Judgments of 2016

The Supreme Court examined the acquisition of about 1,000 acres of land in Singur, West Bengal for Tata Motors' small‑car project. The Court held that the acquisition was made at the instance of a private company, not for a public purpose, and that the State failed to follow the mandatory procedures under Part VII of t…

The appellant Kadamanian @ Manikandan and his co‑accused were charged under IPC sections 201, 302, 376 and 404 for the murder of M. Jayalakshmi, whose body was later recovered. The appellant made an extra‑judicial confession to the village administrative officer (PW‑12) detailing the crime and the removal of the victim…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) acquired land in 1986 and an award for compensation was passed, but the compensation was never paid to the landowners. DDA paid the amount to the Land Acquisition Collector in 2002, and in December 2013 the amount was deposited in Court without interest. The issue before the Suprem…

Yatin Narendra Oza, a senior counsel of the Gujarat High Court, was held liable for contempt after making unwarranted speeches, letters and statements that the Gujarat High Court deemed scandalous. The High Court issued a notice under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 restraining him from further such activity and from …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Interest on Delayed Payments to Small Scale and Ancillary Industrial Undertakings Act, 1993 (the 1993 Act) applies retrospectively to supply orders placed before its commencement on 23‑09‑1992. The Court held that the Act is prospective, its liability arising only after the buyer …

The appellants, a husband‑wife duo, were searched under the Income Tax Act at their residences in Bhopal and Aurangabad. During the search they denied possessing a safe‑deposit locker, which was later discovered at Aurangabad, leading the Deputy Director of Income Tax (Investigation) Bhopal to lodge a complaint under C…

The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) passed a Board resolution in 2001 to upgrade the basic pension and dearness relief for retirees who left service before 1 August 1997, proposing an amendment to the 1995 Employees Pension Rules (Para 3A of Appendix IV). The amendment required a rule under Section 48 of the Life Insu…

Mukarrab and Arshad were convicted for murder and related offences committed in 1994 and sentenced to life imprisonment. They later claimed they were juveniles at the time of the offence, invoking Section 7A of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, despite having raised the plea for the firs…

The appellants were employees of a government undertaking who were laid off and later transferred to another company. The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) offering a special compensation package, which the appellants accepted, but the VRS did not provide for lay‑off compensation. …

Z.U. Ansari, a retired Junior Engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Rural Engineering Department, was subjected to disciplinary proceedings for alleged financial irregularities. The proceedings were initiated after the Minister-in-charge of the department sanctioned the enquiry, invoking Regulation 351‑A of the Civil Services …

Arun Dev Upadhyaya appealed against a judgment of the Single Judge of the Bombay High Court that enforced an international arbitration award against one of the respondents but not the other. The appeal raised the question of whether a Letters Patent appeal could be filed before the Division Bench under the Commercial C…

The petitioner, Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, was convicted by the Supreme Court in 2003 under TADA and the IPC for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Review and curative petitions filed earlier were dismissed. He subsequently filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking release on the ground of the doctrine of ex de…

The appellant challenged a criminal contempt proceeding initiated by the Allahabad High Court against several persons for an article published on 10 November 2008 that named judges. Two advocates filed an application on 18 November 2008 seeking suo motu contempt action, but the High Court only took suo motu action on 2…

The petitioners, who are persons with disabilities (PWD) employed by Prasar Bharati, challenged two Government of India office memoranda that denied them the statutory 3% reservation in identified Group A and B posts when such posts were filled by promotion. The core issue was whether the memoranda, which limited reser…

Constable Oiler Singh of the CRPF left his camp without permission, consumed alcohol and quarrelled with civilians. The disciplinary authority dismissed him under Section 11(1) of the Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949. Singh filed a civil suit seeking a declaration that the dismissal was illegal; the trial court s…

The appellant, Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, challenged the exemption granted to Mis Hindustan Lever Ltd under the Karnataka Sales Tax Act, 1957, on the ground that the company fixed a uniform maximum retail price (MRP) for tea packets that were marked "inclusive of all taxes" despite some units being tax‑ex…

The SaveLife Foundation filed a public‑interest writ petition seeking a legal framework to protect by‑standers who assist victims of road accidents, arguing that fear of police harassment deters timely help. The Supreme Court examined whether it could, under Articles 32, 141 and 142 of the Constitution, issue binding g…

The appellant, Hardei, a Block Pramukh, was summoned under Section 319 of the CrPC to face trial for alleged embezzlement under the MNREGA scheme, although she was not named in the original FIR or charge‑sheet. The prosecution, after examining witnesses, filed an application under Section 319, alleging that evidence re…

The appellant Raghavendra Swamy Mutt challenged an interim injunction granted by the Karnataka High Court in a dispute with Uttaradi Mutt over possession of a religious property. The High Court, without first admitting the second appeal under Section 100 of the CPC or formulating the required substantial question of la…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Punjab and Haryana governments could be challenged for appointing law officers without a transparent, merit‑based process, alleging arbitrariness violative of Art.14 of the Constitution. The petitioners, who were law officers on contract, claimed that the States had no realistic a…

The State of Uttar Pradesh challenged a writ petition filed under Art.226 that sought mandamus against certain respondents for alleged violations of excise licence rules and alleged fraud. The High Court, after examining the investigation, issued a series of sweeping directions ordering the creation of a separate inves…

The landlords leased a house to a partnership firm, Mis Biyani Textile, and later served a quit notice for arrears of rent. The suit for eviction and arrears was filed against the firm’s employee (defendant No.1) and the firm’s partners (defendants Nos.2‑9). The trial court dismissed the employee but decreed against th…

The appellant, Dokiseela Ramulu, a landless cultivator, claimed that he and his ancestors had possessed a parcel of agricultural land in Sangam Agraharam village long before the 1959 notification under Section 3 of the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1948, and therefor…

The appellant, a co‑owner of a house in Jabalpur, proved her title to the suit property through a series of registered sale and partition deeds and served a quit notice on the respondent, who had been a tenant of the original owner, Rai Bahadur Motiram Mathuradas. The respondent denied any landlord‑tenant relationship …

