Judgments of 2019

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of several provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, including the classification of financial versus operational creditors, the powers of the resolution professional, the evidentiary status of private information utilities, and the requirements of Se…

The Delhi government advertised vacancies for Special Education Teachers requiring CTET qualification. Several OBC candidates from other states obtained CTET marks by availing a 5% relaxation in the pass criteria and applied for the OBC reserved posts, but were rejected because they did not possess a Delhi‑issued OBC c…

The suit concerned a house inherited by the late K. Basavaraja Urs and his son K.B. Ramchandra Raj Urs (defendant No.1). Plaintiffs Sarah C. Urs and P. Chandrakantaraj Urs entered into an agreement to purchase the property on 24 April 1979, with the late father acting through his son as power of attorney. Rs.1,00,000 w…

The appellants Imrat Singh and others were convicted by the trial court and the High Court for offences under Sections 148, 149 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code based primarily on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses, PW‑10 and PW‑11. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the statements of these witnesses and found numer…

The Supreme Court examined a land acquisition proceeding initiated under section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for a Vasant Kunj residential scheme, where Jagjiwan Cooperative Group Housing Society claimed ownership of 42 bighas 16 biswas of land in Mehrauli, Delhi. The High Court had upheld the acquisition notif…

The Supreme Court examined whether the definition of "gross revenue" in clause 19.1 of the telecom licence agreement, which determines the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) for licence fee calculation, could be challenged by the licensees. It held that the contractual definition is binding, that TRAI and the Telecom Dispute…

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai demolished a building allegedly constructed without permission, but failed to follow the statutory notice procedure under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. The High Court had ordered the owner to rebuild the structure, prompting the corporation to appeal. The Supreme Cour…

Shree Ram Urban Infrastructure Ltd (SRUIL) obtained development permission and a commencement certificate for a residential tower and a public parking lot (PPL) under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 and the 1991 Development Control Regulations (DCR). SRUIL constructed the PPL up to 15 floors and th…

The appeal concerned a dispute under the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 where the landlord sought eviction of the tenants and the Rent Controller, invoking Section 15(7), struck out the tenants' defence in the pending eviction petition. The tenants argued that they had paid all arrears and even advanced rent, negating an…

The Supreme Court examined whether the phrase “any property” in Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 includes immovable property. It held that the provision confers power only to seize movable property, as the word “seize” implies taking physical custody, which is impossible for immovable assets. The Cou…

The State of Goa sought to enforce conversion charges on Dr. Alvaro Alberto Mousinho de Noronha Ferreira for converting agricultural land to non‑agricultural use. The dispute centered on whether the charges should be calculated using the rates in force at the time of the application (8 March 2013) or the rates applicab…

Havildar Ashok Kumar completed 24 years of service in the Indian Army and was granted a two‑year extension. During the extension he suffered a stroke, was classified as SHAPE‑3 with 80% disability and was discharged. He was awarded a disability pension under Regulation 173‑A of the Army Pension Regulations, 1961, but s…

The appellants stored agricultural produce in the respondent's cold storage and alleged damage, leading to a dispute. The storage receipt contained an arbitration clause naming Sri S.T. Madnani, an advocate, as the arbitrator. Madnani had previously acted as counsel for a partner of the respondent in a separate case, a…

The West Bengal Central School Service Commission advertised for Assistant Teacher posts, requiring candidates to have Bengali as a first, second or third language at secondary, higher secondary or any higher level. Respondent No.1, educated outside West Bengal, applied for an Arabic teaching post in a Bengali‑medium s…

The Officer in Charge of the Sub‑Regional Provident Fund Office issued a show‑cause notice to M/s Godavari Garments Ltd, a government‑owned garment manufacturer, demanding payment of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for women workers who stitched garments at their homes on a piece‑rate basis. The Bombay Hi…

The case involved fifteen accused who, on 26 April 2003, surrounded and brutally attacked the deceased Chinnaperiaiyah and two witnesses, Irulandi (PW‑1) and Ramar (PW‑2), using swords, resulting in the victim's death. The prosecution proved a prior attack on the victim on 8 April 2003, establishing a motive and a patt…

The case concerned the succession to the offices of Sajjadah Nashin and Mutawalli of a Dargah governed by a Zabta (constitution). The fourth Sajjadah Nashin, Nurul Hasan, nominated his grandson (the daughter’s son) Gulam Naseer as his successor. The appellant challenged the nomination, arguing that the Zabta required t…

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) acquired 168.592 hectares of land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for the Sitapur City Extension Scheme. Gopal Das sought restoration of 1.2 hectares of the acquired land under Section 17 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, and was directed to pay …

Randhir Kaur filed a suit for specific performance of a 2004 agreement to sell 193 kanals 18 marlas of land, having paid earnest money of Rs.13.5 lakh through her son Dhanwant Singh. The trial court decreed specific performance, but the High Court, in a second appeal under Section 41 of the Punjab Courts Act, set aside…

Zorawar Singh owned immovable property in Delhi and executed a will (1985) and codicil (1995) bequeathing it to the parties. After his death, the respondents filed a suit for declaration and permanent injunction concerning the will, while the appellant filed a suit for natural succession. The Delhi High Court held that…

The appellant, Dipakbhai Jagdishchandra Patel, was implicated in a counterfeit currency case after co‑accused 1‑3 claimed the fake notes originated from his residence. No counterfeit notes were actually recovered from his home and the only incriminating material was the co‑accused statements recorded by police under Se…

The appellant Reliance Life Insurance issued a term life policy to the deceased after he had taken a separate policy from another insurer, but he failed to disclose the earlier cover in the proposal form. After the insured's death, Reliance repudiated the claim, invoking Section 45 of the Insurance Act, 1932, on the gr…

The appellant's spouse held three LIC policies that contained an accident benefit clause requiring a bodily injury caused solely and directly by an accident arising from outward, violent and visible means, leading to death within 180 days. The insured suffered chest pain, a heart attack and fell from his motorcycle, dy…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) allotted a commercial plot to Jindal Strips Ltd. (respondent No.1) under a perpetual lease deed containing clause 6(a) which requires prior written consent for any transfer and allows the lessor to recover 50% of the unearned increase (UEI). Respondent No.1 and Jindal Stainless Ltd…

Cheriyath Jyothi complained to the Gram Panchayat that a neighbour had erected an unauthorised building used as a rubber‑sheet plant, violating the Kerala Panchayat Building Rules, 2011 and posing health hazards. The Lok Adalat ordered the respondent to demolish the existing structure within three months, and the execu…

