D Y CHANDRACHUD

The victim was allegedly raped and set on fire by the accused, Shailendra Kumar Rai, and later died of septicemia caused by the burn injuries. While on her way to death she gave a statement to police officer Lallan Prasad, which was read back to her, signed, and later treated as a dying declaration. The Sessions Court …

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu writ petition concerning the management of the COVID‑19 pandemic, examined the Central Government's Liberalised Vaccination Policy, which shifted free vaccination for the 18‑44 age group to State/UT governments and private hospitals and introduced differential pricing. The petition…

The Chancellor of Kannur University re‑appointed Dr. Gopinath Ravindran as Vice‑Chancellor for a second four‑year term after the expiry of his first term, despite a pending selection process and a statutory age limit of sixty years. The petitioners challenged the re‑appointment on grounds that (i) re‑appointment is not…

The Supreme Court had directed the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) to postpone pronouncing its judgment in a pending appeal until the result of Finolex Cables Limited's Annual General Meeting (AGM) was declared. Despite being apprised of this order, the NCLAT bench pronounced its judgment on 13 October …

The petitioner, a Scheduled Caste student, secured a seat in Electrical Engineering at IIT Dhanbad after ranking 1455 in his category in JEE Advanced 2024. He attempted to pay the required admission fee of Rs 17,500 before the 5 pm deadline on 24 June 2024, logging into the portal six times between 3:12 pm and 4:57 pm,…

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) procured power through competitive bidding but accepted tariffs and quantities that deviated from standard bidding guidelines, leading to the execution of Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) for 865 MW. KSEB sought approval of these PSAs from the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory …

Gaurav Kumar filed a writ petition challenging the fees levied by State Bar Councils (SBCs) at the time of enrolment, alleging that the amounts far exceed the Rs. 750 (general) and Rs. 125 (SC/ST) prescribed in Section 24(1)(f) of the Advocates Act, 1961, and that additional miscellaneous fees are being made a conditio…

The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) filed a writ petition fearing that the Union Government would unilaterally appoint the Chief Secretary of the Territory and extend his tenure without the GNCTD’s consent. The petition sought a restraining order and the appointment of a senior AGMUT offic…

Prakash Kumar Dixit was removed from service in 1995; the Delhi High Court set aside the removal, imposed a minor penalty and ordered his reinstatement with backdated seniority, but the order was not implemented timely and he was denied promotion to IG before retirement. He initiated contempt proceedings, and a Single …

The petitioners, a group of CA examination candidates, sought a re‑scheduling of two papers slated for 8 May and 14 May 2024, arguing that these dates fell a day after phase‑wise polling in the General Elections and would cause severe hardship to those exercising their franchise. They highlighted that only 291 cities h…

A 14‑year‑old girl, X, who alleged sexual assault, became pregnant and sought termination of her pregnancy beyond the statutory 24‑week limit. The High Court denied the request, relying on a clarificatory opinion of a medical board that did not assess the impact on X's physical and mental health. The Supreme Court set …

The MP High Court Bar Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the amendment to the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) Electronic Filing Rules, 2020, which made e‑filing of pleadings mandatory in all cases from 31 January 2023. The petition argued that the…

Vedanta Limited operates a copper smelter at the SIPCOT industrial complex in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the State Government ordered its closure for repeated violations of environmental norms, including operating without consent, improper hazardous waste management, and dumping…

The Supreme Court was asked to consider whether, under its Article 142 powers, it could issue blanket directions that all interim stays granted by High Courts should automatically lapse after six months and that High Courts must dispose of such cases on a day‑to‑day basis. The Court examined the object of interim order…

The Punjab government, through its Council of Ministers, recommended that the Governor summon the Vidhan Sabha for its Budget Session on 3 March 2023. The Governor sought extensive information from the Chief Minister under Article 167 and, after receiving a tweet and a letter that he deemed derogatory, said he would se…

State Bank of India (SBI) appealed an order of the NCLT rejecting its IBC petition against India Power Corporation Limited. The appeal was filed three days after the statutory 30‑day period, and SBI sought condonation of delay, relying on a free certified copy of the NCLT order sent under Rule 50. A split decision aros…

The State of Uttar Pradesh challenged the appointment of three teachers in two minority colleges, arguing that the selection process was not complete because the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) had not approved the proposals before the amendment of Regulation 17. The colleges contended that once the management for…

The Supreme Court examined civil appeals filed by State Bank of India and other banks challenging the classification of borrowers' accounts as fraudulent under the RBI's 2016 Master Directions on Frauds. Borrowers contended that the directions denied them a hearing before such classification, violating the principles o…

Lok Prahari, a society, challenged the constitutional validity of Rule 39-AA of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and the proviso to Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, alleging violations of Article 80(4), Article 14 of the Constitution and Section 123(2) of the Act. The petitioner argued that …

The appellant, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife appointed in 1980, submitted a resignation on 18 April 1993 but withdrew it on 23 November 1993 before it was accepted. Despite the withdrawal, the State later accepted the resignation effective from 31 March 1993, leading to a series of writ petitions under Article 226. The Hi…

The State of Haryana sought a direction to conduct the entire recruitment of Junior Civil Judges through the Haryana Public Service Commission and to modify the Supreme Court's 12 February 2009 order that had placed the selection under a committee comprising High Court judges, the State, and the Commission. The Court e…

Commander Seema Chaudhary, a Short Service Commissioned officer in the Indian Navy's Judge Advocate General's Branch, was denied a Permanent Commission (PC) on the ground of lack of vacancies despite the Supreme Court's earlier directions in Lieutenant Commander Annie Nagaraja's case that women SSC officers be consider…

The appellant, Om Rathod, a student with lower‑limb myopathy, secured a high All‑India PwD rank in the NEET‑UG 2024 exam but was declared ineligible for MBBS admission by the AIIMS‑Nagpur Medical Board, which assessed his disability at 88%—above the 80% ceiling in the RPWD guidelines. The High Court upheld the Board’s …

The Supreme Court, acting suo motu under Article 32, examined media‑circulated clips of a Karnataka High Court judge who made misogynistic and community‑prejudicial remarks during live‑streamed proceedings on 6 June and 28 August 2024. A report from the Registrar General provided transcripts and translations of the rem…

