P SATHASIVAM

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…

The appellant, Arshad Hussain, was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of Iqbal, based on the prosecution claim that he fired three shots from a 12‑bore gun after being prompted by his brothers, Mujaffar and Shahjad. The High Court acquitted the brothers on alibi grounds, but uphe…

The appellant, a taxi driver, was convicted along with two others for committing dacoity under Sections 395 and 397 of the IPC, as well as offences under the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act, after a gold jewellery workshop was looted and the perpetrators fled in two taxis. The trial court sentenced each accus…

The case involved the murder of Pasupathy by four accused (A-1 to A-4) in Tamil Nadu. The trial court convicted all four under IPC s.302 read with s.34 based largely on the testimony of two brothers (PW‑1 and PW‑3) who were relatives of the deceased, and on a post‑mortem report by Dr. PW‑10. The appellant, Nagappan (A‑…

The Jaipur Shahar Hindu Vikas Samiti filed public interest litigations seeking a declaration that the Galta Peeth/Thikana properties are public trust assets, clarification of succession, and a direction for the State to take over its management. The Rajasthan High Court, noting that the same questions were pending befo…

Hall & Anderson Ltd., originally a departmental store in Calcutta, purchased a textile mill in Bombay in 1950 and later operated both businesses separately. The textile mill was nationalised under the Textile Undertakings (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1983 and the Textile Undertaking Nationalisation Act, 1995. The g…

Natha Singh executed two wills, one in 1979 bequeathing his Punjab house to his son Shag Singh and another in 1986 bequeathing his Haryana house to his second son Jaskirat Singh. After Natha Singh's death, Jaskirat filed a suit for possession of the Haryana house, while Shag Singh's brothers filed a suit claiming owner…

A local committee staged a satyagraha outside the Jalpaiguri District Court, preventing judges from entering the premises. The Calcutta High Court issued suo motu contempt rules against 16 agitators and several officials, finding them guilty of criminal contempt under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act and sent…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by Dr. Neeraj Chaubey challenging an advertisement for an Assistant Professor position that required seven years of experience instead of the statutory five years. The Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court, instead of listing the petition, issued directions concerni…

The appellant, V.K.M. Kattha Industries Pvt. Ltd., a running industrial unit, challenged a land acquisition notification issued by the Haryana Government under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for the development of an industrial estate. The company argued that the notification was not published in the local…

Coromandel Indag Products Ltd. entered into a sale agreement with Garuda Chit & Trading Co. to purchase a property for Rs. 82 lakhs, paying an advance and subsequent installments while the vendor was to furnish title documents and an income‑tax clearance. The vendor supplied the tax clearance but failed to provide a so…

Harjinder Singh was convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. He appealed to the High Court, but his counsel was absent on the hearing date and no one appeared on his behalf; the High Court nevertheless affirmed the con…

The appellants purchased land by a registered sale deed dated 21‑May‑1980. The respondents alleged that an earlier agreement to sell the land to a cooperative society in 1976 gave them a right, and they accused the appellants of fraud and land grabbing. A Special Court under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibitio…

The deceased Harijana Ayyanna was attacked and stabbed by a group of accused (A1‑A7) who were armed with daggers and a stick. The FIR was lodged promptly and named all the accused. Eye‑witnesses, the deceased's son (PW‑1) and wife (PW‑2), testified that the accused surrounded and stabbed the victim, and their statement…

The petitioners, including M/s. Jindal Stainless Ltd., challenged the validity of various State entry tax statutes on the ground that they violated Articles 301, 302, 303 and 304 of the Constitution. The Division Bench observed that several High Courts had treated Article 304(a) and 304(b) as independent, concluding th…

Santuram Yadav and other daily‑wage workers were employed as Nakedar and, facing removal, entered into a compromise with their employer that provided for reinstatement and seniority from their first appointment. The Labour Court initially awarded reinstatement, but the workers were later dismissed again. Their claim fo…

The respondents filed a suit for specific performance of a sale contract, but their plaint omitted the mandatory averment under Section 16(c) of the Specific Relief Act that they were ready and willing to perform. After the trial concluded and the matter was reserved for judgment, they sought to amend the plaint under …

The appellant, president of a political party, alleged that the second respondent, a sitting Member of Parliament, attacked his convoy on 12 August 2009, resulting in one death and one injury. The second respondent was arrested and later filed a bail application, which the High Court granted conditionally despite the a…

The appellants, children and legal representatives of the deceased landlord, filed a contempt petition under Section 11(2) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging that the respondents had abused the process of the court by filing a second application in execution proceedings. The High Court Division Bench on 9 Ju…

Jujhar Singh, an army retiree, suffered a severe injury in a road accident while on annual leave in 1987. The Medical Board assessed a 60% disability but expressly held that the injury was neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service. After superannuation in 1998 he received a normal pension and sought a …

The State of Andhra Pradesh appealed against the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s order quashing a criminal proceeding for the alleged transport of 5,040 kg of black jaggery intended for illicit liquor production. The police seized the jaggery, and a chemical examiner reported it was fit for fermentation producing alcohol u…

The case arose when an elected MLA, Parithi Llamvazhuthi, was granted conditional bail to take oath in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, but an application filed by Inspector Rajendra Kumar sought cancellation of that bail on the basis of a false statement that the MLA was in police custody. The MLA alleged that the Commissione…

The respondent, a senior accounts officer in the North‑East Frontier Railway, was placed on the extended select panel for promotion to Group A (Junior Scale) by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) in February 2002. When his batch‑mates were promoted on 21‑April‑2003, he was not promoted. He claimed that the DPC’…

The appellants were charged under Sections 498A and 406 of the IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act after a matrimonial dispute. While the criminal case was pending, the parties reached a mutual settlement, and the complainant wife filed an affidavit supporting the settlement. The trial court rejected the application to d…

