Judgments of 2018

The appellant, Amrit Paul Singh, challenged a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award that held Tata AIG General Insurance liable to pay compensation for a fatal road accident involving a truck that lacked a valid transport permit. The High Court affirmed the tribunal's decision, and the Supreme Court examined whether the…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the 1998 amendments to the Karnataka Money Lenders Act and Karnataka Pawn Brokers Act that barred payment of interest on security deposits required of licence‑holders. The Court held that the provisions themselves (sections 7‑A, 7‑B of the Money Lenders Act and 4‑A, 4…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India filed a Section 34 challenge to arbitral awards dated June 2015, and the award creditors sought execution. The award debtor argued that the pre‑amended Section 36 imposed an automatic stay on execution until the Section 34 petition was decided, while the High Court applied the …

The State of Uttar Pradesh acquired large tracts of land for industrial development under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, prompting many landowners to file writ petitions challenging the acquisition. The Allahabad High Court, in Gajraj & Ors. v. State of U.P., upheld the acquisition but ordered additional compensation …

Sundaram Finance Ltd. granted a loan to Abdul Samad, who defaulted, leading to arbitration under the loan agreement. An ex parte award of Rs.12.69 lakh was made, and Sundaram sought execution of the award in the Morena court, which dismissed the application for lack of jurisdiction, directing the appellant to first obt…

The plaintiff filed a civil suit in the Calcutta High Court for recovery of money and, after failing to serve the defendants by ordinary means, obtained permission to serve them by substituted service through newspaper publication. The summons published on 25 November 2014 instructed the defendants to appear within 15 …

The University terminated security guard Prithvi Singh, a daily‑rated employee, after a departmental enquiry found him guilty of misconduct for misbehaving with a research scholar. The Labour Court, on reference under Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act, held that the enquiry was illegal, treated the termination …

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. (the Board) replaced a meter at a consumer’s oil mill and later discovered tampering, leading it to issue a provisional assessment under Section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003 for unauthorized use of electricity. The consumer challenged the assessment in writ petitio…

The appellants filed a civil suit seeking specific performance of an agreement, which the trial court decreed in their favour. The High Court single judge set aside that decree, and the appellants filed a Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) before the Division Bench of the High Court. The Division Bench dismissed the LPA by a …

The appellant UCO Bank alleged that its former employee Rajendra Shankar Shukla, while in charge of an extension counter, issued a Rs.3 lakh cheque without sufficient funds in 1991, leading to a charge sheet issued only in 1998. Shukla superannuated in January 1999, but disciplinary proceedings continued and he was dis…

The case concerned workers who had been handling coal and iron‑ore at Chennai Port Trust and later claimed regularisation of their services after the activity was shifted to Ennore Port Trust. The workers formed an association, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the port trust that included an arbitr…

The plaintiff filed a suit for specific performance of an agreement to sell dated 13 March 1992, alleging that the entire consideration of Rs.32 lakh had been paid but the sale deed was never executed and the property was later sold to a third party. The defendants moved an application under Order VII Rule 11(d) of the…

The plaintiff, Shami Mohd., sued Jamila Begum for a declaration that a 1967 mortgage deed and a 1970 sale deed executed by his father, Wali Mohd., in favour of the defendant were void, alternatively seeking redemption of the mortgage. The trial court held the documents valid and dismissed the suit; the first appellate …

The appellants entered into agreements to sell and sued for specific performance. The trial court impounded the agreements for insufficient stamp duty and ordered payment of the deficit duty plus a penalty of double the duty, which the appellants accepted. The High Court, relying on Digambar Warty v. District Registrar…

The appellant, a tenant of a shop in Muraina, Madhya Pradesh, faced an eviction suit filed by the landlord under Section 12(1)(f) of the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961, claiming the premises were needed for his son Rajendra Kumar's utensil business. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding the son al…

The appellant, Prakash Chand Daga, sold his Santro car to Saveta Sharma on 11 September 2009 and the vehicle was involved in an accident on 9 October 2009, injuring Rakesh Kumar. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs.12.47 lakh, holding the driver and the first respondent (the buyer) liable. The…

The victim Raghumani was allegedly attacked by five persons and, while dying, named the assailants in separate statements to his brother (PW1) and the investigating officer (PW15). The prosecution relied on these dying declarations, eye‑witness testimony recorded days later, and medical evidence indicating fourteen inj…

The complainant deposited money with the Employees Co-operative USE Thrift and Credit Society, which failed to repay the amount with interest as promised. The District Forum ordered the society to pay the maturity amount, interest, compensation and costs, and also sentenced the society's secretary, H. K. Singla, to two…

The appellants, manufacturers and dealers including M/s. Tata Motors Ltd., challenged tax assessments levied by the State of Jharkhand under Section 6 of the Bihar Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1994, which imposed tax on motor‑vehicle chassis while in the possession of the manufacturer or dealer before delivery. The key…

The appeal concerned a parcel of agricultural land where the original landlord, a widow, died in 1999 and her successor-in-title failed to give notice under Section 31(3) within one year. The tenants, whose tenancy pre‑dated the 1957 amendment (Tillers' Day), sought to exercise their right to purchase under Section 32F…

The appellant, a cotton ginning businessman, alleged that a mill and its officials fraudulently sold cotton lint supplied by him and appropriated the proceeds, prompting him to lodge a complaint under Sections 420, 409 and 34 of the IPC. The police failed to register the case, leading to a criminal proceeding (Crime No…

The Supreme Court heard a group of writ petitions filed as public‑interest litigations challenging the Government of India's procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets, seeking registration of an FIR, a court‑monitored investigation and quashing of the Inter‑Governmental Agreement on alleged corruption, pricing irregulariti…

Janhit Manch, an NGO, and its president challenged Maharashtra's slum rehabilitation scheme, specifically the 1991 Development Control Regulations (DCR) and the Transferable Development Right (TDR) policy that allowed an increase in Floor Space Index (FSI) in certain zones. They sought a review of the regulations on gr…

The Trust, a charitable public trust, acquired land and built a housing block (A‑1) of 1009.70 sq meters for weaker sections. Flat purchasers (original plaintiffs) sued for a conveyance of the land underlying the building, claiming entitlement to the entire plot. The trial court decreed that the Trust must convey only …

