K M JOSEPH

The Union of India filed a miscellaneous application seeking clarification of the Supreme Court’s decision in Joseph Shine v. Union of India, which struck down Section 497 of the IPC, asking whether the judgment also affects the applicability of Sections 45, 63 of the Army Act, 1950 and analogous provisions in the Air …

The appellant, United Bank of India, dismissed Biswanath Bhattacharjee, a former branch manager, on five charges including non‑recording of a subsidy, disbursement to fictitious beneficiaries, misappropriation of loan and subsidy amounts, removal of documents and unauthorized demand‑draft transfers. The disciplinary en…

The Indian Oil Corporation advertised for petrol pump dealerships in October 2011. Anapurna Jaiswal applied on 11 November 2011 and was placed first, leading to a lease deed dated 8 November 2011. The lease stipulated that its term of 30 years would commence only upon approval of the petrol pump, meaning no lease exist…

The petitioners, who were witnesses to a 2016 Jat community agitation in Haryana that involved arson and loss of life, alleged that the trial in Jhajjar was compromised by the influence of a powerful advocate, threats to witnesses, and a biased prosecuting team. They filed a transfer petition under Article 139A(2) of t…

The dispute concerned a property on GT Road, Shahabad Markanda, where the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had illegally broken the lintel of the first‑floor roof and constructed a staircase to take possession of their house. The trial court and the first appellate court, after considering the evidence including …

The appellant, a cargo importer, claimed damages from British Airways for loss of perishable goods shipped from Mumbai to Canada, filing suit in 2012. The trial court held the claim was not time‑barred, but the Bombay High Court dismissed it, holding that the two‑year limitation under Rule 30 of the Carriage by Air Act…

The case concerned whether a 1977 circular issued by the Governor of undivided Madhya Pradesh, which granted entry into Ranger training for Forest Guard trainees who topped their training, remained in force after the creation of Chhattisgarh in 2000. The State of Chhattisgarh issued several communications in 2009 and 2…

The appeal concerned Sunil Sikri, a former teacher of Guru Harkrishan Public School, who challenged a Tribunal order directing his reinstatement with 50% back wages. The key issues were whether Sections 8 and 11 of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 empower the Tribunal to award back wages, whether Rule 121 of the De…

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (East‑I) challenged two notices issued by the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) under Section 299 of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, seeking possession of land that formed part of the regular street line. The appellant argued that the notices were invalid because no prior san…

The Supreme Court examined the selection of 64 drug inspectors in Jammu & Kashmir, where the High Court had quashed the selection on grounds of procedural irregularities, lack of individual award rolls, and alleged bias. The Court held that candidates who participated in the selection without protest cannot later chall…

The appellant, Rajbir, entered into a sale agreement which later resulted in a suit for specific performance. The trial court decreed that the respondents, Suraj Bhan and others, must execute a sale deed in favour of the appellant and deposit the balance consideration. The respondents filed an execution petition and su…

Chandra Sekhar Jha was intercepted in 2013 while smuggling gold and was penalised Rs 75 lakhs. He appealed the penalty before the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal in 2017, but the Tribunal dismissed the appeal because he had not made the pre‑deposit required under Section 129E of the Customs Act. The …

The plaintiff, Amar Nath, executed a special power of attorney (PoA) on 28‑01‑1987 in favour of the second defendant to sell his land for Rs.55,000. When the first defendant could not pay, the second defendant allegedly returned the PoA on 02‑02‑1987 and the plaintiff claimed it was cancelled, yet no formal notice or r…

NDMC entered into a purchase order with Minosha India Ltd, terminated it for alleged non‑performance and the latter invoked the arbitration clause on 7 June 2016. Before the arbitration could commence, the corporate debtor was admitted to corporate insolvency resolution on 14 May 2018, a moratorium was imposed under Se…

The Supreme Court examined whether the day on which a magistrate orders remand under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 should be counted in the 60/90‑day period prescribed for filing a charge‑sheet, the expiry of which gives an accused an indefeasible right to default bail. Relying on the earlier d…

The appellant, convicted and sentenced to death for the 1994 murder of five women and two children, claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the offence, asserting an age of 12 years based on school birth certificates and other documents. After earlier petitions were dismissed, the Supreme Court referred the matter to …

Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a court order directing the Home Ministry to set up a Renaming Commission, the Archaeological Survey of India to research original names, and governments to update records of ancient religious sites renamed during foreign invasions, invoking rights t…

The appellants, employees of a canteen operating in the Steel Club of Bhilai Steel Plant, challenged their dismissal under Section 58 of the Madhya Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1958, arguing that the Act applied to the club. The respondents contended that the club was a "club not being a residential club" and …

The Supreme Court examined a sale deed executed by the Official Liquidator of a liquidated company, which conveyed land, building, civil works, plant and machinery, and other assets for a total consideration of Rs.8.35 crores. The first respondent, a nominee of the auction purchaser, sought registration of only the lan…

The appellant, Rathish Babu Unnikrishnan, challenged a summoning order issued under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act on the ground that the cheques were security instruments for a share buy‑back and not payable on a legally enforceable debt. The Delhi High Court dismissed his petition under Section 482 of …

The Commissioner of Police, Delhi appealed against a Delhi High Court order that directed the consideration of four candidates (Raj Kumar, Shiv Singh, Prem Singh Choudhary and Deepa Tomar) for appointment as constables despite their involvement in criminal cases. The candidates had either been acquitted or had their ca…

The second respondent filed an application under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking anticipatory bail for alleged offences under IPC sections 406, 420, 467 and 468. The Patna High Court granted the bail but, in the same order, directed the cancellation of the licence of Kanchan Kumari, the appellant,…

The case concerns a sub-contract (Work Order) containing an arbitration clause, which was unstamped. The appellant argued that the arbitration agreement was unenforceable due to non-payment of stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. The Supreme Court, by a 3:2 majority, held that an arbitration agreement contained…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) issued a notification under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in 2003, followed by a declaration in 2004 and an award in 2005 for land needed for a road project. The respondents obtained interim stay orders that prevented DDA from taking possession, and later filed a writ petition und…

The case concerned the self‑acquired property of Sengalani Chettiar, who had two marriages. His son Chandran (the father of the appellants) executed a release deed in 1975, relinquishing any claim to the property in return for valuable consideration, and stating he would have no further connection except blood relation…

The appellants were served with show‑cause notices alleging encroachment on land forming part of a National Highway. The notices were issued under Section 28(2)(iii) of the Tamil Nadu State Highway Act, 2001 and were said to be backed by a notification issued under Section 5 of the National Highways Act, 1956. The appe…

The appellant filed an interlocutory application seeking clarification of paragraph 51 of the Supreme Court's judgment dated 27 March 2023 in Criminal Appeals Nos. 701‑702 of 2020, which had upheld a default bail order granted by the Bombay High Court under proviso (a)(ii) of Section 167(2) of the CrPC. The Court exami…

The Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine filed a miscellaneous application seeking clarification and modification of the Supreme Court's 2018 directions on advance medical directives and withdrawal of life‑support treatment. The Court examined whether the procedural safeguards, especially the requirement of a Judic…

The appellants challenged the acquisition of their land for a residential‑commercial scheme, arguing that the State had improperly invoked the urgency clause under Section 17(4) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to dispense with the hearing mandated by Section 5A. The High Court had dismissed the writ petition, but on …

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) proposed a toll plaza at km 194 on the four‑laned Patna‑Bakhtiyarpur stretch of NH‑30. Writ petitioners contended that the location violated Rule 8 of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 because it lay within municipal limits and …

The Union of India and others entered into a contract with M/s. Bharat Enterprise for repair work, which required the contractor to submit a final bill and a No Claims Certificate. The contractor submitted the final bill on 13‑02‑2002, but payment was delayed for over a year, after which the contractor raised additiona…

The Supreme Court examined two appeals by the State of Rajasthan challenging orders that paid only subsistence allowance to two former employees who had been reinstated after disciplinary penalties. The Court interpreted Rule 54 of the Rajasthan Service Rules, 1951, holding that full pay is payable only when the employ…

Gowramma C, a staff nurse employed by Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd., was dismissed after a Tahasildar declared her caste certificate false, leading to loss of employment. The High Court initially upheld the dismissal, but a Division Bench later held the Tahasildar incompetent and directed verification by the Bangalore Di…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) and JSW Energy Ltd (formerly Jindal Thermal Power Co Ltd) was a "concluded contract" under the proviso to Section 27(2) of the Karnataka Electricity Reforms Act, 1999, which would exempt it f…

