A K PATNAIK

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Balveer and Ram Niwas for rape (IPC 376(2)(g)) and murder (IPC 302 r/w 34). The sole eyewitness, Rajesh, was granted pardon under Section 306 CrPC and testified as an approver. The Supreme Court held that an approver need not incriminate himself or be privy to the crime;…

The appellant Rajeev Kumar was convicted for dowry death (s.304B IPC) after his wife Vandana gave two dying declarations alleging dowry harassment and set herself on fire. The Supreme Court examined whether the dying declarations were admissible despite the post‑mortem finding that her larynx and trachea were charred. …

The appellant, a police officer, was alleged to have demanded and accepted illegal gratification from Nagaraja (PW1) in exchange for inquiring into a complaint. The prosecution presented testimony of Nagaraja and two independent trap witnesses, corroborating the transaction of tainted currency notes, while the trial co…

C.S. Sidhu, an Indian Army officer commissioned on 22 June 1968 under a short‑service commission, suffered severe injuries including amputation of his right arm on 21 November 1970 while on duty at a high‑altitude posting. He continued in service until his release on 23 June 1978, but the Army authorities considered on…

The appellant, Hiraman, was convicted of murdering his wife Chandrakala, who died from 91% burn injuries after allegedly being doused with kerosene. The conviction was based primarily on two dying declarations recorded at the hospital shortly after the incident. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that unc…

The Supreme Court examined admissions to a private unaided medical college in Rajasthan where 117 students were admitted without a competitive entrance test, contrary to Regulation 5(2) of the MCI Regulations. The Court held that there was no consensual agreement between the college and the State to admit students on t…

The landlord, Haridas Sharma, sought eviction of the tenants under Section 14 of the Himachal Pradesh Urban Rent Control Act, 1987, claiming a bona‑fide need for the building to be rebuilt. The Rent Controller and the Appellate Authority upheld the eviction, but the High Court, relying on Harrington House School v. S.M…

The appellant, Rajendra Pralhadrao Wasnik, was convicted of raping and murdering a three‑year‑old girl under IPC sections 376(2)(f), 377 and 302. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence, including eyewitness testimony that the accused last saw the child with him, the discovery of the child's nude b…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Mano Dutt and Ram Narain for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The Court held that the accused had a pre‑planned common intention to assault and kill the deceased during a land‑dispute, and that the presence of fewer than five participants does not prec…

The appellant, Brajendrasingh, was convicted of murdering his wife and their three young children after alleging an illicit affair between his wife and a neighbour. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, forensic findings, and the appellant's own statements under Section 313 CrPC, while the defence claimed …

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of four accused for the rape and murder of Rajkumari, based primarily on the testimony of a 16‑year‑old servant, PW6, who was the sole eye‑witness. The Court found that PW6's statement was reliable, corroborated by medical evidence and the testimony of the victim's mother, and …

Four persons, including Jugraj Singh, were accused of murdering former MLA Bachhitter Singh in December 1996. The trial court convicted all under Sections 302, 34 and related provisions, but the High Court acquitted three co‑accused while upholding Jugraj's conviction, relying on the recovery of a .12‑bore gun and fore…

The appellant, Kantilal Martaji Pandor, was married to two women; his second wife, Amriben, wrote a letter to the police alleging financial exploitation, starvation and threats, and subsequently died by jumping into a well. An FIR was lodged under Sections 498A and 306 IPC, leading to his conviction on both counts by t…

The appellant was charged under Sections 364, 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of a six‑year‑old girl. The prosecution relied on five circumstantial facts: the child was last seen with the accused, the accused made an extra‑judicial confession, a blood‑stained shirt recovered at the accused’s request…

Manjeet Singh and two companions were charged with murder (Sec. 302 IPC), attempted murder, and offences under the Arms Act after firing a carbine in a hotel hall, killing Rajnish (Rintu) and injuring others. The trial court convicted Singh under Sec. 302, Sec. 324 IPC and Sec. 27 of the Arms Act; the High Court affirm…

Laut Kumar Yadav alias Kuri was convicted for murdering an 18‑year‑old girl and attempting to rape her. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: a sniffer‑dog trail, recovery of a blood‑stained sickle and the accused’s clothes, and prior eve‑teasing of the victim. The trial court sentenced him to death under …

The appellant was accused of raping a 15‑year‑old girl who later died by suicide. An eye‑witness, a cousin aged about 13‑14, testified that he saw the appellant committing the assault, and his testimony was supported by another witness and by medical and forensic reports that showed evidence of sexual intercourse. The …

