Judgments of 2016

The Supreme Court examined the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s failure to implement the Justice Lodha Committee's recommendations, particularly the appointment of a CAG nominee, after the Court had endorsed those recommendations on 18 July 2016. The Court found that the BCCI President had sought a letter…

The petitioners challenged the cancellation of their appointments and termination of service on the ground that they had either omitted or misrepresented information about criminal prosecutions, arrests, convictions or pendency of cases in the verification forms required for recruitment. The Supreme Court was asked to …

The Delhi Development Authority allotted a lease‑hold plot to the defendant with a condition that the plot could not be transferred for ten years. The defendant executed a receipt‑agreement to sell his rights in the plot to the plaintiff for Rs 4.60 lakh, receiving an initial payment of Rs 2.30 lakh. The plaintiff sued…

Mohan Singh was murdered on 26 June 1982; his head was severed and the crime was witnessed by his daughter (a child) and his father. The trial court convicted six accused under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC, but the Allahabad High Court later acquitted them, citing alleged delays in FIR dispatch, defects in the inque…

The case arose from the murder of Balbir Singh on 21‑12‑1993, alleged to have been committed by Sheeshpal and his associates in a pre‑planned conspiracy. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302, 149 and 120B IPC, sentencing them to life imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court acquitted all accused, hol…

The appellants, Mis Shobikaa Impex Pvt. Ltd. and a related entity, submitted a bid for a government tender to supply long‑lasting insecticide nets but failed to produce a Central Insecticide Board (CIB) registration certificate at the time of bid opening. The tender documents, as amended, required the registration cert…

The case concerned suits alleging infringement of copyrights in lyrics and musical works where the plaintiffs (copyright societies) sought interim injunctions against the defendants for public performance of sound recordings without proper licences. The Delhi High Court had disposed of the interim applications in favou…

The case concerned a declaration suit filed by Ragini Narayan seeking to be recognized as the Donor Trustee of the B.M.S. Educational Trust after the death of her husband, the original Donor Trustee B.S. Narayan. The dispute centered on a 1994 amendment to the trust deed that provided for succession by the senior most …

The partnership firm Gotan Limestone Khanji Udhyog held a mining lease in Rajasthan and converted into a private limited company, obtaining State permission to transfer the lease. The company then sold its entire shareholding to Ultra Tech Cement Limited for Rs 160 crore, effectively transferring the lease without stat…

The appellant, a tenant, challenged the Bank of India's attempt to take possession of a mortgaged premises under the SARFAESI Act after the landlord defaulted on a loan. The Court examined whether Section 35 of the SARFAESI Act, a non obstante clause, could override the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999 and allow the …

Venkatesh Construction Company sued Karnataka Vidyuth Karkhane Ltd for Rs.30 lakh for extra work, stoppage of work, and loss of stocked material. The trial court awarded Rs.3,23,000 with 12% interest, finding that extra work was required and the respondent had directed a stoppage. The High Court reversed the decree, re…

The case concerned the procurement of submarine batteries, a mission‑critical defence spare part. The respondent sought an open advertisement and request for proposal (RFP) for supply, arguing a vested right after developing prototype cells. The Union of India contended that defence policy requires such critical items …

Jagatjit Industries Ltd. applied for registration of the mark “Blenders Pride” in India. Respondent No.4, a US‑based liquor company, opposed the application, claiming prior rights and seeking an extension of time to file its opposition. The Registrar issued a show‑cause notice under s.57(4) to delete the mark, but late…

Raminder Singh, an in‑service Silt Observer/Analyst in the Punjab Public Works Department (Irrigation Branch), applied for promotion to Research Assistant Grade B after the State merged the Grade‑C post into Grade‑B but failed to amend the service rules. He was promoted on 14‑12‑2001, worked in the higher post, but lat…

Syscon Consultants entered into a 1985 agreement to purchase a coastal island in Goa from defendants 1‑6, who misrepresented themselves as sole owners and concealed a mortgage and a sister's pre‑emptive rights. The plaintiff paid an advance and later discharged the mortgage by paying Rs 17 lakh, but the defendants fail…

The appellant, a director of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd, had taken a loan of Rs 11.5 crore which was disbursed on 28 February 2002. The loan agreement required repayment of installments by post‑dated cheques, which were described as "security". Several of these cheques were dishonoured and a crimina…

The appellant, Pragati Mahila Mahavidyalaya, challenged a High Court order that reinstated respondent No.1, a part‑time lecturer, on the ground that his appointment was permanent. The employee had been appointed twice on a temporary, fixed‑term basis as a part‑time lecturer, as reflected in the advertisement and appoin…

The parties entered into a construction contract containing an arbitration clause, and an award was rendered on 11 November 2010. The respondent later filed a Section 11 application in the High Court seeking appointment of an arbitrator, claiming the clause was invalid; the application was dismissed. Subsequently, on 2…

The appellants were convicted of several murders in a single trial and were sentenced to multiple life imprisonments, each directed to run consecutively, along with term sentences. They challenged the validity of consecutive life sentences under Section 31 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The Supreme Court examin…

The case concerned whether, after an approved scheme under the Motor Vehicles Act is published, existing private operators may increase the number of trips or vehicles by obtaining a variation of their stage‑carriage permits. The Court examined Section 57(8), which treats such variations as applications for new permits…

The Supreme Court was asked to decide whether it can transfer civil or criminal proceedings pending in any court of Jammu and Kashmir to a court outside the State and vice‑versa, despite the fact that Sections 25 of the CPC and 406 of the CrPC do not apply to Jammu and Kashmir and the State codes contain no such provis…

Videocon Industries Ltd. and its directors were penalised by the adjudicating authority under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) for alleged violations of sections 18(2) and 18(3). They appealed before the Appellate Tribunal for Foreign Exchange, which held that the transactions (purchase of goods from Korea an…

Essar Steel Ltd. and other off‑takers had long‑term contracts to purchase regasified LNG (RLNG) at a fixed price. In 2007 the Union Government issued a policy directive to pool RLNG prices and apply a uniform, non‑discriminatory price to all long‑term contracts, which raised the price for the appellants. The appellants…

The appellant, a director of Devi Polymers Private Limited, was prosecuted under IPC sections 409, 468 and 471 and IT Act sections 65 and 66 for allegedly forging a website that portrayed Devi Consultancy Services as a separate entity and for misappropriating funds. The High Court refused to quash the proceedings, hold…

