Judgments of 2013

The appellant, a construction contractor, was sued by the respondent for a sum of Rs.4,35,250.18. After the trial court heard arguments and reserved judgment, the appellant filed two applications—one under Order VII Rule 14 read with Section 151 of the CPC to produce certain bills, and another under Order XVIII Rule 17…

Kandath Distilleries applied in 1987 for a licence to set up a distillery in Kerala. The State received many applications in 1998, granted licences to four applicants but rejected Kandath's, citing a policy of not issuing further licences. The High Court, after several interventions, issued a writ of mandamus directing…

During a ceremonial feast at Kishan Singh's house, appellant Som Raj (Soma) assaulted his nephew Sardari Lal with a sharp‑edged agricultural implement called a 'darat', striking the back of the victim's head and causing a fatal skull injury. Five eyewitnesses (PW1, PW2, PW3, PW6, PW8) testified that the appellant was a…

The case concerned teachers in aided schools of Kerala who, after being relieved under Rules 49 or 53 of the Kerala Education Rules, sought preference for re‑appointment under Rule 51A. The State of Kerala issued government orders amending sub‑rule (3) of Rule 7A to bar filling vacancies of less than one academic year …

The Union of India appealed against a Punjab & Haryana High Court order that directed the government to provide adequate premises for the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) at Chandigarh and to consider various administrative reforms. The Supreme Court examined the statutory framework of the Recovery of Debts Due to Bankin…

Satya Nand Munjal transferred 6,000 equity shares to a transferee in February 1982 under a deed that allowed revocation within a specified window. The transferee received 14,000 bonus shares during the period the gift was effective, and Munjal revoked the gift in June 1988, retaining the original shares but not the bon…

The Supreme Court heard appeals by three assessee brothers (Satya Nand Munjal, Brij Mohan Lal Munjal and Om Prakash Munjal) challenging High Court judgments that held they were liable to pay interest under section 168 of the Gift Tax Act, 1958 on tax assessed for the 1989‑90 assessment year. The issues were whether int…

The appellants, Ropan Sahoo and another, along with the State of Orissa, challenged the High Court's order that quashed their IMFL "ON" shop licences on the ground that no order had been passed relaxing the distance restrictions under Rule 34 of the Orissa Excise Rules, 1965. The Supreme Court examined the note‑sheet a…

M/s Uniworth Textiles Ltd., an export‑oriented unit, imported furnace oil on behalf of its sister concern and claimed exemption under Notification No. 53/97‑Cus. The Customs Commissioner issued a show‑cause notice demanding duty and penalty more than six months after the import, invoking the proviso to Section 28 of th…

The Supreme Court examined the recruitment of 17 Junior Assistants in the District Court, where the authorities raised the short‑listing benchmark from the statutory intermediate qualification to a degree qualification. The High Court had quashed the appointments, holding that the higher benchmark was illegal. The Supr…

The appellant Subhasish Mondal was convicted of murdering his elder brother and mother in Kharagpur, allegedly motivated by a grievance over a job given to his brother after their father's death. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the victim's injuries, the presence of a silver chain belonging…

The appellant, the divorced wife of the first accused, challenged summons issued against her in a case under Section 420 read with Section 34 IPC. The police investigation had filed a refer report stating that the complaint was not proved, and the complainant testified that only the husband had been entrusted with mone…

The Haryana Wakf Board filed a civil suit in 2000 seeking possession of land it claimed was Wakf property. The trial court ruled in favor of the Board, but the Additional District Judge held that the question of whether the land was Wakf property fell within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Wakf Tribunal under Section…

The ESIC Medical Officer's Association, representing medical officers recruited by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation after 1974, claimed a monthly allowance of Rs.200, arguing that they were workmen like deputed doctors and thus entitled to the same benefits. The Central Government Industrial Tribunal held tha…

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

The State of Uttar Pradesh promoted a lecturer to Reader on 16‑08‑2005 and gave him seniority from that date, while ten other promotees in a different service rule received retrospective seniority from the date the vacancy arose. The promotee claimed that he was discriminated against under Article 14 and sought seniori…

The appellant, Sunita Jugalkishore Gilda, succeeded a mortgagee who had a mortgage over a three‑storied building since 1953. While several suits between the mortgagee and the mortgagors were pending, the mortgagors inducted a third party as a tenant without the mortgagee's consent. The mortgagee sued for possession and…

The petitioner, Manjeet Singh Khera, sought a court order directing the prosecution to produce the original complaint filed with the Anti‑Corruption Bureau that had initiated the investigation leading to an FIR and charge‑sheet under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and IPC s.109. The prosecution contended that t…

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

Ram Swaroop was seized with 64 kg of poppy straw powder packed in 32 bags by police officers Sub‑Inspector Ritesh Kumar and Constable Balwant Singh and was convicted under Section 15 of the NDPS Act, receiving ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine. On appeal he contended that (i) the prosecution relied solely on …

The case concerned the alleged murder of Kusum Rani, who was burnt alive by her parents‑in‑law. The prosecution relied primarily on the victim’s dying declaration recorded by an executive magistrate and a thumb impression on the FIR, along with medical evidence of 100 % burns. The High Court acquitted the accused, hold…

The Supreme Court reviewed a series of criminal appeals arising from the 1993 Bombay serial blasts, all tried under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The appeals concerned convictions for offences such as unauthorised possession of arms and explosives (s.3(3), s.5, s.6 TADA), conspi…

On March 12, 1993, a series of 12 bomb explosions occurred in Bombay, killing 257 people and injuring 713, with property damage worth Rs. 27 crores. The conspiracy was hatched by Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim, with Yakub Abdul Razak Memon (A-1) playing a key role. The Designated Court convicted 100 accused, sentencing…

The Supreme Court of India disposed of multiple appeals arising from the 1993 Bombay serial bomb blasts, which killed 257 people and injured 713. The Designated Court under TADA had convicted numerous accused, sentencing most to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the evidence, including confession…

The Supreme Court of India delivered a consolidated judgment on multiple appeals arising from the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The appeals challenged convictions and acquittals of various accused persons involved in the conspiracy, landing, …

The Supreme Court examined 19 appeals filed by the State of Maharashtra against acquittals in the 1993 Bombay serial bomb blast case, focusing on conspiracy charges under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Indian Penal Code. It reiterated the limited circumstances in which an appell…

