Indian Evidence Act, 1872

The appellant Vaibhav was convicted for murdering his friend Mangesh under Sections 302 and 201 IPC and for illegal possession of a firearm under the Arms Act, based solely on circumstantial evidence. He contended that Mangesh accidentally shot himself with his father's service pistol, citing the bullet trajectory, lac…

The appellant, Bapu/Gajraj Singh, was convicted of murder under s.302 IPC for beheading his wife with a blood‑stained sickle. He claimed exemption under s.84 IPC, asserting that he was of unsound mind at the time of the offence. The trial court and the Rajasthan High Court rejected the plea, and the appellant appealed …

The petitioner challenged the High Court of Madhya Pradesh's rejection of his application to recall a witness under Order 18 Rule 17 of the CPC. The Supreme Court examined the scope of that rule, noting that it confers a power exclusively on the court trying the suit to recall and re‑examine a witness, and that parties…

The appellant Dinesh Kumar was convicted for murder, kidnapping and related offences based largely on circumstantial evidence, namely a "last seen" testimony and discoveries made after his police custody. The Supreme Court examined whether the "last seen" evidence, given a long interval before the estimated time of dea…

The appellant sought possession of a 3‑acre agricultural field based on a registered sale deed dated 21‑04‑1979. The defendants argued that the deed was a sham, executed as collateral for a money‑lending transaction, and that the sale violated the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Ac…

The case involved the kidnapping and murder of two minor children, for which three persons – Anita (A-1), Ravinder Singh alias Kaku (A-2) and Ranjit Kumar Gupta (A-3) – were charged. The trial court convicted all three, sentencing A-2 to death; the High Court later acquitted A-1 and A-3 and reduced A-2's sentence to 20…

The State of Karnataka prosecuted Manjan for raping a girl who was 15 years old at the time of the offence. The trial court convicted him based on the victim’s testimony, corroborative eyewitness accounts, medical findings of injuries and seminal stains on the victim’s clothing, and the victim’s stated date of birth. T…

The State of Rajasthan appealed against a decree granting title to a plot of land to the deceased Harphool Singh on the basis of adverse possession. The plaintiff claimed continuous, open and hostile possession since 1955, supported only by oral statements and electricity/water bills, and later introduced a claim of hi…

The case concerned two parcels of land, Mela and Kizha Thattimal Padugai, which were originally granted as inams in 1862 and later merged into the village of Arayapuram Thattimal Padugai. The respondents sought a declaration that the lands formed a new inam estate covered by the Tamil Nadu Inam Estates (Abolition and C…

In a Sessions trial, the accused sought to summon the police case diary of a different investigation (Cr. No.81/91) to confront a witness (PW‑5) with his earlier statement recorded under Section 161, and also prayed to recall the witness. The Sessions Judge allowed the application, but the State of Kerala and the victi…

In Village Sakhni, Uttar Pradesh, a factional clash erupted during a funeral procession, resulting in the death of ten members of the prosecution party. The accused, led by Shamshul Kanwar, were found to have entered the scene armed and fired indiscriminately, constituting an unlawful assembly under Sections 302 and 14…

The Supreme Court examined the preventive detention of Jahaubar Moulana under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974. The detenu argued that the detaining authority had failed to furnish copies of documents mentioned in the grounds of detention, had delayed consideration o…

The case involved a massive spurious liquor tragedy in Kerala where 31 people died and many were injured after consuming liquor adulterated with methyl alcohol. The accused, a group of brothers and their associates, were charged under the Abkari Act, particularly Section 57A, for mixing or permitting the mixing of a no…

The case involved the murder of Kulwant Singh and Bidhi Shankar by a group of nine accused who formed an armed unlawful assembly to avenge a prior killing. The trial court convicted all accused under Sections 302 and related provisions, but the High Court acquitted several of them, holding that their participation was …

The appellants, a gang led by A‑1 (Shankar @ Gauri Shankar) and his associates A‑2 to A‑6, were convicted of six murders committed in a brutal, organised manner involving a brothel and illicit arrack business. The prosecution's case rested on the testimony of an approver (P.W.1) and the retracted judicial confessions o…

The appellant was convicted of kidnapping, rape, and murder of a minor based entirely on circumstantial evidence, a confession narrated by a police officer, and DNA/FSL reports. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of the 'last seen' testimony, the admissibility of the confession under Sections 24, 25 and 26 of t…

In 1997 a group of 30‑35 extremists set fire to houses in Jarulbachai village, Tripura, killing 15 people and injuring several others. Ashok (Achak) Debbarma was charged under IPC sections 326, 436 and 302 read with section 34 and under section 27(3) of the Arms Act; the latter charge was later set aside as unconstitut…

The appellant filed a suit for specific performance of a registered agreement to sell a one‑third share of a property, alleging that the respondent’s brother, acting under a power of attorney, had entered into the sale. The respondent denied ever executing a power of attorney authorising his brother to alienate the pro…

The appellant Jyoti Prakash Rai was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for killing a schoolmate on 12 May 2000. At the time of the offence the trial magistrate estimated his age to be about 17 years, but the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 came into force on 1 April 2001, raising the…

Moni Shankar, a booking supervisor with Central Railways, was caught in a decoy check and was found to have overcharged a passenger by Rs.5. A departmental proceeding found him guilty and imposed a penalty of reduction to the lowest pay scale; his appeal and revision were dismissed. He filed an application before the C…

The State of Karnataka appealed against the High Court's order setting aside the conviction of M.V. Mahesh and his father for the murder of Mahesh's wife, Beena. The trial court had relied on the recovery of Beena's bones, DNA identification, and the fact that she was last seen with the accused, along with the husband'…

The case concerned a suit for eviction of a tenant (Sheela et al.) by a partnership firm claiming to be the landlord of a shop premises under the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961. The tenant contested the eviction, arguing that the firm was not the owner and that his written statement merely sought proof …

The State of Maharashtra charged three men with attempting to smuggle 43 silver ingots out of India, violating the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, the Imports and Exports (Control) Act and the Customs Act. The accused, who were the driver of a jeep, the driver of a truck and a cleaner, argued that they were unaware of…

The appellants Rajesh Yadav and others were convicted for murder and for violating the Arms Act, with the High Court acquitting them of the attempt to murder charge under Section 307 IPC but confirming life imprisonment under Section 25 of the Arms Act. The Supreme Court examined whether the testimonies of related eye‑…

