Judgments of 2021

The State of Maharashtra enacted the Maharashtra State Reservation (of Seats for Admission in Educational Institutions in the State and for appointments in the public services and posts under the State) for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018, granting 12% and 13% reservation to the Maratha com…

The appellant filed a criminal appeal against the grant of bail to his brother-in-law, the first respondent, who was charged under Sections 498-A and 304-B of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act for the unnatural death of his sister within a year of marriage. The Sessions Judge had denied bail, bu…

Kiran Devi claimed that she was the rightful tenant of a hotel premises, asserting that the tenancy belonged to a joint Hindu family and that the Karta could not surrender it without the consent of other coparceners. The Patna High Court held that the tenancy was a joint family business, barred the Wakf Board from acce…

The appellant, Madan Mohan Singh, was allotted a market booth in 1972 with a clause prohibiting sub‑letting and transfer of rights. He later entered into a partnership with Ved Prakash Arya in 1976, which was later dissolved, after which Arya worked as an employee. Dispute arose when Arya claimed he was a tenant paying…

The Tamil Nadu Government issued a notification for 356 Post‑Graduate Assistant posts in Chemistry, reserving 117 seats for MBC/DNC candidates (74 backlog and 43 current vacancies). The provisional selection list omitted several meritorious MBC/DNC applicants, who alleged that they were placed in backlog vacancies inst…

The appellant, Ravuri Krishna Murthy, alleged that the second and third respondents fabricated a judgment and decree in a civil suit (OS No. 274 of 2014) to obtain an injunction over his land. The High Court, after an enquiry by the District Collector confirming the fabrication, stayed the suit and later dismissed a pe…

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) challenged a Central Administrative Tribunal order that directed the reconsideration of the promotion of Bibhu Prasad Sarangi to the Indian Administrative Service, citing a disciplinary penalty imposed on him. The matter was taken to the Orissa High Court under Article 226 of …

The Maharashtra Government, without consulting the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), issued a Government Resolution on 22 April 2019 to appoint an additional 636 candidates as Police Sub‑Inspectors, effectively doubling the vacancies advertised for the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 201…

The petitioners, residents of Village Sarsad, illegally occupied Gram Panchayat land and constructed houses. They applied to the Deputy Commissioner under Rule 12(4) of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964 for regularisation and sale of the occupied land, which permits such sale only if the total il…

Daulat Ram College, affiliated to the University of Delhi, was embroiled in a dispute over who had the authority to appoint the warden of its college hostel. The Principal had appointed Dr. Asha as warden without the approval of the Governing Body, which the college challenged. The High Court directed a fresh appointme…

The appellants Murali and Rajavelu were convicted for assaulting a victim during a volleyball match, with Murali found guilty under IPC s.324 and s.341 and Rajavelu under s.307 and s.341, receiving three months and five years of rigorous imprisonment respectively. Both appealed their convictions, and later sought to im…

The Visakhapatnam Port Trust floated a tender for wooden sleepers, which M/s Padia Timber Co. (P) Ltd. responded to with a conditional offer that inspection would be at its depot. The Trust accepted the offer but imposed an additional condition that final inspection be at its showroom, which Padia rejected, leading to …

Six persons, including Hari Om, Sanjay and Saurabh, were tried for murder (IPC s.396), dacoity (IPC s.412), offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Arms Act. The trial court convicted all of them for murder, sentencing Hari Om to death and the others to life imprisonment; the High Court affirmed…

Srei Equipment Finance Ltd. entered into a hire‑purchase agreement for a JCB machine with Amarnath Yadav, the original owner, and the vehicle was registered with a hypothecation entry in favour of the financier. After the owner defaulted, an arbitrator awarded the loan amount to the financier, but the owner later filed…

Ajay Kumar Srivastava, a clerk of State Bank of India, was charged with seven counts of misappropriating bank funds. The enquiry officer found charges 2‑7 proved and charge 1 not proved. The disciplinary authority disagreed on charge 1, held it proved, but upheld the findings on charges 2‑7 and dismissed the employee. …

