Constitution of India

The Delhi Development Authority and other government bodies filed a batch of appeals and petitions seeking condonation of delay for challenging High Court orders that declared land acquisition proceedings under the 1894 Act to have lapsed under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act. The appellants argued that subsequent judici…

The Government of NCT of Delhi and the Delhi Development Authority filed a batch of review petitions challenging Supreme Court judgments that had dismissed civil appeals and special leave petitions which held land‑acquisition proceedings under the 1894 Act to be deemed lapsed under Section 24(2) of the 2013 Act, relyin…

The Supreme Court examined a reference under Article 317 of the Constitution concerning Ms. Sayalee Sanjeev Joshi, a member of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, who was arrested in connection with alleged malpractices in the 1999 examination. The Court considered four charges: protecting certain candidates, in…

The petitioners, appointed as Assistant Deputy Educational Inspectors, were transferred to lower‑pay posts, resulting in loss of salary and seniority. They challenged the transfers before the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal, which dismissed their applications, and the High Court later set aside the tribunal’s order…

The appellant, a partnership firm, made a voluntary disclosure under the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme, 1997 and received a certificate of immunity. Later, a search and seizure operation on the firm’s partners uncovered undisclosed income that the firm had failed to reveal in its VDIS application. The Commissio…

Ashoka Kumar Thakur filed writ petitions challenging the 93rd Constitution Amendment (which inserted Article 15(5)) and the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. The Union of India argued that the matters raised substantial questions of law and constitutional interpretation, invoking Ar…

The Supreme Court was asked to clarify the effect of its earlier judgment in Dr. Saurabh Chaudhary (2003) which increased the All‑India quota for postgraduate medical seats from 25% to 50% and mandated a common entrance test. The Union of India sought a prospective application of that judgment because the admission pro…

The private importers of edible oils challenged the differential customs duty rates granted to the State Trading Corporation (STC) under Section 25(2) of the Customs Act, 1962, alleging a violation of Article 14. The government had canalised edible‑oil imports through STC and, citing high international prices and the n…

Homebuyers dissatisfied with the services of a builder erected a public banner listing various grievances, which the builder claimed was defamatory and filed a criminal complaint under Section 500 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The appellants argued that the banner was a peaceful protest made in good faith to protect…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigated a trap operation in which Additional Commissioner of Income Tax Santosh Karnani allegedly demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 30 lakhs to influence a tax assessment of Safal Construction. The complainant recorded the demand and the subsequent acknowledgment of paym…

The appellants, South Indian Bank Ltd. and others, appealed against the Kerala High Court’s orders allowing borrowers to defer loan repayment under the SARFAESI Act. The borrowers had filed writ petitions under Article 226 challenging notices issued under Sections 13(2) and 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act, even though the De…

The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), a society under the Societies Registration Act, issued an advertisement on 16‑08‑2016 for the post of Director. Three writ petitions challenged the advertisement on grounds of lack of age‑relaxation, alleged non‑conformity of experience requirements with Medical Counci…

The Union introduced a Limited Competitive Examination (LCE) in 2012 to recruit officers to the Indian Police Service (IPS) but never declared the results. In 2018 the Union decided to scrap the LCE, prompting candidates who had appeared for the exam to seek declaration of results and appointment. The Supreme Court hel…

The Steel Authority of India, a public sector steel manufacturer, imported graphite electrodes from China and challenged a notification imposing anti‑dumping duty on such imports. The challenge was dismissed by the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) which upheld the Designated Authority's metho…

Vipulbhai Mansingbhai Chaudhary, who continued as Chairman of a district cooperative milk union beyond his three‑year term, was served a show‑cause notice under s.76B(1) and (2) of the Gujarat Co‑operative Societies Act, 1961. The Registrar removed him and disqualified him for three years; a later order extended the di…

The plaintiff, son of Guramma and the first defendant, claimed ownership of a property originally purchased by his mother and later mutated in his name after her death, asserting that the first defendant had relinquished his half‑share. The first defendant, who later remarried, contested this, arguing that mutation doe…

Mohan Lal was convicted for possession of 10 kg of opium under Section 18 of the NDPS Act and for theft under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC. He argued that the offence occurred before the NDPS Act came into force, that applying the Act was retrospective and violative of Art.20(1) of the Constitution, that the seizure…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) could audit the accounts of private telecom service providers under the Unified Access Services (UAS) licences to verify revenue sharing with the Union. Service providers argued that the CAG’s powers under Article 149 of the Constitut…

The appellants, former employees of the Overseas Communication Service (OCS), were transferred to Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) and later to Tata Communications Limited (TCL) after the government's disinvestment. They challenged the termination of their services, arguing that VSNL/TCL was a "State" or "other auth…

Kurapati Maria Das was elected as a councilor and subsequently as chairperson of Bapatla Municipal Council, a seat reserved for the Scheduled Caste (Mala). Petitioners alleged that he was not a Scheduled Caste member but a Christian belonging to a Backward Class and that he had obtained caste certificates fraudulently.…

U.P. Power Corporation Ltd terminated two daily‑wage Chowkidars in 1979. The Industrial Tribunal held the termination illegal under s.25‑F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and s.6‑N of the U.P. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, ordered their reinstatement and deemed them regularised after three years. The High Court d…

The complainant, Narendra Nath Khaware, filed a Special Leave Petition under Article 136 of the Constitution challenging the High Court's dismissal of the State's appeal against the acquittal of seven accused in the murder of his son, Diwakar Khaware. The Supreme Court held that a private person may invoke Article 136 …

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission invited applications for Group‑HA services and selected candidates on the basis of written examination and interview. Three respondents, who possessed an additional law degree but did not disclose it in their applications, were not appointed and claimed that the service rule…

The appellant, Mis. Somaiya Organics (India) Ltd., manufactured industrial alcohol and was initially exempt from a vend fee under the U.P. Excise Act, 1910. The exemption was withdrawn in 1979 and the company filed writ petitions; the High Court ordered it to give a bank guarantee and/or deposit amounts in a separate a…

The Supreme Court reviewed a 1997 decision that allowed reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in a single‑post cadre by means of a rotating roster. The Court examined whether such reservation, either directly or via roster rotation, is constitutionally permissible under Articles …

