Judgments of 2014

Hari Om was convicted under Sections 304-B and 498-A of the IPC for the dowry death of his wife, Poonam, who committed suicide within a month of marriage after persistent dowry demands. The High Court upheld his conviction and sentenced him to life imprisonment, while acquitting co‑accused. Hari Om appealed only agains…

The case concerns the murder of three members of the Singh family in Bhaismudi village, Chhattisgarh, by a group of accused who formed an unlawful assembly armed with lathis, battle‑axes, swords and rods. Two close relatives of the victims, Madhubala Bai (PW‑1) and Saraswati Bai (PW‑3), witnessed the killings and ident…

Virendra Krishna Mishra, an Information Officer (IO) in the DANICS cadre, challenged the Cadre Review Committee's decision to encadre only three Deputy Resident Commissioner (DRC) posts while excluding Tourist Information Officer (TIO) and IO posts, alleging violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. The Central Admi…

The Supreme Court examined whether race clubs such as the Bangalore Turf Club and the Royal Western India Turf Club, as well as a chit fund, fall within the definition of "shop" under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 (ESI Act) and the related notifications. The Court held that a race club is an "establishment" …

The appellant Durga Burman (Roy) was charged with the murder of Manorama Devi by strangulation and the theft of a wrist‑watch and cash, together with co‑accused Ranjit Roy. The trial court convicted both under IPC ss.302, 380 and 34; the High Court acquitted Ranjit Roy but upheld Durga Roy's conviction. On appeal, the …

The appellant, Sub‑Inspector Bairam Muralidhar, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for demanding bribes. The public prosecutor filed an application under Section 321 of the CrPC to withdraw the prosecution, relying solely on a Government order directing withdrawal. Both the trial court and the High Cour…

The appellants challenged the compensation awarded for lands acquired by the State of Haryana under five notifications dated between 1980 and 1983, seeking enhancement of the market value. Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Subhash Chander & Ors. v. State of Haryana, they argued that the market values fixed in …

A fire broke out at a consumer exhibition in Meerut on 10 April 2006, killing 64 people and injuring more than a hundred. The victims filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking damages from the State of Uttar Pradesh and the event organizers. The State had appointed a one‑man Commission of Inqui…

Reliance Industries Ltd., Niko Resources Ltd. and British Petroleum entered into a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with the Union of India. When a dispute arose over cost recovery, Reliance, acting as the operator, invoked the arbitration clause in Article 33 of the PSC and nominated an arbitrator. Two arbitrators, b…

The petitioner's husband, Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, was convicted under the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and sentenced to death. After the death sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Court and a review petition dismissed, a mercy petition filed in 2003 was rejected in 2011, resulting in …

Former High Court judges appointed directly from the Bar filed writ petitions alleging that the pension provisions under the High Court Judges (Salaries & Conditions of Service) Act, 1954 discriminate against them compared to judges promoted from the judicial service. They sought that ten years of advocacy practice be …

Ram Niranjan Roy, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, intervened in a public interest writ before the Patna High Court and shouted at the judges, claiming personal grievances over his posting. The High Court held him guilty of contempt under Section 14 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, ordered his custody for 24 hour…

The State of Bihar appealed against two orders of the Patna High Court that had stayed criminal prosecutions of public servants on the ground that the Law Department, rather than the parent department, had granted the required sanction under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Supre…

The Munnerul Islam Madrasa Committee filed a suit before the Wakf Tribunal seeking eviction of Faseela M., alleging that she was a tenant of a property described as waqf. Faseela denied that the property was waqf and challenged the Tribunal's jurisdiction. The Tribunal initially ordered the suit to be returned to the c…

The Chief Minister of Haryana (Om Prakash Chautala) was suspended from office after a public complaint, leading to a departmental inquiry against a government employee. The employee challenged the suspension in a writ petition, and the High Court set aside the suspension, also criticizing the Chief Minister’s actions a…

In a contempt proceeding before the Madras High Court, Respondents tendered an unconditional apology in the form of an affidavit, which the Single Judge accepted. Despite this acceptance, the Judge directed the Principal Secretary & Commissioner of Land Administration to initiate appropriate action against the contemno…

The Occupational Health and Safety Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions for the framing of occupational safety and health guidelines for workers in coal‑fired thermal power plants (CFTPPs) and compensation for occupational diseases. The Court examined whether the right to health and a s…

B.D. Khunte, a jawan, was allegedly beaten and humiliated by his superior Sub Randhir Singh in a store room on 28 June 2006. Later that evening, while on guard duty, Khunte shot and killed Singh with his service rifle. He was tried by a Summary General Court Martial, convicted under Section 69 of the Army Act and Secti…

The appellants, college officials, were charged under Sections 406 and 1208 IPC for criminal breach of trust after allegedly withholding a bill amount of Rs 34,505 owed to a contractor. The contractor had pursued civil remedies, but the second respondent filed a criminal complaint alleging misappropriation of the funds…

The respondents, Grade‑I officers of the Delhi Administration Subordinate Service (DASS), claimed a second financial upgradation under the Assured Career Progression Scheme (ACPS) after completing 24 years of service. Because the feeder grade (Grade‑I DASS) and the next promotional grade (Grade‑II of the Delhi Andaman …

The case concerned the promotion of constables to head constables under the Punjab Police Rules, 1934, which were amended in 1982 and 1988. The tribunal had held that constables confirmed before the 1988 amendment possessed a vested right to promotion based on seniority, and it ordered a fresh seniority list, which the…

The respondent, S.P. Nayyar, a Commandant in the Border Security Force, sought promotion to Additional DIG. The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) did not recommend him, alleging he was not fit, despite his ACRs being graded ‘Very Good’ by the Initiating and Reviewing Officers. He alleged that the Accepting Officer…

The deceased, Sajal Sarkar, was employed by respondents 1 and 2 to drive their truck from Agartala to the FCI godown at Churaibari. After reaching the godown he left the vehicle to arrange repairs, informing the helper that he would return at night, but he met a road accident during the night and died. His wife and chi…

The appellant, Santosh Bakshi, filed a complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 against her in‑laws alleging dowry harassment. After a compromise was reached, her brother‑in‑law filed an affidavit claiming the complaint was false and sought action under Section 182 of the Indian Penal Co…

