H S BEDI

The police intercepted a car on a highway in Himachal Pradesh and, after a mechanic opened concealed compartments, recovered 27.8 kg of charas. Two 50‑gram samples were sent to the forensic laboratory where they weighed 65.5606 grams, leading the accused to argue that the weight discrepancy undermined the prosecution's…

Balbir Kaur died from severe burns allegedly after her mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law demanded additional dowry. Two dying declarations were recorded by an ASI and a magistrate, but the trial court rejected them as unreliable because the victim had 100% burn injuries. The High Court, relying on the victim's father's s…

The State of Andhra Pradesh appealed against the High Court's decision upholding the conviction of Viswanadula Chettri Babu and others under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The central issue was whether an investigation conducted by an Assistant Sub‑Inspector of Police co…

The case arose from two partition suits settled by a family settlement and a decree directing the execution of a General Power of Attorney and payment of amounts. The Supreme Court had earlier ordered that V.M. Singh deposit the balance amount, which he did, but later sought to withdraw his interlocutory application (I…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Chandra Sonia, convicted of double murder under IPC s.302 and sentenced to life imprisonment on two counts. The prosecution's case rested on an extra‑judicial confession made by the accused to a neighbor (PW 7) on the day of the murders and on the recovery of the alleged murder …

On 4 November 1991, at a restaurant in Pondicherry, Subramani and six others attacked PW1, his brother Tamilvendhan and friends, stabbing Tamilvendhan to death. PW1 survived with injuries and identified Subramani in a test identification parade. The trial court acquitted all accused, doubting PW1's presence, intoxicati…

The respondents were initially appointed as work‑charge helpers in 1979 and later selected as Junior Clerks in 1984 after a limited competitive exam. They claimed that, having performed the duties of Junior Clerks, they were entitled to the Junior Clerk pay scale retroactively from 1979 and from 1 April 1982, invoking …

The case arose from a violent land dispute in which the deceased Girdhari was killed while both parties were ploughing the same field. The trial court convicted seven of nine accused under Sections 302, 307 and related provisions, but the High Court modified the convictions, reducing Kallu's charge to Section 304 Part …

The appellant, Dilpesh Balchandra Panchal, was convicted along with two co‑accused for the murder of Indrasinh under IPC s.302 and s.114. The prosecution relied on the testimony of the victim's parents, who witnessed the attack, medical evidence indicating two fatal knife wounds, and the recovery of the murder weapon f…

Amarjit Singh and co‑accused were convicted by a trial court for offences under Sections 306 and 498A of the IPC, read with Section 34, and sentenced to imprisonment. They appealed to the Punjab & Haryana High Court, where the single judge dismissed the appeal, stating there was no reason to re‑appreciate the evidence …

Four accused, including Baij Nath Sah, were tried for kidnapping a minor under Sec. 366-A IPC. The trial court convicted them, and the High Court reduced the charge to Sec. 363 and lessened the sentence. On special leave, the Supreme Court examined the sole evidence against Baij Nath Sah—a statement recorded under Sec.…

The appellant was detained for one year under Section 3(2) of the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1985. The Karnataka High Court quashed the detention order on 1 September 2006, releasing him, but later set aside its own order on 30 March 2007 and directed the police to take the appellant back into cu…

Ranjit Singh was charged with murdering his wife Gurmail Kaur on 1 September 1990, with the prosecution alleging that he, his sisters and his grandmother participated in the killing. The evidence consisted of a post‑mortem report indicating strangulation, an electric wire found near the body, and extra‑judicial confess…

Tara Singh was apprehended carrying 8 kg of opium in a gunny bag on his head. He was searched under Section 50 of the NDPS Act, samples were taken and sent to a laboratory, and he was convicted and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment and a fine. The High Court set aside the conviction on two grounds: non‑compliance wi…

The appellants, the in‑laws of Amani Moharana, were convicted by the trial court for murder based on two dying declarations of the deceased, one recorded by a doctor (PW‑8) and another by a police officer (PW‑9) under Section 161 of the CrPC. The High Court discarded the doctor’s declaration as a Xerox copy but upheld …

The appellants, Raja Gounder and others, were convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of their brother amid a land dispute. The prosecution's case relied on the testimony of the deceased's widow, who was also the sister‑in‑law of the accused, and on medical evidence showing multiple injuries…

Ram Niwas and four others were tried for the murder of Sher Singh and the attempted murder of Chanda. The trial court convicted Ram Niwas under Sections 302 and 307 of the IPC, acquitting the remaining accused and giving benefit of doubt to two of them. On appeal, the appellant argued that the testimony of two key witn…

The appellant, a kitchen employee of a hotel, attacked the managing director with a concealed sickle, inflicting multiple injuries. The victim, a known heart patient who had undergone angioplasty, died the following day; medical evidence attributed death to myocardial infarction and not to the injuries. The trial court…

The case involved three accused—Birappa (A‑1), Kareppa (A‑2) and Muttappa (A‑3)—charged with the murder of Gulappa. The trial court convicted Birappa based primarily on the testimony of a single eyewitness, PW‑1, the brother of the deceased, while acquitting the other two. On appeal, the High Court upheld Birappa's con…

The appellant, Beere Gowda, was charged with murdering his two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old daughter Pallavi by forcibly administering a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acid, obtained from a goldsmith, while his second wife Indramma was a co‑accused. The Sessions Court acquitted both, holding that the child might have ingested …

Six persons were tried and convicted for the double murder of Ram Swarup and Ram Pratap Singh under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC. While the appeal was pending, four of the accused died, and the High Court dismissed the appeal of the two survivors, Shiv Singh and Deo Narain. Deo Narain challenged his con…