The appellant, Anuj Kumar Gupta, was convicted for the murder of Chhotu Kumar Das based largely on a confessional statement he gave to the investigating officer (PW‑9) that led police to the victim’s body in a river. The trial court sentenced him to death, which the High Court later commuted to life imprisonment. The a…

The petitioners, who had completed their MBBS/BDS degrees in Karnataka, were barred from appearing for the 2014 Post Graduate Entrance Test (PGET-2014) by a clause in the National Board of Examinations' Information Bulletins that required candidates to be of "Karnataka origin" as narrowly defined. They challenged this …

The dispute arose from a Facilitation Deed containing an arbitration clause (Clause 9) that required disputes to be referred to ICC arbitration in Singapore. The respondent rescinded the deed alleging fraud and sought a temporary injunction restraining the arbitration. The Bombay High Court granted the injunction, hold…

Delta Distilleries supplied Indian Made Foreign Liquor to United Spirits under a contract that made the buyer responsible for sales tax. A dispute arose over a set‑off/refund claimed by Delta from the Sales Tax Department, which United Spirits argued reduced its tax burden. The arbitral tribunal allowed United Spirits …

The police, acting on secret information, seized four sealed bags containing 150 kg of poppy husk from the appellant's residence. No samples were taken at the time of seizure; instead, the Station House Officer later broke the seals, mixed the contents, and collected samples before resealing the bags. The appellant was…

The Registrar of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences appealed against a Karnataka High Court decision that had upheld a lower court's order allowing a candidate, G. Hemlatha, to be admitted to an M.Sc. Nursing programme despite scoring 54.71% when the eligibility threshold was 55%. Hemlatha had obtained a certif…

Mahadeo, a musician, lured a 15‑year‑old girl with promises of recording her bhajans, persuaded her to bring gold ornaments, and confined her for over a month during which he repeatedly forced sexual intercourse. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping) and 376 (rape); the High Court affirmed t…

The appellant, a neighbour, abducted a three‑year‑old girl from her home under the pretext of giving her biscuits, subsequently raping and murdering her. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 364, 376, 377, 302 and 201 and imposed death for the murder, which the High Court affirmed. On appeal, the Supreme Co…

The appellant, Sonu Sardar, along with four others, entered the house of a scrap dealer, demanded money, and committed dacoity followed by the murder of five persons, including two children, using a knife, axe and iron rod. The prosecution proved the appellant's participation through the testimony of the victim's daugh…

The appellant, a sugar mill, installed a 3,187.5 kW turbine‑generator (TG) set and obtained a memo on 8 December 1992 authorising its installation subject to conditions. The electricity board later issued demand notices alleging an unauthorized load of the TG set and standby load, invoking a load surcharge of Rs 1,000 …

The appellant Sayed Darain Ahsan was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 34 for the murder of Mughal, based on the testimony of four local eyewitnesses who identified him and his associate as the shooters. The defence argued that the eyewitness accounts conflicted with medical evidence showing only a single bullet wou…

The case involved the murder of Pratima Nandi on 23 February 2002. An eight‑year‑old girl, Manika (PW‑2), testified that the accused, Promode Dey, entered the house with a large dao and killed her mother. Her testimony was corroborated by her grandmother (PW‑1), her father (PW‑11), a village resident (PW‑8) and the rec…

D.M. Parmar, a manager of Panchmahal Vadodara Gramin Bank, was dismissed after an enquiry found him guilty of multiple serious charges relating to loan sanction irregularities. He challenged the dismissal, arguing that the enquiry officer had denied him access to documents concerning his predecessor and that the discip…

The case concerns a pre‑planned terrorist attack on the police guarding the American Centre in Calcutta on 22 January 2002, which resulted in five police deaths and multiple injuries. The accused, including Md. Jamiludin Nasir and Aftab Ahmed Ansari, were convicted under the waging‑war provisions of the IPC and various…

The Supreme Court examined whether land in village Karoran, notified under Section 3 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900 and regulated by Sections 4 and 5, automatically qualifies as "forest land" under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The High Court had held that the entire 3,700‑acre village wa…

The petitioner, a lifetime trustee of the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust, alleged that respondent No.6 failed to give notice of a Board of Trustees meeting as ordered by this Court on 14 February 2014, constituting willful contempt. The Court had earlier stayed the meeting scheduled for 7 February 2014 and order…

The Supreme Court examined public‑interest petitions concerning illegal iron‑ore mining in Goa, the validity of the Justice Shah Commission report, and the status of mining leases deemed to have arisen from pre‑1961 Portuguese concessions. It held that the Commission’s report could not be quashed for procedural lapses,…