Heera Traders and another appealed against a decree of eviction passed by the trial court under the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961. The landlord, Kamla Jain, sought possession of non‑residential premises and mesne profits, while the tenants argued that Section 13 of the Act, which obliges a tenant to de…

Jayashree was appointed to a civil post in Karnataka under the Scheduled Tribe reservation based on a caste certificate obtained before the enactment of the Karnataka SC/ST OBC Reservation Act, 1990. Subsequent scrutiny found that she did not belong to the Scheduled Tribe community and she had not produced a validity c…

The appellants were convicted for kidnapping, ransom, and murder of an 18‑year‑old victim, and were sentenced by the trial court to life imprisonment without remission for 30 years, a sentence affirmed by the Delhi High Court. The Supreme Court examined whether a trial court can impose a "special" or fixed‑term sentenc…

The petitioners, members of the Lohar community in Bihar, challenged a 2016 Bihar Government notification that authorised the issuance of Scheduled Tribe certificates to the Lohar (also referred to as Lohara) community, alleging it was illegal and violated their fundamental rights. They sought quashing of the notificat…

The Maharashtra State Board of Wakfs was incorporated on 4 January 2002 and subsequently published lists of wakf properties on 13 November 2003 and 30 December 2004. Several Muslim public trusts challenged the Board’s constitution, the validity of the lists, and the applicability of Section 13(2) of the Wakf Act, 1995,…

The father of the parties died in 1948, leaving a daughter who was born ten days later. The mother subsequently adopted a son in 1949. The daughter filed a suit for partition of the family property, claiming a share as a coparcener under the pre‑1956 Hindu law. The High Court, applying the doctrine of relation‑back, he…

The appellant, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police and licensing officer, ordered the removal of extra seats in the Uphaar cinema in 1979‑80 following a revocation of a prior notification. After the 1997 fire that killed 59 people, the CBI filed a closure report finding no criminal act by the appellant, which the ma…

The Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad (appellant) sought to withdraw from the acquisition of two plots of land under Section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, invoking a 2008 notification that cancelled an earlier 2005 exemption. The respondents, heirs of the original landowner, challenged the withdrawal, argu…

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) appealed against a Guwahati High Court order that held its 21 July 1999 notification under Section 1(3) of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, applied only to areas within the Silchar Municipal Corporation, thereby excluding the respondent M/s Key Dee Cold Storage…

The plaintiff, a pardahnashin lady, sued to declare two gift deeds as void, alleging she was misled into executing them under the impression of a power of attorney. The trial court, after reappreciating the evidence, declared the deeds void and decreed in favour of the plaintiff. The first appellate court dismissed the…

Sushil Kumar, a constable appointed in 1995, was recommended by the Superintendent of Police (SP) for promotion to Head Constable under the 10% outstanding performance quota in 2004, but the Inspector General of Police (IG) rejected his name. He was again recommended in 2007, the IG approved, and he was appointed offic…

The respondents obtained an ex‑parte decree for ejectment and recovery of rent from the appellants. The appellants filed, on the same day, an application under Order IX Rule 13 of the CPC and an application under Section 17 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887, seeking permission to deposit or furnish securit…

The appellant, Sebil Elanjimpally, was charged under Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the NDPS Act and had been in judicial custody for nearly three years. He applied for bail for the second time, but the High Court rejected the application, stating that a co‑accused who had been released on bail had failed to surrender. The ap…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka) Amendment Acts of 2017, which sought to legalise traditional bovine sports such as Jallikattu, Kambala and Bullock Cart Race by introducing specific rules and notifications. Petitioners…

The Madhya Pradesh High Court Advocates Bar Association and the District Bar Association challenged the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010, seeking to relocate the NGT bench from Bhopal to Jabalpur and to strike down provisions they claimed ousted High Court jurisdiction and provided an unconstitutional direct app…

The appellants, owners of orchestra bars, challenged licence conditions imposed by the Maharashtra Police Commissioner that limited the number of performers to eight, with a gender cap of four women and four men on stage. The High Court upheld the conditions, but the Supreme Court held that the gender cap is unconstitu…

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) allotted a residential site to the first defendant in 1979, obligating her to construct a house within two years under the City of Bangalore Improvement (Allotment of Sites) Rules, 1972. In 1982 she entered into an agreement with the plaintiff to sell the site, promising posses…