The case involved a reference to a nine-judge bench to resolve the divergence between India Cement Ltd. v. State of Tamil Nadu (which held royalty is a tax) and State of West Bengal v. Kesoram Industries Ltd. (which held royalty is not a tax). The core issues were the true nature of royalty under Section 9 of the Mines…

The appellant and his brother, the first respondent, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2010 that included an arbitration clause. The appellant later filed two suits involving additional parties, including a private company and Canara Bank, seeking injunctions over family property. The first respondent…

The appellant, a shareholder and former director of Seva Vikas Co-operative Bank, filed FIR No. 806 of 2019 alleging financial fraud by the bank's chief executive and former chairperson based on a forensic audit report. The Bombay High Court quashed the FIR, holding that Section 81(5B) of the Maharashtra Co-operative S…

International Seaport Dredging Pvt Ltd entered into a dredging contract with Kamarajar Port Limited, a statutory undertaking, which later gave rise to disputes and arbitration. The arbitral tribunal awarded the appellant approximately Rs 21.07 crore with interest and costs, and the respondent sought correction under s.…

The petitioners, candidates for the Rajasthan Civil Judge Cadre 2024, challenged the low marks awarded to them in the Language Paper‑II (English Essay) of the main examination, alleging arbitrary and discriminatory evaluation that caused them to miss the interview cut‑off. They sought quashing of the main examination r…

Mr. Rajeev Nohwar booked a residential flat and purchased e‑SBTR stamp paper worth Rs 8,44,500. A dispute with the builder led to a consumer complaint before the NCDRC, which ordered a full refund of the consideration. Nohwar applied for a refund of the stamp duty, but the Deputy Inspector of Registration rejected it, …

M/S Magadh Sugar & Energy Ltd., a sugar mill that generates surplus electricity from bagasse, supplies that electricity to the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB). The Bihar Government levied electricity duty and penalty under the Bihar Electricity Duty Act, 1948, which the company challenged through a writ petition u…

The State of Maharashtra alleged that the appellants were members of an organized crime syndicate operating the illegal "Mumbai Matka" gambling network. Police raided a gambling den, recorded confessions of several accused, including the appellants, by an Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl. SP) under Section 18 …

The Supreme Court examined six FIRs registered in West Bengal relating to alleged explosive offences and a High Court order that transferred the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The High Court had directed the Central Government to invoke its power under Section 6(5) of the National Investigati…

The deceased Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy was murdered in March 2019 and the case was transferred to the CBI, which filed charge sheets naming several accused including the first respondent Y.S. Avinash Reddy. The first respondent sought anticipatory bail and filed a writ petition, prompting the Telangana High Court to grant…

The Public Interest Committee sought proportional representation for the Limboo‑Tamang Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies of West Bengal and Sikkim, arguing that the 2006 Delimitation Notification and the 2008 Delimitation Order failed to incorporate the tribes after their inclusion under …

The appellant, GLAS Trust Company LLC, a financial creditor of Think & Learn Pvt Ltd (the corporate debtor), challenged the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's (NCLAT) approval of a settlement between the corporate debtor and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the setting aside of the NCLT order…

The Supreme Court of India, in a 9-judge bench reference, addressed the scope of Entry 8 of List II of the Seventh Schedule (intoxicating liquors) and its interplay with Entry 52 of List I (industries controlled by the Union). The case arose from a challenge by the State of Uttar Pradesh against a High Court decision t…

The case arose from an FIR filed in 2020 alleging that the accused, S. Harish, had downloaded and stored child pornographic videos on his mobile phone. The investigation recovered two such videos and a chargesheet was filed under Section 15(1) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Section 6…

The Jamia Masjid Gubbi filed a suit seeking a declaration that the State Wakf Board owned a specific property, possession, an injunction and mesne profits. Defendants argued that the suit was barred by res judicata, relying on three earlier suits concerning the same property. The Supreme Court examined whether the earl…

The appellant, a returned candidate to the Manipur Legislative Assembly, was challenged by the unsuccessful candidate who filed an election petition alleging corrupt practices, including non‑disclosure of a financial transaction. The appellant moved applications under Order 7 Rule 11 of the CPC and Section 86 of the Re…

The Supreme Court examined a petition seeking a fresh NEET (UG) 2024 examination on the grounds of a question‑paper leak in Hazaribagh and Patna and alleged systemic deficiencies in the conduct of the exam. The Court noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation had identified about 155 beneficiaries of the leak, but …

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union Ministry of Urban Development to convert the entire 1.33‑acre parcel of land allotted to the Supreme Court for archives into a chamber block for lawyers, to declare the surrounding area a ‘Supreme Cour…

The Supreme Court examined an application filed by Unitech Limited seeking restitution of Rs. 98.07 crore that had been paid to Shri Naresh Kempanna and Col. Mohinder Khaira under an earlier order directing distribution of sale proceeds from a land transaction with M/s Devas Global Services LLP. Unitech argued that it …

The petitioner, a former chairperson of Maduravoyal Town Panchayat, purchased a parcel of land in 2011 that included a road earmarked for a sewerage line under a 2001 local body resolution. While the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board laid the sewer main on the adjoining stretches, it left a 110‑metre s…

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

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

Bloomberg Television Production Services India Private Limited and others sought an ex parte ad interim injunction to compel Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited to remove a February 2024 article alleged to be defamatory. The trial judge granted the injunction on the basis of a brief reference to prior cases, without …

The borrowers defaulted on a loan secured by a mortgage over land in Navi Mumbai, prompting Union Bank of India to initiate SARFAESI proceedings and eventually conduct a public auction. The appellant, CELIR LLP, was the highest bidder, paid the full bid amount, and received a sale confirmation, but the bank withheld th…

South Eastern Coalfields Ltd, which operates coal mines in Madhya Pradesh, challenged the levy of a terminal tax by the municipal council on the basis that municipal statutes cannot apply to Scheduled Areas. The company argued that Article 243ZC of the Constitution excludes Part IXA (municipalities) from Scheduled Area…