The Supreme Court, by a majority, upheld the Central Vista Project of the Government of India, which involves redevelopment of the Parliament House and Central Secretariat. The challenge was based on alleged procedural irregularities, lack of public participation, and violations of heritage and environmental laws. The …

The Supreme Court heard appeals by the surviving dependents of two deceased motor accident victims against Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., challenging the reduction of compensation awarded by the High Court. The Court held that claims under the Motor Vehicles Act crystallise at the time of the accident and are not alt…

Supertech Ltd constructed Towers 16 and 17 in Emerald Court, NOIDA. The Allahabad High Court ordered their demolition for violating minimum distance requirements, green‑area norms, and provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Apartment Act, 2010 and the Uttar Pradesh Ownership Flats Act, 1975. The Supreme Court affirmed the dem…

Garg Builders entered into a construction contract with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) that contained Clause 17 expressly barring any interest on monies due to the contractor. A dispute was referred to arbitration, and the arbitrator awarded pendente lite and future interest despite the clause. BHEL challenged the…

The Supreme Court, hearing a petition by Gaurav Kumar Bansal seeking relief for families of Covid‑19 victims, examined the implementation of guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under Section 12(iii) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Court noted that the NDMA had recommended an…

Paulmech Infrastructure Private Ltd (appellant) entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Utkal Ashok Hotel Corporation Ltd (UAHCL) for a 40‑year lease of Hotel Nilachal Ashok, requiring payment of Rs 9.34 crore within 30 days, including a non‑refundable upfront sum of Rs 8.82 crore. The appellant failed to pay the fu…

The father of a deceased woman filed a complaint alleging dowry harassment and murder, leading to FIRs against seven family members, including the mother‑in‑law. The mother‑in‑law, after being declared a proclaimed offender and absconding for over two years, obtained anticipatory bail from the High Court on the basis t…

The plaintiff filed a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement that required the defendant to evict tenants and deliver vacant possession before executing the sale deed. The trial court found the plaintiff ready but not willing to accept the property with tenants and therefore dismissed the suit, ordering the …

The plaintiff, Geeta, sued the defendants for possession, injunctions and mesne profits, asserting ownership of a Delhi property and that Defendant No.1 was her tenant who had sub‑let to Defendant No.2. In their written statement the defendants claimed they were the owners, stating that Defendant No.2 had purchased the…

The appellant Bank (Dena Bank, now Bank of Baroda) filed a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2018 to initiate a corporate insolvency resolution process against the corporate debtor, C. Shivakumar Reddy, after the debtor defaulted in 2013. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ad…

The appellants, manufacturers of the insecticide Trizophos 40% EC, were charged with misbranding after laboratory analysis showed the active ingredient was only 34.70%. Samples were taken on 10 February 2011, sent to the Insecticide Testing Laboratory, Ludhiana, and the first analysis report was received on 14 March 20…

M/s Cheminova India Ltd, a pesticide manufacturer, and its former Managing Director were charged under the Insecticides Act, 1968 for misbranding insecticide products after laboratory tests showed lower active ingredient than labeled. The State of Punjab filed a complaint alleging offences under sections 3(k)(i), 17, 1…

The State of Bihar prosecuted Surajdeo Mahto (Appellant No.1) and Prakash Mahto (Appellant No.2) for the murder of Arun under sections 302 r/w 34 and 120B IPC, with Appellant No.1 also charged under section 364 IPC. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, chiefly the "last seen" theory, motive stemming from …

The petitioners challenged the West Bengal Housing Industry Regulation Act, 2017 (WB‑HIRA) on the ground that it largely reproduces the provisions of the central Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) and therefore violates the doctrine of repugnancy under Article 254 of the Constitution. The Court e…

P. Balasubrahmanayam, a Group‑B gazetted officer in the Department of Posts, was charged with nine offences, including bribery and procedural lapses. He challenged the charge memo on the ground that, because the allegations involved a vigilance angle, prior approval from the Central Vigilance Officer (CVO) as required …