Munish Kakkar filed a petition for divorce under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging cruelty, extra‑marital affairs, and a child out of wedlock, after a marriage that had effectively collapsed with the parties living apart for over sixteen years. The trial court granted a decree of divorce, which the …

The appellants, claiming to have purchased land from a Mahant, obtained an order of ejectment against the respondent tenant under Section 14A of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953. The tenant contested the existence of a landlord‑tenant relationship, arguing that the Mahant had no authority to convey title a…

The plaintiff, RAKHEJA ENGINEERS, filed a commercial suit for recovery of money without seeking urgent interim relief. The defendant, M/S. PATIL AUTOMATION, moved to reject the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC, arguing that the suit violated Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, which mandates pre‑in…

The Supreme Court examined whether the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA), as the lessor in a 90‑year lease of land for a residential project, could be treated as a financial creditor under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The Court held that the lease does not qualify as a financial lease unde…

The Regional Transport Authority sought to replace a stage‑carriage vehicle under a permit, but the applicant's request to use an older vehicle was rejected under Rule 174(2)(c) of the Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. The High Court held the rule ultra‑vires the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a view the Supreme Court rejec…

Shridhar Chimurkar, a retired government superintendent, died in 1994 leaving a widow, Maya Motghare, who adopted Sri Ram Shridhar Chimurkar in 1996, two years after the death. The appellant sought family pension under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, but the government rejected the claim on the ground…

The appellant bank granted a loan to a partnership firm which defaulted, leading to a Lavad suit under the Gujarat Co-operative Societies Act, 1961. An award was passed in 1988 and a certificate under Section 103 was issued in 1995, creating a deemed decree. The bank filed an execution petition in 1995, which was withd…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between M.P. Power Management Company Limited (the appellant) and Sky Power Southeast Solar India Private Limited (the first respondent) was a statutory contract under the Electricity Act, 2003 and whether the appellant’s termination of the PPA compl…

Nandini Sharma and another filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging Rule 1(b), Rule 5 and Rule 7(c) of Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, alleging that conferring exclusive rights to practice before the Supreme Court on Advocates on Record (AOR) is unreasonable, discriminatory and violative of Article…

Akashdeep Morya applied for appointment as a Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Rajasthan. Four FIRs were lodged against him, charging him with offences under sections 324, 323, 341, 148, 149, 504 and 34 of the IPC; he was acquitted in all cases, but the acquittals were based on compromise and hostile witnesses, not on a…

The Supreme Court examined a civil appeal wherein the Union of India and other government bodies challenged a High Court order directing the railway tendering authority to specify the HSN code and GST rate (18%) for a turbo‑wheel impeller in a global tender, to ensure a uniform bidding process. The petitioners argued t…

Dr. Manu joined Sree Sankaracharya University as a Lecturer in July 1999 holding a Ph.D., and was granted four advance increments under Clause 6.16 of the UGC Scheme (G.O. 21‑12‑1999). When he was later placed in the Selection Grade, the university denied two further increments prescribed by Clause 6.18, relying on a l…

The appellant, a common carrier, was assessed under Section 69A of the Income Tax Act for short delivery of bitumen, with the assessing officer deeming the bitumen as an "other valuable article" owned by the appellant. The Supreme Court examined whether a carrier can be considered the owner of goods for tax purposes an…

Workmen filed a civil suit in 2005 seeking a declaration and permanent injunction against a fine imposed by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation. The corporation moved an application under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC to dismiss the suit and refer the matter to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The application a…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from a slump sale of the loss‑making Amroha sugar mill by U.P. State Sugar Corporation Ltd. (UPSSCL) to Wave Industries Pvt. Ltd. The issue was whether unpaid duty, penalty and interest accrued before the signing date of the slump sale agreement (17 July 2010) should be born…

The appellants had taken a home loan from Axis Bank, which required a life‑insurance policy on the borrower’s life. The bank paid the premium to Max Life Insurance and the insured underwent a medical test that showed no health issues. The insured died shortly thereafter, and the insurer repudiated the claim, sending an…

The appellant, a truck driver, was stopped by Sub‑Inspector D.K. Tiwari who attempted to board the vehicle; the appellant pushed the officer, causing him to fall off and be run over by the truck's rear wheels, resulting in the officer's death. The trial court convicted the appellant of murder under Section 302 IPC and …