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

The petitioners sought a blanket prohibition on the installation of overhead transmission lines for solar power across roughly 99,000 square kilometres in Rajasthan and Gujarat, arguing that such lines threaten the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). The Supreme Court had earlier ordered the conversion of…

The Commissioner of Police in Telangana issued a preventive detention order against Nenavath Ravi and his associates under the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986, alleging habitual robbery and gold‑chain snatching that allegedly created fear among women. The order was based on four FIRs, but the Det…

The Odisha Administrative Tribunal (OAT) was created in 1986 under the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, but was abolished by a Union Government notification dated 2 August 2019, issued under Section 21 of the General Clauses Act in conjunction with Section 4(2) of the same Act, after the State of Odisha requested it…

The petitioner, Sundar, was convicted of kidnapping and murdering a seven‑year‑old child and sentenced to death by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the High Court and the Supreme Court. He filed a review petition alleging errors in the evidence, especially the admissibility of call‑detail records (CDRs) without …

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

OPG Power Generation (the appellant) and its holding company Gita Power were sued by Enexio Power Cooling Solutions for unpaid amounts under supply and erection orders for an air‑cooled condenser unit. The arbitral tribunal held that Gita Power, as the holding company, was bound by the arbitration agreement and jointly…

The AMP Group and the JRS Group entered into a Family Arrangement Agreement (FAA) containing an arbitration clause, and later sought to appoint a sole arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The petition raised two questions: the scope of the referral court’s jurisdiction after the…

The appellant, a Jharkhand MLA, was charged with accepting a bribe to vote for a candidate in a Rajya Sabha election, but she did not cast the alleged bribe‑influenced vote. She sought quashing of the criminal proceedings on the ground of immunity under Article 194(2) of the Constitution. The High Court rejected the pl…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu writ petition concerning the murder and alleged rape of a 31‑year‑old trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata, observed that the incident and subsequent mob vandalism highlighted systemic failures in ensuring safety for medical professionals. The Court noted th…

The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi challenged the constitutional validity of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, which inserted Section 3A into the GNCTD Act, 1991 and altered the distribution of legislative and executive powers over Entry 41 of List…

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

Kuldeep Kumar contested the mayoral election of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation held on 30 January 2024. The presiding officer, Anil Masih, declared the BJP candidate Manoj Kumar Sonkar elected, treating eight ballots cast for the appellant as invalid after marking them with an ink line. Video evidence and physica…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of appeals concerning whether electricity arrears of a previous owner can be recovered from a subsequent owner who acquired the premises through auction or other transfers. It held that the duty of a distribution licensee to supply electricity under Section 43 of the Electricity Act, …

The Supreme Court examined the recommendations of the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC) concerning pay, pension, gratuity, retirement age and related service conditions for the district judiciary. The petitioners, All India Judges Association, sought uniform designations, a pay matrix with a 2.81 multipli…

BEST issued a tender for 1,400 electric buses with a mandatory technical requirement that the buses must travel 200 km on a single charge in actual conditions with 80% state of charge. Tata Motors submitted a bid guaranteeing the range only under standard test conditions (AIS 040), which the High Court held to be a mat…

The Ministry of Home Affairs floated a tender for the supply of Glock pistols, which was awarded to Glock Asia‑Pacific Ltd. The tender’s conditions stipulated that any dispute be referred to a sole arbitrator appointed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, specifically an officer of the Ministry of Law. The…

The Supreme Court, in a review petition filed by the Union of India, examined its earlier 2022 judgment that declared certain provisions of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 and its 2016 amendment unconstitutional. The Court observed that the original appeal did not contain any challenge to the …

The Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action, an NGO, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking comprehensive guidelines for the effective implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), including the appointment of exclusive Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) and support mecha…

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) determined tariffs for aeronautical services, which were challenged before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). AERA then filed appeals under Section 31 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Act, 2008, seeking to contest TDSAT…

BHEL awarded a contract for an ash‑handling plant at the Yadadri Thermal Power Station to BTL EPC Ltd. BTL’s bid relied on a consortium‑type agreement with the Chinese firm Fujian Longking, which was not registered with the competent authority as required by the Public Procurement Order for entities from countries shar…

SBI General Insurance issued a fire insurance policy to Krish Spinning, which settled the first fire claim by a discharge voucher and payment of Rs 84,19,579. Krish Spinning later disputed the quantum of the settlement, alleging coercion, and invoked the arbitration clause in the policy by filing a Section 11(6) applic…

The parties entered into a 2012 contract for the supply of sub‑machine guns, after which the Ministry of Defence encashed a bank guarantee and deducted liquidated damages in September 2016. The petitioner claimed the dispute should be resolved by arbitration and, after a series of bilateral discussions, issued a notice…

The Supreme Court earlier ordered the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose details of electoral bonds purchased and the contributions received by political parties. A Miscellaneous Application was filed seeking to pre‑date the point from which such disclosure must be made. The Court examined the language of sub‑paragr…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the resolution of Jet Airways Ltd., where the Successful Resolution Applicant (SRA) sought to meet its Rs 350 crore payment obligation by adjusting the last Rs 150 crore tranche against a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG). The lenders, led by State Bank of India (SBI), h…

The case concerns the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which grants citizenship to certain migrants from Bangladesh to Assam based on cut-off dates (before 1.1.1966 and between 1.1.1966 and 25.3.1971). The provision was enacted to implement the Assam Accord. Petitioners challenged it …

The Supreme Court of India considered a batch of petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, and other laws. The Court held that there is no fundamental right to marry under the Constitution, and the Special Marriage Act is not unconstitutional for excluding same-sex c…

Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (the appellant) entered into a lump‑sum contract with Chenab Bridge Project Undertaking (the respondent) for constructing a high‑altitude railway bridge. Disputes arose over increased entry tax and toll tax during execution, leading to a standing arbitral tribunal which rejected the r…

Kishan Chand Jain filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a direction that public authorities implement the proactive disclosure obligations under Section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Union of India responded by detailing the various guidelines, task forces, and memoranda issued by the Department…

