a long‑time organiser of illegal wildlife trade, was convicted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for receiving leopard skins. The prosecution’s case rested on an extra‑judicial confession by a co‑accused, Balwan, which was corroborated by oral and documentary evidence, including recovered hunting …

The appellants were accused of murdering the chairman of a bank, with the prosecution alleging that they were hired by co‑accused to carry out the attack. The trial court convicted the appellants based on a chain of circumstantial evidence, including a blood‑stained loan application, knives recovered at the appellants'…

Iridium India Telecom Ltd. filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating by Motorola Inc. (respondent No.1) for misleading investors about the Iridium satellite system. The Bombay High Court, invoking Article 227 and Section 482 of the CrPC, quashed the magistrate's process, holding that a corporation cannot possess the…

Indure Ltd. was awarded a turnkey contract by NTPC to erect an ash‑handling plant. To fulfil the contract it imported MS pipes and other components, which were sold to NTPC. The company claimed exemption from sales tax under Section 5(2) of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, arguing that the sale was in the course of imp…

The case concerned the framing of charges against former MP Sajjan Kumar for alleged involvement in the 1984 anti‑Sikh riots. After the Delhi Police’s closure report, the CBI was tasked with re‑investigation and filed a charge‑sheet in 2010, relying on statements recorded many years after the incident. The appellant so…

The appellant, Ranjit Singh, was found in a locked room with a blood‑stained sword after the step‑mother was discovered dead with incised wounds. The trial and High Courts convicted him under Section 302 IPC based on oral, medical and documentary circumstantial evidence, rejecting his claim that he was already in polic…

The appellants challenged a fresh acquisition of their land in Mehrauli, Delhi, undertaken for the construction of the Chattarpur Metro Station. While the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 provides a special framework for metro projects, the government invoked the urgency provisions of the Land Acquisiti…

Ajmera Housing Corporation filed an application under section 245C(1) of the Income Tax Act seeking settlement of undisclosed income, initially disclosing Rs.1.94 crore and later revising the annexure to disclose an additional Rs.11.41 crore. The Commissioner of Income Tax objected, arguing that the application did not…

The Haryana State Electricity Board served a demand notice on the purchaser of a rice mill for electricity arrears incurred by the previous owner. The purchaser filed two suits: the first for a permanent injunction against the demand, and the second for a declaration that the demand and subsequent disconnection were in…

The contractor Sree Kamatchi Amman Constructions entered into a construction contract with the Indian Railways, which contained Clause 16(2) barring interest on earnest money, security deposit, or any amount payable under the contract. The contractor invoked the arbitration clause alleging breach, and the arbitral trib…

The State of Assam filed a suit under Article 131 of the Constitution seeking a determination of its boundary with the State of Nagaland, which was created by a 1962 Act of Parliament. The Supreme Court, while a Local Commission was already appointed to examine the dispute, ordered that the parties also attempt mediati…

The first respondent, Chaudhuri Nayak, obtained a Freedom Fighters' Pension under the 1972 scheme by claiming imprisonment in 1943, supported by a typed jail certificate and a certified extract of a challan register. A public interest litigation alleged that the documents were fabricated and that Nayak had misrepresent…

The appellant Sanjay Kumar Kedia was arrested under the NDPS Act and his custody was extended twice under Section 36A(4) of the Act. The extensions were granted on applications that did not contain a report from the public prosecutor indicating investigation progress or compelling reasons, nor were notices given to the…

The appellant, a former sepoy of the Territorial Army, was invalided out on a medical board's finding that his unspecified psychosis was neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service. He claimed entitlement to a disability pension under Regulation 173 of the Army Pension Regulations, arguing that the Entit…

Neeta Rakesh Jain filed for interim maintenance after her husband obtained an ex-parte divorce decree. She claimed the husband earned about Rs. 2,00,000 per month, while he asserted a salary of Rs. 30,000 from his own company. The Bombay High Court, accepting the husband's claim without scrutiny, fixed interim maintena…

Automobile Products India Ltd filed a criminal complaint under Section 630 of the Companies Act, 1956 against its former caretaker, Das John Peter, for refusing to vacate a servant quarter after retirement and for allowing his daughter to occupy it. The company filed the complaint through its factory manager using a po…