The 2009 Legislative Council election for Nizamabad saw a narrow result, leading the defeated candidate to file an election petition alleging wrongful rejection of three votes and wrongful acceptance of one vote. The appellant, who had been declared elected, filed a recrimination petition under Section 97 of the Repres…

The appellant, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was convicted for the murder of Praveen (the deceased) and for criminal conspiracy under IPC s.302 r.w. s.1208. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including DNA identification of the dismembered body parts, recovery of the weapon (a chopper) and a van at…

The Supreme Court considered the appeals of Narayan Ghosh and Sankar Adeya, accused of murder, criminal conspiracy and offences under the Arms Act in the killing of councilor Tapas Mitra at Puri. After being released on interim bail by the Calcutta High Court, they surrendered and applied for regular bail, which was re…

The owners of a commercial complex leased the premises to Goyal under a registered deed that expressly prohibited sub‑letting without the landlord’s written consent. Goyal subsequently allowed two occupants to occupy parts of the premises. The owners filed an eviction petition under Section 13(2)(ii)(a) of the East Pun…

The appellants, Sheikh Abdul Hamid and Ashiq Ali, were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for the murder of a woman, her daughter and infant son whose bodies were exhumed from a locked inner room of a dhaba where the accused lived. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence, including the lock…

Bheru Singh was convicted of murdering his wife and five children. He lodged a first information report (FIR) admitting motive and describing the killings, and later gave a judicial confession under Section 164 Cr.P.C., which he later retracted. The Supreme Court examined whether the FIR could be used as evidence despi…

The plaintiff sought recovery of a sum and, during trial, obtained court summons for the Income Tax Department to produce assessment records of the defendants for years 1964-65 to 1971-72. The Department produced the records in sealed covers, claiming privilege under the then‑applicable Section 137 of the Income Tax Ac…

The appellant, Darshan Singh, was convicted of murdering his wife, Amrik Kaur, under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, based on the prosecution's claim that he and his paramour Rani Kaur administered aluminium phosphide poison. The trial and High Courts relied primarily on circumstantial evidence, especially the testimon…

The appellant, Smriti Debbarma (representing the late Maharani Chandratara Devi), filed a suit seeking declaration of title and possession of the Schedule ‘A’ property (Khosh Mahal). The trial court decreed in her favour, but the Gauhati High Court set aside that decree, holding that she failed to prove legal ownership…

Vandana Tayade, a married woman, was allegedly burnt to death by her mother‑in‑law and two sisters‑in‑law after being harassed for being childless. The prosecution relied on four dying declarations made by the deceased, all implicating the mother‑in‑law and sisters‑in‑law, and on oral testimony of relatives and medical…

The case concerns the murder of Murari, for which Himanshu @ Chintu (A‑2) and Shesh Bahadur Pandey (A‑3) were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The appellants challenged the conviction on three grounds: (i) the FIR was lodged two hours after the incident, allegedly to falsely implicate them; …

The appellants were convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for assaulting the deceased with lathis, causing fatal head injuries. On appeal, the High Court, assisted by a Government Advocate, re‑examined the record ex parte and altered the conviction to culpable homicide not amounting to m…

The appellant, an Assistant Engineer of Southern Railway, was found with Rs.2,94,615 in cash during a CBI raid and was charged under Sections 5(1)(e) and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. He claimed the cash represented loans of Rs.2,50,000 from two mon…

The appellant, C. Chandramohan, derived ownership of three shops from his father’s release deed but did not inform the long‑standing tenants of this transfer. He later demanded higher rent and sought eviction for demolition, alleging wilful default in rent, denial of his title, and the need for reconstruction. The tena…

The Supreme Court examined the case of seven police constables and one additional constable (appellants) accused of beating five suspects in police custody, resulting in two deaths and injuries to three others. The prosecution presented ocular testimony, extensive medical evidence, and the testimony of a hostile witnes…

The Supreme Court examined the conviction of thirteen accused for gang rape under IPC s.376(2)(g) based largely on the victim's testimony, her mother's statements, and semen‑stained underwear. The Court found that the victim showed no physical injuries, her statements were inconsistent, and her character was questionab…

The appeal concerned the validity of a Will (Ext.83) and a Gift Deed (Ext.82) executed by the deceased Chathu in favour of his son K. Laxmanan. The appellant was required to prove the genuineness and execution of both documents under Sections 68 and 69 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Because one attesting witness to …

The appellant was convicted by the Kerala High Court for murder, hurt and criminal conspiracy based primarily on the testimony of a single injured eye‑witness, PW I, despite inconsistencies with medical evidence and other witnesses. The trial court had acquitted the appellant, finding the sole witness's evidence unreli…

The case concerned a dispute over whether a property in Kot Fatta, Bhatinda, was a Sikh Gurdwara and whether it belonged to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) or to Mahant Sarna Ram, an Udasi. The Tribunal had treated petitions under Sections 8 and 10 of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 as a composite filin…

The Supreme Court dismissed appeals by Sharma Transport and other tourist bus operators challenging the Andhra Pradesh Government's cancellation of a tax concession for tourist vehicles. The operators argued that the concession, granted based on a 1993 letter from the Union Government, could not be withdrawn and that t…

The case concerns a review of the death sentence awarded to Mohd. Arif alias Ashfaq for the 2000 Lal Quila firing that killed three army jawans. The petitioner challenged the conviction on four grounds: the admissibility of call data records (CDRs) without a Section 65B certificate, the validity of his disclosure state…

The appellants Rajesh alias Sarkari and Ajay Hooda were convicted for murder under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 based on the testimony of the victim's father (PW‑4) and brother (PW‑5) who claimed to have witnessed the shooting and taken the victim to the hospital. The Supreme Court examined inconsistencies in their statements, n…

The deceased Siva executed a will bequeathing his property to his step‑brother's children, excluding the plaintiffs who were children of his real sister. The plaintiffs sued for a declaration and possession, claiming they were the rightful heirs. The trial court held the will proved and dismissed the suit. The lower ap…

The appellant, Deelp Singh, was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping a girl, based on the prosecution's claim that she was under 16 and that the sexual intercourse was against her will or without consent, allegedly induced by a false promise to marry. The Supreme Court examined the age of the victim, finding the …

The plaintiff filed a suit to recover possession of premises, alleging that the defendant had taken wrongful and forcible possession. The defendant claimed he was a tenant and produced rent receipts bearing the thumb impressions of the deceased landlady and the plaintiff's signature on the back. The plaintiff admitted …

