Constitution of India

S. Lalitha, a Doordarshan employee, received second and third financial upgradations under the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme in 2010 and 2015. In 2016 she filed a representation seeking the second upgradation under the earlier Assured Career Progression Scheme (ACP) as of 2009 and the third upgradat…

Jitendra Kumar Rode, a former Assistant Commercial Manager of Northern Railway, was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for accepting a bribe in 1995. The trial court’s record was subsequently lost, and only a partial, reconstructed set of documents was produced, which did not include essential witne…

Ms. Nisha Priya Bhatia, a Director in the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), complained of sexual harassment against senior officers, after which her identity was publicly disclosed and she attempted suicide. The government declared her "exposed" and "unemployable" and ordered her compulsory retirement under Rule 135 o…

The Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) published a first Ranked List (RL‑I) for Sub‑Inspector of Police (Trainee) in September 2013 and later issued several advices from it, the last on 11 November 2015. The appellants, empanelled in RL‑I, sought appointment to 93 Non‑Joining Duty (NJD) vacancies reported on 12 Ju…

The Union of India challenged the constitutional validity of clause (f) inserted by the Finance Act, 2001 into Section 43B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which made deductions for leave‑encashment payable only on actual payment. Exide Industries argued that the clause violated the assessee's right to choose a mercantile …

The appellant, a member of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service (DHJS), challenged the constitutional validity of Rule 27 of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service Rules, 1970 and the High Court's Full Court resolutions that introduced a five‑year "very good" (A) Annual Confidential Report (ACR) grading requirement for promoti…

The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association challenged Regulation 9(iv) and 9(vii) of the Post‑Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, alleging that the provisions barred states from creating a separate entry stream for in‑service doctors seeking postgraduate degree seats and were violative of Articles 14 and 19(…

The petition challenged a no‑confidence motion against the Pramukh of a Kshettra Panchayat on the ground that 13 of the 39 signatories had not taken the oath of office and therefore could not be counted, reducing the support to less than half of the 63 elected members. The Supreme Court examined the statutory definitio…

Mangalam Organics Ltd. challenged the Central Government’s decision not to issue a notification under Section 11C of the Central Excise Act, 1944, which would have exempted it from excise duty on rosins and turpentine manufactured using the Bhatti process. The appellant claimed that a general practice of non‑levy exist…

The petitioners, who had completed their MBBS/BDS degrees in Karnataka, were barred from appearing for the 2014 Post Graduate Entrance Test (PGET-2014) by a clause in the National Board of Examinations' Information Bulletins that required candidates to be of "Karnataka origin" as narrowly defined. They challenged this …

Anil Kumar, convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, was released on emergency parole during the COVID‑19 pandemic by a High‑Powered Committee constituted under a Supreme Court order. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking to quash the Committee's decision that the parole period should not be …

The Supreme Court examined whether a person must show "active membership" to be convicted under Section 10(a)(i) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) after an association is declared unlawful. It held that the provision plainly punishes anyone who continues to be a member of a banned association, wi…

The case concerned railway casual labourers who, after years of service, were granted temporary status and later regularised. They claimed that the entire period of service after obtaining temporary status should count 100% for pensionary benefits, whereas the Union of India argued that only 50% of such service should …

The petitioners challenged the constitutional validity of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, alleging that it infringes the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) and is not saved by the reasonable restrictions of Article 19(2). They also contested the validity of Section 69A…

Lifecare Innovations Pvt. Ltd., a micro‑enterprise manufacturing a specialised liposomal drug, was repeatedly disqualified from government tenders because the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) imposed mandatory minimum turnover requirements that it could not meet. The petitioners argued that such clauses violated Articles 1…

The petitioner, a Superintendent of the High Court of Manipur, sought promotion to Assistant Registrar. The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) on 9 April 2021 denied her promotion, relying on Annual Confidential Report (ACR) grades for 2016‑17 ("Good") and 2019‑20 ("Good"). The petitioner argued that the 2016‑17 AC…

Jagdish Harijan, an Indian Railways employee, died leaving a son, Mukesh Kumar, born of his second wife. The Railway Board circular barred children of a second wife from receiving compassionate appointments, leading to the denial of Mukesh's application. The appellant challenged this denial, arguing it violated constit…

The State of Odisha blacklisted M/s Panda Infraproject Ltd. after a high‑level inquiry found the contractor responsible for the collapse of a ten‑metre flyover slab that killed one person and injured eleven. The contractor was served a detailed show‑cause notice, replied, and was subsequently debarred under the Orissa …

The Postal Department (Office of the Chief Post Master General) appealed against a High Court order denying concessional postage rates to Living Media India Ltd. The High Court had allowed the company's writ petitions, and the Department filed special leave petitions (SLPs) in the Supreme Court after a delay of 427 day…

The Additional Sessions Judge convicted Narayan Dutt, Manjit Singh and Prem Kumar for murder under the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment. While their appeals were pending before the High Court, they filed petitions under Article 161 of the Constitution seeking pardon from the Governor of Punjab, who granted i…

The petitioner, S Shobha, obtained a gold‑pledged loan from Muthoot Finance Ltd. and later filed writ petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution challenging the company's actions. The High Court entertained the petitions despite observing that Muthoot Finance Ltd. is a private company and not a "State" within Arti…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet on 15 October 2022 against 75 persons, including Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan, for alleged conspiracy, fraud and corruption involving DHFL. The respondents applied for default bail under the proviso to Section 167(2) of the CrPC, arguing that the char…

The appellant and respondent were married in 2004 and lived in Canada until 2011, when health and employment issues forced their return to India. The couple separated in February 2011, and the respondent thereafter refused to resume cohabitation, even after multiple summons and notices, effectively deserting the appell…

The Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine filed a miscellaneous application seeking clarification and modification of the Supreme Court's 2018 directions on advance medical directives and withdrawal of life‑support treatment. The Court examined whether the procedural safeguards, especially the requirement of a Judic…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Assam Rural Health Regulatory Authority Act, 2004, which created a regulatory authority to register diploma holders in medicine and to regulate their practice in rural Assam. The Court held that the Act was beyond the legislative competence of the Assam State Legi…

The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by a next friend on behalf of Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug, sought a direction to stop feeding her, alleging she had been in a persistent vegetative state for 36 years following a brutal assault. The respondents, including the KEM Hospital and municipal authorities…

