Constitution of India

The appellant, Zubair P, a teacher with BA and MA in Economics and a B.Ed. in Social Sciences, had passed the State Eligibility Test (SET) in Malayalam and was appointed as Higher Secondary School Teacher (Economics) on 15 July 2021. The State of Kerala and other respondents objected, contending that the Kerala Educati…

The Tiruchirappalli District Cricket Association (TDCA), a society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, was challenged by a former office‑bearer (respondent No.2) who sought a fresh voters list and a free, fair election, invoking directions from the High Court that were based on the S. Nith…

The appellants, a group of agriculturists and a nearby school, challenged a Change of Land Use (CLU) dated 13‑12‑2021 that permitted a cement‑related grinding unit on land classified as a rural agricultural zone in the Sangrur Master Plan. The High Court had upheld the CLU, relying on a subsequent approval recorded on …

Mahadeo Krishna Naik, a bus driver for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was dismissed after a fatal accident in 1996. The Labour Court upheld his dismissal, but the corporation later obtained a Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) award that placed sole blame on the lorry driver, a fact it failed…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the High Court of Punjab and Haryana's recommendation to promote thirteen in‑service judicial officers to Additional District and Sessions Judges under the 65% promotion quota of the Haryana Superior Judicial Service Rules, 2007. The State of Haryana refused to accept t…

The petition challenged the increase in seats of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Legislative Assembly and the constitution of a Delimitation Commission under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the Delimitation Act, 2002. The Court held that Article 170, which governs State legislatures, does not a…

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Rule 19(b)(II)(vi) of the Tamil Nadu Development Control Rules and Regulation 29(7)(a), which require that layouts exceeding 10,000 square metres reserve 10% of the area as open space for communal and recreational purposes and transfer that land to the local authority free of co…

The petitioners alleged that political parties had failed to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions in Public Interest Foundation v. Union of India, which required disclosure of pending criminal cases of candidates. The Court examined data showing a rise in the proportion of MPs with criminal cases and noted the pa…

Two candidates contesting the Pune Municipal Corporation elections filed writ petitions in the Bombay High Court challenging a nomination rejection and a symbol allotment by the State Election Commission. The High Court dismissed both petitions on constitutional and alternative‑remedy grounds. The aggrieved candidates …

The petitioners sought a direction to the Union of India and the State of Chhattisgarh to prepare and fund a rescue plan for the endangered Asiatic Wild Buffalo, to prevent inter‑breeding with domestic buffalo and to relocate villages from Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary. The State of Chhattisgarh argued that it lacked suffi…

The petitioner, Dinesh Biwaji Ashtikar, sought admission for his children in a nearby unaided school under the 25% quota mandated by Section 12 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, but the school refused and the High Court dismissed his writ on the ground that he had not followed the onl…

The deceased Dr. Mahendra Prasad died in 2021 leaving three sons; one son, Ranjit Sharma, died after his father’s death and his wife Geeta Sharma filed a maintenance petition under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, claiming she was a dependant. The Family Court dismissed the petition, holding she was not a…

The petitioners, old Indian settlers of Sikkim, challenged the definition of “Sikkimese” in Section 10(26AAA) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and the proviso that excluded a Sikkimese woman who married a non‑Sikkimese after 1 April 2008 from the tax exemption. They argued that the exclusion of settlers whose names were not…

The appellant, C. Haridasan, entered into an agreement to sell Kanam and Kuzhikoor rights in 2005, paid a nominal advance and was to pay the balance within six months after the defendants provided title documents. The defendants failed to provide the documents, the plaintiff delayed serving a legal notice until Novembe…

The Supreme Court, hearing a writ petition under Article 32, examined the severe air and water pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region, identifying stubble burning, construction and demolition activities, open waste dumping, unpaved roads, garbage burning and traffic congestion as major contributors. It held…

The appellant Madhu and his co-accused Sibi were convicted for robbery and murder of Padmini Devi based largely on confessional statements to police and circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court held that the confessions were inadmissible because they did not lead to the discovery of any unknown fact, violating Sectio…

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by the State of Rajasthan challenging High Court orders that had granted regularisation and salary parity to employees of aided hostels and part‑time cooks/chowkidars in government hostels. It held that employees of privately‑run aided hostels are not state employees and the gov…

The case arose from a 1992 altercation in Ajmer that resulted in the death of Idris and injuries to several persons, leading to two FIRs (cross‑FIRs). The trial court convicted four accused (Yasir, Khalil, Akil and Farukh) under Sections 302 and 324 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonmen…

The Chief Information Commissioner of Manipur and another filed two RTI applications under Section 6 seeking details of magisterial inquiries, but received no response from the State Public Information Officer. They lodged complaints under Section 18, prompting the Commissioner to direct the officer to disclose the inf…

The appellants, Sadakat Kotwar and another, were convicted for stabbing two victims, PW7 and PW8, with a dagger, causing grievous injuries to vital parts of the body. The prosecution presented ten witnesses, including the injured eye‑witnesses PW7 and PW8, whose testimonies were found reliable. The appellants argued th…

Petitioners, police personnel of Manipur Police, filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a mandamus to quash oral observations made by the Supreme Court on 30 July 2018 in the EEVFAM case and to obtain the bench's recusal, alleging that those observations would prejudice the investigations and trial. The Court ex…

The case concerned the promotion of Dr. Premlata Joshi to the post of Director, Medical Health in Uttarakhand. The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) evaluated candidates' Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) and, contrary to the Government Order dated 16‑April‑2003, classified officers into "very good", "good" and "…

The Constitution Bench examined whether a police officer must register a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) upon receiving information of a cognizable offence, or may first conduct a preliminary inquiry to test its veracity. Relying on the literal meaning of …

The President of India referred the conduct of the Haryana Public Service Commission Chairman Mehar Singh Saini and three members to the Supreme Court under Article 317(1) for alleged misbehaviour, including irregular selections, use of bogus certificates, and refusal to cooperate with vigilance investigations. The Cou…

The appellant, a former District Manager, challenged a High Court order that directed the magistrate to order further investigation into his alleged role in the misappropriation of foodgrains, despite the magistrate having taken cognizance only against a lower‑level employee. The Supreme Court examined whether the High…

