Judgments of 2015

The appellant, the legal representative of the late S.N. Wadiyar, challenged the valuation of vacant land appurtenant to Bangalore Palace for wealth tax purposes. The Wealth Tax Officer had valued the land at market rates, ignoring the restrictions imposed by the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1962, which lim…

The case arose from the killing of nine persons and injuries to many villagers in Netai, West Bengal, where the CBI investigated and filed a charge sheet against 21 accused, some of whom were absconders. After the charge sheet, several proclaimed offenders were arrested and the CBI sought police remand under Section 16…

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

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

Daljit Singh Grewal, a District Commander in the Punjab Home Guards, sought promotion to Battalion Commander but was denied due to adverse entries in his Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) that downgraded his performance. He filed multiple representations, a civil suit (which was decreed in his favour) and a writ petiti…

The State of Karnataka fixed the price of rectified spirit at Rs.6 per litre by a Government Order under Rule 17 of the Karnataka Excise (Manufacture and Bottling of Arrack) Rules, 1987, allowing captive distilleries to retain only Rs.5 per litre while the balance Rs.1 per litre was payable to the State. The appellant,…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from a money decree that was later set aside, where Citibank N.A. had received 9% IRFC bonds worth Rs.50 crore from Canbank Financial Services Ltd. (Canfina) and subsequently sold them in the market. The issue was how to calculate the restitution amount under Section 144 of …

The petitioners, holders of FL3 foreign liquor licences, were unable to use their licences for the full financial year because of court‑issued injunctions and other extraneous circumstances. They challenged the demand to pay the full annual licence fee under Rule 14 of the Foreign Liquor Rules, seeking a remission and …

The plaintiff sought specific performance of a sale agreement executed by the father (vendor) who claimed to sell an entire joint family property, although he owned only a one‑third share. The High Court dismissed the suit, holding the agreement invalid without the consent of the other co‑owners. The Supreme Court exam…

The Madhya Pradesh Housing and Infrastructure Development Board advertised a housing scheme in 2007 stating that the prices were provisional and the final price would be fixed after completion. The Board later fixed a final price of Rs.30,000 per square metre, substantially higher than the provisional cost of Rs.16,500…

M/s H.C.L. Limited imported a Risograph machine and the Customs classified it under heading 84.72 (duplicating machines) attracting 65% duty. The importer contended that the machine is a printing device, specifically a screen‑printing machine, and should fall under heading 84.43, which attracts a lower 25% duty per Not…

Coastal Paper Ltd., a paper manufacturer using waste gunny bags and jute waste, claimed a concessional excise duty rate under Notification No. 22/94‑CE, which excludes paper whose pulp contains bamboo, hard wood, soft wood, reeds or "rags". The Revenue argued that the waste bags constitute "rags" and denied the exempti…

The appellants, directors of Mukka Welfare Society, were summoned in a criminal complaint alleging breach of trust and cheating in respect of a 1996 sale of society land. The complainant, not a member of the society, filed the complaint more than a decade after the deeds were executed, despite an earlier police investi…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) invited applications for a self‑financing housing scheme in 1985. The respondent paid a registration deposit of Rs.15,000 and later declined the flat allotment, seeking a refund with 15% interest instead of the 7% stipulated in the scheme brochure. DDA refunded the amount with 7% i…

Ramgarh Farms and Industries Ltd. held land under a lease dated 25 January 1951, which was later deemed invalid as a tenure holder under the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950. The Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960 initially declared 5,446 acres surplus in 1962 and…

The appellant, Santosh Pawar, was convicted of murdering his wife by pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze after suspecting infidelity. The prosecution relied on the victim's dying declaration, corroborating testimony of relatives and neighbours, and a post‑mortem report showing death from 60% burns. The appel…

The appellant was intercepted while driving a vehicle and, after refusing a search by a gazetted officer or magistrate, consented to a police search during which three bags containing 120 kg of poppy husk were seized. The prosecution’s case rested mainly on the testimony of official police witnesses, while two independ…

The landlords filed an eviction suit against Octavious Tea & Industries Ltd for non-payment of rent. The tenant filed applications under Sections 7(1) and 7(2) of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997. The trial court allowed the Section 7(1) application but directed the tenant to deposit arrears with the Civil Ju…

Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd. owned land in Vikhroli that was reserved in the 1991 Development Plan for acquisition by the Ministry of Railways to lay additional tracks. The reservation required acquisition within ten years or, failing that, the landowner could serve a notice and, if no acquisition commenced wi…

In a village in Gujarat, two rival groups clashed, resulting in a free fight in which appellant No.1 Pathubha Govindji Rathod was stabbed with a knife and subsequently fired a revolver, killing Natha Nagabhai. Both appellant No.1 and appellant No.2 Hemubha Govindji were convicted under Section 302/304 read with Section…

Vinod Kumar, an octroi inspector, was convicted under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.500. The prosecution relied on the recovery of the tainted notes, the testimony of an independent clerk (PW‑6), a shadow witness (PW‑7) who was later declared ho…

The father of the appellants, Raj Kumar, owned a shop that was let to the respondent. After Raj Kumar’s death, his brother Shiv Kumar filed an eviction suit, and upon Shiv’s death his sons Kuldeep Kumar and Pradeep Kumar were substituted as plaintiffs as heirs. The trial court decreed eviction in favour of the plaintif…

The case concerned the promotion of thousands of Junior Telecommunication Officers (Junior Engineers) to Assistant Engineer posts and whether seniority for promotion should be based on the order of passing a departmental qualifying examination or the order of recruitment/entry. Earlier Supreme Court decisions had given…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Ramesh for the death of his daughter Sheela, alleging that he slapped her, took her inside the house and caused her death by strangulation and throttling. The defence claimed the death was a suicide by hanging. The trial court convicted Ramesh under Sections 302 and 201 IPC, but the Hi…

The appellant, an Assistant General Manager of Bihar State Financial Corporation, was suspended and subjected to disciplinary proceedings on multiple charges of financial misconduct. The enquiry was conducted by an officer who examined only the files without hearing the appellant or presenting any oral or documentary e…

The petitioner was detained under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) to prevent future smuggling. He repeatedly requested to be represented by a legal practitioner before the Advisory Board, but the Board denied any adjournment and proceeded …

The appellant, a wife, filed an application under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 seeking seizure of her stridhan held by her husband after they were judicially separated. The trial court, Sessions Court and High Court dismissed the application on the grounds that she was no longe…