P.E.C. Limited chartered a vessel from Austbulk Shipping and a dispute arose over freight and demurrage. The parties had an arbitration clause in the charter party, and a sole arbitrator awarded US$150,362.18 to Austbulk. P.E.C. filed a petition for enforcement of the foreign award in the Delhi High Court, objecting th…

The petitioners, a Chinese elevator guide‑rail manufacturer, filed an arbitration petition under Section 11(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking the appointment of a sole arbitrator pursuant to Clause 15 of their 2014 Commission Processing Contract with the respondents, an Indian partnership. Claus…

The petitioners, led by MLA Bhupesh Baghel, sought interlocutory relief to stop non‑forest activities, including mining, by licensee Anil Lunia in Chhattisgarh forests, to initiate criminal prosecution, order a CBI enquiry, recover compensation and enforce afforestation. The Supreme Court constituted a Central Empowere…

The petitioners sought a uniform policy for registration, arrest and bail in cases under Section 498‑A IPC, challenging the directions issued in Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P. that created Family Welfare Committees, barred arrests before their report, and allowed district courts to dispose of settled cases. The Court e…

The appellant, former ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan, was arrested in 1994 on alleged espionage charges that were later found to be false by the CBI, leading to his discharge. He spent nearly fifty days in police custody, during which the Supreme Court found that the investigation by Kerala police was malicious, cau…

Pankaj Sinha filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking comprehensive measures for leprosy‑affected persons, including periodic national surveys, free multi‑drug therapy, awareness campaigns, non‑discriminatory treatment, education, rehabilitation and disability certification. The Court examined the constitutional …

The appellant was stopped while riding a scooter and a bag he was carrying was searched, revealing 7.04 kg of opium. The trial court acquitted him, holding that Section 50 of the NDPS Act was not complied with and that there was no trustworthy record of the contraband being produced before a magistrate. The High Court …

The State of Karnataka charged Srinivasa, the husband, with murder of his wife Rajashree, alleging he strangulated her and staged a hanging, motivated by an alleged illicit relationship with a second accused. The trial court convicted Srinivasa under Section 302 of the IPC, but the Karnataka High Court acquitted him, r…

The State of Karnataka appealed the acquittal of A.B. Mahesha and others, who had been convicted by the trial court for murder based on circumstantial evidence that the deceased Jagdeesha was last seen with the accused, the recovery of his car, and the seizure of a gold chain, watch and ring from the accused's homes. T…

The Supreme Court considered two unrelated special leave petitions challenging convictions under Section 302 IPC, both of which had been affirmed by respective High Courts. The petitioners argued that the convictions were unsafe, but the Court found the evidence of eye witnesses reliable and saw no merit in overturning…

The appellant (KCPL) challenged a Section 9 petition filed by the respondent (Vijay Nirman) which sought to treat an arbitral award as an undisputed operational debt. The award, favouring the respondent, was under challenge in a Section 34 petition under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The Supreme Court held that…

State Bank of India (SBI) sought recovery of a loan from a corporate debtor whose managing director, V. Ramakrishnan, had also given a personal guarantee. After the corporate debtor defaulted, SBI invoked SARFAESI provisions and the debtor filed an insolvency petition under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016…

The appellants, operating as M/s Alagu Pharmacy, claimed tenancy of a premises based on a lease dated 22‑02‑2012, which the respondent landlord alleged was forged and lodged a police complaint. A compromise was entered on 29‑01‑2014, before the landlord filed an eviction petition under the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease a…

A motor accident on 10 May 2012 resulted in the death of Sanoj Kumar. The victims filed a claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which awarded compensation but absolved the insurer on the ground that the driver, Shivgyani, held a fake licence. The vehicle owner appealed, arguing that the insurer should remain…

The Union Bank of India dismissed a branch manager, C.G. Ajay Babu, for alleged misconduct and subsequently forfeited his gratuity on the ground that the misconduct involved moral turpitude. The employee challenged the forfeiture, arguing that under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 forfeiture is not automatic on dismi…

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) conducted a preliminary examination for Upper Subordinate Services and published key answers that were later challenged by several candidates. The Commission had first moderated the key answers through two expert committees and, after receiving 962 objections, a 26‑me…

The Supreme Court examined multiple appeals arising from the Satyam scandal, where the appellant, Chintalapati Srinivasa Raju, a former executive and non‑executive director of Satyam Computer Services Ltd (SCSL) and co‑brother of its chairman, was shown cause for insider trading under SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Tradi…

The Supreme Court entertained Civil Appeal No. 877 of 2018 filed by Ashok Kumar and others against the State of Jharkhand concerning the payment of differential mandatory benefits, including increments, under the Jharkhand Judicial Service (Recruitment) Rules, 2004. The Court had earlier, on 11 May 2018, issued directi…

The Union of India appealed against a Delhi High Court judgment that struck down Rule 3.3(1)(b) of the PCPNDT Rules, 1996 and Rule 6 of the Six‑Months Training Rules, 2014 on the ground that the Act did not empower the Central Government to prescribe qualifications or training for persons using ultrasound equipment. Th…

Dr. Ashwani Kumar filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking enforcement of elderly persons' rights to adequate pension, shelter, geriatric care and effective implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. The Court examined whether Article 21 of the Constitution, together w…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Leela Ram for murder after he, along with two co‑accused, attacked the deceased with an axe, inflicting a fatal skull injury. The trial court convicted him under Sections 302, 341 and 323 IPC, but the Rajasthan High Court reduced the murder conviction to culpable homicide not amounting…

The Telecom Department of the erstwhile Telecom Department reported theft of copper and lead alloy moulds, which were seized from the first respondent, Surya Metals, and placed under interim custody of the appellant, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), under CrPC s.451. The criminal trial resulted in the acquittal of …

The Court considered an interlocutory application filed under Article 32 seeking that prisoners sentenced to death be treated on par with other convicts and that solitary confinement be struck down. It examined when a convict becomes a ‘death‑row prisoner’, holding that the status arises only when the death sentence is…

The case arose from an FIR under IPC sections 363 and 366 and POCSO Act sections 3 and 4 alleging that a 14‑year‑old girl was abducted and sexually assaulted by Natuji Thakor. The victim’s later statements mentioned three other persons – Labhuji, Shashikant and Jituji – who were present in the vehicle used for the alle…

The parties obtained an ICC arbitral award in London ordering RioGlass Solar to pay Shriram EPC Ltd €4.36 million. Shriram filed a petition under Section 47 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to enforce the foreign award in India, while RioGlass contended that the award was unenforceable because it had not b…

