Constitution of India

The Governor of Jharkhand issued a 2016 notification reserving 100% of Class III and IV district‑level teaching posts for local residents of thirteen scheduled districts. This was challenged as violating Articles 14, 16(2), 16(3), 35 and the non‑obstante clause of Paragraph 5(1) of the Fifth Schedule. The High Court de…

The respondent, a former agricultural assistant of the Central Bank of India, was dismissed in 1982 on charges of impersonating his brother in a recruitment test. An industrial tribunal in 2008 held the dismissal unjustified and ordered reinstatement without back wages. The respondent filed a 2009 writ petition challen…

The Supreme Court considered a group of civil appeals challenging service‑tax assessments on composite (indivisible) works contracts that were levied for periods before the Finance Act, 2007 introduced a definition of "works contract" under s.65(105)(zzzza) of the Finance Act, 1994. The Revenue argued that service tax …

The petitioner, Siddharth Mukesh Bhandari, filed FIRs in 2019 and the accused filed Special Criminal Applications under Article 226 of the Constitution and Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quash of the proceedings. The Gujarat High Court initially stayed any coercive steps on 10‑Oct‑2019, an order that the Supreme Court…

The appellant, a senior advocate, challenged several disparaging remarks made by a High Court judge against him in four separate cases where he represented a party. The judge's comments criticized the counsel's conduct without giving him an opportunity to be heard, and the remarks were deemed unnecessary for the adjudi…

Petitioner Rajinder Goel, a senior judicial officer, was recommended for compulsory retirement by the Full Court of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the ground of multiple unexplained large bank transactions. The High Court’s Administrative Committee had earlier initiated disciplinary proceedings, and although two …

The appellant Ritesh Sinha was implicated in a fraud case and the police sought a voice sample to match a recorded phone conversation. The Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered him to appear and give his voice sample, which the appellant challenged under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. The High Court upheld the magistrate's ord…

Col. Rajnish Bhandari appealed against the Union of India challenging the constitutionality of Section 497 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and the continuation of prosecution under Section 63 of the Army Act after an acquittal subject to confirmation. The Court, relying on the Joseph Shine judgment, held that Section 49…

The petitioner, Dharmendra Kirthal, challenged the constitutional validity of Section 12 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti‑Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, which mandates that trials before Special Courts have precedence over any other trial of the accused, keeping other proceedings in abeyance. He argue…

The Supreme Court dismissed the criminal appeal of Budhadev Karmaskar, who was convicted of murdering a sex worker, and suo motu converted the matter into a public interest litigation to address the plight of sex workers nationwide. The Court held that sex workers are human beings entitled to life with dignity under Ar…

The appellants, permit‑holders of tourist buses, were fined for loading luggage on the roof of their vehicles and challenged the fines on the ground that Rule 128(9) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 does not expressly forbid such carriage and that the restriction violates their Article 19(1)(g) right to trade.…

Star Wire (India) Vidyut Pvt. Ltd. operates a 9.90 MW biomass plant that became commercially operational on 3 May 2013. The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) amended its 2010 tariff regulations by a notification dated 12 August 2015, classifying projects commissioned in FY 2013‑14 differently from those …

The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA), created under the U.P. Industrial Area Development Act, 1976, challenged income‑tax notices on the ground that it qualified as a "local authority" and was therefore exempt under section 10(20) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 as amended by the Finance Act, 2002. The ce…

The Punjab & Haryana High Court, on suo moto basis, registered a public interest litigation after noticing that empanelled advocates of four public sector insurance companies were not appearing in a motor accident case and alleged non‑payment of fees. The Division Bench directed the insurers to adhere to all three GIPS…

Arnesh Kumar, husband of Sweta Kiran, was charged under IPC s.498-A and the Dowry Prohibition Act s.4. He sought anticipatory bail, which was denied by the trial court and the High Court, prompting a petition before the Supreme Court. The Court examined the statutory framework governing police arrests without a warrant…

The Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, a state corporation, had two categories of engineers—those transferred from the former Local Self‑Government Engineering Department and those directly recruited. While the State amended its fundamental rules to raise the superannuation age from 58 to 60 years for government servants, the Ni…

The Commissioner of Police, Delhi, cancelled the candidature of two applicants, Mehar Singh and Shani Kumar, for the post of constable after a Screening Committee found them unsuitable despite their acquittal in criminal cases involving serious offences and moral turpitude. Both candidates had disclosed their involveme…

The appellants, convicted of murder under Section 302 and kidnapping for ransom under Section 364A of the Indian Penal Code, were sentenced to death. They challenged the constitutional validity of Section 364A on the grounds that prescribing death for kidnapping for ransom violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitutio…