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation invited an online BOT tender for replacing street lights with LED fittings. Elektron Lighting Systems and its joint venture were awarded the work order after their technical bid was accepted and price bid negotiated, while two other bidders were disqualified. The successful bidder h…

The Madras Institute of Development Studies advertised for three associate‑professor posts. Respondent No.1 applied, attended the interview and was not selected. He later filed a writ petition alleging that the selection did not strictly follow the qualifications in the advertisement and that the recruitment rules were…

The Supreme Court examined whether service tax could be levied on indivisible works contracts entered into after the Finance Act, 1994 but before the 2007 amendment that expressly made such contracts taxable. It held that the 1994 Act neither charged nor provided machinery to assess service tax on composite works contr…

The Supreme Court examined the disapproval of applications by the Central Government and the Medical Council of India (MCI) for new medical colleges, increase in MBBS seats, and renewal of existing permissions for the 2014‑15 academic year. The Court held that before any adverse decision under Section 10A of the Indian…

M/s. Kap Cones, a manufacturer of paper cones, was penalised by the Commissioner of Central Excise for disallowing Cenvat credit and for other violations. The Committee of Chief Commissioners, after reviewing the Commissioner’s order, directed the Commissioner to file an appeal before the Customs, Excise and Service Ta…

The appellants were charged with murder and related offences under the IPC. The trial court issued summons and warrants but failed to verify whether they were served, recorded that witnesses were absent and acquitted the accused under Section 232 CrPC. The informant filed a criminal revision under Section 401 CrPC; the…

The plaintiffs filed a suit for a permanent injunction to restrain the defendants from trespassing and demolishing the boundary fence of their property. The trial court decreed the injunction in favour of the plaintiffs and the first appellate court affirmed that decree. The High Court entertained a second appeal under…

The appellant, a resident of a building in Hauz Khas, challenged the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s issuance of a Regularisation Certificate that allowed the owners of a pathological laboratory to operate on multiple floors of the residential building. The High Court dismissed the writ petition, holding it was a priv…

In the Amravati Municipal Corporation election of 2012, 23 councillors formed an "aghadi" (group) and elected Avinash Gulabrao Mardikar as its leader. In 2014, the General Secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party sought to replace Mardikar with Sunil Haribhau Kale, and the Divisional Commissioner approved the change…

Sundaram Finance Ltd. filed a suit for injunction to restrain the repossession of a vehicle financed to T. Thankam. The loan agreement contained an arbitration clause (clause 22) and a repossession clause (clause 14.6). The respondent filed the injunction suit in a civil court; the appellant moved an application under …

Dr. Sukanta Kumar Behera, a senior medical officer, suffered a motor vehicle accident on 9 September 2001 resulting in 60% permanent disability and multiple injuries. The insurer, New India Assurance Co. Ltd., appealed the High Court of Orissa's award of Rs.55,00,000 without any computation. The Supreme Court examined …

The appellant surrendered before the Chief Judicial Magistrate on 5 July 2013 and was remanded to judicial custody. He applied for bail on 3 October 2013 under Section 167(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, claiming that the charge sheet had not been filed within the statutory 90‑day period. The magistrate, noting an e…

The father of Revat Singh, a driver with the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation, died in service, and Singh applied for a compassionate appointment as a driver. The corporation rejected his application because he did not meet the minimum qualifications – he had only passed the 8th standard and possessed a licen…

M/s. Bhandari Udyog Ltd., a cotton ginning business in Raichur, Karnataka, sold 750 bales of cotton to Respondent No.2, a spinning mill in Latur, Maharashtra. A dispute over the unpaid balance was referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, and an award was made directing payment. Responde…

The appellants, Manik Taneja and his wife, posted comments on the Bangalore Traffic Police Facebook page alleging harassment by a police inspector after a road accident. The inspector filed an FIR under Sections 353 and 506 of the IPC. The appellants sought quashing of the FIR under Section 482 of the CrPC, but the Kar…

Three Italian tourists were accused of murdering their fellow tourist in a hotel room in Varanasi. The trial and appellate courts convicted them under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC based on circumstantial evidence, including alleged motive, post‑mortem findings of strangulation, and the claim that they remained in the…

The Supreme Court dismissed appeals and writ petitions filed by employees of the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (JNVS) who sought to be covered under the Office Memorandum (O.M.) dated 1‑May‑1987 and the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972. The Court held that NWD…

The plaintiffs owned a parcel of land (A schedule) that had been earmarked for a road but no road was ever constructed. They sold portions of the land to the first defendant, who later transferred it to the second and third defendants, who subsequently encroached on a portion of the A schedule land (B schedule). The tr…

Surender Singh Parmar retired from the Indian Navy after 13 years, 10 months and 13 days of service, short of the 15‑year qualifying period for pension. He claimed that, under the Ministry of Defence instructions of 30 Oct 1987, a fraction of service of three to six months should be rounded up to a half‑year, allowing …

The case concerned an alleged illegal transfer of a government plot by senior officials of ICMR and ICPO, who were accused of criminal conspiracy and obtaining undue pecuniary advantage under Section 120B IPC and Sections 13(1)(d) & 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The CBI filed a charge‑sheet and the S…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of cinema owners Sushil Ansal and Gopal Ansal for negligence that caused the death of 59 persons in the Uphaar cinema fire, finding them guilty under IPC sections 304A, 337, 338 read with 36. The Court affirmed a sentence of two years' rigorous imprisonment for each accused. Howe…

The Supreme Court examined the sentencing of A‑15 Harsarup Panwar, the cinema owner held responsible for the 1997 Uphaar fire that killed 59 people. The Court affirmed his conviction under IPC sections 304A, 337, 338 and 36. It imposed one year of rigorous imprisonment but, considering his advanced age and ill health, …

The case arose from a heated altercation in which the appellant, Sakharam, struck the head of PW‑2 (Santu) with a lathi, causing two lacerated wounds and a fracture of the frontal bone as evidenced by X‑ray. The trial court convicted Sakharam under Sections 302 and 307 IPC; the High Court set aside the murder convictio…

The partnership firm Modern Hotel held an FL‑3 licence to run a bar, but renewal was denied because a partner had earlier incurred abkari dues and the proviso to Rule 13A(5) of the Foreign Liquor Rules required that at least 50 % of such arrears be cleared. The firm paid additional sums over several years and later, un…