The appellant Abdul Wahab K. challenged the order of a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) that allowed the Public Prosecutor to withdraw prosecution under Sections 195A and 506 IPC, on the ground that the CJM had not applied the proper test under Section 321 of the CrPC. The petitioners, third parties, filed revision peti…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal case where the Public Prosecutor sought to withdraw prosecution under Sections 195A and 506 IPC, and the Chief Judicial Magistrate allowed the withdrawal. The order was challenged by the accused through revision petitions filed by third‑party petitioners, which the Kerala High Cour…

The appellants, Salim Shamsuddin Shaikh (A‑2) and Mohmed Rafiq Abdul Rahim Shaikh (A‑4), were convicted under Sections 25(1)(a) and 25(1AA) read with Section 35 of the Arms Act, 1959 for possession of prohibited ammunition found in a car owned by A‑2 and in a bungalow occupied by A‑4. The prosecution relied solely on t…

The private respondents, owners of a plot of land attached to satisfy labour court dues, had the land auctioned; Pravesh Kumar Sachdeva was the highest bidder. Under Rule 285‑I of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Rules, objections to the auction could be filed within thirty days. Only Alok Mitra f…

The Medical Council of India (MCI) appealed against a Punjab & Haryana High Court order that allowed N.C. Medical College to admit 150 MBBS students for the 2018‑19 session. The High Court had directed the Central Government to grant permission by 31 May 2018, relying on a government order issued under that interim dir…

The appellants were appointed as Additional District and Sessions Judges (Fast Track Courts) on an ad‑hoc basis for a five‑year term, later extended, and were subsequently relieved. They filed writ petitions seeking pension, gratuity and leave encashment, which the Madras High Court dismissed on the ground that their a…

The petitioners, students of the MBBS and BDS programmes at Rajah Muthiah Medical College (a constituent college of Annamalai University), challenged the university's fee structure, alleging it was excessive and not subject to the fee‑fixation mechanism under the Tamil Nadu Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Coll…

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) entered into a concession agreement with Gwalior Jhansi Expressway Limited (GJEL) to widen NH‑75. GJEL failed to complete the work, leading to arbitration. Both parties filed Section 17 applications before the arbitral tribunal seeking interim relief. The tribunal allowed…

The petitioners, candidates of the 2018 Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), complained that technical glitches, power failures and inadequate facilities caused loss of examination time for 4,690 of them. They sought either a fresh test or a method to compensate for the lost time. The Supreme Court examined the evidence, …

The dispute between Oswal Woolen Mills Ltd. and Oswal Agro Mills Ltd. arose from a breach of an agency agreement and was referred to arbitration under the Arbitration Act, 1940. Two arbitrators could not agree on an award, so the matter was referred to an umpire who awarded damages to the respondent. The appellant late…

The original plaintiff, Sucha Singh, filed a suit for permanent injunction against the defendant in 1996, which he later withdrew with the court's permission to pursue appropriate proceedings before a competent forum. He subsequently filed a fresh suit for specific performance of the same agreement, which the defendant…

The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association challenged the amendment to Regulation 9(4) and (8) of the Post‑Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, which allowed reservation of 50% of state‑quota seats for in‑service medical officers. The petitioners argued that such reservation exceeded the legislative competen…

Shiva Kant Jha, a CGHS pensioner, sought reimbursement of Rs.13,84,440 incurred for emergency cardiac and stroke treatment in non‑empanelled hospitals. The CGHS authorities denied most of the claim on technical grounds, citing lack of prior approval and non‑empanelment. The petitioner filed a writ under Article 32 alle…

K.K. Mishra, a Congress spokesperson, allegedly made three statements about the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh during a press conference. The State Government sanctioned the public prosecutor to file a complaint under Section 199(2) of the CrPC on the same day, leading to Mishra's conviction under Section 500 IPC for…

The Kerala Ayurveda Paramparya Vaidya Forum, an association of traditional practitioners of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, challenged the Travancore‑Cochin Medical Practitioners Act, 1953 which barred them from practising unless they were registered under the Act. The Forum argued that they had long‑standing custom, inher…

The case concerned the classification of 100% pure coconut oil packed in small retail containers. The Revenue argued that such packaging made the oil a "hair oil" falling under Chapter 33, Heading 3305, while the assessee contended it remained "coconut oil" under Chapter 15, Heading 1513. The Court examined the pre‑ an…

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) appealed against the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and the Madras High Court, which had ordered the appointment of M. Sathyia Priya to the Indian Police Service (IPS) by directing that her Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) from 2003‑2008 be considered. The Supreme Cou…

The Bar Council of India appealed against orders allowing foreign law firms and lawyers to operate in India, arguing that the Advocates Act, 1961 restricts the practice of law to advocates enrolled with the Bar Council, covering both litigation and non‑litigation work. The Supreme Court examined whether foreign entitie…

The respondent was appointed as Veterinary Compounder in the Central Cattle Breeding Farms in 1999 by the then Director In‑charge without obtaining prior written approval of the competent authority as required by the Central Cattle Breeding Farms (Class III and IV) Recruitment Rules, 1969. The Department later issued a…

M/S RDB Textiles Ltd. manufactured jute bags for the Food Corporation of India, state governments and other agencies for use in the Public Distribution System. The Central Excise authorities denied exemption under Notification 30/2004, claiming that the bags bore a "brand name" because they displayed the buyer's name, …

The petitioners, including the political party Swaraj Abhiyan, filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a court‑ordered investigation into the purchase of an Agusta A‑109 Power helicopter by the Government of Chhattisgarh, alleging a sham tender, excess payment of about Rs 65 lakh and that the excess was routed to…

The appellant was convicted of murdering six members of a family and sentenced to death by the trial court, a sentence confirmed by the High Court and upheld by the Supreme Court. On review, the Supreme Court examined whether the appellant's severe socio‑economic deprivation, lack of adequate legal representation, and …

The appellant, a landlord, stepped into the shoes of a lessor who had executed a 99‑year lease in 1992. After the lessee defaulted on rent, the appellant filed a suit in 2007 for recovery of possession, mesne profits and an injunction. The lessee sought dismissal of the suit under Order VII Rule 11, CPC, arguing that t…

