Constitution of India

The Supreme Court examined whether the Mana community in Maharashtra is a sub‑tribe of the Gond tribe or a distinct Scheduled Tribe, and whether state resolutions could alter the status conferred by the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order. The Court held that the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, as amended by P…

The petitioners, laboratory assistants appointed in non‑government colleges in West Bengal, were treated as non‑teaching staff despite performing teaching functions and were denied the pay scale of physical instructors. After a series of writ petitions, the Supreme Court ordered that they be treated as teaching staff a…

The State of West Bengal purchased Mayurakshi Cotton Mills after liquidation and re‑employed many of the former workers. Management issued a lock‑out in August 1992, which was challenged by a writ petition; the lock‑out was later withdrawn following a settlement dated 27 February 1993 that retrenched a number of workme…

The appellant borrowed Rs.35,500 from the respondent and his brother, paid Rs.20,000 and executed a promissory note for the balance of Rs.15,500 with 9% interest. On the same day he also executed an agreement to sell three plots of land for the same amount, intending the sale to discharge the note. The respondent sued …

Thirty-two bus conductors employed on a daily‑wage basis by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) alleged that the corporation, being a statutory body, is a "State" within Art 12 of the Constitution and that it had discriminated against them by regularising nineteen similarly placed conductors and gran…

The respondents, senior officers in the Maharashtra Subordinate Secretariat Service, challenged a revised seniority list that placed them below juniors who had passed the departmental examination earlier. The promotion to Superintendent required passing a yearly exam; failure to pass within a stipulated period resulted…

The petitioners sought a writ of mandamus to stop the release of 7,500 cartons of Irish butter imported for the Operation Flood programme, alleging that the butter was contaminated with radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster. The Bombay High Court declined to issue such a writ, holding that the matter was tech…

The State of Bihar created a Directorate of Indigenous Medicines with a Director and three Deputy Directors (Homeopathic, Unani, Ayurvedic). Using a 50‑point roster for reservation under Article 16(4) of the Constitution, the government reserved the sole vacancy of Deputy Director (Homeopathic) for a Scheduled Caste ca…

The petitioners, who were directly recruited Section Officers in the Central Secretariat Service, challenged a 1984 amendment to Rule 12(2) of the C.S.S. Rules that required eight years of approved service as a condition for consideration for promotion to Grade I. They argued that the rule arbitrarily excluded senior d…

The Supreme Court entertained miscellaneous applications seeking correction of certain phrases in paragraphs 10(a) and 77 of Justice B.V. Nagarathna's judgment in W.P. (C) No.59/2013, filed by the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim. The Court observed that substantial amendments to the original writ petition had not…

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas allocated natural gas to Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. (IPCL) on the condition that IPCL lay its own pipelines. IPCL entered into a gas‑supply contract with GAIL (India) Ltd., a public sector undertaking, which contained clauses charging IPCL for "loss of transportatio…

The State of Andhra Pradesh, facing a sharp decline in revenue due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, issued Government Orders on 31 March and 26 April 2020 that deferred payment of salaries, wages, honoraria and pensions. A writ petition under Article 226 challenged the deferment, and the Andhra Pradesh High Court held that th…

The case involved the interpretation of Section 24 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and Section 31 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The main issue was whether non-deposit of compensation in court under Section 31(2) of the 1894 Act resu…

The Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the State Government to amend Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, within ninety days so that non‑agriculturist Himachalis could purchase agricultural and non‑agricultural land. The State challenged this direction, arguing that it infringed upo…

Richa Mishra, an Excise Sub‑Inspector, applied for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police and cleared all stages of the competitive examination, but was omitted from the final list because she exceeded the upper age limit of 25 years prescribed in the Chhattisgarh Police Executive (Gazetted) Service Recruitment an…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the Mysore Inam Abolition Act, 1954, where two inamdars applied for occupancy registration of land that the State had meanwhile granted to a teachers' association (Sangha) for house sites. The inamdars settled their suit with the Sangha, withdrew their claim, and later …

The owners of a 2‑acre‑37‑guntha land (respondents) obtained a decree for possession after the watch‑factory (HMT Ltd.) had unlawfully occupied an extra 39 gunthas beyond the 1‑acre‑38‑guntha acquired in 1978. While execution of the decree was pending, HMT Ltd. requested the Karnataka Government to issue a preliminary …

The appellant, a Metropolitan Magistrate, complained that a Delhi High Court judgment contained disparaging observations against her, which later entered her confidential annual records and threatened her career. She sought expungement of those remarks under Article 136 of the Constitution, arguing they were irrelevant…

In 1997 a massacre in Madurai led to the arrest of 34 persons, many of whom were later released on bail. The victims' relatives sought the High Court's intervention to cancel the bail, but the State did not move the court. A group of 75 practising advocates filed petitions before the Chief Justice of the Madras High Co…

The State of Punjab declared a new grain market (new Mandi) and denotified the old market, directing licensed commission agents to shift their businesses. Plots in the new Mandi were sold by public auction, and the appellants, who owned shops in the old Mandi, sought allocation of alternative sites on a no‑profit‑no‑lo…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) held an auction for a commercial plot in 1980, and Skipper Construction was the highest bidder at Rs. 9.82 crores. Skipper deposited 25% but delayed the balance payment, leading to an agreement in 1987 for instalment payments. Skipper continued to delay and filed a writ petition in…

The petitioners, appointed as Pharmacists Grade‑B in the Northern Railway Central Hospital, were placed in the higher pay scale of Rs 330‑560 despite being qualified only under clause (d) of Section 31 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, which entitled them to the lower scale of Rs 330‑480. In 1984 they were ordered to be shift…

Ultratech Cement Ltd., which operates two cement plants in Gujarat, used heavy earth‑moving and construction equipment such as dumpers, loaders, excavators and dozers within its factory premises. The Gujarat State authorities directed registration of these machines and levied road tax under the Gujarat Motor Vehicles T…

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (State Commission) was asked to approve the procurement of 1,000 MW of power through a competitive bidding process. After negotiations, the Commission approved only 500 MW and adopted the tariffs of the lowest bidders, while the higher‑priced bids of L‑4 and L‑5 were reje…

The appellants, former directors and guarantors of Adhunik Detergent Ltd., were joined as defendants in a civil suit filed by Union Bank of India for recovery of a loan. They appeared in the civil court, filed a written statement and raised preliminary objections, but the suit was later transferred to a Debt Recovery T…

