Judgments of 2018

The father of the parties, a self‑acquired owner of a house and a shop, decided to divide his property on 25‑Oct‑1992 but died on 10‑Sep‑1993. The surviving brothers recorded a memorandum of settlement on 9‑Sep‑1994, signed by their mother and sisters, allocating the entire property between them. The plaintiff sued for…

Gorusu Nagaraju was convicted of murder under IPC s.302 and of concealing the offence under s.201, based primarily on circumstantial evidence linking him to the victim's death. The trial court and the Andhra Pradesh High Court both upheld the conviction, relying on seven material circumstances, including the appellant'…

Netram Sahu was employed by the State of Chhattisgarh as a daily wager from 1 April 1986 and was regularized as a work‑charge employee on 6 May 2008, retiring on 30 July 2011 after a total service of 25 years 3 months. He claimed gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, and the Controlling Authority allowed hi…

Satyendra Kumar Mehra was convicted under several IPC offences and sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs.25,000 in each of four counts. He appealed the conviction and also sought suspension of his sentence. The High Court suspended the sentence, released him on bail, but directed that he depos…

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

Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd (appellant) sought to enforce loan recovery against Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd and others under the SARFAESI Act after the original lender, Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd (IBFSL), merged into Indiabulls Housing Finance. The High Court held that SARFAESI could not be invoked because …

The Supreme Court considered applications by the States of Mizoram and Assam seeking exemption from the 500‑metre distance requirement for liquor outlets imposed by its earlier judgment in State of Tamil Nadu v. K. Balu. The Court had previously exempted Meghalaya, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh on the ground of their hi…

The Supreme Court was asked to interpret paragraph 7 of its 11 July 2017 order, which dealt with prohibiting the sale of liquor along highways but clarified that it did not apply to licensed establishments within municipal areas. The petitioners sought a further clarification to determine whether the same principle sho…

The State of Himachal Pradesh filed a petition seeking the same liquor‑sale concession that the Supreme Court had granted to the State of Uttarakhand for its hilly districts. The Court noted its earlier order of 31 March 2017, which limited Himachal Pradesh’s exemption to areas with local bodies of population not excee…

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) awarded road construction contracts that contained a price‑adjustment clause (Clause 70.3) requiring calculation of adjustments for components such as bitumen, cement and steel. The clause stipulated percentages (x, y, z) to be the "actual percentage of cost" of these mate…

The petition challenged the operation of multinational accounting firms (MAFs) in India through Indian chartered accountant firms (ICAFs) that used the same brand name, alleging violations of Sections 25 and 29 of the Chartered Accountants Act, the Companies Act, FDI policy, RBI and FEMA regulations, and the ICAI Code …

The appellant filed a criminal complaint alleging cheating, forgery and offences under the SC/ST Act, which the Judicial Magistrate dismissed for lack of evidence. The appellant sought revision before the Sessions Court, which held that the appellant belonged to a Scheduled Caste, found a prima facie case and remanded …

M/s Universal Cylinders Ltd., a manufacturer of LPG cylinders, supplied cylinders to government-owned oil companies at a provisional price of Rs.682 per unit as per a purchase order that stipulated the final price would be fixed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG). The MoP&NG later revised the price t…

The employee Rajeshwar Mahto was terminated by Birla Corporation Ltd. and challenged the termination before an Industrial Tribunal, which held he was not a "workman". The High Court set aside that award, declaring him a workman, but the Supreme Court later allowed the corporation's appeal, reinstating the tribunal's de…

The appellant, Upendra Singh, was appointed as a Grade III non‑teaching staff member in a private college in 1978. After the college was taken over by the State Government and became a constituent college of Bihar University, he was absorbed but never received regular salary. He claimed entitlement to regularisation ba…

The National Highway Authority of India awarded a BOT concession to a concessionaire, which in turn engaged an EPC contractor who contracted with the respondent to execute highway works. The respondent sub‑contracted the work to the appellant. A dispute arose and the appellant sought arbitration, alleging that the arbi…

Pankaj Jain, accused in a CBI case involving serious offences under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, was issued a non‑bailable warrant and proceedings under sections 82 and 83 of the CrPC. He voluntarily appeared before the Special Judge, CBI, and sought release on a bond under section 88 of the Code of Cr…

The case involved the murder of a widow, Brijitha, during a robbery. Accused No.1 (the appellant) was living with the deceased and was arrested after giving a disclosure statement that led to the arrest of Accused No.2, who was later convicted of murder and robbery. The trial court acquitted Accused No.1, holding that …

The case arose from FIR 205/2015 alleging murder, attempted murder and offences under the Arms Act in a land‑dispute incident, with Resham Chand Kaler, a British national, alleged to be the kingpin. The trial court rejected his bail application, but the Punjab & Haryana High Court later granted regular bail. The compla…

On 3 August 2008, PW‑19 Birichram went to a neighbour's house for a child's birth celebration when the appellants, armed with battleaxes and sticks, threatened and assaulted him. The assault escalated, resulting in the deaths of three persons (Chedilal, Bablu, Bhuru) and injuries to two others, with weapons and blood‑s…

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged Nande (also known as Nandkishore Singh) with murder and attempted murder after he allegedly hurled a burning cow‑dung cake at women attending a marriage ceremony, causing severe burns that later led to the deaths of two victims. The trial court convicted him under Section 304 Part I …

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai filed a complaint under Section 354 read with Section 475A(1)(a) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act against respondents for failing to repair a structurally unsafe building. The Metropolitan Magistrate dismissed the complaint on the ground of a two‑month delay, dischargi…

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

The appellant, Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co‑operative Ltd., issued a tender for defoamers which was won by the respondent, Bhadra Products. After the respondent supplied the goods, a payment dispute arose and the parties went to arbitration. The sole arbitrator first decided the issue of limitation, holding the claim w…

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) entered into a 2011 agreement with SMS AAMW Tollways Private Ltd for toll tax collection, which included Clause 16 detailing a two‑stage dispute‑resolution mechanism: first to a Competent Officer and then an appeal to the Commissioner. After a loss of about Rs 80 crore due t…

