Judgments of 2022

The appellants, a cold‑storage operator, stored potatoes under a Deterioration of Stock (DOS) insurance policy and later claimed loss due to sprouting. The policy contained an explicit exception that the insurer would not be liable for any damage if the temperature in the refrigeration chambers did not exceed 4.4°C (40…

Constable Subrata Nath of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was on duty when a truck carrying 800 kg of copper wires was stolen from a scrap yard. He was charged with gross negligence and dereliction of duty, and after a departmental inquiry where eight prosecution witnesses testified, the Disciplinary Autho…

The Tata Power Company sought to compel the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) to award a transmission licence for a 1000 MW HVDC project through the tariff‑based competitive bidding (TBCB) route under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003. MERC granted the licence using the regulated tariff mechani…

M/s Meenakshi Solar Power Pvt. Ltd. entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with M/s Abhyudaya Green Economic Zones Pvt. Ltd. and its promoters to acquire a solar power project, later executing a Tripartite Agreement and an addendum involving a financier. Disputes arose and the appellant invoked the arbitration c…

The case involved an Admiralty suit filed by Banque Cantonale de Geneve against the owners of the vessel M.V. Polaris Galaxy for alleged mis‑delivery of cargo. The Commercial Division of the Madras High Court, exercising its power under Order 1 Rule 10(2) of the CPC, added Gulf Petroleum FZC as a necessary party. The a…

The appellants were arrested under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015 and the Special Court extended their judicial custody beyond 90 days to 180 days on the basis of reports from the Public Prosecutor, without producing the accused physically or virtually and without informing them of the a…

G.R. Meghwal, a Deputy General Manager in BSNL, was graded "Very Good" in his Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for 2005‑06 and 2006‑07 but received a "Good" grade for 2007‑08. He filed a representation against the lower grade, which was rejected, and consequently was deemed unfit for promotion to Senior Administrativ…

Navika Kumar, the anchor of a Times Now debate aired on 26 May 2022, faced multiple FIRs and criminal complaints in various states. She filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking quashing of the FIRs, their transfer to the IFSO unit of Delhi Police, a stay on any coercive action, and the clubbing of the cases. The …

The appellant filed an FIR alleging that his son was brutally murdered in broad daylight by a group of seven assailants, resulting in eight grievous injuries. One of the accused, respondent No.2, was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court on the ground of parity with other co‑accused who had also been released on bai…

The appellant, a watchman employed since 1992, was terminated in 2002 without notice or compliance with the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. He claimed continuous service under Section 25B and sought reinstatement; the Labour Court and a Single Judge affirmed his right to reinstatement but denied backwages. The Division …

The respondent, a Panchayat Assistant, was dismissed after a departmental inquiry for alleged misappropriation of Panchayat funds. The High Court set aside the dismissal on the ground that the inquiry violated principles of natural justice because the inquiry report was not furnished to the respondent and he was not gi…

The appellants, original landowners whose land was acquired by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority, challenged the compensation awarded by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which relied on earlier decisions in Surjit Singh and Kapoor Singh. The Supreme Court had previously enhanced compensation in those earl…

The Supreme Court heard two appeals (Civil Appeal Nos. 6676 and 6677 of 2022) challenging the Karnataka High Court's enhancement of motor accident compensation. The claimants argued that the deceased drivers earned Rs.15,000 per month, while the High Court had used Rs.8,500 per month to compute loss of dependency. The …

M/s Munjal Showa Ltd imported goods and claimed exemption from customs duty under DEPB licences that were later discovered to be forged. Upon being notified of the forgery, the company paid the duty under protest, but the Customs Department issued a show‑cause notice demanding duty, interest and penalty. The Tribunal c…

The original plaintiff filed a suit for permanent injunction based solely on an unregistered agreement to sell dated 23 March 1996, while the defendant filed a counter‑claim for possession. The trial court dismissed the injunction suit and allowed the counter‑claim; the first appellate court reversed this, granting the…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 and its 2016 amendment in a dispute between the Union of India and M/s. Ganpati Dealcom Pvt. Ltd. The Court held that Section 3(2) of the 1988 Act, which created a strict‑liability offence without mens rea, is manifestly arbi…

The appellants, former employees of the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB), sought to have the Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme of 2003 applied retrospectively from 09‑08‑1999, as it was for Bihar state government employees. BSEB had earlier adopted the Bihar Service Code but later framed its own service regul…

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) cancelled the candidature of eight candidates who had scored higher marks than the last selected candidates in the 30th Bihar Judicial Service Examination because they did not produce original certificates at the time of their interview, although they had submitted self‑attest…

The appellant, a practising advocate, was charged with criminal contempt after he and about fifty other lawyers obstructed police officers attempting to execute a non‑bailable warrant issued by a Madras High Court judge. The High Court found a prima facie case of contempt under Section 2(c)(iii) of the Contempt of Cour…

The Supreme Court examined two appeals by the State of Rajasthan challenging orders that paid only subsistence allowance to two former employees who had been reinstated after disciplinary penalties. The Court interpreted Rule 54 of the Rajasthan Service Rules, 1951, holding that full pay is payable only when the employ…

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S.K. Sahni, former Director General, Supplies and Transport, was investigated by a Court of Inquiry (CoI) for alleged irregularities in procurement and quality control. The CoI recommended only a recordable censure, but the Army Commander ordered disciplinary action under the Army Act and Army Rules, l…

The plaintiff initially approached the Revenue Authority under Section 250 of the Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code (MPLRC) seeking relief, but the respondents objected that the authority lacked jurisdiction because the dispute concerned title, leading the Tehsildar to dismiss the application. While that appeal was pend…

The Karnataka and Kerala legislatures enacted the Karnataka Tax on Lotteries Act, 2004 and the Kerala Tax on Paper Lotteries Act, 2005 to levy taxes on lottery schemes, including those organised by the Government of India or other states. The High Courts of Karnataka and Kerala held that the statutes were unconstitutio…

The appellants owned land that had been reserved for a playground in a Development Plan published in 2002 under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. After the statutory ten‑year period elapsed, they served a notice under Section 127 seeking acquisition, but the authorities failed to act. The High Court…

The appellant, Horticulture Experiment Station Gonikoppal, failed to deposit EPF contributions for the period 1975‑1988 and was assessed damages under Section 14B of the Employees Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The appellant argued that mens rea or actus reus should be required before imposing suc…

The Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti (agricultural market committees) in Rajasthan, created under the Rajasthan Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, collected market fees and rent/lease charges for shops and land. The Revenue assessed service tax on the rent/lease income, leading to a CESTAT decision that the committees wer…

The Supreme Court examined orders issued by a Single Judge of the Madras High Court that, after disposing a petition to transfer a single land‑grabbing case, on "special mentioning" directed the transfer of 864 other cases pending in special courts to ordinary jurisdictional magistrates. The Court held that the High Co…

Gowramma C, a staff nurse employed by Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd., was dismissed after a Tahasildar declared her caste certificate false, leading to loss of employment. The High Court initially upheld the dismissal, but a Division Bench later held the Tahasildar incompetent and directed verification by the Bangalore Di…

M/s Puri Investments, the landlord, filed an eviction suit under Section 14 of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 alleging that the tenant, M/s Young Friends & Co., had sub-let portions of the shop to three medical practitioners without the landlord's consent. The Rent Controller dismissed the petition, but the Appellate…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) and JSW Energy Ltd (formerly Jindal Thermal Power Co Ltd) was a "concluded contract" under the proviso to Section 27(2) of the Karnataka Electricity Reforms Act, 1999, which would exempt it f…

The land of about 3.23 guntas in Attapur village was acquired in 1981 for the extension of Nehru Zoological Park. The initial award by the Land Acquisition Officer paid only Rs 6 per sq yard. After repeated litigation, the Reference Court enhanced compensation to Rs 250 per sq yard with solatium and interest. The High …

Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd sought enforcement of a Singapore arbitral award of about INR 2,562 crore against 20 respondents, including Oscar Investments Ltd and the Singh brothers. The Supreme Court examined whether the Singh brothers (contemnors 9 and 10) had willfully violated multiple orders and undertakings of the Delh…

The Financial Creditor advanced a Rs 6 crore loan to Premier Ltd and secured it by a pledge of shares held by Doshi Holdings. When Premier defaulted, the creditor filed separate petitions under Section 7 of the IBC against both Premier and Doshi Holdings, contending that Doshi Holdings was also a borrower under the loa…

The appellant, D. Swamy, challenged the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board's (KSPCB) consent to operate a Common Bio‑Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBMWTF) on the ground that the facility lacked prior environmental clearance (EC) under the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification as amended. The …

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (the appellant) owned two adjacent plots, 4/4 and 4/5, in Azadpur, Delhi, and operated petrol stations on both. Ajay Bhatia (the respondent) filed a suit seeking possession and mesne profits for Plot 4/4 after the lease expired in 2003. The trial court decreed possession of Plot 4/4…

The corporate debtor, Seya Industries Ltd., and its investors, including Beacon Trusteeship Ltd., entered into a debenture arrangement which later gave rise to arbitration and a claim for payment. While arbitration was pending, the investors filed a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) i…

BSNL issued a circular on 12 June 2012 revising infrastructure charges for active links of licensed telecom operators, stating it would apply retrospectively from 1 April 2009 with a 10% annual increase. The operators had already paid charges upfront under the earlier 2006 circular and challenged the retrospective levy…

The petitioners, project‑affected families under the Sardar Sarovar Project, sought clarification or modification of the Supreme Court's 8 February 2017 order that fixed a full‑and‑final compensation of Rs 60 lakhs per family as a comprehensive settlement. The petitioners argued that, since they were entitled to 4.293 …

The respondent, Ballabh Vyas, claimed ownership of a small shop (Mulgi) based on a registered sale deed dated 27 June 1985 and sought eviction of the appellants, who were tenants succeeding the original lessee Balraj. The appellants denied the respondent’s title, asserting that Balraj had purchased the property for Rs.…

NKD Maritime Ltd purchased the vessel M.V. Karnika at a public auction ordered by the Bombay High Court in a commercial admiralty suit, with a bill of sale stating the vessel was sold free of all encumbrances. After taking possession, the Mumbai Port Trust demanded anchorage charges, calculating a rate of Rs.15 lakh pe…

The appellant, Chandrabhan, was adopted by his paternal uncle Baliram at age 14 under customary rites. After Baliram's death, Chandrabhan claimed ownership of the uncle's property, which his first wife Champabai was later gifted. Chandrabhan filed a suit for declaration of ownership; the trial court dismissed it, but t…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces should be applied from 1 January 2006 or from 1 September 2008, and what financial up‑gradation entitlement it confers. It held that the MACP Scheme became operative on 1 September 2008, superseding …

The Union of India appealed a Delhi High Court order that declared land acquisition proceedings had lapsed under Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The land in question had been taken over by the East Delhi Municipal Corporati…

The dispute arose between General Manager, East Coast Railway (appellant) and Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd. (respondent) over a contract dated 29 November 2018. The respondent filed a Section 9 application before the Additional District Judge, Visakhapatnam, seeking an injunction against the encashment of a performan…

The Supreme Court was approached to modify its earlier order that the Government had allowed NRI candidates to cure attestation defects by 31 March 2022 in the context of NEET‑UG seats reserved for the NRI quota in Kerala private medical colleges. The State of Kerala contended that no such extension existed and that th…

The petitioners, junior resident doctors employed on a contractual bond in ESIC medical colleges, sought inclusion in the 50% "in‑service" reservation for postgraduate medical seats that is available to Insurance Medical Officers Grade‑II (IMO‑II) recruited permanently by ESIC. They argued that both categories possess …

The State of Maharashtra sought attachment of the properties of 63 Moons Technologies, which holds 99.99% of National Spot Exchange Ltd. (NSEL), under the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999, alleging that NSEL is a financial establishment that accepted deposits and …

The case involves a murder and related offences under the IPC where ten persons were charged, including Accused No.6 (Mohammed Bhava) and Accused No.8 (Mohammed Musthafa). Both had been granted anticipatory bail and regular bail respectively by the Karnataka High Court, orders which were later challenged by the complai…

The appellants, Anuj Singh and Manoj Singh, were involved in a land dispute with Kumar Nandan Singh, who was repairing a wall. During an altercation, the appellants approached the scene armed with firearms and fired at the informant, causing injuries to his left foot and right arm; other accused used spears and lathis.…

The petitioner, convicted of murder and related offences, served 16 years of a life sentence and applied for premature release under Chhattisgarh Prison Rule 358. The appropriate government sought the opinion of the Special Judge who, without providing detailed reasons or considering the factors laid down in Laxman Nas…