The appellant, Arumugam, murdered his step‑mother Saroja by strangling her with a rope. He made an extra‑judicial confession first to his step‑sister and shortly thereafter to the Village Administrative Officer, who recorded the statement and handed him over to police. The rope was recovered, and post‑mortem evidence s…

The appellant, a hotel servant, was arrested after 2.1 kg of opium was recovered from a hotel room and he made two confessional statements to officers of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN). The trial court convicted him under Sections 8 and 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, relying on …

Vijender Kumar, son of a bus operator, suspected his helper Yogesh of stealing part of the bus fare. After a personal search recovered Rs 100, Kumar became angry, beat Yogesh and then retrieved a knife from a nearby scooter to stab him in the abdomen, causing Yogesh's death. He was convicted under Section 302 IPC for m…

The respondent, a constable of the Railway Protection Force, was charged with assaulting and robbing a passenger. An enquiry officer found him guilty and the disciplinary authority ordered his removal from service. The appellate authority set aside the removal, ordered a de novo enquiry, and again found him guilty, sub…

The landlord, Amar Nath Agarwala, filed an eviction suit against Dhillon Transport Agency alleging that the tenant had sub-let, assigned or transferred possession of the premises without his consent. The original tenancy was granted to a partnership of four partners which later dissolved; all assets were transferred to…

The State of Andhra Pradesh appealed the High Court's acquittal of M. Narasimha Rao, who was charged with murder under Section 302 IPC. The prosecution relied on the eyewitness testimony of the victim's son (PW‑1) and wife (PW‑2), corroborated by a detailed post‑mortem report showing multiple fatal injuries. The High C…

Bhaskarendu Datta Majumdar, a senior officer of the State Trading Corporation, was selected by the Public Enterprises Selection Board for promotion to Director (Marketing). Although he obtained clearance from the Central Vigilance Commission and his name was forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC),…

An FIR was lodged in April 1984 under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code alleging that the appellant, then Managing Director of a district agency, conspired with a Deputy Commissioner to award a contract to a private firm. The State Government denied sanction for prosecution on two occasions (19…

The appellants, brothers Daulat Ram and Mangilal, cultivated opium under a licence held by their mother and failed to declare the entire yield to the Lambardar as required by Rule 13 of the NDPS Rules. During a raid, concealed opium was recovered from pits they had dug, and both accused confessed to withholding the opi…

The appellant, a school teacher, was convicted under Section 376 of the IPC for raping a 15‑year‑old girl. The FIR was lodged three days after the alleged incident, and the medical examination, conducted after three days, did not conclusively prove rape, though it noted a minor finger injury and a missing hymen. The ap…

The case arose from a dispute over school land in Punjab where the village sarpanch, Jaswant Singh, was shot dead. The FIR described the killers as two Sikh youths aged 25‑30 wearing kurta pajamas, but no names were given. The two accused, Sukhbir Singh and Dilbagh Singh, were arrested six months later and identified f…

A. Manickam Pillai applied for a freedom fighter's pension in Tamil Nadu. The State Government rejected his application because the co‑prisoner certificate attached was not from an "approved certifier" as required by a Government Order dated 7 February 1996. Pillai filed a writ petition and submitted a second certifica…

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

The case involves the murder of Prem Kumar Chaudhary during a family land dispute, where three relatives—Anjani Chaudhary, Bhimsen Chaudhary and Kinkin Chaudhary—were alleged to have attacked the victim with a pistol, lathi, farsa and bhala respectively. The trial court and High Court convicted all three under Section …

On 5 November 1988, the deceased, a neighbour, was persuaded by the accused and his friend to join them for drinks. After consuming alcohol, the accused got into a quarrel with his father, slapped him, and was subsequently rebuked by the deceased who intervened. In a sudden fit of anger, the accused stabbed the decease…

Four members of a family – the husband, his mother and two sisters – were charged with murdering the husband’s wife, who could not bear children. The prosecution relied on three independent eyewitnesses who testified to a prolonged quarrel and the beating of the victim, as well as medical testimony that the cause of de…

Bhavani married Nandyala Venkataramana in 1992 and was given a dowry of one lakh rupees, but the husband demanded additional items on the wedding night and continued to harass her for further dowry. Despite a Panchayat order for the couple to live separately, the husband, his parents, and brother persisted in making do…

The case arose from a violent dispute over land where the accused forcibly entered a tube well, injured the complainant and migrant labourers, and threw a dead labourer’s body into a canal. The trial court convicted all accused under multiple IPC sections and the Arms Act; the High Court acquitted two co‑accused on the…

The appellant was convicted under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) based on the testimony of the prosecutrix and her husband, who alleged that the appellant had raped the woman in a factory and threatened her. Medical examination found no injuries and only semen on the victim's swabs and clothing…

The appellant, Bahadur Singh, was apprehended during a police nakabandi and a bag he was carrying yielded 10 kg of opium. The trial court acquitted him, finding the prosecution story doubtful and noting that a press note about the seizure did not mention him. The High Court reversed, holding that Section 50 of the NDPS…

The appellants Zahoor, Subrati and Babu were originally convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Allahabad High Court altered the conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304(1) read with Section 34, imposing a fine. On appeal, the Supreme Court held…

The appellant, a Deputy Chief Engineer of South Central Railway, was accused of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.3,000 from a contractor after passing the contractor's final bill. A pre‑trap operation was conducted by the CBI, during which the contractor, a shadow‑witness, and the CBI inspector observed the appell…

The State of Andhra Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Thummala Anjaneyulu, who was charged with murdering Bhoomaiah during a village Panchayat after being provoked for allegedly ogling women. The trial court had convicted him under Section 302 IPC, but the High Court set him free, doubting the credibility of eyewitness…

On 15 September 1997 three accused—Md. Mizazul Haq, Abbas Ahmad Choudhary and an absconding Ranju Das—kidnapped, gagged and raped a girl aged about 13‑15 years. The trial court convicted both appellants under Sections 376 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code, a decision upheld by the Gauhati High Court. On appeal before th…