Megh Raj Garg, a Sub‑Judge‑cum‑Judicial Magistrate who joined the Punjab government service in March 1973, discovered a discrepancy in his date of birth and, after ten years, obtained a university order changing his matriculation certificate from 27‑03‑1936 to 27‑03‑1938. He then sought a corresponding correction in hi…

The appellants were initially appointed as Assistant Engineers on a temporary, ad‑hoc basis in 1986‑88 under the Arunachal Pradesh Administration (Public Works Department) Group‑8 Post Recruitment Rules, 1983, with the understanding that they would be regularised after a two‑year probation. After completing probation, …

The dispute arose between Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (APTDC) and Pampa Hotels Ltd over lease and management agreements executed on 30‑March‑2002, which contained arbitration clauses. Pampa Hotels Ltd was incorporated only on 9‑April‑2003, so it did not exist when the contracts were signed. APTDC…

The appellant, C.I.T., Mumbai, challenged the assessment that the twisting and texturising of partially oriented yarn (POY) did not constitute "manufacture" under Section 80IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Court examined expert testimony that POY is a semi‑finished yarn which, after undergoing a thermo‑mechanical pr…

The appellant, Saygo Bai, filed a Section 125 CrPC application for maintenance for herself and her two minor children after her husband, Chueeru Bajrangi, took a second wife and threw her out of the matrimonial home. The trial court, revision court, and High Court dismissed her claim, relying on her alleged abandonment…

The Supreme Court considered an application by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to transfer the trial of the Ghaziabad Provident Fund scam from the Special Judge, CBI, Ghaziabad to a court in Delhi. The case involved alleged fraudulent withdrawals of government funds by former court officials and judges. The C…

The State Transport Commissioner invited applications for four stage‑carriage permits on the Samana‑Amritsar route. Two permits were granted to the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and the remaining two were withheld. The appellants filed appeals, which were pending when the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 was repealed…

Jitendra Singh, convicted under IPC sections 304B and 498A for a 1988 incident, filed a petition seeking to raise an additional ground that he was a minor under the Juvenile (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 at the time of the offence. He submitted a school leaving certificate, marks‑sheet and a medical repor…

The State of Gujarat acquired land in Mora village for a gas‑based thermal power project under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The land acquisition officer initially fixed compensation at Rs 3.50 per square metre, which was enhanced to Rs 20 by the reference court and further to Rs 22 by the High Court, while rejecting…

The appellants, DLF Universal Ltd. and another, were licensed under the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975 to develop residential colonies and entered into private agreements with plot and flat buyers that included clauses for extension fees and maintenance charges. The Director, Town and Count…

The petitioner, Remdeo Chauhan, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment by the Governor of Assam after a recommendation from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Relatives of the victims challenged the commutation, arguing that the NHRC lacked jurisdiction a…

The appellant cooperative society entered into an oral agreement in 1974 and a written sale deed in 1976 to purchase land from the first respondent, who later claimed the agreement was cancelled in a public notice dated 3 February 1991. The appellant filed a suit on 11 February 1991 for declaration of ownership and inj…

The deceased Ramesh was killed during an altercation with members of the Chalawadi family over a disputed marriage. The trial court convicted two of the six accused for assault, while the High Court later convicted four under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC for murder. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the eye…

The appellant, an Indian Army soldier, fired three shots at a member of a Quick Reaction Team during a night security duty after a stone‑throwing incident, killing Naik Jityu Yadav at a distance of 8‑10 feet. Despite being warned by a fellow sentry not to fire, he shot the victim and, when apprehended, said “I did what…

The case concerned Civil Assistant Surgeons (CAS) in the Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Services who, after obtaining a post‑graduate degree, were transferred laterally to the teaching cadre as Assistant Professors. The transferred officers claimed that their prior service as CAS should be counted for seniority in t…

The Municipal Committee of Hoshiarpur obtained an electricity connection for a tubewell and was later served with a revised bill of Rs.82,300 without a show‑cause notice. The Committee challenged the bill in a civil suit, which was decreed in its favour by the trial court and affirmed by the first appellate court. The …