The case involved a violent clash between members of two political parties in Kerala, resulting in the murder of a CPI(M) member. Sixteen accused were charged, but the trial court acquitted A-10 to A-16 while convicting five others. The High Court upheld the convictions but reversed the acquittals of A-10 to A-13, rely…

The respondent, a Junior Engineer, was found by a departmental enquiry to have caused a loss of Rs. 22,48,964.42 to the Government and was punished by the Disciplinary Authority. He challenged the punishment before the Tribunal, which set it aside on the grounds of the Doctrine of Equality (other officers were exonerat…

The dispute concerned an agreement dated 11‑02‑2004 whereby Gurmeet Singh sold land to Jai Parkash for Rs.4,00,000, of which Rs.3,50,000 was paid as earnest money. The defendants argued that the agreement was a loan/security document intended for marriage expenses, while the plaintiffs contended it was a genuine sale c…

The State acquired land in 2008 for the improvement of Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary under a Section 4 notification of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The acquisition award fixed a market value of Rs 21,488 per guntha, which the Reference Court later enhanced to Rs 30,49,200 per acre. The landowner appealed, and the Kar…

The appellants, directors of Priknit Apparel Ltd, received an investment of Rs 2.5 crore from Respondent No. 2 (SMC Global Securities) in exchange for 2,50,000 equity shares, but failed to launch an IPO as per the memorandum of understanding. The complainant filed a police complaint in Delhi which was dismissed, and su…

Umesh, a village accountant in Karnataka, was criminally charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding a bribe. He was acquitted by a Special Judge, but a disciplinary enquiry under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984 and the Karnataka Civil Services Rules found him guilty of misconduct and imposed c…

The Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) appealed against the Karnataka High Court’s judgment that the land acquisition proceedings for its mega‑market project had lapsed under Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The…

Heera Traders and another appealed against a decree of eviction passed by the trial court under the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961. The landlord, Kamla Jain, sought possession of non‑residential premises and mesne profits, while the tenants argued that Section 13 of the Act, which obliges a tenant to de…

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd. (the appellant) had extended a loan for the purchase of a transport vehicle. When the borrower defaulted, the financier repossessed the vehicle and contested liability to pay motor vehicle tax under the Uttar Pradesh Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1997. The High Court held that…

An FIR was lodged against Sarpanch Sardar Meena alleging house trespass, indiscriminate firing and injuries to the complainant. The High Court granted him bail, and a preliminary enquiry under Section 38(1) of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, read with Rule 22(2) of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, led …

Apex Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company, claimed a deduction under Section 37(1) of the Income Tax Act for expenses incurred in providing gifts, travel, hospitality and other "freebies" to doctors to promote its product Zincovit. The Assessing Officer, on the basis of a CBDT circular dated 01‑08‑2012 and the 2002 M…

M/s TRL Krosaki Refractories Ltd. (the appellant) issued cheques to M/s SMS Asia Private Ltd. which were dishonoured. The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 before a Sub‑Divisional Judicial Magistrate, the complaint being filed in the name of the company and signed by …

Jayashree was appointed to a civil post in Karnataka under the Scheduled Tribe reservation based on a caste certificate obtained before the enactment of the Karnataka SC/ST OBC Reservation Act, 1990. Subsequent scrutiny found that she did not belong to the Scheduled Tribe community and she had not produced a validity c…

The appellant, a stock‑broker, obtained an overdraft facility and subsequent enhancements from the respondent bank, pledging shares as security. After a dispute over the bank’s sale of the pledged shares, the appellant filed a consumer complaint seeking the return of the shares, alleging deficiency in service. The cent…

The appellant, Mohd. Firoz, was convicted of rape and related offences under Sections 376(2)(i), 376(2)(m) and 376A of the IPC and Sections 5(i), 5(m) read with 6 of the POCSO Act, and was sentenced to life imprisonment (with the qualification ‘remainder of his natural life’) for the IPC offences and 20 years for the 3…

The National Board of Examination conducted NEET MDS 2018 and the State of Chhattisgarh was to fill postgraduate dental seats through a three‑stage counselling process ending on 31 May 2018 at 4:30 p.m. After the mop‑up round, three seats remained vacant in private dental colleges, but the colleges admitted the origina…

The dispute concerned the cremation ground at Masoodpur, Delhi, which had been in use for over a century. The Delhi Development Authority had earlier suggested its closure and relocation to Kishangarh, and the Delhi High Court directed the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to decide under Section 391 of the Delh…

The appellant, mother of a 12‑year‑old girl, alleged that her brother‑in‑law sexually assaulted the child, causing severe trauma and a decline in academic performance. An FIR was filed under IPC sections 354 and 354A and POCSO Act sections 7, 8, 9 and 11. The Sessions Court denied anticipatory bail to the accused, but …

The Supreme Court heard an appeal by the original claimants seeking enhancement of compensation awarded under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for the death of a 25‑year‑old housewife who was also engaged in tuition work and was pregnant at the time of a vehicular accident. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal had awarded Rs …

Professor (Dr.) Sreejith filed a writ petition challenging the appointment of Dr. Rajasree as Vice‑Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, alleging that the appointment violated UGC Regulations which require a search committee to recommend a panel of three to five names. The Kerala High Court had dismis…

The State of Uttar Pradesh granted provisional licences to 1,215 wood‑based industries (WBIs) after an e‑lottery, relying on a timber‑availability assessment by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the 2016 Wood‑Based Industries Guidelines. The licences were challenged before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which …

Tata Motors sold buses through its RSO in Vijayawada to the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, a transaction that was held to be an inter‑state sale liable to central sales tax (CST) in the State of Jharkhand. Tata Motors, treating the sale as a stock transfer, paid the CST to the State of Andhra Pradesh,…

The petitioner, an unmarried woman residing in Delhi, discovered she was 22 weeks pregnant after a consensual relationship ended and she lacked livelihood to raise a child. She filed a writ petition seeking permission to terminate the pregnancy under Section 3(2)(b) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and…

The Supreme Court clarified the scope of the term "transfer" under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, holding that it includes development and collaboration agreements and licences issued during the suspect period (27‑08‑2004 to 29‑01‑2010). It examined numerous applications concerning projects such as Green Heights, Godr…

The case concerned several civil appeals and writ petitions challenging National Green Tribunal orders that restrained non‑forest activities on lands in three villages of Faridabad district, Haryana, on the ground that these lands were covered by special orders issued under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act…