The appellant was convicted of raping and murdering a three‑year‑old girl and was sentenced to death, a sentence confirmed by the High Court and upheld by the Supreme Court. The appellant filed review petitions, which were initially dismissed but later restored after the Supreme Court’s decision in Mohd. Arif alias Ash…

The employees' union of Jaipur Metals & Electricals Ltd challenged a High Court order that refused to transfer winding‑up proceedings, filed under Section 20 of the Sick Industrial Companies Act, to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and set aside an NCLT order admitting a Section 7 insolvency application by Alch…

The Supreme Court examined the legality of Sarda Mines Private Limited’s (SMPL) mining operations after it received a permission on 13 July 1999 to extract 1.4 LTPA of mineral iron ore and an environmental clearance on 22 September 2004 for expanding production of iron ore (lump) to 4.0 MTPA. The Court held that the 20…

Petitioners, police personnel of Manipur Police, filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a mandamus to quash oral observations made by the Supreme Court on 30 July 2018 in the EEVFAM case and to obtain the bench's recusal, alleging that those observations would prejudice the investigations and trial. The Court ex…

Kam​al Nath, President of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking (i) VVPAT verification at 10% of polling stations and (ii) that the Election Commission of India (ECI) publish the draft electoral roll in a searchable PDF (text‑searchable) format. The petitioner relied on C…

The deceased employee died in a motor vehicle accident and his family claimed compensation under Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal awarded Rs 40,90,000, but the insurer argued that the monthly Rs 50,082 received by the family under the Employees Family Benefit (EFB) Scheme …

The appellant, the legal representative of the deceased victim Mallikarjun Kodagali, challenged the acquittal of the accused in a 2009 assault case, arguing that the proviso to Section 372 of the CrPC gave the victim a right to appeal because the acquittal order was passed after the amendment's effective date of 31‑Dec…

The appellant, ALD Automotive Pvt. Ltd., a registered dealer under the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act, 2006, claimed input tax credit (ITC) for tax paid on vehicle purchases but could not do so in the original assessment year because tax invoices were delayed. It later filed revised returns claiming ITC, which the Comm…

The landlord filed a small‑cause suit for eviction, rent and damages against the tenant. The suit, originally valued at Rs.21,175, was later amended to Rs.27,775 and transferred to an Additional District Judge (ADJ) because its value exceeded the then pecuniary limit of Rs.25,000 for a Small Causes Court. While the sui…

The Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) of Kota, created under the Rajasthan Urban Improvement Act, 1959, claimed exemption from income tax under Section 10(20) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, asserting that it qualified as a "local authority" within the meaning of clause (iii) of the explanation – i.e., a Municipal Committee. …

The appellants, registered dealers under the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act, challenged the denial of input tax credit (ITC) on inter‑state sales where Form C was not filed, contending that Section 19(5)(c) of the Act and Rule 10(9)(a) of the Rules were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court held that the provision is a v…

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Board (the Board) advertised the sale of unsold flats in the Powai Project and received offers from three cooperative societies and a fourth applicant, Powai Panchsheel Co‑op Housing Society (appellant No.1). The Board, through a resolution dated 10/14 May 2003, accepted onl…

The Supreme Court examined the Kerala Professional Colleges (Regularisation of Admission in Medical Colleges) Ordinance, 2017, which sought to regularise 180 MBBS admissions that had been cancelled by the Admission Supervisory Committee, the Kerala High Court and this Court. The Court held that the Ordinance attempted …

The case involved a grocery shop owner (PW‑2) who sought the return of a seized accounts book and was asked for a bribe by Assistant Commercial Tax Officer A‑1. After filing a complaint, a trap was arranged and PW‑2 paid Rs.800 to A‑2 on A‑1’s direction; the transaction was detected using a sodium carbonate test, leadi…

Parakh Vanijya Private Ltd, the registered owner of the label mark “MALABAR” for Biryani Rice in Class‑30, sued Baroma Agro Product for infringement and passing off, alleging that the respondent’s use of “BAROMA MALABAR GOLD” was identical or deceptively similar. The High Court, noting that the registration of “MALABAR…

Saravanan applied on 06‑12‑2010 for an agricultural electricity service connection. The application was returned on 07‑03‑2011 for lacking the Village Administrative Officer's signature; it was resubmitted on 21‑03‑2011. No action was taken, leading to a writ petition. The Single Judge directed the electricity board to…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 84(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003 obliges a High Court Judge to be appointed as Chairperson of a State Electricity Regulatory Commission and whether a member of law is required on the Commission. By interpreting the statutory language, the Court held that Section 84(2) is mer…

The Supreme Court examined whether receipts such as non‑occupancy charges, transfer charges and common‑amenity‑fund contributions received by a premises cooperative society from its members are taxable as business income or exempt under the doctrine of mutuality. The Court held that the doctrine of mutuality, based on …

The appellants, developers of the Hicon Onyx residential project, failed to deliver a flat purchased by the respondents and transferred the project to another company, prompting a consumer complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) held that the develo…

The petitioners, owners of 1.52 acres of land, challenged a 1985 acquisition of their land by the State of Tamil Nadu under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Single Judge of the Madras High Court allowed the writ petition and quashed the acquisition but gave no reasons or discussion of the issues. The Division Bench …

The petitioners, senior officers of the Border Security Force, were superseded in 1996 and 2000 and later promoted after meeting the revised "very good" benchmark. They filed numerous representations over the years and finally instituted writ petitions in 2016 seeking retrospective promotion from the date of supersessi…

The deceased, Brij Bhushan Tiwari, was found dead and his brother alleged that he was murdered by his wife and in‑laws. The accused, Dev Kanya Tiwari (mother‑in‑law), claimed the death was a suicide by ingestion of sulfas tablets, a version also supported by a prior complaint filed by the deceased's wife and corroborat…

The appellant was accused of strangling his grandmother and stealing her money bag, leading to a conviction under Section 302 IPC by the trial court and affirmation by the High Court. The prosecution's case hinged primarily on the testimony of two interested witnesses, the deceased's son‑in‑law (PW1) and his wife (PW5)…

The appellants, Bannareddy and others, were convicted by the Karnataka High Court for offences under Sections 148, 341, 504 and 326 read with 149 of the IPC arising from an alleged assault on three victims during a village fair. The trial court had acquitted them, finding that the prosecution’s case was riddled with co…

The Haryana Government issued a notification under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to acquire land for an industrial township, after which many landholders sold their land to private builders at inflated prices. The State later dropped the acquisition on 24 August 2007 and again on 29 January 2010, allegedly to benefit …

The Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) unit Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) introduced a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) in 1999, allowing retiring employees to occupy their allotted official quarters on licence for 22 months. The 53 respondents, who retired under VRS, were later denied long‑term lease of these quarters…

The appellant, Dinesh Kumar Kalidas Patel, was convicted by the Sessions Court for offences under Sections 498A and 201 of the Indian Penal Code after his wife allegedly committed suicide by hanging. The High Court acquitted him of the 498A charge but upheld the conviction under Section 201, relying on the fact that th…

The Maharashtra Housing Development Authority (MHADA) issued an e‑tender for redevelopment work. Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Pvt. Ltd. (the first respondent) claimed it uploaded its technical and financial bids on the portal, pressed the ‘freeze button’, but did not receive an acknowledgement. The National Informatics Cen…

The Supreme Court examined whether interest expenditure incurred by Maxopp Investment Ltd. on shares held to acquire controlling interest, or held as stock‑in‑trade, could be deducted when the dividend income from those shares is exempt under Section 10. The Court held that the dominant‑purpose test is irrelevant; Sect…

The employee of a Kerala co‑operative hospital was dismissed and challenged the termination before the Labour Court under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (ID Act). The Labour Court set aside the dismissal, but the employer obtained a writ setting aside the award. The Supreme Court examined whether a service dispute b…

The case concerned a son born from his father's second marriage, which was void under Hindu law, who applied for a compassionate appointment after his father's death while in service of Indian Railways. The Railway Board’s circular of 1992, later reiterated in 2013, barred children of such second marriages from receivi…

The Supreme Court addressed the protection of identity of victims of sexual offences, both adult and child, under IPC s.228A, CrPC s.327 and the POCSO Act. It held that no person may publish the victim's name or any detail that could lead to identification, and FIRs relating to such offences must not be placed in the p…

The Supreme Court heard a criminal appeal filed by the CBI against Pratap Chandra Reddy challenging a High Court order that had held the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 (FCRA) applicable to offences also punishable under the Indian Penal Code. The matter was pending before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate,…

The appellant was convicted for the murder of a shepherd, Ramesh, and for concealing the body under sections 302 and 201 of the IPC, based largely on an alleged confessional statement and the recovery of three sheep allegedly sold by the appellant. The prosecution could not positively identify the recovered sheep as th…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by B.K. Educational Services Pvt. Ltd. challenging the applicability of the Limitation Act, 1963 to applications under Sections 7 and 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the retrospective effect of the newly inserted Section 238A. The Court examined the Insolvency La…

Vedanta Ltd entered into four EPC contracts with Shenzen Shandong Nuclear Power Construction Co. Ltd for a 210‑MW co‑generation plant. After termination of the contracts, the Chinese company invoked the arbitration clause and obtained an award granting sums in INR and EUR, with interest at 9% for the first 120 days and…

The Supreme Court examined whether land in Kant Enclave, notified under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLP) on 18 August 1992, should be treated as forest land and thus subject to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. It held that the notification unequivocally designates the area as forest, rendering any constructio…

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) issued a Request for Qualification and a Request for Proposal for a container terminal project. A consortium comprising PSA Mumbai Investments and another company qualified, received a Letter of Award (LOA) which was later withdrawn after the second member exited the bid. JNPT cla…

The plaintiffs filed a suit for declaration and permanent injunction over a parcel of land, which the trial court decreed in their favour. The defendants appealed, first unsuccessfully, and then filed a second appeal before the Madras High Court. The High Court admitted the appeal by framing a single substantial questi…

Three former Indian Navy sailors who served in the Submarine Arm retired in 1983 challenged the Armed Forces Tribunal's order that excluded Submarine Pay from pension calculations. They argued that Submarine Pay, introduced by a 1967 Government letter, was "pay for all purposes" and should be part of the basic pay used…

The appellant alleged that the accused, with the help of an imposter, forged a Power of Attorney (PoA) to obtain a mortgage deed over her late mother’s property. The trial court convicted both accused under Section 465 IPC for forgery, a decision upheld by the Sessions Court. On appeal, the High Court set aside the con…

The appellants filed a civil suit seeking declaration of ownership of certain properties. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the first appellate court set it aside in their favour. The respondents appealed to the High Court, which admitted the second appeal and framed six substantial questions of law under Section…

The appellant Kumar was convicted by the trial court and the Madurai High Court for murder (IPC s.302) and voluntarily causing hurt by a dangerous weapon (IPC s.324) after the death of Sakthivel during a scuffle that allegedly stemmed from a prior verbal spat. The prosecution relied on several eyewitnesses, many of who…

The State of Jharkhand created Fast Track Courts (FTCs) to address case backlogs, appointing judges who were on the merit list for the regular judicial cadre but could not be placed due to limited cadre strength. The appellants served as FTC judges for about nine years and were later regularised into the regular judici…

The Supreme Court answered three questions referred by a larger bench concerning the relationship between Sections 3 and 4 of the Central Excise Act, 1944 and the definition of "transaction value". It held that Section 4’s levy measure, including the statutorily defined transaction value, is not subordinate to Section …

The appellant (defendant) sought to enforce a maintenance decree against her husband, during which the husband executed a sale deed of the disputed property to the plaintiff. The decree was later executed by a court auction, where the decree‑holder purchased the property, and the sale was confirmed after the plaintiff'…

Ashok Kumar and others were appointed as Civil Judges under the Jharkhand Judicial Service (Recruitment) Rules, 2004. Although they passed the examination conducted by the Judicial Academy, the State of Jharkhand denied their confirmation and increments on the ground that they had not cleared the higher‑grade Hindi dep…

The appellants challenged a Himachal Pradesh High Court contempt order that held the petroleum dealers' policy guidelines, framed on 17‑02‑2014 and notified on 21‑05‑2014, to be in violation of a Supreme Court judgment dated 17‑05‑2012. The 2012 judgment had directed the parties to maintain the status quo only until su…

The deceased was killed when a tractor, driven rashly by its owner, struck him as a pedestrian on a footpath. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held both the tractor's owner and the insurer jointly and severally liable for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and awarded Rs.4,31,000 plus interest. The insu…

Asok Pandey, a member of the Bar, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking mandamus directing the Supreme Court to prescribe a fixed procedure for constituting benches—three‑judge benches to consist of the Chief Justice of India and the two senior‑most judges, and Constitution benches to consist of the five senio…

