B L HANSARIA

The appellant obtained possession of the suit lands in 1956 under a sale agreement, having paid only part of the consideration and later filed a suit for specific performance which was dismissed. The respondent purchased the lands in 1960 and sued for possession, obtaining a decree in the trial court that was reversed …

The deceased Varkey Mathew died in 1973 without filing the statement of excess land required under Sections 85(2) and 85(3A) of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1964. The State initiated proceedings under Section 85(7) against his successors-in-interest, but the Taluk Land Board later cancelled the order and the Kerala Hig…

The Chinchwad New Township Municipal Council passed a resolution exempting octroi on initially imported plant and machinery for a "new industrial undertaking" and clarified that a new industry is not one formed by splitting up or reconstructing an existing business. Century Enka Ltd. set up a second unit to manufacture…

The appellant, Delhi Cloth and General Mills Co. Ltd., was the manufacturer of vanaspati ghee that was found adulterated when sold by Laxmi Narain, who was prosecuted under Section 16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. During the trial, the magistrate, on the basis of evidence that the appellant had manu…

The State of Kerala acquired 8.83 hectares of land under Section 19 of the Kerala Land Acquisition Act, 1963, to extract granite for a dam project. A commissioner was appointed to assess the quantity of granite, the extent of land, and the compensation payable, reporting 7,12,500 cubic meters of granite in 15.77 acres …

The appellant, a partner in a firm, was subject to a Labour Court certificate directing the District Collector to recover Rs. 62,843.50 as arrears of land revenue under the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887. When a bailiff attempted to attach his movable property, the appellant promised to appear before the Collector but f…

The appellant, a tenant of Smt. Ajudhia, sought a declaration of title over a parcel of agricultural land that had been sold in execution of a money decree against her and later transferred to an auction‑purchaser, respondent No. 11. The appellant had earlier obtained a decree under the Punjab Pre‑emption Act, 1913, as…

In a review petition arising from a civil appeal, the Bombay High Court had earlier declared the respondent a surplus holder under the Land Ceiling Act and allowed him to file a review if he was later found to be within the ceiling limit. The review petition was filed, but it raised new grounds that were not part of th…

The appellants' land was acquired in September 1976 and possession was taken on December 16, 1976. Due to litigation, the Land Acquisition Officer could not pass the award until March 22, 1983. The appellants claimed interest at 12% per annum for the delay. The Supreme Court held that under Section 34 of the Land Acqui…

G. Sundarsan, appointed under the Scheduled Caste quota in the Income Tax Department, rose to the rank of Income Tax Inspector. Three years before his retirement, a departmental enquiry established that he did not belong to any Scheduled Caste and therefore was not entitled to the reserved post. Consequently, under Rul…

The plaintiff N.P. Thirugnanam had entered into a sale agreement for a property and paid a small advance, thereafter taking possession as a tenant. He sued for specific performance, alleging the defendants had refused to execute the sale deed, while the defendants contended that the plaintiff had not paid the further a…

G.C. Ghosh, a tenant, was ordered evicted by the respondents on the ground that he failed to deposit the November 1984 rent by the statutory deadline of 15 December, depositing it instead on 17 December. The lower courts had not found any default on the earlier grounds of bona‑fide requirement or sub‑letting, nor had t…

The Supreme Court examined Notification No. 146/74 issued under the Central Excise Rules, 1944, which provided a rebate on excise duty for sugar produced in excess of the average production of the preceding five years. The dispute centered on whether the percentage rebates in sub‑clauses (a) to (e) should be calculated…

Kameshwar Prasad was appointed as a vaccinator under the Small Pox Eradication Scheme in 1975. The scheme was discontinued in 1985 and a resolution (No. 2215, 11‑Feb‑1985) directed that 25% of senior officers be retained and the remaining 75% be absorbed in equivalent regular posts. While awaiting absorption, Prasad ob…

In a partition suit concerning joint family property, the trial court issued a preliminary decree dividing the schedule properties into two equal shares, one to the plaintiff and one to the first defendant. The decree was confirmed by a single High Court judge but set aside by a division bench, which remitted the matte…