Coal India Ltd (CIL) and its subsidiary Western Coalfields Ltd challenged the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) finding of abuse of dominant position, arguing that the Competition Act, 2002 does not apply to them because they are government companies created under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 and ar…

The case involved a private limited company with an authorised capital of Rs.1 crore, where the board of directors resolved to issue additional shares on a 1:1 basis and sought to increase the authorised capital to Rs.2 crore following a bank's advice. The V.P. Patel and Sheth groups alleged oppression and mismanagemen…

The Supreme Court examined whether a credit note issued by an automobile manufacturer to a dealer, for replacing a defective part under a warranty, constitutes a sale liable to sales tax. It held that when the dealer uses a part from his own stock or purchases it from the market and is reimbursed by a credit note, the …

The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission conducted an exam for Gram Panchayat Adhikari in which a question asked for the current Panchayati Raj Minister. The correct option at the time the question was set was "Kailash Yadav" (option B), but the minister died twelve days before the exam, rendering non…

Vinay Prakash Singh, convicted of contempt of the Supreme Court on 15 November 2019, was sentenced on 22 September 2022 to six months' imprisonment. He contended that he had been in custody since 3 February 2020 in connection with another case and that, under Section 428 of the CrPC, this period should be set off again…

The Supreme Court entertained a review application filed by the Union of India seeking correction of two sentences in paragraph 25 of its 14‑December‑2018 judgment on the Rafale fighter‑jet procurement, and also considered the petitioners' claim that the Court had failed to order registration of an FIR and CBI investig…

M/s Thermax Ltd. (appellant) manufactures Modified Vapour Absorption Chillers (MVAC) and described them as heat pumps to obtain a concessional excise rate under Notification 155/86‑CE. The Revenue argued that the MVAC’s primary output is chilled water, not heat, and therefore it does not meet the HSN definition of a he…

The appellant, an ex‑director of the corporate debtor, contested the admission of an application filed by the operational creditor under section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) alleging a debt for coal supplied under a purchase order. The creditor claimed the coal was of inferior quality, leading to email…

The wife of a deceased driver filed an FIR alleging that her husband was murdered by his employer, the appellant, with the help of friends. Based on her deposition, the prosecution invoked Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to summon the appellant, and the Sessions Judge ordered the summons, a decision uphel…

The case concerned a Shia waqf‑al‑aulad created in 1934, whose property was allegedly alienated by two void sales in 1960 and 1974 without the sanction of the Waqf Board. The respondents, who were beneficiaries of the waqf, claimed title by adverse possession, while the appellant argued that limitation provisions (Arti…

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Rule 19(b)(II)(vi) of the Tamil Nadu Development Control Rules and Regulation 29(7)(a), which require that layouts exceeding 10,000 square metres reserve 10% of the area as open space for communal and recreational purposes and transfer that land to the local authority free of co…

The appellants, who were convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment, were released on bail by the High Court under Section 389 of the CrPC while their appeals were pending. The complainant challenged this release, contending that the High Court failed to comply with the first proviso o…

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) conducted a recruitment test for Junior Lecturer in Mathematics and selected G.V. Ramakrishna Sagar, who later declined to join. The next‑highest scorer, Respondent No.1, waited four years and filed an application before the AP Administrative Tribunal in 2016 seeking…

Jahir Hak was arrested in May 2014 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for a range of serious offences and has been in custody for nearly eight years as an under‑trial prisoner. The High Court rejected his application for bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, prompting an appeal to …

The appellant, a qualified Chartered Accountant, was appointed Manager (Finance) and later Deputy Chief (Finance) at Manganese Ore (India) Ltd. He was suspended and subsequently dismissed following a series of show-cause notices after reporting late to work due to his father's death. The High Court reinstated him but d…

The appellant, Google India Private Limited, was summoned under a criminal complaint alleging defamation (IPC ss.120B, 500, 501 r/w s.34) for articles posted in a Google Group hosted by it. It filed a petition under CrPC s.482 seeking to quash the summons, arguing it was not an intermediary and that Section 79 of the I…

Mehmood Pracha, appearing as counsel before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), was charged with criminal contempt under Section 14 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 for allegedly demanding a camera‑held hearing to make undisclosed allegations against the Chairman. The Tribunal framed the charge on 10‑02‑2020,…

