Judgments of 2019

The appellant purchased a motor vehicle at an auction from a bank that had lifted its hypothecation lien and paid the insurance premium to the insurer, which issued a policy in the name of the original owner but also listed the appellant’s address. The vehicle was stolen shortly after purchase, and the insurer denied t…

The plaintiff filed a suit for specific performance of a contract dated 08‑08‑1984, which the trial court decreed in his favour. The first appellate court reversed that decree, dismissing the suit, and the plaintiff appealed to the High Court. The High Court dismissed the second appeal, holding that it did not raise an…

The appellant, a former director of Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd., challenged the refusal of the resolution professional to furnish resolution plans and related documents to members of the suspended Board of Directors during the corporate insolvency resolution process. The Supreme Court examined the statutory scheme under…

The Uttar Pradesh government revised the category‑wise vacancy numbers for the Technical Assistant Group‑C recruitment after discovering that diploma holders had been wrongly counted against the OBC quota. The revised requisition (20‑08‑2014) and the UPPSC Office Memorandum (12‑10‑2014) were used to conduct the written…

The appellant, K.H. Nazar, sought environmental clearance to operate a quarry on land that was originally a plantation. Respondents filed writ petitions contending that the land could not be used for quarrying because such land does not qualify as a "commercial site" under the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963, and therefo…

The appellant was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for two dishonoured cheques filed as a complaint on 4 November 2016. After the 2018 amendment inserting Section 143A, the trial court ordered the appellant to pay interim compensation of 20% of the cheque amounts, which the High Court reduced…

The appellant, a private hydel project developer, entered into an agreement with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to set up a 21 MW captive power plant and to receive free power, subject to KSEB constructing a transmission line. The plant was completed, but KSEB delayed the transmission line, preventing power …

The deceased, Lalita Bai, was burned to death after her sister‑in‑law, Kalabai, threw a burning kerosene stove at her during a domestic quarrel. The trial court convicted Kalabai of murder under Section 302 IPC based on the victim’s dying declaration, imposing life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court was asked t…

The appellant, a manager in Bank of Baroda, was charged with forgery and related offences for opening a fictitious savings account to encash a refund cheque. He filed an application under Section 197 of the CrPC seeking discharge on the ground that prosecution sanction was required, arguing that he was a public servant…

The appellants, members of the family of Nayan Chopra, were summoned under IPC sections 323, 504, 506 and 498A, and the Dowry Prohibition Act, after a complaint was filed by the victim's father following a divorce proceeding in the United States. The Allahabad High Court refused to quash the complaint under Section 482…

The State of Karnataka granted agricultural land to members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with a non‑alienation clause prohibiting transfer for fifteen years. After the period, the appellant purchased the lands from the original grantees, claiming that prior government permission was not required. The As…

The appellant, a law officer of Syndicate Bank, was repeatedly deputed to the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) and later applied for and was appointed as Presiding Officer of the DRT while still on deputation. He sought permission from the bank to take up the new post, but received no response for eleven months and consequ…

The appellant trade union filed a petition under Section 8 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 on behalf of about 3,000 workers seeking payment of outstanding dues from the respondent jute mill, which had been closed. The NCLT and subsequently the NCLAT dismissed the petition, holding that a trade union is not …

Snowtex Investment Ltd., a non‑banking financial company, incurred a loss from share trading in AY 2008‑09 and sought to set off that loss against profits earned from futures and options trading. The assessing officer treated the share‑trading loss as a speculation loss and disallowed the set‑off, holding that futures …

The Supreme Court examined the Central Government's order under Section 396 of the Companies Act, 1956 that compulsorily amalgamated 63 Moons Technologies Ltd. (FTIL) with its wholly‑owned subsidiary National Spot Exchange Ltd. (NSEL). The Court held that the order was ultra vires because the statutory conditions prece…

The appellants, a police driver and a singer, were convicted of gang rape of a 16‑year‑old girl and of criminal conspiracy under Sections 376(2)(g) and 120‑B IPC, receiving fifteen years and ten years rigorous imprisonment respectively, to run concurrently. They challenged the conviction on the ground that no charge wa…

The Anugraha Narayan Sinha Institute of Social Studies, incorporated under the 1964 Act, adopted a retirement benefit scheme in 1985 that it said would be funded from its own resources. The Institute's employees later sought a writ directing the State of Bihar to pay pension arrears after payments stopped in 2014. The …