The Delhi Development Authority appealed against a Delhi High Court order that declared the land acquisition proceedings against the petitioners had lapsed under Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The DDA argued that the petit…

The complainant alleged that three doctors were negligent, leading to his wife's death, and that the Inquiry Committee of the West Bengal Medical Council deliberately ignored expert reports to shield the doctors. He filed a criminal complaint against the Committee members under IPC sections 201, 120B and 219, claiming …

The Supreme Court examined challenges by landowners to the Municipal Corporations of Bhopal and Indore who, under Section 305 of the Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1956, issued notices to remove or set back building portions projecting beyond the regular line of a public street for a Bus Rapid Transit System…

The appellants, landowners whose properties were acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, filed multiple civil appeals seeking compensation. The Supreme Court noted that the factual matrix of each appeal—location of the land, acquisition notifications, and prior compensation determinations—mirrored earlier landma…

The State of Bihar amended its judicial service rules in 2009 to introduce reservation for various backward classes, but the High Court quashed the amendments on the ground that the State had not undertaken the constitutionally mandated consultation with the High Court under Articles 233 and 234. The Supreme Court affi…

The Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (MPSRTC) introduced a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) on 1 July 2005, open for applications until 1 August 2005, with a clause stating that once an employee opted, the option could not be withdrawn. Several employees applied within the period but later sought to wit…

The Commissioner of Central Excise appealed against the Madras High Court’s order allowing M/s Addison & Co. Ltd. to obtain a refund of excise duty on turnover discounts claimed via credit notes. The key question was whether a refund under Section 11‑B(2) of the Central Excise Act is permissible when the duty has been …

The respondent, a judicial officer, opted for a revised pay scale under the Haryana Civil Services (Judicial Branch) and Haryana Superior Judicial Service Revised Pay Rules 2001 and gave an undertaking to refund any excess salary. After his compulsory retirement, the pay rules were revised again in 2003, and an audit s…

The appellants were charged under Sections 384, 511, 420 and 120B IPC and, while in police custody, consented to provide voice samples for comparison with a recording obtained during a sting operation. They objected to being asked to read out inculpatory material from the disputed conversation, arguing that the process…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) auctioned a 14.3‑hectare parcel of land for residential development on an "as is where is" basis, and Kenneth Builders & Developers Ltd. (the builder) paid the full bid amount and obtained possession. The development agreement required the builder to secure all statutory clearances…

The State of Haryana filed a second appeal against a judgment that declared a Gram Panchayat the owner of a 36-kanal piece of land. The High Court dismissed the appeal in limine, holding that it did not raise a substantial question of law under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The Supreme Court held that the…

The case arose from a street fight between two families on 15 June 2001, during which the appellant Jagdish, armed with a lathi, struck the deceased Zile Singh, leading to his death, and caused injuries to three others. Jagdish was convicted by the Sessions Court under Section 304 Part II and Section 323 of the Indian …

The police stopped a jeep at a check post in Pithoragarh and, after offering to search and in the presence of a gazetted officer and a magistrate, seized 2.1 kg of charas from a boy identified as Mahiman Singh, constituting a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act. He was charged under Section 20 of the NDPS Act, convi…

The State of Haryana charged Hussain and another accused with house‑breaking, theft and causing death under IPC sections 380, 457 and 460 after a night raid that resulted in the death of the complainant's husband. The trial court convicted both accused and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment. On appeal, the High Co…

The case concerned the acquisition of land in Village Chhapraula for planned industrial development by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The petitioners challenged the validity of the notifications invoking the urgency clause under Sections 4(1) and 6, alle…

The Committee of Management of Anuragi Devi Degree College sought a writ of mandamus directing Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University to extend its temporary affiliation for the 2015-16 academic session after the statutory deadline had passed. The college had applied for permanent affiliation, but the university fail…

The petitioners, convicted under the NDPS Act and sentenced to more than ten years' rigorous imprisonment, sought a writ of mandamus under Article 32 directing the authorities to grant them remission as per the Punjab Jail Manual. The Court examined whether Section 32A of the NDPS Act bars such remission and whether Ar…

M/s. Sundaram Finance Ltd., a hire‑purchase financier, sued Noorjahan Beevi and her husband for the balance of Rs.40,138 after seizing and selling a financed vehicle. The borrowers defaulted on the instalment payment on 20 May 1984, after which the financier seized the vehicle on 9 February 1985 and sold it on 30 May 1…

The appellant Raju Devade was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly pouring kerosene on an 18‑year‑old girl (Baby) and setting her ablaze. The prosecution relied on the victim’s oral statement to the police and two dying declarations recorded by an Executive Magistrate in question‑answer form, both be…

The appellants, originally District Munsifs promoted to Sub‑Judges, were appointed as District & Sessions Judges (Grade II) to vacant Fast Track Courts (FTCs) under the 2001 Special Rules for Ad‑hoc Appointments. The respondents were later appointed as direct recruits to regular vacancies under the 1958 Rules. The appe…

The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority acquired land for road widening under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, taking possession on 20 February 1982 and depositing compensation with the court. The landowners repeatedly requested withdrawal of the acquisition, leading to a series of government orders that withdrew …

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Jag Raj Singh (alias Hansa) for possession of opium recovered from a jeep. The Supreme Court examined whether the police complied with the mandatory provisions of Sections 42(1) and 42(2) of the NDPS Act when they acted on secret information and conducted the search. It …

The Punjab State Warehousing Corporation appealed against a High Court order that set aside the conviction of its former Godown Assistant, Bhushan Chander, for criminal breach of trust (IPC s.409) and related offences (s.467, 468, 471) on the ground that prosecution required prior sanction under CrPC s.197. The Supreme…

Madura Coats Ltd sought to enforce a winding‑up order against Modi Rubber Ltd. The Company Court ordered winding up, but Modi Rubber filed a reference to the Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (SICA). The High Court stayed the windi…

Leisure Wear Exports Ltd. (the respondent) purchased an open marine cargo insurance policy from United India Insurance Co. Ltd. (the appellant) and later suffered loss of goods during transit to Moscow. The loss was reported, and the consignee (M/s Magna Overseas) authorized the respondent to file a claim. The responde…

