MARKANDEY KATJU

National Insurance Co. Ltd. filed a Special Leave Petition challenging a High Court order that directed it to pay compensation to claimants, despite the insurer's contention that there was no valid insurance coverage on the date of the accident because the renewal premium cheque was dishonoured. The insurer argued that…

The appellant filed a criminal revision petition which the Delhi High Court dismissed for default despite notice. The Supreme Court held that a criminal appeal or revision cannot be dismissed for default and must be decided on its merits with a reasoned order. It relied on Bani Singh v. State of U.P. and Parasuram Pate…

The appellant, a former Indian Army captain who was invalided out in 1979 with a 50% disability, sought a War Injury Pension, an increase of his disability rating to 75%, a service element for his full ten‑year short service commission, and revised pension rates, relying on the Ministry of Defence letter dated 31‑Jan‑2…

C.S. Sidhu, an Indian Army officer commissioned on 22 June 1968 under a short‑service commission, suffered severe injuries including amputation of his right arm on 21 November 1970 while on duty at a high‑altitude posting. He continued in service until his release on 23 June 1978, but the Army authorities considered on…

The daughters of Bhagwana (appellants) challenged a consent decree dated 24‑Nov‑1980 in a suit alleging collusion. The trial court set aside the decree, but the first appellate court reversed, holding the decree was not collusive, a finding of fact. The High Court affirmed that view and dismissed the appellants' appeal…

The appellant, a small investor, purchased 100 equity shares of Reliance Industries Ltd. through a broker, only to discover later that the shares were "tainted" and the company refused dividend payment. He filed an application before the Special Court under the Special Courts (Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions…

The petitioners, a group of Andhra Pradesh pensioners, sought to have their pensions re‑fixed under Government Order No.87 dated 25 May 1998, which changed the basis of pension calculation to the last drawn salary. They argued that the revision should apply retroactively to their dates of retirement, even though they r…

The Government of India had granted 3.563 acres of land in the Agra Cantonment to Hamid Ali Khan, who built a bungalow and later sold it with its appurtenant land to the petitioners. The petitioners sued the Union of India for arrears of rent, damages, and vacant possession of the bungalow and the surrounding land, whi…

The case concerned land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act that had been mutated in the name of Damoder Mahto. After Damoder's death, his widow Koleshra Devi (Kaulashwari) possessed a share of the land in lieu of maintenance. She executed a deed of gift on 7 May 1960 in favour of the appellants, heirs of Ram Layak…

The plaintiffs, descendants of Durga Malakar, filed a title suit claiming ownership of certain lands based on a will dated 8 October 1958 and a probate order. The defendants asserted title through a sale deed executed by Durga's widow Gandhari and a subsequent deed of exchange. The trial court ruled in favor of the pla…

The R.D. Gardi Medical College admitted students who did not meet the 50% entrance‑exam mark requirement, leading the Supreme Court to direct that an equal number of seats be reduced from the college’s management quota for the 2009‑10 session. Subsequent High Court orders reduced additional seats, but miscalculated the…

Syndicate Bank advanced a loan to United Auto Tractor Ltd. secured by a mortgage on 51 acres of land allotted by the Andhra Pradesh Government, relying on an allotment letter and a consent letter from the Director of Industries. The land was later partially cancelled and the allotment rescinded by AP ILC, and the bank …

The petitioners, convicted under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt, sought relief on the ground that they had reached an amicable settlement with the victims. The Court examined whether such a settlement could lead to their acquittal despite the offence being non‑compoundable un…

The plaintiff, an employee of Apollo Tyres Ltd., filed a civil suit seeking declaration that he remained a workman, challenging his transfer, restraining the employer from forcing a promotion, and protecting his trade‑union activities. The employer contended that the civil court lacked jurisdiction over matters relatin…

The landlord filed an eviction petition against the tenant in the Delhi Rent Controller in 1981, which resulted in a decree of eviction in 1993 on the ground of subletting. The tenant appealed at multiple levels, including the Rent Control Tribunal, the Delhi High Court, and the Supreme Court, all of which upheld the e…

Mrs. Aruna Nanda, a war widow, was allotted an Indian Oil gas distributorship as a sole proprietor of Shalimar Gas. She later converted the business into a partnership, retaining a 51% share while her partner held 49%. Indian Oil Corporation cancelled the distributorship alleging that she had lost control of the agency…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Union Government could de‑license the sugar industry by issuing Press Note 12 and a Notification under Section 298 of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, without a parliamentary amendment. It held that the executive power under Article 73(1) is co‑extensive with…

The assessee, Nirmala Dyachem, manufactures a product called Domex Power Cleaner/Domex All round Home Cleaner and classified it under heading 38.08 of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 as a disinfectant. The Revenue argued that the product should be placed under heading 34.02, which covers organic surface‑active agen…

The appellants, wholesale vegetable and fruit vendors, were ordered by the Gauhati High Court to vacate the Machkhowa market in Guwahati to make way for an administrative building, and were directed to shift to a new market at Ganeshguri. They challenged the order, claiming a violation of their fundamental right to car…

The appellant, a petrol pump operator, challenged an order directing him to pay contributions under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, arguing that his premises did not qualify as a "factory" within the meaning of the Act. The central issue was whether the activity of pumping petrol/diesel constituted a "manufac…

The appellants, police officers, illegally detained Nandagopal, beat him to death in police custody and gang‑raped his wife Padmini within the police station. The trial court and High Court convicted them based on the testimony of 37 witnesses, including the victim, and sentenced one officer to three years and the othe…

The appellant husband and his mother‑in‑law were accused of dowry death after the bride, aged about 24, was found strangled and burnt in her matrimonial home within three years of marriage. The prosecution proved, on circumstantial evidence, that the accused repeatedly demanded a Maruti car as dowry, harassed the victi…

The appellant, Sudarshan Kumar, was convicted under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for abetting the suicide of his wife, Sudesh, who could not conceive a child and was repeatedly harassed, beaten, and sent away by him. The trial court sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imprisonment, a sentence upheld by the H…

Two government doctors were alleged to have engaged in private practice after hours, charging Rs 100 per patient, in violation of a government circular that prohibited such practice without permission. An FIR was lodged under Section 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section…

The petitioners raised a writ under Article 21 of the Constitution, contending that the chronic shortage of water for drinking and irrigation violated the fundamental right to life. The Court examined precedents that recognized water as an essential component of the right to life, including Delhi Water Supply & Sewage …