The Union of India, as the owner of land covered by an Old Grant, issued a notice to resume a 3.398‑acre property in Landour Cantonment occupied by Vijay Krishna Uniyal, who sued for a permanent injunction claiming ownership based on a 1980 sale deed and long possession. The trial court, the first appellate court and t…

The Tamil Nadu government issued a loan‑waiver scheme that benefitted only small and marginal farmers, prompting a petition that the scheme violated Article 14 by arbitrarily excluding larger farmers. The Madurai Bench of the High Court held the classification arbitrary and directed the benefit be extended to all farme…

The case concerned the merger of Bihar's Subordinate Education Service teachers into the Bihar Education Service (Class‑II) following a 1977 notification and a 2006 state resolution. After multiple rounds of litigation, the Supreme Court held that the 7 July 2006 resolution was a lawful policy decision, not violative o…

The Union of India invited tenders for fresh fruit supply to its troops and accepted the tender of Col. L.S.N. Murthy (respondent No.2). After the respondent stopped supply in June 2000, the Union rescinded the contract, forfeited the security deposit and claimed expenses, leading to arbitration. The arbitrator held th…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by Sanjay Chandra and 16 co‑accused who were denied bail by the Special CBI Judge and the Delhi High Court in a telecom‑licence fraud case involving alleged loss of billions to the State. The appellants argued that the investigation was complete, the charge‑sheet filed, and there wa…

The case concerned a dispute over the demarcation of a Wakf estate created by a 1936 deed, which divided the property into 75% for the descendants (Wakf‑al‑al‑aulad) and 25% for religious purposes. A suit for demarcation was filed in the Calcutta High Court, which held that the demarcation was incorrect and that the Wa…

The Supreme Court heard a Special Leave Petition (CrL) No. 6568 of 2009 filed by Manoj Yadav against Pushpa @ Kiran Yadav concerning the grant of maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The issue arose because several states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttar Prad…

The appellant, a teacher‑training college established in 1987, admitted students without statutory recognition and repeatedly sought state approval. After the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Act, 1993 came into force in 1995, the college failed to apply for recognition under the Act. The State Government …

The petitioner, a prison inmate, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a permanent mechanism to ensure free and timely legal aid for prisoners and to address overcrowded, unhygienic prison conditions. The Court examined the constitutional mandate under Articles 21 and 39‑A, the Legal Services Authorities Act, …

The Supreme Court of India, in a 9-judge bench reference, addressed the scope of Entry 8 of List II of the Seventh Schedule (intoxicating liquors) and its interplay with Entry 52 of List I (industries controlled by the Union). The case arose from a challenge by the State of Uttar Pradesh against a High Court decision t…

Shobha Sinha, an Assistant in the Bihar Government, was dismissed for alleged misconduct in a departmental enquiry concerning a bitumen allotment proposal. The High Court Single Judge set aside the dismissal, citing procedural flaws such as non‑supply of documents and lack of witness examination, and directed the gover…

The appellant, a borrower, defaulted on a loan from The Federal Bank and the bank classified the loan as a Non‑Performing Asset, invoking SARFAESI provisions. The High Court ordered the appellant to pay Rs.2 crore immediately and the balance in twelve instalments, which the appellant challenged by a Special Leave Petit…

Navika Kumar, the anchor of a Times Now debate aired on 26 May 2022, faced multiple FIRs and criminal complaints in various states. She filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking quashing of the FIRs, their transfer to the IFSO unit of Delhi Police, a stay on any coercive action, and the clubbing of the cases. The …

Canara Nidhi Ltd. advanced a Rs.50 lakh loan secured by mortgage and a demand promissory note, which the borrower M. Shashikala failed to repay, leading to an arbitral award of Rs.63.82 lakh. Shashikala filed an application under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to set aside the award and sought…

The Supreme Court examined whether a final anti‑dumping duty could be levied for the period between the expiry of a provisional duty and the issuance of a final duty notification. The Court held that Rule 20(2)(a) of the Anti‑Dumping Rules must be read in harmony with Rules 13 and 21 and with WTO Agreement Article 10.2…

The case concerned a single clerk post in a U.P. Intermediate College governed by the U.P. Intermediate Education Act, 1921. The college's regulations required that 50% of sanctioned posts be filled by promotion, with a note that a single post would be deemed as one when calculating the 50% quota. The petitioner argued…

The Supreme Court examined petitions filed by the People's Union for Civil Liberties challenging the authenticity of nearly 99 police encounters in Mumbai between 1995 and 1997, which resulted in about 135 deaths. The Court was asked to direct the State of Maharashtra to investigate these encounters, register FIRs, and…

The appellant, a lecturer in Sociology, claimed seniority over two other lecturers for appointment as ad hoc principal of an inter college. The High Court, while examining the seniority dispute, also questioned the validity of the appellant’s earlier appointment, deeming the 4 February 1991 order of the District Inspec…

Bajrangi Rabidas joined a private colliery in 1970 as Mining Sirdar, his date of birth being recorded as 2‑April‑1946 in the service book and Form ‘B’. Later he claimed his true date of birth was 2‑April‑1948, relying on a Matriculation Certificate that he had not produced at the time of appointment, and sought rectifi…

The petitioners, led by Ram Jethmalani, sought a writ directing the Union of India to recover unaccounted money of Indian citizens held in foreign banks and the Court had earlier appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by two retired Supreme Court judges. The Union of India filed Interlocutory Application N…

The appellant, Sadhwi Pragnya Singh Thakur, was alleged to have been arrested on 10 October 2008 in connection with the Malegaon bomb blast and claimed that she was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, violating Article 22(1) and 22(2) of the Constitution, and that the charge‑sheet was filed after the 90‑d…

The State of Uttar Pradesh challenged M/s Mohan Meakin Breweries Ltd. for levying excise duty and additional duty on alleged excess manufacturing and bottling wastage of beer. The High Court had directed the State to recompute the stock of beer under Rule 53 of the UP Brewery Rules and Section 28A of the UP Excise Act,…

The landlords (Jai Singh and others) filed an eviction suit under Section 14(1)(b) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 alleging that the Delhi Transport Corporation (OTC) had sublet the premises to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) without written consent. The Additional Rent Controller (ARC) and the Additional …

The appellant, Shajan Skaria, an online news editor, published a YouTube video alleging misconduct by the complainant, an MLA belonging to a Scheduled Caste. The complainant filed a complaint under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Sp…