The Supreme Court examined multiple Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) arising from a protracted dispute over the acquisition and transfer of shares in Bombay Oxygen Corporation Ltd. The dispute involved Messer Holdings GmbH (MGG), Goyal Gases Ltd (GGL), the Ruia family (RUIAS) and a joint venture company Messer Holdings L…

The wife of the first appellant died under suspicious circumstances and a FIR was lodged under Sections 304B and 498A IPC read with Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The father of the deceased later filed a private complaint under Section 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Act alleging that dowry amount and articl…

The appellant was apprehended on suspicion of possessing one kilogram of opium and, after opting for a search before a Gazetted Officer, was searched and the narcotic was recovered. The investigation was initiated by Sub‑Inspector Satbir Singh, who also lodged the complaint, leading the appellant to argue that the inve…

The State of Haryana issued notifications under Sections 4 and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to acquire 129 kanals 14 marlas of land in Lakarpur, Faridabad for the expansion and systematic development of the Surajkund Tourist Complex, including a parking area. Earlier acquisition attempts in 1992 were dropped aft…

The appellant, Nankunoo, visited the deceased barber's shop demanding preferential service, was rebuffed, and later shot the barber in the left thigh with a pistol, causing the victim to die of shock and hemorrhage. The trial court convicted the appellant under Section 302 IPC (murder) and sentenced him to life impriso…

The deceased Saroj Bai was found hanging in her matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. The State alleged that her husband’s family demanded a motorcycle as dowry, subjecting her to cruelty and harassment, thereby invoking Sections 304B and 498A of the IPC and the statutory presumption under Section 113B of th…

Mahesh Dahiya, a senior engineer of H.P. State Electricity Board, was charged with willful absence from duty and disobedience of orders to appear before a medical board. A disciplinary inquiry was conducted under the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, and the inquiry officer’s report dated 29‑12‑2007 found the charges proved. Howe…

The Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes allowed exemption on sales of polished granite stones, but later reopened the assessment and disallowed the exemption, contending that polished and unpolished granite fall under separate entries of the Karnataka Sales Tax Act. The assessee argued that polished granite sto…

The partners of the dissolved partnership firm Mis. Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works sold the firm's assets as a going concern to an Association of Persons (AOP-3) after winding‑up proceedings. The Assessing Officer treated the partners' share of the sale proceeds as capital gains in their individual hands, while the busin…

Lanco Anpara Power Ltd was constructing a thermal power plant and had obtained registration under the Factories Act. The State authorities issued show‑cause notices under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 (BOCW Act) and the Buildings and Other Con…

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) floated a tender for two 660 MW super‑critical power units. After qualifying, two bidders – CSEPDI‑TRISHE and BHEL – submitted supplementary price bids which were evaluated by an independent financial consultant. The consultant’s report awarded the contr…

The case concerned the validity of a policy issued by the State of Rajasthan on 23 March 2011 that relaxed the minimum passing marks in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for candidates belonging to reserved categories. General‑category candidates challenged the policy, arguing that the relaxation violated the 60% pass…

Vivek Batra, an Indian Revenue Service officer, was investigated by the CBI for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. After a six‑year investigation, the Finance Ministry sought and eventually received a sanction for his prosecution on 9 October 2012, following advice from the Central Vigilance Commis…

Montecarlo Ltd. submitted a techno‑commercial bid for NTPC Ltd.'s coal‑mine development project, but NTPC declared the bid technically non‑responsive because Montecarlo lacked experience in drilling for blasting. Montecarlo challenged this decision before the High Court, arguing that the qualification requirement only …

The landlords filed a civil suit for eviction of tenants occupying a shop in a rural area of Haryana, which at the time of filing was not covered by the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1973. While the suit was pending, a municipal notification brought the area within the urban sweep, thereby subjectin…

The Supreme Court examined the Lodha Committee's recommendations for reforming the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after a public interest litigation. It held that the Committee's report is merely recommendatory and does not bind the BCCI unless the Court directs it, and that the recommendations do not inf…

Private tour operators (PTOs) filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union of India to accept their applications for registration as PTOs for the 2016‑17 Hajj tours and to grant them a right of first registration. The petitioners feared that their pending applications would be rejected w…

The V.N. Public Health & Educational Trust applied to establish a medical college for the 2016-17 academic year, submitting an Essentiality Certificate that was later found to be conditional and not in the format prescribed by the 1999 MCI Regulations. The Medical Council of India (MCI) recommended disapproval, and the…

The case concerned a petition filed by Kunapareddy @ Nookala Shanka Balaji (the wife) under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 seeking protection, maintenance and other reliefs. After the petition was transferred to another magistrate, the wife sought to amend the prayer clause to increase maintenance, claim return of dow…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 required the assets and liabilities of the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSC) to be divided between the successor states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and whether the freezing of APSC’s bank accounts by banks on Telan…

The Joint Secretary, Political Department, Government of Meghalaya filed a suo motu writ petition under Article 226 seeking to give effect to the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014 and to bring the Lokayukta institution into existence. The High Court, on its own motion, stayed the eligibility clause (s.3(2)(a)) of the Act a…

The Supreme Court reviewed its earlier order dated 13 May 2015 that allowed publication of photographs of the President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice in government advertisements, subject to the authorities' decision. Upon hearing the parties, the Court extended the exception to include Governors and Chief Minister…

The State of Haryana acquired 46.93 acres of land in Village Fatehpur for residential and commercial development. The appellants claimed compensation of Rs.125 per square yard, arguing that similar adjoining properties had been awarded Rs.250 per square yard. The Court examined Section 25 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1…

Mis Rahman Industries Pvt. Ltd. appealed against a High Court order that mandatorily directed the Government of Uttar Pradesh to refer a dispute raised by workmen to a Labour Court for adjudication. The Supreme Court examined whether such a direction infringed the Government's statutory discretion under the Industrial …

Mis Ganapathy & Co. claimed deductions for service charges paid to Mis Universal Trading Company, a loss incurred in its film business, and a donation to Aparna Ashram. The Assessing Officer disallowed all three claims, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) reversed the disallowances, and the Karnataka High Court, e…

The appellant, a retired army officer, owned a shop in Almora and sought eviction of the tenant under Section 21(1)(a) of the U.P. Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, claiming a bona‑fide need to start a business for his physically disabled son. The trial court ordered eviction within …