The appellant, National Small Industries Corporation Ltd., filed criminal complaints under Section 138 read with Section 141 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against the managing director and a director of the defendant company for dishonoured cheques. The High Court quashed the summoning orders against the director(s…

Ajmer Singh was apprehended by police who, after giving him a choice under Section 50 of the NDPS Act, searched his bag and recovered 500 g of charas. He was convicted under Section 20 of the NDPS Act. On appeal he argued that the search violated Section 50, that the prosecution’s evidence lacked independent witnesses,…

The appellant, Ram Viswas, was convicted of murdering his wife by pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze. The victim, Maladeep, gave a dying declaration naming her husband as the perpetrator, which was recorded by a Naib Tahsildar after medical certification of her fitness to testify. The appellant challenged t…

The Karnataka Industrial Co-operative Bank alleged that the appellants obtained loans by pledging fake gold ornaments and secured convictions in a criminal revision proceeding. The trial court had acquitted the appellants, but the High Court, exercising its revisional jurisdiction under Sections 397 and 401 of the CrPC…

The appellant, Chandradhoja Sahoo, claimed to be a landless person who was granted a lease of two acres of surplus government land in 1979, but the Record of Rights was never corrected. The State of Orissa alleged that the 1979 case file, including the lease order, was forged and that the land, recorded as "kanta jungl…

Makers Development Services Pvt. Ltd. entered into a 1980 agreement with M. Visvesvaraya Industrial Research and Development Centre for constructing a hotel complex and obtaining a 60‑year lease. After the construction stalled at 80 ft, the respondent served a notice to vacate the premises in July 2007. The appellant f…

The appellants, a married couple and their son, were convicted for the murder of the son's wife, who was allegedly killed by being tied with a saree border and thrown into a well over a dowry demand. The trial court and High Court upheld convictions under IPC sections 302, 304B, 498A read with section 34, based solely …

The appellant, Mustafa Shahadal Shaikh, was convicted for the dowry death of his wife, who committed suicide by poisoning within seven months of marriage. The prosecution relied on the testimony of the deceased's close relatives, who detailed repeated harassment and demands for dowry by the appellant and his family, in…

After the mother died shortly after giving birth, the child was placed with his maternal grandfather, who applied for guardianship under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890. The father also filed a petition for custody under the same Act. The District Judge appointed the grandfather as guardian until the child turned 12,…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Chand Khan and his son Shabir Khan, for which five appellants were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The appellants challenged the conviction on grounds that no charge under Section 34 was framed, that the injuries could not be linked to them due to co…

The appellant, Speedline Agencies, occupied a building and land leased from United Coffee Supply Co. Ltd., later renamed Stanes Tea and Coffee Ltd., for over four decades. The landlord filed a petition under sections 10(3)(a)(i) and (iii) of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960 seeking eviction f…

The case concerned two separate prosecutions arising from the July 2006 Mumbai suburban train bomb blasts. In Special Case No. 21 of 2006, the accused‑respondents sought to summon four Deputy Commissioners of Police (who had recorded confessional statements of three other accused in a later Special Case No. 4 of 2009) …

The Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC) took over a defaulting borrower under Section 29 of the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 and invited tenders for the sale of the borrower’s assets. Vincent Paul submitted the sole tender, paid earnest money and was later offered a price of Rs. 8.25 lakh subject to conditions…

The appellant, advocate B.N. Shivanna, was retained by Advanta India Ltd. and allegedly fabricated High Court orders and embezzled Rs 72 lakhs by misusing his position. The Karnataka High Court suo motu and on the company’s complaint initiated criminal contempt proceedings, convicted him and sentenced him to six months…

Bansi Lal was convicted under Sections 498-A, 304-B and 306 of the IPC for the suicide of his wife Sarla, who had left the matrimonial home after a year of marriage, stayed with her parents for 14 months, and returned following a panchayat assurance. The prosecution proved a consistent demand for a scooter by the accus…

The partnership firm R.L. Kalathia & Co. was awarded a contract by the Gujarat State Government to construct the Fulzer Dam. During execution, the Executive Engineer ordered several additions and alterations, for which the contractor performed extra work and later submitted a consolidated claim. The contractor accepted…

The appellant, Sumit Mehta, was charged under IPC sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 and the Delhi High Court granted him anticipatory bail on the condition that he deposit a fixed deposit of Rs 1 crore in the complainant's name. Mehta appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the condition was unreasonable, unrelated…

The Supreme Court examined whether a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act can be filed and verified by a power of attorney holder on behalf of the payee or holder in due course. The appellant, a company director, challenged the issuance of process based on complaints filed by a power of attorne…

Resurgence India, an NGO, observed that many candidates in the 2007 Punjab Legislative Assembly elections filed affidavits with blank entries for criminal, asset and educational details, violating the spirit of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The petition sought a direction that Returning Officers must reje…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by Arulmigu Lakshmi Narayanaswamy Temple challenging a High Court order that remanded a land dispute to the Minor Inams Abolition Tribunal. The core issue was whether the lands in Komarapalayam Agraharam hamlet were "minor inam" lands under the Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition an…

The case concerned the renewal and re‑grant of mining leases for iron and manganese ores in Karnataka. Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Ltd. and MSPL Ltd. challenged the Karnataka State Government’s recommendation to grant a mining lease to Jindal Vijayanagar Steel Ltd. and Kalyani Steels Ltd., arguing that the recommendat…

The appellant, Lalu Prasad Yadav, sought transfer of the fodder‑scam criminal trial from the Special Judge (CBI) to another court, alleging that the judge was biased because of a familial link to a political rival. The Supreme Court examined the long‑running case, noting that the trial had been ongoing since 1997 and w…

The dispute concerned the inclusion of Rajni Kant and Anjani Kumar as heirs of the late Chandra Deo Singh in land records (khata) under Section 9A(2) of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953. The respondents claimed they were legitimate children born out of a long‑standing live‑in relationship between the deceas…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over a parcel of land in Lucknow Cantonment that had been granted to a civilian on "old grant" (cantonment tenure) terms in 1948 and later sold to the respondent, Kamla Verma, in 1996. The respondent sought de‑hiring of the premises, claiming ownership, but the government argued tha…