The State of Tamil Nadu, through Chennai Metro Rail Ltd., sought to resume land (Survey Nos. 43/2 and 41) that had been granted in 1898‑99 for a choultry and later leased to N. Ismail, who built hotels on it. The original grant contained a condition that the land would revert to the Government if not used for its inten…

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of three accused—Vyas Ram, Naresh Paswan and Sugai Mochi—under TADA and several IPC provisions for a 1992 massacre that killed 35 people. The Court found serious investigative flaws, including non‑examination of the informant, absence of a test identification parade and delayed…

The appellants, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and a constable, were convicted for abducting seven members of a family and for their alleged murder. The prosecution alleged that the victims were taken on 29 October 1991, later seen in various police stations, and never returned, leading to convictions under IPC sect…

The deceased woman was stabbed to death in her matrimonial home, leading to an initial prosecution of four in‑law family members under Sections 498A and 306 IPC, which resulted in acquittal. Two years later, the deceased's brother filed a complaint alleging that six family members, including A‑1 and A‑2, murdered her, …

Vijay Jain and co‑accused were convicted under Section 8/21(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for alleged possession of brown sugar seized during a police raid. The trial court and the High Court held that the seized contraband had been produced in court, despite the fact that the brown su…

The appellant, Sucha Singh, was convicted under Sections 302 and 394 of the Indian Penal Code for murdering Amrik Singh and stealing his mule cart. The prosecution relied on the testimony of five key witnesses, an extra‑judicial confession to one of them, forensic evidence linking recovered items to the victim, and a d…

The Supreme Court examined the custodial death of a kidnapping suspect who was arrested by three police officers and found dead in the lock‑up. The trial court had acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted them under sections 302, 342, 218 and 193 IPC. The Court held that the arrest panchnama and register wer…

The State prosecuted nine accused for the armed assault and murder of Manohar Lal and his wife Sushila, resulting in 30 and 33 injuries respectively. The trial court convicted all nine under Sections 148, 302/149 and 325/149 IPC. The High Court upheld convictions of six accused but acquitted Shakuntla, Premwati and Sar…

The Supreme Court examined the status of judges appointed on an ad‑hoc basis under the Fast Track Courts (FTC) Scheme and whether they were entitled to regularisation or absorption into the permanent judicial cadre. It held that the appointments were expressly temporary, terminable at will, and did not confer any indef…

The appellants (A‑1 to A‑4) were convicted for the murder of Ravi under Section 302 IPC read with Section 34, based on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses who saw the accused attack the victim with knives. They challenged the conviction on several grounds, including that after the acquittal of two co‑accused only four…

The appellants Subodh Nath and Paritosh were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for the murder of Ashutosh. Paritosh was 16 years old at the time of the offence, raising the question of whether the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, as amended, applied to an offence committed befo…

The petitioners, relatives of ten Indian seafarers who disappeared when the foreign‑flagged tug Jupiter‑6 went missing in September 2005, filed a writ under Article 32 seeking a marine casualty investigation and compensation, alleging violation of their right to life under Article 21. The Court examined whether the Uni…

The appellants Devinder @ Kala Ram, his mother and his brother's wife were convicted under Sections 498-A and 304-B of the IPC for dowry harassment and the death of Devinder's wife by burns. The Supreme Court examined the evidence, finding that witnesses PW‑2 to PW‑5 reliably proved continuous dowry harassment, thereby…

The appellant, Roop Singh, was convicted of rape under Section 376 IPC and house trespass under Section 450 IPC for forcibly entering his neighbour's house at night and having sexual intercourse with the complainant while she was asleep. The appellant appealed, claiming the complainant had consented to the act and that…

The wife of appellant No.1 committed suicide by pouring kerosene on herself on 18 May 2004. The prosecution alleged that the husband and his parents had subjected her to cruelty and harassment for dowry, instigating her suicide, and secured convictions under Sections 3048, 498A and 306 of the IPC. The sole piece of evi…

The appellant, an advocate, was selected for appointment as a Junior Civil Judge but was not appointed because the State Government relied on a police report alleging her and her husband’s links to a banned political party. The High Court dismissed her writ petition, holding that judicial review was unavailable and tha…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of three accused who fired on a motorcycle, killing Raja Ram Singh and Kunj Behari Singh on 22 September 1979. The prosecution relied on two eyewitnesses, PW‑1 (the complainant) and PW‑2, who testified that the accused fired multiple shots from a double‑barrel gun, a single‑barre…