Kam​al Nath, President of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking (i) VVPAT verification at 10% of polling stations and (ii) that the Election Commission of India (ECI) publish the draft electoral roll in a searchable PDF (text‑searchable) format. The petitioner relied on C…

The appellants, registered dealers under the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act, challenged the denial of input tax credit (ITC) on inter‑state sales where Form C was not filed, contending that Section 19(5)(c) of the Act and Rule 10(9)(a) of the Rules were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court held that the provision is a v…

The petitioners challenged the constitutionality of the practice of designating Senior Advocates under Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Order IV Rule 2 of the Supreme Court Rules, alleging violations of Articles 14, 15, 18 and 21 of the Constitution. The Court examined whether the power to confer the designati…

The appellant, who had served LIC for over 23 years and resigned after turning 50, sought pension under the Life Insurance Corporation of India (Employees) Pension Rules, 1995, which were given retrospective effect. The corporation denied the claim, arguing that resignation forfeited pension rights. The Supreme Court e…

The case concerned a 3,450‑sq‑metre plot (FP No.110) in Pune that was originally reserved for a garden and later for a primary school under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 (MRTP Act). After the land was acquired, the developer, who was the son‑in‑law of the then Chief Minister, obtained a developme…

The appellants, institutions recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and offering B.Ed. courses, were granted additional intake without NAAC accreditation. The NCTE later issued Regulations 8(4) and 8(5) requiring NAAC accreditation with a Letter Grade B for such institutions, which the appellan…

Mamman Khan, a sitting MLA, was charged in two FIRs relating to large‑scale communal violence in Nuh district. The trial court, citing the need for speedy disposal of cases involving legislators, ordered a separate charge‑sheet and segregated his trial from the co‑accused, a decision affirmed by the High Court. The app…

The appellant filed a suit in 2012 seeking a declaration that her sister‑in‑law could not sell a jointly owned bungalow and that an agreement to sell dated 21‑10‑2011 was void. After the sister‑in‑law died, the court substituted a Nazir as defendant No.1. In 2021 the respondent (defendant No.2) applied to amend his wri…

The Supreme Court examined whether the appellants, who entered into buy‑back memoranda of understanding for residential units, were "speculative investors" and thus barred from filing Section 7 insolvency petitions, and whether the 2019 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance and the subsequent 2020 Amendm…

The appellant, ITC Limited, a manufacturer of stationery, stored 7,600 pre‑packed exercise books in a warehouse in Bengaluru. On 2 July 2020, Respondent No.2, a legal metrology officer, entered the premises under Section 15 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, inspected and seized the packages alleging non‑compliance with…

The petitioners, a charitable trust and an individual, sought enforcement of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 to improve conditions in state‑run care homes for persons with cognitive disabilities, citing overcrowding, inadequate health care, abuse and lack of education. The Court examined whethe…

The appellant, Jaseela Shaji, challenged the preventive detention of her husband under COFEPOSA, arguing that the detaining authority failed to provide the statement of Ms. Preetha Pradeep, a material document relied upon for the detention, thereby violating Article 22(5) of the Constitution. She also contended that th…

Vinod Katara, convicted to life imprisonment for murder in 1982, later claimed he was a juvenile at the time of the offence based on a medical board report and a Family Register showing a birth year of 1968. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking relief under Section 7A of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Prot…

The Royal Medical Trust, which runs Kerala Medical College, applied for a Letter of Permission (LOP) to admit 150 MBBS students for the 2017‑18 academic year. After a surprise inspection by the Medical Council of India (MCI) revealed several deficiencies, the Central Government barred the college from admissions and au…

The Supreme Court heard an application for modification of its November 2016 interim order that had suspended all licences for the sale of fireworks in the National Capital Region (NCR) after severe air‑pollution following Diwali 2016. Petitioners – fireworks manufacturers and suppliers – argued that a total ban was di…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over a parcel of land (described as "Parti Kadim Tilla") claimed by M/s Lakshmi Sugar & Oil Mills Ltd. to be agricultural and therefore exempt from acquisition under the Uttar Pradesh Sugar Undertakings (Acquisition) Act, 1971. Consolidation authorities had concurrently found that t…

The Commandant of 227 Company ASC (Supply) was dismissed by a General Court Martial (GCM) and his pension was forfeited by order of the President under Regulation 16(a) of the Army Pension Regulations. The Punjab & Haryana High Court quashed the pension forfeiture, prompting appeals by the Union of India and the office…

The appellant, whose husband was killed in the 2002 Gulberg Society riots, filed a writ petition under Article 226 and Section 482 CrPC seeking registration of a private complaint as an FIR and investigation by an independent agency. The High Court dismissed the petition, directing the appellant to use the remedies und…

The Supreme Court considered three appeals challenging the compulsory retirement of two Delhi Higher Judicial Service officers and one Delhi Judicial Service officer. The appellants argued that their cases could not be reconsidered before reaching the age of 55 after an earlier screening at age 50, that the Lt. Governo…

PepsiCo India Holding Pvt. Ltd. challenged the levy of increased water charges by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) on the ground that the rates, notified in 2001, were being imposed retrospectively and violated the water‑supply agreement and the equality clause of the Constitution. The State Go…

The appellants, who had adopted four minor girls under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, had their custody seized by police on the basis of an FIR and the children were placed under the Child Welfare Project Director. The appellants challenged the police action, arguing it was illegal and violated Articles…

The case concerned two village officials, A‑1 (Village Administrative Officer) and A‑2 (Village Assistant), who were convicted under Sections 13(1)(d), 13(2) and 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and receiving a bribe of Rs.500. A trap was laid using phenolphthalein‑treated notes, leading to the…

M/S K.C.P. Ltd., a producer of industrial (rectified) spirit, challenged the Andhra Pradesh Rectified Spirits Rules, 1971 which required licences, excise duty and various fees for export. The appellants argued that the State could not tax industrial alcohol, that the fees were not a quid pro quo, and that the export fe…

The appellants, assistants in the Central Secretariat Service, appeared for a limited departmental competitive examination and were placed next in merit with the same marks as a candidate who was later appointed. Six of the 184 candidates initially recommended by the UPSC did not join, and the Department of Personnel &…

The Kerala High Court, after conducting a written test and viva‑voce for recruitment to the Higher Judicial Service, imposed a minimum cut‑off for the viva‑voce despite the 1961 Rules and the 2012 examination scheme expressly providing that no cut‑off would apply. Eleven candidates challenged this decision, arguing tha…