The accused, Nirala Yadav, was arrested for offences under the IPC, Arms Act and POTA. After the statutory 90‑day period for filing a charge‑sheet elapsed without a charge‑sheet or an extension application, he filed an application under s.167(2) CrPC for bail. The CBI then filed an application for a 30‑day extension, a…

The respondents were appointed on an ad‑hoc basis as Lower Division Clerks and later regularized. They sought selection‑grade pay from the date of their initial appointment, relying on earlier circulars, while the State Government issued circulars stating that service for selection‑grade eligibility should be counted o…

The husband, Dr. B.V. Ravi, filed a petition for divorce under Section 13(1)(ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act alleging desertion, and also sought restitution of conjugal rights. The Family Court found no proof of desertion and granted restitution, but the wife, Dr. Malathi Ravi, later lodged FIRs against the husband, lead…

The respondent, originally appointed Deputy Registrar, applied for the post of Registrar of the National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, and was selected by direct recruitment. The appointment letter mistakenly prescribed the Central pay scale of Rs 3000‑4500 instead of the State scale of Rs 2375‑4450 as stipulated…

The appellant, Ram Karan (deceased) through legal representatives, purchased agricultural land in 1962 from a Scheduled Caste vendor and obtained mutation in 1966. The State of Rajasthan, via a Tehsildar, filed a suit under Section 175 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act in 1993 seeking ejectment, alleging the sale violated t…

The appellant challenged land acquisition of 10.80 acres undertaken under the Nagpur Improvement Trust Act, 1966. An award was passed under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in 1968, later set aside by the High Court in 1974 only on compensation grounds. While the proceedings were pending, Section 11A of the Land Acquisit…

The father of the complainant filed a murder complaint against five persons, including Bal Manohar Jalan, who was listed as accused No.4 in the FIR. The investigating magistrate later took cognizance only against accused No.1 and discharged the remaining accused, also rejecting the complainant's protest‑cum‑complaint p…

The appellant, an Assistant Engineer, was dismissed after a disciplinary inquiry under the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Employees Service Regulations, 1975. The High Court quashed the dismissal for violating natural‑justice principles and ordered reinstatement, also permitting a fresh inquiry. While the fresh inquiry was …

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Thakur Singh, who was convicted by a trial court for murdering his wife Dhapu Kunwar inside a locked room. The prosecution proved that the wife died of asphyxia and that Singh had confined himself, his wife and child in the room, which was later forced open. The High Cou…

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission conducted a recruitment exam for Group I services. Several candidates were found to have violated the exam instructions by using prohibited colours of ink, pencils, leaving pages blank, and inserting religious symbols, which could reveal their identity to examiners. The High Cou…

The appellant, Amrit Banaspati Co. Ltd., owned a residential flat in Mumbai and declared its value under self‑assessment rules (Rule 3‑7) of Schedule III of the Wealth Tax Act, 1957. The Assessing Officer (AO) found a large disparity between the declared value and the market value estimated by the Departmental Valuatio…

The State of Uttar Pradesh sought to recover dues of M/s Jaswant Sugar Mills Ltd. arising from arrears, loans and other liabilities incurred before the company's acquisition under the U.P. State Sugar Undertakings (Acquisition) Act, 1971. The District Collector had adjusted compensation payable for land acquisition aga…

The plaintiff, acting as administrator of his deceased sister's will, filed a suit for partition of her estate and related reliefs. The defendant moved an application under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC, claiming the suit was barred by limitation. The trial judge dismissed the application, but the Division Bench of the …

The Supreme Court considered appeals by a partnership firm, Sasi Enterprises, and its partners who were prosecuted under section 276CC of the Income Tax Act for willfully failing to file income‑tax returns for the assessment years 1991‑92, 1992‑93 and 1993‑94. The issues raised were whether a statutory duty to file ret…

The Supreme Court, hearing a writ petition under Article 32 concerning the ineffective implementation of various animal welfare and environmental statutes, observed that many slaughter houses across states operated without licences or failed to comply with prescribed guidelines. The Court noted the absence of periodic …

Godrej & Boyce acquired a 133-acre parcel in Vikhroli, which was declared waste land and cultivated before 1951. The State later issued a show‑cause notice under Section 35(3) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (notice No. WT/53) in 1956‑57, but never served it or took possession, while repeatedly granting building permiss…

The plaintiff (Inbasegaran) filed two suits against the defendant (S. Natarajan) – one for a permanent injunction to prevent forcible dispossession of a constructed building, and a later suit for specific performance of a sale agreement. The defendant contended that the second suit was barred by Order 2, Rule 2 of the …

The appellant, Munni @ Syed Akbar, was convicted for murdering his wife Gulsara Banu by strangulation using a cable wire, and also for offences under Sections 498A and 201 of the Indian Penal Code. Post‑mortem examination and a Forensic Science Laboratory report established asphyxia by strangulation and ligature marks …

The appellant, Mallella Shyamsunder, was convicted for the murder of his wife, Kalyani, who died from extensive burns after allegedly being beaten and doused with kerosene over a dowry dispute. The deceased gave two dying declarations to a police officer and a Judicial First Class Magistrate, both of which were found t…

The plaintiff entered into a 1989 agreement to purchase a house from defendant No.2, paid the full consideration, but the seller failed to execute the sale deed. The plaintiff filed two suits: one for permanent injunction to prevent dispossession by defendant No.1 and No.2, and another for specific performance of the s…

The landlady Dhiankaur filed eviction proceedings against tenant Prem Pal Sran under the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, alleging arrears of rent from December 1994. The Rent Controller and the Appellate Authority both held that the agreed rent was Rs.1,500 per month and that the tenant was in arrears for…

The plaintiff sought specific performance of a 1979 agreement whereby the first defendant, owner of a one‑third undivided share in a Bangalore property, through his brother (the second defendant) who held a registered power of attorney, agreed to sell the share for Rs 40,000. The plaintiff paid the full consideration b…

Raj Kumar Goel, a lower‑division clerk of the Punjab State Electricity Board, was found absent without leave and was disciplined with a punishment of stoppage of five annual increments without cumulative effect, also treating the period of absence as non‑duty. He sued the Board seeking a declaration that the order shou…

