Judgments of 2021

The Supreme Court examined the legality of two towers (T-16 and T-17) constructed by Supertech Limited in the Emerald Court project in NOIDA. It held that the revised plans violated the National Building Regulations 2006 and 2010, as well as the National Building Code 2005, because the distance between the new towers a…

The petitioners, Private Secretaries (Grade‑II) serving in the Eastern Central Railway’s zonal offices, sought pay‑scale parity with their counterparts in the Central Secretariat Stenographers Service, Railway Board Secretariat Stenographers Service and the Central Administrative Tribunal. The dispute centered on wheth…

The appellant and the first respondent were partners in a firm and later fell into a dispute involving alleged forgery of partnership documents and non‑payment of dues, leading to an FIR under Sections 405, 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 IPC. The first respondent moved the Gujarat High Court under Section 482 CrPC to quash…

The Ministry of Environment granted environmental clearance on 5 January 2021 for expanding a refinery at Vadinar, Gujarat from 20 to 46 MMTPA. The appellant, Sanghar Zuber Ismail, challenged the clearance before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), alleging that the expansion would damage mangroves and marine biology. T…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu writ petition concerning the management of the COVID‑19 pandemic, examined the Central Government's Liberalised Vaccination Policy, which shifted free vaccination for the 18‑44 age group to State/UT governments and private hospitals and introduced differential pricing. The petition…

The legal heirs of a deceased patient filed a complaint before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) alleging medical negligence by Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre and its vascular surgeon, Dr. C. Anand Somaya, for the death of the patient who was admitted with an abdominal aortic aneury…

The accused five men were convicted by the Sessions Court for murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and related offences after violently assaulting the deceased Balveer Singh, causing multiple injuries to vital organs and ultimately his death. The High Court reduced the murder conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to murder un…

The appellant, an elder brother, purchased the southern half of a family property from his younger brother by a registered sale deed that recorded a nominal consideration of Rs 3,000, after paying Rs 12,000 to discharge the brother’s debts and avert a court‑ordered auction. The brother and his wife later claimed the de…

The Union Bank of India (financial creditor) granted loans to R.K. Infratel Ltd. (corporate debtor), which defaulted on 30‑09‑2014, leading to the account being classified as an NPA. The bank filed a recovery suit under the 1993 Recovery of Debts Act and, later, an application under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bank…

The Indian Oil Corporation advertised for petrol pump dealerships in October 2011. Anapurna Jaiswal applied on 11 November 2011 and was placed first, leading to a lease deed dated 8 November 2011. The lease stipulated that its term of 30 years would commence only upon approval of the petrol pump, meaning no lease exist…

C.K. Karunakar, an employee of State Bank of India, was interviewed for promotion in 1984. While the promotion process was pending, disciplinary proceedings were initiated, leading to a charge‑sheet and a penalty of censure in 1987, with the appeal dismissed in 1988. The promoting authority had placed his promotion rec…

The appellant, United India Insurance Co., denied the claim of the respondent, Sushil Kumar Godara, for the theft of his Bolero car, arguing that the vehicle was being used without a valid registration, constituting a fundamental breach of the insurance contract. The car had a temporary registration that expired on 19-…

Abhiram Verma, an officer of the Indian Army Medical Corps, obtained a permanent commission in 1998 and applied for resignation on 15 April 2000 citing lack of promotion. The resignation was initially rejected, but after a series of statutory complaints and a High Court order, it was accepted on 31 January 2007 without…

The case involved a joint Hindu family of three brothers who executed a partition deed on 07‑11‑1960 but continued to live and conduct business together, later executing a compromise decree on 06‑08‑1984 to settle disputes. The plaintiff challenged the decree, alleging fraud, misrepresentation and lack of free consent,…

The petitioners sought mandatory ex gratia compensation for families of Covid‑19 victims under Section 12 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, arguing that the word "shall" imposes a duty on the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to prescribe uniform guidelines. The Union of India contended that "shall" sho…

Surendran, a bus driver, caused a road accident on 16 February 1995 and was charged under Sections 279, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code. The trial magistrate convicted him and sentenced him to six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs.500, with a default month’s imprisonment for the fine under Section 337. The con…

The plaintiff paid Rs.31.5 lakh of the Rs.32 lakh purchase price for land but the defendant failed to execute the sale deed. The plaintiff sued for specific performance, and the trial court ordered the defendant to execute the deed and receive the balance Rs.50,000. Before the decree was final, the land was acquired by…

The Supreme Court, exercising suo motu jurisdiction under Article 32, examined the humanitarian crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and issued directions to the Union and State governments on the supply of oxygen, essential drugs, and vaccines, as well as on hospital admission policies and protection of individuals …

The Jharkhand State Electricity Board (the Board) entered into an initial agreement with M/s Ramkrishna Forging Ltd. (the respondent) on 14 April 2004 for a 325 KVA high‑tension supply, which was subsequently enhanced to 4000 KVA through a series of supplemental agreements. In September 2007 the respondent sought to re…

The Supreme Court examined the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) request to proceed with Phase‑IV of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) through areas of the Delhi Ridge, South‑Central and Morphological Ridges, which are either notified forest or deemed forest lands. The petitioners argued that the project would c…

Hasmat Ali filed a suit seeking a declaration that Amina Bibi was his tenant until 31‑03‑2003 and an order for eviction. The trial court decreed in part and directed the defendant to vacate the premises. The defendant's first appeal was dismissed, and a second appeal under Section 100 of the CPC was dismissed by the Or…

The appellants were accused of illegally purchasing, transporting and exporting iron ore without the requisite mining dispatch permits, violating the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and related environmental statutes. A Special Court, which is a Sessions Court, took cognizance of the offences o…

The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) invited a tender for leasing land for hotel development and allotted the plot to the highest bidder, Metropolis Hotels, which later changed the land use and subdivided the plot, assigning part to Shishir Realty. Complaints of irregularities led to a…

The appellant Life Insurance Corporation of India issued a life insurance policy with an additional accident benefit. The policy lapsed on 14 October 2011 due to non‑payment of premium. The insured suffered a fatal accident on 6 March 2012, and the premium was paid on 9 March 2012 to revive the policy, without disclosi…

The appellant, the son of a murdered village sarpanch, sought to overturn a High Court order that granted bail to the 60‑year‑old second respondent accused of conspiring in his father's murder. The prosecution alleged that the respondent used multiple SIM cards to communicate with a hired shooter, stored the weapons us…

