B S CHAUHAN

A dacoity was committed in which ten accused stole gold, silver and cash. One of the accused, Shivaji Kale, stole four silver chips weighing one kilogram each and sold them to jeweller Pramod Bhanudas Soundankar, the appellant. The appellant was charged under Sections 411 and 412 of the Indian Penal Code for dishonestl…

The appellant, Prabhat Singh, sought appointment on compassionate ground after his father, a government employee, died in 1996. He filed applications before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in 2005 and 2006, but his claim was rejected on grounds of lack of vacancy and his ineligibility under the Office Memoran…

The petitioner bought a vehicle on hire‑purchase and alleged that the financier forcibly repossessed it, filing a criminal complaint. The Judicial Magistrate ordered interim custody to the petitioner, but the High Court of Assam quashed the criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court examined whether a financier’s reposses…

The appellant was kidnapped, as alleged in FIR No.115 of 2009 under IPC s.365, and the police investigated, recording statements under s.161 and s.164 CrPC. The charge‑sheet filed later named only two private respondents for offences under IPC s.323, s.343 read with s.34, omitting the kidnapping charge. The two accused…

The petitioners, accused of possessing assets disproportionate to their known income under the Prevention of Corruption Act, had their trial transferred to Karnataka where the Supreme Court directed the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP). After a seven‑month tenure, the Karnataka Government withdrew the a…

The appellant, a retired IAS officer appointed as State Information Commissioner, sought to retain the government house she occupied in Chandigarh beyond the four‑to‑six‑month period prescribed under Rule 13 of the Government Residences (Chandigarh Administration General Pool) Allotment Rules, 1996. The Estate Officer …

The appellant, a temporary constable in Uttaranchal, submitted an affidavit stating he had never been involved in any criminal case, while an FIR had been registered against him and later closed by the magistrate. The State discovered the pendency of the case during character verification and terminated his service wit…

The appellant, Rakesh Kumar Sharma, applied for a Trained Graduate Teacher (Sanskrit) post in 2007, claiming to possess a B.Ed degree that was actually declared only in January 2008, after the application deadline of 29 October 2007. He was given a provisional appointment subject to verification of his qualifications, …

The Supreme Court examined the appointment process for the Director General of All India Radio and Doordarshan, where the Selection Committee initially recommended G. Jayalal at the top of the list, but a subsequent Office of Special Duty directive led the Board to reorder the names, placing the fourth respondent first…

The appellant, Rohtash Kumar, was convicted of murdering his wife, Sonia, an inter‑caste spouse, after she was found dead in a hostel garden. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the "last seen together" testimony of the hostel caretaker, the appellant's possession and use of the victim's mobile…

Arun Kumar Yadav, a litigant, entered a courtroom on 5 September 2005 and shouted threatening, unparliamentary remarks at a Judicial Magistrate who was dictating an order. The magistrate lodged a complaint, and the Allahabad High Court framed a charge of criminal contempt under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act,…

The appellant organisation Sambhavna filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the University of Delhi to introduce bridge and foundation courses, provide accessible reading material, train teachers, and include disability representatives in university bodies for visually impaired students. The University resp…

The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) received a sum of Rs.22 lakh from Y, the husband of respondent Usha Anand, and similar amounts from his three brothers, who deposited the money voluntarily to avoid arrest, not under any court order. The brothers were later acquitted and the trial court ordered refund of …

The deceased Ratna Kumari died from severe burn injuries after alleging that her ex‑husband, the appellant, had poured kerosene on her and thrown a burning stove at her. Three dying declarations were recorded: two on 15‑April‑2000, which described an accidental fire and did not implicate the appellant, and a third on 2…

The appellants, Narendra Champaklal Trivedi and Harjibhai Devjibhai Chauhan, were accused of demanding and accepting a Rs.50 bribe for providing a survey report. The trial court and the Gujarat High Court convicted them under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and imposed the statutory minimum sentence…

The case concerned an Assistant Foreman of an Ordnance Factory who was served a charge memo alleging bribery and challenged the disciplinary proceedings on the ground that the charge memo was issued by an authority subordinate to his appointing authority. The Central Administrative Tribunal quashed the charge memo, a d…

The appellant, Jugendra Singh, was charged with attempting to rape a nine‑year‑old girl and causing her death by strangulation. The trial court acquitted him, citing minor discrepancies in witness testimonies, but the High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting him under IPC sections 302, 376 and 511 and imposing lif…

The case concerned the adoption of an eight‑year‑old boy by Smt. Laxmibai, a female Hindu, under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956. The adoption deed was executed and registered on the same day as the ceremony, and the trial court held the adoption valid. The respondents claimed a special family custom proh…

The appellants Maohu @ Madhuranatha and others were convicted for the robbery‑murder of the son of PW‑22, based largely on circumstantial evidence, and were sentenced to death under Sections 302 and 364 IPC read with Section 34. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, holding that circumstantial evidence alone can s…

Bal Kishan Giri, a practising advocate, filed a complaint in the Allahabad High Court alleging that three High Court judges were biased and would grant bail to accused gangsters linked to a local MLA, after his nephew was murdered. The High Court issued a show‑cause notice for contempt, to which Giri tendered an uncond…

The appellant, a lawyer, was convicted of criminal contempt under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, by the Allahabad High Court and fined Rs.20,000. He appealed the conviction and fine before the Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal No. 686 of 2010). The Supreme Court, while noting the judgment in the related C…

The appellant Kusti Malliah and his co‑accused were convicted for the murder of Neelagiri Parvamma and for stealing her ornaments, offences punishable under IPC ss.302, 404 read with s.34. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of a sole eye‑witness (PW‑6) who saw the assault from a distance, corroborated by…

The appellant was accused of raping and murdering a three‑year‑old girl and was convicted under Sections 376(2)(f) and 302 IPC, receiving a death sentence which was later commuted to life imprisonment. The prosecution's case rested mainly on two circumstantial facts – the appellant pointing out the location of the vict…

The CBI investigated a complaint that Mahesh G. Jain, an SBI clerk, demanded and accepted a Rs.1,000 bribe to issue TDS certificates and was caught in a trap operation. The investigating agency obtained a sanction order from the competent authority and filed a charge‑sheet under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) of the Preventio…