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) appealed against a Madras High Court order that awarded four grace marks for each of 49 mistranslated Tamil questions in the NEET‑UG 2018 exam, benefitting about 24,000 candidates. The High Court had held that the Tamil translations were ambiguous and that the students la…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the sealing of an illegal dairy in Gokalpur, Delhi, which was ordered by the Veterinary Services Department of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. The seal was broken by elected Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari, leading…

The appellant, a government medical officer, was charged under Section 376(2)(b) IPC, Section 420 IPC read with Section 34, and Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act after a widow nurse alleged that he had a consensual relationship and failed to marry her. The appellant sought quashing of the FIR and charge sheet under Sect…

The case involved a protracted matrimonial dispute between Dr. Benoy Idicula Babu and Dr. Nisha Saira Benoy, with multiple civil, criminal and passport matters pending in various courts. The Supreme Court, after directing court‑assisted mediation, facilitated a settlement and considered the parties’ application for div…

The appellant, a former Railway Train Examiner who retired in 1991, claimed that his pension should be calculated on the revised pay scale of Rs.5000-8000 (Junior Engineer Grade‑II) rather than the replacement scale of Rs.4500-7000 applicable to the Train Examiner post. The dispute centered on two Government Office Mem…

The dispute concerned the execution of a works contract which was referred to an arbitrator who awarded in favour of M/s Lion Engineering Consultants. The State of Madhya Pradesh challenged the award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and sought to amend its objections after three years, whi…

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

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

Essar Bulk Terminal Ltd. challenged a Gujarat Government notification expanding Hazira port limits under Section 5 of the Indian Ports Act, claiming it would affect land it had reclaimed for its captive jetty. The Supreme Court held that the notification was issued in public interest and was within the statutory power,…

The Supreme Court entertained applications seeking clarification of its earlier judgment (3 November 2017) that held engineering degrees awarded by deemed‑to‑be universities through distance education illegal. The applicants, who had obtained such degrees and subsequently secured employment or promotions, contended tha…

The appellant, a 29‑year‑old driver earning Rs 8,500 per month, was injured in a motor‑vehicle collision that left him with 75% permanent disability, causing loss of livelihood. He claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded a lump‑sum of Rs 7,00,000, which the Hi…

The dispute arose from an arbitral award dated 20 July 1984 under the Arbitration Act, 1940, which was made a rule of the court and later reduced in interest rate. The appellant sought execution of the award, and the State (respondent) deposited Rs 75,65,945, after which the executing court ordered the State to deposit…

An arbitral award dated 20 July 1984, made a rule of the court in 1986, was being executed when the State of Uttar Pradesh deposited Rs 75,65,945 and was later directed by the executing court to deposit an additional Rs 1,25,16,969.56, which the State objected to. The State filed a civil revision, and the High Court, i…

The appellant was declared elected as Ward Councilor on 28 January 2016. The first respondent filed an election petition under Section 176 of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act on 10 February 2016, withdrew it on 1 March 2016 and was given liberty to file a fresh petition, which she did on 2 March 2016—beyond the 30‑day pe…

M/s Sonell Clocks and Gifts Ltd. had an insurance policy covering its plant and machinery. Flood damage occurred on 4 August 2004, but the insurer was notified only on 30 November 2004, well beyond the 15‑day period required by Clause 6 of the policy. The insurer appointed a surveyor, whose report concluded that the cl…

The appellant, a developer, was ordered by the Bombay High Court to hand over eight flats and sixteen parking spaces to the plaintiff under a settlement agreement between the plaintiff and another respondent, even though the appellant had no direct contract with the plaintiff. The appellant challenged the High Court's …

The landlord filed an eviction suit under Section 13(1)(a) of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950 alleging the tenant had not paid rent from July 1981 to June 1984. The trial court decreed eviction without first fixing provisional rent as required by Section 13(3). The tenant appealed, argui…

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

The Supreme Court, hearing a writ petition under Article 32, clarified the superannuation ages for members of several statutory tribunals. It held that a member of the Central Sales Tax Tribunal (CESTAT) shall serve until the age of 62 years, while the President may serve until 65 years. Similarly, a member of the Inco…

The Supreme Court examined whether clause 7 of a Contractor's All Risk insurance policy constituted a valid arbitration clause. The clause stipulated that arbitration would apply only if the insurer admitted liability and a dispute arose over the quantum payable. The insurer, United India Insurance, had repudiated the …

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

The case involved the murder of Chander Bhan, an election agent of a losing candidate, allegedly killed by supporters of the same candidate to frame the winning candidate in a false case. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including an extra‑judicial confession, forensic recovery of a gun and pellets, a…

The auction of an immovable property was held on 14 February 2013, where the appellant was the highest bidder and paid the required earnest money and 25% of the sale price. The secured creditor confirmed the sale by letter on 27 February 2013, after which the appellant deposited the remaining 75% on 13 March 2013, with…

The State of Uttar Pradesh charged Om Pal and two others with murder under Sections 302 and 34 IPC for the death of Mahipal on 25‑03‑1993. The trial court convicted them based primarily on the testimony of the complainant (PW‑1) and two eyewitnesses (PW‑2 and PW‑3). On appeal, the Allahabad High Court acquitted the acc…

The appellant challenged the election of respondent No.1 to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on the ground that the Returning Officer had improperly accepted the respondent's nomination form, which contained blank columns and lacked signatures on each page, violating the Representation of People Act, 1951. The r…

The petitioners, retired commissioned officers who left service before 1 January 1996, claimed entitlement to a higher pay scale (Lt Colonel or equivalent) under the Government Order dated 21 November 1997, which implemented the Fifth Pay Commission. The Armed Forces Tribunal had given conflicting rulings, some allowin…

Advanta India Ltd filed a complaint against advocate B.N. Shivanna alleging cheating, fraud and fabrication of documents, leading the Karnataka State Bar Council’s Disciplinary Committee to debar him for life. The Bar Council of India (BCI) on appeal reduced the punishment to 18 months, but Shivanna’s review petition u…

The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation dismissed driver Phool Chand for dereliction of duties. The Labour Court set aside the dismissal, modified the punishment, reinstated him and ordered full back wages for 13 years, a decision upheld by the High Court. The Supreme Court held that back wages are not a matter …