Guru Nanak College, a private institution affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University, was taken over by the State of Punjab under a gift deed dated 11 July 1983. The deed stipulated that only staff possessing the requisite qualifications would be absorbed as new entrants and that the incumbent Principal would be taken in …

The Supreme Court examined whether an officer specially empowered under the COFEPOSA Act or the PIT NDPS Act to make a preventive detention order is required to consider the detainee's representation against that order. It held that the officer who makes the order is the detaining authority and must afford the detainee…

The Supreme Court considered the case of two former employees of Nari Niketan, an institution fully funded and controlled by the Delhi Administration, who after the institution’s takeover in 1979 were absorbed into the Delhi Administration’s service on the same pay scale. Upon retirement they were denied pensionary ben…

The Supreme Court examined writ petitions filed by licensed gold dealers challenging several provisions of the Gold Control Act, 1968 (as amended) and its associated rules on the grounds that they violated Articles 14, 19(1)(g), 301 and 302 of the Constitution. The petitioners argued that sections 16(7), 52, 79 (and it…

The petitioners filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the validity of an order and judgment previously passed by this Court. The central issue was whether the Supreme Court could entertain a writ petition against its own order or judgment. The Court held that a writ petition cannot be u…

The appellant was appointed as a temporary Inspector of Central Excise on the basis that he was a sportsman who had represented his university in an Inter‑University Tournament. He had qualified and been selected to represent Mithila University in the 1972 tournament but was unable to participate due to a serious illne…

The petitioners, candidates from the Hindi belt, challenged a 1979 notification that exempted candidates from the North Eastern States and Union Territories (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland) from taking Paper I on Indian Languages in the Civil Services Examination, alleging discrimination and v…

The petitioners, contractual toll‑collection employees, were arrested after an altercation with an advocate who allegedly refused to pay toll charges, leading to an FIR under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. While one lawyer filed a bail application, members of the Barabanki Bar and the Bar Council enga…

The appellant Bank of India issued a circular in August 2010 inviting eligible retired employees to opt for its Employees’ Pension Scheme by 30 October 2010. The respondent, a retired employee, returned to India before the deadline but failed to submit his application within the stipulated period, citing surgery and la…

The petitioner, brother of a murder victim, sought transfer of the criminal trial from West Bengal to Assam, alleging bias, witness intimidation, and procedural irregularities including a state‑issued notification to withdraw prosecution. The High Court set aside the withdrawal order and directed the trial to continue,…

Modi Rubber Ltd., a sick industrial company, obtained a rehabilitation scheme approved by the BIFR under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985, which scaled down the dues of unsecured creditors, including Continental Carbon India Ltd. The Delhi High Court held that an unsecured creditor could ref…

The Government of NCT of Delhi and the Delhi Development Authority sought review of several civil appeals that had been dismissed on the basis of the Supreme Court’s decision in Pune Municipal Corporation v. Harakchand Misirimal Solanki, which interpreted Section 24(2) of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. After the Consti…

The State Government of Bihar issued a Departmental Order (D.O.) on 28 July 1981 to merge the pay scales of Lower Division and Upper Division Assistants/Clerks in Patna University, later extending the scheme to other universities. Subsequent communications in 1982, 1989 and 1990 led the Vice‑Chancellor of Ranchi Univer…

The case concerned women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers of the Indian Navy who, after completing fourteen years of service, were denied consideration for Permanent Commission (PC) despite policy letters and regulations indicating such a right. The petitioners challenged the 2008 policy letter that made PC gran…

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) detained eight aircraft leased by International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC) for non‑payment of landing, parking and housing charges amounting to over Rs 10 crore. The Delhi High Court ordered the release of the aircraft on the basis of minutes of a meeting held on 26 March 2013 invo…

The case concerned whether lecturers/teachers employed by the Madhya Pradesh Education and Tribal Welfare Department were entitled to the second increment (Kramonnati) under the Kramonnati Scheme introduced on 19 April 1999. The State Government had granted this benefit to teachers only from 1 August 2003, arguing that…

Vikram Cement and two other units of Grasim Industries, which paid entry tax on coal, gypsum and bauxite under the Madhya Pradesh Entry Tax Act, 1976, challenged a State notification dated 4 May 1999 that reduced the tax rate to 1% for the period 1.5.1997‑30.9.1997 but attached an Explanation that any tax already paid …

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

The petitioners, customers of goods‑transport operators and clearing‑and‑forwarding agents, challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 116 and 117 of the Finance Act 2000 and Section 158 of the Finance Act 2003 which retrospectively validated service‑tax levies that had been struck down in *Laghu Udyog Bharati*…

The appellant, S.J.S. Business Enterprises Ltd., had obtained a loan from Bihar State Credit and Investment Corporation Ltd. (BICICO) for a hotel project but defaulted, prompting BICICO to invoke Section 29 of the State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 to sell the hotel. After a series of valuations, BICICO issued a se…

The appellant, Maktool Singh, challenged the conviction and sentence imposed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, seeking suspension of the sentence pending appeal. The High Court refused suspension, prompting an appeal to the Supreme Court. The Court examined whether Section 32A of th…

The vacancy for an E.C.G. Technician in the Northern Railway Hospital was filled by promoting a Scheduled Caste candidate, Prakash Kaur, under a 40‑point roster and rule of rotation that reserved the post for SCs. An unsuccessful general‑category candidate challenged the promotion, arguing that reserving a solitary pos…

The Union of India appealed against a High Court order that had upheld a writ petition filed by retired government servants (P.N. Menon and others) who argued that Office Memorandum No. F‑19(4)‑E.V./79 of 25 May 1979, which treated a portion of dearness allowance as "dearness pay" for pension and gratuity calculations,…

The Supreme Court examined several writ petitions filed by employees of the New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC) seeking the benefit of the Shiv Shankar Committee (SSC) pay‑scales on the ground of equal pay for equal work under Article 39(d) of the Constitution. The petitions concerned various categories – auto‑worksho…

