Judgments of 2017

The Supreme Court examined the computation of compensation under Sections 163‑A, 166 and 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 in death claims, focusing on the appropriate multiplier, the addition of future prospects to the deceased's income, and the quantification of conventional heads such as loss of estate, loss of co…

The dispute arose from a fourth arbitration between HRD Corporation and GAIL (India) Ltd. over a long‑term wax supply contract. The appellant challenged the appointments of two arbitrators, Justice K.K. Lahoti and Justice K. Doabia, invoking Sections 12 and 14 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, as amended i…

Shri Gangajali Education Society applied to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MHFW) for a Letter of Permission to start a medical college. The Medical Council of India (MCI) found several deficiencies and recommended rejection, but the Supreme Court‑constituted Oversight Committee (OC) later accepted the college…

The appellant, a descendant of former zamindars, claimed possession of about five acres of land since 1930. The State Government, on behalf of the Union of India, filed a suit under Section 180 of the United Provinces Tenancy Act, 1939, for recovery of possession and damages, which was later dismissed for default. Duri…

The Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner lodged a complaint under Section 228 of the Indian Penal Code alleging that the respondent, Suresh, assaulted the presiding officer during an adjudication proceeding under Section 7A of the Employees Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The magistrate convicted…

The employee of Canara Bank filed an RTI application under Section 6 seeking details of transfers and postings of all clerical staff from 2002 to 2006, which included personal data of individual employees. The bank’s Public Information Officer rejected the request, invoking the exemption under Section 8(1)(j) of the RT…

Innoventive Industries Ltd., a corporate debtor, defaulted on its financial obligations and a financial creditor (ICICI Bank) filed an application under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). The debtor argued that a notification under the Maharashtra Relief Undertakings (Special Provisions) Act, …

The Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences & Research applied to the Ministry of Health for permission to start a new medical college for the 2016-17 session. The Ministry, relying on a negative recommendation of the Medical Council of India (MCI), initially denied the permission, but an Oversight Committee later granted…

The appellants obtained a final decree for a permanent injunction and applied to the Execution Court for its enforcement, seeking police protection under Section 151 of the CPC. The Execution Court granted the protection, but the High Court set aside the order, holding that the application should have been filed under …

The petitioners filed a public interest litigation (PIL No.17 of 2017) in the Bombay High Court challenging a Municipal Commissioner order dated 31‑08‑2016 concerning refuge areas and floor‑space‑index (FSI) in a high‑rise building. The same issues were already pending before the Supreme Court in several Special Leave …

The Supreme Court revisited its earlier directions prohibiting the grant of liquor licences within 500 metres of national and state highways, hearing numerous interlocutory applications for extensions or modifications. It held that the Court’s directions, grounded in public‑health policy and the constitutional right to…

The appellants, Vineet Kumar and others, had loaned money to the complainant’s family and later filed complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for dishonoured cheques. The complainant subsequently alleged that the appellants had raped her and filed an application under Section 156(3) CrPC, leading…

The State of Haryana employed conductors and drivers under the Haryana Transport Department (Group C) Haryana Roadways Service (Amended) Rules, 2003, initially paying them as daily wagers, then as contract labourers, and finally on the regular pay‑scale. One hundred ninety‑five employees filed writ petitions seeking re…

Mrs. Ivy C. Da Conceicao, a Grade‑I teacher with 21 years of service, claimed she was the most senior and qualified candidate for the post of principal in a minority‑run school in Goa, but the school appointed junior teachers in violation of the Goa School Education Rules. The school relied on its autonomy under Articl…

The appellants were convicted for a dowry death and related offences under the IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act. The High Court, noting certain procedural lapses, set aside the conviction and ordered a de novo retrial under Section 386(b)(i) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Supreme Court examined whether such la…

The appellant, Jagdamba Devi, claimed a dependent family pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980, on behalf of her late husband Hari Kant Jha, a freedom fighter who was arrested for only thirteen days and alleged to have been underground for about 26 months. The State Government initially recom…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had asked the Central Bank of India not to release deposits made by respondents Husainy Fakhruddin and others until a reference was received from the CBI or a special court. The respondents filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court, which directed the bank to release the d…

The State of Bihar sought to recover royalty at Rs 100 per cubic metre for boulder, gravel and shingle used for making chips, as fixed by a notification dated 24‑03‑2001, from 01‑04‑2001. The respondents argued that the subsequent notification dated 26‑12‑2001, which identified the specific districts, could not be give…

The landlords filed a suit for recovery of possession of a shop on the ground of bona‑fide need to start a kirana business for their unemployed sons, alleging willful default and change of usage by the tenants. The trial court and the first appellate court upheld the landlords' claim, finding a genuine need and grantin…

Anil Kumar Singh filed a civil suit for a permanent injunction over a parcel of land and obtained an ex‑parte temporary injunction. He later filed an application under Order XXIII Rule 1 of the CPC seeking to withdraw the suit, which the trial court allowed subject to payment of Rs 350 as costs to the defendant, a deci…

The petition, filed by Dr. S. Rajaseekaran, an orthopaedic surgeon, sought enforcement of road‑safety norms and better treatment of accident victims under Article 32 of the Constitution. The Court had earlier constituted a Committee on Road Safety, which submitted recommendations that the Union and State governments ha…

The Supreme Court examined whether mobilisation fees paid to non‑resident oil‑exploration companies under contracts with ONGC constitute "profits and gains" taxable under Section 44BB of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Court held that such fees fall within clause (a) of Section 44BB(2), are deemed income under Sections 5…

The murder of environmental activist Amit Jethwa, who had filed a PIL against illegal mining near Gir Forest, led to the arrest of Dinubhai Boghabhai Solanki and his nephew. After a lackluster police investigation, the case was transferred to the CBI, which filed a charge‑sheet. During trial, 105 of 195 witnesses turne…

The Kanachur Islamic Education Trust sought confirmation of the conditional Letter of Permission (LOP) granted to its medical college for the 2016-17 academic year and extension for 2017-18, after the Union of India and the Medical Council of India (MCI) debarred the college and ordered encashment of its bank guarantee…

The appellant's wife died after a hysterectomy performed at a nursing home that lacked ICU facilities, despite her having uncontrolled high blood pressure and severe anemia. The appellant filed a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 alleging medical negligence for proceeding with surgery without stabilisin…