DCM Financial Services Ltd., a creditor of Pure Drinks Ltd., filed a winding‑up petition under the Companies Act, 1956, which initially restrained the debtor from alienating its assets. During the pendency, the debtor sold property in other proceedings and the purchaser agreed to pay Rs 1.95 crore to DCM, which was rep…

The ancient Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple deposited Rs.1,40,64,300 under the Post Office Time Deposit Scheme in 1995, but the scheme had been discontinued for institutions effective 1 April 1995. The Post Master later refunded the amount without interest, prompting the temple to claim interest as a deficiency i…

Bandekar Brothers Pvt. Ltd. and related companies filed multiple recovery suits against the respondents and sought various interim injunctions. The respondents gave an undertaking not to part with certain shares, a bungalow, and mining machinery, but later demolished the bungalow, prompting the appellants to file furth…

The petitioner, a life convict sentenced under IPC s.302/34, filed a contempt petition claiming that, having served over 20 years with remission, he was entitled to release under the West Bengal Correctional Services Act and a Supreme Court order. The State of West Bengal, through its Sentence Review Board, declined to…

Awani Kumar Upadhyay, an Additional District & Sessions Judge, challenged severe strictures placed against him by the Allahabad High Court in a second appeal judgment, which also directed that the remarks be sent to the Chief Justice for possible disciplinary action. He filed a modification application to have the rema…

Ramesh Kumar was appointed on a casual basis as a Mali in the Haryana Public Works Department in December 1991 and was terminated on 31 January 1993 without any notice or retrenchment compensation. He claimed that he had worked more than 240 days in the preceding 12 months, invoking the protection of Section 25F of the…

The husband filed a writ petition challenging the interim maintenance granted to his wife under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, alleging that she was already married to another man, as evidenced by a marriage certificate under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The trial court rejec…

The case arose from a 1992 altercation in Ajmer that resulted in the death of Idris and injuries to several persons, leading to two FIRs (cross‑FIRs). The trial court convicted four accused (Yasir, Khalil, Akil and Farukh) under Sections 302 and 324 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonmen…

The Constitution Bench examined whether a police officer must register a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) upon receiving information of a cognizable offence, or may first conduct a preliminary inquiry to test its veracity. Relying on the literal meaning of …

The trial court acquitted 23 accused of charges including criminal conspiracy (s.120B IPC) and murder (s.302 IPC) based on inconsistencies in eyewitness testimony, a doubtful dying declaration, and lack of corroborative evidence. The Madras High Court reversed the acquittal of 19 accused, convicting them on the same ch…

The appellant, Bobby, was arrested for alleged diesel oil smuggling and granted bail on 12 April 2005, which he did not avail, remaining in custody when a preventive detention order was issued under COFEPOSA on 3 May 2005. He challenged the order by filing a writ petition under Article 226, which the Bombay High Court …

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Munesh, who was charged with raping and murdering an 11‑year‑old girl. The trial court had convicted him under Sections 302 and 376 of the IPC, but the High Court set aside the conviction, citing contradictions in the statements of two eye‑witnesses (PWs 2 and 3) and…

The appellant, whose husband was killed in the 2002 Gulberg Society riots, filed a writ petition under Article 226 and Section 482 CrPC seeking registration of a private complaint as an FIR and investigation by an independent agency. The High Court dismissed the petition, directing the appellant to use the remedies und…

Ajit Singh Nandal, a university employee, challenged a university notification that declared his post vacant, alleging it amounted to an illegal removal without the required inquiry under the service rules. The trial court dismissed his suit, but the appellate court set aside that decision, holding that the vacancy dec…

The case arose from a dispute over immovable property in which the police, invoking Sections 107 and 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), detained the writ petitioners for a day. The petitioners filed writ petitions alleging illegal detention and violation of their fundamental rights; the Delhi High Court quas…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition in which two police constables and a head constable were accused of illegal detention after they booked two intoxicated individuals under Sections 107 and 151 of the Cr.P.C. and sent them to judicial custody for failing to furnish bail bonds. The Delhi High Court had quashed t…

The dispute arose from two agreements to sell the same parcel of land, leading to parallel civil suits for specific performance. The appellant's father, after losing the civil suit, filed an FIR alleging forgery of the earlier agreement and the respondents obtained a quashing order from the High Court, which relied on …

The Union of India challenged an arbitral award that granted interest on amounts payable to M/s. Krafters Engineering & Leasing (P) Ltd. under a works contract, arguing that Clause 1.15 of the General Conditions expressly prohibited any interest on such amounts. The High Court had upheld the award, but the Supreme Cour…

The Allahabad High School Society amended its Rules, Constitution and Bye‑laws on 28 May 2007 and registered the changes on 30 May 2007. The Assistant Registrar, exercising powers under Section 12D(b) of the U.P. Societies Registration Act, 1860, cancelled the registration, finding that the amendments were made arbitra…

The appellant, a foreman, suffered partial loss of eyesight and amputation of a finger in a motor vehicle accident caused by the negligence of a state transport corporation driver. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded him a total compensation of Rs.5,05,053.45, including Rs.1,50,000 for permanent disability. The …

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) terminated the dealership licence of Jagannath & Co. after a routine inspection in August 2005, alleging that samples of motor spirit and diesel failed quality tests. The dealer contested the termination, arguing that the sampling and testing procedures violated the 2005 Marketi…

A contractual government teacher in Odisha was sexually harassed by a Sub‑Inspector of Schools, lodged multiple complaints, and was later set ablaze, dying from her injuries. The petitioner, a law student, filed a writ under Article 32 seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a…

