Judgments of 2013

Manjit Singh and Paramjit Singh were convicted for the murder of Jagmohan Singh and the attempted murder of Amarjot Singh after a gang fired on a tractor following a political dispute. The appellants challenged the convictions on five grounds, chiefly that two material witnesses were not examined, that the maxim falsus…

The accused, MD Hussain, was charged with offences under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other statutes, and the investigation was taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He filed a bail application before a single judge of the Bombay High Cour…

The Supreme Court examined whether a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act can be filed and verified by a power of attorney holder on behalf of the payee or holder in due course. The appellant, a company director, challenged the issuance of process based on complaints filed by a power of attorne…

Dr. P.B. Desai, a renowned surgeon, was convicted under Section 338 read with Section 109 of the IPC for allegedly causing grievous hurt to a cancer patient by advising and then omitting to perform an exploratory laparotomy. The patient later died, and the appellant was also found guilty of professional misconduct by t…

Resurgence India, an NGO, observed that many candidates in the 2007 Punjab Legislative Assembly elections filed affidavits with blank entries for criminal, asset and educational details, violating the spirit of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The petition sought a direction that Returning Officers must reje…

The petitioners, representing Scheduled Tribes employees, sought a direction that Himachal Pradesh implement its own policy of reservation in promotions with consequential seniority under the 85th Constitutional Amendment, relying on data already collected. The State argued that implementation should be deferred pendin…

Standard Chartered Bank granted a home loan which the borrower defaulted on, leading the bank to invoke the SARFAESI Act and sell the mortgaged property at auction. The borrower challenged the sale before the Debt Recovery Tribunal (ORT) and later before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT), which, after a four‑…

The case arose from a writ petition filed by an assistant teacher seeking enforcement of an interim order that her services not be disturbed. The managing committee of the school failed to comply with the order, leading to multiple contempt petitions. The committee later appealed the interim order and sought condonatio…

The petition challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 12(5), 12(6), 15(5) and 15(6) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which prescribe the eligibility criteria for appointing Chief Information Commissioners and Information Commissioners. The petitioner argued that the provisions were vague, lacked specifi…

The Srinagar Hydro Electric Project (SHEP) in Uttarakhand, originally cleared environmentally in 1985 and forest‑cleared in 1987, was later transferred to Alaknanda Hydro Power Co. Ltd. (AHPCL) with a capacity increase to 330 MW. Petitioners challenged the validity of the clearances and sought a public hearing under th…

The appellant, Lalu Prasad Yadav, sought transfer of the fodder‑scam criminal trial from the Special Judge (CBI) to another court, alleging that the judge was biased because of a familial link to a political rival. The Supreme Court examined the long‑running case, noting that the trial had been ongoing since 1997 and w…

The appellants, who were occupying a flat in Bombay as a gratuitous licensee, were evicted by a decree of the Small Causes Court under s.41(1) of the Presidency Small Causes Courts Act, 1882 (as amended by the Maharashtra Act of 1976). They appealed, arguing that the term "licensee" in the statute should be limited to …

The Supreme Court examined the validity of a 2010 notification issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) introducing the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to postgraduate medical courses across India. Petitioners challenged the MCI's competence under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, to imp…

The respondent, Universal Tractor Holding LLC, sold its 49% share in Beever Creek Holdings to Escorts Agri Machinery Inc., a subsidiary of the petitioner, for $1.2 million payable in four installments. After Escorts AMI defaulted on the last two installments, the respondent sued in a North Carolina court, which entered…

The appellant Vipin Jaiswal was convicted under Sections 3048 and 498A of the IPC for the death of his wife, who died from burn injuries. The prosecution alleged that the wife was subjected to cruelty and dowry harassment, citing a demand of Rs.50,000 for a computer six months after marriage. The appellant claimed the …

The appellant was accused of murdering his wife after she resisted repeated dowry demands for a television, fridge and cooler, which were accompanied by beatings and harassment. The trial court acquitted the accused, citing a 51‑hour delay in filing the FIR and inconsistencies in the witnesses' statements. On appeal, t…

The Bihar Staff Selection Commission conducted a competitive exam for Junior Engineer posts using a defective model answer key, leading to erroneous merit lists and appointments. Unsuccessful candidates challenged the evaluation, and the High Court initially cancelled the entire examination, later modifying its order t…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by Telestar Travels Pvt. Ltd. and its directors challenging the adjudication order under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) that found them guilty of dealing in foreign exchange without RBI permission and of using a paper company, Bountiful Ltd., to route funds. The Court held…

The appellant, a Head Constable, was dismissed for allegedly accepting a bribe in a police complaint, while a constable who actually demanded and received the money received a lighter penalty of reduction of increment. The Supreme Court examined whether the disciplinary authority’s punishment violated the doctrine of e…

The petitioners, a former minister and MLA, were arrested for alleged misappropriation of funds and charged under several IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act provisions. Although the charge‑sheet and a supplementary charge‑sheet were filed within the 90‑day period prescribed by Section 167(2) of the CrPC, the prosecut…

The petitioner, a life convict sentenced under IPC s.302/34, filed a contempt petition claiming that, having served over 20 years with remission, he was entitled to release under the West Bengal Correctional Services Act and a Supreme Court order. The State of West Bengal, through its Sentence Review Board, declined to…

Awani Kumar Upadhyay, an Additional District & Sessions Judge, challenged severe strictures placed against him by the Allahabad High Court in a second appeal judgment, which also directed that the remarks be sent to the Chief Justice for possible disciplinary action. He filed a modification application to have the rema…

The dispute concerned the appointment of a Headmaster in a West Bengal school. The School Service Commission had shortlisted three candidates but never prepared or published the statutory panel required under the West Bengal School Service Commission Regulations, 1988. Several writ petitions sought a mandamus directing…

Shalini was appointed as an Assistant Teacher and later promoted to Headmistress in a school vacancy reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, based on a caste certificate claiming she belonged to the Halba ST. The Maharashtra Caste Scrutiny Committee later declared the certificate invalid, finding she actually bel…