The respondent, K.V. Abdul Khader, was Chairperson of the Kerala State Wakf Board and was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The appellant, Ashraf Kokkurr, filed an election petition alleging that the respondent was disqualified under Article 191(1)(a) of the Constitution because he held an office of profit. T…

Four Rajasthan co‑operative societies with substantial losses were amalgamated into Rajasthan R.S.S. & Ginning Mills Fed. Ltd. on 1 January 1993, after which the appellant sought to carry forward the accumulated losses of the amalgamated societies and set them off against its own profits under Sections 72 and 72A of th…

The employees of the Andhra Pradesh Labour Department challenged G.O.M. No.14 (1994) and No.22 (1996) which allowed promotion by transfer to the post of Assistant Labour Officer. The State Administrative Tribunal struck down those G.O.M.s as ultra vires the Presidential Order but held the striking down to be prospectiv…

The appellants, consumers of electricity, were accused of theft of electricity and the State Electricity Board lodged a complaint that led to an FIR under Sections 135/126 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Special Judge took cognizance of the offence, but the appellants challenged the jurisdiction, arguing that an Assi…

The appellant, a 25‑year‑old self‑employed man, was paralysed below the waist after a bus accident and filed a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded Rs 3 lakh, which the High Court enhanced to Rs 8,08,052 by applying a multiplier of 15 and clubbing future treatment with pai…

Deepak Bhandari, a director and guarantor of a defaulting industrial company, challenged a suit filed by Himachal Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. for recovery of a loan balance. The corporation had taken possession of the company's mortgaged assets under Section 29 of the State Financial Corporati…

The case involved the murder of Bairam, the son of complainant Heera, arising out of a long-standing land dispute and enmity between the parties. The trial court convicted all accused under Sections 148, 302 r/w 149 and 307 r/w 149 IPC, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted four accused and convicted the remaining thr…

The claimants, passengers in a jeep that collided with a fleeing truck, sought compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 after two of them were killed and one injured. The High Court held both the truck and the jeep responsible but apportioned liability 70% to the truck driver/owner and 30% to the jeep driver/own…

The appellants Suresh and others were convicted for kidnapping and murdering Devender Chopra and his son Abhishek, and for concealing evidence, under IPC sections 302, 34, 364-A, 201 and 120-B. The Supreme Court held that the prosecution evidence, including the recovery of the victims' bodies and belongings at the accu…

The appellant K. Ravi Kumar was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and cruelty under Section 498‑A IPC for stabbing and setting his wife on fire. He appealed, contending that the killing occurred during a sudden quarrel without pre‑meditation, thus falling within Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC. The Supreme Court…

The dispute concerned the ownership of Khata No. 201 in Sultanpur, where Kamla Devi claimed a share inherited from her father Ram Samujh, while Krishna Nand and Shiv Ram asserted title based on a 1938 purchase recorded in their uncle Ram Adhar's name. Three consolidation authorities under the Uttar Pradesh Consolidatio…

The appeal concerned a minority shareholder of Gharda Chemicals Ltd., a company that started as a private firm but became a public (hybrid) company under Section 43A of the Companies Act, 1956. The Articles of Association contained Article 57, a pre‑emption clause restricting share transfers, which the appellant claime…

The New Mangalore Port Listed Workers Managing Committee was created in 1983 to provide stevedores for loading and unloading cargo at the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) and was dissolved on 15 March 1990 when its workers were absorbed into NMPT as a cargo‑handling wing. The Committee challenged a Karnataka State Gover…

The petition concerned the sale of 291 plots belonging to Vitta Mazda Ltd, a company under liquidation. The Official Liquidator, following orders of the Company Court, attempted to auction the plots at prices far below market value, prompting the petitioners to challenge the price fixation and the liquidation process. …

The Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd., a members' club with a kitchen and catering division employing more than twenty workers, was held by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation to be covered under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 and was ordered to pay contributions for the period 1980-1985. The club challenged th…

Reliance Industries and BG Exploration entered into two Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with the Government of India for oil fields. Disputes arose over royalties, cess, service tax and a CAG audit, leading Reliance to issue a notice of arbitration under Article 33 of the PSCs. The parties agreed that the arbitrati…

Bal Kishan Giri, a practising advocate, filed a complaint in the Allahabad High Court alleging that three High Court judges were biased and would grant bail to accused gangsters linked to a local MLA, after his nephew was murdered. The High Court issued a show‑cause notice for contempt, to which Giri tendered an uncond…

The appellant, a lawyer, was convicted of criminal contempt under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, by the Allahabad High Court and fined Rs.20,000. He appealed the conviction and fine before the Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal No. 686 of 2010). The Supreme Court, while noting the judgment in the related C…

Swiss Timing Ltd., a Swiss company, entered into a contract with the Commonwealth Games 2010 Organising Committee to provide timing and scoring services. The Committee failed to pay the agreed fees, prompting Swiss Timing to invoke the arbitration clause in the agreement. The Committee objected, claiming the contract w…

The original plaintiff, Faqir Chand, was a tenant under a 1968 lease that granted him the right to irrigate his 25+ kanals of land from a well situated on the landlord's property. When the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972 came into force, Section 104(3) vested ownership of the leased land in the tena…

The original plaintiff, Ramesh Chander, sued Jalandhar Improvement Trust for vacant possession of a plot allotted to him after his father's land was acquired. The trial court decreed in his favour, but the first appellate court reversed the decision, leading Ramesh to file a second appeal. Ramesh died during the penden…

The landlord (Mis. S.F. Engineer) sought eviction of its tenant Metal Box India Ltd. and the tenant's former employee under Section 13(1)(e) of the Bombay Rent Act, alleging unlawful sub‑letting. The trial and appellate courts held that the tenant had not part‑ed with legal possession nor received any monetary consider…

Usha Bharti, elected as Adhyaksh of the Zila Panchayat, Sitapur, challenged a motion of no confidence moved by 37 members under Section 28 of the Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Panchayat & Zila Panchayat Act, 1961. The High Court dismissed her writ petition and later her review petition, prompting a Special Leave Petition befo…

The Supreme Court dismissed Civil Appeals Nos. 1393‑1394 of 2002 filed by Madan Lal and others, which arose from writ petitions challenging the selection and appointment of District and Sessions Judges under the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Judicial Service Rules, 1983. The appellants did not contest any specific selected …