Two Civil Judges (Senior Division) in Gujarat challenged the High Court's promotion process, alleging that the recruitment notice of 12 April 2022 applied a seniority‑cum‑merit approach contrary to the statutory requirement of merit‑cum‑seniority for the 65% promotional quota. The petitioners invoked Article 32 of the …

The Supreme Court was approached by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) for clarification of its earlier order permitting the corporation to move the Tree Authority to fell 84 trees in Aarey Forest for the Metro Line‑3 project. MMRCL later sought to fell 124 trees and transplant 53 trees, exceeding the author…

The petitioner, a disability‑rights activist, challenged the conditions imposed by the Consortium of National Law Universities for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2023, specifically the rules governing the use of scribes for persons with disabilities (PwD). He argued that the late issuance of guidelines and the re…

The petitioners, including a prospective mayoral candidate, challenged the conduct of the first meeting of the Delhi Municipal Corporation after the 2022 elections, seeking clarification on whether members nominated under Section 3(3)(b)(i) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 have voting rights in the election…

The petitioner, a 27‑year‑old mother of two, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a medical termination of her pregnancy after discovering she was about 24 weeks pregnant, citing postpartum depression and financial constraints. The Court initially ordered termination, but a doctor from the AIIMS Medical Board…

The case concerned Dr. Bikartan Das, a Research Assistant appointed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), who sought to have his retirement age enhanced from 60 to 65 years in line with the benefit granted to AYUSH doctors under a Cabinet decision. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) …

Pesala Nookaraju, a bootlegger, was preventively detained under Section 3(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986, with a 12‑month order confirmed by the State Government. He challenged the detention through a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that the proviso to Section 3(2) limits detention…

The petitioners are women Short Service Commissioned Officers who were released from the Armed Forces after fourteen years of service. They sought one‑time pensionary benefits on the basis that, under a Supreme Court order of November 2022, they should be deemed to have completed the twenty‑year qualifying period for p…

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier submitted data on electoral bonds to the Supreme Court, which was kept in sealed custody as per an interim order dated 12 April 2019. The Court later directed the ECI to upload this data on its website, assuming the ECI retained a copy. The ECI informed the Court that …

Justice (Retd) Raj Rahul Garg retired as a District Judge on 31 July 2014 and was appointed a High Court Judge on 25 September 2014, retiring from the High Court on 4 July 2016. She filed a petition under Article 226 seeking that her entire judicial service, including the 54‑day gap, be counted for pensionary benefits.…

The Supreme Court of India struck down the Electoral Bond Scheme and related amendments to the Finance Act 2017, which had introduced anonymous financial contributions to political parties. The Court held that the scheme violated the right to information of voters under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, as informat…

The Supreme Court considered whether the nine‑judge bench decision in Mineral Area Development Authority v. Steel Authority of India (2024 INSC 554) should be given prospective effect. The judgment had overruled India Cement Ltd. v. State of Tamil Nadu and clarified the legislative competence of States under Entries 49…

The Supreme Court heard appeals challenging the Delhi High Court's age criteria for the Delhi Judicial Service (DJS) and Delhi Higher Judicial Service (DHJS) examinations. The petitioners argued that the upper age limit of 32 years for DJS and the minimum age of 35 years for DHJS were unconstitutional, especially after…

The Supreme Court examined whether an arbitration agreement embedded in an unstamped or insufficiently stamped contract is void, unenforceable, or merely inadmissible under the Indian Stamp Act. It held that such agreements are only inadmissible as evidence under Section 35 of the Stamp Act and that non‑stamping is a c…

The petitioners sought to overturn a Permanent Lok Adalat order directing the closure of a slaughterhouse in Tonk, alleging the Adalat lacked jurisdiction. The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) later issued directions under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, after ins…

The Supreme Court examined the appropriate procedure for police to conduct media briefings during ongoing criminal investigations, balancing the public’s right to information under Article 19(1)(a) with the accused’s presumption of innocence and victims’ privacy under Article 21. An amicus curiae was appointed who coll…

The Supreme Court was asked to consider whether a holder of a light motor vehicle (LMV) licence may drive a transport vehicle of the same class (unladen weight up to 7,500 kg) without a separate endorsement. The issue arose from the earlier decision in Mukund Dewangan v. Oriental Insurance Co., which had interpreted th…

The petitioners, victims of Endosulfan pesticide use in Kerala's Kasargod district, sought enforcement of a Supreme Court order dated 10 January 2017 that directed the State Government to pay Rs 5 lakhs compensation to each affected person and to arrange medical facilities. Five years later, only eight petitioners had …

The case concerned an appeal by Meena Devi, the wife of a murder victim, against the Allahabad High Court’s order granting bail to the convicted accused, Shivraj Singh alias Lalla Babu, under Section 439 of the Cr.P.C. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court had exercised its discretionary power judiciously, …

The petitioners, a group of MBBS graduates who had participated in the NEET‑PG 2021 counselling process, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the quashing of the National Board of Examinations' notification fixing the NEET‑PG 2022 exam for 21 May 2022, a postponement of the exam, a fresh date after eight week…

Shinhan Bank entered a Leave and Licence agreement and a contemporaneous Amenities agreement with Carol Info Services for office premises. After termination, the parties disputed the refund of security deposits and alleged fees, and the bank invoked an arbitration clause contained in the Amenities agreement. The respon…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the High Court of Punjab and Haryana's recommendation to promote thirteen in‑service judicial officers to Additional District and Sessions Judges under the 65% promotion quota of the Haryana Superior Judicial Service Rules, 2007. The State of Haryana refused to accept t…

The petitioners sought transfer of a Delhi High Court writ petition (WP (C) No. 8905 of 2019) and a Rajasthan High Court civil writ (CW/13784/2019) to the Supreme Court to obtain uniformity in the minimum age of marriage for men and women across various statutes. The respondents informed the Court that the Rajasthan pe…

The appellant, Shambhu Kharwar, was accused by a woman (the second respondent) of raping her under Section 376 of the IPC, alleging that he had promised to marry her and then broke that promise, leading her to file a complaint. The woman had been in a consensual relationship with the appellant from 2013 to 2017, marrie…