The employee M.L. Singla was dismissed by Punjab National Bank after a domestic enquiry that found him guilty of consuming liquor on duty and causing a cash shortage. He challenged the dismissal before the Labour Court, which set aside the dismissal and awarded 50% back wages, but the High Court reversed that award and…

Sharad Hiru Kolambe was convicted under several IPC provisions (364A, 395, 397, 387) and three provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and sentenced to imprisonment, hefty fines and default imprisonment for non‑payment of those fines. After serving the substantive term of 14 years, he was r…

The plaintiffs filed a civil suit in 1978 seeking declaration of title, a permanent injunction and possession of a property that had been attached by a City Magistrate on 23‑12‑1966. The trial court held the suit was within the limitation period and decreed in favour of the plaintiffs. The High Court reversed this, hol…

The appellants filed a suit for cancellation of a sale deed which was dismissed by the trial court and affirmed by two appellate courts. The parties later compromised, and the High Court disposed of the second appeal on that compromise. Defendant No.2 challenged the validity of the compromise, but the High Court dismis…

The Una Nagar Palika (municipality) refused to grant pension benefits to five former employees who had retired after more than ten years of service and were members of the Gujarat Government Pension Scheme (GPF). The employees filed petitions in the Gujarat High Court, which directed the municipality to pay the pension…

The State of Jharkhand's Public Health and Engineering Department dismissed 37 daily‑wage employees, prompting a reference under Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act to the Labour Court, which set aside the dismissals, ordered reinstatement and directed payment of full back wages. The employer challenged this awar…

The claimant, Sudarsan Puhan, suffered paraplegia after a motorcycle accident and obtained a compensation award of Rs.24,62,065 from the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Both the claimant and the insurer appealed to the Orissa High Court; the insurer's appeal was partially allowed, red…

A blast in the factory of M/s Kee Pharma Private Limited in Gurgaon on 27 June 1996 caused a stampede that killed seven workers. An FIR was lodged against the company’s shareholders/directors under Section 302 of the IPC, and the accused sought to quash the FIR by invoking Section 482 of the CrPC. The High Court partia…

Savatrm Rampratap Mills, a government-owned textile mill located in Akola, issued notices under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 to evict an alleged unauthorized occupant, directing the occupant to appear for proceedings in Mumbai. The occupant challenged the notices, arguing that sinc…

The appellants filed a writ petition in the Punjab & Haryana High Court seeking an ad‑interim stay of proceedings concerning a disputed parcel of land. The High Court rejected the stay on the ground that the land was vacant, without providing a detailed justification. The appellants appealed to the Supreme Court, conte…

The dispute arose between M/s Emkay Global Financial Services Ltd., a broker on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), and its client Giradhar Sondhi over securities transactions. An arbitration under NSE bye‑laws was held in Delhi, resulting in an award rejecting Sondhi’s claim. Sondhi filed a Section 34 application in th…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) employed 955 workers at its Chennai branch and disputed whether they were its employees or contract labourers hired through a cooperative society. The workers' union claimed they were permanent employees entitled to regularisation under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The matter w…

The appellants, who worked as clerical staff in the premises of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) since 1997, filed writ petitions seeking regularisation and absorption as FCI employees. FCI contended that the appellants were appointed by the Head Load Workers Co‑operative Society and not by FCI, thus no employer‑emp…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) was directed by an Industrial Tribunal in Chennai to regularise its workers after abolishing the contract labour system, an award that the Supreme Court later upheld. The workers' union filed writ petitions seeking a mandamus to extend the same regularisation benefits to employees wo…

M/s. Classic Binding Industries set up a manufacturing unit in Himachal Pradesh and claimed a 100% deduction under Section 80‑IC of the Income Tax Act for the first five assessment years (2006‑07 to 2010‑11). After completing those years, it claimed another 100% deduction for subsequent years, invoking "substantial exp…

The case concerned a sale of ancestral land by the father (Pritam Singh), who was the Karta of the Hindu joint family, to Tara Singh and Ajit Singh. The son, Kehar Singh, challenged the sale alleging that the father had no right to alienate the property without his consent and that there was no legal necessity. The def…

The case involved a US‑born minor girl, M, whose mother (the appellant) fled the United States with her to India and filed for divorce. The father (respondent No.2) obtained a US custody order and sought a writ of habeas corpus in Delhi to have the child returned to the US. The Delhi High Court ordered her return, but …

The State of Assam, in a boundary dispute with the State of Nagaland, sought the production of additional topographical maps from a Survey of India witness during the trial. An earlier order of the Court had already permitted the production of certain maps, but Assam required more documents that were not in its possess…

The appellant was detained under the National Security Act, 1980 on 12 July 2017, and the District Magistrate reported the detention to the State Government only on 17 July 2017, a five‑day delay. The petitioner challenged the detention on the ground that the report was not made "forthwith" as required by Section 3(4) …

Ashok Kumar, a 30‑year‑old salesman earning Rs 3,000 per month, died in a bus accident. His heirs filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded only Rs 50,000, while the High Court increased the award to Rs 3,98,500 but neither added a benefit for future pro…

Indian Bank granted a term loan to Yelagiri Dairy Farm and secured it by mortgaging 6.10 acres of land. When the loan became a non‑performing asset, the bank invoked the SARFAESI Act, took possession and sold the property. The borrowers contended that the land was agricultural and therefore exempt from the Act, while t…

Reliance Cellulose Products Ltd. and ONGC entered into a contract for supply of CMC. A dispute arose over the price, which was referred to arbitration. The arbitrator fixed a higher price and awarded pre‑reference, pendente‑lite and future interest at 18% per annum. The Civil Judge reduced the interest to 10% and the G…

The Currency Note Press, a government-owned corporation, was sued by 17 former employees who claimed overtime wages for work done between 1986 and 1990 under Section 33-C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court dismissed their applications, but the Bombay High Court set aside that order and granted th…

The father of 19‑year‑old Thushara filed a habeas‑corpus petition alleging that his daughter was being held in illegal custody by her husband, Nandakumar, who was allegedly under the marriageable age of 21 at the time of their ceremony. The Kerala High Court held that the marriage was not legally valid because the groo…