Dr. Sushil Kumar Tripathi was appointed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science of Jagadguru Ram Bhadracharya Handicapped University under a UGC grant for the Tenth Five Year Plan. After protesting a monthly deduction of Rs.5,000 from his salary, his annual increments were stopped and the universi…

The case involved a robbery in which five accused, including Ganesan (A1) and Shanmugam (A3), allegedly used knives and iron rods to assault victims and steal cash and jewellery. The trial court convicted all accused under Section 397 IPC, imposing a minimum seven‑year term, and the conviction was affirmed by the appel…

The case arose from the suicide of a driver who left a note alleging that his employer, a Special Land Acquisition Officer, had amassed wealth disproportionate to his known income and had threatened the driver, leading to his death. The driver’s brother filed a complaint, resulting in an FIR for abetment of suicide und…

The State of Jammu & Kashmir appealed against a High Court order that quashed FIR No. 32/2012 and the entrustment order authorising Inspector Nisar Hussain to investigate alleged corruption and conspiracy offences under the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 and Section 120B of the Ranbir Penal Code. The High Court…

The case involved six accused persons charged under the Customs Act for allegedly exporting sandalwood and tiles clandestinely. The trial courts in two separate proceedings acquitted all accused, but the Madras High Court convicted them in a common judgment, relying on evidence from only one of the trials. The Supreme …

The appellant, a hospital director, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on 12 May 2021 for allegedly procuring fake Remdesivir injections. He filed a representation against the detention on 18 May 2021, which was communicated to the State and Central Governments, but the authorities delayed considering i…

The appellant, Dayle De’Souza, a director of Writer Safeguard Pvt. Ltd., was served with a notice and later a criminal complaint under Section 22A of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for alleged non‑compliance at an ATM site, although the company itself was not named as an accused. The High Court dismissed his petition unde…

The State of Kerala claimed that 1534.40 acres owned by M/s Popular Estates were private forests that vested in the State under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971. Popular Estates argued that the lands were cultivated plantations and therefore exempt under the Act’s exclusion clauses. The Ker…

The appellant, a Scheduled Caste victim, filed an FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for the murder of his brother. The first respondent was granted bail by the Rajasthan High Court without any notice or opportunity to be heard being given to the victim, contrary to the mandatory requirements of Section…

The dispute concerned a property on GT Road, Shahabad Markanda, where the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had illegally broken the lintel of the first‑floor roof and constructed a staircase to take possession of their house. The trial court and the first appellate court, after considering the evidence including …

The appellants were convicted of offences under the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention) Act for assaulting the complainants in separate incidents in 2000 and 1995. After the convictions, the parties entered into amicable settlements, and the appellants sought to have the non‑compoundable offe…

The Suraz India Trust, chaired by Rajiv Daiya, filed a large number of public interest litigations that the Supreme Court deemed frivolous and ordered the Trust and its chairman to refrain from filing further petitions, imposing exemplary costs of Rs. 25 lakh. Daiya failed to pay the costs, repeatedly sought modificati…

Respondent No.2 sued Respondent No.1 for refund of part sale consideration. Summons sent by registered post were returned with a "refusal" endorsement, which under Order V Rule 9(5) and Section 27 of the General Clauses Act is deemed to have been served. An ex‑parte decree was passed in favour of Respondent No.2, and t…

The appellant owned 1.80 acres of land in Anniyalam, Tamil Nadu, which was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Collector initially fixed compensation at Rs 16,000 per acre, but the Reference Court enhanced it to Rs 2,183.33 per acre, relying on a sale deed dated 11‑01‑1990 in which the landowner sold a 5…

The State of Jammu & Kashmir sought to appoint a Re‑T (teaching guide) under its Rehbar‑e‑Taleem scheme. An advertisement dated 29‑Nov‑2002 stipulated an upper age limit of 35 years as on 1‑Jan‑2002, with the phrase "as far as possible" regarding age qualification. Respondent No.2, born on 28‑Dec‑1965, was selected des…

The case concerned disputes arising under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (MSMED Act) where a supplier (Silpi Industries) claimed unpaid amounts from Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the corporation raised counter‑claims. The issues before the Supreme Court were whether …

The Tamil Nadu legislature enacted three land‑acquisition statutes (1978, 1997 and 2001) which were later held repugnant to the Central Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The Madras High Court declared the three state statutes void and quashed acq…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the AICTE issued a circular relaxing admission criteria for PGDM/MBA courses, which the first respondent sought to extend to B.Tech engineering admissions in Odisha. The High Court directed the State Government to admit B.Tech students based on qualifying exam marks, issuing a mandamus des…

The Supreme Court considered several interim applications concerning the La‑Residentia residential project, which was marketed as an Amrapali Group development promising delivery within 36 months. After a forensic audit, the Court had earlier ordered that 19.75% of the project (632 flats) be surrendered to the Amrapali…

The Supreme Court, acting suo motu, examined the hardships faced by migrant labourers during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the lack of food and welfare benefits. It noted that many migrants were not covered by the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and therefore could not access dry rations. The Court directed the C…

The appellants were named in FIRs for several offences and an informant sought their summons under Section 319 of the CrPC. After the Sessions Judge initially rejected the application, the High Court allowed a revision, leading to an order summoning the appellants on 17‑08‑2019. The appellants failed to appear, resulti…

The petitioners, wards of serving railway employees, sought appointment under the Largess Scheme, which allowed entry into railway service without competitive examination. The Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court had earlier directed the Union of India to reconsider the scheme on constitutional grounds. …

The appellant, Dr. Pooran Chand, was appointed Assistant Professor at King George Medical University in August 2005 following a proper advertisement, selection committee recommendation and Executive Council approval. Respondent No.4, Dr. Jitendra Kumar Rao, was initially appointed Lecturer and promoted to Assistant Pro…

The appellant advanced Rs 2 crore to respondent No.2 as a business loan, secured by cheques described as "security" and promised to be repaid by June/July 2015. The cheques were presented for encashment in October 2015 after the repayment deadline and were dishonoured for insufficient funds. The appellant filed crimina…

The Union of India challenged a Delhi High Court order that read down paragraph 4 of a GST circular dated 29‑12‑2017, which barred rectification of Form GSTR‑3B for the month in which an error occurred. Bharti Airtel Ltd. (respondent No.1) argued that due to the non‑operability of Form GSTR‑2A in July‑September 2017 it…

The plaintiff filed a suit in a civil court seeking permanent and mandatory injunctions to protect his possession of a piece of land that was admitted to be a waqf property. The defendant, who also admitted the waqf status, moved to dismiss the suit on the ground that under the Waqf Act, 1995, such disputes must be dec…