The State of Madhya Pradesh granted the appellants a right to catch fish in government tanks. The appellants argued that this right was merely a licence and therefore not subject to compulsory registration under the Indian Registration Act, 1908 or stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. The Supreme Court held tha…

The Karnataka State Government First Grade Colleges Part‑Time Lecturers' Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution alleging that the State Government had not adequately addressed the grievances of part‑time lecturers. The State Government responded that it had constituted a sub‑committee to…

The murder of Jayantilal Vadodaria led to the arrest of four assailants and two villagers, Anirudhsinh Jadeja (Sarpanch) and Digubha Jadeja, who had concealed the murder weapons on the latter's field. The State invoked the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA) against the two villagers and a…

The State of Karnataka, under the Karnataka Acquisition of Land for Grant of House Sites Act, 1972, issued a notification under Section 3(1) announcing its intention to acquire land for house sites for the weaker sections. The land’s recorded owner was served notice, but the notification did not mention the name of the…

R. Ramaswamy was appointed temporarily as Project Officer in 1979 and later regularised as a permanent Project Officer, a post deemed equivalent in status and pay to Assistant Director. When he was temporarily promoted to Assistant Director and sought promotion to Deputy Director, the question arose whether he was seni…

The appellant, R.V. Bhupal Prasad, held a cinema theatre under a 20‑year lease that expired in 1983. He applied for renewal of his cinema licence under the Andhra Pradesh Cinemas (Regulations) Rules, 1970, but the landlady (Respondent No.3) objected, claiming his possession was not lawful. The licensing authority and a…

The case arose from the 1984 Delhi riots in which a mob killed Himmat Singh and Wazir Singh. The trial court convicted three accused, Tribhuvan Nath, Raju and Sita Ram, under IPC sections 302 and 149, among others, based on eyewitness testimony that they participated in the murderous mob. The Delhi High Court acquitted…

Dakshaben B. Patel appealed against the Administrator of the UT of Daman and Diu after the Central Administrative Tribunal extended her time by six months to obtain an M.Phil degree. She secured the degree within the extended period, and a notification dated 6 July 1992 confirmed her eligibility. The respondents had no…

The appellant challenged a decree confirming a lower court's finding that a 1967 will was not validly executed. The Punjab & Haryana High Court Division Bench was split, with one judge holding the will proved and the other holding it not proved; no majority opinion existed. The Supreme Court examined whether, under Sec…

The widow of Ram Kishore Pandey filed a claim before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal for compensation of Rs. 1,17,747.70 after her husband was killed in a car accident. The Tribunal awarded only Rs. 40,600, assuming a life expectancy of 58 years and deducting 33% for a lump‑sum payment, and dismissed the claim agai…

Mohan Singh, an Assistant in the Advocate‑General's Office, was promoted to Superintendent Grade‑I. Respondents Tarlok Singh and Deena Nath Singla filed a writ petition challenging the promotion, arguing that the vacancy was not a reserved one and that a direct promotion (double jump) was impermissible where a Superint…

Jai Kishan was appointed as a temporary constable in the Delhi Police on 9 September 1982 and placed on probation as required by Rule 5(e) of the Central Services Temporary (Service) Rules, 1966. The rule mandates a two‑year probation, extendable up to three years, after which successful completion leads to confirmatio…

The petitioner, a landowner, challenged the acquisition of his land by the State of Gujarat, arguing that the notice issued under Section 5A(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 required a personal hearing which was not provided, and that the declaration under Section 6 was published beyond the one‑year limit. The noti…

The trial court decreed against the husband of S. Nag, ordering attachment of a flat. The husband appealed, and the Calcutta High Court affirmed the decree, focusing solely on the husband's liability. The wife (appellant) subsequently filed objections, asserting that she was the independent owner of the flat and had no…

The petitioners, who belong to the general category, challenged the Punjab Government's reservation policy for promotions in the Punjab Service of Engineers, arguing that the roster system and the percentage of reserved posts should cease once the prescribed quota was met and that backward‑class candidates already prom…

The Union of India filed a complaint under Section 73 of the Mines Act, 1952 alleging that Oriental Coal Co. Ltd. and its officials violated conditions 3 and 6 of the permission to split pillars with hydraulic sand stowing. The trial court and the High Court acquitted the respondents, holding that the alleged breach wa…