The father of a 17‑year‑old girl who delivered a baby and then committed suicide filed an FIR alleging rape under IPC s.376 and the POCSO Act against Amit Kumar Tiwari. The Special Judge framed charges, but the accused obtained a criminal revision under CrPC s.397/401 and the High Court discharged him on the basis of a…

The Kerala High Court, after conducting a written test and viva‑voce for recruitment to the Higher Judicial Service, imposed a minimum cut‑off for the viva‑voce despite the 1961 Rules and the 2012 examination scheme expressly providing that no cut‑off would apply. Eleven candidates challenged this decision, arguing tha…

The petitioner, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Himachal Pradesh, challenged an ex parte order of the Himachal High Court that transferred him and a Superintendent of Police to other posts to ensure a fair investigation into allegations of intimidation and misuse of power. The High Court had acted suo motu on a…

The appellant, a software developer, was employed by Shree Infosoft Private Limited under a contract that included a clause on overseas deputation, obligating repayment of costs if she failed to serve a specified period after such deputation. She was sent to the United States for a business meeting in August‑September …

The appellant, owner of land in the Mount Abu Eco‑sensitive Zone (ESZ), challenged the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order directing the State of Rajasthan to modify its Zonal Master Plan 2030 (ZMP 2030) to prohibit construction on his parcel. The NGT had relied on an Expert Committee report that deemed the land unsu…

The President of India issued Constitutional Orders 272 and 273, which applied the entire Constitution of India to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and abrogated Article 370. Simultaneously, Parliament enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, bifurcating the State into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashm…

The Supreme Court examined whether the West Bengal government could re‑appoint the Vice‑Chancellor of Calcutta University under the Calcutta University Act, 1979. The High Court had set aside the State’s re‑appointment order, holding that only the Chancellor could appoint or re‑appoint the VC and that Section 60 could …

The appellant alleged that the respondent had borrowed Rs.20 lakh and issued a cheque for the full amount, which was later dishonoured for insufficient funds. The respondent had, however, made part‑payments of Rs.4,09,315 before the cheque was presented for encashment, reducing the outstanding debt at the time of matur…

After the 2019 Maharashtra elections a coalition government (MVA) led by Uddhav Thackeray collapsed in mid‑2022 when the Shiv Sena split into two factions headed by Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. The Governor, relying on letters from opposition leaders and a resolution of 34 Shiv Sena MLAs, directed Thackeray to prove hi…

The Supreme Court examined a 2015 Union Ministry notification that gave the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi control over "services" in addition to public order, police and land. The Court held that, under Article 239AA(3)(a), the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) has legislative and co…

The appellant, a woman, filed a habeas corpus petition alleging that her intimate partner, also a woman (referred to as X), was being held against her will by X's parents. The Kerala High Court ordered the District Legal Services Authority to interview X and subsequently directed that X undergo counselling with a psych…

The Supreme Court had earlier declared the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional and directed the State Bank of India (SBI), as the authorized bank, to furnish the Election Commission of India (ECI) with details of each bond purchased and redeemed between 12 April 2019 and 15 February 2024. SBI filed a Miscellaneous A…

The Supreme Court entertained a miscellaneous application seeking implementation of guidelines for recording evidence of vulnerable witnesses in criminal matters, following earlier pronouncements in Sakshi and Bandu @ Daulat. The Court examined the need for special centres to provide a barrier‑free environment for vuln…

The State of Punjab challenged the Governor of Punjab for refusing to assent to four Bills passed by the Vidhan Sabha and for questioning the legality of sessions reconvened after an adjournment sine die. The petition also sought a declaration that the June and October 2023 sessions were valid and that the Governor mus…

Solaris Chem Tech Industries Ltd, a water consumer, challenged notices demanding payment of arrears on revised water tariffs, arguing that the notices violated the contractual rate provisions and statutory procedures. The High Court dismissed the writ petition and the subsequent writ appeal, relying on Clause 11 of the…

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Ltd (DAMEPL) entered into a 2008 concession agreement for the Delhi Airport Metro project. DAMEPL alleged safety defects, issued a cure notice, and later terminated the agreement; an arbitral tribunal awarded substantial sums to DAMEPL. The…

The petitioner, a practising advocate, challenged a Bar Council of India (BCI) office order dated 1 November 2022 that allegedly halted the verification of advocates' educational qualifications and certificates of practice. The Court examined the BCI's concern that many advocates who had not submitted verification form…

NTPC Ltd. and SPML Infra Ltd. entered into a contract for installation services. After SPML completed the work, NTPC released the final payment but retained SPML's bank guarantees, linking their release to disputes in other projects. The parties settled the matter through a Settlement Agreement that released the guaran…

The Annasaheb Chudaman Patil Memorial Medical College, authorized for 100 MBBS seats, sought to increase its intake to 150 seats and was conditionally permitted by the National Medical Commission (NMC). A surprise inspection in January 2022 uncovered serious deficiencies in faculty, infrastructure, and patient records,…

Sharafat Ali, convicted under IPC sections 302 and 34 and sentenced to life imprisonment, applied for premature release after serving 17 years, 9 months and 26 days. The Uttar Pradesh government rejected his application on vague grounds of possible victim resentment and alleged extremist nature, without examining his p…

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL) entered into a 25‑year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Ltd (RGPPL) to purchase power. When domestic gas supplies fell short, RGPPL procured Recycled LNG (RLNG) from GAIL under a Gas Supply Agreement and declared capacity bas…

The petitioners challenged the constitutional validity of sections 95 to 100 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, alleging violations of Articles 14 and 21 and the denial of a hearing before a resolution professional is appointed. They argued that the resolution professional’s powers to seek information and the…

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking the expeditious disposal of criminal cases pending against sitting and former Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. The petition also raised the constitutional validity of Section 8 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1…

The petitioner, Kishan Chand Jain, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions that State Information Commissions (SICs) adopt hybrid or virtual hearings to reduce travel costs for applicants, especially from remote areas. The petition argued that such measures would further the legislative intent of the …