The appellant Gurdeep Singh was convicted under IPC sections 3048 (dowry death) and 498A for allegedly poisoning his wife Rajinder Kaur after a dowry demand. The prosecution alleged that the accused administered poison, that a dowry demand of Rs 25,000 was made shortly before death, and that the body was cremated hasti…

Om Prakash (Baba) was arrested after police raided a house and recovered a large quantity of charas, opium and ganja. He was convicted by the trial court and the conviction was affirmed by the High Court under Sections 8/18, 8/20(B)(ii) and 8/20(B)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. On appe…

The appellant was accused of raping his daughter-in-law in the family home on 2 April 1989, an incident allegedly witnessed by several family members and resulting in the victim's bleeding. The trial court convicted him under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imprisonment. …

The appellants Vikram Singh, Jasvir Singh and Sonia were convicted for kidnapping a 16‑year‑old boy, Abhi Verma, for ransom, administering chloroform and pentazocine which caused his death, and for conspiracy under Sections 302, 364A, 201 and 120‑8 IPC. The Supreme Court examined the sufficiency of circumstantial and e…

The Central Bureau of Narcotics alleged that Bahadur Singh, a servant in a dhaba, was found with a key that opened a locked box containing 17.45 kg of opium. The trial court convicted him under Sections 8 and 18 of the NDPS Act, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted him, holding that there were no reliable independent…

The appellant was charged under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code for raping a girl aged 10‑12 years. The trial court acquitted him due to lack of medical proof, but the High Court set aside the acquittal, finding the victim’s and her mother’s statements credible and interpreting the medical report as indicating par…

The dispute involved a cooperative society that, after an arbitration award in 1981 directing allotment of plot No. 6 to the petitioner, mistakenly executed a sale deed for plot No. 66 in the petitioner's favour. In a separate arbitration, the respondent was awarded any one of plots 66, 91 or 15; with 91 and 15 unavail…

The appellant, Swapan Kumar Senapati, assaulted his uncle Satkari Senapati by sitting on his chest and allegedly striking his head with a stone. The victim died three days later from intracranial hemorrhage, with no external injuries found at autopsy. The FIR was lodged three days after the incident, citing Sections 34…

The deceased Prakash was assaulted after a marriage ceremony by members of two rival groups of the Dalit Mukti Sena. He sustained a buttock wound and later developed internal injuries, leading to his death after eighteen days of hospitalization. The trial court convicted the accused of murder (s.302/149 IPC) and other …

The appellants Gurdial Singh, Bakshish Singh and Darshan Singh attempted to divert a village drain towards the house of Buta Singh despite a court injunction. When Buta Singh objected, the appellants, armed with a gandasi and dangs, assaulted him and several witnesses; Buta Singh later died from his injuries. The trial…

Rameshbhai Chandubhai Rathod, a 27‑year‑old watchman, was convicted of raping and murdering a ten‑year‑old girl residing in the building where he worked. The trial court sentenced him to death under Section 302 IPC, a decision affirmed by the Gujarat High Court as a "rarest of rare" case. On appeal before a two‑judge S…

The case arose from the suicide of a 21‑year‑old woman, Sunita, who alleged that the accused, Amit, had exploited her sexually after promising marriage and threatening to expose her. The trial court convicted Amit under IPC s.306 (abetment of suicide) and s.376 (rape), sentencing him to life imprisonment for the latter…

The appellant was accused of killing his mother with a burnt wooden stick. The prosecution relied on an alleged extra‑judicial confession made by the appellant before a village Panchayat, witnessed by four persons, and on the recovery of the alleged weapon at the appellant's request. The trial court and the High Court …

The Supreme Court examined a civil appeal challenging a High Court judgment that set aside the concurrent findings of fact of the trial court and the first appellate court without formulating any substantial question of law, as required by Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure (amended 1976). The Court reiterated …

The appellant, while working in his field, struck Rajinder Pal on the head with a spade after a verbal altercation when the victim entered the field. The victim later died, and the trial court convicted the appellant under Section 302 of the IPC, sentencing him to life imprisonment, a decision upheld by the High Court.…

The appellants, a father and son, were convicted for selling adulterated "Chhena Mithai". The Public Analyst reported adulteration with starch, and the Central Food Laboratory confirmed adulteration but did not specify starch. The trial court and first appellate court convicted them under Section 16(1)(a)(i) of the Pre…

The appellant challenged the Maharashtra Resettlement of Project Displaced Persons Act notifications that declared his village a benefited zone and the subsequent land acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act. He argued that a 1979 compromise and partition of his family’s land, which reduced his holdings, should be g…

The case concerned the admissibility of evidence recorded in the main trial of the 1993 Bombay blast (BBC No.1/1993) against a co‑accused, Mustafa Ahmed Dossa, who was arrested years later. The Designated Court had held that evidence recorded before Dossa was declared a proclaimed offender could not be used against him…

The case arose from a violent clash over disputed land in Jind, where several accused, armed with pistols, lathis and other weapons, assembled and attacked a group of persons, resulting in the death of Krishan and injuries to others. The trial court convicted the appellants under Sections 302, 307, 323, 324, 148, 449 I…

During a joint operation in January 1999, Nirmal Singh was apprehended and offered a choice to be searched before a magistrate or a gazetted officer under Section 50 of the ND PS Act. He chose a gazetted officer, and a search uncovered two kilograms of heroin; he also made a confession to a customs officer under Sectio…

The appellant Fahim Khan and two others were accused of murdering Sagir Hasan Siddique. The trial court acquitted them, but the High Court set aside the acquittal, finding the trial court's judgment perverse and convicting the appellant. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the High Court could interfere with …