The appellant, Subhelal @ Sushil Sahu, was charged with offences under Sections 420, 201, 120‑B read with Section 34 of the IPC in a crypto‑currency scam involving about Rs.4 crore, of which Rs.35 lakh was attributed to him. He had been in custody since December 2023 while the trial, conducted before a Chief Judicial M…

The complainant filed a private criminal defamation complaint under Section 200 CrPC alleging that fourteen news articles published in various newspapers defamed the authenticity of paintings to be auctioned by the complainant. The trial magistrate took cognizance, registered the complaint and issued summons to the acc…

The petitioners, who are tenants occupying certain premises, filed Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) challenging the termination of a development agreement that favored respondent No. 5, a developer. While the SLPs were pending, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) terminated that agreement and e…

The petitioners, including a prospective mayoral candidate, challenged the conduct of the first meeting of the Delhi Municipal Corporation after the 2022 elections, seeking clarification on whether members nominated under Section 3(3)(b)(i) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 have voting rights in the election…

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) conducted the ninth round of bidding for city or local natural gas distribution networks (CGD) in 2018. After opening technical bids, the Board introduced an internal note on 23 July 2018 that suggested a 2%–100% range of total households (based on the 2011 Census)…

The appellant, owner of two vehicles, claimed that United India Insurance Company should indemnify him for the death of his employee, Ramesh Lalmani Yadav, who was a cleaner and died while filling water in the radiator of a second vehicle on the employer's direction. The Labour Court held the owner jointly liable with …

The Union of India appealed against a High Court order that awarded land owners compensation under Section 23(1A) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The acquisition proceedings began in 1965 and the Collector's award was passed on 9 July 1980, before the amendment (Act 68 of 1984) that introduced Section 23(1A) became …

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

The appellant, Sneh Gupta, an heir of Munni Devi, challenged a compromise decree that had been entered into by the original plaintiff Veena Nirwani and certain defendants during the pendency of two suits concerning land mutation and alleged fraud. The compromise resulted in the withdrawal of both suits, but Gupta and o…

The Commissioner of Customs issued a show‑cause notice to Indian Oil Corporation alleging that the company had misdeclared the value of imported petroleum products by including demurrage charges paid to ship owners. The Revenue demanded additional customs duty and penalty, but the Customs Excise and Gold (Control) Appe…

The DLF Qutab Enclave Complex Educational Charitable Trust (the appellant) challenged State of Haryana's circulars that barred the transfer of community sites earmarked for schools and other amenities to third or fourth parties. The High Court had held such transfers illegal, but the Supreme Court examined whether Sect…

The petitioners, a mother and father, applied to the Reserve Bank of India for relief bonds in their minor son's name, with the mother signing as guardian. RBI rejected the application, insisting on the father's signature or a guardianship certificate, relying on Section 6(a) of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act,…

On July 23, 1996 a FIR was lodged under IPC sections 366A, 372, 376 and 344 r/w 34 and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act based on a victim's detailed statement of exploitation and sexual assault. Five influential accused filed writ petitions in the Kerala High Court seeking quashing of the FIR, and the High Court, a…

The appellant, an Assistant Manager of Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation and President of its Employees' Welfare Association, wrote a letter to the Governor alleging mismanagement and issued a press statement criticizing a senior official. The corporation charged him under Rule 22 of its service …

The respondent, A. Gurusamy, obtained a certificate in 1971 claiming Scheduled Tribe (Kattunaicken) status, which was later cancelled after an enquiry revealed he belonged to a Scheduled Caste (Thotti). He filed a civil suit seeking a declaration that he is a Scheduled Tribe; the trial court and appellate court granted…

The petitioners, members of the Lohar community in Bihar, sought recognition as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) under the name "Lohara" based on a Presidential notification. The Supreme Court examined whether the erroneous inclusion of "Lohars" in the Hindi translation of the notification, absent in the English version, could c…

The appellant, a Central Government employee, was absorbed into the public sector undertaking Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd in 1964 after completing 15 years of pensionable service. The Government issued a 1967 Memorandum revising pension benefits for employees absorbed after 16 June 1967, denying those benefits to t…

Gujchem Distillers India Ltd, a manufacturer of industrial alcohol, was required under a licence to pay supervisory charges to a staff appointed by the Gujarat State under Section 58(A) of the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949. The company challenged the constitutional validity of that provision, arguing that the State had …

The case arose from the Bihar Public Works Department's appointment of twelve mechanical sub‑overseers on a temporary basis during a World Bank project in 1964. The appointments were made retrospectively, with effect from the date of publication of their diploma examination results, and were later challenged as violati…

The petitioners, wholesale traders in onions, potatoes and other produce, challenged notifications under the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1963 that required them to shift their business to newly declared principal market yards and to conduct all marketing of declared agricultural produce…

The father of Parkash Chand, a peon in the Himachal Pradesh Revenue Department, died in service in 1997 while Chand was a minor. After attaining majority, Chand applied for a compassionate appointment but his request was rejected on the ground that his elder brother was already employed with a state undertaking. Chand …

Four legislators elected on a National Congress Party (NCP) ticket defected to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the Orissa Legislative Assembly. The NCP state president filed disqualification petitions before the Speaker under the Orissa Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1987, see…

The Kallakkurichi Taluk Retired Officials Association challenged a Tamil Nadu Government Order dated 9 August 1989 that treated the component of dearness allowance as dearness pay for pension calculation differently for employees retiring before and after 1 June 1988, resulting in a lower pension for the latter group. …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, particularly the Parliament's power to create a three‑tier consumer dispute redressal system parallel to the regular courts. The petitioners argued that Parliament lacked competence to establish such tribunals and that the Act …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the amended Section 25‑0 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (and the identical Section 6‑W of the U.P. Industrial Disputes Act) which governs the closure of large industrial undertakings. The Court considered whether the procedural and substantive defects iden…

Govindrao, an agent of the State Bank of Indore, was charged with causing loss to the bank by allowing large loans to be granted in violation of banking rules, which later became irrecoverable. The disciplinary authority dismissed him from service, and his subsequent appeals—including a special appeal—were rejected. Af…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet against Subodh Kumar Dutta under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 700. A Special Judge, appointed under the West Bengal Special Courts Act, 1949, took cognizance of the offence on 9 July 1988. The 1947 Act was re…