Karan Singh was convicted for the murder of Raj under IPC s.302, the prosecution alleging a motive of non‑payment of Rs 47,000 for a buffalo. Eye‑witnesses Maya Devi (PW‑3) and her daughter Birma (PW‑4) saw the appellant dragging the victim with a rope, and an independent witness (PW‑8) corroborated the allegation. The…

The respondent Bheru Lal was arrested for possession of opium after a police trap was set up based on information from a reliable informer. The search, seizure and arrest were carried out by Sub‑Inspector Parveen Vyas, who was temporarily in charge of the Station House Officer (SHO) at the time. The High Court acquitte…

The appellant, Ravirala Laxmaiah, was convicted for murdering his wife Balamani by strangulation and for dowry-related harassment under IPC sections 302 and 404. The trial court and High Court relied on circumstantial evidence, the appellant’s failure to explain the death (last‑seen theory), false statements to the vic…

S.R. Tewari, an IPS officer on deputation with the BSF, was subjected to disciplinary proceedings resulting in eight charges, of which only charges 4 and 6 were held proved. The disciplinary authority initially dismissed him, the Central Administrative Tribunal reinstated him, and the Delhi High Court directed a fresh …

The appellant Bhule Ram challenged the compensation awarded for his land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, arguing that the market value should be Rs 10,00,000 per acre. The award was initially Rs 4,65,000 per acre, later enhanced to Rs 5,99,850 by the reference court and to Rs 6,51,000 by the High Court. …

The case concerned appeals and special leave petitions filed by Raja Ram and others challenging the award of compensation under Section 23 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, seeking enhancement of the amount payable. The respondents, Union of India and others, contended that the compensation awarded by the acquiring au…

The petitioner, Sanjay Kumar, alleged that he was appointed as a senior lecturer in a purportedly fake dental college, received post‑dated cheques for salary which later bounced, and consequently filed a criminal complaint under various IPC sections and Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The High Court quas…

The case involved an alleged unlawful assembly that rioted and assaulted victims, resulting in two deaths and three grievous injuries. The trial court convicted ten accused under sections 148, 149, 323, 324, 365 and 342 IPC, but the High Court acquitted two and upheld convictions of eight; five appealed before the Supr…

The appellant Ajay Kumar Parmar was accused of raping the complainant, who later approached the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) to record a statement under Section 164 CrPC claiming the FIR was false. The CJM directed a Judicial Magistrate to record the statement, but the complainant was not produced before the magistr…

Pooja Rana, born in 1993, married Sachin Kumar Rana of her own choice, after which her parents and maternal uncle filed an FIR against her husband under IPC sections 363, 366, 328 and 504. She filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking the quash of the FIR and direction to register a criminal ca…

Sunil Kumar was convicted under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 for possessing and selling large quantities of blue kerosene and was sentenced to one year imprisonment and a fine. His appeal against the conviction was dismissed by the High Court, and a subsequent application seeking modification of the…

The Supreme Court had earlier issued interim orders directing that MBBS seats in private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh be shared with the State Government on a 50:50 basis, after excluding a 15% NRI quota. The respondents‑private colleges admitted all 150 seats for the 2011‑12 academic year without sharing, and la…

Gurvail Singh was convicted of murdering four persons under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and was sentenced to death. The High Court upheld the death sentence, but the Supreme Court commuted it to life imprisonment with a direction that the petitioner serve 30 years without remission. The petitioner filed a writ petit…

The respondent landlord, owner of a 152 sq.ft. shop, leased it to the appellant tenant from 1978 and periodically raised the rent, later filing an eviction suit under M.P. Accommodation Control Act, 1961 s.12(1)(f) claiming a bona‑fide need to use the premises for his own business, which he was conducting in a tiny 3 f…

A bus conductor of the U.P. State Road Transport Corporation was found to have recovered fare from passengers travelling without tickets but failed to issue tickets, thereby misappropriating the public money. He was dismissed after a disciplinary enquiry that complied with the principles of natural justice, a decision …

The appellant, a retired headmaster, was dismissed after a departmental enquiry that was conducted by a two‑member committee in violation of the Maharashtra Employees of Private School Rules, 1981. The charges were vague, unspecific and not accompanied by a statement of allegations, rendering the enquiry vitiated. The …

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) acquired a large tract of land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, via notifications in 1993 and 1995. The Special Land Acquisition Officer initially valued the land at Rs. 60,000 per acre, but the Reference Court, on a Section 18 application, awarded Rs. 3.15 la…

The appellant Jhaptu Ram shot and killed his neighbour Devinder Kumar after an altercation, while the neighbour's mother was present to pacify the dispute. The trial court convicted him of murder under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment; the High Court affirmed this conviction. On appeal, the Suprem…

The appellants, selected as Lower Division Clerks in 1984, were appointed only in 1993 and 1996 after court orders, while similarly placed candidates (Parveen Singh and others) obtained retroactive appointments and back wages following a tribunal order and a Punjab‑Haryana High Court judgment. The appellants later soug…

The appellant was convicted of rape under IPC s.376 based solely on the testimony of the prosecutrix, Indira, whose statement was recorded under Section 164 CrPC. The appellant appealed, arguing that the prosecutrix's evidence contained material contradictions, lacked corroboration, and was unreliable, especially given…

Mukut Bihari and another were accused of demanding a Rs.100 bribe for issuing a discharge ticket in a hospital. A trap was organised, the complainant handed the money to the accused, and both were arrested. The trial court convicted them under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) r/w 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Se…

The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission advertised 13 vacancies for Civil Judge (Junior Division) and conducted a written examination. Respondent No.1, Mukesh Thakur, secured the required aggregate marks but failed to obtain the mandatory 45% in the Civil Law‑II paper, and was therefore not called for interview.…

May George challenged the award of acquisition of her 33‑cent parcel under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, alleging that she never received the notice required under Section 9(3). The High Court dismissed her writ petition but allowed her to file an application under Section 18. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined wh…

Prem Kaur, a labourer, was abducted, beaten and allegedly raped by a father, his son and others. She was hospitalized, but the FIR was lodged three days later. The trial court acquitted the accused, citing the delay in filing the FIR and the improbability of a father and son raping together, without providing reasoned …

The Association of Management of Private Colleges, whose members are colleges affiliated to Bharathidasan University and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, filed writ petitions seeking to bar the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) from exercising jurisdiction over their MBA and MCA programmes. The High C…