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector of Police, was removed from service by the Inspector‑General of Police under the Jharkhand Police Manual and subsequently charged with several IPC offences relating to the death of a detainee. He challenged the magistrate’s cognizance on the ground that Section 197 of the Code of Criminal…

The National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO) had a scheme to provide employment to persons displaced by its land acquisition. The deceased brother of the petitioner, Trilochan Behera, was appointed as a mazdoor under this "land displaced persons" scheme and later died in a road accident. The petitioner sought a similar …

The Deaf Employees Welfare Association and another association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Central and State Governments to grant transport allowance to government employees with hearing impairment, on par with the allowance already given to blind and orthopaedically disabled…

The appellant, a landlord, sought to evict a tenant occupying a flat owned by his father under a licence agreement with a company that later went into winding up. While the eviction suit was pending, the appellant applied under section 446 of the Companies Act, 1956 for the court's permission to continue the suit again…

The appellants, Arasmeta Captive Power Co. and another, entered into power purchase agreements with the respondent, Lafarge India, which contained a clause (9.3) defining "billing disputes" as excepted matters to be resolved by an expert committee, and a dispute resolution clause (16.2) prescribing arbitration only if …

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 appellant, husband of Karnail Kaur, was charged under Section 304B of the IPC for dowry death after his wife died of poisoning within seven years of marriage. The prosecution proved that the wife had complained of dowry demands for a scooter and refrigerator on 25 June 1991, and she died on 30 June 1991, establishi…

The appellant, a 36‑year‑old advocate, suffered grievous injuries including loss of strength and sensation in all four limbs after a motorbike accident. He claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and the Tribunal awarded Rs.6,17,500 as loss of future income based on a 50% whole‑body disability…

The appellant, a former Madhya Pradesh State Service teacher, joined the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) on 23 September 1987 and was confirmed on 23 September 1989. He claimed pay protection under the Government of India Order dated 7 August 1989, which was to take effect from 1 August 1989, arguing that his last d…

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 …

Gowramma, a married woman, died from severe burns after allegedly being doused with kerosene by her husband Anjanappa. She gave a dying declaration implicating him, which was recorded by a police officer and endorsed by the attending doctor, who testified that she was conscious and fit to speak. The trial court acquitt…

The Supreme Court examined the validity of the Medical Council of India's (MCI) order rejecting the renewal of permission for the third batch of 150 MBBS students at Chintpurni Medical College for the 2013‑14 academic year. The college had previously been granted permission, but a routine inspection followed by a surpr…

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 State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Babulal and others for assaulting six persons, causing multiple serious injuries, under IPC sections 148, 324, 326 and 149. The trial court sentenced them to three years’ simple imprisonment; the High Court upheld the conviction but reduced the term to three months, citing a seven…

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 respondent, an Income Tax Inspector, was alleged to have demanded Rs.25,000 as illegal gratification to refrain from reopening a tax assessment. A trap was laid using chemically treated currency notes that turned pink on the respondent's hands, leading to his conviction by the trial court under Sections 7, 13(1)(d)…

The appellant, a teacher in a private aided school, refused to contribute to a tax demand and was suspended and later terminated without proper approval or a fair inquiry, violating the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (Conditions of Service) Act, 1977 and principles of natural justice. The School Tribunal quas…

The Union of India prosecuted M/s Maple Leaf Trading International Pvt. Ltd. and its foreign shareholders for trading imported gold coins without RBI permission, alleging violations of Sections 19(1)(a), 19(1)(d), 29(1)(b), 47(1), 49(1)(a) and 68 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973. The Adjudicating Authority …

The Supreme Court examined the selection process for entry‑level District Judges in Madhya Pradesh for the 2006‑07 recruitment. Petitioners challenged the High Court's use of a normalization procedure for written‑exam marks and the alleged introduction of a 50% cut‑off at the final stage, arguing that such steps were n…

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) terminated the dealership licence of Jagannath & Co. after a routine inspection in August 2005, alleging that samples of motor spirit and diesel failed quality tests. The dealer contested the termination, arguing that the sampling and testing procedures violated the 2005 Marketi…

In the 2008 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, Neena Vikram Verma was declared elected by a single vote over Balmukund Singh Gautam, who filed an election petition alleging irregularities in postal ballot counting. Verma responded with a recrimination petition under Section 97 of the Representation of People…

The case involved the widow and minor children of Bijender Singh, a 33‑year‑old clerk who died in a motor accident. They claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 8,96,500, which the High Court increased to Rs 10,17,000 after applying the Sarla…

The petitioners, convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and sentenced to death, sought commutation of their sentences under Article 72 of the Constitution. After a delay of about eight years in deciding the mercy petition, they argued that the delay itself warranted conversion o…

The appellant, Joseph John Peter Sandy, sought a decree of rectification of a 1981 settlement deed that had transferred a house to his sister, Veronica Thomas Rajkumar, alleging a mistake and that the parties intended to exchange the properties. The sister contested, claiming the alleged agreement of 1 June 1982 was fo…

The deceased's cows damaged the plaintiffs' crops, leading to a heated altercation during which the accused formed an unlawful assembly, entered the victim's house and assaulted him with lathis and a lethal weapon, causing fatal injuries. The victim's mother, an injured eyewitness, identified the appellants as the pers…

The Official Liquidator of a company in liquidation challenged the setting aside of an auction and sale of the company's assets that had been conducted by a Recovery Officer under the Recovery of Debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (ROB Act). The Company Judge of the High Court had intervened, nulli…

Madhuri married appellant No.1 and later committed suicide while staying at her parents' house. The prosecution charged the husband and his relatives, including appellant Nos.2 and 4, under IPC Sections 3048 (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) alleging dowry demands and cruelty. The trial court and High Court convicted th…