Hope Plantations Ltd., which owned a large tea estate, claimed exemption from the ceiling area under the Kerala Land Reforms Act for land classified as fuel area, rested tea area, roads and buildings, and other agricultural land interspersed. The Taluk Land Board initially disallowed the fuel and rested tea claims, but…

Balwant Kaur was convicted for the murder of her husband, Pritam Singh, based primarily on the testimony of co‑accused Ram Sarup, who turned approver. The prosecution alleged that Kaur conspired with Nand Singh and Sarup to murder her husband and that she had urged them to do so. The Supreme Court examined whether the …

The case involved the gruesome murder of a two‑year‑old boy, Chirag, whose body was discovered in two parts inside the house of the main accused, Ishwari Lal Yadav and Kiran Bai, who claimed to be tantriks. The accused confessed to killing the child as a human sacrifice, and the confession was corroborated by independe…

The appellants, self‑styled "tantriks", were accused of kidnapping and murdering two children – a six‑year‑old girl (Ku. Manisha) and a boy (Chirag Rajput) – for human‑sacrifice rituals. The prosecution relied on skeletal remains, DNA/FSL reports, identification of clothing by the parents, and confessional statements m…

The appellant was found with a two‑year‑old girl under his bed after the child went missing; medical, eye‑witness, circumstantial and Y‑STR DNA evidence established that he kidnapped, raped (vaginal and unnatural intercourse) and murdered the child. The trial court and High Court convicted him under IPC sections 302, 3…

The appellants, Syeda Rahimunnisa and Syed Hyder Hussaini, sued the respondents (legal heirs of Haji Mian) for eviction and damages, asserting a landlord‑tenant relationship. The respondents counter‑claimed title to the land by adverse possession and filed three related suits. The trial court and the first appellate co…

The appellant, Jose @ Pappachan, was convicted under IPC s.302 for the death of his wife, Neena, alleged to be a homicide by strangulation and hanging, while also being acquitted of IPC s.498A. The prosecution relied on circumstantial testimony of three witnesses and a post‑mortem report that was inconclusive about hom…

Rajesh Mahatha was arrested for offences under Sections 304B and 306 of the IPC and claimed to be a juvenile, seeking protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. The Juvenile Justice Board, after obtaining a medical board opinion that his age was between 17‑18 years and noting a v…

The appellant, Sekar, and others untied a sheep that the deceased, Palaniswamy, had impounded, leading to a heated exchange. Sekar struck the deceased, who fell, and then delivered a further blow to the neck that caused his death. Sekar pleaded that the blows were in exercise of his right of private defence. The trial …

The Supreme Court examined appeals by several accused convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for murder and related offences. Their convictions were based primarily on confessional statements recorded by a Superintendent of Police under Section 15 of TADA, but the officer failed…

The respondent, a Chief Vigilance Inspector, applied for promotion to Assistant Engineer and failed the viva voce interview. He alleged that the Selection Committee was biased because its chairman was allegedly related to a person he had investigated in his vigilance role, and that the committee’s secretary influenced …

The appellants were convicted under IPC sections 302 and 201 for the murder of Deosharan, a notorious villager, based primarily on the testimony of four eye‑witnesses who claimed to have heard a disturbance and seen the assault. During cross‑examination the witnesses admitted they did not actually see the assault, and …

The dispute concerned the succession to the suit‑schedule property of the deceased parents, C.R. Pius and Philomina Pius, who had executed a joint will bequeathing the property to the appellant C.P. Francis. The respondents, other children of the deceased, challenged the will on the grounds of lack of testamentary capa…

The appellant husband and his mother-in-law were convicted under Sections 498A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC for the suicide of their wife within eight months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the husband repeatedly demanded Rs.25,000 from the deceased's father, and upon failure, subjected h…

The appellant, M/s Geo Miller & Co., sought appointment of an arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for three water‑treatment contracts dated 1979‑1985, alleging non‑payment by the respondent. The respondent contended that the cause of action arose when the final bills were presen…

Harjit Kaur, a married woman, died on 6 April 1990 after alleged dowry harassment by her husband and father‑in‑law (the appellant). The prosecution charged both accused under IPC sections 498A (cruelty) and 3048 (dowry death). While the Sessions Court convicted them under both sections and the High Court reduced the 30…

The case arose from a violent incident in which the deceased, Laiq Ram, fired a gun at the accused Durga Nand while trying to rescue his son, after which the accused seized the gun and inflicted fatal injuries on the deceased. The appellants Dharminder and Durga Nand were convicted under Sections 302/34, 307/34 and 323…

The case arose from a bomb blast in Bow Bazar, Calcutta, which demolished a building, killed 69 people and injured many others. The prosecution alleged that the accused conspired to manufacture and explode bombs to terrorise the public and disrupt communal harmony, charging them under Sections 1208, 302, 307, 326, 436 …

The accused Bodh Raj and others were charged with murder of a moneylender under IPC sections 302 and 120B, alleging a conspiracy motivated by a large loan. The trial court convicted three of the accused and acquitted six, while the Jammu & Kashmir High Court set aside the acquittals of four and convicted them as well. …

The Bar Council of India challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 22‑A to 22‑E of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (as inserted by the 2002 Amendment), arguing that they were arbitrary, violated Articles 14 and 21, denied a right of appeal and encroached on the jurisdiction of special statutes. The Su…

Vijay Kumar, the father of Ruchi Saxena, filed a complaint alleging that officials of the Nagar Palika demanded a bribe to settle a land dispute. Two officials were arrested and tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The accused sought to summon Ruchi Saxena as a court witness under Section 311 of the Code…

The appellant, Bhabani Prasad Jena, filed a petition under the Special Marriage Act seeking a declaration of nullity of his marriage and claimed the marriage was unconsummated. While the matrimonial suit was pending, the wife filed a complaint before the Orissa State Commission for Women alleging torture, desertion and…

The plaintiff sued Kapil Corepacks Pvt Ltd and others for recovery, alleging that the defendants had executed a sale agreement that was later claimed to be a forged document. The defendants filed a criminal complaint alleging forgery and denied signing the agreement. The trial court examined the managing director under…

Amar Singh was convicted under Sections 498A and 3048 IPC for the dowry death of his wife, who died in a fire within ten months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the husband had repeatedly taunted the wife for not providing a scooter or Rs.25,000, establishing harassment in connection with a dowry demand shortly…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court’s acquittal of Krishna Master and two others for the homicide of six persons. The trial court had convicted them under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and imposed death sentences, which the High Court set aside. The Supreme Court examined the reliabili…