The deceased's cows damaged the plaintiffs' crops, leading to a heated altercation during which the accused formed an unlawful assembly, entered the victim's house and assaulted him with lathis and a lethal weapon, causing fatal injuries. The victim's mother, an injured eyewitness, identified the appellants as the pers…

The case concerned the alleged dowry death of Surinder Kaur, who was burnt to death allegedly by her husband Bakshish Ram and his parents. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of the deceased's mother, who recounted hearsay statements made by the deceased's father about dowry harassment. The trial court an…

The deceased, Neeru Gupta, committed suicide in 1985 and her brother filed a complaint alleging dowry demand and ill‑treatment by her husband and in‑laws. The trial court acquitted the accused, finding no proof of dowry demand or cruelty and noting the deceased suffered from mental illness. The High Court reversed the …

The State of Rajasthan sought to cancel a 1969 order by the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) that restored 460.15 bighas of agricultural land to the respondents, arguing that PHED lacked authority under the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act to grant land. The respondents contended that the order was valid and t…

The Uttar Pradesh Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti (appellant) issued notices to Mis. Baidyanath Ayurved Bhandan Ltd. (respondent) demanding a licence under Section 9 of the Uttar Pradesh Krishi Utpadan Mandi Adhiniyam, 1964, because the company bought agricultural produce such as gur, amla and ghee in bulk and used them as…

The appellant Babu was charged under IPC s.302 for allegedly murdering his wife by giving her sodium cyanide disguised as an ayurvedic contraceptive. The trial court acquitted him due to lack of direct evidence and doubts about the prosecution's version, but the Kerala High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted hi…

The Supreme Court examined whether a confession or statement recorded under Section 32 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA) can be used as substantive evidence against co‑accused. The Bombay High Court Full Bench had held that such a confession could not be substantive evidence against co‑accused but could b…

Venture Global Engineering, a US‑based company, entered into a joint‑venture with Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (the first respondent) and later obtained an arbitral award ordering it to transfer its shares in the joint venture to Satyam. After the award, Satyam’s chairman confessed to massive financial fraud, leading …

Major Chandra Kumar Chopra was tried by a General Court Martial under the Army Act, 1950 for three offences involving fraud, misuse of Leave Travel Concession and improper use of a railway warrant. He challenged the composition of the court martial, alleging bias because he had lodged a statutory complaint against the …

The appellant, an Indian Air Force pilot, married the respondent at an Arya Samaj temple after being told she was a Hindu spinster. He later discovered she had previously converted to Islam, married a Muslim, had two children, and divorced, but claimed she had reconverted to Hinduism through Shudhikaran ceremonies befo…

The appellant, Vimaleshwar Nagappa Shet, bought a dwelling house from several co‑sharers of a deceased owner but the agreement of sale did not include the minor grandson (Defendant No. 3). The minor did not join the sale and later offered to purchase the 9/11 share, prompting the High Court to fix a market value and di…

K.A. Abbas was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a bounced cheque and was sentenced to one year imprisonment with a direction to pay Rs 5 lakhs compensation to the complainant under Section 357(3) of the CrPC, with a default imprisonment of two months for non‑payment. He paid par…

The Madras Bar Association challenged the constitutional validity of the National Tax Tribunal Act, 2005 and the provisions of Article 323B (and Article 3238) of the Constitution, arguing that the Act undermines the basic structure by creating a parallel tribunal system under executive control. The petition also contes…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of three accused (A-1, A-2 and A-4) for cruelty to a woman under IPC s.498‑A read with s.34 and murder under s.302 read with s.34. The deceased, Renuka, was burned after the accused poured kerosene on her and set her alight. Her dying declaration was recorded by a taluk magistrat…

The case concerned a bomb blast on a railway bridge in Tamil Nadu in 1992. The prosecution relied primarily on a confessional statement recorded under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) by A1‑Senthilkumar, which he later retracted, and on the testimony of a hostile witness, PW…

Kulvinder Singh and Jasvinder Singh were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.34 for the killing of Amardeep. The prosecution relied on a chain of circumstantial evidence: a motive arising from a prior quarrel, the accused’s presence near the victim before the crime, witnesses hearing shrieks and seeing the …

The case arose from two FIRs (11/97 and 12/97) lodged on 28‑29 April 1997 concerning a violent incident in which a man named Suresh Yadav died and several others were injured. Eleven accused were charged under IPC sections 302, 324 and 149 and were convicted by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the High Court. On…

The appellant-wife alleged that her husband and in‑laws subjected her to dowry‑related cruelty and forced her to leave the matrimonial home in Ranchi and return to her parental home in Gaya. She filed an FIR in Gaya under IPC sections 498A, 406 r/w 34 and Dowry Prohibition Act sections 3 and 4. The High Court quashed t…

Budh Singh was convicted under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of Section 32A of the NDPS Act, which bars any remission of sentence for convicts …

The appellants, directors of a textile firm, were accused by a supplier (informant) of fraudulently transferring company assets and issuing post‑dated cheques that later bounced, leading to an FIR under Sections 420 and 120‑B IPC. The police concluded the matter was civil, but the magistrate rejected this view and took…

The Gram Panchayat of Village Kum Kalan challenged a 1995 amendment (Amendment Act No. 8) to the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, which retrospectively validated land transfers that had been invalidated by a Supreme Court judgment in Gram Panchayat of Village Jamalpur v. Malwinder Singh. The amendmen…

The appellants, K.K. Kannan and others, filed a second appeal under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, challenging the High Court of Kerala's reversal of concurrent lower‑court decisions. The High Court had merely listed the grounds in the memorandum of appeal as "substantial questions of law" without ac…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by Mohd. Imran Khan and Jamal Ahmed against their conviction for rape under Section 376 IPC. The Court held that the prosecutrix, Monika, was a minor (under 16) at the time of the offence, based on her birth certificate and the acknowledged margin of error in radiological age estimate…

The complainant, Savita Madhav Akhade, alleged that she and her family were insulted and assaulted on caste grounds by Vilas Pandurang Pawar and others, leading to an FIR under the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The accused applied for anticipatory …