The petitioners, a group of students who completed an undergraduate medical degree in Uttarakhand in 2023, challenged the fee fixation imposed by the Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee, which raised fees retroactively for the 2018‑19 academic year. They sought issuance of their degrees without paying the additional…

The respondent, already in judicial custody for ECIR No.10 of 2021, feared arrest in a separate case (CR No.806 of 2019) and applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC. The complainant objected, arguing that a person already in custody cannot seek anticipatory bail for another offence. The Bombay High …

Cox & Kings Ltd. sought appointment of an arbitrator under Clause 15.7 of its Services General Terms and Conditions Agreement with SAP India Pvt. Ltd., alleging breach of a software implementation project. The petition raised questions on whether a prima facie arbitration agreement existed under Section 11 of the Arbit…

Former civil servants, scholars and activists filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a court order directing the Union Government to cancel existing licences and stop granting new licences for the export of arms and military equipment to Israel amid the Gaza conflict. The petitioners alleged violations of inter…

The appellant, Doli Rani Saha, claimed compensation for the death of her brother who allegedly fell from a moving train in 2003. The Railway Claims Tribunal and the Gauhati High Court dismissed the claim, holding that there was insufficient proof the deceased was a bona‑fide passenger, particularly noting the absence o…

The petitioners, a UAE entity, claimed that the respondents defaulted on payments under a 2004 MoU and invoked arbitration in 2022, eleven years after the alleged breach in 2011. The petition sought appointment of an arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, while criminal proceeding…

The appellant was awarded a PPP tender by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) to maintain two underpasses, but KMDA later cancelled the tender citing alleged technical faults and a policy change. The appellant challenged the cancellation via a writ petition, which the High Court upheld, holding the ca…

M/s Lisie Medical Institutions appealed against the State of Kerala challenging the interpretation of Section 3(1)(b) of the Kerala Building Tax Act, 1975. The issue was whether the Explanation to the provision, which states that ‘charitable purpose’ includes relief of the poor and free medical relief, limits the term …

The petition was filed by Rajive Raturi, a visually‑challenged activist, seeking directions to ensure meaningful access to public spaces for persons with disabilities under the RPWD Act. The Supreme Court had earlier issued eleven action points in 2017, but States and Union Territories showed slow compliance, leading t…

The Supreme Court considered a reference to determine the criteria for an educational institution to be considered a minority institution under Article 30 of the Constitution, and whether the decision in Azeez Basha (which held that Aligarh Muslim University was not a minority institution because it was established by …

The Supreme Court examined whether arbitration clauses that allow one party, especially a government entity, to unilaterally appoint a sole arbitrator or control the composition of a three‑member tribunal are valid. It held that such unilateral appointment provisions create a real risk of bias, violate the principle of…

The petitioner, Siddamsetty Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd., entered into two agreements to sell agricultural land with the respondents in 1997, paid a substantial portion of the consideration, and sought specific performance after the respondents refused to execute the sale deed. The trial court dismissed the suit, the High …

The appellant, a person with arthrogryposis, challenged the portrayal of persons with disabilities in the film ‘Aankh Micholi’, alleging violations of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) and the Cinematograph Act, 1952. He sought the inclusion of disability experts on the Central Board of Film …

The respondent, a Head Constable in the CRPF, was found guilty of assaulting a colleague and was compulsorily retired under Rule 27 of the CRPF Rules, 1955. He challenged the retirement, arguing that Rule 27's provision of compulsory retirement was ultra vires Section 11 of the CRPF Act, 1949, and that the punishment w…

The election petitioner challenged the election of the returned candidate on grounds of non‑disclosure of bank accounts, a vehicle, spouse's occupation and other material facts. The returned candidate’s written statement introduced explanations for these allegations, prompting the petitioner to seek leave to file a rep…

Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) allocated a 25‑MW solar project to Astonfield Solar (the corporate debtor) under a 25‑year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) executed in 2010. After severe flood damage the plant operated at a fraction of capacity and the corporate debtor was declared a non‑performing asset, prompting …

The complainant, a practising advocate, received a post‑dated cheque from the husband (original accused No.1) of the appellant for professional fees. The cheque was drawn on the husband’s personal bank account, signed by him, and later returned unpaid. A criminal complaint under Section 138 read with Section 141 of the…

The appellant, Nagabhushan, was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for dowry death and murder after the trial court had acquitted him. The conviction rested on a later dying declaration (Exhibit P5) in which the deceased alleged that the appellant poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze, contrary to an earlier dyi…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a notice to Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd (DCHL) and its Company Secretary, V. Shankar, imposing a Rs 10 lakh penalty for alleged violations in a Rs 270 crore share buy‑back. The SEBI Whole Time Member held the Company Secretary liable for not exercising due dili…

The appellants challenged the Rajasthan High Court’s decision to fix a 75% cut‑off for the translator recruitment, alleging that it altered the eligibility criteria after the recruitment process had begun. The Supreme Court examined when a recruitment process starts and ends, the constitutional doctrine that the "rules…

The petitioner, a non‑resident Indian, claimed entitlement to 400,000 and 200,010 equity shares under a 2011 Shareholders Agreement and sought appointment of an arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 after the respondents failed to issue share certificates. The respondents argued tha…

The appellant, HPCL Bio‑Fuels Ltd., entered into turnkey contracts with the respondent, Shahaji Bhanudas Bhad, for equipment supply. After a dispute over unpaid dues arose in 2014, the respondent invoked the arbitration clause and filed a Section 11(6) application in the Bombay High Court in February 2018, which he unc…

The Customs Department filed a review petition challenging the Supreme Court's earlier decision in Canon India Ltd. v. Commissioner of Customs, which held that Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers were not "proper officers" under section 28 of the Customs Act, 1962. The Court examined whether there was an…

M/s Arif Azim Co. Ltd., an Afghan distributor, entered into a 2010 distributorship agreement with M/s Micromax Informatics FZE (UAE) that contained an arbitration clause designating Dubai as the venue and subjecting the arbitration to UAE Arbitration and Conciliation rules. After a credit dispute, the petitioner sought…