The appellants, owners of a property purchased in 1904, filed an eviction petition under Section 10 of the A.P. Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1960, alleging the respondents defaulted on rent since June 1987 and denied the appellants' title. The respondents contended that the 1904 deed was a mortgage…

The respondent, Jasobanta Nayak, secured rank 16871 in the general category and rank 80 in the physically challenged category in the 2012 Odisha Joint Entrance Examination for engineering admission. He submitted a disability certificate from the District Hospital stating a 40% visual impairment, which under the examina…

The debtor defaulted on a bank loan secured by mortgage property, leading to an award for recovery and subsequent auction of the property where the appellant, P.M. Abubakar, was the highest bidder. The debtor failed to deposit the awarded amount and did not file the statutory application under Rule 38(4) to set aside t…

Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) issued a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) that required earnest money to be furnished by an irrevocable bank guarantee in a specific format. The joint‑venture consortium (JVC) submitted a bank guarantee in a different format and CCL rejected its bid as non‑responsive. JVC challenged the rej…

The appellants and respondents are beneficiaries of a family trust created by a deed that contains clause 20, which purports to refer any disputes among beneficiaries to arbitration under the Indian Arbitration Act, 1996. The respondents filed an application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 199…

The appellant Brij Lal, a government employee, and his co‑accused Kashi Ram, armed with pistols, went to the residence of Mohan Ram where a crowd had gathered to prevent them from killing Mohan Lal. Brij Lal fired at the unarmed crowd, causing the deaths of Om Prakash, Sultan Bhat and Munni Devi, and injuries to others…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Firoz Khan, who was charged with murdering an 11‑year‑old girl under Section 302 IPC. The Sessions Court had acquitted him on the basis of a benefit of doubt. The State filed an application for leave to appeal under Section 378(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, but the …

The Chamoli District Co-operative Bank dismissed its Branch Manager, Raghunath Singh Rana, after issuing a fresh charge‑sheet in 1993 without conducting a disciplinary inquiry as required by Regulation 85 of the Uttar Pradesh Co‑operative Societies Employees Service Regulations, 1975. The employee challenged the dismis…

The petitioners, private medical colleges, sought a direction that admissions for the 2016-17 academic session in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses be made solely on the basis of the Common Entrance Test conducted by the APDMC, and requested an extension of the examination deadline to 31 March 2016. The Court…

In a land acquisition case, the Supreme Court examined whether interest on enhanced compensation under Section 28 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 could be denied for the period during which the reference proceedings were stayed at the appellant's instance. The trial court had refused interest for that period, reasoni…

The Supreme Court examined whether Gujarat's municipal tax provisions could levy a tax on mobile telephone towers. The petitioners (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation) argued that mobile towers are not "land or building" under Entry 49 of List II of the Seventh Schedule, rendering the tax ultra‑violet. The Court interpret…

The Supreme Court admitted a batch of writ petitions challenging the demonetisation notification of 8 November 2016 and issued interim directions. It examined the legality of the RBI's power to demonetise under the Reserve Bank of India Act and its compatibility with constitutional provisions. The Court considered the …

The petitioners, Lalita Ramesh Lase and others, claimed to be protected tenants of certain agricultural plots under the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1948, invoking Section 70(B) and seeking declaration of status dating back to the Tiller's Day of 1 April 1957. Their applications, initially approved by the …

The Supreme Court examined the true nature of Section 1OA of the Income‑Tax Act, 1961, as amended by the Finance Acts of 2000 and 2003, to determine whether it confers an exemption or a deduction and at what stage the benefit should be applied. The Court considered whether the provision falls within the computation of …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI) could be applied in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The High Court had held that key provisions of SARFAESI were ultra‑vires Parliament because they conflicted with Sectio…

The Supreme Court examined the selection process for Additional District Judges in Jharkhand, where 50% of posts were filled by promotees on merit‑cum‑seniority and the remaining 50% were to be split equally between promotion through a Limited Competitive Examination and direct recruitment from the Bar. The petitioners…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, which permits the traditional bull-taming sport of Jallikattu. The Court held that the Act collides with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 because it allows the taming of bulls for entertainment, contrary…

The Supreme Court examined whether members of the managing committees of cooperative credit societies, which were subject to winding‑up proceedings under Section 107 of the Gujarat Co‑operative Societies Act, could vote in elections for Agricultural Produce Market Committee members as prescribed by Section 11(1)(i) of …

The appellant, Tattu Lodhi, was convicted of kidnapping, rape, and murder of a seven‑year‑old girl. The trial court relied on circumstantial evidence, including the victim's last seen with the accused, forensic evidence of blood on a gunny bag and clothing, and a post‑mortem report showing injuries consistent with sexu…

J.K. Lakshmi Cement Ltd. appealed against the Commercial Tax Officer, Pali, contending that it could claim a dual benefit – the partial exemption under Notification dated 06.05.1986 and the reduced 6% tax rate under Notification dated 21.01.2000 – relying on a 1994 circular that had been withdrawn in 2001. The Court ex…

The respondent, a senior assistant of State Bank of India, was alleged to have caused a loss of over Rs.44 lakh by facilitating fraudulent credit and misplacing clearing instruments in May 2006. A criminal case under Sections 409 and 34 of the IPC was filed in 2007, but the trial progressed slowly, with only three of e…

M/s Shasun Chemicals and Drugs Ltd., a pharmaceutical manufacturer, raised funds through a public issue of shares to finance expansion and R&D. It claimed amortisation of the share‑issue expenses under Section 35D (formerly Section 350) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for ten years at one‑tenth each, and also claimed dedu…

The appellants shipped men's apparel consignments to American Consolidation Services Ltd. (ACS), which acted as an agent of the buyer, Zip Code Inc., a subsidiary of Coronet Group Inc. The goods were delivered to Zip Code Inc. without payment being made to the bank, leading the appellants to claim compensation under th…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a Uttar Pradesh Government Order that reserved 30% of postgraduate medical degree seats for in‑service doctors, a scheme challenged as violative of Regulation 9 of the Medical Council of India (MCI) Post‑Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000. The Court held that Regulat…

The case concerned whether an arbitrator could award pendente lite interest when the underlying contract expressly barred interest on delayed payments. The dispute arose from a construction contract between the Union of India and M/s. Ambica Construction, which had undergone multiple arbitrations and court intervention…