The State of Uttar Pradesh challenged provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1965 and the 1968 Rules that reserve seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and women in the Committee of Management of co‑operative societies, arguing that the reservation and nomination powe…

Two minor boys were illegally detained by police to coerce a criminal suspect. The Supreme Court ordered the police to file counter‑affidavits denying the detention, but the affidavits were later found to be false and the signature of Superintendent M.S. Ahlawat was forged by a head constable on instructions from senio…

Three income‑tax appeals before the Hyderabad Bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) involved a common question of law under section 115‑J of the Income Tax Act. The President of the ITAT, exercising his power under section 255(3), constituted a Special Bench of three members to hear the appeals, which were …

The Commissioner of Commercial Tax appealed against an Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal order that held Rule 22 of the State and Subordinate Service Rules did not apply to appointments by promotion for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Supreme Court examined Rule 5 of the A.P. Commercial Tax Subordinate …

The case involved ten accused who were charged with conspiracy to supply spurious liquor that caused 70 deaths and permanent loss of sight to 24 persons. The High Court convicted five of them under sections 326, 328 and 272 of the IPC and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment. The appellants filed appeals under Artic…

The Supreme Court considered writ petitions filed under Article 32 challenging a press note issued by the Election Commission that elections in Bihar and Orissa would not be held unless photo identity cards were supplied to all eligible voters. The Commission had earlier directed states, under Rule 28 of the Registrati…

The appellants, Revenue Officer and others, sought restoration of lands sold by two respondents (identified as "Rajaka" in sale deeds) to a Brahmin purchaser. The respondents produced caste certificates and records showing they belong to the "Dhoba" community, a Scheduled Caste under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes)…

The lessees of a Nazool lease applied to the Lucknow Development Authority for permission to construct a multi‑storeyed building, which was granted on 31 January 1985. The State Government later issued directions alleging violations of lease conditions and, after a show‑cause notice, cancelled the lease and the buildin…

Ramesh Chand was convicted under sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Om Prakash based on the prosecution's claim that he, along with two others, stabbed the victim at night near Hindon Bridge and was found with a blood‑stained knife. The defence argued that Chand was merely the taxi driver, t…

The Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad (appellant) sought to cancel a notification dated 15 September 2005 that rescinded an earlier notification of 7 April 2003 which had released land from acquisition under Section 48(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The land owners (respondents) had obtained the 2003 notifi…

The respondent-plaintiff filed a suit seeking a declaration of ownership of agricultural land and an interim injunction against the petitioner. The trial court dismissed the interim injunction, but the High Court reversed that order, granting the injunction based on a certificate issued under Section 38‑E of the Andhra…

The Supreme Court examined the recruitment of Technician Grade‑II officers by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. and the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Service Commission, where the advertisement required a Certificate of Computer Concept (CCC) or an equivalent qualification. Candidates were allowed to self‑declare equiva…

The Supreme Court examined whether Gujarat's municipal tax provisions could levy a tax on mobile telephone towers. The petitioners (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation) argued that mobile towers are not "land or building" under Entry 49 of List II of the Seventh Schedule, rendering the tax ultra‑violet. The Court interpret…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI) could be applied in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The High Court had held that key provisions of SARFAESI were ultra‑vires Parliament because they conflicted with Sectio…

The Supreme Court examined the acquisition of 94 acres 28 gunthas of land in Vijayashreepura under the Mysore Improvement Act, 1903, which was used to allot 55 acres to JSS Mahavidyapeetha (respondent No.28). The Court found that the statutory requirement of a published scheme before issuing a preliminary notification …

The Supreme Court heard a batch of writ petitions filed by the Supreme Court Advocates‑on‑Record Association seeking reforms in the collegium system for appointing judges to the higher judiciary. Various stakeholders, including senior counsel and the Bar Council of India, submitted suggestions on transparency, eligibil…

The appellants, medical students, alleged that they were brutally assaulted by police officers while serving a dasti summons issued by the Supreme Court to the SHO of Sector 39 Police Station, Noida. The High Court dismissed their petition for a CBI inquiry on the ground that no FIR had been registered and directed the…

Five independent MLAs who had supported the BJP government in Karnataka withdrew their support and were disqualified under paragraph 2(2) of the Tenth Schedule. They filed writ petitions challenging the disqualification and sought to amend paragraph 9 of their petitions, which mistakenly stated that they had not left t…

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

Lajpat Rai Mehta, a draftsman in the Punjab Irrigation & Power Department, was on unauthorized leave from 30 April 1981 until his superannuation on 30 September 1994. He sued for a declaration that he was entitled to pension and other retiral benefits. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the first appellate court r…

Smt. Sau Kusum, claiming to belong to the carpenter caste (known as Badhai in Madhya Pradesh and Sutar in Maharashtra), contested a panchayat election in Maharashtra for a seat reserved for OBCs. Her election was challenged on the ground that she was not an OBC and not a permanent resident of Maharashtra prior to 1967.…

In a suit for declaration of title and possession of land, six defendants were impleaded. Defendants 2 and 5 entered into a compromise with the plaintiff, while an ex‑parte decree was passed against defendants 1 and 6. The latter filed an application under Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure to set aside th…

The Parents Association of Students filed a writ petition seeking regulation of professional education fees in Uttar Pradesh. After the High Court’s Single Judge gave directions, the State issued a government order allowing a medical college (run by respondent No.1, M.A. Khan) to collect fees, which the association all…

N.K. Rajgarhia sued Mahavir Plantation Ltd. for recovery of Rs. 75 lakh. The parties compromised, and a consent decree for Rs. 41,69,110 was passed, with a clause that dishonour of any cheque would make the whole balance payable and executable. The respondent defaulted, leading to execution proceedings and a further se…

The State of Punjab advertised 31 posts and selected candidates through a process that was later challenged in a writ petition by some unsuccessful applicants, with only 18 of the selected candidates made parties. The Punjab & Haryana High Court quashed the entire selection process, a decision upheld by the Supreme Cou…

The Uttar Pradesh State Agricultural Produce Market Board appointed 1,021 employees between April 1996 and October 1997 without complying with the statutory provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Krishi Utpadan Mandi Adhiniyam, 1964 and its service regulations. The State later cancelled those appointments on a last‑come‑first…