Bangalore Turf Club Ltd. challenged the Regional Director of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation's demand for ESI contributions, contending that as a club it does not qualify as a "shop" under Section 1(5) of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948. The central issue was whether turf clubs fall within the defin…

The Supreme Court reviewed a writ petition in which the Bombay High Court, Nagpur bench, had taken suo motu action without any petition and ordered that private unaided engineering colleges in Maharashtra would be barred from admitting students if they failed to appoint a permanent principal by a specified date. The Co…

Prabull Goradia, a Hindu, filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of the Haj Committee Act, 2002, alleging that taxes he pays are used to fund the Muslim Haj pilgrimage, thereby violating Articles 27, 14 and 15 of the Constitution. The Court examined the scope of Article 27, holdi…

The Gram Panchayat of Rohar Jagir filed an application under Section 7 of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 to evict the appellants who had illegally occupied a village pond and constructed houses on it. The Collector regularized the occupants’ possession, claiming it was not in the public interest…

The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration of title and possession of a residential property, which the trial court decreed in his favour. The defendant appealed and the first appellate court set aside the decree, holding that the defendant had acquired title by adverse possession. The plaintiff then filed a second app…

The Madras High Court ordered that a specific government building, the old Block Development Office, be allotted for the District Munsif‑cum‑Judicial Magistrate Court at Pennagaram Taluk, Dharmapuri District. The appellants challenged this order before the Supreme Court, arguing that the High Court exceeded its jurisdi…

The Supreme Court examined the Madhya Pradesh Niji Vyavsayik Shikshan Sansthan (Admission Regulation and Fee Determination) Act, 2007, which appeared to vest the State with complete control over admissions and fee fixation in private unaided medical and dental colleges. Relying on earlier judgments (T.M.A. Pai Foundati…

The State of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand) appealed against a High Court order that had allowed the writ petition of Rabindra Singh, who occupied a 4.10‑bigha plot of agricultural land. The central question was whether land covered by Section 3(14) of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 f…

The husband filed a petition for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, alleging cruelty by his wife. The trial court, and subsequently the High Court, found that the wife was the victim of cruelty and that the husband could not establish cruelty on her part. The husband also sought divorce on the ground of "irret…

Raja Khan filed a civil suit in Hamirpur (Allahabad Bench jurisdiction) for lease of land in Bahraich (under Lucknow Bench) belonging to a Waqf Board. The High Court's Single Judge, hearing a writ petition filed in the Allahabad Bench, issued ex‑parte interim orders directing the respondents to allot the land and to en…

The plaintiff, a landlady, sued the tenant for eviction and possession of premises let on a month‑to‑month basis with rent payable according to the English calendar month. The trial court upheld the suit, but the first appellate court set aside the decree, holding that the notice of termination dated 15 January 2000 wa…

A large tract of land on the outskirts of Pathankot was requisitioned for defence purposes under the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952. The owners could not agree on compensation and sought the appointment of an arbitrator, which the Government delayed for sixteen years. The arbitrator awar…

The deceased employee of Hanuman Plantation Ltd. died in an accident at Nagaon. His parents, who had moved to Tezpur after his death, filed a compensation claim under the Workmen's Compensation Act before the Commissioner, Tezpur, which awarded Rs. 2.70 lakh. The company appealed, arguing that the Tezpur Commissioner l…

The petitioner, Dr. Smitha Nath, sought judicial intervention to ensure that vacant All India Quota postgraduate medical seats were filled after several states failed to complete their first round of counseling within the prescribed time. The Supreme Court noted that the first round of All India counseling conducted by…

The brothers Sunder Kukreja and Mohan Lal Kukreja, partners in a firm, disputed the validity of a retirement deed that one brother claimed dissolved the partnership. The appellant filed a petition under Section 20 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 seeking appointment of an arbitrator under the arbitration clause of their 19…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Article 32 concerning the protection of wetlands and the acute water shortage in India. The petitioners highlighted that ponds, tanks, and other water‑conservation bodies have been illegally filled and built upon, exacerbating the crisis. Relying on earlier judgments …

Jagdish Sharan Varshney, an employee of Rani Lakshmibai Kshetriya Gramin Bank, was charge‑sheeted and disciplined by fixing his pay scale under Regulation 38(1) (Kha‑11) of the Officers and Employees Service Rules, 2000. He appealed to the Board of Directors, which dismissed the appeal on 4 September 2003 without givin…

The respondents, lecturers in private aided colleges, challenged a government order fixing 1 November 1992 as the cut‑off date for pension entitlement after the Education Code amendment reduced their retirement age from 60 to 58 years. The High Court held the cut‑off date arbitrary and discriminatory, directing pension…

The plaintiff filed a partition suit against his father, the Karta of a joint family, who died during the proceedings. The plaintiff's brother, Gopal Swaroop, claimed that the deceased had executed a will leaving his share to him. The trial court and a single High Court judge held that the will was duly proved, but a D…

In a civil suit, an Additional District Judge passed an interim order, against which a first appeal under Order 43 Rule 1 was filed before a Single Judge of the Orissa High Court. The Single Judge delivered a judgment on 6 August 2008, and a Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) was subsequently filed against that judgment. The …

The CBI prosecuted three police officers for grievously injuring a detainee, Jugta Ram, in police custody, including the amputation of his penis using a razor. The trial court convicted all three under sections 326, 308, 323, 342, 343 and 120B of the IPC, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted the ASI and SHO and reduc…

The Supreme Court heard a civil appeal (No. 5979 of 2001) against an interlocutory order of the Bombay High Court that had granted ad‑hoc approval to certain teachers appointed by Dayanand Vedic Vidyalaya, despite the Education Inspector’s rejection of those appointments on the ground of rule violations. The Court held…

The State of Punjab appealed against orders of the Trial Court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court that had directed daily‑wage tractor drivers to be placed on the same pay scale as regularly appointed drivers on the basis of equal pay for equal work. The Supreme Court examined whether the principle of equal pay applie…

The plaintiffs filed a suit for declaration and possession of a property that had been purchased by Honnanna and later allegedly transferred to the defendants through an agreement to sale dated 27 November 1982. The defendants claimed title based on that agreement and an irrevocable power of attorney executed in 1985, …

The petitioner, Keshav Prasad Sharma, was tried for a criminal offence when the public prosecutor sought to implead respondents No.3‑9 as co‑accused under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The trial court allowed the impleadment, but the Punjab & Haryana High Court set aside that order. The petitioner filed S…