The Supreme Court examined a series of appeals arising from the Designated Court's judgments in the 1993 Bombay bomb blast case under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The Court held that confessional statements recorded under Section 15 of TADA are substantive evidence admissible a…

The appellant, an illiterate widow with two minor children, sought regularisation of a residential plot originally allotted to her deceased husband by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. After making partial payments, she mistakenly underpaid the balance due to illiteracy, leading the Authority to cancel the allotm…

The husband of Sawinder Kaur, late Gurnam Singh Dhillon, applied for a freedom‑fighter pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980, claiming service in the Indian National Army. His claim was initially rejected, later accepted after the Ministry of Home Affairs circular dated 31‑Jan‑1983, and the H…

Nanak Builders sued the Sawhneys for specific performance of a 1986 sale agreement. While the suit was pending, the Sawhneys transferred the suit property to Thomson Press (India) Ltd. despite a court injunction and public notice of the dispute. Thomson Press applied under Order 1 Rule 10 CPC to be impleaded as a defen…

The State of Andhra Pradesh (appellant) challenged a civil suit filed by Mis. Star Bone Mill & Fertiliser Co. (respondent) seeking declaration of title over a 3.525‑acre land. The respondent relied on a registered sale deed dated 11‑Nov‑1959 executed by M/s A. Allauddin & Sons, who were merely lessees of the State sinc…

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) awarded a fee‑collection contract to A.S. Motors, which was later terminated on grounds of overcharging and other malpractices. The appellant challenged the termination, alleging violation of natural‑justice principles and lack of a factual basis for termination, as well a…

The appellant, a retired post‑office employee, was convicted for misappropriating Rs 1,35,240 under Section 477‑A IPC read with Sections 3(1)(c) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The trial court, instead of imposing a custodial sentence, released him under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 on a bo…

Five candidates who were serving as Assistant District Attorneys, Public Prosecutors or Deputy Advocate General were selected for the post of Additional District and Sessions Judge in Haryana through direct recruitment. The Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed their appointments, holding that they did not satisfy the …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank Ltd. against the Madras High Court's order quashing criminal proceedings under Section 482 of the CrPC against five non‑bank accused in a fraud case involving Rs 2.51 crore. The FIR and charge‑sheet alleged that the accused, in collusion with bank offic…

The appellant was accused of tampering with a medical report and a complaint under Sections 463, 465, 468, 471 and 114 IPC was filed. The appellant sought to quash the complaint under Section 482 CrPC, arguing that the complaint was not maintainable unless filed by the court under Section 195 CrPC. The High Court rejec…

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of three accused—Vyas Ram, Naresh Paswan and Sugai Mochi—under TADA and several IPC provisions for a 1992 massacre that killed 35 people. The Court found serious investigative flaws, including non‑examination of the informant, absence of a test identification parade and delayed…

The appellants, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a constable, were convicted for abducting seven members of a family and for their alleged murder. The prosecution alleged that the victims were taken on 29 October 1991, later seen in various police stations, and never returned, leading to convictions under IPC sect…

The appellants were charged in a criminal complaint alleging forgery and fraudulent sale of land, which was later withdrawn after a compromise in a related civil suit. A third party, unrelated to the dispute, succeeded in reviving the complaint before the High Court, which also granted the appellants regular bail. Six …

The deceased woman was stabbed to death in her matrimonial home, leading to an initial prosecution of four in‑law family members under Sections 498A and 306 IPC, which resulted in acquittal. Two years later, the deceased's brother filed a complaint alleging that six family members, including A‑1 and A‑2, murdered her, …

Vijay Jain and co‑accused were convicted under Section 8/21(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for alleged possession of brown sugar seized during a police raid. The trial court and the High Court held that the seized contraband had been produced in court, despite the fact that the brown su…

The appellant, Sucha Singh, was convicted under Sections 302 and 394 of the Indian Penal Code for murdering Amrik Singh and stealing his mule cart. The prosecution relied on the testimony of five key witnesses, an extra‑judicial confession to one of them, forensic evidence linking recovered items to the victim, and a d…

The petitioner, a Mechanical Transport Driver in the Indian Air Force, was convicted by a district court‑martial of unauthorized absence under Section 39(a) of the Air Force Act, 1950 and sentenced to three months' rigorous imprisonment, dismissal from service and reduction in rank. He had been in custody since 1 Febru…

The appellant Deepak Gulati was convicted under Sections 365 and 376 of the IPC for allegedly enticing a 19‑year‑old woman with a false promise of marriage, confining her and having sexual intercourse. The woman voluntarily left home to marry the appellant, accompanied him to several locations, and did not raise any ob…

Dr. Hira Singh's 1944 will granted his daughter Shivdev Kaur a life interest in a property. After the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 came into force, Shivdev Kaur claimed that the life interest had crystallised into an absolute title under Section 14 of the Act. The lower courts held that the life interest remained restric…

The plaintiffs filed a suit for declaration, partition and injunction against several defendants, one of whom, Virendra Kumar, died without contesting the suit. The trial court dismissed the suit as abated for failure to substitute the deceased's legal representatives. On appeal, the first appellate court and the High …

The Supreme Court examined whether depositions taken by a magistrate under Chapter XV of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before taking cognizance could be used as evidence for framing charges under Part B of Chapter XIX, and whether the accused is entitled to cross‑examine those witnesses before charges are framed. …

Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., a government‑owned company, terminated the services of employee Partha Sarathi Sen Roy under a clause that allowed dismissal at the company's sole discretion without reason. The employee challenged the termination by filing writ petitions, contending that the clause was unconstitutional and th…

The State of Assam filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) under Article 136 of the Constitution challenging only the Gauhati High Court's order dismissing its review petition, without challenging the original judgment of the Writ Appeal dated 20 November 2007. The Court examined whether an SLP can be entertained when the…

The appellant, A.M. Sangappa, challenged a judgment of the Karnataka High Court in a regular first appeal (RFA No. 238 of 2004). The issue was whether the High Court had complied with the procedural requirements of Order 41 Rule 31 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, which obliges a court hearing a regular first appe…

The appellant Ganesha was acquitted by a trial court of offences under IPC sections 341, 323, 324 and 504 read with 34. On the informant's petition, the Karnataka High Court, in revision, set aside the acquittal and convicted Ganesha under s.324 IPC, imposing six months' simple imprisonment and a fine. Ganesha appealed…