The petitioners, members of the teaching specialist sub‑cadre of the Central Health Service, challenged the Government’s decision to implement the Tikoo Committee’s recommendation on promotion from the Rs 3,700‑5,000 scale to the Rs 4,500‑5,700 scale with a cut‑off date of 1 December 1991, alleging that the one‑year de…

The State Government appealed a High Court decision that had dismissed its civil revision against a civil court award of additional compensation under Section 23(1‑A) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The award by the Land Acquisition Officer was dated 30 July 1981, before the amendment (Act 68 of 1984) that introduce…

The State of Haryana appealed against an award granted in a dispute with Trilok Chand and others. The High Court had earlier ordered the parties to bring their legal representatives on record within a specified period. The appellant failed to comply with this direction, and no steps were taken to record the legal repre…

The Supreme Court heard an appeal by owners of 9 acres 10 guntas of agricultural land acquired for a bus stand. The Land Acquisition Officer initially awarded Rs 5,000 per acre, the civil court raised it to Rs 30,000 per acre, and the High Court, after deducting 53% under building rules and a further 33 ⅓% for developm…

The case concerned ex‑servicemen who were re‑employed in civil posts of the Government of India and the validity of the Union's decision to deny dearness relief (DR) on their pensions and family pensions, as well as to reduce their pay by an amount equivalent to the enhanced pension of those who were in post on 1 Janua…

The Supreme Court examined a public interest writ petition challenging the allotment of 52 shops and stalls by the then Minister of Urban Development, Smt. Sheila Kaul. The Court found that the allotments were made without public notice, contrary to the policy she herself had framed in 1994, and were granted to her rel…

The Supreme Court sentenced a State Government officer, J. Vasudevan, to one month’s simple imprisonment for wilful disobedience of its order. The officer applied for remission of the sentence invoking the Court’s mercy jurisdiction, while a colleague had approached one of the judges to seek mercy for Vasudevan, an act…

The State of Bihar appealed against Tata Engineering & Loco Co. Ltd. and another party concerning the grant of a mining lease that had already expired. The appeal arose after a related civil appeal (No. 3996/87) was withdrawn, raising the question of whether the High Court's earlier judgment should bind the State in fu…

Raimati Sahuani filed a suit for declaration of title and possession of her father’s 88‑acre property, alleging that the respondents were in possession without any right. The respondents defended the suit by claiming that the first respondent was the adopted son of the appellant’s father, Urddhaba, and therefore entitl…

The respondent, Ajoy Kumar Patnaik, a Collector of Customs (Appeals), was compulsorily retired under Fundamental Rule 56(j) on the ground of "doubtful integrity" after a screening committee cited his misclassification of tariff items and disposal of appeals contrary to import policy, which allegedly benefitted dealers.…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against Suresh Gupta and another, seeking direction on pending criminal matters. The High Court had earlier issued findings and observations in W.P. Nos. 671 & 596 of 1995. The appellant and respondent agreed that the lower courts should decide the pending and connected matters on t…

The original grantee, Dasana Rangaiah, was allotted two acres of government land in 1951 under the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act. He sold the land to the appellant in 1968, but a 1987 representation led the Assistant Commissioner to set aside the sale as …

The petitioners sought a further increase in compensation for land acquired under a 1964 notification of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, arguing that higher awards in adjacent villages and a later award of Rs. 68,000 per bigha should apply. The Supreme Court examined whether a circular issued under Section 48 of the St…

The District Collectors of Uttarkashi and Tehri Garwal submitted reports on earthquake compensation claims. In Uttarkashi, after verification, no eligible victims were left out. In Tehri, out of 6,978 claimants, 6,071 were verified, 907 pending, 3,844 ineligible, 576 eligible but not yet claimed, and 151 minors ineligi…

The appellant, a former army officer commissioned in 1974 and released in 1979, was appointed as Deputy Collector in 1979 and sought seniority from his commission date under Rule 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Non‑Technical (Class II) Services (Reservation of Vacancies for Demobilised Officers) Rules, 1980. The State argued th…