The case concerned a senior judicial officer, R.R. Parekh, who was dismissed from service after two disciplinary inquiries found him guilty of misconduct for awarding sentences below the statutory minimum under Section 135 of the Customs Act, allegedly motivated by corrupt or oblique motives. The High Court had revisit…

The National Campaign for Dignity and Rights of Sewerage and Allied Workers filed a public interest litigation before the Delhi High Court seeking safety measures and compensation for sewage workers who died in hazardous conditions. The High Court issued interim directions ordering the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to provide …

The Supreme Court examined the Jaipur Development Authority’s attempt to regularise illegal land allotments in the Lal Kothi Scheme, which were based on a letter dated 6 December 2001 purporting to be a government policy. The Court held that the letter was not a valid policy order under Article 166 because it was not i…

The case concerned the allocation of two Indian Police Service officers, Vikrama Varma (an OBC insider) and Avinash Mohanty, to state cadres after the 2004 Civil Services Examination. The respondents challenged the allocation of Varma to the Andhra Pradesh cadre, alleging that the allocation violated the roster princip…

The Supreme Court examined challenges by private employers, including Ficus Pax Private Ltd., to central and state orders issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 that compelled private establishments to pay full wages to all workers during the COVID‑19 lockdown. The petitioners argued that the orders were ultra‑…

The appellants filed a public interest litigation seeking the inclusion of the Rajasthani language in the syllabus of the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) 2021 and the use of Rajasthani as a medium of instruction in schools. The High Court dismissed the petition, holding that a writ of mandamus req…

The case concerned employees of cooperative societies that were merged into the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) and sought pension benefits. The key issue was whether these absorbed employees were entitled to pension and, if so, whether their service in the societies prior to absorption could be counted …

The petitioners, senior civil judges, challenged the Gujarat High Court's select list and the State Government's notification promoting 68 judges to the district judge cadre, alleging that the selections violated Article 14 of the Constitution and Rule 5 of the Gujarat State Judicial Service Rules, 2005, which require …

Dr. V. R. Sanal Kumar, a senior ISRO scientist, was dismissed from service under Rule 16(iii) of the Department of Space Employees (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1976, which allows dismissal without an inquiry when the President is satisfied it is not expedient in the interest of the security of the State.…

The appellant, Gautam Navlakha, was arrested in connection with a UAPA case and placed under house arrest for 34 days after a transit remand order was stayed by the Delhi High Court. He later surrendered and was taken into police custody, seeking default bail on the ground that the house‑arrest period should count towa…

The Punjab Public Service Commission advertised 52 posts of Punjab Civil Services (Judicial Branch) in 2007‑08, with 27 General and 25 reserved seats. After the examination, 27 General, 10 SC and 5 OBC candidates joined, and the remaining eight reserved posts were de‑reserved; seven of these were filled by General cand…

Jeeja Ghosh, a person with cerebral palsy, was forcibly de‑boarded from a SpiceJet flight on 19 February 2012 despite having requested assistance only for her baggage. She alleged that the airline’s action violated the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, the Aircraft Rules, 1937, Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) 2008…

The respondent, a government servant, was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment. The High Court, on an application under Section 389(1) of the Cr.P.C., suspended the execution of the sentence but did not stay the conviction. The Department dismissed the…

The Army College of Medical Sciences (ACMS), run by the Army Welfare Education Society, admitted only wards of army personnel based on a Delhi Government exemption, ignoring merit and statutory reservations. The Indian Medical Association and several candidates challenged this policy, arguing that ACMS is a private una…

The Centre for Environment and Food Security filed a public‑interest writ petition seeking directions to ensure proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) and its schemes, alleging fund diversion and irregularities, particularly in Orissa. The Supreme Court, afte…

The appellants, a group of educational institutions, filed Special Leave Petitions claiming they had been granted recognition by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and sought interim orders directing the State Government to allot students to their D.Ed. courses. During the pendency of the petitions, the …

The petitioner, Neeti Malviya, sought to transfer a divorce petition from the Family Court in Bangalore to the Family Court in Hoshangabad. The parties had reached a settlement in Supreme Court Lok Adalat, agreeing that the husband would pay Rs. 65 lakh and that a joint application for divorce by mutual consent would b…

The Anil Agarwal Foundation, a private company at the time of land acquisition, sought 6,000 acres of agricultural land in Odisha to establish a university. The State issued Section 4(1) notifications and proceeded with acquisition despite the company’s conversion to a public company occurring only after the notificati…

The Dental Council of India (DCI) amended Regulation 6(2)(h) of its 2006 Regulations, mandating that new dental colleges be attached to a recognised medical college within a specified distance. Biyani Shikshan Samiti (respondent) challenged the amendment, alleging that the Council exceeded its statutory authority, and …

The case concerns Accused X, convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering two minor girls, for which a death sentence was imposed. The petitioner challenged the conviction on two grounds: (i) the trial court failed to conduct a separate pre‑sentence hearing as required by Section 235(2) of the CrPC, and (ii) the petit…

The appellant, a police constable, was dismissed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police under clause (b) of the second proviso to Article 311(2) of the Constitution without a departmental inquiry, on the ground that it was not reasonably practicable to hold one due to alleged threat, intimidation and possible tampering o…

The appellants, employees of the Air Force Group Insurance Society (AFGIS), challenged the Society's decision to revise their pay scales without linking them to the Sixth Pay Commission, filing writ petitions in the Delhi High Court. The High Court dismissed the petitions, holding that AFGIS could not be classified as …

The State Trading Corporation of India (STC) and Global Steel Holding Ltd (GSHIL) entered into settlement agreements in 2010 and 2012 under which GSHIL was to pay interest of Rs 600 crore at 8% p.a. by 28 February 2019. The amount was paid, and STC declared that all liabilities under the settlements were fully satisfie…

Dr. Tonmoy Mondal, a medical officer in West Bengal Health Services, applied for voluntary retirement under Rule 75(aaa) of the West Bengal Service Rules, 1971. The State declined his request on the ground of public interest, a decision later quashed by the West Bengal Administrative Tribunal. The High Court initially …

