ALTAMAS KABIR

Girishbhai Dahyabhai Shah was prosecuted under Section 16(1)(a)(i) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for allegedly selling adulterated curd. The sample was taken on 8 April 1988 and the Public Analyst’s report indicating adulteration was filed on 4 May 1988 but was only served to the accused on 17 July 1…

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector of the Jammu & Kashmir Police, claimed out‑of‑turn promotion for his exemplary conduct during the 1995 Charare Sharif incident, relying on Circular No.14‑GR of 1990 which provided accelerated promotion for outstanding anti‑militancy performance. The High Court dismissed his petition, appl…

Yograj Infra Ltd. furnished bank guarantees under a construction contract with Ssang Yong Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. After the contract was terminated for alleged non‑performance and over‑payment, the respondent invoked the guarantees. Yograj filed a Section 9 application under the Arbitration and Conciliation…

In the 2007 election for Sarpanch of Kulagada Gram Panchayat, the appellant Joshna Gouda was declared elected. The respondent Brundaban Gouda filed an election petition under Sections 31 and 34 of the Orissa Gram Panchayat Act, 1964, alleging that the appellant was ineligible because she had not attained the age of 21,…

The case concerned the formation of a post‑poll "aghadi" (front) by councillors of the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation after municipal elections. The petitioners argued that the second proviso to sub‑section (2) of Section 31A of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949 allows the creation of an aghadi or…

The appellant, Sandhya Manoj Wankhade, filed a complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 against her husband and his mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law. The trial court and the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court deleted the mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law from the proceedings on the groun…

The respondent filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 193, 420 and 120‑B alleging that the appellants made false statements before the Rent Controller. The Rent Controller, a statutory quasi‑judicial body, had earlier disposed of a related application, holding the complaint pending. A Judicial Magistrate later i…

Bharat Steel Tubes Ltd. had borrowed money from Punjab National Bank and entered into a one‑time settlement, paying only part of the amount. It later engaged Assets Care Enterprises Ltd. (ACE) to pay the balance, and ACE assigned its rights to IFCI Ltd. IFCI invoked the SARFAESI Act to enforce security and sought aucti…

The Union of India appealed against the Bombay High Court's order granting bail to Hassan Ali Khan, who was accused under Section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for handling billions of dollars allegedly derived from criminal activity and for obtaining multiple passports fraudulently. The Supreme Co…

The Supreme Court examined whether offences under the Central Excise Act, 1944 and the Customs Act, 1962 are non‑cognizable and, if so, whether they are bailable. It held that Section 9A of the Excise Act and Section 104(4) of the Customs Act expressly deem the offences non‑cognizable, and that the statutes themselves,…

The Chatterjee Group filed a Company Petition under Sections 397, 398, 399, 402, 403 and 406 of the Companies Act, 1956 alleging oppression by Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd. (HPL) for failing to register 155 million shares transferred to them and for allotting 150 million shares to Indian Oil Corporation, which they claime…

The Supreme Court heard two interlocutory applications seeking permission for the ship "Oriental Nicety" to be anchored, beached and dismantled at Alang, Gujarat. The petitioner argued that the ship could not be allowed entry without strict compliance with the Basel Convention and that it might contain hazardous wastes…

The Supreme Court heard appeals by Smt. Moumita Poddar challenging the appointment of a retail outlet dealership to respondent No.2 (Alpana Saha) by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. The High Court had set aside the entire selection on the ground that the Selection Committee failed to follow the policy circular dated 4‑Sept‑…

Anil Mishra, a Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise & Customs, challenged an adverse entry for the year 2000‑01. He filed representations to the Chief Commissioner and the Central Government, both of which were rejected. He then moved an Original Application before the Central Administrative Tribunal alleging the entr…

The appellant purchased a Tata Sumo and insured it, renewing the policy on 13 February 2002 for Rs 3,54,000. The vehicle was involved in an accident on 10 September 2002 while the policy was in force. The insurer’s surveyor declared the vehicle a total loss and valued it at Rs 1,80,000, whereas the repair estimate was …

The appellant, a US‑based manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment, negotiated with the respondents for the supply of a whole‑body CT scanner. The first offer lapsed, and a second quotation for a refurbished scanner was accepted, but the respondents failed to open a correct letter of credit and did not obtain the r…

The Rajasthan Government issued notifications granting reservation in promotion for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which were later quashed by the Rajasthan High Court because the State had not complied with the quantifiable data requirements laid down in M. Nagaraj's case. General‑category employees filed civi…

The respondent, a permanent trustee of the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust, sought the removal of the petitioner and four other trustees alleging misfeasance and misuse of trust funds. The Joint Charity Commissioner ordered that the trustees could not make any policy decisions or financial transactions without hi…

Mahaveer C. Singhvi, an Indian Foreign Service probationer appointed in 1999, was discharged on 13 June 2002. He challenged the discharge before the Central Administrative Tribunal, the Delhi High Court, and finally this Court, alleging that the order was punitive, based on alleged misconduct uncovered through a secret…

The Supreme Court considered Special Leave Petitions challenging the selection of 766 pharmacist vacancies advertised by the Uttar Pradesh government. The petitioners argued that, despite higher merit, they were excluded because the State applied Rule 15(2) of the U.P. Pharmacists Service Rules, 1980, which mandates ba…

M/s. Godrej Sara Lee Ltd appealed to the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court’s order that it had jurisdiction to entertain appeals against the cancellation of its registered designs by the Controller of Patents and Designs, Kolkata under Section 19 of the Designs Act, 2000. The Controller had cancelled two desig…

The appellants Prabir Mondal, others and Mongal Das were convicted under Sections 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for an alleged attempt to murder the complainant in a pump room. The prosecution claimed the victim was attacked with a knife, resulting in incised injuries to his left palm and cheek. The medical injur…

Five Haryana MLAs merged with the Indian National Congress and the Speaker accepted the merger. Kuldeep Bishnoi filed disqualification petitions under Article 191 and the Tenth Schedule, alleging the merger violated paragraph 4(1). The High Court, invoking Order 41 Rule 33 CPC, directed the Speaker to decide the petiti…

The Assam Public Service Commission advertised a combined competitive examination with a reservation of 3% for physically disabled candidates. Respondent No.1, a physically disabled applicant, applied under the original advertisement but did not submit the required disability certificate by the stipulated deadline, nor…