The appellant Jagtar Singh and his brother were involved in a land dispute with Harbans Singh (PW‑3). On 20 September 1996, after a revenue officer ruled in favour of PW‑3, the appellant assaulted PW‑3’s uncle Surinder Singh, striking him on the head, causing unconsciousness and later death due to shock and haemorrhage…

The Supreme Court dealt with contempt petitions filed by SEBI against Sahara India Real Estate Corp. Ltd. and its promoters for failing to refund investors the amount collected through illegal Optional Fully Convertible Debentures (OFCDs). The Court noted repeated non‑compliance with its earlier orders directing the de…

The appellant, Sanjiv Kumar, a police sub‑inspector, was convicted under IPC sections 395 (dacoity), 450 (robbery) and 342 (wrongful confinement) for a robbery of Indian and foreign currency from a licensed forex firm. The trial court sentenced him to ten years for 395, seven years for 450 and an undisclosed term for 3…

HMT Watches Ltd filed a series of criminal complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against M.A. Abida for the dishonour of 57 cheques, which were stopped by a stop‑payment instruction and for which a demand notice had been issued. The High Court of Kerala, invoking its powers under Section 482 of…

The Rajasthan Public Service Commission advertised separate recruitment processes for Physical Training Instructor Grade‑II and Grade‑III posts, specifying distinct educational qualifications. After the examination, the State Government issued a clarification treating B.P.Ed. and D.P.Ed. qualifications as equivalent or…

The deceased employee, Ambadas Lahane, died while on duty and his legal heirs claimed compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923. The employer contended that the employee was an "insured person" under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, and therefore barred from any claim under the 1923 Act pursuant …

The appellant, Vipulbhai M. Chaudhary, was removed as Chairperson of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. through a motion of no confidence. He challenged the removal, arguing that neither the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act, 1961 nor the Federation's bye‑laws contain a provision for such removal. T…

The Supreme Court examined a series of criminal complaints filed by borrower Prakash Kumar Bajaj against senior officials of Punjab National Bank Housing Finance Ltd. after the bank invoked the SARFAESI Act to recover a defaulted housing loan. The borrower, having settled the loan through a one‑time settlement, repeate…

Aidek Tourism Services Pvt. Ltd., a tourism operator that runs taxis, imported Honda Accord saloon cars and claimed a 10% refund of Countervailing Duty (CVD) under Notification No. 64/93‑CE, which provides an additional exemption for saloon cars used solely as taxis. The Revenue argued that the exemption was available …

M/s Stangen Immuno Diagnostics, a small‑scale industrial unit, used the brand name “Stangen” on its diagnostic products and claimed exemption under Notification No. 175/86‑CE of the Central Excise Act. The Excise Department issued a show‑cause notice alleging that the brand and logo belonged to Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories…

The appellant Sanjeev was accused of killing his brother-in-law Raj Pal after a drunken altercation. Evidence included an eyewitness who saw Sanjeev fleeing with blood‑stained clothes, a medical injury on Sanjeev’s forearm, an extra‑judicial confession to a witness that he struck the victim with a brick, and forensic b…

Sujasha Mukherji, who had secured the highest aggregate marks in the written test for recruitment as a District Judge, was disqualified after her marks in one paper were moderated from 55% to 37%, causing her to fall below the 40% minimum required per paper. She challenged the moderation before the Supreme Court, argui…

The Executive Officer of Antiyur Town Panchayat appealed against a High Court order that refused to condone a 1373‑day delay in filing a second appeal against a decree granting possession of land to G. Arumugam. The original suit was dismissed, the first appeal was allowed, but the Panchayat took no steps for four year…

The State Bank of Patiala discounted bills of exchange and, when the drawee defaulted, levied a daily overdue charge as compensation. The revenue argued that this charge constituted "interest" under Section 2(7) of the Interest Tax Act, 1974 and was therefore taxable, while the bank contended it was merely compensation…

The appellant, a 35‑year‑old constable, suffered severe head injury, loss of speech, memory and mobility after being hit by a Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation bus. He filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking Rs 4 lakh compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, permanent…

The case arose from a partition suit filed in 1978 where defendants No.5 and No.12, in their 1979 written statements, admitted that they had no right, title or interest in the family property, having renounced any claim. After about 25 years they sought to amend their written statements to withdraw those admissions, an…

The West Bengal Housing Board (appellant) purchased a 20.184‑acre plot from the legal heirs of late Gangadas Pal, who were intermediaries under the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953. The heirs had earlier been parties to a partition suit (Title Suit No. 121 of 1962) that was later amended to include the plot, a…

Kosha Investments Ltd, having already held more than 15% of Snowcem India Ltd (SIL), acquired additional shares between June and August 1999 that exceeded the 5% threshold of the paid‑up capital in a financial year, but failed to make the public announcement mandated by SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares & Takeove…

Ram Narayan filed a suit in 1966 which ultimately led to Civil Appeal No. 124 of 1987. The appellant died in 1994 and, because no substitution was filed within the 90‑day period prescribed by Rule 3 of Order XXII CPC and Article 120 of the Limitation Act, the appeal abated and was dismissed in default in 1997. After el…

The accused were convicted under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for abetment of suicide and sentenced by the trial court to three years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine. On appeal, the High Court upheld the conviction but reduced the term to the period already served (four months and twenty days), citing lack o…

Saroj Kumar, an Indian Defence Accounts Service officer, was denied promotion on the ground of downgraded entries in his Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs). The ACR entries were later communicated to him, and he filed representations contesting the downgrades, which were rejected. The Central Administrative Tribunal (C…

The appellant Ramvilas and several co‑accused were convicted for the murder of Bansilal under Sections 302 read with 149 IPC, and for offences under Sections 324, 323 and 148 IPC. The prosecution case relied on six eye‑witnesses and two injured witnesses (the victim's sister and brother) who testified that the accused,…

The appellant, Selvaraj, a former First Division Assistant in the District Treasury, Hassan, was alleged to have demanded a bribe of Rs.200 from a complainant who later died before trial. The prosecution relied on a trap operation and the recovery of money allegedly from the appellant's possession, but the complainant …

M/s M.P. Agencies, a distributor of the fabric whitener "Ujala Supreme" and the fabric stiffener "Ujala Stiff and Shine", appealed against the State of Kerala challenging the classification and tax rate under the Kerala Value Added Tax Act, 2003. The products are manufactured by Jyothy Laboratories by diluting acid vio…