The petitioners, teachers with B.Ed. (Special) and D.Ed. (Special) qualifications, sought a mandamus directing the Union and State governments to appoint regular special teachers for children with special needs (CwSN) in accordance with a 1:5 pupil‑teacher ratio. The Court examined the interplay of the Right of Childre…

The Supreme Court examined bail applications of two accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) for alleged offences under Sections 38, 39 and 13. The Court held that the charge‑sheet material did not show reasonable grounds to believe that the accusations under Sections 38 and 39 were prima fac…

Yatin Narendra Oza, a former designated Senior Advocate and President of the Gujarat High Court Bar Association, was stripped of his senior advocate gown after making repeated allegations against judges, which the Gujarat High Court deemed contemptuous. Oza filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the withdra…

The Royal Garden Residents Welfare Association (the complainant) entered into a maintenance agreement with M/s Padmini Infrastructure Developers (India) Ltd (the opposite party) on 15 November 2003 and later filed a consumer complaint in 2007 alleging incomplete and non‑functional amenities. The National Consumer Dispu…

Adani Gas Limited sought to overturn the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Board's exclusion of three disputed areas from its city gas distribution (CGD) authorization and to challenge the validity of Regulation 18 of the CGD Regulations, 2008, claiming a "deemed authorization" under the proviso to Sec…

The appellants were appointed as clerks on an ad hoc basis in 1975‑76 and were regularized on 3 May 1977 with seniority backdated to 1 April 1977. A 1991 writ petition had granted them seniority by counting their ad hoc service, but the High Court later redrew the seniority list excluding ad hoc periods, a decision cha…

Khatema Fibres Ltd. (appellant) filed a claim for loss of waste paper after a fire, estimating the loss at Rs.13 crore. The insurer, New India Assurance Co., appointed a surveyor who used volumetric analysis and assessed the loss at about Rs.2.86 crore, which the appellant contested. The National Consumer Disputes Redr…

Arbind Jee was appointed to the Bihar Home Guard on 10 February 1996 following a Supreme Court order for a compassionate appointment after his father's death. Six years later he sought to have his seniority counted from 20 November 1985, the date of an earlier tentative appointment order. The Patna High Court granted t…

The dispute arose from a BOT concession for the seventh berth at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, where PSA SICAL Terminals (SICAL) sought to replace a royalty payment model with a revenue‑sharing model, alleging a change in law under Article 14 of its licence agreement. The arbitral tribunal awarded SICAL relief, finding that…

The case concerned the seniority of Assistant Engineers in Uttar Pradesh who were initially appointed on an ad‑hoc basis in 1985 and later regularised in December 1989 under the Uttar Pradesh Regularisation of Ad hoc Appointments Rules (1979, 1989). The petitioners challenged a seniority list prepared in 2016 that coun…

The petitioner, a Spanish citizen, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a habeas corpus order for custody of his two minor children who were residing with their mother (respondent No.6) in Kolkata. The petitioner had already instituted a petition under Section 12 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, for cust…

During the 2015 Kerala budget presentation, several opposition MLAs climbed onto the Speaker's dais and damaged furniture, leading to a criminal case under IPC sections 427, 447, 34 and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. The public prosecutor sought to withdraw the prosecution under Section 321 of t…

The plaintiff filed a suit for recovery of possession and damages, claiming purchase of the property by a registered sale deed dated 1 October 1992. The defendant contended that the deed was a security for a loan and that he had repaid part of the consideration. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding the deed was …

The State of Kerala appointed Leesamma Joseph on compassionate grounds despite her 55% locomotor disability and later denied her promotion benefits under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. The respondent claimed that sections 32, 33 and 47 of the 1995 Act guarantee reservation in promotion for persons with disabi…

The appellant kidnapped a 13‑year‑old schoolboy and demanded a ransom of Rs 2 lakhs, but the prosecution failed to prove that he threatened the victim’s death or hurt, nor that his conduct created a reasonable apprehension of such harm. The Sessions Court and High Court convicted him under IPC s.364A, interpreting the …

The appellants, Nathu Singh and other complainants, challenged orders of the Allahabad High Court that, after rejecting anticipatory bail applications under Section 438 of the CrPC, granted the accused a 90‑day protection from coercive action and directed them to surrender for regular bail. The Supreme Court examined w…

Gurmeet Singh was convicted under Section 304‑B of the IPC for the dowry‑related death of his wife, who died after consuming poison within four years of marriage. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the prosecution had not proved the "soon before" dowry demand, that the presumption of causation under …

The appellants were convicted for dowry death (Sec. 304B IPC) and abetment of suicide (Sec. 306 IPC) after the victim died from severe burns within a year of marriage, allegedly following dowry harassment. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had proved the essential ingredients of Sec. 304B, including th…

The Assessing Officer limited the deduction under Section 80‑IA of the Income Tax Act to the assessee's business income, but the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and the Tribunal allowed the deduction to be set off against the gross total income. Reliance Energy Ltd. appealed the revenue's challenge, arguing that S…

The State of Odisha appointed a government teacher (Respondent No.1) after a higher‑ranked candidate (Respondent No.2) failed to join due to a mis‑addressed appointment letter. The Odisha Administrative Tribunal ordered that the post be given to Respondent No.2 and that the person appointed in her place (Respondent No.…

The appellants, three villagers, were convicted for the murder of Gokalbhai and the assault of two others after a quarrel over rent and animosity. The prosecution presented 32 witnesses, medical and post‑mortem reports, serological evidence and the testimony of injured witnesses who identified the accused. The defence …

The Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) sought to acquire land of Gillapukri Tea Company for a plastic park. Notifications under Sections 4 and 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 were issued in 2008‑2009 and the award and estimate were sent to the State Government on 30‑Jan‑2010. The Government approved th…

Rajendra Khare, who lodged FIR No.39/2016, was not made a party to a transfer petition filed by the accused seeking to move the trial of Criminal Case No.3483 of 2017 from Delhi to Allahabad. The Supreme Court transferred the case on 18 May 2018 without issuing notice under Order XXXIX Rule 2, and the petitioner’s subs…

The appellant, a 21‑year‑old pillion rider, suffered severe head injuries and 69% permanent disability in a 2001 motor accident, leaving him cognitively impaired, immobile and unable to earn. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.5,74,320 compensation, which the High Court increased to Rs.9,38,952 but omitted a…

