K S RADHAKRISHNAN

Retired civil servants filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union, State Governments and Union Territories to create an independent Civil Services Board (CSB), to fix a minimum tenure for civil servants, and to require recording of all oral instructions in writing. The Court examined c…

The Supreme Court dismissed appeals by Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd. and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd. against SEBI's order to refund over Rs. 17,400 crores collected through Optionally Fully Convertible Debentures (OFCDs). The Court held that the OFCDs were public issues, not private placement…

The Occupational Health and Safety Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions for the framing of occupational safety and health guidelines for workers in coal‑fired thermal power plants (CFTPPs) and compensation for occupational diseases. The Court examined whether the right to health and a s…

S. Samuthiram, a police officer of the Tamil Nadu Armed Reserve, was charged with eve‑teasing a married woman at a bus stand while intoxicated and with being absent from duty. A departmental inquiry found the charges proved and dismissed him from service. While his service appeal was pending, a criminal court acquitted…

The Assam Public Service Commission advertised 30 regular (direct) APS vacancies and later 20 special‑batch vacancies. Although the regular candidates were recommended first, the State appointed the special‑batch recruits before the regular ones, exceeding the 5% quota prescribed in Rule 5(1)(c) of the Assam Police Ser…

Mak Data Ltd filed its income tax return and was selected for scrutiny. During assessment, the Assessing Officer (AO) discovered documents from a survey of a sister concern and issued a show‑cause notice. The company offered to surrender Rs 40.74 lakhs, claiming it was a voluntary disclosure to avoid litigation. The AO…

The Bank of India advanced a loan secured by equitable mortgages on several properties, the title deeds of which were deposited with the bank. After the borrowers defaulted, the bank invoked the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) and aucti…

The accused fired multiple gunshots at complainants, causing lacerated wounds that did not involve vital organs. They were convicted under Section 307 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment by the trial court. The High Court reduced the sentence to the time already served, h…

The respondent, an Assistant Law Officer of the Haryana State Electricity Board, was charge‑sheeted under Regulation 7 of the Board's Punishment and Appeal Regulations for a alleged major breach. After submitting three replies, the Board, satisfied with his explanations, chose to impose only a minor penalty—stopping on…

The Supreme Court, hearing a civil appeal filed by the Mineral Area Development Authority against the Steel Authority of India, noted a conflict between two earlier decisions—one by a five‑Judge Bench in State of West Bengal v. Kesoram Industries Ltd. and another by a seven‑Judge Bench in India Cement Ltd. v. State of …

The Supreme Court considered appeals by a partnership firm, Sasi Enterprises, and its partners who were prosecuted under section 276CC of the Income Tax Act for willfully failing to file income‑tax returns for the assessment years 1991‑92, 1992‑93 and 1993‑94. The issues raised were whether a statutory duty to file ret…

The Supreme Court, hearing a writ petition under Article 32 concerning the ineffective implementation of various animal welfare and environmental statutes, observed that many slaughter houses across states operated without licences or failed to comply with prescribed guidelines. The Court noted the absence of periodic …

M/s AVK Traders, a registered partnership of two partners, filed a suit for recovery of dues against Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation. During the pendency of the suit, the appellant's father, the other partner, died, causing the partnership to dissolve under its deed. The surviving partner applied to continue th…

The appellant, Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd., sought to withhold the gratuity of its former Chief General Manager, Rabindranath Choubey, on the ground that a departmental inquiry for alleged misconduct was pending. The employee retired on superannuation and applied for gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, which …

The respondent filed a claim under Section 163-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation after a road accident, and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs. 3.5 lakh. United India Insurance Company appealed, arguing that the claim was not maintainable because the claimant was the driver and no disability…

Ayub Khan was apprehended in Guna, Madhya Pradesh, possessing a country‑made barrel gun, two bullets and 50 grams of explosives without a licence. He was convicted under Section 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act, 1959 and the trial court sentenced him to one year of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs.100, accounting for se…

Guru BasavaraJ @ Beene Settappa, the driver of a tractor‑trailer, was convicted under IPC sections 279, 337, 338 and 304‑A and Motor Vehicles Act section 187 for a highway accident that caused multiple injuries and one death. The accused claimed the crash resulted from mechanical failure and argued that his young age a…

The appellants, consumers of electricity, were accused of theft of electricity and the State Electricity Board lodged a complaint that led to an FIR under Sections 135/126 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Special Judge took cognizance of the offence, but the appellants challenged the jurisdiction, arguing that an Assi…

Deepak Bhandari, a director and guarantor of a defaulting industrial company, challenged a suit filed by Himachal Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. for recovery of a loan balance. The corporation had taken possession of the company's mortgaged assets under Section 29 of the State Financial Corporati…

The respondent filed a suit for injunction which was dismissed, appealed and eventually filed a second appeal in 2001. The High Court allowed the appeal after a ten‑year saga marked by repeated adjournments, non‑appearance of counsel and a dismissal for non‑prosecution in 2003, later restored in 2006 and finally admitt…

Sankar Ghosh, a Sepoy of the Kolkata Armed Police, was arrested and charged under IPC sections 392, 395 and 412 and Arms Act sections 25 and 27 for alleged involvement in a dacoity. A departmental inquiry found him guilty and he was dismissed from service. The Sessions Court later acquitted him on the ground that the p…

The accused Shambhu Kewat and Banwari Kewat assaulted shopkeeper Abdul Rashid with an iron rod, causing grievous injuries and were convicted under Section 307 read with Section 34 of the IPC, receiving a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment sentence. After the conviction, the victim and the accused reached a monetary settlem…

Shree Mahavir Carbon Ltd filed a criminal complaint under IPC sections 420, 406, 468, 471 (also 419, 486) alleging cheating, siphoning of funds and falsification of accounts by Om Prakash Jalan and others. The Judicial Magistrate took cognizance and issued summons. The respondents moved the High Court under CrPC s.482 …

A decree for Rs.6,600 was passed in 1967 and the judgment debtors' property was auctioned in 1990, where the petitioners purchased it for Rs.1.5 lakh. The judgment debtor (Respondent No.4) sought to set aside the sale under Order 21 Rule 89 of the CPC, leading to a series of revisions and recalculations of the amount d…