The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) sought review of a Supreme Court judgment that fixed compensation for land acquired for an industrial township, alleging that the market value was based on a fraudulent sale deed (Exhibit P1) between two companies allegedly under common management and that th…

The appellant, a married daughter, applied for allotment of a fair‑price shop under the dependent quota after her mother, the previous dealer, died. The Sub‑Divisional Magistrate and the Deputy Commissioner rejected her claim, relying on a clause in the 2016 Uttar Pradesh Essential Commodities Order that excluded "marr…

The State of Punjab appealed a High Court order that granted regular bail to Balraj Singh, who was accused of directing a heroin trafficking network from inside jail and was charged under Sections 21(c), 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. The High Court had relied on the length of the respondent's custody and the anticipat…

The marriage between Dr. Sonal Talpada and Dr. Veerbhan Singh, solemnised in 2007, quickly deteriorated, with the parties cohabiting for only two to three months and living apart for about fifteen years thereafter. The husband filed a divorce petition in 2009 alleging cruelty, primarily the wife's persistent refusal to…

The respondents filed a suit seeking declaration of title and possession of land, which the appellants contended was forest land vested in the State of Andhra Pradesh. The State was a party in the trial court and the first appellate court but was not impleaded in the second appeal before the High Court. The High Court …

The State of Odisha appealed against the High Court's order directing that applications for rehabilitation assistance be considered under the 1990 Rules, despite the later 2020 Rules. The petitioners argued that the 2020 Rules, which mandated that pending cases be dealt with under their provisions, should apply even to…

The appellant, a Scheduled Caste candidate with benchmark disabilities, secured a high rank in the NEET‑UG 2024 examination and applied for admission to the MBBS UG course at AIIMS, New Delhi under the SC‑PwBD quota. The Vardhman Mahavir Medical College’s disability certification board deemed him ineligible under NMC n…

The Supreme Court examined a public‑interest writ petition challenging COVID‑19 vaccine mandates, the disclosure of segregated clinical trial data, the emergency approvals of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN, the adequacy of the adverse‑event‑following‑immunisation (AEFI) system, and the policy of vaccinating children. It held t…

The Supreme Court heard an appeal concerning the erosion of the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga lingam at Ujjain, allegedly caused by water, impure puja offerings and inadequate maintenance. The Court clarified that it does not interfere with the manner of religious rituals but may order preventive conservation measures to p…

The State of Uttar Pradesh alleged that Sunil, along with his brother‑in‑law Suresh Pal Singh, murdered the complainant's father, mother and two sisters. A confessional statement by the deceased brother‑in‑law led to the recovery of a knife and blood‑stained clothing, but the prosecution could not directly link Sunil t…

Mumbai Waste Management Ltd. (MWM) was allotted a western Maharashtra belt for hazardous waste collection under a 2005 letter of award. Later, SMS Infrastructure Ltd. received a consent for overlapping areas, prompting MWM to challenge the curtailment of its territory, arguing that the 2008 Hazardous Waste Rules stripp…

Two Indian fishermen were killed when an Italian-flagged vessel, M.T. Enrica Lexie, allegedly opened fire while its Naval Military Protection Squad (NMP) was on board. The Kerala Police detained the vessel and a Circle Inspector issued a notice prohibiting it from sailing without permission. The vessel challenged the d…

The senior manager of Punjab & Sind Bank was dismissed for conniving with an officer and a gunman to misappropriate customer funds. The two co‑offenders received lighter penalties – compulsory retirement for the gunman and a pay reduction for the officer. The manager challenged the dismissal, alleging discrimination un…

The respondent, A.S. Raghavendra, was appointed by Bharti Airtel Limited as Regional Business Head (South) in the grade of Senior Manager (B2)‑Sales with a salary of Rs.22 lakh per annum and supervised four Account Managers. After resigning in 2011, he claimed his resignation was forced and filed a petition before the …

Level 9 Biz Pvt. Ltd. challenged a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that allowed HIMUDA to withdraw its cancellation of an earlier tender and let the originally successful bidder, M/s Vasu Constructions, execute the project on the same terms despite the tender having been cancelled on grounds of irregularities. The Hi…

The appellant, a Junior Telecom Officer promoted to Sub‑Divisional Engineer under the seniority‑cum‑fitness quota, challenged the seniority list prepared by the Department of Telecommunications, arguing that seniority should be fixed according to dated executive orders and that the ROTA rule should apply. The seniority…