Nandram, employed by Garware Polyester Ltd. in Aurangabad, was transferred to Pondicherry and later terminated when the company decided to close its Pondicherry unit, a decision taken at the registered office in Aurangabad. He filed a complaint before the Labour Court at Aurangabad, which the company challenged on the …

Consolidation proceedings under the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948 were completed in 1976 in Village Karala, Delhi. After a lapse of 23 years, respondents 4‑7 filed an application under Section 43A seeking allotment of land, claiming the appellant's father had been in pos…

The appellants, Jaidevinder Singh and three family members, had land acquired twice by the Amritsar Improvement Trust under the Punjab Town Improvement Trust Act, 1922. After the first acquisition (1972) they were allotted 250 sq yds each as "local displaced persons" under the 1975 Utilisation of Land and Allotment of …

The plaintiff Shailendra Prasad Srivastava filed a suit for declaration of title over certain lands against Baidya Nath Prasad Verma, which the trial court dismissed. The High Court, acting as the first appellate court, reversed the trial court's decision and decreed in favour of the plaintiff, but it neither framed sp…

Bhushan Power & Steel Ltd. sought a mining lease for iron ore to feed its steel plant. The State of Odisha had earlier agreed, under an MoU, to recommend the petitioner's case to the Central Government, but the Supreme Court found that the State had complied by sending its recommendation. The petitioner argued that a 2…

The Supreme Court examined the presence of retail liquor shops on national and state highways after the Union Government, through expert bodies and advisories, highlighted the danger of drunken driving on these roads. The petitioners (State of Tamil Nadu and other states) sought a blanket prohibition on granting licenc…

Retired Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju posted Facebook remarks calling Mahatma Gandhi a British agent and Subhash Chandra Bose an agent of Japanese fascism. Both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha passed resolutions condemning his statements. Katju filed a writ petition under Articles 32 and 19(1)(a) seeking to quash t…

The University of Agricultural Sciences advertised three Assistant Professor posts in Sericulture. The Selection Committee prepared a merit list placing J. Ashoka (appellant) at the top, followed by other candidates. The Board of Regents, however, appointed Dr. Fathima Sadathulla (respondent No.3) and another candidate…

Vijay Shankar Mishra, an officer of the Army Medical Corps, was discharged under Rule 13(3) Table III(v) of the Army Rules, 1954 on the ground of unsatisfactory conduct and was denied a disability pension. He had accrued six red‑ink entries and had served 13 years 8 months, short of the 15‑year qualifying period for pe…

The Supreme Court examined a contempt petition filed after the respondent, Balbir, evaded arrest by remaining admitted in a private hospital for 527 days without medical justification, despite a Supreme Court order cancelling his bail and directing his surrender. The Court found that the respondent deliberately used th…

The appellant, a Muslim airman, applied to retain his beard on religious grounds but was ordered to shave under Air Force policy. He was discharged after refusing, and his writ petition challenging the order was dismissed by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether Regulation 425(b) of the Armed Fo…

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and other NGOs filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking enforcement of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and its 1995 Rules, alleging widespread non‑implementation by State and Central authorities. They pleaded for directions…

The petitioners, originally engaged as daily‑wage workers in Madhya Pradesh, were classified as "permanent employees" under the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules, 1963, and obtained court orders directing that their pay be fixed in the regular pay‑scale of the posts. The State Government, how…

The case concerned the death of Kishan Sikand, who was killed by a parcel bomb on 2 October 1982. The prosecution alleged that Lt. Col. S.J. Chaudhary, the ex‑husband of Rani Chaudhary, manufactured the bomb out of motive to prevent her living with Sikand. The trial court convicted Chaudhary under Section 302 IPC and S…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Sanjay Kumar, the paternal uncle of a nine‑year‑old girl, who was convicted by a trial court for raping the girl under IPC s.376(2)(j) and for criminal intimidation under s.506. The High Court set aside the conviction, relying on the three‑year delay in filing the…

Centrotrade Minerals & Metal Inc. and Hindustan Copper Ltd. entered into a contract containing Clause 14, which provided for a two‑tier arbitration: first before the Indian Council of Arbitration and, if dissatisfied, a second "appeal" arbitration in London under ICC rules. A dispute arose; the Indian arbitrator gave a…

The appeal arose from a summary suit filed by IDBI Trusteeship Services Ltd., a debenture trustee, to enforce an unconditional corporate guarantee issued by Hubtown Ltd. (formerly Ackruti City Ltd.) on behalf of its subsidiary Vinca. The plaintiff alleged defaults on debentures issued by Amazia and Rubix, while the def…

The dispute concerned benefits under a retirement deed and a partnership deed of a beedi‑manufacturing firm, both containing arbitration clauses. The defendants filed an application under Section 8(1) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking to refer the matter to arbitration, but did not attach the origin…

Dhirendra Pal Singh, a retired Assistant Store Superintendent of Uttar Pradesh, had 30% of his gratuity and pension withheld on the ground of alleged stock discrepancies. No departmental enquiry under Article 351‑A of the Uttar Pradesh Civil Service Regulations was ever initiated, and the document relied upon was dated…

The Union of India sought payment under bank guarantees issued by exporters for extra‑long‑staple cotton exports. The guarantees, dated 31‑Jan‑1996, contained a clause that extinguished the bank's liability if a claim was not made within three months of the guarantee's expiry. The Textile Commissioner invoked the guara…

The Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (NMRCL) invited bids for a viaduct and disqualified the joint venture GYT‑TPL on the ground that its experience on an inter‑city high‑speed railway in China did not satisfy the tender’s requirement of experience in "metro civil construction work" with a minimum contract value of I…

The Supreme Court examined the acquisition of agricultural lands by the Karnataka State Government for Trinity House Building Co‑operative Society, which had hired a middleman, M/s Srinivasa Enterprises, to secure the acquisition in its favour. The Court found that no housing scheme had been framed or approved by the G…

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) held an examination for state services, after which certain candidates were selected. Allegations of irregularities in marking answer books led to a petition in the Madras High Court challenging the appointments. The High Court dismissed the petition, but on appeal order…

The appellant was convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC), rape (Sec. 376 IPC), robbery (Sec. 394 read with Sec. 397 IPC) and assault (Sec. 447 IPC) for the assault and death of a 23‑year‑old woman on a moving train. DNA evidence linked the appellant's seminal stains and blood to the victim, establishing the rape beyond dou…