The Khasgi (Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Charities) Trust, a public trust created in 1962, held several immovable properties listed in Part ‘B’ of its deed. Trustees alienated at least six of these properties without obtaining prior sanction from the Registrar under Section 14 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, promptin…

The Supreme Court, hearing Suo Motu Writ Petition No. 6 of 2020 concerning the problems of migrant labourers, reviewed the compliance of earlier directions that mandated the Central Government to develop the NDUW and eShram portals for registering unorganised workers and to ensure the distribution of foodgrains under t…

The appellant, who held a power of attorney for his mother, was prosecuting a suit filed by her for declaration and injunction. After the mother’s death, the appellant applied to be substituted as the legal representative of the deceased plaintiff, asserting his right as a son and citing a registered will in his favour…

The dispute concerned a partnership and ownership of a hotel property, where the respondents sought interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, which was rejected by the Commercial Court. The respondents appealed that decision under Section 37 of the same Act. While hearing the appeal,…

The appellant, Dr. Jacob Thudipara, a teacher in a 100% government‑aided private college, sought the benefit of the enhanced superannuation age of 65 years, which is available to teachers in government colleges. The Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed his writ appeal, relying on an earlier Full Be…

The deceased Sushila, married to Devender Singh, went missing six months after her marriage and her body was later recovered from a river. The prosecution alleged that she was subjected to dowry harassment, including a demand for Rs.2 lakh or a house, and that she died from injuries before falling into the river, const…

The respondent, Rajendra D. Harmalkar, was appointed as a casual employee of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and later secured a regular position by submitting a forged Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC). After a vigilance complaint and verification by the Karnataka Secondary Education Board revealed the certifica…

The Supreme Court entertained a civil appeal challenging a Delhi High Court order that had registered a matter as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the Indian Federation of United Nations Association. The High Court, in paragraph 17 of its order, allowed the respondent, who had originally brought facts befo…

In a Suo Motu Contempt Petition (CRL.) No. 2 of 2019, the Supreme Court observed a typographical error in paragraph 7 of its judgment dated 27-04-2020, where it incorrectly quoted "92) of Article 142" instead of the correct "(2) of Article 142". A miscellaneous application (M.A. No. 486 of 2022) was filed seeking a cor…

The appellant, an editor, published a news report disclosing the name of a 16‑year‑old girl who was a victim of sexual harassment, leading to a complaint under Section 23 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The police investigated, filed a charge‑sheet and the Special Court took cognizance, …

The appellant's son, an account holder of HDFC Bank, died in a road accident while covered under a "Cardsure Package Policy" issued by HDFC ERGO to the bank. The policy required a non‑ATM transaction within three months prior to a claim, but the insurer denied the claim, alleging the condition was not met. The appellan…

The case arose from a partition suit (O.S. No. 388/77) where the trial court decreed shares only to plaintiffs 2 and 3, rejecting plaintiffs 4‑8. The appellant‑defendant appealed and the First Appellate Court set aside the trial decree, but the High Court restored it and, on remand, divided the property among the appel…

The petitioners, members of the Lohar community in Bihar, challenged a 2016 Bihar Government notification that authorised the issuance of Scheduled Tribe certificates to the Lohar (also referred to as Lohara) community, alleging it was illegal and violated their fundamental rights. They sought quashing of the notificat…

The appellants, a group of environmental NGOs and affected residents, filed Original Application No. 81 of 2014 before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking an end to the dumping of unsegregated municipal solid waste at an open landfill in Surat, Gujarat, and claiming compensation and restitution. The Western Zone …

Sunil Kumar Maity deposited a cheque that was mistakenly credited to another customer with a similar name at State Bank of India. He filed a complaint before the Consumer Forum, which was allowed; the bank appealed to the State Consumer Commission, which partially upheld the order. The bank then sought revision before …

The State of Gujarat appealed against the exemption claimed by Essar Steel Ltd. (later Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India Ltd.) under Entry No.255(2) of the Gujarat Sales Tax Act, 1969 for purchase tax on naphtha and natural gas. The steel unit purchased the raw materials, claimed exemption, and then sold them to its po…

The developer, IREO Private Limited, was sued by apartment buyers for failing to hand over possession of their flats within the contractual period and for not providing promised amenities. The buyers sought specific performance and, alternatively, a refund of the amount paid with interest. The NCDRC ordered a refund wi…

Mushtt Rehana Begum (appellant) sought to quash a criminal complaint filed by her husband (second respondent) under Sections 494 and 495 of the IPC, alleging that she married him while a prior marriage subsisted. The dispute over her matrimonial status had already been adjudicated by the Principal Judge of the Family C…

The police seized about 20 kg of poppy husk from the accused Nirmal Kaur and others, and chemical analysis showed the presence of morphine and meconic acid. The trial court convicted them under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 for possessing commercial quantity of poppy straw, but …

The Maharashtra State Board of Wakfs was incorporated on 4 January 2002 and subsequently published lists of wakf properties on 13 November 2003 and 30 December 2004. Several Muslim public trusts challenged the Board’s constitution, the validity of the lists, and the applicability of Section 13(2) of the Wakf Act, 1995,…

Weatherford Oil Tool Middle East Ltd entered into three oil‑field service agreements with Baker Hughes Singapore Pte. The respondent terminated the agreements and, when the petitioner invoked the arbitration clauses, raised a contention that the contracts were unstamped under the Maharashtra Stamp Act. The respondent p…

The State of Maharashtra issued a brochure on 21 September 2022 for postgraduate medical admissions, reserving 50% of the state quota for in‑service candidates and stating that any future government changes would apply. On 26 September 2022 it issued a resolution reserving 20% of the state‑quota seats for in‑service do…

The land in Village Bhondsi, Gurgaon was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for a liquefied petroleum gas plant. The Land Acquisition Officer initially awarded Rs 5.30 lakh per acre for irrigated land and Rs 2 lakh for non‑irrigated land; the Reference Court fixed Rs 5.30 lakh for both. The High Court enhanc…

The lands in village Jharli, Jhajjar district, were acquired for the Jhajjar Thermal Power Plant under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The acquisition collector initially awarded Rs.16,00,000 per acre, which the reference court enhanced to Rs.17,64,350 per acre. The High Court reduced the award back to Rs.16,00,000 per…