The appellant, Yusuf Khan, owned a 2412 sq. yard property in Mumbai and entered into a development agreement on 23 June 2006 with two developers to construct a building, granting the developers a 50% share of the development potential. The developers failed to commence or complete construction within the stipulated 24‑…

The Dr. Jagat Narain Subharti Charitable Trust applied for permission to establish a new medical college in Dehradun for the 2016‑17 session. The Medical Council of India (MCI) flagged deficiencies in faculty, residents, OPD attendance, bed occupancy and questioned land‑ownership compliance, leading the Central Governm…

The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that a cheque drawn on the account of Dakshin Granites Pvt Ltd was dishonoured. The trial court, and later the High Court, allowed an application under Section 319 CrPC to implead the company as an accused, effectively bypassin…

The owner of a shop in Delhi filed an eviction petition under the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 alleging that the tenant had sub-let the premises to a third person who was in exclusive possession and that the tenant was in arrears of rent. The tenant contended that the third person was merely an employee working on comm…

The Delhi Administration issued a Section 4 notification under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to acquire lands in several villages, carving out an exception for lands where building plans had been sanctioned before 5 Nov 1980. Respondent Kidarnath Mohindernath claimed his land was exempt because a building plan was san…

Manish Jain filed for divorce against his wife Akanksha Jain, who subsequently sought interim maintenance under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, claiming she had no independent income. The trial court dismissed her application, but the Delhi High Court later ordered the husband to pay Rs.60,000 per month in additi…

The original landlord, Satish Chander Aggarwal, filed an eviction application under Section 2(l)(a) of the U.P. Urban Building Act, claiming a bona‑fide requirement to expand his family business. The Rent Controller dismissed the petition, but the First Appellate Authority reversed that decision, granting eviction afte…

The case arose from a 1993 political clash in Kerala where the deceased, Suresh Babu, was stabbed and beaten to death by members of an unlawful assembly. The trial court convicted several accused under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment, also convicting others under Section 32…

During a hearing of Criminal Appeal No.400/2006, Senior Counsel Mr. R. Basant highlighted several common inadequacies in criminal trial procedures, such as lack of standardized witness and exhibit lists, poor recording of depositions, and inconsistent referencing of parties and evidence. He urged the Supreme Court to i…

The Maharashtra State Cooperative Housing Finance Corporation, a cooperative society, dismissed its employee Prabhakar Sitaram Bhadange for alleged misconduct. Bhadange challenged the dismissal before the Cooperative Court, which the corporation contested on the ground that the Court lacked jurisdiction under Section 9…

The appellants, Ganesh and Avinash Andekar, were convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the killing of their neighbour Raghunath, based on the testimony of the victim's daughter and wife who claimed to have witnessed the assault. The trial court had acquitted all accused, finding the …

The appeal concerned a dispute between the partners of a developer firm (MIS Sai Apartments and Infrastructure Ltd.) and the allottees of Vishranti City over who should bear external development charges, including electricity, water and sewerage, and whether those charges had been paid. The Punjab and Haryana High Cour…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over the trademark "Field Marshal" where the plaintiff sought injunction against the defendants for alleged infringement. The defendants challenged the validity of the plaintiff's trademark and filed rectification applications under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958. The key…

The Gujarat High Court, in a public‑interest litigation, directed the State to compensate trusts and institutions for religious places damaged in the 2002 communal riots and appointed special officers to assess claims. The State responded by framing an ex‑gratia scheme limiting assistance to Rs 50,000 per place, subjec…

On 8 October 2004, three accused, including the appellant Ahsan, entered the house of the victim's uncle armed with country‑made pistols and fired at family members, causing the death of a still‑born child and grievous injuries to others, including a head wound to Shahzad inflicted by Ahsan. The appellant was convicted…

The Commissioner of Income Tax-III, Pune challenged the assessment of Sinhgad Technical Education Society, a charitable educational institution, which was treated as an Association of Persons after a search under Section 132 revealed alleged capitation fees. The Assessing Officer issued a notice under Section 153C for …

The Central Bank of India and other nationalised banks (appellants) challenged the validity of a cut‑off date they fixed for calculating gratuity payable to retired employees (respondents) under their Regulation 46. The respondents argued that the cut‑off date, which limited the benefit of revised pay scales to retiree…

The landlords filed eviction petitions under the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 invoking sections 11(4)(iii) and 11(4)(iv). The Rent Control Court granted eviction only on the reconstruction ground (11(4)(iv),) and the landlords appealed to the First Appellate Authority, which also allowed eviction…

M/s Meena Devi Jindal Medical Institute & Research Centre challenged a land acquisition made under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, on the ground that the notification merely stated "planned development of Delhi" without specifying the purpose, rendering it vague. The High Court dismissed the writ petition,…

M.C. Mehta filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a ban on the sale and registration of commercial vehicles that do not meet Bharat Stage‑IV (BS‑IV) emission standards from 1 April 2017, arguing that such vehicles pose a serious health hazard. The manufacturers contended that they were entitled to sell the exis…

The petitioner, Manohar Lal Sharma, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a direction that the film "Padmavati" not be exhibited abroad without a certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and that the CBI register an FIR against the film's producers under Section 7 of the Cinematograph Ac…

The appellants were originally charged under IPC sections 323, 504 and 506. Two years later, following a complaint to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the Commission directed the police to add an offence under Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, resulting in a supplementary charge‑…

The public‑interest litigation filed by Common Cause challenged the appointment of Shri Rakesh Asthana as Special Director of the CBI, alleging that the Selection Committee had not taken a decision and that the appointment was illegal, arbitrary and tainted by pending investigations. The Court examined the Delhi Specia…

The case concerned the murder of Bhagwan Singh in Sikar, Rajasthan, where twenty accused were tried and nine were convicted. The Supreme Court noted that after the examination-in-chief of a key witness, the trial was adjourned for over four months, leading to several witnesses turning hostile. The Court held that under…

Koshy Jacob, an advocate, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a direction to the Union of India to implement the Supreme Court's guidelines issued in the 2009 Destruction of Public and Private Properties case. He alleged that frequent strikes and agitations were causing widespread destruction of public prope…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by the sons and daughter of Chanchali Nayak, an agricultural labourer who died in a head‑on collision between a bus and a truck. The tribunal had awarded Rs 70,600 as compensation based on a monthly income of Rs 650 and a multiplier of 12, which the High Court affirmed but reduced…