The landlord obtained an eviction decree against the tenant, D.M. Belgamvala, on the ground that the 100‑year‑old building needed demolition. The tenant filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the High Court's order, which the Supreme Court dismissed on 14 May 2010, granting the tenant six months to vacate sub…

The appellant, Ram Chandra Bhaghat, was convicted under Section 493 of the Indian Penal Code for deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage and cohabiting with the complainant for nine years, during which they had two children. The appellant argued that no belief of a lawful marriage was induced, contending that …

The respondent, an incumbent employee, was granted a retrospective promotion effective 27 August 1984 and claimed arrears of pay and allowances for the period up to 5 February 1992. The Central Administrative Tribunal and the Delhi High Court allowed the claim. The appellant challenged these orders before the Supreme C…

In Narpat Singh v. Rajasthan Financial Corporation, the appellant filed Interlocutory Applications (I.A.) No. 15-16 seeking clarification and direction of a court order dated 3 May 2007. The court held that such I.A.s are misconceived because they were filed after the case had been finally disposed of, and an I.A. is m…

The State of Rajasthan filed a Special Leave Petition challenging a cryptic order of the Rajasthan High Court that dismissed its application for leave to appeal against an acquittal of Chanda and others without giving reasons. The Supreme Court examined whether a High Court must pass a speaking order showing due applic…

The Supreme Court, hearing Budhadev Karmaskar v. State of West Bengal (Criminal Appeal No. 135 of 2010), continued its earlier directives to improve the rehabilitation of sex workers by ordering the Central Government to provide Rs.10 lakh and each State Government Rs.5 lakh (Union Territories Rs.2 lakh) to the Court‑a…

Sri Venkateswara Syndicate, a cotton trading partnership, suffered an accidental fire in its godown and claimed Rs.1.90 crore under its fire insurance policies with Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. The insurer appointed a series of surveyors – a licensed surveyor, joint surveyors, a second surveyor, and finally a charte…

The appellant, MD Sukur Ali, challenged a conviction upheld by the Gauhati High Court, which had been decided in his absence because his newly appointed counsel, B. Sinha, did not appear due to a listing error. The Supreme Court examined whether a criminal case can be decided against an accused when counsel is absent a…

The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by a next friend on behalf of Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug, sought a direction to stop feeding her, alleging she had been in a persistent vegetative state for 36 years following a brutal assault. The respondents, including the KEM Hospital and municipal authorities…

Suresh Nanda, an NRI, had his passport seized by the CBI during a search on 10 October 2006. The Special Judge ordered its release with conditions, but the High Court reversed that order, refusing release. The Supreme Court examined whether the CBI could retain or impound the passport without an order under the Passpor…

Gian Singh was convicted under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). While his appeal was pending, he sought to compound the offences and filed a petition under CrPC Section 482 to quash the FIR, which the High Court dismissed. The Supreme Court examined whether a non‑compoundable offence such as …

The case concerned a dispute over the demarcation of a Wakf estate created by a 1936 deed, which divided the property into 75% for the descendants (Wakf‑al‑al‑aulad) and 25% for religious purposes. A suit for demarcation was filed in the Calcutta High Court, which held that the demarcation was incorrect and that the Wa…

The Supreme Court heard a Special Leave Petition (CrL) No. 6568 of 2009 filed by Manoj Yadav against Pushpa @ Kiran Yadav concerning the grant of maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The issue arose because several states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttar Prad…

The appellant, Rajindra Singh (deceased) through his legal representatives, challenged a decree from a 1957 suit in which Prem Mai and Sudha Mai were granted declaration and possession of land. The decree was reversed on appeal, declaring the appellant a Sirdar and entitled to possession. While the suit was pending, a …

The case concerned a lecturer who, after voluntarily transferring from one intermediate college to another, claimed that his seniority should be based on his original appointment date, placing him above a colleague already serving at the receiving college. The High Court had set aside the single judge’s order that had …

Prem Chandra Agarwal & Anr. appealed to the Supreme Court against an interim order passed by the Allahabad High Court in a writ petition. While the appeal was pending, the High Court delivered a final judgment in the same matter, thereby rendering the earlier interim order subsumed into the final order. The Supreme Cou…

The petitioner filed a writ petition under Articles 226 and 136 of the Constitution seeking quashing of an FIR (Crimes No.1133/2007) alleging offences under Sections 467, 468, 471, 420, 409 and 218 of the IPC. The High Court refused to quash the FIR but directed that bail would be considered if the petitioner surrender…

In a criminal revision, the revisionist failed to appear because his counsel did not note the case in the main list, leading the High Court to pass a judgment. An application was filed to recall that order on the ground that the case was not listed, and the High Court recalled the order and ordered a fresh hearing. The…

The landlord filed a petition under Section 21(1)(a) of the U.P. Urban Building Act, 1972 claiming bonafide need to evict the tenant. The prescribed authority rejected the petition, finding no bonafide need, and the appellate court upheld this finding. The High Court, however, in a writ petition, set aside the finding …

The Supreme Court examined a special leave petition filed by Rajbir (the husband) and his mother, who were convicted for the murder of Rajbir's pregnant wife Sunita under Section 304B of the IPC. The trial court had sentenced Rajbir to life imprisonment, but the Punjab & Haryana High Court reduced his term to ten years…

Thathamsetty Suresh was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of his wife and sentenced to life imprisonment. He filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court seeking relief from the conviction and sentence. The Court examined the post‑mortem report, which showed multiple ante‑mortem head injuries ca…

Manoj Yadav challenged a High Court order granting his wife maintenance of Rs.4,000 per month under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, contending that a Madhya Pradesh amendment capped maintenance at Rs.3,000. The Supreme Court granted the husband time to challenge the constitutional validity of the state amen…

The case concerned a Will dated 4 September 1976 in which the testatrix bequeathed certain properties in absolute terms to her two daughters, with a later clause stating that after the daughters' deaths the remaining property should devolve to their female children. After one daughter died intestate, her sons took poss…

A complaint under the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was filed against the appellant. The Chief Judicial Magistrate initially dismissed the complaint, finding no case, but the Additional Sessions Judge remanded the matter for a fresh review. On remand, the magistrate re…