The appellant, S.L. Soni, sought promotion to Assistant Conservator of Forest under the Madhya Pradesh Forest Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1977. A High Level Committee, constituted as per the Rules, evaluated the claims of all eligible officers based on seniority, merit, and integrity, using the average of the last fiv…

The appellant borrowed Rs.35,500 from the respondent and his brother, paid Rs.20,000 and executed a promissory note for the balance of Rs.15,500 with 9% interest. On the same day he also executed an agreement to sell three plots of land for the same amount, intending the sale to discharge the note. The respondent sued …

The State of West Bengal recruited candidates for the post of Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in district and sub‑divisional offices under the West Bengal Board's Miscellaneous Rules, 1955, which required a minimum typing speed of 30 words per minute. Forty‑four respondents who failed the typing test were denied appointment…

In December 1992 the State of Haryana conducted an examination for Road Inspectors, declaring two candidates selected on 1 January 1993. Subsequently, on 16 July 1993, fourteen additional candidates were appointed by promotion, allegedly without any selection process and possibly involving bribes. The appellant, who ha…

The appellants, who were holding certain posts, filed an appeal against a decision of the Madhya Pradesh State Administrative Tribunal that ordered them to be continued in their positions until regularly selected candidates were appointed and took charge. The State filed a counter‑affidavit stating that the regular can…

Mary Johny, a Group C employee of Doordarshan Kendra in the Maharashtra‑Goa‑Dadar‑Nagar Haveli region, challenged her promotion and transfer to Akashvani (All India Radio) within the same region, contending that she had elected to remain with Doordarshan when the two services were bifurcated in 1976. The Central Admini…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against a Tribunal order concerning daily‑wage workers in the Forest Department who sought regular absorption after eight years of service. The State had framed a scheme prescribing minimum education, age (28 years, with a 5‑year relaxation for backward classes) and physical standards …

The appellant, Karunalahiri, and the first respondent, Gautam Kumar Chakraborty, were initially appointed on an ad‑hoc basis in the Orissa State Law Department. A selection committee placed the respondent at serial No. 1 and the appellant at serial No. 3, with confirmation to be made by the State Public Service Commiss…

Sita Devi, widow of Mukand Lal, appealed against the State of Haryana challenging the award of compensation for land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Collector’s award (26‑Nov‑1976) and the reference court’s award (10‑Jan‑1985) raised questions about entitlement to solatium, interest, and additional c…

During a strike at BPL India Ltd., three workmen affiliated with the Palghat BPL and PSP Thozhilali Union assaulted company officers at a bus‑stop outside the factory, throwing stones and causing injuries. The employer dismissed the workmen under Clause 39(h) of its certified Standing Orders, alleging misconduct, and t…

The appellant, J.G. Prasada Rao, claimed seniority over several respondents in the Andhra Pradesh Divisional Accounts Officers Service based on having passed the Divisional test earlier. The State Government had absorbed Divisional Accountants, SAS Accountants and SAS passed Auditors from the Accountant General's cadre…

The Chandigarh Housing Board (Allotment, Management and Sale of Tenements) Regulations, 1979, under Regulation 6, permit only one member among a husband, wife, unmarried children or other family members to receive an allotment of a house or flat. Both Avtar Singh and his wife separately applied for Category II flats an…

The petitioners, Priya Vart and others, challenged the compensation awarded for land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, arguing that it should be increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.14,000 per bigha. The High Court had enhanced the award to Rs.10,000, noting the interior location of the Khyala village lands comp…

The Assistant Collector of Central Excise appealed against Bata India Ltd. alleging that the manufacturer could not claim exemption under a notification that exempted footwear valued up to Rs.60 per pair when its wholesale price exceeded that limit. Bata argued that by deducting the 10% excise duty from the wholesale p…

The Government of Tamil Nadu acquired 0.87 hectare of land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, publishing a notification on 12‑April‑1988 and a declaration on 29‑April‑1989. The landowner challenged the acquisition in a writ petition; the High Court dismissed the petition but the landowner obtained a stay of disposse…

The appellants, heirs of Somabhai Kanjibhai Baria, were tenants of watan lands that were abolished by the Gujarat Watans Abolition Act, 1961 and later re‑granted to the respondent in 1966. The tenancy was terminated on 31 March 1961 and a suit for possession was filed on 14 August 1962. The civil court, relying on Sect…