The petitioner challenged the order of the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, which had found that police officials tortured the complainant's son while in custody under Section 12(a) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and had recommended compensation. The High Court dismissed the petitioner's writ, h…

P.J. Agro Tech Ltd and its directors were served with a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 for the dishonour of a cheque that had been drawn by a third party, K. Balashankar Reddy, from his personal savings account. The appellants contended that the cheque was not drawn on any …

Mohan Mali and another were convicted under IPC sections 302, 324 and 326 and sentenced to life imprisonment. One co‑accused, Dhanna Lal (appellant No.2), claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the offence. The Supreme Court examined the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, …

The wife and husband were married in Goa under Hindu rites and the marriage was registered there. The husband filed a petition under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 in Goa seeking annulment. The wife, who had been residing in the United Kingdom and later in Delhi, filed a petition under Section 25 of the Cod…

The petitioners, Angel Baby Products Pvt. Ltd. and Hira Lal Gupta, failed to execute a lease deed for a commercial plot allotted by NOIDA within the 120‑day period, citing mis‑description of the plot and a municipal drain, and sought a waiver of the penalty. The Chief Executive Officer of NOIDA waived the penalty and g…

Jai Balaji Industries Ltd. entered into a purchase agreement with a foreign seller for manganese ore and a subsequent High Seas Sale Agreement with PEC Ltd., a government company, which was to act as seller. After the cargo arrived, Jai Balaji tested a small portion, found it sub‑standard and rejected the entire consig…

The appellants obtained a decree for recovery of money and the decree-holder initiated execution proceedings, resulting in the sale of the appellants' property on 25 November 2003. On the same day a third party obtained a stay of the execution proceedings, which remained in force until 2 December 2004. Because of the s…

New Horizon Sugar Mills Ltd and its directors, who had guaranteed a bank loan, defaulted and faced attachment of their properties under the Pondicherry Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, 2004. They challenged the validity of that Act and a government order attaching properties, arguin…

The landlord filed an eviction petition under Section 13‑B of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 and served the tenant on 19 May 2005, requiring the tenant to apply for leave to contest within 15 days. The tenant filed the application one day late, on 4 June 2005, and then sought condonation of the delay …

The appellant, P.A. Mohammed Riyas, contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Kozhikode and filed an election petition alleging that the respondent, M.K. Raghavan, committed corrupt practice by publishing false statements, invoking Sections 81, 100, 101 and 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The petiti…

The Director of Land Records and Survey, Assam advertised 160 seats for the Assam Survey and Settlement Training Institute and selected 160 candidates. Subsequent lists of candidates were prepared, but the Government refused to approve them, prompting petitions. The petitioners argued that appointments could be made fr…

Lt. Gen. Depinder Singh (author) entered a publication agreement with Dattatreya Prakashan, later acquired by the appellant (Trishul Publications). After publishing the first and second editions, the appellant refused further editions and suggested the author authorize another publisher, Natraj Publishers, to reprint 1…

The plaintiff sought vacant and peaceful possession of a Delhi property, but the suit was dismissed. The plaintiff appealed, and during the first appeal the sole defendant died. An application for substitution of the defendant’s legal heirs was filed but remained pending, and the decree was erroneously drawn up against…

The appellant, a sugar mill, employed certain workers as "seasonal workmen" but they performed duties throughout the year and were paid seasonal wages. The workers claimed they should be declared permanent and receive permanent workmen benefits. The State of Uttar Pradesh referred the dispute to the Labour Court, which…

Laxmi Kant Gupta, a temporary employee of the U.P. State Electricity Board, was terminated in 1986 without compliance with Section 6-N of the U.P. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. He raised the dispute only after a ten‑year delay, and the Labour Court ordered his reinstatement without back wages, citing the delay. The Hi…

The Union of India sought modification of a Supreme Court order that had constituted a Committee to examine rehabilitation of sex workers. It prayed to delete the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Samiti from the Committee, alleging the Samiti advocated repeal of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 and recognition of sex …

Two Italian marines were arrested by Kerala police for killing two Indian fishermen 20.5 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. The Supreme Court earlier held that the State of Kerala lacked jurisdiction and that only the Union of India could investigate and try the marines, pending a determination of the applicability o…

M/s. Indtel Technical Services Pvt. Ltd. and W.S. Atkins Rail Ltd. entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on 11 June 2002 to jointly prepare a tender for the Indian Railways Crashworthiness Project. The respondent unilaterally terminated the MoU and withdrew the joint bid, leading the applicant to claim breach and …

Five legislators were elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 2008 as independents. They supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and served as cabinet ministers, but withdrew their support in October 2010, prompting the Speaker to disqualify them under paragraph 2(2) of the Tenth Schedule for "de…

The petitioner bought a diesel Fiat Siena Weekender and complained of engine rattling noise, leading the dealer to replace the engine and other parts. Unsatisfied, he demanded a new vehicle or a refund of the purchase price and expenses, filing complaints before the District Forum, State Commission, and finally the Nat…

The appellant, Atul Manubhai Parekh, was convicted under Section 120‑B of the IPC and sentenced to 15 days of rigorous imprisonment with a fine. He had already undergone 15 days of detention in connection with other cases and sought a set‑off of 30 days under Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, arguing…

The appellant, Naren Chandra Naskar, challenged the registration of his sale deed, alleging forgery, after a criminal complaint was filed by the District Registrar. Both his deed and the respondent's deed were recorded with identical registration details, prompting the Calcutta High Court to order an enquiry by the Dis…

The suit concerned the ownership of a flat and the validity of letters of administration obtained by the respondent. A key witness, Sadanand Sheshgiri Shet, gave his evidence by affidavit under Order 17 Rule 4 CPC. The plaintiffs later moved a motion under Order 18 Rule 17 CPC seeking to recall the witness to adduce fa…

The Supreme Court examined the custodial death of R.K. Jain, a Deputy Commissioner who suffered from asthma and died of asphyxia after being detained in a dust‑filled, windowless room by officers of the Lokayukta. The Sessions Court had framed charges under Section 304 Part II IPC but omitted Section 330 IPC; the High …

The petitioners, led by Ram Jethmalani, sought a writ directing the Union of India to recover unaccounted money of Indian citizens held in foreign banks and the Court had earlier appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by two retired Supreme Court judges. The Union of India filed Interlocutory Application N…