Mis. Satnam Overseas Ltd. packaged a mixture of raw rice, dehydrated vegetables and spices, calling it "Rice and Spice", and the Central Excise authorities classified it under heading 2108 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985, levying excise duty. The company contended that the process of mixing, heating and nitrogen…

The case concerned workmen of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) who had been employed as temporary, badli and part‑time staff after 20 May 1985 and sought absorption as regular employees. Earlier awards of the National Industrial Tribunal (NIT) by Justice R.D. Tulpule (1986) and clarified by Justice S.M. Jamdar…

The appellant, Jakir Hussein, a professional driver, suffered grievous injuries to his right arm in a collision caused by the negligent driving of Sabir, rendering him permanently disabled and unable to earn a livelihood as a driver. The claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 sought compensati…

The deceased wife, Biniben, committed suicide after allegedly being driven to despair by her husband Rakesh's extramarital affair with Jasuben (appellant No.4). The State charged the husband, his parents, and Jasuben under Sections 498A (cruelty), 306 (abetment of suicide), 201 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code. The tri…

The case concerned the applicability of G.O.Ms. No.124 dated 7 March 2002, which amended the procedure for filling posts under the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment Order, 1975. The selection process for various executive and non‑executive posts had already begun under Advertisement No.10 of 1999, and some appointments …

GVK Industries Ltd. and its director entered into an agreement with a Swiss non‑resident company (NRC) to act as a financial advisor for a power project, receiving a "success fee" of 0.75% of the debt on loan closure. The Income Tax Officer refused to issue a No‑Objection Certificate for remittance of the fee, directin…

Dr. Ram Lakhan Singh, a senior Indian Forest Service officer, was subjected to a vigilance enquiry, house raid and arrest without the prior approval of the Chief Secretary, as required by the State's procedural rules. The petitioner contended that the State violated his fundamental rights, unlawfully suspended him, and…

The appellants, police constables, sought to have their basic pay stepped up to match that of junior colleagues who had transferred to the Armed Reserve and received higher remuneration. The Madras High Court Single Judge ordered the parity, which was implemented, but the Division Bench set aside that order and directe…

Pawan Kumaragarwala, a bank officer, was charged with misconduct for allegedly influencing a loan application and helping a borrower obtain a second loan from another SBI branch without disclosing an existing loan. A disciplinary enquiry found several charges proved and imposed dismissal. The High Court Single Judge se…

The Poonaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology Trust applied under Section 10A of the Medical Council of India Act, 1956 for establishing a new medical college for the 2015‑16 academic year, but the essentiality and affiliation certificates were submitted after the statutory cut‑off date, leading to reject…

The Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a direction to the Union of India to grant Indian citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees who migrated between 1964 and 1969 and have since settled in Arunachal Pradesh. The State of Arunachal Prade…

The State of Bihar initiated acquisition of land belonging to M/s. Soorajmull Nagarmull in 1981 under Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, taking possession but failing to publish an award. Subsequent notifications in 1995‑96 attempted a fresh acquisition. The High Court held that the 1981 acquisition remained…

The plaintiff, son of Guramma and the first defendant, claimed ownership of a property originally purchased by his mother and later mutated in his name after her death, asserting that the first defendant had relinquished his half‑share. The first defendant, who later remarried, contested this, arguing that mutation doe…

M. Narayan was convicted for dowry death and cruelty after his wife Ganga was found hanging within two years of marriage. The prosecution alleged that Narayan repeatedly demanded additional dowry, subjected her to physical and mental harassment, and threatened her, leading to her suicide. The trial court acquitted him,…

Mohan Lal was convicted for possession of 10 kg of opium under Section 18 of the NDPS Act and for theft under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC. He argued that the offence occurred before the NDPS Act came into force, that applying the Act was retrospective and violative of Art.20(1) of the Constitution, that the seizure…

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) appointed security workmen through contractors, a cooperative society and later by direct memorandum, without following its recruitment rules. The workmen claimed regularisation after completing more than 240 days of service, alleging an unfair labour practice. The Industrial …

Shanti Roy, married to Sekhar Roy, allegedly faced a dowry demand of Rs.5,000 by her husband, his mother, and siblings, leading to harassment and her suicide by self‑immolation while eight months pregnant. The trial court convicted the husband, his mother, and the siblings under Sections 3048, 498A, 306 and 304B of the…

The appellant Daulat Ram was convicted under Sections 302 read with 34 and Section 201 of the IPC for the murder of Zile Singh, based largely on the testimony of the victim's father and his relatives who claimed to have seen the accused throwing the dead body into a dry well. The prosecution's case relied on circumstan…

Naval Kishore was convicted under IPC sections 498A (cruelty), 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) for the death of his wife Jyoti, who was found burned and asphyxiated. The prosecution proved that Jyoti had been subjected to repeated cruelty by Kishore and his in‑laws, and that she was suffocated …

M. Mahendar Kumar, an accused in Crime No.147 of 2009, challenged a Madras High Court order that, under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C., transferred the investigation to the CBCID, Chennai. The transfer was sought by the de facto complainant, M. Mani, who had previously applied under Section 173(8) for further investigation…

Advocate Chander Prakash Tyagi was engaged by Banarsi Das to seek guardianship of his grandson under the Guardians and Wards Act. The complainant alleged that Tyagi, after receiving a fee, colluded with the opponents and later accepted a brief from them to file a suit against the same grandson. The State Bar Council di…

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) detained eight aircraft leased by International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC) for non‑payment of landing, parking and housing charges amounting to over Rs 10 crore. The Delhi High Court ordered the release of the aircraft on the basis of minutes of a meeting held on 26 March 2013 invo…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a retrospective amendment and accompanying explanation added to Section 26(4) of the Karnataka Agricultural Income Tax Act, 1957, which allowed dissolved firms to be deemed assessable for agricultural income received after dissolution but relating to pre‑dissolution transactio…

The case concerned whether lecturers/teachers employed by the Madhya Pradesh Education and Tribal Welfare Department were entitled to the second increment (Kramonnati) under the Kramonnati Scheme introduced on 19 April 1999. The State Government had granted this benefit to teachers only from 1 August 2003, arguing that…

VESA Holdings Ltd and its directors entered into a time‑bound settlement agreement with a former bank official who was to receive a consultancy fee for facilitating the settlement of a loan. The fee was to be paid in two instalments, the first upfront and the balance upon completion of the settlement, which was conditi…