The appellant purchased a hydraulic excavator in 2007 and insured it for Rs 46,56,600 for the period 22‑07‑2009 to 21‑07‑2010. The excavator was totally destroyed by fire in June 2010. While the insurer’s surveyor calculated depreciation from the original purchase price, the appellant’s surveyor deducted only 10% depre…

Ramesh Bishnoi was selected for the post of Sub‑Inspector in the CISF and disclosed an FIR from 2009 alleging offences under IPC sections 354, 447 and 509 that were committed when he was a minor. He was acquitted in 2011 due to lack of evidence, but the screening committee cancelled his appointment on the ground of the…

The Supreme Court examined three sets of appeals filed by Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd. (APTRANSCO) against orders of the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) fixing wheeling charges, grid support charges, and the continuation of incentives for non‑conventional energy. The Court he…

Alkem Laboratories Ltd, the marketer of a "sugarless" jelly manufactured by another company, was implicated after a food inspector seized samples from a retailer and a public analyst found sugar, constituting misbranding. The retailer later moved an application under Section 20A of the Prevention of Food Adulteration A…

The decree‑holders obtained possession of a suit property under a decree of specific performance. Respondent No.1 (Shamsher Singh) claimed he had acquired title by adverse possession and filed an application under Order XXI Rules 98‑100 of the CPC seeking to be put back into possession. The executing court rejected the…

The appellant, Rupa Roy, and her 10‑year‑old son were injured when a high‑speed van collided with their rickshaw van, leaving the son with a medically certified 70% permanent disability. She filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded a compensation of …

The Maharashtra Chess Association, a society affiliated to the All India Chess Federation, was disaffiliated by the Federation and filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court under Article 226 challenging the action. The Federation invoked Clause 21 of its Constitution and Bye‑laws, which stipulated that any suit ag…

The appellants, prospective buyers, entered into an agreement to purchase a 9,500‑sq‑yard plot with two godowns for Rs 99,84,500 and reported the transaction under s.269UC of the Income Tax Act. The Income Tax Department’s appropriate authority, after a valuation showing the market value to be about 15% higher than the…

The appellant, a Superintending Engineer, attended a private seminar in New Delhi and booked his air tickets through a travel agent of the successful bidder in a pending tender, later paying the fare himself. He was dismissed and penalised with permanent pension withholding and forfeiture of gratuity under the West Ben…

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) demanded Infrastructure & Amenities (I&A) charges and premium Floor Space Index (FSI) charges from Prestige Estates after it applied for planning permission for a multi‑storeyed building. The State Government later issued a G.O. increasing I&A rates by 50% and direc…

The respondents, seven accused persons, were charged with murder and several other offences for the killing of Sumit Kumar. Their bail applications were rejected by the Sessions Court but were later granted by the Allahabad High Court without recording any reasons. The complainant, father of the deceased, appealed to t…

The appellants were convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a dishonoured cheque. Their criminal complaints were filed before the amendment (effective 1 September 2018) that inserted Section 148, which empowers an appellate court to order the appellant to deposit at least 20% of the fi…

The appeal concerned an application for letters of administration under Section 228 of the Indian Succession Act filed by the respondent after a probate was granted in England. The appellants argued that the application was barred by the three‑year limitation period under Article 137 of the Limitation Act, contending t…

The father, Govind Singh, threw a burning chimney lamp at his daughter Lalita during a heated argument over a light bulb, causing severe burns that led to her death after seven days. The prosecution relied primarily on the daughter's dying declaration, as the eyewitnesses turned hostile, and secured a conviction for mu…

The appellant, Pattu Rajan, was convicted for the murder of his brother-in-law, Santhakumar, after a series of abductions and attempts to force the victim's wife, PW1, to become his third wife. The prosecution proved the murder through circumstantial evidence, including PW1's detailed testimony, corroboration by her mo…

The Union of India (appellant) and several contractors, including Parmar Construction Company (respondent), entered into railway construction contracts containing an arbitration clause (clause 64). After completing work, the contractors submitted final bills with a "No Claim" certificate, but later sought arbitration o…

Sunil Kumar Biswas and four other employees had worked for the Ordinance Factory Board for 25 years and sought regularisation of their services. They filed an original application before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which dismissed their claim, leading them to file a writ petition in the Calcutta High Cou…