An FIR for offences under sections 467, 468, 471, 409 and 114 IPC was filed against the appellant. He sought quashing of the FIR and a stay of investigation under Section 482 CrPC, but was arrested before the stay order took effect. The magistrate remanded him to police custody and later to judicial custody. The High C…

The Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) appealed against a High Court order directing it to refund excess amounts charged to two high‑tension consumers under a 1994 agreement. The consumers had paid the bills under protest, arguing that after the Electricity Act, 2003, tariff power shifted exclusively to the State…

The appellant, who had been using the trademark KUNDAN for his cable business since 1980, filed an injunction suit against the respondent for using the same mark. While the suit was pending, the respondent obtained registration of the mark in 1995. The appellant then filed a rectification application under Sections 45,…

Sugen Inc. and Pharmacia & Upjohn were granted Indian Patent No. 209251 for a pharmaceutical invention. Cipla Ltd. filed an opposition under Section 25(2) of the Patents Act, 1970, and the Controller revoked the patent on 24 September 2012 relying on the Opposition Board’s recommendation, but without furnishing the Boa…

Swamy Devi Dayal Hospital & Dental College sought renewal of its Master of Dental Surgery (MOS) courses in two specialties for the 2013‑14 academic year. The Dental Council of India (DCI) inspected the college, found deficiencies and recommended to the Central Government that permission not be renewed. The Central Gove…

The Supreme Court, hearing Laxmi Narain Modi v. Union of India (Writ Petition (C) No. 309 of 2003), examined whether State Committees constituted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2000 were functioning effectively and whether the states had complied with earlier court directions on ani…

The Supreme Court considered a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashment of an FIR registered under Sections 307, 324, 323 and 34 IPC after the accused and complainant settled their dispute through a village Panchayat. The High Court had refused to accept the compromise, relying solely on the seriousness…

The case concerned an application by the CBI for a pardon under s.306 CrPC in a corruption investigation where the offence was triable by a Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Metropolitan Magistrate granted the pardon to the co‑accused during the investigation, a decision later challenged b…

Sundeep Kumar Bafna, convicted of offences punishable with death or life imprisonment, applied to the Bombay High Court for surrender and regular bail under s.439 CrPC after his anticipatory bail was denied. The High Court dismissed the bail plea, holding that only a magistrate could entertain it and directing the appe…

The appellant, Mangat Ram, was convicted under Sections 498A and 306 of the IPC for allegedly subjecting his wife to cruelty and abetting her suicide after she died from burn injuries at their matrimonial home. The trial and High Courts held that the husband’s failure to keep his wife with him at his posting and allege…

The appellants, managers of INSCOL Multispecialty Hospital, were charged with medical negligence, cheating, forgery and other offences after the complainant alleged that his wife died due to wrong treatment at the hospital. The Punjab & Haryana High Court single judge framed the issue on the premise that the patient di…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of auction notices issued by the Haryana government for the extraction of minor minerals (boulders, gravel, sand) in parcels not exceeding 5 hectares, including river‑bed mining. Petitioners argued that the notices were issued without any environmental impact assessment (EIA) and…

The appellant, an unmarried woman, lived with the respondent, a married man, for about 14 years and claimed that his failure to maintain her constituted domestic violence under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. The respondent argued that their relationship was a mere live‑in arrangement, not a "…

The State of Madhya Pradesh alleged that Surendra Kori, a Deputy Registrar, facilitated the registration of over one hundred forged sale deeds to enable fictitious buyers to claim benefits under a Special Rehabilitation Package for the Sardar Sarovar Project. FIRs and charge‑sheets were filed under IPC sections 420, 46…

The appellant Kamlesh Prabhudas Tanna and his mother were convicted for dowry harassment, abetment of suicide and culpable homicide after the death of Sandhya, the sister of the informant, who allegedly committed suicide. The trial court found the prosecution evidence sufficient under IPC sections 304‑8, 306, 498A, 34 …

Guiram Mondal, the tenth accused in a double murder case, appealed his conviction under Sections 302 and 148 of the IPC. The trial court had acquitted all accused except one, relying heavily on the absence of the accused's names in the inquest report. The High Court reversed this, holding that the trial court overlooke…

The appellant, N. Narayanan, a whole‑time director and promoter of Mis Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd., was found to have participated in a scheme that inflated the company’s revenues, profits, security deposits and receivables, thereby creating artificiality in its financial statements. SEBI’s investigation revealed fals…

Baldev Singh, a 62‑year‑old retired official, demanded Rs 2,000 from an agriculturist for an early allocation of canal water, which was settled at Rs 1,000. The complainant handed the money to Singh in his house; the cash was later recovered from beneath files and the notes were tallied after washing Singh's hands in s…

Shankar Kisanrao Khade, aged about 52, and his wife abducted an 11‑year‑old girl with moderate intellectual disability, repeatedly raped her and later strangulated her to death. The trial court and the High Court convicted Khade under IPC sections 302, 376, 366‑A, 363 r/w s.34 and sentenced him to death, while his wife…

The appellant Joginder Singh was tried along with two others for murder, attempted murder and offences under the Arms Act arising from a land dispute that escalated into a shooting. The trial court acquitted all three accused, finding contradictions between eyewitness testimony, the ballistic report and the fact that t…

The respondent, G.R. Rama Krishna, was an Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) in Andaman Lakshdeep Harbour Works who had served partly on an ad‑hoc basis and was regularised only in 2005. The UPSC advertised the post of Executive Engineer (Mechanical) for direct recruitment, stating that no departmental candidate satisfied…

The Akkode Juyamath Palli Paripalana Committee, a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, filed a suit for a perpetual injunction to prevent interference with the administration, management, and peaceful enjoyment of a mosque, its madrassa, and related wakf assets. The suit was transferred to the Wakf …

Advocate Anjani Kumar Chaudhary was assaulted by a group demanding money for a Holi celebration; the assailants used lathis, rods, and sharp weapons, threatened to kill him, and inflicted multiple injuries. An FIR was lodged charging several offences including Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder). The Sessions Court, an…

Alber Oraon, a mason and civil‑works contractor, was engaged by Pushpa Devi to construct a house. During the work they became intimate and Oraon lived with her, posing as her husband. Pushpa and her two minor children later disappeared; their bodies were recovered from a soak‑pit that Oraon had dug and sealed with bric…

Metro Exporters exported steel coils and, based on a SWIFT message, received a credit of US$199,959.74 in its EEFC account in November 2006. The credit was later discovered to be a mistake, as the funds were intended for the Bank of India and had been recalled by Bank of America, with the amount never actually belongin…