Vikram Cement and two other units of Grasim Industries, which paid entry tax on coal, gypsum and bauxite under the Madhya Pradesh Entry Tax Act, 1976, challenged a State notification dated 4 May 1999 that reduced the tax rate to 1% for the period 1.5.1997‑30.9.1997 but attached an Explanation that any tax already paid …

The Union Government issued a Gazette Notification on 4 March 2014 including the Jat community in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBC) for nine states, despite the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) advising against such inclusion. The petitioners challenged the notification, arguing that the N…

Tata Steel and its subsidiary TISCO operate captive coal mines in Jharkhand. The dispute concerned whether royalty under Section 9 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 should be levied on raw Run‑of‑Mine (ROM) coal extracted at the pit‑head or on the beneficiated coal removed from the leased…

The appellant, owner of two vehicles, claimed that United India Insurance Company should indemnify him for the death of his employee, Ramesh Lalmani Yadav, who was a cleaner and died while filling water in the radiator of a second vehicle on the employer's direction. The Labour Court held the owner jointly liable with …

The petitioner, a 22‑year‑old woman from Uttar Pradesh, filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that she was abducted, repeatedly assaulted and raped by her father and his accomplices, and that the police failed to record her statement under Section 164 CrPC or conduct a medical examination under Section 164A C…

The mother, Roxann Sharma, and the father, Arun Sharma, contested custody of their infant son Thalbir, who was less than five years old. The Goa civil court initially granted interim custody to the mother with visitation rights to the father. A single judge of the High Court of Bombay at Goa later reversed this, awardi…

The appellants, successful candidates in the direct‑recruitment exam for District Judges, challenged the Allahabad High Court’s appointment of 34 unfilled reserved vacancies by promoting in‑service candidates, alleging non‑compliance with the Uttar Pradesh Reservation Act, 1994 and that they should have been considered…

The dispute concerned land that respondent No.1 claimed to have bought from Sitaram Mills Ltd. (SSML) under an unregistered 1975 agreement to sell, for which full consideration was paid and possession taken. The textile undertaking of SSML was taken over by the Central Government under the Textile Undertakings (Taking …

Petromarine Products Ltd. filed an admiralty suit in the Bombay High Court seeking a decree and attachment of sale proceeds of the vessel MV Eleni, which was already arrested and placed under the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court where a suit by another creditor had been filed. The Madras Court, exercising exclusiv…

The accused, Mangusinh, was convicted by the trial court for murder of his wife and daughter under IPC s.302 and Arms Act s.25, based on a confessional FIR, a second FIR lodged by the victims' father (PW1), and the testimony of an alleged eye‑witness (PW4). The High Court acquitted him, holding that both FIRs were ante…

The case involved the double murder of Kashi Nath Tiwary and Lallan Tiwary, allegedly committed by a group of accused including Rajesh Singh and four Tiwary brothers. The trial court convicted all six accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment, but the High Court acquitted Rajesh Singh on the ground that he was ne…

The Supreme Court, hearing a series of petitions filed by environmental activist M.C. Mehta, examined the persistent high levels of air pollution in Delhi and the effectiveness of its earlier directions to divert non‑Delhi‑bound commercial traffic and levy an Environment Compensation Charge (ECC). The Court found that …

The State of Maharashtra appealed the acquittal of the accused husband and mother‑in‑law in a murder case where the deceased had died from severe burns. The trial court had relied on the deceased's dying declaration and letters she allegedly wrote to her father, convicting the accused under Sections 302, 304B and 498A …

The Supreme Court examined appeals by the State of Punjab against the acquittal of five accused persons for murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and related offences. The trial court had convicted them based on eyewitness testimony, medical evidence and a motive established by a friend of the deceased. On appeal, the High Co…

The appellant, a clerk, was suspended in 1990 following a complaint and a departmental inquiry that lasted over nine years, culminating in a compulsory retirement order and denial of pension benefits for the suspension period. He challenged the disciplinary process, arguing violation of natural justice, the disproporti…

The petitioners challenged a Government Order (G.O. No.118 dated 23‑05‑2006) that any Hindu with requisite qualifications could be appointed as an Archaka in Hindu temples, arguing that it violated Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution. The Court examined whether the appointment of Archakas must follow the prescriptio…

The Supreme Court examined the acquisition of 94 acres 28 gunthas of land in Vijayashreepura under the Mysore Improvement Act, 1903, which was used to allot 55 acres to JSS Mahavidyapeetha (respondent No.28). The Court found that the statutory requirement of a published scheme before issuing a preliminary notification …

The appellant Rajiv Singh was convicted under Sections 304B, 201 and 498A for the alleged murder of his wife Archana during a honeymoon train journey, based on a dead body found near the railway tracks. The Supreme Court examined whether the body was indeed Archana's, whether the prosecution proved a homicidal death, a…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over a house purchased in 1961 by Rama Vidyarthi using insurance proceeds and other funds, questioning whether it was joint family property and how the shares should be apportioned. The appellant, Shreya Vidyarthi, argued that the High Court had decided the case ex‑parte and that a …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) could refuse to disclose information obtained from banks under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on the grounds of fiduciary relationship, economic interest, or commercial confidence. The Court held that RBI does not have a fiduciary relationship with …

The Supreme Court heard a batch of writ petitions filed by the Supreme Court Advocates‑on‑Record Association seeking reforms in the collegium system for appointing judges to the higher judiciary. Various stakeholders, including senior counsel and the Bar Council of India, submitted suggestions on transparency, eligibil…

The petitioner, Mohd. Feroz Khan, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for a crime committed on 2 August 1999. He contended that he was 17 years old at the time of the offence and therefore fell within the ambit of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The Supreme Court…

The appellants, three police constables, were convicted for the murder of Laxman Singh under Sections 302 read with 34 (and 330) of the IPC. The prosecution's case rested on a dying declaration recorded by a Metropolitan Magistrate after the victim was taken to hospital, where he alleged severe beatings and being set o…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over lands belonging to the Shri Jagannath Temple at Puri, which had been vested in the State Government by a 1974 notification under the Orissa Estate Abolition Act, 1951 (OEA Act). The Temple Managing Committee claimed that the lands were vested in it under the special Sri Jaganna…

Gautam Kundu, chairman of Rose Valley, was arrested for alleged money‑laundering offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and related violations of the SEBI Act. He sought bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, but the Calcutta High Court rejected the application, holding th…