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 Haryana State Warehousing Corporation promoted Ram Kumar to Assistant Manager (Administration) over the senior Jagat Ram, relying on a comparative assessment of their service records. Jagat Ram challenged the promotion, arguing that Regulation 8(2) of the 1994 Regulations mandates promotion on a seniority‑cum‑merit…

Shiv Kumar Mishra was convicted under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act for possession of 1.31 kg of ganja and sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that the weight should exclude seeds, leaves, and moisture, which would reduce the quantity below the 1 kg threshold for a 'small quanti…

The case concerned a vacancy for the post of High School Assistant (English) (HSA‑English) that arose on 1 April 2005 in a Kerala government school. Respondent No.1, an Upper Primary School Assistant, claimed she was the only UPSA qualified (B.Ed. in English) at that date and sought promotion, while the petitioner, a L…

The appellant lodged an FIR alleging murder and later filed a protest petition that was treated as a complaint, leading to two parallel criminal proceedings: one based on a police charge‑sheet and another on the complaint. The accused in the police case were the witnesses in the complaint case and vice‑versa, and none …

The husband and wife were married on 26 March 2011 but lived apart from the outset, and the husband filed a petition under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act seeking a declaration of nullity within three months. During mediation the parties agreed to dissolve the marriage by mutual consent and filed a joint petition …

Bhavani, a former employee of a Kerala cashew factory, claimed pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995, asserting she retired on 31‑12‑1995 based on her employer's service records showing her date of birth as 31‑12‑1935. The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner relied on its own records, which listed her date…

The appellants complained that the Karkhana sugar factory had enrolled 6,617 persons who did not meet the eligibility criteria under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960. After the Commissioner of Sugar failed to act, a writ petition led to an inquiry by the Regional Joint Director, who confirmed the inelig…

Netraaj Singh was acquitted by a trial court of charges under IPC s.302 r/w s.149 on the ground of inadequate evidence. The State appealed, and during the pendency of the appeal the appellant obtained permission to replace his counsel with Mr. Ashutosh Singh. However, the cause list for the final hearing still named th…

On February 3, 2000, a truck carrying 100 quintals of paddy belonging to the petitioners was stopped by a food inspector, and the grain was seized and later confiscated under Clause 6(2) of the Madhya Pradesh Essential Commodities (Exhibition of Price and Price Control) Order, 1997. The petitioners challenged the seizu…

The appellants, a sick industrial company and its guarantor, sought to enforce a personal guarantee for a loan after the company defaulted. The respondent invoked Section 31(1)(aa) of the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951, while the guarantor claimed protection under Section 22(1) of the Sick Industrial Companies …

Petitioners filed multiple writ petitions under Article 32 alleging various grievances, but their pleadings were deemed per se contempt of the Supreme Court. During the hearing, they disrupted proceedings, used abusive language, and one petitioner threw a footwear at the judges, all in the presence of senior law office…

The dispute arose from an arbitral award dated 12 May 2004, which was sent to the respondent's counsel rather than to the respondent itself. The respondent filed a petition under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, more than nine months after the award was received by counsel, claiming the time li…

The petitioner, a construction company, submitted the lowest bid for a government construction project and furnished earnest money as required by the tender notice. After the bids were opened, the petitioner sent a letter correcting a figure in its bid, which increased the bid amount substantially. The employer treated…

The Kerala High Court Division Bench referred a question of law to its Full Bench concerning the applicability of Section 11(17) of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act to legal heirs of a deceased tenant. The Full Bench answered the question but then proceeded to decide the civil revision petition on its …

The State of Karnataka challenged the appointment of K. Govindappa as Lecturer in History in an aided private college, arguing that the post formed part of a larger cadre of lecturers and should be subject to the reservation roster. The college had six lecturer posts across different disciplines, but the History post w…

The appellant, a former managing director of a company that had defaulted on a loan from Andhra Bank, was charged by the CBI with cheating, forgery and corruption offences. The bank’s civil suit for recovery was later compromised, with clause 11 stating that both parties withdrew all claims against each other. The appe…

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) sought clarification on the criteria devised by its Implementation Committee to identify members who regularly practice before the Supreme Court and are therefore eligible to vote in SCBA elections under the "One Bar One Vote" principle. Various suggestions were made, including …

The case concerned whether Hotel Queen Road Pvt. Ltd., a special purpose vehicle, had converted into a public company by resolutions passed on 30 September 2002, which were accompanied by a Form 23 filing and a statement in lieu of prospectus. The conversion would affect the applicability of Section 87(2)(b) of the Com…

The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (the appellant) sought to enforce a scheme of nationalisation that granted it exclusive rights to operate on certain routes and cancelled the permits of private operators. Private operators, including Mohd. Gilman Sharif, challenged the scheme, arguing they were entitl…

The Supreme Court heard Civil Appeal No. 1442 of 2005 filed by the State of U.P. against the High Court's order that set aside the dismissal of Raj Kishore Yadav, a government employee, and reinstated him with full benefits. The employee had been charged with five serious offences, four of which were proved beyond doub…

The petitioner, Redaul Hussain Khan, was arrested on 31 May 2009 for allegedly sending money to an extremist group later declared an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). While the investigation was transferred to the National Investigation Agency, the petitioner sought statu…

The appellant, Sayed Mohd. Ahmed Kazmi, was arrested in connection with an alleged bomb attack and was placed in police and then judicial custody. After the initial 90‑day period expired, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate extended his custody for another 90 days with retrospective effect, despite the appellant's pendin…

The case concerned Civil Assistant Surgeons (CAS) in the Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Services who, after obtaining a post‑graduate degree, were transferred laterally to the teaching cadre as Assistant Professors. The transferred officers claimed that their prior service as CAS should be counted for seniority in t…

The appellant, a Mahila cooperative society, challenged the award of a contract for supplying fortified blended food under the Integrated Child Development Scheme, arguing that the eligibility criteria in the Expression of Interest (EOI) were arbitrary and that the contract period should be limited to one year. The Hig…

The appellant, a meter reader, was convicted under Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding a bribe, based primarily on a handwriting expert’s report linking him to a paper (Ex.PR) used in the alleged offence. The Supreme Court examined whether such expert opinion could be admitted witho…