The respondent, a daily‑wage peon‑cum‑driver employed by the Gujarat Panchayat Department, was terminated in February 1992. He challenged the termination in both a civil suit and an industrial reference before the Labour Court, which held that the termination violated Section 25‑G of the Industrial Disputes Act and ord…

Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd entered into a works contract with the Rajasthan Public Health and Engineering Department to supply and lay pre‑stressed cement concrete (PSC) pipes, valves and related materials, together with civil works. The company claimed exemption from sales tax under Section 7AA of the Rajasthan Sales Ta…

The Supreme Court considered an interlocutory application filed by the Federation of Indian Industries (Southern Region) seeking permission to sell iron‑ore and manganese‑ore in Karnataka without the e‑auction mechanism overseen by the Court‑appointed Monitoring Committee. The Court examined the past experience of ille…

The case concerned the appointment of a Lower Division Typist in Kerala, where the notification required a Lower Grade Certificate in KGTE Typewriting and a separate certificate in Computer Word Processing for candidates who had passed KGTE before January 2002. The appellant possessed an equivalent KGTE English Typewri…

The Union of India appealed against a Calcutta High Court order that released two accused, Niyazuddin SK and Asif Aslam, on bail in a narcotics case involving a commercial quantity of drugs. The public prosecutor had opposed the bail application, but the High Court granted bail without addressing the special conditions…

The appellants, candidates who had appeared for the Gujarat Revenue Talati examination, challenged the State's decision to cancel the entire recruitment process on grounds of alleged large‑scale malpractices. The State, through a Government Resolution, cancelled the exam and ordered a fresh recruitment, arguing that th…

Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College, a constituent of Maharishi Markandeshwar University (created under the 2010 Act), was directed by the Himachal Pradesh Government to obtain affiliation from Himachal Pradesh University under the amended Section 3(6a) of the 2006 Private Medical Educational Institutions Act. The …

The appellant, previously acquitted of kidnapping and rape offences, repeatedly threatened and teased the victim, a teenage girl, leading her to set herself ablaze and die. The victim’s dying declaration, recorded by a Head Constable in the presence of a doctor, implicated the appellant as the sole cause of her death. …

The Himachal Pradesh Financial Corporation (HPFC) sought recovery of two defaulted loans from Anil Garg and others. HPFC had earlier filed a money suit which was withdrawn in order to pursue faster recovery under the Himachal Pradesh Public Moneys (Recovery of Dues) Act, 1973. The respondent filed multiple writ petitio…

Virupakshappa Gouda and another were charged under several IPC sections, including 302 and 149, for an alleged honour killing. They applied for bail repeatedly; the trial court and High Court rejected the first two applications and a Special Leave Petition, but a third application was granted bail by an Additional Sess…

Berger Paints India Ltd. claimed a deduction under section 35D of the Income Tax Act for preliminary expenses, treating the premium received on its issued share capital as part of the "capital employed in the business of the company". The Assessing Officer disallowed the claim, the Commissioner of Income Tax allowed it…

The case involved an alleged unlawful assembly in which members of two rival groups clashed, resulting in the death of a farmer, Channegowda. The accused were convicted by the Karnataka High Court on charges including murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and assault (Sec. 324 IPC) despite the trial court’s acquittal. On appeal, the S…

The appellant, Chhanga (Manoj), was part of a four‑person group that hurled two bombs at a shop where an informant was present, causing only minor injuries because the bombs exploded at a distance. The appellant shouted "kill him" and was charged under Section 307 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for attem…

The appellant, Gandi Doddabasappa, was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for killing his daughter Shilpa, allegedly because she married a man of a lower caste. The trial court had acquitted him, dismissing the sole eyewitness testimony of PW‑18, but the High Court relied on that testimony, corroborated by forensic …

Five accused attacked Rajagopal with deadly weapons, inflicting twelve serious injuries that led to the amputation of both his legs. Rajagopal, the injured eye‑witness, gave a detailed, uncontradicted testimony identifying each accused and describing the specific weapons used and injuries inflicted. The trial court con…

The case involved the murder of a woman whose decapitated body was recovered in a gunny sack from a canal. The Sessions Court convicted the two accused brothers on the basis of alleged motive, a "last seen" theory, recovery of the body, their absconding and false information given to the victim's father, and sentenced …

The State of Madhya Pradesh issued a notice under Rule 4(41) of the Madhya Pradesh Distillery Rules, 1995 demanding Rs 13,24,189.50 as excess establishment charges from Kedia Great Galeon Ltd. for the years 1995‑96 to 1997‑98. The licensee filed a writ petition challenging the demand, relying on the Supreme Court's dec…

The appellant purchased 78 consignments of zinc and copper that had been stored at the Port of Bombay after the original consignees failed to lift them. The Board of Trustees of the Port of Bombay levied demurrage charges of Rs.2,81,67,333 and granted only partial remission, which the appellant challenged. The Supreme …

Agarwal Tracom Pvt. Ltd. purchased assets of a defaulting borrower at a public auction conducted by Punjab National Bank (PNB) under the SARFAESI Act. After failing to pay subsequent installments, the bank forfeited Agarwal's deposit pursuant to Rule 9(5) of the Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002. Agarwal chal…

The appellant, Kamal Kant Jain, entered into an agreement to purchase a property from the respondent, Surinder Singh, based on an authorisation letter that allowed a power of attorney holder to sell the land. The agreement required payment of earnest money, and both the authorisation letter and the agreement contained …

The case concerned the acquisition of over 300 acres of land in Haryana for residential and commercial development under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Collector determined compensation using the judicially recognised Belting System, fixing Rs 33 lakh per acre for land within two acres of the road and Rs 18 lakh p…

The case concerned the liability for demurrage and detention charges on ten consignments of cold‑rolled coils imported by M/s Imler International and M/s Shri Lakshmi Steels. The goods were detained by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs on suspicion of mis‑declaration, leading the Mumbai Port Tru…

The appellant, NARESH KUMAR alias NITU, was alleged to have been apprehended at Majhotli with two kilograms of charas, based on police testimony. An independent witness, PW‑2, testified that he was stopped by police later in the day and did not see any seizure of the appellant. The bus ticket showed the appellant board…

The dispute involved a landlord‑tenant relationship where the Rent Controller and the Appellate Authority both held that the landlord satisfied the bonafide requirement under the Rent Control Act. The High Court, exercising revisional jurisdiction, set aside those findings, stating it could re‑appreciate the evidence t…