The petitioners, former Short Service Commission officers of the Indian Navy, challenged the denial of Permanent Commission (PC) before the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). The AFT relied on vacancy calculations and selection board records that were submitted to it in a sealed cover and were not disclosed to the petitioner…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014, which created a separate statutory body to manage Sikh gurdwaras in Haryana. The Court held that Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 and Sections 3 and 4 of the Inter‑State Corporation Act, 1957 are merel…

The appellants, the widow and daughter of Ishwar Singh, challenged the validity of Section 50(a) of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954, claiming it violated Articles 14, 15, 21 and was repugnant to the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 after the latter's Section 4(2) was deleted by the 2005 amendment. The Supreme Court held tha…

The State of Maharashtra challenged a Bombay High Court order that had set aside a tax assessment and demand notice issued to Greatship (India) Ltd. under the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, 2002 and the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956. The assessee had filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution without f…

The dispute arose from a contract between Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and NCC Limited (NCCL) for civil and structural works at Paradip Refinery, where NCCL submitted a final bill including "Notified Claims" and sought an extension of time. IOCL released a payment of Rs.4,53,04,021/- and returned NCCL's bank g…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by Mohammed Zubair, co‑founder of ALT News, who faced five FIRs in Uttar Pradesh and one in Delhi arising from the same set of tweets. The petitioner sought quashing of the FIRs and, alternatively, their consolidation with the Delhi FIR, along with interim bail in all ca…

The father of the parties died in 1948, leaving a daughter who was born ten days later. The mother subsequently adopted a son in 1949. The daughter filed a suit for partition of the family property, claiming a share as a coparcener under the pre‑1956 Hindu law. The High Court, applying the doctrine of relation‑back, he…

The Himachal Pradesh government amended its Labour Officer recruitment and promotion rules in 2006, increasing the total posts from five to twelve and introducing a 75:25 ratio of promotion to direct recruitment. Three Labour Officers (respondents 1‑3) who were already in service argued that the vacancies created befor…

The Faizabad‑Ayodhya Development Authority acquired land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Original landowners obtained interim stays that prevented the authority from issuing an award under Section 11 of the 1894 Act for certain plots. When the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehab…

The Ayodhya Faizabad Development Authority appealed a Lucknow High Court order that had declared land acquisition proceedings for three plots to have lapsed under Section 24(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 because compensation, though …

The Agra Development Authority (ADA) had taken possession of land and deposited compensation, but some owners refused to accept payment for a remaining portion. The Allahabad High Court held that the acquisition proceedings had lapsed under sub‑section (2) of Section 24 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparenc…

The petitioner, a retired Major of the Indian Army, was re‑appointed as an Assistant Commandant (Medical Officer) in the Central Reserve Police Force and claimed that his basic pay should be fixed at par with the last drawn pay he received in the Army, invoking Paragraph 8 of the Central Civil Services (Fixation of Pay…

The husband of the widow, Rajmati Devi, was an employee of the Bihar Research Society, which was taken over by the Government of Bihar under the Bihar Research Society (Taking Over) Act, 2007. The Old Bihar Pension Rules, 1950 were abolished on 31 August 2005 and replaced by the Bihar Government Servant Contributory Pe…

M/S Knit Pro International filed a criminal application under Section 156(3) of the CrPC to register an FIR against respondent No.2 for alleged violations of Sections 51, 63 and 64 of the Copyright Act and Section 420 of the IPC. The FIR was registered, but the respondent obtained a writ order from the Delhi High Court…

The petitioners, former government employees, challenged their premature superannuation at age 58, arguing that the statutory retirement age was 60. The High Court agreed that the retirement age was 60 but denied them any arrears of pension and held that the revised pension rates would only become payable from 1 Januar…

Gurmel Singh insured his truck with National Insurance Co. Ltd. and paid the required premium. The truck was stolen in March 2013, after which the original registration certificate was also stolen. The insurer demanded the original or a duplicate certified copy of the registration certificate before settling the claim,…

The petitioners, environmental NGOs, filed a writ under Article 32 seeking a halt to mining in forest areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, declaration of illegal mining contracts, and removal of the ban on export of iron ore and pellets. The Supreme Court had earlier imposed a blanket ban on mining in Bellary, Chitra…

The appellant Abhishek Singh was charged under several IPC offences, the Arms Act and MCOCA after a proclamation declared him an absconder. The Additional Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police granted sanction for prosecution under MCOCA, which the appellant challenged before the High Court and then the…

The appellant Deepak Yadav filed an FIR alleging that the accused Harjeet Yadav (Respondent No.2) shot his father, leading to his death. The accused was arrested, and his bail application was rejected by the Sessions Court but later granted by the Allahabad High Court on the ground of parity with a co‑accused. The Supr…

The case involved a State Bank of India deputy manager who was found to have prepared a fraudulent cash‑remittance document and misappropriated Rs 10 lakhs. A departmental enquiry, based on the testimony of nine witnesses and 41 documents, concluded that he was guilty and dismissed him. The High Court, exercising writ …

The appellants, a husband and wife, were accused of strangling a man to death in their rented house and attempting to conceal the body by pouring acid over it. The trial court convicted them and their daughter under Sections 302, 201 and 34 IPC, sentencing the parents to life imprisonment; the High Court later acquitte…

The appellant, Malaya Nanda Sethy, applied in July 2010 for a compassionate appointment as a Junior Clerk under the Orissa Civil Service (Rehabilitation Assistance) Rules, 1990, after his father, an Assistant Sub‑Inspector, died while in service. The application remained pending for five years due to departmental inact…

The appellants, appointed as Shiksha Karmis under the Chhattisgarh Municipalities Shiksha Karmis (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1998, sought parity in pay with municipal teachers who are appointed under the Municipal Employees (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1968, invoking the principle o…

The appellant, a former Cabinet Minister of Tamil Nadu, challenged the High Court's refusal to disclose a preliminary enquiry report prepared by a Superintendent of Police in a corruption case. The High Court had ordered the enquiry, received the sealed report, but closed the writ petition without furnishing a copy to …

The appellants Manoj, Rahul (Govind) and Neha Verma were convicted for the triple murder of three women during a robbery on 19 June 2011 and sentenced to death, which the High Court affirmed. The Supreme Court held that the trial and appellate courts failed to provide an effective sentencing hearing under s.235(2) CrPC…

The appellants, original land owners, sought compensation for land acquired under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Delhi High Court in 2001 enhanced compensation to Rs 2240 per sq. yard, relying on its own decision in Bhola Nath. The Supreme Court later set aside the Bhola Nath decision in 2010 and rema…