Musunuri Satyanarayana, a cultivating tenant, claimed under Sections 14, 15 and 16 of the Andhra Pradesh Tenancy (Andhra Area) Act that he retained his tenancy and was entitled to purchase the land leased to him. The Tribunal upheld his claim, finding that he had never surrendered his tenancy and that a payment of Rs 4…

The appellants, daily‑wage non‑teaching staff of Sree Sankaracharya University, were regularised in 1996 and de‑regularised in 1997, leading to their termination. The University argued that the appointments were irregular and therefore fell outside the protection of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Industrial Tri…

The Supreme Court examined the State of Haryana's practice of granting licences for group housing colonies on a "First Come First Serve" (FCFS) basis under the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975. The Court found that neither the public notice nor the Final Development Plan or the 2012 policy in…

The petitioners alleged that the Israeli NSO Group's Pegasus spyware was used to infiltrate the mobile devices of Indian citizens, including journalists and activists, thereby violating their fundamental right to privacy under Article 21. They sought an independent investigation, arguing that the Union of India had fai…

The appeal arose from a High Court order dismissing a writ petition that had confirmed the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal's (DRAT) order attaching shares of XLO India Ltd (appellant No.1) during the pendency of Appeal No.1/2020 before the Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT), Jaipur. The DRAT had also directed that recover…

The State of Uttar Pradesh issued Government Orders in 2010 and 2011 directing that Class IV posts in aided schools be filled only through outsourcing, abolishing permanent recruitment. Regulation 101 under the Intermediate Education Act, 1921 was subsequently amended to give effect to this policy. Several aided instit…

The respondent, a supervisor at New Victoria Mills, applied for the Modified Voluntary Retirement Scheme (MVRS) by submitting a resignation on 12 July 2002. He later requested that his resignation be kept suspended until his provident fund dues were cleared, but the employer accepted his resignation on 28 May 2003, sim…

The appellant, Ravindranatha Bajpe, filed a private complaint alleging that two companies and their senior officers conspired to lay a water pipeline beneath his property, demolish a stone wall and cut down about 100 trees, causing loss of over Rs.27 lakh. The Judicial Magistrate issued summons against all thirteen acc…

The Madras High Court, in an interim order, altered Rule 29(4) of the Copyright Rules, 2013 by allowing broadcasters to furnish notice details within fifteen days after a broadcast and treating the 24‑hour exception as a routine procedure. Saregama India Ltd and other appellants challenged this order, arguing that the …

The appellant, Mahadev Meena, filed a complaint after his son, an IB officer, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. The FIR alleged that the first respondent, Praveen Rathore, an anti‑corruption bureau constable, had a close relationship with the deceased's wife and was involved in a conspiracy to murder, with…

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) sought to evict Ganga Devi and others from a stall at Baba Kharag Singh Marg, alleging sub‑letting and unauthorised construction. The occupants claimed ownership under a 1998 licence deed, a 2001 public notice granting ownership rights in certain markets, and a cut‑off date of 20‑…

The legal heirs of the late S.V. Srinivasulu Naidu claimed that Union of India had illegally grabbed 7,128.5 sq. yards of land that their father had purchased, relying on a prior suit where the plaintiffs were declared owners of 4,971.5 sq. yards. The Union appealed the Tribunal's order under the Andhra Pradesh Land Gr…

The appellant, a known acquaintance of the victim's family, entered the home of a blind Scheduled Caste woman and raped her, after which he was apprehended at the scene. The trial courts convicted him under Section 376(1) of the IPC and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocit…

The case involved the brutal honour killing of a Jat girl, a Jatav boy and another Jatav youth who were tortured for twelve hours and murdered by a large group of villagers after the couple attempted an inter‑caste marriage. The trial court convicted 35 persons under IPC sections 147, 149, 302, 323, 324, 201 and s.3(3)…

Head Constable Surinder Singh entered the complainant's residential office while intoxicated, drew his service pistol, aimed it at the complainant and fired a shot that struck the ceiling. The prosecution proved the bullet was fired from his pistol and that he intended to kill, despite no motive being established. The …

The respondent, a Head Constable of the Railway Protection Force, was dismissed under Rule 161 of the RPF Rules, 1987 on the allegation of colluding in a theft of stamp papers worth about Rs 1 crore. The dismissal was effected without conducting a disciplinary inquiry and the order did not record any reasons for dispen…

M/s Sai Baba Sales Pvt. Ltd. (the Project Proponent) obtained environmental clearance (EC) from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in 2017 after an amendment to the EIA regime made the local authority the competent body. Subsequent judicial invalidation of parts of the 2016 MoEFCC notification raised que…

Electrosteel Castings Ltd., a guarantor, filed a civil suit seeking a declaration that an assignment deed executed by the financial creditor in favour of UV Asset Reconstruction Co. was fraudulent and that the assignee was not a secured creditor. The suit was dismissed by the High Court on the ground that Section 34 of…

Sughar Singh sued for specific performance of an agreement to sell land executed in 1976, where part consideration had been paid and extensions of time were granted. The trial court and first appellate court found the agreement valid and held that the plaintiff was always ready and willing to perform his part, granting…

The appellants, employees of a canteen operating in the Steel Club of Bhilai Steel Plant, challenged their dismissal under Section 58 of the Madhya Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1958, arguing that the Act applied to the club. The respondents contended that the club was a "club not being a residential club" and …

The appellant filed a criminal complaint in 2013 alleging offences under the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. A magistrate took cognizance of the offences and committed the case to a Special Court constituted under Section 14 of the Atrocities Act. The High Court q…

The Supreme Court reviewed a criminal appeal filed by Dr. U.N. Bora, ex‑CEO, and others against a Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court that had found them guilty of civil contempt for allegedly wilfully disobeying an order upholding Section 21 of the Assam Agricultural Produce Market Act, 1972. The appellants conte…

The Azam Jahi Mill was closed in 2002 and its workers were allotted quarters. While 134 ex‑employees continued to occupy the quarters and were later allotted 200 sq yds of developed plots free of cost as a rehabilitation measure, 318 ex‑employees vacated the quarters and were denied similar plots. The Workers Associati…

The case involved a partnership firm that was reconstituted in 1992 and again in 1995, altering the profit‑and‑loss sharing ratios of the partners. The plaintiff‑appellants claimed a 50% share based on the 1995 Deed, while the respondents argued that the plaintiffs were entitled to only a 10% share because the conditio…

Caparo Engineering India Ltd. transferred nine long‑serving workmen from its Dewas plant to a Chopanki facility 900 km away, changing their roles from labourers to supervisors and reducing the workforce at Dewas. The workmen contended that the transfer violated Section 9A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 because it…

