Judgments of 2016

The Supreme Court was asked by the President, under Article 143, to opine on the constitutional validity of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004, which sought to terminate the 1981 Punjab‑Haryana‑Rajasthan water‑sharing agreement and nullify Supreme Court decrees ordering completion of the Sutlej‑Yamuna Link …

Manganese Ore India Ltd. challenged the levy of a 40% electricity duty on its ferro‑manganese plant, arguing that the plant’s activities constitute manufacturing, not "processing" as defined in Explanation (b) of Part B of the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Duty Act, 1949. The State contended that the plant fell within the…

The Supreme Court examined two civil appeals arising from the acquisition of land for the expansion of the Uttarakhand Secretariat. The State of Uttarakhand invoked the urgency clause under Section 17(4) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, initially dispensing with the opportunity to object under Section 5A, but later a…

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi challenged the liability of North Delhi Power Ltd (now Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd) to pay property tax on an 8,080‑sq‑metre plot. The dispute centered on whether the land, transferred under the Delhi Electricity Reforms Act, 2000 and its Transfer Scheme Rules, belonged to the G…

The appeal arose from a dowry‑death case where the police report did not name the parents of the deceased as accused. The complainant sought cognizance against them under Sections 304‑B and 498‑A IPC. The Judicial Magistrate of First Class rejected the application and committed the case to the Sessions Court for trial …

The appellant, Mukul Sharma, entered into a sale deed with Orion India for a specified built‑up area of a building. A dispute arose over whether the term "built‑up area" included common areas such as lifts, corridors and lobbies. Initially the plaintiff understood it to include common areas, but later raised a dispute …

The appellants, owners of agricultural land adjacent to the Mazum dam, claimed compensation for loss of fruit‑bearing trees after the State of Gujarat released 60,000 cusecs of water from the dam during heavy monsoon rains. The respondents argued that the release was necessitated by an act of God and was in the public …

The appellant, an Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department, issued a letter dated 9 June 1992 that the prosecution termed a "stage certificate" for a Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) construction project. Payments amounting to 50% of the contract value were subsequently released to the contractor, A‑3. The trial co…

The respondents were convicted by the Special Court for Economic Offences for failing to pay contributions under the Employees' State Insurance Corporation Act, 1948 and were sentenced to imprisonment until further order and a fine of Rs 1,000. The corporation appealed, contending that Section 85(a)(i)(b) mandates a mi…

Charanjit Kaur filed a criminal complaint under Sections 498A, 406 and 1208 of the IPC alleging dowry harassment and criminal conspiracy by her husband, Bikram Singh. The trial court convicted the husband and sentenced him to one year imprisonment for each offence, with a fine of Rs.1,000. The Sessions Court dismissed …

The Supreme Court upheld its earlier order directing demolition of the unauthorized floors of a multi‑storeyed building constructed by Saket Housing Ltd. in Patna, noting massive deviations from the sanctioned plan, including excess floors and FAR. The petitioners, owners of flats in the building, sought to have the so…

Indrani Wahi, the sole nominee of her deceased father Biswa Ranjan Sengupta under Section 79 of the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 1983, sought transfer of his cooperative society share. The Deputy Registrar refused, contending that a married daughter did not fall within the definition of "family" under Rule 1…

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) acquired land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, but the original owner retained actual possession and later sold the parcel to N. Jayamma in 1994. Jayamma built a house and, after more than twelve years, sued for a declaration of title on the basis of adverse possession. Th…

The appellant, Hamant Yashwant Dhage, filed a complaint and sought registration of an FIR for a cognizable offence. The Judicial Magistrate refused to register the FIR, prompting the appellant to approach the High Court via a writ petition, which also declined to direct registration. The Supreme Court, recalling its ea…

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu challenging the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. The core issue was whether Article 262(2) of the Constitution together with Section 11 and Section 6(2) of the Inter‑State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 bars the Court’s powe…

The appellant, Alcon Electronics, challenged the execution in India of an English Court order that dismissed its jurisdictional plea and ordered it to pay costs of £12,229.75. The central question was whether such an interlocutory order is a conclusive foreign judgment under Section 13 of the CPC and whether it qualifi…

On 10 February 1994, a group of accused assembled unlawfully in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, and attacked the family of the deceased Rajendran, killing eight persons including a one‑year‑old child. The trial court convicted the accused under various provisions of the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment for each …

The dispute concerned CTS No.1674/1, a parcel of Government land in Ramdurg claimed by two educational trusts for use as a playground. The Assistant Commissioner initially granted the land to Vidya Prasarak Samithi, but BVVS appealed and the matter went through multiple administrative and judicial forums. The Karnataka…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by HDFC Securities Ltd. and its officers challenging the registration of an FIR and a magistrate’s order under Section 156(3) of the CrPC directing police investigation into alleged unauthorized trades. The appellants argued that the order caused irreparable injury and should be q…

The case concerned Mahavir Singh, who was convicted by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh for murder under Section 302 IPC, overturning an acquittal by the trial court. The prosecution's case relied on the statements of several eyewitnesses, the seizure of a gun and cartridges from the accused, and alleged enmity between…

The Supreme Court of India, in Civil Appeal No. 4715 of 2011 (State Bank of India & Ors. v. Neelam Nag & Anr.), issued a correction to its earlier judgment dated 16 September 2016. The correction clarifies that the name "Neelam Nag" in the cause title should read "Neelam Nag & Anr." and that every occurrence of the wor…

The case concerned the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to relax the qualifying marks in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) by 5% for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and other disadvantaged groups. The petitioners challenged the relaxation on grounds of lack of statut…

The Supreme Court examined the meaning of Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The case involved land notified for acquisition in 1961, an award made in 1997, possession taken in 2000, and compensation that was deposited with th…

The appellant Pankaj was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and Section 3 read with Section 25 of the Arms Act for allegedly shooting his brother-in-law Raj Kumar, who later died. The prosecution's case rested on the sole eye‑witness testimony of the victim's brother (PW‑8) and corroboration by…