The Supreme Court examined the implementation of an amendment to Rule 5(g) of the Tamil Nadu Revenue Subordinate Service Rules (TNRSS) in light of its earlier judgment in M. Rathinaswami v. State of Tamil Nadu (2009). The amendment gave preference to Direct recruit Assistants over Promotee non‑graduate Assistants, whil…

The petitioners, senior officers of the Border Security Force, were superseded in 1996 and 2000 and later promoted after meeting the revised "very good" benchmark. They filed numerous representations over the years and finally instituted writ petitions in 2016 seeking retrospective promotion from the date of supersessi…

A contractual government teacher in Odisha was sexually harassed by a Sub‑Inspector of Schools, lodged multiple complaints, and was later set ablaze, dying from her injuries. The petitioner, a law student, filed a writ under Article 32 seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a…

PGF Limited, which sold and developed agricultural land and ran joint‑venture schemes, was directed by SEBI to cease collecting money and to refund investors, on the ground that its activities constituted a collective investment scheme (CIS) under Section 11AA of the SEBI Act. PGF challenged the SEBI order and the cons…

The husband, Ajay Kumar, filed a habeas corpus petition before the Allahabad High Court alleging that his wife, Rashmi, was illegally detaining their minor son. In reality, the child had been living with the mother in Maharashtra since birth. The husband had earlier filed a criminal application in the Bombay High Court…

The case concerned ex‑servicemen who, after being granted disability pension, sought arrears of pension dating back to their discharge dates, invoking the Supreme Court's 2014 judgment in Union of India v. Ram Avtar which recognized a broad‑banding right. The Union of India appealed, arguing that the Limitation Act, 19…

The case arose from a decree of nullity under Section 11 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, wherein the Punjab & Haryana High Court had held the marriage void. The appellant contested whether, despite the void status, the spouse could claim permanent alimony under Section 25 and interim maintenance under Section 24 of th…

The Union of India, represented by the Enforcement Directorate, appealed against a Patna High Court order that granted regular bail to Kanhaiya Prasad in a PMLA case involving alleged money laundering of proceeds from illegal sand mining by his father. The High Court had released the respondent without satisfying the t…

The State of Odisha filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the acquittal of Banabihari Mohapatra and his son for the alleged murder of Bijay Kumar Tadu, whose body was found with electric shock injuries in the accused's shop. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the deceased’s presence at th…

Six members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly were suspended for ten days of the next session and denied salary after a Privileges Committee found them guilty of breaching the House's privileges. They challenged the resolution under Article 32, alleging violations of Articles 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), 14, and 21, and co…

The Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) gifted land to the public trust Gorakshan Sabha, which later leased it to Kripa Mangal Karyalaya. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) granted building permits for structures on the land, which respondents 5 and 6 challenged through a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Bomb…

The appeal arose from the appointment of Class IV staff in courts subordinate to the Delhi High Court on an ad‑hoc basis without proper advertisement, which the petitioners challenged as violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined whether such appointments could be regularised, wheth…

The Rajasthan State Industrial & Investment Corporation (RSIIC) was allotted land for industrial development and leased it to Diamond and Gem Development Corp. on an "as‑is‑where‑is" basis, with a requirement to complete the project within five years. The lessee sought an access road from the lessor, which was not prov…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 5(4) of the Kerala Medical Officers' Admission to Post‑Graduate Courses under Service Quota Act, 2008, which mandated that in‑service doctors be selected for postgraduate seats solely on the basis of seniority. The Court held that Regulation 9 of the Med…

The case involved a murder where the complainant, Azija Begum, alleged that the police investigation was inadequate and the magistrate, under Section 173(8) of the CrPC, ordered further investigation but retained the same police agency. The appellant challenged this order before the High Court under Article 227, arguin…

The heirs of Prem Chand and labourer Nikku Ram filed claim petitions after a truck, owned by Jitender Gupta on the registration but possessed by Salig Ram, met with a fatal accident. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation but held only Salig Ram liable, ignoring the fact that the registration still nam…

Rubabbuddin Sheikh filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged fake encounter of his brother Sohrabuddin, the disappearance of his sister‑in‑law Kausarbi, and the killing of material witness Tulsiram, all allegedly perpetrated by Gujarat police. The State of Gujarat submitted eig…

The President of India issued Constitutional Orders 272 and 273, which applied the entire Constitution of India to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and abrogated Article 370. Simultaneously, Parliament enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, bifurcating the State into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashm…

The petition was filed by the father of a college girl who died after falling from a hostel roof, alleging that the death resulted from ragging and that the Rajasthan police investigation was biased, incomplete, and failed to record the victim's statement. The petitioner sought a transfer of the investigation to the Ce…

The appellants, co‑landholders of a 59‑bigha estate in Assam, failed to pay Rs 731.70 land revenue, leading the Deputy Commissioner to auction the land under Section 70 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886. No proper notice of demand or sale was served on the appellants, and the auction attracted no bidders, …

The case concerned the Khalsa Girls High School, a Sikh‑run school in Calcutta, and whether it qualified as a minority institution under Articles 26 and 30 of the Constitution, thereby entitled to appoint its own teachers without complying with Rule 28 of the 1969 Management Rules. The appellants, two teachers appointe…

The petitioners challenged the All India Institute of Medical Sciences' (AllMS) counseling procedure for MBBS admissions, alleging that it exceeded the 50% reservation ceiling by allowing SC/ST/OBC candidates who secured seats in the open (unreserved) category to later opt for reserved seats, thereby inflating the rese…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises "carnal intercourse against the order of nature". The petitioners argued that the provision violated Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution by arbitrarily classifying "unnatural" acts, being vague, and…

The marriage between U. Sree and U. Srinivas broke down, leading the wife to file a petition for restitution of conjugal rights and the husband to file for divorce on the ground of mental cruelty under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act. The Family Court and the Madras High Court granted the divorce, held the …

In the 2012 presidential election, petitioner Purno Agitok Sangma challenged the election of Pranab Mukherjee on the ground that Mukherjee held two "offices of profit" – Chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha – at the time of filing his nomination, which would disqua…

The case concerned a criminal appeal filed by the State against an acquittal of the accused Irphan @ Gulfam and others. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the Government appeal in a cryptic order, merely referring to paragraphs of the trial‑court judgment and without giving any reasons. The complainant, Kumari Shaima J…

