P SATHASIVAM

The appellant, Lavesh, elder brother of the husband of a woman who allegedly committed suicide due to dowry harassment, was declared a proclaimed offender under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code after failing to cooperate with the investigation. He sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, but his…

The petitioner's husband, Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, was convicted under the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and sentenced to death. After the death sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Court and a review petition dismissed, a mercy petition filed in 2003 was rejected in 2011, resulting in …

Former High Court judges appointed directly from the Bar filed writ petitions alleging that the pension provisions under the High Court Judges (Salaries & Conditions of Service) Act, 1954 discriminate against them compared to judges promoted from the judicial service. They sought that ten years of advocacy practice be …

The State of Bihar appealed against two orders of the Patna High Court that had stayed criminal prosecutions of public servants on the ground that the Law Department, rather than the parent department, had granted the required sanction under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Supre…

In a contempt proceeding before the Madras High Court, Respondents tendered an unconditional apology in the form of an affidavit, which the Single Judge accepted. Despite this acceptance, the Judge directed the Principal Secretary & Commissioner of Land Administration to initiate appropriate action against the contemno…

The Supreme Court examined contempt applications arising from the appellants' (Krishnadevi Malchand Kamathia & Ors.) alleged violation of a conditional order permitting them to repair an old bund on land classified as CRZ‑1 and notified as a reserve forest. The Court found that the appellants, under the pretext of repa…

The Supreme Court heard a contempt petition filed by Dr. Ashish Ranjan, who alleged that Dr. Anupama Tandon and her mother deliberately violated a Lok Adalat compromise order dated 3 May 2008 that granted the mother physical custody of their child and the father visitation rights. The Court found that the respondents h…

Sham @ Kishor Bhaskarrao Matkari was convicted for murdering his brother Manohar, sister‑in‑law Meena and nephew Akhilesh, and for attempting to murder two other children, arising from a land‑dispute quarrel. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment and seven years rigorous imprisonment, but the High Court en…

The husband filed a petition under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act seeking divorce on the grounds of cruelty and the wife’s incurable unsound mind, alleging that she suffered from schizophrenia and repeatedly threatened suicide. The trial court granted the decree, but the High Court set it aside, holding that the …

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by shopkeepers (appellants) challenging a series of orders issued by the Madhya Pradesh High Court directing the Municipal Corporation of Gwalior to demolish alleged encroachments, construct a new multi‑storey Gandhi Market, and provide alternate accommodation to the shopkeepers…

Hari Bansh Lal, appointed Chairman of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board, faced a Public Interest Litigation filed by Sahodar Prasad Mahto alleging arbitrariness, doubtful integrity and age incapacity. The High Court quashed the appointment, relying on a note by the Chief Secretary suggesting prior suspension and a …

SEPCO filed a criminal complaint alleging that SSVG misappropriated advance money, invoking sections of the IPC for fraud and cheating. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Korba, after a bare reading of the complaint, exercised his power under CrPC s.156(3) to order the police to register an FIR and investigate, without fir…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by the State of Maharashtra challenging a Bombay High Court order that directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a case and investigate the 1993 Hari Masjid incident, where police fire caused six deaths. The State argued that the High Court should not have exerc…

M/s Devi Ispat Ltd. had obtained various credit facilities from Central Bank of India. After alleged fraud, the bank asked the company to shift its accounts and later to close them. The company settled its dues by receiving a Rs 15 crore cheque from State Bank of India and requested the return of title deeds and issuan…

The appellant, an academic expert appointed to the Jharkhand Public Service Commission interview board, was named in an FIR alleging large‑scale manipulation of marks and conspiracy with JPSC officials. He applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which was rejected by both the …

The respondents, transferred to the Indian Railways, sought seniority and promotion benefits under a 2005 order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The department allegedly failed to fully implement the order, prompting the respondents to file a contempt petition before the CAT, which in 2010 directed the app…

The respondent filed a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement in 2007. In 2008 the plaintiff sought to amend the plaint to implead additional parties and to detail how the consideration was paid. The High Court allowed the amendment in part, which the appellant (defendant) challenged on the ground that it al…

On 4 July 2003, the appellant Harjit Singh was stopped by police and found carrying a plastic bag containing 7.10 kg of opium. He was convicted under Section 18 of the NDPS Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The appellant contended that, because the opium contained only 0.8% morphine (56.96 g), the …

The appellants, tenant members of a housing co‑operative society, filed suits in the Bombay High Court seeking declaration that a resolution to sell society land and the subsequent conveyance to third parties were illegal and void. The respondents argued that the suits were barred by Sections 91 and 163 of the Maharash…

The appellant, an IAS officer, challenged disciplinary proceedings by filing an Original Application before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) seeking quash of a charge memo dated 30‑11‑1999, asserting she received it only on 19‑6‑2002 and thus was within the limitation period. The respondents contended the memo…

The appellants, selected by the Kerala State Public Service Commission for direct recruitment as Reserve Sub Inspectors, were advised of vacancies between 1990 and 1993 but were not appointed until a Government Order dated 17‑06‑1999 invoked Rule 39 of the Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1958 to retain the…

The appellant alleged that A‑1 to A‑12 conspired, motivated by political rivalry, to assault and attempt to kill him, leading to a charge‑sheet under Sections 120‑B, 147, 148, 427, 307, 201 (r.w.) and 149 of the IPC. While the trial was pending, A‑1 to A‑3 filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash…

The case arose from a long‑standing land and water dispute that culminated in a violent assault on Suresh and Atmaram Bohare, who later died of their injuries. The prosecution relied on the testimony of four close relatives of the victims, medical autopsy reports, and weapons recovered from some accused. The appellants…

The appellant, a 25‑year‑old self‑employed man, was paralysed below the waist after a bus accident and filed a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded Rs 3 lakh, which the High Court enhanced to Rs 8,08,052 by applying a multiplier of 15 and clubbing future treatment with pai…

Satni Bai was convicted of murdering her four‑year‑old son under Section 302 IPC. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence: witnesses (her brother‑in‑law, sister‑in‑law and a 16‑year‑old girl) saw her standing near the corpse with a blood‑stained axe, the axe and her saree were found blood‑stained, and the pos…

The appellant filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which the magistrate referred to a Lok Adalat for settlement. The parties reached a compromise and the Lok Adalat passed an award, but the respondent failed to honour the payment schedule, leading the appellant to file an exec…