A writ petition was filed by Balakrushna Behera seeking a mandamus directing Utkal University of Culture to complete the selection and appoint him as Lecturer in South & South East Asian Studies. The High Court ordered the university to complete the selection and publish the result, which was done, but the appointment …

The petitioners, Kachchh Jal Sankat Nivaran Samiti & Ors., filed a public interest litigation alleging that the State of Gujarat allocated an inadequate share of water from the Sardar Sarovar Dam to the drought‑prone Kachchh district. The Gujarat High Court dismissed the writ, holding that water allocation is a policy …

In 1997 the prosecutrix was abducted, raped and beaten by three accused who were later convicted under IPC sections 376(2)(g) and 342 and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1,000 each. The accused had already served about three and a half years when they appealed to the Supreme Court, conte…

New India Assurance Co. Ltd. denied a claim by M/s Abhilash Jewellery for loss of gold that occurred while the jewellery was in the custody of an apprentice. The insurance policy covered loss while in the custody of the insured, his partner or his employees. The dispute turned on whether an apprentice qualifies as an "…

The appellants Shaikh Rafiq and Fatimbee were convicted for the murder of Noor Miya Mohd. Hussain, allegedly after they, together with the deceased's daughter‑in‑law Jaibunisa, came to his house and, following a dispute, poured kerosene on him and set him alight. The conviction rested solely on a dying declaration reco…

On 31 July 1989, a group of accused, including Kalyan Singh, allegedly surrounded a well where Durga Singh Rawat was bathing and Kalyan Singh is said to have urged Budh Singh to fire, resulting in the victim's death. The trial judge, after detailed analysis of witness statements and noting inconsistencies and the enmit…

The appellant, D. Velusamy, filed an appeal against a family court and High Court order that granted maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC to the respondent, D. Patchaiammal, on the basis that she was his wife. The appellant contended that he was already lawfully married to another woman, Lakshmi, in 1980, and that…

Ravindra & Associates, a contractor, completed a construction project for the Union of India on time but faced a payment dispute. The parties invoked an arbitration clause; the arbitrator awarded the contractor Rs 70,94,265 with 18% simple interest. The Principal Sub‑Judge in Kochi made the award a rule of court, reduc…

The appellant, an Assistant Editor of a newspaper publishing company, was dismissed after a disciplinary inquiry that found him guilty of misconduct. He subsequently claimed gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, but the employer denied it, invoking the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Cond…

The appeal concerned a decision of the Madras High Court that remanded a matter before the Wakf Tribunal because the Tribunal had failed to consider certain points. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether, under Section 83(5) of the Wakf Act 1995, the Wakf Tribunal is deemed a civil court and can exercise the sa…

The tenant, after losing before the rent‑control appellate authority, filed a writ petition which was dismissed for non‑prosecution and a civil application for restoration which was also dismissed. Possession of the premises was then given to the landlords. Instead of challenging the dismissal order before a proper cou…

ELCM Exports Ltd., an export house, filed a complaint before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission seeking damages for a delayed shipment that was held in a US customs bonded warehouse, causing the foreign buyer to reject the consignment. The Commission dismissed the complaint as barred by the one‑year li…

The All Bengal Excise Licensees Association challenged the West Bengal government's policy of granting additional liquor licences, leading to a High Court stay order. A contempt petition alleging violation of that stay was dismissed, and the Supreme Court, in a prior judgment (All Bengal Licensees Association v. Raghab…

Sansar Chand, a long‑time organiser of illegal wildlife trade, was convicted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for receiving leopard skins. The prosecution’s case rested on an extra‑judicial confession by a co‑accused, Balwan, which was corroborated by oral and documentary evidence, including recovered hunting …

A fire broke out in the appellant's godown at Ambala in February 1999, and the appellant filed a claim petition before the Consumer Commission of Chandigarh in 2000, which was allowed. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission set aside that order, holding that the Chandigarh commission lacked jurisdiction. T…

Prasar Bharati issued a tender for two 1 MW transmitters. BECIL and Arraycom submitted technically qualified bids. Arraycom’s financial bid of Rs 51.57 crore stated that Central Sales Tax (CST) was inclusive but also required concessional forms C/D, creating ambiguity. BECIL’s lower bid of Rs 47.35 crore quoted sales t…

Grasim Industries Ltd. and another entered into a dealer and consignment agreement with Mis. Agarwal Steel. A dispute over a joint statement of account (Ex.D‑8) was referred to arbitration. The respondent claimed that his signature on Ex.D‑8 was merely a receipt and therefore made under mistake, leading the arbitrator …

The Supreme Court heard Civil Appeals Nos. 1062‑1065 arising from a suit filed in 1947 for Rs 7,000, which involved an attachment before judgment of the defendant's dry fish and a third‑party claim over that fish. After more than six decades of litigation, the Court, with the parties' consent, ordered that the entire p…

The Fruit Commission Agents Association challenged the rent fixed by the Agricultural Produce Market Committee for shop‑cum‑godowns at the Gaddiannaram fruit market, alleging the structures were not permanent and the rent excessive. The High Court upheld the rent fixation, finding the Committee had considered various f…

The State of Assam filed a suit under Article 131 of the Constitution seeking a determination of its boundary with the State of Nagaland, which was created by a 1962 Act of Parliament. The Supreme Court, while a Local Commission was already appointed to examine the dispute, ordered that the parties also attempt mediati…

Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore Ltd challenged a demand notice for employer's contribution under Section 45A of the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 by filing a petition under Section 75 before the Employees Insurance Court (EIC). The EIC observed that the headload workers employed on a day‑to‑day basis could not…

The respondents were appointed on an ad‑hoc basis in 1988 and were regularised in 2004 under the Uttaranchal Regularisation of Ad‑Hoc Appointments (Posts under the Purview of Public Service Commission) Rules, 2002. They claimed that, for seniority purposes, their service should be counted from 1988. The High Court allo…

The respondent, Bipin Chandra Lakhera, was appointed as a Research Assistant on an ad hoc basis in 1984 and continued in that status until he secured a regular appointment on 5 January 1996. He contended that his seniority should be calculated from the date of his initial ad hoc appointment. The Supreme Court examined …

The State of Bihar appealed against a High Court order that reinstated several employees appointed on an ad‑hoc basis in the Animal Husbandry Department. The Court examined whether those appointments complied with the Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959 and the constitutional guarantee…

The appellant, V. Subramaniam, filed a suit for dissolution of an unregistered partnership firm against Rajesh Raghunandra Rao. The defendant argued that the suit was barred by Section 69(2A) of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, inserted by the Maharashtra Amendment Act of 1984, which restricts unregistered firms from …