The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had entered into an agreement to sell a Delhi property and associated business for Rs 55.50 crore, receiving Rs 5 crore as part consideration, and sued for specific performance. The defendants contested the agreement, claiming the document was forged, the signatures on pages 3…

Britannia Industries Ltd. challenged the applicability of the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1963 to edible oil, Vanaspati and sugar, contending that sugar procured from outside the defined market area should not attract market fees. The High Court held that edible oil, Vanaspati and sugar…

A long‑standing property dispute between two families escalated when Survey Department officials arrived to survey the land. After an initial verbal altercation, the accused returned armed with knives, clubs, a baku and explosives, stabbing and killing two members of the complainant’s family and injuring several others…

The appellant, Raju Ambadas Gankekar, was convicted under Section 304 Part II of the IPC for assaulting Captain Vinod Rawat, who later died from his injuries. The incident occurred on 10 July 1988 at a hotel in Ahmednagar, where the victim was chased and attacked with a gupti. Evidence included a dying declaration desc…

An advertisement by Dr. S.N. Medical College sought a projectionist who possessed a licence to operate a cinema projector. The appellant was appointed despite not having the licence at the time, while the third respondent challenged the appointment on the ground of non‑fulfilment of the qualification. The High Court Si…

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) supplied aviation fuel to Go Airlines under two supply agreements (2007‑2009 and 2009‑2011). BPCL claimed interest on delayed payments and invoked the arbitration clause, while Go Airlines raised two counter‑claims, one seeking CENVAT credit invoices. The arbitrator, applying Sec…

The Supreme Court considered an application for recusal of Justice Arun Mishra, who had earlier expressed an opinion on Section 24 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, in a three‑Judge Bench. The matter was referred to a five‑Judge Constituti…

The appellants, sons of the deceased donor, claimed that a property gifted by their father to the respondent was ancestral and that the donor lacked authority to execute the gift deed, alleging the deed was forged. The trial court held the property ancestral, a view affirmed by the first appellate court, but the Gujara…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in non‑metropolitan areas could entertain a secured creditor's application under Section 14 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) for taking possession of secured ass…

Canara Nidhi Ltd. advanced a Rs.50 lakh loan secured by mortgage and a demand promissory note, which the borrower M. Shashikala failed to repay, leading to an arbitral award of Rs.63.82 lakh. Shashikala filed an application under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to set aside the award and sought…

Brigadier Devinder Singh, who commanded a brigade during the Kargil War (Operation Vijay), alleged that several internal military documents – the Battle Performance Report, After‑Action Report, and related reports – incorrectly recorded his role and sought their correction. The Armed Forces Tribunal directed that the r…

The case arose from a fall of a guest from the terrace of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Delhi, leading to charges under Sections 336, 338 IPC read with Section 32 and Section 4 of the COTPA 2003 against the hotel company, its Managing Director (Shiv Kumar Jatia) and its General Manager (Aseem Kapoor). The High Court refus…

The complainant Shiv Prakash Mishra alleged that five persons, including Subhash Chandra Shukla (respondent No.2), formed an unlawful assembly and attacked his brothers, resulting in the death of Sangam Lal Mishra. While the FIR named all five, the investigating officer, after examining witnesses, concluded that Subhas…

The appellant sought specific performance of a sale agreement and obtained a decree from the trial court directing the respondent to execute the sale deed within two months of depositing the balance consideration. Both parties appealed; the appellate court affirmed the trial court decree, effecting a merger of the two …

Home buyers booked flats in various projects of the Amrapali Group of companies in Noida and Greater Noida, paying substantial amounts between 2010-2014. The builders failed to deliver possession within the promised 36 months and did not pay dues to the Noida and Greater Noida Authorities or repay loans taken from bank…

The State of Uttarakhand appealed the acquittal of Girish Singh and Jodh Singh, who were charged under Sections 304B r/w 34 and 306 r/w 34 of the IPC for the alleged dowry death of Ishwari Devi, who committed suicide by burning within seven years of marriage. The High Court convicted them, relying on unproduced letters…

The appellant, an officer of the Southern Power Distribution of Telangana Limited, filed a criminal appeal against the High Court’s order that quashed proceedings for electricity theft under the Electricity Act, 2003. The respondent had allegedly tampered with an electricity meter, leading to a loss of Rs.6.28 lakh, an…

The appellants, Nagji Odhavji Kumbhar and another, were convicted under Sections 302 and 324 IPC for the murder of Bhura Govind and Lakha Arjan on 1 July 1987. They claimed they acted in private defence and that the incident occurred in the spur of the moment, seeking a reduction of the charge to Section 304 IPC. The S…

The father of the respondents, Shripad Joshi, executed a deed (Ex.P-73) titled "mortgage by conditional sale" in 1967, transferring his property to Shankar Shinde for Rs.2500 with a clause that if the amount was not repaid within five years the sale would become absolute. The respondents later sued for redemption, clai…

The Cantonment Board, Meerut issued show‑cause notices under Section 185 of the Cantonments Act, 1924 to respondents including Afzal, alleging unauthorised construction within the cantonment. The respondents objected, but the primary authority neither referred to the objections nor mentioned the earlier show‑cause noti…

The appellant, successor to Shri Bona Menezes, applied for occupancy rights over 3.07 acres of Survey No.119/2A1 under the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961. The landlord contended that the land was ‘Punja’ (non‑cultivable) and not subject to tenancy. The Land Tribunal, after spot inspection, held that the parcel was us…

The Globe Ground India Employees Union raised an industrial dispute alleging that Globe Ground India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Lufthansa German Airlines, closed its establishment and retrenched 106 workers. The union sought to implead Lufthansa, claiming it was the holding company and therefore a necessary and proper pa…

An oil tanker collided with a car driven by Rajpal Singh Johal, killing him and injuring his family. The claimants (his parents, wife, and children) sought compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, while the insurer challenged the quantum of award and the interest rate. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal initial…

The State of Karnataka implemented the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme by upgrading certain primary schools to higher primary schools with an 8th standard. An Office Memorandum dated 7 April 2010 introduced clause 13 allowing teachers to apply for mutual transfers, subject to mutual consent and matching cadre and su…

M/s Shanti Conductors entered supply contracts with Assam State Electricity Board before the Interest on Delayed Payment to Small Scale Ancillary Industrial Undertakings Act, 1993 came into force, but the supplies were completed after the Act's commencement. The Supreme Court held that the Act applies to any supply mad…