In a partition suit, the defendant (appellant) produced a registered will executed by his mother that left the entire estate to him. The trial court rejected the will, finding suspicious circumstances, while the subordinate judge upheld its validity, relying on the registrar's endorsement as proof of the testator's sou…

Mela Ram died leaving his mother Radha in possession of his property. Radha, a life‑tenant, later gifted and bequeathed portions of the property to her grandson Shiv Dass. The other daughter, Devki, challenged these alienations, claiming that she and her sister Durga were the reversionary heirs entitled to equal halves…

The Vadakkenchary Co. Operative Service Bank Ltd. appealed against judgments of the Kerala High Court (Civil Appeal Nos. 2274‑78 of 1977). The appellants later sought liberty to withdraw these appeals, invoking earlier orders of this Court that allowed similar withdrawals. The Court granted the liberty and dismissed th…

The State issued a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to acquire 105 acres for defence purposes. The Land Acquisition Officer initially awarded compensation of Rs.30 per square yard, which the civil court later enhanced to Rs.108 per square yard. The respondent appealed, and the High Cour…

The respondent, Thachudaya Kaimal, claimed that certain properties were granted to him personally for his benefit under a historic decree, entitling him to the income or usufruct of those premises. The trial court and the first appellate court dismissed his suit, but the Kerala High Court in a second appeal allowed his…

The Bombay Environmental Action Group appealed to the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court’s order closing contempt proceedings against builders who were constructing a building on plot No. 57. The High Court had held that the construction did not violate its earlier interim injunction dated 23‑03‑1992, which wa…

The appellant, representing the Patni Jamat, sought an occupancy certificate from the Mamlatdar in 1951 for land to be used as a Kabristan. A later suit (Suit No. 151/66) declared that all four jamats were jointly entitled to the land, and an injunction was placed against the appellant; this decree was reversed on appe…

The appellant, a government employee, sought annual increments of Rs.100 on his pay scale as directed by a previous Supreme Court order, arguing that after reaching the maximum of the scale the increments should continue as special pay. He also claimed entitlement to local allowances on par with the Punjab pattern afte…

The appellant S. Noordeen challenged the validity of a sale of properties that had been attached before judgment in a suit (O.S. No. 95/53) to recover a debt from D.J. Gonzaga. The properties, including items 1‑7 attached under Order 38 Rule 6 of the CPC, were incorporated in a compromise decree dated 3 April 1954 and …

The State of Haryana sought recruitment of 11 Chief Inspectors, with a selection committee appointing 11 and placing four general‑category candidates on a waiting list. The candidates challenged the non‑appointment, and the Punjab & Haryana High Court held that while the waiting list did not create a vested right, the …

The Supreme Court considered a review petition (No. 2070 of 1996) filed by Shri Prabir Chowdhury on behalf of M. Poornachandran and others against a judgment of the Madras High Court. The petitioner was not the advocate‑on‑record (AOR) who argued the original appeal, nor was he present during the proceedings. The Court…

The appellant and respondent were married in 1981. The wife filed a petition under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 seeking maintenance and a separate residence on the ground that the husband was impotent and neglected her. The magistrate awarded Rs. 500 per month, which was affirmed by the Sessions …

The State of Uttar Pradesh, through the Director of Education, issued a show‑cause notice to the Committee of Management of S.K.M. Inter College under Section 16‑D(2) and (3) of the U.P. Intermediate Education Act, 1921, alleging mismanagement, misappropriation of funds and other irregularities. The Committee's explana…

The appellant, U.P. Avas Evam Vikas Parishad, challenged the High Court's order quashing a land acquisition notification issued under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The respondent, Smt. Pushpa Lata Awasthi, had purchased the land from the original owner, Chotelal, after the notification was served but before any objec…

The respondents were appointed on an adhoc basis by the Food Corporation of India without following the prescribed rules, and they continued in service for a long period due to the non‑availability of directly recruited candidates. The High Court ordered that the entire adhoc period be treated as regular service, grant…

