MANOJ MISRA

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

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

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

The appellant, IL & FS Financial Services Ltd., entered into a term loan agreement with the respondent, Adhunik Meghalaya Steels Pvt. Ltd., in 2015, which became a non‑performing asset on 1 March 2018. The appellant filed a Section 7 application under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code on 15 January 2024, relying on th…

The appellant, a logistics company, was awarded a contract to handle and store iron and steel at the central dispatch yard of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL) and deployed 36 motor vehicles exclusively within the enclosed premises. It sought exemption from motor vehicle tax under Section 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Motor V…

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

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

Shahu Sampatrao Jadhavar, a night watchman, died in a road accident on 22 April 2003 while commuting 5 km to his sugar factory workplace. His family claimed compensation under the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923, but the employer and insurer argued the accident did not arise out of or in the course of employment beca…

The appellant, Ravish Singh Rana, was accused by his live-in partner of raping her after refusing to marry, leading to FIR No. 482 of 2023 under IPC sections 376, 323, 504 and 506. The appellant sought quash of the FIR invoking Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, arguing that the two-year cohabitatio…

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

The parties entered into a memorandum of understanding in 2014 for the sale of land, with the respondent paying an advance of Rs.15.5 crore. The MoU was terminated in 2024 and the dispute was referred to arbitration, where the tribunal awarded the advance amount with simple interest at 21% per annum from the date of di…

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

The appellant, HDFC Bank Ltd., filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against a private limited company and its three directors, including Mrs. Ranjana Sharma, for issuing a cheque that was dishonoured. The High Court of Bombay quashed the proceedings against Mrs. Sharma on the g…

The appellant Naresh Kumar was convicted under Section 306 of the IPC for allegedly abetting his wife Rani's suicide in 1993, based largely on the fact that she died within seven years of marriage and that he repeatedly demanded money for a business. The prosecution relied on the testimony of the deceased's brother and…

The appellant's land was acquired under the National Highways Act, leading to an arbitral award on 25 July 2011. A regular first appeal was filed on 20 October 2011, but the High Court registry notified defects on 9 November 2011, which the appellant's counsel received only on 20 January 2012. Consequently, the appella…

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

The State of Punjab appealed the High Court's acquittal of Kewal Krishan, who had been convicted for murder under Section 302 IPC. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: the deceased was last seen with the accused on 10‑12‑1998, the body was discovered on 12‑12‑1998, an alleged extra‑judicial confession to …

The appellant Bank of Baroda sought to overturn a High Court order that had restored a trial court decree appointing the respondent, Baljit Singh, on compassionate grounds. The respondent's father, a bank employee, died in 1999 and the 1998 compassionate appointment scheme required that the family’s monthly income be l…

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

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

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

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

The appellant, Rofiqul Hoque, was declared a foreigner by the Foreigners Tribunal in Assam for allegedly entering India after 25 March 1971, a finding upheld by the Gauhati High Court. He challenged the declaration, arguing that his name appeared in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2018 and that minor d…

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

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

The appellants, comprising a husband and his parents-in-law, sought to quash an FIR filed by the wife shortly after divorce proceedings were initiated, alleging offences under Sections 498-A and 114 of the IPC. The High Court dismissed the petition, holding that the allegations, however vague, would be tested at trial.…

The appellant Kailas and co-accused were convicted under the NDNDPS Act for possession of 39 kg of ganja seized during a police raid, with the trial court relying on a video recording of the raid and a chemical examiner's report. The High Court set aside the convictions and ordered a re‑trial, holding that the video wa…

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

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

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

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

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

The appellant, the widow of a deceased clerk who worked in the Passport Office, challenged the conviction of her husband under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The prosecution alleged that the accused demanded an extra Rs.200 over the lawful passport fee of Rs.1,000 and that the…

The appellant's land was acquired in 1976‑77 under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, but no compensation was ever paid. After repeatedly seeking payment, the appellant filed a writ petition which was dismissed by a single High Court judge on the ground of a 42‑year delay. The Division Bench of the High Court then directe…