The respondents applied for Constable‑Driver positions in the Haryana Police and answered "No" to the application queries whether they had ever been arrested or convicted. Verification later revealed that they had been arrested in connection with FIRs but were acquitted and released on bail without ever being taken int…

The Uttar Pradesh Government, facing a shortage of Trade Tax Officers, withdrew 97 Grade‑II posts from the purview of the State Public Service Commission under the proviso to Article 320(3) of the Constitution and filled them through a Limited Departmental Examination in 1987. The appointees were initially designated a…

Neetu, appointed as Audit Inspector, challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order that set aside her appointment on the ground that a writ petition filed as a public interest litigation (PIL) alleged she obtained a Scheduled Caste certificate fraudulently. The Supreme Court examined whether a PIL can be enterta…

The respondents were engaged as contract sweepers and attenders by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation in 1992 and claimed regularisation after completing 240 days of continuous service, alleging that they were denied work from May 1998. The High Court directed their regularisation, but the Corporation …

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Hat Singh and others under the Rajasthan Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 for "glorification of Sati" (Section 5) and for contravention of a prohibitory order issued by the Collector (Section 6(3)). The High Court held that once a prohibitory order was issued, Section 5 merged into Section …

The appellants, draftsmen of the Central Water Commission (CWC), claimed that they should receive the same retrospective pay‑scale revisions granted to draftsmen of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) under the 13 March 1984 Government Office Memorandum. They argued that both groups performed similar work and, a…

The respondents, employed as Revisors in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, claimed that they were entitled to the pay scale of Superintendent Grade II retrospectively from 23 January 1975. The original 1973 Service Rules placed Revisors on a lower pay scale, and only a notification dated 5 August 1980 redesignated the…

P. Kasilingam, a probationary lecturer at P.S.G. College of Technology, was facing a departmental enquiry for alleged dereliction of duty. On the morning the enquiry was to begin, he submitted a letter of apology and an unconditional resignation at the college correspondent's residence, apparently as part of a deal to …

C. Sivasankaran, an Ambassador-at-large of Seychelles, filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution claiming diplomatic immunity to avoid criminal proceedings in India. The Madras High Court rejected his claim, holding that he does not fall within the definition of a "diplomatic agent" under Article 1 of …

The petitioner, journalist Amish Devgan, hosted a televised debate on the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act and described the Sufi saint Pir Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti as an invader, terrorist and robber, leading to seven FIRs in different states under Sections 295A, 153A and 505(2) of the IPC. He sought quashin…

The respondent, a contract conductor with APSRTC, was terminated after a departmental enquiry and later re‑engaged on a fresh contract. He filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking continuity of service and seniority from the date of termination to his re‑engagement, without monetary benefits, for the purpose of …

G. Kondal Rao, a contract conductor with APSRTC, was terminated after a departmental enquiry proved misconduct. He unsuccessfully challenged the termination through departmental and review mechanisms and then filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution. The Single Judge of the High Court, relying mechan…

The appellant was summoned by a Chief Judicial Magistrate to give a voice sample to aid the investigation of an alleged recruitment scam. He challenged the summons on the ground that it violated Article 20(3) of the Constitution and that no statutory provision empowered a magistrate to order a voice sample. The Supreme…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Punjab and Haryana High Court could entertain applications under Section 482 of the CrPC and direct a CBI investigation after a criminal appeal had been finally disposed of. It held that once a judgment is signed, the court becomes functus officio and, under Section 362 CrPC, cann…

The appellant, a confirmed peon appointed in 1980, was dismissed in 2002 for allegedly providing false information in a 1994 attestation form concerning arrests and pending cases. The High Court upheld the dismissal, relying on the decision in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan v. Ram Ratan Yadav, which allowed termination o…

The appellant, the father of a deceased Army Major, alleged that his son was murdered because he had uncovered corruption, and sought a direction that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conduct a probe. The High Court dismissed the writ petition, and the appellant appealed. The Supreme Court held that a petition…

The respondent was appointed headmaster of a recognised school despite being the son of the school's manager, which is prohibited by Rule 6 of the Uttar Pradesh Recognised Basic Schools (Junior High Schools) Rules, 1978. The manager had taken temporary leave, but the Supreme Court held that this did not terminate his s…

The petitioner, an Additional District Judge, was ordered by the Jharkhand High Court to retire at age 58, denying him the benefit of the extended retirement age to 60 years mandated by Supreme Court directions. He challenged the order under Article 32, arguing that the High Court had not complied with the Supreme Cour…

The Supreme Court examined multiple writ petitions challenging the legality of lawyers striking or calling for a boycott of courts. It held that advocates, as officers of the Court, have no right to strike or boycott court proceedings; such actions interfere with the administration of justice and constitute professiona…

The State of West Bengal recruited candidates for the post of Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in district and sub‑divisional offices under the West Bengal Board's Miscellaneous Rules, 1955, which required a minimum typing speed of 30 words per minute. Forty‑four respondents who failed the typing test were denied appointment…

Mary Johny, a Group C employee of Doordarshan Kendra in the Maharashtra‑Goa‑Dadar‑Nagar Haveli region, challenged her promotion and transfer to Akashvani (All India Radio) within the same region, contending that she had elected to remain with Doordarshan when the two services were bifurcated in 1976. The Central Admini…

The Central Government declared Jamaat‑e‑Islami Hind an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, based on alleged statements questioning India's sovereignty. The declaration was referred to a Tribunal, which, relying on a résumé of intelligence reports and affidavits from officials who…

The Madhya Pradesh Hastashilp Vikas Nigam Ltd., a government company, appointed five individuals as temporary Junior Managers in July 1989, contrary to a State Government order dated 1‑April‑1989 that required prior approval for such appointments. The appointments were later terminated on 31‑July‑1989 by the succeeding…

The respondent, a member of the Uttar Pradesh Civil Services, was censured for allegedly pressurising carpet traders to support students protesting the reservation policy. He challenged the censure under Rule 55‑B(a) of the U.P. Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1930, which dispenses with formal…

The Supreme Court examined the appointments of six doctors as ad‑hoc lecturers under the Jammu & Kashmir Medical Education (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 1979. The State Government had relaxed the recruitment rules to regularise two of them and the High Court quashed all appointments, directing that vacancies be…