The State of Odisha and other respondents challenged the appointments of Hindi teachers in aided Middle English (M.E.) schools, arguing that the teachers were appointed without complying with the Odisha Education (Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Teachers and Members of the Staff of Aided Educational Institutio…

The Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad (appellant) sought to withdraw from the acquisition of two plots of land under Section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, invoking a 2008 notification that cancelled an earlier 2005 exemption. The respondents, heirs of the original landowner, challenged the withdrawal, argu…

Anil Kumar Upadhyay, a Head Constable of the Sashastra Seema Bal, was charged under Section 43 of the SSB Act, 2007 for entering a Mahila Barrack at midnight, compromising its security. A departmental enquiry found him guilty and the disciplinary authority initially ordered dismissal, later modified to removal from ser…

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. appealed against the award of compensation and punitive damages granted by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and upheld by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for a defect in the air‑bag system of a Creta car that failed to deploy in a frontal collision, causing i…

Ramveer Upadhyay and others filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order dismissing their application under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code to quash criminal proceedings (Complaint No.19/2018) filed under IPC sections 365/511 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. …

The State of West Bengal and others appealed against a Calcutta High Court order that had quashed a notification cancelling Fair Price Shop (FPS) vacancies. The vacancy had been declared in January 2014, and the applicant, Gitashree Dutta, was selected but not appointed before the State issued a cancellation notice in …

The appellant, a former employee of Hindustan Copper Ltd., challenged the employer’s order that treated his date of birth as 21‑September‑1945 instead of the 21‑September‑1949 recorded in his service book and other documents. The discrepancy affected the calculation of his Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) benefits, wh…

The widowed appellant and her children filed a consumer complaint alleging that the death of the husband after a kidney transplant was due to post‑operative medical negligence. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission dismissed the complaint, finding no negligence, and the appellants appealed under Section 2…

The petitioners challenged the Government's notification dated 29 July 2021 granting 27% reservation for OBC (non‑creamy layer) and 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the All‑India Quota (AIQ) seats for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses under NEET. The Court examined wheth…

The appeal concerned a partition suit filed by the daughter of Ramasamy Gounder, who claimed a one‑fifth share in property that was originally purchased by his brother Marappa Gounder in 1938. The lower courts held that Marappa died in 1949, that the property was joint family property and thus devolved by survivorship …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (LA Act) continues to apply to land acquisitions undertaken under the Bangalore Development Authority Act, 1976 (BDA Act) after the LA Act was repealed by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlemen…

The appellants (Shenbagam & Ors.) entered into a 1990 agreement to sell land to the respondent (KK Rathinavel) for Rs.1,25,000, with an advance of Rs.25,000 and a further Rs.10,000 for family expenses. The respondent failed to pay the balance within six months, the sellers rescinded the contract, and the respondent lat…

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) appealed against a Karnataka High Court order that had upheld promotions of its teaching staff under the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) Scheme. The respondents, who joined ESIC as Assistant Professors between February 2014 and June 2016, claimed promotion to …

The State of Manipur detained Buyamayum Abdul Hanan under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. The detainee alleged that the detaining authority supplied only illegible or blurred copies of the documents on which the detention order was based, thereby denying him an…

Jaycee Housing Pvt. Ltd. and others appealed against a notification by the Odisha Government that designated the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) as a Commercial Court to hear arbitration applications under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The appellants argued that Section 2(1)(e) of the Arbitration A…

The Supreme Court interpreted the proviso to Section 2(15) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which defines 'charitable purpose' for entities advancing 'any other object of general public utility' (GPU). The Court held that a GPU charity cannot engage in trade, commerce, or business, or provide services in relation thereto, …

The appellant, S. Ramachandra Rao, sought to have his wife—who held a General Power of Attorney (GPA) for him and was also an enrolled advocate—appear in several civil suits as his GPA holder. The Trial Court allowed her to act in that capacity, but the High Court later set aside those orders and permitted her to appea…

The appellant, a returned candidate, challenged an election petition filed by the respondent that alleged improper acceptance of his nomination and mishandling of votes. The respondent later sought to amend the petition to include allegations that the appellant had failed to disclose a pending criminal case in his Form…

The Supreme Court examined whether societies and trusts claiming exemption under Section 10(23C)(vi) of the Income‑Tax Act must exist exclusively for educational purposes and not for profit. It held that “solely” means the institution’s objects must be limited to education; any surplus is permissible only if it arises …

The appellant, Hemant Narayan Rasne, who was elected Chairman of the Standing Committee of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) just before the corporation's five‑year term expired on 14 March 2022, filed a writ petition seeking to continue the Standing Committee’s existence despite the appointment of an Administrator afte…

The original assessee, M/s. Shaw Scott Distillery (P) Ltd., owed trade tax for the years 1980-81 and 1981-82. It sold its plant, machinery and goods to M/s. Radico Khaitan Ltd. on 12‑12‑1985 and 01‑01‑1986 for Rs.12,12,000, i.e., before any assessment or recovery proceedings were pending. The assessment for 1980‑81 was…

The appellant university conducted a mop‑up counselling round for MBBS seats after two earlier rounds, during which it upgraded three Himachali students from management to state quota under clause 4 of its prospectus. The first respondent, Akriti Sharma, who had a higher NEET‑UG 2021 merit, was denied a state‑quota sea…

The appellant, Tech Sharp Engineers, sought initiation of a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under Section 9 of the IBC against the respondent, Sanghvi Movers, for unpaid crane‑hire invoices dated 2012‑13. The respondent had earlier filed a winding‑up petition in the Madras High Court, which was pending w…

The appellant, Trimurthi Fragrances, challenged the levy of sales tax by Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on pan masala containing tobacco and gutka, arguing that the product is covered by an entry in the First Schedule of the Additional Duties of Excise (Goods of Special Importance) Act, 1957 (ADE Act) and therefor…

The Supreme Court, hearing Suo Motu Writ Petition (Crl.) No.1 of 2022, examined whether a separate, meaningful hearing on sentencing is required after conviction for a capital offence under Section 235(2) of the CrPC. It noted divergent judicial opinions on same‑day sentencing and the lack of a uniform framework for co…

The case concerned inventory proceedings under the Portuguese Civil Procedure Code for the estate of a deceased person, where three immovable properties were to be partitioned. In a licitation (closed auction), Hermano, acting as Cabeca de Casal, was the highest bidder for Item No.1 but died before depositing the owelt…