Mohd. Yunus Khan, a Guard Commander in the Uttar Pradesh Police, left his post for 25 minutes to take tea and medicine, an absence later deemed permissible under the Guard and Escort Rules. The Commandant imposed a 10‑day punishment drill, which Khan protested; the punishment was then enhanced to 10 days of confinement…

The Bihar State Housing Board allotted a MIG flat to Ram Chandra Prasad Verma, who paid the full price and later died. His wife, Asha Lata Verma, obtained transfer of the flat in her name and subsequently sought to transfer it to her daughter‑in‑law, prompting the Board to issue a demand notice for alleged outstanding …

The Drug Inspector seized a sample of Betnesol tablets manufactured by Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceuticals and sent it to the Government Analyst, who certified on 27 August 1997 that the sample was not of "standard quality". A show‑cause notice was issued on 29 September 1997, to which the company replied on 3 November 1…

Satpal Singh was convicted of rape under Section 376 IPC for assaulting the minor Rajinder Kaur. He appealed, arguing that the FIR was lodged after an inordinate four‑month delay, that the victim was a major, and that the act was consensual because they were schoolmates. The Supreme Court held that the delay was explai…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by two police officers, an IPS officer and a Sub‑Inspector of the Anti‑Terrorist Squad, who had been in judicial custody for nearly seven years on charges of murder, conspiracy and related offences. Their bail applications had been rejected by the High Court of Bombay. The Court exa…

The Supreme Court, acting suo motu, examined a gang rape of a 20‑year‑old woman in West Bengal ordered by a community panchayat as punishment for an inter‑community relationship. The Court directed a district judge and chief magistrate to investigate, and later required the State to furnish the FIR, investigation repor…

The Supreme Court examined a civil appeal challenging the Patna High Court's refusal to extend a judicial officer's service beyond the age of 58. The officer, R.G., had an adverse remark in his 1995 Annual Confidential Report (ACR) that was never communicated to him and was later superseded by promotions to District & …

The appellant, a Mandal Revenue Officer, was accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 250 for the release of essential commodities to a fair‑price shop owner (the complainant). The trial court and the High Court convicted him under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d)(i)(ii) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 19…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (as amended) after a 23‑year‑old woman was murdered and one of the accused, Raju, was a minor. Petitioners sought to have the Act read down so that juveniles who commit serious offences could be tr…

R. Ramachandran Nair, the first Vice‑Chancellor of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, was accused of obtaining a pecuniary advantage while overseeing earth‑filling of university land. An FIR was lodged in 1996 and a charge‑sheet filed after an 8½‑year delay, without obtaining the prior sanction of the Universit…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that Narendra Lal Jain and others conspired with officials of the Bank of Maharashtra to inflate the creditworthiness of companies and obtain loans beyond entitlement, invoking Sections 120‑B and 420 of the IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Acts. While …

The Catholic society Montford Brothers of St. Gabriel filed a claim before the Mizoram Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, after one of its members, a "Brother" who had renounced his family ties, died in a road accident. The Tribunal allowed the claim, but the insu…

A goods vehicle accident resulted in the death of Hanumanth, who was employed as a 'Gumasthe' accompanying the goods in transit. The claimants (his widow and children) obtained a compensation award from the Motor Vehicles Accidents Claim Tribunal against both the owner‑driver and United India Insurance Company. The Hig…

Mohinder Singh was convicted of murdering his wife and daughter with an axe after a history of rape, intimidation and prior convictions. The trial court sentenced him to death, which the High Court confirmed under Section 366 of the CrPC. The Supreme Court examined whether the "rarest of rare" doctrine justified the de…

The appellant Ram Singh was accused of raping a 40-year-old midwife, Chanchala Devi, on the night of 12-13 August 1989, after being persuaded to accompany a co-accused to a village. The victim testified that she was gagged, assaulted, and forced into sexual intercourse, a narrative corroborated by her son, a village he…

The State of Uttaranchal auctioned crude resin and the highest bid was placed by Khurana Brothers, leading to a formal contract of sale dated 24 March 2001 and an acceptance letter on 7 April 2001 requiring the resin to be lifted within 60 days. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether this contract amounted to a…

The case involved an alleged unlawful assembly that rioted and assaulted victims, resulting in two deaths and three grievous injuries. The trial court convicted ten accused under sections 148, 149, 323, 324, 365 and 342 IPC, but the High Court acquitted two and upheld convictions of eight; five appealed before the Supr…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition filed by People's Union for Civil Liberties and others challenging Rules 41(2), 41(3) and 49‑0 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which required a presiding officer to record a remark and obtain the voter’s signature/thumb impression when the voter chose not to cast a …

The appellant, V.K. Sasikala, was on trial for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. While her examination under Section 313 CrPC was in progress, she applied for certified copies and, alternatively, inspection of certain unmarked and unexhibited documents that had been forwarded to the court under Section 1…

The case involved the murder of Nagoba, for which six of eleven accused were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC. The appellants (A‑1 and A‑2) challenged their convictions on the grounds that the key prosecution witnesses were relatives of the deceased, that there was a delay in lodging the FIR…

The appellants, who had purchased land from the predecessor-in-interest, filed a suit for a permanent injunction against respondents who claimed title based on later sale deeds. They later sought to amend the plaint to include a declaration of title and cancellation of those sale deeds. The trial court and the High Cou…

Thermax Ltd. entered into purchase orders with K.M. Johny’s firms for storage tanks and consumables. The contracts fell apart and Johny alleged non‑payment of large sums, filing three earlier complaints that were closed as civil matters. In 2002 he lodged another complaint before a magistrate alleging offences under Se…

Paramjeet Singh (Pamma) was convicted for murdering his brother and two nephews and injuring three other family members in a property dispute. The trial court and the Uttarakhand High Court upheld the conviction based on the FIR, statements under Section 161 CrPC, medical reports, forensic evidence and the testimony of…

Mahender Singh applied for a pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980, claiming he had remained underground for over four years during the 1942 freedom struggle. The State Screening Committee of Bihar recommended his pension, but the Central Government rejected the claim, citing lack of authenti…

Ganpat, the complainant, appealed against the High Court's order acquitting eleven accused persons charged under IPC sections 148, 149, 302, 323, 324, 325. The trial court had convicted the accused, but the High Court set them free, holding that the complainant was the aggressor and that the prosecution failed to prove…

