Constitution of India

The appellants Panney @ Pratap Narain Shukla and Channey @ Prabhu Narain Shukla were convicted for the murder of Shivdhari, who was killed by a bomb, a pistol shot and a neck cut during a land‑dispute. The trial court sentenced them to death, a decision affirmed by the High Court and upheld on appeal. In the Supreme Co…

The M.P. Cement Manufacturers' Association, representing captive power producers, challenged a 2001 amendment to the Madhya Pradesh Upkar Adhiniyam that imposed a cess of 20 paise per unit on electricity produced. The High Court held the cess was on consumption and within State competence under Entry 53 of List II. The…

The respondent, an Assistant Manager of Orissa Small Industries Corporation Ltd., was terminated, reinstated by the High Court and given a notional promotion to Joint Manager. When a vacancy for Manager arose, the Departmental Promotion Committee considered his candidature but found him unsuitable, promoting two junior…

Orissa Sponge Iron Ltd., which invested under the 1980 industrial policy and began production on 1 April 1984, sought deferment/exemption of sales tax under the 1989 policy. The 1989 policy, via para 2.18, limited such benefits to "continuing units of 1980 policy" that went into production after 1 April 1986, thereby e…

The Allahabad High Court held that Government Advocates and Standing Counsel could not represent State officials in contempt of court proceedings and that any litigation costs must be borne personally by the officials. The State appealed, arguing that it could authorize its law officers to appear for officials in such …

The Government of India, via a 1975 resolution, created a Subordinate Services Commission to recruit non‑technical Class III posts and issued a 1993 advertisement stipulating zone‑wise recruitment with separate merit lists for each of 15 zones. Applicants who scored higher marks than some selected candidates challenged…

The petitioners challenged the constitutional validity of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, particularly the exclusion of High Court jurisdiction under Articles 226 and 227 and the qualifications for appointing the Chairman, Vice‑Chairman and members of the Tribunal. The Court held that while Parliament may creat…

The Supreme Court examined two Special Leave Petitions arising from a writ petition that alleged tampering of MD (Gynaecology) examination grade sheets to favour the daughter of the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The trial judge had held that the tampering was done by Dr. Rawal at the behest of the Chief Minister …

The D.G.O.F. Employees Association, representing assistants and personal assistants of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) headquarters, sought parity in pay with similarly placed employees of the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and other central cadres, invoking para 3.1.9 of the Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC) reco…

The petitioners challenged the constitutional validity of sections 95 to 100 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, alleging violations of Articles 14 and 21 and the denial of a hearing before a resolution professional is appointed. They argued that the resolution professional’s powers to seek information and the…

The Supreme Court examined the recruitment of Junior Office Assistants (IT) in Himachal Pradesh where the State had, after the application deadline, issued a relaxation order allowing candidates with diplomas from private institutions to be considered eligible. The petitioners argued that the relaxation was illegal bec…

The instant appeals arose from five suits between 1950 and 1989 over a 1500 sq yard land in Ayodhya, claimed by Hindus as the birthplace of Lord Ram (Ram Janmabhumi) and by Muslims as the site of the Babri Masjid. The Allahabad High Court had directed a three-way partition of the disputed site, which the Supreme Court …

The National Institute of Medical Sciences University (NIMS) claimed that the State of Rajasthan had failed to respond to its repeated representations for the allotment of Khasra No. 526 and, relying on this silence, constructed extensive buildings on the land. The State, invoking the Jaipur Development Authority Act, …

The case concerned the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to relax the qualifying marks in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) by 5% for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and other disadvantaged groups. The petitioners challenged the relaxation on grounds of lack of statut…

The Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party challenged the 2002 amendment to Section 3 of the Jammu & Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957 and the corresponding amendment to Section 47(3) of the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution, which defer the delimitation of Legislative Assembly constituencies until after the f…

Monica Bedi and four co‑accused were convicted under the Indian Penal Code (sections 120‑B, 419, 420) and the Prevention of Corruption Act for a conspiracy to obtain a passport in an assumed name. Bedi argued that her conviction violated Article 20(2) of the Constitution because she had already been tried and sentenced…

The petitioners, Som Datt Builders Ltd. and others, challenged the Central Government's notification declaring "ordinary earth" used for filling and levelling as a "minor mineral" under Section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the subsequent fixing of royalty at Rs.4 per cubic …

Indian Airlines Limited filed a transfer petition under Article 139-A(2) of the Constitution seeking to move a writ petition pending in the Madras High Court to the Delhi High Court, arguing that several other writ petitions involving identical issues were already pending there. The respondent argued that the transfer …

Pradip Kumar Dey, a Naik (Radio Operator) in the CRPF, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the Union of India to implement the CRPF's recommendation to the Fourth Pay Commission for a higher pay scale, invoking the principle of "equal pay for equal work". The Single Judge dismissed the petition for lack …

The appellants, claiming to be original residents of villages on the Bihar‑Uttar Pradesh border, challenged the validity of the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (Alteration of Boundaries) Act, 1968, arguing that state boundaries were frozen as of 26‑January‑1950 and that the disputed lands were never transferred. The Supreme Co…

The Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) operates a fleet of buses to transport its employees and had been paying tax under Item 3 of the Orissa Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1975, as goods carriers. In December 1990 the State of Orissa re‑classified the vehicles under Item 4, which imposes a higher rate for vehicles use…

The Supreme Court examined the recruitment process of the State Bank of India and other nationalised banks, where the Banking Service Recruitment Board prepared a select list containing far more candidates than the vacancies notified. The petitioners argued that this practice violated their constitutional right to cons…

The appellant Jaswant Singh and the respondent Virender Singh contested the 1991 Haryana Legislative Assembly election, with the respondent declared elected. The appellant filed an election petition under Sections 81 and 83 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 alleging irregularities, tampering of vote counts …

Orient Paper Mills bought bamboos from the State Forest Department at depots located within the market area of the Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti (the appellant). The Samiti levied market fees on the purchase under Section 19 of the Madhya Pradesh Krishi Upaj Mandi Adhiniyam, 1973. The mill challenged the levy in a writ peti…