The State of Gujarat embarked on a public‑private partnership to develop an International Financial Services City (GIFT) by allotting large tracts of government land to a joint‑venture company, GIFT Company Ltd., and its subsidiary. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported irregularities, alleging non‑uniform…

The State Bank of India (SBI) sued Gracure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for recovery of dues arising from letters of credit, while Gracure filed a separate suit for damages alleging wrongful withdrawal of credit facilities. The two suits were filed within two months of each other, and SBI moved to dismiss the damages suit unde…

Satnam Overseas applied to the Registrar of Trademarks for rectification of the registration of the mark “KOHINOOR” (class 30, rice) on the ground that the respondent, Sant Ram & Co., had not used the mark for more than five years. The Registrar limited the respondent’s use to a few cities in Uttar Pradesh, which was l…

The Centre for Public Interest Litigation filed a writ petition seeking a separate expert committee to examine the health effects of soft drinks, especially on children, and to compel the Union of India to impose stricter regulatory controls, labeling, and advertising standards. The Court examined whether the existing …

IMS Learning Resources sued Young Achievers for trademark infringement, copyright violation and passing off. Young Achievers filed an interim application under Section 8 read with Section 5 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, invoking arbitration clauses in agreements dated 1 April 2007 and 1 April 2010. The…

The appellant, accused of insulting her sister‑in‑law's religious sentiments, was charged under Section 504 of the IPC after a complaint alleging that she dragged a deity's idol from a puja room, causing damage and intending to provoke a breach of peace. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, applying Section 20…

The case involved the murder of five persons by a large unlawful assembly allegedly motivated by revenge for the death of the village Sarpanch's son. The trial court convicted 17 accused, sentencing six to death and others to life imprisonment, while some were acquitted. On appeal, the High Court reduced the death sent…

Kandath Distilleries applied in 1987 for a licence to set up a distillery in Kerala. The State received many applications in 1998, granted licences to four applicants but rejected Kandath's, citing a policy of not issuing further licences. The High Court, after several interventions, issued a writ of mandamus directing…

The case concerned teachers in aided schools of Kerala who, after being relieved under Rules 49 or 53 of the Kerala Education Rules, sought preference for re‑appointment under Rule 51A. The State of Kerala issued government orders amending sub‑rule (3) of Rule 7A to bar filling vacancies of less than one academic year …

The appellants, Ropan Sahoo and another, along with the State of Orissa, challenged the High Court's order that quashed their IMFL "ON" shop licences on the ground that no order had been passed relaxing the distance restrictions under Rule 34 of the Orissa Excise Rules, 1965. The Supreme Court examined the note‑sheet a…

The respondents instituted a suit under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) before the District Court in Tamil Nadu, seeking relief concerning a public trust. The appellants argued that a 1960 notification empowering Subordinate Courts under Section 92 removed the District Court's jurisdiction, relying on a…

The Supreme Court examined the recruitment of 17 Junior Assistants in the District Court, where the authorities raised the short‑listing benchmark from the statutory intermediate qualification to a degree qualification. The High Court had quashed the appointments, holding that the higher benchmark was illegal. The Supr…

The appellant, the divorced wife of the first accused, challenged summons issued against her in a case under Section 420 read with Section 34 IPC. The police investigation had filed a refer report stating that the complaint was not proved, and the complainant testified that only the husband had been entrusted with mone…

The Haryana Wakf Board filed a civil suit in 2000 seeking possession of land it claimed was Wakf property. The trial court ruled in favor of the Board, but the Additional District Judge held that the question of whether the land was Wakf property fell within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Wakf Tribunal under Section…

The ESIC Medical Officer's Association, representing medical officers recruited by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation after 1974, claimed a monthly allowance of Rs.200, arguing that they were workmen like deputed doctors and thus entitled to the same benefits. The Central Government Industrial Tribunal held tha…

The appeal concerned whether the recitals in Exhibit A1, particularly item 1 of Schedule 8, created a testamentary disposition (a Will) or a settlement/gift that vested rights in the plaintiffs during the executants' lifetimes. The Supreme Court examined the nature of the composite document, distinguishing between test…

The appellant filed a civil suit after the testator's death seeking a declaration that a will dated 21‑03‑2003 and a sale deed dated 12‑01‑2005 were forged and should be declared null and void, along with their cancellation. The suit property was valued at Rs 30,00,000, but the plaintiff paid a fixed court fee of Rs 20…

The appellant, Sunita Jugalkishore Gilda, succeeded a mortgagee who had a mortgage over a three‑storied building since 1953. While several suits between the mortgagee and the mortgagors were pending, the mortgagors inducted a third party as a tenant without the mortgagee's consent. The mortgagee sued for possession and…

The petitioner, Manjeet Singh Khera, sought a court order directing the prosecution to produce the original complaint filed with the Anti‑Corruption Bureau that had initiated the investigation leading to an FIR and charge‑sheet under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and IPC s.109. The prosecution contended that t…

The appellant filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court but, due to a clerical error, the vakalatnama of his new counsel was not filed and no lawyer appeared for either party at the final hearing. Despite the absence of representation, the High Court examined the merits of the case and dismissed the appeal. The appellant…

The Indian Bank Association and other banking entities filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking uniform guidelines for the trial of cheque‑dishonour cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, alleging that despite the 2002 amendment (Sections 143‑147) courts were not following a uniform summ…

The husband of Sawinder Kaur, late Gurnam Singh Dhillon, applied for a freedom‑fighter pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980, claiming service in the Indian National Army. His claim was initially rejected, later accepted after the Ministry of Home Affairs circular dated 31‑Jan‑1983, and the H…

The Indian National Congress (INC) filed a suit to declare its title and obtain possession of the Congress Bhavan in Bangalore, a property originally gifted to the Bangalore City Congress Committee in 1949. After the 1969 split of the INC into Congress (J) and Congress (O), the Election Commission of India (ECI) recogn…

The Managing Director of a company was injured while travelling in a car owned by the company and insured with National Insurance Company Ltd. He claimed compensation under Sections 140, 147 and 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal held the insurer liable. The insurer appealed, arg…

Six persons, including appellants Sandeep and Narender, were convicted of murder, attempt to murder, rioting and other offences for the killings of Ranbir, Simla, Seema and a child, Rahul. The trial court sentenced the appellants to death and the others to life imprisonment; the High Court affirmed the death sentences.…