The Pondicherry Khadi and Village Industries Board appointed five persons as personal staff of its Chairman on a co‑terminus basis, without following the employment‑exchange recruitment process or any sanctioned post. The appointment orders expressly stated that their services would terminate automatically when the Cha…

The case concerned the alleged dowry death of Surinder Kaur, who was burnt to death allegedly by her husband Bakshish Ram and his parents. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of the deceased's mother, who recounted hearsay statements made by the deceased's father about dowry harassment. The trial court an…

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 case involved a dispute over ownership and possession of land sold by Col. Surat Singh, the plaintiff, to Col. Girdhar Singh, who later sold it to the defendants. The plaintiff filed suits for declaration of title and permanent injunction, but the trial courts and the first appellate court found that the plaintiff …

The appellants, owners of land in Delhi, were dispossessed following a series of notifications and a declaration under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (notifications of 1963, 1968 and 1983). The Supreme Court held that each later notification supersedes the earlier ones and that the 1983 notification and its declaration…

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 Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RILLCO) acquired a large tract of land after a Section 4 notification under the Rajasthan Land Acquisition Act, 1953. The Subhash Sindhi Cooperative Housing Society entered into an agreement to purchase a portion of that land after the notification …

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…

S.K. Kool, a clerk of Bank of Baroda, was punished for gross misconduct by being removed from service with "superannuation benefits as would be due otherwise" under clause 6(b) of the 2002 Bipartite Settlement. The Bank denied his pension and leave encashment, relying on Regulation 22 of the Bank of Baroda (Employees) …

The appellant, Dr. Kamlesh Kumar, was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of a cheque that he alleged was stolen. The complainant presented the same cheque twice, first on 25‑Oct‑2008 and again on 10‑Nov‑2008, each time it was returned unpaid. A legal notice demanding payment w…

The respondent, Bhurumal, claimed that he had worked as a daily‑wage lineman for BSNL for about 15 years, suffered an electric shock on duty and was subsequently denied reinstatement, alleging illegal termination under section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Industrial Tribunal and the High Court held tha…

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…

Bhupendra was married to Geeta Bai in 1993. After repeated dowry demands, Geeta consumed wheat tablets on 20 August 1996 and died of suspected poisoning. The trial court convicted Bhupendra and his father under sections 498‑A, 304‑B and 306 IPC; the High Court upheld Bhupendra's conviction but acquitted his father. On …

The appellant Bhola Ram was convicted under Sections 304‑B and 498‑A IPC for the alleged dowry death of his sister‑in‑law Janki Devi, who committed suicide by poison. The prosecution alleged that Bhola Ram, along with his brother Darshan Ram and mother Vidya Devi, demanded additional dowry and subjected the victim to c…

Suresh Kumar was convicted under Sections 304‑B (dowry death) and 498‑A IPC for the death of his wife Sulochana within seven years of marriage. The trial court acquitted him, deeming the death accidental, but the High Court reversed the acquittal, holding that the death occurred under non‑normal circumstances, that dow…

Hill Properties Ltd., the appellant, claimed ownership of Flat No.23 in Mumbai, asserting that the flat was allotted to its shareholder (Respondent No.5) who could only occupy it and could not mortgage it without the company's consent under its Articles of Association. Respondent No.5 had created an equitable mortgage …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Shanmugam and others challenging their conviction for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. The appellants argued that (i) the first information report (FIR) was lodged several hours after the incident without a satisfactory explanation, (ii) the sole eye‑witness, PW…

Rashmi Metaliks Ltd. submitted a bid for a KMDA pipe‑supply tender but was disqualified because it did not attach its latest income‑tax return (clause j) and allegedly failed to disclose any blacklisting (clause i). The High Court and a Division Bench upheld the disqualification, treating both clauses as essential. On …

The appellants, nine medical graduates, challenged a clarificatory order of the Punjab & Haryana High Court which stated that seats already allocated in the general category for postgraduate medical courses would not be disturbed, but any vacant seats from the 60% in‑service quota could be filled by Resident Medical Of…

The appellants, selected as police constable trainees, staged a dharna on 17 April 2010 and were briefly taken to a police station. Later, they were discharged on the ground that they had allegedly suppressed information about a criminal case in their attestation forms. The State Administrative Tribunal and the High Co…

Dr. Jagmittar Sain Bhagat, a former medical officer of the Haryana Health Department, claimed that his retiral benefits, including gratuity and penal rent, were not fully paid after his voluntary retirement in 1985. He filed a complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in 1995, which dismissed the …

Four accused were convicted for kidnapping and raping a girl who was 13 years and 9 months old at the time of the offence. The appellant, Lillu @ Rajesh, challenged the conviction on the ground that the victim was older, that her statement was uncorroborated, and that the two‑finger test and alleged habitual sexual act…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 302 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code for the rape and murder of a young woman named Devi. The prosecution's case was built on circumstantial evidence, including the appellant's presence at the crime scene, his flight from the village, medical findings of sexual intercourse and…

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 appellant, Shabir Ahmed Teli, was convicted of murder under section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code for shooting his neighbour, Gani Shah, allegedly because Shah refused to give his daughter in marriage to the appellant. The trial and High Courts upheld the conviction despite a slow, shoddy police investigation that o…

The dispute involved a landlord-tenant suit where the tenants claimed ownership of a shop based on a sale deed executed by a life‑estate holder, Janki Bibi (2nd). An earlier 1958 judgment had held that Janki Bibi possessed only a life interest and could not transfer the property. The Small Causes Court decreed the land…

The appellants, teachers including Mohan Lal, were convicted for gang rape and kidnapping of a minor student under Sections 376(2)(g) and 366 IPC and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined whether the fiduciary relationship between teachers and a student attracted Section 376(2)(b) an…

Two cooperative housing societies, Sarvpriya Sahakari Avas Samiti Ltd. (registered 1981) and Shivalik Sahakari Avas Samiti Ltd. (registered 1982), purchased land that was later declared an industrial development area under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Area Development Act, 1976, forming part of NOIDA. They sought alter…