The respondent, Sheo Shambhu Giri, was convicted under Section 23 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for allegedly importing or exporting ganja. The High Court set aside the conviction, holding that the prosecution failed to prove that the seized contraband was of foreign origin or that it was…

Raj Kumar, a 32‑year‑old who was a regular visitor to a neighbour's house, was asked to stay overnight while the parents irrigated fields. He raped the 14‑year‑old girl Gounjhi, caused grievous injuries and she died of asphyxia by strangulation. A 10‑year‑old brother witnessed the assault; DNA analysis linked the appel…

The appellants filed a regular first appeal under Section 96 of the CPC against a trial court decree. The High Court of Karnataka set aside and modified the decree but did so without framing points for determination, without discussing the factual and legal issues, and without providing adequate reasons, rendering its …

The Supreme Court examined a review petition challenging its earlier order that quashed an allotment of land made by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to the predecessor‑in‑interest of the petitioners under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The State Government's land policy allowed aggrieved persons to receive develop…

The appellant aunt and nephew were convicted for murdering the deceased husband, an Upper Division Clerk, based on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution proved that the death occurred at 1.30 a.m., the victims were found dead in bed, the accused were present, and the nephew’s statement under Section 27 led to the re…

The appellants, heirs of a guarantor, challenged the recovery of a bank loan by arguing that the liability should not fall solely on them, that the auction of their land was irregular, and that excess proceeds should be returned. The Supreme Court held that under Section 128 of the Contract Act a guarantor’s liability …

The appellants, long‑time licence‑holders of shops on railway property in Old Delhi, were served a 1980 notice increasing licence fees from Rs.21 to Rs.270 per square yard and, after representations, a 1987 order making the increase retrospective from 1‑Nov‑1980. They challenged the increase as excessive and contrary t…

The respondent, a Higher Grade Assistant of LIC, was penalised for alleged irregularities in a housing loan. The disciplinary enquiry was found by the High Court to have violated statutory procedures and natural‑justice principles, leading to the quashing of the penalty. The appellants contended that the High Court exc…

The appellant, a District Excise Officer, was charged with cheating for allegedly facilitating the replacement of a partnership deed dated 5‑Mar‑2002 with a forged deed dated 6‑Mar‑2003, thereby depriving the complainant of his share in an excise liquor contract. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under IPC sec…

The appellants were seized at night while travelling in a jeep that contained ten bags of poppy husk (total 410 kg). They were convicted under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment. On appeal they argued that the prosecution failed to …

The appellant, Kaliya, mother‑in‑law, was convicted of murdering her daughter‑in‑law, Guddi, who was burnt alive in the appellant's house. Guddi’s dying declaration, stating that Kaliya poured kerosene on her, was recorded by a doctor and a nurse, but the original document was lost and only a carbon copy was produced. …

The State of Bihar seized 5,923 bags of wheat from the flour mill of Arvind Kumar & Anr. after a raid based on secret information indicating diversion of subsidised food grains for black marketing. The respondents filed a writ petition seeking quashing of the FIR under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and release of…

Mahavir Singh and co‑accused Jagbir Singh were convicted under IPC §§302, 1208 and 201 for murdering Suraj Mal at the behest of the deceased's wife, Sudesh Rani. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the "last seen" theory, medical testimony that the death occurred about a week before the post‑mo…

The Punjab Public Service Commission’s chairman was found to have taken bribes and manipulated the recruitment of executive, allied services and judicial officers between 1998‑2002. Consequently, the State terminated the services of all appointed officers. The High Court upheld the termination, treating the entire sele…

The case involves the murder of Ramasamy, for which 17 persons, including the appellants Paulmeli and Chockaiah, were alleged to have assembled with a common object (aruval) and inflicted multiple incised wounds, causing death. The victim's wife (PW‑1) positively identified the appellants despite claims of darkness, an…

The appellants Sudarshan and others were convicted for the murder of two persons at a holiday resort, based on an FIR that was lodged at a police station outside the incident’s jurisdiction after the complainant first consulted an advocate 15 km away. The Supreme Court examined the abnormal conduct of the complainant, …

Anand Kishore Gautam, a senior accountant, died while in service, leaving a widow and three children. The widow applied for a compassionate appointment in a Group C post, but the application was rejected because the family had received terminal benefits exceeding the Rs 3 lakh ceiling stipulated in the compassionate ap…

The appellant was first prosecuted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a dishonoured cheque and was convicted, later acquitted on appeal, with the appeal still pending. Subsequently, the same complainant filed an FIR under Sections 406, 420 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code alleging criminal …

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu writ petition, examined the midnight police raid on a sleeping crowd at Ramlila Maidan on 4-5 June 2011, where police used teargas, lathi charge and brick‑batting after revoking permission for a yoga camp and a fast led by Baba Ramdev. The Court found that the order under Section 1…

The appellant, a former Deputy Director of the Enforcement Directorate, alleged that respondents deliberately suppressed material facts about a mistaken Interpol notice, causing him to remain in judicial custody for 36 days. He filed a criminal contempt petition under Article 215 of the Constitution, claiming the respo…

The Union of India suspended an Indian Revenue Service officer in 1999 pending two CBI criminal investigations; the Central Administrative Tribunal later quashed the suspension and directed a review, but the government issued fresh suspension orders in 2012 without complying with the Tribunal’s directions, leading the …

The CBI appealed against the Delhi High Court’s order quashing a Special Judge’s grant of pardon to respondent No.2 (Abhishek Verma) under Section 306 of the CrPC, who had confessed to forging a fax message on the instructions of respondent No.1 (Ashok Kumar Aggarwal). The Supreme Court examined the scope of the court’…

The CBI filed a case against Ashok Kumar Aggarwal for possessing disproportionate assets and obtained sanction for prosecution under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The respondent challenged the validity of the sanction, alleging that material was not placed before the Finance Minister and that th…

Shiv Shankar Singh filed two protest petitions against the State of Bihar after two FIRs were lodged for the same incident, one alleging a dacoity and the other alleging murder for property disputes. The first petition, filed before the police final report, was deemed incompetent, while the second petition was entertai…