Petitioners, volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party, protested at Gokul Puri Police Station demanding registration of an FIR for an alleged rape. They allege that police rounded them up and beat them with lathis, causing injuries, and that the police’s version of a violent crowd is unsupported by video evidence. The respond…

The Supreme Court examined the custodial death of a kidnapping suspect who was arrested by three police officers and found dead in the lock‑up. The trial court had acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted them under sections 302, 342, 218 and 193 IPC. The Court held that the arrest panchnama and register wer…

Daljit Kaur and Anr. filed a suit seeking declaration that certain agreements were industrial licences. During the suit the parties entered into a compromise, which the plaintiff later disputed. The trial court recorded the compromise and, after conducting an enquiry into its validity, passed a decree based on the comp…

The appellant Kaini Rajan was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping PW2, who alleged that he forcibly took her to a roadside location early in the morning and threatened her with a promise of marriage. PW2 later became pregnant, and the FIR was lodged ten months after the alleged incident. The trial court and High…

Nagoor Pichai @ Badusha was convicted under IPC s.302 for murdering his paternal uncle and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was 19 years 8 months old at the time of the offence and 22 years 9 months old at conviction. He applied for bail, contending that the Tamil Nadu Borstal Schools Act, 1925 should have been appli…

The appellants Jagat Rai, Deepak Rai and Bachcha Babu Rai were convicted for the pre‑meditated murder of an informant, his wife and five children by locking them in a house and setting it ablaze, motivated by the informant's refusal to withdraw an FIR. The trial court sentenced all three to death, a decision affirmed b…

The Supreme Court considered whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) could prescribe aggregate qualifying percentages for the 2012 National Eligibility Test (NET) after candidates satisfied the paper‑wise minimum marks. The petitioners (UGC) contended that such criteria were within its statutory authority under …

The appellant, Venkatesan, was tried for offences under Sections 498A, 304B and 302 IPC, alleged to have harassed his wife for dowry and burnt her to death. The trial court acquitted him, but the Madras High Court, on revision filed by the deceased's mother, set aside the acquittal and ordered a fresh trial, finding fl…

The Governor‑cum‑Chancellor of Bihar appointed several Vice‑Chancellors and Pro‑Vice‑Chancellors without adhering to the statutory requirement of meaningful consultation with the State Government under the Bihar State Universities Act and the Patna University Act. Dr. Ram Tawakya Singh, a professor, challenged these ap…

The appellants (A‑1 to A‑4) were convicted for the murder of Ravi under Section 302 IPC read with Section 34, based on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses who saw the accused attack the victim with knives. They challenged the conviction on several grounds, including that after the acquittal of two co‑accused only four…

The appellants Subodh Nath and Paritosh were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for the murder of Ashutosh. Paritosh was 16 years old at the time of the offence, raising the question of whether the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, as amended, applied to an offence committed befo…

The case concerned two cross suits between Sushil K. Chakravarty (deceased) and M/s Tej Properties Pvt. Ltd. over an agreement to sell agricultural land. The sole defendant died during the pendency of the suit, and the Delhi High Court proceeded ex‑parte without impleading his legal heirs, invoking Order XXII Rule 4(4)…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that refused to grant leave to appeal an acquittal of Giriraj Dubey by the Sessions Court. The trial court had acquitted the accused on the ground of insufficient evidence under Sections 294 and 436 IPC. The High Court’s order merely resta…

The case concerned a disciplinary proceeding against Ch. Gandhi, a senior accountant, who was punished with reversion to junior accountant for two years and postponement of future increments. The question was whether this constituted two major penalties under Rule 9 of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification,…

M/s Informetrics Valuation and Rating Pvt. Ltd. applied to SEBI for registration as a credit rating agency, submitting a chartered accountant's net‑worth certificate based on a bank’s confirmation rather than audited accounts of its promoter. SEBI demanded audited accounts of the promoter for the five years preceding t…

The appellant, Kuppusamy, was accused of murdering his ten‑month‑old daughter by throwing her into a well, resulting in death by drowning. The prosecution's case rested on an extra‑judicial confession made by the appellant to the Village Administrative Officer (VAO), which was recorded and signed. The trial court and t…

The Supreme Court examined whether the catering department of Willingdon Sports Club, which serves food only to its members and their guests, must obtain a licence under Section 394(1)(e) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888. The High Court had held the club exempt, reasoning that its primary activity was spor…

The petitioners, Urmila Badshah Goose and her daughter Shivanjali, filed an application under Section 125 of the CrPC seeking maintenance, claiming that Urmila was the wife of the petitioner Badshah and that Shivanjali was their illegitimate child. Badshah contended that he was already lawfully married to another woman…

Arcot Textile Mills Ltd, a sick industrial unit, paid arrears of Employees' Provident Fund contributions but was later served a demand notice for interest under Section 7Q of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. The company challenged the demand, contending that an appeal against a standalon…

The Uttar Pradesh Government, under Section 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Trade Tax Act, 1948, issued a notification granting a tax rebate on cement containing fly‑ash, but only to units located within Uttar Pradesh. Cement manufacturers in neighboring states, who purchased fly‑ash from Uttar Pradesh but produced cement outsi…

The case involved twenty accused charged with offences including murder, rioting and attempt to murder arising from a politically‑motivated land dispute that culminated in the killing of Mudi Parandhami Reddy. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted accused Nos. 1‑12 under Sections 147, 148,…

The Union of India appealed against an Armed Forces Tribunal order that set aside an Additional Court of Inquiry (COI) and directed a fresh COI because the original COI included the Presiding Officer and two Technical Members who had prepared the inquiry report. The respondent, Colonel Sanjay Jethi, claimed that this c…

B. Amrutha Lakshmi, an Assistant Commissioner of Sales Tax in Andhra Pradesh, filed a petition challenging the State Government's refusal to forward her name for selection to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under the IAS (Appointment by Selection) Regulations, 1997. Although she satisfied all statutory criteria…

Gothamchand Jain filed a suit for specific performance of a contract in Pondicherry in 1991. The trial court held that Article 2262 of the French Code Civil, which provides a thirty‑year limitation, applied and the suit was not time‑barred. The High Court reversed, finding that the Indian Limitation Act, 1963, Section …

The petitioner, Commissioner of Income Tax, Gujarat, challenged the claim of the respondent, Gujarat Fluoro Chemicals, that the Revenue should pay interest when the total of advance tax and TDS installments paid exceeds the assessed tax. The issue centered on whether the Revenue is liable to pay interest on the excess …