The Supreme Court examined two appeals arising from a High Court judgment involving Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) and M/s Continental Construction Company. The first appeal concerned a claim of Rs 74,810.38 for recovered jack‑rods, which the Court held was time‑barred under Section 37 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 and …

The respondent, an Inspector in the Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation, was charge‑sheeted and served notice of a departmental inquiry by post and by publication in a newspaper. He chose not to appear, and the inquiry proceeded ex parte, resulting in a finding of guilt and termination of his service. He challenged …

The respondent, a jeweller, insured his jewellery against theft with National Insurance Co. Ltd. The policy contained an exclusion clause that denied cover for theft by a "customer" of property "entrusted" to them. An unknown customer entered the shop and stole jewellery. The insurer denied the claim invoking the exclu…

Jitendra Singh, convicted under IPC sections 304B and 498A for a 1988 incident, filed a petition seeking to raise an additional ground that he was a minor under the Juvenile (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 at the time of the offence. He submitted a school leaving certificate, marks‑sheet and a medical repor…

The Supreme Court heard two appeals arising from orders of the Punjab & Haryana High Court. In Criminal Appeal No. 1608 of 2007 the Court considered the grant of anticipatory bail to Raninder Singh and others under Section 438(2)(i) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and clarified that the court may impose a cond…

The deceased Ramesh was killed during an altercation with members of the Chalawadi family over a disputed marriage. The trial court convicted two of the six accused for assault, while the High Court later convicted four under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC for murder. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the eye…

An 18‑year‑old girl, Anita, was allegedly lured by the accused into his house and raped. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 376 read with Section 511 of the IPC, a decision affirmed in part by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the medical evidence and found no injuries, no semen, an…

The appellants, belonging to the Servai backward caste, assaulted two witnesses belonging to the Pallan Scheduled Caste after one of them was called a "pallapayal" during an altercation at a temple festival. The trial courts convicted the appellants under Section 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Pr…

The petitioner, a defendant in a suit concerning the genuineness of a will, sought a second forensic opinion after being dissatisfied with the first report; the trial court rejected this request and the High Court dismissed his writ petition. He filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) under Article 136 of the Constitution…

M/S. Nava Bharat Ferro Alloys Ltd. appealed against the demand for additional charges and interest on delayed electricity payments under Clause 32.2.1 and Clause 34 of the Terms and Conditions of Supply (TCS). The High Court had dismissed the writ petitions and upheld the demand, holding the TCS to be statutory and not…

The landlord filed an eviction suit claiming a bona fide need to use a ground‑floor shop for the businesses of his two sons, asserting that no suitable alternative premises were available. The trial court accepted this claim and decreed eviction, but the first appellate court reversed, holding that a hall on the first …

The New Bus Stand Shop Owners Association occupied shops in a building owned by the Corporation of Kozhikode under licences issued pursuant to Section 215 of the Kerala Municipalities Act, 1994. The State of Kerala contended that these licences were in substance leases, requiring a higher stamp duty under Entry 33 of t…

The appellants challenged a second notification issued under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, alleging it was barred by the one‑year limitation in the proviso to Section 6. The Supreme Court examined whether the proviso is a mandatory, peremptory rule and whether the High Court's earlier judgment, which fai…

Petitioners Sukhwant Singh and others applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, which the Punjab & Haryana High Court dismissed. They appealed to the Supreme Court, which did not interfere with the High Court's order. However, the Court clarified that a court hearing a regular bail application posses…

The petitioner, a father, was convicted of repeatedly raping his own daughter over a period of five years, resulting in the birth of a child. The trial court and the Bombay High Court at Goa upheld the conviction under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. The petitioner filed a Special Leave Petition before the Suprem…

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) issued a notice under Section 45‑A of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, requiring the Bhakra Beas Management Board to make employer contributions for its workers. The Board challenged the notice before the ESIC Court, but neither the workers nor any representati…

The plaintiff, National Engineering Industry Ltd., sued the defendants for eviction and arrears of rent, claiming it was authorized by the Sitaram Bhandar Trust, the owner of the premises, to act as landlord under the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent & Eviction) Act, 1950. The defendants contended that rent was bein…

Sandeep Kumar applied for the post of Head Constable in 1999 and answered "No" to a question about any arrest, prosecution, detention, fine or conviction. He had earlier been involved in a criminal case (FIR 362 under IPC sections 325/34) that was compromised and he was acquitted in 1998, but disclosed this only in the…

The appeal concerned two ex‑servicemen who were appointed to general (non‑reserved) technical posts in the Himachal Pradesh State Public Works Department before reservation for ex‑servicemen in technical services came into force on 3 May 1983. They claimed the option to accept a later reserved vacancy and sought to hav…

The Supreme Court considered appeals filed by direct recruits to the Andhra Pradesh State Educational Service challenging the constitutionality of Note 6 to Rule 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Education Service Rules, which allocated promotion vacancies in Class II Category 1 posts on the basis of whether an officer was a dir…

The appeal concerned whether employees of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are entitled to an automatic switch‑over from Pay Scale II to Scale III and whether they should receive a computer increment and allowance. The High Court had directed the respondent bank to grant these benefits, relying on a Government decision date…

The owners of a commercial premises in Cochin filed an eviction petition under Section 11(3) of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965, claiming bonafide personal requirement. The Rent Controller and the Appellate Authority dismissed the petition, finding no such requirement, and the High Court affirme…

The appellant, a nephrologist, treated a patient with chronic renal failure, severe urinary and blood infections, and high urea levels. He prescribed Amikacin, a potent antibiotic, after culture sensitivity showed resistance to other drugs, and warned the patient to stop it when tinnitus appeared. The patient continued…

D.P. Singh, a Uttar Pradesh Police Sub‑Inspector, was deputed to the CBI in 1966 and later appointed to higher posts on deputation quota, including an ad‑hoc appointment as Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP) in 1977. He was formally absorbed into the CBI as Dy.SP on 29 June 1987 after a UPSC recommendation. Singh …

Bajaj Auto Ltd filed a suit in the Madras High Court alleging infringement of its Patent No. 195904 against TVS Motor Company Ltd. The trial judge granted an interim injunction, which was later set aside by the Division Bench on appeal. The suit remained pending without a written statement from the defendant. The Supre…