The appellants, industrial units, filed a writ petition seeking a declaration that the orders of the Special Tribunal and Special Court under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982, were not applicable to their properties. They alleged they were not impleaded in the land‑grabbing proceedings and raise…

The Supreme Court examined whether the directors of Gaurav Agrigenetics Ltd. violated Section 12(1B) of the SEBI Act by operating a collective investment scheme without a registration certificate. It held that Section 12(1B) creates an absolute, mandatory bar for new operators from 25‑Jan‑1995 until they obtain a certi…

The Supreme Court examined the selection of principals for degree and postgraduate colleges in Uttar Pradesh, where the Higher Education Services Commission had varied its screening norms and called an excessive number of candidates, some of whom were allegedly ineligible. The petitioners argued that earlier withdrawn …

The petitioners, trustees of a Mumbai charity, sought to sell a tenanted trust property for redevelopment under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 and Regulation 33(7) of the Development Control Regulations for Greater Mumbai, which requires at least 70% irrevocable written consent of the occupiers. The Charity Commissi…

The case concerned an election petition filed by Sharadendu Tiwari challenging the election of Ajay Arjun Singh. The dispute centered on whether the petition was accompanied by an affidavit in the statutory Form 25 as required by the proviso to Section 83(1)(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and whether…

The case arose from the Chikotra irrigation project where the State of Maharashtra first notified land acquisition under Slab III for the benefitted zone and later changed to Slab I, thereby increasing the area of land to be acquired. The petitioners contended that this change required a public notice under Section 13(…

The Union of India appealed against an Armed Forces Tribunal order that quashed a 2009 policy directing the creation of supernumerary Colonel posts for all Army streams and directed the government to allocate 141 additional posts to the Combat Support stream. The respondents, officers commissioned into the Service stre…

The case involved the smuggling of 184 gold biscuits concealed in meal trolleys of a Lufthansa flight, discovered by customs officers in 1996. Co‑accused Varyam Singh and Ranbir Singh named Pramod Kumar Dhamiya as an investor and participant in the smuggling, but the respondent evaded arrest and was declared a proclaim…

The State of Karnataka appealed the acquittal of the father, mother and brother of Dattaraj in a dowry death case where the victim, Savita, died of burn injuries within seven years of marriage. The trial court had convicted all four accused under Sections 498A, 304B read with Section 34 of the IPC and Sections 3, 4 and…

The case concerned a parcel of Thalavari Inam agricultural land in Kolar district that was sold by the original Inam holders, Muni Papanna and his father, to Nadumpalli Muneppa on 13 May 1971. The land was later re‑granted to the original holder Muni Papanna on 31 March 1982 under the Karnataka Village Offices Act, 196…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute where Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd sought to erect transmission towers on land leased to Century Textiles & Industries Ltd for limestone mining. Century argued that Power Grid lacked prior consent under the Works of Licencees Rules, 2006 and that the towers would render the m…

The appellant Shama was convicted for murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, based primarily on the dying declaration of the deceased, Naurang, recorded by Police Inspector Mam Chand after a medical certification of fitness. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the declaration was improperly reco…

Mears Group Inc., a US company, entered into a contract with Fernas Insaat A.S., a Turkish firm, to perform horizontal directional drilling for a pipeline project in Bangladesh. The work order contained an arbitration clause requiring disputes to be referred to a sole arbitrator appointed by mutual consent, with procee…

Bachpan Bachao Andolan filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union of India to devise and implement a national action plan to curb drug, alcohol and substance abuse among children. The Court noted the alarming rise in substance use among India’s 44 crore children and th…

The dispute concerned the ownership of a house (Survey No. 251/2) in Anjuna, Goa, which the respondents claimed was a permanent grant to their father Vassudev Govekar. The appellants, relatives of the deceased owner, argued that the property actually belonged to their grandfather Jagannath Govekar and had erected a new…

Greaves Cotton Ltd entered into a contract with United Machinery & Appliances that contained an arbitration clause. United Machinery filed a civil suit for loss and damage, and Greaves sought an eight‑week extension to file its written statement while invoking the arbitration clause. The respondent objected, arguing th…

The appellant, Sharad Babu Digumarti, was charged under IPC Sections 292 and 294 and IT Act Section 67 for alleged possession of obscene material in electronic form. He was discharged of the IT Act charge but the trial court framed a charge under IPC Section 292, which the High Court upheld. The Supreme Court examined …

A news report of a security breach at Sanganer Airport led the Rajasthan High Court to take suo moto cognizance and register a public interest writ under Art. 226. While the case was pending, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued a circular exempting certain VVIPs from pre‑embarkation security checks; sub…

The Supreme Court examined whether a magistrate must conduct an enquiry or direct an investigation under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before issuing summons to accused persons residing outside the magistrate's territorial jurisdiction. The case arose from a criminal defamation complaint against the man…

Harsh Kumar Sharma, an IFS officer, faced criminal prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged irregularities in a golf‑course project in a forest area. While his promotion to Chief Conservator of Forests was considered by the Departmental Promotional Committee (DPC), the DPC kept his assessment in a…

Mukul Bhasin and Harshita Bhasin, married in 2007, separated in 2013 and have two minor children aged eight and five. The husband filed a petition under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 for dissolution of marriage and custody, while the wife filed a habeas corpus petition. The Calcutta High Court refused interim custo…

The petitioners, a group of advocates, filed a public‑interest writ under Article 32 seeking a court‑directed mechanism to curb racial discrimination against citizens from India's North‑Eastern states. Citing several media‑reported incidents and invoking Articles 15, 32 and 51A(e) of the Constitution, the International…

The petitioners, working as contractual Systems Officers and Systems Assistants in Gujarat courts, sought the Supreme Court's intervention under Article 32 to challenge a High Court advertisement for new posts and to compel the inclusion of a provision for their absorption into the regular cadre. They also requested a …

The Supreme Court heard a public‑interest writ filed by health‑rights activist Devika Biswas after a 2012 sterilisation camp in Bihar resulted in unsafe, unsanitary procedures and several deaths. The petition sought directions to ensure that sterilisation, a component of the national population‑control programme, is ca…

The appellants were penalised by SEBI for alleged insider‑trading violations involving small share transactions. They contended that the penalty was excessive because the default was merely technical, with no disproportionate gain, loss, or repetitive nature, and argued that Section 15A (as amended in 2002) must be rea…