Haffkine Bio‑Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd., a Maharashtra government undertaking, issued a tender for bulk polio vaccine drugs which was awarded to Bionet despite the technical bid of Nirlac not being opened in the presence of its representatives, violating Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines. The High Cour…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal appeal challenging the summoning of the husband’s relatives under Section 498A of the IPC in a dowry‑harassment case. It observed that a large number of 498A cases are filed in the heat of the moment, often without bona‑fide evidence, leading to uncalled‑for arrests and hardship to…

The Supreme Court examined writ petitions filed by Common Cause and other NGOs seeking a declaration that Rule 10(1) and Rule 10(4)(i) of the Search Committee Rules, 2014 were ultra vires the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 and that the appointment process for the Lokpal should be stayed until the pending Amendment Bil…

The appellants were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and IPC for the murder of a Hindu leader. The Supreme Court examined whether the required prior sanction under Section 20‑A of TADA had been validly obtained. It found that the sanctioning authority had granted approval …

The petitioners, a society, challenged several provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, alleging they violated Articles 14 and 50 of the Constitution. The main contentions were that the Chief Justice of India or his nominee, as a mere member of the selection committee, should have primacy in appointing the Lo…

The appellants were named in FIR No. 53 of 2000 for offences under the IPC and the SC/ST Act but were not arraigned as accused. After the trial commenced, the complainant applied under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to summon the appellants as additional accused. The trial court, relying solely on the co…

The Supreme Court examined a second appeal in which the original appellant and two respondents had died during its pendency. No application under Order XXII Rules 3(2) and 4(3) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 was filed to substitute their legal representatives within the prescribed 90‑day period. The Court held th…

Venu filed a suit for partition against Ponnusamy Reddiar and obtained a preliminary decree on 23 November 1959. Thirty years later, on 3 October 1989, Venu applied for the appointment of a court commissioner to execute the preliminary decree. The appellant argued that the application was barred by the three‑year limit…

The Union of India appealed a High Court order that appointed an independent arbitrator in a dispute with BESCO Ltd. The issue was whether, under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the Chief Justice of a High Court or a designated judge must appoint the arbitrator named in the parties' agreeme…

Petitioner Sheetal Shankar Salvi, at 27 weeks of pregnancy, sought a direction from the Supreme Court under Article 32 to allow medical termination of her pregnancy because the fetus was diagnosed with Arnold‑Chiari malformation type II with severe anomalies. A seven‑member Medical Board examined her case and reported …

The appeal arose from a suit filed in 1988 by the great‑grandson and great‑granddaughter of Perumal Naidu (plaintiffs) seeking declaration and possession of properties that had been bequeathed by their great‑grandmother Alamelu Ammal to her sister Ramanujatha Ammal (defendant). The plaintiffs claimed that Alamelu held …

The appellant, A.T. Sivaperumal, issued a cheque of Rs.10,22,419 to the complainant, Mohammed Hyath, to discharge a loan, but the cheque was returned marked "account closed". A complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was filed; the trial court acquitted the appellant for lack of proof, but the Kar…

The appellant, a young man, trespassed into the victim's house and poured acid on her head after his marriage proposal was rejected, causing grievous hurt. He was convicted under Sections 326 and 448 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced by the trial court to one year of rigorous imprisonment with fines. The High Cour…

The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority acquired land of several owners in 1990‑1992 using the urgency provision of Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The owners challenged the acquisition in the High Court, which dismissed their writ petitions, and the Supreme Court upheld the acquisition while allow…

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) conducted an auction of a 9.527‑acre commercial tower in Gurgaon, where Orchid Infrastructure Developers (formerly Bhudeep Builders) submitted the highest bid of Rs 111.75 crore and deposited 10% on the spot. HUDA, through its Administrator, rejected the bid on the ground …

The case concerned Excise and Taxation Officers (ETOs) who had been granted retrospective promotions to dates earlier than their actual appointments, thereby gaining seniority over directly recruited officers. The petitioners (direct recruits) challenged the validity of these retrospective promotions, arguing that the …

The appellant, Vishnu Bhagwan Agrawal, insured jute stock with National Insurance Co. and later purchased additional jute, seeking an increase in the sum insured. The insurer did not formally acknowledge the increase, leading to a dispute over whether the policy was effectively amended and whether the value of the jute…

The plaintiffs purchased a house in 1985 and sued the original defendant, who had been living in two rooms of the house even before the purchase, for a declaration of title and possession of the entire house. The trial court dismissed the suit, holding the defendant had acquired title by adverse possession; the first a…

The Supreme Court examined a public‑interest writ challenging the Assam Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004. The petitioners argued that the State Legislature lacked authority to create the office of Parliamentary Secretary and that the Act violated the 9…

An accused in an NDPS case complained that his advocate had charged exorbitant fees and withdrawn from representation, seeking a refund. The Bar Council disciplinary authority examined the complaint, absolved the advocate, and ordered a partial refund of Rs.4 lakhs. The High Court, however, convicted the advocate of cr…

The Greater Bombay Co‑operative Bank attached a flat owned by guarantors Shri Dhillon P. Shah and Smt. Shivangi Shah to recover a cash‑credit default. After the guarantor's death, respondent No.1, Nagraj Ganeshamal Jain, claimed he had purchased the flat under an alleged agreement to sell dated 04‑10‑1995 and sought me…

The appellants (land owners) entered into five sale agreements with Mis. Tanmay Developers, each involving payment of earnest money. The developer failed to obtain sale deeds within the stipulated time, leading the land owners to forfeit the earnest money. After a land acquisition notification in 2008, the parties file…

The case arose from the beating of Hariya on 30 August 1990 by five persons, including Pooranlal and Gaya Prasad, who later died after 14 days of injuries. The trial court acquitted all five accused, but the High Court set aside the acquittal of Pooranlal and Gaya Prasad, convicting them under Section 304 Part II read …

The appellant Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Solar Semiconductor Power Co. for a solar project, which stipulated a specific tariff and a control period ending on 28‑Jan‑2012. The respondent sought an extension of this control period, arguing that the Gujarat Electricity…

The appellant participated in a public auction of four nazul plots and deposited a Rs.3 lakh security as required by the public notice. After his bid was accepted, the State officer sent a letter imposing four "special terms and conditions" which the appellant had not been informed of earlier, and he refused to accept …