The appellant Ranjeet Goswami was charged with offences under Sections 376, 302 and 201 of the IPC and claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the alleged offences, relying on a school leaving certificate showing a birth date of 10‑05‑1991. The Juvenile Justice Board, after obtaining a medical board opinion that the a…

Private unaided medical colleges challenged a corrigendum (Notification No. 37(1) 2013) that limited the "Enhancement of Annual Intake Capacity" regulations of 2013 to Government medical colleges, alleging violation of Article 14. The Central Government, citing a delay in receiving the original regulations, extended th…

The appellant U.P. Power Corporation Ltd. challenged the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (CERC) approval of additional capitalisation of Rs 4.521 crore for a thermal power plant taken over by NTPC Ltd. The CERC had allowed the excess expenditure despite the requirement in Regulation 2.5 of its Tariff Regula…

The Supreme Court examined whether a magistrate, after receiving a police report under Section 173(3) CrPC, could disagree with the report, issue summons to persons listed in column 2 and either try them or commit the case to a Sessions Court, and whether the Sessions Court could, upon committal, take cognizance and su…

The appellant was convicted of murder and assault in 1995 and sentenced to life imprisonment and fines. At the time of the offence he was 17 years, 11 months and 5 days old, i.e., below 18 years. The issue was whether he should be treated as a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2…

The Supreme Court examined four notifications issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Dental Council of India (DCI) that introduced a single National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to MBBS, BDS and postgraduate medical courses. Petitioners, including Christian Medical College Vellore an…

The Supreme Court dealt with a series of Special Leave Petitions and contempt proceedings filed by trained teachers seeking appointment to vacant primary teacher posts in Bihar. The State of Bihar had given an undertaking in 2006 to recruit these teachers, but failed to fulfil it, prompting contempt petitions. The Cour…

The appellant institute granted a lecturer three years of study leave to pursue a Ph.D. and paid him full salary and allowances. The lecturer returned to duty but failed to produce a Ph.D. certificate, prompting the institute to recover Rs.12,32,126 paid during the leave. The High Court ordered the institute to refund …

The appellant, Roop Singh, was convicted of rape under Section 376 IPC and house trespass under Section 450 IPC for forcibly entering his neighbour's house at night and having sexual intercourse with the complainant while she was asleep. The appellant appealed, claiming the complainant had consented to the act and that…

On 29 September 1995 the deceased Daulat was assaulted at Gorelal's shop by a group of accused, leading to his death. The trial court convicted several accused under IPC sections 302, 147, 148 and 149 and sentenced them to life imprisonment; the High Court upheld most convictions and acquitted one. The appellants chall…

Sahib Hussain was convicted of murdering five persons, including three children, in a gruesome incident on 27 October 2006. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence – post‑mortem reports, statements of two eyewitnesses who did not see the killings, an extra‑judicial confession, forensic recovery of a blood‑sta…

The appellant, a co‑operative housing society, entered into a development agreement and later amalgamated two of its plots. The plaintiffs, members of the society, sued to restrain construction on the amalgamated plot but did not challenge a conveyance deed dated 8 February 1989 at the time of filing. They later sought…

The appellant, Mariappan, was convicted of murder and criminal intimidation for repeatedly assaulting his paternal aunt with an aruval, resulting in her death, amid a land dispute. He appealed, claiming he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the offence and sought protection under Section 84 of the Indi…

The appellant Hazara Singh filed a criminal revision seeking enhancement of sentence against four accused who were convicted under Section 307 IPC for attempting murder and other offences. The trial court sentenced two accused to five years' rigorous imprisonment and the other two to three years, along with fines. The …

The Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad (the Board) conducted a public auction of a plot, where Om Prakash Sharma was the highest bidder and deposited earnest money. The Housing Commissioner later rejected his bid, prompting Sharma to sue for a declaration that the auction was binding and the rejection illegal. The …

The plaintiff, a co‑operative housing society, sued the defendants for a declaration of title and a perpetual injunction. The defendants filed a written statement admitting the plaintiff's claim and asked for a decree. Later they sought to strike out that written statement (Order VI Rule 16 CPC) and to file a detailed …

The Supreme Court examined massive illegal iron‑ore mining in Karnataka’s Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts, which had caused severe forest loss and financial loss to the exchequer. A Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and a Court‑appointed Joint Team surveyed 166 mining leases, categorising them as A, B or C ba…

The Supreme Court considered a writ petition filed by Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) seeking to quash the Ministry of Environment and Forests' (MoEF) order rejecting Stage‑II forest clearance for diversion of 660.749 hectares of forest land for a bauxite mining project in the Niyamgiri hills. The Court examined whethe…

The appellant purchased five Tata diesel vehicles and paid the price through eight bills of exchange drawn on his banker. The respondent sued for the balance amount, but the appellant, believing the debt settled, failed to file a written statement. The trial court passed a decree under Order VIII Rule 10 of the CPC wit…

Shantilal purchased five Tata diesel vehicles and paid the price through a series of bills of exchange. Tata Engineering filed a suit for recovery of Rs.5,66,000 plus interest, but Shantilal did not file a written statement, believing the amount had been paid. The trial court passed an ex parte decree under Order VIII …

The wife of appellant No.1 committed suicide by pouring kerosene on herself on 18 May 2004. The prosecution alleged that the husband and his parents had subjected her to cruelty and harassment for dowry, instigating her suicide, and secured convictions under Sections 3048, 498A and 306 of the IPC. The sole piece of evi…

The appellant, a Chief Judicial Magistrate, was accused by a litigant of demanding a Rs.20,000 bribe to influence a case. A preliminary inquiry was followed by a regular departmental enquiry, which found her guilty of the first charge and partially guilty of a second. The High Court, on the administrative side, recomme…

Yogendra Nath Arora, a Deputy General Manager of a Uttar Pradesh state undertaking, was on deputation to a Uttarakhand government undertaking when he was arrested for accepting a bribe. The Uttarakhand State Government repatriated him to his parent organization and granted sanction for prosecution under the Prevention …

The appellant, an advocate, was selected for appointment as a Junior Civil Judge but was not appointed because the State Government relied on a police report alleging her and her husband’s links to a banned political party. The High Court dismissed her writ petition, holding that judicial review was unavailable and tha…