The appellant Ms. S appealed against Sunil Kumar, who had been convicted by the Supreme Court on 10 April 2015 for an offence under Section 376(1) of the Indian Penal Code and ordered to be taken into custody. The Court later learned that the accused had died on 14 October 2012, a fact that was not known to the Court a…

Veerendra Kumar Dubey, an operator in the Indian Army, was discharged after accruing four red‑ink entries for overstaying leave. Although a show‑cause notice was issued, no impartial inquiry was conducted as required by the Army Headquarters circular of 28 December 1988, which prescribes a preliminary enquiry and consi…

The State of Gujarat awarded a contract to M/s Kothari & Associates for canal lining, but repeatedly delayed handing over the site, forcing the contractor to seek four extensions of time. Each time the contractor claimed compensation for the delay, the State denied it, and the work was eventually completed in 1980. The…

A public‑interest writ petition (PIL No.130 of 2014) challenged the registration of land in Survey Nos.215 and 222, alleging illegal occupation of government land. The High Court allowed the PIL and directed officials to act, even extending its order to Survey Nos.244 and 246, which the appellants claimed were private …

The Supreme Court examined the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) request to limit its investigation of numerous chit‑fund scam cases on the ground of alleged manpower shortage. The Court noted that the CBI had already taken over investigations of major scams, including the Saradha case, and that the right to a fa…

The appellants Balu@Balasubramaniam and Raja were convicted of murder and assault under Sections 302, 326 and 324 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had proved a common intention among the accused as required by s.34. While eye‑witness testimony established that the appe…

The petitioner sought clarification of a Supreme Court order dated 21‑04‑2009, which recorded his statement that he would not press the prayer for mesne profits. The lower courts had awarded mesne profits of Rs.30 per month (with 10% increase every three years) and interest, while the petitioner had given up his claim …

The dispute involved the A.P. Power Coordination Committee and related entities (appellants) and M/s. LanCo Kondapalli Power Ltd. (respondent) over capacity‑charge bills and a claim for reimbursement of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) under their Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The key questions were whether the Limitation…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 (sections 6(1), 6(3), 6(5)) operates retrospectively. The appellant‑appellants argued that the amendment should not apply to a daughter whose father, a coparcener, died before the Act’s commencement, contending that the amendment is prospecti…

The appeal arose from a dispute where the parties, after settling most issues in a suit, referred two remaining differences to arbitration before a retired Supreme Court judge. The arbitrator resigned, and the respondent sought a substitute arbitrator. The High Court appointed a retired judge as a substitute under Sect…

Petitioners C. Chakkaravarty and others filed a contempt petition under Article 129 of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, alleging that the respondents, the Government of Pondicherry, violated the Supreme Court’s 2010 judgment in N. Suresh Nathan v. Union of India which mandated that promoti…

The Supreme Court of India considered the constitutional validity of the Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014, which sought to replace the collegium system of appointing judges to the higher judiciary with a six-member National Judicial Appointments…

The Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC) conducted a 1974‑75 competitive exam for Lower Division Assistants, but the number of SC/ST candidates selected was far below the reserved quota. The State Government filled the remaining reserved seats by sponsoring candidates through the Employment Exchange and selecting th…

Soni Kumari and Deepak Kumar, married in 2009, lived separately from 2014 due to irreconcilable differences and filed a joint petition for divorce by mutual consent under Section 13‑8(1) of the Hindu Marriage Act. The Family Court allowed the first motion but refused to waive the statutory six‑month cooling‑off period …

The State of NCT of Delhi appealed against the High Court's acquittal of Nitin Shah and Om Prakash Srivastava in the murder of Lalit Suneja (2 August 1992). The prosecution alleged that Shah, as Suneja's employer, conspired with Srivastava and others to kill Suneja, basing its case on a complaint (Ext. PW15/A1) purport…

The appellant, a student who had passed Class X, applied for admission to the medical stream in Class XI at St. Jones School, a private unaided minority institution affiliated to the CBSE. The school rejected his request on the basis of his pre‑board marks and an aptitude test, offering him a seat in the commerce strea…

The Supreme Court examined whether Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), a statutory corporation that had acquired the assets and liabilities of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), could invoke Article 112 of the Limitation Act, 1963, which grants a thirty‑year limitation period for suits by the Central Government.…

The case involved the murder and kidnapping of Jaswinder Kaur (Jassi) and the assault on her husband Sukhwinder Singh. The prosecution alleged that Ashwani Kumar, Anil Kumar, Joginder Singh, and others conspired to kill Jassi because her marriage was opposed by her family. The trial court convicted seven accused, inclu…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Ajit Nath during a dispute over land excavation, with the trial court finding them guilty under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC. The Supreme Court examined whether an unlawful assembly of at least five persons existed, given that 27 co‑accused were acquitted,…

Jagbir Singh purchased a tractor with a loan from Central Bank of India. The tractor was initially insured but the insurance was not renewed after May 2005. On 24 September 2007 the uninsured tractor was involved in a fatal accident, and a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation against the driver and owner…

WIPRO Ltd., an importer of computer components, challenged the customs valuation rule that mandates adding 1% of the FOB value of goods as loading, unloading and handling charges even when the actual charges are known and ascertainable. The issue was whether the proviso (ii) to sub‑rule (2) of Rule 9(2) of the Customs …

Kiriti Pal was accused of murdering Anjali Goswami, a widow who was last seen alive with him on the evening of 11 November 2008 before being found dead the next morning in a jungle 25 km away. The trial court convicted Pal and three co‑accused (Siddique Mia, Mustaque Mia, and Durga Sutradhar) under sections 302, 120B, …

Ashapura Mine‑Chem Ltd. and Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2007 to set up a joint venture for an alumina plant. The MoU contained arbitration clauses (Clauses 26 and 27) requiring bilateral settlement first and, failing that, referral to a sole arbitra…

The appellants, brothers of the complainant, were convicted for assaulting the complainant and his associates with sickles and talwars, causing grievous injuries. The trial court sentenced them under Sections 307 and 427 IPC read with Section 34, which the High Court modified to Section 326 IPC with reduced imprisonmen…

The appellant, Taramani Parakh, filed a criminal complaint under Sections 498A and 34 IPC alleging dowry harassment and cruelty by her husband and his parents. The husband and his parents moved the High Court under Section 482 of the CrPC to quash the proceedings, claiming the allegations were vague, omnibus and amount…