The Supreme Court considered appeals by two police officers, an IPS officer and a Sub‑Inspector of the Anti‑Terrorist Squad, who had been in judicial custody for nearly seven years on charges of murder, conspiracy and related offences. Their bail applications had been rejected by the High Court of Bombay. The Court exa…

The appellant Bhule Ram challenged the compensation awarded for his land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, arguing that the market value should be Rs 10,00,000 per acre. The award was initially Rs 4,65,000 per acre, later enhanced to Rs 5,99,850 by the reference court and to Rs 6,51,000 by the High Court. …

The case concerned appeals and special leave petitions filed by Raja Ram and others challenging the award of compensation under Section 23 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, seeking enhancement of the amount payable. The respondents, Union of India and others, contended that the compensation awarded by the acquiring au…

The Supreme Court, acting suo motu, examined a gang rape of a 20‑year‑old woman in West Bengal ordered by a community panchayat as punishment for an inter‑community relationship. The Court directed a district judge and chief magistrate to investigate, and later required the State to furnish the FIR, investigation repor…

The Supreme Court examined a civil appeal challenging the Patna High Court's refusal to extend a judicial officer's service beyond the age of 58. The officer, R.G., had an adverse remark in his 1995 Annual Confidential Report (ACR) that was never communicated to him and was later superseded by promotions to District & …

The appellant, a Mandal Revenue Officer, was accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 250 for the release of essential commodities to a fair‑price shop owner (the complainant). The trial court and the High Court convicted him under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d)(i)(ii) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 19…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (as amended) after a 23‑year‑old woman was murdered and one of the accused, Raju, was a minor. Petitioners sought to have the Act read down so that juveniles who commit serious offences could be tr…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that Narendra Lal Jain and others conspired with officials of the Bank of Maharashtra to inflate the creditworthiness of companies and obtain loans beyond entitlement, invoking Sections 120‑B and 420 of the IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Acts. While …

The Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) appealed against a High Court order directing it to refund excess amounts charged to two high‑tension consumers under a 1994 agreement. The consumers had paid the bills under protest, arguing that after the Electricity Act, 2003, tariff power shifted exclusively to the State…

The appellant, Nisha Devi, was appointed as an Anganwadi worker on the basis of an income certificate showing her annual income was below Rs.12,000. The appointment was later cancelled after the Tehsildar reported that she owned 1‑19 Bighas of land in addition to her father's 6 Bighas, implying a higher income. The Hig…

The appellant, Commissioner of Central Excise, challenged the assessee's claim that sales tax collected under the Rajasthan Sales Tax Incentive Scheme could be deducted from the assessable value for excise duty. The assessee relied on CBEC circular dated 12‑03‑1998, arguing that the retained 75% of sales tax was an inc…

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation amended its promotion rules for Deputy Municipal Commissioner through Resolutions approved by the State Government, but the rules were not published in the Official Gazette until 28‑April‑2011. The petitioners, Assistant Municipal Commissioners, sought promotion under the amended rules,…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Parmanand and Surajmal for possession of 9.6 kg of opium under the NDPS Act. The police seized the opium from a bag carried by Parmanand after conducting a bag search and personal searches of both accused, but the accused were only given a joint written notice of their right under Sect…

The Catholic society Montford Brothers of St. Gabriel filed a claim before the Mizoram Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, after one of its members, a "Brother" who had renounced his family ties, died in a road accident. The Tribunal allowed the claim, but the insu…

The petitioner, Sanjay Kumar, alleged that he was appointed as a senior lecturer in a purportedly fake dental college, received post‑dated cheques for salary which later bounced, and consequently filed a criminal complaint under various IPC sections and Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The High Court quas…

A goods vehicle accident resulted in the death of Hanumanth, who was employed as a 'Gumasthe' accompanying the goods in transit. The claimants (his widow and children) obtained a compensation award from the Motor Vehicles Accidents Claim Tribunal against both the owner‑driver and United India Insurance Company. The Hig…

Tapash Kumar Paul, a workman employed by BSNL, was terminated in violation of Section 25‑F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Central Government Industrial Tribunal ordered his reinstatement but awarded only Rs 20,000 as compensation for back wages because the management failed to produce records of his actual d…

The case concerned a 5‑acre parcel of land originally assigned to a landless poor woman, Sagiraju Bangaramma, who sold it in 1970 to another landless poor person, Durga Ramalingeswara Rao, before the Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977 came into force. After Rao’s death, his heirs sold th…

M.P. Singh Bargoti, an Inspector in the Madhya Pradesh Police (Fingerprint Branch), retired on 31 March 1998 without being promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). The Administrative Tribunal had directed that a combined gradation list be prepared including his name for promotion, but the list was either not …

M/s Magnum Promoters Ltd., the owner of land in Delhi, challenged acquisition notifications issued under the repealed Land Acquisition Act, 1894, arguing that no physical possession was taken and compensation was not paid, invoking Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Re…

The State of Assam claimed that surplus land, declared under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, had been vested in the government after possession was taken in December 1991, and that the later repeal of the 1976 Act by the 1999 Repeal Act did not affect that vesting. The heirs of the original owner cha…

The appellant, a mason, entered the house of the prosecutrix on 4 October 2002 armed with an aruval, intending to satisfy his lust. He tied up the brother (Manikandan) and a relative (Sangeetha), raped the prosecutrix, murdered Manikandan when he attempted to call for help, subsequently slit Sangeetha's throat, and sto…

KSL & Industries Ltd. appealed against a Delhi High Court order that set aside a Debt Recovery Tribunal decision allowing the appellant to recover Rs. 25.26 crore from M/s. Arihant Threads Ltd. The dispute centered on whether the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (SICA) – specifically Section 22,…

Surjit Singh filed a suit for specific performance of a land sale contract. The trial court dismissed the suit and rejected the plaintiff's application under Section 151 CPC to file bank statements as additional documents; the High Court affirmed this rejection. On appeal, the plaintiff sought to introduce the same ban…

The Supreme Court examined the scope of the High Court's revisional jurisdiction under the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent & Eviction) Act, 1973, the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 and the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960. The issue was whether the High Court could re‑apprecia…

A doctor was shot dead in his clinic and the accused, Deny Bora, was charged under Sections 302, 34 and 314 of the IPC and under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). The Designated Court acquitted him of the TADA offences but convicted him for murder based solely on the testimony of PW‑14, w…