The appellant was convicted under Section 21 of the NDPS Act for possession of 250 grams of heroin seized during a raid by N.C.B. officers at his residence. The raid was led by a gazetted officer, and the appellant was offered in writing a choice to be searched by a gazetted officer or a magistrate, to which he consent…

Lal Singh, convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and sentenced to life imprisonment, applied for premature release under CrPC ss.432 and 433 after being transferred to a Punjab jail. The Gujarat Government rejected his application; the Punjab High Court directed Gujarat to reconsider …

Lal Singh, a life convict also known as Manjeet Singh, filed a writ petition (Criminal) No. 181 of 2012 under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the orders of the State of Punjab. The petition was heard by a two‑Judge Bench of the Supreme Court. The Court observed that the issues raised in the writ petition had…

Kalidas Chunnilal Patel, deceased and represented by his legal heirs, sued his tenant Ranchhodbhai Govindbhai for arrears of rent, notice charges, mesne profits and eviction on the ground of bona‑fide personal need. During the suit, a government notification brought the Bombay Rents (Hotel and Lodging House) Rates Cont…

The appellant, Praful Sudhakar Parab, a pay‑sheet clerk in the Maharashtra police, lured his colleague, Senior Clerk Prabhudas Narayan Raut, to the office on 7 December 1996 and the victim never returned. The victim’s wife and son testified that they saw the accused and the victim leave together after 9 p.m., and the a…

M/s Emm Enn Associates (contractor) completed a security‑fencing contract for the Government in July 2000 and received payment on 10 April 2001 for the undisputed portion of the final bill. The contract provided a two‑year defect‑liability period for the Government to recover any over‑payment, but the contractor later …

The case involved the murder of a young bride within six months of her marriage; her body was dismembered and dumped in a park. The prosecution proved that the murder occurred inside the appellants' house, that blood stains were found there, and that the mother‑in‑law was seen discarding the body. The appellants (the f…

The Union of India filed a title suit claiming ownership of a plot of land, which the trial court dismissed on limitation and lack of evidence. The Union appealed under Section 96 of the CPC, also seeking to file additional evidence via Order 41 Rule 27, but the High Court dismissed the appeal in limine and rejected th…

The appellant, an unregistered partnership firm, entered into a construction contract with the respondent and later contested the respondent's claim in arbitration. The respondent argued that Section 69(3) of the Partnership Act, 1932 barred the firm from participating in arbitral proceedings because "other proceedings…

In the 2012 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, Mohammad Sadique was elected from the Bhadaur constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). The election petitioner, Darbara Singh Guru, challenged Sadique's election on the ground that Sadique, being born to Muslim parents, could not claim SC status and th…

The State of Goa acquired land for a tourism project and entered into an agreement under Section 41 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, which contained a clause prohibiting any construction on the acquired land. The hotel company later constructed a building, leading the Bombay High Court to order demolition, an order a…

The case involves a violent incident on 9 Oct 1983 in which a group of 35 accused, including the appellants (accused Nos. 1‑5, 10 and 25), armed themselves and attacked Satyaban and an independent witness, PW 4 Muralidhar Kuila, before abducting Satyaban, who was never recovered. The prosecution relied on family member…

The appellants, heirs of Durgaprasad Lashkari, sought to prevent the Official Liquidator from selling a 199‑year leasehold property of Prasad Mills Ltd., which was under winding‑up. The High Court held that the landlord could not evict on the ground of non‑payment of rent because the secured creditors were ready and wi…

Mis. Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd., a manufacturer of radio pagers in Haryana, claimed exemption from Central Sales Tax (CST) on inter‑state sales of goods it purchased from another dealer holding a valid exemption certificate under Rule 28A. The State of Haryana rejected the claim, contending that the exemption applied on…

Punjab & Sino Bank offered a One‑Time Settlement (OTS) to Punjab Breeders Ltd. for full repayment of dues of Rs 5.42 crore, subject to a three‑year lock‑in prohibiting sale of the mortgaged property and, if sold within that period, requiring the bank’s prior permission and a 50% share of any increase in fair market val…

The Supreme Court examined whether casual workers employed by Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd. on race days fell within the definition of "employee" under Section 2(9) of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, and consequently whether the club was liable to pay ESI contributions from the 1978-79 period. Relying on…

The appellants filed a writ petition in the Patna High Court seeking to file a representation before the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to ventilate a grievance. The High Court allowed the representation but simultaneously ordered that the appellants would have no liberty to approach the High Court again for…

Madras Petrochem Ltd. and another filed appeals challenging a Delhi High Court order that stayed the winding‑up of the company before the BIFR. The core dispute was whether the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) overrides the Sick Industri…

The appellant's minor daughter was allegedly raped and, a few days later, his wife was murdered; the police investigation led to the acquittal of the accused in the rape case and a pending trial in the murder case. The appellant sought the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) citin…

The case concerned the detention of Abdu Rahiman under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). The detenu filed a representation against his detention, which was rejected by the competent authority; the rejection was communicated to him by an under‑secretary rat…

The appellants, senior divisional commercial managers of South Central Railway, challenged the renewal of licences granted to pre‑existing caterers under the 2010 Catering Policy, arguing that the policy applied only to licences issued after its commencement. The respondents, a welfare association of caterers, contende…

M/s Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd and other industrial units set up caustic soda plants in Tamil Nadu and were promised a concessional electricity tariff for the first five years by a government letter dated 29‑06‑1976. After the Tamil Nadu Revision of Tariff Rates on Supply of Electrical Energy Act, 1978 came int…

The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes of Kerala challenged a penalty of Rs.86 lakh imposed on K.T.C. Automobiles for allegedly evading Kerala sales tax by registering 263 cars sold from its Mahe branch under the Pondicherry Sales Tax Act. The High Court set aside the penalty, holding that the sale was completed at Mahe …

The appellant and a co-accused were intercepted while travelling in a car and six bags of poppy husk were seized from the vehicle. The appellant challenged the conviction under the NDPS Act, contending that the investigating officers had violated Sections 50 and 57 of the Act. The Supreme Court examined whether Section…