The appeals challenge the Special Judge’s order on charge (24‑12‑2021) and charge‑framing order (03‑03‑2022) against Karnataka Emta Coal Mines Ltd (KECML) and its former MD for alleged conspiracy to illegally sell coal washery rejects. The Court examined whether the CBI’s investigation was predicated solely on the 2013…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 and its 2016 amendment in a dispute between the Union of India and M/s. Ganpati Dealcom Pvt. Ltd. The Court held that Section 3(2) of the 1988 Act, which created a strict‑liability offence without mens rea, is manifestly arbi…

The petitioners sought immediate elections to the State Bar Councils, arguing that the terms of the incumbent members had expired. The Bar Council of India (BCI) contended that elections could not be held until a verification process to weed out fake lawyers was completed, as mandated by the Advocates Act, 1961 and the…

The respondent, G.R. Rama Krishna, was an Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) in Andaman Lakshdeep Harbour Works who had served partly on an ad‑hoc basis and was regularised only in 2005. The UPSC advertised the post of Executive Engineer (Mechanical) for direct recruitment, stating that no departmental candidate satisfied…

The dispute concerned ownership of a 2‑18‑10 bigha parcel of land in NOIDA, jointly purchased in 1997 by Reddy, Sudhakar and Vishnu. Reddy later sought to establish sole ownership by filing separate suits and a writ petition, suppressing the earlier joint‑ownership litigation, and obtained a High Court order declaring …

Kishorchandra Rathod challenged the reservation of the Bardoli Legislative Assembly constituency for Scheduled Castes, which was effected by Delimitation Commission Order No. 33 dated 12‑12‑2006 under the Delimitation Act, 2002. The Gujarat High Court dismissed his writ petition, relying on Article 329(a) of the Consti…

A.S. Pharma Pvt. Ltd. filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 against Nayati Medical Pvt. Ltd. The respondents offered to settle and applied to compound the offence under Section 320 of the Cr.P.C., but the trial court dismissed the application. The Delhi High Court then exercised it…

The case concerns a challenge to the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) approval dated 18.10.2022 and the consequent decision dated 25.10.2022 for the environmental release of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11. The petitioners argued that the approval suffered from procedural abnormalities, violated the righ…

The respondent, a physically challenged Scheduled Caste employee of the Bihar State Electricity Board, claimed that his promotion to Joint Secretary, granted on 5 March 2003, should be backdated to 29 July 1997 when a vacancy allegedly arose. The Board argued that no vacancy existed at that time and that promotion is e…

The Supreme Court examined a petition seeking a fresh NEET (UG) 2024 examination on the grounds of a question‑paper leak in Hazaribagh and Patna and alleged systemic deficiencies in the conduct of the exam. The Court noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation had identified about 155 beneficiaries of the leak, but …

The Supreme Court examined a public interest litigation filed by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan challenging the repeated issuance of Section 144 orders that effectively banned all public meetings, dharnas and peaceful protests in Central Delhi, and the National Green Tribunal's order banning demonstrations at Jantar Ma…

The dispute arose from a 2005 Memorandum of Understanding for the sale of shares, where Clause 12 referred to "Mediators/Arbitrators" making decisions on breaches. The appellant contended that Clause 12 constituted an arbitration clause under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Court examined Clauses 6, 8, …

Dr. Rajeev Dhawan filed a criminal contempt petition alleging that statements made by VHP officials and published in the Indian Express and Khabardar India scandalised the Supreme Court while it was hearing the Ayodhya reference. The Court initially issued notices to the alleged contemners and ordered contempt proceedi…

The case arose from the suicide of a 21‑year‑old woman, Sunita, who alleged that the accused, Amit, had exploited her sexually after promising marriage and threatening to expose her. The trial court convicted Amit under IPC s.306 (abetment of suicide) and s.376 (rape), sentencing him to life imprisonment for the latter…

The State of Madhya Pradesh had leased land to Nerbudda Valley Refrigerated Products Company and later permitted a change of use subject to payment of lease rent. The company applied to the Nazul Officer for a No‑Objection Certificate (NOC) without paying the rent, and the officer rejected the application. The company …

The deceased, a 20‑year‑old CA final student, was killed when his roommate's car struck a truck that had been left stationary on a dark road without any warning lights or signs. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held that the negligence lay with the truck driver for leaving the vehicle unattended, and awarded Rs 81,21…

The Old Jalukai Village Council (appellant) claimed that the Kakiho Village (respondent No.1) was being recognized on land that ancestrally belonged to it, and it had objected to the public notice issued in 2009. The State of Nagaland had proceeded with recognition despite the objection, citing an inter‑district bounda…

K. Umadevi, a permanent teacher in the Tamil Nadu government, had two children from a first marriage before joining service and later remarried, becoming pregnant with her first child of the second marriage. She applied for maternity leave under Fundamental Rule 101(a), which limits leave to women with fewer than two s…

The appellants, selected in the 2003 recruitment for Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Chhattisgarh, were directed by the High Court on 2 May 2012 to be appointed and to have their seniority reckoned from the date of appointment. The State delayed their appointment until 8 July 2013, after which the appellants were plac…

Three ad‑hoc Additional Deputy Commissioners (Additional Sessions Judges) appointed to Fast Track Courts in Arunachal Pradesh sought regularisation under the proviso to Rule 7 of the Arunachal Pradesh Judicial Service Rules, 2006. The High Court had directed the State to commence a consultation process for their absorp…

The Supreme Court heard public‑interest writ petitions filed by Common Cause and other societies seeking a mandamus to restrain the Union and State governments from using public funds for advertisements that promote political personalities or parties. The petitioners alleged that such advertisements violate Articles 14…

The Union of India filed a review petition challenging the Supreme Court’s judgment in Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Ltd. v. State of Karnataka, alleging that it was not given a chance to be heard because the special leave petition was not served and that the judgment misquoted the Expert Committee’s report. The petitio…

The appellants challenged the constitutional validity of the phrase "promoting insurgency" in Section 2(1)(e) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999, arguing that the State legislature lacked competence and that the provision conflicted with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004. The…

Kamlesh Rani Bhatla, an Assistant Teacher, resigned on 22 March 2012 to contest a municipal election; her resignation was accepted on 29 March 2012. After losing the election, she applied on 21 April 2012 to withdraw her resignation, but the application remained pending for years. She filed a writ petition, and the Del…