The appellant, Nepal Singh, a temporary Sub‑Inspector of Police, was terminated from service on the ground of alleged corruption and a second marriage without government permission, based on a circular issued by the Inspector General of Police. The termination order was issued by the Deputy Inspector General under a 19…

The case concerned nine seats reserved in the medical colleges of Jammu and Kashmir for candidates from Bihar. Thirty‑five applicants applied, and a merit list of seven candidates was prepared by the Controller of Examinations, which included the petitioner Surendra Kumar. The Chief Minister of Bihar, however, recommen…

The Calcutta High Court entertained an oral application in the judge's chambers, without any written record, and issued an interim order maintaining the status quo of a liquor shop auction. The order was made without stating facts, legal questions, or reasons, and was later extended without the parties being informed. …

Javed Ahmed Abdul Hamid Pawala was convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to death on 6 February 1982, with the sentence confirmed by the High Court and subsequent appeals dismissed. After a clemency petition was rejected, he filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, arguing that his young age, r…

The petitioners, three intending couples, had completed the embryo‑freezing stage of surrogacy in 2020‑2021, before the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 came into force on 25 January 2022. After the Act’s commencement, the statutory age limits (female ≤50, male ≤55) barred them from obtaining the eligibility certificat…

The appellants, three teachers appointed in 2015, were terminated in 2016 on the ground that they had not secured the required percentage of marks in their intermediate examination and that their graduation certificates were invalid. They contended that, as Scheduled Tribe candidates, they were entitled to a 5% relaxat…

The Supreme Court examined the meaning of “vacant land” under Section 2(q) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, focusing on sub‑clause (i) and the conflict between the earlier Johnson two‑judge decision and the later Billimoria three‑judge decision. The appellants argued that land on which construction…

The petitioners, including Ms. Divya, applied for the 2022 Civil Services Examination (CSE) claiming reservation under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category but were rejected by the UPSC because they did not possess the required Income & Asset Certificate (I&AC) for FY 2020‑21 before the prescribed cut‑off dat…

The Supreme Court considered several interim applications challenging the suspension of licences for the sale of fireworks in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) that had been ordered to curb air pollution during Diwali. Petitioners sought a restoration of the complete suspension, while manufacturers and licenc…

The plaintiff (respondent No. I) entered into a genuine sale agreement on 18‑01‑1983 with defendants Nos.1‑5 for a house, paying Rs.1,000 as advance. Instead of executing the sale deed, the defendants sold the same house to defendant No.6 on 09‑02‑1983, relying on a purported earlier agreement dated 04‑01‑1983, which t…

The Supreme Court examined whether video conferencing could be used in matrimonial disputes under the Family Courts Act, 1984, particularly in transfer petitions. It held that Section 11 of the Act obliges the court to hold proceedings in camera if either party desires, and that allowing video conferencing on the conse…

The Supreme Court examined whether State entry‑tax statutes could levy tax on goods imported from abroad once they entered a local area for consumption, use or sale. It held that the import of goods ends when they cross India's customs frontier and are released for home consumption, after which the State has full compe…

The case concerned the status of Hyderabad City Police officers under the Andhra Pradesh Employment (Organization of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment) Order, 1975 (the Presidential Order) and the Hyderabad City Police Act, 1348 Fasli. The petitioners, appointed as Sub‑Inspectors of Hyderabad City Polic…

The vendor (RV) sold a municipal property to Sakunthala without notifying the Coimbatore Municipality, which continued to claim property tax arrears. The Municipality sued RV, obtained a decree, and the property was later auctioned; RV's wife bought it and subsequently sold it to a third party, who sold it to the appel…

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

The case concerned a motion of confidence in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on 21 October 1997, after which twelve Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs voted for the government despite a whip issued by BSP leader Mayawati. Mayawati petitioned the Speaker for their disqualification under paragraph 2(1)(b) of the Tenth…

V. Kasturi voluntarily retired from the State Bank of India in 1984 after more than 20 but less than 25 years of service and was ineligible for pension under Rule 22(1)(c) which then required 25 years. The Rules were amended in September 1986 reducing the qualifying service to 20 years. Kasturi claimed entitlement to p…

The Supreme Court examined whether residents of villages other than the eight originally listed could claim Scheduled Caste status after the President’s notification under Article 341(1) declared the "Lois" as a Scheduled Caste in Manipur. A statutory commission found that only the Lois residing in the eight villages m…

The State of Uttar Pradesh sought to recover differential excise duty on excess wastage of military rum that was exported by the respondents, Delhi Cloth Mills, under a lower export duty rate. The respondents argued that the duty on excess wastage could not be levied, and the Allahabad High Court quashed the demand. Th…

Delhi Cloth & General Mills Ltd., a tenant, sought protection under the Jammu and Kashmir Houses and Shops Rent Control Act, 1966, but was denied because its annual net income exceeded Rs 40,000, triggering clause (iii) of Section 1(3). The tenant challenged the clause as violative of Article 14, alleging arbitrary dis…

Kirpal Singh was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1972, but his election was set aside by the Punjab and Haryana High Court because the nomination of another candidate, Basant Singh, had been improperly rejected on the ground that he was a development officer in the Life Insurance Corporation, a public sec…

The Staff Selection Commission advertised recruitment for Constable (GD) posts with an age limit of 18‑23 years, granting a three‑year relaxation to OBC candidates. Several OBC applicants, including Sajib Roy, availed this relaxation, failed to secure selection in the OBC quota, but scored higher than the last candidat…

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued multiple summons under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) requiring the appellants, Abhishek Banerjee and Rujira Banerjee, to appear in Delhi and produce documents related to a coal theft and money‑laundering investigation. The appellants challenged the s…

Former civil servants, scholars and activists filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a court order directing the Union Government to cancel existing licences and stop granting new licences for the export of arms and military equipment to Israel amid the Gaza conflict. The petitioners alleged violations of inter…

The respondent, already in judicial custody for ECIR No.10 of 2021, feared arrest in a separate case (CR No.806 of 2019) and applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC. The complainant objected, arguing that a person already in custody cannot seek anticipatory bail for another offence. The Bombay High …

The Supreme Court dismissed the respondent's Special Leave Petitions and granted the landlord nine months to obtain vacant possession of the premises, subject to an undertaking. The respondent failed to file the undertaking on time, filed multiple review and extension applications, and deliberately avoided personal app…