Ram Deo Prasad was convicted under IPC sections 376 and 302 for raping and causing the death of his 4‑year‑old daughter, Laila Khatoon. The prosecution relied on witness statements, a post‑mortem report and the fact that the accused was seen carrying the child after the alleged abuse. The Court held that the first part…

The land in question was jointly owned and was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. One co‑owner (the appellants) filed a reference under Section 18 of the Act for enhanced compensation without impleading the other co‑owner (the respondent). The Reference Court awarded compensation to both parties, after whic…

The Supreme Court heard a batch of appeals concerning compensation for lands acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in Haryana. The Court examined the method of determining market value, the appropriateness of deductions for development costs, the use of the belting system, and the manner of applying annual infl…

Budh Singh was convicted under Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the constitutional validity of Section 32A of the NDPS Act, which bars any remission of sentence for convicts …

The appellant, a former landowner, claimed interest on compensation due for land vested in the State under the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961. The compensation was partially paid in cash and the balance in National Savings Certificates, but the State denied interest on the cash portion, relying on a 1986 circular. Th…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against a High Court order that allowed landowner Hari Ram to claim the benefit of the saving clause in the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999. The dispute centered on whether the "deemed vesting" of surplus vacant land under section 10(3) of the Urban Land (Ceiling…

The appeal concerned two direct‑recruits to the Senior Branch of the Orissa Superior Judicial Service who challenged a High Court order that gave seniority to a writ petitioner for his service as an ad hoc Additional District Judge in a Fast Track Court. The petitioner had been promoted on an ad hoc basis under the Ori…

The husband (appellant) was convicted by the Karnataka High Court for dowry death (IPC s.304B), cruelty (IPC s.498A) and offences under the Dowry Prohibition Act after his wife committed suicide, allegedly due to his demand for a further Rs 10,000. The Supreme Court held that the Rs 10,000 demand was for repayment of a…

The deceased husband was attacked and killed by his wife's father and four brothers after a marital dispute. The prosecution proved that the three younger brothers (accused 3, 4 and 5) entered the house, held the victim and, with the fifth brother delivering a fatal jambia blow, caused his death. The issue before the S…

The State of Rajasthan leased land to Hindustan Zinc Ltd. for extracting lead and zinc under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The State issued notices demanding additional royalty, arguing that royalty should be payable on all metal extracted, including that remaining in tailings. Hindusta…

Gambhirsinh R. Dekare, a Taluka Mamlatdar, complained that the Gujarati daily "Sandesh" published a defamatory news item alleging his illicit relationship with a doctor's wife. The complaint specifically alleged that the Editor (Falgunbhai Patel) and the Resident Editor (Navinbhai Chauhan) deliberately published the st…

The appellant, an 8‑year‑old boy, was struck by a motorcycle in 2001, sustaining a fractured right leg, permanent disability of 16% and a 1 cm shortening of the limb. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 77,000 as compensation, which the Karnataka High Court enhanced to Rs 1 lakh. The appellant appealed to the…

Canara Bank filed an original application before a Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) for recovery of a large sum. The respondents filed interim applications seeking production of banking documents, which the DRT rejected, deeming them a delay tactic. The respondents approached the High Court under Article 226, and the Singl…

The appellant, Rajendra Singh, a tailor, was charged under s.302 IPC for murdering Kishan Singh Rana by repeatedly stabbing him with a pair of scissors after a dispute over unstitched cloth. The trial court acquitted him, citing discrepancies in the eye‑witness statements of Makhan Singh (PW‑2) and Deepa (PW‑3). The Hi…

Balbir Singh Bedi, a retired District Commander of the Punjab Home Guard, claimed he was eligible for substantive promotion to Battalion Commander under Rule 8 of the Punjab Home Guard (Class‑I) Rules, 1988, which mandates selection on a "seniority‑cum‑merit" basis. While his case was considered alongside other candida…

The Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariats recruited Security Assistants Grade‑II through a four‑stage process, awarding 25 marks for the personal interview, of which 7 marks were allocated for NCC/Sports and computer‑course certificates that were advertised as ‘desirable’. Unsuccessful candidates challenged the inclus…

Ravinder Singh, owner of agricultural land, filed two criminal writ petitions seeking to quash FIRs filed by Sukhbir Singh. The second petition was filed without disclosing the earlier one, leading to a contempt proceeding which the High Court closed after the counsel apologized. Sukhbir Singh then lodged a criminal co…

The Karnataka Lokayukta post of Upa‑Lokayukta became vacant and the Chief Minister advised the Governor to appoint Justice Chandrashekaraiah without consulting the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, as required by s.3(2)(b) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984. The High Court quashed the appointment, holding th…

The plaintiff filed a suit seeking a declaration that she owned one‑third of a suit‑schedule property (land registration No. 16413) and the cancellation of the defendants' registration. The defendants denied her claim, alleging prescription and asserting that the property had been transferred to them by auction. The tr…

Chatterjee Petrochem (Mauritius) Co. invoked the arbitration clause in a restructuring agreement dated 12 January 2002, seeking ICC arbitration over a dispute with Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd. Haldia contended that a later agreement dated 8 March 2002, which granted exclusive jurisdiction to the Calcutta courts, nullifie…

The apartment owners of Silver Oaks Apartments filed a writ petition seeking to quash DLF Limited's declaration under the Haryana Apartment Ownership Act, alleging that the declaration omitted certain community and commercial facilities as "common areas and facilities". The High Court held that the owners were entitled…

The appellants Veer Singh and others were convicted for the murder of twelve persons and the attempted murder of a family member, based primarily on the testimony of a severely injured eye‑witness, Harshan Kaur, supported by medical reports, a hostile witness, and forensic material. The appellants challenged the reliab…

Oswal Agro Mills Ltd. obtained permission from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to convert a plot in a Special Industrial Zone to a residential‑commercial complex adjacent to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.'s (HPCL) refinery. HPCL objected, citing safety, security and health risks, and the Bombay High C…