The case arose from a land dispute that led to an assault on 16 November 2006, during which the accused A‑1, A‑6 and A‑7 struck the victim's head with the blunt side of an aruval and a stick, causing injuries that led to the victim's death after nine days. The trial court and the High Court had convicted the three accu…

The Vice Chancellor of Guru Ghasidas University sought to discipline a student, Craig McLeod, for allegedly assaulting a professor, suspending him and restraining his campus access. The High Court stayed the university's interim orders, prompting the university to appeal to the Supreme Court under Article 136. The Supr…

The Supreme Court heard civil appeals arising from a public interest litigation filed by the Cricket Association of Bihar challenging the constitution of a probe panel by the BCCI to investigate betting and spot‑fixing allegations in the 2013 IPL. The Court noted that the Justice Mudgal Committee had submitted two repo…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of six accused in the 2002 Akshardham temple terrorist attack, which were based largely on confessional statements recorded under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), testimony of accomplices, and two Urdu letters allegedly recovered from the terrorists' pockets. The Court …

The Supreme Court examined illegal mining in Odisha where numerous leaseholders were operating without environmental or forest clearances and without renewal under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The Central Empowered Committee identified 102 non‑working leases, 29 rejected or lapsed leas…

The appellant was convicted under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) for forcibly raping a 14‑year‑old girl. He argued that only an attempt to rape occurred and that, under the proviso to Section 376(1), the sentence could be reduced below the statutory minimum of seven years for adequate and speci…

The State of Maharashtra, through its Executive Engineer, challenged an arbitral award dated 12 May 2012, filing applications under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act before the District Judge, Thane, while Atlanta Limited filed a petition before the High Court of Bombay on the same day. The High Court ordered the trans…

The Supreme Court allowed the appeals filed by the State of Karnataka and other authorities against the Karnataka High Court’s order permitting Janthakal Enterprises to lift 1,17,800 tonnes of dumped ore. The Court held that the High Court had erred by disposing of a writ petition involving disputed factual issues in f…

The petitioners, former members of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), challenged Section 129(6) of the Customs Act, 1962, which bars a person who has ceased to be a President, Vice‑President or Member of the Tribunal from appearing before it. They argued that the provision was ultra‑vires …

The appellant Bhajju (Karan Singh) was convicted of murder for allegedly pouring kerosene on his wife and setting her ablaze. The sole direct evidence against him was the victim's dying declaration recorded by an executive magistrate and attested by a doctor, supported by medical, forensic and material evidence. The ap…

The Supreme Court reviewed an appeal by Govindaraju against a Karnataka High Court conviction for murder under s.302 IPC read with s.34, which had overturned a trial court acquittal. The Court found that the High Court did not show the trial court's judgment to be perverse and that the prosecution's case suffered from …

The appellant, Vivek Kalra, was convicted of murdering his 13‑14‑year‑old cousin, Ankit Kalra, based solely on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution alleged that Kalra lured the boy under the pretext of obtaining a cassette, used a dantli (sharp weapon) purchased from a blacksmith, and caused multiple fatal injuries…

Sanaullah Khan was charged with the kidnapping and murder of three persons—Ravindra Prasad, his son Sunny Kumar, and a servant Arvind—following a dispute over milk supply payments. The prosecution relied on three linked circumstances: the appellant’s servant luring the victims to his premises, the discovery of the bodi…

The State of Punjab appointed Harish Dhanda as Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, prompting a public‑interest writ petition under Article 226 alleging lack of integrity, political affiliation and absence of requisite administrative experience. The Punjab & Haryana High Court Division Bench referred speci…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted six accused for gang rape and kidnapping of a 14‑year‑old mentally deficient girl, relying on the victim's testimony, her father's eyewitness account, medical examination, and forensic evidence showing semen on the victims' clothing. The trial court convicted all six under IPC sections…

The Parshavanath Charitable Trust ran an engineering college that shifted to a new site in May 2008 without obtaining the No‑Objection Certificate or prior approval required under Clause 9.22 of the AICTE Handbook. Although AICTE later granted approval for the 2008‑09 and 2009‑10 academic years, the approvals expressly…

The Supreme Court entertained suo motu contempt petitions arising from its own directions on medical college admissions in Chhattisgarh, finding that the Director of Medical Education, Dr. S.L. Adile, and four other officials wilfully flouted the Court's schedule and admitted two candidates, including the Director's da…

The case concerned an FIR alleging terrorist activities against Irshad Ali and another accused, who claimed to be informers and were allegedly falsely implicated. The Delhi Special Cell filed a police report under Section 173(2) CrPC, after which the High Court ordered a CBI inquiry and later a closure report. The tria…