Two service officers (appellants) were not parties to original applications filed before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) by the respondents. The High Court allowed the appellants to be impleaded in a writ petition challenging the CAT's judgment and set aside that judgment. The appellants then appealed to the …

The respondents, officers of the Uttar Pradesh State Civil Service, claimed that the quinquennial cadre review of the IAS for Uttar Pradesh was due in April 2003 and that the review conducted in August 2005 should be given retrospective effect so that they could be considered for promotion. The Union of India and the C…

Sunil Samdaria challenged the appointment of two retired district judges as Additional Judges of the Rajasthan High Court, arguing that the appointments violated Article 224 because they were for less than two years and that the retirees were ineligible under Article 217(2)(a) as they were not holding a judicial office…

The appellant, Ladli Construction Co., entered into a contract to build 240 houses for the Punjab Police Housing Corporation, but failed to meet the schedule and the contract was rescinded. The parties' agreement contained an arbitration clause (Clause 25A) naming the Corporation's Chief Engineer as arbitrator. The con…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu writ petition, examined the midnight police raid on a sleeping crowd at Ramlila Maidan on 4-5 June 2011, where police used teargas, lathi charge and brick‑batting after revoking permission for a yoga camp and a fast led by Baba Ramdev. The Court found that the order under Section 1…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed to the Supreme Court under Article 136 against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of Guru Charan, Sunil, Pramod and Brahma Pal for the alleged murder of Ramesh Narain and Jitendra (Guddu) and the murderous assault on Nathu Singh. The trial court had convicted the accused under IPC …

Narata Singh, a former work‑charged employee of various Punjab State departments (Irrigation & Power, Bhakra Dam, Beas Dam) from 1952 to 1978, was retrenched and later joined the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) as a work‑charged employee in 1982, regularised in 1984 and retired in 1990. He sought to have his earl…

The petitioner, a former chairperson of Maduravoyal Town Panchayat, purchased a parcel of land in 2011 that included a road earmarked for a sewerage line under a 2001 local body resolution. While the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board laid the sewer main on the adjoining stretches, it left a 110‑metre s…

The petitioners, senior Rajasthan Administrative Service officers, challenged the validity of a 2011 notification granting consequential seniority to SC/ST employees, alleging it violated Supreme Court directions in M. Nagaraj and Suraj Bhan Meena. The High Court had held the notification void and in contempt, but the …

The petitioners challenged the interpretation of Article 233 of the Constitution concerning the eligibility criteria for appointment of District Judges by direct recruitment. They argued that a candidate who has completed seven years of practice as an advocate should remain eligible even if he/she is in Union or State …

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition filed by Common Cause and others under Article 32, alleging that the then Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Shri Ranjit Sinha, had abused his authority by meeting accused persons in the coal block allocation cases without the presence of investigating officer…

The appellant, C.P. Subhash, the General Manager of SNP Ventures, filed a criminal complaint alleging that senior managers of Gorden Woodroff Ltd. forged two 1922 sale deeds to fraudulently claim title over land he possessed. An FIR was registered under IPC sections 468 and 471, but the respondents obtained a quashing …

The appellant landlord sought relief against a tenant's revision petition under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, contending that the notice of ejectment issued on 24 July 2015 was valid. The dispute centered on whether the Uttar Pradesh State amendment of 1954, which changed the notice period from fif…

The appellant, an Additional District and Sessions Judge, appealed to the Supreme Court seeking expungement of adverse remarks recorded by the Delhi High Court in its order dated 2 March 2023. The remarks criticized the appellant’s conduct in rejecting an anticipatory bail application and directing inquiries against po…

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted eight kilograms of foreign gold allegedly smuggled by the Jalan brothers, who were arrested and placed in judicial custody. While they remained in custody, the Detaining Authority under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1…

In 1965 gold worth 240 kg was seized from the appellant's father's house under the Defence of India Rules, 1962 and confiscation proceedings were initiated. The Rules were later repealed by the Gold Control Ordinance, 1968, which was subsequently repealed by the Gold Control Act, 1968, creating a statutory fiction that…

The appellant, a former Deputy Director of the Enforcement Directorate, alleged that respondents deliberately suppressed material facts about a mistaken Interpol notice, causing him to remain in judicial custody for 36 days. He filed a criminal contempt petition under Article 215 of the Constitution, claiming the respo…

The Bihar Hill Area Lift Irrigation Corporation (BHALCO), a government company of Bihar, was transferred to the newly created Jharkhand Hill Area Lift Irrigation Corporation (JHALCO) after the bifurcation of Bihar under the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000. Employees of the erstwhile BHALCO filed writ petitions seeking a…

Manoj Yadav challenged a High Court order granting his wife maintenance of Rs.4,000 per month under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, contending that a Madhya Pradesh amendment capped maintenance at Rs.3,000. The Supreme Court granted the husband time to challenge the constitutional validity of the state amen…

The respondent, a Civil Judge on probation, was terminated after two inquiries—one discreet and a subsequent preliminary inquiry—without being informed of the charges or given a chance to be heard. She challenged the termination, alleging violation of Article 311(2) of the Constitution, which requires a fair hearing be…

The Supreme Court heard an appeal against the Madras High Court's approval of amended bye‑laws of the Madras High Court Advocates' Association, which had been made while removal suits against the President and Secretary were pending. The appellant challenged the High Court's jurisdiction to interfere in the Association…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a Special Leave Petition seeking cancellation of bail granted to the accused, Mir Usman, in a rape case, alleging that the trial court had adjourned the victim's examination for four months after she fell ill, thereby conducting the trial piecemeal. The Supreme Court exam…

The State of Kerala ordered the demolition and reconstruction of the Palarivattom flyover after a High Level Committee, comprising senior engineers, accepted Dr. E. Sreedharan's recommendation that a new structure would guarantee a 100‑year service life, despite earlier reports from IIT Madras suggesting repair with ca…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal against an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that directed State Governments to reconsider the appointments of chairpersons and members of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and to lay down guidelines for such appointments. The Court held that under the National Green T…

Shiveshwar Narayan, a judicial officer, sought extension of his retirement age from 58 to 60 years. An Evaluation Committee, appointed by the Patna High Court, found he lacked potential for continued useful service, and the Full Court of the High Court unanimously accepted this finding, denying the extension. Narayan c…