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

The State of Jharkhand issued Notification S.O. No.25 on 25 June 2001 reducing the Central Sales Tax rate to 3% for the "sale of all types of glass and glass sheets" in interstate trade. M/s Laopalarg Ltd., a manufacturer of glassware, claimed that its products fell within the "types of glass" and therefore were eligib…

In Civil Appeal No. 3867 of 2014, the Supreme Court noted an error in its earlier judgment dated 14 March 2014 where a sentence confirmed the trial court's decision on Issue No. III. The Court held that this sentence was erroneous and should be removed. No substantive legal reasoning was provided beyond the observation…

The Supreme Court considered a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashment of an FIR registered under Sections 307, 324, 323 and 34 IPC after the accused and complainant settled their dispute through a village Panchayat. The High Court had refused to accept the compromise, relying solely on the seriousness…

The plaintiff, Robert Zomawia Street, claimed ownership of a 4.261‑acre bungalow in Shillong Military Cantonment based on a 1980 will of St. John Perry and sought a permanent injunction against the Union of India and military authorities. The defendants contended that the land was an "old grant" under cantonment regula…

The Supreme Court examined a complaint alleging offences under Sections 323, 380 and 506 read with Section 34 IPC, where the accused resided outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Judicial Magistrate who had examined the complainant and two witnesses under Section 200 CrPC before issuing summons. The appellants co…

The case concerned an application by the CBI for a pardon under s.306 CrPC in a corruption investigation where the offence was triable by a Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Metropolitan Magistrate granted the pardon to the co‑accused during the investigation, a decision later challenged b…

The petitioners, a group of manual scavengers and NGOs, filed a public interest litigation under Article 32 seeking the eradication of manual scavenging and dry latrines, alleging violations of Articles 14, 17, 21 and 47 of the Constitution and the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohi…

Homi Rajvansh, an executive director of NAFED, was charged along with the managing director, Alok Ranjan, for alleged misappropriation of funds in non‑agricultural tie‑ups. The CBI filed a charge‑sheet under IPC sections 120B, 409, 411, 420, 467, 468 and 471. Alok Ranjan filed a writ petition under Section 482 of the C…

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

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

The appellant, Mangat Ram, was convicted under Sections 498A and 306 of the IPC for allegedly subjecting his wife to cruelty and abetting her suicide after she died from burn injuries at their matrimonial home. The trial and High Courts held that the husband’s failure to keep his wife with him at his posting and allege…

The appellant was charged with murder, attempt to murder and rape under Sections 302, 201 and 376 of the IPC. He claimed to be a juvenile, producing a school certificate that stated his date of birth as 15‑01‑1991, which would make him 15 years old at the time of the alleged crime (16‑11‑2006). The trial court deemed t…

The Supreme Court had earlier issued interim orders directing that MBBS seats in private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh be shared with the State Government on a 50:50 basis, after excluding a 15% NRI quota. The respondents‑private colleges admitted all 150 seats for the 2011‑12 academic year without sharing, and la…

The appellant Basappa was charged under IPC sections 279 and 304A and the Motor Vehicles Act for a tractor accident that killed a two‑year‑old child. The trial magistrate acquitted him, finding no cogent evidence that he was the driver at the time of the accident. The State appealed under Cr.P.C. s.378; the High Court …

The appellants were convicted for the murders of nine persons in a scheme that promised to "multiply" cash money, known as the "money shower" scam. The prosecution proved the deaths were homicidal and identified the victims through forensic, DNA, super‑imposition and material evidence, establishing the accused’s partic…

The appellants, managers of INSCOL Multispecialty Hospital, were charged with medical negligence, cheating, forgery and other offences after the complainant alleged that his wife died due to wrong treatment at the hospital. The Punjab & Haryana High Court single judge framed the issue on the premise that the patient di…

Archana Girish Sabnis, who held a Licentiate of the Court of Examiners in Homoeopathy (LCEH), was admitted to an LLB programme at the University of Mumbai, completed her law degrees and applied for enrollment as an advocate. The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, and subsequently the Bar Council of India, rejected her…

Vasant Sampat Dupare was convicted of raping and murdering a four‑year‑old girl. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence – eyewitnesses who saw the accused with the child, forensic matches of blood on the stones and the accused’s clothing, and the accused’s own disclosure leading police to the body…

The case involved the suicide of Renukaben Patel, a married woman, who alleged severe physical and mental cruelty by her husband and in‑laws before setting herself on fire in her matrimonial home. The trial court, after a hurried nine‑day trial, acquitted all accused except the husband (convicted under s.498A IPC with …

In 1974 a mob of 300‑400 persons, led by Surang Lal Yadav, attacked the Muslim Badhya community in Singhimari village, killing 14 people, burning 47 houses and looting property. The appellants, including Anup Lal Yadav, were identified by multiple eye‑witnesses as part of the mob and were convicted under Sections 302, …

The Supreme Court examined the allotment of three plots of government land by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to entities linked to the same proprietor. The respondents had obtained the plots through private applications without any public tender, prompting CIDCO to cancel the allotments on grou…

Sultan Singh was married to Lavjeet Kaur, who died from severe burn injuries within four years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that the accused and his mother set the fire after the husband demanded Rs 30,000 as dowry, a demand that was repeatedly made up to the time of death. The defence claimed the death was acc…

The case arose from the alleged murder of Jumila in a dowry dispute, for which Liyakat, Ajeem Khan and others were convicted under Sections 302, 498A and 201 of the IPC. The High Court set aside the conviction, holding that material incriminating the accused had not been put to them under Section 313 of the CrPC, and r…

The parties entered into an agreement for the installation and operation of an amusement ride, with revenue sharing and guaranteed minimum collections. The appellant defaulted on payments, leading the respondent to invoke the arbitration clause. An arbitrator awarded the respondent Rs.13,94,240 with interest but disall…

The first respondent executed a registered sale deed in favour of the appellant on 30 November 1992 and later filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating, which was dismissed on 30 November 1993. After a delay of fourteen years, on 28 June 2006, the first respondent instituted a civil suit seeking declaration of title…