The appellants filed a partition suit claiming title to a half of a property based on a will executed by Masane Gowder in favour of two sisters. The respondents contested the will, arguing that the property was joint family property and that the will was not properly attested. The trial court held the will unproved; th…

The case arises from the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her security guards Beant Singh and Satwant Singh. The trial was held in Tihar Jail pursuant to a High Court notification. The Supreme Court considered whether the trial in jail violated the right to open public trial, whethe…

Mange Ram, the petitioner, challenged the election of Brij Mohan to the Haryana Legislative Assembly by filing an election petition under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. During the trial he sought to examine a large number of witnesses he had kept present in court, but whose names were not included in the l…

The appellant, a police guard, was convicted of murder and attempted murder for shooting a man inside a Delhi police station, motivated by the victim's alleged affair with the appellant's wife. The prosecution presented multiple eye‑witnesses, forensic evidence of close‑range gunshots, and a post‑mortem report showing …

The appellants filed an eviction petition under Section 13 of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, claiming personal necessity for premises they alleged they owned and had leased to the respondents. During the trial the respondents sought to amend their written statement to deny the appellants' ownership, assert…

The Supreme Court examined the death of Raj Banshi Devi, who died from burn injuries in her matrimonial house within two years of marriage. The prosecution alleged dowry demands, physical and mental cruelty, and that the deceased was assaulted, tied with iron wire and set alight, invoking Section 3048 of the IPC. Altho…

Santosh Kumar Singh, a 26‑year‑old tutor, entered the home of his employers, assaulted the mother, son and daughters with an iron hammer, and looted jewellery and cash, resulting in the deaths of the mother and son. He was convicted under IPC sections 302, 307, 394, 397 and 450 and sentenced to death, with additional l…

The State of Himachal Pradesh prosecuted Jai Chand and two others for the murder of his wife under Sections 302, 34 and 498‑A IPC. The trial court convicted Jai Chand, but the Himachal Pradesh High Court acquitted him, rejecting the post‑mortem doctor’s testimony and other material witnesses. On appeal, the Supreme Cou…

Rajinder Singh and co‑accused were convicted under Sections 304‑B, 498‑A and 201/34 IPC for the death of the bride, Santosh Kaur, within nine months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the death occurred otherwise than under normal circumstances, that the bride had been subjected to dowry‑related harassment shortl…

The appellant, Ranjit Singh, was convicted for the dowry death of his wife Jaswinder Kaur, who was found dead within four months of marriage. The prosecution proved that the deceased had been subjected to repeated harassment and demands for dowry, including a Maruti car, by the appellant and his in‑laws, leading to her…

The appellant, Anil Kumar, was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for dowry harassment (Sec. 498-A IPC) and dowry death (Sec. 304-B IPC) based on the suicide of his wife, Meena Kumari, in their matrimonial home. The trial court had acquitted all accused, finding contradictions in witness statements and noting that t…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of petitions challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Examination Byelaws, particularly their restrictions on correcting or changing names and dates of birth in certificates. It held that the Byelaws, framed by a body that functions as a State instrumentality, have …

The petitioners, former Assistant Engineers of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, claimed that the corporation violated court orders by re‑engaging them without continuity of service and back wages, and later by terminating them without a prior hearing. The Supreme Court examined two sets of contempt petitions: one concerning th…

The case concerns the abduction, extortion and murder of former MLA M.K. Balan, whose body was cremated under a fictitious name. The prosecution relied on extensive circumstantial evidence, the testimony of two accomplices (PW10 and PW11), recoveries of vehicles, a false death certificate, and statements recorded under…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Satish Shetty, convicted under IPC sections 498A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) for the death of his wife, who had left a ten‑month‑old son and was twenty weeks pregnant. The High Court had set aside the trial court’s acquittal, invoking the presumption under Evidence A…

The appellant entered into an agreement to sell 16 kanals of land with respondent No.3, paid earnest money and later obtained a temporary injunction against alienation of the property on 28 July 2003. On the same day respondent No.3 executed a release deed in favour of his son (respondent No.4), who subsequently sold t…

The appellant was convicted of murdering his wife inside their home, where their five‑year‑old daughter also lived. The prosecution relied on forensic evidence, the appellant's blood‑stained clothes, and his conduct in leading police to the weapon, while the defence claimed unknown intruders were responsible. The key l…

The appellants were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for the murder of Sahabuddin Choudhury. They challenged the convictions on the ground that the prosecution witnesses' statements contained material omissions and contradictions, and that the "last seen together" theory and motive were not …

The appellant Ganesan challenged the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board Commissioner's order condoning a 266‑day delay in filing an appeal under Section 69 of the Hindu Religious Endowment Charitable Act, 1959. The central issue was whether the Commissioner, a statutory authority, is a "court" f…

The Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) challenged the constitutional validity of sections 23(1) and 23(2) of the Pre‑conception and Pre‑natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, arguing that the provisions presumed guilt and violated Articles 14, 19(1)(g) a…

The respondents filed a suit claiming title to ancestral land based on a will dated 24‑10‑1943 executed by the testatrix, Smt. Nagammanni, and registered the next day. The trial court and the first appellate court dismissed the suit, holding that the will was not proved because it did not satisfy Section 63(c) of the S…

Dayal Singh was convicted under Sections 498A and 302 IPC for cruelty and murder of his wife, Tejinder Kaur, based primarily on her dying declaration recorded by a police head constable in the presence of a doctor. The appellant challenged the admissibility of the declaration, arguing it was not recorded by a magistrat…

Sahebrao and Bhausaheb, husband and brother-in-law of Sangita, repeatedly demanded additional dowry (Rs 10,000 and a tape recorder) after her marriage, subjecting her to mental and physical cruelty. Within four months of marriage Sangita complained of harassment, was beaten, and eventually committed suicide. Her father…

In 1989 an eight‑year‑old girl was allegedly raped by 18‑year‑old Om Prakash in a Rajasthan village. The victim, her parents and a doctor testified; the FIR was lodged about 26 hours later due to lack of transport. The trial court convicted Om Prakash under Section 376 IPC and sentenced him to seven years’ rigorous imp…

The State of Haryana appealed against the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s acquittal of five of eight accused in a murder case involving Tek Singh and Gurdev Singh. The Sessions Court had convicted all eight under Sections 148, 149, 302 and 449 IPC based on eye‑witness testimony, medical reports and circumstantial evidenc…

Nanak Chand, a displaced person from West Pakistan, disappeared in December 1954. His brother Dewan Chand claimed that Nanak Chand had died and produced a death certificate issued by respectable persons of the place where the family had resided. The Additional Settlement Commissioner, relying on that certificate, subst…