The dispute arose from a contract between Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation Ltd (RSIC) and M/s Ganesh Containers Movers Syndicate, which contained a clause appointing the Managing Director (MD) of RSIC or his nominee as the sole arbitrator. After several delays and changes of arbitrators, the MD acted as sole arbi…

The Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation issued a tender for canal earthwork requiring a bank guarantee valid for 40 months. Respondent No.2 submitted the lowest bid but furnished a bank guarantee for only six months, later extending it by 34 months. The corporation accepted the bid despite the deviation. The Su…

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted eight kilograms of foreign gold allegedly smuggled by the Jalan brothers, who were arrested and placed in judicial custody. While they remained in custody, the Detaining Authority under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1…

The appellant, W.N. Allal Sundaram, challenged a declaration that the Bagyammal Trust was a public trust under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, asserting it was a private family trust. The dispute centered on a Deed of Settlement dated 4 June 1926, which entrusted the construction and…

The appellant, Radha Bai, claimed a half‑share in a piece of land that was originally part of the ancestral property of her great‑grandfather Sukhdeo. After Sukhdeo's death in 1965, his two sons Janakram and Pilaram partitioned the land in 1967, giving Janakram the exclusive share, which he later sold to his grandsons …

Genpact India Private Limited bought back shares from its Mauritius holding company and was assessed a tax under Section 115QA of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The assessee denied liability and challenged the assessment order through a writ petition under Article 226, arguing that no statutory appeal was available. The Hig…

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation appealed against the Central Administrative Tribunal's order that regularised Harleen Kaur and others as Entomologists, granting them notional pay and continuity of service. The respondents had been appointed contractually after a public advertisement in 1997‑98, their contracts we…

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai demanded water benefit tax and sewerage benefit tax as property tax under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, for premises whose water supply had been disconnected in 1993. The respondents challenged the demand, arguing that tax could be levied only on actual water co…

The landlord filed eviction suits under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997 alleging non‑payment of rent arrears for two shops. The tenants filed applications under Section 7(2) of the Act seeking determination of the disputed rent and deposited the arrears they admitted. The trial court allowed the applications…

The State of Manipur and other authorities filed a regular first appeal (RFA) against a decree ordering them to vacate strategic land, but the appeal was initially filed before the wrong forum (District Judge) and delayed by about eleven months. The High Court rejected the State's application to condone the 312‑day del…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court's order that reduced the sentences of four accused who had been convicted of assault with axes and sticks (IPC s.326 r/w s.34) and house‑trespass after preparation (IPC s.452). The High Court had limited its reasoning to the fact that it was the first offence …

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed a case against former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram under Sections 120B, 420 IPC and Sections 8, 13(2), 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance of INX Media. After his arrest, the Delhi High Court refused regular bail, cit…

The Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) allotted industrial land at subsidised rates and later, after a leaseholder transferred the land, sought to recover the unearned increase in value. The Supreme Court examined whether the authority could charge the increase based on the market (circle) rate rather …

The appellant, whose father was a displaced person from Sindh, claimed the balance of his verified land claim (43.7 standard acres) after having received an initial allotment of 40.4 acres. The Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) allotted 19.26 acres in 2003, but the High Court held the CCLA lacked authori…

The respondent, initially appointed as a Road Gang Mazdoor in 1988, repeatedly sought promotion to higher municipal posts on the basis of her Diploma in Civil Engineering, filing numerous writ petitions. The Madras High Court directed her appointment as Town Planning Inspector, despite the fact that the post is governe…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a 27 April 2018 notification issued under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act that restricted the domestic manufacture of oxytocin to public‑sector undertakings, excluding private manufacturers, while allowing export by both sectors. The petitioners (Union of India) arg…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against the High Court order that de‑sealed the godowns of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co. Ltd. The company processed cotton and non‑cotton seeds at its Dhanora unit and stored packed and labelled seeds in an attached godown without obtaining a licence for storage, sale, packaging or labe…

The appellants, the mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law of the deceased Sahitya, were convicted by the trial court and the Karnataka High Court for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC based on a prosecution theory that they conspired with alleged assailants (accused Nos. 4 and 5). The Supreme Court exa…

Capt. Gurdeep Kaur Sandhu, a pilot with Air India Express Ltd, tendered her resignation by email on 3 July 2017, invoking the six‑month notice period required under the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). The company accepted the resignation on 2 September 2017, engaged and trained a replacement pilot at considerable co…

The appellant, a trading member of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), was penalised by the Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) with a fine of Rs.10 lakh and a five‑day suspension of trading membership for alleged financial irregularities. The appellant contended that, under the NSE circular dated 27‑June‑2013, suspensi…

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) directed CCL Products (India) Ltd. to furnish three bank guarantees to secure compliance with environmental directions issued under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. After inspecting the plant and finding violations, the Board invoked the guara…

In 1990 the respondent applied for a low‑income group (LIG) tenement in the Mansarover Scheme, paid Rs 4,000 and was issued an allotment letter requiring Rs 47,674 to be paid at possession. The appellant (Rajasthan Housing Board) cancelled the allotment in 1994 for non‑payment, while the respondent claimed she never re…

The appellant, Sanjay Rajak, was convicted under IPC s.364(A) for kidnapping a 5‑6‑year‑old child and sentenced to life imprisonment. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: a classmate’s testimony that a man with a covered face, addressed as "uncle" by the child, abducted him; parents’ identification of the…

The CBI investigated a 1992 fraud where a fictitious bank account was opened in the name of Raj Kumar, deposits of Rs 3,22,056 were forged into it and withdrawn through seventeen cheques, leaving a small balance. Two bank employees, Ram Gopal (messenger) and Pankaj Kumar Jain (assistant clerk), were later charged and c…

Several convicts sentenced to life imprisonment filed writ petitions challenging Rule 8(2)(i) of the Rajasthan Prisons (Shortening of Sentences) Rules, 2006, which required them to serve 14 years of actual imprisonment and earn a minimum of four years of remission before their cases could be considered for remission. T…

Kumar Ghimirey was convicted under Sections 9 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and Section 341 of the IPC for attempting to sexually assault a seven‑year‑old girl, and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine. On appeal, the Sikkim High Court altered the convictio…

Sampada Yogesh Waghdhare, elected Municipal Councillor and later President, was disqualified under Section 44(1)(e) of the Maharashtra Municipal Council Nagar Panchayat and Industrial Township Act, 1965 because her husband constructed illegal structures, including temporary ones. She challenged the disqualification, ar…