The appellants challenged the acquisition of their land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and, after receiving an award, filed references for enhanced compensation. Dissatisfied with the award, they filed appeals under Section 54 of the Act in the High Court on 16 August 2007, more than five years after the award, a…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu contempt petition against Advocate-on-Record Rameshwar Prasad Goyal, examined his practice of filing appearances in hundreds of cases without ever appearing in court. The Court found that lending his signature for a fee, without taking responsibility for the case, amounted to misco…

The appellant, Ramesh Gajendra Jadhav, was appointed as a regular lecturer of Geography in a college based on an advertisement that described the vacancy as a part‑time post in the open category. Due to a clerical error, the university later approved the post as a full‑time position reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) ca…

The appellant Ohan Singh was convicted for the death of his brother Shiv Ram, who died after being struck on the head with an iron rod during a family property dispute. The prosecution relied on Shiv Ram's dying declaration, recorded by a Head Constable after a doctor certified that he was fit to speak, which identifie…

Mannu Sao was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 201 for murdering his wife, Bimla Devi, whose body was found burnt. He claimed she had committed suicide by self‑immolation, but the post‑mortem showed death by throttling before the burns. The trial and High Courts upheld the conviction based on a chain of circumstant…

The appellant Jose was convicted for murdering his wife by dousing her with petrol and setting her ablaze while she slept, and for attempting to murder his grandchild. The prosecution relied on the victim's dying declaration, recorded by a doctor, and a series of circumstantial facts indicating motive, opportunity, and…

The appellant Rohtash was convicted by the High Court for dowry death under Sections 304‑B and 498‑A IPC, based on alleged dowry demands of Rs.10,000 and Rs.5,000 and the claim that his wife Indro committed suicide by poison. The trial court had acquitted all accused, finding material inconsistencies in witness stateme…

The appellant, the daughter of Badami, challenged a 1973 decree that had been obtained through a purported family settlement in which Badami allegedly transferred her entire share of ancestral land to Bhali. The trial court had passed the decree within three days of filing, without proper examination of admissions, and…

The landlord filed an eviction suit under the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965, and the tenant claimed Kudikidappukaran status under the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963. The Rent Controller referred the status question to the Land Tribunal, which held the tenant was only a tenant, not a Kudikidappukara…

The appellants held a usufructuary mortgage over land mortgaged by the respondents in 1958, 1959 and 1961. While the mortgage subsisted, the property was attached under the Revenue Recovery Act for the mortgagor's agricultural income tax arrears and sold at public auction, the highest bid being the son of the mortgagee…

Prof. K.V. Rajendran, an associate professor, alleged that a Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) and other officials tortured him in 1998 and that the State police investigation was inadequate. He repeatedly approached the High Court seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but t…

The respondent, Sanjay Kumar, was convicted of raping and murdering an 18‑year‑old girl, Divya Rani, and was sentenced to death by the Sessions Court. The High Court of Allahabad commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, holding that the case did not fall within the "rarest of rare" category. The State of Uttar…

Ram Swaroop was seized with 64 kg of poppy straw powder packed in 32 bags by police officers Sub‑Inspector Ritesh Kumar and Constable Balwant Singh and was convicted under Section 15 of the NDPS Act, receiving ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine. On appeal he contended that (i) the prosecution relied solely on …

The case concerned the alleged murder of Kusum Rani, who was burnt alive by her parents‑in‑law. The prosecution relied primarily on the victim’s dying declaration recorded by an executive magistrate and a thumb impression on the FIR, along with medical evidence of 100 % burns. The High Court acquitted the accused, hold…

The State of Rajasthan convicted Darshan Singh for murder under Section 302 IPC based on the testimony of Geeta, a deaf‑and‑dumb eyewitness, whose statement was recorded in sign language through her father who acted as interpreter. The High Court set aside the conviction, holding that the witness and the interpreter we…

The Union of India challenged the appointment of part‑time members to the Appellate Tribunal for Foreign Exchange under Rule 5 of the 2000 Rules, arguing that the concept of part‑time members and their appointment from the Indian Legal Service were beyond the scope of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). T…

The appellant, Ramesh Harijan, was charged with raping and murdering a 5‑6‑year‑old girl. The prosecution relied on the mother’s FIR, eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen the accused committing the crime, and forensic evidence of blood and semen on a recovered sheet. The trial court acquitted, citing lack of proof tha…

The petitioner, an advocate, filed a Special Leave Petition challenging observations made by the Madras High Court that a valid marriage does not necessarily require adherence to all customary rights and that long‑term cohabitation creates a presumption of marriage, rendering children legitimate. The Supreme Court exam…

The Supreme Court examined 19 appeals filed by the State of Maharashtra against acquittals in the 1993 Bombay serial bomb blast case, focusing on conspiracy charges under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Indian Penal Code. It reiterated the limited circumstances in which an appell…

The respondents, appointed as part‑time sweepers in the School Education Department from 1987 to 2001, worked for more than ten years and filed writ petitions seeking regularisation of their services. The Madras High Court ordered their regularisation on a full‑time basis. The State appealed, contending that a court ca…

The State of Andhra Pradesh (appellant) challenged a civil suit filed by Mis. Star Bone Mill & Fertiliser Co. (respondent) seeking declaration of title over a 3.525‑acre land. The respondent relied on a registered sale deed dated 11‑Nov‑1959 executed by M/s A. Allauddin & Sons, who were merely lessees of the State sinc…

The case concerns the 1999 arson and murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons by a mob in Orissa. The trial court convicted fourteen accused, sentencing Dara Singh (A‑1) to death and the others to life imprisonment; the High Court modified Dara Singh's sentence to life imprisonment and acquitted …

The appellant was accused of tampering with a medical report and a complaint under Sections 463, 465, 468, 471 and 114 IPC was filed. The appellant sought to quash the complaint under Section 482 CrPC, arguing that the complaint was not maintainable unless filed by the court under Section 195 CrPC. The High Court rejec…

The appellant Sanjay Kumar Kedia was arrested under the NDPS Act and his custody was extended twice under Section 36A(4) of the Act. The extensions were granted on applications that did not contain a report from the public prosecutor indicating investigation progress or compelling reasons, nor were notices given to the…

The petitioner, a Mechanical Transport Driver in the Indian Air Force, was convicted by a district court‑martial of unauthorized absence under Section 39(a) of the Air Force Act, 1950 and sentenced to three months' rigorous imprisonment, dismissal from service and reduction in rank. He had been in custody since 1 Febru…