National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL) paid $38 million for urea to a Turkish company, Karsan, but never received the product. The manager of Karsan, Tuncay Alankus, was extradited to India and faced criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court, on 4 September 2006 and again on 14 December 2006, restrained Alankus from withdrawing…

The appellants, owners of a stud farm and agricultural land, challenged the re‑acquisition of their 52.74 acres by the State of Haryana, arguing that the land had already been released and that the State’s decision to re‑acquire it violated Sections 5‑A and 6(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and the constitutional …

Sterlite Industries obtained environmental clearance and consent orders to set up a copper smelter in Tuticorin in 1995. The Madras High Court ordered its closure, citing lack of a mandatory public hearing, violation of a 25‑km distance condition from an ecologically sensitive area, and an inadequate green‑belt require…

Abdul Nasar Adam Ismail was detained under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) to prevent future smuggling. He challenged the detention on two grounds: that the detaining authority had not independently considered his representation and that t…

The Supreme Court examined whether visually impaired candidates are suitable for judicial service and whether recent amendments to the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service Rules (Rule 6A and the proviso to Rule 7) violated constitutional equality and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The Court held that vis…

The writ petitions challenged the constitutional validity of the practice of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) solely by the executive. The Supreme Court examined Article 324(2) and Constituent Assembly debates, concluding that Parliament was intended to enact a law gover…

The petitioners challenged the President's Constitution Orders 272 and 273 (5 August 2019) that made the entire Indian Constitution applicable to Jammu & Kashmir, arguing that the orders were unconstitutional. They sought a reference to a larger Bench, contending that two earlier Supreme Court judgments—Prem Nath Kaul …

The State of Himachal Pradesh acquired land for a road widening project and, to expedite the process, entered into negotiated settlements for compensation. A Negotiated Award dated 11‑09‑2008 fixed the land value and barred any enhancement under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, while a Supplementary Negotiated A…

Ravi Yashwant Bhoir, elected President of Uran Municipal Council, was disqualified for the remainder of his term and barred for six years under Section 558 of the Maharashtra Municipal Councils Act on allegations of misconduct, including failure to call a General Body meeting and awarding tenders at higher rates. The S…

Prahalad Patel was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering Daulat, the brother of two witnesses, after a petty dispute over thrown bushes. The prosecution presented eye‑witness testimony, corroborative statements from the victim's brothers, medical reports indicating homicidal injuries, seizure of the axe, and fo…

The deceased Surender Kumar, a 29‑year‑old villager, was fatally injured when a tempo (HR‑34‑8010) struck him. His widow and three minor children filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and the High Court rejected the claim because the FIR did not rec…

The case concerned a petition by Sandeep Singh Bora (appellant) challenging a High Court interim order that directed the Returning Officer to allot a party symbol to respondent Narendra Singh Deopa and allow him to contest the Zila Panchayat election after his nomination had been cancelled for alleged non‑disclosure. T…

The dispute arose from a partnership where Rajia Begum claimed a 50.33% stake based on an Admission Deed dated 17 April 2007, which she alleged was forged. The High Court, in one proceeding, referred the suit to arbitration under Section 8 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, while in another it refused to ap…

The State of Tamil Nadu filed a suit under Article 131 of the Constitution against Karnataka and the Union of India, seeking a declaration that Karnataka's construction of check dams and diversion structures on the Pennaiyar River without Tamil Nadu's consent was illegal and violated the fundamental rights of its inhab…

The petitioner, a 25% permanently disabled candidate with focal hand dystonia, sought a scribe, compensatory time and other accommodations for various recruitment examinations, arguing that the Office Memorandum dated 10.08.2022 limited such facilities to only Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The Court exami…

The respondents booked an apartment with Godrej Projects and paid a 20% earnest money deposit as per the Apartment Buyer Agreement. After the developer offered possession in June 2017, the respondents cancelled the purchase citing a market recession and demanded a full refund of Rs.51,12,310 with interest. The NCDRC or…

The appellant, Vinod K. Bhagora, served as a Postal Assistant for the Central Government from 1983 to 1993 and then joined the Gujarat State Government as a Senior Assistant after obtaining a No‑Objection Certificate and tendering a technical resignation. He sought to have his ten years of Central Government service co…

The petitioners, teachers appointed in West Bengal madrasas, filed contempt petitions seeking release of their salaries after the Supreme Court upheld the West Bengal Madrasa Service Commission Act, 2008, overturning a High Court decision that had declared parts of the Act unconstitutional. The Supreme Court had earlie…

The State of Rajasthan advertised vacancies for Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in 2013, requiring candidates to possess the Rajasthan State Certificate in Information Technology (RSCIT) by 22 March 2013. The respondent, a widow, applied after the deadline without the RSCIT qualification and was rejected. She obtained the q…