The case concerned the validity of the Demobilized Armed Forces Personnel (Reservation of Vacancies in the Himachal Pradesh State Non‑Technical Services) Rules, 1972, which granted a 15% reservation for ex‑servicemen and allowed counting of their military service for seniority and pay. The petitioners, former army pers…

The appellant, Samir Sahay, was charged under Section 420 IPC for allegedly cheating a depositor after his father, Major P.C. Sahay (Retd.), gave false assurances that money deposited in Aneja Consultancy would be safe. The FIR alleged that the father, not the son, made the fraudulent promise, and the son was only said…

The Supreme Court examined the Uttar Pradesh government's scheme of appointing 1.78 lakh "Shiksha Mitras" on a contractual basis and later attempting to regularise them as Assistant Teachers without meeting the statutory qualifications prescribed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (R…

The appellants, Ram Gopal Dwivedi and others, were engaged as apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 by Kanpur Electricity Supply Co. Ltd. (a unit of the U.P. State Electricity Board) and their services were terminated after completing a three‑year training period. The Labour Court held the termination illegal, or…

The appellant, a co‑sharer of land, entered into a 1995 agreement to sell his share to his elder brother, the respondent, for Rs 5 lakhs, with Rs 4 lakhs paid upfront and the balance to be paid upon execution of the sale deed. The appellant failed to execute the deed and the respondent sued for specific performance, al…

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by Ram Kumar Patel and others against the State of Uttar Pradesh challenging the High Court's order that quashed the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education (Teachers) Service (161st Amendment) Rules, 2012 on the ground of repugnancy with the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) …

The petitioners challenged the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) notification dated 29 July 2011 which made a 50% graduation mark mandatory for appointment of teachers, alleging arbitrariness and violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. They argued that earlier NCTE notification dated 23 August 2010 all…

The State of Uttar Pradesh amended its Basic Education Rules to incorporate the National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE) qualifications for elementary teachers, later revoking the weightage given to Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) marks. A writ petition challenged the revocation, and the Allahabad High Court set a…

The Shri Geeta Satsang Bhawan Trust filed eviction suits in 1999 against tenants for non‑payment of rent. At the time of filing, the Trust was not registered under the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959, and the trial court nevertheless decreed in its favour. The appellate courts set aside the decree, holding that an unr…

The appellant, Sergeant Chaman Lal, a disabled airman classified as medical category A4G4 (P), claimed that he was discriminated against in promotion to Junior Warrant Officer because officers with higher disability percentages were promoted. He relied on Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, arguing i…

The State of Haryana issued a notification on 5 May 2017 identifying "remote/difficult" areas for granting weightage in NEET PG admissions under Regulation 9(IV) of the Post‑Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000. The High Court set aside the notification, holding it was based on an arbitrary and hasty process, a…

The appellant Baliraj Singh and co‑accused were convicted for murder under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC based on the testimony of three eyewitnesses who were relatives of the deceased and on a post‑mortem report indicating a fatal wound caused by a sharp object. The Supreme Court found serious contradictions among th…

The original plaintiff, M.N. Channavasavaiah, borrowed Rs.1,500 from B.M. Narayan Shetty and executed a deed of conditional sale on 28 July 1969, delivering possession of the land to the lender for five years with a condition that repayment would void the sale and reconvey the property. The lender later sold the land t…

The Supreme Court examined a suit for partition of ancestral land filed in 1979 by the heirs of Anandibai, who had inherited the property of a full‑owner Hindu female, Shakuntalabai, who died in 1962. The appellants argued that the suit was barred by the Limitation Act, 1963, Article 65(b) and by Order II Rule 2 of the…

The petitioners sought directions for the Union, State Governments and Union Territories to comply with the Supreme Court's earlier orders on the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, noting that the Act had been repealed and replaced by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The Court examined the legislati…

The Special Land Acquisition Officer, KIADB, sought to acquire land under the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966 (KIAD Act) and issued preliminary and final notifications in 2000 and 2005. The respondents challenged the acquisition, arguing that no award under Section 11-A of the 1894 Land Acquisition Act…

The appeal concerned a claim for compensation under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, filed by Sunil Kumar against United India Insurance Co. Ltd. The insurer attempted to defend the claim by alleging negligence of the driver/owner of the vehicle. The Supreme Court examined whether such a defence is permiss…

The Supreme Court was approached by a group of advocates (Ajayinder Sangwan & Ors.) who had submitted applications and law degrees for verification but whose degrees had not yet been verified by universities, fearing exclusion from the electoral roll for State Bar Council elections. The Court had earlier, on 23 August …

The Commissioner of Income Tax appealed against the orders of the Delhi and Punjab & Haryana High Courts which allowed M/s Modipon Ltd. to claim a deduction under Section 43B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for the balance amount in its Personal Ledger Account (PLA) representing advance deposits of central excise duty. The…

The Supreme Court examined whether two US‑incorporated companies, eFunds Corp. and eFunds IT Solutions Inc., had a permanent establishment (PE) in India under the India‑US Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). The Revenue argued that a fixed place of business, a service PE, and an agency PE existed through the In…

International Asset Reconstruction Company of India Ltd. appealed to the Debt Recovery Tribunal against an order of the Recovery Officer, but the appeal was filed after the 30‑day period prescribed under Section 30(1) of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993. The central issue was whether Section 5 of the Limi…

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) filed a suit in 1986 for specific performance of a sale agreement. In 2014, Kedia Construction Company (respondent No.3) filed a Chamber Summons seeking to be impleaded as Plaintiff No.3, claiming assignment of the original plaintiff's interest, and the Bombay High Court allowe…

The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) appealed against a Division Bench order that quashed its acquisition of a flat requisitioned under the West Bengal Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1948. The property had been under requisition since 1979 and the High Court, in 1993, directed the Land Acquisi…

The case arose from a reference to a nine-judge bench to determine whether the right to privacy is a constitutionally protected fundamental right under the Indian Constitution, particularly in light of the Aadhaar scheme's collection of biometric data. The petitioners argued that privacy is an intrinsic part of the rig…

The plaintiff, represented by his legal heirs, sued the defendants for ownership and possession of agricultural land, claiming inheritance rights, while the defendants relied on a will. The trial court granted only symbolic possession to the plaintiff, and both parties appealed. The High Court dismissed the plaintiff's…