Vijay Kumar Mishra and another, who had qualified for the Subordinate Judicial Service of Bihar, applied for the District Judge Entry Level (Direct from Bar) interview but were barred by the Patna High Court on the ground of Article 233(2) of the Constitution, which it interpreted to prohibit their participation in the…

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL) appealed against the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity’s order that Essar Power Ltd. (EPL) had no contractual duty to declare its generating capacity on a 300 MW : 215 MW (58 % : 42 %) basis. The Supreme Court examined the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and held that the agreement…

The case concerned HCL Infosystem Ltd., a co‑accused in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam, where the sole public servant co‑accused had died before any charge was framed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act). The issue was whether the Special Judge appointed under s.3(1) of the PC Act could …

Private unaided medical and dental colleges, along with some states, sought modification of the Supreme Court's order directing that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) be conducted for the 2016-17 academic year. The Court examined whether the NEET regulation infringed on the constitutional rights of stat…

The appellant, the Commissioner of Income Tax, challenged the deduction claimed by M/s. Meghalaya Steels Ltd. of Rs.2,74,09,386 as subsidies (transport, interest, power, insurance) under Sections 80‑IB and 80‑IC of the Income Tax Act. The issue was whether such subsidies constitute "profits and gains derived from busin…

The appellants, dispossessed of their land on 1 July 1984, sought interest for the period until the notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was issued on 2 September 1993. The Supreme Court examined earlier decisions which held that while statutory interest under the Act is not payable, land o…

Shakuntala Yadav and others owned 1.48 acres of land in village Sahaul, Gurgaon, and applied for release of the land under Section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, claiming it fell within the Lal Dora area. The High Powered Committee rejected the request, stating that possession of the land had already been taken …

The dispute involved Mis Ansal Housing and Construction Ltd (the developer) and the allottees regarding stamp duty liability under Sections 33 and 47A of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, in connection with a bipartite agreement between the State of Uttar Pradesh and the developer and a tripartite agreement among the State, …

Petitioner Pratibha Ramesh Patel filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the constitutionality of sections 2, 12 and 15(a) of the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012, which incorporated cooperative societies within the SARFAESI regime. The sam…

The petitioners filed a writ petition alleging deplorable conditions at Asha Kiran Home, a Delhi Government-run facility for persons with disabilities, and suggested remedial measures. The Delhi High Court directed a joint meeting, accepted the Government's report of actions taken, and disposed of the petition without …

The State of Jammu & Kashmir appealed against two orders of the High Court issued in a public‑interest litigation concerning the construction of a district court complex. The High Court, while hearing the PIL, directed the State to regularise 209 daily‑rated workers employed in the High Court and district courts, treat…

The dispute concerned the commercial operation date (COD) of Unit‑3 of the Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) dated 7‑8‑2007. The procurers alleged that the generator had not met the PPA’s requirement of operating at least 95% of the contracted capacity for 72 consecutive hours, and t…

The Supreme Court considered whether the State Bank of India (SBI), acting on a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directive to purchase Exim scrips (formerly replenishment licences) at a 20% premium and subsequently cancel them, was liable to purchase tax under the Bengal Finance (Sales Tax) Act, 1941. The revenue argued tha…

The tenant Bhupinder Singh Bawa occupied a two‑room premises in New Delhi under a rent deed dated 20 July 1989. The landlord Asha Devi, who acquired the property in 2002, filed an eviction petition under Section 14(1)(e) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958, claiming a bona‑fide requirement for her son to run a sanitary…

The Supreme Court heard two writ petitions challenging the implementation of the Pre‑conception and Pre‑natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 and its Rules. The petitioners sought directions for stricter enforcement, a centralised civil‑registration database, training of officials, and al…

Mis. Welspun Projects Ltd. entered into BOT concession agreements with the Government of Punjab for bus terminal projects at Jalandhar and Ludhiana, and executed lease deeds requiring payment of only a Rs.1 annual rent. The Municipal Corporations of Jalandhar and Ludhiana issued house‑tax notices to the company, assert…

The State Bank of Patiala had advanced a term loan of Rs.8 lakh to Mukesh Jain, who defaulted and the bank invoked the SARFAESI Act, issuing a notice under Section 13(2). Jain challenged the SARFAESI proceedings by filing a civil suit, prompting the bank to move an application under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC asserti…

The trial court convicted Nathiya and Suresh under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of Gurunathan, relying on circumstantial evidence and alleged confessional statements. The High Court upheld the conviction, but on appeal the Supreme Court examined the evidence and found no eye‑witness, an in…

The Supreme Court examined whether the State Government of Rajasthan could influence the grant of recognition to private teacher‑training institutions under the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Act, 1993 and its 2014 Regulations. The State argued that its recommendations were binding, while the NCTE conten…

The dispute arose from a contract for earthwork where M/s Harish Chandra & Co. claimed payment for several items and the arbitrator awarded three of the six claims. The State of U.P. challenged the award under Section 30 of the Arbitration Act, 1940, alleging the arbitrator had committed legal misconduct by exceeding t…

Narayanappa filed a Form‑7 application in 1974 seeking occupancy rights over Survey No. 93, which the Karnataka Land Reforms Tribunal rejected in 1981 on the ground that he was not a tenant. After the statutory cut‑off date of 30 June 1979, he later applied to amend the same Form‑7 to claim a different parcel of land (…

The petitioners were temporary employees of PEPSU Roadways who, by a government order dated 16‑10‑1956, were transferred and merged into the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC). The corporation then operated under a Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) scheme and did not provide pension. After PRTC introduced a pensio…

The Commissioner of Central Excise challenged Gujarat Ambuja Exports Ltd.'s claim of a concessional customs duty rate on imported crude palm oil under Notification No. 21/2002-Cus (as amended by Notification No. 66/2004). The importer used the crude oil mainly to produce refined edible oil (about 75% of the output) and…

The appellants, legal heirs of a tenure‑holder, challenged an order dated 13‑Jan‑1975 that declared 51.29 acres of their land surplus under the Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960. An appeal against that order was filed and later dismissed, but the appellants argued that the appeal had abated…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of the Ministry of External Affairs' requirement that Private Tour Operators (PTOs) produce proof of payments for air tickets and accommodation (stipulation (vii) of Annexure A) for each year when seeking allocation of Haj quota. The petitioners, PTOs already registered under Cat…