The petitioners challenged the constitutionality of Section 12(2)(c) of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961 and two State Election Commission notifications that reserved OBC seats beyond the 50% ceiling in several districts. Relying on the Constitution Bench decision in K. Krishna Murthy, th…

Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. appointed Ravindranath Rao Sindhia and Indumathi Sindhia, U.S. nationals, as distributors under a sole proprietorship agreement. The respondents filed a petition under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking appointment of a sole arbitrator, and the Delhi Hi…

The dispute arose from two construction contracts awarded by NTPC Ltd. to M/s Deconar Services, wherein a 16% rebate was offered on the condition of simultaneous execution of both projects. The arbitrator held that the rebate was conditional and that NTPC's delay in handing over sites breached that condition, ordering …

The appellant Arce Polymers (the second purchaser) and the bank appealed against a High Court order that set aside the SARFAESI proceedings against the borrower Alphine Pharmaceuticals. The borrower had repeatedly sought moratoriums and restructuring, which the bank entertained, but ultimately proceeded with auction of…

The Madhya Pradesh Housing and Infrastructure Development Board entered into a construction contract with K.P. Dwivedi, which was later rescinded by the Board. The contractor invoked the arbitration clause, and the High Court, by consent of both parties, appointed the Housing Commissioner as arbitrator. The arbitrator …

The case concerned a Head Constable of the Border Security Force (BSF) who was charged with "disgraceful conduct" for an alleged sexual assault on a junior constable during night duty in April 2006. The Commandant, noting a discrepancy in the date of the incident, ordered the preparation of an additional Record of Evid…

VVF (India) Ltd., a manufacturer of oleo‑chemicals, made a protest payment of Rs 3.64 crore for tax and interest for AY 2013‑14 before an assessment order was passed. After the assessment order imposed a total demand of Rs 27.98 crore, the company filed an appeal but the appellate authority rejected it, stating that th…

The appellants, directors of a company, issued a post‑dated cheque as security for payment under a Power Supply Agreement, but the cheque was later presented and dishonoured after the company failed to pay for electricity supplied. A complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act was filed, and the magis…

The State of Maharashtra charged Pankaj Jagshi Gangar with offences under Sections 384, 386, 387 read with Section 34 of the IPC and under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for running a matka business, funding an international gangster and being an active member of an organised crime syndicate. Th…

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) issued a tender for the sale of gas. Pooja Ceratech Private Limited submitted a price bid but later claimed a mistake and sought to modify the bid. ONGC opened the price bids without the petitioner, disqualified it and invoked the bank guarantees furnished as security deposit, inv…

The Commissioner of Income Tax (IT‑4) Mumbai challenged an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) that, under Section 254(2) of the Income Tax Act, recalled its earlier 2013 order favoring the Revenue in a dispute with M/s Reliance Telecom Ltd over the taxability of software payments. The Supreme Court held …

The Kerala government auctioned 246.26 acres of forest land in 1953 and later executed a lease deed in 1979 in favour of K.K. Joseph, who represented the partnership firm M/s Joseph & Company. The lease prohibited sub‑letting or assignment without the lessor’s written consent (clause 14). In 1983 the lessee sold 50 acr…

The appellant husband and his mother-in-law were convicted under Sections 498A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC for the suicide of their wife within eight months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the husband repeatedly demanded Rs.25,000 from the deceased's father, and upon failure, subjected h…

The appellants were appointed as teachers in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of H.N.B. Garhwal University between 2004 and 2007 under the Uttar Pradesh State Universities Act, 1973. Their appointment letters imposed a three‑year contractual term, which they protested but continued to serve. After the universi…

The Assistant Commissioner of State Tax detained a consignment of steel on the ground that the purchaser, M/s Commercial Steel Ltd., was attempting to evade SGST and CGST by treating an inter‑State sale as a local sale. The respondent paid the tax and penalty and the goods were released, after which it filed a writ pet…

The appeal concerned HDFC ERGO General Insurance Ltd. challenging directions of the Delhi High Court that required the insurer to provide a prosthetic limb with a lifetime warranty and to maintain it by periodic inquiries, as well as to keep a large interest‑bearing deposit to fund attendant wages for the permanently d…