The State Government requisitioned premises belonging to respondent No.1 under the West Bengal Premises Requisition and Control Act, 1947 and transferred them to the appellant, West Bengal State Warehousing Corporation. Because compensation could not be fixed by agreement, an arbitrator was appointed under Section 11(1…

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority allotted a flat to Manju Jain under a hire‑purchase scheme, sending her an allotment letter by registered post and requiring acceptance and a 25% deposit within 60 days. Jain never responded, deposited no money, and after four years the Authority cancelled the allotment. Ja…

The appellant, a meter reader, was convicted under Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding a bribe, based primarily on a handwriting expert’s report linking him to a paper (Ex.PR) used in the alleged offence. The Supreme Court examined whether such expert opinion could be admitted witho…

The Bihar Public Service Commission advertised vacancies for Instructors and Assistant Instructors to train persons with disabilities. The respondent applied, was interviewed and declared successful, but after the interview the Empowered Committee decided to shift training to NGOs and asked the Commission not to recomm…

The employee, Nanda Kishore Roy, complained that his employer had wrongfully deducted Rs.1,640 per month as income tax and failed to deposit it, leading a magistrate to issue summons under sections 406/1208 IPC. The employer argued that the deductions were mandated by the Income Tax Act and that the complaint was essen…

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) issued a 1990 order granting time‑bound promotional scales only to directly recruited Assistant Engineers or those deemed directly recruited by meeting prescribed qualifications. Respondent Krishan Kumar Vij, a promotee who had completed 16 years of service but lacked the requisi…

Surjeet Kaur, a student of Maharshi Dayanand University, pursued an M.A. regular course while simultaneously enrolling in a B.Ed. correspondence course, violating the university's Clause 17(b) of its General Rules of Examination. After the university cancelled her B.Ed. results, she appeared for a supplementary exam un…

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd., a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd., sought relief from an order of the Orissa High Court directing payment of compensation for lands acquired in 1987 under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957. The lands, belonging to tribal owners, had never been compensated despite the…

The case concerns the murder of Jessica Lal on 30 April 1999, for which Sidhartha Vashisht (Manu Sharma) and two co‑accused were initially acquitted by the trial court. The State appealed, alleging that the prosecution had proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt through ocular testimony, telephone call …

The appellants were convicted of dacoity under Section 395 IPC based on eyewitness identification in court and a test identification parade conducted under a magistrate's supervision. They challenged the admissibility of the parade evidence, arguing that the delay in conducting it rendered the identification unreliable…

The case concerned the resignation of Councillor Rupesh Yogeshwar Dhepe under Section 41(2) of the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965. Dhepe submitted a typewritten resignation that he had already signed, but after the Collector’s corrections he only added his initials a…

The appellants were convicted of murder (Section 302 IPC) based largely on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses (PWs 2‑4) who claimed to have seen the assailants stabbing the deceased. The defence challenged the conviction, arguing that the presence of these witnesses at the scene was doubtful and that the statements r…

The State of Andhra Pradesh filed an application under Section 8(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 seeking a declaration that Hyderabad Potteries Pvt. Ltd. and another were land grabbers of a 17,786.5‑sq‑metre parcel. The respondents asserted that they had purchased the land in 1946, posses…

The petitioners, parents of victims of alleged police encounters in Gujarat, filed writ petitions seeking a CBI investigation into the deaths, alleging the encounters were staged. The Gujarat High Court constituted an Investigation Team and, after a Metropolitan Magistrate’s inquiry under Section 176 CrPC found the enc…

The General Insurance Council and several insurers filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution alleging that police and other agencies were not complying with Supreme Court directions concerning the disposal of vehicles seized in criminal investigations. They contended that non‑compliance of Sections 451…

The appellant's brother was found dead and a post‑mortem concluded natural causes; the police investigation was closed. Dissatisfied, the appellant filed a complaint before a Metropolitan Magistrate alleging murder and sought a fresh police investigation under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Th…

The petitioner, a defendant in a suit concerning the genuineness of a will, sought a second forensic opinion after being dissatisfied with the first report; the trial court rejected this request and the High Court dismissed his writ petition. He filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) under Article 136 of the Constitution…