Retired judges of the Bombay High Court complained that the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) was unavailable in many areas, limiting their medical treatment and reimbursement. The Bombay High Court, treating the complaint as a suo motu writ, directed the Maharashtra Government to frame rules under Section 230 of…

The Supreme Court considered multiple writ petitions and appeals filed by private teacher‑education colleges, including Maa Vaishno Devi Mahila Mahavidyalaya, which had obtained recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) but were denied affiliation by universities and the Uttar Pradesh State Gov…

Dr. P.B. Desai, a renowned surgeon, was convicted under Section 338 read with Section 109 of the IPC for allegedly causing grievous hurt to a cancer patient by advising and then omitting to perform an exploratory laparotomy. The patient later died, and the appellant was also found guilty of professional misconduct by t…

The appellant, the son of a woman who committed suicide, challenged the High Court's order quashing the charge of abetment of suicide (IPC s.306) framed against the accused property dealer. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court had correctly exercised its revisional (s.397) and inherent (s.482) powers of th…

The petition challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 12(5), 12(6), 15(5) and 15(6) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which prescribe the eligibility criteria for appointing Chief Information Commissioners and Information Commissioners. The petitioner argued that the provisions were vague, lacked specifi…

The appellant Vipin Jaiswal was convicted under Sections 3048 and 498A of the IPC for the death of his wife, who died from burn injuries. The prosecution alleged that the wife was subjected to cruelty and dowry harassment, citing a demand of Rs.50,000 for a computer six months after marriage. The appellant claimed the …

The appellant was accused of murdering his wife after she resisted repeated dowry demands for a television, fridge and cooler, which were accompanied by beatings and harassment. The trial court acquitted the accused, citing a 51‑hour delay in filing the FIR and inconsistencies in the witnesses' statements. On appeal, t…

The Supreme Court examined two sets of appeals by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. seeking exemption from excise duty on Reduced Crude Oil (RCO) and Naphtha under separate exemption notifications. The Court held that the proviso in each notification required satisfaction of two conditions: proof of the intended use and comp…

The appellant, a former director of R.P.S. Benefit Fund Ltd., filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC to quash criminal proceedings initiated under Section 420 IPC and Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Prize, Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978. The FIR alleged cheating by the company for failing…

The Supreme Court disposed of several interlocutory applications filed by various States seeking greater releases from the Ad‑hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The Court modified its earlier order of July 2009, directing the National CAMPA Advisory Council (NCAC) to issue gu…

Madhuri married appellant No.1 and later committed suicide while staying at her parents' house. The prosecution charged the husband and his relatives, including appellant Nos.2 and 4, under IPC Sections 3048 (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) alleging dowry demands and cruelty. The trial court and High Court convicted th…

The case involved a dispute over ownership and possession of land sold by Col. Surat Singh, the plaintiff, to Col. Girdhar Singh, who later sold it to the defendants. The plaintiff filed suits for declaration of title and permanent injunction, but the trial courts and the first appellate court found that the plaintiff …

The appellants filed compensation applications under Section 128 of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 before the MRTP Commission, which were later transferred to the Competition Appellate Tribunal after the MRTP Act was repealed. The respondents argued that the applications were not maintainable …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Reserve Bank of India's Master Circular on wilful default applies to defaults arising from derivative transactions or is limited to traditional lender‑borrower relationships. Kotak Mahindra Bank had classified Hindustan National Glass and other parties as wilful defaulters for non…

The State of West Bengal prosecuted eight accused for the murder of Archideb Bhattacharjee, alleging they demanded money, strangulated him, dismembered his body and disposed of it in gunny bags. The trial court sentenced all to death, which was reduced to life imprisonment by the High Court, except for the theft charge…

The husband (appellant) was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for dowry death (IPC s.304B), cruelty (IPC s.498A) and offences under the Dowry Prohibition Act after his wife committed suicide, allegedly due to his demand for a further Rs 10,000. The Supreme Court held that the Rs 10,000 demand was for repayment of a…

The deceased husband was attacked and killed by his wife's father and four brothers after a marital dispute. The prosecution proved that the three younger brothers (accused 3, 4 and 5) entered the house, held the victim and, with the fifth brother delivering a fatal jambia blow, caused his death. The issue before the S…

The Supreme Court examined whether Parliament had the constitutional authority to enact sub‑section (4) of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which postpones the operation of disqualification for sitting members of Parliament or State Legislatures pending an appeal. The Court held that the power t…