The All India Judges Association and other staff of subordinate courts sought enforcement of the Supreme Court's 07‑10‑2009 order approving the Shetty Commission recommendations for non‑judicial staff. They contended that several states had reverted to the 5th Pay Commission scales after 31‑Dec‑2005, ignoring the highe…

The Queen's Educational Society, established solely to impart education, claimed exemption under Section 10(23C)(iiiad) of the Income Tax Act for assessment years 2000-01 and 2001-02 despite showing a surplus. The Assessing Officer denied the exemption, the ITAT allowed it, but the Uttarakhand High Court set aside the …

The appellant, Ramdev Food Products, complained that accused partners had forged partnership documents and sought a direction under CrPC s.156(3) for police investigation. The magistrate instead ordered a report under s.202(1), deeming the matter primarily civil and lacking clear material for a cognizable offence. The …

The appellant, one of seven accused in a murder case, sought to have PW64, a prosecution witness who had earlier given statements implicating himself in the conspiracy, summoned as an additional accused under Section 319 of the Cr.P.C. The High Court dismissed the petition, holding that PW64’s testimony was protected b…

The petitioners, holders of Ph.D. and M.Phil. degrees awarded before 31 December 2009, challenged the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations (Third Amendment) 2009 which made the NET/SLET exam a mandatory minimum eligibility condition for appointment as Lecturers/Assistant Professors, arguing that the regulatio…

The respondent, a former lecturer in government schools (1963-1966), voluntarily resigned to join a lecturer position in a government degree college in 1966 and later retired in 2004. He sought to have his earlier service counted for pension and gratuity calculations, filing a writ petition. The State argued that the r…

The State of Karnataka sought to alter the limits of the Sedam Town Municipal Council by issuing a proclamation under Section 9 of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1961. Vasavadatta Cement challenged the validity of the notice, arguing that it should have been posted within its factory township, an inhabited area, rat…

Ajay Kumar Choudhary, a Defence Estate Officer, was suspended on 30 September 2011 for allegedly issuing incorrect NOCs on land records. The suspension was extended four times, totalling several years, without a charge sheet for most of the period. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) directed that the suspension …

The case involved an alleged bribe demand recorded during a police‑run trap under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The investigating officer submitted a closure report under Section 173(2) of the CrPC, which the magistrate accepted, finding no case against the appellant, Sanjaysinh Ramrao Chavan. The High Court,…

The appellant, a postal sorting assistant, was convicted of theft of a registered insured parcel containing a gold chain under Section 381 IPC and of a breach of duty under Section 52 of the Indian Post Office Act. Both offences arose from the same incident and were tried together, resulting in separate six‑month simpl…

Dr. Janet Jeyapaul, a senior lecturer at SRM University (a deemed university), was served a termination notice for alleged failure to conduct classes. She challenged the termination by filing a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, which was initially allowed by a Single Judge who ordered her reinstateme…

The claimants, parents of a deceased school teacher, filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 seeking compensation after a bus accident that killed their son. The bus driver and the transport undertaking argued that the accident resulted from a sudden mechanical failure of the belt of springs,…

The respondent, Brijlal Sadashuk Modani, was a senior employee of Osmanabad Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd., a multi‑state cooperative bank. While in service he received notices from the Anti‑Corruption Bureau demanding details of his assets, which he contested on the ground that the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PCA) …

The Lal Shah Baba Dargah Trust filed a suit before the single‑member Maharashtra Waqf Tribunal seeking injunction against alleged illegal development of waqf property. The respondents obtained a civil revision, arguing that the 2013 Wakf (Amendment) Act, which mandates a three‑member tribunal, rendered the one‑member t…

TVS Motors Ltd., a manufacturer of two‑wheeled vehicles, sold its cars to dealers who performed pre‑delivery inspection (PDI) and free after‑sales service (ASS) at their own cost. The Central Excise Department sought to include the costs of PDI and ASS in the assessable value under Section 4 of the Central Excise Act, …

Sumer Builders Pvt. Ltd. entered into a development agreement and MoU with Narendra Goran for a land parcel in Indore. After disputes over payment and possession, the respondent terminated the agreements and invoked the arbitration clause. The developer applied to the Bombay High Court for interim relief under Section …

The appellant, a probationary chest therapist at IGIMS, was terminated after a vigilance department complaint alleged illegal appointment and misconduct. The termination was effected without a regular departmental enquiry and the appellant was not provided the enquiry report, violating natural justice. The Supreme Cour…

The case arose from a quarrel on 13 September 2005 between the President of Nandigavi Village Panchayat and several villagers over alleged road‑repair work, which led to the formation of an unlawful assembly that beat the deceased to death. The accused were charged under multiple IPC sections including murder, unlawful…

Shyam Vithalrao Devkatta filed a criminal complaint under Section 63 of the Copyright Act, 1957 alleging that the film "Desi Boyz" infringed the copyright in the title of his story synopsis "Desi Boys". The accused filed applications under Section 482 of the CrPC to quash the complaint; the Bombay High Court dismissed …

The appellant, Khumbha Ram, sought to challenge the acquittal of his daughter’s husband and others for the death of his daughter Kamla, which occurred within seven years of marriage and was alleged to involve dowry harassment. The trial court acquitted the accused, finding insufficient evidence of harassment and no med…

The case involved the alleged rape and murder of a 12‑year‑old girl, Anita, whose father Ram Sunder Sen filed a criminal complaint against Narendra @ Bode Singh Patel. The trial court convicted Patel under IPC sections 302, 376(2)(f) and 201, imposing death, life imprisonment and a seven‑year term respectively. On appe…

The Supreme Court examined the claims of M/s. Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works (the assessee) for deductions under the Income‑Tax Act. It held that legal expenses incurred after the business was taken over by an Association of Persons were incurred for protecting the going‑concern and therefore deductible under section 37.…

The appellants, small farmers, mortgaged their agricultural land to a cooperative bank and, after defaulting, the bank obtained an ex‑parte arbitral award ordering sale of the mortgaged property. The land was auctioned in 1981 and the sale was confirmed in 1985, even though the appellants had repaid the principal amoun…

The appellant, Edara Hari Babu, was elected Chairperson of a Zilla Praja Parishad (ZPP) after voting for himself despite a whip issued by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The District Collector disqualified him under the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, and the Chief Executive Officer directed the Vice‑Chairperson …