Apollo Zipper India Ltd., which became the absolute owner of a commercial premises after a series of statutory transfers, served a quit notice under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act to its tenant, W. Newman & Co. Ltd., demanding arrears and vacant possession. The tenant sought leave to defend the summary evi…

Canara Bank granted a loan to N.G. Subbaraya Setty, who signed an unregistered assignment deed transferring the trademark "Eenadu" to the bank as security. The bank later cancelled the deed, invoking the Banking Regulation Act, and both parties litigated in 2004 – the bank seeking to declare the deed void and the respo…

The appellants, ten candidates who qualified NEET, could not submit online applications for MBBS admission before the 9 September 2016 deadline due to a website glitch, but they possessed demand drafts dated before the cutoff. The college, following an order of the Admission Supervisory Committee (ASC) dated 22 Septemb…

The appellant, Dr. Subhash Kashinath Mahajan, a senior government official, was charged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for refusing sanction to prosecute two senior officers who had made adverse entries in his service record. He sought anticipatory bail and the quashing o…

Unsuccessful candidates of the 2010 Civil Services Preliminary Examination filed a writ petition under Art. 226 seeking the UPSC to disclose raw and scaled marks, cut‑off marks, scaling methodology, model answers and the complete result. The Delhi High Court, both Single and Division Benches, directed UPSC to provide t…

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) sought eviction of several respondents from a licensed premises under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. The Estate Officer ordered eviction; the respondents appealed to the Appellate Officer, identified as the District Judge/Principal Judge…

The appellant, Shamim, was convicted for the murders of Pappu and Anisha under Sections 302, 307 and 34 of the IPC after the High Court reversed her trial‑court acquittal. The prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of the appellant's own daughter, who alleged that her mother had threatened the family and later adm…

The petitioner, an Indian shipping company, entered into an agency agreement with a Bangladeshi shipping firm. The petitioner alleged breach of the agreement and claimed a sum of USD 134,875.88. The agreement contained a clause stating that any dispute not settled amicably shall be resolved by arbitration governed by I…

The Himachal Pradesh Government advertised a vacancy for a part‑time female member of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. A Selection Committee, chaired by the Commission President and comprising two Principal Secretaries, interviewed candidates and prepared a panel based solely on performance, placing Su…

Janabai, a member of the Gram Panchayat Kalamba (Mahali), was challenged for continuing in office because her husband and father‑in‑law had encroached on government land since 1981 and she was using the land. The question was whether Section 14(1)(j‑3) of the Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act, 1958 disqualifies a membe…

Paradeep Phosphates Ltd., a public sector undertaking, raised the retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60 years in 1998 on a government directive to curb losses. When the financial situation did not improve, the government ordered a rollback to 58 years in 2001, and the company withdrew the earlier order in 2002 …

The appellants, a sandalwood oil business, were seized of 125 kg of sandalwood oil by police and the Divisional Forest Officer ordered its confiscation under Section 69 of the Kerala Forest Act, 1961. The High Court upheld the confiscation, treating it as if it were made under Section 61A, which authorises confiscation…

Mahaveer Kumar Jain, a resident of Rajasthan, won a Rs.20 lakh prize in the 1986 Sikkim State lottery. The prize was taxed at source under the Sikkim State Income Tax Rules, 1948, and Jain claimed a deduction under Section 80TT of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Assessing Officer and subsequent authorities held that the …

M/s Essel Infra Projects Ltd. appealed against the State of Madhya Pradesh seeking directions for speedy disposal of proceedings under the Madhya Pradesh Madhyastham Adhikaran Adhiniyam, 1983, alleging that tribunal cases were taking up to five years. The Supreme Court examined the object of the legislation, which is t…

The Union of India contracted with M/s Varindera Constructions for residential construction, incorporating Clause 19 (no escalation reimbursement) and Clause 6.3 (no claim for excess wages) in the agreement. During performance, the Haryana government raised the minimum wages, and the contractor sought reimbursement for…

The appellants, daughters of the late T.G. Basuvan, filed a suit for partition and possession of ancestral lands that had been leased and later sold by their brother, the respondent. The trial court dismissed the suit, holding the daughters were not entitled to partition, a decision upheld by the High Court. The Suprem…

The case concerned an election to the Thiruvalla East Cooperative Bank Ltd., where the petitioners challenged the exclusion of a large number of members from the voters list and the conduct of the election. The High Court, invoking its power under Article 226, extended the one‑month period prescribed by Section 69(3) o…

The Supreme Court examined petitions filed under Article 32 seeking an inquiry into the death of Judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, who died on 1 December 2014 while presiding over the Sohrabuddin case. The petitioners relied on media reports alleging foul play and questioned the conduct of the judges who accompanied the …

The appellant, a chief executive trustee of a charitable trust, was accused by a fellow trustee of defrauding the trust, leading to the registration of an FIR against the appellant, the trust treasurer and three bank officials. The appellant subsequently lodged a separate FIR against the treasurer alleging fraud and fo…

The case involved a dispute between ITC Limited, the auction purchaser of a five‑star hotel, and Blue Coast Hotels Ltd., the original borrower, under the SARFAESI Act. The borrower argued that the creditor (IFCI) violated s.13(3A) by not replying to its representation for loan rescheduling and that the inclusion of agr…

The Supreme Court heard a writ petition filed by the National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour (NCC‑CL) seeking effective implementation of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 (BOCW Act) and the Building and Other Co…

The Supreme Court examined a second appeal filed under Section 100 of the CPC by Siri Bhagwan against a decree favoring Murti Devi's heirs. The Punjab & Haryana High Court allowed the appeal without hearing the contesting respondent (Surat Singh, appellant No.4) and framed the substantial question of law only in its fi…

The assessees, construction service providers, paid service tax under Notification 15/2004‑ST, which levies tax at 33% of the gross amount charged for construction services. In several projects the service recipients supplied certain materials (e.g., steel, cement) free of charge. The Revenue argued that the value of t…

The parents of Deepak, a 29‑year‑old assistant teacher who died in a bus‑truck collision, filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs 61.20 million using a multiplier of 17 based on the deceased’s age, plus conventional heads. The Bombay…

The widowed wife of Om Prakash, who died in a road accident on 12‑08‑1995 when his truck was struck by Truck No. DIL‑5955, filed a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The offending truck was comprehensively insured by National Insurance Co. Ltd. (respondent No.2). The Motor Accident Claims Tribun…

