Judgments of 2019

The Supreme Court considered a miscellaneous application filed by T.T.V. Dhinakaran (respondent No.1) seeking directions to use a common symbol and name for his faction in upcoming elections, while a writ petition challenging the Election Commission's (ECI) decision on the AIADMK party split remained pending before the…

The appellants, owners of a house in Allahabad, filed an eviction application under Section 21(1)(a) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972, claiming a bona‑fide need to use the premises for their own commercial business. The Prescribed Authority and the District Judge…

The Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) employed Respondent No.4 as an Assistant Professor from 1971 until his superannuation in 2001. He claimed gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, which BIT denied. The controlling authority allowed the claim, but the appellate authority and the High Court upheld BIT's r…

The appellants, holders of liquor licences under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, were sealed after an FIR for home delivery of liquor. The Collector de‑sealed their shops and imposed a compounding fee; the Commissioner State Excise stayed both orders. The appellants filed writ petitions challenging the sealing, the co…

Mahadevappa, a police constable, was married to Rukmini Bai who died within 17 months of marriage from severe burn injuries. The prosecution alleged that Mahadevappa, an alcoholic, repeatedly demanded dowry money, ill‑treated his wife and, on 2 October 1995, poured kerosene on her and set her on fire, constituting a do…

The appellant sought execution of a final decree in a partition suit, while the first respondent objected under Section 47 CPC, claiming the decree was void for lack of territorial jurisdiction. The executing court dismissed the objection, holding that such a jurisdictional challenge must be raised at the earliest oppo…

Monu appealed to the Supreme Court after the Allahabad High Court Single Judge dismissed his Section 482 application seeking quashal of a charge‑sheet filed under IPC sections 420, 498A, 323, 376, 506 and Dowry Prohibition Act sections 3 and 4. The High Court dismissed the petition with a terse order stating there was …

Kamal Kumar filed a suit seeking specific performance of a contract concerning a piece of land. The trial court and the High Court of Madhya Pradesh dismissed the suit, holding that the plaintiff had not demonstrated readiness and willingness to perform his part of the contract and was not entitled to a refund of earne…

The Gram Vikas Samiti filed a civil suit against the State of Rajasthan seeking a permanent injunction to prevent the State from interfering with its possession of a disputed land. The trial court granted the injunction, and the State's first appeal was dismissed by the Additional District Judge. The State then filed a…

The respondent, a daily‑wage worker in the R&B Department of the State, was terminated in 1981 after working intermittently for about two years. After a lapse of fifteen years he filed a claim before the Labour Court, which ordered his reinstatement but awarded no back wages. The State appealed; the High Court upheld t…

Two workers, Santosh Kumar and Hira Singh, filed claim petitions under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 against their employer, Ragini Sinha, alleging non‑payment of wages for the period 1 January 1991 to 30 October 1992. The competent authority allowed the claims and imposed a penalty; the appellate authority affirmed this…

The plaintiff filed a civil suit seeking to be treated as an indigent person under Order 33 Rule 1 of the CPC, but the trial court rejected his application and the High Court upheld that rejection. He later filed an appeal against the trial court's decree and sought permission to file the appeal as an indigent person u…

The respondent, M/s Paulbro Leathers, defaulted on a loan from Punjab Financial Corporation and the parties entered into a One Time Settlement (OTS) on 1 April 2003. The High Court appointed Chartered Accountant Davinder S. Jaaj to calculate the remaining liability, but a dispute arose over the amount determined, leadi…

Digi Cable Network (India) Pvt Ltd was granted permission to operate as a multi‑system operator under Rule 11C of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 (as amended 2012). The permission was later cancelled because the Ministry of Home Affairs did not grant the required security clearance. The appellant challenged th…

Raj Kumar worked as a daily‑wage beldar in the Uttarakhand PWD for about a year (June 1986‑May 1987) and was terminated without following the procedure prescribed under the Industrial Disputes Act. After a lapse of roughly 25 years he approached the Labour Court seeking reinstatement; the Labour Court awarded Rs 30,000…

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) sought to strike down a Tamil Nadu Government notification that scheduled local body elections in nine newly created districts without first completing a fresh delimitation exercise. The State had increased the number of districts from 31 to 39 and announced an election programme, bu…

The State of Telangana filed a criminal appeal against a Hyderabad High Court order that partially quashed a charge‑sheet under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against former OSD Sri Managipet @ Mangipet Sarveshwar Reddy for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. The High Court had held that the…

The deceased, Surjit Kaur, was found dead in a jute bag with her face disfigured by acid; she had inherited land and was not receiving lease money from her son, providing a motive for the accused. The prosecution relied on extra‑judicial confessions recorded by a witness, medical evidence of a fractured hyoid bone and …

The appellant applied for the post of Instructor (Fitter) in a Government Industrial Training Institute, where the eligibility required a certificate in the trade from the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT). He possessed three separate NCVT certificates – a basic one‑year Mechanical Trade, a six‑month Fitt…

The Uttarakhand Pey Jal Nigam, a statutory body created under the Uttar Pradesh Water Works and Sewer Arrangement Act, 1975, appointed Junior Engineers in several categories using separate merit lists. Although the higher‑merit candidates (appellants) were appointed later than some lower‑merit candidates (respondents),…