The plaintiffs filed a suit seeking declaration of title and injunction based on a will dated 19 April 1998 of the deceased Sucha Singh. The trial court upheld the will, but the first appellate court reversed, finding the will forged and upholding a later will executed by the mother. The plaintiffs then filed a second …

The Commissioner of Service Tax issued show‑cause notices to Citibank alleging that the Rs 2 interchange fee it earned as an issuing bank on credit‑card transactions was taxable service income. Citibank contended that it performed no service, that the fee was interest, and that tax had already been paid by the acquirin…

The appellants held an annual medical insurance policy with United India Insurance that was renewed each year. For the 2008‑09 renewal the insurer introduced a cap on coverage for certain procedures, notably angioplasty, without informing the policyholders, who believed they were merely renewing the existing policy on …

The CBI alleged that Uttamchand Bohra aided a senior income‑tax officer (A‑1) in acquiring a flat through a company, thereby helping the officer amass assets disproportionate to his known income. The prosecution’s case rested on Bohra’s custody of the sale deed and the fact that his employee witnessed its execution, al…

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) entered into a 15‑year petrol pump dealer agreement with Sathyanarayana Service Station, which contained a clause allowing either party to terminate the agreement by giving three months' notice. The dealer gave a notarised notice to withdraw, which IOC accepted; the dealer later attempt…

The appeal concerned a partition suit filed by the sisters of the deceased R.M. Patil seeking one‑fifth shares in five properties alleged to be self‑acquired by him. The appellant argued that the suit should fail for non‑joinder of his uncle, for omission of certain properties, and on the ground of ouster, claiming he …

The landlord served a legal notice on 22‑12‑2007 under Section 21(1)(a) of the U.P. Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, terminating the tenancy within 30 days. An eviction application was filed on 20‑11‑2008, well after the six‑month period prescribed in the proviso. The tenants never …

Augustan Textile Colours Ltd., a revived sick industrial unit, was granted sales‑tax/works‑contract‑tax exemption under a Government Order dated 20 March 2004 as part of a BIFR rehabilitation scheme. In 2006 the Kerala Government withdrew the exemption under Section 10(3) of the Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963. The …

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Government of India issued orders on 23 October 2018 divesting Director Alok Kumar Verma of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of his powers, functions and supervisory role. The Director challenged the legality of these orders, arguing that under Section 4B(2) of th…

The appellant Shiv Kumar was convicted under Section 411 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly receiving stolen household articles looted from a truck, based on police seizure and the testimony of co‑accused. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution proved the essential element of knowledge that t…

The respondent, a clerk, was suspended and later dismissed by Eastern Coalfields Ltd. on a complaint that he demanded a bribe to clear retirement formalities, leading to a criminal case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The employer initiated departmental proceedings, which the respondent challenged in the …

The respondent filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that the appellant borrowed Rs.7 lakhs and issued a cheque which was dishonored. The appellant was convicted by the trial court, and the conviction was upheld by the Sessions Court and the High Court. The Supreme Court conside…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (appellant) and Sudera Realty Private Ltd. (respondent) over a lease of three floors in a Kolkata building. It held that the 1968 agreement and the 1969 supplementary deed constituted a valid 21‑year lease, with possession of the 2nd and 3rd floor…

The case concerned an Ultra Mega Power Project where the seller (Sasan Power Ltd.) claimed compensation for increased costs of a water‑intake system and customs duty on mining equipment, alleging these were "change in law" events under Article 13 of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The seller argued that the Appella…

The Goa Public Service Commission advertised for Junior Scale posts, conducted a computer‑based screening test, a written examination and an oral interview, and fixed a cut‑off of 26 out of 40 marks (60%) for the interview. Respondents who cleared the written test but failed to meet the interview cut‑off challenged the…

The Central Government appealed against a High Court order that directed it to pay interest on solatium to Raj Devi from the date she was deprived of possession (16‑06‑1990). The Government argued that, per Gurpreet Singh v. Union of India, interest on solatium could only be awarded from the date of the Supreme Court’s…

The victim, the brother and legal heir of a deceased murder victim, challenged the trial court's acquittal of the accused under Sections 452, 302/34 IPC. The State sought leave to appeal under Section 372 read with Section 378 of the CrPC, which was denied. The victim filed an appeal under the proviso to Section 372 (i…