Golden Chariot Airport held a licence to operate a restaurant at Mumbai Airport, which was initially for three years and later extended twice. The licence holder claimed the licence was irrevocable based on alleged oral assurances and sought to prevent eviction after the licence expired. The Supreme Court held that the…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of the acquisition of a 1,596.40 sq. m. parcel of land owned by the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount (a public trust) under the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971. The High Court had set aside a public notice and an order approving the ac…

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) created two separate cadres – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for scientists and Technical Service (TS) for technical staff – each governed by distinct service rules. A 1999 scheme granted scientists two advance increments upon acquiring a Ph.D., but technical staf…

The appellants, who were employed as Junior Accountant, Accountant, Upper Division Clerk and Lower Division Clerk to manage the Special Frontier Force's Compulsory Saving Scheme Deposits (SSD) Fund, claimed pensionary benefits under the 6th Central Pay Commission and the Revised Pay Scale Rules, 2008. Their service, sp…

Girish Gandhi, facing 13 FIRs across six states, obtained bail in all cases but could not furnish the multiple sureties required by each bail order. He petitioned the Supreme Court under Article 32 seeking to have the personal bond and a single set of sureties, already furnished in two cases, deemed sufficient for the …

The appellant, Maitreyee Chakraborty, was appointed as Assistant Professor in Law on a lien vacancy at Tripura University and served continuously from January 2017. The university’s employment notice stipulated that such appointments would be regularized upon vacation of the lien and satisfactory performance. After the…

The petitioner, a Scheduled Caste candidate, applied for the post of District Judge under the Manipur Judicial Service Rules, 2005 and cleared the written examination with the required 50% marks. Before the viva‑voce interview, the Full Court of the Manipur High Court issued a resolution fixing a 40% cut‑off for the in…

Swati Priyadarshini was appointed on a contract as Assistant Project Coordinator under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in October 2012. After receiving several show‑cause notices alleging lateness, failure to report on a hostel and other alleged inefficiencies, the State of Madhya Pradesh decided on 30 March 2013 not to exten…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces should be applied from 1 January 2006 or from 1 September 2008, and what financial up‑gradation entitlement it confers. It held that the MACP Scheme became operative on 1 September 2008, superseding …

The respondent, initially appointed as a Road Gang Mazdoor in 1988, repeatedly sought promotion to higher municipal posts on the basis of her Diploma in Civil Engineering, filing numerous writ petitions. The Madras High Court directed her appointment as Town Planning Inspector, despite the fact that the post is governe…

The Supreme Court, by a 3:2 majority, set aside the practice of 'talaq-e-biddat' (triple talaq) as unconstitutional. The case arose from a petition by Shayara Bano, who was divorced by her husband through triple talaq. The majority held that triple talaq is manifestly arbitrary and violates Article 14 of the Constituti…

A gang‑rape on 16‑12‑2012 involved a juvenile who was placed before a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB). Dr. Subramanian Swamy and others approached the JJB seeking impleadment and an interpretation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 so that the juvenile could be tried as an adult. The JJB d…

The Supreme Court examined a sale of mortgaged property under the SARFAESI Act where the auction purchaser paid only 25% of the price initially and the balance after 11 months. The borrower had sent a letter consenting to accept the balance payment and authorising issuance of a sale certificate, which the Bank accepted…

The respondents were appointed as Masters, Physical Training Instructor and Hindi Teacher on a purely ad‑hoc basis between 1994 and 1996 by District Education Officers, and their services were regularised on 1‑Oct‑2003. After regularisation they claimed that the ad‑hoc period should be counted for seniority, but the de…

Ram Ashish Dixit, an officer of Gorakhpur Kshetriya Gramin Bank, was found guilty of irregularities in loan disbursement and was punished with stoppage of one increment for three years. He was considered for promotion from Junior Management Grade‑I to Middle Management Grade‑II in 1995, 1997 and 1999 but was not promot…

The husband and wife were married on 26 March 2011 but lived apart from the outset, and the husband filed a petition under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act seeking a declaration of nullity within three months. During mediation the parties agreed to dissolve the marriage by mutual consent and filed a joint petition …

Swapan Kumar Mullick worked for United Bank of India for 36 years and resigned in 2006 citing mental depression, opting for provident fund benefits rather than pension. A 2010 circular issued under a bipartite settlement offered a new pension option to employees who had not previously opted for pension, and Mullick app…

The dispute arose from a civil suit concerning the partition of ancestral land, which led to a decree directing the Tahsildar to mutate the name of the first respondent in revenue records. The Tahsildar failed to comply, prompting a contempt petition that was initially allowed by a Single Judge but later set aside by a…

Amin Merchant imported eight consignments of goods classified under Customs Tariff sub‑heading 2208.10 and paid duty at the rate of Rs 300 per litre or 400% whichever was higher, as prescribed in the Finance Act. He contended that the Finance Minister’s budget proposals for 1993‑94 and 1994‑95 required a lower duty (85…

The Supreme Court considered whether assessees engaged in broadcasting television signals to subscribers are liable to pay both entertainment tax under State enactments (Entry 62, List II of the Constitution) and service tax under the Finance Act, 1994 (Entry 97, List I). The Court held that the activity of broadcastin…

The appellant challenged the arrest of his son, Kessireddy Raja Shekhar Reddy, alleging that the police failed to provide appropriate and meaningful grounds of arrest, thereby violating Article 22 of the Constitution. The son was arrested on 21 April 2025 by the CID in connection with offences under Sections 420, 409, …

The appellants were convicted under Sections 302, 307 and 34 of the IPC for the murder of Sukha based primarily on the testimony of the complainant and other prosecution witnesses. During bail proceedings, three eyewitnesses submitted affidavits stating that the appellants were not involved, but the investigating offic…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal appeal filed by the State of West Bengal challenging a High Court order that had set aside the conviction of an accused under the POCSO Act and IPC for raping a 14‑year‑old girl who later married him and bore a child. The Court restored the conviction for offences under Section 6 o…

Patel Engineering Ltd. challenged three arbitral awards dated 29‑03‑2016 concerning payment for extra lead under a contract with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO). NEEPCO filed applications under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996; the Additional Deputy Commissioner upheld the…