The Union Government approved a greenfield international airport at Mopa, Goa, and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) granted environmental clearance (EC) under the 2006 notification after the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended it. Petitioners Hanuman Laxman Aroskar and the Federation of Rainbow W…

An FIR was lodged under several IPC sections and later under Section 3(ii) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The accused filed an anticipatory bail application, which the District Judge dismissed; the petitioner then approached the Madras High Court, but its registry ref…

The Union of India appealed against a High Court order that had upheld the jurisdiction of the Special Director (Appeals) under FEMA to hear appeals against an adjudication order passed under Section 51 of the repealed FERA. The adjudication order, dated 5 December 2003, imposed a penalty on Godrej Industries Ltd. and …

The Supreme Court considered whether a secured creditor, Kotak Mahindra Bank, could file a winding‑up petition under the Companies Act, 1956 after obtaining a decree and recovery certificate from the Debts Recovery Tribunal. The petitioners argued that Sections 17, 18 and 34 of the Recovery of Debts Act barred the wind…

The petitioners applied for direct recruitment to the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service (UPHJS) but were debarred because they exceeded the age ceiling prescribed in Rule 12 of the UP Higher Judicial Service Rules, 1975. They challenged the constitutional validity of Rule 8(1), which mandates recruitment at interva…

The landlord Harbans Kaur let two shops to Iqbal Singh in 1995 at Rs 8,500 per month with a contractual 10 % annual increase, which raised the rent to Rs 16,564 by 2003. The Rajasthan Rent Control Act, 2001 came into force on 1 April 2003. The landlord served a notice on 27 March 2004 demanding arrears of Rs 16,564 per…

The appellant, Poona Ram, sought to overturn a High Court judgment that had set aside a First Appellate Court order dismissing his suit for declaration of title and possession filed by Moti Ram. Moti Ram claimed possessory title based on alleged long possession but had no documentary title, while the defendants relied …

The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Gwalior issued an externment order under the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Suraksha Adhiniyam, 1990, against Dharmendra Rathore for a period of one year. The respondent challenged the order, contending that only a District Magistrate (DM) could exercise the powers conferred by Section…

The plaintiff, a minor represented by his father, filed a civil suit seeking a declaration that a gift deed concerning agricultural land was void and an injunction restraining the defendants from alienating the land. Simultaneously, the plaintiff had instituted a suit before the revenue court for a declaration of his k…

The appellant, R.R. Inamdar, a Scheduled Caste teacher, was promoted to the solitary post of Lecturer in English in a Karnataka school based on roster points. The senior fifth respondent, who was appointed earlier, challenged the appointment, arguing that reservation under Article 16(4) could not apply to a solitary po…

The Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd. (OFDC) issued an e‑tender for the sale of phal Kendu leaves. The successful bidder, M/s Anupam Traders, paid the provisional security deposit but failed to pay the additional security amount (25% of the purchase price) by the stipulated deadline, leading OFDC to cancel the…

The Roads and Buildings Department of Telangana floated a tender for construction of a BT road, requiring bidders to own a batch‑type hot‑mix plant within 100 km of the work site. The appellant, M/S N Ramachandra Reddy, submitted a certificate showing the plant at 99.05 km, while the fourth respondent complained that t…

The testator, Raja Sardar Singh, died in 1987 without apparent legal heirs and had executed a will bequeathing his assets to the Khetri Trust. The Trust sought probate, which was dismissed by the Delhi High Court, while agnates also objected. The Rajasthan Collector, after an inquiry, initiated escheat proceedings unde…

M/s Achal Industries, a manufacturer registered under the Karnataka Sales Tax Act, 1957, challenged turnover tax assessments for the years 1990‑91 to 1999‑2000, arguing that the tax should be levied on "taxable turnover" rather than "total turnover" as defined in Section 6‑B(1). The appellant contended that allowing de…

The Supreme Court examined six civil appeals arising from a batch of second appeals filed under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The Punjab & Haryana High Court had allowed the second appeals and altered the findings of the first appellate court without first framing any substantial question of law, as requi…

The appellant was convicted by a Judicial Magistrate under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for a cheque bounce, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment and a compensation of Rs. 3 lakh. The appellant appealed, and the appellate court set aside the conviction, remanding the matter to the magistrate for f…