The Delhi High Court dismissed an election petition challenging the 2009 Lok Sabha election of Ajay Maken on grounds of alleged corrupt practices. The appellant argued that the petition should be thrown out for (i) the copy served on him not being a true copy under Section 81(3) of the Representation of the People Act,…

Surendra Koli, a former domestic help at the Nithari residence, was convicted for the murder, rape and related offences of a minor based on a Section 164 confession and alleged discoveries under Section 27 of the Evidence Act. The Supreme Court had earlier affirmed his conviction and death sentence in 2011, and a revie…

The appellant, National Company, owned a parcel of land in Chennai that was leased to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) until 31 December 2009. After the lease expired, BPCL continued to occupy the premises and sub‑let the petrol bunk to a dealer, refusing to vacate or pay rent. The appellant filed a writ petitio…

The Supreme Court, by a 9-judge bench, answered a reference on the interpretation of Articles 301-304 of the Constitution concerning the validity of entry taxes levied by states. The majority held that taxes simpliciter are not within the contemplation of Part XIII of the Constitution, and the word 'free' in Article 30…

The petitioners filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking emergency relief from the severe air‑pollution in the National Capital Region caused by the widespread use of fireworks during Diwali and the marriage season. They alleged that the pollution breached fundamental rights, especially the right to life and heal…

Collector Singh, a semi‑skilled workman, was dismissed by L.M.L. Ltd. after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of throwing jute/cotton waste balls at a foreman and allegedly using abusive language. The Labour Court upheld the dismissal, relying on the appellant's apology letter, and the High Court affirmed that aw…

The petitioners, who are Judges of Family Courts in Maharashtra, sought elevation to the Bombay High Court, arguing that they hold a "judicial office" under Article 217(2)(a) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined whether Family Courts qualify as courts in the constitutional sense, whether their judges are par…

The dispute concerned the seniority of four appellants (SMT. Imlikokla Longchar & Ors.) and respondent K in the cadre of Senior Lecturer under the Nagaland State Council on Educational Training Service Rules, 2003. K claimed that the appellants, who were promoted on an officiating basis before her regularisation, shoul…

The case concerned the acquisition of about 105 acres of land in Manimajra, Chandigarh for the expansion of the Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park (Phase III). The acquisition was approved by the Adviser to the Administrator of the Union Territory based on reports of the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO), which the petitioners …

The appellant challenged a notification and the handling of a review petition concerning a writ appeal that had been dismissed by a Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court. The review petition was heard by a different Division Bench under a 29‑December‑2008 notification and was allowed on 17 December 2009, thereby r…

D. Ethiraj was convicted under IPC sections 366, 109 and 119 and sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment. He sought remission under Tamil Nadu Government Order No. 279 dated 23‑02‑1992, which provides six months remission for male prisoners. The Madras High Court rejected his application on the ground that he wa…

The case concerned the validity of the fifteen directions issued by the Supreme Court in Kumari Madhuri Patil for verification of caste certificates and the procedural rights of parties challenging the orders of the State Level Screening Committee. Dayaram, the President of the Scheduled Caste Employees Association, ch…

The CBI registered a case against Dr. R.R. Kishore for alleged bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, but conducted the investigation without the prior approval of the Central Government required by Section 6A(1) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. The Delhi High Court allowed the trial …

The Supreme Court was approached after a television channel disclosed confidential settlement proposals between Sahara India Real Estate Corp. Ltd. and SEBI during pending litigation, raising concerns about media reporting of sub‑judice matters. The Court examined whether it could issue guidelines or orders restricting…

The petitioners, two female candidates who ranked higher than a male candidate in the JAG Short Service Commission selection, challenged a notification that allotted only three vacancies for women against six for men, alleging violation of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 19 of the Constitution. The Court examined whether, afte…

A transfer petition seeking to move a criminal case from the Telangana High Court to the Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) contained scandalous remarks against the Telangana High Court judge hearing the matter. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition and, suo moto, issued contempt notices to the petitioner’s lawyer, th…

The appellant, a physically disabled senior teacher appointed in 1993, was posted 550 km from his residence. After a 2000 circular directing that disabled employees be posted near their chosen place, he was transferred to his home district, but his state‑level seniority was later downgraded, affecting his promotion pro…

The Supreme Court examined the interpretation of Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 as amended by the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005. It held that the amendment confers coparcenary status on daughters—whether born before or after the amendment—on and from 9 September 2005, giving them the same rights a…

The Supreme Court examined whether iron and steel reinforcement used in building works contracts retains its identity as "declared goods" under the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, and consequently whether it is taxable at the restricted 4% rate prescribed in Section 15. The Court held that the 46th Constitution Amendment …

The petitioners challenged the Aadhaar Card Scheme on the ground that the compulsory collection of biometric and demographic data violated the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Union of India and the UIDAI argued that the scheme is essential for the delivery of welfare benefits and …

The Orissa State Electricity Board (OSEB) granted two advance increments to Lower Division Clerks (LDCs) who became graduates while in service, but later limited this benefit to those who graduated or passed the Accounts Examination on or before 30‑06‑1971. Five LDCs who obtained their degrees after that date filed wri…

The appellant applied for a sand mining lease under the Uttar Pradesh Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 1963, and was recommended for grant by the District Magistrate and State Government. The respondent, a member of a socially and educationally backward class (SEBC), claimed preference under clause (e) of Rule 9(2) a…

The appellant, Md. Rahim Ali, was declared a foreigner by the Foreigners Tribunal, Nalbari, on the basis that he failed to prove his Indian citizenship under Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, 1946. He challenged the Tribunal's order, arguing that the authorities had no material basis for the allegation of illegal migrat…

Mohamed Ali sued for specific performance of a sale agreement. The trial court passed an ex‑parte judgment and decree in 2012. The defendants filed applications to set aside the decree after delays of 1,522 days (defendant 1) and 2,345 days (defendants 2‑4); the trial court refused to condone these delays. The defendan…

The State of Manipur issued an office memorandum in 1999 revising pension benefits, granting a higher percentage to employees who retired on or after 1 January 1996 and a lower percentage to those who retired earlier. All Manipur Pensioners Association challenged this classification as violative of Articles 14 and 16 o…

The appellant, the Commissioner of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, was sued for injuries suffered by a passenger when a branch from a roadside tree fell on a stationary auto‑rickshaw during heavy rain. The passenger filed a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, seeking compensation, which was initially dismisse…