A minor, Sukhdeep Kaur, filed a consumer complaint alleging medical negligence by Chandigarh Nursing Home after a wrong diagnosis and treatment caused severe rashes. The District Forum awarded Rs 1 lakh compensation, which the nursing home appealed to the State Commission; the State Commission dismissed the appeal. The…

H.S. Sidhu and Devendra Bapna, both direct recruits as Assistant Directors, were promoted to Deputy Director, with Bapna senior to Sidhu. When a vacancy for Joint Director arose, the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) prepared a merit list under Rule 15(3) of the 1987 Rules, placing Sidhu ahead of Bapna based on hi…

The appellant, a practising advocate, was charged under IPC s.324. After failing to appear on 7 August 2002, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate issued a non‑bailable warrant (NBW) returnable on 31 October 2002. The appellant appeared on 12 August and the warrant was cancelled, but on 15 August the police insp…

The appellants, Nagbhai Najbai Khackar, challenged the inclusion of their "bid lands"—uncultivable waste lands used for grazing—within the ceiling limits of the Gujarat Agricultural Lands Ceiling Act, 1960 as amended by Act 2 of 1974. They argued that the amendment unintentionally omitted the word "includes" in the def…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Amendment and Validation Act, 1991, which retrospectively validated land acquisition proceedings that had issued simultaneous notifications under Sections 4(1) and 6(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The petitioners argued that the Act atte…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the Allahabad High Court's acquittal of Awdhesh, who had been convicted for dacoity under Section 396 IPC. The trial court had sentenced him to life imprisonment, but the High Court set aside the conviction, citing inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence and the lack of a direc…

The plaintiff claimed title to a Delhi property, alleging it was his private property purchased from the Maharaja of Kapurthala, while the Union of India and others contended it was State property of Kapurthala. The Court examined the 1947 Instrument of Accession, the 1948 covenant, and subsequent correspondence, findi…

The Supreme Court examined a public‑interest writ filed by Padma challenging CIDCO's bulk sale of developable land in Aurangabad. The High Court had held that the allotments to several private entities were made without Board approval, at prices below the reserve price, and in violation of Section 115 of the Maharashtr…

The natural mother, Priyanka, filed habeas corpus petitions in both the Rajasthan and Delhi High Courts seeking the production of her daughter Akansha, alleging the child was illegally held by her brother‑in‑law after a purported adoption. The Delhi High Court examined the legality of the registered adoption deed, foun…

The Union of India challenged the validity of Rule 2(i)(a) of the Assistant Engineers (Akashwani and Doordarshan Group ‘B’ Posts) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 1985, which provides a 25% promotion quota through a Departmental Promotion Committee. The respondents argued that the rule discriminated against degree‑holder…

The petitioner filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court seeking to compel the Patna High Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the respondents for alleged non‑compliance with a prior order. The High Court held that the order had been complied with, declined to entertain the contempt application …

The respondents, former employees of the privately owned ASL Railways which voluntarily liquidated in 1978, were appointed as "fresh entrants" in Indian Railways under a Ministry of Railways letter dated 17 March 1978. They sought to have their service with ASL Railways counted towards the ten‑year qualifying period fo…

The appellant, T.C. Bhadrachalam Paper Boards Ltd., claimed exemption from non‑agricultural land assessment on the basis of G.O. No. 201 (1976) issued under Section 11 of the Andhra Pradesh Non‑Agricultural Lands Assessment Act, 1963. The order was not published in the Official Gazette nor laid before the Legislature a…

The petitioners, ex‑servicemen re‑employed in Central Government posts, challenged the denial of dearness relief on their pension, alleging discrimination compared with civilians re‑employed in public‑sector undertakings. They argued that a 1975 Ministry of Defence letter extending dearness relief to armed‑forces pensi…

S.C. Ghosh, an Assistant Graduate Teacher, was appointed to officiate as Headmaster of Kahilipara High School after the retirement of the regular headmaster. When a regular headmaster, Mukul Chandra Roy, was transferred to that post, Ghosh challenged the transfer, claiming he had been promoted to a regular headmaster u…

The appellant, M/s Victorian Granites (P) Ltd, challenged the Government’s order setting aside the assignment of mining leasehold rights by the original lessee, P. Rama Rao, to Magam Inc. The lease, granted under the Andhra Pradesh Mines & Mineral Concession Rules, 1966, was transferred exactly two years after its gran…

The petitioners, Ashok Kumar and others, filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking mandamus against the Delhi Development Authority, alleging that a letter dated 1 July 1994 required them to pay excess amounts for plots. The petition was filed after a prior order passed by the Supreme Court und…

The appellants challenged the validity of a transport scheme approved by the State Government and published on May 29, 1993, contending that under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, prior approval of the Central Government was mandatory and that the draft scheme had lapsed under Section 100(4). The Supreme Court examined ea…

The respondents, who are clearing and forwarding agents (dalals), challenged Section 38 of the Haryana General Sales Tax Act, 1973 and Rule 53 of the 1975 Rules, which required them to obtain a licence, furnish transaction particulars and face a penalty of 20% of the value of goods for non‑compliance. The Punjab & Hary…

The appellants, teachers employed by the Hinganghat Municipal Council before November 1956, claimed that their statutory retirement age was 60 years under the Madhya Pradesh Secondary Education Act, 1951 and the subsequent Maharashtra Secondary Schools Code, which provided an exception for Vidarbha teachers. The Munici…

Minerva Mills Ltd., a loss‑making textile undertaking, was investigated under s.15 of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. The Central Government, finding the mill’s management detrimental to public interest, ordered a takeover under s.18A of the same Act on 19 October 1971. Subsequently, the Sick Tex…

Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL) defaulted on a loan from IDBI Bank, prompting the bank to initiate a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). Home buyers filed a writ petition alleging that the CIRP ignored their interests and sought a pro‑rata refund of the Rs 750…

The appellants, appointed ad‑hoc as Assistant Engineers in 1987 and regularised in 2001, challenged a seniority list that placed promotees (Junior Engineers promoted in 1995) above them, alleging that the promotions were void for lack of consultation with the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) as required …