R.P. Singh, an Assistant Engineer in CPWD, faced departmental proceedings for alleged misconduct. The Inquiry Officer found the charges unproved, but the Disciplinary Authority disagreed, sought advice from the UPSC, received a recommendation to reduce his pay, and imposed the penalty, communicating the UPSC advice onl…

The appellant, a Muslim member of the Manipur Bar Council, was appointed to the State Waqf Board under Section 14(1)(b)(iii) of the Wakf Act, 1995. After a former board member (respondent No.3) lost his Bar Council seat, he challenged the appointment, arguing that Explanation II to Section 14(1)(b) only applies to MPs …

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appealed against the High Court's order discharging Ramesh Chander Diwan of offences under Sections 120B and 420 of the IPC, on the ground that no sanction under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) had been obtained. Diwan, originally appointed by the Governmen…

The appellant filed a civil suit in 1987 seeking cancellation of a sale deed, but the respondents repeatedly obtained adjournments and were eventually set ex parte, leading to a decree in 1991. The respondents later filed applications under Order IX Rule 13 and the Limitation Act, which were dismissed, and their subseq…

The appellant, Ramanuj Kumar, filed a petition for divorce under Sections 13(1)(ia) and (iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging irretrievable breakdown of his marriage to Priyanka. The parties had been living separately for over eleven years, with the appellant caring for their elder daughter and the respondent carin…

The dispute involved multiple claims over the same property, with the original plaintiff seeking specific performance of an agreement to sell and the appellant (original defendant No.8) seeking to be impleaded as a defendant under Order 1 Rule 10 of the CPC. The trial court allowed the appellant’s impleadment, but the …

The petitioner, convicted of murder and related offences, served 16 years of a life sentence and applied for premature release under Chhattisgarh Prison Rule 358. The appropriate government sought the opinion of the Special Judge who, without providing detailed reasons or considering the factors laid down in Laxman Nas…

The case arose from a protracted dispute over a one‑acre property in Bengaluru that had been sold multiple times, leading to conflicting claims and a series of suits for declaration, possession, and execution. The decree‑holders obtained a decree for possession, but the judgment debtors and subsequent purchasers repeat…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of G.O. Ms. No.3/2000 issued by the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Government, which provided 100% reservation for Scheduled Tribe candidates in teacher posts in scheduled areas. The Court held that under Paragraph 5(1) of Schedule V, the Governor may only exclude or modify an existing…

The State of Bihar advertised 40 Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) posts in 1985 and filled them by December 1987. Unsuccessful candidates, including the appellants, lobbied the government and were appointed on 13 April 1988 despite the merit list being exhausted, an appointment the Court held to be illegal and fo…

The petitioner, an orthopaedic surgeon, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to enforce the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and related regulations to curb the high incidence of road accidents in India and to improve post‑accident care. The Court examined the extensive data on accide…

The case concerned promotion of Section Officers/Junior Engineers to the post of Assistant Engineer in the Pondicherry Public Works Department under the 1965 Recruitment Rules. The Supreme Court examined whether its earlier decision in N. Suresh Nathan & Ors. v. Union of India bound courts on the method of considering …

The petitioners challenged the constitutionality of Section 7(1) of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which replaces the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet Minister in the Selection Committee for appointing the C…

The dispute concerned an agreement dated 11‑02‑2004 whereby Gurmeet Singh sold land to Jai Parkash for Rs.4,00,000, of which Rs.3,50,000 was paid as earnest money. The defendants argued that the agreement was a loan/security document intended for marriage expenses, while the plaintiffs contended it was a genuine sale c…

The State of Bihar challenged the appointment of an arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, arguing that the Bihar Public Works Contracts Arbitration Tribunal Act, 2008 excluded the Central Act for works contracts. The parties had a contract dated 22 June 2012 containing an arbitra…

The petitioners, married on 30‑Nov‑2008, filed a dissolution suit under Section 13‑8(1) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The Delhi Family Court ordered them to wait six months before filing a second motion under Section 13‑8(2). The wife filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking a decree of div…

The petitioner, a Pakistani national, had completed a nine‑year sentence imposed by a Sessions Court but remained detained in Central Jail, Jaipur. He filed a writ of habeas corpus under Articles 32 and 21 of the Constitution, alleging illegal detention. The State of Rajasthan expressed no objection to his release, and…

Jagdish, a Class‑3 life convict sentenced in 1999, applied for premature release after serving more than ten years. The High Court ordered his case to be considered under the remission policy dated 04‑02‑1993, rejecting the newer short‑sentencing policy of 13‑08‑2008. The State appealed, arguing that the later policy, …

The petitioners, claiming to be social activists, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking that the Union and State governments formulate and implement Community Kitchens to combat hunger, malnutrition and starvation, and also sought a National Food Grid beyond the Public Distribution Scheme. The Court noted that…

The Supreme Court examined whether the statutory vesting of enemy property in the Custodian for Enemy Property under the Enemy Property Act, 1968 amounts to an expropriation that transfers ownership to the Union of India, thereby invoking Article 285's tax exemption. It held that the Custodian acts only as a trustee fo…

The Union of India appealed against a Madras High Court order that directed it to grant a Freedom Fighter's pension to A. Alagam Perumal Kone under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme. The petitioner had first applied for the pension in 1997, but the application was rejected and the order became final. Thirtee…

The petition sought judicial directions on the selection of chairpersons, judicial, administrative, technical and expert members of various tribunals under the Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and Other Authorities (Qualification, Experience and Other Conditions of Service of Members) Rules, 2017. The Supreme Court, after …

The appellants, small‑scale shopkeepers near the Shirdi Sai Baba shrine, had a 1979 compromise decree granting them rehabilitation on their occupied plots. Subsequent town‑planning, development‑plan and highway‑control‑line notifications rendered the decree practically impossible to execute, prompting the Nagar Panchay…

The case arose from the 2009 hooch tragedy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where spurious country‑made liquor containing methyl alcohol caused 147 deaths and 205 injuries. Ravindersingh @ Ravi Pavar (appellant) and Jayesh Hiralal Thakker (respondent) were charged under several sections of the IPC and the Bombay Prohibition Act …

The appellants filed a partition suit and the respondents later applied under Order XVI Rule 1(1) and (2) read with Section 151 of the CPC to file a list of witnesses, naming the appellants' advocate, N.R. Karnath, as a witness. The trial court allowed the list but rejected the request to summon the advocate because no…