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation entered into a dealership agreement with Super Highway Services for the retail sale of petroleum products. The corporation terminated the agreement under Clause 58 after a sample of diesel failed a marker test, but the dealer alleged that it was never properly served notice of the test, …

The respondent, Raja Mohammed Amir Mohammad Khan, was declared the sole legal heir of the estate of the late Raja of Mahmudabad, which had been taken over by the Custodian of Enemy Property under the Enemy Property Act, 1968. The Custodian’s ledger showed a credit of Rs 1,77,38,828.11 as of 27‑03‑2002, representing ren…

Mahesh Ratilal Shah filed a writ petition alleging that the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) had listed the shares of Presto Finance Ltd. despite fraudulent dealings, and that the BSE’s Rules and Bye‑laws, never published in the Gazette, were ultra vires the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956. The petition sought d…

The Supreme Court examined whether manufacturers of excisable final products could claim exemption from excise duty on specified intermediate goods under Notification 121/94‑CE by relying on "intended use" and the doctrine of "substantial compliance" of Chapter X of the Central Excise Rules, despite not fulfilling the …

Pepsico India Holdings Pvt. Ltd., the manufacturer of sweetened carbonated water, was prosecuted after a public analyst reported the presence of the pesticide carbofuran (0.001 mg/L) in its product, alleging adulteration under Rule 65 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 and Section 2(ia)(h) of the Preven…

The respondent claimed to be the adopted son of Late Anne Seetharamaiah, seeking possession of land purchased at auction by the adoptive father. The appellant contested the adoption, arguing that the respondent was over 15 years old at the time of adoption, which under Section 10(iv) of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenan…

M/S. Nava Bharat Ferro Alloys Ltd. appealed against the demand for additional charges and interest on delayed electricity payments under Clause 32.2.1 and Clause 34 of the Terms and Conditions of Supply (TCS). The High Court had dismissed the writ petitions and upheld the demand, holding the TCS to be statutory and not…

The Special Deputy Collector of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority sought to acquire 4.89 acres of land for the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex, issuing a preliminary notification under Section 4(1) and a final declaration under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The notification was published …

The case arose from a violent incident in July 1998 in which Gurnam Singh was killed and Joginder Singh injured. The accused, including Amarjit Singh and Sher Singh, were convicted of murder under s.302 IPC by the trial court, which accepted the prosecution's version despite doubts about the presence and injuries of a …

The appellant, a 25‑year‑old roadside cheese vendor, suffered fractures in a motor accident and claimed compensation for loss of future earnings. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded a modest sum, basing the claimant's monthly income on the minimum wage and deducting one‑third for personal expenses, while treatin…

The appellants, members of a Delhi cooperative housing society, were subject to a resolution for their expulsion which was sent to the Registrar of Co‑operative Societies for approval as required by the Delhi Co‑operative Societies Act, 1972 and Rules, 1973. The society delayed submitting its records for about seven ye…

The society Common Cause filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions to the Union Government to adopt its suggestions for curbing non‑performing assets (NPAs) and to convert the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) into a statutory body with adequate powers. The Union Government conte…

The appellants filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation after a motorcycle accident that killed Ramniwas, and also claimed "no fault" compensation under Section 140, which was paid by the insurer. The Tribunal held that the deceased was at fault, rejected the Section 166 claim, a…

A privately owned car met with a fatal accident killing the driver and four occupants, while a fifth passenger was injured. The heirs of the deceased filed claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act and the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, both of which were rejected, including a denial of "no‑fault" compensation unde…

The appellant, G. Parshwanath, was convicted for the murder of his wife and minor son and for causing the disappearance of evidence under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC. The prosecution's case rested entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the victims' residence in the appellant's house, a telephone call report…

The appellant, a truck driver, was charged with causing death and injuries when his stone‑laden truck overturned on a state highway, leading to convictions under IPC sections 304‑A, 279, 337 and 338. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of three injured witnesses who were in the vehicle, alleging that the …