Vijay Kumar Mishra and another, who had qualified for the Subordinate Judicial Service of Bihar, applied for the District Judge Entry Level (Direct from Bar) interview but were barred by the Patna High Court on the ground of Article 233(2) of the Constitution, which it interpreted to prohibit their participation in the…

Kavita Solunke was appointed as a teacher in an aided school in Maharashtra to a post reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, claiming to belong to the Halba tribe. Ten years later, a caste‑verification committee found that her father was a Koshti, a caste not listed as a Scheduled Tribe, and cancelled her caste certi…

The Tamil Nadu government enacted the Uniform System of School Education Act, 2010 to introduce a common syllabus and textbooks for all schools, which was upheld by the High Court and the Supreme Court after certain provisions were struck down. After a change of government in 2011, the new administration hurriedly pass…

The case concerned lands in the Roerich estate that were exempted from Karnataka's Land Reforms Act, 1961 under Section 107 for linaloe cultivation. The State Government withdrew this exemption by issuing a notification under Section 110 of the Act in 1994, and later enacted the Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich Estate (…

The appellants, heirs of a zamindar, challenged a Gazette notification under Section 4‑A of the Kumaun and Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1960 (KUZALR Act) that vested their 1,600 acres of forest land in the State on 1 January 1978. They argued that the vesting was unconstitutional, repugnant to …

The Manda Revenue Officer filed an application under Section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 alleging that the first appellant had encroached upon five acres of government land and sold it to several respondents. The Special Court held that the land belonged to the government and ordered t…

The petitioners, a charitable society and a trust, challenged the High Denomination Bank Notes (Demonetisation) Act, 1978, claiming that the Act extinguished their property rights in high‑denomination notes without compensation, violated Articles 19(1)(f), 19(1)(g) and 31(2) of the Constitution, imposed unreasonable ti…

The State of Andhra Pradesh and others challenged the writ filed by Ind. Natali Granite Ltd., which questioned the State Government's competence to levy a cess on mining leases. The High Court initially held the amendment to the District Boards Act, 1955, which sought to levy the cess, ultra vires, and subsequently aff…

The appellant, Laxmi Devi, alleged that her husband, Satya Narayan, had contracted a second marriage, constituting an offence under Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code. The trial court held that the prosecution failed to prove the essential Hindu marriage rite of Saptapadi, which is required to establish a valid marri…

The appellants, Amir Shad Khan and Aziz Ahmed Khan, were detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 after gold bars were recovered from their vehicle. They were served detention orders that allowed them to make representations to the State Government, Central Go…

The State acquired 5 acres 589‑1/3 sq. yards of land in Vishakapatnam for a housing scheme in 1963. The initial compensation of Rs 1.58 per sq. yard was enhanced by the Civil Court to Rs 10 per sq. yard with 15% solatium and 4% interest, a figure affirmed by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the pro…

The petition under Article 32 sought relief for Gyasi Ram, a death‑row inmate whose mercy petitions had remained pending for about eight years due to administrative delays, including the pending petition of his accomplice Daya Ram. The Supreme Court examined whether such inordinate delay in executing a death sentence v…

The Supreme Court considered two appeals by Dr. Ajay Pradhan and Dr. Sanjay Kumar Shrivastava who sought admission to postgraduate medical seats that became vacant towards the end of the 1986-87 academic year. Both relied on Rule 10 of the Madhya Pradesh Selection for Post‑Graduation Courses Rules, 1984, which states t…

A large number of suits involving a religious community in Kerala were pending in various courts. The High Court and the State Government selected eight significant suits and created an Additional District Court to try them. After evidence was recorded, an application under Section 24(1)(b) of the Code of Civil Procedu…

The case concerned a service dispute between teachers and non‑teaching staff of a school that had been taken over by the Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) and the employees who claimed that their service conditions should not be altered. The employees filed writ petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution, argu…

The case concerned an auction of land owned by Prestige H.M. Polycontainers Ltd., which was mortgaged to a bank and later assigned to ARCIL. The Tahsildar conducted the auction without observing the mandatory 30‑day notice period and issued the sale certificate and possession to the appellant, Al‑Can Export Pvt. Ltd., …

The appellant was awarded a PPP tender by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) to maintain two underpasses, but KMDA later cancelled the tender citing alleged technical faults and a policy change. The appellant challenged the cancellation via a writ petition, which the High Court upheld, holding the ca…

Transporters and tour operators filed a batch of 117 writ petitions under Article 32 challenging the levy of Border Tax/Authorization Fee by several State Governments, alleging that the All India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023 had abolished such levies. The petitioners claimed double taxation and argued that the…

The Supreme Court examined whether sales‑tax exemption/deferment granted to cement manufacturers under the Madhya Pradesh Commercial Tax Act, 1994, would continue to apply after the bifurcation of the erstwhile State of Madhya Pradesh into the reorganised State of Madhya Pradesh and the new State of Chhattisgarh. The C…

The case concerns the infamous Nirbhaya gang‑rape and murder, where the accused Mukesh was convicted and sentenced to death by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. Mukesh filed a review petition under Article 137 of the Constitution, alleging illegal arrest, police‑induced…

The petitioners, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Kumar Gupta, filed review petitions challenging the Supreme Court's order dismissing their criminal appeals in the Nirbhaya gang‑rape case. They raised numerous grounds, including the abolition of the death penalty, alleged errors in the assessment of eye‑witness testimony, the i…

The appellant, a former Lower Division Clerk, was implicated in an FIR filed in 2000 for alleged embezzlement of Rs.4,39,617 based on a CAG report. The police investigation stalled for over nine years because the original records were never produced, despite repeated orders. Meanwhile, a departmental inquiry in 2008 ex…

The State of Maharashtra issued a notification under s.95 CrPC ordering the forfeiture of every copy of the book "Shivaji – Hindu King in Islamic India" on the basis of an FIR alleging offences under s.153, s.153A and s.34 IPC. The High Court quashed the notification, holding it failed to state the grounds of the Gover…

The Supreme Court examined a civil appeal challenging the award of a contract by Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) under its fifth tender notice and the subsequent handling of a fourth tender notice. The appellant alleged fraud and that SAIL had acted against natural justice, claiming a settlement had been reached w…