The State Government of Orissa issued a notification on 28 April 2000 abolishing contract labour for workers in the OAP plant of M/s Paradeep Phosphate Ltd. The Mazdoor Union filed writ petitions seeking enforcement of the notification and regularisation of the affected workers. The company contended that the State Gov…

The appellant withdrew Rs 16.68 lakh from a bank, left the cash in the first respondent's car, and later claimed the money was stolen when the car's glass was broken. A police investigation resulted in a chargesheet under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating). The respondents sought quashing of…

The case arose from a midnight assault on 26 May 2001 in which a group of accused entered the house of Bani Singh, armed with sharp weapons and a pistol, and attacked the occupants, resulting in Bani Singh’s death and injuries to four others. The prosecution relied primarily on the ocular testimony of two injured witne…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a High Court order that reduced the six‑month rigorous imprisonment awarded to Bablu for offences under Sections 323 and 354 IPC to the 21 days he had already served, on the ground that he was a first‑time offender. The Supreme Court held that sentencing must reflect the gravity of …

The Steel Authority of India (SAIL) conducted an e‑auction for 1 lakh metric tonnes of iron‑ore fines, which Tycoon Traders won and paid the agreed price and security deposit. The contract was revalidated, but the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests refused permission to lift the ore because the Bhadra Wildlife Sanc…

The Sunanda Bhandare Foundation filed a writ petition seeking enforcement of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, specifically the 1% reservation for visually disabled persons in university teaching posts under Section 33, and a declaration that den…

The electricity supplier inspected the consumer's premises and discovered tampering of the high‑tension meter and associated seals, subsequently levying penal charges and disconnecting supply. The consumer challenged the penalty, alleging violation of natural justice and claiming the meter was defective, seeking quashi…

The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) allotted plots in the Adampur grain market to several allottees on payment of 25% of the price, with the balance payable later. The allottees stopped further instalment payments, alleging that the Board failed to develop basic amenities and to notify the area as a …

The Supreme Court examined a series of writ petitions filed under Article 32 seeking protection and relief for victims of the September 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal riots, including compensation for rape victims and accountability for the State's failure to prevent the violence. The Court found the State government negl…

The case concerned whether the Union of India, as the tax authority, must pay interest on a tax refund made to M/s Tata Chemicals Ltd, a resident deductor who had deducted tax at source under Section 195(2) and later obtained a refund under Section 240. The Assessing Officer and the first appellate authority denied int…

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) acquired a large tract of land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, via notifications in 1993 and 1995. The Special Land Acquisition Officer initially valued the land at Rs. 60,000 per acre, but the Reference Court, on a Section 18 application, awarded Rs. 3.15 la…

The case arose from a violent clash between two rival groups over a land dispute in Rajasthan, during which Shivji Ram was killed and several others injured. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC, while the High Court later reduced the charge to culpable homicide not amountin…

The respondent, a senior manager of Oriental Bank of Commerce, was charged with purchasing third‑party cheques and drafts beyond his lending authority and with procedural lapses in a loan scheme. An internal inquiry found the first charge partly proved and the second unproved, after which the bank sought advice from th…

The appellant, a ground handling service provider, had been granted a five‑year security clearance in 2007 but it was withdrawn in 2008 on grounds of national security. The appellant challenged the withdrawal, seeking a post‑decisional hearing and disclosure of the material relied upon, but the High Court set aside the…

Baldev Singh, a 62‑year‑old retired official, demanded Rs 2,000 from an agriculturist for an early allocation of canal water, which was settled at Rs 1,000. The complainant handed the money to Singh in his house; the cash was later recovered from beneath files and the notes were tallied after washing Singh's hands in s…

The appellant Jhaptu Ram shot and killed his neighbour Devinder Kumar after an altercation, while the neighbour's mother was present to pacify the dispute. The trial court convicted him of murder under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment; the High Court affirmed this conviction. On appeal, the Suprem…

The deceased Seema was married in 1991 and soon after faced repeated dowry demands for a motorcycle and cash from her husband, Chandrahas, and his relatives. Despite a Panchayat‑mediated compromise deed in 1994, the harassment continued, culminating in her being beaten and later burnt to death in 1995. The prosecution …

The appellant Motilal Yadav was convicted, along with six co‑accused, for kidnapping a six‑year‑old boy and demanding ransom, under IPC sections 364A read with 34 and 120B. The trial court sentenced each accused to life imprisonment and a fine, and the High Court of Patna affirmed the conviction. The appellant challeng…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 12(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, which deems a tenancy vacant when the tenant or a family member acquires another residential building, applies when such acquisition occurs before the Act becomes applicable to the…

Associate Builders entered into a construction contract with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for a housing project. After completing only part of the work, the contractor filed 15 claims for overheads, damages and price escalations, which were largely awarded by an arbitrator. The Single Judge of the Delhi High C…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 31(7) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 permits an arbitral tribunal to include pre‑award interest in the "sum" for which an award is made and thereby allow interest on that interest for the post‑award period. The Court held that the word "sum" includes both princi…

The case concerned a dispute over 25 acres of land in Hyderabad that had been declared surplus under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976. Roudri Co‑operative Housing Society claimed purchase of the land, while hut‑dwellers (encroachers) occupied part of it. The State Human Rights Commission ordered the en…

The Madras Bar Association challenged the constitutional validity of the National Tax Tribunal Act, 2005, which sought to transfer appellate jurisdiction from High Courts to a newly created National Tax Tribunal (NTT) for deciding substantial questions of law in tax matters. The Supreme Court held that while Parliament…

The Punjab State Electricity Board recruited 21 Accounts Officers by direct recruitment, reserving seats for candidates from the backward class. Surinder Singh, a Chartered Accountant, secured 164 marks and was appointed under the backward‑class reservation. Respondent Anil Kumar Uppal challenged the appointment, alleg…

The husband and wife were convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for the death of Asaram, who they alleged had raped the wife. The trial and High Courts upheld the conviction, but the Supreme Court examined medical evidence, eyewitness testimony, and the dying declaration, finding the death homicidal but caused in a…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by Rungta Engineering College, Bhilai and the Secretary of the GDR Educational Society challenging the Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University's refusal to grant affiliation. The University had declined affiliation on several grounds, but the All India Council…