The respondent, a Group B officer of the Geological Survey of India, was subjected to a departmental inquiry under Rule 14(2) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, where the Inquiry Officer was a retired chief general manager taken from a panel approved by the Central Vigilance…

The tenant, D.V. Paul, was ordered by the High Court to deposit Rs.10,000 in the trial court as compensation, failing which an eviction decree would follow. He mistakenly sent a demand draft directly to the landlord instead of depositing it in court, and later sought an extension of time to make the proper deposit. The…

The case arose from an assault on Abdul Hakim and his brothers on 17 February 1994, during which Abdul Karim was also attacked and later died of his injuries. Six persons, including Abdul Mannan, were charged under Sections 302, 132, 313 and 34 of the IPC. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court set a…

The case arose from an arbitration award directing the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to pay a contractor a sum with interest. The Executive Engineer (appellant) wrote letters to the contractor seeking to adjust the award by having the contractor accept only the principal amount and waive interest, invoking Order X…

Angad Das, a constable in the Central Reserve Police Force, was compulsorily retired in 1996 after an enquiry found his date of birth to be false. He wrote a humble letter to the DIG requesting re‑employment on compassionate grounds, but the DIG treated the letter as an appeal under Rule 28 of the CRPF Rules and enhanc…

Maya Mathew, a pharmacist in the Kerala State Homeopathy Services, challenged the method used to allocate vacancies for Medical Officer posts, arguing that the ratio of direct recruitment to transfers should be applied to the cadre strength of the post as mandated by Note (3) of Rule 5 of the General Rules, not to the …

The State of Uttarakhand appealed against a High Court order that had entertained a public‑interest writ challenging the appointment of L.P. Nathani as Advocate General on the ground that he was over 62 years old. The Supreme Court examined whether Article 165 in conjunction with Article 217 of the Constitution imposes…

The Supreme Court examined whether the term "change of opinion" in Section 147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 was eliminated after the 1 April 1989 amendment. The Court traced the evolution of Section 147 from its original wording, through the 1987 amendment that introduced "opinion", to the 1989 amendment that reinstated…

Senior Laboratory Assistants in West Bengal sought a higher pay scale, leading to a High Court order granting scale 11. Subsequent pay commissions fixed lower scales, and the State framed statutory rules (ROPA Rules) reflecting those scales. Research Assistants later applied to the State Administrative Tribunal for pay…

The appellant Ajit Seth was convicted for the brutal burning to death of two children, aged three and seven, and sentenced to death under IPC 302 and to ten years' rigorous imprisonment under IPC 364. The High Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, directing that the appellant not be released until he …

The appellant, a senior officer, was prosecuted under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 294(b) based on a FIR alleging that he harassed a driver who later was found dead, allegedly leaving a suicide note blaming the appellant. The Supreme Court examined the authenticity of the note and the FIR, finding the not…

The predecessor‑in‑interest of Bharatha Matha filed a suit for a share in the property of her brother Muthu Reddiar, who died intestate and allegedly unmarried. Defendant No.1, Rengammal, claimed she was lawfully married to Alagarsami Reddiar (who was alive) and also asserted a live‑in relationship with Muthu Reddiar, …

Reliance Petroproducts Pvt. Ltd. claimed a deduction of Rs.28,77,242 for interest on loans used to purchase IPL shares in its income‑tax return for AY 2001‑02. The assessing authority disallowed the claim and initiated penalty proceedings under s.271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, alleging concealment of income or furnis…

The appellant, Empire Industries Ltd., locked out its Garlick Engineering factory over three demands: cessation of agitational activities, a ceiling on dearness allowance, and retrenchment of workers. The State of Maharashtra, exercising power under section 10(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, issued an order pr…

The Supreme Court considered appeals filed by direct recruits to the Andhra Pradesh State Educational Service challenging the constitutionality of Note 6 to Rule 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Education Service Rules, which allocated promotion vacancies in Class II Category 1 posts on the basis of whether an officer was a dir…

The appeal concerned whether employees of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are entitled to an automatic switch‑over from Pay Scale II to Scale III and whether they should receive a computer increment and allowance. The High Court had directed the respondent bank to grant these benefits, relying on a Government decision date…