The appellant, Atul Thakur, attacked Hitesh Thakur with a knife during a sudden quarrel at a drink party, inflicting six injuries that later caused Hitesh's death. The trial court convicted him of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part‑II IPC and sentenced him to five years' rigorous imprisonm…

The appellant's 20‑year‑old son died in a road accident and the claim for compensation was filed before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). The Tribunal rejected the father's income certificates claiming the deceased earned Rs 15,000 per month and instead fixed his income at Rs 6,000 per month, applying a multip…

The case involved a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act after a tractor allegedly ran over Ram Kanwar, resulting in his death. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal had awarded Rs. 21,38,000 to the claimants, finding the tractor driver negligent, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court reversed the award, ho…

The deceased, a 24‑year‑old self‑employed motorcyclist, was killed when his bike was struck by a car driven by respondent No.3. The father and sister of the deceased filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation, which was initially awarded by the MACT at Rs.3,39,208. The Punjab & Har…

Mahabir Industries, a polythene manufacturer in Himachal Pradesh, claimed tax deductions under Section 80‑IA for two years, then under Section 80‑IB for five years, and after a substantial expansion in AY 2006‑07, under Section 80‑IC. The Assessing Officer allowed the 100% deduction for AY 2006‑07 and 2007‑08 but denie…

The appellant, a partnership firm engaged in coal and sand transportation, was penalised by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged collusion in tenders. The firm appealed the CCI order under Section 53B of the Competition Act, 2002 and sought a stay of the penalty, which the Appellate Tribunal granted co…

The Supreme Court examined the chronic shortage of infrastructure in consumer dispute redressal fora across India, including inadequate posts, space, and remuneration at the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). It directed the Union Government to frame model rules within four months to ensure unifor…

The State by Lokayuktha Police appealed against the Karnataka High Court's order quashing FIRs filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act against H. Srinivas and others on the ground that the police had conducted a preliminary enquiry without recording it in the General Diary. The Supreme Court examined whether a pre…

Lt. Col. Vijaynath Jha, a commissioned officer of the Indian Army, was seconded to the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) for two years. After the tenure he applied for permanent secondment, but the Quality Assurance Selection Board (QASB) found him unfit and the Ministry of Defence rejected his complaint.…

The Supreme Court heard contempt petitions filed by the State of Tamil Nadu (and a private party) alleging that the Union of India had failed to frame a Cauvery water‑management scheme within the six‑week period ordered by the Court. The Court examined objections raised by Karnataka and Kerala to certain clauses of the…

The case concerned whether an Industrial Tribunal or Labour Court loses its jurisdiction to set aside an ex‑parte award once the award becomes enforceable under Section 17A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The appellant, Haryana Suraj Malting Ltd., sought to have an ex‑parte award against workman Phool Chand recal…

The petitioners, SwaraJ Abhiyan (VI), challenged the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, alleging that the Central Government’s fixation of an ‘approved labour budget’ arbitrarily reduced funds to States, caused delays in wage payments and denied compensation, and that so…

The appellants, Meenakshi Saxena and others, purchased an export insurance policy from ECGC Ltd. The policy required the insurer to pay 90% of the loss in Indian rupees, converting the foreign currency at the bank buying rate in Mumbai on the date of shipment (clause 17). The District Forum and State Commission held th…

The petitioner, a Food Safety Officer, was named in an FIR concerning illegal manufacture and sale of gutkha and pan masala. The Madras High Court issued a writ of mandamus directing the investigation to be transferred from the State Vigilance Commission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The petitioner chal…

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, a society that had established Cluny Women’s College as a secular institution, later applied to the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) for a minority status certificate, which was granted in 2007. The society and the college’s governing body subsequentl…

Seema Singh, the mother of Sara Singh, filed a criminal complaint alleging that her son‑in‑law (respondent No.2) murdered his wife and staged the incident as a road accident. The case was transferred to the CBI, which produced expert reports from CRRI, AIIMS, CFSL and IIT. The High Court of Allahabad granted bail to th…

The State of Madhya Pradesh and others filed a civil appeal (No. 4016 of 2018) challenging the High Court's dismissal of a revision petition filed by M/s Keti Construction. The appeal hinged on the applicability of a precedent set in Va Tech Escher Wyass Flovel Ltd. v. MPSE Board, which the High Court had relied upon. …

Commander Ravindra V. Desai was convicted by a court‑martial of making obscene telephone calls to the wives of three naval officers, resulting in dismissal from service and forfeiture of 24 months' seniority. The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) upheld the conviction on seven charges but substituted the dismissal with loss …

The appellants, claiming ownership of about 500 square yards of land in Survey No.87, Hyderabad, filed several civil suits after the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982 came into force, alleging encroachment by the respondents. All those civil suits were dismissed, after which the appellants approached…

The parents of a 25‑year‑old widowed engineer who died in a motor accident claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Tribunal awarded Rs.15,71,000, applying a 100% increase for future income rise, a one‑third deduction for personal expenses, and a multiplier of 16. The Gujarat High Court altered the award …

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by the Madhya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority challenging a High Court order that had invoked Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to adjudicate a dispute. The dispute concerned the applicability of the Madhya Pradesh Madhyastham Adhikaran Adhiniyam, 1…

Puri Constructions entered into a 1984 agreement to construct an assembly building in Madhya Pradesh. A dispute led the Delhi High Court to appoint an arbitrator who rendered an award in 1989, which was later made a rule of court and executed in 1991. The appellant appealed the execution, and the Delhi High Court linke…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by M/s Gangotri Enterprises Ltd. against the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation concerning the interpretation of the Madhya Pradesh Madhyastham Adhikaran Adhiniyam, 1983. The Court clarified that the term “ascertained money” in Section 2(d) includes not only amounts alrea…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that relied on an earlier judgment concerning the jurisdiction of arbitration tribunals under the Madhya Pradesh Madhyastham Adhikaran Adhiniyam, 1983. The Supreme Court observed that the earlier High Court judgment had been overrule…