The appellant, a regular importer of electric decorative lighting (M/s. Diyas Mantra Lighting Private Ltd. and its directors), was issued a show‑cause notice under s.28 of the Customs Act, 1962 alleging non‑declaration of brand names and undervaluation of imports from a related party in the UK. The assessing authority …

The appellant, a Scale II officer of Bank of India, was penalised with removal from service for sanctioning and recommending loans that turned into non‑performing assets, causing a loss of Rs 70.32 lakhs. He contended that two other officers involved in similar misconduct were punished with compulsory retirement and so…

The appellant, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., challenged demand notices for interest on entry tax levied under the Uttar Pradesh Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2007, arguing that the Act contained no substantive provision for interest and that the High Court’s dismissal of its writ petition was barred by res…

VST Industries Ltd filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court challenging the demand of interest on arrears of entry tax under the Uttar Pradesh Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2007. The High Court issued an interim order directing the appellant to deposit 50% of the interest and restraining coercive…

The State of Bihar advertised 40 Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) posts in 1985 and filled them by December 1987. Unsuccessful candidates, including the appellants, lobbied the government and were appointed on 13 April 1988 despite the merit list being exhausted, an appointment the Court held to be illegal and fo…

The appellant Raju was convicted along with two others for gang-rape under IPC s.376(2)(g) and appealed, claiming he was a juvenile at the time of the offence. The High Court rejected his claim, finding insufficient evidence, and upheld the conviction. The Supreme Court directed its Registrar (Judicial) to conduct an a…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against two orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that quashed FIRs relating to serious offences including IPC sections 307, 294, 34, 394 and Arms Act sections 25 and 27 on the ground that the complainant had reached a compromise with the accused. The Supreme Court examined whethe…

The appellants, heirs of Lullu Vas, claimed lease‑hold rights over a Mumbai parcel that had been earmarked for slum rehabilitation under the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act, 1971. The High Court had allowed the redevelopment scheme to proceed, setting aside an earlier order that had cancelled the Letter of Intent in favour …

The appellant's father’s house was demolished for the Ara‑Sasaram Railway Project, and the appellant sought employment under the Railway Board’s policy circular of 19 April 2006, which provides Group D posts to persons displaced by large‑scale land acquisition. The High Court directed consideration of his claim, but th…

The Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) had framed an improvement scheme in 1964 that provided for a 15‑metre internal road. After the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act (MRTP Act) came into force, the final Development Plans (DP) prepared under the MRTP Act in 1976, 1989 and 2001 omitted any such road. The NIT issued d…

The respondent Mohammed Basheer claimed ownership of about two acres of jenmam land, asserting that it was not a private forest under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971 and that a certificate of purchase issued by the Land Tribunal under s.72K of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 vested title…

The plaintiff, Shamsudeen, claimed inheritance rights in two properties originally owned by his grandmother Zainam Beevi, alleging that he was the son of Mohammed Ilias (a Muslim) and Valliamma (a Hindu) born before Ilias's death. The defendants contested his paternity, arguing that the marriage between Ilias and Valli…

The appellant, a practicing advocate, applied for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) under the partially blind category, submitting a disability certificate showing 70% visual impairment. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPC) had issued a notification, based on a State Government order consulted with t…

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) enacted the 2009 Determination of Annual Rent Bye‑laws, introducing a Unit Area Method (UAM) for fixing rateable value, replacing the earlier method based on annual rent under Section 63 of the NDMC Act, 1994. A batch of writ petitions filed by property owners challenged the const…

Forech India Ltd. filed a winding‑up petition in the Delhi High Court in 2014 against a company, serving notice under Rule 26 of the Companies (Court) Rules. Later, a financial creditor (Respondent No.1) filed an insolvency petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) before the NCLT, which was ad…

The Himachal Pradesh Government issued a policy on 27 February 2004 to regularise part‑time class‑IV employees who had completed ten years of service by converting them to daily‑wage status with prospective effect and no back wages. In Moti Singh v. State, the High Court held that such conversion does not entitle emplo…

The appellant, a businessman, was ordered to repay Rs.45,00,000 borrowed from the respondent, but failed to do so, leading to an ex‑parte decree in the respondent's suit. The appellant first sought to set aside the decree via an application under Order IX Rule 13 CPC, which was dismissed, and later filed a first appeal…

Udai Bhan Singh, a Postal Assistant, was charged with misconduct for authorising payments of National Savings Certificate commissions to fictitious agents, resulting in a loss of Rs.6.65 lakh. The disciplinary inquiry found the charges proved, leading to a reduction in pay, which was later enhanced to dismissal by the …

The first respondent, a Junior Engineer in Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, was transferred to the Planning Department, promoted to Town Planner on probation in June 1998 and confirmed in May 1999. In August 2002 the Municipal Commissioner deleted his name from the seniority list of Deputy Engineers and, the next day,…

The Stressed Assets Stabilization Fund (SASF), a trust created to acquire stressed loans of IDBI, stepped into the shoes of IDBI as mortgagee of Wellman Incandescent India Ltd., which had taken a lease of industrial premises from the West Bengal government. Wellman ceased manufacturing activities, leading the West Beng…

The complainant alleged that a property inherited from her father was fraudulently transferred to her brother through a forged will and deed, and that the brother subsequently executed a lease to accused No.4, who sub‑leased it to HPCL. The complaint also implicated several other parties, but the High Court quashed the…

The Union of India appealed against a show‑cause notice issued to respondents for importing certain goods in August 1997, which was based on an order dated 14‑Nov‑1986 issued under Clause 8(1) of the Imports (Control) Order, 1986. After the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 came into force, the impor…

M/s. Shree Daneshwari Traders (appellant) supplied rice bags to Sanjay Jain (respondent) on a mixed cash‑and‑credit basis. The respondent issued several cheques to settle credit purchases, but the cheques were later presented and dishonoured for insufficient funds. The appellant filed two complaints under Section 138 o…

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (appellant) supplied power to Orion Metal Pvt. Ltd. (respondent) and, after an inspection revealed a tampered meter, alleged theft of electricity and made a provisional assessment under Section 126(1) of the Electricity Act, 2003 for loss of energy amounting t…

The Union of India challenged the opinion of an Advisory Board under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) which held that there was no sufficient cause to continue the detention of Nisar Pallathukadavil Aliyar under section 3(1) of the Act. The petitioner file…