The claimant, Surendra Nath Loomba, lost both eyes when a car insured by Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. collided with a tree; he claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.20,97,984, which the High Court reduced to Rs.16,42,656, holding the ins…

The State of Rajasthan challenged a sale of land by members of a Scheduled Caste to Aanjaney Organic Herbal Pvt. Ltd., a private limited company, on the ground that Section 42(b) of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 renders such a transfer void. The company argued that the term "person" in the provision should be given i…

The appellant lodged an FIR alleging that the accused, Shiv Raj Singh (alias Lalla Babu), a known history‑sheeter, orchestrated the kidnapping, confinement for eight days and assault of Bihari Lal under threat, offences punishable under Sections 364 and 506 IPC. The trial court denied bail, but the High Court granted b…

The appellant Jagroop Singh was convicted of murder under IPC sections 302, 34 and 201 based on circumstantial evidence that the victim was last seen with the accused, voluntary extra‑judicial confessions, and the recovery of a blood‑stained spade. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the time gap betw…

The appellant, Anil @ Anthony Arikswamy Joseph, was convicted of murdering a 10‑year‑old boy after subjecting him to pederasty, under Sections 302, 377 and 201 of the IPC and sentenced to death. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of the prosecution's circumstantial and DNA evidence, finding it trustworthy and s…

The appellant, Rajesh Awasthi, was appointed Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission after a Selection Committee forwarded his name with a note that the government must first ensure compliance with Section 85(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003. The petitioner challenged the appointment, ar…

K. Suresh was injured in a motor vehicle accident and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.25,00,000 in various heads including permanent disability and loss of earning capacity. The Madras High Court reduced the award to Rs.9,78,000, deleting the permanent disability component and lowering other heads, reason…

The appellant filed an FIR under dowry and related offences against the respondent. The respondent's family filed a criminal miscellaneous writ petition seeking to quash the FIR; the High Court stayed the arrest of the respondent and ordered a monthly deposit of Rs 2,000. After the investigation closed and the magistra…

The appellant Kaini Rajan was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping PW2, who alleged that he forcibly took her to a roadside location early in the morning and threatened her with a promise of marriage. PW2 later became pregnant, and the FIR was lodged ten months after the alleged incident. The trial court and High…

The Supreme Court considered whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) could prescribe aggregate qualifying percentages for the 2012 National Eligibility Test (NET) after candidates satisfied the paper‑wise minimum marks. The petitioners (UGC) contended that such criteria were within its statutory authority under …

The plaintiffs filed a suit to cancel a sale deed alleging fraud, contending that the deed was executed for Rs 1 lakh while the market value of the property was Rs 19.36 lakh. The trial court and the appellate courts held that, under Section 37 of the Andhra Pradesh Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, the court fee sho…

The appellant, Maya Devi, filed an objection under Order XXI Rule 58 to execution proceedings initiated by the decree holder, Lalta Prasad, who had obtained an ex‑parte money decree for Rs 3.40 lakh based on an alleged agreement for sale dated 3 Nov 2003 between him and the judgment debtor, Prem Chand Verma. Maya Devi …

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that refused to grant leave to appeal an acquittal of Giriraj Dubey by the Sessions Court. The trial court had acquitted the accused on the ground of insufficient evidence under Sections 294 and 436 IPC. The High Court’s order merely resta…

The case concerned a disciplinary proceeding against Ch. Gandhi, a senior accountant, who was punished with reversion to junior accountant for two years and postponement of future increments. The question was whether this constituted two major penalties under Rule 9 of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification,…

The appellant, a seller, entered into an agreement for sale of immovable property with the respondent, a purchaser, wherein the purchaser paid Rs.7,00,000 as earnest money. The agreement stipulated that if the purchaser failed to pay the balance consideration by a specified date, the earnest money would be forfeited, w…

Shree Shyam Agency, a sugar manufacturer, booked a consignment under a "Self" basis and retained the railway receipt, but the buyer failed to pay and the goods were delivered to a third party without authority. The agency filed a claim petition before the Railway Claims Tribunal seeking compensation for non‑delivery, a…

Gothamchand Jain filed a suit for specific performance of a contract in Pondicherry in 1991. The trial court held that Article 2262 of the French Code Civil, which provides a thirty‑year limitation, applied and the suit was not time‑barred. The High Court reversed, finding that the Indian Limitation Act, 1963, Section …

The appellant Ranjeet Goswami was charged with offences under Sections 376, 302 and 201 of the IPC and claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the alleged offences, relying on a school leaving certificate showing a birth date of 10‑05‑1991. The Juvenile Justice Board, after obtaining a medical board opinion that the a…

Private unaided medical colleges challenged a corrigendum (Notification No. 37(1) 2013) that limited the "Enhancement of Annual Intake Capacity" regulations of 2013 to Government medical colleges, alleging violation of Article 14. The Central Government, citing a delay in receiving the original regulations, extended th…

The appellant, Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation, challenged a tribunal order granting a family pension to the widow of a deceased employee who had not opted for the Employees Family Pension Scheme, 1971. The employee had died in service in 1982 and his widow had already received the full contributory providen…

The appellant was convicted of murder and assault in 1995 and sentenced to life imprisonment and fines. At the time of the offence he was 17 years, 11 months and 5 days old, i.e., below 18 years. The issue was whether he should be treated as a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2…

The appellant institute granted a lecturer three years of study leave to pursue a Ph.D. and paid him full salary and allowances. The lecturer returned to duty but failed to produce a Ph.D. certificate, prompting the institute to recover Rs.12,32,126 paid during the leave. The High Court ordered the institute to refund …

On 29 September 1995 the deceased Daulat was assaulted at Gorelal's shop by a group of accused, leading to his death. The trial court convicted several accused under IPC sections 302, 147, 148 and 149 and sentenced them to life imprisonment; the High Court upheld most convictions and acquitted one. The appellants chall…

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) appealed a High Court order that quashed a charge sheet served on a retired employee, Atma Singh Grewal, on the ground that the departmental proceeding was barred by the Punjab Civil Service Rules. The Division Bench of the High Court dismissed the appeal as frivolous and order…