Two aided primary schools in Kerala applied for upgradation to secondary level but the State rejected the applications citing lack of funds and non‑compliance with the Kerala Education Rules, 1959. The schools claimed discrimination, arguing that two other schools had previously been upgraded by relaxing the same rules…

The Supreme Court considered appeals arising from a suit concerning the administration of the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. The trial court had struck out portions of the written statements of defendants 11‑13 and parts of the plaintiff's affidavit, and had refused an am…

Anukul Chandrapradhan filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which bars prisoners and persons in police custody from voting, except those under preventive detention. He contended that the provision violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution a…

The appellants, members of the Apex Bank of Madhya Pradesh, challenged the Registrar's assumption of control over the Bank after the term of its Board of Directors and Managing Committee expired without elections. The High Court had held that the Registrar was justified under Section 49(8)(ii) of the Madhya Pradesh Co‑…

The Bombay Canteen Employees' Association, representing five canteen workers of the Prabhadevi Telephone Exchange, challenged their termination without notice or retrenchment compensation, seeking reinstatement and back wages under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Union of India contended that the canteen employe…

The State of West Bengal sought to requisition two plots of land for a housing project under Section 3(1) of the West Bengal Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1948. The owners challenged the requisition, alleging that the statutory notice was not served as required by Rule 3 of the 1948 Rules, specifically that t…

The Directorate of Vigilance investigated corruption complaints against D. Subramanyam RataDev, a Superintendent of Police, and sent a report to the Tamil Nadu Government. The Government referred the matter to the Disciplinary Tribunal under the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Disciplinary Proceedings Tribunal) Rules, 1955,…

The appellants forcibly took a teenage girl to a remote house, intoxicated her, undressed her and sexually assaulted her, after which she escaped from a truck and sought help. The trial court convicted them of rape under IPC s.376(2)(g) relying on the victim's uncontroverted testimony and the presumption of lack of con…

Baksish Ahmad, a Border Security Force constable, was dismissed for contracting a second marriage without permission. He filed a statutory petition under Rule 28A of the BSF Rules, which was rejected, and subsequently filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution in the Delhi High Court. The Delhi High Co…

The petitioners, a group of public‑spirited individuals, challenged the constitutionality of Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which makes it mandatory for income‑tax assessees to quote their Aadhaar number while applying for a PAN or filing returns. They argued that the provision violated Articles 14 and 19(1…

The Wikimedia Foundation, as a defendant in a defamation suit filed by ANI Media, appealed a High Court order directing it to delete Wikipedia pages and discussion threads that commented on the court's proceedings, alleging that the order violated its freedom of speech and the sub judice principle. The High Court had h…

Mihan India Ltd (MIL) invited global tenders for the up‑gradation, modernisation, operation and maintenance of Nagpur Airport. GMR Airports Ltd (GAL) emerged as the highest bidder after negotiating a higher revenue‑share and MIL issued a letter dated 07‑03‑2019 accepting the revised proposal, which GAL acknowledged. De…

NIMS University and other petitioners filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a reduction in the eligibility percentile for admission to NEET Super Specialty courses and a mop‑up counselling round to fill 940 vacant seats. The Union of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and other respondents declined …

Bhola Kumhar was convicted under IPC section 376 and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and sentenced to 12 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine. The Chhattisgarh High Court reduced his term to 7 years rigorous imprisonment but the appellant remained in custody for over 10 years due to alleged default on the f…

The case arose from public interest litigation challenging the clinical trials of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine on adolescent girls in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, alleging irregularities and health risks. The petitioners relied on reports of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare (7…

Shivashakti Sugars Ltd obtained permission to set up a sugar factory in Saundatti, Karnataka, but the High Court held that the nearby Raibagh Sahakari factory was an existing sugar mill within 15 km, violating Clause 6A of the Sugarcane Control (Amendment) Order, 2006, and ordered the factory’s closure. On appeal, the …

The Supreme Court suo motu initiated contempt proceedings against Justice C.S. Karnan of the Madras High Court for repeatedly issuing letters and orders that alleged corruption and caste-based discrimination against numerous judges, including Supreme Court judges, and for publicly scandalising the judiciary. The Court …

The Gujarat government prepared a development plan in 1987 reserving a "green belt" for public housing. After ten years the reservation lapsed under Section 20 of the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976. The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority later framed a town‑planning scheme reserving the same l…

Kisan Shankar Kathore was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, but a voter filed an election petition under RPA s.100(1)(d)(i) and (iv) alleging that Kathore’s nomination was improperly accepted because he failed to disclose government dues, his wife’s bungalow and vehicle, and his interest in a partnership…

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

P.S. Gopinathan, a Sub‑Judge promoted to District & Sessions Judge on 14 January 1992, was initially treated as a temporary appointee and later re‑appointed on 15 July 1992 after a fresh panel was prepared following the integration of the Civil and Criminal Judicial Services. He accepted both postings without objection…

The petitioners, teachers in private grant‑in‑aid colleges, sought a writ directing the State Government to raise the superannuation age from 58/60 to 62 years, relying on a UGC notification and a Central Government letter that recommended the higher age. The State Government, while adopting the revised pay‑scales, exp…

The respondent, a conductor with the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, obstructed a police inspection of his bus and misbehaved with officials, constituting a criminal breach of trust. A departmental inquiry proved the misconduct and the corporation dismissed him; the departmental appeal was rejected. The…

Master Cables Pvt. Ltd., a manufacturer registered under the Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963, sought relief under the Kar Vivad Samadhan Scheme, 1998, after a tax inspection uncovered unaccounted sales. The company claimed that Section 90(3) of the Scheme barred the State from reopening its sales‑tax assessment, inv…

The petitioners, Mahadeo Bhu Khilare and others, were engaged as unpaid assistants by a Talathi (revenue officer) in Maharashtra without any statutory authority or sanctioned post. After the State directed a ban on such engagements, they sought regularisation under a scheme framed by the Maharashtra Administrative Trib…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order 2nd Amendment, 2002 which excluded the Mochi sub‑caste outside the Dang District and Umargaon Taluka of Valsad District, Gujarat, from Schedule I. The Court held that the President’s power under Article 341 to specify Scheduled Castes i…