The appellants, licensed money lenders, challenged the inspection fee levied under Section 9‑A of the Bombay Money‑Lenders Act, 1946 for renewal of their licences, contending that it was a tax in disguise, excessive and violative of Article 14. The State argued that the fee was a regulatory charge necessary for inspect…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Terrorist Act, 2002 (POTA). The petitioners argued that Parliament lacked legislative competence and that several provisions violated fundamental rights, including the right to privacy, freedom of speech, a…

Smt. Harbans Kaur filed a writ of habeas corpus under Article 32 alleging that her three sons were illegally detained, tortured and that one son, Gurbax Singh, died in police custody. The Court observed that two sons, Surinder Pal Singh and Sarvjeet Singh, had been produced before a Judicial Magistrate and remanded to …

The petitioners, members of the Uttar Pradesh Civil Service (Judicial Branch), challenged two 1975 notifications issued by the Governor under Article 237 of the Constitution which transformed the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Officers Service into a separate judicial service and made its members eligible for promotion only to…

The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 9(2) and 10(2) of the Tamil Nadu Exhibition of Films on Television Screen through Video Cassette Recorders (Regulation) Act, 1984, arguing that the State legislature lacked competence because the provisions dealt with copyright…

The petitioner, Piyush Kantilal Mehta, was detained under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985 on the ground that he was a bootlegger who used force and created fear, allegedly affecting public order. He challenged the detention, arguing that the grounds were vague, that mere bootlegging does not …

Kehar Singh was convicted and sentenced to death for his role in the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. After his appeals and a review petition were dismissed, his son petitioned the President under Article 72 for a pardon, claiming innocence and seeking an oral hearing. The President refused both the heari…

The case concerned the amalgamation of three separate engineering wings—Irrigation, Minor Irrigation and River Valley Projects—within the Bihar Department of Agriculture and the preparation of a combined gradation list. The State had merged the Irrigation and River Valley cadres in 1969 and later merged the Minor Irrig…

The case concerned an election dispute in Madhya Pradesh where the respondent, Maya Devi, claimed to belong to the Katia scheduled caste despite being born to Christian parents. The appellant challenged her eligibility, arguing that conversion to Christianity caused a loss of caste and that reconversion could not reviv…

The case arose from several writ and review petitions filed by senior scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its affiliates alleging discrimination in pay scales, illegal selection procedures, and denial of statutory rights. The petitioners claimed that ICAR, though registered as a society…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between M.P. Power Management Company Limited (the appellant) and Sky Power Southeast Solar India Private Limited (the first respondent) was a statutory contract under the Electricity Act, 2003 and whether the appellant’s termination of the PPA compl…

The appellants, women Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCO) of the Indian Air Force recruited between 1993-1998, were promised a Permanent Commission (PC) after five years of service under a 1991 policy circular and recruitment advertisements. Instead, they were granted extensions and denied PC, leading to a Publi…

Nandini Sharma and another filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging Rule 1(b), Rule 5 and Rule 7(c) of Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, alleging that conferring exclusive rights to practice before the Supreme Court on Advocates on Record (AOR) is unreasonable, discriminatory and violative of Article…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, which permits the traditional bull-taming sport of Jallikattu. The Court held that the Act collides with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 because it allows the taming of bulls for entertainment, contrary…

The respondent, a government teacher appointed in 1978, sought correction of his date of birth recorded in his service book after 28 years of service, alleging a clerical error. The Education Officer and Head Master rejected his application, citing Rule 38(2)(f) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (General Conditions) Ru…

The appellant Mandi Parishad sought market fee on cut tobacco processed by ITC Ltd in Saharanpur and sent to its own factory in Calcutta and to contract manufacturers. The Mandi Samiti’s President exempted the consignment to Calcutta but referred the contract‑manufacturer case to the Director, who ordered a fresh decis…

Rajesh Ranjan Yadav, a four‑time Member of Parliament, was charged with a triple murder under IPC sections 302, 34 and 120B, and under Section 27 of the Arms Act. After being in judicial custody for more than six years, he repeatedly applied for bail, arguing that continued detention violated his fundamental right to l…

The appellant, A.P. Aggarwal, was the second name on a selection panel for the post of Member, Sales‑Tax Appellate Tribunal. After the first appointee resigned within six months, the Central Government, contrary to Office Memorandum No. 39021118/84 dated 14‑May‑1987 and Section 13(4) of the Delhi Sales‑Tax Act, 1975, i…

The Supreme Court examined the massive appointment of over 6,000 Class III and IV employees by Dr. A.A. Mallick, Deputy Director of the Tuberculosis Scheme, without written orders and in violation of the 1980 and 1982 recruitment circulars. The appellants claimed that their casual appointments were not to any post, tha…

The Supreme Court entertained an appeal under Article 136 seeking special leave to direct the Delhi High Court to fix an early date for the final hearing of a pending appeal. The High Court had earlier ordered the matter to be listed for hearing on October 17, 1994, but the date had lapsed and the appeal remained undec…

In 1988 the Uttar Pradesh government advertised fifteen Treasury Officer‑Accounts Officer posts, four of which were reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates. The State Public Service Commission (PSC) recommended four names, but those candidates never joined the service. The appellant, Jai Narain Ram, was the fourth…

The Madhya Pradesh Public Health and Family Welfare Department’s 1989 recruitment rules for Auxiliary Nurse‑cum‑Midwife (ANM) required a 10+2 qualification with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The respondents, who lacked this qualification, were nevertheless selected by the District Medical Officer for training and sub…

The State acquired land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, publishing a notification in 1978, making an award in 1986 and taking possession later that year. The respondents challenged the acquisition on grounds of alleged discrimination under Article 14, the effect of an errata notification, irregular service of not…

The Union of India sought to set aside an award that granted solatium (15%) and interest (6%) in a land acquisition case under the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952. The land, requisitioned for defence, was initially compensated at Rs 10 per square yard; the Arbitrator raised it to Rs 15 an…

The case challenged the Office Memorandums of 1990 and 1991 providing 27% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) and 10% for economically backward sections in central government services. The Supreme Court, in a 9-judge bench decision, settled the legal position on reservations under Articl…