The petitioners, comprising the Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association and a human‑rights trust, alleged that the Manipur police and Union armed forces carried out fake encounters and extra‑judicial killings of civilians, many of whom were in custody, and that no FIRs were registered. They sought, under A…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition challenging the Government's decision to allow migration of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum to a Unified License (UL) and the imposition of a Rs 1,658 crore migration fee and a 1% spectrum usage charge (SUC) on Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. The petitioners alleged that t…

The State of Kerala granted mining leases for beach‑sand minerals but later stayed them pending an environmental impact study and subsequently rejected the applications, citing its 2007 industrial policy that such minerals be exploited only by State or Central public‑sector undertakings. The respondents filed revision …

Richa Mishra, an Excise Sub‑Inspector, applied for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police and cleared all stages of the competitive examination, but was omitted from the final list because she exceeded the upper age limit of 25 years prescribed in the Chhattisgarh Police Executive (Gazetted) Service Recruitment an…

The appellant, a Branch Manager of Bank of India, was served a charge‑sheet for alleged loan‑disbursement irregularities and was punished by reduction of basic pay. He had applied for voluntary retirement under the Bank's Voluntary Retirement Scheme, 2000, before the scheme's deadline, but the bank accepted his applica…

The Supreme Court had earlier held that there is no reservation in promotion by selection for Group‑A posts (salary up to Rs 5700) in banks, only a concession, but the judgment also contained a contradictory paragraph stating that reservation applies to posts with salary less than Rs 5700 (pre‑revised) and thus directe…

The accused filed an application under Section 408 of the CrPC seeking transfer of a criminal trial from one Additional Sessions Judge to another after the trial had already commenced. The Principal Sessions Judge rejected the petition, holding that he lacked jurisdiction to transfer a case once trial began. The High C…

EIH Ltd. entered into a Technical Services Agreement with Balaji Hotels (BHEL) for operating a hotel, and paid Rs 15.21 crore as financial accommodation. BHEL later obtained financial assistance from IFCI and TFCI, which sold the hotel unit to Robust Hotels under SARFAESI proceedings despite an interim injunction that …

The Supreme Court, recalling its earlier directions in Zorawar Singh v. Gurbax Singh Bains (2015) 2 SCC 572, noted that the State had filed a report under Section 173 of the CrPC after conducting a thorough investigation as directed, and that the Chief Secretary’s inquiry report showed compliance with the Court’s manda…

The appellants Pramod Jain and others made a hostile public offer to acquire 25% of Golden Tobacco Ltd. and later sought to withdraw the offer, alleging that SEBI’s undue delay in approving their draft letter of offer allowed the target company to siphon assets and erode its net worth, defeating the offer’s purpose. SE…

The dispute involved the Sanwalka group, who alleged oppression by the Gupta group after the latter took control of Tin Plate Dealers Association Pvt. Ltd. The Sanwalka group filed a company petition under ss.397/398 of the Companies Act, 1956 challenging the forfeiture of their shares, the issuance of bonus shares out…

The Supreme Court examined the interpretation of Rule 7 of the Customs Tariffs (Identification, Assessment and Collection of Anti‑Dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995, to determine whether the Designated Authority (DA) could claim confidentiality for its own reasons or findings. …

The petitioner, Salam Samarjeet Singh, was the sole candidate to clear the written examination for the District Judge (Entry Level) post under the Manipur Judicial Service Rules, 2005, but was declared unsuccessful in the viva‑voce because the High Court, shortly before the interview, resolved that a minimum of 40% mar…

The appellant, Girish Raghunath Mehta, was convicted under the NDPS Act for selling 30 kg of opium poppy straw to a co‑accused who lacked a licence. The contraband was seized from the co‑accused during a raid, and the appellant’s statement under Section 67 of the Act admitted the sale. The appellant challenged the conv…

The Mis. Alkali Manufacturers Association of India filed a petition under the Anti‑Dumping Rules alleging that caustic soda imported from China and Korea was being dumped, leading to injury to the domestic industry. The Designated Authority (DA) investigated, found dumping, and imposed provisional anti‑dumping duties, …

The appellant was allotted a plot by HUDA but failed to pay the balance instalments, leading to non‑delivery of possession. He filed a complaint before the District Consumer Forum seeking possession, and during the proceedings accepted a 10% refund of the amount paid, a fact he did not disclose. The Forum ordered re‑al…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Saikat Saha under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC, based primarily on the testimony of a single eyewitness, PW‑6, who described how the accused acted in concert to kill the victim. The appellants challenged the conviction, arguing that the sole witness's evide…

The appellants, owners of land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, were awarded Rs 11,000 per cent as compensation by the Land Acquisition Officer. They contended that a comparable parcel of land (document A‑4) had been sold for Rs 17,250 per cent on 27‑Oct‑1986, and that this sale should be considered for e…

The appellant, a bus conductor, was dismissed after a domestic inquiry found him guilty of collecting fare without issuing tickets. The Labour Court set aside the dismissal, holding the inquiry was perverse and violated natural justice, and awarded back wages (50% due to superannuation) and other benefits but denied gr…

The victim Laxman was shot and killed inside his shop on 26 November 2002, with six accused alleged to have entered the shop armed and assaulted him. Five other accused (A2, A4, A7, A8, A11) were alleged to have been standing outside the shop, preventing people from entering or moving along the street. The prosecution …

The appellant husband filed a petition for divorce under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, alleging cruelty by his wife who made false accusations of an extra‑marital affair, threatened suicide, and insisted that he separate from his parents. The Family Court found these acts amounted to mental cruelty…

The Supreme Court examined the definition of "respondent" in Section 2(q) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which limited it to an "adult male person". The Court held that this restriction bore no rational relation to the Act's purpose of protecting women from all forms of domestic violence a…