The Commissioner of Customs cancelled the Customs House Agent (CHA) licence of Mis. K.M. Ganatra & Co. after finding that the licence had been sub‑let to unauthorised persons, facilitating fraudulent export documentation and causing revenue loss. The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, exercising its po…

The Commissioner of Central Excise issued a show‑cause notice to Hindustan National Glass & Industries Ltd., alleging that the company had not added the advance payments received from Coca‑Cola India and PepsiCo India to the assessable value of its glass bottles, thereby depressing the value and evading duty. The adjud…

The appellant, a landowner of 15.53 acres, disputed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated 27‑05‑2013 that the respondents claimed required him to sell half the land. The respondents filed an arbitration application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking appointment of an arbitrator …

The case arose from a fatal road accident in 2008 where a three-wheeler was struck by a truck. The victims' representatives filed claims under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act against the truck's owner, driver, and insurer. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held the insurer liable, finding that the truck driver p…

The State of Gujarat entered into a 20‑year mining lease with the respondents for bauxite extraction. The State later de‑reserved the mining area and sought Central Government permission to impose conditions, including the establishment of a captive plant, under Rule 27(3) of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. When th…

The writ petition filed by V. Vasanthakumar sought a mandamus directing the Supreme Court to consider proposals for establishing National/Regional Courts of Appeal to alleviate the massive backlog and improve access to justice. The petitioner argued that the Supreme Court has increasingly functioned as a regular appell…

Northern Coalfield Ltd., a government-owned corporation, entered into two contracts with Heavy Engineering Corp. Ltd. which contained an arbitration clause. Disputes were referred to the Government's "permanent machinery of arbitration" and awards were made, which Northern Coalfield challenged before the Law Secretary …

Three naval personnel (AK Singh, UK Singh and DK Singh) were accused of a bank robbery at the Andhra Bank counter in INS Virbahu. The Court Martial convicted AK and UK, dismissing them with disgrace, while the Armed Forces Tribunal later affirmed their convictions based on eyewitness testimony of the bank manager (PW‑1…

The case arose from political turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh where the Governor, without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, preponed the 6th session of the Legislative Assembly from 14 January 2016 to 16 December 2015 and issued a message directing the manner of proceedings, including the removal of the Spea…

The petitioner filed contempt petitions alleging that the respondents, including state transport authorities and the contractor M/s Utsav Safety Systems Pvt. Ltd., failed to implement the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) scheme in accordance with Supreme Court orders dated 8 December 2011, which prohibit sub‑co…

The Supreme Court examined a land‑acquisition case where the Haryana Urban Development Authority had notified acquisition of land for a public purpose, but a private builder, Uddar Gagan Properties Ltd., entered into agreements with farmers after the notification and obtained licences and release orders to develop a co…

The State, represented by the CBI, appealed against a High Court order that struck down a tender of pardon granted by a Metropolitan Magistrate to five approvers in a corruption case triable by a Special Judge. The prosecution had filed a charge‑sheet before the Magistrate and obtained a pardon under Section 306 of the…

Eitzen Bulk A/S and Ashapura Minechem Ltd entered into a charter party that contained an arbitration clause specifying London as the seat and English law as the governing law. A dispute arose and was arbitrated in London, resulting in an award against Ashapura. Ashapura sought to set aside the award in India under Sect…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (criminal defamation) and Section 199 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The petitioners argued that criminal defamation infringes the freedom of speech guaranteed under Article …

The Supreme Court was approached by a consortium of banks that had financed the Kundli‑Manesar‑Palwal Expressway project, seeking directions to ensure that the newly appointed concessionaire would assume the outstanding loan liabilities of the outgoing concessionaire. The Court noted that ordering such a variation of t…

The Supreme Court heard a public‑interest writ petition filed by Swaraj Abhiyan seeking comprehensive food‑security measures for persons affected by drought, including provision of food grains, dal, edible oil and enhanced mid‑day meals. The petitioners argued that the non‑implementation of the National Food Security A…

The Supreme Court heard a public‑interest petition filed by SwaraJ Abhiyan seeking proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA). The petitioners alleged that the Union and State governments imposed an informal cap on the labour budget, delayed release of wage and m…

Swaraj Abhiyan filed a public‑interest writ petition seeking higher monetary relief for crop loss, effective management of fodder banks and loan restructuring for farmers affected by drought. The Union of India contended that the relief amounts and related schemes are governed by the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and e…

The appellant, a permanent driver at DAV Public School, was declared surplus and retrenched by the school’s Managing Committee in 2003. The school served a notice under Section 25F(a) of the Industrial Disputes Act but failed to send the statutory notice to the appropriate government authority under Section 25F(c) and …

Pallav Sheth was convicted by a Special Court under Section 10 of the Special Court (Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities) Act, 1992 for dishonestly misappropriating 20,000 shares and refusing to pay the agreed price of Rs.83 lakh to Canara Bank. The Special Court also ordered a civil decree of Rs.5…

The plaintiff filed a suit seeking a declaration that a municipal survey Khatiyan was null and void. The defendants moved to frame a preliminary issue that the suit was barred by res judicata and that there was no cause of action. The trial court dismissed the suit on those grounds without formally framing any issue. T…

After the Coimbatore serial blasts, a conspiracy by thirteen accused in two groups was hatched to murder Dr. Sridhar, a BJP town secretary. Six accused (A1‑A6) formed one group and attacked the doctor on 2 February 1999, while A7 stood nearby unarmed; the doctor’s daughter (PW I) and neighbour PW 65 witnessed the assau…

T. Kocha, claiming membership of the Thandan community (a Scheduled Caste in Kerala), was appointed as a High School Assistant on 3 February 1989 under the SC reservation. Later a vigilance inquiry concluded she belonged to the Ezhava/Thiyya community and therefore was not a Scheduled Caste, leading to a show‑cause not…

The respondent, a jewellery retailer, insured its stock under a jewellers block policy issued by United India Insurance. A burglary occurred at night, and the stolen items were kept in the shop's display window and out of the safe. The insurer denied the claim, relying on the notes to clauses 4 and 5 of the proposal fo…

GAIL (India) Ltd. denied access to its natural gas pipeline’s common carrier capacity on a ‘ship or pay’ basis, while the second respondent sought access on a ‘reasonable endeavour’ basis. The respondent filed a complaint before the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), which held that GAIL’s practice was…

The appellant, B.H. Khawas, was appointed as a Chemical Examiner in the Customs and Central Excise Department on a provisional basis subject to verification of his Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. After the Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee determined that he did not belong to the Halba ST but to the Koshti community, h…