The Supreme Court examined the renewal of a 30‑year lease granted by the Ujjain Development Authority (UDA) to Mis Ajar Enterprises Private Limited (Ajar) after the leasehold interest was acquired from the liquidated IISCO. The Court held that Rule 24 and Rule 25 of the Madhya Pradesh Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Vikasit Bh…

The appellant, V. Shanth, was the owner of a seed distribution company accused of selling spurious chilli seeds that caused loss to farmers, leading to three FIRs under the IPC and the Seeds Act, 1966. The State invoked preventive detention under the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Dacoits,…

Formula One World Championship Ltd (FOWC), a UK company, entered into a Race Promotion Contract with Jaypee Sports International Ltd to host the Formula One Grand Prix in India for US$40 million. The dispute centered on whether FOWC had a Permanent Establishment (PE) in India under Article 5 of the India‑UK Double Taxa…

The wife, Lalita, committed suicide within five years of her marriage, alleging daily quarrels and dowry demands by her mother‑in‑law and father‑in‑law. A dying declaration recorded by a Sub‑Divisional Magistrate detailed the harassment and the in‑laws’ presence at the time of the act. The trial court acquitted the acc…

Balaji Singh filed a suit for declaration of title and permanent injunction which was dismissed by the trial court. On appeal, the first appellate court allowed him to file additional evidence under Order 41 Rule 27, set aside the trial court decree and remanded the case to the trial court for a fresh trial, invoking O…

The husband filed a petition for divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging that his wife had made false and defamatory complaints against him, his family and colleagues, which amounted to cruelty. The wife had lodged multiple complaints with various authorities and the media, all of which were later …

Mangalam Organics Ltd. challenged the Central Government’s decision not to issue a notification under Section 11C of the Central Excise Act, 1944, which would have exempted it from excise duty on rosins and turpentine manufactured using the Bhatti process. The appellant claimed that a general practice of non‑levy exist…

Dr. T.P. Senkumar, the State Police Chief of Kerala, was transferred before completing the two‑year minimum tenure mandated by Section 97 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 on the ground of "serious public dissatisfaction" with police efficiency following the Puttingal Temple tragedy and the Jisha murder case. The State Go…

Manju Devi, a Scheduled Caste woman, complained that the respondents assaulted her, outraged her modesty and insulted her caste, invoking Sections 323, 354, 452 of the IPC and Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST Act. The High Court granted anticipatory bail to the respondents under Section 438 of the CrPC. The appellant chal…

The Supreme Court examined whether Rule 5 of the Hot‑Re‑rolling Steel Mills Annual Capacity Determination Rules, 1997, which allows the annual capacity of production (ACP) to be deemed equal to actual production for the 1996‑97 year, creates a legal fiction and is ultra vires Section 3A of the Central Excise Act, 1944.…

The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Deoghat Jhalwa Allahabad cancelled the appointments of several teachers based on a status report discussed in its eighth Board meeting, without furnishing the report to the teachers or giving them a hearing. The Allahabad High Court set aside the cancellation, holding tha…

The case concerned railway casual labourers who, after years of service, were granted temporary status and later regularised. They claimed that the entire period of service after obtaining temporary status should count 100% for pensionary benefits, whereas the Union of India argued that only 50% of such service should …

Kuldeep Singh Pathania, who lost a 2012 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, filed an election petition under Section 100(1)(d)(iii) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 alleging irregularities in voting and postal ballots. The Himachal Pradesh High Court dismissed the petition on preliminary ground…

The appellants filed a suit for permanent injunction in 2004 describing the suit property as Survey No.192/9. During the trial they discovered that the respondents had transferred the patta and executed an Inam Settlement Deed referring to the same land as Survey No.192/14, creating a confusion about the identity of th…

The appeals challenged High Court orders that had granted physically‑handicapped candidates belonging to the OBC category three additional attempts in the Civil Services Examination, on the ground that the Government’s policy of increasing attempts for physically‑handicapped candidates of the General category from four…

The Union of India, as the owner of land covered by an Old Grant, issued a notice to resume a 3.398‑acre property in Landour Cantonment occupied by Vijay Krishna Uniyal, who sued for a permanent injunction claiming ownership based on a 1980 sale deed and long possession. The trial court, the first appellate court and t…

The plaintiff purchased a plot from a housing cooperative society by a registered sale deed dated 29‑12‑1981 and was placed in possession. The defendant later encroached on the land and erected a hut, prompting the plaintiff to sue for possession and mesne profits. The trial court and first appellate court dismissed th…

The Supreme Court examined whether Income Tax Circular No. 3 of 2011, which bars filing of High Court appeals where the tax impact is below Rs 10 lakh, applies retrospectively to appeals already pending before the circular came into force. The Court noted divergent views among High Courts and considered the National Li…

The Supreme Court entertained Civil Appeal No. 19662 of 2017 filed by the Medical Council of India against the G.C.R.G. Memorial Trust, which had been debarred from admitting medical students for the 2017‑18 and 2018‑19 academic years. The High Court, despite a Supreme Court order dated 28‑08‑2017 prohibiting any inter…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 45(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, which imposes two additional conditions for granting bail when the offence involves a scheduled offence punishable with imprisonment of more than three years under Part A of the Schedule. The Court h…

The appellants, a group of Foresters recruited under the Madhya Pradesh Class III (Non‑Ministerial) Forest Service Recruitment Rules, 1967, complained that some of their juniors received accelerated promotions to Deputy Ranger and subsequently to Forest Ranger because of postings in particular circles, thereby overtaki…

An FIR was lodged for corruption and a charge‑sheet was filed against 16 persons, while three individuals—Girish Sharma, Arvind Singh Dhruv and Jeet Ram Yadav—were recorded as witnesses under Sections 161 and 164 of the CrPC and not named as accused. Some of the accused applied under Sections 193/319 to have these thre…

The appellants (defendants) challenged a summary dismissal of their second appeal by the Calcutta High Court, which had been filed against a decree granting partition to the plaintiffs. The High Court dismissed the appeal under Order 41 Rule 11 without stating facts, the parties' submissions, or reasons, and without id…

The appellants challenged the admission of a demarcation report prepared by a government agency during conciliation proceedings against the respondent. The High Court had allowed the report as evidence, but the Supreme Court examined whether this contravened Sections 75 and 81 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1…