The Karnataka High Court had declared the election of N.S. Nandiesha Reddy void under Section 100(1)(c) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, and ordered the Registrar General to lodge a criminal complaint against Returning Officer Ashok Mensinkai under Section 193 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly giving f…

The State of Haryana challenged a High Court order directing the State to draft a fresh remission policy under Article 161 and to apply the 2008 policy for premature release of Raj Kumar, who had served 12 years and 25 days of a life sentence. The Supreme Court examined the interplay between the constitutional power of…

The appellant, the State of Uttar Pradesh, challenged the High Court's order granting a compassionate appointment to Uttam Singh, whose father had served as a part‑time tubewell operator but was treated as a regular employee. The father had been appointed against a regular vacancy, served for 13 years, was transferred …

The Telangana State Wakf Board and the Mutawalli filed a suit before the Andhra Pradesh State Wakf Tribunal seeking eviction of a tenant, Mohamed Muzafar, from premises they claimed were Wakf property. The tenant contested that the land was not Wakf property, arguing that the gazette notification showing an increased e…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) against orders that allowed Ayurvedic (AYUSH) doctors to continue in service up to the age of 65 and to receive salary arrears. The Court examined whether AYUSH doctors are entitled to the same enhanced superannuation age as allopathic…

Renowned journalist Vinod Dua was charged under sections 124A, 505(1)(b), 501, 268 of the IPC, sections 52 and 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and section 188 of the IPC for remarks made in a YouTube talk‑show about the COVID‑19 pandemic and alleged political use of the crisis. He filed a writ petition under Ar…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of petitions challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Examination Byelaws, particularly their restrictions on correcting or changing names and dates of birth in certificates. It held that the Byelaws, framed by a body that functions as a State instrumentality, have …

The petitioners, former Assistant Engineers of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, claimed that the corporation violated court orders by re‑engaging them without continuity of service and back wages, and later by terminating them without a prior hearing. The Supreme Court examined two sets of contempt petitions: one concerning th…

The Supreme Court examined challenges by private unaided schools in Rajasthan to the Rajasthan Schools (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2016 and its 2017 Rules, alleging violations of Articles 19(1)(g) and 13(2) of the Constitution. It also considered the State's order dated 28 October 2020, issued by the Director of Secondary…

In 1994 the landlord filed a suit for possession, rent and mesne profits against the tenant, who failed to file a written statement, leading to an ex‑parte decree in 1998. The tenant later filed an application under Order 9 Rule 13 of the CPC (and Section 5 of the Limitation Act) on 25 August 1998 to set aside the decr…

The Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board (DSSSB) conducted a two‑tier examination for 231 Head Clerk vacancies in 2009, but the Tier‑I exam was delayed until 2014 and only 8,224 of 62,056 applicants appeared. Numerous complaints of question‑paper leakage, mass cheating, lack of randomisation and impersonation led …

The appellant Satpal was convicted for the murder of his wife Pooja Rani, who died from severe burns after he allegedly poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. A dying declaration was recorded by a Judicial Magistrate while the victim was still alive and fit to speak, in which she identified the appellant as the ass…

The appellant Rahul was convicted for murdering Jitender, allegedly because Jitender had an illicit relationship with Rahul's wife. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the testimony of the deceased's brother and mother, forensic findings linking a recovered .315 bore pistol to the fatal bullets…

The appellant, a former employee of Aruna Hotels Ltd., claimed arrears of salary of Rs 1.87 crore for the period 1998‑2013 and filed a Section 9 application under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) on 21 July 2017. The company contended that the claim was time‑barred. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admi…

L&T Infrastructure Finance advanced a Rs 40 crore loan to Doshion Ltd., with Doshion Veolia Water Solutions Pvt Ltd (the corporate debtor) providing a non‑disposal undertaking and pledging 40,160 shares of Gondwana Engineers Ltd as security. L&T assigned its rights to Phoenix ARC Pvt Ltd, which claimed to be a financia…