The incident arose when the deceased's cattle trespassed into the fields of the appellants, leading to a heated exchange. Later that day, while seated in adjacent compounds, an altercation escalated; the appellants, urged by others, fetched a gun and shot the deceased, who was also assaulted with lathis. The trial cour…

The respondents were convicted under IPC sections 323 and 498‑A and under Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and sentenced to imprisonment and fine. They sought release on probation of good conduct under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958. The question before the Supreme Court was whether Sect…

M/s Oswal Greentech Ltd., a holder of a recognition certificate under Section 4‑B of the Uttar Pradesh Trade Tax Act, purchased natural gas at a concessional rate using Form III‑B and used it to manufacture urea. Some of the finished urea was transferred out of Uttar Pradesh by way of stock transfer rather than by sale…

The respondents, dealers of motor vehicles, paid entry tax under the Orissa Entry Tax Act, 1999 and surcharge under the Orissa Sales Tax Act, 1947. A Finance Department circular directed that surcharge under Section SA of the Sales Tax Act be calculated on the gross sales tax payable, not after set‑off of entry tax. Th…

The appellant was convicted in two separate complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing dishonoured cheques of Rs.5 lakh each, relating to two loans advanced by the same complainant on different dates but on identical terms. Both trials awarded ten months' simple imprisonment and a fine o…

The appellant was allotted a residential plot by HUDA in 1998, paid 25% of the price, and later surrendered the plot and received a refund. He subsequently filed a consumer complaint seeking restoration of the plot or an alternative plot with compensation. The District Consumer Forum allowed the complaint, but the Stat…

The appellant, elected as MLA from Moirang constituency, was challenged by the respondent on the ground that the appellant had falsely declared an MBA degree in Form 26, constituting a false declaration of educational qualification. The High Court held the false declaration to be a substantial defect and declared the a…

The Himachal Pradesh Government introduced the 1999 Pension Scheme for employees of state-owned corporations, replacing the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 1995. After a high‑level committee found the scheme financially unsustainable, the Government issued a notification on 2 December 2004 repealing the scheme, allo…

The case concerned the abduction and murder of former MLA M.K. Balan. The prosecution’s case against appellants A‑3 (Manickam), A‑4 (Somasundaram) and A‑15 (Bomb Selvam) relied primarily on the testimony of two alleged accomplices, PW‑10 and PW‑11, supported by peripheral witnesses and documentary evidence. The trial c…

The respondents, claiming to reside outside the limits of Nagar Palika Thakurdwara, filed a suit seeking a permanent injunction, a declaration that they were not liable to pay house tax, and recovery of a modest tax amount of about Rs 11,006.07. The trial court dismissed the suit; the first appellate court allowed the …

The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) cancelled a Letter of Intent issued to L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Ltd. (L&T) for port development and invoked a Rs 5 crore performance bank guarantee issued by Yes Bank. L&T challenged the cancellation and the invocation of the guarantee, seeking a writ to restrain GMB from…

M/s. Galada Power and Telecommunication Ltd. claimed a transit loss of aluminium wire insured with United India Insurance Co. The loss was reported within a few days of delivery, and the insurer appointed a surveyor who confirmed the loss. Despite the surveyor's report, the insurer sent a repudiation letter stating the…

ACC Ltd entered into an agreement with Cochin Cement Ltd (CCL) whereby CCL would manufacture cement using raw material supplied by ACC and the cement would be marketed under ACC's brand. ACC claimed that, under Section 5(2) of the Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963, the sale made by CCL was the first sale and ACC's sub…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had initiated land acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and passed awards, but the Collector did not take physical possession of the land within five years before the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettl…

M/s Northern Minerals Ltd. and its directors were prosecuted under the Insecticides Act, 1968 after a seized sample of their product was declared mis‑branded by the State Pesticide Testing Laboratory. The appellants filed a show‑cause notice, indicated their intention to contest the analyst's report, and sought a re‑an…

VLS Finance Ltd. and others challenged the Commissioner of Income Tax’s block assessment for the period up to 22 June 1998, arguing that the two‑year limitation under s.158BE(1) of the Income Tax Act had expired. The assessment was delayed because the assessing officer ordered a special audit under s.142(2A), which the…

Marie‑Emmanuelle Verhoeven, a French national, was arrested in India on a provisional basis under Section 34‑B of the Extradition Act, 1962 following a request from the Chilean Embassy for her extradition in connection with the 1991 assassination of a Chilean senator. The petitioner challenged the legality of her arres…

The petitioners sought a writ of mandamus directing the Union and other respondents to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to MBBS courses for the 2016-17 academic year. The respondents submitted that NEET would be held in accordance with the Medical Council of India and Dental Counc…

The appellants, Sahyadri Co‑operative Credit Society Ltd. and Navhind Co‑operative Credit Society Ltd., had advanced loans to sugar factories Daulat Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. and Tasgaonkar Sugar Mills Ltd. and obtained a pledge over sugar stock as security. When the factories defaulted, the Commissioner o…

The petitioner, a physically disabled Scheduled Caste officer, claimed that he was denied his statutory 3% reservation under Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 in the short‑listing process for selection to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under the Appointment by Selection Regulations, 1997. H…

The appellants, the wife and sons of the deceased landlord, sought eviction of the tenant M. Chinnian on grounds of willful rent default and bona‑fide need of the premises. The High Court, on revision, set aside the earlier findings of the Rent Controller and the first appellate court, holding that the eviction petitio…

The appellants, land‑holders of plots 36‑43 in Survey No. 71, challenged the State of Gujarat's claim that their land had vested in the State under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, on the basis of a handwritten corrigendum and a panchnama. The Supreme Court examined whether such a corrigendum could re…

Bharat Aluminium Company entered into a 1993 contract with Kaiser Aluminium Technical Services Inc. that contained an arbitration clause specifying that any disputes would be resolved under English arbitration law, while the contract itself was governed by Indian law. The arbitration was conducted in England, resulting…

Don Ayengia paid Rs 10 lakhs to Nazimul Islam for a construction agreement which later collapsed. A promissory note dated 13‑Aug‑2007 acknowledged the debt and stipulated repayment within a month via five post‑dated cheques, which were to be returned only upon payment. After the deadline the cheques were presented and …