The respondent, Dinkar Sinha, was commissioned as an Indian Army officer in March 1979, discharged in 1988, and later joined the Uttar Pradesh Police Service under vacancies reserved for ex‑army personnel. He sought additional seniority under the Uttar Pradesh Non‑Technical (Class‑II/Group B) Services Appointment of De…

The appellant, a clerk‑cum‑cashier of Rewa Sidhi Gramin Bank, challenged the promotion of his juniors, arguing that the bank's promotion policy violated the seniority‑cum‑merit requirement under the Regional Rural Banks (Appointment & Promotion of Officers and other Employees) Rules, 1988. The High Court had earlier qu…

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the Supreme Court’s direction to publish a confidential report of an in‑house committee that had investigated alleged involvement of sitting Karnataka High Court judges in certain incidents, and to order an independent agency to conduct a fre…

The petitioners, a group of judicial officers, filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the grant of selection grade and super‑time scale to certain respondents, alleging that senior officers were bypassed, the criteria were arbitrary, and the process violated Article 16 and the Shetty Commission recommendati…

The case arose from the Parliament attack of 2001, after which the accused were charged under various statutes including the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA). While the trial was pending, the accused sought an interlocutory order from the Special Judge to exclude intercepted telephone conversations as evidence …

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition alleging that numerous Bihar‑owned public sector undertakings had failed to pay salaries for years, leading to starvation deaths and suicides of employees and their families. The petition sought directions for payment of arrears and held the State of Bihar l…

The petitioners, employed as Legal Assistants in the Rajasthan Education Department, applied for the Rajasthan Judicial Service but had not completed the statutory three‑year active practice at the Bar. The Rajasthan Public Service Commission cancelled their candidature on that ground. The petitioners argued that repre…

Narain Singh, a former driver and later constable in the Border Security Force, was charged with disobeying a lawful command and assaulting his superior after failing to report for sentry duty. He pleaded guilty and appealed his dismissal, arguing that his poverty and admission of guilt warranted leniency. The discipli…

The case concerned the promotion of Sub‑Inspectors of the Uttar Pradesh police to the rank of Inspector. The Selection Committee had used the criteria laid down in the Government Order of 5 November 1965, a special rule under the Police Act, rather than the Uttar Pradesh Government Service (Criteria for Recruitment by …

The petitioners, who are police ministerial officers working in district offices, sought parity of pay scales and other emoluments with their counterparts in the headquarters (DIG, IG, DGP) based on a 1974 Government of Orissa resolution that created a separate cadre of police ministerial officers. The issue before the…

Arnit Das was arrested for a murder under IPC 302 and claimed to be a juvenile, asserting a birth date of 18‑09‑1982. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered an enquiry under Section 32 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986, and, after a medical board report, concluded that Das was above 16 years of age on the dat…

The respondents, language teachers in Haryana Government Vocational Education Institutes, taught Hindi and English to standard 11‑12 students and claimed parity in pay with Lecturers teaching the same subjects in higher secondary schools. They argued that the work, syllabus, examinations and student outcomes were ident…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987, particularly its provisions abolishing hereditary rights of Archakas and other temple officials. It held that such abolition was not unconstitutional and that the Act's welf…

The case concerned a long‑standing dispute between directly recruited Section Officers and promotee officers in the Central Secretariat Service over the allocation of vacancies. The 1962 Rules prescribed a 1/6 (later 1/5) quota for direct recruitment, with the remainder filled by promotion, and the 1984 amendment intro…

The Hailakandi Bar Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that Superintendent of Police A.K. Sinha Cashyap submitted a false report and affidavit to the Supreme Court to conceal police brutality that led to the death of under‑trial prisoner Nurul Haque. The Court examined the CBI investigation, med…

The appellant, a District Munsif who had been temporarily promoted to Subordinate Judge, was removed from service by the Andhra Pradesh High Court after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of misconduct. He appealed to the Governor under Rule 21(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and A…

Kamla Devi was appointed on an ad‑hoc basis under the U.P. Temporary Government Services Rules, 1975 and was repeatedly absent from duty. The State terminated her service on 23 September 1980 under Rule 14(a), which allows termination with one month’s notice or pay in lieu. She sought reinstatement and back wages, but …

The brothers of the former ruler of the princely State of Nabha filed suits in the Patiala Sub‑Judge Court seeking possession of a parcel of land called ‘Bir Bhadson’, relying on a 25 April 1948 letter from Maharaja Pratap Singh that they claimed granted the land to them. The State of Punjab, as the successor to Nabha …

The Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) employed about 1,500 contract labourers at its Ukai thermal power plant through various contractors. After the workers were terminated, the union filed a writ petition seeking reinstatement and enforcement of labour laws. The dispute was referred to an Industrial Tribunal under Secti…

The appellant, a land‑lady, owned a house in Vasant Vihar and repeatedly let it out to the respondent, a judicial officer, for limited periods after obtaining permission under Section 21 of the Delhi Rent Control Act. After the last two‑year tenancy expired in April 1982, the respondent refused to vacate, and the appel…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960, which imposes land‑holding ceilings and provides for surplus land surrender, consolidation, and related restrictions. Petitioners challenged various provisions on grounds of violation of Article…

Ram Ratan, a Forest Guard in Madhya Pradesh, was charged with misconduct and, after a departmental inquiry, was served a second show‑cause notice under Article 311(2) of the Constitution (pre‑1976) and Rule 15(4)(i)(b) of the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Rules, 1966, proposing a major penalty of removal from service. …

The Supreme Court examined the selection process for admission to the Government Medical College, Jammu for 1979‑80, where the State had reserved seats for various categories including "rectification of regional imbalance", areas adjoining the line of control, bad pockets, social castes, wards of medical staff and stud…

The case involved a constitutional challenge to the death penalty for murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and the sentencing procedure under Section 354(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The Supreme Court, by a 4-1 majority, upheld the constitutionality of both provisions. The Court held that th…