The private medical colleges Index Medical College and others challenged Rule 12(8)(a) of the Madhya Pradesh Chikitsa Shiksha Pravesh Niyam, 2018, which barred vacant seats arising from the mop‑up round from being included in college‑level counselling. The State argued the rule was needed to prevent manipulation and en…

An FIR was lodged alleging that the appellant and another accused had kidnapped a 17½‑year‑old girl for the purpose of marriage. The complainant later limited her allegations to the other accused, Vikram Roop Rai, and the prosecutrix testified that she had voluntarily married Vikram with family consent and bore two chi…

The appellant, a Sanitary Inspector, was charged under Sections 7, 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for demanding Rs.500 and a cell phone as bribe from a supervisor to process a contract extension. The trial court acquitted him, but the Madras High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted him, r…

The Enforcement Directorate, invoking the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), issued a communication on 15 May 2020 directing several banks to debit‑freeze the accounts of Opto Circuit India Ltd. The company challenged the order, seeking its quash and the defreezing of the accounts to enable payment of sta…

The appellant, U.P. Housing & Development Board, had registered the respondent's grandfather for a high‑income group (HIG) plot in 1982. After the grandfather's death, the respondent sought transfer of that registration and allotment of a vacant plot, but a 2002 Government order declared all old registrations of unsucc…

Ranbir Singh, a daily‑wage worker employed by the Executive Engineering Public Works Department, was terminated in 1991 without the notice and retrenchment compensation mandated by Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court held the termination illegal and ordered his reinstatement with back wag…

The appellant, a senior advocate, challenged several disparaging remarks made by a High Court judge against him in four separate cases where he represented a party. The judge's comments criticized the counsel's conduct without giving him an opportunity to be heard, and the remarks were deemed unnecessary for the adjudi…

The Supreme Court examined the cancellation of registration of Batanagar Education and Research Trust under section 12AA(3) of the Income Tax Act after the Trust admitted that many of its corpus donations were fictitious and were returned to donors through intermediaries, amounting to bogus donations and hawala transac…

Petitioner Rajinder Goel, a senior judicial officer, was recommended for compulsory retirement by the Full Court of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the ground of multiple unexplained large bank transactions. The High Court’s Administrative Committee had earlier initiated disciplinary proceedings, and although two …

The petitioners challenged a preventive detention order issued under the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986 against the detenu, who was accused in five FIRs for cheating amounting to over Rs. 50 lakh. The State argued that the detenu's alleged activities threatened public order and that bail had bee…

The appellant, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd., terminated a service level agreement with the respondent, Navigant Technologies Pvt. Ltd., leading to arbitration. The three‑member tribunal orally pronounced a majority award on 27‑04‑2018, but the dissenting arbitrator issued a separate opinion and the signed co…

The petitioner, Sridevi Datla, challenged the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) dismissal of her appeal against the environmental clearance for the Bhogapuram Greenfield Airport, arguing that the appeal was filed within the extended 60‑day period because the last day fell on a Sunday and that the NGT erred in refusing to…

The Supreme Court considered appeals concerning whether payments made by Indian residents to non-resident foreign software suppliers for computer software, under End User Licence Agreements (EULAs) and distribution agreements, constitute 'royalty' under the Income Tax Act, 1961 and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements …

Lokesh Chadha, proprietor of a courier agency, was convicted by a Special Judge under Sections 23(c) and 25A of the NDPS Act for facilitating the shipment of heroin and pseudo‑ephedrine and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment plus three years. While his appeal was pending, he applied for suspension of the sen…

The appellant, Shivaji Chintappa Patil, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for the death of his wife, who the prosecution alleged was killed after being abused for not obtaining money from her mother. The case hinged on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's alleged motive, the lack of a detailed…

The Commissioner of Commercial Tax, U.P. appealed against the classification of unstitched ladies' suits sold by S/S Rujhan Studio. The studio purchased bulk textile, cut it to suit dimensions, performed limited embroidery and 'peco' work, and sold the items as unstitched suits. The issue was whether these goods qualif…