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Ram Kailash alias Ram Vilas for shooting Mangla Ram, who later died from his injuries. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 302 IPC (murder) and sections of the Arms Act, imposing life imprisonment and additional terms. On appeal, the Rajasthan High Court reduced the mur…

The Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) sought to recover minimum guarantee charges from Mis. Bhola Ram Steel Pvt. Ltd., an industrial unit that had been granted exemption under the 1995 Industrial Policy for a connected load of up to 500 KVA. The Board argued that the consumer’s Maximum Demand Indicator (MDI) meter s…

The Supreme Court examined the procedure for seizure, sampling, storage and disposal of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under the NDPS Act, 1985, in response to a criminal appeal by the Union of India. It held that Section 52A mandates that samples be drawn and certified in the presence of a magistrate, rend…

The petitioners, former Sailors appointed before 1973, claimed that after completing ten years of active service they were entitled to either a Reservist Pension under Regulation 92 or a Special Pension under Regulation 95 of the Navy (Pension) Regulations, 1964. They argued that the Government's 3 July 1976 policy dis…

The Supreme Court examined whether persons residing in illegally constructed houses (encroachers) within a cantonment area are entitled to vote in Cantonment Board elections. The Court interpreted the Cantonment Act, 2006 and its definitions of "resident" and "inhabitant", holding that only a person who maintains a leg…

Gulshera Khanam, the landlady of a shop, sought eviction of tenant Aftab Ahmad on the ground that her married daughter, a co‑owner of the building, needed the adjacent shop to expand her medical clinic. The lower authorities held that the daughter, as a female with a legal right of residence, fell within the definition…

The petitioners were temporarily appointed as Assistant Executive Engineers by direct recruitment on 18‑April‑1992 and were placed on probation for two years within a continuous period of three years under Rule 6(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Engineering Service Rules, 1967. They were required to pass the Account test withi…

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. awarded a contract to Dhansar Engineering for coal extraction, with a clause allowing the quantity to be varied by +/-30% during the contract. The company extended the contract period to July 2004 and, on 11 June 2004, ordered an additional 30% work. The contractor, citing financial loss, sough…

The respondent, a Corporal in the Indian Air Force, overstayed his leave and was charged under Sections 39(a) and 39(b) of the Air Force Act, 1950. He pleaded guilty before a District Court Martial, was sentenced to three months’ rigorous imprisonment and dismissed from service, and his remission application under Sect…

The plaintiff, a septuagenarian, filed a suit in 2007 for possession and damages. The trial proceeded with a prolonged examination-in-chief and the defendant repeatedly sought adjournments under Order XVII Rules 1 and 2, filing more than a dozen interlocutory applications on flimsy grounds, many of which were granted w…

Star Sports India Pvt. Ltd. (appellant) was required under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007 to share live broadcast signals of sporting events with Prasar Bharati. The shared "world feed" contained sponsor logos (on‑screen credits) embedded by the event organiser (ICC). …

Harijan Bhalateja, the husband of pregnant Jivibai, was accused of murdering her by strangulation on 20 February 1985 and then hastily burying the body without informing her relatives. The body was exhumed and a post‑mortem revealed a half‑round neck injury, fracture of the hyoid bone and a protruding tongue, all indic…

Ashok Kumar Giri, a person with disability, filed a writ petition seeking the 3% reservation guaranteed under Sections 32 and 33 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. The Patna High Court had refused relief, holding that the reservation could not be applied because the vacancies in the identified post amounted to…

Balram Yadav filed a suit in the Family Court of Ambikapur seeking a declaration that Fulmania Yadav was not his legally married wife. The Family Court decreed in his favour, declaring the marriage invalid. Fulmania Yadav appealed to the Chhattisgarh High Court, which set aside the decree, holding that the Family Court…

The Manager of VKNM Vocational Higher Secondary School (appellant) challenged a Kerala High Court order that directed it to appoint a teacher (the 5th respondent) under Rule 51‑A, claiming a preferential right based on her earlier short‑term service in the school in 1997‑98. The school argued that the amendment to Rule…

The appellant Indian Machinery Co. filed a second complaint before the District Forum under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 after its first complaint was dismissed for default. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held the second complaint non‑maintainable, invoking a rule analogous to Order IX Rule 9(…

The appellant, Satya Pal Anand, claimed inheritance of a plot allotted to his mother by a housing cooperative society, which after her death unilaterally executed and registered an Extinguishment Deed cancelling the allotment. He entered into a compromise deed receiving Rs.6.5 lakh, but also filed a dispute under the M…

Dravya Finance Pvt. Ltd., a non‑banking finance company, accepted life‑insurance policies as collateral through assignment by borrowers. The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) issued circulars restricting such assignments, which were quashed by the Bombay High Court, but no interest was awarded. LIC appealed, and this Co…

KAIL Ltd., a dealer of home appliances in Kerala, purchased goods from its holding company Videocon International Ltd. and marketed them under the brand name "Sansui". The company claimed a second‑sale exemption under the Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963, arguing that it was not the holder of the Sansui trademark. Th…

The 2009 Lok Sabha election for Amritsar was challenged in an election petition alleging three categories of corrupt practice: excess election expenditure on newspaper advertisements, excessive spending on public meetings, and assistance from a gazetted officer, along with a grievance about the Returning Officer's hand…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of appeals challenging a Punjab High Court full bench decision that denied daily‑wage, ad‑hoc and contractual employees the right to equal pay with regular staff. The Court clarified that the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’ applies to temporary employees who are appointed agai…

Jagdish Narain Shukla filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking the implementation of a Lokayukta report that alleged corruption by former minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui and former MLC Husna Siddiqui, claiming they had purchased assets at undervalued prices using income from unknown sources. The Lokayukta, under S…

The Central Provident Fund Commissioner appealed against the trial court’s rejection of an application under Order VII, Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which sought dismissal of the plaint filed by Lala J.R. Education Society. The appellants argued that the respondents had exhausted remedies under the Employees…

Jamshed Ansari challenged the constitutional validity of Rules 3 and 3A of the Allahabad High Court Rules, 1952, which require an advocate not on the High Court roll to file an appointment with a local advocate before appearing. He contended that the rules violated Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution and were ultra vi…