The case concerned candidates selected in the 1983 Western Command panel of the Military Engineering Service (Non‑Industrial Class III and IV) recruitment who were appointed only in 1987‑88. They claimed that their seniority should be fixed by the order of merit in the 1983 select panel, while the authorities had grant…

The appellant-builder company entered into a Joint Development Agreement and a subsequent MoU with Respondent No.2 to develop a property and sell flats, but a dispute arose over the alleged sale of four excess flats beyond the agreed share. Respondent No.2 filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating and criminal breac…

M/s Orator Marketing Pvt. Ltd., the assignee of a Rs 1.60 crore interest‑free term loan given to M/s Samtex Desinz Pvt. Ltd. for working‑capital, filed a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) to initiate a corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). The National Company Law Trib…

M/s Supreme Bhiwandi Wada Manor Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, a road‑construction contractor, alleged that four of its employees fabricated land‑ownership documents and misappropriated about Rs 5.08 crore intended for farmer compensation. A complaint led a Metropolitan Magistrate to order a police investigation under Section…

The Supreme Court examined the NCLAT order that had declared Tata Sons' affairs oppressive and prejudicial, reinstated Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (CPM) as Executive Chairman and Director, restrained the Tata Trust nominees, and set aside the conversion of Tata Sons from a public to a private company. The Court held that the…

The deceased was attacked with weapons by his relatives while returning from work, resulting in his death. The trial court acquitted accused A‑2 to A‑6, but the High Court convicted A‑2 to A‑5 under s.302 read with s.149 IPC, finding the witnesses’ testimony credible despite minor inconsistencies. The appellants challe…

The Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause filed two interlocutory applications seeking a stay on the sale of electoral bonds under the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, alleging that the scheme permits donor anonymity and violates transparency in political funding. The Court examined the scheme’s statutory bas…

The State of Uttar Pradesh filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution and Section 406 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking the transfer of criminal proceedings against sitting MLA Mukhtar Ansari from a Punjab court to a Special Court in Allahabad and the hand‑over of his custody from Roopnagar Jail…

Union Bank of India extended a term loan to Mahaveer Construction, a proprietorship firm, and obtained a guarantee from Surana Metals Ltd, a corporate entity. After the loan was declared a non‑performing asset on 30‑01‑2010, the bank filed an application under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in Fe…

The petitioners, who were directly recruited as Sub‑Inspectors, challenged the promotion of private respondents to the rank of Inspector on the ground that the eight‑year service requirement under Rule 13.14(2) of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934 was no longer applicable after the State’s 1987 order abolishing selection g…

The Haryana government awarded concession agreements to Rapid Metrorail Gurgaon Ltd (RMGL) and Rapid Metrorail Gurgaon South Ltd (RMGSL) for two metro projects, which were later terminated by both parties amid allegations of fraud against the IL&FS group. The State agencies HSVP and HMRTC approached the High Court unde…

Indus Biotech Private Ltd sought arbitration against Kotak India Venture Fund and related entities over the formula for converting optionally convertible redeemable preference shares into equity shares, claiming no default existed. Kotak filed a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) seeki…

The appellants filed a petition under Sections 241 and 242 of the Companies Act, 2013 alleging oppression and mismanagement, and the NCLT issued an ex‑parte ad‑interim order on 5 October 2020. The respondents appealed to the NCLAT, which set aside the NCLT order on the ground that it violated natural justice and remitt…

The Gram Panchayat Sarpanch was elected in 2017, but in October 2020 the Panchayat members passed a no‑confidence resolution against him. The Sarpanch approached the Collector, who ordered that a special Gram Sabha be convened to ratify the resolution by secret ballot under the supervision of an independent officer. Th…

Mrs. F.L. Raitt, a foreign national, sold a portion of her Indian immovable property to the predecessor of the appellant after obtaining prior RBI permission, but gifted another portion to respondent No.1 without such permission. The appellant and respondent No.4 sued to declare the gift deeds void; the trial court dis…

Joydeep Majumdar, an Army officer, filed for divorce on the ground of mental cruelty, alleging that his wife, Bharti Jaiswal Majumdar, repeatedly made defamatory complaints to his superiors, the State Women Commission, and on public platforms, which damaged his career and reputation. The Family Court granted the divorc…

The appellants (Akkamma & Ors.) filed a suit in 1987 seeking a declaration of ownership of land and a permanent injunction against the respondents (Vemavathi & Ors.) alleging interference with possession. The trial court dismissed the suit on the ground that the plaintiffs could not establish possession and therefore c…

The case arose from Consumer Complaint No.1653 of 2018 before the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, where the complainant alleged that representatives of two opposite parties forced him to sign blank papers and threatened him to obtain a settlement. The Commission ordered the directors of both opposite pa…

The case concerned two acres of land that had been granted free of cost to a member of the Adi Karnataka Scheduled Caste in 1941. The grantee’s grandson (respondent No.4) claimed that the subsequent sale of the land to the appellant in 1971 violated Rule 43(8) of the Mysore Land Revenue Code and the Karnataka Scheduled…

Saluja Construction Company entered into a contract with Northern Coalfields Limited for the Bina Project and invoked arbitration under Clause 9, filing an application under Sections 8 and 20 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 limited to that project. The arbitrator, however, issued an award that also covere…

The State of Haryana challenged a High Court order that had set aside the findings of the trial court and first appellate court which held that a will purportedly executed by Kishan Singh in favour of Harnam Singh was not genuine. The dispute centered on whether the will satisfied the requirements of Section 63 of the …

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order reducing Mahendra alias Golu’s conviction from attempt to commit rape under s.376(2)(f) read with s.511 IPC to a lesser offence of outraging modesty under s.354 IPC. The facts revealed that the accused lured two minor girls to his house,…

Ramawatar, a resident of a Madhya Pradesh village, was convicted under Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act for allegedly insulting his neighbour Prembai, a Scheduled Caste woman, during a property dispute. The parties later entered into a voluntary compromise and the complainant sought to withdraw the criminal case. The S…

The deceased, a 52‑year‑old Assistant Professor, died in a motor vehicle accident, leaving behind his wife, two daughters and his mother‑in‑law who lived with the family and was financially dependent on him. The appellants filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, but the Kerala High Cou…

The Commissioner of Police, Delhi appealed against a Delhi High Court order that directed the consideration of four candidates (Raj Kumar, Shiv Singh, Prem Singh Choudhary and Deepa Tomar) for appointment as constables despite their involvement in criminal cases. The candidates had either been acquitted or had their ca…