The dispute concerned a 95.80‑acre family property originally transferred in 1960 to the appellant, Makardhwaj Ram, and his mother. Subsequent sales by a cousin acting under a General Power of Attorney were later cancelled, leading to multiple suits challenging those sales, all of which were dismissed. The appellant la…

Surekha Domaji Bele, an Upper Division Clerk with over two decades of service at MSEDCL, was suspended in 2006 for alleged indiscipline and related misconduct. A domestic enquiry was held but later declared unfair, leading to a de novo adjudication before the Labour Court where misconduct was proved. The employer dismi…

After the 2019 Maharashtra elections a coalition government (MVA) led by Uddhav Thackeray collapsed in mid‑2022 when the Shiv Sena split into two factions headed by Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. The Governor, relying on letters from opposition leaders and a resolution of 34 Shiv Sena MLAs, directed Thackeray to prove hi…

The Supreme Court examined a 2015 Union Ministry notification that gave the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi control over "services" in addition to public order, police and land. The Court held that, under Article 239AA(3)(a), the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) has legislative and co…

The State of Jharkhand created Fast Track Courts (FTCs) to address case backlogs, appointing judges who were on the merit list for the regular judicial cadre but could not be placed due to limited cadre strength. The appellants served as FTC judges for about nine years and were later regularised into the regular judici…

Ashok Kumar and others were appointed as Civil Judges under the Jharkhand Judicial Service (Recruitment) Rules, 2004. Although they passed the examination conducted by the Judicial Academy, the State of Jharkhand denied their confirmation and increments on the ground that they had not cleared the higher‑grade Hindi dep…

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition filed by Swaraaj Abhiyan seeking a declaration of drought in parts of Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana and relief for affected persons. The petition highlighted that the three states had either not declared drought or had delayed declaration despite evidence of ra…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by Samaj Parivartan Samuday alleging continued illegal mining of iron ore in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, despite earlier orders and a CBI charge‑sheet. The Court considered reports of a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) that identified irregularities, including land de…

The case concerns a Railway Judicial Magistrate, Pandey Gajendra Prasad, who was dismissed from service after a departmental enquiry found him guilty of misconduct for granting bail in cases involving the NDPS Act. The Standing Committee of the Patna High Court recommended dismissal, which was approved by the Full Cour…

The State of Madhya Pradesh challenged the constitutional validity of clause (d) of Article 45 in Schedule 1‑A of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, as amended by the Madhya Pradesh Stamp Amendment Act, 2002, which imposes a 2% stamp duty on power‑of‑attorney instruments given without consideration to persons who are not bloo…

The Supreme Court heard appeals by the State of Madhya Pradesh and the Narmada Hydro Development Corporation challenging the High Court's interim orders in a public‑interest litigation filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) concerning the Omkareshwar Dam. NBA sought land‑for‑land rehabilitation, inclusion of major sons …

The respondents, originally investigators in the NSSO, were promoted to Assistant Superintendents after 1 January 1986. They argued that, despite a Board of Arbitration award granting a special pay of Rs.75 per month to Assistant Superintendents, the government had not incorporated this special pay into their revised p…

P.D. Chacko worked as a full‑time menial in an aided school from 1968 to 1976, resigned and joined the Kerala government as a peon in 1976. He claimed that, under Kerala Service Rules (KSR) 1959 Rule 60(b), officers who were in "last grade service" on 7‑April‑1970 could retire at 60 years, and therefore he should be al…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Chapters 1B and 1C of the Companies Act, 1956 (as amended by the Companies (Second Amendment) Act, 2002) which created the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) and transferred the jurisdiction of High Court…

The Madras Bar Association challenged the constitutional validity of the National Tax Tribunal Act, 2005 and the provisions of Article 323B (and Article 3238) of the Constitution, arguing that the Act undermines the basic structure by creating a parallel tribunal system under executive control. The petition also contes…

The Tamil Nadu Government appealed against a Madras High Court order that directed the creation of posts and reinstatement of village‑level workers (Makkal Nala Paniyalargal) who had been discontinued in 2011. The Supreme Court examined whether the courts can compel the State to create posts and regularise such workers…

The respondent Ramanand was charged with the deaths of his wife Anita and daughter Ekta, alleged to be caused by strangulation with the bodies later set on fire. Post‑mortem reports established that death resulted from asphyxia due to strangulation and that the burns were post‑mortem, contradicting the initial claim of…

The Supreme Court examined a gang‑rape and murder case where an FIR dated 25‑05‑2000 led to the conviction of six accused under sections 302, 376(2)(g), 201, 404 and 506 IPC. The trial court and the Punjab‑Haryana High Court relied heavily on the testimonies of witnesses PW‑8, PW‑9 and PW‑7, the latter providing an ext…

The case concerned candidates who had secured ranks in the Civil Services Examination and claimed OBC (Non‑Creamy Layer) reservation, but were denied on the ground that their parents' salary income exceeded the creamy‑layer ceiling as per the Department of Personnel and Training's (DoPT) application of the 1993 Office …

The appellant, a woman, filed a habeas corpus petition alleging that her intimate partner, also a woman (referred to as X), was being held against her will by X's parents. The Kerala High Court ordered the District Legal Services Authority to interview X and subsequently directed that X undergo counselling with a psych…

The State of Haryana appealed against a High Court order that set aside a CAT decision which had upheld the Chief Minister’s downgrade of an IAS officer’s performance appraisal score. The officer’s self‑appraisal was initially graded 8.22 by the Reporting Authority, raised to 9.92 by the Reviewing Authority, and then r…

M/S ICOMM TELE Ltd. was awarded a water supply contract by the Punjab State Water Supply & Sewerage Board, which contained an arbitration clause requiring a 10% "deposit-at-call" before invoking arbitration. The company challenged this clause as arbitrary, discriminatory, and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution…

The petitioners sought a writ of mandamus directing the Uttar Pradesh government to collect quantitative data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in its services, arguing that such data is a condition precedent for exercising the reservation in promotion power under Articles 16(4‑A), 16(4‑B) and 335 of the Constit…

Dr. Kalyani Mathivanan was appointed Vice‑Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University by a Tamil Nadu government order, but two writ petitions challenged her appointment on the ground that she did not satisfy the eligibility criteria prescribed in the UGC Regulations, 2010. The High Court set aside the appointment, holdin…