The appellant Deepak Gulati was convicted under Sections 365 and 376 of the IPC for allegedly enticing a 19‑year‑old woman with a false promise of marriage, confining her and having sexual intercourse. The woman voluntarily left home to marry the appellant, accompanied him to several locations, and did not raise any ob…

The appellant Union of India challenged the High Court's order granting disability pension to Talwinder Singh, a former infantry soldier who suffered a left‑eye injury while on annual leave at his home. The injury was examined by the Release Medical Board, which concluded the disability was 30% permanent but neither at…

Dr. Hira Singh's 1944 will granted his daughter Shivdev Kaur a life interest in a property. After the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 came into force, Shivdev Kaur claimed that the life interest had crystallised into an absolute title under Section 14 of the Act. The lower courts held that the life interest remained restric…

Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., a government‑owned company, terminated the services of employee Partha Sarathi Sen Roy under a clause that allowed dismissal at the company's sole discretion without reason. The employee challenged the termination by filing writ petitions, contending that the clause was unconstitutional and th…

The case involved the murder of Jayalakshmi, who was set on fire in a house she shared with her husband Pudhu Raja (A-1) and his mother (A-2). The prosecution alleged that the accused killed her to extort dowry, invoking Sections 302 r/w 34, 304(b) and 201 of the IPC, while the trial court acquitted them citing contrad…

Surjeet Kaur, a student of Maharshi Dayanand University, pursued an M.A. regular course while simultaneously enrolling in a B.Ed. correspondence course, violating the university's Clause 17(b) of its General Rules of Examination. After the university cancelled her B.Ed. results, she appeared for a supplementary exam un…

The employee of KSRTC was dismissed after a domestic enquiry found him guilty of theft, despite later being acquitted in a criminal trial. The Labour Court upheld the dismissal, and the High Court initially modified the order to termination with terminal benefits, later reinstating the employee with back wages. The Sup…

The case arose from a violent incident in July 1998 in which Gurnam Singh was killed and Joginder Singh injured. The accused, including Amarjit Singh and Sher Singh, were convicted of murder under s.302 IPC by the trial court, which accepted the prosecution's version despite doubts about the presence and injuries of a …

The case involved twenty accused charged with offences including murder, rioting and attempt to murder arising from a politically‑motivated land dispute that culminated in the killing of Mudi Parandhami Reddy. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted accused Nos. 1‑12 under Sections 147, 148,…

The Union of India appealed against an Armed Forces Tribunal order that set aside an Additional Court of Inquiry (COI) and directed a fresh COI because the original COI included the Presiding Officer and two Technical Members who had prepared the inquiry report. The respondent, Colonel Sanjay Jethi, claimed that this c…

Kishore Samrite, a former MLA, filed writ petition No.111/2011 in the Allahabad High Court as a next friend of three residents of Amethi, alleging their illegal detention and a rape by Rahul Gandhi (respondent No.6). A second writ petition No.125/2011 was filed by Gajendra Pal Singh as a next friend of the same three p…

The case concerned land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 where a Section 4 notification was issued in 1978 and a Section 6 declaration in 1981 covering a parcel of land (the suit land). The original tenure‑holders accepted compensation under protest, did not file any objection under Section 5A, and later t…

The State of Rajasthan appealed against the Rajasthan High Court’s order reducing the sentences of Vinod Kumar and Heera Lal for rape (s.376 IPC) from the trial court‑imposed seven years to five years and eleven months respectively. The High Court reduced the sentences without recording any "adequate and special reason…

The appellant purchased five Tata diesel vehicles and paid the price through eight bills of exchange drawn on his banker. The respondent sued for the balance amount, but the appellant, believing the debt settled, failed to file a written statement. The trial court passed a decree under Order VIII Rule 10 of the CPC wit…

Shantilal purchased five Tata diesel vehicles and paid the price through a series of bills of exchange. Tata Engineering filed a suit for recovery of Rs.5,66,000 plus interest, but Shantilal did not file a written statement, believing the amount had been paid. The trial court passed an ex parte decree under Order VIII …

The appellant, a Chief Judicial Magistrate, was accused by a litigant of demanding a Rs.20,000 bribe to influence a case. A preliminary inquiry was followed by a regular departmental enquiry, which found her guilty of the first charge and partially guilty of a second. The High Court, on the administrative side, recomme…

The case arose from an arbitration award directing the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to pay a contractor a sum with interest. The Executive Engineer (appellant) wrote letters to the contractor seeking to adjust the award by having the contractor accept only the principal amount and waive interest, invoking Order X…

The case arose from a midnight attack on the house of complainant Jalsur on 22-23 March 1980, during which the deceased Onkar Singh was shot dead and Jalsur's son and daughter were injured. The appellants, along with five other accused, were convicted under Sections 302, 307 and 452 IPC read with Section 149 for murder…

The appellants entered into an agreement to purchase land that the respondents claimed to own exclusively, paying Rs. 50 lakh as earnest money. The respondents later sold the land to a third party, and the appellants discovered that the land had been shown as open parking in a municipal permission for a club house, ind…

The Bhusawal Municipal Council acquired 4.25 acres of agricultural land under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 and the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to build a primary school. After paying the initial compensation awarded under Section 11, the respondents obtained a reference court award under Section …

The plaintiff filed a suit seeking a declaration of title over agricultural land, alleging ancestral grant from the Maratha Government and a partition in 1819, while the Union of India contested the title. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the first appellate court reversed the decision by admitting a Will as add…

In December 1996 a dacoity with two murders was committed at a house in Rajasthan. Two of the accused, Kuniya and Talevar, were later arrested and, based on their disclosure statements, cash, silver items and a scooter were recovered, but the recoveries occurred several days after the incident and involved items that c…

The case involves a dacoity on 16-17 December 1996 in which two persons were murdered and movable property was looted. Six accused were identified through test identification parades and the stolen articles, weapons and a vehicle were recovered based on their disclosures. They were convicted under Sections 395, 396 and…

A complainant filed an application under Section 156(3) of the CrPC before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Bulandshahar seeking a direction to the police to register an FIR for a shooting incident. The CJM dismissed the application. The complainant appealed to the Allahabad High Court, which set aside the CJM's …

Huidrom Shantikumar Singh was arrested for murder under Section 302 IPC and the Arms Act and, while already in custody, a District Magistrate ordered his detention under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act (NSA) on the basis that he might be released on bail in a similar case and could engage in activities prejud…