The appeal concerned the procedure for admission to postgraduate medical courses where a candidate belonging to a reserved category qualifies on merit and is placed in the general merit list, termed a Meritorious Reserved Candidate (MRC). The petitioners argued that when an MRC opts for a seat reserved for his category…

The petitioners, led by Russell Joy, filed a writ under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union Government to appoint an international agency to assess the lifespan of the 121‑year‑old Mullaperiyar Dam and to order its de‑commissioning, alleging that the dam, originally designed for a 50‑year life, now poses …

The respondent operated a flour mill and related businesses from his residential premises, initially using electricity but from 2003 switched to diesel engines that caused severe vibrations and air pollution affecting the adjoining house of the appellant. The appellant filed a suit in 2004 seeking a perpetual injunctio…

Sepoy Jaswant Singh was dismissed and sentenced to six months' rigorous imprisonment by a Summary Court Martial for assaulting a superior officer. He sought to engage a civil advocate under Rule 129 of the Army Rules, 1954, but the Commanding Officer denied the request, relying on Regulation 479 which permits legal cou…

The accused were charged under Section 436 read with Section 34 of the IPC for allegedly throwing kerosene on a thatched shed and setting it alight. The trial court convicted all four accused and imposed fines; the High Court enhanced the sentence of accused No.1 and set aside the convictions of the others. On appeal, …

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the High Court’s acquittal of Wasif Haider and others for murder, attempted murder and related offences arising from a riot at a temple. The Supreme Court examined whether the appellate court could disturb an acquittal and whether the prosecution had established the identity of the a…

The respondents‑plaintiffs claimed ownership of a house adjoining the Sri Ram Mandir in Jagtial, relying on municipal permissions, tax receipts and an entry in the Endowments Department's book of endowments that demarcated the temple boundaries. The appellant‑defendant, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the temp…

M/s Sanjivani Non‑Ferrous Trading Pvt. Ltd. imported various grades of aluminium scrap and declared the transaction value in its Bills of Entry, which the Assessing Officer rejected as being too low and reassessed a higher value. The High Court directed the Deputy Commissioner to pass a speaking order rejecting the dec…

Parents and daughter of Pravin filed a writ petition alleging his custodial death in a police lock‑up. The Bombay High Court ordered the State to pay Rs 7 lakhs as compensation and directed that the amount be recovered from the Investigating Officer‑in‑Charge (IOIC). The IOIC appealed, contending that recovery could no…

Emaar MGF Land Ltd. (appellant) entered into a buyer's agreement with Aftab Singh (respondent) that contained an arbitration clause under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Singh filed a complaint before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) invoking the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and…

The appellant, a Gram Panchayat member, challenged a no‑confidence motion moved by the respondents that was said to have been passed at a special meeting. Nine members constituted the Panchayat, but one member was disqualified for not submitting a caste certificate, leaving eight eligible voters. Six members voted in f…

The appellant, A-6, was convicted under Section 120-B of the IPC for participating in a criminal conspiracy to murder Siva. The prosecution alleged that nine accused met at A-6's house on 1 September 1991, decided to kill Siva, and the murder was carried out on 5 September 1991 by some of the accused. The conviction re…

The appellant, Pradeep BisoI, was convicted under Section 304 Part II IPC for causing the death of Bhaskar Sahu through a bomb and acid attack. The victim had given a detailed statement to the investigating officer on 5 December 1990 under Section 161 of the CrPC, but died on 25 March 1991, more than three months later…

The original civil suit filed in 1979 sought cancellation of alleged forged sale deeds and an injunction. After a series of proceedings, the suit was decreed ex parte on 10 May 2012. The appellants filed an application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act seeking condonation of a 349‑day delay, claiming they only lear…

The original applicant, Goel Ganga Developers, alleged that the project proponent had constructed beyond the limits of the Environmental Clearance (EC) and municipal regulations, prompting the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to order payment of environmental compensation. The proponent filed a review application which wa…

The respondents filed four suits for permanent injunction over a 3600 sq. ft. land parcel, which the trial court dismissed. In their first appeals they sought and were granted permission under Order 41 Rule 27 CPC to adduce additional evidence, which the appellate court admitted and relied upon to set aside the trial c…

The High Court of Punjab & Haryana disposed of a second appeal in a civil suit on the basis of an alleged compromise, subsequently decreeing the suit. The appellants filed a review petition challenging this disposal, which the High Court dismissed. The Supreme Court held that the High Court had not properly examined th…

The appellant, Vilas Dinkar Bhat, claimed that he belongs to the Thakar caste, a Scheduled Tribe, and sought a declaration to that effect. He approached the relevant Committee and the Bombay High Court, but both dismissed his claim, allegedly without considering all the documentary evidence he submitted (about 50 docum…

The case involved the acquisition of 4.30 acres of land belonging to K.S. Rajan in Kottayam, Kerala, under a 1980 notification issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Land Acquisition Officer initially fixed compensation at Rs.4631 per cent for dry land, Rs.1725 per cent for chira land and Rs.203 …

The case arose from a factional clash in which the deceased, Machindra Joshi, was attacked with swords, knives and a motorcycle chain by the appellants Motiram Padu Joshi, Ratan Maruti Vaskar, Devidas Maruti Vaskar and Ramnath Joshi, leading to his death. The trial court acquitted all accused, holding that the eyewitne…

The plaintiffs, sisters and co‑owners of ancestral land, alleged that their brothers fraudulently executed a registered sale deed in 1996, forging their signatures and thumb impressions, and transferred the property without their knowledge. Upon discovering the fraud in late 2012, they filed a suit for declaration and …

The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIC) allotted industrial plots to transport entrepreneurs with a condition that units be established within two years, failure of which would lead to cancellation. The parties later executed sale deeds transferring absolute marketable title to the respondents a…

The Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu appealed against a High Court order that set aside a detention order issued under Section 3(1)(ii) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974, on the ground that the order did not specify the period of detention. The Supreme Cou…

The Kerala State Coastal Management Authority (KCZMA) challenged DLF Universal Ltd's multi‑storey residential project on the banks of Chilavannurkayal, alleging violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification and lack of prior CRZ clearance. The Kerala High Court initially ordered demolition, but a Divisio…