The appellant, Pramod Suryabhan Pawar, sought to quash a First Information Report (FIR) filed under Sections 376, 417, 504, 506(2) of the IPC and Sections 3(1)(u), (w) and 3(2)(vii) of the SC/ST Act, alleging that the allegations were based on a false promise to marry and on WhatsApp messages sent before the relevant p…

The appellants, appointed as Land Records Inspectors (LRIs) through a limited departmental examination for vacancies that arose in 2008‑09, 2009‑10 and 2010‑11, were placed in seniority lists dated 2012‑14 and later treated as appointed in 2014‑15. They claimed seniority should be computed from the year the vacancy aro…

Jayantibhai Patel, a headmaster, was first cleared of misconduct in 1994 but a second inquiry—conducted without recorded reasons—found him guilty and led to his removal in 1996. The High Court later quashed the removal but denied back wages, reasoning that Patel had retired. The Supreme Court held that when service is …

The appellants challenged the inclusion of candidates holding a two‑year Diploma in Health Inspectors Course (DHIC) in the short‑list for the post of Junior Health Inspector Grade‑II in the Municipal Common Service, arguing that DHIC was a higher qualification and should be treated as equivalent under Rule 10(a)(ii) of…

The appellant school appointed the first respondent as a teacher on a one‑year probation on 1 July 2008. The probation was extended twice, allowing her to serve as a probationer for nearly five years before she was discharged on 30 June 2013. The Delhi High Court held that the continuation of service beyond the two‑yea…

Dr. P.S. Malik, an Additional District Judge, was accused of sexual harassment by a junior judicial assistant. The Delhi High Court's Full Court suspended him and constituted an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment Act, 2013, which submitted a preliminary report recommending a disciplinary in…

The dispute concerned two ancestral lands in Goa, "M" and "B", originally owned by the grandfather of brothers Suriaji and Gones. A 1915 sale deed conveyed portions of the lands to Suriaji, with an accompanying 1919 settlement deed stating that Suriaji had paid half the price on behalf of Gones and would transfer Gones…

Silppi Constructions Contractors submitted technical bids for two government tenders but their bids were rejected on the ground that they failed to meet eligibility criteria and that adverse remarks against their sister company were taken into account. The petitioner appealed the rejection, but the appellate authority …

The Foundation for Organizational Research and Education Fore School of Management applied to AICTE for an extension of existing seats and an increase in seats; AICTE granted the extension but rejected the increase. Despite lacking permission, the institution admitted 42 students beyond the sanctioned intake and subseq…

The Education Promotion Society for India sought a general extension of time for counselling for postgraduate medical courses, arguing that over a thousand seats were vacant across medical colleges and deemed universities. Relying on a 2017 Supreme Court order that allowed mop‑up counselling for unfilled super‑speciali…

The appellant was convicted of raping and murdering a five‑year‑old girl, with DNA evidence and an extra‑judicial confession establishing his guilt. The trial court sentenced him to death for murder and life imprisonment for rape, a sentence confirmed by the High Court. The Supreme Court examined whether the death pena…

In March 1994 a group of caste Hindus attacked the hut of Murugaiyan, the father‑in‑law of PW1, setting it alight and assaulting him with sickles, resulting in his death. The prosecution relied on the testimony of PW1, PW2, PW3 and PW5, along with medical evidence, to identify twenty‑four accused; the trial court convi…

Riya George, a medical student, paid Rs 21.65 lakh for admission to Kannur Medical College, which was later cancelled by the Admission Supervisory Committee (ASC) for non‑compliance with regulations. She received Rs 20 lakh as a partial refund but claimed the remaining Rs 1.65 lakh and damages for the loss of one acade…

Jagdish was convicted by the trial court, High Court and Supreme Court for the murder of his wife and five children and sentenced to death. He filed a mercy petition with the President, but the State of Madhya Pradesh delayed forwarding the petition for more than four years, resulting in a total delay of about five yea…

The appellant was allotted a commercial booth in an open auction in 1996 for Rs.7,55,000 and paid only 25% of the consideration. He failed to pay the balance despite multiple notices, leading the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to issue a resumption order in 2001. Although the resumption order was initially …

The Board of Trustees for the Port of Kolkata (Port Trust) sought to evict Shalimar Tar Products Ltd., whose lease had expired, and after taking possession of the land, the Estate Officer issued a notice under Section 6 of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 to dispose of containers left …

The appellant, a bus driver for the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, collided with a railway level‑crossing gate on 3 August 2006, breaking it. He was convicted under Section 160(2) of the Railways Act, 1989 and sentenced to six months' simple imprisonment by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the appel…

The appellants booked a residential plot for a villa with the respondent, paying all instalments but later being demanded a balance of Rs.5,13,850 plus interest. The respondent filed a summary suit for recovery, which was dismissed, and the appellants obtained a consumer forum order directing delivery of the villa agai…

Respondent No.1, a long‑serving coach in the Rajasthan State Sports Council, challenged the promotion of another employee to the post of Sports Officer for vacancies that arose in 2003‑2004, arguing that the seniority‑cum‑merit criteria introduced by the 2006 Service Rules should not be applied retroactively. The High …

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra) challenged Regulation 44.2(d) of the MERC (Multi Year Tariff) Regulations, 2011, which imposed a stricter Station Heat Rate (SHR) on its Dahanu thermal power station than on other units. RInfra filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution while an appeal against MERC’…

Anil Kumar, an administrative staff member of CSIR, claimed financial upgradation and promotion but was denied because his Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for certain years were below the required benchmark. He argued that CSIR’s failure to communicate those ACR entries violated the Department of Personnel and Train…

A suit for permanent injunction was filed by the representative of Murti Bhawani Mata Mandir claiming possession of disputed agricultural land, but the trial court dismissed the suit for lack of proof of possession. Subsequent appeals were also dismissed. The defendant then filed an application under Section 144 of the…

The appellant, a widow, sought to have her private counsel assist the prosecution in a murder trial by making oral arguments, examining and cross‑examining witnesses, invoking Section 301 read with the proviso to Section 24(8) of the CrPC. The trial court and the Calcutta High Court rejected the application, holding th…

The State of Uttar Pradesh rescinded a 1998 notification that granted a tax rebate to cement manufacturers using fly ash, by issuing a 2004 notification. Birla Corporation Ltd. and Jai Prakash Associates Ltd., which had set up units and begun production before the 2004 rescission, claimed that the rebate entitlement fo…