The petitioners, a mining leaseholder and its shareholder, challenged the explanations to Rule 38 of the Mineral (Other than Atomic and Hydrocarbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016 and Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017, alleging that the inclusion of previously paid royalty, DMF an…

Goqii Technologies (appellant) entered a Master Services Agreement with Sokrati Technologies (respondent) containing an arbitration clause (Clause 18.12). After paying over Rs 5.5 crore, Goqii raised concerns based on an independent audit reporting alleged overcharges and fraudulent practices, and invoked arbitration u…

The Supreme Court examined the dispute between State Bank of India and other creditors (petitioners) and the consortium of Murari Lal Jalan and Florian Fritsch (respondent SRA) over the implementation of the approved resolution plan for Jet Airways. The core issue was whether the Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of Rs.…

The Supreme Court suo motu took up an order dated 17 July 2024 issued by Justice Rajbir Sehrawat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in which the judge made gratuitous observations about previous Supreme Court orders while hearing a contempt proceeding. The Court examined whether such remarks undermine the authority …

The Supreme Court, hearing a Special Leave Petition arising from sectarian violence in Manipur that included widespread sexual violence against women, directed the State and Union governments to restore law and order and ensure justice for victims. It ordered the formation of a three‑member committee of former female j…

Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd, an aggregator for two‑wheeler ride‑pooling, applied for a licence under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 but the Pune RTO rejected the application for non‑compliance with the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020. While the petition was pending, the Maharashtra Government issued a…

The Supreme Court examined whether the "group of companies" doctrine, which allows an arbitration agreement signed by one member of a corporate group to bind non‑signatory affiliates, is valid under Indian law and how it should be applied. The Court considered the interpretation of the phrase "claiming through or under…

The Supreme Court examined the demolition of Manoj Tibrewal’s ancestral house, which had been declared part of a national‑highway widening project. The State authorities demolished the house after only a public “munadi” announcement, without any written notice, without disclosing the extent of encroachment, the width o…

The Supreme Court examined whether a holder of a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence, defined under Section 2(21) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, may drive a Transport Vehicle whose gross weight does not exceed 7,500 kg without a separate endorsement under Section 10(2)(e). After analysing the definitions, the 1994 amen…

Lombardi Engineering, a Swiss design consultancy, entered into a contract with Uttarakhand Vidyut Nigam Ltd for a hydro‑electric project, which was later transferred from UPDCC to the respondent. After the respondent terminated the contract, Lombardi invoked the arbitration clause in the General Conditions of Contract,…

The case concerns Dilip Paul, a former Area Organizer of the Service Selection Board, who was penalised with a 50% pension withholding after a Central Complaints Committee (CCC) found him guilty of sexual harassment based on a first complaint and a later second complaint filed by a female employee. The appellant (Union…

Modi Naturals Ltd., a registered dealer of rice bran oil in Uttar Pradesh, claimed full input tax credit (ITC) on tax paid for raw rice bran used to manufacture taxable oil and a by‑product (de‑oiled rice bran, an exempt good). The Revenue argued that under Section 13(1)(f) of the UP VAT Act the ITC should be limited t…

The petitioner, Sarvesh Mathur, filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the denial of video‑conferencing and hybrid hearing facilities by High Courts and tribunals. The Supreme Court examined the widespread variation in adoption of technology, the absence of uniform SOPs, arbitrary age restrictions, lack of …

The appellants alleged that the Doloo Tea Estate in Assam, earmarked for a greenfield airport, was subjected to massive clearing of shade trees and uprooting of over 4.1 million tea bushes without the mandatory environmental clearance required under the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification. They pres…

Petitioner Rajkumar sought enforcement of the Supreme Court’s earlier directions in Rashidul Jafar for premature release of life‑imprisoned convicts, alleging that Uttar Pradesh had not considered eligible prisoners despite the existence of the Uttar Pradesh Prisoners (Release on Probation) Act, Rules and a Standing Po…

The Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, which created a board to regulate standards, teacher qualifications and examinations in madrasas, was struck down by the Allahabad High Court on the ground that it violated secularism and Articles 14 and 21A of the Constitution. The petitioners challenged the High…

Eight judges of the Patna High Court, appointed from the District Judiciary, were denied subscription to the General Provident Fund (GPF) on the ground that they had previously been covered by the New Pension Scheme. They filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking equal treatment. The Supreme Court examined whether …

The Supreme Court of India, in a nine-judge bench decision, addressed two major constitutional questions. First, it held that Article 31C, to the extent it was upheld in Kesavananda Bharati, remains in force after the 42nd Amendment was struck down in Minerva Mills, as the amendment was a substitution and its invalidat…

The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi challenged the Lieutenant Governor’s notifications nominating ten experts to the Delhi Municipal Corporation, arguing that the power must be exercised on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 239AA(4). The Court examined the constitutional…

Dr. Narendra Gupta filed a public interest litigation alleging that women, especially from marginalized communities, were subjected to unnecessary hysterectomies under government health schemes in several states, violating their right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined affidavits…

Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd (MBL) had its permission to uplink and downlink the news channel ‘Media One’ revoked by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) denied a security clearance, citing national security concerns and alleged links to JEI‑H. MBL challenged the rev…

The petitioners, doctors aspiring to appear for NEET‑PG 2022, challenged the deadline of 31 July 2022 for completing their medical internship, arguing that COVID‑19 disruptions delayed internships and that the period spent on COVID duties should count towards the requirement. The National Board of Examination had earli…

Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. initiated arbitration against Siva Industries and its promoter under an inter‑se agreement, invoking the London Court of International Arbitration. The sole arbitrator was appointed by the Supreme Court under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The arbitration proceeded beyo…

The appellant, a former director of Evirant Developers Private Ltd, challenged an interlocutory order of the NCLT dismissing his application alleging unauthorized filing of a reply in a Section 7 proceeding. The NCLT heard the matter on 17 May 2023 but did not pronounce a substantive order until it was uploaded on 30 M…

The petitioners, the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid, sought a declaration that they could perform Hindu rituals at the Gyanvapi Mosque and moved to dismiss the suit under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The trial court, exercising discretion under Order 26 Rule 10A of the Code o…