The petitioners challenged a Gujarat Government notification that amended Rule 21 of the Gujarat Minor Minerals Rules, raising the royalty on Black Trap and Hard Murrum from Rs 4 to Rs 7 per metric tonne. They argued that the royalty, being a tax, must be used only for mineral development under Entry 50 of the Constitu…

The State of Madhya Pradesh, in its 1961 industrial policy, promised a five‑year exemption from electricity duty to industrialists who generated power themselves using new generating sets installed during the Third Plan. Orient Paper Mills Ltd. indicated in 1955 that it would need 5,000 kW and planned to set up its own…

The Delhi Municipal Corporation employed certain vaccinators/immunisers on a daily‑wage basis for more than eight years while regular employees performing the same duties received higher salaries. The daily‑rated workers sought regularisation and payment at the minimum rate of the regular pay‑scale, invoking Articles 1…

The appellant, a food inspector, charged the respondents with adulterating food under s.16(1)(a) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 as it stood in West Bengal after the 1973 State amendment, which prescribed life imprisonment and made the offence triable only by a Sessions Court. While the case was pendin…

The State of Odisha issued an auction notice for a five‑year sand‑quarry lease; Shanti Construction Pvt. Ltd., the highest‑price bidder, was declared non‑responsive for not submitting an Income Tax Return for FY 2021‑22, while a lower‑priced bidder was declared successful. The dispute centered on the meaning of “previo…

The appellants, private landowners in Maharashtra, challenged revenue annotations and mutation entries that labelled their lands as private forests and vested in the State, arguing that the statutory requirements for acquisition were not fulfilled. The State contended that notices issued under Section 35(3) of the Indi…

The petitioners, original allottees of a group housing project in Greater Noida, challenged the Allahabad High Court's dismissal of their writ petition seeking restoration of a cancelled lease, identification of genuine allottees, and completion of construction. The Supreme Court observed that the dispute involved comp…

The Supreme Court examined the dispute between State Bank of India and other creditors (petitioners) and the consortium of Murari Lal Jalan and Florian Fritsch (respondent SRA) over the implementation of the approved resolution plan for Jet Airways. The core issue was whether the Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of Rs.…

The appellants challenged the Rajasthan High Court’s decision to fix a 75% cut‑off for the translator recruitment, alleging that it altered the eligibility criteria after the recruitment process had begun. The Supreme Court examined when a recruitment process starts and ends, the constitutional doctrine that the "rules…

The appellant, Hariprasad, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly poisoning Bisahu Singh by mixing a herb in liquor, based largely on the deceased's dying declaration and a forensic report that arrived a year later. The Supreme Court examined whether the more than one‑year delay in filing the FIR was fatal t…

The appellant, Mohd. Abdullah Azam Khan, was elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2017, but the election petitioner challenged his eligibility on the ground that he was under 25 years of age at the time of filing his nomination. The dispute centered on conflicting birth dates shown in two birth certific…

The Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Articles 15 and 16 of the Indian Constitution to empower the State to provide up to 10% reservation for 'economically weaker sections' (EWS) of citizens, excluding Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the non-creamy layer of Other Backward Classes.…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act’s amendment that shifted property tax assessment from rateable value to capital value, and the accompanying Capital Value Rules of 2010 and 2015. It held that the rules allowing the Commissioner to factor in future development potential (su…

E. Bapanaiah, a depositor, filed a contempt petition against K.S. Raju, promoter director of Nagarjuna Finance Ltd., alleging wilful breach of an undertaking given to the Company Law Board (CLB) to repay deposits. The High Court division bench set aside the conviction and sentence imposed by a single judge, finding Raj…

The case concerned the grant of an LPG distributorship by Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPC). An advertisement invited applications, disqualifying persons convicted of offences involving moral turpitude or those against whom charges had been framed. Respondent No.5 was selected but his empanelment was cancelled after a…

The State of Haryana re‑issued a preliminary notification under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in 2001 for a link‑road and invoked the urgency clause of Section 17, dispensing with the inquiry and hearing of objections under Section 5A before issuing a final notification under Section 6. Essco Fabs Pvt. Ltd. and a teac…

The appellant, a Draughtsman Grade‑I appointed in 1977, obtained a BE degree in 1983 and sought promotion to Assistant Executive Engineer on the same basis as graduate Supervisors, who were eligible for promotion under Government Orders of 1978 and 1981. The High Court Single Judge directed promotion from the date of h…

The husband filed a petition for divorce under Section 13(1)(ia) and (ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging mental cruelty and desertion, which the trial court upheld on the ground of mental cruelty and the High Court confirmed. The wife appealed, contending that the alleged acts did not constitute mental cruelty and…

The appellants, tenants in Chandigarh, challenged a 7 November 2002 notification issued by the Administrator under Section 3 of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, which exempted buildings and rented land with monthly rent exceeding Rs.1500 from the Act's provisions. The High Court had upheld the notifica…

The respondent, a long‑serving employee of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), was charged with four instances of theft in 1986 and admitted to the misconduct. A departmental enquiry found him guilty and the Labour Court (Industrial Tribunal) ordered his removal from service. The High Court Si…

The case concerned a slum‑rehabilitation scheme in Vile Parle where Mis Sigtia Construction Co. Ltd. (S) had been appointed developer by the co‑operative housing society. While S was awaiting a Letter of Intent (LOI) from the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), slum dwellers filed writ petitions challenging S’s appoin…

The appellant, a daily‑wage worker appointed on 26‑Nov‑1988, was terminated on 20‑Jun‑1994 and claimed that he had worked continuously for more than 240 days in the preceding year, invoking section 25‑F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The labour court held him to be a workman, found that he had satisfied the 240‑…

The appellants, senior assistants of the Factories and Boilers Department, challenged Special Rules made under the proviso to Article 309 that allowed their transfer to higher posts in the Labour Department. The Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal had declared those Rules void for violating the Presidential Order is…

The respondent, D. Nagulu Naidu, a regularised employee of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, challenged a transfer order in a writ petition before the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Single Judge did not suspend the transfer but held it would be decided on the merits of the petition. The respondent appealed this order…

The respondent, an Agriculture Inspector in Himachal Pradesh, sought promotion to the post of Joint Director (Agriculture). Promotion rules required merit, seniority, a minimum three‑year service in the feeder grade and a "zone of consideration" limited to five times the number of vacancies. The Departmental Promotion …

The State of Haryana appealed a High Court order that had granted daily‑wage mail‑cum‑chowkidars and pump operators the same salary as regular employees of the same posts. The Supreme Court held that the principle of "equal pay for equal work" cannot be mechanically applied to daily‑rated workers because they differ in…