The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) conducted a 2016 recruitment for assistant teachers and non‑teaching staff that was later found to involve massive irregularities, including rank‑jumping, out‑of‑panel appointments, manipulation of OMR scores, destruction of original answer sheets and illegal subcontrac…

The case concerned a dispute over who should serve as Chief Mutawalli of Hamdard Laboratories (India) after the death of the previous Chief Mutawalli, Abdul Mueed. The appellant, Hammad Ahmed, claimed that the senior-most male descendant of the Wakif Mutawalli, as stipulated in the 1948 Deed as amended in 1973, was ent…

The Supreme Court considered the use of videography at crime scenes as a tool to improve criminal investigations. Submissions highlighted international practice, the benefits of body‑worn cameras, and the need for safeguards under evidentiary law. The Court examined prior judgments on electronic evidence and the admiss…

The appellant, Babubhai Bhimabhai Bokhiria, was summoned as an accused under Section 319 of the CrPC after the trial court relied on a letter written by the deceased a year earlier, in which the deceased alleged the appellant intended to kill him. The Supreme Court examined whether the letter qualified as a dying decla…

The deceased, a farm worker, disappeared after leaving for work and his body was later found drowned in a river. The accused, George, was found in possession of the deceased's watch and two gold rings, which he had pledged to others shortly after the disappearance. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, inc…

The State of Gujarat appealed a trial court order that barred the use of confessional statements recorded under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA) in separate bomb‑blast cases. The Supreme Court held that a confession made to a police officer of at least Superintendent r…

The case concerned the alleged conspiracy by senior officials of the Jammu & Kashmir Power Department to award transport contracts for bamboo poles at inflated per‑kilometre‑per‑pole rates, causing wrongful loss to the State. The prosecution proved that the officials deliberately selected non‑transport firms, fixed unr…

The deceased wife was attacked by her husband, who beat her, poured kerosine on her and set her on fire. She gave two dying declarations, one to an Executive Magistrate on the day of the incident and another to a Sub‑Inspector the following day, both describing the accused's actions. At trial, the Sessions Court convic…

Three appellants were arrested in Gujarat and, after a police search, charas was seized from them. They were convicted under Section 20 of the NDPS Act and Sections 65 and 66 of the Bombay Prohibition Act. The appellants argued that the police had not informed them of their right, under Section 50 of the NDPS Act, to b…

The case involved the murder of Hanumant Singh, allegedly over a dispute concerning gold ornaments, with Mahesh Chander and Mohinder Singh convicted on the basis of eye‑witness testimony. The appellants challenged the conviction, arguing that the FIR was delayed, the names of the accused were omitted, and the refusal t…

The appellants, P.C. Dalui and others, held a lease dated 26 September 1946 for an initial ten‑year term with contractual options to extend the lease for two further five‑year periods and a final one‑year period upon payment of enhanced rent. They exercised the two five‑year extensions but did not take the one‑year ext…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 120B, 468 and 471 of the IPC for allegedly preparing a postal cover that transmitted a forged marksheet. The prosecution’s case hinged on the testimony of a handwriting expert who claimed the cover bore the appellant’s handwriting, but the original postal cover was never produ…

The appellant Premchand was convicted by the trial court of murder (s.302 IPC) and attempted murder (s.307 IPC) based on oral testimony of prosecution witnesses, while his written statement under s.313(5) CrPC was not considered. The High Court affirmed the conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Court observed that the tri…

The appellant was accused of murdering his wife, with the prosecution relying primarily on an extra‑judicial confession he allegedly made to three witnesses and on recovered blood‑stained clothes and a knife. The trial court found the witnesses' testimonies contradictory, disbelieved the confession, and rejected the ph…

The appellants sought registration and mutation of a will dated 3 May 1998, which was contested by the testatrix's heir in both civil and criminal proceedings alleging forgery. While the criminal case (IPC 420, 468, 444, 34) was instituted before the probate suit under the Indian Succession Act, the appellants applied …

The Supreme Court was asked to resolve a conflict between two earlier decisions on whether the Special Tribunal or Special Court created under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 could decide questions of adverse possession. The Court examined the provisions of the Act, its non‑obstante clause, and…

Vinay D. Nagar was convicted for the murder of Kalu, a chowkidar who had been a prime witness in an abduction case against Nagar. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence and on Kalu's statement recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC to establish motive. The Supreme Court examined whether that statement could …

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of Subramani and another against their conviction for murder under Section 302 IPC. The appellants claimed they acted in private defence while protecting themselves and their property during a violent altercation that resulted in the death of Vadivel. The Court reiterated that the …

The appellant, Ramu Appa Mahapatar, was convicted for the murder of his live-in partner Manda based primarily on an extra‑judicial confession he allegedly made to the landlord (PW‑1) and the deceased's brother (PW‑3), which was later endorsed by PW‑4 and PW‑6. The Supreme Court examined whether such a confession, coupl…

The respondent, an Assistant Engineer of the Airports Authority of India, was arrested and convicted for demanding illegal gratification, leading to his dismissal from service. After being acquitted on benefit of doubt in a criminal appeal, he sought reinstatement, but the Authority initiated fresh disciplinary proceed…

Balbir Kaur, a married woman, was found dead from poisoning. The prosecution alleged that her husband and parents-in-law demanded dowry and subjected her to cruelty, leading to her suicide. The trial court convicted the parents-in-law under Section 3048 (dowry death); the High Court acquitted them of that charge but co…

Arup Bhuyan was convicted under Section 3(5) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for alleged membership in the banned outfit ULFA, based solely on a confession he allegedly gave to the Superintendent of Police. The Supreme Court examined whether such a confession, inadmissible under Secti…

The case arose from a criminal complaint alleging that the deceased Priyamvada Devi Birla (PDB) and her husband Madhav Prasad Birla (MPB) had created five mutual trusts intended for charitable institutions, which were later allegedly revoked and the assets misappropriated through a forged will in favour of R.S. Lodha. …

The appellant was found with 200 gold biscuits concealed in his house and gave a written confession to Customs officers under Section 108 of the Customs Act, which he later retracted. The issue before the Supreme Court was whether such a statement, recorded before the appellant became an accused, was admissible under S…

The appellant, a Sub‑Registrar, was convicted under Section 161 IPC and Section 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 for allegedly receiving Rs 60 as illegal gratification for issuing certified copies of sale deeds. The prosecution set up a trap and caught him taking the money, but the appel…