The petitioners, a real‑estate partnership, claimed ownership of a 19,250 sq m open space in Miramar, Goa, based on a 1977 deed and sought a writ to restrain the Government of Goa and the Panaji Municipal Corporation from undertaking developmental works on the land. The High Court dismissed the writ, directing the peti…

Abu Salem, an absconding accused in the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts, was arrested in Portugal and extradited to India under the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the Indian Extradition Act, 1962 (applied to Portugal by a 2002 notification). Portugal granted extradition for certain offen…

The appellant, a peon of Punjab National Bank, was convicted under Section 409 IPC for embezzling Rs 5,000 and was dismissed from service. While his criminal appeal upheld the conviction, the appellate court released him on probation under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958. The bank dismissed him under Section 10(1)…

Balraje (appellant) was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for inflicting a knife blow to the chest of Kailas, resulting in his death. The prosecution relied on eye‑witness testimony of the deceased's son (PW‑1), wife (PW‑2) and a neighbour (PW‑4), who identified Balraje as the assailant. The defence argued that…

On 21 October 1982, the appellants, armed with spears, axes and bombs, attacked an informant and his associates, chasing them through paddy fields. Eye‑witnesses PW7, PW8, PW9 and PW12 testified that the appellants threw bombs and that appellant No.1 (Moniruddin Ahmed @ Lalu Dealer) struck the deceased with a spear, ca…

The petitioners sought transfer of two criminal proceedings pending in the Special Court, Lucknow, to the Special Court, Delhi, arguing that the cases were similar in nature and that most witnesses were medical officers, with the ultimate decision taken at the ministerial level in Delhi. The CBI opposed the transfer, c…

Vishnu Narayan Shivpuri was charged under IPC sections 342, 326‑8 and 506 for allegedly throwing sulphuric acid on his wife, Pooja Bhatia. The Sessions Court denied his bail, but the High Court later released him on bail. After his release, the Superintendent of Police submitted a counter‑affidavit stating that Shivpur…

Pratima Chowdhury, a member of a West Bengal cooperative housing society, sought to transfer her flat and membership to Kalpana Mukherjee, claiming the transfer was a gift without consideration. The arbitrator found the transfer invalid, noting that the letters effecting the transfer were likely drafted by Partha Mukhe…

The appellant, a joint managing director of a large export company, was arrested in 2010 on several economic offences alleged by multiple banks and the CBI. After a prolonged period of custody, intermittent interim bail on medical grounds, and the filing of charge sheets without framing of charges, the High Court rejec…

The case concerned the award of a hydro‑electric project contract by the Kerala State Electricity Board to K.P. Poulose at rates far above the probable amount, allegedly facilitated by Minister R. Balakrishna Pillai, a Board member and a close associate. The prosecution proved that the Minister, the Board member and an…

The Supreme Court examined the scope of Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which empowers a court to proceed against persons not originally accused if evidence shows their involvement. It held that the power can be exercised at any time after the charge‑sheet is filed and before judgment, provided the…

Madhav Prasad Sharma, a police constable, was absent without authorized leave for 101 days and was subsequently terminated from service. He appealed the termination, which was rejected by the DIG, and then obtained a writ order from the High Court Single Judge quashing the termination on the ground that he had been sub…

C.K. Jaffer Sharief, then Union Railway Minister, was accused of having the Managing Directors of RITES and IRCON approve the travel of four persons to London for his medical treatment, allegedly causing pecuniary loss to the PSUs. The FIR alleged that the journeys were arranged without any public interest and that the…

Two minor children residing in a Gurukul (ashram) went missing and were later found dead in the Sabarmati river. An FIR was lodged against seven ash​ram inmates under Section 304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act and other offences. The High Court quashed the FIR in…

The appellant, North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Orissa (NESCO), refused to supply electricity to a unit purchased at auction by the respondent, M/s Raghunath Paper Mills Pvt. Ltd., unless the arrears of electricity dues incurred by the previous owner were paid. The respondent filed a writ petition seeking a …

The appellant, a Havildar in the Indian Army, was discharged on 1 April 1995 after a show‑cause notice alleging four "Red Ink Entries" in his service record. He challenged the discharge in the Delhi High Court, which set aside the termination but ordered his reinstatement without salary or other allowances for the peri…

Malayalam Plantations Ltd., a private plantation company, owned five estates in Kerala and sought exemption of 2,588 hectares of land from the vesting provisions of the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971, on the grounds that the land was planted with eucalyptus before vesting and used for firewoo…

The appellant, a partner in a construction firm, entered into arbitration with the respondents over a partnership dispute, resulting in two awards dated 19 April 1997 and 25 November 2000. The appellant sought adjustment of the cross‑award under Order XXI Rules 18 and 19 of the CPC, arguing that the awards could be tre…

The appellant, G. Reddeiah, brother‑in‑law of R. Sreenivasulu, challenged a preventive detention order issued under the Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986, which was passed on 12 November 2010 after the detenue had been released on bail. The detenue was alleged to have repeatedly felled, cut an…

Jagat Pal Singh Cheema, a Section Officer of the Cantonment Board, Jammu, was removed from service following a departmental inquiry. The Board later reconsidered the decision, and its President referred the matter to the Officer Commanding‑in‑Chief (OCIC) under Section 51 of the Cantonments Act, 1924. The OCIC issued a…

The appellant, Saeed Zakir Hussain Malik, challenged a preventive detention order issued under COFEPOSA against his brother, alleging that the order was passed 15 months after the alleged offence and was served 14.5 months later, violating Article 22(5) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined whether such delay…

Phool Kumari was convicted under IPC sections 323, 342, 307 and 34 and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment, later reduced to five years. While incarcerated in Tihar Central Jail she was assigned work as a Sewadar in the Medical Inspection room. She claimed wages for the work done, but the prison superintendent and a vis…