Prabha Dutt, chief reporter of Hindustan Times, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a direction to allow her to interview two death‑row convicts, Billa and Ranga, in Tihar Jail. The Court examined whether Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution confers a press right to unrestricted access to information and hel…

In the 1978 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election for the Armori constituency (reserved for Scheduled Tribes), the appellant Dadaji was declared elected, claiming membership in the "Mana" community. The unsuccessful candidate challenged the election, arguing that Dadaji did not belong to any Scheduled Tribe listed …

Goodland Plantations Ltd. subscribed to a monthly chitty run by Orient Bank and paid four instalments, winning the prize. Before the prize could be paid, the Central Government imposed a moratorium on Orient Bank under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, causing the chitty to be deemed terminated under the Travancore Chi…

Dr. S. Rajaseekaran filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking comprehensive road‑safety measures, especially for pedestrians, helmet use, lane discipline and vehicle lighting. The Court examined the statutory framework under the Motor Vehicles Act, Road Regulations and related rules, and considered extensive data …

The plaintiff, Syeda Arifa Parveen, claimed ownership of 24 acres of agricultural land on the basis of being the sole daughter of Khadijabee and of an oral gift (hiba) of 10 acres made by her mother. The trial court rejected the oral gift but granted her a 3/4 share of the remaining land, while the Karnataka High Court…

The respondent, N. Murugesan, was appointed Director‑General of the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) on a five‑year tenure through direct recruitment, with a clause that re‑appointment would depend on suitability. As his tenure ended, he sought extension, claiming that his appointment was a regular post and that…

The petitioners, Union of India and others, appealed against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that directed the Department of Posts to reformulate its regularisation policy and to sanction posts for part‑time contingent sweepers (Safai Karamcharies) employed at a Chandigarh post office. The respondents‑applicants …

The petitioners challenged the occupation of the Kalindi Kunj‑Shaheen Bagh stretch, including the Okhla underpass, by protesters opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act, arguing that it violated their right to protest under Articles 19(1)(a) and (b). The Delhi High Court dismissed the writ without specific directions, p…

The petitioner, Salam Samarjeet Singh, was the sole candidate to clear the written examination for the District Judge (Entry Level) post under the Manipur Judicial Service Rules, 2005, but was declared unsuccessful in the viva‑voce because the High Court, shortly before the interview, resolved that a minimum of 40% mar…

G.L. Batra, then Additional Secretary of the Lok Sabha, was appointed Chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) under Article 316 of the Constitution. The State Government initially relaxed Regulation 6 of the HPSC (Conditions of Service) Regulations, 1972, fixing his remuneration at Rs.7,500 per month, …

The Supreme Court examined whether cooperative societies registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 are "public authorities" under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 and thus bound to disclose information. The Court distinguished statutory bodies from bodies merely governed by statutes…

The appellant, Samjuben Gordhanbhai Koli, was convicted by a trial court and the conviction was upheld by the Gujarat High Court. She appealed to the Supreme Court seeking remission of the remaining portion of her sentence. The Supreme Court held that remission or commutation of a sentence is a power vested exclusively…

Vasudha, married to Laxman Ram Mane, drowned in a river about one and a half years after her marriage. The prosecution alleged that the husband, aided by his sisters, harassed her and maintained an illicit relationship with a woman named Pragati, leading to her suicide. The trial court convicted the husband under Secti…

The case concerned the quantum of Non‑Practicing Allowance (NPA) payable to Medical Officers of the Madhya Pradesh Employees' State Insurance Service. While the 1981 Recruitment Rules stipulated NPA at 25% of basic pay, the officers' appointment letters fixed a lump‑sum amount approximating 25% of the initial pay, whic…

The landlord, Ram Babu Agarwal, filed an eviction suit against tenant Jay Kishan Das under the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961, alleging default in rent and a bona‑fide need for the premises. The High Court held that the tenant had fully paid the rent as ordered in a revision petition, but rejected the l…

The State of Karnataka, represented by the CBI, charged C. Nagarajaswamy under the Prevention of Corruption Act for demanding illegal gratification and later for misappropriation of funds. In both cases the trial courts took cognizance and conducted full trials, but discharged the accused on the ground that the sanctio…

The case concerned an election for Chairman of a Gram Panchayat in Punjab where the initial poll resulted in a tie and the process was adjourned due to law‑and‑order problems. The Returning Officer fixed a new date for the continuation of the election, but the respondent argued that only the State Election Commission c…

The first respondent was appointed Chief Engineer of Pondicherry's Public Works Department on short‑term deputation pending a regular appointment under the 1996 Recruitment Rules. He was repatriated after eight months and challenged the repatriation before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which set aside the order.…

Two senior translators of the Bombay High Court were accused of demanding bribes after a complaint by an advocate. An enquiry officer found them not guilty, but the disciplinary authority disagreed, issued a tentative decision, sought their explanations, and ultimately dismissed them. The appellants contended that they…

The petitioners, former members of the Orissa Subordinate Administrative Service (Junior Branch) who became part of the integrated Orissa Administrative Service after the 1973 merger, challenged Section 2 of the Orissa Administrative Service, Class‑II (Appointment of Officers Validation) Amendment Act, 1992. They argue…

The petition under Article 32 sought Supreme Court directions to ensure that investigations by the CBI and other agencies into alleged crimes by public functionaries were completed and charge‑sheets filed. The Court noted that charge‑sheets had already been filed in three cases (St. Kitts forgery, Lakhubhai Pathak chea…

The respondent, a temporary government employee, was removed from service after being convicted under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code. He was later acquitted, and sought reinstatement with back wages. The Allahabad High Court directed payment of back wages, but the Supreme Court limited its review to that issue. E…

The editors of the Tamil weekly Nakkheeran sought a writ under Article 32 to publish the alleged autobiography of condemned prisoner Auto Shankar, claiming the State and prison officials were trying to suppress it. The Court, without deciding the factual dispute over authorship, examined whether a citizen can prevent u…

The Supreme Court examined a series of petitions challenging the denial of admission to postgraduate medical courses in Uttar Pradesh. The State Government had issued an order under s.28(5) of the U.P. State Universities Act, 1973 prescribing that merit for admission be determined solely by the percentage of marks obta…