The Bangalore City Cooperative Housing Society sought acquisition of 207 acres of land for a housing scheme, entering into an agreement with the State Government and an estate agent who was paid over Rs 5 crores to secure the acquisition. The High Court quashed the acquisition, holding that no housing scheme had been f…

The respondent, a government engineer, was charged with misconduct and suspended. He repeatedly requested copies of documents relied upon in the charge‑sheet, but the department failed to provide them, violating Rule 7(5) of the Uttar Pradesh Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999. The enquiry officer a…

Serosoft Solutions and Dexter Capital Advisors were in arbitration over unpaid fees. During the arbitration, the respondent sought additional time to cross‑examine the appellant's witness RW‑1, which the arbitral tribunal rejected, holding that sufficient opportunity had already been given. The respondent appealed to t…

Vashist Narayan Kumar, a reserved‑category candidate, applied for the post of Police Constable and cleared the written exam and Physical Eligibility Test. The online application, filled at a cyber‑café, mistakenly recorded his date of birth as 08‑12‑1997 instead of the correct 18‑12‑1997 shown on his school mark sheet.…

The Supreme Court, by a 4:1 majority, upheld the constitutional validity of the Central Government's notification dated 8th November 2016 demonetising all series of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 bank notes under Section 26(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The majority held that the word 'any' in Section 26(2) includes …

The appellant, Prem Singh, was convicted of murdering his two sons by manual strangulation and of causing the disappearance of evidence by throwing their bodies into a canal. The trial and high courts held that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt through a cogent chain of circumstantial evidence, th…

The Delhi High Court suo motu initiated contempt proceedings against the editor, city editor, publisher and cartoonist of the newspaper Mid Day for publishing articles and a cartoon that alleged judicial impropriety by former Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, deeming the publications contemptuous of the Supreme Court. The …

The Supreme Court examined the chronic delay in disposal of serious criminal cases in district courts, noting that many stays were issued by High Courts under Art. 226 of the Constitution and Sections 397/482 of the CrPC. It evaluated the Law Commission's "rate of disposal" method and the criticisms thereof, and consid…

Krishna Narayan Tewari, an officer of Allahabad Bank, was suspended in 2004 and subjected to a disciplinary enquiry that concluded he was guilty of misconduct, leading to his removal from service in 2005. His departmental appeal was dismissed, and he filed a writ petition before the Allahabad High Court, which quashed …

The Gujarat Lokayukta post remained vacant since 2003 and the State Government sought to appoint Justice R.A. Mehta under the Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986. The Act requires the Governor to appoint the Lokayukta after "consultation" with the Chief Justice of the High Court and, where applicable, the Leader of Opposition.…

Dr. G. Sadhasivan Nair, a former lecturer and later professor at Cochin University of Science and Technology, sought to have his eight years of practice as an advocate counted as qualifying service for his superannuation pension under Rule 25(a) of the Kerala Service Rules. The University rejected his claim, relying on…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute where Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) terminated the LPG distributorship granted to ex‑servicemen respondents under a letter of allotment that referred to a "standard agreement" which was never supplied or executed. The Court held that, because the standard agreement was not concl…

The appellants' land was compulsorily acquired in 1981 for an Indian Army field firing range under the Rajasthan Land Acquisition Act, 1953, and although compensation was awarded, it was never fully paid. The State Government issued a series of policy circulars, culminating in the circular dated 13 December 2001, promi…

Babasaheb Maruti Kamble was convicted of murder, rape and kidnapping, receiving a death sentence for murder, life imprisonment for rape and two months' simple imprisonment for kidnapping. The Sessions Court referred the death sentence to the High Court, which affirmed both conviction and death penalty. Kamble filed a S…

The Central Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha (CESU) appointed its Chairman, a retired officer, to also discharge the functions of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and paid him a consolidated honorarium. A public‑interest litigation sought a writ of quo warranto to quash this arrangement and directed recovery of the ho…

The Uttarakhand Director of School Education advertised for Assistant Teachers (General) requiring a B.Ed. degree simplicitor. The respondents held B.Ed. degrees with Specialisation in Vocational Education, which the authorities deemed not to satisfy the qualification. The High Court set aside the rejection, but the St…

The case concerns the murder of Suresh Chandra, who was tied up and assaulted with lathis and dandas by five accused including Kishan Ram, Pani Ram, Dev Singh, Har Ram and Chandan Singh. The trial court and the High Court convicted the five under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC and sentenced them to life i…