On 2 March 2012 a former Karnataka minister was to be produced before the City Civil Court Complex, Bangalore, triggering a large crowd, a scuffle between advocates, police and media persons, and subsequent violence that injured many and led to over 191 FIRs. The Advocates Association filed writ petitions seeking a CBI…

Shimbhu and another were convicted of gang rape and related offences under Sections 376(2)(g), 366, 342, 363, 506 and 34 of the IPC and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. They appealed, seeking reduction of the sentence on the basis of a compromise with the victim, the passage of time since the offence, and…

Mohd. Qureshi filed a complaint alleging extortion by Arun Gawali and his gang, which was registered as FIR No. 241/2005. He later claimed that the police forced him to lodge the complaint and applied before the Metropolitan Magistrate to withdraw it; the application was rejected. The complainant and his wife approache…

The appellant Vijay and five others were convicted of gang‑rape of a girl, Asha @ Gopi, on 6‑12‑1988 under IPC s.376/34 and sentenced to ten years’ rigorous imprisonment. The appellant appealed, contending that the victim was a major, that there was no consent, that the prosecution relied solely on her testimony withou…

The Supreme Court examined the compensation awarded for 33 acres of land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The appellants argued that the reference court erred by averaging several sale exemplars instead of using the highest bona‑fide transaction (Exhibit A‑61) and by not granting interest on solatium and …

The petitioners, a group of manual scavengers and NGOs, filed a public interest litigation under Article 32 seeking the eradication of manual scavenging and dry latrines, alleging violations of Articles 14, 17, 21 and 47 of the Constitution and the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohi…

Homi Rajvansh, an executive director of NAFED, was charged along with the managing director, Alok Ranjan, for alleged misappropriation of funds in non‑agricultural tie‑ups. The CBI filed a charge‑sheet under IPC sections 120B, 409, 411, 420, 467, 468 and 471. Alok Ranjan filed a writ petition under Section 482 of the C…

The appellant was charged with murder, attempt to murder and rape under Sections 302, 201 and 376 of the IPC. He claimed to be a juvenile, producing a school certificate that stated his date of birth as 15‑01‑1991, which would make him 15 years old at the time of the alleged crime (16‑11‑2006). The trial court deemed t…

The appellants were convicted for the murders of nine persons in a scheme that promised to "multiply" cash money, known as the "money shower" scam. The prosecution proved the deaths were homicidal and identified the victims through forensic, DNA, super‑imposition and material evidence, establishing the accused’s partic…

P. Vijayan, a retired IPS officer aged about 85, was charge‑sheeted under IPC sections 302 and 34 for the alleged killing of a Naxalite in a 1970 encounter that was later claimed to be fake. The CBI investigation relied on an extra‑judicial confession by a constable and several statements. Vijayan filed a discharge pet…

The Constitution Bench examined whether, for computing the period of limitation under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the relevant date is the filing of the complaint or the institution of prosecution, or the date a magistrate takes cognizance. The Court resolved a conflict between earlier decision…

The deceased, Chirra Shantha, had a strained relationship with her brother‑in‑law, the appellant, who allegedly abused her. On 21 April 1999 she poured kerosene on herself and the appellant threw a lit match, causing severe burns. She later died of septicemia; a dying declaration was recorded by a judicial magistrate a…

The respondents filed a suit for ejectment and arrears of rent under the UP Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, alleging that the defendants had illegally sub-let the property to the petitioner. The Provincial Small Cause Court decreed in favour of the respondents, holding that the petitione…

The case involved six accused who were alleged to have fired on four persons, resulting in four deaths. The trial court acquitted Brahm Swaroop and Jagdish Baggar on the ground that the informant could not name their fathers and the weapon recovery was doubtful, while convicting the others. On appeal, the High Court re…

The Supreme Court examined whether a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act must be filed within one month of the cause of action arising, and specifically whether the day the cause of action arose should be counted in the 30‑day period prescribed by Section 142(b). Relying on Section 9 of the Ge…

The State of Maharashtra appealed against a Bombay High Court order that quashed a seizure of sunglasses on the ground that they were not a "pre‑packed commodity" under the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976. The issue was whether sunglasses (and similar items such as watches, phones, appliances) fall within t…

The State of Maharashtra seized several packaged food items from the respondent's godown alleging that the outer packs, which the authorities treated as wholesale packages, lacked the mandatory declarations required under the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977. The respondent filed a w…

Two FIRs (CR No.1‑154/2008 and CR No.1‑155/2008) were lodged for communal clashes in Dhedhal village. The High Court quashed the second FIR, merged the investigations, and transferred the case to the State CID, also directing that the charge‑sheet of the quashed FIR be read into the surviving case. The Supreme Court he…

The petitioners challenged the Gujarat High Court's order dated 22‑12‑2009 concerning investigations that involved filing multiple FIRs, re‑investigation, and the propriety of a charge‑sheet. The Supreme Court observed that the legal questions raised had already been exhaustively decided in Babubhai v. State of Gujarat…

Bipin Kumar Mondal was convicted for the murder of his wife and son and for causing hurt to another son under IPC sections 302 and 323. The prosecution’s case rested on the eyewitness testimony of the surviving son, Sujit Mondal, who lodged an Ejahar stating that his father attacked the family with a knife, and on corr…

The appellants Litta Singh and Kalla Singh, along with their father Boga Singh, were charged with the murder of Hansraj Singh after assaulting him with a lathi and a gandasi following a prior quarrel. The victim died the next day, leading the trial court to convict the two appellants under Section 302 IPC (murder) and …

Employees of the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation retired in 1991-1992 and received their Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) including the employer's share. The RSRTC Employees Pension Regulations, 1989, which came into force in 1993, allowed such employees to opt for a pension scheme provided they refunded th…

The appellants (A‑1 and A‑2) and others assaulted the deceased and his family with sticks, causing fatal abdominal injuries and other wounds. They were convicted by the trial court under IPC sections 304, 323 and 325 and sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment. The High Court modified the conviction under section …

The appellants, Santosh Moolya and another, were convicted for raping two sisters who were working in a quarry and were subsequently threatened not to report the crime. The victims lodged a police complaint 42 days after the incident, citing illiteracy, fear of retaliation, and lack of male family support as reasons fo…