The petitioner, Kamlakar Prasad Chaturvedi, was detained under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980 on seven grounds, two of which related to incidents that occurred in 1978 and 1980, more than five and two years respectively before the detention order dated 6 May 1983. The petitioner challenged the order on…

The case concerned the seniority of direct‑recruit officers of the Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE) vis‑à‑vis promotee officers. The direct recruit, R.K. Kushwaha, argued that his seniority should be fixed from the date of the requisition (23‑Oct‑2007) under the principle laid down in N.R. Parmar, whi…

The respondent, a manager of Punjab National Bank, was charged with serious irregularities and subjected to a departmental inquiry under the bank's 1977 service regulations. The disciplinary authority found him guilty on three charges and, despite the inquiry officer’s finding on the fourth charge, imposed removal from…

The appellant, M. Chandra, was elected from a Tamil Nadu assembly seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, but the election petitioner challenged her eligibility on the ground that she was a Christian and not a member of the Hindu Pallan Scheduled Caste. The High Court shifted the burden of proof onto the appellant to demon…

The appellant, an employee of the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board, filed a writ petition seeking an order to extend his retirement age so that he could remain in service until his superannuation date of 31 July 2007. He contended that Regulation 2(a) of the UP State Electricity Board (Employees' Retirement) Regul…

The respondent, Basant Nahata, sought registration of a power of attorney, which the Sub‑Registrar refused under a Rajasthan Government notification issued pursuant to Section 22‑A of the Indian Registration Act. The notification declared such documents "opposed to public policy" and barred their registration. The resp…

The case concerned the acquisition of about 5,000 bighas of land in Masoodpur for the construction of Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Union of India appealed against the Delhi High Court’s award of compensation based on questionable valuation methods, the grant of interest during a stay, and the allowance of amendment…

The Uttar Pradesh Government, by the Excise (Amendment) Ordinance 1972, inserted Section 24‑A in the Uttar Pradesh Excise Act, 1910, enabling it to grant shop licences for the retail sale of foreign liquor on the basis of a 'licence fee' (auction highest bid) or a 'fixed fee' (determined by the Excise Commissioner). Th…

The State of Maharashtra detained Bhadresh Mafatlal Shah under the COFEPOSA Act after he was caught with gold biscuits. The detention order was issued by D.N. Capoor, a specially empowered officer, who informed the detainee that he could make representations only to the State and Central Governments. The detainee’s mot…

The appellant alleged that the respondent borrowed Rs. 2 lakh and issued a cheque as security, which later bounced for insufficient funds, leading to a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The trial court acquitted the respondent, finding contradictions in the appellant's testimony, lack of ev…

The Supreme Court granted the petitioner absolute interim anticipatory bail on 8 December 2023, ordering his release on bail if arrested. Despite this, the police remanded him to custody on 13 December 2023, and the magistrate failed to release him after the remand period, resulting in an illegal detention of about 48 …

The Supreme Court suo motu took up an order dated 17 July 2024 issued by Justice Rajbir Sehrawat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in which the judge made gratuitous observations about previous Supreme Court orders while hearing a contempt proceeding. The Court examined whether such remarks undermine the authority …

The Hari Krishna Mandir Trust, holding Plot No.473‑B3 and an adjoining private road, sought correction of a Town Planning Scheme that erroneously recorded the road as owned by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The High Court dismissed the trust's writ petition, holding that the land had vested in PMC under Section 88 o…

The Puducherry SC People Welfare Association, representing Scheduled Caste residents of the Union Territory, challenged two Government Orders dated 5 August 2005 that limited reservation benefits in promotion, employment and professional courses to SCs of "origin" of Pondicherry. The High Court dismissed the writ petit…

Chandreshwar Pathak was temporarily appointed as a police constable in 1988 by the Inspector General of Police without any advertisement or selection process. After a departmental review, a show‑cause notice was issued in 2003 and his services were terminated. He challenged the termination before the Patna High Court; …

The father, a Class III employee of MGB Gramin Bank, died while in service on 19 April 2006 and his son applied for a compassionate appointment on 12 May 2006 under the 1983 scheme. While the application was pending, a new compassionate appointment scheme came into force on 12 June 2006, with clause 14 providing that a…

The petitioners, members of the Haryana Public Service Commission, challenged their suspension by the Governor of Haryana under Article 317(2) of the Constitution, arguing that they were denied a show‑cause notice and a hearing, thus violating natural justice. The Court examined the constitutional scheme governing remo…

The petitioners challenged the Election Commission’s order reserving three seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, contending that under Article 332(3) of the Constitution the number of reserved seats must be proportional to the ST population, which is about 3 % of the state’s total, equatin…

The appellant sought a permanent and ad interim injunction on title and possession of agricultural land, but both the trial court and the appellate court rejected his claim. He then filed a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, which the High Court dismissed on the ground that the relief sought was against pr…

The respondents entered into a sale agreement for a tenanted immovable property in Delhi for Rs. 79 lakhs and filed Form 37(1) under Chapter XX‑C of the Income Tax Act. The Appropriate Authority (AA) determined that the consideration was 24% below the fair market value (FMV) by comparing the subject property with three…

The Union of India appealed against a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that issued notice in a writ petition seeking to direct the Chief Justice of India to appoint Indore as a seat for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court examined whether the writ petition raised any arguable or triable issue under Article 226 and whet…

The Ganapathi National Middle School, an aided institution established in 1929 and occupying rented premises, faced eviction by its landlord. The school sought acquisition of the land by the State, leading to a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, which was later challenged in a writ petit…

The New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC) treated its non‑technical (ministerial) staff as a unified cadre, but granted higher Shiv Shankar Committee (SS) pay scales and ex‑gratia payments only to those posted in its electricity wing, citing the pattern followed by the Delhi Electricity Supply Undertaking (DESU). Staff …

S.C. Tewari, a Section Officer of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), was suspended, found guilty in a departmental enquiry and dismissed. He appealed to the State Government under Regulation 20 of the UPPSC (Conditions of Service) Regulations, 1937. The State Government set aside the dismissal, direct…

The case concerned 51 engineers appointed by interview (UPSC) to the Ministry of Shipping & Transport (Roads Wing) who claimed they were regular cadre officers, while officers appointed by competitive examination argued that the interview appointees were ex‑cadre and should not enjoy seniority or promotion rights. The …