The appellants, Neeraj Sharma and Ashwani Kumar Yadav, abducted an 18‑year‑old student, attempted to murder him by strangulation and burning, and stole his money and phone. The trial court and High Court convicted them under Sections 307/120B, 364‑A, and 392/397 of the IPC, imposing life imprisonment for the 364‑A char…

The plaintiffs filed a suit seeking a declaration that a 2011 sale deed was void, claiming ownership of a parcel of land based on an alleged oral partition among four brothers and a will executed by one brother. The trial court and the subordinate appellate court dismissed the suit, finding that the oral partition was …

The appellant, Perumal Raja, was detained during an investigation into a separate murder and gave a disclosure statement that led police to recover the body parts of his cousin, Rajini, and other stolen items. The key issue was whether the appellant was "in custody" for the purposes of Section 27 of the Evidence Act de…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of three accused (Nalini, Kishore Bhadke and Satish) convicted of murder, abduction and related offences arising from a land‑transaction dispute that led to the killing of Raman. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence – motive established by the land deal, the victim’s l…

The appellant, a husband, was charged with cruelty, dowry harassment and abetment of suicide after his wife, Girija, died by consuming poison in their matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the Karnataka High Court convicted the husband under Sections 498A and 306, r…

The appellant Suryanarayana was convicted under IPC Section 302 for the murder of Saroja, based primarily on the testimony of a four‑year‑old child witness, Bhavya, who identified the appellant as the assailant. The appellant appealed, arguing that a conviction cannot rest on the sole testimony of a child and pointing …

The respondent, a defeated candidate, filed an election petition challenging the election of the appellant to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on grounds of corrupt practices under Sections 123(2), (4) and (7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Calcutta High Court found several persons guilty of suc…

The appellants (husband, father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law) were convicted under Section 304B IPC for dowry death based on a claim that the deceased was poisoned after demanding Rs 10 lakhs. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution proved the essential ingredients of a dowry death – marriage within seven years,…

The case involved the suicide of Surjit Kaur and her two daughters, who died after ingesting aluminium phosphide. A suicide note blamed the appellant Gurcharan Singh, his wife Ajit Kaur and a co‑accused for depriving the victims of their share in family property and subjecting them to harassment. The trial court and th…

The appellants, husband and parents‑in‑law of a married woman who died by self‑immolation, were tried for offences under Sections 3048 and 498A of the IPC. The trial court acquitted them of the dowry‑death charge under Section 3048 but convicted them under Section 498A for cruelty that allegedly drove the woman to suic…

Novartis India Ltd. transferred three senior sales representatives to distant locations; they refused to report, filed representations and civil suits, and were terminated without a domestic inquiry. The workmen raised an industrial dispute; the Industrial Tribunal held the termination illegal, denied reinstatement bec…

On 8 August 1997, a quarrel between the accused Babulal Bhagwan Khandare, Nandulal and others and three deceased persons (Shivaji, Madhukar and Ramesh) escalated into a violent assault with knives and a rapier, resulting in the deaths of the three victims. The accused pleaded that they acted in private defence and that…

The appellant, C.K. Raveendran, was married to Yashoda who later went missing and her body was discovered in a ravine. The prosecution alleged that Raveendran killed her, relying on circumstantial evidence such as sightings of the couple together in a jeep, the recovery of Yashoda’s wrist‑watch from Raveendran, and an …

P. Muniappan, an assistant professor, was charged with murdering his wife Nagammal after she was found hanging in their kitchen with burn injuries and signs of struggle. The prosecution relied on extensive circumstantial evidence—Muniappan's motive to obtain a divorce and a second marriage, his exclusive presence in th…

The State of Maharashtra filed a criminal appeal against the quashing of FIR No.185/2019 and the charge‑sheet against Dr. Maroti, a medical practitioner, who was alleged to have failed to report sexual assaults on minor tribal girls in a hostel as required under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) A…

The case involved twelve accused members of an ashram who were charged with murdering a woman, Leelavathi, who was a trustee of the ashram. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the fact that the accused were last seen with the deceased, distress cries heard by a neighbor, commotion in the ashram…

The State prosecuted Bharat Fakira Dhivar for the murder and rape of a three‑year‑old girl, Nisha, relying on the testimony of two child witnesses who saw the accused carrying a blood‑stained bag, and on forensic evidence linking the accused to the crime. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302, 376 an…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Lekh Raj and Diwan Chand for the alleged rape of a 55‑year‑old widow. The prosecution relied on the victim's testimony, her injuries, and forensic evidence of blood and semen on her torn salwar. The High Court had set aside the conviction on the grounds that the i…

In a suit for possession filed by the rival reversioners, the appellants, who were the landlords, were defendants. The respondents had remained in possession for over twelve years, thereby acquiring title by adverse possession, and the appellants had also entered into a tenancy agreement with them, which under Section …

The State of Haryana prosecuted Manoj Kumar for the death of Chetan, alleging that Kumar repeatedly pursued the brothers on a motorcycle and deliberately ran Chetan over with his car, causing fatal injuries. The sole eye‑witness, Rohan, the victim’s brother, testified to the entire sequence of events, and his testimony…

The appellant Rajan was convicted for murder under Sections 302/34 of the IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act based primarily on the ocular testimony of two eyewitnesses, despite the alleged firearm not being recovered. He appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the High Court’s delay of two years and five m…

The appeal arose from a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement dated 2 September 1967 concerning immovable property. The agreement was written on a quarter‑sheet of paper and was produced in a criminal proceeding, leading the High Court to decree specific performance in favour of the plaintiffs. The Supreme …

The appellant, a non‑resident Indian (NRI), let a shop to the respondent tenant and later returned to India, seeking eviction under Section 13‑B of the East Punjab Urban Land Restriction Act, 1949, on the ground of personal use. The Rent Controller and the High Court dismissed the petition, holding that the landlord ha…

The appellant applied for a self‑financing flat under a Delhi Development Authority scheme, paid the first four instalments and was allotted a flat. The DOA issued a show‑cause notice for non‑payment of the fifth instalment and claimed that a demand letter dated 11‑Sept‑1996 had been served, invoking the statutory pres…

Parmananda Pegu and his co‑accused Jitu Pegu were convicted and sentenced to death for kidnapping and murdering two minor boys under Sections 302 and 365 IPC. The conviction was based largely on an extra‑judicial confession recorded during a crime‑scene recreation, a judicial confession under Section 164 that was later…