The appellant, an Assistant Sub‑Inspector of Police, was accused of delays in dispatching communications and of failing to keep a copy of the Superintendent’s leave application on record. After being threatened and warned by the Superintendent, he tendered his resignation on 3 January 1991. He withdrew the resignation …

The case arose from a foreclosure suit where a court‑appointed receiver sold the mortgaged property to the appellant, Nani Gopal Paul, for Rs 60 lakhs, of which only Rs 5 lakhs was deposited. The sale was confirmed by a single High Court judge despite the existence of higher offers and without proper scrutiny. Responde…

The petitioner, a former semi‑skilled workman who later became an Assistant Store Keeper, claimed that he was unfairly excluded from promotion to the OEP Section, alleging a violation of his right to consideration. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) dismissed his application through a single‑member bench. He cha…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 4 of the Uttar Pradesh Amendment Act 33 of 1972, which abolished letters‑patent appeals from judgments of a single High Court judge in writ jurisdiction concerning revenue and tenancy matters. The petitioners challenged the amendment on the ground that i…

The appellant‑defendant challenged the trial and Kerala High Court judgments that upheld a suit for recovery of Rs 1.5 lakhs on a promissory note (Ex A) executed for the transfer of 3 acres 44 cents of land and a building. The appellant contended that the note was purportedly for cash consideration, that the underlying…

The State of U.P. filed an FIR against O.P. Sharma, manager of Modi Paints and Varnish Works, for storing large quantities of edible oils without a licence under the U.P. Oil‑seeds and Oil‑seeds Products Control Order, 1966 and the Edible Oil‑seeds and Edible Oils (Storage Control) Order, 1977. The High Court quashed t…

The appellant, Dharmavir, worked as a teacher at Adarsh Higher Secondary School from 3 September 1985 after a reserved post remained vacant and another teacher left. He claimed entitlement to salary for the period he performed duties, while the Management alleged that he had already received double payment. The Distric…

The appellants, former land intermediaries, claimed ownership of a 4‑bigha agricultural plot in Begusarai, Bihar, and obtained a decree for possession in the trial court and first appellate court. The Patna High Court reversed, holding that under the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950, the land vested in the State because th…

The appellant, a District Primary Education Officer, appealed against a Gujarat High Court order that had directed the grant of aid for a clerk and a peon to a trust running a single primary school. The trust claimed that under Rule 115(3) of the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1949, institutions operating more than one …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Union Public Service Commission's practice of fixing 1 August as the cut‑off date for determining age eligibility in the Civil Services Examination was arbitrary, especially after the introduction of a preliminary exam held before that date. The Court held that the cut‑off date wa…

N.K. Chandla, a Sub‑Station Assistant in the Haryana State Electricity Board, lost his right arm due to cancer and could no longer perform technical duties. The Board reassigned him as a Carrier Attendant with a lower pay scale, which he contested. The Supreme Court ordered a medical board to assess his capability; the…

The wife appealed to the Supreme Court under Section 13‑B of the Hindu Marriage Act, seeking a decree of divorce by mutual consent and alimony. The parties, at the Court's suggestion, agreed that the husband would pay the wife Rs 700 per month starting 1 November 1995, with payment due by the 5th of each month. The Cou…

The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) offered 15,000 sq. yards of land to Children’s Academy at a reserved price of Rs 160 per sq. metre, requiring full payment of Rs 20,31,820.90. The Academy deposited only Rs 1 lakh, leading to cancellation of the offer. A fresh offer was later made under the same terms, which the A…

G. Rabinathan, an Emergency Commissioned Officer in the defence services from June 1963 to September 1967, joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) from December 1967 to June 1972 and was later appointed as a Probationary Commercial Tax Officer in Karnataka. He sought continuity of service for seniority under Rule 6‑A of …

The appellant, a vendor, sought rescission of a contract of sale under Section 28 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, alleging the respondent failed to pay the balance consideration within the time fixed by an appellate decree for specific performance. The decree, passed by the appellate court, was being executed in the …

The dispute concerned seniority in the post of Chargeman Grade‑I in the Ministry of Defence, where recruitment was by promotion and direct recruitment under an 80:20 rotation rule. The first respondent (a promotee) was placed junior to direct recruits in the 1982 seniority list and sought its set‑aside, alleging that t…