The Bihar Public Service Commission advertised vacancies for Instructors and Assistant Instructors to train persons with disabilities. The respondent applied, was interviewed and declared successful, but after the interview the Empowered Committee decided to shift training to NGOs and asked the Commission not to recomm…

The appellant's brother was found dead and a post‑mortem concluded natural causes; the police investigation was closed. Dissatisfied, the appellant filed a complaint before a Metropolitan Magistrate alleging murder and sought a fresh police investigation under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Th…

The case arose from a dispute under the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme where the developer (M/s Veena Corp.) had obtained the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s (SRA) sanction for an amended plan to provide a detached structure for a flour mill belonging to respondents No.1 and No.2. The respondents were entitled to a 225 sq …

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation entered into a dealership agreement with Super Highway Services for the retail sale of petroleum products. The corporation terminated the agreement under Clause 58 after a sample of diesel failed a marker test, but the dealer alleged that it was never properly served notice of the test, …

The appellant, Ramdas Bansal, held a 21‑year lease of a building (Grace Cinema Hall) on premises in Kolkata and, after the lease expired, the respondents filed a suit for vacant possession and rectification of the lease description. Bansal sought to introduce documents alleging that the respondents were "Thika" tenants…

The respondent, Raja Mohammed Amir Mohammad Khan, was declared the sole legal heir of the estate of the late Raja of Mahmudabad, which had been taken over by the Custodian of Enemy Property under the Enemy Property Act, 1968. The Custodian’s ledger showed a credit of Rs 1,77,38,828.11 as of 27‑03‑2002, representing ren…

Mahesh Ratilal Shah filed a writ petition alleging that the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) had listed the shares of Presto Finance Ltd. despite fraudulent dealings, and that the BSE’s Rules and Bye‑laws, never published in the Gazette, were ultra vires the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956. The petition sought d…

Ganpat Singh Deora, a Bank of Baroda employee aged 40 with 13 years of service, opted for voluntary retirement under the Bank's 2001 Voluntary Retirement Scheme (BOBEVRS‑2001). While he received the scheme’s retiral benefits, his claim for a pension under the Bank of Baroda Employees Pension Regulations, 1995 was denie…

Pepsico India Holdings Pvt. Ltd., the manufacturer of sweetened carbonated water, was prosecuted after a public analyst reported the presence of the pesticide carbofuran (0.001 mg/L) in its product, alleging adulteration under Rule 65 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 and Section 2(ia)(h) of the Preven…

The appellants were accused of murdering Bhupal Singh after a dispute over gambling winnings. The prosecution alleged that the accused followed the deceased, assaulted him, and that he was killed shortly thereafter, with his body later recovered at the instance of accused Mohan Singh. The trial court, relying on the te…

Dinesh Seth was married to Rama, who died by hanging within two years of marriage. The trial court framed a charge under IPC Section 304B (dowry death) read with Section 34 and convicted the accused. On appeal, the Delhi High Court acquitted them of the 304B charge but convicted Seth under IPC Section 498A (cruelty) an…

The appellants were charged under Section 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 for calling a Scheduled Caste informant "Chamar" (or "Chuda‑Chamar") in what the FIR described as a public setting. The Supreme Court examined whether the term "Chamar" in contemporary usa…

The Supreme Court examined whether a magistrate, after receiving a police report under Section 173(3) CrPC, could disagree with the report, issue summons to persons listed in column 2 and either try them or commit the case to a Sessions Court, and whether the Sessions Court could, upon committal, take cognizance and su…

The Supreme Court examined four notifications issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Dental Council of India (DCI) that introduced a single National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to MBBS, BDS and postgraduate medical courses. Petitioners, including Christian Medical College Vellore an…

The Supreme Court dealt with a series of Special Leave Petitions and contempt proceedings filed by trained teachers seeking appointment to vacant primary teacher posts in Bihar. The State of Bihar had given an undertaking in 2006 to recruit these teachers, but failed to fulfil it, prompting contempt petitions. The Cour…

The Faculty Association of AIIMS challenged the application of reservation policy to specialty and super‑specialty faculty posts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, invoking Articles 15, 16 and 335 of the Constitution. The Court examined whether the rule of reservation could be extended to these highly tech…

The petitioners, including Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, challenged the constitutional validity of the 2000 amendment to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, which required a political party to secure at least 6% of the state's valid votes and win at least two legislative seats to be recogn…

The East Central Railways awarded a risk‑and‑cost tender to Tantia Construction for a rail over‑bridge. Subsequent design changes required an extended viaduct, increasing the work and cost. The contractor refused to undertake the additional work, which was not covered by the original agreement, and the Railways attempt…

The owner of a jeep obtained a motor insurance policy covering six occupants, including the driver. The vehicle, however, was carrying fifteen passengers when it met with an accident, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. Claimants filed compensation claims, and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held the insurer …

The respondents, parents of a deceased pillion rider, filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking compensation for death caused by a bus and a scooter. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal dismissed the claim, holding the appellant had not proved negligence. On appeal, the Himachal Pradesh Hi…

The case arose from an incident on 15 February 2012 when two Italian naval officers aboard the merchant vessel M.V. Enrica Lexie fired on an Indian fishing boat 20.5 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, killing two fishermen. The Kerala police lodged an FIR under the Indian Penal Code and arrested the officers, which t…

The appellant Burdwan Central Cooperative Bank dismissed Respondent No.1, a Grade‑III employee, on the ground of financial irregularities he allegedly committed while employed with an affiliated cooperative society (Raipur Krishi Unnayan Samity). The employee challenged the dismissal, arguing that the bank had no juris…

The Air India Cabin Crew Association challenged the management’s revised promotion policy and the government’s 2003 directive that equalised the retirement and flying ages of male Flight Pursers and female Air Hostesses. The petitioners argued that these changes violated earlier bilateral settlements, the Air Corporati…

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) regularly hires seasonal casual workers for its field surveys. A tribunal ordered that 153 identified workmen who met educational qualifications and 240 days of service be regularised before any new recruitment. The Supreme Court, in its 20 November 2006 order, enjoined ONGC f…

The case concerned a reservation policy by the State of Kerala that reserved 100% of seats in super‑specialty medical courses for students from Kerala, later amended to 10% for candidates with rural service. Applicants from outside Kerala challenged the policy as unconstitutional. The Kerala High Court held the 100% re…