The Supreme Court examined whether the +2 lecturers appointed under Advertisement No. 1/87 were members of the Bihar Subordinate Education Service (BSES) and thus entitled to merge with the Bihar Education Service (BES). It held that the 1985 notification and the 1987 advertisement clearly created the posts in the BSES…

The appellant’s truck carrying 17 cow progeny was seized and the driver and others were arrested under the Madhya Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 2004 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The trial court acquitted all accused, finding no evidence of intent to slaughter, but the District Magistr…

The appellant's father filed a declaratory suit in 2014 claiming hereditary chiefship of Lamdan Kabui village and sought a temporary injunction. He died during the pendency of a civil miscellaneous appeal against the trial court's refusal of the injunction. The appellant applied to be recognized as his father's legal r…

The Supreme Court examined a series of appeals arising from the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) orders that banned rat‑hole coal mining in Meghalaya, directed the State to deposit Rs 100 crore for environmental restoration, and held that all coal extracted after May 2016 vested in the State. The Court held that the NGT…

Sukhdarshan Singh, a clerk in the Punjab State Transport Department, was suspended in 1986 following an FIR and later removed from service in 2003 after a criminal conviction under Sections 324 and 506 of the IPC. The appellate authority set aside the termination but ordered that he receive no salary for the suspension…

The dispute arose from a land acquisition notification where the original compensation award was Rs.24,033 per bigha. The respondents did not file an application under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, but later a reference was made and a Lok Adalat, under Section 20 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, p…

The husband (appellant) filed for divorce on the ground of cruelty after his wife (respondent) left him and returned to her parental home. The Family Court granted the decree of dissolution, but the wife appealed to the High Court under Section 19 of the Family Courts Act; the appeal was filed on 09‑09‑2004. The appell…

Ranbir Singh, a daily‑wage worker employed by the Executive Engineering Public Works Department, was terminated in 1991 without the notice and retrenchment compensation mandated by Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court held the termination illegal and ordered his reinstatement with back wag…

The plaintiff, an adopted son of the deceased landowner, claimed ownership of 11 kanals and 15 marlas of land based on a compromise deed dated 18‑December‑1975, which was endorsed by the owner and recorded by the Deputy Commissioner (DC). The appellants, the natural heirs, argued that the compromise did not convey titl…

The plaintiff obtained a decree declaring her as tenant of a premises in Mumbai and ordered the landlord to hand over possession. The appellant, Shabbir Mohammad Sayed, claimed he had acquired leasehold rights from the alleged lawful tenant and also from the landlord on 24 January 2014, and sought execution of the decr…

The appellant, a graduate, sought a compassionate appointment under the Uttar Pradesh Recruitment of Dependents of Government Servants Dying in Harness Rules, 1974, after his father, a Class‑IV sweeper, died. He rejected the offer of a sweeper post and applied for a Class‑III Gram Panchayat Officer position, arguing hi…

The writ petitions challenged the constitutional validity of the practice of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) solely by the executive. The Supreme Court examined Article 324(2) and Constituent Assembly debates, concluding that Parliament was intended to enact a law gover…

Rama Negi, a civil servant of the Cantonment Board, Ranikhet, was promoted to the selection post of Office Superintendent. Respondent No.3, Gopal Ram Arya, challenged the promotion, claiming seniority based on earlier entry into service and arguing that the higher pay scale of Negi should not determine seniority. The H…

The State of Rajasthan advertised vacancies for Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in 2013, requiring candidates to possess the Rajasthan State Certificate in Information Technology (RSCIT) by 22 March 2013. The respondent, a widow, applied after the deadline without the RSCIT qualification and was rejected. She obtained the q…

The dispute arose from a partition of family property where the respondent sought a declaration of title and eviction of the appellants. The appellants relied on a family settlement document (Khararunama) dated 15‑04‑1986 and a receipt of Rs.2,00,000 as evidence of the parties' past arrangements. The trial court admitt…

K.T.V. Health Food Pvt. Ltd. sought to continue operating a storage terminal and an underground pipeline for edible oil imported through Chennai Port. The Union of India, invoking the 2011 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification under the Environment Protection Act, granted post‑facto clearance under paragraph‑4.3, …