The Supreme Court examined the widespread misuse of red lights and multi‑toned horns on motor vehicles, which were being employed by a large number of public officials and private citizens beyond the limited class intended by law. The petition, led by senior counsel Harish Salve, raised constitutional concerns that suc…

The respondent issued four cheques which were presented and dishonoured. The appellant sent a statutory notice on 8 January 1997, which was beyond the 30‑day period, but sent a second notice on 28 January 1997 within the limitation period after the second dishonour. A complaint was filed on 4 March 1997. The issue was …

Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete India Ltd. (appellant) lodged a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act after a cheque of Rs.2.5 lakh issued by the managing director of the respondents was stopped, leading to its dishonour. The respondents filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC offering to p…

The appellant, Sunil Damodar Gaikwad, murdered his wife and two sons and attempted to kill his daughter, later reporting the incident to police. He was convicted under IPC sections 302 and 307 and sentenced to death for the murder and life imprisonment for the attempt. The appeal centered on whether the death sentence …

The appellant was appointed Headmaster of a private school in August 1996. The respondent, who was the acting Headmaster, waited nearly ten years before filing an application for condonation of delay before the School Tribunal, challenging the appointment under Section 9(1)(b) of the Maharashtra Employees of Private Sc…

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 appellant was convicted under IPC sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) and sentenced to imprisonment and a fine. He later claimed to have been a juvenile at the time of the offence, asserting an age of 13 years 8 months, but documentary and medical evidence established his age as about 17 years, making hi…

The appellant Gurnaib Singh was convicted for the death of his young wife Amarjeet Kaur, who allegedly committed suicide after being harassed for a dowry demand of Rs 50,000. The trial court and the Punjab High Court upheld a conviction under Section 3048 IPC (dowry death) and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imp…

The dispute arose between M/s Today Homes & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (and Mapletree Properties) and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust over a joint‑venture agreement dated 24‑05‑2005, which the Trust later claimed was void. The developers filed an application under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 199…

The petition challenged a Rajasthan High Court order that placed the entire liability for compensation on the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) and exempted the driver and owner of a 'Jugaad' vehicle. The Supreme Court examined whether a 'Jugaad' falls within the definition of "motor vehicle" under Sec…

The State of Haryana appealed against a Punjab & Haryana High Court order that reduced the imprisonment terms of two accused, Joginder Singh and Janak Singh, for rape and related offences to the time they had already served. The trial court had convicted them under IPC Sections 376, 506 and, for Janak Singh, also 511, …

Antrix Corp. Ltd. and Devas Multimedia entered into an agreement containing an arbitration clause that required disputes to be referred to senior management and, failing that, to an arbitral tribunal governed by ICC or UNCITRAL rules, with the seat in New Delhi and Indian law as the governing law. After Antrix terminat…

In the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election of 2009, Markio Tado was declared elected over Takam Sorang. Sorang filed an election petition alleging booth capturing, and later sought forensic examination of voters' counterfoils (Form 17A) to prove impersonation and double voting. The Gauhati High Court Single…

The Registrar of Companies filed a complaint alleging that V.L.S. Finance Ltd. misrepresented land holdings in its balance sheet, an offence punishable under Section 211(7) of the Companies Act, 1956. While criminal prosecution was pending, the company and its managing director applied to the Company Law Board (CLB) fo…

The State of Orissa recommended POSCO for a prospecting licence, which Geomin Minerals & Marketing (P) Ltd. challenged, claiming a preferential right as an earlier applicant. The Orissa High Court set aside the recommendation, holding Geomin had such a right, but the Supreme Court found the writ petition premature beca…

The appellant, S. Kesari Hanuman Goud, filed a suit for specific performance of a 1977 agreement to sell land, asserting that he was always ready and willing to fulfil his part of the contract. The respondent, Anjum Jehan, contended that the appellant lacked the financial capacity and therefore was not ready, subsequen…

In 1992, a 17‑18‑year‑old girl (PW2) was allegedly forced at knife point by Swaroop Singh to have sexual intercourse in a sugarcane field. She reported the incident immediately, and medical examination revealed a torn hymen; other witnesses corroborated her account and broken bangles were recovered from the scene. The …

The appellant was convicted under Section 376 IPC for raping P.W.4, an agricultural labourer, and under Section 506B IPC for criminal intimidation. The trial court, after medical examination, concluded that the victim was about 14 years old and that the intercourse, though allegedly consensual, fell within the offence …

The Supreme Court examined the plight of two 15‑year‑old craniopagus twins, Saba and Farha, whose parents refused consent for any medical investigation or surgical separation. The petitioners sought a court order to compel investigations and, if necessary, surgery, invoking the twins' right to life and bodily integrity…

The appellant, one of the four sons of the deceased, appealed against a Karnataka High Court decree that declared the disputed lands to be ancestral joint family property and allocated specific shares to each heir. The plaintiff, a daughter, claimed the lands were self‑acquired by the father and sought a one‑tenth shar…

The Supreme Court examined whether land that does not qualify as a "private forest" under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971 can be subjected to a total prohibition of tree felling under Section 5 of the Kerala Preservation of Trees Act, 1986. The Court held that Explanation II of Section 5 i…

The appellants sought a declaration of title to a property in Pondicherry, alleging that a prior sale by a Hindu widow who held only a life estate was void. The trial court dismissed the suit for lack of a claim for possession, a decision upheld by the High Court, which also held that the widow had acquired absolute ti…

The appellants were accused of murdering a man and injuring another after a prior confrontation. The trial court acquitted them, but the High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted them under Sections 302 and 324 read with Section 34 of the IPC, imposing life imprisonment. The appellants challenged the High Court's…

Arun Bhandari, an NRI, paid Rs.1.05 crore as part payment for a plot in Greater Noida on the basis of an agreement with respondents Savita Singh and Raghuvinder Singh, who later transferred the property to a third party. When the property was not delivered, Bhandari filed an FIR alleging cheating and criminal breach of…