The dispute arose from an electronic tender for a Road User Fee collection contract where the appellant, Prakash Asphaltings and Toll Highways (India) Ltd, was the highest bidder and respondent No.1, Mandeepa Enterprises, was the lowest bidder. Respondent No.1 claimed it had mistakenly quoted a per‑day rate of Rs 9,72,…

The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) claimed that it had submitted a claim of Rs 43.40 crore as a financial creditor against JNC Construction Ltd., but the resolution professional treated it as an operational creditor and the resolution plan approved by the NCLT omitted its claim and undervalued i…

The plaintiff Gopal sued the deceased vendor Kishorilal for specific performance of a sale agreement; the vendor's heirs and the purchasers (appellants 2 and 3) were joined in the suit which was decreed in Kishorilal's favour. An appeal (F.A. No.213 of 2000) was filed, but Kishorilal died and his four legal heirs were …

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

The appellants filed a suit in 2017 seeking cancellation of a sale deed dated 04‑12‑2004, alleging fraud and claiming they only became aware of the deed on 31‑03‑2017 when a revenue notice was issued. The defendants moved to dismiss the suit under Order 7 Rule 11 of the CPC, arguing that the suit was barred by the thre…

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

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

Retired employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) challenged a Government Order that enhanced dearness allowance (DA) for serving employees by 14% but dearness relief (DR) for pensioners by only 11%, alleging violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. The High Court held the differential rates …

Surender Kumar was convicted of murder under Section 302 of the IPC for stabbing the deceased with four knife blows to vital parts, causing fatal injuries. The appellant argued that the incident fell under one of the four exceptions to Section 300 IPC, seeking a conviction for a lesser offence. The Supreme Court examin…

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

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

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

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

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

The Sessions Court convicted two accused under Section 325 IPC, sentencing them to five years' rigorous imprisonment and fines. The Gujarat High Court reduced the term to four years and, invoking Section 357 of the CrPC, ordered each accused to deposit Rs 2.5 lakh as compensation to the victim, on the condition that pa…

The appellant sought specific performance of a sale deed for 3.75 acres of land, and the trial court decreed payment of the balance consideration within a month or deposit in court. The appellant failed to pay or deposit until November 2020, while the respondent filed an appeal that was dismissed for non‑prosecution in…

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

The appellant Shanti Devi, her son Rajbir and another accused Veena were convicted by the trial court and upheld by the High Court for the murder of Balwant, the informant's son, under Sections 302/34 and 201/34 IPC. The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including a motive of illegal occupa…

The deceased, Rajeev Jain, a 23‑year employee of Hindustan Lever Ltd., committed suicide on 3 November 2006 after a meeting where senior officers allegedly humiliated him and forced him to accept a lower‑grade posting under a Voluntary Retirement Scheme. The appellants, senior officers of the company, were charged unde…

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) appealed against a Delhi High Court decision that held it could not levy restitutionary or compensatory damages under s.33A of the Water Act and s.31A of the Air Act, on the ground that such powers amounted to penalties. The Supreme Court examined the statutory scheme, the p…

The appellant, Kishore Balkrishna Nand, filed a written complaint with the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate alleging that the respondent had encroached land and set up a shop that caused nuisance. The respondent subsequently lodged a private defamation complaint before a Judicial Magistrate, relying on the appellant's complai…

Wazir Khan was charged under Sections 302 and 201 IPC for the murder of his wife, Bushra, whose body bore 17 incised wounds. The trial court acquitted him, finding the prosecution had not proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt, but the Uttarakhand High Court reversed the acquittal, holding that Khan's failure to explain …

The appellant, a permanently locomotor‑disabled electrician employed by Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board since 1985, was scheduled to retire on 30 September 2018 at age 58. An Office Memorandum dated 29 March 2013 had extended the superannuation age to 60 years for physically disabled employees, but only for th…

The Supreme Court examined appeals against a Karnataka High Court order that had stayed the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) for Associate Decor Ltd, where Mohammed Enterprises (Tanzania) Ltd's resolution plan had been approved by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) on 11 February 2020. The petitioners argue…

The appellant, M/s Triveni Engineering and Industries Ltd., a sugar manufacturer, was ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to pay Rs.18 crore as environmental compensation for alleged illegal discharge of untreated effluents and related violations. The appellant challenged the orders on the ground that it was n…