Narain Singh, a driver in the Indian Army, served for over 13 years and accrued four red‑ink entries between June 1993 and May 1994. The Army discharged him under Rule 13(3)(III)(v) of the Army Rules, 1954 solely on the basis of those entries, before he could complete his pensionable service. Singh challenged the disch…

Dharambir Singh, a former Territorial Army soldier, was injured in a scooter accident while on two days of casual leave and claimed a disability pension. The Armed Forces Tribunal had granted the pension, holding that leave is deemed duty, but the Government appealed. The Supreme Court examined whether personnel on lea…

The plaintiff, Tilak Raj Bakshi, claimed that his brother (the first defendant) violated a family settlement by selling his one‑third share of a Chandigarh house to a stranger (the second defendant) without obtaining the written concurrence of the other brothers and without offering the share to the plaintiff as requir…

The Goa State Cooperative Bank Ltd., appointed as liquidator of the Goa State Cooperative Fisheries Federation Ltd., filed 156 recovery suits against defaulting members for loans advanced by the Society. While many of these suits were stayed pending appeals, the Society’s winding‑up was deemed terminated after the six‑…

M/s Kut Energy Pvt. Ltd. and others had taken a loan for a hydro‑electric project and defaulted, leading Punjab National Bank to issue notices under Section 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act and later a possession notice. The borrowers offered a One‑Time Settlement (OTS) and, to demonstrate their bona fides, deposited Rs 40 cr…

The case concerned two village assistants who, on the instructions of the village administrative officer, received Rs 600 as alleged gratification for signing papers to transfer an electric connection. The money was counted by one assistant, handed to the other, and the pair were caught in a police‑run trap; the cash w…

An FIR was lodged under the United Provinces Excise Act, 1910 and the IPC for the seizure of illicit liquor and a firearm, leading to the confiscation of a truck owned by the appellant. The District Magistrate, who also acted as the Collector, issued a show‑cause notice and subsequently ordered the vehicle's confiscati…

The appellants had taken term loans from Bank of India which later became non‑performing, prompting the bank to invoke sections 13(2) and 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act and take constructive possession of the mortgaged property. After a public auction on 19 December 2005, the highest bidder was issued a sale certificate on …

M/S Natesan Agencies (a partnership firm) leased 197.36 acres of land from a Mutt for plantation. The land was included in a wildlife sanctuary by a notification under Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in 1976, after which a second 25‑year lease was purportedly executed in 1978. The State later excluded…

The respondent, Dilip Mulani, was charged under IPC section 120‑B and several provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The trial court rejected his discharge application, relying on documentary evidence, telephonic transcripts and witness statements that suggested his participation in a bribery conspiracy.…

M/s. Aarham Softronics and other assessees set up new manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh and claimed a 100% deduction of profits under Section 80‑IC of the Income Tax Act for the first five assessment years, followed by a 25% deduction for the next five years. After the initial five‑year period they carried out su…

The Supreme Court examined whether Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) was subject to the 24‑April‑1990 notification issued under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, and whether the workmen who were engaged through contractors were direct employees of BHEL. The Court held that BHEL’s Haridwar ope…

The appellant, a government bus driver, was accused of driving negligently on 24 February 2001, causing a collision that killed four persons and injured three. The trial court, appellate court, and High Court convicted him under IPC sections 279, 337 (three counts) and 304A (four counts) based on consistent eyewitness …

LMJ International Ltd. and Sleepwell Industries Ltd. entered into two separate contracts for the sale of Thai rice, governed by GAFTA 48 with disputes to be arbitrated under GAFTA 125 in London. Two foreign arbitral awards were rendered in favour of the respondent, who then filed execution petitions under Section 48 of…

The Supreme Court heard three contempt petitions filed by Ericsson India Pvt. Ltd. against Reliance Communications Ltd., Reliance Telecom Ltd. and Reliance Infratel Ltd. (collectively the Reliance Companies) for failing to honour a settlement of INR 550 crore that was ordered to be paid by 30 September 2018, with a lat…

Dnyaneshwar Suresh Borkar was convicted of murdering a minor child, kidnapping, and related offences under Sections 302, 364 and 201 read with 34 of the IPC and was sentenced to death by the Sessions Court, a sentence later confirmed by the High Court. He appealed to the Supreme Court seeking commutation, arguing that …

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Suresh for the fatal assault on his father, resulting in death and a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part II IPC, along with a false information charge under Section 201 IPC. The Trial Court convicted Suresh under Section 304 Part II and sente…

Five accused entered the house of Balaprasad Pathak at midnight, each armed; two used axes to inflict fatal injuries while the other three were armed with lathis and a ballam but did not strike the victim. The trial court convicted all five under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC. The High Court acquitted th…

The case concerned the selection of two vacancies in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for non‑State Civil Service officers in 2014. Baidyanath Yadav (appellant) was recommended by the Department of Agriculture and subsequently selected by the UPSC, while Aditya Narayan Roy (respondent No.1) challenged the proces…

The case concerned an inter‑se seniority dispute in the Manipur Police Service (MPS) Grade‑II cadre between promotees (appointed by promotion on 01‑03‑2007) and direct recruits (appointed on 14‑08‑2007 and 24‑11‑2007). The promotees argued that seniority should be based on the date of appointment as per Rule 28 of the …

The plaintiff filed a suit for specific performance and the defendant filed a written statement followed by a counter‑claim. The trial court allowed the counter‑claim, but the High Court quashed it, prompting a reference to the Supreme Court on the interpretation of Order VIII Rule 6A of the CPC. The Court held that Ru…

The Union of India had granted a ten‑year exemption from excise duty for certain goods, including pan masala and tobacco products, through a 2003 notification. In 2007 it issued a new notification withdrawing that exemption on the ground that the products were hazardous to health. Manufacturers such as Unicorn Industri…

The Union of India acquired a 1053.5 sq.m. property in Mumbai under Section 269UD(1) of the Income Tax Act, but successive auctions from 1994 to 2017 failed to attract a buyer. Sankalp Recreation Private Limited (appellant) offered Rs.32.11 crore, which was rejected, and later bid Rs.30.21 crore—above the Rs.30 crore r…

The appellant, Smt. Gargi, was convicted of murdering her husband by strangulation and subsequently hanging his body to simulate suicide, based largely on the testimony of the deceased's brother and sister. The prosecution alleged strained marital relations, illicit affairs, and a property dispute as motive, while the …

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 3J of the National Highways Act, 1956, which excludes the Land Acquisition Act's provisions on solatium and interest, violates Article 14 of the Constitution. The Court held that solatium is an integral part of compensation for compulsory acquisition and that the 1997 amendmen…