The appellant, Commissioner of Commercial Tax, Uttar Pradesh, challenged the High Court's decision that bitumen emulsion manufactured by the respondent falls under Entry 22 of Schedule II of the VAT Act, which taxes "bitumen" at 4%. The respondent had earlier sought clarification on the tax rate and was taxed at 12.5% …

Dhariwal Industries Ltd filed a complaint under Sec. 200 CrPC alleging several IPC offences. After the police investigation and filing of a charge‑sheet, the accused applied for discharge under Sec. 239 CrPC. The appellant sought, orally, permission to be heard alongside the Assistant Public Prosecutor at the charge‑fr…

The petitioners alleged that certain public officials abused their positions to facilitate a land transaction and sought quashing of the criminal proceedings initiated under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The High Court had dismissed the petition, holding that the order directing investigation under Section 156(3) C…

The appellant, a successful purchaser at a sealed‑tender sale, sought to enforce a sale certificate issued after the execution of an award under the Multi‑State Co‑operative Societies Act, 1984. The respondents, borrowers, had defaulted on a loan and the property was sold after multiple failed public auctions. The High…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed the High Court's acquittal of Dr. Rajiv Jass, who was convicted by a trial court for murdering his pregnant wife by forcibly administering organophosphorus poison. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including multiple ante‑mortem injuries on the victim, the accused…

The appellant, Prabhakar Vithal Golve, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the fatal assault of a deceased man, allegedly triggered by a minor grievance over a telephonic message. The prosecution failed to establish any motive for the killing, and the evidence showed that the assault was a spontaneous reaction to t…

Mis. Ispat Industries Ltd (IIL) and its sister concern Mis. Ispat Metallics Industries Ltd (IMIL) jointly procured iron ore pellets under a tripartite agreement with the supplier. IIL availed CENVAT credit on the entire quantity and later transferred the pellets to IMIL, reversing the credit and issuing debit notes for…

The appeal concerned a land‑inheritance dispute where the petitioners sought to set aside an order of the Consolidation Officer that rejected their claim to a share of land. The petitioners argued that earlier judgments in a separate proceeding involving the same parties, but concerning a different parcel of land, shou…

The Medical Council of India (MCI) inspected Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) after it sought to admit an additional 50 MBBS students for the 2015-16 academic year. The inspection uncovered serious deficiencies, and the MCI recommended that the Central Government deny the extra seats. The Central Government…

Raj Singh, a Territorial Army (TA) enrollee since 1995, was disembodied on 31 March 2008 and died on 4 August 2008 while in that disembodied state. His wife filed a writ petition seeking family pension, which was denied by the Armed Forces Tribunal on the ground that he had not completed the fifteen years of embodied s…

Standard Chartered Bank filed three complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against ABG Shipyard Ltd. and several of its directors for the dishonour of cheques issued to repay a Rs.200 crore loan. The Metropolitan Magistrate issued summons to the company and the directors, but the Bombay High Cou…

The appellants, five accused persons, were convicted for the murder of Padma Lochan Jena and grievous hurt to two others under Section 302 IPC read with Section 149 IPC. The prosecution proved that all five were present at the scene, armed with deadly weapons, and acted with a common object of revenge stemming from a c…

In the Jessica Lal murder investigation, the police sought a forensic opinion on two .22 cartridges. The appellant, Deputy Director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory, reported that the cartridges were .22 caliber and likely from a pistol, but could not give a definitive opinion on whether they were fired from th…

The dispute arose between two families over irrigation rights and escalated into a violent clash in a court premises on 17 February 1995, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. Darshan Singh, the appellant, was charged with murder (IPC s.302) of Santa Singh and voluntarily causing hurt (IPC s.324) to others, but…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted Patchimala Vigneswarudu for the murder of his wife, alleging he strangled her after a night out, motivated by strained marital relations and suspicion of venereal disease transmission. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC, but the High Court acquitted him, holding t…

Maharao Bhim Singh, the ruler of the former princely State of Kota, owned the Umed Bhawan residential palace, part of which was requisitioned and let out to the Ministry of Defence, generating rent. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether the exemption under Section 10(19A) of the Income‑Tax Act, 1961 and Paragr…

The Supreme Court heard appeals by Prabhu Chawla and Jagdish Upasane challenging a Rajasthan High Court order that dismissed their petitions under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C., on the ground that the same relief could be obtained through a revision petition under Section 397. The Court examined a conflict between two ear…

Larsen & Toubro Ltd., a contractor, executed works contracts and assigned portions of the work to registered sub‑contractors who paid sales tax on their own turnover. The issue was whether the payments made to these sub‑contractors should be included in L&T's total turnover for computing turnover tax under Section 6‑B …

Petitioners filed a public‑interest writ seeking a mandamus directing the Union and several State governments to curb the sale of adulterated and synthetic milk, relying on a 2011 FSSAI report that 68.4% of milk samples nationwide were non‑conforming. The respondents argued that the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 …

The case concerned dealers who claimed Input Tax Credit (ITC) under the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act, 2006. The dispute arose when the State amended Section 19 by inserting sub‑section (20), which required reversal of ITC if goods were sold at a price lower than the purchase price shown in the tax invoice. The amendm…

The plaintiff was required to file a suit by 31 December 2010, the last day of the court's winter vacation. 1 January 2011, a Saturday, was a non‑working day for judges but the registry remained open. The suit was filed on 3 January 2011. The trial court and the High Court held that the filing was within the limitation…

The Commissioner of Income Tax, Kochi appealed against Trans Asian Shipping Services (P) Ltd, which had elected to compute its income under the Tonnage Tax Scheme (TTS) of Chapter XIIG of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The dispute centered on whether income from slot‑charter arrangements, where the company did not own or fu…

The appellant, a tenant of a premises in Trivandrum, held a licence to operate a hardware shop that was originally granted with the landlord's written consent in 2001. When the licence expired, the corporation refused renewal because the landlord did not provide fresh consent. The Tribunal for Local Self Government Ins…

Advocate Mahipal Singh Rana threatened a civil judge in Etah on two occasions, leading the Allahabad High Court to convict him of criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and impose two months' imprisonment, a fine, and a ban on appearing in Etah courts until he purged the contempt. The High Court also …