The petitioners Vikram Singh, Jasvir Singh and a third accused were convicted under Sections 302, 364A, 201 and 120B of the IPC and sentenced to death, with the death sentence of the female co‑accused later commuted to life imprisonment. They filed review petitions challenging the Supreme Court’s 2010 judgment on groun…

The petitioner sought a declaration that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's efforts to establish Dar-ul-Qaza courts and issue Fatwas constitute an illegal parallel judicial system and that such Fatwas are unenforceable under the Constitution. The Court examined whether Dar-ul-Qaza is a court of law and whether a…

The case concerned promotion of Motor Vehicle Inspectors to District Transport Officer (OTO) in Rajasthan. The State had amended the 1979 Rajasthan Transport Service Rules in 1992, deleting the qualifying examination requirement and clubbing vacancies from 1983‑84 to 1993‑94, promoting candidates without merit‑based ex…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Abdul Mannan, Afzal and Abdul Zabbar for the murder of two persons during a communal riot, where a mob of 50‑60 entered a house and 8‑10 armed assailants inflicted fatal injuries. The trial court convicted them under IPC sections 302/149, 148, 324/149 and 449, but the Hi…

The Supreme Court examined a large batch of appeals arising from land acquisition proceedings in Karnataka concerning the liability to pay interest on solatium under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The key issue was the interpretation of "closed execution" in Gurpreet Singh v. Union of India and whether the limitation …

The Banerji family claimed that, apart from 1‑1‑10 bighas of land excluded by the Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad Act, the remaining portion of their Plot No. 1002 had been acquired for a development scheme (Yojana No. 7) and that no compensation had been assessed. The State and the Parishad argued that the land…

The Rajasthan Judicial Service Officers Association challenged a 2003 notification that advertised 19 posts for direct recruitment to the Rajasthan Higher Judicial Service (RHJS), arguing that the cadre strength of RHJS is fixed at 150 and that, under the 25% quota for direct recruitment, no substantive vacancies exist…

Lata Singh, a 27‑year‑old graduate, married a man of a different caste of her own free will. Her brothers filed false missing‑person and kidnapping reports, leading police to arrest her husband’s relatives. Despite a police final report and a medical opinion that Lata was mentally fit, the magistrate recorded her state…

The case involved a partnership firm that owned a newspaper, which was allegedly transferred to a newly incorporated company. A settlement deed purporting to resolve private disputes among the partners was recorded by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in a writ petition, even though the deceased appellant, Dwarka Prasad Ag…

K.G. Padmanabha Prabhu owned several parcels of land with trees in Polluttu village. The Kerala State Electricity Board, invoking Section 51 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and Sections 10 to 16(3) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, acquired the trees and laid electric lines across the land. The appellant claimed c…

In 1980 the Haryana Irrigation Department requisitioned four Sub‑Divisional Clerk vacancies, but the Subordinate Service Selection Board prepared a list of 28 candidates in 1982 and recommended eight for appointment in the Hathnikund circle. The Superintendent Engineer returned the list, stating that the circle had not…

The Delhi Judicial Service Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution alleging a shortage of accommodation in the Tis Hazari Courts. The Supreme Court constituted a three‑advocate committee to inspect the premises and report on vacant rooms. The committee identified several vacant rooms, dir…

The case arose from the double murder of Aarushi Talwar and her domestic servant Hemraj in Noida in May 2008, for which a First Information Report was filed by the victim's father, Dr. Rajesh Talwar. The investigation was taken over by the CBI, which later submitted a closure report citing insufficient evidence. Dr. Ra…

The landlord appellant sought an adjournment of his appeal before the Additional District Judge, Moradabad, because his senior counsel was unavailable. The judge refused the request, granted only three days to make alternative arrangements, and then pronounced a judgment that had been prepared in advance, dismissing th…

The appellants Jindal Steel issued a work order to Bansal Infra and obtained an unconditional bank guarantee to secure an advance payment. After alleged delays, quality deficiencies and termination of the contract, the appellants threatened to encash the guarantee unless a debit balance was paid. Bansal filed a Section…

The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation and other bank staff unions challenged Section 17(2)(viii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and Rule 3(7)(i) of the Income Tax Rules, 1962, alleging that they amounted to an excessive delegation of the essential legislative function to the Central Board of Direct Taxes and that the…

The appellant, Amanatullah Khan, challenged the inclusion of his minor children and wife in a police "History Sheet" that alleged his bad character, arguing that there was no adverse material against them. The Delhi High Court dismissed his writ petition under Article 226 and Section 482 of the CrPC, prompting an appea…

The petitioners, private tour operators (PTOs) who had qualified for the 2015 Hajj quota but missed out in the draw of lots, applied for registration and allocation of quota for the 2016 Hajj. The Ministry of External Affairs rejected their applications on the ground of non‑compliance with clauses (vii), (x), (xi) and …

The petition challenged Section 4(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981, as amended in 2016, which grants former Chief Ministers a lifetime right to government accommodation. Earlier, the Supreme Court had struck down the 1997 Rules that provided similar benefit…

The case concerned seniority disputes in the Punjab Police Service DSP cadre between promotees and direct recruits. The Supreme Court examined whether the earlier judgment in Paramjit Singh, which held that the quota rule must apply both at recruitment and at confirmation, should be followed or displaced by the later C…

The Supreme Court examined whether the traditional events of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bull‑ock cart races in Maharashtra violate the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA Act) and the Constitution’s fundamental duties. Relying on affidavits and reports from the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Court fou…

The Bihar State Government Sec. SCL. Teachers Association, representing BSES teachers, sought enforcement of a Supreme Court‑mandated merger of the Bihar Subordinate Education Service (BSES) with the Bihar Education Service (BES). Although the Court had restored the 2006 merger resolution and quashed a 2007 notificatio…

The case concerned the integration of Leprosy Inspectors into the Tamil Nadu Health Department as Health Inspectors Grade I. The State issued G.O. No. 320 (1997) re-designating Leprosy Inspectors as Health Inspector Grade IB and later G.O. No. 382 (2007) attempted to grant them seniority and pay but placed them at the …

The appellants challenged the validity of Section 32‑A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, which bars suspension, remission or commutation of any sentence awarded under the Act. The High Court had upheld the provision, denying the appellants any remission. The Supreme Court examined whether the…

The case involved a violent land dispute in which twenty‑four accused, including the appellants, attacked a group working on disputed land, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. The trial court convicted twenty‑one accused under Sections 302, 149, 148 and 323 of the IPC, a decision affirmed by the High Court. O…