The case concerned several writ petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution challenging orders of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). The Union of India argued that Sections 30 and 31 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, together with Articles 136(2) and 227(4) of the Constitution, bar High Court jurisdiction…

The petitioner obtained a writ from the Gauhati High Court directing the Union of India to re‑designate him as a Warrant Officer and extend his pay. The Union appealed to the Supreme Court (Civil Appeal No. 25 of 2008), which dismissed the appeal, thereby upholding the High Court’s directions. The petitioner later file…

The Supreme Court examined the appointment of Dr. Anil Khurana, Director General of the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, as Chairperson of the National Commission for Homeopathy. The appellant, Dr. Amaragouda L. Patil, challenged the appointment on the ground that the respondent did not satisfy the statutory…

The appellants Rupa & Co. Ltd paid Rs.4,00,92,000 for a plot of land in New Town, Kolkata, based on HIDCO's promise to convey it on a free‑hold basis. HIDCO later altered the terms to a 99‑year lease and subsequently demanded additional payment at market rates, prompting the appellants to file a writ petition which the…

The case arose from two second appeals concerning specific performance suits where the respondents died during pendency. The heirs of the deceased respondents filed substitution applications, but the High Court dismissed applications for condonation of delay and held the appeals abated. The Supreme Court examined the p…

The father of Ajithkumar G.K. died in service of Canara Bank in December 2001, and the son applied for a compassionate appointment under the bank's 1993 scheme. The bank rejected the claim on grounds of sufficient family pension, terminal benefits and the son's age exceeding the limit, prompting a writ petition that wa…

The appellant, a printing firm, was issued a show‑cause notice by the Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation seeking an explanation why it should not be blacklisted for three years and its EMD forfeited, alleging breach of tender clauses relating to time‑bound delivery and other obligations. The appellant challenged the not…

The appellants challenged the registration of FIR No.0092/2023 under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters & Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, alleging that the three predicate cases cited in the FIR were essentially civil property and monetary disputes. The High Court had dismissed the writ petition and allowed the…

Umesh Kumar Pahwa, a branch officer of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank, was accused of demanding a bribe from a borrower and reducing the loan amount from Rs.1,50,000 to Rs.75,000. A departmental inquiry found him guilty of ten charges and ordered his removal from service, which was upheld by the High Court. Pahwa challenged t…

The appellant, a medical graduate suffering from writer's cramp (dysgraphia), applied for a scribe in the 2018 Civil Services Examination (CSE) but was denied because the UPSC said only candidates with benchmark disabilities (≥40% impairment) were eligible. The appellant challenged the denial before the Tribunal, High …

The State of Himachal Pradesh prepared a draft development plan for the Shimla Planning Area under the Himachal Pradesh Town & Country Planning Act, 1977, which was stayed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014 and again in 2022. The State challenged the NGT orders before the Himachal Pradesh High Court, while th…

The appeal concerned the interpretation of Rule 7 of the Kerala Judicial Service Rules, 1991 (as amended 2019) regarding the number of "probable vacancies" for appointing Munsiff‑Magistrates. The High Court had held that vacancies arising within a year of the Governor’s approval of the merit list could be filled from t…

The Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking that the legislature impose chemical castration as an additional punishment for perpetrators of rape against girl children. The petition highlighted alarming incidents of child sexual abuse and argued that the Indian Penal Code d…

N.C. Das, a Grade‑II civil judge of the Tripura Judicial Service, filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging (i) the denial of his promotion to Grade‑I despite his seniority and (ii) the refusal to extend his service up to the age of 60 years as provided in the amended Rule 20 of the Tripura Judicial Service Ru…

The appellant, a qualified Chartered Accountant, was appointed Manager (Finance) and later Deputy Chief (Finance) at Manganese Ore (India) Ltd. He was suspended and subsequently dismissed following a series of show-cause notices after reporting late to work due to his father's death. The High Court reinstated him but d…

The case concerned a perpetual leasehold Nazul plot in Allahabad that had been transferred to the Maharaja of Maihar and later bequeathed by the Maharaja to his second wife’s son. The appellant purchased the plot from the elder son, while the respondents claimed title as members of the joint Hindu family asserting copa…

The appellant, Bipinchandra Gamanlal Chokshi, was detained on 11 June 1976 under Section 3 of the COFEPOSA Act, with a simultaneous declaration under Section 12A during a national emergency. The declaration was revoked on 21 March 1977 when the emergency ended, and the appellant was released the same day. He later chal…

The petitioners challenged four new disqualification clauses (t, u, v, w) inserted in Section 175(1) of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, arguing that they violated Article 14 by creating unreasonable classifications and that the right to vote and the right to contest elections are fundamental constitutional rights…

R. Periyasamy, a permanent cash officer of State Bank of India, was dismissed after a departmental enquiry found, on a preponderance of probabilities, that he was responsible for a cash shortage of Rs.1,25,000 and had violated service rules. The dismissal was upheld by the disciplinary authority and departmental appeal…

MITC Rolling Mills Pvt. Ltd. filed a commercial suit for recovery of Rs.2.5 crore. The trial court rejected the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC on the ground that the plaintiff had not complied with the mandatory pre‑institution mediation under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. The appellant cha…

The appellant, a doctor, was alleged to have had an extramarital affair with respondent No.1, resulting in the birth of a child in 2007 while she was married to Abdul Latheef. Respondent No.1 filed criminal complaints for cheating and harassment and sought a DNA test to establish the appellant as the biological father,…

The State of Punjab challenged the Governor of Punjab for refusing to assent to four Bills passed by the Vidhan Sabha and for questioning the legality of sessions reconvened after an adjournment sine die. The petition also sought a declaration that the June and October 2023 sessions were valid and that the Governor mus…

The State of Uttarakhand issued an opinion refusing to grant recognition to new B.Ed. colleges and seeking cancellation of recognition for Nalanda College of Education, citing that approximately 13,000 B.Ed. graduates per year far exceed the state's requirement of 2,500 teachers, leading to potential unemployment. The …

The appellant, Prof. Narendra Singh Bhandari, was appointed Vice‑Chancellor of Soban Singh Jeena University in August 2020. The appointment was challenged on the ground that he did not satisfy the statutory requirement of a minimum of ten years of teaching experience as a professor and that the selection process did no…