The appellant, Lakhan, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly burning his wife, Savita. Two dying declarations were recorded: the first by an Executive Magistrate stating the death was accidental, and the second by a police ASI accusing the appellant of pouring kerosene and setting her alight. The trial and …

The appellants Atbir and Ashok were convicted for the murder of three members of their step‑mother's family, based solely on the dying declaration of the surviving victim, Sonu (Savita), recorded by a police officer in the presence of a doctor. The Supreme Court held that the declaration was reliable, made in a fit sta…

The dispute arose from a joint venture agreement in which the appellant, Chandran Ratnaswami, alleged that the respondent, K.C. Palanisamy, misappropriated Rs.75 crore and transferred assets improperly. The matter was finally resolved by the Company Law Board and upheld by the Madras High Court, which ordered repayment…

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed a case against MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and 73 others, including Nimmagadda Prasad, under IPC sections 420, 409, 477‑A and the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged land allocation, illegal gratification, hawala transactions and other economic offences. After the charge‑she…

The Supreme Court considered the bail application of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, accused in a massive economic offence case involving alleged corruption, land allotments, and money laundering under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI had filed multiple charge sheets and reported that investigations into s…

The appellant-landlady, Anamika Roy, filed a suit under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 seeking eviction of the tenant, Jatindra Chowrasiya, on the ground of bona‑fide personal requirement of the entire ground‑floor flat. Both the trial court and the first appellate court decreed eviction of the whole premis…

The appellant, Kumar, was convicted for raping his sister‑in‑law and then murdering her and her 13‑month‑old daughter by setting them on fire. The prosecution’s case rested on an extra‑judicial confession made by the accused to a neighbour (PW‑2), corroborated by the neighbour’s testimony, statements of other witnesses…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an appeal seeking cancellation of bail granted to V. Vijay Sai Reddy (A‑2) in a case involving alleged conspiracy, fraud and corruption under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Special Court had granted bail, and the High Court affirmed it, but the Supreme …

Advocates O.P. Sharma and others verbally abused and threatened a Judicial Magistrate in a Faridabad court, using filthy language and slogans. The High Court, acting suo motu, convicted them of criminal contempt under s.2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and sentenced them to simple imprisonment and fine. The adv…

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai issued notices under Section 314 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, directing occupants to remove patra structures on footpaths; after non‑compliance it demolished the structures and later issued another notice to demolish a reconstructed building. The occupants c…

The Union of India (Northern Railways) sought to construct its own transmission lines to draw power directly from NTPC’s thermal power plants, alleging that the tariff charged by UP State Electricity Board (UPSEB) was excessive. UPSEB issued a notice demanding cessation of the construction, prompting the Railways to ch…

The Supreme Court examined a group of appeals challenging High Court orders that granted UGC pay‑scale benefits to lecturers appointed in aided colleges without meeting the statutory eligibility of 54% marks in their Master's degree and without following the prescribed advertisement procedure. The Court held that appoi…

The husband filed a divorce petition on the grounds of cruelty and desertion; the trial court granted the decree, but the High Court, exercising its power under Section 28 of the Hindu Marriage Act, set aside the decree. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the High Court, as the first appellate court, may re‑appreci…

Anita Malhotra, a former non‑executive director of Lapareil Exports (P) Ltd., resigned on 31‑08‑1998. In 2004 the company issued cheques that were later dishonoured, and the Apparel Export Promotion Council filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, naming Malhotra as accused director. Malho…

The respondents challenged the acquisition of their land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Punjab & Haryana High Court ordered the state officials (appellants) to furnish names of landowners whose lands were released without filing objections under Section 5A. The appellants mistakenly supplied information abou…

The deceased Nicolau Fernandes was killed when his scooter was struck by a pick‑up van driven by Joaquim Xavier Cruz on 29 June 1997. His wife and daughters filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which assessed compensation of Rs 6,66,041.78 b…

Dr. Subramanian Swamy filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to incorporate a voter‑verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) in electronic voting machines (EVMs) to allow voters to confirm their votes. The High Court dismissed the petition, prompting an ap…

The appellant, Sushil Sharma, was convicted of murdering his wife Naina Sahni and conspiring with an employee, A2, to burn her body in the tandoor of his restaurant. The prosecution proved the murder and the disposal of the body through a chain of circumstantial evidence, forensic analysis, and the recovery of the appe…

The National Federation of the Blind filed a writ petition seeking enforcement of Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, alleging that the Union failed to provide the mandated 3% reservation for persons with disabilities, especially the blind and low‑vision categories. The High Court directed modificati…

The appellant, a principal of an ITI college, filed a petition for divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 alleging cruelty by his wife, primarily citing an incident on the Lohri festival where she verbally abused his elderly parents. The trial court and the High Court dismissed the petition, finding t…

The appellant purchased a plot of land on 23 April 1986 and sold it the next day to the respondent by a registered sale deed. In 1991-92 the appellant claimed the deed was conditional, asserting that the word "Avadhi" and a clause allowing repurchase within ten years had been inserted after execution. The trial court, …

The vendee, Kammana Sambamurthy, entered into a sale agreement with the vendor, Kalipatnapu Kamaraju, for an entire house, paying an advance of Rs.10,000. The vendor's wife, Kalipatnapu Atchutamma, later claimed a half‑share in the property under Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act and sought cancellation of the agr…

The appellant, the legal representatives of the deceased Har Narain, entered into an agreement for sale of eight kanals of land with the owner, Mam Chand, who later executed a sale deed in favour of respondents 2‑6 on 2 August 1971. The deed was registered on 3 September 1971, after the appellant had filed a suit for s…

The appellants challenged the validity of the State's allocation of land in Survey No. 83 under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, arguing that the land was agricultural and that the earlier High Court judgments declaring the proceedings void should stand. The Supreme Court examined whether the doctrine…