The Supreme Court examined whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) could, through regulations under the UGC Act, impose a composite scheme that revised pay scales and raised the retirement age of teachers from 62 to 65 years on State universities and colleges. The petitioners argued that the UGC's recommendation…

The Supreme Court heard a batch of writ petitions challenging Sections 2(k), 2(1), 15, 16, 17, 19 and 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, on the ground that the age limit of 18 years for juveniles was arbitrary and violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, especially in the wa…

The petitioners, sons of H. Ramaiah Reddy, filed a suit in 2005 seeking declaration of their coparcenary rights, partition of ancestral lands and a declaration that a 1975 order of the Karnataka Land Tribunal granting occupancy rights to Annaiah Reddy was illegal. The trial court held the suit barred by limitation and …

Four legislators elected on a National Congress Party (NCP) ticket defected to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the Orissa Legislative Assembly. The NCP state president filed disqualification petitions before the Speaker under the Orissa Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1987, see…

The parties entered into a supply agreement at Calcutta (place 'C') and a mutual understanding that any dispute would be litigated exclusively in Calcutta courts. When a dispute arose, the petitioner filed a suit in Calcutta, but the respondent filed a separate suit in Vijayawada (place 'V'), which was decreed in the r…

Five independent MLAs who had supported the BJP government in Karnataka withdrew their support and were disqualified under paragraph 2(2) of the Tenth Schedule. They filed writ petitions challenging the disqualification and sought to amend paragraph 9 of their petitions, which mistakenly stated that they had not left t…

The HDFC Bank alleged that its Managing Director, J.J. Mannan, defrauded the bank of Rs.2.04 crore by obtaining a loan through fictitious transactions and colluding with other firms. An FIR was filed and the accused applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, which the Madras High Court granted in a bl…

Respondent No.1 filed an administration suit to administer the intestate estate of his deceased parents. During the suit he sought to amend the plaint to implead the appellants, alleging that two properties had been alienated to a company and to the appellants during the parents' lifetimes. The Bombay High Court allowe…

Manoj Sharma was charged in an FIR for offences including cheating, forgery and fraud under Sections 420, 468, 471, 34 and 120‑B IPC. The complainant and the accused later reached an amicable settlement and the complainant withdrew the allegations. The Delhi High Court refused to quash the FIR, prompting an appeal to t…

The petitioner, V. Ranganathan, applied for the post of Principal in a Government Higher Secondary School and was placed tenth in the reserve list. He filed an original application before the Central Administrative Tribunal seeking a direction that the UPSC appoint him to the post instead of the selected candidate, N. …

The petitioners were accused of murdering a woman’s husband; although the FIR named 19 persons, only a few were initially charge‑sheeted, allegedly due to the influence of a local MLA who provided alibis. The High Court, invoking its inherent powers under Article 226, directed the police to file charge‑sheets against a…

Sanjay Bhandari was detained under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) for alleged misuse of Export Promotion Capital Goods licences and smuggling of imported vehicles. His wife, Ranu Bhandari, filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the de…

The landlord, Raju Jhurni, obtained an eviction decree against the tenant company under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956, but the decree did not determine the arrears of rent. He then filed a winding‑up petition before the Company Court under Sections 433, 434 and 439 of the Companies Act, 1956, seeking recov…

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocate‑on‑Record Association (SCAORA) filed IA No.6 seeking clarification of a judgment dated 20 July 2012 that applied the "ONE BAR ONE VOTE" principle to bar‑association elections. The earlier judgment excluded from voting in SCBA elections any person w…

The Supreme Court considered a batch of writ petitions challenging preventive detention orders issued under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) and the National Security Act, 1980. The petitioners, many of whom had absconded or evaded execution of the orders,…

The Maharashtra government amended the Bombay Police Act, 1951 by inserting sections 33A and 338 to prohibit any dance performance in eating houses, permit rooms and beer bars while exempting certain establishments such as three‑star hotels and members‑only clubs. The amendment was challenged on the ground that it viol…

The Delhi High Court, after substantially hearing an appeal, allowed the appellants to withdraw the appeal and extended the interim relief granted earlier until 10 May 2010. The appellants contended that the High Court, having become functus officio upon permitting withdrawal, could not lawfully extend interim relief o…

Ghanshyam Dass Relhan was appointed as a clerk in the Haryana Government in 1958, confirmed and later promoted, and resigned in 1977 after obtaining permission to join the Kurukshetra Central Bank as a Senior Accountant. He retired from the bank in 1997, received retirement benefits but not a pension, and claimed a pen…

The Authorized Officer of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) sought to enforce its security interest over the assets of Mis. Ashok Saw Mill under Section 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act after the borrower defaulted on loans, leading to possession and eventual sale of assets. The borrower challenged the actions before the High Court …

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) allotted a residential plot to Raj Singh Rana under an allotment letter that stipulated a 7% simple interest rate on instalments of the tentative sale price. After the plot’s acquisition cost was enhanced, HUDA demanded additional payment with interest rates of 10% and 15%…

The petitioners, including M/s. Jindal Stainless Ltd., challenged the validity of various State entry tax statutes on the ground that they violated Articles 301, 302, 303 and 304 of the Constitution. The Division Bench observed that several High Courts had treated Article 304(a) and 304(b) as independent, concluding th…

The Supreme Court examined eleven writ petitions and three special leave petitions filed by registered unrecognised political parties seeking a common election symbol for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The parties challenged several provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968…

NTPC Ltd invited bids for a super‑critical steam‑generator package and rejected the bid of Ansaldo Caldaie Boilers India Ltd on the ground that its proposed Qualified Steam Generator Manufacturer had not designed and engineered the evaporator, an integral part of the generator, but had outsourced its manufacture to a t…

An interlocutory application was filed by SSANG YONG Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. seeking clarification and correction of several clerical errors in the Supreme Court's judgment dated 1 September 2011 in Civil Appeal No. 7562 of 2011. The applicant contended that paragraph 35 incorrectly stated that the SIAC Rul…

The original landowner sold agricultural land in 1961‑62 and handed over possession to the purchasers. The land changed hands several times through further agreements for sale in 1968 and 1969, eventually reaching the present defendants. The original owner filed suit for injunction, declaration of title and possession,…