Appellant I.C. Sharma bought a householder insurance policy from Oriental Insurance, initially an “as‑per‑list” policy which later was replaced by a consolidated‑amount policy. After a burglary, he claimed loss of various items; the insurer contended that many items were not insured and that the claim should be rejecte…

The appellant, Lavghanbhai Devjibhai Vasava, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for striking his wife, Shakuben, with a wooden object during a sudden altercation over delayed lunch preparation, leading to her death ten days later. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether the facts warranted a convictio…

The appellants (legal heirs of Krishan Lal) had purchased a 5/16 share of land from respondents 2‑6 for Rs 90,000, took possession and built three shops. Respondents 2‑6 later executed a gift deed in favour of respondent 1 (defendant 6), which the trial court declared void and granted specific performance to the appell…

The appellant, a developer, entered into a development agreement with the respondents, owners of a plot of land, to construct a building, but the owners later denied execution of the agreement. The developer sued for specific performance of the contract. The Supreme Court examined whether Section 14(3)(c)(iii) of the S…

The appellant, a DESU employee, was alleged to have demanded a bribe of Rs.4,000 from a complainant and to have directed the complainant to give the money to a co‑accused, who accepted it. The trial court acquitted both accused of conspiracy under Section 120‑B IPC but convicted the appellant under Sections 7 and 13(2)…

The Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Union of India debarred Lord Buddha Educational Society’s medical college for the 2018‑19 academic year after inspections revealed gross deficiencies in faculty, resident numbers and bed occupancy, invoking Regulation 8(3)(1)(a) of the 1999 Medical College Regulations. The col…

The appellant was married to Kavitha, who committed suicide within four months of their marriage, allegedly due to dowry harassment and the husband's illicit relationship with another woman. The prosecution presented documentary evidence of a Panchayat agreement in which the husband admitted cohabiting with the other w…

Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL) defaulted on a loan from IDBI Bank, prompting the bank to initiate a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). Home buyers filed a writ petition alleging that the CIRP ignored their interests and sought a pro‑rata refund of the Rs 750…

The appellant, Babji, was accused of demanding Rs.2,100 from a passenger (PW‑4) for a confirmed airline ticket, allegedly to induce an Indian Airlines employee to secure the ticket. The prosecution charged him under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, asserting that the money was a gratification for in…

The parents of a deceased driver filed a claim petition under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation after a fatal accident in which the driver was also the tortfeasor. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation, but the Karnataka High Court set aside the award, holding that compensa…

The deceased, a small‑scale seller of desi ghee and namkin bhujia, was killed in a road accident in 1992 when a government jeep struck his moped. The appellants, his wife and children, claimed a monthly income of Rs 3,500 and sought compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Clai…

The appellants, appointed ad‑hoc as Assistant Engineers in 1987 and regularised in 2001, challenged a seniority list that placed promotees (Junior Engineers promoted in 1995) above them, alleging that the promotions were void for lack of consultation with the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) as required …

The landlord filed an eviction suit under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997, alleging that the tenant defaulted on his share of municipal taxes assessed under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. The tenancy agreement of 1991 had incorporated municipal taxes into rent, but the 2001 amendment to the 199…

The Supreme Court, hearing Civil Appeal No. 4235 of 2014, examined the draft Constitution of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prepared by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to implement the Lodha Committee reforms. The Court considered submissions on membership categories, the inclusion of Maharashtr…

The case concerns the infamous Nirbhaya gang‑rape and murder, where the accused Mukesh was convicted and sentenced to death by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. Mukesh filed a review petition under Article 137 of the Constitution, alleging illegal arrest, police‑induced…

The petitioners, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Kumar Gupta, filed review petitions challenging the Supreme Court's order dismissing their criminal appeals in the Nirbhaya gang‑rape case. They raised numerous grounds, including the abolition of the death penalty, alleged errors in the assessment of eye‑witness testimony, the i…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Government of NCT of Delhi could impose a condition requiring private charitable hospitals that received land at concessional rates to provide free treatment to economically weaker sections. The Court held that such a condition is a valid exercise of executive power under Article …

The case arose from public interest litigation challenging the clinical trials of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine on adolescent girls in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, alleging irregularities and health risks. The petitioners relied on reports of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare (7…

Petitioner Pramod Laxman Gudadhe filed a PIL challenging the Election Commission's decision to hold a bye‑election after the resignation of the Lok Sabha member from Bhandara‑Gondiya constituency. He argued that the remaining term would be less than one year, making the election futile and an undue burden on the excheq…

The Supreme Court examined a claim for compensation under Sections 124 and 124A of the Railways Act, 1989 filed by Rina Devi for the death of her husband who fell from a train while boarding. The Court clarified that compensation is payable as of the date of the accident with reasonable interest, and if that amount is …

Meenal Bhargava and Naveen Sharma, a married couple, lived in the US/Canada and had a child, Pranav. The husband obtained a Canadian court order granting him custody and directing the child’s return, which the wife ignored and brought the child to India, prompting the husband to file a habeas corpus petition in the Raj…

The plaintiffs, members of a family, filed a partition suit for agricultural land which was decreed in their favour by the trial court. The defendants appealed and the first appellate court reversed the decree, relying on a document labelled Ex‑A. The plaintiffs then filed a second appeal, which the Patna High Court di…

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) initially resolved in 1997 to allot 13,700 sq.mtr of land to a proposed co‑operative housing society of its employees, but the allotment lapsed because the society failed to fulfil the conditions. In 2003 the Authority, relying on a 1999 Government of Maharas…

The father of a deceased man filed an FIR under Section 306 IPC alleging that his son’s wife and her family had harassed the son, leading to his suicide. The High Court quashed the FIR, holding that the alleged abetment was not made out. The appellant challenged this order before the Supreme Court, arguing that the qua…

The case arose from a habeas corpus petition filed by the father of Hadiya (respondent No.9), alleging that his adult daughter was being illegally detained and might be taken abroad. Hadiya appeared before the Kerala High Court, asserted her freedom of choice, and later disclosed that she had married Shafin Jahan (appe…

The Bharatiya Janata Party (West Bengal) filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) to issue nomination forms electronically, allow email submissions, and provide police and para‑military protection, alleging that its candidates were barred from c…

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) contracted with Kurien E. Kalathil to construct a dam, after which a government notification raised minimum wages, leading the contractor to claim labour‑escalation charges with interest (Ex.P‑20) and additional work charges (Ex.P‑59). The High Court ordered KSEB to pay amounts…