The deceased was found hanging from a tree after a dispute with his wife Suman Devi, who allegedly had an illicit relationship with Raju. The FIR alleged that Suman Devi, Raju and other family members conspired to murder the deceased. The trial court and the Rajasthan High Court convicted the accused under Section 302 …

O.P. Gupta was appointed in 1967 as Assistant Charge Man in the Rajasthan Agriculture Engineering Board, later transferred to the Rajasthan State Agro Industry Corporation, and resigned in 1977 to take up a post of Assistant Director (Agro‑Industries) in the Department of Industries after selection by the RPSC. Upon re…

The appellant SEPCO Electric Power Construction Corp. obtained an arbitral award of Rs 142 crore in favour of the respondent Power Mech Projects Ltd. The appellant filed a Section 34 challenge and, on the same day, a Section 36(2) application for a stay of the award. The respondent subsequently filed a Section 9 applic…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appealed against the Securities Appellate Tribunal’s order that exonerated Abhijit Rajan, former Chairman and Managing Director of Gammon Infrastructure Projects Ltd (GIPL), from liability for insider trading. The issue was whether the Board’s decision to terminate two …

The appellant Union of India sought to set aside an Armed Forces Tribunal order that granted disability pension to ex‑sepoy R. Munusamy, who had been discharged in 1997 as an undesirable soldier under Army Rule 13(3) III(v) on administrative grounds. Munusamy later claimed a pension for a right partial seizure diagnose…

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sought to overturn a Delhi High Court order that granted post‑arrest bail to Mohit Aggarwal, who was charged under Sections 8, 22 and 29 of the NDPS Act. Aggarwal had made a statement under Section 67 of the NDPS Act, implicating himself and co‑accused in a large drug seizure, but the…

The Supreme Court examined whether Northern Operating Systems Pvt. Ltd. (the assessee) was liable to pay service tax on payments made to its overseas group companies for seconded employees. The Court held that the overseas entities supplied manpower services, making the assessee the service recipient liable for service…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu writ concerning the massive pendency of cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, noted that over 33 lakh complaints were pending, a sharp rise from 26 lakh five months earlier. An expert committee had recommended the creation of de novo special NI courts, but amic…

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) appealed against a Guwahati High Court order that held its 21 July 1999 notification under Section 1(3) of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, applied only to areas within the Silchar Municipal Corporation, thereby excluding the respondent M/s Key Dee Cold Storage…

The appeal concerned an award of a Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA) that had granted Canara Bank repayment of a loan from G S Jayarama without any recorded conciliation. The High Court had set aside the award, holding that the PLA lacked adjudicatory power and had bypassed mandatory conciliation steps. The Supreme Court exam…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had acquired land in Village Chattarpur under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, with notifications issued in 1980, declarations under Section 6 in 1985‑86 and an award in 1987. Numerous writ petitions challenged the acquisition, resulting in interim orders staying dispossession of th…

The case arose from a 1988 dispute over a right of way in Patiala where respondent No.1, a 25‑year‑old international cricketer, struck a 65‑year‑old man with his bare hands, resulting in the victim's death. The High Court convicted the cricketer under Section 304 Part II IPC, but the Supreme Court on appeal reduced the…

The State of Uttar Pradesh acquired land for the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and allotted plots to allottees. Farmers whose lands were acquired for YEIDA demanded the same 64.7% additional compensation awarded to farmers in the NOIDA and Greater NOIDA cases (Gajraj and Savitri Devi). The …

The Supreme Court examined whether the GST Council’s recommendations are binding on Parliament and the States, and whether the import of goods on a CIF basis creates an inter‑state supply that makes the Indian importer the deemed recipient of shipping services. It held that the Council’s recommendations are merely pers…

Willowood Chemicals and another filed writ petitions alleging that the Union of India delayed refunds of integrated tax on exports for periods ranging from 94 to 290 days, violating Sections 16 and 20 of the IGST Act and Sections 54 and 56 of the CGST Act. The Gujarat High Court awarded simple interest at 9% per annum …

The appellants, workmen and employees of ABG Shipyard Ltd., claimed wages, salaries and statutory dues for the period of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). They argued that these amounts should be treated as insolvency resolution process costs under s.5(13) of the IBC and thus enjoy priority under s.53…

The State Government, under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act, 1961, acquired agricultural lands in village Bhoyar for the extension of a MIDC industrial estate. The Special Land Acquisition Officer fixed compensation, which was enhanced by the Reference Court. The High Court reduced the awards, relying on a 1…

The appellant, Mohd. Firoz, was convicted for the rape, sexual assault and murder of a four‑year‑old girl, under Sections 302, 376(2)(i), 376(2)(m), 363, 366 IPC and Sections 5(i), 5(m), 6 POCSO. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, the "last seen together" theory, DNA evidence and the appellant's own adm…

The appellant, Vallampati Sathish Babu, participated in the 2012 direct recruitment for teachers in Andhra Pradesh and secured the 34th rank for 33 notified vacancies. One of the 33 selected candidates failed to appear for counselling, leaving a post vacant. The appellant sought appointment to the unfilled post, relyin…

The appellant State of Rajasthan challenged a High Court order that granted regular bail to respondent No.2, who was accused of repeatedly raping his 19‑year‑old niece and was a habitual offender with nearly twenty pending cases. The High Court’s bail order was found to be cryptic, lacking any reference to the gravity …

The appellant, a micro‑enterprise, obtained an arbitral award of Rs.2.72 crore against the respondent. The respondent filed a petition under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to set aside the award. The appellant invoked Section 19 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Act, 2006, …

The plaintiff, a coparcener in a Hindu Undivided Family, challenged a settlement/gift deed executed by his father, the Karta, which transferred a portion of the joint family property to a non‑coparcener. The plaintiff sought a declaration that the deed was null and void and partition of his share. The defendants conten…

M. Duraisamy, a Postal Assistant, fraudulently withdrew funds from 85 recurring deposit accounts and failed to credit deposits in 71 accounts, cheating the Post Office of Rs.16,59,065. After the fraud was discovered, he repaid the amount with interest and was subjected to a departmental enquiry, which found him guilty …

The workman was employed as a driver at Indofos Industries Ltd.'s Ghaziabad office and was retrenched there. After termination he moved to Delhi, served a demand notice on the company's head office in Delhi and filed a claim before the Delhi Conciliation Officer, which was later taken to the Delhi Labour Court. The emp…