The Educare Charitable Trust, which runs a dental college, applied to the Central Government in August 2012 to double its BDS intake from 50 to 100 seats for the 2013‑14 academic year. The application was rejected because the college had not yet obtained DCI recognition for its existing 50‑seat capacity, a condition pr…

The appellants, teachers and principals, challenged a High Court order directing recovery of excess salary paid due to irregular fixation of the 5th and 6th Pay Commission scales. The Supreme Court examined whether over‑payment made without any fraud or misrepresentation on the part of the employees could be reclaimed.…

The accused, a dentist, lured vulnerable individuals with false promises of sending them to America, extracted large sums of money and murdered two victims in separate incidents while attempting to murder two others. Conviction under sections 419, 420, 302, 307, 397, 342 and 328 IPC was upheld based on eyewitness testi…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) could audit the accounts of private telecom service providers under the Unified Access Services (UAS) licences to verify revenue sharing with the Union. Service providers argued that the CAG’s powers under Article 149 of the Constitut…

The appellants, Hari Nandan Prasad and Govind Kumar Chaudhary, were casual daily‑wage workers of the Food Corporation of India who were terminated after more than 240 days of continuous service without notice, pay in lieu of notice or retrenchment compensation, violating Section 25‑F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 194…

The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation retired Babu Lal Jangir compulsorily in 2002 under its standing orders after a screening committee found his service record unsatisfactory. Jangir challenged the retirement, arguing that the misconduct cited dated from 1978‑1990 was too old and that his more recent record …

Tata Iron & Steel Ltd. (Tata Steel) sold its cement division to Lafarge India under a Business Transfer Agreement, which purportedly transferred the employees to the buyer. The transferred workers later complained that they were forced to work for Lafarge without consent and sought to be taken back by Tata Steel, alleg…

The Punjab Urban Planning & Development Authority (PUDA) conducted a public auction of commercial plots on an "as is where is" basis, offering installment payment with interest, penal interest and penalty for delayed installments. The successful bidder, Raghu Nath Gupta, accepted the allotment and later claimed that PU…

The respondent was engaged as a daily‑wage helper for two fixed periods totaling 54 days, after which his service automatically terminated as per the contract. He raised an industrial dispute alleging that his termination amounted to retrenchment under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, seeking reinstatement with conti…

The Board of Directors of the District Cooperative Central Bank, Panna was superseded by the Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies without prior consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, contrary to the second proviso of Section 53(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1960. The Board challenged t…

The appellant lodged an FIR and later informed the magistrate that another person, Prem Prakash, had not been made an accused. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate took cognizance under Section 190(1)(b) CrPC and summoned the accused, leading to charges being framed by the Sessions Judge. Prem Prakash challenged th…

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of seven accused under Sections 148 and 302 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Prabhu Dayal. The appellants argued that the FIR was unduly delayed, that there was no proof that Om Prakash ran over the victim with a tractor, and that no specific ove…

The appellant, KM Hema Mishra, was named in an FIR under Sections 419 and 420 IPC and sought quashing of the FIR and pre‑arrest protection by filing a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution. The High Court dismissed the petition, refusing to grant anticipatory bail because Section 438 of the CrPC, which pr…

The Public Union for Civil Liberties filed a public‑interest writ petition seeking enforcement of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 and the rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers. The Supreme Court examined the persistent non‑compliance of several states and Union Territories with earlier court direction…

The respondent, a senior manager of UCO Bank, was transferred to the head office where the bank discovered serious loan sanctioning irregularities committed during his tenure at a branch. The bank issued a charge‑sheet and, under a 2004 note and circular, the Assistant General Manager (AGM) of the former branch initiat…

The Supreme Court considered writ petitions filed by the National Legal Services Authority and a transgender association seeking legal recognition of transgender persons' self‑identified gender and the status of a "third gender" under the Constitution. The Court examined constitutional provisions (Arts. 14, 15, 16, 19,…

The Court examined a petition seeking direction to relocate the critically endangered Asiatic lion from its sole habitat in Gir, Gujarat, to Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, as a second home for long‑term survival. Scientific studies by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) …

The husband and wife married in 1987, after which the wife sought maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The parties later entered into a compromise under Order 23 Rule 3 of the Civil Procedure Code, agreeing that the wife would receive a lump sum of Rs 8,000 as permanent alimony and would not cl…

The appellant, Kamlendra Singh (Pappu Singh), was convicted under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 341 (wrongful restraint) with a common intention charge. He contended that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence (27 August 1993) and produced a high‑school mark‑sheet and admission register showing a date …

The petitioners, a public servant and his wife, sought quashing of a criminal trial under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for alleged disproportionate assets, alleging inordinate delay that violated their right to a speedy trial under Article 21. The Supreme Court examined whether Article 32 could be invoked to …

The National Campaign Committee filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking full implementation of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulations of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and the Welfare Cess Act, 1996, including the constitution of State Welfare Boards, registration of workers an…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of a man named Bhau Harishchandra Patil based on the testimony of PW‑2, an alleged eye‑witness, and PW‑1, an informant who later turned hostile. The Supreme Court examined whether the hostile witness’s evidence could be wholly rejected, whether the investigating officer shou…

The respondent, a former government employee, retired with a provisional pension but the State of Jharkhand withheld 10% of his pension, gratuity and leave encashment while criminal and departmental proceedings against him were pending. He filed writ petitions and the High Court ordered the release of the withheld amou…

Gajanan Kamlya Patil, a landowner, was served a notice under Section 10(5) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 demanding surrender of possession of his land, with a threat of force if he failed to comply. The notice was issued after the Act had been repealed by the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) R…

The appellant Birju was convicted for the murder of a one‑year‑old child, shot with a pistol after the child’s grandfather refused to give him money for liquor. The trial court and the High Court sentenced him to death, invoking his extensive criminal record as an aggravating factor. On appeal, the Supreme Court examin…

The appellants challenged the registration of FIR No. 442 of 2012 on the ground that a second FIR cannot be filed for the same incident after an earlier FIR had been lodged. The Court examined the scope of the "principle of sameness" and held that while a second FIR on identical facts is prohibited, a counter‑FIR prese…

The State Bank of India dismissed Deputy Manager Narendra Kumar Pandey after a departmental inquiry under its Officers Service Rules for twelve charges of misconduct, including fraud and misuse of bank facilities. Pandey did not attend any of the inquiry sessions, nor did he file a written defence, prompting the Inquir…