Arvind Gupta filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the Comptroller and Auditor General of India's (CAG) power to issue performance audit reports under the Regulations on Audit and Accounts, 2007, framed pursuant to the Comptroller & Auditor General's (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Services) Act, 1971. T…

The case concerned the conviction of Tarun Sharma under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Munish Kumar, based primarily on a dying declaration recorded by a police Sub‑Inspector. The Supreme Court examined whether the dying declaration was reliable, given that the victim had been unconscious for most of the period, the…

The State of Telangana and its agencies challenged the High Court's expansion of the definition of ‘local candidate’ under the Telangana Medical & Dental Colleges Admission Rules, 2017, arguing that the definition is prescribed by the Presidential Order issued under Article 371D and the 1983 Act and cannot be altered b…

The appellant, Sau. Sangeeta, was elected as Gatneta (Group Leader) of the INCPS Party, a Panchayat Samiti party formed by four elected members of the Shrirampur Panchayat Samiti, in a 2017 meeting chaired by the Ahmednagar District INC President. The meeting resolution gave the District President the power to change t…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over the reservation of the Mayor's office in Dhule Municipal Corporation. The State of Maharashtra had notified that the post would be reserved for the Backward Class (BC) for the term starting June 2021, despite earlier reservations for BC and no reservation for Scheduled Castes (…

Shri Venkateshwara University sought renewal of its Letter of Permission (LOP) to admit MBBS students for 2017‑18 after the Medical Council of India (MCI) inspected the college on 9 December 2016 and recommended debarment for 2017‑18 and 2018‑19. The university argued that the inspection violated clause 8(3)(l)(d) of t…

The Saraswati Educational Charitable Trust sought to establish a medical college and was granted conditional permission for the 2016-17 session. The Medical Council of India (MCI) conducted an inspection in November 2016, finding only minor deficiencies (faculty 1.5% and residents 6.52%) within permissible limits. A se…

Cardamom Marketing Corporation and another, registered dealers under the Kerala General Sales Tax Act and Kerala Value Added Tax Act, challenged a 2002 government notification that levied an additional court fee on appeals and revisions before tribunals, directing the proceeds to the Kerala Legal Benefit Fund. They arg…

The appellant, a Head Constable with 34 years of service, was dismissed after his son and two others were arrested for stealing a car under Section 392 IPC, the car being recovered from the government quarters occupied by the appellant. The disciplinary authority held the appellant guilty of negligence, indiscipline, a…

The Supreme Court, by a 6:1 majority, overruled its earlier decision in E.V. Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh and held that sub-classification of Scheduled Castes for the purpose of reservation is constitutionally permissible. The Court examined whether the Scheduled Castes constitute a homogenous class under Artic…

The respondents were appointed to the Eastern Railway on compassionate grounds, but the railway authority later discovered that the documents supporting their claims were forged and terminated their services. The respondents challenged the termination before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which dismissed their ap…

Madhusudan Bhanuprasad Pandya, who operated a cement pipe manufacturing business on leasehold land in Ahmedabad, applied for exemption under Section 20 of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976. The State Government rejected the application, and the High Court dismissed his writ petition, holding that the la…

Parveen Kumar was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009. In 2022 he applied for remission under the 2002 Haryana remission policy, which required the Governor’s approval under Article 161 of the Constitution, but his application was rejected on the ground that the later 2008 policy, issued unde…

The case concerned a workman who was dismissed by the Nava Naroda Gram Panchayat and later entered into a compromise with the Sarpanch for reinstatement and back wages. The Labour Court upheld the compromise, but the Gram Panchayat and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation challenged its validity, arguing that the Sarpanch l…

The appellant, a helmsman on the cargo ship "Lok Prem", was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly murdering a fellow helmsman, L. Shivaraman, based primarily on circumstantial evidence and an alleged extra‑judicial confession to an engine officer. The prosecution relied on the appellant's fingerprints on a bloo…

The husband, Darshan Gupta, filed a petition for dissolution of marriage on the grounds of cruelty (s.13(1)(ia)) and his wife’s alleged incurable unsound mind (s.13(1)(iii)) under the Hindu Marriage Act. The wife, Radhika Gupta, sought restitution of conjugal rights. The Family Court and High Court dismissed the husban…

The case concerned a claim by a Motor Vehicles Inspector (Grade II) for out‑of‑turn/accelerated promotion to Regional Transport Officer under Rule 36(b)(ii) of the Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Services Rules. The appellant senior officers argued that the Special Rules governing promotion and transfer in the Tamil N…