The Government of Bihar had repeatedly declared that non‑teaching staff of universities and constituent colleges were to be treated as equivalent to government staff, but successive agreements (most recently on 18 July 2007) were not implemented, leading to strikes by the Bihar State University and College Employees Fe…

The case involved a double murder arising from a fight between two rival groups in a field in Rajasthan. The appellants Gopal and Mahesh killed Rameshwar (R) while defending themselves from an attack, and subsequently chased and killed Prabhat (P) who was fleeing the scene. The trial court convicted them under Section …

The case arose from an incident on 15 February 2012 when two Italian naval officers aboard the merchant vessel M.V. Enrica Lexie fired on an Indian fishing boat 20.5 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, killing two fishermen. The Kerala police lodged an FIR under the Indian Penal Code and arrested the officers, which t…

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) issued a circular limiting the height of a public parking lot (PPL) in a high‑rise development to ground plus four floors, prompting the developer Kohinoor Ctnl Infrastructure Co. to challenge the stop‑work notice and the subsequent order restricting the PPL. The High …

The appellant, Gulabrao Baburao Deokar, was charged along with 56 others for a massive defalcation of public funds amounting to Rs.169.60 crore involving the Jalgaon Municipal Corporation. He was granted bail by the Sessions Court under Section 439(1) CrPC, but the High Court cancelled the bail on grounds of procedural…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, which requires prior Central Government approval for CBI investigations into senior officials, applies when the investigation is being monitored by the Court itself. The Court noted that the CBI had initiated investigatio…

The State of Rajasthan appealed against a High Court order that had discontinued criminal proceedings in Dholpur under Section 186 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), on the ground that the same offence was already being tried in courts at Sagar and Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh. The three FIRs (No. 161/2010, 310/2010…

The appellants entered into an agreement to purchase land that the respondents claimed to own exclusively, paying Rs. 50 lakh as earnest money. The respondents later sold the land to a third party, and the appellants discovered that the land had been shown as open parking in a municipal permission for a club house, ind…

The Bhusawal Municipal Council acquired 4.25 acres of agricultural land under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 and the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to build a primary school. After paying the initial compensation awarded under Section 11, the respondents obtained a reference court award under Section …

The appellant Union of India sought recovery of MODVAT credit wrongfully claimed by Maharaja Shree Umaid Mills on high‑speed diesel (HSD) oil used as an input for electricity generation. The Central Government had withdrawn such credit by a 1995 notification and a 1997 trade notice, but the assessee still availed it. S…

Yogendra Singh Tomar, a practising advocate, contested the election for Chairman of the Bar Council of Uttarakhand. Three ballot papers were rejected by the Returning Officer, leading to the declaration of respondent No.3 as elected. Tomar filed a writ petition seeking a recount and treatment of the rejected votes in h…

The appellant, Tummala Venkat... was convicted under Section 304B IPC for causing the death of his wife Neelima, who died after ingesting poison following repeated dowry demands and physical abuse. The High Court upheld the conviction and sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court …

The Supreme Court examined the termination of licences granted by the Paradeep Port Trust (the Board) for manual and mechanically operated iron‑ore storage plots. The appellants claimed an indefeasible right to renew their licences and alleged that the Board’s decision violated constitutional principles. The Court held…

The deceased, Babita Devi, allegedly died after being forced to consume poison following dowry harassment by her husband’s relatives. The father‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law were tried and convicted under Sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) of the IPC, as well as under the Dowry Prohibition Act. The High Court a…

The Supreme Court examined complaints filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against Gujarat State Fertilizer Co. Ltd. and its directors, including A.K. Singhania and Vikram Prakash, for dishonour of cheques. The key issue was whether the complaints specifically alleged that the directors were "in ch…

The appellants, owners of lands purchased in 1956, claimed self‑cultivation of the property. The second respondent, Gangappa, filed a Form No.7 in 1975 asserting he was an occupant/tenant and sought occupancy rights. The Special Tehsildar reported no record of such an application, leading the respondent to file a writ …

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) appealed a High Court order that quashed a charge sheet served on a retired employee, Atma Singh Grewal, on the ground that the departmental proceeding was barred by the Punjab Civil Service Rules. The Division Bench of the High Court dismissed the appeal as frivolous and order…

The Educare Charitable Trust, which runs a dental college, applied to the Central Government in August 2012 to double its BDS intake from 50 to 100 seats for the 2013‑14 academic year. The application was rejected because the college had not yet obtained DCI recognition for its existing 50‑seat capacity, a condition pr…

M/S. Escorts Limited filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against Rama Mukherjee for a dishonoured cheque. The Delhi High Court held that, because the cheque was presented and the notice was sent from Delhi, the Delhi courts lacked jurisdiction to try the offence. On appeal, the Supreme…

The husband filed a petition for divorce under Section 13(1)(iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging his wife suffered from schizophrenia, while the wife filed a petition for restitution of conjugal rights. The trial court granted the divorce and dismissed the restitution petition, but the Andhra Pradesh High Court se…

A 17‑year‑old student suffered an 80% permanent disability in a motor accident and became bedridden, requiring lifelong care. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded the parents compensation of Rs.18,75,800 with 7.5% interest. The Andhra Pradesh High Court reduced the award to Rs.12,45,800, relying on the precedent …

The case concerned Ajoy Acharya, an IAS officer who was also a nominee Director of the Madhya Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (MPSIDC). He was charged for allowing the Board of MPSIDC to pass a resolution on 19‑April‑1995 that authorised short‑term loans, allegedly contrary to earlier government decisi…

The Supreme Court examined whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) could, through regulations under the UGC Act, impose a composite scheme that revised pay scales and raised the retirement age of teachers from 62 to 65 years on State universities and colleges. The petitioners argued that the UGC's recommendation…

The Supreme Court heard a batch of writ petitions challenging Sections 2(k), 2(1), 15, 16, 17, 19 and 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, on the ground that the age limit of 18 years for juveniles was arbitrary and violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, especially in the wa…

The appellant, Arshad Hussain, was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of Iqbal, based on the prosecution claim that he fired three shots from a 12‑bore gun after being prompted by his brothers, Mujaffar and Shahjad. The High Court acquitted the brothers on alibi grounds, but uphe…

The appellant, a taxi driver, was convicted along with two others for committing dacoity under Sections 395 and 397 of the IPC, as well as offences under the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act, after a gold jewellery workshop was looted and the perpetrators fled in two taxis. The trial court sentenced each accus…