Sri Manohar appealed against the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal’s dismissal of his service law claim on the ground of laches. The Tribunal had accepted the employer’s explanation for the delay and dismissed the case without a counter‑affidavit from the respondents. The Supreme Court noted that the respondents had no…

Darshan Kumar filed a suit on 25 September 1989 challenging several orders of the competent authority that had withheld his service increments. The trial court held the suit was not barred by limitation because the enquiry procedure under the relevant rules was not followed. The appellate court merely observed that no …

The appellants, former government employees, were dismissed for multiple unauthorised absences amounting to marginal lapses of one to two days. They challenged their dismissal before the Supreme Court, seeking reinstatement with full back‑pay. The Court examined whether such marginal lapses warranted dismissal or could…

The State of Manipur appealed a Gauhati High Court order that had upheld the filling of vacant Executive Engineer posts in the Civil Circle of the Electricity Department without directing the government to fill all vacancies. The Supreme Court observed that before deciding the merits, the State Government must first ta…

The State of Gujarat initiated proceedings under the Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling Act, 1960 to determine the ceiling and surplus area of a parcel of land. The respondent claimed that an agreement dated 14 October 1969 had transferred 30 acres to his mother, a transfer that had been recorded through mutation on 15…

The Land Acquisition Collector issued an award fixing compensation for three belts of land. Twenty‑two landowners, including the appellants, signed Form K under Rule 9(5)(i) of the Rules, thereby accepting the compensation without protest. Subsequently the appellants filed a writ petition in the Punjab & Haryana High C…

The Jabalpur Cantonment Board had initially granted permission to S.N. Awasthi and others to construct a building, but later cancelled it. The respondents challenged the cancellation before the High Court, which set aside the cancellation on grounds of natural justice, lack of distinction between the Military Estates O…

M/s Longia Bir Company, through its MD, appealed to the Supreme Court against a Patna High Court order dismissing its writ petition concerning the computation of liability under the Provident Fund Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The appellant argued that it was not given an opportunity to be heard before the liabil…

In a suit for possession filed by the rival reversioners, the appellants, who were the landlords, were defendants. The respondents had remained in possession for over twelve years, thereby acquiring title by adverse possession, and the appellants had also entered into a tenancy agreement with them, which under Section …

The Special Land Acquisition Officer appealed against a compensation order awarded to Siddappa Ujanappa Iviadar, challenging the applicability of Sections 23(1‑A), 23(2) and 28 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 as amended by the 1984 Amendment Act. The Court observed that the questions raised had already been decided b…

The Gauhati University was served a summons on 28 May 1990 to appear on 29 May 1990 in a suit. The University sought an adjournment, the case was adjourned to 19 July 1990, but the new date was never communicated, leading to an ex parte decree. The University filed an application under Order IX Rule 13 of the CPC to se…

The appellant, Raghubar Dayal (deceased), was granted parcels of land in 1956 under the Government Grants Act, 1895 for personal cultivation, subject to lease‑like covenants. In 1974 the prescribed authority, invoking the U.P. Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960, issued a notice determining surplus land an…

The appellants challenged the High Court's finding that the respondents, being within the ceiling limit under the Maharashtra Land Ceiling Act, could not be declared surplus land holders and thus the allotment of surplus land to them was illegal. The Supreme Court directed both parties to produce the land return filed …

A landowner died leaving three sons; one son, B, died leaving his widow S, who occupied his one‑third share for maintenance under Section 11 of the U.P. Zamindari and Land Reforms Act, 1950. After S's death, her daughter C claimed the same one‑third share in consolidation proceedings. The Settlement Officer held S’s ri…

The appellant, an Income Tax Officer, was investigated by the CBI and found to hold assets disproportionate to his known income. Although the evidence was insufficient for criminal prosecution under Section 5(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, a departmental inquiry proved the misconduct and dismissed him…

The Uttar Pradesh Sales Tax Association challenged a writ issued by the Allahabad High Court that restrained a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) Sales Tax, Agra, from exercising his quasi‑judicial powers under Section 9 of the Uttar Pradesh Sales Tax Act, 1948, and ordered the transfer of his pending cases. The Bar Associa…