Rahmat Khan, a journalist and social worker, exposed alleged misappropriation of government grants to madrasas in Amravati district and filed RTI applications and complaints against officials. In retaliation, three FIRs were lodged against him under various IPC sections, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police issued an …

The appellants Sunil Kumar and others were convicted under IPC sections 363, 366 and 376(1) and sentenced to separate terms of rigorous imprisonment without any indication whether the sentences should run concurrently or consecutively. Both the trial court and the High Court failed to specify the mode of running of the…

The Uttarakhand Government advertised 440 ANM vacancies in 2016 without specifying the statutory requirement of an intermediate qualification in the science stream, which the appellants challenged as contrary to the 1997 Service Rules (amended 1998) that continued to apply after the state's creation. The Supreme Court …

The University of Delhi advertised 255 Junior Assistant posts in 2013 while about 300 contract assistants had been employed since 2003. The contract employees, represented by the Delhi University Contract Employees Union, sought regularisation and related benefits through a writ petition, which was rejected by the High…

The petitioners, women officers on Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Indian Army, challenged the Army's method of granting Permanent Commission (PC) after the Supreme Court's decision in Babita Puniya, alleging that the benchmarking of their marks against the lowest‑scoring male officer, the reliance on early‑caree…

In July 2020, a group of tribal youths attacked non‑tribal youngsters playing basketball in Lawsohtun, Meghalaya. Journalist Patricia Mukhim posted a Facebook message condemning the attack and urging the state government and police to act, which was complained about as hate speech. An FIR was lodged under Sections 153A…

The appellant, Ram Vijay Singh, was convicted under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 for murder and claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the 20 July 1982 incident. He relied on a 1982 High Court bail order based on a radiologist’s report, an alleged age of 15½‑17½ years, and an arms‑licence application showing a birth date of 30…

The case concerned the murder of Ganeshram in July 1998, for which Devilal, his son Gokul and Amrat Ram (AR) were charged under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 and the SC/ST Act. The trial court relied on the FIR as a dying declaration and on eyewitness testimony of the victim's wife (PW1) and sister‑in‑law (PW2), corroborated by r…

The case involved a violent assault on the house of an informant during Holi, resulting in the death of Dhanpal. Thirteen persons were charged under IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 450, 452, 302 and 307. The trial court convicted all of them, but the High Court upheld convictions only of two accused and acquitted the remai…

The appeal concerned the eligibility of candidates holding a two‑year Art and Craft diploma awarded by Kurukshetra University through distance education for posts of Arts and Crafts teachers in Haryana, where the recruitment advertisement required a two‑year diploma from the Haryana Industrial Training Department or an…

The Oriental Bank of Commerce appealed an order of the Recovery Officer under Section 30 of the Recovery of Debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993, but filed the appeal 31 days after the prescribed 30‑day period. The Debts Recovery Tribunal condoned the delay by invoking Section 5 of the Limitation Act…

Mr. Rajeev Nohwar booked a residential flat and purchased e‑SBTR stamp paper worth Rs 8,44,500. A dispute with the builder led to a consumer complaint before the NCDRC, which ordered a full refund of the consideration. Nohwar applied for a refund of the stamp duty, but the Deputy Inspector of Registration rejected it, …

M/S Magadh Sugar & Energy Ltd., a sugar mill that generates surplus electricity from bagasse, supplies that electricity to the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB). The Bihar Government levied electricity duty and penalty under the Bihar Electricity Duty Act, 1948, which the company challenged through a writ petition u…

The petitioners, advocates contesting the Awadh Bar Association election, challenged the Allahabad High Court's suo moto directions that cancelled the 14‑August‑2021 election due to violent conduct and ordered fresh elections on 25‑September‑2021 along with a code of conduct and other measures. The petitioners argued t…

The appellant SEPCO, a Chinese corporation, was awarded a large arbitration award in favour of the Indian respondent Power Mech Projects. The High Court, under Section 9 of the Arbitration Act, directed SEPCO to furnish a Rs 30 crore bank guarantee from a "scheduled bank located in India". SEPCO complied by obtaining a…

An FIR (No.477) recorded the death of Amarjit Singh and injuries to his nephew Manjeet Singh, naming five persons as perpetrators. Only one accused, Sartaj Singh, was charge‑sheeted; the other four private respondents were placed in column‑2. During trial, the victim (PW1) reiterated the allegations against the private…

The appellants were served with show‑cause notices alleging encroachment on land forming part of a National Highway. The notices were issued under Section 28(2)(iii) of the Tamil Nadu State Highway Act, 2001 and were said to be backed by a notification issued under Section 5 of the National Highways Act, 1956. The appe…

Harjit Singh filed an FIR alleging that his father was murdered by a group of accused, including Inderpreet Singh (respondent No.1), who was alleged to have orchestrated the conspiracy from jail using a mobile phone. The High Court granted bail to Inderpreet Singh, reasoning that he was not physically present at the cr…

The appellant, Lala @ Anurag Prakash Aasre, was convicted for murder, unlawful assembly and related offences after a group assault with sharp weapons that resulted in the death of Balu Mandpe and injuries to several witnesses. The key dispute was that the appellant’s name was absent from the FIR, though he was identifi…

Saranya appealed the Madras High Court's order that quashed the chargesheet against Bharathi (respondent No.1) for offences under Sections 420, 302 r/w 109 IPC. The High Court had examined the evidence and concluded that the accused was likely to be convicted, thereby exercising its power under Section 482 CrPC to dism…

Md Misher Ali was alleged by the Assam police to be an illegal migrant from Bangladesh who entered India after 24 March 1971. The police referred him to the Foreigner's Tribunal, which served notice by hanging it at his temporary address in Sivasagar, despite his permanent residence being in Dhubri, and subsequently de…

The Supreme Court considered appeals concerning the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The resolution plan submitted by NBCC (India) Ltd. was approved by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) with a 97.36% voting share, but various…

The State of Rajasthan sought to appoint Love Kush Meena as a constable, but the recruitment advertisement disqualified candidates who were not honourably acquitted of offences involving moral turpitude or violence. Meena had been acquitted in a case under IPC sections 302, 323, 341 and 34 on the basis of benefit of do…

A complaint was lodged alleging that Charansinh, then President of a municipal council, had amassed assets disproportionate to his known income, invoking Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) issued a notice directing him to appear for an "open enquiry" and to furnish de…

The appellant, V.N. Public Health and Educational Trust, sought an Essentiality Certificate (EC) and Consent of Affiliation (CoA) to start a medical college for the academic year 2020‑2021, but the State Government and Kerala University of Health Sciences repeatedly rejected its applications citing deficiencies. The Hi…