K.C. Sharma was selected by the Haryana Public Service Commission for the post of Assistant District Attorney and placed 39th in the merit list. The State of Haryana had undertaken that any vacancy arising within one year would be filled by the selected candidates in order of merit, but later claimed that only 37 gener…

The General Labour Union (Red Flag) Bombay filed two complaints alleging that the employers, Delta Wires Pvt. Ltd. and Delta Spokes Manufacturing Co., had imposed a lock‑out in violation of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1…

The dispute concerned the grant of a liquor licence for Jorhat Country Spirit Shop No. I under the Assam Excise Rules, which give preference to "educated unemployed youth". The Board of Revenue upheld the licence in favour of the appellants, Bishnu Ram Borah and Bipin Chand Borah, rejecting the claims of respondents Pa…

The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council’s recruitment process for staff was challenged on grounds of unfairness, arbitrariness and collusiveness, leading to writ petitions and a special appeal. The High Court, while hearing the special appeal, directed a suo motu public interest litigation and ordered a preliminary enqui…

The appellant, Lalu Yadav, was charged under Sections 376 and 313 of the IPC for alleged rape on a false promise of marriage, based on an FIR filed in 2018 for incidents allegedly occurring between 2013 and 2018. The complainant claimed that Yadav had deceived her, established a physical relationship without consent, a…

The petitioner, a 27‑year‑old mother of two, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a medical termination of her pregnancy after discovering she was about 24 weeks pregnant, citing postpartum depression and financial constraints. The Court initially ordered termination, but a doctor from the AIIMS Medical Board…

The Uttar Pradesh State Warehousing Corporation repeatedly cancelled e‑tenders for handling and transport of foodgrains, eventually terminating the contract awarded to Sudhir Kumar Singh (Respondent No.1). Singh filed a writ petition under Art.226 challenging the cancellation, alleging a breach of the audi alteram part…

An FIR alleging land‑grab and extortion was filed in 2009, leading to a police investigation and a charge‑sheet. After the magistrate took cognizance and issued summons, the accused applied under s.173(8) CrPC for further investigation and for the magistrate to order a fresh FIR; the magistrate rejected these applicati…

The petitioner sought clarification of a Supreme Court order dated 21‑04‑2009, which recorded his statement that he would not press the prayer for mesne profits. The lower courts had awarded mesne profits of Rs.30 per month (with 10% increase every three years) and interest, while the petitioner had given up his claim …

Petitioners C. Chakkaravarty and others filed a contempt petition under Article 129 of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, alleging that the respondents, the Government of Pondicherry, violated the Supreme Court’s 2010 judgment in N. Suresh Nathan v. Union of India which mandated that promoti…

The Supreme Court of India considered the constitutional validity of the Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014 and the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014, which sought to replace the collegium system of appointing judges to the higher judiciary with a six-member National Judicial Appointments…

The appellants were convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing dishonoured cheques. The trial magistrate recorded evidence and a successor magistrate delivered the judgment, leading the Gujarat High Court to order a de novo trial on the ground that the case was a summary trial and Section…

The Supreme Court examined the applicability of the Uttaranchal Government Servants (Criterion for Recruitment by Promotion) Rules, 2004 to promotions from Group D to Group C posts. It held that Rule 1(3) excludes the need for Public Service Commission consultation for such promotions, and Rule 2 gives the 2004 Rules a…

The State of Gujarat appointed the Secretary to the Government as President of the Gujarat Revenue Tribunal, a move challenged on the ground that the post is a judicial office and requires the High Court's consultation under Article 234 of the Constitution. The Gujarat High Court held that the Tribunal is a "court" and…

Manoj Sharma was charged in an FIR for offences including cheating, forgery and fraud under Sections 420, 468, 471, 34 and 120‑B IPC. The complainant and the accused later reached an amicable settlement and the complainant withdrew the allegations. The Delhi High Court refused to quash the FIR, prompting an appeal to t…

The appellant challenged the election of the respondent to the Bihar Legislative Assembly on the ground that the respondent was under 25 years of age at the time of filing his nomination, violating Article 173(b) of the Constitution and Section 36(2) of the Representation of the People Act. The High Court dismissed the…

The case concerned the promotion of a diploma‑holding Superintending Engineer to the post of Additional Chief Engineer in Nagaland. The High Court set aside the promotion on the ground that only degree‑holders were eligible, but the Letters Patent Bench reversed that decision and directed the State to consider meritori…

The Government of India, following the Fifth Central Pay Commission, issued an Office Memorandum (OM) on 13 May 1998 to raise the retirement age of Central Government employees from 58 to 60 years, stipulating that it would take effect only after amendment of the relevant rules. The Ministry of Industry issued a second…

The Supreme Court examined orders that forfeited the pensions of four military officers who had been convicted by General Court Martials and dismissed or cashiered. The respondents challenged the forfeiture on the grounds that the Army Pension Regulation 16(a) and Navy Pension Regulation 15(2) were inconsistent with th…

Three advocates appointed as Additional District Government Counsel (Criminal) in Uttar Pradesh had their term renewed repeatedly until the State Government denied further renewal on 1 October 1992. The Allahabad High Court quashed the denial as an arbitrary action, holding that the reason given—lack of a district reco…

The petitioners challenged the constitutional validity of the Tamil Nadu Additional Sales Tax Act, 1976 (Act II of 1976) which amended the 1970 Act by introducing graded tax rates based on taxable turnover and prohibiting the passing on of the tax to consumers. They argued that the amendment exceeded the State’s legisl…

The State of Haryana amended the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 by inserting sub‑clause (6) to s.2(g) through Haryana Act No. 9 of 1992, which declared that lands reserved for village common purposes under the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948 would vest …

Neetu Kumar Nagaich, the mother of a 21‑year‑old law student who died under suspicious circumstances, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a de novo investigation of the homicide after alleging serious deficiencies in the Rajasthan police investigation and the filing of a closure report. The Supreme Court not…

Soni Kumari and Deepak Kumar, married in 2009, lived separately from 2014 due to irreconcilable differences and filed a joint petition for divorce by mutual consent under Section 13‑8(1) of the Hindu Marriage Act. The Family Court allowed the first motion but refused to waive the statutory six‑month cooling‑off period …