Ten persons attacked a bullock‑cart carrying the complainant party; one victim, Bhura, died and another, Badri, was injured. Five of the accused (the appellants) were convicted by the trial court and the High Court under Section 302 (murder) and Section 148 IPC. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the appella…

The appellant, Gyanchand Jain, was convicted under Sections 302 and 309 of the IPC for murdering his wife and attempting suicide. The prosecution relied on a handwritten letter found at the scene, which detailed his intention to kill his wife and then end his own life, and on a hand‑writing expert’s comparison of the l…

Wazir Khan was charged under Sections 302 and 201 IPC for the murder of his wife, Bushra, whose body bore 17 incised wounds. The trial court acquitted him, finding the prosecution had not proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt, but the Uttarakhand High Court reversed the acquittal, holding that Khan's failure to explain …

The appellant, Dauvaram Nirmalkar, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for killing his brother Dashrath Nirmalkar. The trial court and High Court found him the sole perpetrator based on eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence, and his own confession, which was held inadmissible under Section 25 of the Evidenc…

The case concerned the intestate estate of Meeralava Rawther, a Muslim who had executed deeds of relinquishment with five of his children (excluding his youngest son, Hassan) in exchange for consideration. After his death, Hassan claimed an oral gift of the entire property, while the other children and the petitioners …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity and practical effect of numerous amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) made by the 1999 and 2002 Amendment Acts. It held that the requirement of filing an affidavit under Section 26(2) and Order VI Rule 15(4) imposes additional responsibility on deponents…

The appellant Vikas, his parents and sisters were charged with dowry harassment, torture and murder of Vikas's wife Neeta. The prosecution alleged that Neeta was taken from a relative's house on a motorbike, later found dead in a river, and that ornaments worn by her were recovered from Vikas's almirah. The trial court…

The Supreme Court examined an election petition challenging the election of B.M. Singhvi from the Jodhpur City Assembly constituency. The petition alleged that three candidates – Umrao Ben, Hukmi Chand and Suraj Prakash Joshi – were improperly rejected, contending that Ben’s nomination should have been accepted despite…

The case concerned a partition of ancestral Hindu Mitakshara property of Gopalji Prasad among his sons, after which the share allotted to defendant No.2 was claimed to be ancestral for his sons and grandson. The plaintiffs sought to set aside an exchange deed executed between defendant No.1 and No.2, arguing that it in…

Devidas Loka Rathod was convicted under Sections 302 and 324 IPC for assaulting several persons with a sickle, resulting in one death. He pleaded unsound mind, asserting that a pre‑existing psychotic disorder rendered him incapable of understanding his acts. The trial and appellate courts rejected this defence, relying…

The appellant, Sonvir, was convicted along with two others for a double murder under Sections 302, 392 and 34 of the IPC based largely on circumstantial evidence such as recovered jewellery, a blood‑stained knife, a blood‑stained shirt, a Maruti van, and fingerprint matches. The appellant challenged the admissibility o…

The appellant, Pradeep Kumar, was convicted under Sections 304‑B (dowry death) and 498‑A (cruelty) of the IPC for the death of his wife Manju, who died from burns nine months after marriage. The prosecution relied on her dying declaration, which contained an initial statement of accident that was later found to be tuto…

The appellant, Davinder Singh, was married to Amarjit Kaur who died within seven months of marriage from severe burns. Prior to her death, she had telephonically complained of harassment and dowry demands by her husband and in‑laws, a fact corroborated by her brother and maternal uncle who witnessed the incident. The p…

The appellants were convicted for murder and related offences after an incident in which they allegedly entered the deceased's house and fired indiscriminately, killing Zahiruddin and injuring two others. The prosecution relied on the deceased's statement recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC (Ext.Ka‑9) as a dying dec…

A family of five members disputed the ownership of three houses. The mother, two sons and a daughter filed a partition suit against the eldest son, claiming a 4/5 share in the properties. The trial court, relying on the mother’s testimony and a letter (Ex.A‑17) written by the eldest son, held that all three houses were…

The appellants were charged under Sections 498A, 304B, 406 and 34 IPC for the death of Ms Chandni, the wife of Jasvinder Saini. The trial court initially framed charges under 498A, 304B and 34, but after the Supreme Court’s direction in Rajbir v. State of Haryana to add Section 302 IPC in dowry‑death cases, it mechanic…

Makhan Singh was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 201 for the murder of his father Banta Singh and grandson Seva Singh, based on alleged motive over land, a claim that he was the last person seen with the victims, an extra‑judicial confession to Amrik Singh, a statement under Evidence Act s.27 that led to the disco…

Uttam was convicted under s.302 IPC for allegedly murdering his wife Pushpabai by pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze. The conviction rested on two written dying declarations recorded by a Special Executive Magistrate and an Investigating Officer, and two oral dying declarations given to the victim's father …

Sheikh Zakir was convicted under Section 376 of the IPC for raping Barki Devi, a married tribal woman. The prosecution's case rested on the victim's testimony, corroborated by her husband and two eyewitnesses who saw the appellant on the victim's body and fleeing the scene. The defence argued that the lack of a medical…

The State of Uttar Pradesh alleged that Sunil, along with his brother‑in‑law Suresh Pal Singh, murdered the complainant's father, mother and two sisters. A confessional statement by the deceased brother‑in‑law led to the recovery of a knife and blood‑stained clothing, but the prosecution could not directly link Sunil t…

In 1997 a police party, led by ACP Satyavir Singh Rathi, mistakenly identified two civilians as a notorious criminal and opened fire on their car, killing both occupants and grievously injuring a third. The father of one victim filed a complaint, leading to a CBI investigation and the conviction of ten police officials…

In December 1992, during communal riots triggered by the demolition of the Babri Masjid, an armed mob entered the house of Taheruddin, killing his wife and two young daughters and injuring several family members. The trial court convicted eight accused under IPC sections 302, 134 and 448, but the High Court upheld conv…

The respondent was engaged on an ad‑hoc basis as a Junior Technician for successive 89‑day periods from 1990 to 1992, each appointment ending with a one‑ or two‑day gap before the next. She was terminated on 7 August 1992 and later raised an industrial dispute. The Labour Court ordered her reinstatement with back wages…

The plaintiff filed a suit seeking a declaration that a sale deed dated 26‑03‑1991 was forged and therefore void. The defendant denied the allegation. The trial court, on the plaintiff's application, reframed the issue to question the validity of the deed, and the High Court upheld this reframing, holding that the defe…