The Supreme Court examined the compensation payable for 162.5 acres of land acquired in 1990 under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for a housing project in Sonepat, Haryana. The Collector initially awarded Rs 2 lakh per acre, which was later enhanced by the reference court and the High Court using a belting method. The …

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…

Varalakshmi, an upper‑caste woman, married a Scheduled‑Caste man against her family's wishes. Six years later she disappeared after being lured by her paternal uncle, the appellant, who claimed her grandmother was ill. Her body was later found, showing death by smothering, and jewellery allegedly taken from her was rec…

The appellant, Md. Mannan, a mason employed in the victim's grandfather's house, sent a seven‑year‑old girl to a betel shop and subsequently abducted her on his bicycle, raping and murdering her. He later confessed, leading police to the body. He was convicted under IPC sections 366, 376, 302 and 201 and sentenced to d…

A family dispute arose after the daughter Nindo was teased, leading eight accused to raise a lalkara and attack members of the rival family with knives and lathis. Baljinder Singh received a deep stab wound to the abdomen, a vital organ, and died shortly thereafter; Rajwinder Singh was also injured. The accused were tr…

The case arose from a land demarcation dispute in which a fight broke out, leading to the death of lmteyaz Ali. Monir Alam and others were convicted under IPC sections 304(11) and 323, with Alam sentenced to three years. The High Court altered the conviction to include section 149 but upheld the trial court's judgment.…

The appellant, an Indian Army soldier, fired three shots at a member of a Quick Reaction Team during a night security duty after a stone‑throwing incident, killing Naik Jityu Yadav at a distance of 8‑10 feet. Despite being warned by a fellow sentry not to fire, he shot the victim and, when apprehended, said “I did what…

The case arose from a violent incident during the 1995 Mandal elections in Gadiparthivaripalem, where the candidate Soodidela Satyanarayana Reddy was murdered by a group of about twenty accused armed with stones, knives and axes. The trial court acquitted all accused, deeming the two eye‑witnesses (the victim's nephew …

On 30 September 1996, five accused ambushed Ganeshram and his companions at a river crossing. Rammilan Lodhi and Babula Lodhi, armed with shotguns, fired, killing Ganeshram and injuring Annilal, while Prahlad, Dullam and Hukum, armed with lathis, only exhorted the shooters. The trial court convicted all under IPC secti…

Man Singh was arrested in 1979 with half a bottle of illicit liquor and equipment for liquor manufacture. He was convicted under Section 60(2) of the Uttar Pradesh Excise Act, 1910 and sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment and a fine, a conviction affirmed by the trial, appellate and revisional courts. On appe…

The Supreme Court examined a High Court bail order that contained an extensive, reasoned discussion essentially declaring the prosecution case meritless. The Court held that while a bail order may include reasons, it must not prejudice the trial by making substantive findings on the merits. Detailed observations that a…

The case concerned seniority of Excise Inspectors promoted to Assistant Excise Commissioner (AEC) under two different Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs). One DPC (19‑Dec‑1998) promoted officers on a merit basis under the pre‑1994 rules, while a second DPC (22‑Jan‑1999) promoted others on a seniority‑subject‑to‑re…

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 …

Jagdish was convicted of murdering his wife and five minor children after his brother and neighbours saw him with a blood‑stained knife and the bodies. The trial court relied on circumstantial evidence, medical post‑mortems and the appellant’s self‑inflicted injuries, and sentenced him to death. On appeal, the Supreme …

Four accused, including Ashok Singh and Shyam Saran Singh, shot Chhota Singh, who died from a gunshot wound. The trial court convicted all four under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC based on the testimony of the deceased's son (PW3) and an independent witness (PW4), along with forensic evidence of a pellet and two…

The appellant, G. Parshwanath, was convicted for the murder of his wife and minor son and for causing the disappearance of evidence under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC. The prosecution's case rested entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the victims' residence in the appellant's house, a telephone call report…

The appellant, a truck driver, was charged with causing death and injuries when his stone‑laden truck overturned on a state highway, leading to convictions under IPC sections 304‑A, 279, 337 and 338. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of three injured witnesses who were in the vehicle, alleging that the …

The appellant, Radheshyam Kejriwal, was investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged violations of Sections 8(2) and 9(1)(f)(i) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (FERA). An adjudication proceeding under Section 51 concluded that the charges were not sustainable and the ED dropped the penalty …

Vishweshwar K. Kol was accused of pouring kerosene on his second wife and four daughters, resulting in their deaths. The eldest daughter, Jyoti, gave a dying declaration to the police after a doctor certified her fitness to testify. The trial court convicted Kol under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to death based on…

The appellant Ajit Seth was convicted for the brutal burning to death of two children, aged three and seven, and sentenced to death under IPC 302 and to ten years' rigorous imprisonment under IPC 364. The High Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, directing that the appellant not be released until he …

Uttam Vishnu Pawar, a telephone operator in the Maharashtra Irrigation Department, transferred from the Mumbai Zone to the Kolhapur Zone and lost his seniority in the new zone. He filed an application before the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal seeking that his service in the Mumbai Zone be counted towards the 12‑ye…

Advocate A was attacked by four armed men on 3 April 1979; he was shot from behind and later died. The prosecution relied on three dying declarations—one forming the FIR, one recorded under Section 161 CrPC by a Sub‑Inspector, and a third recorded by the Tahsildar after a doctor certified the victim fit to speak—while …

The appellant Subhash was convicted under Sections 306 and 498A IPC for the death of his wife Anuradha, who suffered severe burns. The prosecution's case relied primarily on a dying declaration recorded by Sub‑Divisional Magistrate Ravi Malik, which alleged that the victim attempted suicide due to dowry harassment. The…