The case involved the murder of Pasupathy by four accused (A-1 to A-4) in Tamil Nadu. The trial court convicted all four under IPC s.302 read with s.34 based largely on the testimony of two brothers (PW‑1 and PW‑3) who were relatives of the deceased, and on a post‑mortem report by Dr. PW‑10. The appellant, Nagappan (A‑…

The Supreme Court reviewed an appeal by the mother‑in‑law convicted of murdering her daughter‑in‑law, who died within two months of marriage after being burnt with kerosene. The victim’s dying declaration alleged that the appellant poured kerosene on her because of dowry demands. The trial and High Courts had relied on…

The appellants, former employees of the Overseas Communication Service (OCS), were transferred to Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) and later to Tata Communications Limited (TCL) after the government's disinvestment. They challenged the termination of their services, arguing that VSNL/TCL was a "State" or "other auth…

Harnek Singh filed a suit claiming he was the adopted son of the deceased Sarup Singh and that a gift deed executed by Sarup Singh in favour of Pritam Singh and Surjan Singh was void. The plaintiff was about 23 years old and married with children at the time of the alleged adoption in 1982. Under the Hindu Adoption and…

The appellants owned a plot leased to Caltex India Ltd. for 20 years from July 1960, with a clause allowing renewal for another 20 years upon two months' notice. The property was mortgaged in 1962 and redeemed by the appellant in April 1983. The appellant served a notice under Sections 106 and 111(g) of the Transfer of…

The appellant Safi Mohammad was arrested on suspicion of supplying secret information about the Indian Armed Forces to Pakistani intelligence. During a search of his railway quarter, police seized a blue diary (1982) and a hand‑drawn map (Ex.D‑3) which were deemed by the Air Force to be useful to an enemy. He was convi…

The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd. (the insurer) issued an export credit insurance policy to Garg Sons International (the insured) which required the insured to submit a monthly declaration of any overdue payments by the foreign importer under clause 8(b). The foreign buyer defaulted and Garg filed s…

Four legislators elected on a National Congress Party (NCP) ticket defected to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the Orissa Legislative Assembly. The NCP state president filed disqualification petitions before the Speaker under the Orissa Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1987, see…

The Kallakkurichi Taluk Retired Officials Association challenged a Tamil Nadu Government Order dated 9 August 1989 that treated the component of dearness allowance as dearness pay for pension calculation differently for employees retiring before and after 1 June 1988, resulting in a lower pension for the latter group. …

The Supreme Court heard a writ petition concerning the exploitation of children in orphanages in Tamil Nadu and the failure of several States and Union Territories to implement protective legislation. Earlier orders dated 3 January 2013 and 7 February 2013 had directed the States to operationalise the Protection of Chi…

The cement companies, claiming to be ryotwari pattadars, challenged a Tamil Nadu Government order that required them to pay full royalty and dead rent on mining leases, arguing they were entitled to a 50% concessional rate. The High Court had partially restrained the State from demanding royalty above 50% for patta lan…

The State of Rajasthan filed a special writ appeal (DB Special Appeal Writ No.02033 of 2007) against an order of a Single Judge dated 19.05.2006 concerning an eviction under the Rajasthan Public Premises Act. The appeal was filed 98 days late; in the condonation application the State mistakenly recorded the filing date…

The Government of Karnataka appealed a decree granting possession of disputed land to the respondents, seeking to introduce a road map as additional evidence at the appellate stage under Order XU Rule 27(1)(aa) of the CPC. The Supreme Court examined whether such evidence could be admitted when it could have been produc…

The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation retired Babu Lal Jangir compulsorily in 2002 under its standing orders after a screening committee found his service record unsatisfactory. Jangir challenged the retirement, arguing that the misconduct cited dated from 1978‑1990 was too old and that his more recent record …

Tata Iron & Steel Ltd. (Tata Steel) sold its cement division to Lafarge India under a Business Transfer Agreement, which purportedly transferred the employees to the buyer. The transferred workers later complained that they were forced to work for Lafarge without consent and sought to be taken back by Tata Steel, alleg…

The appellant, V.K.M. Kattha Industries Pvt. Ltd., a running industrial unit, challenged a land acquisition notification issued by the Haryana Government under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for the development of an industrial estate. The company argued that the notification was not published in the local…

The Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation (UPFC) seized the assets of a defaulting borrower under Section 29 of the State Financial Corporation Act, 1951 and sold them at a public auction. M/s. Rana Girders Ltd., the highest bidder, purchased the land, building and plant‑machinery free from encumbrances, with a clause in…

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) advertised vacancies for Deputy Director (Law) and stipulated that the written test would carry 80% of the marks and the interview 20%, with minimum qualifying marks of 50% (general) and 40% (reserved) for the written test. After the written test and interview, the CCI fixed a …

The appellant, Vikash, was implicated in an abduction case where a girl was allegedly kidnapped by several accused. The trial court, after taking cognizance under sections 363, 366(A), 1208 and 376 of the IPC, issued a non‑bailable warrant to secure his attendance under section 319 of the CrPC. Vikash applied to have t…

The appellant, a state agriculture marketing board, terminated the services of workman Mohan Lal in February 1986 without notice or retrenchment compensation. The workman raised an industrial dispute six years later, and the Labour Court held the termination violated Section 25‑F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, o…

Integrated Finance Co. Ltd., a non‑banking financial company, was inspected by the RBI which found multiple violations and issued a circular prohibiting it from accepting deposits. The company, facing profitability problems, proposed a scheme of compromise under Section 391 of the Companies Act to convert deposits into…

Arathi Sandi and Sandi Jagadrakshaka Rao, a married couple residing in the United States, fought a divorce and child‑custody dispute. The US Superior Court initially granted primary custody of their US‑citizen son to the mother, later modifying the order to make the father the custodial parent and issuing a writ of hab…

The Supreme Court considered a batch of writ petitions challenging preventive detention orders issued under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) and the National Security Act, 1980. The petitioners, many of whom had absconded or evaded execution of the orders,…

The appellants were charged under Sections 420, 468, 471, 477-A and 120-B IPC for alleged offences. During the trial before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, one co‑accused turned approver and was granted pardon under Section 306 CrPC, after which the magistrate committed the case to the Court of Sessions. …