The appellant, a contractor, entered into a contract with the respondent to complete work within twelve months, but alleged delays by the respondent in supplying cement, steel, and drawings. The dispute was referred to a sole arbitrator, who awarded the contractor Rs.19,51,334.25, including a component for loss of prof…

The petitioner, Union of India, appealed against a Kerala High Court Division Bench order that directed it to grant Swatantrata Samman Sainik (SSS) pension to the deceased M.S. Mohammed Rawther with effect from 9 September 1989. The Division Bench had reversed a Single Judge’s direction to remand the matter to the Unio…

S.K. Kapoor, a government employee, was charge‑sheeted for absence without leave and dismissed. He challenged the dismissal before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which quashed the order and directed that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) report relied upon be furnished to him in advance. The Union of Ind…

The appeal concerned the inter‑se seniority of Block Development Officers appointed under the Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1959. The appellants (SC/ST candidates) received the first effective advice from the Kerala Public Service Commission on 8 July 1992, whereas the respondents (general‑category candi…

The University of Burdwan promoted its non‑teaching staff based on a seniority‑cum‑efficiency criterion adopted by its Executive Council on 26 June 1995. A group of staff members challenged the resolution, and the High Court set it aside, directing the University to obtain the State Government's approval before impleme…

The exporter D.K. Lall shipped goods on an FOB basis but obtained marine cargo insurance by misrepresenting the transaction as CIF, thereby breaching the duty of utmost good faith and lacking insurable interest under the Marine Insurance Act, 1963. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held the insurer no…

The appellant, a British journalist, alleged that she was forcibly raped by the operator of the guest house where she was staying in Udaipur. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 376 of the IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The Rajasthan High Court, however, suspended the sentence and granted b…

The appellants, Bishnu Prasad Sinha and a co‑accused, were convicted of raping and murdering a 7‑8‑year‑old girl who was staying overnight in a travel agency’s waiting room. The prosecution’s case rested on the night watchman’s voluntary confession recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC, corroborated by circumstantial …

The petitioner, a widow of an army major, sought proper fixation of her pension and arrears, receiving only a nominal amount. The Court observed widespread discontent among serving and retired armed forces personnel regarding pay, pensions, and rehabilitation, and noted that existing mechanisms were inadequate. Exercis…

The Transport & Dock Workers Union and two typist‑cum‑computer clerks challenged the Mumbai Port Trust’s policy of fixing longer daily working hours for clerks appointed after 1‑Nov‑1996, alleging discrimination and violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. The Trust argued that the differential hours were necessary…

The case originated as a criminal appeal (Budhadev Karmaskar v. State of West Bengal) in which the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the conviction, but subsequently converted the matter into a suo motu public interest litigation concerning the rights of sex workers. The Court had earlier constituted a Pane…

FGP Ltd., a public limited company, occupied a flat in Mumbai under a tenancy agreement dated 16‑07‑1981. The legal representatives of the original owner filed a suit for possession under the Bombay Rent Act, 1947, claiming reasonable and bona‑fide requirement; the Small Causes Court, the appellate authority and the Hi…

The consumer purchased a Maruti car in Chandigarh and was charged Rs 7,000 for a catalytic converter that was neither fitted nor required in that city. The consumer sought a refund, and the District Consumer Forum ordered a refund, which was upheld by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. On appeal, the …

The respondents, who were serving as Raj Bhasha Adhikari on an officiating basis, filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking to quash the Raj Bhasha Adhikari Recruitment Rules 2005 and the letters directing them to appear for a Limited Internal Competitive Examination, and also sought a mandamus to restr…

The appellants filed a partition suit against the respondents, who had earlier executed a registered General Power of Attorney in favour of two attorneys to manage rent. While the suit was pending, the parties entered into a compromise, which the trial court approved and decreed. The respondents later filed a miscellan…

The petitioners challenged a detention order issued under Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1982, arguing that it was illegal because they were already in custody for a criminal case on the same facts and no bail application was pending. The State contended that the detaining authority…

The predecessor‑in‑interest of Praduman Singh filed a writ petition seeking to quash a 21‑June‑1996 letter from the Haryana Rehabilitation Department that halted land allotment under the Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954, and to compel the Tehsildar to allot him 20 standard acres in lieu of …

Surendra Koli, a servant of Maninder Singh Pandher, was convicted of multiple murders of children in Nithari, Noida, where he allegedly lured, strangulated, dismembered and ate the victims. He gave a voluntary confession before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC, which was corroborated by the recovery of skulls…

The case concerned pension computation for railway "Running Staff" who retired before 1 January 1986. The Government issued an Office Memorandum on 10 February 1998 fixing the notional pay of pre‑1986 retirees as on that date, treating it as average emoluments for pension. A subsequent Railway Board clarification on 29…

The Supreme Court heard a civil appeal filed by the Union of India challenging a Central Administrative Tribunal order that directed the Railway Board to devise a scheme to induct employees of the Railway Employees Consumer Co‑operative Society Ltd. into regular Group ‘D’ posts, a direction that had been upheld by the …

The petitioner, an Indian national, was convicted by a Pakistani Field General Court Martial in 1986 under Section 59/3 of the Pakistan Official Secrets Act, 1923, and has been incarcerated in Pakistan for over 27 years. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution seeking a direction to the Uni…

The petitioners filed a transfer petition under Section 25 of the Code of Civil Procedure seeking to move a motor accident claim (MACT No. 138 of 2009) from the MACT Court in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh to a competent court in Pune, Maharashtra, alleging that the Uttar Pradesh court lacked jurisdiction. The Suprem…

The appellant Budhaev Karmaskar was convicted of murdering a sex worker, Chayay Rani Pal, by repeatedly striking her head, causing fatal injuries. Eye‑witness testimony and a detailed post‑mortem report established the brutality of the assault and the cause of death. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment u…

The case involved a dispute between two brothers concerning family and business matters. The petitioners sought relief from the High Court, but the Supreme Court examined whether the parties should be directed to resolve the dispute through mediation. Relying on the purpose of Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure …

The Sainath Mandir Trust, a registered public trust, received a plot of land in 1974 as a gift deed dedicated to the idol of Saibaba, and took possession of it. In 1982 the predecessor of respondents 1‑7 purchased the same plot from the original owner (respondent No.8) by a registered sale deed, but never obtained poss…