Mohd. Tahir Hussain, an under‑trial accused in multiple FIRs including rioting and the murder of an IB official, has been in custody since March 2020 and sought interim bail to contest and campaign in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. The Delhi High Court allowed only a custodial parole for filing his nomination, prom…

The appellant, a practicing advocate, applied for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) under the partially blind category, submitting a disability certificate showing 70% visual impairment. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPC) had issued a notification, based on a State Government order consulted with t…

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) enacted the 2009 Determination of Annual Rent Bye‑laws, introducing a Unit Area Method (UAM) for fixing rateable value, replacing the earlier method based on annual rent under Section 63 of the NDMC Act, 1994. A batch of writ petitions filed by property owners challenged the const…

Pooja Pal, the widow of slain MLA Raju Pal, alleged that the state police and administration were complicit or indifferent in the murder of her husband and sought a fresh investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The High Court dismissed her writ petition, but the Supreme Court held that when an inves…

Bussa Overseas & Properties Ltd. sought a refund of excess provisional customs duty under Section 18(2) of the Customs Act, 1962. The customs authority directed the claim to be made under Section 27(2) and the appellants contested this, filing a writ petition. The High Court dismissed the writ and, on review, rejected …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is a "State" under Article 12 and concluded that, although it is not, it performs public functions and is therefore amenable to writ jurisdiction under Article 226. The Court upheld the Probe Committee’s findings that Gurunath Meiyappan…

Vinesh Kumar Bhasin, a retired officer of State Bank of Patiala, applied for relief under the bank's Exit Option Scheme three days before his statutory retirement and was denied. Claiming disability from a road accident, he alleged discrimination and lodged complaints with the Commissioner and Chief Commissioner for Pe…

Senior advocate R.K. Anand was held guilty of contempt for attempting to suborn a court witness in a criminal trial where he represented the accused. The Delhi High Court punished him with a four‑month ban from appearing before the High Court, a fine of Rs 2,000 and recommended that he be stripped of his senior‑advocat…

Mafabhai Motibhai Sagar was convicted of murder and related offences and sentenced to life imprisonment. After the Supreme Court directed a speedy decision on his remission application, the Gujarat Government granted remission but imposed four conditions, two of which the appellant challenged as vague and arbitrary. Th…

The appellants filed a civil application under Article 227 before the Gujarat High Court, which was orally dismissed on 1 March 2023 without the judge indicating that reasons would follow. More than a year later, a detailed reasoned order dated 1 March 2023 was uploaded, having actually been prepared on 12 April 2024 a…

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) sought to acquire 952.18 acres of land in Panchkula for a mixed‑use development, but the landowners objected under Section 5A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, claiming exemption for fruit trees and alleging that their structures were authorized. The High Court quashed th…

Professor (Dr.) Sreejith filed a writ petition challenging the appointment of Dr. Rajasree as Vice‑Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, alleging that the appointment violated UGC Regulations which require a search committee to recommend a panel of three to five names. The Kerala High Court had dismis…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from ONGC's invitation of Expressions of Interest for natural gas allocation. Three firms submitted bids; one later revised its offer to lift gas within 65 days, prompting ONGC to re‑invite fresh bids. The original writ applicant, Nobel Cera Coat, filed a petition seeking a …

The case concerned promotion of Class IV civil court staff to Class III posts in Bihar. The original selection used an 85‑mark written test and 15‑mark interview, but the High Court directed a fresh examination with 90 marks for the written part and 10 for the interview. The appellants participated in the fresh process…

The State of Maharashtra terminated the services of 256 workmen employed on 25 lift‑irrigation schemes after transferring the schemes to a sugar factory. The workmen claimed entitlement to reinstatement and backwages, arguing that the termination was a breach of Section 25N of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, while t…

South Eastern Coalfields Ltd, which operates coal mines in Madhya Pradesh, challenged the levy of a terminal tax by the municipal council on the basis that municipal statutes cannot apply to Scheduled Areas. The company argued that Article 243ZC of the Constitution excludes Part IXA (municipalities) from Scheduled Area…

The petitioners challenged NLSIU's admission notice dated 03‑09‑2020 which introduced a separate online National Law Aptitude Test (NLAT) instead of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) scheduled for 28‑09‑2020. The Court examined whether the petitioners had locus, whether the notice required prior recommendation of th…

The petitioners, ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, sought approval and recognition under Section 11(2) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 for MBBS courses. The Medical Council of India (MCI) conducted several inspections, including a surprise compliance‑verification inspection on 24‑April‑2017, and f…

The Supreme Court examined land measuring 29 Bighas and 17 Biswas that had been vested in the Government of Rajasthan under the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act, 1952. The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) had later issued acquisition notifications under the Rajasthan Land Acquisition Act, 1953 and …

The original landholders, whose holdings exceeded the ceiling under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, were assessed as surplus and transferred a major portion of the land to Mayur Sahkari Awas Samiti in 1982. The Act deemed such surplus land vested in the State, but the authorities never took physical …

Rajesh Kohli, a probationary District & Sessions Judge in Jammu & Kashmir, was found unsatisfactory by the High Court's Full Court and his service was terminated by the State Government. He challenged the termination, alleging that the order was stigmatic, that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to recommend terminatio…

The Rajasthan High Court advertised 120 vacancies for Civil Judges and published cut‑off marks for each category except the Persons with benchmark disabilities. Appellants Rekha Sharma (40% visual disability) and Ratan Lal (55% locomotor disability) applied under the disabled category, appeared for the Preliminary Exam…

The appellants, appointed as Land Records Inspectors (LRIs) through a limited departmental examination for vacancies that arose in 2008‑09, 2009‑10 and 2010‑11, were placed in seniority lists dated 2012‑14 and later treated as appointed in 2014‑15. They claimed seniority should be computed from the year the vacancy aro…

The petition filed by Shailesh Manubhai Parmar, the Chief Whip of the INC in Gujarat, challenged the Election Commission's circulars that introduced the "None of the Above" (NOTA) option in Rajya Sabha (Council of States) elections. The Court examined whether NOTA, which was introduced for direct elections to Parliamen…

Four doctors of the Provincial Medical Service applied for voluntary retirement under Rule 56(c) of the Uttar Pradesh Fundamental Rules, but the State Government did not accept their notices. The High Court allowed the doctors' writ petitions, treating them as retired. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the explana…