Malkit Singh, president of the Manimajara Vyaapar Mandal, filed a writ petition seeking the removal of fruit‑vendors, hawkers and other street sellers who were encroaching on public paths, roads and property in Chandigarh, alleging nuisance and traffic hazards. The High Court dismissed the petition and imposed costs, p…

The appellant, Shuvendu Saha, was involved in a tenancy dispute with the respondent‑2 complainant, which was settled in a civil suit that was subsequently dismissed. Despite the settlement, the complainant filed a criminal complaint leading to an FIR for offences under Sections 409, 417, 418, 419, 420 and 506(2) IPC an…

In the 2019 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, independent candidate Karikho Kri was elected from Tezu (ST) constituency. Nuney Tayang challenged the election, alleging that Kri failed to disclose three vehicles, a no‑dues certificate for government accommodation, and municipal/property tax liabilities, t…

The prosecution alleged that secret information received by an intelligence officer indicated that Accused No.4 would transport narcotics in an auto‑rickshaw, leading to a raid in which 1.45 kg of charas was seized from the vehicle and, subsequently, 2.098 kg was recovered from the house of Accused No.4 where Accused N…

The VVF Ltd. Employees Union filed a charter of demand in 2008 seeking wage revisions and various allowances for 146 workmen employed at VVF India Ltd.'s Sewree and Sion units. The Industrial Tribunal awarded relief on several demands but rejected the union's claims for pay‑scale revision, adjustments, and dearness all…

Two students from the Union Territory of Ladakh were allocated central pool MBBS seats at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Maulana Azad Medical College but were not admitted despite the allocations. They filed writ petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking directions for admission. The Court observed that…

The Bharatiya Janata Party (West Bengal) filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) to issue nomination forms electronically, allow email submissions, and provide police and para‑military protection, alleging that its candidates were barred from c…

Bajrang Bahadur Singh was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2012 and subsequently entered into four contracts with the State. The Governor, under Article 192, declared Singh disqualified under Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, causing his seat to be declared vacant and a bye‑e…

The appellant, claiming ownership of a shop, filed a civil suit against the respondent‑tenant. The respondent filed a writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution seeking to quash the plaint and the suit proceedings. The Kerala High Court entertained the writ and set aside the plaint, imposing costs on …

The appellant, Premji Nathu, challenged the compensation awarded for his land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. After the Collector issued a notice under s.12(2) on 22‑Feb‑1985 without attaching a copy of the award, the appellant obtained the award later and filed an application on 8‑Apr‑1985 under s.18(1)…

The State of Orissa prosecuted Prasanna Kumar Mohanty and examined the investigating officer, Bipin Behari Mahapatra, in chief on 1 September 1999. Although the defence was given two occasions to cross‑examine the witness, he was later recalled and failed to appear from 2003 to 2006, citing illness and old age. The Hig…

M/s. Nowa Ads challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 326A‑J of the Chennai City Municipal Act, 1919 and the 2003 Advertising Rules, alleging violations of Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution. The petitioners argued that the provisions unduly restricted the right to advertise on private property and amoun…

The petitioners were already accused in a police case relating to a shooting incident, but were later summoned under Section 319 of the CrPC in a separate complaint case concerning the same occurrence. They challenged the summons, arguing that Section 319 could not be invoked against a person already an accused in anot…

The State of Orissa and Orient Paper & Industries Ltd entered into an agreement granting exclusive rights to fell bamboos, which later gave rise to disputes over the measurement of bamboo quantities. The parties referred three specific questions to an arbitrator: the correctness of the Chief Conservator's determination…

The dispute concerned the validity of elections to the Committee of the Sree Narayana Dharmasanghom Trust. After a series of orders by the Kerala High Court, a Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed in the Supreme Court and dismissed. The appellant argued that the dismissal of the SLP was not a final order and that the…

Udaysingh, a Civil Judge, was accused of demanding Rs.10,000 as illegal gratification to influence a judgment. The allegation led to adverse remarks in his confidential report, a disciplinary enquiry, and ultimately his dismissal by the High Court acting as disciplinary authority. Udaysingh challenged the dismissal in …

Associated Cement Companies Ltd, a cement manufacturer, supplied cement to the Cement Manufacturing Company of India Ltd, which acted as its exclusive marketing agent. The appellant claimed that the sales to the marketing company were exempt from Madhya Pradesh sales tax under the Explanation to Article 286(1)(a) of th…

The Karnataka government invited applications for bottling arrack and, after receiving 131 applications, the Excise Commissioner recommended eight contractors, many of whom were not eligible under the Karnataka Excise (Bottling of Liquor) Rules. The State awarded the contracts despite the rules restricting licences to …

The appellants, junior subordinate judges in Himachal Pradesh, challenged the promotions of three officers to District/Additional District & Sessions Judge (DSJ/ADSJ) and two officers to a selection‑grade subordinate judge post, arguing that such promotions are selection posts that must be based solely on merit and not…

Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia, a former minister, faced allegations of political corruption and applied for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC, fearing arrest for non‑bailable offences. The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the applications, imposing a series of restrictive conditions and rejecting blanket b…

The appellants were appointed as junior staff nurses on an "academic arrangement" basis under the 2009 SRO, and later sought regularisation under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Special Provisions) Act, 2010, which excluded such appointments via Section 3(b). The State argued that the exclusion was valid because …

The petitioner, Common Cause, a registered society, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a declaration that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, and for directions to recognize 'living wills' or advance directives. The case was referred to a Constitution B…

The petitioners, former Range Officers of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, claimed that a 1983 letter from the Director of Forest Education promised them direct recruitment as Assistant Conservators of Forest, invoking promissory estoppel. The Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal dismissed their applications…

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

The case concerned the custodial death of Mathura, who was taken into police custody, subjected to electric shock torture, and died shortly after release. The trial court acquitted the police officers, but the High Court convicted them under IPC sections 304 Part II and 330, relying on medical evidence of scrotal burns…

Eight persons were tried by a Sessions Court in Madhya Pradesh for murder and related offences under the Indian Penal Code. The High Court set aside their convictions, and the State appealed, but only four of the accused were impleaded as respondents in the appeal. The Supreme Court, in a 2008 judgment, reversed the ac…