The appellant, Honnaiah T.H., was an injured victim and the informant whose statement led to the registration of an FIR on 26 December 2016 for multiple offences arising from a violent dispute in Thoppanahalli village, Karnataka. During trial, the prosecution sought to mark the appellant's recorded statement as an exhi…

The appellant, Mallada K Sri Ram, was detained under Section 3(2) of the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986 on the ground that he, as a "white‑collar offender", had cheated job aspirants and was likely to disturb public order. The detention order was issued in May 2021, more than seven months after …

The appellant, Sita Soren, a member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly accepting a bribe to vote for an independent candidate in a Rajya Sabha election, but she ultimately voted for her party's candidate. She sought to quash the charges invoking Artic…

The All India Judges Association filed a writ petition challenging the allowances recommended by the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC) for judicial officers and retired judges. The Union and several State governments objected, arguing that the recommendations would impose a financial burden, should be gov…

The Maharashtra cooperative society, engaged in sugar production, sought to delete about 2,000 members under Section 11 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, alleging they did not meet the bye‑law eligibility criteria. The Regional Joint Director (Sugar) issued an omnibus show‑cause notice and, without i…

The petitioners, women officers of the Indian Army who had been granted Permanent Commission following the Supreme Court's Nitisha judgment, challenged their non‑empanelment for promotion to Colonel by selection. They argued that the Army’s cut‑off dates for Confidential Reports (CRs) excluded a substantial portion of …

The Supreme Court examined a batch of appeals concerning reassessment notices issued by the Revenue after the Finance Act 2021 amended Sections 147‑151 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Court considered whether the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 (TOLA) and its notifica…

Journalist Sukanya Shantha filed a writ petition alleging that various State prison manuals sanction caste‑based discrimination in the division of labour, segregation of barracks and the classification of "habitual offenders", thereby violating Articles 14, 15, 17, 21 and 23 of the Constitution. The Court examined whet…

The appellant was convicted of murdering his wife inside their home, where their five‑year‑old daughter also lived. The prosecution relied on forensic evidence, the appellant's blood‑stained clothes, and his conduct in leading police to the weapon, while the defence claimed unknown intruders were responsible. The key l…

The Allahabad High Court, hearing a writ petition filed by the Association of Retired Supreme Court and High Court Judges, directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to notify rules framed by the Chief Justice concerning domestic help and other post‑retirement benefits for former judges, and later held a recall application …

The petitions arose after Hindenburg Research alleged that the Adani Group manipulated its share price and failed to disclose related‑party transactions, prompting the petitioner to seek a court‑monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team or the CBI and the revocation of certain SEBI regulations. The Suprem…

A public interest litigation was filed in the Jammu & Kashmir High Court alleging that cinema halls prohibited movie‑goers from bringing their own food and beverages, forcing them to purchase expensive and possibly unhealthy items. The High Court directed cinema owners not to prohibit outside food, invoking the right t…

The Uttar Pradesh government awarded a contract for Ayurvedic medicines exclusively to Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd (IMPCL) without inviting tenders, invoking paragraph 4(vi)(b) of the National AYUSH Mission Operational Guidelines. Kerala Ayurvedic Co‑operative Society challenged the award as arbitra…

The Supreme Court examined petitions seeking the cancellation of the 2024 NEET (UG) exam on the ground that the question paper had been leaked in Hazaribagh and Patna and that the exam’s integrity was compromised. The Court evaluated evidence from the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (…

Madhumita Das was appointed as a Junior Assistant in a post reserved for Scheduled Castes on the basis of a caste certificate issued in 1996. In 2011 the employer, Bhubaneswar Development Authority, discovered that her school records indicated she belonged to a Brahmin caste and she claimed Scheduled Caste status by vi…

The Supreme Court heard a batch of writ petitions filed by Vishal Tiwari and others seeking redress for massive losses suffered by investors after the share price of the Adani Group collapsed following a Hindenburg Research report. The petitions alleged that the Adani companies had manipulated share prices, failed to d…

The Central Bank of India conducted an e‑auction of a secured asset under the SARFAESI Act and the successful bidder, Shanmugavelu, deposited 25% earnest‑money. After being granted a 90‑day extension, he failed to pay the balance and the bank forfeited the entire deposit under Rule 9(5) of the SARFAESI Rules. Shanmugav…

Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which allows a candidate to contest elections from more than one constituency for the same office simultaneously. He argued that the provision violated Ar…

The appeal concerned the inheritance rights of children born of void or voidable Hindu marriages who are legitimated under Section 16(1) or 16(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The central issue was whether such children are entitled to a share in the ancestral or coparcenary property of their parents, or only to the…

The Supreme Court, by a 6:1 majority, overruled its earlier decision in E.V. Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh and held that sub-classification of Scheduled Castes for the purpose of reservation is constitutionally permissible. The Court examined whether the Scheduled Castes constitute a homogenous class under Artic…

The appellants filed a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in June 2021, which the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) dismissed on 26 August 2022. They applied for a certified copy of the order, received it on 15 September 2022, and e‑filed an appeal before the National Company Law Ap…

The appellants were arrested in 2019 for offences under the IPC, UAPA and the Explosive Substances Act and a chargesheet was filed within the 180‑day period prescribed under Section 167(2) of the CrPC. They applied for statutory/default bail on the ground that the chargesheet was filed without a sanction order, arguing…

The petitioner filed a public interest litigation before the Gujarat High Court under Article 226 challenging a Gujarat Government resolution that created a Governing Council and an Executive Council for the redevelopment of the Gandhi Ashram Memorial (Sabarmati Ashram) and sought that the existing trusts spearhead the…

The petitioners, an Afghan franchisee, sought appointment of a sole arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to resolve disputes over royalty payments and renewal of franchise agreements with the respondent. The key issues were whether the Limitation Act, 1963 applied to a Section 11…

The case concerned a murder under IPC sections 302, 149 and 148, where six accused were convicted based largely on the testimonies of two eyewitnesses, PW‑1 Vedram and PW‑2 Jagdish. The post‑mortem report showed only one firearm injury and a single neck injury, contradicting the prosecution’s claim that all pistol‑arme…