The Allahabad High Court allowed the appeals of the accused in a murder case, acquitting them and ordering their release, but it pronounced only the operative part of its order on the same day and delivered a reasoned judgment five months later. The original complainant filed a petition before the Supreme Court challen…

The State of Uttarakhand challenged an order of the Uttarakhand Public Service Tribunal that directed the department to ignore certain uncommunicated entries in the service records while considering a promotion. The High Court disposed of the writ petition without addressing any of the grounds raised and merely directe…

The plaintiff, a pardahnashin lady, sued to declare two gift deeds as void, alleging she was misled into executing them under the impression of a power of attorney. The trial court, after reappreciating the evidence, declared the deeds void and decreed in favour of the plaintiff. The first appellate court dismissed the…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by four members of the Dandupalya gang convicted of murder and robbery. The trial court had relied on the accused’s voluntary statements recorded by police, shown on DVD, and a chart of gang activities to uphold death sentences under Section 396 IPC. The Court examined the admissibi…

Evergreen Land Mark Pvt. Ltd. (appellant) leased premises from John Tinson & Co. and ran a restaurant/bar. The lease was terminated and a dispute over rental payments for March 2020‑December 2021 arose, leading the parties to arbitration. The owners filed applications under Section 17 of the Arbitration Act seeking ful…

The Supreme Court allowed the appeals of Balram Garg and related parties against SEBI’s orders that they had engaged in insider trading. SEBI had alleged that the appellants were "connected persons" or "immediate relatives" of the company’s chairman and MD and had traded on unpublished price‑sensitive information (UPSI…

The Supreme Court considered applications filed by two Delhi Judicial Service officers seeking modification of its earlier orders on promotion to the Delhi Higher Judicial Service (DHJS). The Court revisited its 2002 and 2010 directives that required a minimum of five years of service as a Civil Judge (Senior Division)…

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted Jai Dutt and another accused for beating the victim, Ram Autar, with weapons, leading to his death six days later due to a head injury. The trial court convicted them under Section 302 IPC (murder) and Section 34 IPC (common intention). The Allahabad High Court altered the convicti…

The respondent, a clerk‑cum‑cashier of Indian Overseas Bank, was dismissed after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of multiple charges including forging his sister‑in‑law's signature to open a joint account and withdraw a demand draft. The Industrial Tribunal upheld the dismissal, but the Allahabad High Court set…

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) received a complaint alleging that four private firms colluded in the tendering process for Mizoram state lottery distributors, resulting in bid‑rigging and an appreciable adverse effect on competition. The CCI found prima facie evidence of cartelisation among the private bidde…

Sushil Kumar, a constable appointed in 1995, was recommended by the Superintendent of Police (SP) for promotion to Head Constable under the 10% outstanding performance quota in 2004, but the Inspector General of Police (IG) rejected his name. He was again recommended in 2007, the IG approved, and he was appointed offic…

Renaissance Hotel Holdings Inc., a US company, holds a registered trademark "RENAISSANCE" for hotel‑related services and goods in Classes 16 and 42. The respondents operated hotels under the name "SAI RENAISSANCE" in Bangalore and Puttaparthi, prompting the plaintiff to seek a permanent injunction. The trial court gran…

The dispute concerned 12‑acre parcels in Naduvil village that had been notified as vested forest land under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971. The respondents, claiming ownership based on earlier jenmam rights and purchase certificates, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the …

The appellant, a cleaner, suffered comminuted fractures of both tibiae in a road accident on 15 May 2015 and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 21,08,400, but the Karnataka High Court reduced the permanent disability assessment to 20% and the award to Rs 7,3…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) entered into a road‑transport contract with contractor Abhijit Paul to move food grains from railway sidings to depots. After the contract ended, FCI demanded reimbursement of demurrage charges imposed by the railways, alleging that the contractor’s failure to provide sufficient truc…

The State of Madhya Pradesh awarded a contract to M/S Sew Construction for a masonry dam, but the original sand quarry became depleted, prompting the contractor to seek an alternate quarry. The contract’s clause 3.11(A) allowed escalation of rates only if the circumstance was beyond the contractor’s control and a writt…

The wife and children of a deceased Head Constable filed a claim under Sections 166 and 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 seeking Rs 50 lakh after a bus in which he was a passenger fell into the Chenab River. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 17,73,704 and the Punjab & Haryana High Court enhanced it to R…

BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd., distribution licensees in Delhi, challenged the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (DERC) tariff orders that altered the methodology for computing AT&C losses, depreciation, FR/SR salaries, fringe benefit tax, and interest on consumer security deposits during …

The appellant, a two‑year‑old girl, suffered near‑total loss of lower‑limb function in a 1998 motor‑vehicle accident and was later certified by a Medical Board as having almost 100% permanent disability. The Motor Vehicles Tribunal dismissed her claim on technical grounds, but the Madras High Court set aside that dismi…

JSK Industries purchased aluminium ingots under a marine cargo policy that initially covered "anywhere in India to anywhere in India" with a sum insured of Rs.200 crore, later increased to Rs.400 crore and amended to a sales‑turnover basis covering supplies from two specified locations. One container was stolen after a…

The Supreme Court examined two successive review petitions filed by the respondents seeking to overturn a High Court judgment that upheld the surrender of protected tenancy rights in 1967. The Court held that the respondents had ample opportunities to produce the certified revenue records earlier and failed to demonstr…

M/s ABC Papers Ltd. challenged assessment orders for assessment years 2008-09 to 2013-14, which led to a series of appeals before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and two High Courts (Punjab & Haryana and Delhi). The core dispute was which High Court has jurisdiction un…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was held by the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Court and the Bombay High Court to be a "shop" under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948, making it liable to contribute to the ESI fund. BCCI challenged this classification, arguing that its primary purpose is the pro…

The appellant, a General Manager of BGS Apollo Hospital, appealed a High Court order that had taken cognizance of a complaint filed by former consultant neurosurgeon M.N.G. Bharateesh Reddy under Sections 120A, 405, 415, 420, 499 and 500 IPC. The complaint alleged that the hospital’s billing irregularities and the appe…

Brij Raj Oberoi leased the Norkhill Hotel from the State of Sikkim for 24 years under a deed that contained a renewal clause (clause 4(xiii)) requiring the lessee to give notice and, if the parties could not agree on the rent or period, to refer the dispute to arbitration. Oberoi offered renewal on 12 November 2020, bu…