The petitioners challenged the applicability of the Orissa Municipal Act, 1950 to Sundargarh district, a Scheduled Area, after the commencement of Part IX‑A of the Constitution. The Court held that Part IX‑A does not apply to Scheduled Areas unless extended by Parliament, which it has not been, and therefore the Act re…

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) had been directed by the Supreme Court in 2011 to identify regular practitioners for voting rights under the "One Bar One Vote" principle. While the Implementation Committee was carrying out this task, the SCBA held a General Body Meeting on 16 January 2012 that passed resolutio…

Reliance Natural Resources Ltd. (RNRL) and Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) entered into a Scheme of Arrangement under the Companies Act, 1956, based on a family Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ambani brothers. RNRL sought enforcement of gas supply terms from RIL, alleging that the Gas Sales Master Agreemen…

The Secretary of the Cannanore District Muslim Educational Association, a minority institution, sought permission to run a Higher Secondary school after the Kerala government abolished pre‑degree courses and allowed colleges with high schools to add classes up to the 12th standard. Although the Council of Ministers had…

In 2004 the President, on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers, removed the Governors of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Goa. A public‑interest writ petition was filed challenging the removals and seeking to read limitations into Article 156(1) of the Constitution. The Court held that the petition was maint…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of Rule 16(2) (and sub‑rules 3‑5) of the Civil Services Examination Rules, which allow meritorious candidates belonging to reserved categories (MRCs) who are placed in the general merit list to migrate to the reserved pool at the time of service allocation. The petitioners argued…

The respondents filed a writ petition under Article 226 challenging orders issued under the U.P. Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960. The Allahabad High Court allowed the petition in a summary, cryptic order, relying on a 1986 order of the Prescribed Authority that pertained only to other individuals and n…

The Supreme Court examined the illegal presence of hazardous and non‑conforming industrial units in residential zones of Delhi, which violated the Delhi Master Plan, the Delhi Development Act, 1957 and the National Capital Region Planning Board Act. The State Government had sought extensions and in‑situ regularisation …

The State of Gujarat and an accused, Tulsibhai Bhikhabhai Tadvi, filed applications seeking modification of a Supreme Court judgment that ordered a fresh trial of the Zahira Habibullah Sheikh case outside Gujarat. They contended that such a transfer was unlawful, alleging lack of a specific prayer, violation of Section…

The landlady and her two sons, owners of a premises leased to the Wadia Institute as a guest house, obtained a partial eviction decree for the ground floor on grounds of bona fide requirement. While appeals were pending, the District Magistrate of Nainital arbitrarily allotted the entire premises to the Director Genera…

The appellant's husband was detained under Sections 3(1)(i)-(iv) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974. The appellant filed a representation in Malayalam to both the detaining authority and the Central Government, but no English translation of the representation or the…

The respondents, International Trading Co. and others, held permits under the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act, 1981 to operate foreign deep‑sea fishing vessels in India's exclusive economic zone. Their permits were not renewed after the initial term, and the authorities gave no re…

The appellant, Mis. My Con Construction Ltd., challenged the constitutional validity of sub‑section 6 of Section 17 of the Karnataka Sales Tax Act, 1957 as amended by Act 5 of 1996 and its further amendment by Act 7 of 1997 which made the provision retrospective. It argued that the State lacked competence to levy sales…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998, particularly Section 5 which allows a State to prohibit the sale of lottery tickets organised by any other State. The Court held that State‑run lotteries remain gambling and cannot be classified as ‘trade’ within the meaning…

The petitioner Munir Alam filed a writ under Article 32 after his son Nadeem Alam was killed by police firing near the Vice‑Chancellor's lodge of Aligarh Muslim University on the night of 1‑2 October 1996. He alleged that the police investigation was biased and incomplete, and sought a fair inquiry by the Central Burea…

Dwarikesh Sugar Industries Ltd. entered into a contract with Prem Heavy Engineering Works (P) Ltd. for supply of equipment, the latter furnishing two unconditional bank guarantees from State Bank of India. When the equipment was not delivered, Dwarikesh invoked the guarantees, but Prem obtained ex parte injunctions res…

The appellant, a spinning and weaving mill, installed pumps in 1989 to draw water from the river Wana for industrial use. The Maharashtra Government, under Section 70 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, issued a resolution fixing rates of water cess for non‑agricultural purposes, and the Tehsildar levied cess o…

The Haryana State Electricity Board advertised 62 junior engineer posts, stating that candidates with higher qualifications would receive preference. After screening, 212 candidates were shortlisted and 147 were appointed, far exceeding the advertised vacancies. The petitioners challenged the appointments, alleging vio…

D.K. Yadav, a workman of J.M.A. Industries Ltd., was deemed to have abandoned his post after being absent for more than eight days and was terminated under clause 13(2)(iv) of the company's certified standing orders. The employer did not conduct a domestic enquiry nor gave Yadav an opportunity to be heard, and the Labo…

M.A. Chowdhary, a staff artist of All India Radio, was employed under a contract that allowed termination on six months' notice. A government order later stipulated that staff artists could serve up to the age of 55, and a clause was added to his agreement reflecting this. In October 1970, he received a notice of termi…

The appellants were appointed as ad‑hoc Surveyors in Punjab with a clause allowing termination at any time without notice. After a 1980 circular promised regularisation, their services were terminated on 31‑Jan‑1981 on the ground that the posts were no longer required. They challenged the termination, alleging that the…

The State of Punjab sought recovery of still‑head duty from liquor vendors Ajudhia Nath and others who had failed to lift the quota of country liquor and to deposit the duty as required by Condition 8 of their licences. The vendors contended that still‑head duty was an excise duty that could be levied only on manufactu…

The appellant, Gautam Satnami, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based largely on a 'last‑seen' testimony, recovery of a blood‑stained axe and his driving licence, and alleged motive. The High Court affirmed the conviction, but the Supreme Court examined whether the circumstantial evidence formed a complete…

The West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd. advertised 30 Junior Engineer posts, including one unreserved vacancy reserved for persons with disability‑low vision (UR‑PWD‑LV) and five posts for OBC‑A. Respondent No.1, a PWD‑LV candidate, applied for the unreserved post and scored 55.667 marks, while Responde…

The petitioners, owners of two flats in Mumbai, allowed the Police Department to occupy the premises temporarily in 1940 without any written requisition order. The police paid a nominal rent until 2007 and then stopped, prompting the petitioners to file a writ petition under Article 226 seeking possession of the flats.…