Retired police inspector N. Sengodan issued a press statement urging the formation of a police association. The State of Tamil Nadu declared him a "goonda" and detained him under Section 3(2) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1982, also filing criminal charges under the Police (Incitement to Dis…

The petitioners, including Essar Teleholdings Ltd., challenged the Delhi High Court's administrative order and the NCT of Delhi's notification appointing a Special Judge to try the 2G spectrum case, arguing that the Special Judge lacked jurisdiction to try IPC offences (420/120‑B) arising from the same transaction. The…

The State of Rajasthan acquired 15.5 hectares of land to set up a North‑Western Railway Zone complex and staff quarters. The landowners challenged the acquisition, arguing that because the project was a railway (a Union subject) only the Central Government could be the "appropriate Government" under Sections 4 and 6 of…

The appellants were charged under Section 420 IPC for allegedly cheating a complainant of Rs 30 lakhs and sought anticipatory bail, arguing that the offence fell within the jurisdiction of a Gram Panchayat under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. The High Court dismissed their bail applications and a subsequent writ …

The State of Uttarakhand dissolved the Municipal Council of Haridwar and appointed an Administrator under the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act, 1959, to facilitate its conversion into a Municipal Corporation. The Chairman, Kamal Jora, challenged the dissolution on the ground that no hearing was afforded to the …

The liquidator of a corporate debtor filed an appeal under Section 62 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) after the 45‑day filing period but within the 60‑day grace period, and the appeal was marked defective. The liquidator failed to cure the defects within the 28‑day period prescribed by the Supreme Court Rul…

The Supreme Court examined whether holders of the "Vaidya Visharad" or "Ayurved Ratna" certificates issued by the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag after 1967 could practice medicine under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970, and whether the cut‑off date of 1967 in Entry 105 of the Act’s Second Schedule was arbi…

The appellants, recruited as Sub‑Inspectors of Police through direct recruitment, challenged a Government Order dated 21‑11‑2017 that granted seniority to 20% in‑service candidates over those recruited from the open market. The order retrospectively amended Rule 25 of the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Service Rules, 19…

The appellant, Ram Balak Singh, claimed possession of 0.32 decimal of land that had been settled in favour of his adoptive father Makhan Singh by an ex‑landlord and later recorded in his name by the Consolidation Officer under the Bihar Consolidation Act. After the consolidation proceedings closed, the State of Bihar a…

The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) conducted a recruitment process for 571 posts, but an amendment to Rule 4 of the Madhya Pradesh State Service Examination Rules, 2015 on 17‑02‑2020 altered the method of segregating reservation‑category candidates and was applied to the ongoing examination. This led …

The Supreme Court examined three criminal appeals arising from chargesheets filed in Uttar Pradesh that were alleged to lack sufficient factual detail and evidence under Section 173(2) of the CrPC. It considered whether a chargesheet must contain detailed facts and material evidence to enable a magistrate to take cogni…

The appellant and respondent were married in 1998 and later lived separately, leading the husband to file a suit for dissolution of marriage which was dismissed by the trial, district and high courts. While the appeal was pending before the Supreme Court, the parties reached an amicable settlement through mediation, ag…

The Supreme Court examined the conduct of a court‑appointed Administrator who was tasked with amending the Constitution of the Archery Association of India (AAI) and conducting elections. The Administrator unilaterally introduced several amendments beyond the four changes expressly approved by the Court in its order of…

The Little Andaman Panchayat Samiti, consisting of five elected members and one Member of Parliament (MP) as an ex‑officio member, scheduled a special meeting to consider a no‑confidence motion against the Pramukh. Only three elected members attended, and the Executive Officer dissolved the meeting, holding that a quor…

The case concerned an amendment to the recruitment rules of the Labour Department of Pondicherry that equated the post of Principal, Grade ‘A’ (Senior Scale) with the post of Joint Chief Inspector of Factories (JCIF). The Central Administrative Tribunal and the Madras High Court had set aside the amendment, holding tha…

The case involved the murder of Satyawati, who was allegedly killed by her in‑laws for refusing to pay dowry. Four family members were tried; Jwala Singh was acquitted while Tribhuwan Singh, Makoi Devi and Chandra Bhawan Singh were convicted by the trial court. The High Court upheld the convictions of Tribhuwan Singh a…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by Suraz India Trust, which had repeatedly approached the Court with 64 public‑interest litigations and several contempt petitions, none of which resulted in any relief. The Court found that the Trust’s actions amounted to an abuse of the judicial process, wasting valuab…

The appellant Savitri Pandey and Raju Pandey were named in an FIR filed in 2014 by their sister‑in‑law alleging fraudulent sale deeds executed in 1994 concerning joint family land. The High Court dismissed their writ petition under Article 226 seeking quashing of the FIR. The Supreme Court examined whether such a writ …