The case arose from ONGC’s award of a seismic survey contract to Reflect Geophysical, which chartered the vessel Geowave Commander on a bare‑boat basis and entered into charter‑hire agreements with two appellants for the use of their trawlers. The appellants claimed unpaid dues and obtained orders for the arrest of the…

The petitioner, Common Cause, a registered society, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a declaration that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, and for directions to recognize 'living wills' or advance directives. The case was referred to a Constitution B…

On 15 December 2011 a gas tanker was parked in the middle of a busy highway without indicators, causing a Maruti car to collide with it; the car driver and a passenger died and two others were injured. The claimants filed a claim under s.166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held th…

In a motor accident on 22 September 2009, Ajit Singh, aged 23, died, and his parents filed a claim for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal initially applied a multiplier of 15 based on the parents' age, which the High Court reduced to 14, relying on the Ash…

Vijay Kumar Rastogi suffered severe injuries in a bus accident in 2005 and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation but calculated loss of income only on his net salary of Rs 44,511, ignoring income from bank interest and commission disclosed in his inco…

The deceased, a 21‑year‑old contract worker, was killed in a collision between his motorcycle and a bus operated by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation. The appellants filed a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation, and the Madras High Court awarded loss of dependency based on the deceased's earning…

Sampurna Behura filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Acts of 2000 and 2015, alleging that many states had failed to establish or properly staff Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, Special Juvenile Polic…

Shyam Narayan Chouksey filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions to ensure public respect for the National Anthem, including a mandatory requirement that all cinema halls play the anthem before feature films and that audiences stand. The Supreme Court’s interim order of 30 November 2016 imposed such dir…

Man Kanhaiya Kumar enlisted in the Indian Army in 2009 using a falsified relationship certificate that claimed his father was an ex‑serviceman. After six years, a show‑cause notice alleged fraudulent enrolment and he was dismissed under Section 20(3) of the Army Act, 1950. The appellant challenged the dismissal before …

Suzuki Parasrampuria Suitings Pvt. Ltd. (the appellant) was assigned the debt of Mahendra Petrochemicals Ltd. (MPL) by IFCI for a nominal sum and sought substitution as a secured creditor under the SARFAESI Act. The Company Judge rejected the application, holding that the appellant was not a bank, financial institution…

The appellant's son died in a motor vehicle accident while being driven by an unlicensed driver, and the claim petitioners sought compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.3,55,500 and, invoking the "pay and recover" doctrine, directed the insurer to pay the amount and later recover it f…

Two families assembled near a tubewell to settle a land dispute when a verbal altercation escalated into a scuffle. Gurwinder Singh fetched an axe from an adjacent room and, while Satnam Singh restrained the victim, struck Harbhajan Singh on the head, causing severe head injuries; both accused also sustained injuries. …

The appellants, former Direct Entry Artificers of the Indian Navy, served ten years of active duty and claimed that they were automatically placed in the Fleet Reserve for another ten years, with fifty percent of that period counting toward the fifteen years of service required for a pension. The respondents contended …

The Supreme Court entertained Writ Petition (Civil) No. 406 of 2013, which highlighted inhuman conditions in 1,382 Indian prisons, including severe overcrowding, staff vacancies, lack of SOP for Under‑Trial Review Committees, and special concerns for women prisoners and open prisons. The Court noted a draft Standard Op…

The plaintiffs, heirs of Har Narain, sued the widow of Sheo Lal (C) for possession of a one‑sixth share of agricultural land after she died. The land had been subject to a 1932 compromise decree granting Sheo Lal only a limited, non‑transferable right to use the land, and upon his death, the widow would enjoy a similar…

The appellants, Geomysore Services and Deccan Gold Exploration, were granted reconnaissance permits (RPs) for gold mining areas in Karnataka and subsequently applied for prospecting licences (PLs). The Karnataka State Government, on behalf of Hutti Gold Mines Ltd., sought to reserve the same areas under Section 17A(2) …

Dr. B.C. Singh and his wife, Dr. S.L. Singh, jointly purchased a property, each holding an equal half. After Dr. S.L. Singh died intestate without issue, her husband claimed his statutory share under the Indian Succession Act, 1925, while the defendant J.M. Utarid, a distant kindred, claimed a one‑quarter share as a co…

The appellant, Abdulrasakh, was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in May 2016. Two voters filed an election petition under Section 123(4) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 alleging corrupt practices, and presented the petition on 1 July 2016. The High Court Registry returned the petition for defects; i…

The appellant, an elderly man, was served with an ex parte decree by a family court for alleged non‑payment of gold ornaments and maintenance. He applied under Order IX Rule 13 of the CPC to set aside the decree and sought condonation of delay, but both applications were dismissed. He then filed a miscellaneous appeal …

The appellants filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court challenging a revenue order concerning a land dispute, which was dismissed by a Single Judge. They withdrew an intra‑court appeal and were permitted to file a review petition, but the High Court Registry identified defects in the filing and directed them to …

The State Transport Authority of Madhya Pradesh heard an application on 16‑Oct‑2014 for modification of a vehicle’s time schedule. The meeting had the Chairperson and two members, satisfying the quorum of three under Rule 68(1). The order was issued on 15‑Dec‑2014, but only the Chairperson and one member signed it beca…

On 2 June 2014, Shaikh Mohsin was attacked and killed by a group of accused who allegedly targeted him because he belonged to a Muslim community. The Sessions Court rejected the accused's bail applications, finding that the assault was motivated by communal hatred and that the victims had no personal enmity with the ac…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued show‑cause notices to Rakhi Trading and other traders for executing synchronized buy‑sell and reverse transactions in Nifty options that consistently yielded profit for one party and loss for the other without any material change in the underlying index. The Adju…

The case involved the interpretation of Section 24 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and Section 31 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The main issue was whether non-deposit of compensation in court under Section 31(2) of the 1894 Act resu…

The case arose from a civil suit in which the original defendant, Swami Sheo Dharmanand, died during the pendency of a second appeal before the Patna High Court. Two rival claimants each filed applications under Order XXII Rule 5 of the CPC, seeking to be recognized as the legal representative of the deceased and to be…

The appeal concerned whether a review under Section 16(5)(a) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, is maintainable when the order under review deals with the finding of vacancy. The appellant argued that only orders under Section 16(1)(a) or (b) – i.e., actual allotm…