Gujarat CyproMet Ltd imported copper cathodes that remained unclaimed at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and were sold by public auction in 2000 for Rs 52.5 lakh. The Port Trust deducted 50 % of the sale proceeds as "sale expenses" pursuant to Board Resolution No. 624 dated 23‑July‑1999. The company challenged the deductio…

The petition filed by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. challenged a Full Bench judgment of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that had overruled a Division Bench decision on the construction of Section 138(b) of the Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1956, which contains a non‑obstante clause. The Supreme Court examined w…

The appellant, a tenant, had his revision petition dismissed by the Karnataka High Court for failing to comply with Section 29(1) of the Karnataka Rent Control Act, 1961, and gave an undertaking to vacate the premises within six months. He subsequently filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) under Article 136 of the Const…

The Haryana Public Service Commission advertised recruitment for District Food and Supplies Officers, requiring five/three years of experience as an executive officer. Inspectors and Sub‑Inspectors of the Food and Supplies Department applied, but the Commission demanded a certificate from the State Government confirmin…

The State prosecuted Vasantraj Bhagwanji Bhatia and others for possession of primary gold under the Customs Act, 1969 (Sec. 111 read with Sec. 135); one respondent was convicted and two were acquitted. The same authorities later sought to prosecute the three respondents under the Gold (Control) Act, 1968 (Sec. 85) for …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of Section 303 of the Indian Penal Code, which mandates death for a murder committed by a person already serving a life sentence. The petitioners argued that the provision was arbitrary, discriminatory and denied the accused a fair procedure under Articles 14 and 21 of t…

The case concerned whether a Mapilla Marumakkathayam Tarawad, a Muslim undivided family governed by the Marumakkathayam Act, fell within the meaning of "individual" under section 3 of the Wealth Tax Act, 1957 and could therefore be taxed. The deceased Karnavan of such a Tarawad had been assessed to wealth tax, which he…

The appellant, a college professor, was charged under Section 153-A of the IPC for WhatsApp status messages protesting the abrogation of Article 370 and wishing Pakistan a happy Independence Day. He sought a writ petition to quash the FIR, which the Bombay High Court dismissed. The Supreme Court examined whether the me…

The respondent filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that the appellant borrowed Rs.7 lakhs and issued a cheque which was dishonored. The appellant was convicted by the trial court, and the conviction was upheld by the Sessions Court and the High Court. The Supreme Court conside…

Two brothers inherited agricultural land in Himachal Pradesh; one brother sold his share to Babu Ram, prompting the other brother to seek a prohibitory injunction claiming a preferential right under Section 22 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the appellate court held that Secti…

The respondent, a part‑time Masalchi appointed in 1989, claimed regularisation of his service after completing ten years, relying on Government Order (GO) No. 22 dated 28‑02‑2006 which directed regularisation of full‑time daily‑wage employees. The High Court Single Judge extended the benefit of that GO to the responden…

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) investigated complaints that the Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA) and the Coordination Committee of Artists and Technicians of West Bengal Film and Television Investors threatened television channels to stop telecasting a Bengali‑dubbed version of the serial ‘Ma…

The Delhi High Court, in a public‑interest writ, ordered manufacturers of drugs and cosmetics (other than life‑saving drugs) to display symbols indicating whether the product contained vegetarian or non‑vegetarian ingredients. The petitioners challenged this order, arguing that the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules do …

The State of Uttar Pradesh sought to acquire 25.89 hectares of agricultural land in Murchha village for the construction of a district jail, issuing notifications under Sections 4 and 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 on 21 August 2008 and dispensing with the Section 5A hearing on the ground of urgency. The land‑own…

The petition sought permission to discontinue life‑supporting treatment for Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug, a 60‑year‑old woman in a persistent vegetative state for 37 years following a violent assault. The Court examined medical evidence, concluding that she was not brain‑dead and retained minimal brain‑stem activity, but …

Yogesh Ramchandra Naikwadi sought admission to a B.E. programme claiming Scheduled Tribe status (Mahadeo Koli). The Scrutiny Committee rejected his claim after verifying his caste certificate. He obtained a provisional admission through a High Court interim order treating him as an ST candidate, completed the course an…

The appellants, land owners, had declared under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 that their land was not surplus because it was already in the possession of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust. The competent authority accepted this and declared them non‑surplus. Subsequent land‑acquisition proceedings were in…

The case concerned the validity of Development Control Regulation 58 (OCR 58) under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, its 2001 amendment and a 2003 clarification, as applied to sick, closed or modernising cotton‑textile mills in Bombay. The petitioners, a public‑interest group, challenged OCR 58 on …

The employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya filed writ petitions in the Jammu & Kashmir High Court challenging service‑related decisions. The school sought transfer of the petitions to the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on the ground that the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 governs such disputes. The High Court rejec…

The Supreme Court examined a seniority dispute in the Maharashtra Forest Service between directly recruited Assistant Conservators of Forests and those promoted (promotees). The State Administrative Tribunal had directed that inter‑seniority be determined according to the service rule’s 1:1 quota between direct recruit…

The State of Bihar issued a prospectus for the 1992 Post‑Graduate Medical Admission Test reserving 50% of seats for socially and educationally backward classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women. The appellants challenged this reservation before the Patna High Court, which dismissed their writ petitions, lea…

The case concerned four medical colleges in Bombay, three run by the Municipal Corporation and one by the State, all affiliated to the University of Bombay. Rules 4A (Municipal) and 5 (State) gave preference to candidates who had completed their MBBS at the same college for admission to M.D. courses, even if they score…

The petitioner, Ashok Kumar Mittal, applied for an allotment of a Maruti 800 car but due to a computer error his application was recorded for a Maruti truck; the company agreed to consider his case under the manufacturer's discretionary 5% quota. In the course of correspondence, Maruti Udyog disclosed its existing prac…

The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) issued a 1983 advertisement reserving houses for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Chandigarh, a Union Territory (UT) where no Presidential Order under Article 342 had identified any STs. Tarsem Lal, a resident of Chandigarh for twenty years but recognized as an ST on…

The case concerned recruitment of 4,000 ITI Helper (Trainee) vacancies in Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd (TANGEDCO). After a series of litigations, the Madras High Court’s Division Bench entered a compromise order appointing 84 candidates based on a settlement, not on merit or statutory rules. S…