The petitioners challenged the view that a person confined in prison or in police custody, who is barred from voting under sub‑section (5) of Section 62 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, is not an elector and therefore cannot contest elections. The High Court held that such a person loses the statutory rig…

The case concerned the murder of a District Magistrate during a funeral procession of a political leader, where 36 persons were charged. The trial court convicted A‑1 (Anand Mohan) and six others under sections 147, 302/149, 307/149 and 302/109, sentencing A‑1, A‑3 and A‑4 to death. The High Court acquitted A‑2 to A‑7 …

The appellant, a construction contractor, obtained an arbitration award on 4 September 2007 and filed an execution petition. The respondents sought to set aside the award under Section 34 of the Jammu and Kashmir Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1997, but the High Court directed them to file under the Jammu and Kashmi…

The case concerned the sale of a mortgaged property by a bank under the SARFAESI Act. The Supreme Court examined whether the bank, as a secured creditor, had complied with Section 13(8) of the Act and Rules 8 and 9, which require a 30‑day individual notice and a public notice before any sale. It held that the sale effe…

Mis Essel Propack Ltd. manufactured plastic tubes and fitted plastic caps supplied free of cost by its customer, Colgate, before the tubes left its factory. The Commissioner of Central Excise treated the value of the caps as part of the assessable value of the tubes and levied excise duty, penalty and interest, which t…

The appellants were convicted of murder for stabbing the husband of the complainant after the husband warned them to stop abusive behavior. The trial and high courts upheld the conviction under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses. On appeal, the accused argued that th…

Rajoo was convicted of gang‑rape and appealed to the High Court, which upheld his conviction but did not provide him with legal representation at the appellate stage. The Supreme Court examined whether, under Article 39‑A of the Constitution and the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, an accused in custody is entitle…

Major General H.M. Singh, the senior most Major General in the DRDO, was recommended by a Selection Board for promotion to Lieutenant General. As he was due to superannuate on 29‑Feb‑2008, the President granted two extensions of service under Army Rule 16A to allow his promotion to be considered. The Appointments Commi…

Tofan Singh was convicted under Sections 8(c) r/w 21(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for allegedly trafficking 5.250 kg of heroin. The conviction rested primarily on a statement recorded by an investigating officer under Section 67 of the NDPS Act, which the appellant claimed was …

The State of Andhra Pradesh filed a suit for eviction against D. Raghukul Pershad and others, alleging that the appellants had failed to pay rent since 1986 and that the lease had not been renewed. The appellants contended that the lease deed and rent payments were made by mistake of fact and that they were the true ow…

The petitioners applied for an industrial land plot, paid a part of the price but were denied possession on the ground of pending dues. They filed a complaint before the MRTP Commission, which on 13 September 2007 ordered the respondents to hand over possession and to furnish a fresh SSI certificate. The respondents fi…

Alagupandi was convicted for murdering his step‑mother Tamilarasi. The prosecution relied on the testimony of the deceased's brother (PW‑1), corroborative statements of other witnesses, forensic evidence linking the accused's blood to the crime scene, and a confession that led to the recovery of the knife. The appellan…

The Supreme Court examined the murder conviction of three accused, two of whom appealed while the third did not. The prosecution's case relied heavily on an extra‑judicial confession and the theory that the accused were last seen with the deceased, but the confession was found unreliable, contradictory, and uncorrobora…

The case concerned the murder of Indra, who was strangulated to death by her father‑in‑law, brother‑in‑law and others. Five accused were tried; four were convicted under s.120‑B, s.302 and s.34 IPC and one (Jitender Kumar) under s.120‑8 IPC. The appellants challenged the convictions on several grounds, including that J…

The appellants, Priya Gupta and Akanksha Adile, were admitted to the MBBS programme at Government Medical College, Jagdalpur on 30 September 2006 through a hurried process that ignored higher‑ranking candidates, allegedly due to favouritism (the father of the second appellant was the Director of Medical Education). The…

The appellant, Best Sellers Retail (India) Pvt. Ltd. (and A.C. Thirumalaraj), challenged a temporary injunction granted to respondent Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd. that restrained the defendants from leasing or encumbering a suit property pending a suit for specific performance. The trial court and High Court had held a prima…

The victim, a college student, was staying with accused No.1 in Belgaum when accused No.2 (the appellant) allegedly attempted to outrage her modesty, assaulted her and administered poison, leading to her death. Multiple eyewitnesses saw the deceased being taken in a car by the accused, with police present, and later ob…

The appellant, Munna Kumar Upadhyaya, was convicted for the murder of a railway official and his family, based on a complex web of circumstantial evidence, forensic findings, fingerprint matches, and extra‑judicial confessions. The prosecution proved the chain of events through 49 witnesses, forensic reports, recovered…