The Supreme Court heard two civil appeals and a writ petition concerning the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949 and related rules on ward delimitation and reservation. The petitioners challenged the constitutionality of sections 5(3)(iii)(a) and 29A of the Act, Rules 4 and 5 of the 1994 Bombay Municipal…

The Supreme Court, hearing Criminal Appeal No. 123 of 2021 (M/A No. 364 of 2021), reviewed its earlier direction dated 10 February 2021 to transfer Rs. 11,20,000 to the respondent along with accrued interest. It was discovered that the sum was held in a non‑interest‑earning account with UCO Bank, making the payment of …

The petitioners, who had taken their last permissible attempt at the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, claimed that the Covid‑19 pandemic prevented them from effectively preparing and therefore sought a mandamus directing the Union of India to grant them an additional attempt. The Court examined whether…

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) terminated a Facilities Agreement with SK Wheels Private Limited, the corporate debtor, alleging service deficiencies. The corporate debtor, represented by the Resolution Professional, sought relief under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) invoking the National Company Law Trib…

The State of Orissa appealed a Division Bench of the Orissa High Court judgment that had set aside orders declaring 0.865-7 acres of land as excess vacant land under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, on the ground that the Act had been repealed and compensation had not been paid. The High Court had als…

The appellants challenged the acquisition of their land for a residential‑commercial scheme, arguing that the State had improperly invoked the urgency clause under Section 17(4) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to dispense with the hearing mandated by Section 5A. The High Court had dismissed the writ petition, but on …

The appellant, a student with dysgraphia (a specified disability of 40 % under the RPwD Act), appeared for the NEET (UG) 2021 and was denied the one‑hour compensatory time mandated for persons with disability. The designated examination centre collected her answer sheet after the regular three‑hour duration, and the Na…

The Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation initiated disciplinary proceedings against its employee Vijay Kumar Yadav for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 2,46,922.56. The enquiry officer found the charge proved, but the disciplinary authority also proceeded on other unproven charges without giving the employee notice, violatin…

The appellants' land in the village of Rawali was acquired by a notification dated 16‑05‑1981 under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The High Court fixed compensation at Rs 7,100 per acre, whereas the appellants contended that they were entitled to Rs 15,402 per acre, the amount awarded by a Reference Court…

A Combined State Service Examination in 1985 created two vacancies for Deputy Collector. After the original selected candidates declined, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (PSC) recommended Chunni Lal and Digvijay Singh. Ajay Shankar Pandey filed a writ petition and the Allahabad High Court ordered the PSC to…

The Tamil Nadu government issued a loan‑waiver scheme that benefitted only small and marginal farmers, prompting a petition that the scheme violated Article 14 by arbitrarily excluding larger farmers. The Madurai Bench of the High Court held the classification arbitrary and directed the benefit be extended to all farme…

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) issued a series of office orders between 1989 and 1990 to address stagnation among Junior Engineers, including an upgradation order dated 29‑03‑1990 that raised 20% of Junior Engineer‑II posts to a higher pay scale. The respondents, Junior Engineers, filed a writ petition seeki…

The Jamia Masjid Gubbi filed a suit seeking a declaration that the State Wakf Board owned a specific property, possession, an injunction and mesne profits. Defendants argued that the suit was barred by res judicata, relying on three earlier suits concerning the same property. The Supreme Court examined whether the earl…

The dispute involved M/s. Vijeta Construction alleging non‑payment of Rs.2,44,92,846 for TMT bars supplied by M/s. Indus Smelters, which had paid only Rs.1,24,50,000. Indus Smelters approached the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council under the MSMED Act, which dismissed the application on the ground of limi…

The appellants, guarantors of a loan of Rs.21.14 crore extended to Ace Concrete Pvt. Ltd., contested the sale of four mortgaged properties by Indian Overseas Bank under the SARFAESI Act. The bank issued a first sale notice on 21‑Jan‑2012 with a 30‑day period, but the sale was stayed by the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) …

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) proposed a toll plaza at km 194 on the four‑laned Patna‑Bakhtiyarpur stretch of NH‑30. Writ petitioners contended that the location violated Rule 8 of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 because it lay within municipal limits and …

D.K. Agrawal, a chartered accountant, was alleged to have committed professional misconduct by depositing only the last digit of tax amounts and claiming full sums. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India referred the complaint to its Disciplinary Committee, which reported that Agrawal was guilty of misconduct.…

The Supreme Court, acting suo motu, extended the limitation period for all judicial and quasi‑judicial proceedings due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, initially ordering an exclusion of the period from 15 March 2020 to 14 March 2021. After a decline in cases, the Court on 8 March 2021 limited the exclusion to that one‑year s…

The petitioners, original landowners of two parcels acquired in 1976 for the NOIDA project, challenged the compensation awarded by the Reference Courts (Rs 4.628 and Rs 6 per square yard) and sought enhancement to Rs 297 per square yard, relying on the High Court's decision in Mangu v. State of U.P. and the earlier jud…

The appellant paid Rs.3,50,000 as advance for the purchase of a house, later discovering the respondent had no title to sell it. The respondent issued a cheque for Rs.1,50,000 to return part of the advance, which was dishonoured, leading the appellant to file a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments …

Prakash Gupta, a director of Ideal Hotels & Industries Ltd, was prosecuted by SEBI for alleged price rigging and insider trading during the company's 1995 IPO. Gupta applied to have the offence under Section 24 of the SEBI Act compounded under Section 24A, but the trial judge and the Delhi High Court rejected the appli…

The case concerned whether Anadi Nath Banerjee, whose land was acquired for the Sonepur Bazari Open Cast Project, was entitled to employment under a tripartite agreement that promised jobs to land‑losers possessing at least two acres. The Land Acquisition Collector’s certificate recorded Banerjee’s own holding as 0.300…

The case arose from a violent incident at a polling booth where the accused, belonging to another village, attacked a voter slip issuer and his brother, using lathis and pistols, causing injuries to several witnesses. The trial court convicted the accused of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 IPC and rioting un…

Indra Devi alleged that a fraudulent land transaction involving a forged lease was carried out in collusion with municipal officials, including a clerk (Respondent No.2) who was not named in the FIR. Respondent No.2 sought protection under Section 197 of the CrPC, claiming his actions were performed in the discharge of…