Raman Aithan Ashari executed a deed of gift in favour of the Chuzhali Bhagavathi Dharmadeva Bhandaram, an idol, stating that possession of the property was delivered. The deed was not expressly accepted, but the High Court held that the recital of possession created a presumption of acceptance, placing the burden on th…

The appellant, a house owner, was charged with electricity theft after BSES issued a bill of Rs.97,786 and filed a criminal case. The parties settled the dispute in a Permanent Lok Adalat, agreeing that the appellant would pay Rs.83,120 as full and final settlement, which he duly paid. Despite the settlement, BSES late…

Tarun Jit Tejpal was charged under IPC sections 354, 354A, 354B, 341, 342, 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) for alleged sexual offences. After the charge‑sheet was filed, the trial court framed charges under CrPC ss.227/228. The appellant sought discharge on the ground that the informant and the investigating officer were the s…

The Union of India and the Indo‑Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) sought to acquire about 72‑75 acres of land in Kanpur Nagar for a battalion headquarters, invoking the urgency clause under Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and dispensing with the enquiry required by Section 5A. The Allahabad High Court held that…

The Supreme Court examined whether a civil suit challenging a property tax assessment under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 is maintainable. The appellant, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, argued that Sections 169 and 171 of the Act provide a specific appeal route to the Municipal Taxation Tribunal and conf…

The petitioners, a group of doctors seeking admission to postgraduate and super‑speciality medical courses, challenged state government notifications that required them to execute compulsory service bonds and pay hefty penalties for default. The issues raised concerned the constitutional competence of the states to iss…

Following the bifurcation of Bihar and Jharkhand in 2000, Dr. Chaitraya Kumar Singh, an Ayurvedic Medical Officer, was initially allocated to Jharkhand. In 2010, with the consent of both states, he was re‑allocated to Bihar, but Jharkhand failed to relieve him, so he continued to serve there until his superannuation on…

The State of Tripura, following a High Court directive, reconstituted a society to manage the Tripura Medical College, giving the society its own recruitment rules and a mixed composition of government and non‑government members. Dr. Ashok Sinha filed a public‑interest litigation challenging the college’s admission pro…

Treaty Construction built a residential‑commercial project whose flats were purchased by members who formed the Ruby Tower Co‑op Housing Society. The society alleged that the builder failed to complete interior works, did not obtain a Completion or Occupancy Certificate, and collected excess possession charges, seeking…

The Supreme Court examined a challenge to the recruitment of Assistant Inspectors of Motor Vehicles (Group‑C) in Maharashtra, where a petitioner who had never applied for the post sought to quash the 2016 recruitment Rules, the advertisements of 2017 and the select list of 832 candidates. The High Court had allowed the…

The petitioners challenged the validity of the 2016 Motor Vehicles Department (Recruitment) Rules, the advertisements for the post of Assistant Inspector of Motor Vehicles (Group‑C) and the selection list of 832 candidates. The High Court of Bombay, Nagpur Bench, had entertained a writ petition on these matters. On app…

Common Cause and an RTI activist filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking to quash the appointment of Mr. Nageshwar Rao as interim Director of the CBI and to compel the Union of India to appoint a regular Director in accordance with Section 4A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. They also demande…

The incident occurred on 11 March 1998 when the victim, Mohan Mehtar, was stopped by four accused; Bharat Singh beat him with a lathi, Balvir Singh and Bhav Singh held him, and Harnam Singh shot him at close range, causing instant death. The trial court convicted all four under sections 341, 302 and, for Harnam Singh, …

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Harjeet Singh (Accused No.1) and Ramji Lal (Accused No.2) for stabbing the complainant Sukhdev with a knife, causing four injuries to the chest, scapula, back and buttocks. The trial court convicted both under Section 307 IPC, but the High Court reduced Harjeet Singh's conviction …

Skilled workers at the Western Base Workshop, GREF, Pathankot alleged that they were paid less than the minimum wages prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. They filed applications under Section 20(3) of the Act, and the Specified Authority ordered the Union of India to pay each worker the wage shortfall of Rs.4…

The Municipal Council Thanesar auctioned shop premises to the respondents, but disputes arose over completion and possession. An arbitrator awarded the council to complete the work and to pay interest on advance rent and non‑refundable security at 7% per annum, without specifying the mode of calculation. The executing …

The appellant was appointed Junior Accounts Clerk on 21‑12‑1990 after a selection process conducted by a committee under the 1985 Rules and after calling names from the Employment Exchange. The promotion of a senior officer (Shiv Kumar Rai) was later cancelled, leading to the termination of the appellant's appointment,…

The State of Odisha granted a 90‑year lease of a plot in 1981. In 2003 it issued a policy allowing conversion of such leasehold plots to freehold, subject to the condition that the lessee must not be encroaching on any government land. The respondent applied for conversion on 15 September 2003, but the revenue officer …

M/s Dyna Technologies entered into a contract with M/s Crompton Greaves for construction work on an aquaculture project, which was terminated prematurely, leading Dyna to claim compensation for loss of profit, idle charges and unproductive use of machinery. The arbitral tribunal awarded Rs 27,78,125 for the unproductiv…

The principal of DAV Public School complained that the school’s three bank accounts were improperly linked to his personal net‑banking Customer Information File, enabling fraudsters to siphon Rs 30 lakh. The State Consumer Commission, Banking Ombudsman and NCDRC found the bank at fault but limited compensation to Rs 1 …

The case concerns the conviction and death sentence of Akshay Kumar Singh, a bus cleaner, for his participation in the gang rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus (the Nirbhaya case). Singh filed a criminal review petition challenging the Supreme Court's 2017 judgment that upheld his conviction and death penal…

The appellant, a chief manager (operations) of a partnership firm, was convicted along with others for presenting forged bills and transport receipts to obtain credit facilities from a bank, thereby cheating the bank. The prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant knowingly submitted fake invoices an…

The plaintiff Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) ordered equipment from Simon Carves India Ltd. (SCIL) and obtained two bank guarantees from Standard Chartered Bank (formerly ANZ Grindlays) as security for advances. SCIL failed to deliver, and HEC demanded encashment of the guarantees, which the bank refused. The High…

The appellant, a holder of an F.L.-1 wholesale liquor licence, applied to shift its licensed shop from Mahe to Karaikal, another region of the Union Territory of Puducherry, under Rules 163 and 209 of the Puducherry Excise Rules. The Deputy Commissioners granted permission subject to two additional conditions, but a re…