The predecessor‑in‑interest of Bharatha Matha filed a suit for a share in the property of her brother Muthu Reddiar, who died intestate and allegedly unmarried. Defendant No.1, Rengammal, claimed she was lawfully married to Alagarsami Reddiar (who was alive) and also asserted a live‑in relationship with Muthu Reddiar, …

The Supreme Court reviewed an appeal by the mother‑in‑law convicted of murdering her daughter‑in‑law, who died within two months of marriage after being burnt with kerosene. The victim’s dying declaration alleged that the appellant poured kerosene on her because of dowry demands. The trial and High Courts had relied on…

Ram Kishan, a former Under Secretary (Legal) of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd., was compulsorily retired and later obtained reinstatement with all consequential benefits, but without back wages, from the High Court. The Supreme Court subsequently granted him back wages, yet the employer denied him the re‑desig…

The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd. (the insurer) issued an export credit insurance policy to Garg Sons International (the insured) which required the insured to submit a monthly declaration of any overdue payments by the foreign importer under clause 8(b). The foreign buyer defaulted and Garg filed s…

The Shri Morvi Sarvajanik Kelavni Mandal Sanchalit MSKM B.Ed. College was granted recognition under the National Council for Teachers' Education (NCTE) Act, 1993 in 2007, but the NCTE later issued a show‑cause notice citing deficiencies such as inadequate built‑up area, lack of land in the trust’s name, sharing premise…

The case arose from a family dispute over a partition fence that led to a violent altercation in 1994, resulting in cross‑cases and convictions under IPC sections 307, 323 and 325 with accompanying fines. The appellants, who were related to the complainant, sought to have the offences compounded on the basis of an amic…

The State of Gujarat appointed the Secretary to the Government as President of the Gujarat Revenue Tribunal, a move challenged on the ground that the post is a judicial office and requires the High Court's consultation under Article 234 of the Constitution. The Gujarat High Court held that the Tribunal is a "court" and…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by Dr. Neeraj Chaubey challenging an advertisement for an Assistant Professor position that required seven years of experience instead of the statutory five years. The Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court, instead of listing the petition, issued directions concerni…

Harjinder Singh was convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. He appealed to the High Court, but his counsel was absent on the hearing date and no one appeared on his behalf; the High Court nevertheless affirmed the con…

The petitioner’s 11‑acre land in Gobbur village was acquired under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and initially awarded a market value of Rs. 3,800 per acre. He later sought a higher valuation through a Section 28‑A application, a remedy intended only for poor and inarticulate persons, and obtained Rs. …

Chaman Lal, a former truck driver employed by the Fish Farmers Development Agency (a society) and later absorbed into a government department, sought retirement benefits based on his total service. The lower courts dismissed his claim, and he argued that a similarly situated individual, Charanjit Lal, had obtained a pe…

Kashmir Lal was arrested after police seized about 0.5 kg of opium from the toolbox of his scooter at a dhaba. He was convicted under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1 lakh. On appeal, he contended that the prosec…

The appellant was convicted for raping a girl who was later found to be 14 years old at the time of the offence. The trial court had acquitted him on the basis that the girl was not below 16 years and had allegedly consented, but the High Court reversed this finding and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment. On app…

Balakrishna Dattatraya Kumbhar, a Superintendent of Central Excise, was convicted under Sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for possessing disproportionate assets. Following his conviction he was suspended and served a show‑cause notice for dismissal under the CCS (CCA) Rules. He filed…

Vishram Singh Raghu Banshi, a practising advocate, was found to have abused the presiding magistrate with vulgar language after the magistrate questioned his involvement in an alleged impersonation of a surrendering accused. The magistrate complained, leading to contempt proceedings under Section 15 of the Contempt of …

Shyam Narain was convicted under IPC s.376(2)(f) for raping an eight‑year‑old girl. The trial court relied on the child's testimony, corroborating medical evidence of genital injuries, and the accused's conduct, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The Delhi High Court affirmed the conviction and sentence. On appeal…

The appellant, Thoti Manohar (A‑2), was convicted along with his brother (A‑1) and cousin (A‑3) for the murder of Kuppuswamy Modali and related offences. The prosecution alleged that A‑1 had an illicit relationship with the victim's cousin, leading to a series of disputes, cattle raids, and a violent confrontation on 2…

Y.K. Singla, a former chief manager of Punjab National Bank, retired on superannuation in 1996 but his gratuity and other retiral benefits were withheld pending criminal proceedings alleging conspiracy. He was acquitted in 2009 and subsequently received his gratuity and leave encashment, but the bank paid interest only…

The appellants were charged under Sections 399 and 402 of the Indian Penal Code for assembling and preparing to commit dacoity on 10 February 1992. The prosecution proved that a group of armed men, including the appellants, attempted to stop two motorcyclists and were later seized by police with weapons, liquor and foo…

The appellant, Bhartiya Seva Samaj Trust, terminated the services of respondent‑teacher Yogeshbhai Patel alleging he lacked the statutory qualification of Primary Teachers Certificate required under the Bombay Primary Education (Gujarat Amendment) Act, 1986. The Gujarat Primary Education Tribunal and the High Court set…

The appellant State of Gujarat challenged the High Court's order that directed a compassionate appointment of the respondent Arvindkumar Tiwari, who had applied for a Class IV peon post after his father's death. The respondent had only passed up to the 8th standard and the family income exceeded the limit set for compa…

Dr. Sunil Clifford Daniel was convicted for the murder of his wife, Dr. Loyalla Shagoufta, and for concealing her death under IPC sections 302 and 201. The prosecution relied on a series of circumstantial facts – blood‑stained clothes handed to a medical superintendent, forensic evidence of human blood on recovered ite…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Vinod Kumar under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. They appealed, contending that the FIR was lodged nine hours after the incident without a satisfactory explanation and that the key eyewitnesses were close relatives of the deceased, rendering their testimony …

The appellant, Yusuf, was accused of murdering 13‑year‑old Sahanara Khatun and of concealing the offence under Sections 302 and 201 IPC. The prosecution relied on the claim that Yusuf attempted to rape the girl, struck her with a spade and buried her, supported by witnesses who saw Yusuf near the field with a spade, an…