The State, represented by the Inspector of Police (Central Crime Branch), appealed against the Madras High Court's order quashing criminal proceedings against R. Vasanti Stanley and her husband for allegedly forging documents to obtain loans from several banks. The High Court had set aside the charges on the basis that…

Maharani Ushadevi, claiming to be the heir of the former Maharaja of Holkar, filed a suit seeking declaration of title and a permanent injunction over several birs, alternatively asserting Bhumiswami status under Section 158(2) of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code. The State of Madhya Pradesh contended that the disp…

The petitioner, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology Trust, applied under the Medical Council Act, 1956 for establishing a new medical college. Although the Essentiality Certificate and Certificate of Affiliation were issued by the State in late August 2014, they were received by the petitioner in ea…

The appellants were added as accused under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in a murder trial and were later discharged by the trial court under Section 227. The High Court set aside the discharge, prompting a Supreme Court appeal. The Court examined whether a person summoned as an accused under Section 31…

The Supreme Court examined petitions under Article 32 challenging the All India Pre‑Medical and Pre‑Dental Entrance Test 2015, alleging that a criminal syndicate used electronic gadgets to transmit answer keys to candidates during the exam. Investigation reports identified a network involving over 300 devices, 358 mobi…

The appellants GMG Engineering Industries and others entered into a sale agreement with the respondents ISSA Green Power Solution, which fell through, leading the respondents to sue for recovery of Rs.1.5 crore and Rs.10 lakh. Both suits were decreed ex-parte after the appellants failed to appear, and the appellants la…

Seshasayee Paper & Boards Ltd. filed its 1991-92 return showing nil income, claiming set‑off of unabsorbed investment allowance but not of unabsorbed depreciation from earlier years. The assessing officer, relying on Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, allowed the unabsorbed depreciation first, arguing that it must be se…

The case arose from a violent incident on 2 July 1998 in a village in Haryana where Gopal was killed after a quarrel over trespass of a paddy field. The prosecution charged ten persons under Sections 148, 149, 323, 325 and 302 IPC, alleging an unlawful assembly that murdered Gopal. The trial court convicted all ten und…

The appellant, a sole proprietor of a construction firm, applied to the District Magistrate for a character certificate required for renewal of her contractor registration. The magistrate first denied the certificate on the ground that the appellant's husband had criminal cases, and later on the ground that she lacked …

The State alleged that Abdul Razak and others tied, assaulted and caused the death of Basavaraj, invoking sections 304 Part II and 34 of the IPC. The trial court acquitted the accused, finding the brother and mother of the deceased, who claimed to be eye‑witnesses, unreliable. The High Court reversed the acquittal and …

Prem Ram, appointed as a daily‑wager in 1988 with the Uttar Pradesh Pey Jal & Nirman Nigam (later Uttarakhand Pey Jal & Nirman Nigam), was illegally terminated in 1997, reinstated by the Labour Court and served until superannuation. He filed a writ petition seeking regularisation on the same terms as his junior colleag…

In 1996, the appellant K.L. Bakolia demanded a bribe of Rs.20,000 from Shamsher Singh, the proprietor of a security services firm, for renewal of a contract with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. The complainant paid the amount under a CBI‑conducted trap, after which the money was recovered and Bakolia was ch…

The parents of Satendra Kumar Jain, a 30‑year‑old self‑employed bachelor who died in a motor accident, claimed loss of dependency under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 6,24,000, which the Delhi High Court enhanced to Rs 12,61,800 by fixing a monthly income of …

The case involved the kidnapping of a five‑year‑old boy, Vicky, for ransom and his subsequent murder. The child’s sister, a seven‑year‑old witness, identified the primary kidnappers (A‑3 and A‑5) and testified consistently, while the father’s testimony corroborated her account. The Supreme Court held that the child’s t…

The Supreme Court considered whether the amendment inserting clause (d) into Section 80IB(10) of the Income Tax Act, effective from 1 April 2005, which limits the built‑up area of shops and commercial establishments in housing projects, applies to projects that were approved before 31 March 2005 but completed after the…

The respondent, a former field supervisor of a bank, was subjected to two departmental inquiries resulting in removal from service. He challenged the second inquiry, arguing that the charge-sheet was not accompanied by the list of documents or the documents themselves, depriving him of a fair opportunity to defend hims…

Maharaji Educational Trust, U.P. Avas Evam Vikas Parishad and HUDCO appealed against a Lucknow High Court order that directed the Parishad to demarcate 42.45 acres of mortgaged land and to declare 21 acres as unencumbered, based on a sale agreement with SGS Construction. The Supreme Court held that the High Court lacke…

The case concerned M. Mahesh Kumar's claim for a compassionate appointment under Canara Bank's 1993 "Dying in Harness" scheme after his father's death in 1998. The bank rejected the claim, later replacing the scheme with a 2005 circular offering only ex‑gratia payments, and argued that the newer scheme barred the appoi…

The appellants, Shabnam and Saleem, were convicted under IPC s.302 read with s.34 for the pre‑planned murder of seven members of Shabnam's family, including a ten‑month‑old infant. The trial court sentenced them to death, a decision affirmed by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the case qual…

M/S IVRCL Infrastructure & Projects Ltd. entered into a joint venture to import a hot‑mix plant for road construction and claimed exemption from customs duty under Notification No. 217 dated 1‑3‑2001. The plant was split between a German supplier (critical items) and an Indian supplier (containers, frames, etc.), and t…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) appointed under s.24(8) CrPC to conduct the trial of a corruption case transferred from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka could continue to represent the prosecution in the appeals before the Karnataka High Court. The Court considered the scope of s.301(1) CrPC…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) applied to a series of bomb blasts in Parbhani (2003), Jalna (2004) and Malegaon (2008) and whether bail could be denied under Section 21(4) of MCOCA. It held that cognizance of an offence taken by a Judicial Magistrate under Sect…

The appellant, Ratnesh Kumar Pandey, was convicted of murdering his wife Suman under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including a knife and a blood‑stained sweater recovered from the scene, and a post‑mortem report showing twenty incised wounds. The appellant clai…

The State of Punjab appealed against the High Court’s order reducing Bawa Singh’s sentence for assault with a gandasa (IPC s.326) to the period already served. The trial court had convicted Singh and his wife under sections 326, 323 and 34 IPC, imposing rigorous imprisonment of three years and one year respectively; th…