The Maharashtra government amended the Bombay Police Act, 1951 by inserting sections 33A and 338 to prohibit any dance performance in eating houses, permit rooms and beer bars while exempting certain establishments such as three‑star hotels and members‑only clubs. The amendment was challenged on the ground that it viol…

The Delhi High Court, after substantially hearing an appeal, allowed the appellants to withdraw the appeal and extended the interim relief granted earlier until 10 May 2010. The appellants contended that the High Court, having become functus officio upon permitting withdrawal, could not lawfully extend interim relief o…

The respondent was engaged as a daily‑wage helper for two fixed periods totaling 54 days, after which his service automatically terminated as per the contract. He raised an industrial dispute alleging that his termination amounted to retrenchment under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, seeking reinstatement with conti…

The Board of Directors of the District Cooperative Central Bank, Panna was superseded by the Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies without prior consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, contrary to the second proviso of Section 53(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1960. The Board challenged t…

Kashmir Lal was arrested after police seized about 0.5 kg of opium from the toolbox of his scooter at a dhaba. He was convicted under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1 lakh. On appeal, he contended that the prosec…

The appellant lodged an FIR and later informed the magistrate that another person, Prem Prakash, had not been made an accused. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate took cognizance under Section 190(1)(b) CrPC and summoned the accused, leading to charges being framed by the Sessions Judge. Prem Prakash challenged th…

Tata Sky Ltd. operated a Direct‑to‑Home (DTH) broadcasting service under a licence granted by the Central Government. The Madhya Pradesh Government, invoking the Madhya Pradesh Entertainment Duty and Advertisements Tax Act, 1936, issued a notification on 5 May 2008 fixing a 20% entertainment duty on payments for admiss…

The appellant was convicted for raping a girl who was later found to be 14 years old at the time of the offence. The trial court had acquitted him on the basis that the girl was not below 16 years and had allegedly consented, but the High Court reversed this finding and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment. On app…

R.K. Jain filed an RTI application seeking copies of the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of Ms. Jyoti Balasundaram, a Member of CESTAT, and the follow‑up action on alleged integrity issues. The Central Public Information Officer denied the request under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, deeming the ACR "personal informa…

The Union of India challenged a Bombay High Court order directing the release of 800 Hajj seats to private tour operators (PTOs). The Supreme Court treated the matter as a public interest litigation and examined the entire Hajj policy framework. It held that the annual framing of the Hajj policy was ad‑hoc and mandated…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted two brothers, A-1 and A-2, for murdering Trilokchand under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, alleging a long‑standing dispute over a well. The trial court, relying on the sole eye‑witness PW‑6, convicted both brothers, holding that A‑1 threw stones while A‑2 sat on the victim’s chest, th…

The wife filed a petition for judicial separation and custody under Section 10 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The husband contested the petition’s maintainability, arguing that both parties, being Swedish citizens domiciled in Australia, were outside the Act’s territorial scope. The Supreme Court examined the extent …

The Kachchh Jal Sankat Nivaran Samiti filed a public‑interest writ petition challenging the Gujarat government's allocation of water from the Sardar Sarovar Project to the Kutch district, alleging violation of Articles 39(b) and 38(2) of the Constitution. The High Court dismissed the petition, holding that the allocati…

Bhagwati Developers Pvt. Ltd. sought registration of 14,120 shares of Peerless General Finance & Investment Co. that it had acquired as repayment of a loan. Peerless refused, alleging the transfer violated the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956. The Company Law Board and the Calcutta High Court held that the s…

The plaintiff Rohit Chauhan sued to declare that his father's sale and release deeds alienating 104 kanals of land were void, arguing that the land was ancestral coparcenary property. The father, Guiab Singh, had received the land in a partition of his father's estate and later, after Rohit's birth in 1982, became a so…

Shyam Narain was convicted under IPC s.376(2)(f) for raping an eight‑year‑old girl. The trial court relied on the child's testimony, corroborating medical evidence of genital injuries, and the accused's conduct, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The Delhi High Court affirmed the conviction and sentence. On appeal…

The husband, Ashok Kumar Jain, filed a petition under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 seeking divorce from his wife, Sumati Jain, on grounds of cruelty and desertion. The trial court dismissed the petition, finding that the husband himself had been cruel and had created circumstances that forced the wife to …

The husband instituted two suits before the Family Court—one for divorce and another seeking permanent and temporary injunctions restraining the wife from entering the matrimonial home, in which an ex parte ad interim injunction was granted. The wife prayed for consolidation of the two suits, but the Family Court rejec…

The appellant, a kerosene dealer, challenged a reduction in his monthly kerosene quota after the Director of Consumer Goods increased the quota of a rival dealer, which was upheld by the District Magistrate. The appellant withdrew his writ petition and appealed to the Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Food and Su…

The Court examined a petition seeking direction to relocate the critically endangered Asiatic lion from its sole habitat in Gir, Gujarat, to Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, as a second home for long‑term survival. Scientific studies by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) …

The respondent, a senior accounts officer in the North‑East Frontier Railway, was placed on the extended select panel for promotion to Group A (Junior Scale) by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) in February 2002. When his batch‑mates were promoted on 21‑April‑2003, he was not promoted. He claimed that the DPC’…

The appellant, Rajesh Patel, was convicted under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code for raping his class‑mate who was working as a nurse. The prosecution's case rested solely on the prosecutrix's testimony, allegedly corroborated by her mother, while key witnesses – a friend who claimed to have rescued the victim and…

The husband and wife married in 1987, after which the wife sought maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The parties later entered into a compromise under Order 23 Rule 3 of the Civil Procedure Code, agreeing that the wife would receive a lump sum of Rs 8,000 as permanent alimony and would not cl…

The appellants were charged under Sections 498A and 406 of the IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act after a matrimonial dispute. While the criminal case was pending, the parties reached a mutual settlement, and the complainant wife filed an affidavit supporting the settlement. The trial court rejected the application to d…

The appellant, Kamlendra Singh (Pappu Singh), was convicted under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 341 (wrongful restraint) with a common intention charge. He contended that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence (27 August 1993) and produced a high‑school mark‑sheet and admission register showing a date …

The petitioners, a public servant and his wife, sought quashing of a criminal trial under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for alleged disproportionate assets, alleging inordinate delay that violated their right to a speedy trial under Article 21. The Supreme Court examined whether Article 32 could be invoked to …