The Madhya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority filed a civil appeal against Backbone Enterprises Limited challenging the High Court's order that relied on the Va Tech judgment to decide the jurisdiction of the arbitration tribunal. The Supreme Court observed that the Va Tech decision (Va Tech Escher Wyass Flovel L…

The State of Chhattisgarh appealed against an order of the High Court that had directed the parties to approach the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for resolution of a dispute with M/S KMC Construction Limited. The Supreme Court examined whether the Madhya Pradesh Madhyastham Adhikaran Adhiniyam, 1983 (MP Act) c…

The case concerned the murder of Sanjay Sorle at a marriage ceremony, for which eleven persons were charged, including appellants A‑3 (Suresh) and A‑5 (Shanker). The trial court convicted the five remaining accused under Sections 148, 149 and 302 of the IPC, a decision affirmed by the High Court. On appeal, the Supreme…

National Travel Services, a partnership firm, obtained a loan from Jetair Private Ltd and subscribed to its equity in the names of two partners, who were registered shareholders holding 48.19% of the shares but held them for the benefit of the firm. The firm challenged whether Section 2(22)(e) of the Income Tax Act, as…

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEB) awarded a contract to Datar Switchgear Ltd. (DSL) for installing Low Tension Load Management Systems. MSEB repeatedly failed to provide the list of locations (DTC lists) required for installation and also delayed renewal of the Letter of Credit. DSL terminated …

The petitioners, students from Assam, challenged Rule 3(1)(c) of the 2017 Rules governing admission to first‑year MBBS/BDS courses, which required candidates to have studied in Assam from class VII to XII, with relaxations only for children of government employees posted outside the state. They argued that the rule vio…

The case concerned whether the Central Government could appoint a team of medical inspectors to inspect homoeopathy colleges, or whether that power lay exclusively with the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) under the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973. The High Court was divided: a Single Bench held that the powe…

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) terminated the dealership of T. Natarajan for alleged breaches, leading to arbitration which upheld the termination but gave the dealer liberty to seek reconsideration. The dealer filed a representation for restoration, which IOC rejected; the dealer then filed a writ petition. The Sing…

The husband filed a divorce petition on grounds of cruelty and desertion, which was dismissed by the Family Court. The High Court later set aside that order and granted an ex parte divorce decree in favor of the husband without hearing the wife. The wife appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing prejudice due to the lack …

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Art. 32 filed by a social activist seeking directions to curb cow‑vigilantism, lynching and mob violence. It held that such acts are unlawful, violate fundamental rights and the State has a constitutional duty to protect life and human dignity. The Court issued compre…

The State of Gujarat prosecuted two junior clerks for demanding and accepting a bribe in a trap operation to expedite a non‑agricultural land conversion. The complainant testified that J.D. Patel demanded Rs 1,000 (settled at Rs 500) and directed the complainant to hand the money to Navinbhai Joshi, whose shirt pocket …

The accused, a film producer, was charged with rape, kidnapping, criminal intimidation, and related offences under the IPC. He had earlier obtained anticipatory bail, which was cancelled for not disclosing a pending 2G Spectrum case, but later secured regular bail under Section 439 of the CrPC by the High Court. The ap…

The bank created an equitable mortgage over a flat by taking a loan from the directors of Allwyn Alloys. When the loan defaulted, the DRT and DRAT upheld the bank’s security and rejected the claim of the flat’s occupants (respondents 5 and 6) who relied on a later unregistered MOU. The High Court, however, set aside th…

Kiran Pal Singh, the Pramukh of a Kshettra Panchayat in Uttar Pradesh, challenged a second notice of a no‑confidence motion issued by the Collector, arguing that Section 15(12) of the Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats Act, 1961 barred any subsequent notice within a year of the first notice. The High…

Writers and Publisher Ltd (WPL) was the highest bidder for the revival of the cooperative Super Bazar and infused funds, including share capital, as directed by the Supreme Court. The revival could not be effected, and the Court ordered that WPL be refunded its entire investment with 6% per annum interest, subject only…

The Kerala Assistant Public Prosecutors Association appealed to the Supreme Court seeking parity in retirement age with Public Prosecutors, arguing that both categories perform similar duties and that the former should retire at 60 years like the latter. The High Court had rejected this claim, holding that the modes of…

The claimants filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation after a truck, allegedly without a valid permit, struck a motorcycle on 19‑02‑2013, causing the rider's death. The insurer contended that the vehicle was unpermitted and the driver unlicensed, invoking Section 149(2) to deny lia…

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a penalty of Rs. 1 crore on Thomas Cook India Ltd., Thomas Cook Insurance Services India Ltd., and Sterling Holiday and Resorts India Ltd. for failing to notify certain market purchase transactions under section 6(2) of the Competition Act, 2002. The respondents had ear…

The landlord filed an eviction suit under Section 20(2)(a) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972 for non‑payment of rent. The trial court and the revisional court decreed eviction. The tenant appealed, contending that he was entitled to the relief of Section 20(4), wh…

The husband, a U.S. citizen, filed a petition under Sections 13 and 26 of the Hindu Marriage Act in the Gurgaon Family Court seeking divorce, while the wife filed a divorce petition in a Florida court on grounds not available under Indian law. The husband then sued in the Gurgaon court for a permanent anti‑suit injunct…

The husband filed a petition under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1954, seeking divorce on grounds of desertion and cruelty, and the Family Court granted the divorce while ordering him to pay permanent alimony of Rs.15,00,000 to his wife. The husband appealed the alimony award to the High Court, which dismissed …

SCM Solifert Ltd. and another acquired 24.46% of Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd. (MCFL) in 2013 and an additional 1.7% in 2014, bringing their holding to 25.3%. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) held that the appellants failed to give prior notice of the proposed combination under Section 6(2) of the C…

The Union introduced a Limited Competitive Examination (LCE) in 2012 to recruit officers to the Indian Police Service (IPS) but never declared the results. In 2018 the Union decided to scrap the LCE, prompting candidates who had appeared for the exam to seek declaration of results and appointment. The Supreme Court hel…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed against the High Court's acquittal of Trilok Chand and another accused who had been convicted under Section 20 of the NDPS Act for possession of charas. The trial court had sentenced them to ten years' rigorous imprisonment, but the High Court set aside the conviction, citing disc…