The petitioners, canteen workers at the Mess/Canteen of the S&T Training Centre of Northern Railway, sought regularisation as railway employees, claiming they worked in a non‑statutory recognised canteen. The Central Administrative Tribunal held they were employed in a non‑statutory non‑recognised canteen because no sa…

The State of Rajasthan filed a special writ appeal (DB Special Appeal Writ No.02033 of 2007) against an order of a Single Judge dated 19.05.2006 concerning an eviction under the Rajasthan Public Premises Act. The appeal was filed 98 days late; in the condonation application the State mistakenly recorded the filing date…

The appellants, who had earlier demanded a compromise in a kidnapping case, allegedly opened fire with country‑made pistols and a rifle, killing three members of the victim's family and injuring three others. The first informant, PW‑1, lodged an FIR within five hours of the incident and identified the accused in both m…

The petitioners were accused of murdering a woman’s husband; although the FIR named 19 persons, only a few were initially charge‑sheeted, allegedly due to the influence of a local MLA who provided alibis. The High Court, invoking its inherent powers under Article 226, directed the police to file charge‑sheets against a…

The petitioner Md. Munna, convicted of murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that having served more than 21 years he should be released, contending that life imprisonment is equivalent to a term of 20 years under the West Bengal …

The Mahatma Gandhi Mission, a charitable trust, sought land from CIDCO for a college, hospital, club, stadium and staff quarters. While agreements were executed for the college, hospital, club and stadium, no deed or possession was ever given for the staff quarters. CIDCO cancelled the allotment of the disputed land an…

The Centre for Public Interest Litigation challenged the Government of India's decision to sell majority shares of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) to private parties without amending the ESSO (Acquisition of Undertaking in India) Act, 1974, the Burma Shell Act, 197…

The Punjab Public Service Commission (PSC) advertised 500 medical officer posts with reservations for Scheduled Castes and Balmikis/Majhbi Sikhs. The State Government’s policy was that candidates from reserved categories possessing the minimum qualifications should not be subjected to any test. Contrary to this, the PS…

The Supreme Court examined whether a High Court can itself order the compulsory retirement of subordinate judicial officers. The Orissa High Court had recommended premature retirement of three judges and, in a separate notification, attempted to effect the retirement without a formal order from the State Governor. The …

Y.D. Bagde, a judicial officer of the Maharashtra subordinate judiciary, was charged with corrupt practices and an enquiry officer found the charges not proved, recommending reinstatement. The High Court's Disciplinary Committee disagreed, issued a show‑cause notice and recommended dismissal without giving Bagde a hear…

The Supreme Court considered three interlocutory applications filed by the State of Punjab seeking clarification of its earlier judgments in Ajit Singh (1996) and Virpal Singh (1993) regarding seniority of reserved‑category officers promoted at roster points. The Court held that such roster‑point promotees cannot claim…

The Supreme Court considered whether the 1995 amendment to Sections 4 and 4A of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, which increased compensation amounts and interest rates, applied to claims arising from accidents that occurred before the amendment’s effective date of 15 September 1995. Relying on the earlier decisio…

The petitioners, secondary school teachers in Karnataka who were originally allotted from the former State of Hyderabad, claimed that the pay‑scale disparity persisting from 1 January 1957 to 31 December 1969 violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The State had, based on the Justice Tukol Commission report, equalised…

Head Constable Kuldip Singh was dismissed from the Punjab Police without a departmental enquiry under proviso (b) of Article 311(2) of the Constitution, on the ground that it was not reasonably practicable to hold an enquiry because witnesses feared for their lives. The dismissal was based primarily on a confession he …

The case concerned a large tract of land requisitioned in 1967 under the Defence of India Act and later acquired by the Central Government under Section 7 of the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952. The compensation determined by the Competent Authority was refused to be paid, leading the own…

Pesala Nookaraju, a bootlegger, was preventively detained under Section 3(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986, with a 12‑month order confirmed by the State Government. He challenged the detention through a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that the proviso to Section 3(2) limits detention…

Sandeep alias Kala was acquitted of murder in the trial court, but the High Court reversed the acquittal and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He appealed to the Supreme Court under Section 2(a) of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970 and Section 379 of the CrPC, and the appeal…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a Uttar Pradesh Government Order that reserved 30% of postgraduate medical degree seats for in‑service doctors, a scheme challenged as violative of Regulation 9 of the Medical Council of India (MCI) Post‑Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000. The Court held that Regulat…

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…

The Vice Chancellor of Guru Ghasidas University sought to discipline a student, Craig McLeod, for allegedly assaulting a professor, suspending him and restraining his campus access. The High Court stayed the university's interim orders, prompting the university to appeal to the Supreme Court under Article 136. The Supr…

The respondent, a clerk of State Bank of India, was found to have unauthorisedly added three salary increments to his own account while serving as Head Clerk, an act proved in departmental inquiry. The disciplinary authority initially proposed discharge but, after considering his explanation, imposed a lesser punishmen…

A fire during a Tata Iron and Steel Company celebration in Jamshedpur killed 60 and injured 113. The victims filed a writ petition under Articles 21 and 32 seeking compensation from the State of Bihar and the company. The Supreme Court appointed former CJI Y.V. Chandrachud to determine compensation using the multiplier…

Sh. Mohinder Singh Jagdev was appointed as a Section Officer in the Central Public Works Department in 1956 but was found to have obtained the appointment using false certificates. He was suspended and later terminated on 10 September 1957 under Rule 5 of the Central Government (Temporary) Service Rules, 1949, while cr…

The Supreme Court upheld a Bombay High Court order directing the State of Maharashtra to extend its grant‑in‑aid and pension‑cum‑gratuity schemes to all recognised private law colleges. The Court held that the State’s refusal to provide these benefits to private law colleges, while extending them to other non‑governmen…

The case concerned the merger of teachers from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi into the Delhi Administration in 1970, creating an Administration Cadre and a Special (diminishing) Cadre. Disputes arose over how promotion ratios and seniority should be calculated between the two cadres, especially for Trained Graduate…