The petitioners, tenants of a shop room, challenged an eviction suit filed by Subhash and Gopal Paliwal, claiming that a will executed by the deceased owner bequeathed the premises to Gopal, rendering Subhash not a landlord. The tenants admitted in their written statement that the Paliwals were their landlords and paid…

Narendra Kante filed a suit seeking declaration, permanent and mandatory injunctions concerning a property he claimed as ancestral, alleging that no valid partition had been effected and that a deed of family settlement dated 8 February 1967, which was not signed by all co‑sharers, could not be relied upon. The trial c…

Dipak Mali, a civilian motor driver, was suspended on 10 August 2002. Sub‑rules (6) and (7) were inserted into Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (CCA) Rules, 1965 by a 2003 notification, effective 2 June 2004, mandating that a suspension be reviewed within ninety days or be extended after such review; otherwise the…

Leela Hotels Ltd. entered into a sub‑lease with HUDCO for a hotel project, which was later cancelled, leading to arbitration. The arbitrator awarded HUDCO to pay Leela Hotels a principal sum plus interest. HUDCO deposited Rs 89.78 crores, claiming it was towards the principal, while Leela Hotels argued it should first …

Amar Singh and Jaya Pradha, both Members of Parliament, filed writ petitions under Article 32 challenging the threat of disqualification after being expelled from the Samajwadi Party, relying on the Supreme Court's decision in G. Viswanathan's case. They argued that the decision improperly extended the Tenth Schedule's…

The case concerns the murder of Ram Singh by a group of five assailants armed with firearms and lathis. The son of the deceased, PW‑1, witnessed the attack, lodged a First Information Report (FIR) within about one and a half hours, and identified the accused. All three eye‑witnesses (PW‑1, PW‑2, PW‑3) testified, and a …

The Supreme Court dismissed appeals by M/s. Sushi La Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. and another appellant challenging the suspension of coal supplies by Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. (BCCL) under a Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA). The suspension was based on a CBI FIR alleging that the appellants were diverting allotted coal to the open ma…

The Supreme Court examined whether Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) could suspend coal supplies to 45 industrial consumers under a Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) when no FIR had been filed against those consumers. The Court noted that Clause 4.4 of the FSA and the 2007 New Coal Distribution Policy permit suspension only …

Surendra Pratap Singh filed an FIR alleging that his brother was murdered by four persons, including MLA Brijesh Mishra. While three accused were arrested, the MLA evaded arrest and later secured a transfer of the investigation to the CBI, after which the Uttar Pradesh government withdrew eight cases against him. The p…

The respondents, Alok Fuels Ltd. and others, were supplied coal by Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. (BCCL) under a Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) that required the coal to be used only in their plants. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lodged an FIR alleging that the respondents were diverting the allotted coal to the open…

The appellant, an elderly father, filed a petition under Section 125 of the CrPC before the Family Court at Bijapur seeking monthly maintenance of Rs.5,000 from his son, who was employed in Syndagi. The Family Court dismissed the petition, holding it lacked jurisdiction because the son worked in Syndagi, and the High C…

The appellants purchased land that had been notified for acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and claimed that they had obtained prior permission under Section 5 of the Delhi Lands (Restrictions on Transfer) Act, 1972, to transfer the land. The High Court dismissed their review and writ petitions, holding …

The case arose from a long‑standing dispute over leasehold lands originally granted to Sowar Ramji Vaity. After a series of agreements, the respondent Kiran Construction Co. (Respondent No.1) sought to enforce a 1982 injunction restraining the Vaity family and others from dealing with the properties, despite having no …

The complainant, a widowed lady, filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of several cheques issued by the respondent. The Judicial Magistrate sentenced the respondent to pay a fine of Rs 4 lakh as compensation, which the High Court later enhanced to Rs 6 lakh. The complai…

The respondent purchased a leasehold property from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 1972. From 1983 onward, DDA issued multiple show‑cause notices alleging that the respondent misused the premises for office purposes and carried out unauthorized terrace construction. The respondent contended that the alleged mi…

In the 51‑Phulpur Lok Sabha election, Kapil Muni Karwaria was declared elected after the Returning Officer rejected Chandra Narain Tripathi's nomination for lacking the required ten proposers under Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, because the second proposer, Pramod Kumar, had been deleted from…

Jarnail Singh was convicted by the trial court for causing the death of Ramtar under Section 304 Part II of the IPC and sentenced to eight years' rigorous imprisonment. On appeal, the Punjab & Haryana High Court, although the appeal was filed by the accused and not the State, altered the conviction to the more serious …

Pradip Kumar, a Judicial Member of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) appointed directly from the Bar, was discharged from service on 20 November 2009 under Rule 8(3) of the Tribunal Rules, allegedly in response to a complaint by members of the Bar and a report by the President of CESTAT. T…

The case involved a matrimonial dispute between Depti Bhandari and Nitin Bhandari, centering on visitation rights to their minor daughter after the mother shifted residence from Jaipur to Delhi. The father had been granted visitation rights in Jaipur, but the mother sought to modify the order to allow visitation in Del…

The appellant Citicorp Maruti Finance Ltd. entered into a hire‑purchase agreement with the respondent for a Maruti Omni. After the respondent defaulted on monthly instalments, the bank repossessed the vehicle, informed police, and later auctioned it to a third party. The respondent filed a complaint before the Consumer…

The appellants, members of the Haryana Civil Medical Services, applied for postgraduate medical courses under a reserved quota as per a university prospectus that required three years of regular service and a NOC issued before 6 April 2011. After the entrance exam, results and a merit list were declared, the Haryana Go…

The respondent obtained a decree for possession of a suit property in 1990, which was later enforced through execution proceedings in 2004. The appellant, after the execution commenced, filed a suit for specific performance of an alleged oral agreement and sought an injunction to stay the eviction. The High Court set a…

The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and the State of Punjab filed an appeal against the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who had, relying on the Konkan Railway decision, referred a dispute to an arbitrator under Section 16 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The dispute arose from allegat…

The appellant, Rama Devi, was charged under IPC sections 406, 420, 465, 468 and 120‑B for allegedly conspiring with her vendor to sell a plot of land to the complainant despite knowing it had been previously transferred. The trial magistrate took cognizance of the complaint, and the appellant sought to quash the procee…

In 1952 G. Pullareddy gifted a life estate in his share of family property to his wife Sheshamma, stipulating that after her death the property would pass to his minor son G. Ramireddy. After Pullareddy's death, Sheshamma executed relinquishment, sale deeds and a will. Ramireddy sued to declare those deeds void, and th…