Vivek Singh applied for the Combined State/Upper Subordinate Service Examination 2001 under the physically handicapped category, preferring the post of Deputy Collector. He was selected and appointed as a Trade Tax Officer, but later sought appointment as Deputy Collector, invoking a 2011 state requisition to fill back…

The appellant, a retired CRPF Commandant, was alleged to have been involved in the loss of arms and the supply of contraband ganja while in service. Earlier disciplinary proceedings were quashed by the High Court, but the authority later issued fresh memoranda of charges in 2008 and 2009 after obtaining presidential sa…

The Gujarat Transport Department floated a tender for manpower services with conditions that the salary paid must not be less than the minimum wage and that bids must be fixed, not open‑ended. Three bidders qualified; the Technical Evaluation Committee fixed a minimum‑wage figure of Rs 3,00,92,346, rendering the bids o…

Amal Kumar Jha, the doctor-in-charge of a Primary Health Centre, was charged under IPC 304A for the death of a patient after he allegedly refused to provide a government jeep to transfer her to a district hospital. He sought discharge of the criminal proceedings under Section 197 of the CrPC, arguing that the omission …

The appellant, M.K. Indrajeet Sinhji Cotton P. Ltd., filed a suit in the Ahmedabad City Civil Court for recovery of money from Narmada Cotton Co‑op. Spg. Mills Ltd. before the cooperative society was wound up. After the winding‑up order, the appellant sought leave to continue the suit under Section 112 of the Gujarat C…

The State (CBI) filed a charge‑sheet against fourteen accused, including the respondent, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and several provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The Special Court initially deferred taking cognizance of the respondent, directing the investigating officer to obtain a sanction order …

ITC Limited Gurgaon, a hotel operator, collected tips from customers and distributed them to its employees without deducting tax at source. The Assessing Officer treated the tips as salary, invoking Section 192 of the Income Tax Act and declared the assessee an assessee‑in‑default under Section 201. The assessees conte…

The case arose from a violent incident in 1994 in which five accused persons allegedly attacked the family of informant Bhola Singh, resulting in the death of three of his sons. The trial court convicted all six accused of murder and related offences, sentencing two of them to death and the others to life imprisonment.…

The Nashik Workers Union filed several complaints under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971 seeking reinstatement and back wages for trainees of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The dispute turned on whether, for HAL, the "appropriate Government" under Sec…

The Nasik Municipal Corporation sought restoration of an execution petition (Special Darkhast No.49 of 2002) on the condition that it deposit a cost of Rs.25,000, as ordered by the High Court. The executing court refused to accept the cost, holding that the time limit set by the High Court had expired and it lacked aut…

The Rajasthan government issued a circular on 06‑10‑2008 requiring contractors awarded government construction work to obtain a short‑term permit and pay royalty on minor minerals used, with a provision for refund if royalty‑paid minerals were purchased from lease‑holders. M/s Deep Jyoti Company challenged the circular…

Nagabhushanammal (deceased) filed a suit for partition of a family property in 1988. An earlier suit filed by her in 1962 for possession based on a settlement deed had been dismissed. The defendant argued that the 1988 suit was barred by res judicata and that his long possession amounted to adverse possession. The tria…

The Alauli Anchal Boat Traffic Cooperative Society (appellant) challenged the open auction of Ghurandera Kilagarai Ghat, arguing that the Rs.16,00,000 bid was excessive and should have been limited to a 15% increase over previous reserve‑Jama amounts, and that the auction process violated government circulars. The auct…

Gajanan Dashrath Kharate was convicted of murdering his father, Dashrath, after the father was found dead in a pool of blood following a night of frequent quarrels. Two neighbours, PW‑1 and PW‑2, heard the altercation but did not intervene and later learned of the death from a third witness. The prosecution presented t…

Mis. Electro Optics (P) Ltd., a seller of imported electronic survey instruments, challenged assessments levied by the Tamil Nadu tax authorities who classified the goods under Entry 14 Part F of Schedule I of the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959 (16% tax) rather than Entry 50 Part B (3% tax). The Supreme Court e…

UCO Bank issued a sale notification under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 to auction mortgaged property. The borrowers, members of Scheduled Tribes, challenged the sale alleging that Section 187 of the Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 19…

The appellant, a construction contractor, used minerals purchased from the open market for building works. The State of Rajasthan, through various government orders and circulars, required a 2% deduction from contractors' bills as royalty on minerals, aiming to prevent the use of illegally mined minerals. The contracto…

The case concerns the murder of Debo! Kumar Ghosh on 16 June 2000, for which Anjan Dasgupta and Biswanath Paul were alleged to have directed shooters. The trial court acquitted them, citing alleged ante‑dating and ante‑timing of the FIR and discarding eye‑witness testimony. The Calcutta High Court reversed the acquitta…

The case concerned Sukh Ram, a Gram Sewak, who was alleged to have forged loan applications and misappropriated government funds between 1983 and 1986. During the investigation, an executive magistrate obtained specimen signatures of two witnesses, which were later compared by a handwriting expert who testified that th…

The appellant Devraj was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering his cousin amid a land dispute. The prosecution relied on three eye‑witnesses, two of whom were declared hostile, but their testimony was corroborated by other evidence showing Devraj’s assault on the victim. The defence argued that hostile witness …

The Supreme Court examined a petition by Etoile Creations seeking the appointment of a sole arbitrator under Sections 11(5) and 11(9) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, invoking the arbitration clause in a Buyers Agreement dated 18‑Oct‑2012 with SARL Danset Deco. The parties were in dispute over unpaid invo…

The dispute concerned a clause in a railway‑contractor agreement that required the contractor to give a written demand for arbitration, after which the Railways had 60 days to furnish a panel of more than three eligible railway officers. The contractor sent its demand on 12 June 2013 but filed an application under Sect…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court's order quashing an FIR registered under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC against Assistant Sub‑Inspector Rajveer Singh and others for allegedly shooting and beating a complainant. Rajveer Singh had filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash…