The appellant, an Inspector of Police, was dismissed for failing to deposit his service revolver and six live cartridges, claiming the loss occurred because he shared a room with two colleagues. The court examined whether dismissal was a proportionate punishment given his unblemished service record up to 1989 and the p…

The Government was set ex‑parte in a suit and an ex‑parte decree was passed against it. The State filed an application on 17 February 1984 to set aside that decree, claiming it had knowledge of the decree on 15 February 1984 when its office was informed. The Karnataka High Court dismissed the application on the ground …

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board appointed certain employees on daily wages as temporary mates who performed the duties of clerks and claimed equal pay with regular clerks. The High Court allowed the claim and held it had jurisdiction to decide the dispute, reasoning that the Administrative Tribunal Act, 19…

Ram Kishan, a constable of the Delhi Police, was charged with facilitating an under‑trial prisoner to consume alcohol and with abusing superior officers. The departmental inquiry found the first charge unproved and the second partly proved, but the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADC), acting as disciplinary …

K. Kandaswamy, an IPS officer, was compulsorily retired by the Government of India under Rule 56(j) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, after a special report raised doubts about his integrity, including a suspicious request to purchase a coffee estate. He challenged the order before …

The appellant was initially appointed as an ad‑hoc lecturer in a college that lacked sufficient students, and was transferred to another college where he was directed to report for duty. Instead of reporting, he demanded a regular appointment, which was refused, and he obtained a tribunal order directing his regular ap…

Satish Chandra challenged Sections 4, 5, 16, 21 and 27 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1988 on the grounds that Parliament lacked competence to create the Company Law Board (CLB) and that the Act failed to protect minority shareholders. The petition argued that the power under Section 397 of the Companies Act, 1956 w…

The Indore Development Authority (IDA) acquired land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and a reference court enhanced the compensation from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 88,000 per hectare. IDA filed a memorandum of appeal in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, paying the fixed court fee, but the High Court ordered it to pay an ad v…

The plaintiffs filed a suit for possession of a property against the first defendant, who was deceased, and the second defendant, the petitioner. The petitioner sought to file an additional written statement asserting title under a will, but the trial court dismissed the application, holding that a legal representative…

The petitioners filed a suit for a permanent injunction to restrain the respondents from dealing with a trust property. After the suit was filed, they discovered that the Charity Commissioner had granted permission to sell the property and sought to amend the plaint under Order 6 Rule 17 to claim specific performance o…

A notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was issued to acquire 4.5 acres of land in Punjab. The Collector initially awarded Rs.13,816 per acre as compensation. The Additional District Judge enhanced it to Rs.2,50,000 per acre, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court reduced the award to Rs.30,000 …

Sh. Kishandas Kanahiyalal Gandhi was declared to have a surplus of 45 acres 30 guntas of agricultural land under the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961. He argued that the tenant, Om Prakash, had crystallised tenancy rights over 47 acres 17 guntas, thereby removing the surplus, and alternati…

The appellants' 27 acres of land were acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and initially awarded Rs 5 per marla. Subsequent proceedings resulted in the High Court classifying the land into blocks A, B and C, and, relying on the precedent Mange Ram v. State of Haryana, fixing compensation at Rs 6.75 per square …

The appellant, P.V. Devassia, executed two gift deeds transferring 10 acres and 11 acres of land to his two married sons and sought exemption of those lands from the ceiling area prescribed under the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963. The Land Tribunal allowed an exemption of only six acres to each son, a decision affirmed…

The Improvement Trust of Ludhiana framed a Development‑cum‑Housing scheme which was later modified and sought State sanction under the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922. The appellants challenged the scheme on the grounds that the modified scheme required re‑publication, that notices under sections 36 and 38 were not s…

The appellant was arrested at a bus stand in Delhi and a country‑made pistol with live cartridges was seized from his person. The prosecution relied solely on the depositions of police officers and an armourer who tested the weapon, as no independent civilian witnesses could be procured. The appellant contended that th…

The Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board (APSEB) manufactured prestressed cement concrete poles for its own use and argued that the poles were not "goods" under Section 3 of the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944 because they were not sold and had no market. The Revenue contended that the poles were marketable, pointi…