The State of Haryana filed an appeal after the High Court, exercising its supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227, set aside the District Collector’s order directing Manoj Kumar to pay differential stamp duty on a commercial plot that had been sold at a price lower than the circle rate. The sale deed was executed fo…

The appellants Javed Masood and another were convicted for murder (Sec. 302 IPC) based primarily on the testimony of the deceased's brother (PW‑5), who lodged a Parcha Bayan. Independent witnesses, including the shop owner (PW‑6) and several police personnel (PW‑18, PW‑29, PW‑30), testified that the brother and other a…

Hasan Ali Raihany, born in India to Iranian parents, was deported in October 2005 without being told the reasons. He later obtained a Single Entry Permit from the Indian Embassy in Tehran and re‑entered India, but was repeatedly summoned to the Kurla Police Station and feared further deportation without due process. He…

The appellant, a retired foreman of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board, failed to vacate the Board's quarters after retirement and sought extensions from the High Court, which were eventually granted up to 1 November 1999. He finally vacated the premises on 6 January 2000, after which the Board imposed a permanent 5…

The Calcutta Municipal Corporation demanded mutation fees, calculated on an ad‑valorem basis and varying with property value and the cause of transfer, from developers who had purchased land and sought to change the name in the municipal assessment books. The developers challenged the levy, arguing that it was labelled…

The appellants challenged a writ petition that had been disposed of by a single High Court judge on the basis of a purported compromise memo signed only by the respondents. The appellants asserted that they never signed the memo and that the disposal was therefore erroneous. The Division Bench of the High Court refused…

Jagdish Ram, a District Ayurvedic Officer, was charged under Section 7 of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 for allegedly practicing untouchability. The police investigation concluded the complaint was false, but the magistrate, after a second complaint, took cognizance and issued process. The accused repeatedly…

The Municipal Board of Rishikesh amended its bye‑law to prohibit the sale of eggs within the municipal limits, adding "eggs" to an existing ban on meat and fish. The appellants challenged the amendment, arguing that the board lacked authority because "eggs" were not listed in Section 298(2) List I Heading F of the U.P.…

M.R. Kanojia, appointed as a Teacher Coordinator and later redesignated as a Hearing Therapist at AIIMS, sought to have his salary raised to the pay scale of Speech Pathologists and Audiologists, claiming that he performed the same work and that the State violated Articles 14, 16 and the Directive Principle of equal pa…

Three writ petitions under Article 32 challenged the detention of individuals under the National Security Act, alleging that the authorities delayed consideration of their representations under Article 22(5) of the Constitution. The petitioners had made representations within days of detention, but the authorities eith…

The Supreme Court examined the recruitment of Class‑IV employees in Jharkhand where an advertisement dated 29 July 2010 failed to disclose the number of posts and reservation details, rendering it void under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The Court held that the advertisement was illegal and any appointments m…

Sampurna Behura filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Acts of 2000 and 2015, alleging that many states had failed to establish or properly staff Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, Special Juvenile Polic…

The appellant, a government irrigation supervisor in Uttar Pradesh, was removed from service for contracting a second marriage while his first marriage was still subsisting, in violation of Rule 29(1) of the U.P. Government Servant Conduct Rules, 1956. He claimed that he had divorced his first wife before the second ma…

The respondent, a bank employee, was found guilty of financial irregularities, fraud and misappropriation and was punished with a reduction of pay after a departmental enquiry. The High Court set aside the punishment on the ground that the enquiry report had not been served to the employee, alleging a breach of natural…

The appellants bought a residential plot in an auction, paid 25% of the bid and took physical possession. Within a month they surrendered the plot, and the competent authority accepted the surrender, imposing a penalty of 2.5% of the premium under Rule 7‑A(1). After two years and six months the authority demanded an ad…

D.M. Premkumari, a member of the Telugu Shetty community, was appointed as a primary school teacher in 1994 under the Group B reservation category as per the Karnataka Government's 1986 classification order. Later verification revealed that her caste, Telugu Balija, had been re‑classified to Group D, making her ineligi…

The Special Land Acquisition Officer (U.K. Project) appealed against a reference court award that increased compensation for 1 acre 13 guntas of land from Rs.4,000 to Rs.30,420 per acre. Both the first and second appeals were dismissed by the High Court, after which a Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed alleging pro…

The appellants, convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, had pending appeals when the NDPS (Amendment) Act, 2001 came into force on 2‑October‑2001. Section 41(1) of the amendment applied the new graded‑sentence regime to all pending cases except those "pending in appeal". The appellants…

The appellant V.L. Tresa was accused of murdering her husband Vincent, but the trial court acquitted her of the murder charge (Sec. 302 IPC) due to lack of proof beyond reasonable doubt. She was, however, convicted under Sec. 201 of the Indian Penal Code for causing disappearance of evidence and giving false informatio…

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) organized an international cricket tournament and sought to sell telecasting rights to a foreign agency, Trans World International (TWI), after Doordarshan (the government broadcaster) refused to pay the demanded amount. Doordarshan claimed exclusive right to telecast from Indian…

The case concerned disqualification of members of the Goa Legislative Assembly under Article 191(2) read with the Tenth Schedule. Bandekar and Chopdekar were disqualified for allegedly having voluntarily given up their MGP membership, while Naik was disqualified on similar grounds after claiming a split in the party th…

Dharmendra and Suganchand Chelawat were arrested for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and were remanded to judicial custody until 13 October 1988. While they were still in custody, a preventive detention order under Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and…

Abdul Latif Abdul Wahab Sheikh was acquitted of murder but was immediately placed under preventive detention under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti Social Activities Act, 1985. No Advisory Board existed at the time, and the statutory requirement to refer the case to the Board within three weeks was not met. The first det…

The petitioners, registered dealers under the Jammu and Kashmir General Sales Tax Act, 1962, filed quarterly returns but failed to pay the tax on time, leading the Assessing Authority to levy interest under section 8 of the Act. They challenged the constitutional validity of sections 8(1), 8(2) and 8(3) on grounds of v…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against a High Court order that granted bail to the accused Anurudh and directed that a medical board determine the victim's age in all POCSO cases. The accused was charged under IPC sections 363 and 366 and POCSO sections 7 and 8 for allegedly abducting a 12‑year‑old girl. The High …