Hari Singh and his brother Mohar Singh, who ran a brick kiln, had a business rivalry with Guiab Singh, the deceased, over nearby kilns. On a moonless night, the brothers entered Guiab Singh's house; Mohar fired a country-made pistol at close range, killing him. The victim's son Prem Pal and two other villagers identifi…

The case involved a violent attack on a farming family in Haryana, resulting in the death of the husband (Urned Singh) and injuries to his wife and son. The accused were charged under Sections 302, 149, 323 and 148 of the IPC. The High Court reduced the murder conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Se…

The case involved a long‑standing enmity between Mohammad Mian and the Husain family, which escalated into a gun‑fire incident resulting in the death of Riyasat Husain and grievous injury to his brother Firasat Husain. The trial court acquitted the accused of murder under Sections 302 and 34 IPC, relying on a perceived…

Swadeshi Polytex Ltd., a sick company unable to pay employee wages, was subjected to attachment and auction of its property under the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950. The company challenged the sale, arguing that the sale proclamation and auction notice were not served on the actual default…

The appellant's son, Nazhar Ahmed, was arrested at Bangalore Airport with undeclared gold jewellery and later granted bail by a Special Court. He was subsequently detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) and the Advisory Board confirmed a one‑year d…

The accused entered a residential house at midnight armed with knives, intending to commit robbery. When confronted by the deceased, a scuffle ensued; A2 stabbed the deceased in the abdomen and a witness, while A1 also stabbed the deceased and threatened other occupants. The deceased died on the way to the hospital. Th…

Chhote Lal was convicted by the Sessions Court under IPC sections 376(2) (rape) and 302 (murder) for the rape and killing of a ten‑year‑old girl and was sentenced to life imprisonment, the judgment clarifying that the term would continue for the remainder of his life. The High Court affirmed the conviction and sentence…

The appellants were convicted of gang rape under Section 376(2g) of the IPC and of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323, with the trial court sentencing three of them to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The High Court reduced the rape sentence to seven years and dismissed the appeal. The appellants challenged th…

The appellant Sudhir Kumar was convicted under Section 304B of the IPC for the dowry death of his wife, Kamlesh Rani, while his mother and other relatives were acquitted. The Supreme Court examined whether the presumption of dowry death under Section 113B of the Evidence Act was rebutted because four of the five accuse…

The case arose from a 1997 incident in which Ramji Tiwari, armed with a double‑barrel gun, shot and killed several persons after being urged by co‑accused. The trial court convicted Ramji under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to death, while the other four accused were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 10…

Babulal Sahu was convicted under Section 302 IPC for strangling his wife Basanti Bai after she refused his demand for sexual intercourse. The appellant argued that the killing fell within Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC, which would reduce the offence to culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304. The C…

Vijay Kumar Arora was convicted of murdering his wife, who died from over 90% burn injuries. The prosecution proved that the death was homicidal, not suicidal or accidental, through medical evidence, the victim’s verbal dying declaration before six witnesses, and evidence of physical and mental cruelty and extra‑marita…

In 1987 a police constable was stabbed by Mahender and Ram Kumar. The SHO, R.P. Tyagi, detained the accused's family members and beat them, leading to Mahender's death. Tyagi was initially convicted of murder under IPC s.302 and sentenced to death, but the Delhi High Court modified the conviction to culpable homicide n…

The plaintiff obtained a permanent injunction restraining the defendant from planting any tree on specified Khasra parcels. The decree holder later filed an application for execution seeking removal of a Bohar tree that stood on the disputed land. The executing court, relying on a commissioner’s report, interpreted the…

The Empire Jute Co. Ltd. entered into a sale contract for raw jute with the Jute Corporation of India, which was subject to a Production Control Order compelling the mill to purchase jute at a fixed price. The appellant alleged the supplied jute was of inferior quality, refused to purchase, and filed a writ petition ch…

Paras Ship Breakers Ltd installed an 8‑metric‑tonne induction furnace but, due to insufficient power supply from the Gujarat State Electricity Board, claimed it had reduced the furnace capacity to 4.5 MT and sought a lower deemed annual production under Section 3A of the Central Excise Act. The department measured the …

The case concerned the grant of a Modified Rationing (MR) dealership in West Bengal. Both Swapan Kumar Pal (appellant) and Achintya Kumar Nayak (first respondent) applied, and the Sub‑Divisional Controller, after applying criteria of financial solvency, possession of a godown and trade proficiency, recommended the firs…

The appellants applied for the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture under a 1992 APSC notification that did not specify any reservation for women. While the selection process was pending, the Andhra Pradesh Government issued a order on 6 October 1995 granting 30% reservation for women in direct recruitment with re…

The respondents bought land from the Corporation of Madras, which was later mistakenly transferred to the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board and allotted to the appellant under a slum‑clearance scheme. The respondents obtained a writ directing the denotification of the area as a slum, but the High Court set aside the dire…

The Reserve Bank of India appealed against two orders of the Gujarat High Court that, in a bail application under Section 439 of the CrPC, directed a cooperative bank to repay deposits of poor depositors (those with balances up to Rs 10,000) from funds recovered from accused persons. The bail had been granted to the ex…

Jabar Singh shot Sarnam Singh on 13 November 1984, inflicting a wound that was not fatal. The victim died fourteen days later from peritonitis, which the medical experts attributed to inadequate medical care rather than the gunshot injury. The trial court acquitted the accused due to identification doubts, but the High…

The appellants were charged with murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC, alleged to have killed two men during a land‑dispute. The trial court acquitted them, finding the FIR was delayed, the oral dying declarations unreliable, and the sole eye‑witness's testimony unnatural. The State appealed, and th…

Kashi Vishwanath Steel Ltd. (KVSL) obtained an exemption from a 15% surcharge on electricity supplied from an independent feeder by writing to the Executive Engineer, relying on a circular dated 8 September 2000. After the bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, Uttarakhand Power Corporation (UPC) withdrew the …