The Rajasthan Housing Board and the original Khatedars appealed against a Division Bench order that granted the New Pink City Nirman Sahkari Samiti Ltd. (the Society) a right to compensation and 25% of the developed land after the State acquired the land under the Rajasthan Land Acquisition Act, 1953. The Court held th…

Mahendra Nath Das was convicted of two murders, one of which attracted a death sentence that was confirmed by the High Court and the Supreme Court. He filed a mercy petition under Article 72 of the Constitution seeking commutation to life imprisonment, but the petition was rejected after a twelve‑year delay. The appell…

The State of Rajasthan filed a fresh batch of Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) challenging a High Court order dated 29‑11‑2011, which had already been the subject of earlier SLPs that were dismissed. The Supreme Court examined whether a coordinate bench could entertain new SLPs against the same impugned order when the ma…

The appellants, a company and its directors, were alleged to have acquired shares of a Singapore entity without RBI approval, violating Section 4 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The Enforcement Directorate seized their assets under Section 37A, but the Competent Authority later refused to confirm the sei…

The appellants, I.K. Merchants Pvt. Ltd. and others, sold their shares in a state-owned company in 1973 for Rs.11.50 per share and later sought a higher valuation, which was finally fixed at Rs.640 per share by a court-appointed valuer. The State of Rajasthan, as respondent, delayed payment for over five decades, leadi…

The Kerala Public Service Commission advertised 12 Boat Lascar vacancies requiring a current Lascar's licence, but the appellant, holding a higher Syrang's licence, applied and was placed first in the ranked list and advised for appointment. While the appointment was pending, two applications were filed before the Kera…

The State of Kerala filed an original suit under Article 131 of the Constitution challenging the Union of India's imposition of a Net Borrowing Ceiling that limited the State's ability to raise funds, including borrowings by State‑Owned Enterprises and public‑account liabilities. Kerala sought a mandatory interim injun…

The petitioner filed a public interest litigation before the Gujarat High Court under Article 226 challenging a Gujarat Government resolution that created a Governing Council and an Executive Council for the redevelopment of the Gandhi Ashram Memorial (Sabarmati Ashram) and sought that the existing trusts spearhead the…

Three pharmaceutical units in Ankleshwar began operations without obtaining the prior environmental clearance (EC) mandated by the 1994 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification. The Ministry of Environment and Forests issued a 2002 circular allowing defaulting units to obtain an ex‑post‑facto EC, which the Na…

The appellant was arrested in 2007 in connection with a bomb‑defusing case and, while in police custody, gave a confessional statement that was recorded by a Superintendent of Police under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987. The appellant contended that the confession was not v…

The Supreme Court examined whether the doctrine of prospective overruling applied in Kailash Chand Sharma's case— which struck down bonus marks based on domicile for primary school teacher appointments— could be extended to a large group of appointees who were not parties before the High Court. The appellants, whose se…

Bharatkumar Shantilal Thakkar, a subordinate judicial officer in Gujarat, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the implementation of the 1st National Judicial Pay Commission's recommendation of three advance increments for judges with higher law qualifications. The Gujarat Government, by a resolution dated 14…

The landlord filed an eviction suit which was dismissed by the trial court; the appellate court reversed that decision, finding that the landlord had a bona‑fide need for the premises under Section 7(5) of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act and ordered the tenants to vacate. The tenants obtained a writ of certiorari from…

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) acquired land under the Bangalore Improvement Act, 1945, with possession handed over to the government on 9 December 1983. A de‑notification under Section 48(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was issued on 5 October 1999, and later recalled on 27 June 2000. The Karnataka Hig…

The Supreme Court examined whether the State of Bihar could file an appeal under Section 378(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 against an acquittal rendered by a Special CBI Judge when the offence was investigated by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI). The Court held that the opening words "save as o…

The dispute arose from a terminated distributorship agreement between Varun Beverages Ltd. and the complainant, who alleged non‑payment of commissions and issued a cheque that later bounced. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and later a Section 156(3) Cr.P.C.…

Punalur Paper Mills Ltd. owned premises that were requisitioned by the West Bengal government in 1973. Section 10B of the West Bengal Premises Requisition Act required the property to be released within 25 years, i.e., by 15 August 1998, but the State failed to do so and later attempted to acquire the land using a noti…

The case involved two civil appeals (Nos. 2432 and 2433) arising from special leave petitions (SLPs) filed by Khoday Distilleries Ltd. after a High Court decree in a money suit. Both SLPs were dismissed by the Supreme Court in limine without reasons. The appellants then sought review of the High Court's judgment, raisi…