The Supreme Court examined a series of writ petitions filed under Article 32 seeking protection and relief for victims of the September 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal riots, including compensation for rape victims and accountability for the State's failure to prevent the violence. The Court found the State government negl…

The Rajasthan Financial Corporation (appellant) had sanctioned a term loan to Commander S.C. Jain (respondent) subject to submission of valid bills and receipts. The respondent repeatedly submitted fraudulent and incorrect documents, leading the corporation to withhold further disbursement of the loan. The respondent f…

The Supreme Court examined contempt proceedings against T.C. Gupta, Director General of Town & Country Planning, Haryana, who had granted a licence for a residential plotted colony after the High Court had issued an interim order directing a status‑quo on allotments. The Court held that contempt is a quasi‑criminal pro…

The Union of India moved a writ petition under Art. 32 seeking to quash a Tamil Nadu Government letter proposing remission of life sentences for seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, after the Supreme Court had earlier commuted death sentences of three of them to life imprisonment. The Court examined w…

A complaint alleging irregularities in construction works at the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was investigated by the Lokayukt, which referred the matter to the Special Police Establishment (SPE) under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Vidhan Sabha Secretary issued letters claiming a breach of legislative privilege …

The Society Common Cause filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a declaration that the "right to die with dignity" is a fundamental right under Article 21 and that persons should be allowed to execute a living will or attorney authorization to refuse life‑prolonging treatment. The petitioners argued that termin…

The appellant, a senior police officer in Sikkim, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He submitted a detailed statement of his assets (Exhibit D‑4) after the FIR, but the prosecution alleged a much larger unexplained amount and …

The Supreme Court examined appeals against a Designated Court (TADA) judgment that convicted three men for the murder of Additional Collector L.D. Arora under the IPC and acquitted them of TADA charges. The key issues were the admissibility of confessional statements made by co‑accused under TADA s.15 against an accuse…

The appellants filed a regular first appeal under Section 96 of the CPC against a trial court decree. The High Court of Karnataka set aside and modified the decree but did so without framing points for determination, without discussing the factual and legal issues, and without providing adequate reasons, rendering its …

Justice N.K. Mehrotra (retd.) was appointed Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh in 2006 for a six‑year term that expired on 15‑03‑2012. The State amended the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta and Up‑Lokayuktas Act, 1975 by the 2012 Amendment Act, extending the term to eight years and applying it retrospectively to the sitting Lokayukta. …

The Supreme Court examined a criminal appeal filed by Rajat Prasad and Arvind Vijay Mohan, who were charged under Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 read with Section 120‑B of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly conspiring to conduct a sting operation that exposed a Union Minister taking a bribe. The …

The Postal Department (Office of the Chief Post Master General) appealed against a High Court order denying concessional postage rates to Living Media India Ltd. The High Court had allowed the company's writ petitions, and the Department filed special leave petitions (SLPs) in the Supreme Court after a delay of 427 day…

The plaintiffs, Margret Almeida & Ors., filed two suits against the Bombay Catholic Co-operative Housing Society Ltd., which the trial judge held maintainable and granted an interim order of status quo. The Division Bench of the Bombay High Court, relying on Section 91 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 196…

Kitab Singh, a workman employed by Atlas Cycle (Haryana) Ltd. since 1977, alleged that he was assaulted and forced to resign on 1 October 1992 after being accused of theft. He wrote to the Chief Minister and sent a notice to the company, claiming the resignation was not voluntary. The Labour Court dismissed his claim, …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Priyadarshini College of Computer Science against a High Court order directing the college to pay Rs.5 lakh compensation to a student, Manish Kumar, who had been admitted to a B.Tech program despite not meeting the advertised 60% minimum marks requirement. The college had admitte…

The appellants (defendants 5, 10 and 11) challenged an interim mandatory injunction granted by the Bombay High Court in a suit filed under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, which ordered the Receiver to hand over possession of a flat and office to the plaintiffs. The trial court had refused such interim relie…

The appellant Kalyan Singh Chouhan, declared elected by a margin of one vote in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, challenged the High Court's order rejecting his application to summon all ten tendered votes, arguing that the entire set should be examined to prevent miscarriage of justice. The respondent C.P.…

Shish Ram, who had served over ten years in the Indian Army, was transferred to the reserve establishment and failed to attend mandatory reservist training, nor did he provide an exemption certificate. He was declared a deserter in 1978 and subsequently dismissed by the brigade commander in 1981. The appellant challeng…

The Union of India invited tenders for fresh fruit supply to its troops and accepted the tender of Col. L.S.N. Murthy (respondent No.2). After the respondent stopped supply in June 2000, the Union rescinded the contract, forfeited the security deposit and claimed expenses, leading to arbitration. The arbitrator held th…

The Supreme Court considered appeals filed by Yash Deep Trexim Private Limited against Namokar Vinimay Pvt. Ltd. and others, challenging a Calcutta High Court order that applied the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 (SICA) to a foreign company registered in India. The Court examined whether the r…

A.B. Bhaskara Rao, a railway head clerk, demanded and accepted Rs 200 as illegal gratification for a transfer order on 14 Nov 1997 and was charged under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d)(ii) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He was convicted by a Special Judge and sentenced to six months rigorous…

Kanwar Singh Saini appealed against a conviction for criminal contempt by the Delhi High Court for allegedly breaching an undertaking given in a civil suit that resulted in a decree granting a permanent injunction. The Supreme Court held that an application under Order XXXIX Rule 2A of the CPC is only available during …

The husband and wife obtained a decree of divorce by mutual consent in 2008. The wife later filed a criminal complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 alleging the divorce decree was a sham and that they continued to live together. The husband moved the trial magistrate under Section 482 …

The appellants, owners of a parcel of land in Surat, challenged the State of Gujarat's acquisition of the land for a primary school, alleging procedural defects under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. They claimed no hearing under Section 5A, no locality publication under Section 6(2), the award under Section 11A was bey…

The DAV College Managing Committee, holder of a registered trademark for "DAV" and "Dayanand Anglo Vedic", filed four suits in the Delhi District Court under Section 134 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 against several schools in Chennai that were using the same mark. The Chennai schools filed transfer petitions under Sect…

The State of Madhya Pradesh had leased land to Nerbudda Valley Refrigerated Products Company and later permitted a change of use subject to payment of lease rent. The company applied to the Nazul Officer for a No‑Objection Certificate (NOC) without paying the rent, and the officer rejected the application. The company …