Krishan Singh, a daily wager employed by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board from June 1988, was terminated in December 1993 without notice, violating Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act. He served a demand notice in December 1997, and the dispute was referred to the Labour Court, which held the termi…

The appellant, father of a murder victim, challenged a High Court order that the accused (Respondent No.1) be tried as a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The accused had filed an application under Section 49 of the Act claiming he was under 18 on the date of the alleged o…

On 8 July 1987 the prosecutrix alleged that the appellant entered her house, assaulted her with three tangi blows and raped her, after which she snatched the weapon and injured him. Both parties were said to have become unconscious; the husband, son and a relative arrived, and an FIR was lodged. The trial court convict…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for stabbing the deceased, Alimat alias Aliul Zaman, on 29 September 1990 in Jindighi, Murshidabad. The prosecution relied on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses who saw the appellant stab the victim, while the defence argued that the FIR was lodged after a del…

Neelam Kumari married Anil Kumar in 1998 and later demanded additional dowry amounts, first Rs.20,000 in 2000 and subsequently Rs.50,000 in 2003. The latter demand was made solely by the husband shortly before Neelam's death, and the parents‑in‑law (Rakesh Chand and Pushpa Devi) were accused of involvement under Sectio…

The case concerns the murder of Harinder Kumar, who was shot during a dispute over brick‑kiln ownership. Rajinder Singh was convicted by the trial court under IPC s.302 and the Arms Act s.27, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him, relying on a conflict between eyewitness testimony that a shotgun was used …

In 1981, Kishore Bhagat was shot dead after a series of altercations involving several accused. Akaloo Ahir, the appellant, fired a shot that missed the victim, while another co-accused fired the fatal shot. All were charged under Sections 302, 307 and 34 of the IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act. The Supreme Court exa…

Three Naval Officers were arrested for offences under the Indian Penal Code and were remanded to judicial custody. The Commanding Officer of their naval unit applied to the magistrate for the accused to be handed over for trial under the Navy Act, 1957 (court‑martial). The magistrate rejected the application, holding t…

Kamleshwar Paswan was convicted for the murder of his two young sons and the attempted murder of a third child after a neighbour witnessed him beating the children with a wooden stick. The trial court sentenced him to death under Sections 302 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code, a sentence confirmed by the High Court. On …

In Oswal Woolen Mills Ltd. v. Punjab State Electricity Board & Anr., the company sought clarification on a prior judgment regarding the commencement date for payment of a surcharge under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948. The issue was whether the surcharge liability arose on 13 May 1992, the date of conversion of sup…

The case involved a night‑time shooting in which Deep Singh was killed and his wife Chhoti was injured; eight persons were alleged to have participated. The trial court convicted all seven surviving accused under Sections 302, 149 and 307 of the IPC. The Allahabad High Court acquitted four accused who had not caused an…

The appellants Panney @ Pratap Narain Shukla and Channey @ Prabhu Narain Shukla were convicted for the murder of Shivdhari, who was killed by a bomb, a pistol shot and a neck cut during a land‑dispute. The trial court sentenced them to death, a decision affirmed by the High Court and upheld on appeal. In the Supreme Co…

The appellants, including Bishan Singh and Govind Ballabh, attacked complainant Harish Bhatt on 30 September 1984, assaulting him with lathis, causing seven injuries (one grievous fracture of the wrist) and extorting Rs 400. The trial court convicted them under Sections 147 and 308/149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) an…

The appellants, Dharampal Singh and Major Singh, were arrested when police searched a car they were occupying and recovered 65 kg of opium from the vehicle's dicky. They were charged under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The trial court acquitted them, holding that Section 50 of…

In 1978, appellant Ram Naresh shot at Ram Vilas, injuring him; the FIR was lodged the next morning at a police station 9 km away. The trial court and the Allahabad High Court convicted the appellant under Section 307 IPC and sentenced him to five years' rigorous imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined wheth…

On 30 November 1993, three accused—Thakorbhai, Jagdishbhai and Balwantbhai Patel—attacked a group of men in Bharuch, resulting in the death of Sagir Ahmed. Balwantbhai Patel was alleged to have caught hold of Gyasuddin Ansari, enabling Jagdishbhai to inflict a simple injury. All three were convicted under Section 302 I…

Mahendra Singh, a police constable, shot and killed Janardhan Pathak, a forest gate‑keeper, claiming the incident occurred during a scuffle in which he was attacked. The trial court convicted him of murder under IPC s.302 and sentenced him under the Arms Act; the High Court affirmed. On appeal, the Supreme Court examin…

The appellant, Pyla Mutyalamma, filed a Section 125 Cr.P.C. application for maintenance against her husband, alleging a valid marriage in 1974 and desertion after 25 years. The trial magistrate found her to be the lawful wife with two surviving children and awarded Rs.500 per month. The husband appealed, claiming a pri…

The appellants were convicted for offences under Sections 148, 302/149 and 307/149 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of two persons, based on medical evidence, post‑mortem reports and the testimony of two eye‑witnesses. They appealed to the Supreme Court under Article 136, challenging the conviction on grounds of…

The Supreme Court heard appeals by the Union of India and airlines against a Rajasthan High Court order that struck down conditions imposed on senior‑citizen concessions for airline and railway tickets. The petitioners argued that the conditions—such as booking tickets seven days in advance and a mandatory two‑night st…

Joginder was charged with alleged bailable offences and filed a petition under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking pre‑arrest bail. The High Court ordered his custodial interrogation, treating the petition as valid. The Supreme Court held that Section 438 applies only to non‑bailable offences, making …

Bhaskar Mishra was charged under Section 307 of the IPC. Anticipating arrest, he filed an anticipatory bail application under Section 438 of the CrPC before the Sessions Court, which was dismissed. The Madhya Pradesh High Court later granted anticipatory bail for four weeks and directed him to seek regular bail, but Mi…