Mary Pappa Jebamani filed a criminal complaint alleging assault and verbal abuse under IPC sections 294(b) and 323. The summary trial court acquitted the accused because two key eyewitnesses turned hostile and the trial court found the evidence insufficient. The Sessions Court set aside the acquittal and convicted the …

The Supreme Court examined a contempt petition filed by Rajeshwar Singh, an Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate, who alleged that respondents including Subrata Roy Sahara were intimidating him and attempting to derail the court‑monitored investigation into the 2G Spectrum scam. The petitioner invoked Arti…

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd challenged notices issued by the Drug Inspector after a price‑fixation notification under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995. The issue was whether the notified ceiling price became operative for all sales immediately, or whether manufacturers could continue to sell pre‑notificat…

The petitioners claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 after the death of a 48‑year‑old employee who earned Rs.13,331 per month; the Claims Tribunal awarded Rs.9.03 lakh, which the Karnataka High Court enhanced to Rs.11.25 lakh by applying a split‑multiplier and a lower multiplier of 10.…

The appellant, Pinakin Mahipatray Rawal, was convicted under Sections 498A and 306 IPC for allegedly causing his wife's suicide through an extra‑marital relationship with his colleague (A‑2). The Supreme Court examined whether the alleged relationship amounted to cruelty within the meaning of Section 498A and whether i…

The State of Maharashtra rejected pension claims of three applicants who alleged they were underground freedom fighters, on the ground that they had not produced the documents prescribed in the Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme of 4 July 1995. The applicants filed writ petitions and the High Court set aside the State's o…

The petitioners owned a property in Nagaur that the Wakf Board claimed was Wakf property and sued them for possession, rendition of accounts and declaration that a 1983 sale deed was invalid. The suit was filed in 1980, well before the Rajasthan Wakf Act, 1995 came into force. After the Act, the respondents invoked Sec…

The case concerned the regulation of street vendors (hawkers) in Mumbai and across India, where the petitioners sought relief from harassment and demanded implementation of the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors, 2009. The Supreme Court examined whether the earlier embargo on High Courts hearing hawker matters sho…

The Gujarat government, after representations by labour unions, issued a resolution on 17 October 1988 to regularise daily‑wage and semi‑skilled workers across all departments, providing graded benefits based on years of service under Section 258 of the Industrial Disputes Act. The applicability of this scheme to daily…

The Chhattisgarh Police recruited 380 officers through a competitive exam, publishing a first merit list in April 2008 that included the 26 appellants. After complaints about defects in eight objective questions and eight erroneous model answers, the Professional Examination Board re‑evaluated the scripts, deleted the …

The appellant Manoj and his relatives were convicted for the dowry death of Meena Devi, who died from burns after being allegedly doused with kerosene and set alight at the behest of her husband, mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law. The prosecution relied heavily on a dying declaration recorded by Dr. Rajinder Rai, which w…

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

The appellants, P. Nagesh and another, were convicted by a Fast Track Court for murder and related offences under Sections 302, 364, 379, 201 read with 34 of the IPC, based on circumstantial evidence. The Karnataka High Court upheld the conviction, relying on a presumption under Section 106 of the Evidence Act that the…

The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal held that both the owner of a vehicle and the insurer, National Insurance Co. Ltd., were jointly and severally liable to pay Rs.1,24,035 as compensation for a road accident that occurred on 19‑April‑2000. The insurer appealed, contending that the insurance policy was invalid because …

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

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed a case against MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and 73 others, including Nimmagadda Prasad, under IPC sections 420, 409, 477‑A and the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged land allocation, illegal gratification, hawala transactions and other economic offences. After the charge‑she…

Arun Kumar Agrawal filed a public‑interest writ petition under Article 32 challenging the Government of India's approval for the sale of a majority stake in Cairn India Limited (CIL) to Vedanta and seeking a direction that ONGC exercise its right of first refusal (RoFR). The petition also sought a CBI investigation and…

The Supreme Court considered the bail application of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, accused in a massive economic offence case involving alleged corruption, land allotments, and money laundering under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI had filed multiple charge sheets and reported that investigations into s…

Nirma Industries Ltd. and its associate sought to withdraw a public open offer made under SEBI's Takeover Code after discovering alleged fraud and a sharp fall in the target company's share price. SEBI rejected the withdrawal request, and the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) upheld the rejection. The appellants argu…

The appellant-landlady, Anamika Roy, filed a suit under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 seeking eviction of the tenant, Jatindra Chowrasiya, on the ground of bona‑fide personal requirement of the entire ground‑floor flat. Both the trial court and the first appellate court decreed eviction of the whole premis…

Schlumberger Asia Services Ltd. entered into a contract with Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) for oilfield equipment and services. After alleged non‑payment of invoices, Schlumberger sent several notices to ONGC from 2008 onward, invoking arbitration under Clause 27 of the contract. ONGC failed to respond, and…

The appellant, Kumar, was convicted for raping his sister‑in‑law and then murdering her and her 13‑month‑old daughter by setting them on fire. The prosecution’s case rested on an extra‑judicial confession made by the accused to a neighbour (PW‑2), corroborated by the neighbour’s testimony, statements of other witnesses…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an appeal seeking cancellation of bail granted to V. Vijay Sai Reddy (A‑2) in a case involving alleged conspiracy, fraud and corruption under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Special Court had granted bail, and the High Court affirmed it, but the Supreme …

The Supreme Court considered appeals by several Regional Rural Banks challenging a High Court order that set aside two bank circulars which barred employees who had received a Grade ‘D’ performance rating or disciplinary punishment in the preceding five years from being considered for promotion. The Court examined the …

The respondent, a daily‑wage bus conductor employed by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation for only a few months, was dismissed after a departmental inquiry found he had collected fare without issuing tickets. He filed a civil suit, which was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, and subsequently lodged a complain…