Ajitsingh Harnamsingh Gujral was convicted of murdering his wife and three children by dousing them with petrol and setting them alight. The trial court and the Bombay High Court sentenced him to death. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the circumstantial evidence, including the accused's last sighting with the vic…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of several police officers who had been granted bail by a Sessions Court in a murder case involving a alleged fake police encounter and contract killing. The prosecution alleged that the accused police abducted and murdered the victim, fabricated an encounter, and acted as contract…

The Supreme Court dismissed the tenant's appeal (Civil Appeal No. 2663 of 2004) and granted him nine months from November 4, 2009, to vacate the premises. The tenant's review petition was also dismissed on March 25, 2010. Despite the orders, the tenant failed to vacate the tenanted premises. A contempt petition (C No. …

The petitioners, a citizens' organization, filed a writ under Article 32 challenging the appointment and continuation of Shri P.C. Pandey as Director General of Police (DGP) of Gujarat, alleging dereliction of duty during the 2002 communal riots and claiming that his presence would prejudice ongoing investigations and …

In a rent‑control eviction matter, the Supreme Court considered an interlocutory application seeking an extension of time for the tenants to vacate the premises. The Court extended the vacate date to 31 August 2011 and ordered that if the tenants fail to leave by that date, they shall be evicted by police force. The Co…

The plaintiff filed suit No.1301 of 1997 and subsequently lodged an application to withdraw the suit. Before the court could rule on that application, he filed a second application seeking to withdraw the earlier withdrawal application. The Allahabad High Court held that the filing of a withdrawal application automatic…

The appellants – Iqbal Moosa Patel, Derajram Jat and Ashuram Durgaram Chaudhary – were convicted under the NDPS Act for smuggling heroin after a truck was intercepted based on secret intelligence and a subsequent raid on Patel's residence seized 3.056 kg of heroin. They contended that the prosecution had not proved the…

The Kerala High Court quashed circulars issued by universities directing a presidential system for student union elections, holding that the circulars lacked statutory authority. The University of Kerala appealed, arguing that the Supreme Court's interim order of 22 September 2006 directing implementation of the Lyngdo…

Standard Corrosion Controls Pvt Ltd (Indian) and SARKU Engineering Services Sdn Bhd (Malaysian) entered a contract for painting works. The contract contained Article X, which required any dispute to be settled by mutual consultation and, failing that, by arbitration in Mumbai under the International Chamber of Commerce…

The appellant, Sri Krishna Agencies, filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for three dishonoured cheques of Rs. 5 lakh each. The respondent argued that the dispute was already before an arbitration forum and therefore the matter was civil, prompting the Andhra Pradesh High Court…

The appellants, serving as Assistant Conservators of Forests, challenged amendments to Rule 2 of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Service Rules made by G.O. Nos. 35 (1995) and 51 (1995) which granted retrospective effect from 08‑04‑1986 to Forest Range Officers securing honours in the Rangers' Training Course. They argued tha…

The respondents, originally investigators in the NSSO, were promoted to Assistant Superintendents after 1 January 1986. They argued that, despite a Board of Arbitration award granting a special pay of Rs.75 per month to Assistant Superintendents, the government had not incorporated this special pay into their revised p…

Manoj Yadav appealed against the High Court of Madhya Pradesh’s order that enhanced his wife’s maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) from Rs.1,500 to Rs.4,000 per month. The appellant argued that the State amendment (Madhya Pradesh Act 10 of 1998) capped maintenance at Rs.3,000 per month, …

The Supreme Court entertained an application seeking to expunge certain observations made in its own judgment dated 26 November 2010, wherein it had remarked that there were complaints against "certain judges" of the Allahabad High Court and that some lawyers related to judges were misusing those relationships. The pet…

The plaintiff Raj Kishore executed a sale deed in 1974 transferring land to Prem Singh for Rs 6,000, claiming it was a security for a loan and that an agreement for re‑conveyance would revert the land upon repayment by 6 July 1981. He sued for a declaration that the sale deed was void and that he remained the owner. Th…

The appellants C. Ronald and Anil Kumar were caught with counterfeit Rs.100 notes after a gambling incident; the police seized numerous fake notes from their possession and homes. The trial court acquitted them, but the Calcutta High Court reversed the acquittal, convicted them under the provisions relating to circulat…

The Supreme Court entertained contempt petitions filed by Atma Ram Builders Ltd. (landlord) against the tenant A.K. Tuli and certain sub‑tenants for refusing to vacate premises despite a Supreme Court order dated 6 October 2010 granting six months to surrender possession and to file an undertaking. The tenant, aided by…

The respondent was appointed on an ad‑hoc basis as a stenographer for three months, with two extensions, and subsequently failed the qualifying test. He filed a writ petition seeking to remain in the post until a regular stenographer was appointed, and the Allahabad High Court allowed his continuation. The State appeal…

The appellant, Sri Indra Das, was convicted under Section 3(5) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for alleged membership in the banned ULFA organization, based solely on a confession to a police officer that was later retracted and uncorroborated. The Supreme Court held that a confession…

The case concerned the murder of Harbhajan Kaur, who died from burn injuries allegedly inflicted by members of her in‑law family. The prosecution’s case rested on two dying declarations made by the deceased, which contained inconsistencies regarding the roles of various accused. The Supreme Court examined the reliabili…

The petitioners were 34 daily‑wage employees of the Cooperative Electric Supply Society who were taken over by the U.P. State Electricity Board on 3 April 1997. They had been appointed before 4 May 1990, the cut‑off date for a Board decision dated 28 November 1996 that sought to regularise all daily‑wage employees who …

Mohd. Taherali, a police constable, failed to report for election bandobust duty on 2 September 1999 and was charged with desertion. He had earlier been found guilty of desertion on two occasions and offered no defence. The Superintendent of Police imposed compulsory retirement, which the Administrative Tribunal remitt…

The student, Geetika Khare, filed a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against Controller, Vinayak Mission Dental College alleging deficiency in service because the college lacked recognition, forcing her to withdraw and causing loss of an academic year and mental harassment. The State Consumer Commissio…

Bhagwan Dass was convicted for the murder of his daughter, who had left her husband and was living in an incestuous relationship with his cousin. The prosecution proved the case on circumstantial evidence, establishing motive, opportunity, the victim's post‑mortem findings of strangulation, the appellant’s failure to r…

The appellants, Raymond Ltd. and another, filed complaints under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971, claiming they were employees of the respondent company, which denied any direct employer‑employee relationship, asserting the complainants were engaged throug…