The appellants, police officers, challenged the prosecution for alleged fake encounters and custodial deaths, arguing that under Section 6 of the Punjab Disturbed Areas Act, 1983 (as amended 1989) and Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, prior sanction from the Central Government was required. The Court…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 23 of the Travancore‑Cochin High Court Act, which provides that a Chief Justice must refer a matter to a third judge when two judges of a division bench disagree, survives the repealing provision of Section 9 of the Kerala High Court Act and whether it is a special provision t…

The father of the deceased, Anand Singh, witnessed his son Partap being beaten to death with lathis and swords by several accused persons on 4 July 2003 and lodged an FIR the next morning. The accused argued that the FIR was delayed, they were falsely implicated, and that two witnesses named in the FIR were not examine…

M/s. Hamdard (Waqf) Laboratories, a manufacturer of the sweetened non‑alcoholic beverage Rooh Afza, disputed the classification of its product under the Central Excise Tariff, which led to a refund claim of Rs 3.74 crore. The refund was granted by the Assistant Commissioner on 16 Nov 2000, but no interest was paid. The…

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

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. appealed a Delhi High Court order that had held the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) applicable to an appeal under Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and had entertained a cross‑objection under Order XLII Rule 22 CPC. The Supreme Court examined whether the 1996 Act is a…

The State of Bihar appealed against the High Court’s order granting bail to Rajballav Prasad, an under‑trial accused charged with multiple serious offences under the IPC, POCSO Act and Immoral Traffic Act. The accused had initially evaded arrest, later surrendered, and his bail application was rejected by the trial cou…

The appellant sought probate of a will of her deceased brother, but two respondents—Yasheel Jain, claiming to be the testator's nephew and beneficiary under an alleged earlier will, and Malati Tulshan, claiming to be the testator's second wife—filed caveats. The Calcutta High Court rejected the appellant's prayer to di…

The petitioners were appointed as Chairmen, Vice‑Chairmen and members of Agricultural Market Committees under the Andhra Pradesh (Agricultural Produce and Livestock) Markets Act, 1966. After the creation of Telangana in 2014, the State promulgated Ordinance No.1 of 2014 reducing the size of the committees, shortening t…

Hakumat Rai, a commission agent at Phool Mandi, Darya Ganj, sought an alternative shop after the market was de‑notified in 1998. Despite numerous representations from 1985 onward, he was never allotted a shop. The Delhi High Court ordered that he be given a shop in Gazipur Mandi and a Category ‘B’ licence. On appeal, t…

M/S Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd imported dentifrice products from Nepal and claimed exemption from customs duties under Notification No. 37/96 issued pursuant to the India‑Nepal Treaty of Trade. After the introduction of Section 3A of the Customs Tariff Act in 1998, a Special Additional Duty (SAD) was levied on the i…

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

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

The appellant challenged a High Court order that, on the ground of his contradictory statements in a civil suit, directed the Registrar to file a criminal complaint under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for offences under Sections 199 and 200 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Supreme Court examin…

The appellants, six workmen, were awarded compensation based on disability percentages ranging from 35% to 40% by the Workmen's Compensation Commissioner. The insurer challenged the award under Section 30 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, and the High Court re‑appreciated the evidence, reducing the disability to…

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

The Supreme Court examined whether amounts paid to the dependents of a deceased government employee under the Haryana Compassionate Assistance Rules, 2006 should be deducted from compensation awarded under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for a fatal motor accident. The Court reiterated that compensation must be "just and …

The Supreme Court examined multiple appeals filed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) against Vodafone Essar Gujarat Ltd., Bharti Airtel Ltd., and Tata Teleservices Ltd. concerning demands for interconnect usage charges on calls that allegedly lacked authentic Caller Line Identification (CLI). BSNL relied on a Departme…

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

The Centre for Public Litigation filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking an independent investigation into alleged administrative and financial irregularities of the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI), a public financial institution with substantial loans, grants and guarantees from the Union Governm…

The appellant, a returned MLA, challenged an election petition alleging corrupt practices and excess expenditure under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. He filed an application under Order VI Rule 16 of the CPC seeking to strike out several paragraphs of the petition as frivolous, scandalous or vexatious. The…

Manoj Kumar Sharma, a serving Flying Officer, was accused of dowry‑related offences after his wife’s death was initially investigated as a suicide under Section 174 of the CrPC and closed with no foul play. Five years later, the deceased’s brother filed an FIR alleging murder, dowry cruelty and IPC sections 304B, 498A …

The appellant, Hina, applied for an allotment of a petroleum/diesel retail outlet in Kalamnuri, Maharashtra, and submitted an attested copy of a Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate as proof of age. The corporation rejected the application, insisting that only a Secondary School Leaving Certificate could be acce…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appealed against several brokers and sub‑brokers, including Kishore R. Ajmera, for alleged manipulative and fraudulent trading in illiquid securities. The issues centered on whether the brokers could be held liable and penalised under the SEBI Act and its regulations de…

The Central Bureau of Investigation appealed against orders that held the Chairman‑cum‑Managing Director and Executive Director of Global Trust Bank (a private bank before its 2004 amalgamation with Oriental Bank of Commerce) were not public servants for purposes of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act). The …

Dheeraj Developers Private Limited filed a suit for specific performance of a sale deed of land against Dr. Om Prakash Gupta and others. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the High Court reversed the decision, granting specific performance solely on the basis that Exhibit P‑1, the alleged agreement, was genuine. T…

The appellant and respondent were involved in two parallel suits concerning the same property, which were consolidated by the trial court. During the trial of one suit, a witness (PW‑I) was examined and the evidence was closed. After consolidation, the respondent filed an application under Order 18 Rule 17 of the CPC, …

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

Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (GSFC) and Gujarat Alkalies & Chemical Ltd (GACL), both public sector undertakings, receive hydrocyanic acid (HCN) from Reliance Industries Ltd through a common pipeline and share the raw material in a 60:40 ratio. To handle the HCN, handling and incineration facilities were in…

The Supreme Court examined whether a licensed surveyor appointed under Section 18A of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 qualifies as a "public servant" under Section 2(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The respondent, C.N. Manjunath, performed statutory duties of preparing survey sketches, a function pre…