The appellant owned 30.1 acres of land in Survey No. 166 that was acquired in 1981 for a railway line under a notification issued under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Land Acquisition Officer initially awarded compensation of Rs.454 per are for wet land and Rs.2,137 per are for dry land, which the …

The State of Gujarat prosecuted Bhalchandra Laxmishankar Dave, an Assistant Director, under Section 7 read with Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Special Judge, Bharuch, after a full trial, convicted him and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs.10,000. On appeal, th…

The Supreme Court entertained an application to correct a typographical error in its earlier judgment dated 16 November 2020 in the case of UMC Technologies Private Ltd. v. Food Corporation of India & Anr. (Civil Appeal No. 3687 of 2020). The application sought deletion of the words “including an employee of the appell…

The victim was alone at night when the accused entered her room and raped her. She reported the incident to her sister‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law, who did not believe her and even beat her, forcing her to go to her parental home where an FIR was lodged three days later. The trial court convicted the accused under Section…

A land dispute led to a mob assault on Abdul Wahab, resulting in his death. Thirty‑two persons were convicted under sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 201 and related provisions of the IPC. The appellant, Taijuddin, was alleged to have merely pointed out the house where the victim was hiding; he was present at the scene beca…

The appellant, Ashim Kumar Haranath Bhattacharya, was arrested in July 2012 under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act for offences including conspiracy, waging war, and violations of the Arms and Explosive Substances Acts. Although the charge sheet was filed in 2012, charges were only framed in 2019 and the tri…

Neha Tyagi, the wife, lodged several complaints with the Army alleging her husband Deepak Tyagi's extra‑marital affairs; the Army enquiry cleared him. The husband subsequently filed a divorce petition on the grounds of cruelty and desertion, and the Family Court decreed divorce, which the Rajasthan High Court affirmed.…

The Committee of Creditors (COC) of Amtek Auto Ltd. appealed against the liquidation of the corporate debtor, seeking implementation of a resolution plan approved in July 2020 by Deccan Value Investor (DVI). The Supreme Court examined whether the time limits prescribed under Section 12 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy …

Dr. G. Sadhasivan Nair, a former lecturer and later professor at Cochin University of Science and Technology, sought to have his eight years of practice as an advocate counted as qualifying service for his superannuation pension under Rule 25(a) of the Kerala Service Rules. The University rejected his claim, relying on…

The petitioners filed contempt petitions alleging that the respondents, including M. Vijayakumar and other officials, willfully ignored the Supreme Court's order dated 22 January 2016 which required the seniority list of Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) selectees to be fixed on the basis of merit rather tha…

M/s. Jai Balaji Industries (operational creditor) entered into MOUs with Orissa Minerals Development Company Ltd for iron ore supply, leading to arbitration awards in its favour. The corporate debtor challenged the awards under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; the challenges were dismissed in default on 22.1…

The dispute arose from a partition of family property where the respondent sought a declaration of title and eviction of the appellants. The appellants relied on a family settlement document (Khararunama) dated 15‑04‑1986 and a receipt of Rs.2,00,000 as evidence of the parties' past arrangements. The trial court admitt…

The case concerned a dispute between purchasers (Thota Sridhar Reddy & ors.) who claimed occupancy rights under the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Abolition of Inams Act, 1955, and protected tenants (Mandala Ramulamma & ors.) who held a certificate of ownership under Section 38‑E of the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area)…

Ashok Kumar filed a declaratory suit claiming ownership of his parents' coparcenary property, asserting that he is their son. The defendants denied his lineage and sought a DNA test to establish the relationship. The trial court dismissed the DNA test application, but the High Court reversed, ordering the test. The Sup…

The parents of a 32‑year‑old heavy‑vehicle driver who died in a road accident filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for loss of dependency and parental consortium. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal fixed the deceased's monthly income at the minimum wage for skilled labour (Rs.5,746) despite t…

The deceased, a 35‑year‑old manager, was killed in a road accident on 14 October 2013 when the Eicher van ahead of his car turned right without signalling. The wife and minor son claimed compensation under s.166 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.10.40 lakh, attributing 75% contrib…