The Allahabad High Court summoned the Principal Secretary (Finance) and the Principal Secretary (Medical & Health) to appear personally for allegedly failing to comply with its earlier judgment. R.S. Singh appealed the High Court's interim orders to the Supreme Court, arguing that such summons of senior officials are u…

Ashok Iron Works Pvt. Ltd., a private limited manufacturing company, filed a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTC) for delay in electricity supply. The key issues were whether a private limited company qualifies as a ‘person’ under s.2(1)(d) of the Act…

Sita Devi applied for a flat under the Bihar State Housing Board's self‑financing scheme and paid a total of Rs.1,71,876 in 1994. The flat was not constructed within the stipulated or a reasonable period, and she sought a refund in October 1996; the Board cancelled her allotment in January 1997 and later issued a chequ…

The appeal challenged a Kerala High Court Division Bench order that dismissed an appeal against a trial court decree on the ground of a difference of opinion between the two judges on the genuineness of a will. The bench relied on Section 98(2) of the CPC, which the appellant argued should not apply because the disagre…

The respondents, cultivating tenants of lands endowed to a temple, obtained occupancy rights from the Karnataka Land Reforms Tribunal, which the temple challenged before the High Court. While the land was under acquisition by the Bangalore Development Authority, the Single Judge of the High Court upheld the occupancy r…

A Bangladeshi national was convicted under the Foreigners Act, 1946 for illegal entry into India and sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the conviction and seeking relief from the Supreme Court. The Court examined whether it…

The appellant, Maya Devi, sought to enforce a decree for recovery of Rs.60,000 against the judgment debtor, Raj Kumari Batra, whose property was attached and sold at auction in 1978. The parties later entered a compromise whereby the decree‑holder would deposit Rs.35,000 and receive vacant possession, and the executing…

Ms. Cynthia Ann Coates, a U.S.-based nurse, sought to adopt Anil, an Indian male child with developmental delays and learning difficulties. The District Judge and the Delhi High Court had refused the adoption petition. The Supreme Court, on a report from a medical board of experts at AIIMS, found that Ms. Coates posses…

The Allwyn Housing Colony Welfare Association filed a writ petition challenging the allotment of 3 acres 18 guntas of land to the Hyderabad Allwyn Employees Co‑operative Housing Committee. The High Court dismissed the petition on the ground that the persons to whom the plots were allotted were not impleaded. The Suprem…

Ramesh Kumar, an employee of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), applied for voluntary retirement under the corporation's 2002 scheme on 13 September 2004. He withdrew his application on 27 September 2004, but FCI accepted the retirement on 9 November 2004. Kumar challenged the acceptance before the Punjab and Haryana…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue (Amendment and Validation) Act, 1996, which amended several sections of the Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue Act, 1953/1954 and retrospectively validated records of rights created between 1976 and 1996. The High Court had held the …

M.B. Patel & Co., a contractor, obtained an arbitration award on 03‑05‑1985 against the Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) for various monetary claims, including compensation for delays, illegal deductions, and interest. The High Court of Gujarat set aside the award, holding that the arbitrator had ignored clauses 14 …

The appellant filed a review petition in the High Court after a special leave petition (SLP) against the High Court's judgment was dismissed by the Supreme Court without reasons. The High Court dismissed the review petition and the application for condonation of a 71‑day delay. The Supreme Court held that the delay sho…

In a landlord‑tenant dispute, the Supreme Court referred the matter to the Chandigarh Mediation Centre. The mediation did not result in an agreement, and the mediator submitted a report that disclosed the parties' settlement offers. The Court held that mediation proceedings are strictly confidential under CPC s.89(2) a…

Madnani Construction Corporation entered into a contract with the North Eastern Railway for bridge work. Disputes arose over alleged manipulations in measurement books, leading the contractor to seek arbitration. The arbitrator, after examining the level book, graph sheets and log books, found that the railway had alte…

The appellant, Samjuben Gordhanbhai Koli, was convicted by a trial court and the conviction was upheld by the Gujarat High Court. She appealed to the Supreme Court seeking remission of the remaining portion of her sentence. The Supreme Court held that remission or commutation of a sentence is a power vested exclusively…

The landlord, Ram Babu Agarwal, filed an eviction suit against tenant Jay Kishan Das under the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961, alleging default in rent and a bona‑fide need for the premises. The High Court held that the tenant had fully paid the rent as ordered in a revision petition, but rejected the l…

Coal Linker entered into a work contract with Coal India and, after disputes, the matter was referred to arbitration. The arbitrator awarded the appellant a sum and granted interest for the pre‑reference period and for the pendency of the arbitration, but expressly omitted any interest from the date of the award to the…

Asian Techs Ltd. entered a construction contract with the Union of India, but the work was delayed due to material alterations and extensions granted by the respondents. The contractor claimed additional payment and invoked the arbitration clause; the arbitrator issued a non‑speaking award in its favour. The Kerala Hig…

The petitioners challenged the Election Commission’s order reserving three seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, contending that under Article 332(3) of the Constitution the number of reserved seats must be proportional to the ST population, which is about 3 % of the state’s total, equatin…

The appellants, contractors for ONGC, carried out offshore oil operations and moved goods between ONGC's rigs and the shore without payment of customs duty under a customs exemption. After ONGC shifted operations to Nhava Base, the Customs Department issued show‑cause notices alleging unauthorized loading, unloading an…

The Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB) had booked railway rakes for coal transport in 1992 and paid Rs.3,56,69,671 by mistake, a liability that the Union of India expressly admitted. RSEB filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court, which dismissed the petition on the sole ground that an alternative remedy exi…

C.N. Vasudevan, a Regional Passport Officer in Ahmedabad, was also assigned the duties of Protector of Emigrants under the Emigration Act, 1983. He filed an application before the Central Administrative Tribunal seeking an honorarium for the additional responsibilities, which the Tribunal granted; the High Court affirm…

The petition sought permission to discontinue life‑supporting treatment for Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug, a 60‑year‑old woman in a persistent vegetative state for 37 years following a violent assault. The Court examined medical evidence, concluding that she was not brain‑dead and retained minimal brain‑stem activity, but …

The appellants, original plaintiffs in a perpetual injunction suit, obtained a decree granting them possession of a specific parcel of land. The executing court, after a commission demarcated the land, ordered the judgment-debtors to comply, but the debtors later claimed the decree was un‑executable because the land ha…