The petitioners sought immediate elections to the State Bar Councils, arguing that the terms of the incumbent members had expired. The Bar Council of India (BCI) contended that elections could not be held until a verification process to weed out fake lawyers was completed, as mandated by the Advocates Act, 1961 and the…

The appellants, Anjan Kumar Sarma and others, were convicted by the High Court for murder (Sec. 302) and related offences on the basis that they were last seen with the victim, Rekha Dutta, and offered no explanation. The Supreme Court examined whether the "last seen together" circumstance, without any other corroborat…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Rameshbhai Prajapati, who was attacked with a large knife while sleeping, after the accused objected to his brother's marriage. The trial court convicted four of the five accused under Sections 302, 147, 148 and 149 IPC, acquitting one; the High Court later set aside the …

The appellants, two candidates who scored the required marks for MBBS admission, were declared ineligible on the ground of partial colour‑vision deficiency (CVD). They challenged the decision of the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the State of Tripura before the High Court, which dismissed their writ petition, holdi…

Manti Devi and her son filed an eviction suit in the Munsif Court seeking possession of two katras on the ground of personal necessity, claiming to be landlords after purchasing the property. The trial court decreed eviction in their favour. The tenants appealed to the High Court in revision, which set aside the decree…

The landlord (appellant) sought interest on arrears of rent after the City Civil Court ordered the tenant (respondent) to pay the arrears in ten monthly installments but denied interest. The High Court upheld that order. The Supreme Court examined whether Section 17(2A) of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956, ob…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Central Government's Rule 7 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 – which mandates that investigations under the SCST Act be conducted by a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police – is valid, and whether th…

The appellants, armed with bombs and guns, attacked the informant's nephews, hurling bombs that caused two deaths and injuries to others. The trial court convicted several accused under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC, Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 27 of the Arms Act, sentencing two to de…

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed an appeal against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order quashing FIR No. SIA‑2001‑E‑0006, which alleged cheating, forgery and conspiracy (IPC sections 420, 471, 120B) against Sadhu Ram Singla and others. The FIR arose from alleged fraudulent stock statements that enabled a …

The dispute concerned a property waqfed in 1940 by Swami Satya Dev to Respondent No.2 (Prachaarini Sabha) for the purpose of promoting Hindi language, establishing a library and other charitable activities, subject to conditions prohibiting sale or mortgage. The appellants, interested in ensuring the purpose of the waq…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition filed by Common Cause and others under Article 32, alleging that the then Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Shri Ranjit Sinha, had abused his authority by meeting accused persons in the coal block allocation cases without the presence of investigating officer…

The petitioner, Rishabh Choudhary, was admitted to the MBBS course of C.M. Medical College, Chhattisgarh, after clearing a college‑conducted exam (CGMAT‑2016) and subsequent counseling. The admission occurred after the Supreme Court, on 11 April 2016, recalled its 2013 judgment and revived the Medical Council of India …

The case concerned the inter‑se seniority of Station Fire Officers (SFOs) appointed by direct recruitment in 1993. Under Rule 12 of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Subordinate Service Rules, SFOs were required to pass three tests within their probation period, but the Government exempted all SFOs from the third test by GO No. …

The appellant, Ratanlal, claimed to have been adopted by his maternal uncle Govardhandas in 1973, despite being a married man of 32 years. The adoption was contested by the plaintiff, Sundarabai, who sought a declaration that the adoption never occurred. The trial court accepted the adoption, but the Bombay High Court …

In 1965 gold worth 240 kg was seized from the appellant's father's house under the Defence of India Rules, 1962 and confiscation proceedings were initiated. The Rules were later repealed by the Gold Control Ordinance, 1968, which was subsequently repealed by the Gold Control Act, 1968, creating a statutory fiction that…

The Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Medical Sciences (PRIMS) applied for a Letter of Permission (LOP) to start a new medical college for the 2016‑17 academic year and sought renewal for 2017‑18. Conditional LOP was granted for 2016‑17, but subsequent inspections by the Medical Council of India (MCI) revealed persisten…

M/s. M.K. Agro Tech Pvt. Ltd. (the assessee) purchased sunflower oil cake, paid input VAT, extracted oil (taxable) and sold the de‑oiled cake (exempt under Section 5). The State of Karnataka argued that only a partial rebate of input tax was permissible under Section 17 of the Karnataka Value Added Tax Act read with Ru…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal against an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that directed State Governments to reconsider the appointments of chairpersons and members of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and to lay down guidelines for such appointments. The Court held that under the National Green T…

The State of Gujarat appealed against Reliance Industries Ltd., a manufacturer of polymers and chemicals, challenging the reduction of input tax credit under the Gujarat Value Added Tax Act, 2003. Reliance purchased fuels (furnace oil, natural gas, light diesel oil) as raw materials, paid VAT, and claimed credit. Secti…

Shantanu Sitaram (also known as Anil Divekar) was convicted along with two co‑accused for the murder of his wife Supriya, whose body was found in a car with ligature marks. The prosecution proved that gold ornaments worn by the victim were recovered from a neighbour of Shantanu and that a rope, stick and knife used in …

The Kutchi Lal Rameshwarsram Trust and Anna Kshetra Trust claimed ownership of land in Haridwar, asserting that it had been held by the trust for over forty‑five years based on a will and a declaration by the original purchaser, Mohan Lal. The Collector, Haridwar, on a complaint that Mohan Lal had died without heirs, i…

The Supreme Court, hearing Civil Appeal No. 1093 of 2006, examined whether it could entertain an application under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to make an arbitral award a rule of the Court when the Court itself had retained seisin over the arbitration proceedings. The award, rendered by a r…

The Union of India challenged the re‑telecast of live cricket feeds, shared by Star India and ESPN with Prasar Bharati under Section 3 of the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007, by cable operators under Section 8 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The pet…

The appellant (buyer) entered into a sale agreement where the seller was obliged to conduct a survey of the land before payment was due. The seller failed to conduct the survey, prompting the buyer to sue for specific performance. The trial court and the first appellate court both decreed specific performance, finding …

The Supreme Court, by a 3:2 majority, set aside the practice of 'talaq-e-biddat' (triple talaq) as unconstitutional. The case arose from a petition by Shayara Bano, who was divorced by her husband through triple talaq. The majority held that triple talaq is manifestly arbitrary and violates Article 14 of the Constituti…

The appellants Chandrasekar and another were convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 324 IPC for repeatedly assaulting the deceased on the head with a hammer, sickle and iron rod, resulting in his death. The prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of an injured eyewit…