The Supreme Court heard public‑interest writ petitions filed by Common Cause and other societies seeking a mandamus to restrain the Union and State governments from using public funds for advertisements that promote political personalities or parties. The petitioners alleged that such advertisements violate Articles 14…

The father of the appellant, an Executive Engineer earning a gross salary of Rs.26,950 per month, died in a motor accident. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal computed his net monthly income by deducting contributions to the General Provident Fund, house rent, GIS and income tax, arriving at Rs.15,784 and awarded Rs.1…

The Union of India filed a review petition challenging the Supreme Court’s judgment in Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Ltd. v. State of Karnataka, alleging that it was not given a chance to be heard because the special leave petition was not served and that the judgment misquoted the Expert Committee’s report. The petitio…

The appellant, Vadlakonda Lenin, was accused of murdering his wife while she slept and fleeing the scene. The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's history of dowry demands, a quarrel with the victim, the victim being found injured in her home, the appellant seen runni…

Four suits for specific performance were filed by Premlata Agarwal against a developer concerning four flats, while Vasanti Bhat, a purchaser of a different flat (No. 703), had paid Rs. 38 lakhs and received a possession letter. The High Court single judge appointed a receiver over flats 703 and 801 and barred the deve…

Three men were stopped by police while travelling in a car and, after giving consent, were searched in the presence of village panchas. Opium packets were recovered from their persons and from the vehicle, leading to conviction under Sections 8 and 18 of the NDPS Act and a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment sentence. The a…

Satish Mehra filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating and forgery in the renewal and encashment of five foreign currency non‑resident fixed deposits (FCNRFD). The trial court framed charges against two bank officials (Chief Manager and Senior Manager of Canara Bank) and against the complainant's wife and father‑in‑…

Sri Debendranath Nanda, an Acharya Pandit, was repeatedly adjusted and then withdrawn from a government post, leading to a 14-year delay in his appropriate posting. Despite several orders from the State Government and the High Court directing his consideration in light of the Kabita Manjari Kar case, the Department fai…

The appellants were charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for dishonouring cheques. The complaint filed by the payee was not signed by the complainant but was later verified and signed on a verification statement before the magistrate. The legal issue was whether a complaint "in writing" under Sec…

The appellant, a Divisional Tourism Development Officer, was charged under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs.10,000 bribe to grant a hotel licence. The trial court convicted him on both counts, but the High Court set aside the conviction under Sect…

The case involved seven accused charged with murder (s.302 IPC) and rioting (s.147, s.148 IPC) arising from an altercation that escalated into a violent assault. The prosecution alleged that the accused formed an unlawful assembly with a common object to kill the deceased, invoking constructive liability under s.149 IP…

The case arose from a violent clash between two rival groups in Pedagarlapadu village, Andhra Pradesh, where the appellants formed an unlawful assembly, armed with deadly weapons, and set fire to about 50 houses belonging to a Harijan colony. The trial court convicted the appellants under IPC sections 148 and 436 (read…

A gang‑rape on 16‑12‑2012 involved a juvenile who was placed before a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB). Dr. Subramanian Swamy and others approached the JJB seeking impleadment and an interpretation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 so that the juvenile could be tried as an adult. The JJB d…

The case involved the murder of Babu, for which seven accused (A‑1 to A‑7) were charged under Sections 302, 34, 120‑B and 342 of the IPC. The trial court convicted A‑1 to A‑6, but the Madras High Court affirmed the conviction of only A‑1 to A‑3 and acquitted the rest. A‑2 and A‑3 appealed to the Supreme Court, challeng…

The petitioner, an orthopaedic surgeon, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to enforce the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and related regulations to curb the high incidence of road accidents in India and to improve post‑accident care. The Court examined the extensive data on accide…

The plaintiff, admitted as an indoor patient suffering from high fever and delirium, was found injured on the ground floor after falling from a hospital window, resulting in paraplegia. He sued the hospital trust for negligence, asserting that the hospital owed a duty of care for his safety. The trial court applied the…

The case involves the kidnapping and murder of a seven‑year‑old boy, Kamlesh, whose body was discovered on a hillock after he failed to return from school. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence, including eyewitnesses who saw the accused with the child, recovery of blood‑stained clothing from one acc…

The GHCL Employees Stock Option Trust filed a criminal complaint alleging that the Managing Director, Company Secretary and other directors of M/s. India Infoline Ltd. (the respondents) had sold 8,76,668 of its shares and misappropriated the proceeds, constituting criminal breach of trust and cheating. A Metropolitan M…

The deceased Kailash, married to Rakesh, was subjected to dowry harassment by her husband and mother‑in‑law and was set ablaze in their home, resulting in her death. The prosecution relied primarily on Kailash's dying declaration, which was recorded by a Judicial Magistrate after a doctor certified her fitness to testi…

The Bombay Catholic Co‑operative Housing Society resolved in 1966 to redevelop its Willingdon East land, allocating 161 flats to allottee‑members and 69 to tenant‑members. After decades of litigation, the Society passed a 2009 resolution and executed a conveyance to a developer for Rs 70 crore, which the tenant‑members…

The petitioner, a Pakistani national, had completed a nine‑year sentence imposed by a Sessions Court but remained detained in Central Jail, Jaipur. He filed a writ of habeas corpus under Articles 32 and 21 of the Constitution, alleging illegal detention. The State of Rajasthan expressed no objection to his release, and…

The case arose from the 2009 hooch tragedy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where spurious country‑made liquor containing methyl alcohol caused 147 deaths and 205 injuries. Ravindersingh @ Ravi Pavar (appellant) and Jayesh Hiralal Thakker (respondent) were charged under several sections of the IPC and the Bombay Prohibition Act …

The respondent filed a recovery suit against the appellant for Rs 4,35,250.18. After the evidence was closed and final arguments were heard, the appellant filed two applications – one under Order VII Rule 14 read with Section 151 CPC to produce certain bills, and another under Order XVIII Rule 17 read with Section 151 …

The appellant, a construction contractor, was sued by the respondent for a sum of Rs.4,35,250.18. After the trial court heard arguments and reserved judgment, the appellant filed two applications—one under Order VII Rule 14 read with Section 151 of the CPC to produce certain bills, and another under Order XVIII Rule 17…