Rajinder Tiwari filed a civil suit seeking a permanent injunction against Kedar Nath (deceased) over a property. The trial court denied the defendant the opportunity to file a written statement, barred him from presenting documentary evidence, and decreed the injunction in favour of the plaintiff. The defendant appeale…

United India Insurance Co. Ltd. settled two fire insurance claims of Antique Art Exports Pvt. Ltd. by issuing full and final discharge vouchers, which the claimant accepted without objection. Eleven weeks later, the claimant alleged that the settlement was obtained through fraud, coercion and undue influence and invoke…

The appellants, traders of cotton fabrics and made‑ups, supplied raw material to over 70 job workers and cleared goods worth more than Rs 1.45 crore without paying excise duty. The Revenue issued show‑cause notices alleging duty liability, arguing that under Rule 12B of the Central Excise Rules the traders are to be tr…

The parties entered into a ten‑year tenancy agreement for godowns that contained an arbitration clause. When the lease expired, the landlord sought possession and invoked the arbitration clause, appointing an arbitrator under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The tenant appealed, arguing that th…

The plaintiffs filed a suit for specific performance of a 1979 agreement to purchase a property from defendant Amar Nath, alleging they had paid earnest money and were ready to perform, but Amar Nath sold the property to other defendants at a higher price. The trial court dismissed the suit on the ground that Amar Nath…

The petition filed by advocate R. Muthukrishnan challenged the validity of the Madras High Court's amended Rules 14A‑14D, which purported to empower the High Court to debar advocates for various forms of professional misconduct. The core issue was whether Section 34 of the Advocates Act, 1961 authorises a High Court to…

Century Rayon Ltd (appellant) sought to erect 100 kV electricity transmission towers on land owned by IVP Ltd (first respondent) under a sanction from MSEDC. IVP Ltd filed a suit for permanent injunction alleging the contractors were excavating its land without permission. The trial court and High Court imposed a tempo…

The parties entered into a contract on 21‑12‑2010 that contained an arbitration clause. A dispute over payment and security deductions arose, and the contractor served a notice of arbitration on 09‑03‑2016, which the respondent ignored. The contractor then filed an application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Co…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of writ petitions filed by Hindustan Construction Company Ltd seeking to strike down Section 87 of the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the deletion of Section 26 of the 2015 Amendment, arguing that they revived an automatic‑stay of arbitral awards and removed th…

IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd imported a set of equipment for a cable TV "Head End" and declared the items individually under various tariff headings. The Customs Department alleged that the declaration was false, the goods were undervalued, and that software and related services, which were embedded in the equip…

The case arose from a violent incident that followed a failed Panchayat meeting intended to settle a family dispute. The victim, Saroja, was attacked by several accused who were armed with sickles, an iron pipe and wooden staffs; she died from a severe head wound. The High Court convicted A-1 and A-2 under Section 302 …

The State of Rajasthan charged Sahi Ram under Sections 8 and 15 of the NDPS Act for possession of 223 kg of poppy husk seized from his vehicle. The trial court convicted him, but the High Court acquitted on the ground that the entire bulk of contraband was not produced before the court, deeming the prosecution's eviden…

The case concerned agricultural land in Karnataka where the original tenant, Gutya, executed a Will bequeathing his tenancy rights to his brother Timma. After Gutya's death, Timma cultivated the land and later applied for occupancy rights under Section 48‑A of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961. The High Court reject…

The dispute concerned a cooperative housing society for LIC employees where the respondent, Sujata Makhija, claimed to be a depositor who had paid Rs.4,750 and attended the 18‑December‑1988 meeting, opting for Plot No.2. The appellant, Shivkishan, was allotted the same plot despite an interim injunction. The Supreme Co…

The dispute involved the legal heirs of two deceased brothers over eight acres of agricultural land that had been leased in 1944 and later deemed purchased by tenants under Section 32 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948. A certificate under Section 32M was issued in 1967 in favour of the younger brot…

The Commissioner of Income Tax, Karnal appealed against judgments of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana which had held that supporting manufacturers were entitled to the same deduction under Section 80HHC of the Income Tax Act as direct exporters, relying on the Baby Marine Exports decision. The Supreme Court examine…

The appellant, a former steward of AIIMS, was suspended in 1991 following a FIR for alleged embezzlement and later convicted in 1993 for theft, leading to his removal from service by a memorandum dated 6 January 2000 under Rule 19(i) of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965. After a settlement that resulted in the quashing of the …