The Haryana Financial Corporation (HFC) advanced a loan to Gurcharan Singh, who gave a written, unregistered undertaking on 5 March 1994 that he would not dispose of certain immovable properties during the loan period. After default, HFC seized and sold hypothecated machinery, while Singh's wife obtained a decree decla…

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) issued a circular limiting the height of a public parking lot (PPL) to ground plus four upper floors, which conflicted with the developer Kohinoor's plan for a 13‑storey PPL. After a series of writ petitions, stop‑work notices and a settlement, the Supreme Court examin…

Ashok Kumar filed a civil suit for a temporary injunction against Mona Sharma, seeking peaceful possession of a disputed land. While the suit was pending, Mona Sharma filed an application under Section 145 of the CrPC, leading the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate (SOM) to attach the property under Section 146(1) on the ground…

The appellant, Ashwani Kumar Saxena, was convicted of murder under IPC s.302 r.w. s.27 Arms Act and appealed, claiming he was a juvenile at the time of the offence (19‑Oct‑2008). He produced school mark‑sheets and the school admission register showing a birth date of 24‑Oct‑1990, while the trial court relied on ossific…

The Srinagar Hydro Electric Project (SHEP) in Uttarakhand, originally cleared environmentally in 1985 and forest‑cleared in 1987, was later transferred to Alaknanda Hydro Power Co. Ltd. (AHPCL) with a capacity increase to 330 MW. Petitioners challenged the validity of the clearances and sought a public hearing under th…

The appellants, who were occupying a flat in Bombay as a gratuitous licensee, were evicted by a decree of the Small Causes Court under s.41(1) of the Presidency Small Causes Courts Act, 1882 (as amended by the Maharashtra Act of 1976). They appealed, arguing that the term "licensee" in the statute should be limited to …

The appellant, Bhagwan Tukaram Dange, and his father were convicted of murdering Dange's wife by beating, dousing her with kerosene and setting her on fire while intoxicated. The prosecution's case relied on two dying declarations recorded by a head constable and a special judicial magistrate, both corroborated by the …

The appellant, a Head Constable, was dismissed for allegedly accepting a bribe in a police complaint, while a constable who actually demanded and received the money received a lighter penalty of reduction of increment. The Supreme Court examined whether the disciplinary authority’s punishment violated the doctrine of e…

The Supreme Court examined petitions seeking to declare sandalwood (Santalum album) and red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) as "specified plants" under Section 2(27) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and to include them in Schedule VI. The Court noted that while Indian sandalwood is listed as "vulnerable" in t…

The petitioners sought a direction to the Union of India and the State of Chhattisgarh to prepare and fund a rescue plan for the endangered Asiatic Wild Buffalo, to prevent inter‑breeding with domestic buffalo and to relocate villages from Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary. The State of Chhattisgarh argued that it lacked suffi…

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector of Police, was removed from service by the Inspector‑General of Police under the Jharkhand Police Manual and subsequently charged with several IPC offences relating to the death of a detainee. He challenged the magistrate’s cognizance on the ground that Section 197 of the Code of Criminal…

The Deaf Employees Welfare Association and another association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Central and State Governments to grant transport allowance to government employees with hearing impairment, on par with the allowance already given to blind and orthopaedically disabled…

The case concerned the promotion of Dr. Premlata Joshi to the post of Director, Medical Health in Uttarakhand. The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) evaluated candidates' Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) and, contrary to the Government Order dated 16‑April‑2003, classified officers into "very good", "good" and "…

The appellant, Pratapbhai Hamirbai Solanki, was accused of conspiring to murder an RTI activist and was charged under Sections 302, 201 and 120‑B IPC and Sections 25(1)(b) and 27 of the Arms Act. Bail applications before the Sessions Court and the Gujarat High Court were rejected. After the High Court reserved its judg…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of the Medical Council of India's (MCI) order rejecting the renewal of permission for the third batch of 150 MBBS students at Chintpurni Medical College for the 2013‑14 academic year. The college had previously been granted permission, but a routine inspection followed by a surpr…

The State of Uttarakhand appealed against the Board of Revenue’s order that had allowed a second appeal under Section 331(4) of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, declaring that respondents had acquired Bhumidar rights by adverse possession. The Supreme Court examined whether Section 331(4) inc…

The Union of India prosecuted M/s Maple Leaf Trading International Pvt. Ltd. and its foreign shareholders for trading imported gold coins without RBI permission, alleging violations of Sections 19(1)(a), 19(1)(d), 29(1)(b), 47(1), 49(1)(a) and 68 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973. The Adjudicating Authority …

The petitioners challenged the All India Institute of Medical Sciences' (AllMS) counseling procedure for MBBS admissions, alleging that it exceeded the 50% reservation ceiling by allowing SC/ST/OBC candidates who secured seats in the open (unreserved) category to later opt for reserved seats, thereby inflating the rese…

The appellant, Dr. Kamlesh Kumar, was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of a cheque that he alleged was stolen. The complainant presented the same cheque twice, first on 25‑Oct‑2008 and again on 10‑Nov‑2008, each time it was returned unpaid. A legal notice demanding payment w…

The respondent, Bhurumal, claimed that he had worked as a daily‑wage lineman for BSNL for about 15 years, suffered an electric shock on duty and was subsequently denied reinstatement, alleging illegal termination under section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Industrial Tribunal and the High Court held tha…

The marriage between U. Sree and U. Srinivas broke down, leading the wife to file a petition for restitution of conjugal rights and the husband to file for divorce on the ground of mental cruelty under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act. The Family Court and the Madras High Court granted the divorce, held the …

The case concerned a criminal appeal filed by the State against an acquittal of the accused Irphan @ Gulfam and others. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the Government appeal in a cryptic order, merely referring to paragraphs of the trial‑court judgment and without giving any reasons. The complainant, Kumari Shaima J…

The owner of a goods vehicle insured the truck with National Insurance Co. and hired it to transport goods. During the journey the hirer and two of his labourers were killed in an accident. The legal heirs of the deceased filed claims under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held the insur…

The appellants were convicted under IPC sections 395, 396 and 397 for a burglary‑murder that occurred in 1995. Both were arrested ten years later; an identification parade was held only for A1, who later died, while no parade was conducted for A2. The trial court sentenced both to death under section 396, which the Hig…