The appellant, a carrier, appealed against a complaint filed by the assured (a consignor who was also a consumer) and the insurer under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, seeking compensation for loss of a consignment. The goods were insured, the insurer paid the assured, and the assured executed a Letter of Subrogatio…

The petitioners, sons of H. Ramaiah Reddy, filed a suit in 2005 seeking declaration of their coparcenary rights, partition of ancestral lands and a declaration that a 1975 order of the Karnataka Land Tribunal granting occupancy rights to Annaiah Reddy was illegal. The trial court held the suit barred by limitation and …

The owners of a commercial premises in Cochin filed an eviction petition under Section 11(3) of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965, claiming bonafide personal requirement. The Rent Controller and the Appellate Authority dismissed the petition, finding no such requirement, and the High Court affirme…

The Supreme Court examined whether a High Court, exercising its jurisdiction under Article 226, could direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate a cognizable offence that occurred within a State's territory without the State's consent, in light of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (S…

Advocate A was attacked by four armed men on 3 April 1979; he was shot from behind and later died. The prosecution relied on three dying declarations—one forming the FIR, one recorded under Section 161 CrPC by a Sub‑Inspector, and a third recorded by the Tahsildar after a doctor certified the victim fit to speak—while …

The appellant Subhash was convicted under Sections 306 and 498A IPC for the death of his wife Anuradha, who suffered severe burns. The prosecution's case relied primarily on a dying declaration recorded by Sub‑Divisional Magistrate Ravi Malik, which alleged that the victim attempted suicide due to dowry harassment. The…

Hari Singh and his brother Mohar Singh, who ran a brick kiln, had a business rivalry with Guiab Singh, the deceased, over nearby kilns. On a moonless night, the brothers entered Guiab Singh's house; Mohar fired a country-made pistol at close range, killing him. The victim's son Prem Pal and two other villagers identifi…

The mother of the appellant filed an application for recovery of rent and eviction of a tenant under the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953. The tenant argued that he was entitled to occupancy rights and therefore not liable for rent, and that the application should be treated as a suit under Section 77(3) of th…

ACE Auto Components Ltd, a small‑scale industrial unit, manufactured clutch parts and affixed the well‑known brand name "TATA" alongside its own brand "ACE" on the goods supplied to Tata vehicles. It claimed exemption from central excise duty under SSI Notification Nos. 1/93‑CE and 16/97‑CE. The Revenue issued a show‑c…

The Supreme Court examined whether Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) credit under Section 115JAA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 must be set off against assessed tax before computing interest under Sections 234A, 234B and 234C. It held that the tax paid under Section 115JA is a "tax" within the meaning of the Act and the credit …

The appellant Sanjay Kumar Jain was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for the death of his wife within fourteen months of marriage, based on circumstantial evidence and a post‑mortem indicating strangulation. The Supreme Court found serious inconsistencies in the prosecution’s version, including uncertain acces…

The case involved a violent attack on a farming family in Haryana, resulting in the death of the husband (Urned Singh) and injuries to his wife and son. The accused were charged under Sections 302, 149, 323 and 148 of the IPC. The High Court reduced the murder conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Se…

Safiya Bee purchased a house and its adjoining vacant land by a registered sale deed, but the respondent forcibly occupied the property. She filed an application under Section 7‑A of the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 before the Special Tribunal seeking possession of the house and the appurtenant …

Five independent MLAs who had supported the BJP government in Karnataka withdrew their support and were disqualified under paragraph 2(2) of the Tenth Schedule. They filed writ petitions challenging the disqualification and sought to amend paragraph 9 of their petitions, which mistakenly stated that they had not left t…

The case involved a long‑standing enmity between Mohammad Mian and the Husain family, which escalated into a gun‑fire incident resulting in the death of Riyasat Husain and grievous injury to his brother Firasat Husain. The trial court acquitted the accused of murder under Sections 302 and 34 IPC, relying on a perceived…

The petitioner, a Thai joint venture, entered into a contract with the respondent, an Indian company, for the sale of aluminium ingots, which contained an arbitration clause. The respondent contested the petition for appointment of an arbitrator, arguing that the contract was not signed by an authorized person and that…