An amicus curiae, senior advocate Harish N. Salve, brought to the Supreme Court's notice statements made by senior advocate Prashant Bhushan in a Tehelka interview alleging widespread corruption in the higher judiciary and specifically imputing misconduct against Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia. The Court, on 6 November 200…

The appellant, Bharat Parikh, was charged in a special CBI case in 1996. After five years he sought production of certain documents, which were eventually produced in 2002, and then applied for reopening of the case and discharge. The Special Judge rejected the application, and the Bombay High Court dismissed his Secti…

In 1989 PUDA invited applications for higher‑income houses, requiring a Rs 4,000 earnest deposit and expressly stating that no interest would be paid on it. Unsuccessful applicants who did not request a refund of their deposit were later included in a second draw of lots in 1996, after which PUDA returned the deposits …

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of Durga Prasad and others under IPC sections 498-A and 304-B for the alleged dowry death of Kripa Bai, who committed suicide within seven years of marriage. The trial and High Courts had relied solely on the testimony of the victim's mother and brother, alleging cruelty and ha…

The appellants' husband was robbed and thrown from a moving train in 1998, resulting in his death. The appellants filed a claim for compensation before the Railway Claims Tribunal, which awarded Rs.4 lakh in 2007 but granted interest only in case of default. The appellants appealed, arguing that interest should accrue …

The petitioners, who had obtained large credit facilities from two banks by allegedly submitting forged lease documents as collateral, defaulted on payments and were prosecuted for fraud and related offences. The banks later settled the civil dues through a one‑time settlement, and the petitioners sought to have the cr…

Bhushan Power & Steel Ltd. (appellant) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State of Orissa on 15 May 2002, wherein the State agreed to recommend iron‑ore mining leases for the appellant’s integrated steel plant. After restructuring of the Bhushan group, the State claimed the MOU had ceased and dem…

Chand Patel was married to Bismillah Begum, the sister of his first wife, while the first marriage was still subsisting. Bismillah Begum and her minor daughter sought maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The lower courts held that the marriage, though irregular, continued to subsist and orde…

The Supreme Court reviewed a 2007 order that directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to inquire into alleged disproportionate assets of a political family and to submit its report to the Union of India. The petitioners sought a review, arguing that the Court lacked jurisdiction to order a CBI inquiry without…

The appellant, Sunita Jha, was charged under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code for cruelty to the complainant, Asha Rani Pal, on the ground that she was living with Pal's husband as his wife. The trial court rejected her discharge application, and the Jharkhand High Court affirmed that her cohabitation made her a f…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted two individuals under Section 161 IPC and Sections 5(1)(d) and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for demanding illegal gratification in connection with an excise licence. A trap was arranged in which the complainant handed over treated currency notes; the deceased acc…

The petition concerned whether a Judicial Magistrate could order a reinvestigation under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure after a charge‑sheet had been filed under Section 173(2) and charges were framed against some accused while others were discharged. The Supreme Court held that once a charge‑sheet is…

The case involved a charter party for the carriage of crude oil from Ras Sukheir to a safe Indian port, where the charterers nominated Vadinar Single Berth Mooring (SBM) for discharge. The vessel arrived at Vadinar, tendered a Notice of Readiness (NOR) but could not moor at the SBM due to inadequate equipment. An adden…

The appellant, U.P. State Road Transport Corporation, challenged the award of Rs.5,12,000 made by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal to the widows and children of Rajveer Singh, who died in a motor accident on 29‑Nov‑1990. The Tribunal had used a multiplier of 22, based on the deceased’s presumed 22 years of service left…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a 2010 notification issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) introducing the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to postgraduate medical courses across India. Petitioners challenged the MCI's competence under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, to imp…

Thirteen BJP MLAs wrote to the Governor withdrawing support from Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, prompting the Governor to ask the CM to prove his majority and the CM to file a disqualification application under the Tenth Schedule against them. The Speaker issued show‑cause notices, gave only three days to respond (in…

The Supreme Court examined whether independent legislators who extended support to Shri Yeddyurappa in forming a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and subsequently joined his Council of Ministers had forfeited their independent status under the anti-defection law. The Court held that merely offering support and a…

A criminal complaint under Section 420 read with Section 120‑B IPC was filed by the father of the respondent alleging that the petitioner, S.P. Gupta, as the attorney of accused No.1, misrepresented the ownership of a property, assuring it was free of encumbrances and that accused No.1 was the sole owner. The trial cou…

The petitioners, a former minister and MLA, were arrested for alleged misappropriation of funds and charged under several IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act provisions. Although the charge‑sheet and a supplementary charge‑sheet were filed within the 90‑day period prescribed by Section 167(2) of the CrPC, the prosecut…

The incident on 1 October 2006 resulted in the death of Brijesh Kumar Singh and injuries to Manvender Singh. The FIR named Ram Pal Singh, Deepak Singh, Ajai Kumar Singh and Anil Kumar Singh, but they were not listed as accused in the charge‑sheet. During trial, PW‑1 (Kamlesh Singh) identified the appellants as particip…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Scheduled Caste officer, placed 39th on a promotion selection list for Officer Scale II, was entitled to automatic promotion under a concession in NABARD circulars. The bank had 17 vacancies and a circular stating that SC/ST candidates within the number of vacancies would be automat…

OM Construction Co, a contractor, completed stone‑paving work for Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) but was not paid the full amount due. The contract contained Clause 30 of Form B‑1, which referred disputes to arbitration, but the arbitration clause did not specify a procedure for appointing an arbitrator. OM Cons…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition under Article 32 challenging a preventive detention order issued against Deepak Bajaj under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974. The petition was filed before the order was executed, raising the issue of maintainability of pre‑…

The Official Liquidator of Hindustan Nitro Product (Gujarat) Ltd. auctioned the company's assets after wide newspaper publicity, accepting the highest bid of Rs.3.51 crores from Valji Khimji & Co. and confirming the sale on 30 July 2003. Subsequent higher offers were made by two other companies more than a year later, …

The Supreme Court examined the selection process for entry‑level District Judges in Madhya Pradesh for the 2006‑07 recruitment. Petitioners challenged the High Court's use of a normalization procedure for written‑exam marks and the alleged introduction of a 50% cut‑off at the final stage, arguing that such steps were n…