The appellant, KUKAPALLI MOHAN RAO, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly hacking the deceased with an axe, motivated by a suspicion of an illicit relationship between the deceased and the appellant's wife. The prosecution relied on the eyewitness testimony of the deceased's wife (PW2) and brother…

Hill Properties Ltd., the appellant, claimed ownership of Flat No.23 in Mumbai, asserting that the flat was allotted to its shareholder (Respondent No.5) who could only occupy it and could not mortgage it without the company's consent under its Articles of Association. Respondent No.5 had created an equitable mortgage …

The appellants, nine medical graduates, challenged a clarificatory order of the Punjab & Haryana High Court which stated that seats already allocated in the general category for postgraduate medical courses would not be disturbed, but any vacant seats from the 60% in‑service quota could be filled by Resident Medical Of…

The parties entered into a 1989 agreement containing an arbitration clause that named two specific arbitrators. Both arbitrators later died, and the respondent sought the appointment of a substitute arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Bombay High Court appointed a former Supre…

The appellants Nanhar and others were convicted for the murder of Vijay under Sections 302 and 149 of the IPC, primarily on the basis of a note recovered from the deceased's pocket that the trial court treated as a dying declaration, and on circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court held that the prosecution failed to …

The appellant, Dharam Deo Yadav, was convicted for the murder of a New Zealand tourist, Diana Clare Routley, based largely on circumstantial evidence, including eyewitnesses who saw the accused with the victim, the accused's confession leading police to a skeleton recovered from his house, and DNA testing that matched …

The State of Rajasthan appealed against the Rajasthan High Court’s judgment that acquitted two accused (Hemant Kumar and Manoj Kumar) and convicted Raju (Raj Kumar) for the death of Anirudh Mishra arising out of a property dispute. The accused claimed the right of private defence. The Supreme Court examined whether the…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against a High Court order that allowed landowner Hari Ram to claim the benefit of the saving clause in the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999. The dispute centered on whether the "deemed vesting" of surplus vacant land under section 10(3) of the Urban Land (Ceiling…

Canara Bank filed an original application before a Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) for recovery of a large sum. The respondents filed interim applications seeking production of banking documents, which the DRT rejected, deeming them a delay tactic. The respondents approached the High Court under Article 226, and the Singl…

The Karnataka Lokayukta post of Upa‑Lokayukta became vacant and the Chief Minister advised the Governor to appoint Justice Chandrashekaraiah without consulting the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, as required by s.3(2)(b) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984. The High Court quashed the appointment, holding th…

The apartment owners of Silver Oaks Apartments filed a writ petition seeking to quash DLF Limited's declaration under the Haryana Apartment Ownership Act, alleging that the declaration omitted certain community and commercial facilities as "common areas and facilities". The High Court held that the owners were entitled…

The respondent issued four cheques which were presented and dishonoured. The appellant sent a statutory notice on 8 January 1997, which was beyond the 30‑day period, but sent a second notice on 28 January 1997 within the limitation period after the second dishonour. A complaint was filed on 4 March 1997. The issue was …

The appellant was appointed Headmaster of a private school in August 1996. The respondent, who was the acting Headmaster, waited nearly ten years before filing an application for condonation of delay before the School Tribunal, challenging the appointment under Section 9(1)(b) of the Maharashtra Employees of Private Sc…

The appellant Gurnaib Singh was convicted for the death of his young wife Amarjeet Kaur, who allegedly committed suicide after being harassed for a dowry demand of Rs 50,000. The trial court and the Punjab High Court upheld a conviction under Section 3048 IPC (dowry death) and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imp…

The Supreme Court examined the plight of two 15‑year‑old craniopagus twins, Saba and Farha, whose parents refused consent for any medical investigation or surgical separation. The petitioners sought a court order to compel investigations and, if necessary, surgery, invoking the twins' right to life and bodily integrity…

The State of Gujarat charged Ratansingh under sections 376, 302 and 201 of the IPC for the alleged rape and murder of a seven‑year‑old girl. The trial court convicted him, awarding a death sentence for murder and life imprisonment for rape. On appeal, the Gujarat High Court acquitted him, holding that the prosecution’s…

Arun Bhandari, an NRI, paid Rs.1.05 crore as part payment for a plot in Greater Noida on the basis of an agreement with respondents Savita Singh and Raghuvinder Singh, who later transferred the property to a third party. When the property was not delivered, Bhandari filed an FIR alleging cheating and criminal breach of…

The appellant, Pinakin Mahipatray Rawal, was convicted under Sections 498A and 306 IPC for allegedly causing his wife's suicide through an extra‑marital relationship with his colleague (A‑2). The Supreme Court examined whether the alleged relationship amounted to cruelty within the meaning of Section 498A and whether i…

The State of Maharashtra rejected pension claims of three applicants who alleged they were underground freedom fighters, on the ground that they had not produced the documents prescribed in the Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme of 4 July 1995. The applicants filed writ petitions and the High Court set aside the State's o…

The petitioners owned a property in Nagaur that the Wakf Board claimed was Wakf property and sued them for possession, rendition of accounts and declaration that a 1983 sale deed was invalid. The suit was filed in 1980, well before the Rajasthan Wakf Act, 1995 came into force. After the Act, the respondents invoked Sec…

The Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, acquired land and was awarded compensation which it failed to pay, leading to the attachment and auction of the property in 1992. The auction purchaser, Jagan Singh & Co., paid Rs.22.65 lakh, but the Trust later filed objections under Order 21 Rule 90 CPC, which were dismissed in defaul…

On 26 January 1996 a bomb exploded at the SMS Stadium in Jaipur, leading to the arrest of six accused, including Chandra Prakash, Abdul Mateen and others. The prosecution relied on the testimony of an approver (PW‑1) who implicated the accused, on material recovered from the accused’s premises (ammonium nitrate, dynami…

Arun Kumar Agrawal filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 challenging the Government of India's approval for the sale of a majority stake in Cairn India Limited (CIL) to Vedanta and seeking a direction that ONGC exercise its right of first refusal (RoFR). The petition also sought a CBI investigation and…

Ashok Kumar Sharma was arrested after police searched him and recovered two packets of heroin, leading to his conviction under Sections 8 and 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment sentence. The appellant challenged the conviction on the ground that the offi…