The appellant, Kala (Chandrakala), was convicted along with her father for the murder of her husband Murugesan, alleged to have been strangled with a saree and his body disposed under a canal bridge. The prosecution's case rested on circumstantial evidence, an extra‑judicial confession made by the appellant to the dece…

The petitioners, migrants from Jammu & Kashmir, organized a peaceful march to Delhi to press for relief measures, but were stopped near Katra where police used lathi charge and tear‑gas, beating the petitioners even after the crowd was dispersed. The petitioners claimed violations of Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22 of the C…

The case concerned agricultural land held by Teegala Shivaiah, a protected tenant under the Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1950. After his death, his heirs obtained a succession certificate and a restoration order for possession, but the appellants claimed ownership based on a series of sales by the orig…

Mulin Sharma, an assistant teacher, was compelled to resign under intimidation by school officials. The High Court reinstated him, finding the resignation involuntary, but denied back wages, prompting an appeal. The Supreme Court examined whether the appellant proved he was unemployed during the period from 23 May 1998…

Talaulicar & Sons obtained environmental clearance on 25‑Nov‑2005 for expanding an iron‑ore mine, subject to a two‑year condition to submit a hydrogeological study. After submitting the report, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on 18‑Oct‑2007 deleted the two‑year limitation, effectively extending the clear…

The State of Jharkhand issued a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for the construction of the Kharkai Dam. After a pre‑bid meeting ten firms participated, but stringent clauses reduced the field to three bidders, of whom only M/s CWE‑SOMA was responsive. The tender committee, invoking clause 4.18(d) of the Central Vigilance…

The State of Maharashtra created 471 posts of Legal Advisors, Law Officers and Law Instructors and, through Government Resolutions dated 21‑08‑2006 and 15‑09‑2006, declared that these posts would be filled on a contractual basis with a maximum of three eleven‑month terms. The respondents, after serving their contractua…

The case concerned a senior judicial officer, R.R. Parekh, who was dismissed from service after two disciplinary inquiries found him guilty of misconduct for awarding sentences below the statutory minimum under Section 135 of the Customs Act, allegedly motivated by corrupt or oblique motives. The High Court had revisit…

Parag Bhat, alleged to be a juvenile, claimed minority based on school certificates, but the certificates were found forged or doubtful. The Juvenile Justice Board, after noting the discrepancies, referred the matter to a medical board which, through ossification tests, determined the appellant to be about 19 years old…

The appellant, Rambraksh (Accused No.2), was convicted under IPC sections 302 read with 34 and 201 for the murder of Ramsevak. The prosecution's case relied solely on circumstantial evidence and the "last seen" theory, asserting that the deceased was last seen with the appellant on 7 October 1992 and his skeletal remai…

The petitioner, Sujatha Ravi Kiran, filed a complaint alleging physical and mental cruelty, sexual abuse and wife‑swapping by her naval officer husband, his family and five other naval officers, leading to FIR No.260/2013 in Kerala. The husband’s anticipatory bail was denied and the Kerala High Court ordered a special …

Mis GTC Industries Ltd., a sick company under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985, was placed under a BIFR‑sanctioned rehabilitation scheme (SS‑02) that provided, among other reliefs, a provision to "consider" waiving interest and penalty. The scheme ran from 31 Mar 2003 to 31 Mar 2011, but the…

The Punjab Public Service Commission advertised 52 posts of Punjab Civil Services (Judicial Branch) in 2007‑08, with 27 General and 25 reserved seats. After the examination, 27 General, 10 SC and 5 OBC candidates joined, and the remaining eight reserved posts were de‑reserved; seven of these were filled by General cand…

Jeeja Ghosh, a person with cerebral palsy, was forcibly de‑boarded from a SpiceJet flight on 19 February 2012 despite having requested assistance only for her baggage. She alleged that the airline’s action violated the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, the Aircraft Rules, 1937, Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) 2008…

The appellants, who had secured admission to medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh through the Pre‑Medical Entrance Test (PMT), challenged the cancellation of their results and admissions on the grounds that the Vyapam Board was not validly constituted under the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board Act, 2007 and …

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) leased a plot to Balraj Virmani for 20 years with an option to renew for another 20 years. The lessee breached lease conditions, was served notice, and after the lease expired on 10‑08‑1968 the DDA issued a termination notice on 01‑09‑1972. The lessee later sold the property to M/s…

The case arose from the murder of Tamanna Khatoon, for which her husband Mukhtar filed an FIR against two accused. During investigation, witnesses under Section 164 of the CrPC alleged that Mukhtar himself killed his wife. The CJM took cognizance of the murder and related offences after reviewing the charge‑sheet and s…

The appellant, a landlord, obtained an eviction order and a decree for monthly compensation against the tenant (respondent No.1) under Section 13A(2) of the Bombay Rent Act, 1947. After possession was handed over, the tenant failed to pay the compensation and purportedly transferred the flat to her daughter (respondent…

Hindustan Unilever Ltd. and five others were charged under Section 16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act for allegedly selling adulterated Kesar Pista ice‑cream. The Public Analyst’s report declared the sample adulterated, but one co‑accused invoked the right under Section 13(2) of the PFA Act to have a s…

V. Sejappa, a public servant, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for allegedly demanding and receiving Rs 5,000 as bribe to issue a No‑Objection Certificate for a pension claim. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the prosecution failed to prove a demand and that the sanction order was def…

Kedar Mishra, a co‑sharer and raiyat, claimed right of pre‑emption under Section 16(3) of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act for three parcels sold by his brother. He deposited the required ten percent of the purchase price, but the treasury challan recorded the deposi…

Tata Steel Ltd. had been granted an eight‑year sales‑tax exemption under the Bihar Industrial Policy (1995‑2000) and enjoyed the benefit from August 2000 to March 2006. When the Jharkhand Value Added Tax Act, 2005 came into force, the exemption was withdrawn and the company applied to convert the remaining exemption pe…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and Other Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1969 and the Grocery Markets or Shops Unprotected Workers Scheme, 1970 could be applied to Pepsico India Holding Ltd., which manufactures petro‑chemical products, soft drinks and bottle…

The case concerned the murder of Rajendra Rajaram Gupta during a Ganesh festival, where the prosecution alleged that two accused opened fire on the victim and an injured eyewitness. The trial court convicted five accused based on the testimonies of five eye‑witnesses and test identification parades (TIPs). On appeal, t…