The appellant, Vivek Kalra, was convicted of murdering his 13‑14‑year‑old cousin, Ankit Kalra, based solely on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution alleged that Kalra lured the boy under the pretext of obtaining a cassette, used a dantli (sharp weapon) purchased from a blacksmith, and caused multiple fatal injuries…

Sanaullah Khan was charged with the kidnapping and murder of three persons—Ravindra Prasad, his son Sunny Kumar, and a servant Arvind—following a dispute over milk supply payments. The prosecution relied on three linked circumstances: the appellant’s servant luring the victims to his premises, the discovery of the bodi…

The State of Punjab appointed Harish Dhanda as Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, prompting a public‑interest writ petition under Article 226 alleging lack of integrity, political affiliation and absence of requisite administrative experience. The Punjab & Haryana High Court Division Bench referred speci…

The case concerned the classification of the skin cream ‘Moisturex’ for excise duty purposes. The Central Excise Commissioner argued that the product was a cosmetic under Heading 33.04, attracting 70% duty, while the assessee contended it was a medicament under Heading 30.03, attracting only 15% duty. The Supreme Court…

The respondent, a former government employee, retired with a provisional pension but the State of Jharkhand withheld 10% of his pension, gratuity and leave encashment while criminal and departmental proceedings against him were pending. He filed writ petitions and the High Court ordered the release of the withheld amou…

The appellant, a husband, was convicted under IPC sections 498A (dowry harassment) and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of his wife Girija, who committed suicide within seven years of marriage in their matrimonial home. The prosecution proved that Girija had suffered multiple physical injuries and mental cruelty…

The case concerned two separate prosecutions arising from the July 2006 Mumbai suburban train bomb blasts. In Special Case No. 21 of 2006, the accused‑respondents sought to summon four Deputy Commissioners of Police (who had recorded confessional statements of three other accused in a later Special Case No. 4 of 2009) …

The appellants challenged the registration of FIR No. 442 of 2012 on the ground that a second FIR cannot be filed for the same incident after an earlier FIR had been lodged. The Court examined the scope of the "principle of sameness" and held that while a second FIR on identical facts is prohibited, a counter‑FIR prese…

The Bangalore Club, an unincorporated association of persons, claimed exemption from tax on interest earned from fixed deposits placed with its corporate member banks, invoking the doctrine of mutuality under s.2(24)(vii) of the Income‑Tax Act. The assessing officer treated the interest as taxable, but the Commissioner…

The respondent, M/s A.R. Enterprises, was found during a search of another premises to have undisclosed income for AY 1995-96 and had not filed a return by the due date. The Assessing Officer initiated block assessment under Chapter XIV‑B, treating the income as undisclosed despite the assessee having paid advance tax …

The assessee, Australian Foods India Ltd., manufactured cookies under the brand "Cookie Man" and sold them in branded plastic pouches as well as loosely from the counter of its exclusive retail outlet without any brand imprint on the cookies. Excise duty was paid on the packaged cookies but not on the loosely sold ones…

M/S I.C.D.S. Ltd., a non‑banking finance company, purchased trucks and leased them to third parties, registering the vehicles in the lessees' names. The company claimed depreciation under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 at both the normal and higher rates, arguing it owned the trucks and used them in its leasing…

The State Bank of India dismissed Deputy Manager Narendra Kumar Pandey after a departmental inquiry under its Officers Service Rules for twelve charges of misconduct, including fraud and misuse of bank facilities. Pandey did not attend any of the inquiry sessions, nor did he file a written defence, prompting the Inquir…

The Haryana Financial Corporation (HFC) advanced a loan to Gurcharan Singh, who gave a written, unregistered undertaking on 5 March 1994 that he would not dispose of certain immovable properties during the loan period. After default, HFC seized and sold hypothecated machinery, while Singh's wife obtained a decree decla…

The wife, Archana Hardenia, committed suicide, leading to criminal proceedings under IPC sections 498‑A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) against her husband Amrish Hardenia, his parents, brother and sister‑in‑law. The Sessions Judge discharged the four relatives (parents, brother, sister‑in‑law) on the ground th…

The appellants challenged the compensation awarded by the Land Acquisition Collector and affirmed by the Additional District Judge for land acquired under a 2001 Section 4 notification of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in Tohana, Fatehabad, Haryana. They argued that the market value should be enhanced beyond the assess…

The appellant, Sundaram Industries Ltd., directed its moulders to place production bags on an electronic weighing scale after their shift, which required extra effort and time without additional pay. Thirteen moulders refused, were suspended and later dismissed for alleged misconduct, persistent disobedience and insubo…

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) issued a circular limiting the height of a public parking lot (PPL) to ground plus four upper floors, which conflicted with the developer Kohinoor's plan for a 13‑storey PPL. After a series of writ petitions, stop‑work notices and a settlement, the Supreme Court examin…

The plaintiff, Tribhuvansankar, purchased a property and sued the defendant, Amrutlal, under the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961 for eviction and mesne profits. The defendant denied any landlord‑tenant relationship and pleaded adverse possession, claiming 18‑19 years of uninterrupted possession. The tria…

The Calcutta Port Trust introduced a pension scheme for its employees and issued several circulars allowing retirees to switch from the Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) scheme to the pension scheme, each with a cut‑off date. Respondent No.1, a former Class‑I officer who retired in 1983, claimed he was never informed o…

The appellant, Surinder Singh, was convicted under Sections 3048 and 498A of the IPC for the death of his wife Anita, who died by burns within 94 days of marriage. The prosecution alleged that the husband and his family were dissatisfied with the dowry received and repeatedly harassed Anita, demanding Rs 60,000 for the…

The workmen employed in the canteen of Air India, which was operated by Chef Air, a unit of the Hotel Corporation of India (HCI), claimed they were regular employees of Air India. Air India argued that HCI was a separate legal entity and that it had no control over the workers' hiring, wages, or discipline. The Supreme…

The appellant, a cardiologist, was charged under Section 304A IPC for the death of a patient after an unsuccessful angioplasty and subsequent bypass surgery. The police investigation concluded there was no evidence, but the magistrate proceeded with the case, and the High Court refused to quash the proceedings, citing …

The appellant, Sumit Mehta, was charged under IPC sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 and the Delhi High Court granted him anticipatory bail on the condition that he deposit a fixed deposit of Rs 1 crore in the complainant's name. Mehta appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the condition was unreasonable, unrelated…