The Supreme Court issued clarifications to its earlier interim order dated 18 September 2014 concerning admissions to private medical colleges. It held that the order also applies to institutions that sought an increase in intake capacity but were denied permission after any renewal or inspection in the current academi…

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) declared member Suresh D. Shah a defaulter and the Income Tax Department sought to attach the proceeds of his membership card and securities under s.226(3) of the Income Tax Act. BSE argued that a membership card is a personal, non‑transferable privilege and that its lien under Rule 43 m…

The case concerned workmen employed by a contractor to run a statutory canteen on the premises of Air India, which under Section 46 of the Factories Act, 1948, must provide such a facility. The workmen claimed they were deemed employees of Air India and sought regularisation and other employment benefits. The Supreme C…

The Supreme Court examined public‑interest writ petitions challenging the allocation of coal blocks by the Central Government between 1993 and 2011. The Court held that the allocation process, carried out through the Screening Committee and a government‑dispensation route, was not authorized by the Mines and Minerals (…

The appellant, Narinder Singh, was accused of offering a bribe of Rs.10,000 to the Additional District Magistrate of Bharmour to obtain supply orders for double‑decker beds. The trial court acquitted him, but the High Court set aside that judgment, convicted him under Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 198…

Bannama, an elderly agriculturist, claimed a 7‑acre plot as her stridhan and sued for declaration of title and possession after her son, Nagi Reddy, fraudulently had the land mutated in his name and sold it to the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee. The trial court and the Karnataka High Court held that Bannama w…

The Supreme Court examined whether private veterinary colleges offering the B.V.Sc. & A.H. course must be recognized by the Central Government under the First Schedule of the Veterinary Council of India Act, 1984. Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine and Mahatma Gandhi College had been affiliated to a university and t…

Sukhvinder Singh, a combatant soldier recruited in 2001, was invalided out of service in 2002 with a hearing impairment assessed at 6‑10% disability. The Medical Board held the disability neither attributable nor aggravated by military service and below the 20% threshold, denying him disability pension under Regulation…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a 100‑acre lease granted by the Rajasthan government to Jal Mahal Resorts for 99 years to develop the Mansagar Lake precinct. It held that the lease was not obtained through mala‑fide conduct, that only 8.65 acres classified as lake‑bed must be returned to the government and 1…

Bhuvnesh Kumar Dwivedi was employed by Hindalco Industries Ltd as a labour supervisor from 30‑12‑1992 to 27‑07‑1998. Although the employer periodically terminated his service on the pretext of "sanction expired" and re‑appointed him on short contracts, the workman rendered continuous service of nearly six years. The La…

The Supreme Court examined whether a voluntary open offer made by Akshya Infrastructure Ltd. under Regulation 11 of the SEBI Takeover Regulations could be withdrawn under Regulation 27 when the offer became economically unviable. The Court held that Regulation 27 applies equally to voluntary and triggered public offers…

The appellant, a developer of a single‑unit Special Economic Zone (SEZ), entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Sterlite Energy to obtain electricity for its plant and was directed by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission to pay a cross‑subsidy surcharge (CSS) to WESCO, the distribution licensee in t…

The petitioner, a wife, filed a dowry complaint against her husband and his family and later sought further investigation of her stridhan property and a palmtop communicator under Section 173(8) of the Cr.P.C. The magistrate ordered the investigating officer to conduct this additional inquiry under the supervision of a…

The appellant claimed to be a deemed tenant under Section 4A of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963, relying on a mortgage deed executed in 1909‑1910 in favour of his mother as collateral for a dowry. The Supreme Court held that the mortgagee (the appellant's mother) was a minor of 15 years at the time of execution and w…

The original tenant, Bomanji Irani, bequeathed his government‑owned tenancy to his wife Daulatbai, who was a residuary legatee, and the tenancy was held jointly by her and their five sons. After Daulatbai's death, the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) transferred the tenancy to one son, Dinshaw Irani, based on a 1961 …

Sri Ram Builders entered into a BOT agreement with the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (MPRTC) to construct a bus‑stand‑cum‑commercial complex on land leased by the Indore Development Authority (IDA). The High Court ordered MPRTC to hand over possession of the land and directed specific performance, but the o…

The Union of India moved a writ petition under Art. 32 seeking to quash a Tamil Nadu Government letter proposing remission of life sentences for seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, after the Supreme Court had earlier commuted death sentences of three of them to life imprisonment. The Court examined w…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of three accused in a kidnapping‑for‑ransom case. It upheld the life‑sentence convictions of Gautam Kumar (A2) and Vijay Ranglal Chorasiya (A5), finding that eyewitness testimony, telephone‑booth records and voice‑spectrography reliably proved their guilt beyond reasonable dou…

The appellant, a 16‑year‑old student who secured first rank in her class, suffered 70% permanent disablement after a motor vehicle accident. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded Rs 6,46,000 and the Madras High Court enhanced it to Rs 18,22,000, taking a notional monthly income of Rs 6,000. The Supreme Court held t…

Manjeet Singh and two companions were charged with murder (Sec. 302 IPC), attempted murder, and offences under the Arms Act after firing a carbine in a hotel hall, killing Rajnish (Rintu) and injuring others. The trial court convicted Singh under Sec. 302, Sec. 324 IPC and Sec. 27 of the Arms Act; the High Court affirm…

The Supreme Court, hearing Special Leave Petition (Cr.) No. 5073 of 2011 filed by the State of Karnataka against Shivanna, observed the persistent incidence of rape and the inadequacy of existing procedural mechanisms. It noted the absence of a fast‑track procedure for rape cases despite the existence of Fast‑Track Cou…

The appellant husband was convicted under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 498A (cruelty) read with section 34 for harassing his wife over dowry, leading her to set herself on fire and die. The prosecution’s case rested on the victim’s dying declaration, recorded by police before an Executive Magistrate while…

The appellants, Baskaran (A‑1) and an associate (A‑2), were charged with raping a girl and subsequently murdering her by strangulation. Both made extra‑judicial confessions to Village Administrative Officers, which were recorded in writing and witnessed by PW‑11 and PW‑14, although the latter later turned hostile on ce…

The appellant filed a consumer complaint against HDFC Bank, obtained a favorable order from the District Forum, but that order was set aside by the State Commission and later by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. The appellant’s subsequent review application before the National Commission was dismisse…