The appellant, a Soil Conservation Officer, was initially suspended in 1998, the suspension was revoked in 1999, and he was later removed from service in 2003. The removal order was set aside by the High Court on grounds of procedural irregularities, and the department subsequently invoked Rule 12(4) of the Orissa Civi…

Manoj H. Mishra, a tradesman and union leader at Kakrapar Atomic Power Project, wrote a letter to a newspaper describing a flood‑induced accident and alleging corruption. He was charged with unauthorised communication to the press, criticism of project management and breach of confidentiality, and admitted all charges …

The appellants Sunil Kundu and others were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.34 based mainly on three eye‑witnesses who were relatives of the deceased. The Supreme Court found serious inconsistencies between the eye‑witness accounts and the post‑mortem report, which showed no firearm injuries despite the …

The wife of a deceased patient filed a consumer complaint alleging medical negligence against two doctors who had performed an operation. The doctors contended that, per the Supreme Court’s decision in Martin F. D'Souza, a complaint could not be entertained without an expert opinion, and they sought to stay the proceed…

Ashok Kumar Sharma was arrested after police searched him and recovered two packets of heroin, leading to his conviction under Sections 8 and 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment sentence. The appellant challenged the conviction on the ground that the offi…

The Board of Trustees of Kandla Port terminated a lease of a 1891.64‑sq‑m parcel to Smt. Pushpa Shah after she defaulted on rent, issuing a termination order on 8‑Aug‑1977 effective 13‑Dec‑1978 and taking possession via a panchnama on 14‑Dec‑1978. The lessee’s own letter of 22‑Feb‑1979 admitted that possession had been…

The appellants were selected and appointed as Assistant Surgeons in the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, but were posted as Senior/Junior House Officers at the Government Medical College, Jammu, which falls under the Directorate of Medical Education. The High Court initially set aside the reversion order, holding…

The dispute arose from a work order awarded to Manish Engineering Enterprises by IFFCO, which was later cancelled, leading the firm to seek payment through arbitration and writ petitions. After the arbitrator rejected the claim of removal of items from IFFCO premises, the complainant filed multiple criminal complaints …

The appellants purchased a mortgaged property at a public auction conducted by a Recovery Officer under the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (RDDB Act). The auction was later set aside by the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal on the ground that the appellants were not bona‑fide purchas…

The appellant, a former Union minister, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC for offences of corruption and criminal conspiracy. She applied to the trial court for exemption from personal appearance, citing her 98‑year age, severe heart disease and senile dementia, and a medical board report t…

The appellant, Kunwar Pal, was convicted under Section 304(Part I) IPC for the death of Ramayan Prasad at a marriage ceremony where several double‑barrel guns were fired. The prosecution alleged that Pal, along with three others, fired negligently, causing a cartridge to strike the deceased. The trial and High Courts h…

The respondents challenged the acquisition of their land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Punjab & Haryana High Court ordered the state officials (appellants) to furnish names of landowners whose lands were released without filing objections under Section 5A. The appellants mistakenly supplied information abou…

The deceased Nicolau Fernandes was killed when his scooter was struck by a pick‑up van driven by Joaquim Xavier Cruz on 29 June 1997. His wife and daughters filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which assessed compensation of Rs 6,66,041.78 b…

The Commissioner of Income Tax appealed against M/s Excel Industries Ltd., contending that the value of advance licence and duty‑entitlement pass‑book benefits under the import‑export policy should be taxed in the year they were received under s.28(iv) of the Income Tax Act. The assessee argued that such benefits are o…

Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar, accused of murdering their daughter Arushi and domestic help Hemraj, sought under CrPC s.233 read with s.91 the production of narco‑analysis, brain‑mapping, polygraph and other scientific test reports of three persons who had earlier been suspected in the case, as well as other docum…

The Supreme Court examined appeals against bail orders granted by the Allahabad High Court to four accused in an assault case where a victim's son died. The State of Uttar Pradesh argued that the principal accused, Kunwar Singh (Respondent No.2), had a long criminal record and was threatening witnesses, making the High…

The widow of Madan Tamang, a political leader murdered in public, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking quashing of charge‑sheets and a fresh investigation by an independent Special Investigation Team, alleging that the State police, CID and CBI investigations were faulty. The Supreme Court examined the adequa…

Dr. Subramanian Swamy filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to incorporate a voter‑verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) in electronic voting machines (EVMs) to allow voters to confirm their votes. The High Court dismissed the petition, prompting an ap…

The appellant, Sushil Sharma, was convicted of murdering his wife Naina Sahni and conspiring with an employee, A2, to burn her body in the tandoor of his restaurant. The prosecution proved the murder and the disposal of the body through a chain of circumstantial evidence, forensic analysis, and the recovery of the appe…

The appellant, Sunil Dutt Sharma, was convicted under IPC s.304‑B for dowry death and sentenced to life imprisonment, while being acquitted of IPC s.302 murder. The High Court affirmed the conviction and sentence. On appeal, the Supreme Court was asked to consider whether the life sentence was excessive or disproportio…

The National Federation of the Blind filed a writ petition seeking enforcement of Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, alleging that the Union failed to provide the mandated 3% reservation for persons with disabilities, especially the blind and low‑vision categories. The High Court directed modificati…

Tofan Singh was convicted under Sections 8(c) r/w 21(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for allegedly trafficking 5.250 kg of heroin. The conviction rested primarily on a statement recorded by an investigating officer under Section 67 of the NDPS Act, which the appellant claimed was …

The Supreme Court reviewed a petition filed by Kamlesh Verma seeking a review of its July 6, 2012 order that quashed FIR No. RC 0062003A0019 against Mayawati, finding that the order was correctly based on the earlier judgment that the 18 September 2003 direction did not authorize a separate FIR on disproportionate asse…

The petitioners, Mis Vaamika Island (Green Lagoon Resort), challenged the inclusion of their 5.21 acres on Vettilla Thuruthu Island in Map 32A of the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and its classification as a Filtration Pond and CRZ‑1, alleging that the map and classification were ultra vires the Coastal Re…