The appellant, Atmaram, was convicted under Sections 306 and 498A of the IPC for the alleged suicide of his second wife, Purnabai, based on the presumption of abetment under Section 113A of the Evidence Act. The trial court and High Court held that the appellant had subjected the deceased to cruelty, relying on a writt…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the public auction of Plot No.722, attached in a debt recovery proceeding against a partnership firm. Sadashiv Prasad Singh, the highest bidder, was confirmed as the purchaser, took possession and obtained mutation of the property. Harendar Singh, brother of the origina…

The case arose from the double murder of Aarushi Talwar and her domestic servant Hemraj in Noida in May 2008, for which a First Information Report was filed by the victim's father, Dr. Rajesh Talwar. The investigation was taken over by the CBI, which later submitted a closure report citing insufficient evidence. Dr. Ra…

The appellants, landlords, leased a shop to the respondents under a notarized tenancy agreement that contained an arbitration clause. When the respondents failed to vacate after a termination notice, the landlords filed a suit for eviction, arrears of rent, municipal taxes, mesne profits and injunction before the Civil…

Absar Alam was convicted of murdering his mother by beheading her after accusing her of causing his wife to leave home. The trial court and the Patna High Court sentenced him to death under Sections 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code. The appellant appealed to the Supreme Court, raising only the question of whether t…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Santosh Savita under Section 302 IPC for allegedly burning his sister-in-law by pouring kerosene and igniting her saree. The deceased gave two dying declarations naming the accused, which were recorded by a police officer and a doctor without a magistrate’s presence. The High Court acq…

The petitioner, Nikhil Himthani, who completed his MBBS in a Uttarakhand medical college without entering through the State PMT, secured the 60th rank in the NEET‑PG for Uttarakhand and sought admission to a postgraduate medical seat. The State of Uttarakhand issued an Information Bulletin prescribing eligibility claus…

Madhabi Patra died after a ceremonial function and the prosecution alleged she was poisoned by her husband Joydeb Patra and his relatives. The trial court and the Calcutta High Court convicted the accused under IPC s.302 read with s.34, relying solely on the ocular testimony of the doctor who performed the post‑mortem …

The petitioners sought compliance with the Supreme Court's order in Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited v. Union of India, which directed the Central Government to appoint a National Regulator under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for independent appraisal and monitoring of environmental clearan…

The Delhi University Bulletin for 2011‑12 reserved 30 of 150 MBBS seats in Lady Harding Medical College for Nominees of Government of India (NGOI), exempting them from the Delhi University Medical and Dental Entrance Test (DUMET). Female general‑category candidates who cleared DUMET but were not admitted challenged the…

The Supreme Court had earlier set aside a High Court order granting bail to Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and directed his surrender. A review petition was filed challenging that order and also seeking exemption from surrender. The Court observed that despite the bail cancellation, the accused had neither surrendered…

The case arose from the alleged torture and rape of a woman (PW‑3) by police officials after she was taken for interrogation on 9 February 1989. PW‑3 filed a petition to the Governor, a criminal complaint before a magistrate, and later testified in trial, alleging that she was detained overnight and raped, with her hus…

The appellant Ganga Singh was charged with rape under Section 376 IPC for allegedly assaulting PW‑5, the prosecutrix, in a field. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the sexual intercourse was consensual, but the High Court convicted him based on the prosecutrix's testimony, corroborated by her mother‑in‑law’s …

Mohd. Maqbool Tantray was one of 18 accused in the abduction and murder of former MLA Mir Mustafa in 1990. After a protracted trial lasting nearly 20 years, only three co‑accused were tried with Tantray; the others were discharged, died, or absconded, and the two co‑accused were acquitted. Tantray was convicted under S…

Vinod Kapoor challenged the construction of a bungalow on C‑land in Goa, alleging violations of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 and the Coastal Regulation Zone notification under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Bombay High Court dismissed his writ petition on the basis of a technical report and late…

The Supreme Court reviewed its own September 2012 judgment that upheld Sections 12(5), 12(6), 15(5) and 15(6) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, on the ground that the earlier decision contained a manifest error of law. The Court held that the provisions merely require persons of eminence with wide knowledge and ex…

The Supreme Court, in response to numerous applications seeking clarification or modification of its 27 April 2012 judgment, reaffirmed that Rule 100 of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 bars the use of any black film or other material on safety glasses, windscreens or side glasses of vehicles, regardless of the visual li…