The case concerned seniority of Sub‑Inspectors (General Duty) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Direct recruits were selected through a 2007 advertisement, allotted to units on 5 October 2009 and issued offer letters in mid‑October 2009, reporting for training in January 2010. Promotee Sub‑Inspectors were app…

Balaji Associates, a partnership firm, owned land in Morshi that was reserved for a shopping centre and garden under the final development plan effective from 01‑09‑2005. After the ten‑year period elapsed, the firm served a first notice on 13‑07‑2015 and a second notice on 31‑08‑2015 under Section 127 of the Maharashtr…

Janam Singh Kudada and another filed a suit seeking a declaration that they were owners of half of the disputed land. The trial court, applying Wilkinson's Rule, decreed the suit in favour of the plaintiffs for the entire property based on the majority award of the Panchayat. The plaintiffs appealed, arguing that the d…

The parties entered into an arbitration agreement that required the arbitrator to render an award within four months of the first preliminary meeting, with any extension needing the consent of both parties. The first preliminary meeting was held on 4 May 2007, but the arbitrator failed to issue an award by the 4 Septem…

The appellant and respondents were in dispute over the allocation of water to their agricultural fields. The appellant first approached the authorities under the Rajasthan Irrigation and Drainage Act, 1954, but lost, and subsequently filed a suit in the civil trial court challenging the order of the appellate authority…

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) acquired land for a highway and the compensation awarded by the competent authority was challenged by Sayedabad Tea Company Ltd. The aggrieved party applied to the Central Government under Section 3G(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956 for the appointment of an arbitrat…

Parsha Kente Collieries Ltd entered into a Coal Mining and Delivery Agreement with Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd for coal supply. Disputes arose over price escalation, fixed costs, and an escrow account, leading to arbitration where the arbitrator allowed claims on price adjustment, fixed costs and escrow, b…

The Central Government assigned the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to investigate a group of companies under an order dated 20‑06‑2018, directing a report within three months. The SFIO arrested Rahul Modi and others on 10‑12‑2018, after the three‑month period had expired, leading the petitioners to file habe…

The State invited tenders for irrigation works and the appellant, having quoted the lowest rates, entered into three contracts. He later raised nine claims, of which the arbitrator awarded several and rejected others. The State sought to set aside the award under sections 30 and 33 of the Arbitration Act, 1940, and the…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu contempt petition (CrL.) No.1 of 2019, affirmed that advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara had committed contempt of court for statements made in the face of the Court. He tendered an affidavit of apology and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended on condition of future goo…

In May 2007 a protest turned violent at the Dinakaran newspaper office, resulting in arson and the death of three employees. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajaram, who was on bandobust duty, was charged under Sections 217 and 221 of the IPC for allegedly disobeying orders and intentionally failing to appreh…

Nasima Naqi, the wife of a deceased tenant, continued to occupy a shop premises let for non‑residential purposes since 1988. After the tenant's death in 2002, the landlord sued for eviction alleging default in rent and that the statutory five‑year protection for heirs under the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997 ha…

The petitioners (Shiv Sena, NCP and INC) challenged the Governor of Maharashtra’s decision to invite the BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to form the government after President's Rule was revoked on 23 November 2019. They argued that the Governor’s action violated constitutional principles, including Article 14 and the doc…

Perkins Eastman Architects DPC & Anr (applicants) entered into a design‑consultancy contract with HSCC (India) Ltd (respondent) that contained Clause 24 for dispute resolution by a sole arbitrator appointed by the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of HSCC. The applicants invoked arbitration on 28 June 2019; the resp…

Gurjit Singh was convicted under Section 498-A IPC for dowry-related cruelty after his wife, Jaswinder Kaur, committed suicide within seven years of marriage. The High Court also convicted him under Section 306 IPC, invoking the presumption of abetment under Section 113-A of the Evidence Act. On appeal, the Supreme Cou…

The appellant Md. Abrar, a descendant through the female line of the waqif Haji Elahi Baksh, sought appointment as a joint mutawalli of a waqf created by a deed dated 9‑Nov‑1936. The deed named two original joint mutawallis, Md. Shafi and Kammu Mia, and provided that upon the death of either, the survivor would become …