The Parsi Lying‑in‑Hospital (PLIH) charitable trust, after transferring its hospital to the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), entered into a lease with Krimson Health Ventures Private Limited (KHPL) to rebuild the hospital as a super‑specialty facility. The Charity Commissioner approved the scheme under section 36 of the B…

The case arose from a violent clash during a panchayat election in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, where a group of accused, armed with lathis and fasris, attacked members of the complainant party, resulting in one death and several injuries. The trial court acquitted all seventeen accused, reasoning that the incident occurred…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a direction that no industry requiring a "consent to operate" from a Pollution Control Board be allowed to function unless its primary effluent treatment plant (ETP) is functional and meets prescribed norms. The Court held that such industries may o…

Laxmanram Poonia enlisted in the Indian Army in 2005 and was diagnosed with acute schizophrenia in 2007, leading to his invalidation in 2009 with a 60% disability rating. The Medical Board concluded the disability was neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service, and the Armed Forces Tribunal rejected his…

Mis. Jayasawals NECO Ltd., a power‑intensive industry, challenged the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission’s imposition of minimum monthly charges based on a 30% load‑factor for FY 2005‑2006. The Commission, after reviewing the appellant’s consumption pattern, reduced the minimum charge to 10% load‑fact…

Mobilox Innovations Pvt Ltd, an operational creditor, filed an application under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) seeking initiation of corporate insolvency against Kirusa Software Pvt Ltd for an unpaid operational debt of Rs.20,08,202.55. The corporate debtor raised a dispute, alleging breach of a non‑di…

The petitioners, ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, sought approval and recognition under Section 11(2) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 for MBBS courses. The Medical Council of India (MCI) conducted several inspections, including a surprise compliance‑verification inspection on 24‑April‑2017, and f…

The appellants borrowed money from the respondent, securing the loan with seven immovable properties. Their loan account was declared a non‑performing asset and the parties’ contract contained an arbitration clause, leading the respondent to initiate arbitration while also issuing notices under Section 13 of the SARFAE…

The case concerned the seniority of T. Raju, a candidate for the post of Excise Inspector, who claimed he should be advised from the 1992 rank list and receive seniority based on the next advisable vacancy. The Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1958, Rule 27(c) stipulates that seniority for appointments made …

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) sought contribution from Mangalam Publications, a private limited company, for interim relief payments made to its employees between April 1996 and March 2000. The company argued that the interim relief was an ex‑gratia payment, not "wages" under Section 2(22) of the Em…

The appeal concerned the taxability of pan masala containing tobacco (gutka) under the Delhi Sales Tax Act, 1975, the U.P. Trade Tax Act, 1948 and the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959. The central issue was whether the specific entry introducing "Pan Masala and Gutka" in the rate schedule overrode the general exe…

The appellant, a trustee of the B.C. Batliwala Agiary Trust, challenged the sanction granted by the Charity Commissioner of Maharashtra under Section 36 of the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, for a joint‑venture development‑cum‑sale of a 3,012‑sq‑m fire‑temple property to Astral Enterprises for Rs.2.95 crore. The Supre…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) filed criminal complaints against Classic Credit Ltd. and other private parties under the SEBI Act, 1992, which originally required trial before a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class. The SEBI (Amendment) Act, 2002 altered Section 26(2) t…

Sejal Glass Ltd. filed a civil suit seeking a money decree and recovery of TDS from Navilan Merchants Pvt. Ltd. and its directors. The defendants moved an application under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC, claiming the plaint disclosed no cause of action against the directors and seeking bifurcation of the suit. The trial…

Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit, a serving Army officer, was accused of conspiring with others to plant a bomb in Malegaon in 2008, resulting in six deaths. The case was investigated first by the Anti‑Terrorist Squad (ATS) and later by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), leading to divergent charge‑sheets, with t…

The State filed a criminal appeal against the discharge of K.N. Nehru, a former minister, and his wife under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The FIR alleged that they had amassed assets disproportionate to their known income, with the investigation also focusing on the income and assets of their son, Arun. Whil…

The appeal concerned the interpretation of Section 2(d) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, where the appellant, a mentally retarded adult, argued that "age" should include mental age so that she could be treated as a child. The Court examined the POCSO Act's objects and reasons, its d…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition under Art. 32 challenging the failure of several State Governments and Union Territories to implement mandatory provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS Act), including grievance redressal officers, State Food Commissions, social audits and vigilance committees.…

The plaintiff obtained an ex‑parte decree for specific performance of a 1995 agreement. The defendant filed an application under Order IX Rule 13 CPC to set aside the decree, but it was dismissed in default and the defendant died shortly thereafter. The legal heirs filed a restoration application under Order IX Rule 9 …

The Municipal Board of Sumerpur filed a writ petition challenging a Collector's order. The High Court Single Judge dismissed the petition in limine without issuing notice, stating no ground for interference, and the Division Bench similarly dismissed the appeal in limine without addressing the Board's submissions. The …

The Industrial Village Razhuphe filed a writ petition in the Gauhati High Court seeking cancellation of census records collected by the Dimapur Municipal Council and directions that the State of Nagaland not accept those records. The Single Judge ordered the cancellation and directed the Census Officer to conduct a fre…

The case arose from a night-time religious procession at a temple where nine accused allegedly attacked the deceased Rajesh and the complainant Vinod (PW2), leading to Rajesh's death. One of the accused, A-2, was found dead hanging from a tree the next day, and the remaining eight were charged under IPC sections 143, 1…

The appellants were convicted for murder under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for attacking the complainant's family with weapons, injuring them and preventing medical treatment, which led to the death of the complainant's brother. The FIR listed only five names but expressly mentioned that seven other pe…

The appellants’ land in Chandapora was acquired under the Jammu & Kashmir Land Acquisition Act, 1934 for the resettlement of Dal dwellers and they were awarded Rs 2,50,000 per Kanai, whereas owners of identical lands in the adjacent villages of Bhagichandpora and Pazwalpora received Rs 4,00,000 per Kanai. The appellant…

The partnership firm KwalitY Steel Suppliers Complex, consisting of a mother and son, was dissolved after the mother’s death, but the son continued the business. In its return, the firm valued closing stock at cost price, a method accepted by the Assessing Officer. The Commissioner of Income Tax, invoking Section 263 o…