During a ceremonial feast at Kishan Singh's house, appellant Som Raj (Soma) assaulted his nephew Sardari Lal with a sharp‑edged agricultural implement called a 'darat', striking the back of the victim's head and causing a fatal skull injury. Five eyewitnesses (PW1, PW2, PW3, PW6, PW8) testified that the appellant was a…

Anita Sawant, the landlady, owned a house which she let to a tenant. On 1 October 1988 the defendants forcibly evicted the tenant and took possession of the premises. The landlady filed a suit under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 for recovery of possession against the defendants. The Supreme Court examined …

Trimex International FZE Ltd. sent a commercial offer by email on 15 October 2007 for the supply of bauxite, containing an arbitration clause. Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. accepted the offer on 16 October 2007, confirming five shipments. A dispute later arose and Vedanta denied the existence of a concluded contract and the e…

The appellant, Surinder Kumar, was accused of setting fire to his lover Kamlesh Rani, who later died from severe burns. The sole evidence against him was a dying declaration recorded by an executive magistrate at a hospital, which alleged that Kumar had poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. The trial court rejecte…

Jaswant Singh filed several suits concerning ownership of land in Simbli, Hoshiarpur, and the parties entered into a compromise on 27 November 1972 which led to a decree on 8 December 1972. The dispute later centered on the interpretation of that compromise—whether Singh owned 12.5 acres or only 8 acres—and on the admi…

The appellant, Suresh Sakharam Nangare, was convicted along with his co-accused for the murder of his brother-in-law, Sanjay Lokhare, who died from severe burns. The prosecution's case relied primarily on the testimony of an approver, Shabbir Fariyad Khan, who claimed the appellant only held the victim's legs after the…

The CBI investigated a scheme in which bank officials and private individuals defrauded Vijaya Bank of Rs 1.27 crore by sanctioning housing loans. K. Narayana Rao, a panel advocate for the bank, was charged as accused 6 for allegedly giving false legal opinions on ten loans. The High Court, invoking Section 482 of the …

The original landholders, whose holdings exceeded the ceiling under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, were assessed as surplus and transferred a major portion of the land to Mayur Sahkari Awas Samiti in 1982. The Act deemed such surplus land vested in the State, but the authorities never took physical …

The Supreme Court considered a dispute arising from a BOT concession agreement for the Bharatpur bypass road, where the contractor claimed entitlement to tolls and compensation for delay in the State's issuance of a traffic‑restriction notification and for the Bharatpur‑Deeg patch of road. The arbitral tribunal had awa…

The appellant was charged with misappropriation of funds under the National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) for offences under several IPC sections and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. After a protracted investigation, he was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to two and a half years' rigorous imprisonment, which…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appealed against the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s order granting bail to S. Gopalakrishnan (external auditor) and V.S. Prabhakara Gupta (internal auditor) in the massive Satyam corporate fraud case. The Supreme Court examined whether the bail was justified given the accused’s al…

The Supreme Court reviewed a series of criminal appeals arising from the 1993 Bombay serial blasts, all tried under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The appeals concerned convictions for offences such as unauthorised possession of arms and explosives (s.3(3), s.5, s.6 TADA), conspi…

On March 12, 1993, a series of 12 bomb explosions occurred in Bombay, killing 257 people and injuring 713, with property damage worth Rs. 27 crores. The conspiracy was hatched by Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim, with Yakub Abdul Razak Memon (A-1) playing a key role. The Designated Court convicted 100 accused, sentencing…

The Supreme Court of India disposed of multiple appeals arising from the 1993 Bombay serial bomb blasts, which killed 257 people and injured 713. The Designated Court under TADA had convicted numerous accused, sentencing most to life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the evidence, including confession…

The Supreme Court of India delivered a consolidated judgment on multiple appeals arising from the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The appeals challenged convictions and acquittals of various accused persons involved in the conspiracy, landing, …

The Supreme Court examined 19 appeals filed by the State of Maharashtra against acquittals in the 1993 Bombay serial bomb blast case, focusing on conspiracy charges under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Indian Penal Code. It reiterated the limited circumstances in which an appell…

The Supreme Court examined a series of appeals arising from the Designated Court's judgments in the 1993 Bombay bomb blast case under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The Court held that confessional statements recorded under Section 15 of TADA are substantive evidence admissible a…

The appellant, father of Kajamalai Viji, challenged a preventive detention order issued under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1982, which labeled his son a "goonda" under Section 2(f) and ordered his detention under Section 3. The detention was based on a recent incident where Viji, armed with a …

The Supreme Court entertained a batch of writ petitions filed under Article 32 by death‑row convicts and their families alleging that the executive had unreasonably delayed the disposal of their mercy petitions under Articles 72 and 161, and that other supervening circumstances such as mental illness, solitary confinem…

The appellant, a retired post‑office employee, was convicted for misappropriating Rs 1,35,240 under Section 477‑A IPC read with Sections 3(1)(c) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The trial court, instead of imposing a custodial sentence, released him under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 on a bo…

The case concerns the 1999 arson and murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons by a mob in Orissa. The trial court convicted fourteen accused, sentencing Dara Singh (A‑1) to death and the others to life imprisonment; the High Court modified Dara Singh's sentence to life imprisonment and acquitted …

A constable of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) left his patrol without permission, consumed alcohol on duty, and threatened his superior with a rifle. He was convicted under Section 10(n) of the Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949 and sentenced to imprisonment till the rising of the court, and was dismissed …

The Union of India and another appealed against a High Court order that held its objections to an arbitral award were time‑barred. The award was filed on 17‑06‑1996 and a notice of filing was served on the Union of India, but not on the Executive Engineer, who was responsible for the Union’s affairs in the arbitration.…

The appellants were accused of murdering the chairman of a bank, with the prosecution alleging that they were hired by co‑accused to carry out the attack. The trial court convicted the appellants based on a chain of circumstantial evidence, including a blood‑stained loan application, knives recovered at the appellants'…

The appellant, Haresh Mohandas Rajput, was accused of raping and murdering 10‑year‑old Pooja, whose body was discovered under a cot in his house with blood‑stained sheets and forensic evidence of sexual assault and strangulation. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence, including the location of the bo…