The appellants were charged with kidnapping a 13‑year‑old girl, taking her to Bombay, and selling her for prostitution, violating IPC sections 366A, 372, 373 read with section 34. The trial court convicted two of the accused and acquitted the third; the State appealed, leading the Karnataka High Court to set aside the …

The architect Dinesh Chander Nanda sued the Dharmarth Trust for professional fees after the Trust terminated his services. The Trust contended that the suit was governed by Article 56 of the Jammu and Kashmir Limitation Act, 1995 and was therefore time‑barred, while the lower courts held it fell under the residuary Art…

The Supreme Court reviewed a petition filed by Kamlesh Verma seeking a review of its July 6, 2012 order that quashed FIR No. RC 0062003A0019 against Mayawati, finding that the order was correctly based on the earlier judgment that the 18 September 2003 direction did not authorize a separate FIR on disproportionate asse…

Amit Singh was convicted of multiple offences, including murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He filed a writ petition under Article 32, claiming that he was a juvenile (under 18) at the time of the offence on 1 May 1999, based on his birth certificate and school records showing a birth date of 10 May 1982. The …

The Supreme Court had decreed specific performance, directing the defendants to execute a sale deed for the suit property at its market price as on the date of the judgment. Several interim applications (I.A.s) were filed thereafter seeking modification, clarification, correction of typographical errors, impleadment of…

The appellant was seized on 23 August 1991 while carrying a tin from which police recovered 3.5 kg of opium. He was charged under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and convicted, receiving ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The appellant challenged the convict…

The case arose from the 1984 anti‑Sikh riots that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, where a mob led by the appellants attacked two houses, burnt alive the husband and father‑in‑law of the complainant and looted property. The trial court acquitted the appellants, but the Delhi High Court convic…

The petitioners, including Amit Shah, challenged the registration of a second FIR (dated 29‑04‑2011) and a fresh charge‑sheet (dated 04‑09‑2012) filed by the CBI in connection with the alleged fake encounter of Tulsiram Prajapati, arguing that it violated their fundamental rights under Articles 14, 20 and 21 and contra…

Narmada Bai, the mother of Tulsiram Prajapati, filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that her son was killed in a fake police encounter in Gujarat and that senior police officials and a politician were involved. She sought a direction for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register an FIR, investiga…

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted four accused for the murder of Sri Ram and the serious gunshot injuries to Balak Ram arising from a dispute on 16 October 1979. The trial court convicted them under sections 302, 307 and 379 of the IPC, but the Allahabad High Court acquitted them, relying on alleged minor contradic…

The case concerned a 29‑acre property originally owned by Pedda Jeeyangar Mutt, which was subject to a permanent lease patta dated 11‑03‑1931 in favour of Mandaram Munikannaiah and subsequently sold to the appellants. The Mutt sought eviction of the appellants on the ground of non‑payment of rent under the Andhra Prade…

The appellants owned a 2,475‑sq‑yd plot in Karol Bagh, Delhi, which the Union of India acquired for the public purpose of constructing Joshi Memorial Hospital. The Land Acquisition Collector fixed the market value at Rs 550 per sq yd, which the appellants challenged under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894; t…

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had acquired certain lands under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1995 Brijesh Reddy purchased a portion of such land and later filed a suit in a civil court seeking a permanent injunction restraining the BDA from interfering with his possession. The tr…

Stephanie Joan Becker, an American citizen, applied under Sections 7 and 26 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, to be appointed guardian of a 10‑year‑old Indian orphan named Tina and to take her abroad for adoption. The trial court and the Delhi High Court rejected the applications, holding that Becker, at 53 years o…

Parimal filed a divorce suit against his wife Veena. The wife repeatedly refused to accept the court's notice, after which the trial court proceeded ex‑parte and granted a decree of divorce. Four years later she applied under Order IX Rule 13 CPC to set aside the decree, alleging improper service, fraud and lack of suf…

The appellants Mulla and Guddu were convicted for abducting and murdering five villagers for ransom, based on the testimony of injured eye‑witnesses and a test identification parade (TIP) conducted after a delay. The Supreme Court held that the TIP was properly conducted and its evidence admissible, and that the eye‑wi…

The Karnataka government allotted residential sites to members of a charitable society (the Sangha) through lease‑cum‑sale agreements, which were stamped and later, after ten years, converted into absolute sale deeds. The stamp duty on the sale deeds was collected on the market value at the time of execution, with a cr…

The appellant, Nagpur Golden Transport Company, a common carrier, was ordered by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum to pay Rs.3,60,131 to the consignees (Nath Traders & Ors.) for damaged monoblock pumps. The consignees had already paid this amount to the consignor (respondent No.3), who retained the damaged…

Virgo Industries (Eng.) Ltd filed two suits in 2005 seeking a permanent injunction against VentureTech Solutions Ltd to prevent alienation of two parcels of land. In 2007, while those suits were still pending, Virgo filed two additional suits for specific performance of the same sale agreements. The High Court held the…

The appellant, founder and managing trustee of a technical education society, was accused by a charity trust of forging lease deeds and submitting false information to obtain permission for running a school. The trust alleged that the appellant altered documents, forged a lease for 87 years, and misrepresented facts to…

The case concerns a 1978 incident in which seven accused, including Shyam Babu, were alleged to have fired on a group of villagers, resulting in five deaths and one injury. The trial court acquitted all seven, but the High Court set aside the acquittal and convicted three of the accused; four had died during the penden…

The appellant, GOPAKUMAR B. Nair, sought to have criminal proceedings quashed under Section 482 of the CrPC, arguing that a private settlement with the bank had extinguished the dispute. The High Court of Kerala declined to quash the case, where the appellant was charged with criminal conspiracy under the Prevention of…

The deceased driver of a tractor, employed by Jeeva Rathna Setty, died in an accident while the tractor was owned by Setty, although the original registration was in the name of Gangadhara. The claimants filed a workmen's compensation claim, and the Commissioner held that the insurance policy, though originally issued …