Kodikkunnil Suresh was elected from the Mavelikkara Lok Sabha seat reserved for Scheduled Castes. His election was challenged on the ground that he was a Christian and therefore not a member of any Scheduled Caste under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950. The High Court declared his election void, holding …

The Supreme Court entertained a contempt petition filed by trained primary school teachers alleging that the State of Bihar had failed to honour its undertaking to fill 34,540 vacant assistant teacher posts with trained teachers in order of seniority. The Court examined the Bihar Special Elementary Teachers' Recruitmen…

In the 2012 presidential election, petitioner Purno Agitok Sangma challenged the election of Pranab Mukherjee on the ground that Mukherjee held two "offices of profit" – Chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha – at the time of filing his nomination, which would disqua…

The Delhi High Court dismissed an election petition challenging the 2009 Lok Sabha election of Ajay Maken on grounds of alleged corrupt practices. The appellant argued that the petition should be thrown out for (i) the copy served on him not being a true copy under Section 81(3) of the Representation of the People Act,…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 279 and 304A of the IPC for causing the death of a seven‑year‑old girl by negligent driving of a tractor. He was sentenced to six months' simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs.2,000, with the conviction under Section 279 later set aside by the High Court. During the pendency of…

The appellant, Sri Krishna Agencies, filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for three dishonoured cheques of Rs. 5 lakh each. The respondent argued that the dispute was already before an arbitration forum and therefore the matter was civil, prompting the Andhra Pradesh High Court…

Zenit Mataplast Ltd. filed a writ petition challenging the allotment of 17 acres of land to Mahendra & Mahendra Ltd. and another party, alleging that the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation acted arbitrarily, with bias and favouritism, violating Article 14 of the Constitution. The Bombay High Court admitted …

The accused Vikas Chaudhary and co‑accused abducted a young man, killed him and thereafter made repeated ransom calls to the victim's parents. The petitioner argued that the offence under IPC s.364A was completed at the time of abduction and that he was a juvenile when the offence was committed, invoking the Juvenile J…

The appellant applied for a sand mining lease under the Uttar Pradesh Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 1963, and was recommended for grant by the District Magistrate and State Government. The respondent, a member of a socially and educationally backward class (SEBC), claimed preference under clause (e) of Rule 9(2) a…

The Supreme Court examined several Special Leave Petitions challenging the Bombay High Court's interim order that, pending the constitution of a proper Maharashtra State Board of Wakfs under the Wakf Act, 1995, the Charity Commissioner should continue to administer Muslim Wakf properties. The Court held that the Board …

APM Terminals BV challenged the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust’s (JNPT) decision to exclude it from the Fourth Container Terminal tender, arguing that a licence agreement clause (8.31) barred the exclusion. The Union of India had altered its port policy to prevent private monopolisation, stipulating that operators of one …

The Supreme Court heard a batch of appeals concerning compensation for lands acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in Haryana. The Court examined the method of determining market value, the appropriateness of deductions for development costs, the use of the belting system, and the manner of applying annual infl…

Satyavir Singh, armed with his brother's licensed double‑barrel gun, fired two shots at Dharam Prakash, the brother of an informant, injuring him. The trial court convicted Singh under Section 307 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act; the first appellate court acquitted him on the basis that the firing was accidental, re…

Ramraj, convicted under IPC sections 302 and 201 for murdering his wife, was sentenced to life imprisonment. The High Court upheld the conviction, and the petitioner sought release after serving 14 years, arguing that remission had effectively reduced his term to about 17 years. The Supreme Court examined the statutory…

The respondents, appointed as supervisors and Child Development Project Officers (CDPO) under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in West Bengal, claimed that they were State Government employees and sought mandatory promotion of 75% of CDPO and Assistant CDPO posts from female supervisors. The High Court he…

The petitioner, Nitin Gunwant Shah, claimed to be a monthly tenant of a flat in Mumbai based on a 1989 "Leave and Licence" agreement and sought a declaration to that effect. The Indian Bank, holding a mortgage over the same property, obtained a decree for recovery of dues and sought to sell the flat, also asking the co…

The bench examined several writ petitions challenging preventive detention orders at the pre‑execution stage. The petitioners argued that, under the Right to Information Act, 2005, a detenu should be furnished with the grounds of detention before arrest, and that the five exceptions laid down in Alka Subhash Gadia's ca…

Lt. General Lakhwinder Singh, an Indian Army officer, was recommended twice by Special Selection Boards for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General. The Central Government, acting as the appointing authority, rejected the recommendations, deeming him "unfit" because his profile was the weakest among the candidates …

Satish Sitole and Smt. Ganga were married on 22 May 1992. The wife left the matrimonial home in August 1994 and the parties lived apart for 14 years, during which they filed multiple suits including a dowry complaint under IPC 498‑A and a petition for divorce under Sections 13(1)(ia) and (ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act.…

The dispute arose between M/s Today Homes & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (and Mapletree Properties) and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust over a joint‑venture agreement dated 24‑05‑2005, which the Trust later claimed was void. The developers filed an application under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 199…

Antrix Corp. Ltd. and Devas Multimedia entered into an agreement containing an arbitration clause that required disputes to be referred to senior management and, failing that, to an arbitral tribunal governed by ICC or UNCITRAL rules, with the seat in New Delhi and Indian law as the governing law. After Antrix terminat…

The appellant, a graduate suffering from cerebral palsy, was appointed as a Rehbar‑e‑Taleem (teaching guide) under Section 22 of the Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1998. Respondent Nazir Ahmed Shah challenged the appointment, and the J…

The Union of India and others entered into a contract with M/s Neelam Engineering for security lighting, which later gave rise to disputes resolved by an arbitrator who awarded Rs.1,70,020 in favour of the respondent. The respondent filed a petition under Sections 14(2), 17 and 29 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 to have t…

Ravinder Raj booked a Maruti car in the mid‑1980s, paid an advance and later paid the full price in February 1989. Before the official billing on 5 April 1989, the government raised excise duty, increasing the car's price by about Rs.6,710, and the dealer asked the buyer to pay the excess amount, which he did under pro…

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of two appellants, Raju and Mangli, under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Ishwar. The incident arose after the deceased misbehaved with women at a marriage ceremony, leading the accused to assault him; the co‑accused were armed with k…