The Central Excise Department appealed a CESTAT order that allowed M/s. Vasavadatta Cements Ltd. to claim CENVAT credit for transportation tax paid on moving finished goods from the place of removal to depots or buyers. The dispute centered on the interpretation of "input service" under Rule 2(1) of the CENVAT Credit R…

The case arose from a series of power‑tariff rebate notifications issued by the Government of Goa, some of which were allegedly promulgated without Cabinet approval. The appellant‑Minister of Power, the Chief Electrical Engineer and senior officials of two private companies were accused of conspiring to grant a 25% reb…

The Supreme Court, hearing United Biotech Private Ltd's application, modified its earlier judgment dated 29 November 2017 concerning the interpretation of the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958. The order substituted specific wording in paragraphs 13, 14 and 37 to correctly refer to the parties and the civil appeals…

Santosh Kumar was convicted under Section 55(a) of the Kerala Abkari Act for the illegal seizure of spirit, along with two co‑accused, and was sentenced by the Sessions Court to five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1 lakh. The Kerala High Court upheld the conviction but reduced the imprisonment term to …

The claimants, the wife and two minor children of a deceased bus passenger, filed a claim petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 against the insurer, driver and owner of the offending truck, seeking compensation for death. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal dismissed the petition on the ground that …

The plaintiff, Shri Hanuman Deosthan, a public trust registered under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, sued the defendants for possession of House No.878 in Circle No.3, claiming it was trust property. The trial court decreed possession in favour of the trust, but the first appellate court reversed, finding the…

The appellant claimed title to a suit property through respondent No.4, alleging that a sale certificate issued by the Custodian of Evacuee Property under the 1950 Act was genuine, while respondent No.3 had obtained a sale certificate from the Managing Officer under the Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitatio…

The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India filed a complaint against Chartered Accountant Gurvinder Singh for allegedly selling 100 shares and transferring them to his own name, an act that was settled between the parties but nevertheless proceeded before the Disciplinary Committee. The Committee fo…

The plaintiff filed two suits for specific performance against Charanjeet Singh Rekhi (deceased) and his wife Manjit Kaur, claiming they were parties to a sale agreement. Two other individuals, also named Charanjeet Singh Rekhi from Moradabad and Uttarakhand, filed Interlocutory Applications asserting that they were th…

The State of Karnataka appealed the acquittal of accused No.2 (P. Ravi Kumar) and accused No.3 (D.B. Savitha) in a murder case where the deceased, Mohan Kumar, was allegedly killed by a conspiracy involving accused No.1, accused No.2, and accused No.3, who were said to have an illicit relationship. The trial court had …

The appellant was convicted under Section 18 of the NDPS Act for possession of 4 kg of opium seized by a police Sub‑Inspector (PW‑1) who also acted as the informant. The investigation was riddled with irregularities: the informant‑officer retained the seized narcotics in private custody, failed to deposit them in the p…

The case concerned the computation of dearness relief (DA) on pension for United Bank of India retirees. The retirees argued that the bank’s practice of granting a higher, tapering DA rate to those who retired before 1 Nov 2002 and a lower flat rate of 0.18% to post‑Nov 2002 retirees was arbitrary and violated the 1993…

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals filed by R. Balakrishna Bhat and others against Bank of Baroda, holding that the controversy over pension and dearness allowance was identical to that decided in Union Bank of India v. United Bank of India Retirees’ Welfare Associations. The Court noted that the High Court's deci…

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), a State Transport Undertaking (STU), sought to enforce a scheme notified under Sections 99 and 100 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 that gave it exclusive rights on the Angamaly‑Perumbavoor route, a notified route. Private operator Baby P.P. applied to the Regional Tr…

The case concerned an attack in which three persons were killed and five injured, allegedly committed by a group of seventeen accused. The Sessions Court convicted four accused and acquitted the rest, but the charges were found to be improperly framed under CrPC sections 211‑213, lacking specific allegations for each d…

The petitioners, IBI Consultancy India Private Limited and its parent IBI Group, entered into six contracts with DSC Limited for toll and traffic management systems on two highway projects. The contracts contained an arbitration clause stipulating that disputes be referred to an independent arbitrator in Delhi. After t…

The State of Haryana acquired 46 acres of land in Firozpur village for a Mini Secretariat under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The initial award valued the land at Rs 16 lakhs per acre, but a reference court enhanced the valuation to Rs 72 lakhs per acre and imposed a 60% deduction for development and waiting period, …

The Tamil Nadu government acquired 4.63 acres of Manimegalai's land for house sites for landless Adi Dravidians. The Land Acquisition Officer awarded Rs. 400 per cent, which the appellant challenged. A reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act resulted in a Subordinate Judge fixing compensation at Rs. 2,50…

Mohd. Ali was employed as a casual labourer on a muster‑roll at an agricultural seed farm from 1980 to 1991, completing the statutory 240 days of work only in the years 1980‑1982 and 1986‑1989. He ceased work in 1991 without informing his employer. In 2005 he sought relief under Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Ac…

Four joint owners of agricultural land agreed to sell their shares to two co‑owners, but two owners died and the widow (Respondent No.3) recorded her husband's share in her name. The remaining co‑owners executed a sale deed in favour of the plaintiffs (Respondents Nos.1 & 2) and took possession of the land, while Respo…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of a driver, John Bosco, and his companion Madhan, based largely on circumstantial evidence, including the testimony of a taxi driver who claimed to have last seen the accused with the victims, a retracted confession by one accused, and the recovery of a mobile phone and cam…

The Supreme Court dismissed a civil appeal filed by Lok Prahari challenging amendments to the Salaries, Allowances and Pensions of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 that grant pension, family pension and travel facilities to ex‑MPs and their spouses/companions. The petitioners argued that Parliament lacked competence to …

The second respondent lodged a complaint under Section 498A IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act against her husband and his parents. The accused filed an application under Section 205 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking exemption from personal appearance, citing the 1,750 km distance between their resi…

Bimal Gurung, president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking the transfer of investigation of all FIRs (over 100 cases) lodged against him and other GJM members to an independent agency such as the CBI or NIA, alleging political bias and threat to life. The State of West Bengal …