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

The Government of NCT of Delhi initiated land acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in 2003, with an award passed in 2006. No compensation was paid nor possession taken before the five‑year cut‑off preceding the commencement of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, …

M/s Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd filed an appeal to the Supreme Court under Section 125 of the Electricity Act, 2003 against a decision of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity. The appeal was filed 161 days after the Tribunal's order, exceeding the 60‑day statutory period and the additional 60‑day discretionary …

The Electricity Department (appellant) appealed against the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity’s decision that, suo moto, increased interest during construction (JDC), financing charges (FC) and incidental expenses (IEDC) should be awarded to the respondent for delays in project execution. The dispute also involved the…

M.S. Kazi, an assistant teacher in a minority school, was dismissed in 2004 for alleged unauthorised pilgrimage. He first approached the Gujarat Higher Secondary Education Tribunal under the Gujarat Secondary Education Act, 1972, which dismissed his challenge. Kazi then filed a Special Civil Application under Articles …

The appellant, a landowner, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with a builder to construct a multi‑storey building, with the completed flats to be shared 40% to the landowner and 60% to the builder. The agreement required completion within 19 months and stipulated rent payable for delay. The construction was de…

The appellant's land was acquired by the State of Uttar Pradesh under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. He entered into a consent agreement under the Uttar Pradesh Land Acquisition (Determination of Compensation and Declaration of Award by Agreement) Rules, 1997 and accepted the full compensation on the same day without …

Amin Merchant imported eight consignments of goods classified under Customs Tariff sub‑heading 2208.10 and paid duty at the rate of Rs 300 per litre or 400% whichever was higher, as prescribed in the Finance Act. He contended that the Finance Minister’s budget proposals for 1993‑94 and 1994‑95 required a lower duty (85…

Mrs. Santosh Singh, an advocate, filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union of India and the CBSE to make "moral science" a compulsory subject from class I to XII, alleging that its omission violated Article 25 and the fundamental duties under Article 51A(f). The respo…

The State of Madhya Pradesh challenged the imposition of entry tax on Marico Industries' products Mediker and Revive instant starch. The issue was whether Mediker, marketed as an anti‑lice treatment, should be classified as a shampoo under Schedule II Entry 32 of the Madhya Pradesh Entry Tax Act, 1976, or as a drug/med…

The dispute arose from a licence agreement that contained an arbitration clause. An arbitral tribunal issued a Partial Final Award (PFA) directing the respondent to transfer its Indian patent rights to the appellant and to execute the necessary transfer deed within a stipulated period. The respondent sent a draft deed …

The case arose from a clash between two groups in 1997 where the appellant, Ramesh Kumar @ Babla, was alleged to have struck the complainant with a sword, causing head injuries. The trial court convicted him under Section 307 of the IPC for attempted murder and sentenced him to three years' rigorous imprisonment, a dec…

Axis Bank appealed against the Gujarat High Court’s order allowing SBS Organics Private Limited to withdraw its appeal before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) and to get back the Rs 50 lakh pre‑deposit made under Section 18 of the SARFAESI Act. The Supreme Court examined whether such a pre‑deposit constitute…

The wife filed an application under Sections 12, 18‑22 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 seeking maintenance for herself and her children, alleging mental and physical abuse, the husband’s second marriage and failure to pay alimony after a dismissed divorce petition. The Sessions Court dismiss…

Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) claimed exemption from income tax under Section 10(23C)(iiiab) of the Income Tax Act for assessment years 2004‑05 to 2009‑10, asserting that it is an educational institution solely for education and wholly or substantially financed by the Government. The university generated …

The appellants, small‑scale shopkeepers near the Shirdi Sai Baba shrine, had a 1979 compromise decree granting them rehabilitation on their occupied plots. Subsequent town‑planning, development‑plan and highway‑control‑line notifications rendered the decree practically impossible to execute, prompting the Nagar Panchay…

The case concerned the election of a member to the Dental Council of India under the Dentists Act, 1948 and the Dental Council (Election) Regulations, 1952. Respondent No.1, Shaji K. Joseph, was denied inclusion in the electoral roll and his nomination was rejected; he challenged the rejection in the Kerala High Court,…

Pooja Pal, the widow of slain MLA Raju Pal, alleged that the state police and administration were complicit or indifferent in the murder of her husband and sought a fresh investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The High Court dismissed her writ petition, but the Supreme Court held that when an inves…

Bussa Overseas & Properties Ltd. sought a refund of excess provisional customs duty under Section 18(2) of the Customs Act, 1962. The customs authority directed the claim to be made under Section 27(2) and the appellants contested this, filing a writ petition. The High Court dismissed the writ and, on review, rejected …

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

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Uttar Pradesh's Vidhayak Nidhi Scheme, which allocates annual grants to MLAs and MLCs for development work in their constituencies. The petition challenged the scheme on the ground that it violated Article 243ZD of the Constitution and the Uttar Pradesh District…

The Supreme Court examined the severe infrastructural and administrative deficiencies in the consumer dispute redressal fora across India, as highlighted in the interim report of the Justice Arijit Pasayat Committee. It held that the Committee’s findings merit deference and that the existing poor organisational set‑up,…

Eighty‑eight workmen employed as Tyndals at Kenduadih Colliery of BCCL sought regularisation. The Industrial Tribunal (1996) ordered their absorption within a year, and the Jharkhand High Court (2004) modified the award, directing that whenever the management hires regular workmen, preference must be given to these wor…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of several notifications issued by the Central Government under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 (DPCO 1995) that prescribed norms for conversion cost, packing charges and process loss, and fixed retail or ceiling prices of drug formulations. The Court held that the 1999 no…

The case concerned promotion of Class IV civil court staff to Class III posts in Bihar. The original selection used an 85‑mark written test and 15‑mark interview, but the High Court directed a fresh examination with 90 marks for the written part and 10 for the interview. The appellants participated in the fresh process…

The State of Jammu and Kashmir appealed a High Court judgment that had set aside a 2005 circular restricting private tutoring by government teachers and, erroneously, had also directed on the regulation of private practice by government doctors. The Supreme Court held that the circular, issued by the Education Departme…