The petitioner, Chuharmal, filed an income‑tax return for AY 1974‑75 showing a total income of Rs 3,113. During a customs search in May 1973, 565 foreign watches valued at Rs 87,455 were seized from his bedroom. The Income‑Tax Officer issued notices under s.69A of the Income Tax Act to treat the value of the watches as…

Sawai Singh, a Superintendent in the Rajasthan Government, was removed from service after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of favouring a candidate, manipulating a dummy candidate's withdrawal, and forging a nomination paper by erasing the word "panch". The inquiry relied on vague charges and the testimony of a …

The appellant, Shankar, was convicted for brutally beating his wife, Sugna Bai, pouring kerosene on her and setting her on fire, resulting in her death. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC and a year under Section 342 IPC, relying heavily on the victim's dying declaration. On appeal…

The appellants were charged with murder and related offences under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC for the death of Mahesh Sahu, allegedly due to a love‑relation dispute. The trial court acquitted them, finding that the prosecution's circumstantial evidence was unreliable, witnesses were inconsistent, and the chain…

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought to deny bail to Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, accused No.10 in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and several IPC offences, alleging he was a key fund‑raiser for terrorist activities. The Delhi High Court granted bail, holding that the charge‑sh…

The Supreme Court examined the death of Rachhpal Kaur, who died of aluminium phosphide poisoning within seven years of her marriage while staying at her in‑laws' house. The deceased had repeatedly complained of harassment and cruelty by her husband Kulwant Singh and his parents for allegedly insufficient dowry, includi…

The appellant Mano was convicted, along with three others, for the murder of Pasupathy under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The prosecution case relied on the testimony of two brothers of the deceased and on weapons recovered after the incident, though the weapons were not subjected to forensic analysis. …

The father of the plaintiff entered into an agency‑cum‑licence deed with the defendant for the use of a shop as a showroom, with commission payable on tailoring and material sales. Possession of the shop remained with the plaintiffs, but the defendant later occupied it, stopped paying commission and destroyed evidence …

The Bihar State Co‑operative Marketing Union (BISCOMAUN) was placed under administration by the State Government, after which its administrator, R.K. Singh, reported alleged financial irregularities involving former Managing Director P.P. Sharma, advisor G.D. Mishra and Chairman Tapeshwar Singh in the purchase of sub‑s…

Umesh Chandra was charged under sections 364 and 302 IPC for an offence committed on 12 March 1973. He claimed to be a child (under 16) at the time and sought trial under the Rajasthan Children Act, 1970, which mandates that delinquent children be tried in a Children’s Court. The High Court held the Act inapplicable be…

The appellant, Shivaji Chintappa Patil, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for the death of his wife, who the prosecution alleged was killed after being abused for not obtaining money from her mother. The case hinged on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's alleged motive, the lack of a detailed…

The case concerned the murder of Ratti Ram, for which Satish Kumar and Rajeev Kumar were convicted under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 and under Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. The trial court acquitted the accused, holding that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, particularly because the dead body …

The case concerned a gruesome family murder motivated by a land dispute, for which Suresh (A‑1) and his brother‑in‑law Ramji (A‑2) were convicted of murder and sentenced to death, while their wife Pavitri Devi (A‑3) was acquitted. The State appealed the acquittal, arguing that A‑3’s presence at the scene amounted to pa…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) relied on two spiral notebooks and related documents recovered from J.K. Jain's premises to charge politicians V.C. Shukla and L.K. Advani, alleging they received bribes through a hawala scheme. The Supreme Court examined whether the notebooks qualified as "books of account" un…

The plaintiff, K.M. Krishnah, sued Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for a permanent injunction over 2.29 acres of land. The trial court dismissed the suit for lack of title and possession; the plaintiff later amended the suit to seek possession after being dispossessed on 30 August 1969, filing the amendment on 25 …

The case concerns the murder of Tarkeshwar Prasad Singh on 13 January 1983, when accused Prem Kumar (Accused No.1) and Ramesh Singh (Accused No.2) entered a bus and fired rifles at the victim, killing him instantly. The trial court convicted the two accused under Section 302 IPC and also under Section 307 IPC; the High…

The respondent, Durga Devi, owned an 11‑biswas land parcel in Kullu and sued the appellant, Baini Prasad, for possession and demolition of a verandah he had constructed on that land in 1986, claiming he believed it to be his own. The trial court ordered demolition and restoration of possession to the respondent; the Fi…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the 2012 elections to the Akola Municipal Corporation where a post‑poll group (aghadi) called Mahanagar Sudhar Samiti was formed by elected councillors. The group applied for registration under the second proviso of Section 31A(2) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporatio…

Harcharan Singh transferred property to his wife Udham Kaur for maintenance. Udham Kaur claimed absolute ownership, which was upheld by the appellate court. During the pendency of her suit, Harcharan Singh sold the land to Gurmail Singh, who took possession. After Udham Kaur's death, Gurmail Singh sought ownership unde…

The appellant Pratap Singh was charged with offences allegedly committed on 31‑12‑1998 and was produced before the Juvenile Court in 2000. The key issues were whether the age of a juvenile offender should be reckoned as of the date of the offence or the date of production before the court, and whether the Juvenile Just…

The appellant, Prem Singh, was convicted of murdering his two sons by manual strangulation and of causing the disappearance of evidence by throwing their bodies into a canal. The trial and high courts held that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt through a cogent chain of circumstantial evidence, th…

The victim was alone at night when the accused entered her room and raped her. She reported the incident to her sister‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law, who did not believe her and even beat her, forcing her to go to her parental home where an FIR was lodged three days later. The trial court convicted the accused under Section…

The appellant, Khokan Giri, was convicted along with three others for the murder and robbery of an elderly couple in Kolkata, based largely on the confessional statement of an accomplice, Raju Rao, who became an approver. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that the High Court gave undue weight to the appr…

The appellant, Joseph M. Puthussery, was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2001. Respondent T.S. John filed an election petition alleging that the appellant committed a corrupt practice under s.123(4) of the Representation of the People Act by distributing a pamphlet (Ext. X4) containing false statements ab…

A group of Amins employed by the West Bengal government sought to be placed in the same pay scale as Surveyors, invoking the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’. The High Court had earlier granted such parity in a number of writ petitions without examining the distinct qualifications and duties of the two posts, an…

The dispute concerned a garden and temple complex in Jaipur claimed as community property of the Darjee (tailors) community. The appellant, Kalyan Singh, challenged a decree that had upheld the plaintiff’s title based on a 1916 will and an 1875 sale deed. The Supreme Court examined whether the earlier suit against Bhon…