Inspector Kuldip Singh received secret information that the appellant was dealing in opium and sent a Ruqa to the police station, but he neither recorded the information in writing nor forwarded a copy to his superior as required by Section 42 of the NDPS Act. The DSP, Charanjit Singh, was alerted only by a wireless me…

In the 2008 Karnataka Assembly election, the returned candidate Nandiesha Reddy's election was challenged by Kavitha Mahesh, who alleged that her nomination paper, signed by ten electors, was illegally rejected by the Returning Officer. The petitioner filed an election petition and the returned candidate sought to stri…

The case concerned alleged irregularities in local purchase of goods at the 4th Reserved Petroleum Depot, leading to a series of inquiries and disciplinary proceedings against Lt. Col. V.N. Singh. After a Technical Court of Inquiry and a Staff Court of Inquiry implicated Singh, a General Court Martial (GCM) imposed for…

The appellant, Bhola Singh, was a co‑owner of a truck in which police discovered 16 bags of poppy husk. He had given a false residential address at the time of purchasing the vehicle, but there was no evidence that he knew the truck would be used for drug trafficking. He was convicted under Sections 15, 25 and 35 of th…

The appellant was recorded as a witness under Section 161 of the CrPC in a police case concerning an assault, and later named as an accused in a separate complaint case arising from the same incident. He sought to invoke Article 20(3) of the Constitution to refuse to give testimony in the police case, claiming a blanke…

M. Sudakar, the President of the Aruppukkottai Nadarkal Uravinmurai Pothu Abiruthi Trust, was debarred by a General Body resolution dated 7 January 2007 from holding any post in the Trust for ten years. He filed writ petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking to restrain the registration of the resolution.…

The appellants leased premises for nine years with a clause allowing the lessee to extend the lease for a further nine years, subject to conditions. The Income Tax Department treated the lease as exceeding twelve years, invoking Chapter XXC of the Income Tax Act and requiring filing of Form 37‑1. The appellants contend…

The Supreme Court examined a civil appeal arising from a suit for recovery of possession of land. The plaintiffs claimed title based on inheritance, while the defendants asserted ownership either through a purported sale or by adverse possession. The High Court, in a Letters Patent appeal, held that a Division Bench ma…

Vasudha, married to Laxman Ram Mane, drowned in a river about one and a half years after her marriage. The prosecution alleged that the husband, aided by his sisters, harassed her and maintained an illicit relationship with a woman named Pragati, leading to her suicide. The trial court convicted the husband under Secti…

Northern Mineral Ltd., a manufacturer of insecticides, was served with a report from the Regional Pesticides Testing Laboratory stating that a sample of its product did not meet specifications. The company notified the Insecticide Inspector, within 28 days, of its intention to adduce evidence in controversion of the re…

A complaint under Section 19 of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 alleged violations of Rules 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 23 of the Packaged Commodities Rules, but failed to identify the individual(s) responsible for the day‑to‑day affairs of the company. The appellant, then Deputy General Manager, and the company …

The appellant, Santosh Kumar Singh, was accused of raping and murdering Priyadarshini Mattoo. The trial court acquitted him, rejecting the DNA evidence and deeming the circumstantial evidence insufficient. The High Court reversed the acquittal, finding the chain of circumstantial facts – continuous harassment, presence…

The case involved the rape and murder of a mill worker, Chitra, for which Rathinam, the son of the mill owner, was charged under Sections 376, 302 and 201 of the IPC. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court reversed this acquittal based largely on the later statements of two witnesses, PW‑4 and PW‑5, …

The appellants, who had been working as auctioneers on a commission basis in the Kaithal Market Committee since 1963‑64, were terminated in 2000 after the Chief Administrator of the Haryana State Agricultural Board reiterated a 1982 directive that auctioneers should not work beyond the age of 60. They challenged the re…

An eight‑month‑pregnant woman was found dead with severe abdominal injuries and the foetus removed. The husband, Mission Suklabaidhya, and his friend, Uttam Chakraborty, were convicted of murder; the husband received the death penalty and the friend life imprisonment. Both appealed to the Supreme Court, which examined …

The appellant, Laxmichand, was involved in a quarrel with the deceased, Gyaniram Mahajan, who was intoxicated and refused to leave the appellant's house. The appellant dragged the deceased outside and struck him on the head with a spade, causing injuries that led to death after seven days. The appellant made several ex…

Surendra Mishra was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and for illegal possession of a firearm under Section 27 of the Arms Act after he shot dead Chandrashekhar Choubey. He appealed, claiming that he was of unsound mind at the time of the offence and therefore entitled to the protection of Section 84 IPC. The S…

The Directorate of Revenue received a fax alleging that a guest in a Mumbai hotel possessed Mandrex tablets and cash. Officers searched the guest's hotel room, seized cash and a fax copy of a consignment note, and recorded the accused's statement under Section 67 of the NDPS Act. The trial court convicted the accused u…

The appeal arose from a search and seizure conducted on 3 September 1987, where the investigating officer failed to record the information received in writing and did not forward a copy to his immediate superior as required by Section 42(2) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The State argued t…

The case concerned three accused charged with an offence under Section 307 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The trial court acquitted one accused and convicted the other two. On appeal, the Allahabad High Court acquitted Siyaram on the ground that his shot did not cause injury and reduced Jiya Lal’s sente…

The Income Tax Officer appealed the acquittal of a partnership firm and its partner, Hem Raj, who were convicted under Sections 276C(i), 277 and 278 of the Income Tax Act for filing false returns. The firm had filed a revised return for AY 1988-89, which the prosecution alleged was signed and verified by Hem Raj, leadi…