The appellant, Kashi Vishwanath, was convicted under Sections 498A and 302 read with 34 of the IPC for the death of his wife, who died from burn injuries. The prosecution's case rested on three dying declarations (Ex.P.12, Ex.P.22, Ex.P.29) that were recorded in Kannada despite the victim speaking only Telugu, and whic…

The State of Himachal Pradesh prosecuted Jai Chand and two others for the murder of his wife under Sections 302, 34 and 498‑A IPC. The trial court convicted Jai Chand, but the Himachal Pradesh High Court acquitted him, rejecting the post‑mortem doctor’s testimony and other material witnesses. On appeal, the Supreme Cou…

Rajinder Singh and co‑accused were convicted under Sections 304‑B, 498‑A and 201/34 IPC for the death of the bride, Santosh Kaur, within nine months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the death occurred otherwise than under normal circumstances, that the bride had been subjected to dowry‑related harassment shortl…

The appellant, Ranjit Singh, was convicted for the dowry death of his wife Jaswinder Kaur, who was found dead within four months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the deceased had been subjected to repeated harassment and demands for dowry, including a Maruti car, by the appellant and his in‑laws, leading to her…

The appellant, Anil Kumar, was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for dowry harassment (Sec. 498-A IPC) and dowry death (Sec. 304-B IPC) based on the suicide of his wife, Meena Kumari, in their matrimonial home. The trial court had acquitted all accused, finding contradictions in witness statements and noting that t…

Krishna Kumar Variar, accused under Sections 415 and 420 IPC, was summoned by a Delhi court. He contended that only a Bombay court had jurisdiction and filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC in the Delhi High Court, which dismissed his challenge. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that an accused must first appr…

The Supreme Court set aside a Patna High Court order granting bail to Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav in Sessions Trial No. 976 of 1999, despite a prior Supreme Court ruling that no further bail applications in the case would be entertained. The Court held that the High Court's grant of bail was a contempt of its earli…

The petitioner sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which the Calcutta High Court rejected. He filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court challenging that order. The Court examined the record and found no justification to grant anticipatory bail. However, it clarified …

The appellants, who were tenants of premises mortgaged to banks, challenged the seizure of those premises by the secured creditors under the SARFAESI Act. The Supreme Court examined whether a lease made by the mortgagor, either before or after the mortgage, remains valid and binding on the secured creditor, and whether…

The petitioner filed Special Leave Petition (SLP) No.7735 of 2010 against respondent Surjit Singh, who had actually died on 09‑06‑2009, a fact discovered only later. The petitioner then moved Interlocutory Application (I.A.) No.2 seeking substitution of the deceased respondent’s legal representatives and I.A. No.3 seek…

The appellant, a Sepoy in the Indian Army, was discharged on grounds of 20% permanent disability due to epilepsy. The Army Medical Board held the disability was not service‑related and denied a disability pension. The High Court Single Judge granted the pension, but the Division Bench set aside that order. The Supreme …

Dr. Aloys Wobben, holder of several wind‑turbine patents, sued Yogesh Mehra and others for patent infringement in the Delhi High Court. The respondents filed revocation petitions before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board under s.64(1) of the Patents Act and also raised counter‑claims in the infringement suits se…

The State prosecuted Basti Ram for gang rape, kidnapping, confinement and intimidation of a girl, H.L., who was below 16 years at the time. The trial court, relying on H.L.'s detailed statement under Section 164 CrPC and her testimony, convicted Basti Ram under IPC sections 376(2)(g), 366, 342 and 506. The High Court, …

The Supreme Court examined the death of Rachhpal Kaur, who died of aluminium phosphide poisoning within seven years of her marriage while staying at her in‑laws' house. The deceased had repeatedly complained of harassment and cruelty by her husband Kulwant Singh and his parents for allegedly insufficient dowry, includi…

Sterlite Industries obtained environmental clearance and consent orders to set up a copper smelter in Tuticorin in 1995. The Madras High Court ordered its closure, citing lack of a mandatory public hearing, violation of a 25‑km distance condition from an ecologically sensitive area, and an inadequate green‑belt require…

The case concerns the murder of Suresh Chandra, who was tied up and assaulted with lathis and dandas by five accused including Kishan Ram, Pani Ram, Dev Singh, Har Ram and Chandan Singh. The trial court and the High Court convicted the five under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC and sentenced them to life i…

The State of Uttarakhand dissolved the Municipal Council of Haridwar and appointed an Administrator under the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act, 1959, to facilitate its conversion into a Municipal Corporation. The Chairman, Kamal Jora, challenged the dissolution on the ground that no hearing was afforded to the …