Mukhtiar Singh, a revenue patwari, demanded Rs.600 from a complainant for a copy of a land record and was caught red‑handed when a police‑laid trap involving phenolphthalein‑treated currency notes was executed. The trial court convicted him under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988,…

The Supreme Court examined several writ petitions filed by army personnel who had been tried by Summary Courts Martial (SCM) convened by Commanding Officers (CO) of units other than the units to which they belonged. The Delhi High Court had held that only the CO of the accused's own unit could convene an SCM, while the…

The case concerned the arrest and alleged illegal detention of Neeraj Kumar between 24‑06‑1999 and 28‑06‑1999 by two Deputy Superintendents of Police, Surinderjit Singh Mand and P.S. Parmar. The prosecution, after obtaining sanction under Section 197 of the CrPC for the later arrest on 28‑06‑1999, sought to take cogniz…

Shyam Lal held an agricultural lease from 29 May 1996 to 28 May 2005, but the lease was not registered. After the lease expired he continued to occupy the land and filed a suit for injunction to restrain the landlord from ousting him. The landlord cross‑claimed a mandatory injunction for vacation, arguing that the tena…

The suit sought partition of three parcels of land that were part of the joint family of the deceased Narayana. The defendant claimed that the first two parcels had been relinquished by the plaintiffs through a village panchayat resolution and receipts, while the third parcel was his self‑acquired property. The trial c…

The petition arose from a tragic incident on 1 February 2011 when over two lakh candidates gathered for an ITBP recruitment drive in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and, after the drive was postponed, many climbed onto the roof of the Himgiri Express. The train, travelling at 75 kmph, struck a low foot‑over‑bridge whose clear…

The Supreme Court examined whether a tariff fixed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is immutable and beyond the review of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC). The Court held that tariff determination is a statutory function of the SERC under Section 86(1)(b) of the Electricity Act, 2003 and is subje…

The petitioners challenged the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission’s Regulation 45‑B, which prescribes a formula for calculating the fuel surcharge adjustment (FSA) and excludes agricultural consumption until metering is completed. They argued that the regulation was ultra vires the Andhra Pradesh Electric…

M/s Gangotri Enterprises Ltd entered into two contracts with North Central Railway: a 2005 earth‑work contract that was later terminated, and a 2006 Anand Vihar works contract for which it furnished a performance bank guarantee. After completing the 2006 work, the contractor sought the return of the guarantee, but the …

The appellant, the younger brother of a constable killed in duty, was appointed as a constable on compassionate grounds to support the deceased's widow and children. He served satisfactorily for fifteen years, during which he continued to maintain the family. The State later terminated his services, contending that a b…

The plaintiff purchased a property from Buchamma, the sole surviving sister of the deceased Balaiah, under a registered sale deed dated 25‑04‑1981. After the widow Yashoda's death, the plaintiff took possession, but Defendant No.3 (Sarojana) evicted him, claiming to be Yashoda's adopted daughter and thus an heir. The p…

The Aligarh Development Authority (ADA) initiated acquisition of land belonging to Megh Singh under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, invoking the emergency clause and taking possession, but no award was ever passed. Megh Singh challenged the acquisition, and the Allahabad High Court quashed the acquisition on the ground…

The appellants challenged a land acquisition notification issued under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, alleging that despite an award being passed in 2005, they had not received any compensation. The High Court dismissed their writ petition on the ground that the award had already been passed. On appeal, the Supreme Co…

The appellants, including R. Rachaiah, were originally charged under Section 306 IPC for abetting suicide and later, at the close of trial, the prosecution sought and the trial court framed an alternative charge of murder under Section 302 IPC. The court failed to follow the mandatory procedures of Sections 216 and 217…

The State of Madhya Pradesh ordered Mis. Ruchi Printers to print 37,07,726 copies of two booklets, with delivery deadlines of 8 February 2008 for the first half and 25 February 2008 for the balance. The State later extended the deadline to 31 March 2008 but expressly stated that no booklets would be accepted after that…

The plaintiffs, children of a deceased father, filed a partition suit in 1989 seeking to set aside two sale deeds executed by their mother, the natural guardian, in 1982 and 1988. The mother had sold the ancestral property without court permission, allegedly in contravention of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, …

The Commissioner of Delhi Value Added Tax appealed against the Delhi High Court's order that exempted M/s ABB Ltd. from VAT on sales made to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) under Sections 7(a) and (c) of the Delhi Value Added Tax Act, 2004. The issue was whether the import of goods and their inter‑state movemen…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) against a High Court order that required demolition of the Millennium Bus Depot, which had been constructed on land shown as a river flood plain in the Master Plan 2021 (MPD‑2021). The Court noted that the H…

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) built ten residential buildings and leased the land to the Central Bank of India for 90 years, with the bank allocating the flats to its Class III and IV employees at its absolute discretion, not as a condition of service. The bank later decided to redevelo…

The Supreme Court entertained Writ Petition (Civil) No. 406 of 2013 concerning inhuman conditions in 1,382 Indian prisons. Relying on earlier decisions, the Court affirmed that prisoners are persons entitled to fundamental rights, including dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. It examined the persistent proble…

The case arose from an FIR filed by Sonia Gupta under IPC §§498A, 506 and the Dowry Prohibition Act §§3,4, alleging harassment by her parents‑in‑law and other relatives. Four police investigations produced three closure reports, after which a fourth investigating officer filed a charge‑sheet despite a stay order, and t…

The appellant, V.L.S. Finance Ltd., challenged a series of orders that allowed the withdrawal of prosecution under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.) and permitted the accused to contest that withdrawal by filing applications under Section 91 Cr.P.C. The Court examined whether the Assistant Public …

The deceased Diganta Sardar was killed in a bus accident in Hooghly, West Bengal, and his widow filed a claim for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Kolkata, where the insurer had its business office. The Tribunal awarded Rs.16,12,200 as compens…