The drivers employed by the Government of Tamil Nadu claimed parity with about 3,000 similarly placed drivers who had been granted higher Selection Grade and Special Grade pay scales of Rs 5000‑8000 and Rs 5500‑9000 under G.O. No. 162, invoking Article 14 of the Constitution. The High Court had allowed the claim, but t…

M/s Shanti Conductors (P) Ltd. filed a money suit against Assam State Electricity Board for interest on delayed payments. The Supreme Court had earlier held the suit barred by limitation, rejecting the plaintiff’s claim of benefit under Section 19 of the Limitation Act, 1963 and Section 14, and also held that the 1993 …

The appellant, a director of a mining company, was granted a lease to excavate sand in specific plots in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, but was alleged to have mined sand outside the permitted area, leading to registration of an FIR under Section 379 IPC, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and the …

Khaja Bilal Ahmed was detained under the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986 on 25 October 2018, with the order citing fourteen prior criminal cases from 2007‑2016 as his antecedent background. The appellant challenged the detention, arguing that the cited cases were stale, irrelevant, and that there…

The appellant, Anokhilal, was convicted of kidnapping, rape and murder of a nine‑year‑old girl and sentenced to death along with several other terms of imprisonment. He was represented by an Amicus Curiae appointed by the Legal Services Authority on the same day that charges were framed, leaving the counsel no time to …

M/s Dalmia Power Ltd. and M/s Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. filed original income tax returns for AY 2016-17 and later entered into schemes of arrangement and amalgamation with nine other companies, which were approved by the NCLT only in April-May 2018. The companies filed revised returns on 27 November 2018, beyond the…

The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) advertised the Jharkhand Eligibility Test (JET) to determine eligibility for lecturer appointments, requiring candidates to secure 50% in Papers I and II before attempting Paper III. The petitioner obtained the required 50% in Papers I and II but failed to meet a 60% cut‑o…

The case arose when the Odisha High Court ordered the auction of a large parcel of land belonging to Hirakud Industrial Works Ltd. (the corporate debtor) while a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) was pending before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which had already decl…

The victim, a young painter, was taught English by the first respondent and developed a romantic relationship with him. On 5 March 2004 she visited his house to finalize a marriage proposal, where the parents of the first respondent (respondents 2 and 3) shouted at her, calling her a "call‑girl". Distressed, she return…

The appellants, legal heirs of the late partner Jai Narayan Misra, sought execution of a 1993 decree against the respondents, heirs of the late partner Hashmatunnisa Begum, arising from a partnership for real‑estate development in Paigah Compound. The decree restrained the respondents from developing a disputed portion…

The assessee filed its return for AY 2006-07 under the E‑Module scheme and the Assessing Officer issued a notice under section 143(2) of the Income Tax Act on 5 Oct 2007 to the address recorded in the PAN database. The assessee claimed that it had changed its registered address and that the notice was therefore not ser…

The Punjab Value Added Tax Act, 2005 requires a 25% pre‑deposit of the additional demand before a first appeal can be entertained under Section 62(5). Assessors, including Punjab State Power Corporation, filed appeals and sought waiver of this requirement on grounds of financial hardship, challenging the provision as o…

The appellant sought to initiate a corporate insolvency proceeding under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to recover a debt that had become due on 21 July 2011. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted the application, applying Article 62 of the Limitation Act, 1963, which pertains to suit…

ITC Limited, a paper manufacturer, paid customs duty on waste paper after mistakenly claiming an exemption. It later filed a refund claim for duty paid between July 2001 and March 2002 under Section 27 of the Customs Act. The claim was rejected by the Assessment Committee, Commissioner of Appeals and the Customs, Excis…

The dispute concerned six acres of land belonging to the Maruti Dev Temple, which had been let out to tenants who, on Tillers' Day (1 April 1957), became deemed purchasers under Section 32 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948. The temple trust was registered as a public trust under the Bombay Public T…

The appellants, long‑time tenants of a parcel of agricultural land, sought to exercise their statutory right to purchase the land after the landlord, a widow, died and her interest passed to her heir. The lower courts held that the tenants had lost the right because they failed to give the required intimation under Sec…

The plaintiffs filed a suit under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure seeking a scheme for the management of a Gurudwara, alleging it to be a public place of worship. The appellant‑defendant contended that the Gurudwara was private property owned by his father, a Mohtmim, and argued that the suit was not maintain…

The Union of India sought to detain Dimple Happy Dhakad and Nisar Pallathukadavil Aliyar under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange & Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) for allegedly smuggling over 3,300 kg of gold from the UAE. Detention orders dated 17‑05‑2019 were served on 18‑05‑2019, while the…

The respondents, whose parents (assistant teachers) died in service in 2006, sought compassionate appointments under the Bihar Municipal Body Elementary Teachers (Employment and Service Conditions) Rules, 2006. They were appointed as Nagar Shikshaks on 12 April 2008 and 19 August 2008 in accordance with Rule 10 of the …

The plaintiff filed a civil suit for declaration of title, possession and permanent injunction, which the trial court dismissed. The first appeal was allowed, overturning the trial court's decision. The defendant then filed a second appeal under Section 100 of the CPC, and the High Court set aside the first appellate j…

MMTC Ltd., a consignment agent for Vedanta Ltd., supplied copper rods to Hindustan Transmission Products Ltd. (HTPL) under an amended agreement and failed to collect and remit payment, prompting Vedanta to invoke the arbitration clause of their 1993 agreement. The arbitral tribunal awarded Vedanta a sum of money, which…

Six food stall owners on Bandra Station Road were operating without permission of the Municipal Commissioner and had erected their stalls on a public sewer line, causing obstruction. The Municipal Corporation removed the stalls on 26 May 2016 under Section 314(1) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, and the o…

The Supreme Court examined whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) could entertain direct appeals (leapfrog appeals) against original orders of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) under the Air and Water Acts, specifically the refusal to renew consent for Sterlite Industries' copper smelter. The Court held…

The appellant, a 50‑year‑old manhole worker, was convicted of raping and murdering an eight‑year‑old girl based on circumstantial evidence, including eyewitness identification and forensic findings. The trial court and High Court upheld the conviction and imposed the death penalty, deeming the crime "rarest of rare". O…

The appellant was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of a Rs 5 lakh cheque, which the complainant alleged was issued to discharge a Rs 15 lakh loan. The appellant contended that no legally enforceable debt existed and that the cheque was issued on the basis of an anticipated l…