The petitioners, Mis Vaamika Island (Green Lagoon Resort), challenged the inclusion of their 5.21 acres on Vettilla Thuruthu Island in Map 32A of the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and its classification as a Filtration Pond and CRZ‑1, alleging that the map and classification were ultra vires the Coastal Re…

The case concerns the murder of Ashalata Biswas, who was shot through a window on 20 April 2001. The trial court convicted Pranab @ Kuti Biswas under Section 302 IPC, but the Calcutta High Court acquitted him, citing the absence of the accused's name in the FIR, the victim's failure to name the shooter, minor inconsist…

The case involved eleven sale agreements executed by M/s Tirupati Developers for parcels of land in Uttarakhand. The Deputy Registrar impounded the agreements alleging deficient stamp duty and the Assistant Commissioner ordered payment of the deficit, penalty and interest. The appellant contended that no stamp duty was…

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the Delhi High Court's order dismissing a review petition, while the original High Court judgment dated 5 November 2008 remained unchallenged. The respondent argued that the SLP was not maintainable because the main order had not been conte…

The Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) prepared a main rank list and a supplementary list for reserved‑category candidates for the post of Higher Secondary School Teacher (English Junior). The main list was exhausted on 28 September 2010, and a non‑joining duty (NJD) vacancy was reported to the Commission on 12 Se…

The respondents purchased a plot and applied to the Rajasthan Municipal Corporation for conversion of land use from residential to commercial under the Rajasthan Municipalities (Change of Land Use) Rules, 2000. The corporation approved the conversion and issued a demand notice for conversion charges of Rs.5,70,300. The…

The State of Bihar settled a group of excise shops for retail sale of country liquor in favour of Nirmal Kumar Gupta on 5 June 2006. Under the Bihar Excise (Settlement of Licences for Retail Sale of Country/Spiced Country Liquor) Rules, 2004, Gupta was required to deposit one‑fourth of the annual licence fee as advance…

The appellants, a partnership firm, sued the defendant for recovery of advances allegedly given to him, relying on entries and the defendant's signatures in their cash book. The defendant denied ever borrowing and contested the signatures, but offered no specific denial in the pleadings and produced no documentary evid…

G.L. Batra, then Additional Secretary of the Lok Sabha, was appointed Chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) under Article 316 of the Constitution. The State Government initially relaxed Regulation 6 of the HPSC (Conditions of Service) Regulations, 1972, fixing his remuneration at Rs.7,500 per month, …

The appellant, proprietor of a hotel and restaurant, applied in 1992 for a foreign liquor bar licence, which remained pending for years and was finally granted a temporary licence in 2006. Respondents filed a public‑interest writ seeking cancellation of the licence, arguing that Rule 8 of the West Bengal Excise (Select…

The Supreme Court examined whether cooperative societies registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 are "public authorities" under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 and thus bound to disclose information. The Court distinguished statutory bodies from bodies merely governed by statutes…

The complainant, Nasiruddin, alleged that he was shot in the legs by respondents 2‑4 during a family dispute, leading to a FIR under Section 326 IPC. The respondents sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, and the Additional Sessions Judge granted it, stating that the injury was simple and the elements …

The Supreme Court examined whether the traditional events of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bull‑ock cart races in Maharashtra violate the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA Act) and the Constitution’s fundamental duties. Relying on affidavits and reports from the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Court fou…

The accused were tried for murder, conspiracy and related offences arising from a property dispute. The trial court acquitted them, finding the conduct of two key witnesses – the deceased's mother‑in‑law and the deceased’s eleven‑year‑old daughter – to be unnaturally silent and therefore unreliable. The High Court reve…

The Supreme Court examined the implementation of the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) scheme introduced under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. While earlier judgments upheld the Central Government's power to issue the scheme, many states failed to comply, either by delaying tende…

The appellants Gurvail Singh and Jaj Singh were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of four members of a family during a property dispute. The trial court and the High Court sentenced them to death, holding the case to be "rarest of rare". On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whe…

The Vasavi Co‑op Housing Society sued several defendants for a declaration of title and possession of 6 acres 30 guntas of land, relying on sale deeds, a 1353 Fasli settlement register and a 1939 family settlement deed. The defendants counter‑claimed title based on entries in the General Land Register (GLR) of the Secu…

The appellants Parbin Ali and another were convicted under IPC sections 302 and 34 for the murder of Sakat Ali, based primarily on an oral dying declaration made by the deceased to his wife, father‑in‑law and relatives. The trial court and the Gauhati High Court upheld the conviction, finding the declaration credible d…

Sarabjit Singh filed a suit challenging a will, claiming co‑share in ancestral joint Hindu family property. The trial court declared the will void and decreed in his favour. On appeal by defendants 1‑4, the appellate court set aside that decree and dismissed the suit. Defendant No. 5, the brother of the plaintiff, file…

The respondents, who were initially appointed as apprentices/ITI trainees, claimed that the two‑year apprenticeship period should be counted as regular satisfactory service for the purpose of the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme, seeking a second ACP scale after twenty years of service. The employer argued that …

The Kurwai Nagar Panchayat constructed a bus stand on its own land and, invoking powers under the Madhya Pradesh Municipalities Act, imposed a parking fee of Rs 20 per day or Rs 600 per month on vehicle owners. The fee was challenged through a writ petition, which the High Court dismissed, but a Division Bench later se…

The respondent, Dalip Chand, worked in the Punjab Department of Education from 1965 to 1979 and then joined the Punjab School Education Board as Superintendent, serving there until his retirement in 2000. Upon superannuation he claimed pension under Regulation 6 of the Punjab School Education Board (Employees Pension, …

Rohilkhand Medical College, established in 2005, sought renewal of its MBBS intake for the 2008‑09 batch, but the Medical Council of India (MCI) repeatedly recommended non‑renewal due to deficiencies. Despite this, the Central Government granted permission after a central inspection team, which was later found by the C…

In 2010, the Jammu & Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination had to fill 15 MBBS seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribe Gujjar Bakerwal (STGB) category, with a 15th odd seat earmarked for a female candidate. The seat remained vacant after a male candidate's writ petition was dismissed, and the appellant, a l…

The State Financial Corporation (OSFC) and IPICOL financed a hotel project of MIS. MICRO HOTEL P. Ltd. (the borrower) which defaulted on loan repayments. The corporations offered One‑Time Settlement (OTS) schemes in 2006 and 2007, which the borrower failed to meet, leading to withdrawal of the offers and a demand for f…