The State of Orissa challenged two provisions of the Orissa District Revenue Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1983. The first was the proviso to Rule 5(1) allowing relaxation of the maximum age limit for certain categories, which the Orissa Administrative Tribunal held gave the Governmen…

Captain V. Kumar, an advocate, filed a public interest petition before the Supreme Court alleging the need to cleanse the judiciary and seeking suo motu contempt action against the Registry. The Court observed that the petition was drafted in undignified language, contained unwarranted adjectives, and the petitioner be…

The petitioners challenged the Haryana State Government’s practice of repeatedly appointing teachers on an ad‑hoc basis at the start of each academic year and terminating them before the next summer vacation, thereby denying them regular service benefits. The Supreme Court examined whether such a policy violated the eq…

The appellant, Dhananjoy Das, was detained under Section 3(3) of the National Security Act, 1980 and was served with four paragraphs of grounds. He challenged the order on the basis that the first paragraph was vague and that the grounds related to law and order rather than public order, violating his rights under Arti…

The State of Haryana filed an application seeking modification of a Supreme Court order that required police to serve notices under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, only through the mode prescribed in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and not via electronic means such as WhatsApp. …

The appellant, Tosh Kumar Sharma, had ranked 38th in the merit list for the 2016 direct recruitment to the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service, where 37 General Category posts were advertised. The High Court forwarded the top 37 names for appointment, but the Governor approved only 36, leaving one vacancy. The appell…

Mala Devi, the widow of a temporary railway employee who died in harness after 9 years 8 months of service, sought family pension under the Railway Pension Rules, 1993. The Central Administrative Tribunal and the Patna High Court dismissed her claim, holding that her husband’s service was not regularized and that the t…

The Bihar Staff Selection Commission advertised 152 City Manager posts, requiring a minimum qualifying percentage in the written test (32% for women) and awarding additional marks for experience. Respondent No.1, a female candidate with no experience, scored 22.5 out of 70 marks in the written exam, which equals 32.14%…

The petitioners filed a suit for specific performance of a sale deed, naming a minor as the third defendant and seeking the appointment of a guardian under Order XXXII, Rule 3 of the CPC. The trial court passed an ex‑parte decree and allowed execution without properly appointing a guardian, later dismissing the respond…

The State Bank of India (SBI) conducted a departmental inquiry against Mohammad Badruddin on five charges, finding only charge No. 4 proved. The Disciplinary Authority, disagreeing with the Inquiry Officer on charges 1 and 5, imposed removal from service, while an earlier appellate authority had altered a compulsory re…

The Delhi High Court, after substantially hearing an appeal, allowed the appellants to withdraw the appeal and extended the interim relief granted earlier until 10 May 2010. The appellants contended that the High Court, having become functus officio upon permitting withdrawal, could not lawfully extend interim relief o…

The petitioner’s 11‑acre land in Gobbur village was acquired under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and initially awarded a market value of Rs. 3,800 per acre. He later sought a higher valuation through a Section 28‑A application, a remedy intended only for poor and inarticulate persons, and obtained Rs. …

Dulari Exports Ltd. and others were allotted an industrial plot by H.S.I.D.C. Ltd. They paid four installments but failed to pay the fifth within the stipulated time. The corporation issued a notice stating that the plot was liable for resumption and offered the petitioners a chance to retain it at Rs.2200 per square m…

The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) filed review petitions seeking clarification of its earlier orders dated 19 February 2008 and 20 February 2008 concerning the re‑allotment of industrial plots to Veena Sharma and others. The petitions centered on the interpretation of a direction that allowed…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by the State of Punjab against a High Court order that directed the health department to grant Dr. Sanjay Kumar Bansal a five‑year special leave for self‑employment on the ground that he had been discriminated against. The Court examined whether special leave is a statutory right …

Haridas Das filed an interim application in Civil Appeal No. 7948/2004 making serious allegations of corruption and immorality against the Chief Justice of India and several other judges. The Supreme Court issued a show‑cause notice, and the applicant’s reply contained even more contemptuous statements, prompting the C…

The appellant‑accused filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash a criminal complaint that alleged violations of Sections 60, 63, 68 and 68‑A of the Companies Act, 1956, involving the alleged siphoning of funds from Non‑Resident Indians into offshore entities. The High Court refused to quash the co…

The Supreme Court examined whether the State of Karnataka and its universities could increase the admission capacity of medical colleges despite the provisions of Sections I0A, I0B and I0C of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (as amended in 1993). The Court held that the Medical Council of India, under the Central A…

Kaka Joginder Singh alias Dharti Pakad challenged the election of K.R. Narayanan as Vice‑President of India, alleging (i) that the Returning Officer wrongly accepted Narayanan's nomination despite substantial defects, and (ii) that a whip issued by the Congress party amounted to undue influence under the Presidential a…

The appellant, an Additional Subordinate Judge of the Bihar Judicial Service, was disciplined with censure, withholding of increments, and denial of promotion benefits. He challenged the order by filing a writ petition and also sought to appeal the punishment to the Governor under the Civil Services (Classification, Co…

Madras Marine & Co., a ship‑chandler, imported goods, stored them in a customs‑bonded warehouse in Tamil Nadu and supplied them on board foreign‑going vessels. The State of Madras assessed sales tax under the Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959, contending the sales occurred within the state. The company argued the …

The Union of India, under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, fixed minimum wages for workers in gypsum, barytes, bauxite and manganese mines based on the advice of a Committee appointed under sections 5(1)(a) and 9 of the Act. Mine owners challenged the notification, contending that the Committee was invalid because governme…

Ms. P (appellant) alleged that her fiancé, respondent No.2, raped her in Delhi in February‑March 2016 (IPC s.376) and later, in November 2016, threatened and abused her over telephone in Chamoli (IPC s.504, s.506). The Sessions Judge, Chamoli, discharged the accused of the rape charge for lack of territorial jurisdicti…

The appellants filed criminal appeals under Section 10 of the Special Courts (Trial of Offences Relating to Transaction in Securities) Act, 1992, but had not surrendered to their sentences. The Court examined whether Order XXI Rule 13A of the Supreme Court Rules, 1966, which requires surrender before an appeal can be p…