The case concerned the murder of two persons in a road‑accident‑turned‑firing incident, for which twelve accused were charged under various IPC sections including s.149 for conspiracy. The trial court convicted them based on six eye‑witness testimonies, alleged recovery of weapons, and a purported conspiracy. On appeal…

The appellant corporation’s bus collided with a motorcyclist, leading to a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded Rs.24,73,252, which the corporation appealed to the Allahabad High Court under Section 173 of the Act. The High Court dismissed the appeal witho…

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd., a Government of India undertaking, awarded a transport contract to Prathyusha Resources & Infra Pvt. Ltd. The contract was extended and a dispute arose over the base year for price escalation, leading to arbitration where the arbitrator ruled in favour of the respondent. The district court s…

Six members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly were suspended for ten days of the next session and denied salary after a Privileges Committee found them guilty of breaching the House's privileges. They challenged the resolution under Article 32, alleging violations of Articles 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), 14, and 21, and co…

The case involved a joint Hindu family of two brothers, Mahabalaiah and Thimmappa, who partitioned their property in 1940‑41. Thimmappa died leaving a widow (Gowramma) and three daughters. The widow executed a will bequeathing her share to one daughter, prompting another daughter (Sunanda) to sue for her share, claimin…

The Supreme Court heard an appeal by the Medical Council of India against JSS Medical College for flouting its earlier 2012 order. The college had allowed students to continue their MBBS studies despite being directed to halt admissions. The Court allowed the current batch, who had completed four years, to finish their…

The Supreme Court, by a 9-judge bench, answered a reference on the interpretation of Articles 301-304 of the Constitution concerning the validity of entry taxes levied by states. The majority held that taxes simpliciter are not within the contemplation of Part XIII of the Constitution, and the word 'free' in Article 30…

The petitioners filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking emergency relief from the severe air‑pollution in the National Capital Region caused by the widespread use of fireworks during Diwali and the marriage season. They alleged that the pollution breached fundamental rights, especially the right to life and heal…

The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) advertised a Teacher (Primary) post for Municipal Corporation of Delhi schools in 2009 with an age limit of 20-27 years. Praveen Kumar was declared ineligible as over‑age and challenged the decision, relying on a Delhi High Court judgment in Sachin Gupta that had g…

The Supreme Court examined whether iron and steel reinforcement used in building works contracts retains its identity as "declared goods" under the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, and consequently whether it is taxable at the restricted 4% rate prescribed in Section 15. The Court held that the 46th Constitution Amendment …

Rekhaben, the wife of the accused, died from severe burn injuries and gave dying declarations to a police officer, an executive magistrate, and orally to her father. In the statements to the police and magistrate she identified an unknown outsider as the assailant and did not name her husband, whereas her father’s oral…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appealed against the Securities Appellate Tribunal’s (SAT) order that set aside penalties imposed on M/s Opee Stock‑Link Ltd. and others for illegal off‑market trading of IPO shares. The shares of Jet Airways India Ltd. and Infrastructure Development Finance Co. were ov…

The Estate Officer of Chandigarh cancelled the allotment of a six‑acre campus site to Esys Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd. after discovering that the company had transferred a major portion of its shares to Esys Global Holdings, Dubai, and subsequently to Teledata Informatics Ltd., without obtaining the permission r…

The Revenue (Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai) challenged the orders of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and the Bombay High Court that set aside a suo motu revision order passed by the Commissioner under section 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The issues were whether a show‑cause notice is a condition precedent to…

The State of Kerala issued a Government Order on 11 July 1986 promising exemption from building tax for hotels set up in the state, and subsequently amended the Kerala Buildings Tax Act, 1975 by inserting Section 3A on 6 November 1990 to give effect to that promise. M/s Manuelsons Hotels Private Limited relied on the p…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of sixteen accused convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for a series of bomb blasts on Indian trains in December 1993. The Court held that Section 20A(1) of TADA makes prior approval of the District Superintendent of Police an absolute pre…

The Cellular Operators Association of India and other telecom service providers challenged the Telecom Consumers Protection (Ninth Amendment) Regulations, 2015, which required service providers to credit Rs 1 to the calling consumer for each call drop (up to three per day). The Delhi High Court upheld the regulations, …

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition filed by Swaraaj Abhiyan seeking a declaration of drought in parts of Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana and relief for affected persons. The petition highlighted that the three states had either not declared drought or had delayed declaration despite evidence of ra…

The Supreme Court entertained review petitions filed against its own 18 July 2013 judgment in the Christian Medical College case. The petitioners argued that the earlier decision ignored binding precedents and was pronounced without intra‑bench discussion. The Court, invoking the principle from Sheonandan Paswan that a…

The appellant, K.S. Joseph, was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing bounced cheques. He challenged the magistrate's order of cognizance and issuance of summons on three grounds: the alleged non‑compliance with Section 200 of the CrPC requiring solemn affirmation, the delay of 62‑63 d…

The petitioners sought a writ of mandamus directing the Uttar Pradesh government to collect quantitative data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in its services, arguing that such data is a condition precedent for exercising the reservation in promotion power under Articles 16(4‑A), 16(4‑B) and 335 of the Constit…

The appellant, Tekan alias Tekram, was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping a blind, illiterate girl after promising marriage. The trial and High Court upheld the conviction, finding the prosecution proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The appellant appealed, challenging both the conviction and the sentence of s…

The appeal concerned whether a holder of a licence to drive a light motor vehicle (LMV) must obtain a separate endorsement to drive a transport vehicle that falls within the LMV weight class. The Court examined the definitions of "light motor vehicle" and "transport vehicle" under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the effe…

Sciemed Overseas Inc. was awarded a contract for a medical oxygen system by the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, which BOC India challenged. During the pendency of the litigation, Sciemed filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court claiming the work was near completion, a claim later found to be false. The High …

The State of Assam appealed the Gauhati High Court’s order that acquitted Ramen Dowarah of rape (s.376 IPC) and reduced his murder conviction (s.302 IPC) to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (s.304 Part II) on the basis that the sexual intercourse was consensual and the fire‑setting was a spur‑of‑the‑moment act…

The Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking that the legislature impose chemical castration as an additional punishment for perpetrators of rape against girl children. The petition highlighted alarming incidents of child sexual abuse and argued that the Indian Penal Code d…