The respondent was allotted a plot in 1986 with a condition to complete construction within three years under the Punjab Estates (Development and Regulation) Act, 1964. Failing to build, the authority demanded a non‑construction/extension fee to avoid resumption of the plot, which the respondent paid. Later he sought a…

The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (the Corporation) appealed against judgments that had upheld a civil suit filed by its former trainee conductor, Bajrang Lal, challenging his removal from service for alleged embezzlement. The lower courts had found that the disciplinary enquiry violated principles of natu…

The appellant, a husband, was convicted under IPC sections 498A (dowry harassment) and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of his wife Girija, who committed suicide within seven years of marriage in their matrimonial home. The prosecution proved that Girija had suffered multiple physical injuries and mental cruelty…

The appellant filed an FIR alleging that the respondents opened indiscriminate fire on the deceased, resulting in his death, and the respondents later obtained anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC. The Sessions Judge rejected the bail, but the Patna High Court granted it, citing an old dispute and the respon…

Respondent No.1 was temporarily appointed as Project Director of the Child Labour Elimination & Rehabilitation Society through the Employment Exchange without any public advertisement. She later left the Society to join a post in the Panchayat & Rural Development Department, was repatriated but was not allowed to rejoi…

The Supreme Court, on its own motion, took notice of press reports of numerous deaths and inadequate facilities during the 2012 Amarnath Yatra. It issued notices to the Union of India, the State of Jammu & Kashmir and the Amarnath Shrine Board, and constituted a Special High Powered Committee (SHPC) to examine health, …

The Supreme Court examined an application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for appointment of an arbitrator in a dispute arising from a purchase contract for iron ore. The contract required a minimum 63% Fe content and contained a price‑adjustment clause and an arbitration clause mandating…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of two accused (Mohd Iqram and another) in the murder of Rashmi. Police, on routine patrol, heard shrieks, saw three persons scaling a wall, apprehended two, and were led to the victim who later died of strangulation. The trial court convi…

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector of Uttar Pradesh Police, was ordered to withhold his integrity certificate for 2010 on the ground that he failed to record the past criminal history of an accused in a bailable offence. He challenged the order, arguing that withholding the certificate was not a punishment contemplated und…

Kashmir Kaur and another were convicted under Section 3048 IPC (dowry death) read with Section 34 IPC and Section 498A IPC for the death of the deceased woman, which occurred 11 months after her marriage. The prosecution proved that the victim was repeatedly harassed and tortured by her mother‑in‑law, brother‑in‑law an…

The respondent alleged that the appellant, Rev. Mother Marykutty, had issued a post‑dated cheque of Rs.25 lakhs for construction work which later bounced, leading to a complaint under Section 142 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The trial court acquitted the appellant, holding that she had successfully rebutted…

The appellant Darbara Singh was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering Mukhtiar Singh, based on eye‑witness testimony that he struck the victim's head with a kirpan while the victim was attempting to run. The appellant challenged the conviction on several grounds, including alleged inconsistency between medical …

The appellant Kunal Majumdar was convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and rape of a minor (Secs. 376, 511 IPC), receiving a death sentence for murder and seven years' rigorous imprisonment for rape. The conviction and death sentence were referred to the High Court under Section 366(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Babulal and others for assaulting six persons, causing multiple serious injuries, under IPC sections 148, 324, 326 and 149. The trial court sentenced them to three years’ simple imprisonment; the High Court upheld the conviction but reduced the term to three months, citing a seven…

The respondent, an Income Tax Inspector, was alleged to have demanded Rs.25,000 as illegal gratification to refrain from reopening a tax assessment. A trap was laid using chemically treated currency notes that turned pink on the respondent's hands, leading to his conviction by the trial court under Sections 7, 13(1)(d)…

The Supreme Court heard a public‑interest writ petition filed by Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan seeking pre‑emptive orders against hate speeches by elected representatives, arguing that such speeches violate Articles 14, 15, 19, 21 and fundamental duties. The Court examined whether existing statutes—IPC, SC/ST (Prevention of…

The appellant, Joseph John Peter Sandy, sought a decree of rectification of a 1981 settlement deed that had transferred a house to his sister, Veronica Thomas Rajkumar, alleging a mistake and that the parties intended to exchange the properties. The sister contested, claiming the alleged agreement of 1 June 1982 was fo…

PGF Limited, which sold and developed agricultural land and ran joint‑venture schemes, was directed by SEBI to cease collecting money and to refund investors, on the ground that its activities constituted a collective investment scheme (CIS) under Section 11AA of the SEBI Act. PGF challenged the SEBI order and the cons…

The appeal arose from the appointment of Class IV staff in courts subordinate to the Delhi High Court on an ad‑hoc basis without proper advertisement, which the petitioners challenged as violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined whether such appointments could be regularised, wheth…

The appellants, owners of land in Delhi, were dispossessed following a series of notifications and a declaration under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (notifications of 1963, 1968 and 1983). The Supreme Court held that each later notification supersedes the earlier ones and that the 1983 notification and its declaration…

The Rajasthan State Industrial & Investment Corporation (RSIIC) was allotted land for industrial development and leased it to Diamond and Gem Development Corp. on an "as‑is‑where‑is" basis, with a requirement to complete the project within five years. The lessee sought an access road from the lessor, which was not prov…

The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RILLCO) acquired a large tract of land after a Section 4 notification under the Rajasthan Land Acquisition Act, 1953. The Subhash Sindhi Cooperative Housing Society entered into an agreement to purchase a portion of that land after the notification …

The case involved the murder of Tej Bahadur, who was shot dead while traveling on a motorcycle; seven persons were initially charged under Sections 302, 149 and 148 of the IPC. The trial court convicted all seven, but the High Court later acquitted three while upholding the conviction of the remaining four appellants. …

Dr. Jagmittar Sain Bhagat, a former medical officer of the Haryana Health Department, claimed that his retiral benefits, including gratuity and penal rent, were not fully paid after his voluntary retirement in 1985. He filed a complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in 1995, which dismissed the …

The accused Sandeep and Shashi Bhushan were apprehended by police after a girl, Jyoti, reported that they had assaulted her, poured acid on her and attempted to abort her foetus. The victim later died, and the trial court convicted both under Sections 302 and 316 IPC, sentencing them to death. The High Court confirmed …