The landlord, Damodar Lal, sought eviction of his tenants on the ground that they had made unauthorised structural alterations to the rented premises. Both the trial court and the first appellate court found that material alteration had occurred and dismissed the tenants’ appeal. The tenants appealed to the High Court,…

The respondents filed a suit under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure seeking removal of the trustees of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, alleging that the trustees failed to act against an objectionable biography of Sri Aurobindo. The High Court held the suit within the ambit of Section 92 and refused to revoke …

The appellant, a partner in a hotel partnership, filed an application under Section 8 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking to refer a civil suit filed by the other partners to arbitration. The respondents argued that serious allegations of fraud and mis‑appropriation of funds made the dispute non‑arbit…

The case involved the murder of Bibhishan Vithoba Khadle and injuries to six others during a politically motivated assault by a group of accused. The trial court acquitted all accused, rejecting eye‑witness testimony on the ground of contradictions, alleged interest, and procedural defects. The High Court reversed the …

The appellants were charged with gang rape, abduction and robbery under Sections 376(g), 366, 392 read with 34 of the IPC based on the testimony of a prosecutrix who alleged she was abducted, assaulted and robbed. The trial court acquitted them, but the Karnataka High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted them. On…

R.K. Roja was elected to the Nagiri Assembly Constituency and a respondent filed an election petition challenging her election. The appellant filed an application under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC to have the petition rejected, first as a counter‑affidavit and later as a formal application. The High Court declined to …

Ramachandraiah was charged under IPC sections 409, 468 and 471 for misappropriating Rs. 6,57,355.90. He died in 1991 while the trial was pending; the trial court nevertheless recorded a finding that he alone had committed the offence, though he could not be convicted. The State then invoked Clause 3 of the Criminal Law…

Deve Sugars Ltd. was ordered to be wound up and its assets were taken over by an Official Liquidator. The State Bank of Mysore sought to recover a debt under the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 and obtained leave from the Company Court (High Court, Madras) on 10 March 2000, subject t…

An inspection of Tata Steel's Growth Shop and Fabrication Yard revealed violations of the Factories Act, 1948 and Bihar Factories Rules, including lack of overtime slips, absence of leave books for contract labour, and several canteen deficiencies. Cognizance was taken against the occupier, Heman Madhusudan Nerurkar, a…

Four persons were tried under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA) and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. Two were acquitted and two were convicted; the State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittals while the convicted appealed their convictions. The central issue was whether the prior ap…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal complaint filed by members of the All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association alleging that the Association's former President, Secretary and Treasurer misappropriated its funds. After investigation, a charge‑sheet was filed under Sections 406, 408, 409, 477A and 120B IPC. The ac…

The State of West Bengal appealed against Calcutta Club Limited, which had been held not liable for sales tax on food and drink supplied to its permanent members. The club argued that the doctrine of mutuality made such supplies a non‑sale, while the State contended that the 46th Constitution Amendment (Article 366(29A…

The Supreme Court examined whether mining leaseholders, whose operations were suspended for lack of environmental clearances, retained a subsisting right to mine. It held that a lease remains subsisting unless a State Government order declares it lapsed, and that the lease period may be deemed extended under Rule 24A(6…

The State of Punjab appealed against the High Court’s decision that the Commissioner of Excise and Taxation could not extend the three‑year limitation period for passing a sales‑tax assessment after that period had expired. The assessee, M/s Shreyans Indus Ltd., had filed returns for assessment years 2000‑01 to 2003‑04…

The wife (informant) filed an FIR under Sections 498A, 323 and 34 IPC against her husband and mother‑in‑law. The charge‑sheet, however, named only the husband for offences under 498A and 323. While the trial was pending, she filed an application under Section 216 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) seeking to add …

MIS Sports & Leisure Apparel Ltd, a manufacturer of knitted garments, purchased excise‑duty‑paid yarn but did not claim MODVAT credit and produced fabrics wholly consumed in garment production. Under the 2002 Union Budget, Notification Nos. 14/2002‑CE and 15/2002‑CE offered two schemes: a concessional duty rate for tho…

The appellant family filed a claim for compensation after their 26‑year‑old son, a truck driver, died in an accident that occurred while he was attempting to stop an unmanned vehicle during the course of his employment. The Employees' Compensation Commissioner awarded Rs 10,75,253 with interest, but the High Court redu…

The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) was approached by examinees seeking, under the Right to Information Act, scanned copies of their answer sheets, the tabulation sheet containing interview marks, and the names of the examiners who evaluated their papers. The State Public Information Officer and the Appellate Au…

The appellant, Ramakant Dwivedi, sought renewal of a minor‑minerals lease on 27 April 2013 based on a Government order dated 26 February 2013. The Allahabad High Court, in a PIL, held that the renewal violated two earlier judgments—Nar Narain Mishra v. State of U.P. (2013) and Sukhan Singh v. State of U.P. (2014)—which…

The Labour Court ordered reinstatement of workmen of Narendra & Co. with 50% back wages, but the High Court Single Judge limited back wages to January 1995, finding the industry had ceased to operate then. The Division Bench of the High Court, disagreeing, extended back wages to January 1999, reasoning that there was n…

The appellants, Sulekhan Singh & Co. and others, were granted mining leases in Uttar Pradesh after the State issued a Government Order (G.O.) on 31 May 2012 requiring all minor‑mineral leases to be awarded by e‑tendering under Chapter IV of the U.P. Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 1963. The High Court quashed the le…

The appellants, including Sadik @ Lalo Gulam Hussein Shaikh, were convicted for the murder of Rajubhai Ramubhai Vasava after an altercation over biryani payment escalated into a violent assault involving knives and sticks. The trial court and the Gujarat High Court held that the deceased suffered three stab wounds suff…

B.A. Umesh, an ex‑police constable, was convicted of murder, rape and robbery and sentenced to death by the Sessions Court, a decision affirmed by the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court. He filed review petitions contending that the trial court had not fixed a separate date for hearing on sentencing, alleging a…