The case concerned the framing of charges against former MP Sajjan Kumar for alleged involvement in the 1984 anti‑Sikh riots. After the Delhi Police’s closure report, the CBI was tasked with re‑investigation and filed a charge‑sheet in 2010, relying on statements recorded many years after the incident. The appellant so…

The appellants challenged a fresh acquisition of their land in Mehrauli, Delhi, undertaken for the construction of the Chattarpur Metro Station. While the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 provides a special framework for metro projects, the government invoked the urgency provisions of the Land Acquisiti…

The dispute involved a suit for possession of land in Himachal Pradesh that had passed through several owners and litigants. The defendant filed an application under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, seeking rejection of the plaint on the ground that it was barred by provisions of Order IX and Ord…

The dispute involved alleged illegal disposal of association plots through forged documents, leading Respondent No.2 to lodge an FIR against three accused, including the appellant. The appellant sought quash of the FIR under Section 482 of the CrPC, but the High Court dismissed the application. Subsequently, the appell…

Ramesh Chilwal was convicted of murder under IPC s.302, offences under the Gangsters Act s.213 and the Arms Act s.27, and sentenced to life imprisonment, ten years rigorous imprisonment, and seven years rigorous imprisonment respectively, along with fines and compensation. The High Court affirmed these convictions and …

The petitioner, Disha, and her husband were involved in a share‑broking business that allegedly duped investors of about Rs 60 crore, leading to an FIR and a charge‑sheet against thirteen persons including the petitioner. The husband later died by jumping from a hotel, an incident investigated by the Maharashtra police…

The parties dissolved their marriage by mutual consent under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The Family Court fixed a maintenance of Rs.20,000 per month for the wife, which the High Court affirmed and also ordered an alternative lump‑sum alimony of Rs.20 lakh. Unsatisfied, the wife appealed for a higher amount. The Supre…

The State of Himachal Pradesh filed a civil appeal against the Himachal High Court’s order that quashed a Cabinet decision dated 18 July 2009, which discontinued three vocational courses (Art and Craft, Library Science, PTI) in Vocational Training Centres (VTCs). The writ petition originally sought directions for admis…

The appellant, Perumal, was acquitted of offences under Sections 417 and 506(i) IPC after a charge‑sheet filed by Sub‑Inspector Janaki alleged his involvement in a pregnancy that a medical report had disproved. Perumal then lodged a private complaint under Section 190 CrPC seeking to try Janaki for an offence under Sec…

The respondents purchased a house in Lucknow, paid stamp duty based on its residential use at the time of sale, and executed a sale deed on 16 April 2003. A spot inspection by the District Magistrate later found a larger area and higher valuation, leading the Additional Collector to issue an order under the Indian Stam…

The appellant, A.M. Sangappa, challenged a judgment of the Karnataka High Court in a regular first appeal (RFA No. 238 of 2004). The issue was whether the High Court had complied with the procedural requirements of Order 41 Rule 31 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, which obliges a court hearing a regular first appe…

The appellant was stopped by police and found driving a car containing two bags of poppy straw, which were mixed and sampled before being seized. He was convicted under Section 15 of the NDPS Act for possessing a commercial quantity of the contraband and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. On appeal, he chal…

The appellant was selected for an LPG distributorship by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. after an interview and evaluation by an expert committee, which also verified the authenticity of his experience certificates. Respondent No.1 challenged the genuineness of those certificates, alleging the appellant could not hav…

The Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation (UPFC) had taken a mortgage over a parcel of land to secure a loan. After the borrower defaulted, UPFC advertised the property for sale under s.29 of the State Financial Corporation Act, 1951 and accepted the highest bid from Pradeep Kumar Sharma, who paid the full consideration,…

The State prosecuted Vishwanath Maranna Shetty, accused No.9 in a Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) case, alleging that he managed funds for an organised crime syndicate and abetted the murder of Farid Tanasha. The Special Court denied his bail application, but the Bombay High Court later granted bail.…

The Municipal Committee of Hoshiarpur obtained an electricity connection for a tubewell and was later served with a revised bill of Rs.82,300 without a show‑cause notice. The Committee challenged the bill in a civil suit, which was decreed in its favour by the trial court and affirmed by the first appellate court. The …

Fifteen persons were charged with the murder of Shankar Satnami. The sole eye‑witness, the victim's wife (PW‑9), was illiterate and her testimony was found to contain contradictions and improvements. The police recorded only a "Dehati Nalish" instead of a formal FIR, failed to send a copy of the FIR to the magistrate a…

The appellant, D.M. Nagajara, a habitual offender involved in multiple serious crimes, was detained under Section 3 of the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug-Offenders, Gamblers, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum-Grabbers Act, 1985. He challenged the detention order, arguing tha…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Kailash (Killu) on 5 March 1996, for which Rakesh, Rajesh and Dinesh were convicted under Section 302 IPC. The appellants challenged the conviction on two grounds: that the eye‑witness testimony of the victim’s nephew (PW‑11) conflicted with the post‑mortem estimate of time of d…

The appellant, Venkatesan, was tried for offences under Sections 498A, 304B and 302 IPC, alleged to have harassed his wife for dowry and burnt her to death. The trial court acquitted him, but the Madras High Court, on revision filed by the deceased's mother, set aside the acquittal and ordered a fresh trial, finding fl…

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority allotted a flat to Manju Jain under a hire‑purchase scheme, sending her an allotment letter by registered post and requiring acceptance and a 25% deposit within 60 days. Jain never responded, deposited no money, and after four years the Authority cancelled the allotment. Ja…

The employee, Nanda Kishore Roy, complained that his employer had wrongfully deducted Rs.1,640 per month as income tax and failed to deposit it, leading a magistrate to issue summons under sections 406/1208 IPC. The employer argued that the deductions were mandated by the Income Tax Act and that the complaint was essen…

The case concerns the murder of Jessica Lal on 30 April 1999, for which Sidhartha Vashisht (Manu Sharma) and two co‑accused were initially acquitted by the trial court. The State appealed, alleging that the prosecution had proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt through ocular testimony, telephone call …

The appellants were convicted of dacoity under Section 395 IPC based on eyewitness identification in court and a test identification parade conducted under a magistrate's supervision. They challenged the admissibility of the parade evidence, arguing that the delay in conducting it rendered the identification unreliable…

The case concerned the resignation of Councillor Rupesh Yogeshwar Dhepe under Section 41(2) of the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965. Dhepe submitted a typewritten resignation that he had already signed, but after the Collector’s corrections he only added his initials a…