The victim, Fateh Mohammad, was shot by the accused and died five days later from septicemia. Two dying declarations were recorded—one by a police officer and another by an Executive Magistrate, both endorsed by a doctor who certified the victim's lucidity. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 307 IPC bu…

Vijay Singh Sengar filed a public interest writ petition alleging that power cuts in Madhya Pradesh were endangering patients in government hospitals and disrupting street lighting. The Madhya Pradesh High Court issued interim orders directing the State Electricity Board to provide round‑the‑clock electricity to hospit…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by animal‑right activist Bharat Kothari against a Gujarat High Court order that quashed an FIR alleging cruelty to nearly 2,000 goats and sheep and simultaneously convicted six livestock owners (respondents) under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, despite them not bein…

The appellant, Jayanta Sil, was alleged to have murdered Kandarpa with a sharp cutting weapon while returning from a feast. The prosecution relied on the testimony of six eyewitnesses, including the deceased's wife (PW1) and two other eye‑witnesses (PW5, PW6), as well as corroborative statements from PW2, PW3 and PW11,…

The appellant, a lawyer, was charged with murdering a married Scheduled Caste mid‑wife by setting her on fire after an alleged attempted rape. Three dying declarations were recorded: two (to a magistrate and to police) stated the burns were accidental, while a third (by the husband) alleged homicide. The High Court rej…

The case involved the murder of Rasheed Sait and his wife, for which eight persons were tried under Sections 302, 201 read with Section 34 and Section 120‑B of the IPC. The trial court acquitted Rukia Begum and Nasreen, finding that motive, a bucket and a plastic pot did not sufficiently link them to the crime, while c…

The appellants, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, were alleged to have formed an unlawful assembly and attacked a Congress worker (PW‑1) and his brother on a bus, resulting in the brother's death. The trial court acquitted all seven accused, but the Kerala High Court reversed the acquittal of four appellants, conv…

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

The Supreme Court examined the case of seven police constables and one additional constable (appellants) accused of beating five suspects in police custody, resulting in two deaths and injuries to three others. The prosecution presented ocular testimony, extensive medical evidence, and the testimony of a hostile witnes…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of Krishna Master and two others for the homicide of six persons. The trial court had convicted them under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and imposed death sentences, which the High Court set aside. The Supreme Court examined the reliabili…

Hari Singh was convicted for the murder of Ashok Kumar on 22 May 1989, based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses who saw the shooting at a village well. The FIR was lodged within two hours of the incident. The appellant challenged the conviction on grounds of the long lapse (8‑9 years) before the witnesses were recor…

The accused were charged with gang rape under IPC s.376(2)(g) after the prosecutrix alleged that she was assaulted on 30 August 1984. The FIR was lodged 60 hours later at a police station 22 km from the crime scene, and the victim insisted on a medical examination at a hospital 55 km away, where no injuries were found.…

Balbir Kaur, a married woman, was found dead from poisoning. The prosecution alleged that her husband and parents-in-law demanded dowry and subjected her to cruelty, leading to her suicide. The trial court convicted the parents-in-law under Section 3048 (dowry death); the High Court acquitted them of that charge but co…

Jagat Singh (A‑1) and three others were involved in a land‑dispute altercation that escalated into a free fight during which the deceased, Bachittar Singh, was stabbed and later died. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted A‑1 under Sections 302 and 307 IPC read with Section 34, sentencing …

The appellant, a daily‑wage workman, was terminated in 1999 after being implicated in a criminal case, later acquitted, and filed an industrial dispute alleging violation of Section 25(f) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court ordered his reinstatement with 50% back wages. The State of Haryana filed a w…

The dispute arose when a servant, Shanichar, left Satish Chandra's tea shop over wage issues and joined Rakesh Bahal. This led to a heated altercation during which Rakesh Bahal, armed with a knife, inflicted injuries on Satish Chandra. Rakesh, his mother Raj Bahal and sister Neelam Bahal were convicted by the trial cou…

The victim Siri Krishan was shot during a morning walk; the prosecution relied on the brother's report, two alleged eye‑witnesses (PW‑11 and PW‑12), and a widow's statement linking a property dispute to the accused. The appellant Prem Singh and co‑accused were arrested, but the appellant refused to take part in a test …

The appellant, Ravindra Tukaram Hiwale, was convicted for abetment of suicide under IPC s.306 and cruelty under s.498‑A after his wife Alka died by self‑immolation following a domestic quarrel. The trial court sentenced him to four years for s.306 and one year for s.498‑A. The State appealed, and the High Court enhance…

In 1997 a police party, led by ACP Satyavir Singh Rathi, mistakenly identified two civilians as a notorious criminal and opened fire on their car, killing both occupants and grievously injuring a third. The father of one victim filed a complaint, leading to a CBI investigation and the conviction of ten police officials…

The appellant, U.P. State Textile Corporation Ltd., a defunct organization, had appointed the respondent, Suresh Kumar, as Deputy Manager (Export) for a fixed tenure of three years starting 7 September 1987, with a clause allowing termination on three months' notice without cause. The respondent was terminated on 26 Ap…

The appellant Sukhdeep Singh was charged with murder under IPC s.302 for allegedly firing at his rival, Karam Singh, resulting in death. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the eyewitness testimony conflicted with the medical report and that the recovered .303 cartridge could not have been fired from the accuse…

Ajit Singh, the appellant, assaulted Laxmi Devi after a quarrel over her cutting fodder in his field, ordering his servant to fetch a spade and then striking her twice on the neck, causing grievous injuries from which she died after four days. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to lif…

The appellant, a defendant in a partition suit, failed to file his written statement within the 30‑day period and beyond the 90‑day limit prescribed by Order 8 Rule 1 of the CPC because his counsel advised him to wait for the outcome of a pending appeal and the case files were not available. Both the trial court and th…