The Supreme Court considered two writ petitions challenging a Gujarat Government resolution and subsequent amendment of the Gujarat Minor Mineral Rules that prohibited the movement of sand excavated in Gujarat to other states or countries. The petitioners argued that the State’s rule‑making power under Sections 15 and …

Smita Sharad Deshmukh, an employee of State Bank of India, submitted a forged CAIIB Part‑II certificate to obtain additional salary. A domestic enquiry found the certificate forged and dismissed her; the dismissal was upheld by the Appellate Authority and the Industrial Tribunal. The High Court, exercising its writ jur…

The petitioners were tenants of a commercial premises under a conducting agreement and were ordered by the High Court to vacate within a year, later receiving a four‑month extension. They filed an unconditional undertaking to vacate, but subsequently sought a review and a further five‑year extension, claiming the High …

The appellants challenged the acquisition of their land for a bus stand, arguing that the preliminary notification issued on 01‑05‑1980 had lapsed because the declaration under Section 6 was made on 19‑03‑1987, well beyond the two‑year limit imposed by Section 5(2) of the 1981 Amendment Act, and that the State’s invoca…

The appellant, a superintendent at KAVIKA, was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe in exchange for allocating transport loads. The Supreme Court examined whether the statutory presumption under s.20 of the Act could be rebutted; it held that the appellant’…

GVK Industries Ltd. challenged a tax order that invoked sections 9(1)(i) and 9(1)(vii)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, arguing that the provisions were unconstitutional for lacking a nexus with India. The High Court upheld the tax provision, relying on the ECIL judgment, prompting a Supreme Court reference to a Constit…

The Supreme Court examined the selection process for District Judge posts in Jharkhand where the High Court, via a Full Court resolution, introduced a 50% aggregate marks requirement after candidates' performances were already assessed. Petitioners challenged this alteration, arguing it violated the 2001 Rules, the 201…

The original appellant, owner of land subject to the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, claimed that ceiling proceedings became void after the Act was repealed in 1999 and filed a writ petition in 2002. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the writ on 14 March 2008, finding the appellant could not prove posse…

Gautam Mazumdar died in a road accident in 2007, and his widow and minor daughter filed a compensation claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). MACT dismissed the claim for lack of territorial jurisdiction and the review petition was also dismissed. The appellants then filed a petition under Article 227 …

The Supreme Court examined a batch of interlocutory orders by the Allahabad High Court that stayed criminal investigations and trials, resulting in cases remaining pending for years, some up to three decades. The Court held that while High Courts have the power under Article 226 and Section 482 of the CrPC to stay proc…

The State of Punjab appealed the acquittal of CRPF constable Dalbir Singh, who had been charged under Sections 302, 307 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act for firing a self‑loading rifle that resulted in the death of a senior officer. The High Court acquitted him on the basis of irreconcilable inconsistencies in the pr…

R.K. Chopra, a Desk Officer, was suspended from service in 1989 and remained under suspension when the Central Civil Services (Revision Pay) Rules, 1997 came into force on 1 January 1996. He claimed entitlement to a revised subsistence allowance based on the new pay scale, filing representations which were rejected, an…

The Delhi High Court advertised 20 District Judge vacancies, reserving three for Scheduled Castes. Two SC candidates, Ramesh Kumar and Desh Raj Chalia, cleared the written test but were deemed unsuitable because they failed to obtain the prescribed minimum marks in the interview. They filed writ petitions under Article…

The appellant, a foreign national serving as Project Manager for Hyundai Engineering & Construction India LLP, was named in FIR No.64/2020 alleging conspiracy and cheating in a Rs 9‑crore payment default involving multiple subcontractors. The appellant sought quashing of the FIR on the ground that the allegations were …

The appellant, B.N. John, owned a hostel for underprivileged children and alleged that officials raided it illegally on 3 June 2015, falsely accusing him of assaulting them. An FIR was lodged under IPC s.353, and a charge‑sheet later added s.186, leading the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) to take cognizance and issue …

The appellants purchased residential plots in Bengaluru between 1995 and 1997, which were later acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) under a preliminary notification dated 29 January 2003. Although possession was taken in 2005, no compensation award was made until a Special Land Acquisit…

The Supreme Court examined a series of seven ordinances issued by the Governor of Bihar between 1989 and 1992 to take over non‑government Sanskrit schools. None of the ordinances were laid before the state legislature as required by Article 213(2) and they were repeatedly re‑promulgated, violating the precedent set in …