The husband of the claimants, Sergeant Dalbir Singh, died in a road accident caused by the negligent driving of the respondent. The claimants filed a compensation claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs. 2,49,600 with a dependency multiplier of 8, which the…

The appellant Dinesh was convicted for the death of his wife Manju Bala, who committed suicide by ingesting a pesticide within four years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that Dinesh and his brothers repeatedly harassed the deceased for additional dowry items such as a television and a gold chain, and barred her pa…

The case arose from an agrarian dispute over irrigation water where seven accused assaulted the complainant and his nephew, resulting in the nephew's death. The trial court convicted all accused under Sections 147, 323/149 and 302/149 IPC and imposed life imprisonment for the murder charge. On appeal, the Supreme Court…

Laut Kumar Yadav alias Kuri was convicted for murdering an 18‑year‑old girl and attempting to rape her. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: a sniffer‑dog trail, recovery of a blood‑stained sickle and the accused’s clothes, and prior eve‑teasing of the victim. The trial court sentenced him to death under …

The Security Association of India and other private security agencies challenged the Maharashtra Private Security Guards (Regulation of Employment & Welfare) Act, 1981 on the ground that it was repugnant to the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 and violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. T…

The landlord filed a suit for eviction of tenants occupying an open plot in Pune. The tenants contended that the Pune Municipal Corporation had acquired the land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and that an award passed by the Special Land Acquisition Officer had divested the landlord of any right, title or intere…

The respondent, Sheo Shambhu Giri, was convicted under Section 23 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for allegedly importing or exporting ganja. The High Court set aside the conviction, holding that the prosecution failed to prove that the seized contraband was of foreign origin or that it was…

The appellant, Smt. Savita, filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for the death of her husband, Sandeep Chauhan, in a road accident. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded a compensation of Rs. 4,28,000 based on a notional annual income of Rs. 36,000, a multiplier of 17, and deductions fo…

The appellant and his mother filed a title suit seeking declaration and permanent injunction concerning a flat. The mother, after a High Court order in a matrimonial proceeding directing her to vacate the flat in exchange for monetary settlement, applied to delete her name from the suit. The trial court rejected this a…

The appellants Vijay Singh and Hari Singh were part of a group that assaulted the deceased with various weapons, each inflicting one injury—Vijay with a ballam to the face and Hari with a farsa to the neck. The deceased sustained five injuries and died from excessive bleeding and shock, as per the post‑mortem report. T…

The plaintiffs, owners of a property in Goa, filed a suit in the civil court for a declaration of ownership and eviction of a defendant occupying a house claimed to be mundkarial. The trial court decreed in their favour, but the heirs of the defendant challenged the decree in execution proceedings, arguing lack of juri…

The employee, Chhota Birsa Uranw, joined Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. in 1973 with a date of birth recorded as 15‑Feb‑1947. He later discovered that his school leaving certificate and Mining Sardarship certificate recorded his birth as 6‑Feb‑1950 and sought correction under Implementation Instruction No. 76 in 1987. The emp…

The appellants challenged the constitutionality of Section 43 of the Gujarat Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948 and the 2008 Gujarat Government Resolution that imposed a premium (initially 80%, later reduced to 40%) on the transfer of agricultural land for non‑agricultural purposes, arguing it violated Article 30…

The petitioners, trained teachers, filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking appointment as Assistant Teachers in Jharkhand government schools in order of seniority and with total age relaxation, invoking the Supreme Court's decision in Ram Vinay Kumar v. State of Bihar. The State of Jharkhand had framed its own re…

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) entered into a main contract with SCOPE and subcontracted work to M/s. Mohan Lal Harbans Lal Bhayana (respondent). The subcontract contained an arbitration clause (Clause 25) for disputes between L&T and the respondent. Subsequent supplementary agreements (1990, 1993, 1995) altered the dispute‑res…

The appellant, Aayush Buildwell Pvt. Ltd., applied for a half‑acre institutional plot advertised by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and paid earnest money, but was unsuccessful and had the money refunded. The High Court set aside the allotments made to private respondents, finding procedural irregulariti…

The appellants were daily‑wage employees of the Bihar Agriculture Produce Marketing Board who had worked for many years and claimed that, under Section 6 of the Bihar Agriculture Produce Market (Repeal) Act, 2006, they were entitled to be absorbed and regularised as permanent officers. The questions before the Court we…

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

A complaint alleging irregularities in construction works at the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was investigated by the Lokayukt, which referred the matter to the Special Police Establishment (SPE) under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Vidhan Sabha Secretary issued letters claiming a breach of legislative privilege …

The Society Common Cause filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a declaration that the "right to die with dignity" is a fundamental right under Article 21 and that persons should be allowed to execute a living will or attorney authorization to refuse life‑prolonging treatment. The petitioners argued that termin…

The father of a slain environmental activist filed a writ petition seeking transfer of the investigation into his son’s murder from the Gujarat police to an independent agency, alleging bias and protection of the accused, who was a sitting MP. The Gujarat High Court, after finding the state investigation unfair, partia…

M/s Band Box Private Ltd had been in possession of premises at 18/90 Connaught Circus since 26 March 1952. Punjab & Sind Bank acquired the property on 31 December 1978 and served a notice under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act on 15 November 1999, seeking eviction under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unaut…

The appellant, a judicial officer, was dismissed following an enquiry under the Gujarat Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1971. He challenged the dismissal in a Special Civil Application, and the High Court set aside the enquiry report and his dismissal. The respondent (the High Court) appealed, arguing that the trial co…

The appellant, a village Talati, was accused of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.250 from a complainant seeking official documents. During an anti‑corruption raid, anthracene powder tests on the accused's pocket and the recovered currency notes corroborated the demand and acceptance. The trial court convicted him …

The appellant filed a private complaint under Section 200 CrPC alleging forgery and fraud in connection with a machinery supply contract, leading the magistrate to take cognizance of offences under Sections 425, 468 and 471 IPC. The respondents obtained a stay of the cognizance by invoking Section 195(1)(b)(ii) CrPC, a…

The Supreme Court was hearing the consequence proceedings arising from its earlier judgment that the allocation of coal blocks by the Screening Committee and the Government dispensation route was arbitrary and illegal. The Union of India submitted affidavits showing that 40 blocks were already producing coal and six we…