South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL) floated a tender for hiring excavation equipment and awarded the contract to M/s S. Kumar’s Associates AKM (JV) through a Letter of Intent (LoI). The LoI required the successful bidder to deposit a performance security of 5% of the contract value within 28 days and to sign an Integr…

The accused, alleged to be a contract killer and member of an organized crime gang, was arrested under Section 3(1) of the U.P. Gangster and Anti‑Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 for the murder of Rajnarain Singh. The Allahabad High Court granted him bail on liberal terms despite his prior involvement in fiftee…

The Small Scale Industrial Manufactures Association and several other industry groups filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union of India, the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to grant a total waiver of interest, extend the loan moratorium, provide sector‑wise re…

The case concerns the murder of Suhas on 5 July 2011, for which three accused—Netaji Achyut Shinde (A‑1), Samadhan Shinde (A‑2) and Balasaheb Shinde (A‑3)—were charged under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. A telephonic intimation at 17:45 was treated by the trial court as the FIR, leading to the conviction of A‑2…

The appellant, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the U.P. Milk Union & Dairy Federation, challenged the High Court's setting aside of a disciplinary order imposed on employee Jagpal Singh. The employee was punished for manipulating milk weight measurements, and the punishment was passed after obtaining prior …

The Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad acquired over 1,200 acres of land under a notification dated 26‑06‑1982 (s.28 of the Uttar Pradesh Act, equivalent to s.4 of the Land Acquisition Act). The landowners challenged the compensation awarded by the Reference Court (Rs.120 per square yard) and the High Court’s enhan…

The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Narmada Equipments in 1999, which was terminated in 2001. The PPA contained an arbitration clause. In 2011 Narmada invoked the clause and, after receiving no response, filed an application under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and …

The appellants, holding 14.62% of the paid‑up share capital of Amritsar Swadeshi Woollen Mills Pvt. Ltd., filed a company petition under ss. 397 and 398 of the Companies Act, 1956 seeking to sell their shares. An independent valuer fixed the fair price at Rs 10.35 per share as of the petition filing date (14‑03‑2007). …

The Enforcement Directorate appealed a Bombay High Court order that granted default bail to respondents arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The crux of the dispute was whether the day of remand should be counted when calculating the 60‑day (or 90‑day) period prescribed under Section 167(2)(a)(i…

The Committee of Creditors (CoC) of Amtek Auto Ltd., through Corporation Bank, filed a contempt petition against Deccan Value Investors (DVI) after the Supreme Court rejected DVI's application seeking to renegotiate its approved resolution plan on the ground of COVID‑19. DVI also moved a rectification application alleg…

The State of Madhya Pradesh took possession of 16,000.32 square metres of land in Bhopal that had been declared surplus under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, and allotted it to the Bhopal Development Authority for housing the poor. The heir of the original owner filed a civil suit seeking a declarati…

The parties entered into an agreement in 2003 and a dispute arose over the return of 3,648.80 grams of pure gold. The arbitrator awarded the claimant the gold or its value at Rs.740 per gram with interest, and also awarded costs and a loss amount. The claimant later filed an application under Section 33 of the Arbitrat…

The case arose from a land‑dispute over a pathway between the prime accused Surjaram and the deceased Ladduram, which escalated into a violent clash on 18‑07‑1989 resulting in two deaths and several injuries. The trial courts and the High Court delivered mixed judgments, convicting some accused under Section 302 r.w. S…

Kewal Krishan executed a power of attorney in favour of his brother Sudarshan Kumar, who then executed two sale deeds on 10 April 1981 transferring parts of the suit properties to his minor sons and wife for Rs 5,500 and Rs 6,875. The appellant sued for injunction and later amended the suits to seek a declaration that …

The appellant challenged an FIR filed by the respondent by filing a petition under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code before the High Court. The High Court, on 20 April 2021, quashed the FIR by a detailed reasoned order. On 28 April 2021, the same High Court, acting suo moto, recalled its earlier order. The app…

The dispute concerned a house originally owned by Shri Kashirao Deshmukh, who died leaving his wife Smt. Shevantabai. The wife executed a gift deed in 1981 transferring the property to the appellant. The defendants produced a 1976 Will of the deceased, claiming it gave the wife only a life estate, rendering the gift de…

The appeal concerned the promotion of Superintending Engineers to the post of Chief Engineer (Civil) Level‑II under the Uttar Pradesh Service of Engineers (Irrigation Department) (Group A) Service Rules, 1990, which require a minimum of 25 years of service. The original writ petitioners had not completed the requisite …

Ms. A. Shainamol, an OBC candidate who qualified on general merit in the 2006 Civil Services Examination, was allocated to the Himachal Pradesh IAS cadre after the state's consent. She challenged the allocation, seeking placement in the Maharashtra cadre on the basis of higher merit than another candidate, and later th…

The Supreme Court examined a challenge to the water and sewerage taxes levied under Sections 52(1)(a), 55(b)(1) and 56 of the Uttar Pradesh Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1975. The first respondent argued that the levy was a fee, not a tax, and therefore beyond the State's competence under Entry 49 of List II. The Cour…

The appellant, V. Nagarajan, challenged an order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) dated 31 December 2019 that dismissed his application for interim relief in a liquidation proceeding. He filed an appeal before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on 8 June 2020, relying on a free certified cop…

DLF Home Developers Ltd (DHDL) entered into share purchase agreements (SPAs) with Rajapura Homes Pvt Ltd and Southern Homes Pvt Ltd, and subsequently executed two Construction Management Service Agreements (RCMA and SCMA) to carry out post‑closing construction obligations. DHDL claimed that the respondents had unreason…

The management of Sri Dora Raj Spintax dismissed thirty‑one workmen after initiating disciplinary proceedings for alleged vandalism, while conciliation proceedings were pending on two separate industrial disputes raised by the workmen. The workmen claimed that the dismissals required prior permission under Section 33(1…

The Supreme Court examined applications filed by the petitioners seeking to exclude the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Trust (SPSTT) from a special audit ordered under paragraph 116(g) of its earlier judgment dated 13 July 2020. The Court considered reports of the Temple’s Administrative and Advisory Committees, which hig…

The Narcotics Control Bureau intercepted a vehicle traveling from Dimapur to Rampur and discovered 3.3 kg of heroin concealed under the wiper of the car. The three occupants, including Md. Nawaz Khan, were arrested; a personal search of Khan revealed no contraband, but the drug was found in the vehicle. The trial court…

The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board advertised a post of PGT (English) Female with a provision for five‑year age relaxation for government servants and departmental candidates. Seema Kapoor, a primary teacher employed by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, applied after exceeding the age limit and claimed…