The suit concerned a piece of land granted in 1983 under the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 with a 15‑year non‑alienation clause. The predecessor‑in‑title mortgaged the land to the plaintiff on 23‑04‑1990 and, a month later, executed an agreement to sell the same land. The plaintiff sued for specific performance, but…

A wakf deed executed in 1913 appointed the original mutawalli and stipulated that the office would devolve to "putro poutradi krome" of the original mutawalli. After the last male mutawalli died without a son, he had executed a trust deed appointing his wife, Nazira Khatoon, as his successor. The Commissioner of Wakfs …

The appellant, a cooperative housing society, was allotted 78 acres 16 guntas of land by the Karnataka Government for a housing layout, including 5 acres 33 guntas in Survey No.30. Respondent No.3, claiming ownership of that portion, challenged the acquisition and later sought de‑notification of 3 acres 5 guntas under …

The appellant, a certified surveyor, was appointed by an insurance company to assess a fire insurance claim of M/s. Ram Company. After submitting a final survey report that led the insurer to repudiate the claim, the complainant filed a criminal complaint alleging that the appellant, with armed accomplices, threatened …

The insured, a manager who obtained a home loan with a personal accident insurance rider, died in Mozambique after contracting encephalitis malaria from a mosquito bite. His spouse and father claimed the death benefit, arguing that the bite was an unforeseen event constituting an accident. The insurer contended that de…

The Tamil Nadu State allotted a parcel of land to an Agricultural Horticultural Society in 1980 under certain conditions. In 1989 the State resumed the land under clause 4 of the allotment order, citing a public purpose of developing sports facilities and horticultural research. The Society challenged the resumption by…

The State of Rajasthan (CTO) challenged the tax rate applied by M/s Prasoon Enterprises on mobile crane wire ropes, arguing that the ropes should be taxed at 12.5% under the residuary entry of Schedule V of the Rajasthan Value Added Tax Act, 2003. The respondent contended that the ropes are parts of mobile cranes and t…

The appellant was convicted by the Sessions Court and the High Court for rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code based on the complaint of PW‑3, who alleged that the appellant entered her house at night, threatened her with a pistol and raped her. The trial court relied on the testimony of three prosecution wit…

The State of Madhya Pradesh seized a tractor and trolley used for illegal sand excavation from the Chambal river under Section 52 of the Forest Act, 1927 (as amended by MP Act 25 of 1983) and initiated confiscation proceedings under Section 52(3). The respondent sought interim release of the seized vehicle under CrPC S…

The suit concerned a parcel of urban land that had been subjected to ceiling proceedings under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 and subsequently vested in the State, which later leased it to Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals for 30 years. The plaintiffs (Respondent Nos. 1‑7) filed a civil suit seeking declar…

The Union of India issued show‑cause notices under Section 73 of the Finance Act, 1994, demanding service tax from Coastal Container Transporters Association and its members, classifying their activities as "cargo handling services". The respondents contended that their services fell under the "goods transport agency" …

The appeal arose from matrimonial proceedings where the husband alleged his wife had an extramarital affair and made those averments in anticipatory bail applications before the Sessions Court and the High Court. The High Court held that the statements were false, found a prima facie case of perjury under Section 340 o…

The case concerns a land acquisition of 136 acres where the award initially fixed compensation at Rs 25 lakh per acre. The Reference Court later raised it to Rs 41.81 lakh per acre, but the petitioner (M/s Model Economic Township Ltd., holding 15 acres) did not file a reference application. It subsequently filed an app…

DLF Homes Panchkula Ltd. (the developer) was sued by numerous apartment buyers for delayed possession and deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered refunds of amounts paid with interest (15% in some cases) and compensation. The developer appe…

Jitendra Singh, a resident of village Saini, challenged the allotment of two village ponds (recorded as ‘pokhar’ in revenue records) to private industrialist Sharp Enterprises by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA). The ponds had been leased to Sharp in 2012, but GNIDA relied on a 2016 Government…

The case involved a 1986 agreement to sell land between the original vendors (appellants) and original vendees, followed by four 1987 agreements where the vendees purportedly assigned their rights to the plaintiffs (respondent No.1). The plaintiffs sought specific performance of both the 1986 and 1987 agreements, claim…

The petitioners, the Himachal Pradesh Bhakra Beas Management Board and others, challenged a High Court order that refused to condone a revision filed under Section 48 of the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2005 after the 90‑day period prescribed for such revisions. The issue was whether Section 5 of the Limitatio…