Purnya Kala Devi, a widow, claimed compensation after her husband was killed in a road accident caused by a private bus owned by Md. Abdul Salam, which was under requisition by the State of Assam and uninsured at the time of the accident on 16 February 1993. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held the registered owner …

The Haryana State Co‑op Supply and Marketing Federation supplied cotton bales to Jayam Textiles and the latter issued four cheques that later bounced for insufficient funds. The Federation filed complaints under Sections 138 and 140 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, read with Section 420 of the IPC, but the Magistrate…

The case arose from a contempt petition filed by 74 daily‑rated employees (respondents) who alleged that the State of Karnataka had failed to implement a High Court order dated 15 December 1999 directing their regularisation. While many similarly situated employees had been regularised under a scheme dated 29 December …

The Tamil Nadu Government created 1,880 Computer Instructor posts in higher secondary schools and initially regularized many ad‑hoc instructors without a B.Ed. degree through a special test. After legal challenges, the Supreme Court allowed a one‑time exception for those tests but held that lowering the minimum marks w…

Bharat Petroleum advertised for retail outlet dealerships; the appellant was ranked first with 78.04 marks and respondent No.7 second with 77.75 marks. Respondent No.7 complained that the appellant's land was under a partition suit and that the appellant had not received a Letter of Intent, leading the High Court Singl…

The petitioners, a consortium of newspaper management firms, challenged the constitutionality of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 and its 1974 amendment, alleging violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, as …

The appellant, a clerk in a travel agency, was convicted under sections 120B, 420, 511, 465 and 471 of the IPC for conspiring to obtain 42 passports using forged applications and documents. The prosecution alleged that the travel agency, run by a co‑accused, submitted ante‑dated applications with duplicate file numbers…

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged Pradeep Sharma and co‑accused with murder and conspiracy (IPC ss.302, 120B, 34) for allegedly poisoning the deceased. Both accused were declared absconders and proclaimed offenders under CrPC s.82, and the High Court granted them anticipatory bail under s.438. The Supreme Court exami…

The appellant, Alsia Pardhi, filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking the production of his 14‑year‑old niece, Rajnandani, alleging that forest officials had abducted her from a fish market. The State police, acting on the High Court's direction, recorded statements only of the forest officials and ignored eyewi…

The Palani Roman Catholic Mission (landlord) leased a plot to S. Bhagirath Ammal (tenant) who erected a structure. After the lease expired, the Mission sought possession, and the tenant filed an application under Section 9 of the Madras City Tenants Protection Act, 1921 to purchase the land. While the application was p…

Jameel and Dastgir assaulted Hasib with a lathi, fracturing his left parietal bone. Both were convicted under Section 308 IPC for attempt to commit culpable homicide and sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment; the High Court later acquitted Dastgir but upheld Jameel's conviction. Jameel appealed, contending that…

Kalabharati Advertising, an advertising hoarding firm, had obtained permission from a society and the Municipal Corporation to erect a hoarding in Mumbai. A public interest litigation led the High Court to form a committee that found the hoarding violated certain guidelines, prompting the corporation to issue orders su…

Mayawati, then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging FIR No. RC 0062003A0019 dated 05.10.2003, which the CBI had lodged under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act alleging disproportionate assets. The FIR was said to be based on a Sup…

The appellants Murugan @ Settu (A1) and his accomplices A2 and A3 were convicted for kidnapping, compelling marriage and raping a girl, Shankari (PW‑4). The appellants contended that Shankari was an adult who voluntarily went with A1 and that the birth and school certificates were unreliable. The Supreme Court examined…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of the notification of Smt. Rasila Mehta and Smt. Rina Mehta under the Special Court (Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities) Act, 1992, which was based on a complaint by Canbank Financial Services Ltd. The Court held that the notification was proper despite the…

The case involved a dispute between two brothers over a property under development, where the elder brother (the plaintiff) claimed exclusive ownership and sought a mandatory interim injunction to restrain the younger brother and his son from acting as his attorneys, entering the property, and operating related bank ac…

A Medical Officer employed by Coal India Ltd and posted at its subsidiary Eastern Coalfields Ltd assaulted his senior officer and other staff, leading to disciplinary proceedings that resulted in his dismissal by the subsidiary's CMD. The dismissal was challenged in the Calcutta High Court, which quashed the order and …

Rajendra Prasad Bagaria obtained registration as a pharmacist in Rajasthan on the basis of a registration he had earlier obtained in Sikkim, where he had worked only for two months. The Rajasthan Pharmacy Council, after receiving complaints about ineligible pharmacists, examined his registration and found it irregular,…

Respondents 1‑3 instituted a suit for specific performance of a sale of immovable property. They later filed an application (P‑2) and a joint statement (P‑4) claiming a compromise and seeking dismissal of the suit, but subsequently respondent 1 filed an affidavit (P‑5) alleging that he had never filed the suit and that…

In 1992 a bus and a truck, both traveling at high speed, collided on a highway in Punjab, resulting in the deaths of five passengers. The drivers of the bus (Balwinder Singh) and the truck were convicted under IPC sections 304A, 337 and 279 and sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment for the 304A charge and six mo…

The appellant, Akram Khan, was one of seven accused who kidnapped a four‑year‑old boy in Kolkata and demanded ransom, threatening to kill the child if the demand was not met. The prosecution proved the kidnapping, detention, and ransom demands through the testimony of the child, his father, a newspaper vendor and a tel…

The parties were married in 1992 and had two daughters. They obtained a decree of divorce by mutual consent in 2003, expressly agreeing that the husband would have sole custody of the children and the wife would forego visitation rights. The wife later challenged the decree on grounds of fraud and also sought custody/v…

The appellants Baliya and Gopal were convicted under Sections 120B and 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Pradeep, based on alleged conspiracy to kill him after a pamphlet scandal. The prosecution relied on two alleged eye‑witnesses, one of whom was declared hostile, and on circumstantial evidence such as t…