The appellants, Syeda Rahimunnisa and Syed Hyder Hussaini, sued the respondents (legal heirs of Haji Mian) for eviction and damages, asserting a landlord‑tenant relationship. The respondents counter‑claimed title to the land by adverse possession and filed three related suits. The trial court and the first appellate co…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition highlighting severe overcrowding in 1,382 Indian prisons, with occupancy exceeding 150% of permissible limits, and the failure of prison authorities to implement earlier court directions. The Court noted the absence of a juvenile custody manual under the Juvenile Justice (Care…

The appellant, Jose @ Pappachan, was convicted under IPC s.302 for the death of his wife, Neena, alleged to be a homicide by strangulation and hanging, while also being acquitted of IPC s.498A. The prosecution relied on circumstantial testimony of three witnesses and a post‑mortem report that was inconclusive about hom…

The appellant, Benson, was convicted in twelve separate theft cases under Sections 379 and 414 of the IPC, each tried and sentenced individually. He petitioned for the subsequent sentences to run concurrently with the sentence already being served (Crime No.8). The Supreme Court examined Section 427(1) of the Criminal …

The appellants Vikas Yadav, Vishal Yadav and Sukhdev Yadav were convicted of murder, kidnapping and related offences (IPC ss.302, 364, 34, 201) and sentenced to life imprisonment with additional fixed‑term sentences. The State appealed for enhancement of the life sentence to death; the High Court instead imposed a fixe…

The Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh, representing 14 workmen of BCCL's Balihari Colliery, obtained a 1996 Industrial Tribunal award directing their regularisation without back wages. The Jharkhand High Court in 2004 modified the award, stipulating that the employer must give preference to these workmen when hiring reg…

Rajendra Kumar Meshram was elected to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Deosar constituency. A petition was filed by the opposing candidate alleging that Meshram's nomination was improperly accepted because he failed to furnish the electoral roll of the constituency where he was a registered voter (Singr…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Satish Shetty, convicted under IPC sections 498A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of his wife, who had left a ten‑month‑old son and was twenty weeks pregnant. The High Court had set aside the trial court’s acquittal, invoking the presumption under Evidence A…

Five accused were convicted under IPC sections 325 read with 149, 148A, 308/149 and 323/149 for causing grievous hurt and related offences. The trial court sentenced them to three years rigorous imprisonment for the major offence and imposed fines; the High Court enhanced the sentence for the two appellants to five yea…

The appellants, two brothers and their female relatives, were charged with offences arising from an alleged unlawful assembly in which they allegedly injured several persons and their father later died. The trial court held the incident to be a free fight and convicted them individually; the High Court set aside some c…

The case arose from a land dispute between the victim, Shriram, and his brothers. The victim alleged that three women (the appellants) and two men assaulted him, resulting in gunshot, axe, and other injuries, leading to an FIR under IPC sections 147, 148, 307, 149 and Section 25 of the Arms Act. The trial court convict…

Dr. Rini Johar, a doctor, and a senior advocate were arrested in November 2012 on a FIR alleging fraud under IPC sections 420 and 34 and the Information Technology Act. The arrest was carried out without complying with Sections 41 and 41‑A of the CrPC, nor the D.K. Basu guidelines, and the petitioners were taken to Bho…

Sarla Performance Fibers Ltd., a 100% export‑oriented unit (EOU), was assessed excise duty and penalty for removing partially oriented yarn to the domestic tariff area (DTA) without permission of the Development Commissioner. The Central Excise Commissioner ordered duty under the proviso to Section 3(1) of the Central …

M/s Ravi Prakash Refineries (P) Ltd. sold Sunflower De‑oiled Cake (SF DOC) in inter‑State trade and claimed a reduced central sales tax rate of 2% by producing Form C under Notification No. FD 119 CSL 2002(2). The assessing officer initially accepted the claim, but a later officer reopened the assessment, asserting tha…

Power Grid Corporation, a transmission licencee, constructed the 400 kV Barh‑Balia double‑circuit line but the switchgear and protection system at the Barh end, which were to be installed by NTPC, were not completed. Power Grid sought a tariff from CERC effective 1 July 2010, which CERC granted despite the line not bei…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of Ram Laxman and Sanju under IPC sections 302, 149 and 148, which had been upheld by the High Court while other co‑accused were acquitted. The trial and appellate courts relied almost entirely on the testimony of a single eye‑witness, the informant Ganesh (PW‑10), whose credi…

The appellant sought to enforce an auction sale of a plot in Kanpur that had been conducted to recover land revenue under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948. The auction was held a day after notice, the successful bidder deposited the required 25% by cheque and later by bank draft, both of which were rejected, and…

The Supreme Court examined the method of fixing the rateable value of lands and buildings under Section 63 of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1994. The appellant, State Trading Corporation, argued that the High Court erred by relying on Bye‑law 12 of the old Punjab Municipal Act to assess rent, especially for …

The case arose from the selection of candidates for the 36th Combined Competitive Examination in Bihar, where the reservation policy of 1978 was later superseded by a 1990 resolution that was subsequently quashed by the Supreme Court. Four general‑category candidates challenged the selection, and the State Government, …

The appellants obtained disability certificates from a Medical Board under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules, 1996 and were selected for a BTC training course reserved for physically handicapped candidates. A complaint by the Bhartiya Viklang Sangh al…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appealed against the Securities Appellate Tribunal’s order that had set aside the Adjudicating Officer’s finding of a violation of Regulation 22(7) of the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997. Burren Energy India Ltd acquired 100% of …

The appellant and his son were involved in a family land dispute with their brother (the informant). After a verbal altercation, the appellant fetched a 12‑bore DBBL gun and fired at the informant, killing him, and subsequently shot at the informant's wife and two friends, killing one and injuring another. The trial co…

The case involved the suicide of Surjit Kaur and her two daughters, who died after ingesting aluminium phosphide. A suicide note blamed the appellant Gurcharan Singh, his wife Ajit Kaur and a co‑accused for depriving the victims of their share in family property and subjecting them to harassment. The trial court and th…