The case concerns the murder of Ashalata Biswas, who was shot through a window on 20 April 2001. The trial court convicted Pranab @ Kuti Biswas under Section 302 IPC, but the Calcutta High Court acquitted him, citing the absence of the accused's name in the FIR, the victim's failure to name the shooter, minor inconsist…

The case involved eleven sale agreements executed by M/s Tirupati Developers for parcels of land in Uttarakhand. The Deputy Registrar impounded the agreements alleging deficient stamp duty and the Assistant Commissioner ordered payment of the deficit, penalty and interest. The appellant contended that no stamp duty was…

The petitioners, who were land owners, applied for petroleum retail outlet dealerships under a 2002 policy that later was suspended. They entered into long‑term lease deeds and maintenance‑handling contracts with Indian Oil and IBP, investing substantial sums, and claimed that the oil companies were estopped from withd…

The petitioners, holders of jenmi rights in Malabar, Kerala, challenged the State's demand for royalties on minerals extracted from their lands, arguing that they owned the sub‑soil. The Kerala High Court held that the minerals belonged to the State and dismissed the writ petitions. On appeal, the Supreme Court examine…

Shiv Nandan Mahto was appointed as a clerk in a school in 1979, but an inspection report mistakenly recorded him as a librarian. When the school was taken over by the State of Bihar in 1983, his services were not transferred because the librarian post was not approved. Despite representations, he was not posted to any …

The Supreme Court had decreed specific performance, directing the defendants to execute a sale deed for the suit property at its market price as on the date of the judgment. Several interim applications (I.A.s) were filed thereafter seeking modification, clarification, correction of typographical errors, impleadment of…

The appellant Palwinder Singh and three others were charged with murder and robbery of Dr. Jasbir Singh. The prosecution’s case rested on two eye‑witnesses (PW‑3 and PW‑4), a post‑mortem report establishing homicidal injuries, confessional statements of the accused and the recovery of weapons and stolen articles. The t…

The appellant Manoj Giri was convicted of dacoity with murder and gang rape after a night-time assault on a married woman (PW1), her husband and father‑in‑law, during which the father‑in‑law died. The trial court acquitted the four co‑accused due to insufficient identification evidence, but upheld Giri's conviction bas…

The appellant, Natasha Singh, was charged under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly inflating an insurance claim. After the prosecution examined 52 witnesses, the appellant examined only one defence witness and then sought to summon three additional witnesses under Section 311 of the CrPC. The tr…

The State of Uttar Pradesh, through the Meerut Development Authority (MDA), acquired 246.931 acres of land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for a planned residential/commercial scheme. After the award and possession were taken, the MDA resolved in 1997 to withdraw acquisition of 204.912 acres, but the State Governm…

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the Delhi High Court's order dismissing a review petition, while the original High Court judgment dated 5 November 2008 remained unchallenged. The respondent argued that the SLP was not maintainable because the main order had not been conte…

The appellant was seized on 23 August 1991 while carrying a tin from which police recovered 3.5 kg of opium. He was charged under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and convicted, receiving ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The appellant challenged the convict…

The petitioner filed a contempt petition in the Bombay High Court alleging that the State of Maharashtra had failed to pay interest at 11% as directed by the Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 8539 of 2002. The High Court dismissed the petition, holding that any alleged non‑compliance of a Supreme Court order must be ad…

The case concerned T.D. Viswanath, who claimed to have worked as a Lecturer in a junior college from 1990 without ever receiving a formal appointment letter. In July 1995 the college orally informed him that his services were terminated, after which he sought reinstatement and regularisation of his employment. The Educ…

The case arose from the 1984 anti‑Sikh riots that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, where a mob led by the appellants attacked two houses, burnt alive the husband and father‑in‑law of the complainant and looted property. The trial court acquitted the appellants, but the Delhi High Court convic…

The petitioners, including Amit Shah, challenged the registration of a second FIR (dated 29‑04‑2011) and a fresh charge‑sheet (dated 04‑09‑2012) filed by the CBI in connection with the alleged fake encounter of Tulsiram Prajapati, arguing that it violated their fundamental rights under Articles 14, 20 and 21 and contra…

The case concerned an election petition challenging the 2009 Lok Sabha election of G.M. Siddeshwar, wherein the petitioner Prasanna Kumar alleged corrupt practices. The petitioner filed an affidavit in the form prescribed by Rule 94‑A (Form No.25) but the affidavit was not in exact format and the verification was defec…

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had acquired certain lands under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1995 Brijesh Reddy purchased a portion of such land and later filed a suit in a civil court seeking a permanent injunction restraining the BDA from interfering with his possession. The tr…

The appellant, Atmaram, was convicted under Sections 306 and 498A of the IPC for the alleged suicide of his second wife, Purnabai, based on the presumption of abetment under Section 113A of the Evidence Act. The trial court and High Court held that the appellant had subjected the deceased to cruelty, relying on a writt…

Stephanie Joan Becker, an American citizen, applied under Sections 7 and 26 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, to be appointed guardian of a 10‑year‑old Indian orphan named Tina and to take her abroad for adoption. The trial court and the Delhi High Court rejected the applications, holding that Becker, at 53 years o…

Gopal Singh was convicted under Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code for firing a country‑made pistol ("katta") and causing a firearm injury to his nephew, Narain Singh. The appellant challenged the conviction on the ground that the weapon was not seized and the injury was not grievous, and also contended that the thre…

The Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) prepared a main rank list and a supplementary list for reserved‑category candidates for the post of Higher Secondary School Teacher (English Junior). The main list was exhausted on 28 September 2010, and a non‑joining duty (NJD) vacancy was reported to the Commission on 12 Se…

The appellant, a food manufacturer, was charged under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act after a complaint by the Local Health Authority and was acquitted by a Metropolitan Magistrate. The State sought to appeal the acquittal in the Sessions Court under Section 378(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, wh…