The petitioners, a private school management, were directed by the Bombay High Court to pay salary arrears to teaching and non‑teaching staff as per the 5th and 6th Pay Commission recommendations. While willing to pay, the petitioners sought to limit the arrears to the three years preceding the writ petitions, arguing …

The appellant, Sau. Sangeeta, was elected as Gatneta (Group Leader) of the INCPS Party, a Panchayat Samiti party formed by four elected members of the Shrirampur Panchayat Samiti, in a 2017 meeting chaired by the Ahmednagar District INC President. The meeting resolution gave the District President the power to change t…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over the reservation of the Mayor's office in Dhule Municipal Corporation. The State of Maharashtra had notified that the post would be reserved for the Backward Class (BC) for the term starting June 2021, despite earlier reservations for BC and no reservation for Scheduled Castes (…

The Haryana Staff Selection Commission advertised for Post‑Graduate Teacher positions requiring a B.Ed. degree, with a cut‑off date of 12 October 2015 for applications. Several candidates had appeared for the B.Ed. exam but the final results were pending; they submitted provisional/confidential results issued by their …

The appellant company failed to honour multiple cheques, leading the respondent to issue statutory notices under Sections 138 and 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and file criminal complaints. While the corporate debtor was placed under a moratorium under Section 14 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the…

The dispute concerned a 5,082‑square‑yard land in Mulund, where the original suit (No. 1335/1988) was settled by two consent decrees dated 16‑Feb‑2005 and 03‑Oct‑2005 between the Vaity family, the housing society and other parties. M/S Chitralekha Builders and its partners were impleaded only later and were not signato…

The appellant, Sonu, was charged under Section 376 IPC after the second respondent lodged an FIR alleging that he had promised to marry her, maintained a consensual sexual relationship for one and a half years, and later refused to marry, leading to the complaint. The appellant sought to quash the charge‑sheet under Se…

The dispute arose from a terminated distributorship agreement between Varun Beverages Ltd. and the complainant, who alleged non‑payment of commissions and issued a cheque that later bounced. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and later a Section 156(3) Cr.P.C.…

Kridhan Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (now Krish Steel) submitted a resolution plan for Tecpro Systems Ltd, which was approved by the Committee of Creditors and the NCLT. The appellant deposited Rs 5 crore in escrow but failed to meet further obligations, leading the CoC to vote for liquidation, which was approved by the NCLT…

In 2010 an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act was lodged against T. N. Seenivasagan, a chief engineer of TANGEDCO, for allegedly demanding a bribe. The sanction to prosecute was issued by the Chairman of TANGEDCO, purportedly on behalf of the Board, and the trial proceeded with witnesses PW‑1 (Chairman) and PW‑…

Punalur Paper Mills Ltd. owned premises that were requisitioned by the West Bengal government in 1973. Section 10B of the West Bengal Premises Requisition Act required the property to be released within 25 years, i.e., by 15 August 1998, but the State failed to do so and later attempted to acquire the land using a noti…

The Supreme Court examined whether residential accommodations for nuns and hostel buildings for students qualify for exemption from building tax under Section 3(1)(b) of the Kerala Building Tax Act, 1975. The State argued that such buildings are merely residential and not used principally for religious or educational p…

A. Navinchandra Steels Private Limited, an operational creditor, challenged the admission of a Section 7 petition filed by SREI Equipment Finance Limited before the NCLT, arguing that a winding‑up petition against the same debtor was already pending in the Bombay High Court and that the Companies Act provisions should …

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) appealed against the Kerala High Court’s order granting bail to K. A. NajeeB, who was charged under multiple IPC offences, the Explosive Substances Act and several provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The High Court had released the undertrial on bail, c…

The Supreme Court examined whether Spade Financial Services Ltd. and AAA Landmark Pvt. Ltd. could be treated as financial creditors of AKME Projects Ltd. during its corporate insolvency resolution process. It held that the transactions between the corporate debtor and the two entities were collusive, lacking genuine di…