The appellants, manufacturers of edible oils, challenged two Central Government notifications that prohibited the import of crude palm oil through Kerala ports, arguing that the notifications were ultra vires the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and violated Article 14 by arbitrarily discriminating …

The appellants were convicted under Sections 302 and 364A of the IPC for kidnapping a 16‑year‑old boy, demanding a Rs 50 lakh ransom and murdering him, and were sentenced to death. They challenged the constitutionality of Section 364A on the ground that its mandatory death or life imprisonment provision was disproporti…

Prof. K.V. Rajendran, an associate professor, alleged that a Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) and other officials tortured him in 1998 and that the State police investigation was inadequate. He repeatedly approached the High Court seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but t…

The respondent, Sanjay Kumar, was convicted of raping and murdering an 18‑year‑old girl, Divya Rani, and was sentenced to death by the Sessions Court. The High Court of Allahabad commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, holding that the case did not fall within the "rarest of rare" category. The State of Uttar…

The appellant, a police constable, was summoned to the Senior Superintendent's office and allegedly detained illegally for six days during which he suffered severe genital mutilation and other injuries, as confirmed by medical reports. His wife complained to the police seeking registration of an FIR against the officia…

The case concerned allegations that the Superintendent of a women’s protection home in Patna administered intoxicating substances to inmates and facilitated their sexual exploitation. The accused, respondent No.2, was granted bail by the Patna High Court despite the victim not being notified, contrary to Section 15A(3)…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition under Art. 32 challenging the failure of several State Governments and Union Territories to implement mandatory provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS Act), including grievance redressal officers, State Food Commissions, social audits and vigilance committees.…

The petitioners challenged the cancellation of their appointments and termination of service on the ground that they had either omitted or misrepresented information about criminal prosecutions, arrests, convictions or pendency of cases in the verification forms required for recruitment. The Supreme Court was asked to …

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector, married a woman (the second wife) by concealing that he was already married, collected money from her family and threatened them. The second wife filed a complaint alleging offences under Sections 494, 495, 417, 420 and 498A IPC. The High Court quashed the complaint under Section 498A, h…

Silppi Constructions Contractors submitted technical bids for two government tenders but their bids were rejected on the ground that they failed to meet eligibility criteria and that adverse remarks against their sister company were taken into account. The petitioner appealed the rejection, but the appellate authority …

The appellants, engaged as Work Charged and Muster Roll workers in various departments of the Government of Assam before 1 April 1993, rendered continuous service for decades. The State, through a Cabinet decision dated 22 July 2005, regularized about 30,000 similarly situated workers, but due to clerical lapses the ap…

The case concerned two teachers who challenged actions taken against them by the Air Force School, Bamrauli, alleging that the school was a "state or authority" under Article 12 of the Constitution and therefore subject to writ jurisdiction under Article 226. The majority held that the school, managed by the Indian Air…

The Supreme Court examined a Government Order dated 29 June 2024 issued by the Madhya Pradesh Government that made District Collectors and Divisional Commissioners – officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) – the reporting, reviewing and accepting authorities for Performance Appraisal Reports (PAR) of Indian…

Pinky Meena, a former Government Teacher, applied for and was selected as a Civil Judge in the Rajasthan Judicial Service. After resigning from her teaching post, she completed her probationary training but was later served a show‑cause notice and discharged on allegations of simultaneously obtaining LL.B. and B.Ed. de…

The petitioner, a lifetime trustee of the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust, alleged that respondent No.6 failed to give notice of a Board of Trustees meeting as ordered by this Court on 14 February 2014, constituting willful contempt. The Court had earlier stayed the meeting scheduled for 7 February 2014 and order…

The appellants, Dakkata Balaram Reddy and Chinapana Gopi, were convicted for the murder of Vetcha Kesava Rao's son and wife and for robbery of gold ornaments and cash, based largely on circumstantial evidence and the recovery of stolen property from their possession. The prosecution presented testimony of three indepen…

The Industrial Village Razhuphe filed a writ petition in the Gauhati High Court seeking cancellation of census records collected by the Dimapur Municipal Council and directions that the State of Nagaland not accept those records. The Single Judge ordered the cancellation and directed the Census Officer to conduct a fre…

The Kandla Port Trust cancelled a 2005 tender for lease‑hold plots after a five‑year delay in obtaining Coastal Regulation Zone clearance, prompting the successful bidder, Rishi Kiran Logistics, to claim that a Letter of Intent (LOI) constituted a concluded contract and that the Trust was estopped from cancelling. The …

The appellant, Inder Singh, filed a suit seeking title and possession of a parcel of land, which the State later claimed as government land. After the trial court dismissed the suit, the first appellate court reversed that decision in favour of the appellant. The State filed a review petition, which was dismissed for d…

The Commissioner of Police in Telangana issued a preventive detention order against Nenavath Ravi and his associates under the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, 1986, alleging habitual robbery and gold‑chain snatching that allegedly created fear among women. The order was based on four FIRs, but the Det…

The Supreme Court examined a notification that exempted the extraction of ordinary earth for linear projects such as roads and pipelines from the requirement of prior environmental clearance. The petitioners argued that this blanket exemption was arbitrary, violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, and was issue…

The petitioners sought a blanket prohibition on the installation of overhead transmission lines for solar power across roughly 99,000 square kilometres in Rajasthan and Gujarat, arguing that such lines threaten the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). The Supreme Court had earlier ordered the conversion of…

The Supreme Court examined whether orders of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) are amenable to writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution. The Union of India contended that Section 14 of the AFT Act and Article 227(4) barred High Courts from exercising such jurisdiction, relying on the decision in Union of I…

The petitioner, Sundar, was convicted of kidnapping and murdering a seven‑year‑old child and sentenced to death by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the High Court and the Supreme Court. He filed a review petition alleging errors in the evidence, especially the admissibility of call‑detail records (CDRs) without …

The appellants, who cleared the Uttar Pradesh Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination but were not allotted seats in the first round of counselling, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the State to conduct second, third and mop‑up rounds of counselling as prescribed in the information brochure. The Hi…

On March 12, 1993, a series of 12 bomb explosions occurred in Bombay, killing 257 people and injuring 713, with property damage worth Rs. 27 crores. The conspiracy was hatched by Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim, with Yakub Abdul Razak Memon (A-1) playing a key role. The Designated Court convicted 100 accused, sentencing…