The Supreme Court clarified that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the sole authority to constitute benches and allocate cases, a principle derived from the State of Rajasthan v. Prakash Chand judgment and applicable to the Supreme Court. The Court held that a two‑judge bench cannot direct the composition of a bench …

The appellant, an 89‑year‑old retired Air Force officer, filed for divorce on the grounds of cruelty and desertion under Sections 13(1)(ia) and 13(1)(ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The District Court granted the decree, but the High Court reversed it, holding that the appellant failed to prove either ground. The …

The dispute arose from a 1982 contract between National Projects Construction Corporation Ltd (NPCCL) and Royal Construction Company Private Ltd (RCCPL) for earth‑work in Iraq, which stipulated payments in Iraqi Dinars and US Dollars. An arbitrator awarded a sum in Iraqi Dinars and a separate rupee amount, directing co…

Santosh was accused under Section 408 IPC read with Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act for receiving misappropriated food grains. He applied for anticipatory bail, which was rejected by the trial court and the Nagpur High Court. After depositing the alleged amount, he obtained interim protection, but the…

The appellant, Abuzar Hossain @ Gulam Hossain, claimed that he was a juvenile at the time of the alleged offence and therefore could not be tried in a regular criminal court. The claim was not raised in the trial or earlier appeals, and the question before the Supreme Court was whether a claim of juvenility under s.7A …

The case concerned two Central Bureau of Investigation officers, Vinod Kumar Pandey and Neeraj Kumar, who were alleged to have committed a series of cognizable offences under the IPC, prompting writ petitions seeking registration of FIRs against them. The Delhi High Court, after examining the complaints and a prelimina…

The dispute concerned agricultural land in Haridwar where the mother of Petitioner No.1 allegedly fraudulently claimed inheritance and executed a sale deed on 09‑08‑2016 by impersonation, a deed the Respondent sought to cancel. The Respondent filed a civil suit for cancellation, but the defendant filed an application i…

Pravin Kumar, a CISF Sub‑Inspector, was accused of fabricating a General Diary entry, intimidating a subordinate to give false testimony, and collecting bribes from BPCL contractors. An enquiry under CISF Rules found him guilty and recommended dismissal; the disciplinary authority dismissed him, and the appellate autho…

The appellants, volunteers of the Punjab Home Guards, were terminated for alleged indiscipline at a railway station. They challenged the termination, arguing that the 1983 Punjab Home Guards and Civil Defence (Field) Class III Rules did not apply to volunteers and that the 1963 Rules required a show‑cause notice and a …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by the Government of India challenging the recognition of a service association formed by ISRO drivers. The respondents sought recognition under the Central Civil Services (Recognition of Service Association) Rules, 1993, claiming that drivers constitute a "distinct category" of gov…

The appellants, former employees of Punjab University and Kurukshetra University who later joined Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), claimed that their uninterrupted service in the earlier universities should be counted as qualifying service for pension under MDU's 1997 pension scheme. The university rejected the clai…

The appeal challenges a Calcutta High Court order that upheld a writ petition against the e‑auction scheme for coal sales. The Supreme Court had earlier, in Ashoka Smokeless Coal India Ltd. v. Union of India (2007) 2 SCC 640, declared the e‑auction scheme ultra‑vio​lus of Article 14 and directed coal companies to refun…

The appellant, a Muslim husband, obtained a triple talaq and was ordered by the Family Court to pay interim maintenance of Rs.20,000 per month to his divorced wife, which the High Court reduced to Rs.10,000. He appealed, arguing that Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) does not apply to Muslim women af…

The Supreme Court examined a series of appeals and miscellaneous applications concerning compensation for land acquired by the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The landowners, who had previously received compensation of INR 340 per square yard, sought parity with …

The Central Information Commission (CIC) issued Management Regulations in 2007, including provisions to constitute benches and form committees for case management. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) challenged these actions, and the Delhi High Court quashed the regulations, holding that the RTI Act did not expressly…

The State of West Bengal filed an original suit under Article 131 of the Constitution seeking a declaration that the Union of India’s registration of cases by the CBI after the State withdrew its consent under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act is unconstitutional, and asked for an injunctio…

Dr. Vikas Kanaujia filed a petition for divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act alleging cruelty, after his wife Dr. Sarita left the marital home within a month of their 2002 marriage and the couple lived together for only about 43 days over a 22‑year separation. The Family Court granted a decree of divorce …

The Supreme Court examined the allotment of a large gala (shop No.F‑158) in the Vashi wholesale market under the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 1963. The High Court had held that only respondent No.2 (Habibullah Farhatullah) was entitled to the gala based on a transfer of b…

The Supreme Court examined whether Parliament had the constitutional authority to enact sub‑section (4) of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which postpones the operation of disqualification for sitting members of Parliament or State Legislatures pending an appeal. The Court held that the power t…

The petitioners challenged the view that a person confined in prison or in police custody, who is barred from voting under sub‑section (5) of Section 62 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, is not an elector and therefore cannot contest elections. The High Court held that such a person loses the statutory rig…

The case concerned the murder of a District Magistrate during a funeral procession of a political leader, where 36 persons were charged. The trial court convicted A‑1 (Anand Mohan) and six others under sections 147, 302/149, 307/149 and 302/109, sentencing A‑1, A‑3 and A‑4 to death. The High Court acquitted A‑2 to A‑7 …

The bench examined several writ petitions challenging preventive detention orders at the pre‑execution stage. The petitioners argued that, under the Right to Information Act, 2005, a detenu should be furnished with the grounds of detention before arrest, and that the five exceptions laid down in Alka Subhash Gadia's ca…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against directions issued by the Madhya Pradesh High Court that trial courts, while trying cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, must examine the sanctioning authority under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before charge‑framing, even when the accused does not c…

The appellant, Gulam Mustafa, Managing Director of GM Infinite Dwelling, was named as Accused No.18 in an FIR filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and several IPC provisions, arising from a long‑standing land ownership dispute that had been litigated in civil courts for o…

The appellant, a society, challenged the applicability of various Central and State statutes to the Sundargarh district of Orissa, which had been declared a Scheduled Area under Clause 6 of the Fifth Schedule. It contended that non‑tribals could not settle, vote, or contest elections there and that all constituencies s…