The petitioner, Ganga Malik, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the State of West Bengal to protect her life, expedite the trial of the case in which her son, Sub‑Inspector Amitava Malik, was killed, and pay compensation for the loss. The petition alleged that the accused had fired on t…

The Supreme Court examined petitions challenging the 2015 Delhi Judicial Service Examination, where petitioners sought re‑valuation of answer sheets, moderation of marks, relaxation of minimum qualifying percentages in written papers and viva voce, and rounding‑off of aggregate marks. The Court held that moderation is …

The appellant, Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd., challenged the respondent GMR Vemagiri Power Generation Ltd.'s use of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) originally amended to specify "fuel" as "natural gas only". The Supreme Court examined whether the term "fu…

The appellants, managers of private aided schools, challenged the Kerala government's decision to take over their schools under Section 15 of the Kerala Education Act, 1958, arguing that the schools had already been closed and that the provision conflicted with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Ac…

The Mahant of a temple (appellant) owned a portion of Plot No. 212/2, while Deoki Devi (respondent) owned Plot No. 319. During consolidation proceedings the appellant was allotted land in Plots 212/2, 215 and 216, and a front portion of Plot 212/2 was designated as bachat land for the Gaon Sabha. Bansi Ballabh, owner o…

The petitioner obtained an interim injunction restraining the respondent from constructing on disputed Plot No. 212/2. Despite the order, the respondent erected a structure, leading to a contempt petition in 2010, after which she demolished the building and gave an undertaking not to rebuild. In 2017 a second contempt …

The appellant vendors entered into an agreement to sell land to the respondent purchaser in 1986, with a clause requiring the vendors to obtain a no‑objection certificate and an income‑tax clearance certificate before execution. The purchaser paid an advance but failed to deposit the balance consideration, and the vend…

On 27 January 2009, police stopped a car on the Manali‑Kullu highway and recovered a rucksack containing 18.85 kg of cannabis. The accused, Pardeep Kumar and another, were convicted under Section 20 read with Section 29 of the NDPS Act. The High Court acquitted them, holding that the prosecution failed to examine indep…

The appellants were convicted under Section 396 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for dacoity with murder after a robbery at a pawn‑broking shop in 2002, during which one victim was strangled. The trial court sentenced them to ten years' rigorous imprisonment, but the High Court enhanced the sentence to lif…

Ex‑Lt Col R.K. Rai, commissioned in 1982, developed primary hypertension that the Medical Board attributed to stresses of military service and was assessed at 30% disability. He took premature voluntary retirement in July 2003 and later applied to the Armed Forces Tribunal for a disability pension. The Tribunal rejecte…

The petition challenged the constitutional validity of Section 21A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, which bars courts from reopening bank loan transactions on the ground of excessive interest. The petitioners argued that the provision violated Article 14 and undermined State Debt Relief Acts that provide relief to …

The State of Himachal Pradesh sought permission to carry out silvicultural felling of Chil Pine, Khair and broad‑leaved forests up to 1,500 metres above sea level, arguing that limited felling is necessary for regeneration. The Supreme Court had earlier, by its 12‑December‑1996 and 14‑February‑2000 orders, imposed a bl…

Lok Prahari, a registered society, filed a writ petition alleging that several members of Parliament and State Legislatures had amassed assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, seeking greater transparency and possible disqualification. The Court examined whether undue accretion of assets could be made…

The Supreme Court considered a contempt petition (Civil) No. 225 of 2013 filed by the State of Tamil Nadu against the Chief Minister of Karnataka and others, arising out of the inter‑state Cauvery water dispute. The petition sought to hold the respondents in contempt for allegedly violating the earlier judgment in Civi…

The Supreme Court adjudicated appeals against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's 2007 award allocating waters of the inter-State river Cauvery among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. The Court upheld the Tribunal's adoption of the principle of equitable apportionment as recognized in international rules…

Anand Kumar Mohatta and his wife entered into a 1993 development agreement with Ansal Properties, under which the developer deposited Rs.1 crore as a security to be refunded upon handing over possession. The agreement became impossible to perform due to new building regulations, and the Mohattas retained the security w…

The case concerned a parcel of land that formed part of the Chinneri tank bund, leased intermittently by the predecessor S. Vijayaranga Mudaliar and later purchased by P. C. Pachiappan. The plaintiff sought declaration of title and a permanent injunction against the State of Tamil Nadu, Salem Municipality and Anna Tran…

U.P. Jal Nigam (appellant) had declared the appointments of 122 candidates void on 11 August 2017, but the Allahabad High Court set aside that order, holding it violated natural justice and that the authority had not distinguished between tainted and untainted candidates. The High Court granted the appellant liberty to…

The appellant, Dr. Nagorao Shivaji Chavan, challenged his transfer to the post of Civil Surgeon, Jalgaon, arguing that the order violated the three‑year normal tenure prescribed under the Maharashtra Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act, 2005. The respo…

The case arose from a long-standing land dispute in Himachal Pradesh where the deceased, Prem Dass, was attacked by a group of seven accused while returning from a nearby village. The assault with weapons caused a scalp injury that later led to hemorrhage and death. The trial court convicted all seven under Sections 30…

The Supreme Court examined the recruitment process for the Punjab Superior Judicial Service conducted under the 2007 Rules, where candidates appeared for a written test and viva‑voce. The appellants, all General‑category candidates, claimed they were unfairly excluded after the merit list was altered post‑viva, and arg…

The appellant, Khurshid Ahmed, was accused of assaulting Arshad Sajad with an iron rod, causing a fatal head injury. The victim’s father (PW‑9) testified that the assault stemmed from a payment dispute in which the accused acted as guarantor. The trial court acquitted the accused, finding the sole eyewitness testimony …

In 1988 a road‑rage incident in Patiala resulted in the death of Gurnam Singh after alleged fist blows by Navjot Singh Sidhu (A‑1). Rupinder Singh Sandhu (A‑2) was also alleged to have been present. The Sessions Court acquitted both accused; the Punjab & Haryana High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting them under …

The case concerned a suit for redemption of mortgaged lands where the plaintiffs sought partition of the mortgaged properties. The second defendant, Gopalakrishnan Nair, claimed ownership of an adjoining parcel identified as old Survey No. 988 and repeatedly objected that it should be excluded from the suit property. T…