The State of Andhra Pradesh filed an application under Section 8(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 seeking a declaration that Hyderabad Potteries Pvt. Ltd. and another were land grabbers of a 17,786.5‑sq‑metre parcel. The respondents asserted that they had purchased the land in 1946, posses…

The General Insurance Council and several insurers filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution alleging that police and other agencies were not complying with Supreme Court directions concerning the disposal of vehicles seized in criminal investigations. They contended that non‑compliance of Sections 451…

The case concerned two cross suits between Sushil K. Chakravarty (deceased) and M/s Tej Properties Pvt. Ltd. over an agreement to sell agricultural land. The sole defendant died during the pendency of the suit, and the Delhi High Court proceeded ex‑parte without impleading his legal heirs, invoking Order XXII Rule 4(4)…

Shabnam Hashmi filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a declaration that the right to adopt and to be adopted is a fundamental right under Article 21 and that adoption should be permitted irrespective of religion, caste or creed. The petition also asked the Union of India to enact an optional law on adoption. T…

The appellant, representing the estate of Jagan Singh, sought a permanent injunction to prevent Dhanwanti, the widow of the testator, from selling a parcel of bhumidhari land that had been bequeathed to her with a restriction limiting her rights to her lifetime. The lower courts held that the restriction was invalid un…

The workers of Philips India Ltd. opposed the transfer of their factory to Kitchen Appliances India Ltd. and refused to join the new employer. After the Labour Department declined to refer their dispute to a tribunal, the workers filed a writ petition seeking retirement and retrenchment benefits. The Single Judge of th…

The appellants, members of a Delhi cooperative housing society, were subject to a resolution for their expulsion which was sent to the Registrar of Co‑operative Societies for approval as required by the Delhi Co‑operative Societies Act, 1972 and Rules, 1973. The society delayed submitting its records for about seven ye…

Sahib Hussain was convicted of murdering five persons, including three children, in a gruesome incident on 27 October 2006. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence – post‑mortem reports, statements of two eyewitnesses who did not see the killings, an extra‑judicial confession, forensic recovery of a blood‑sta…

The appellant, a co‑operative housing society, entered into a development agreement and later amalgamated two of its plots. The plaintiffs, members of the society, sued to restrain construction on the amalgamated plot but did not challenge a conveyance deed dated 8 February 1989 at the time of filing. They later sought…

The appellant, Mariappan, was convicted of murder and criminal intimidation for repeatedly assaulting his paternal aunt with an aruval, resulting in her death, amid a land dispute. He appealed, claiming he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the offence and sought protection under Section 84 of the Indi…

The appellant Hazara Singh filed a criminal revision seeking enhancement of sentence against four accused who were convicted under Section 307 IPC for attempting murder and other offences. The trial court sentenced two accused to five years' rigorous imprisonment and the other two to three years, along with fines. The …

The plaintiff, a co‑operative housing society, sued the defendants for a declaration of title and a perpetual injunction. The defendants filed a written statement admitting the plaintiff's claim and asked for a decree. Later they sought to strike out that written statement (Order VI Rule 16 CPC) and to file a detailed …

J.S. Yadav, a District Judge, was appointed a Member of the Uttar Pradesh State Human Rights Commission for a five‑year term in 2006 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. After the 2006 amendment to the Act introduced a seven‑year experience requirement for District Judges, the State Government issued a notif…

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by Childline India Foundation and the State of Maharashtra against the Bombay High Court’s order acquitting three accused of sexual and physical abuse of children in Anchorage Shelter Homes in Mumbai. The trial court had convicted the accused under IPC sections 377, 109, 1208, 1…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court’s acquittal of Ramesh and Bhaggo Bai for the murder of Bhaggo’s husband, Chatra. The prosecution’s case rested primarily on the testimony of an eight‑year‑old daughter, Ran nu Bai, who alleged that the accused beat the deceased, supported by medical findings o…

Three death‑row convicts (V. Sriharan @ Murugan, T. Suthendraraja @ Santhan and A.G. Perarivalan @ Arivu) filed mercy petitions under Articles 72/161 of the Constitution. The Governor of Tamil Nadu rejected the petitions in 2000 and the President finally rejected them in August 2011 after an inordinate delay of more th…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal complaint filed by Monica under Sections 498A and 406 IPC against her parents‑in‑law and later her husband. The appellants sought quashing of the complaint under Section 482 CrPC, arguing that the allegations did not constitute cruelty or entrustment. The Court held that the compla…

The Government of Bihar had repeatedly declared that non‑teaching staff of universities and constituent colleges were to be treated as equivalent to government staff, but successive agreements (most recently on 18 July 2007) were not implemented, leading to strikes by the Bihar State University and College Employees Fe…

The case involved a double murder arising from a fight between two rival groups in a field in Rajasthan. The appellants Gopal and Mahesh killed Rameshwar (R) while defending themselves from an attack, and subsequently chased and killed Prabhat (P) who was fleeing the scene. The trial court convicted them under Section …

The Union of India advertised vacancies for members of the Income‑Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and a Selection Board placed 18 candidates on a main list, of which 16 were approved for appointment by the Appointments Committee. Three candidates were placed on a wait‑list. The Committee decided that any further appointm…

M/S. Escorts Limited filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against Rama Mukherjee for a dishonoured cheque. The Delhi High Court held that, because the cheque was presented and the notice was sent from Delhi, the Delhi courts lacked jurisdiction to try the offence. On appeal, the Supreme…

The case concerned Ajoy Acharya, an IAS officer who was also a nominee Director of the Madhya Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (MPSIDC). He was charged for allowing the Board of MPSIDC to pass a resolution on 19‑April‑1995 that authorised short‑term loans, allegedly contrary to earlier government decisi…

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) issued a tender for tyres, tubes and flaps with pre‑qualification criteria requiring a minimum average supply of 5,000 sets to specified chassis manufacturers and a turnover of Rs.500 crore. Michigan Rubber (India) Ltd. challenged these criteria, alleging they were…

The State of Madhya Pradesh filed an original suit under Article 131 of the Constitution challenging the Central Government's notifications issued under sections 58(3) and 58(4) of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000, which dissolved the M.P. Electricity Board and apportioned its assets. In 2009, the State soug…