Four accused were convicted for kidnapping and raping a girl who was 13 years and 9 months old at the time of the offence. The appellant, Lillu @ Rajesh, challenged the conviction on the ground that the victim was older, that her statement was uncorroborated, and that the two‑finger test and alleged habitual sexual act…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 302 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code for the rape and murder of a young woman named Devi. The prosecution's case was built on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's presence at the crime scene, his flight from the village, medical findings of sexual intercourse and…

The dispute involved a landlord-tenant suit where the tenants claimed ownership of a shop based on a sale deed executed by a life‑estate holder, Janki Bibi (2nd). An earlier 1958 judgment had held that Janki Bibi possessed only a life interest and could not transfer the property. The Small Causes Court decreed the land…

The appellants, teachers including Mohan Lal, were convicted for gang rape and kidnapping of a minor student under Sections 376(2)(g) and 366 IPC and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined whether the fiduciary relationship between teachers and a student attracted Section 376(2)(b) an…

The land in question was jointly owned and was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. One co‑owner (the appellants) filed a reference under Section 18 of the Act for enhanced compensation without impleading the other co‑owner (the respondent). The Reference Court awarded compensation to both parties, after whic…

The Delhi Pradesh Regulated Medical Practitioners Association filed a review petition before the Supreme Court challenging a judgment that dismissed its claim to practice medicine on the basis of qualifications awarded by the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. The sole ground advanced was that the Association's counsel was absent…

Balbir Singh Bedi, a retired District Commander of the Punjab Home Guard, claimed he was eligible for substantive promotion to Battalion Commander under Rule 8 of the Punjab Home Guard (Class‑I) Rules, 1988, which mandates selection on a "seniority‑cum‑merit" basis. While his case was considered alongside other candida…

Ravinder Singh, owner of agricultural land, filed two criminal writ petitions seeking to quash FIRs filed by Sukhbir Singh. The second petition was filed without disclosing the earlier one, leading to a contempt proceeding which the High Court closed after the counsel apologized. Sukhbir Singh then lodged a criminal co…

The case arose from a violent clash on 9 April 2003 between two groups over a disputed piece of land in Marori, Punjab. The accused, armed with gandasis, kirpans and swords, attacked members of the complainant’s family, killing Amarjit Singh (father of PW‑10) and injuring several others. The appellants pleaded self‑def…

The petition challenged a Rajasthan High Court order that placed the entire liability for compensation on the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) and exempted the driver and owner of a 'Jugaad' vehicle. The Supreme Court examined whether a 'Jugaad' falls within the definition of "motor vehicle" under Sec…

Common Cause filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the President of India to refer allegations against the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission to the Supreme Court under Section 5(2) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The allegations, communicated on 4 April 2011 by …

The Supreme Court was called upon to resolve a dispute over the right to mine iron ore in six leases in Andhra Pradesh that bordered the state of Karnataka. The State of Andhra Pradesh sought to maintain a status‑quo injunction, arguing that mining could prejudice the demarcation of the inter‑state boundary, while the …

The appellant, S. Kesari Hanuman Goud, filed a suit for specific performance of a 1977 agreement to sell land, asserting that he was always ready and willing to fulfil his part of the contract. The respondent, Anjum Jehan, contended that the appellant lacked the financial capacity and therefore was not ready, subsequen…

In 1992, a 17‑18‑year‑old girl (PW2) was allegedly forced at knife point by Swaroop Singh to have sexual intercourse in a sugarcane field. She reported the incident immediately, and medical examination revealed a torn hymen; other witnesses corroborated her account and broken bangles were recovered from the scene. The …

The appellant was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping P.W.4, an agricultural labourer, and under Section 506B IPC for criminal intimidation. The trial court, after medical examination, concluded that the victim was about 14 years old and that the intercourse, though allegedly consensual, fell within the offence …

The appellants sought a declaration of title to a property in Pondicherry, alleging that a prior sale by a Hindu widow who held only a life estate was void. The trial court dismissed the suit for lack of a claim for possession, a decision upheld by the High Court, which also held that the widow had acquired absolute ti…

Petitioner Ram Dhan filed a complaint alleging his son had been kidnapped, leading to the conviction of Balraj and others under IPC 364 r/w 149. The son later testified that he had left voluntarily, prompting Balraj to file an FIR against the petitioner for false information under IPC sections 177, 181, 182, 195 and 42…

The petitioners, convicted under Sections 363, 366 and 506 of the IPC for a kidnapping case, appealed to the Allahabad High Court, were granted bail and sought an early hearing of their criminal appeal. The High Court ordered the case to be released and listed before an appropriate bench, prompting the petitioners to f…

The State Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh passed a no‑confidence motion against its Chairman and Vice‑Chairman under Rules 121 and 122‑A, prompting the petitioners to challenge the validity of those rules. The petitioners argued that the rules were ultra vires Section 15 of the Advocates Act, amounted to excessive delega…

The appellant A. Shankar was charged under IPC sections 302, 307 and 324 for the murder of Murthy Prasad and the attempted murder of Shankara, the victim's brother. The trial court acquitted him, finding that the prosecution had not proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt, particularly due to contradictions in the eye‑wit…

The Gujarat government prepared a development plan in 1987 reserving a "green belt" for public housing. After ten years the reservation lapsed under Section 20 of the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976. The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority later framed a town‑planning scheme reserving the same l…

The dispute arose from a work order awarded to Manish Engineering Enterprises by IFFCO, which was later cancelled, leading the firm to seek payment through arbitration and writ petitions. After the arbitrator rejected the claim of removal of items from IFFCO premises, the complainant filed multiple criminal complaints …

V.K. Naswa filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking Rs 10 crore each from Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare and others for alleged misuse and insult of the National Flag, and also asked the Court to direct amendment of the Flag Code of India, 2002. The petitioner had already lodged criminal complaints against the responde…

The appellant, Aymubkhan Noorkhan Pathan, was appointed as a senior clerk in the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation under a Scheduled Tribe reservation based on a caste certificate that declared him a member of the Bhil Tadvi tribe. Respondent No.5, a general‑category citizen, alleged that the appellant, being a Muslim, …

The appellant, Kunwar Pal, was convicted under Section 304(Part I) IPC for the death of Ramayan Prasad at a marriage ceremony where several double‑barrel guns were fired. The prosecution alleged that Pal, along with three others, fired negligently, causing a cartridge to strike the deceased. The trial and High Courts h…