Hindustan Lever Ltd., a tea manufacturer, claimed exemption from entry tax on packing materials used for tea under a 1993 notification and a reduced rate under a 1998 notification. The issue was whether packing material could be classified as "raw materials, component parts or inputs" within Entry 80 of Schedule I of t…

The National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) was appointed as the executing agency for the redevelopment of Kidwai Nagar East colony in Delhi. Residents' welfare associations filed writ petitions alleging that NBCC had progressively encroached and permanently closed a public road, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali M…

The CBI Bank Securities & Fraud Cell appealed against the Mumbai High Court’s judgment in criminal revision applications involving Ramesh Gelli and others. The appeal contested the accuracy of statutory citations in paragraph 25 of the High Court’s order, which incorrectly referred to Section 46 of the Banking Regulati…

The parties executed a deed on 30‑December‑1960 titled a conditional sale for Rs 10,000, containing a clause that if the plaintiffs repaid the amount within five years the defendants would return possession of the land, and after five years the plaintiffs would have no right to claim it back. The plaintiffs later sued …

The appellants, a group of private unaided medical and dental colleges, challenged the Madhya Pradesh Niji Vyavasayik Shikshan Sanstha (Pravesh Ka Vinimayan Avam Shulk Ka Nirdharan) Act, 2007 and the accompanying admission and fee fixation rules, alleging that the provisions on common entrance test (CET), fee regulatio…

The case concerned the assessment of M/s Saurashtra Cement for AY 1981-82. The Assessing Officer issued a draft assessment on 13‑03‑1984 and forwarded it to the Inspecting Assistant Commissioner (IAC) under Section 1448. The IAC gave directions on 31‑08‑1984, after which the final assessment order was passed on 01‑09‑1…

Uttam filed a suit for partition of a property claiming a one‑eighth share as a coparcener, asserting that the land was ancestral. The trial court decreed in his favour, but the first appellate court reversed, holding that the grandfather’s death in 1973, leaving a widow (a Class I heir), invoked the proviso to Section…

The State of Himachal Pradesh acquired land for a road widening project and, to expedite the process, entered into negotiated settlements for compensation. A Negotiated Award dated 11‑09‑2008 fixed the land value and barred any enhancement under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, while a Supplementary Negotiated A…

The writ petitioners challenged the cancellation of a plot allotted to Milkhi Ram, claiming they were ready to pay the due amount. The High Court dismissed their petition, directing the Estate Officer to reconsider the matter in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Jasbir Singh Bakshi. The Estate Officer appealed, …

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against a High Court order that reduced the conviction of Golu Raikwari and co‑accused from murder (s.302 IPC) to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (s.304 Part I IPC) and cut their life sentences to ten years rigorous imprisonment. The deceased, Hari Choudhary, was attacked …

The case concerned the murder of Ashok Kumar, for which accused Nos. 2‑5 were convicted under Sections 147, 148, 149, 302 and 397 of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution’s case hinged on the testimony of two alleged eyewitnesses, PW 25 (Mirza Majid Beg) and PW 24 (Mohamed Shakir), who claimed to have seen the assaila…

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with EMCO Ltd for a 5 MW solar project, the tariff being fixed by the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) in its first tariff order of 29 Jan 2010, which assumed the benefit of accelerated depreciation under Section 32 of th…

The plaintiff, Kamruddin, sued for possession of a 120‑sq‑yd property (Khasra No. 270) alleging he was a tenant of the Punjab Wakf Board since April 1990. He claimed the defendants illegally occupied the land while he was away during communal riots. The defendants argued they had taken possession from a person named Sh…

The respondent-plaintiff obtained a loan from the appellants and executed a deed titled a Sale Deed on 14‑06‑1972, which was later alleged to be a mortgage by conditional sale. The parties also signed an agreement that the sale would be cancelled and the land returned if the loan (Rs.5,000) was repaid by 14‑06‑1973; th…

The appellant, Khokan Giri, was convicted along with three others for the murder and robbery of an elderly couple in Kolkata, based largely on the confessional statement of an accomplice, Raju Rao, who became an approver. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the High Court gave undue weight to the appr…

Cardamom Marketing Corporation and another, registered dealers under the Kerala General Sales Tax Act and Kerala Value Added Tax Act, challenged a 2002 government notification that levied an additional court fee on appeals and revisions before tribunals, directing the proceeds to the Kerala Legal Benefit Fund. They arg…

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ filed by Lok Prahari, a society of retired civil servants, challenging the Uttar Pradesh Ex‑Chief Ministers Residence Allotment Rules, 1997 which allowed former chief ministers to occupy government bungalows for life. The petition argued that the Rules contravened th…

Madina Begum filed a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement that lacked a fixed calendar date for completion. The respondents contended the suit was barred by the three‑year limitation under Article 54 of Schedule I of the Limitation Act, 1963. The Supreme Court held that where no specific date is fixed, the…

The appellants Mumtaz alias Muntyaz and Dilshad alias Pappu were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 IPC for setting fire to the victim Pawan Kumar, who later died of burn injuries. The prosecution relied on eyewitness testimony and a dying declaration recorded by a Sub‑Divisional Magistrate, which was endorsed by a do…

The appeal concerned the interpretation of Section 30(2) of the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984, which provides for an enhanced solatium of 30% of market value. The award in the present case was passed on 30 September 1985, after the amendment came into force. The High Court had held that the principle laid down…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted three accused—Rajaram, Udaibhan and Hakim Singh—for assaulting a complainant and his brother with weapons, resulting in multiple grievous injuries. The trial court convicted them under Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder) and Section 307/34, imposing ten years’ rigorous imprisonmen…

Tej Prakash Jarath filed a suit in 1992 against his relatives. The defendants filed written statements on 11 November 1992 and, after issues were framed in October 1993, filed a counter‑claim on 17 June 1996. The trial court allowed the counter‑claim, but the Uttarakhand High Court set it aside, relying on Rohit Singh …

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over a 1976 registered gift deed in which Hazi Azimuddin gifted his one‑third undivided share in a free‑hold commercial property in Jaipur to his minor son. The property was occupied by tenants, and the donor had assigned the right to collect rent to the donee. The defendants, the d…