Unicorn Industries, a manufacturer in Sikkim, claimed that a 2003 exemption notification under Section 5A of the Central Excise Act, 1944, which exempted basic excise duty and certain additional duties, also covered the National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD), education cess and secondary/higher education cess imposed…

The appellant, Javed Abdul Rajjaq Shaikh, was accused of murdering his wife by throttling her after demanding half tola gold, money and a dress. The trial court convicted him and three co‑accused under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and also under Section 498A. The High Court acquitted the co‑accused and c…

The Supreme Court heard appeals arising from the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of Jaypee Infratech Ltd., a subsidiary of Jaiprakash Associates Ltd., after IDBI Bank filed a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and home buyers sought clarification on their voting share in…

The appellant, a teacher, was appointed by the Management of a government‑aided private college to fill a substantive vacancy without complying with the procedure laid down in paragraph 5 of the First Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Service Commission (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 1981. He sought financial approva…

Satinder Singh Bhasin, director of a company involved in the ‘Grand Venice’ mall and commercial tower project in the National Capital Region, faced multiple FIRs in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi alleging non‑delivery of possession, siphoning of funds and irregular land allotment. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 see…

The appeal concerned a chit fund operated by Oriental Kuries Ltd., where the respondents defaulted on twelve instalments. The lower courts had allowed recovery of the past instalments but barred recovery of future instalments, holding that a chitty agreement creates only a promise to pay, not a debt. The Supreme Court …

K. Sreedhar Rao, a former judge of the Karnataka Judicial Service, retired as Acting Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court after serving 14 months in that capacity and sought pensionary benefits equivalent to those of a retired Chief Justice. The Central Government denied the higher pension ceiling, contending that t…

The original landowners entered into development agreements and later formed three societies, including the appellant society, to develop a complex. Disputes arose over the sharing of lease rents collected by the appellant society from a building, leading the respondents to file petitions under Section 23 of the Andhra…

The appellants were convicted for murder and related offences based on the testimony of alleged eye‑witnesses PW‑9 and PW‑16 and on the recovery of blood‑stained sticks and a tabbal. The Supreme Court examined whether the eight‑day delay in recording the eye‑witness statements and the inability to establish that the st…

The case arose from a land dispute between related parties that escalated into a verbal duel and scuffle on 7 June 2002, resulting in the death of a person. The trial court convicted all four accused under Section 302 IPC with a common intention charge, but the Karnataka High Court altered the conviction of two accused…

Thirteen persons were alleged to have assaulted the deceased in a night-time mob attack, resulting in his death. The trial court convicted three accused, including the two appellants, under Sections 302, 149 and 148 of the IPC, while the High Court acquitted one and upheld the conviction of the two appellants. On appea…

The case involved seven accused who entered the under‑construction house of the deceased, armed with deadly weapons, and assaulted him, resulting in his death and injuries to two witnesses. The trial court convicted six of the accused under Sections 148, 302, 307, 325 read with Section 149 and Section 449 of the Indian…

The Chandigarh Administration allotted a commercial booth to Hari Ram in 1996 for a premium of Rs.70,500, but he failed to pay the subsequent installments and ground rent despite numerous opportunities. The lease was cancelled in 2006 and an eviction order was issued under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised …

The University advertised a post of Assistant Professor in Physical Education (Yoga Therapy) requiring a Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga or Yoga Therapy. Dr. Sridip Chatterjee applied with a Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga Education and was selected by a Selection Committee of subject experts, and later an Equivalence Comm…

The appellant, Rambir, was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for strangling his wife with a saria on a rooftop after a quarrel over money. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment, a decision upheld by the Delhi High Court, which rejected his claim that the killing fell under Exception 4 to Section 30…

Four officers were appointed as District Minority Welfare Officers in 1997 after a selection process, on a temporary basis of two years, but continued in the post beyond that period. The Uttar Pradesh Minority Welfare Department Gazetted Officers Service Rules 2001 later prescribed that such posts be filled by direct r…

The petitioners, Classical & Vernacular (C&V) teachers appointed under the 1998 Haryana service rules, were deemed converted to Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT) under Rule 9(5) of the 2012 Rules and claimed promotion to the post of Elementary School Headmaster. The High Court held that the conversion made them members o…

The Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) allotted a flat to K.A. Nagamani, who later sought a refund of the amount deposited after the Board demanded a higher price. A consumer complaint was filed and the District Forum awarded interest and compensation, which was upheld by the State Commission and later set aside by the Supr…

The donor, Smt. Randhir Kaur, had gifted a 4‑kanal 10‑marla parcel of land to Doaba Public School for educational purposes. The school’s principal, Balwant Singh, allegedly exchanged this land with his own inferior, unirrigated land in another village, executing an oral memorandum on 1 August 1988 and a written agreeme…

The appellants, sons of the deceased owner of a housing project, were directed by the District Consumer Forum to obtain an occupancy certificate and execute a conveyance deed for the co‑operative housing society. They appealed to the State Consumer Commission, and during the pendency of that appeal filed an application…

The father filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking custody of his 1½‑year‑old daughter who had been looked after by the child's maternal aunt and uncle after the mother’s death and the father's prolonged illness. The High Court ordered the child be handed over to the father, granting the writ. The appellants challenged t…

Nirval Singh applied for a compassionate appointment after his father's death, relying on a policy dated 21‑11‑2002 that was in force at the time of his application. The employer, Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd., suspended the policy pending a new one, which came into effect on 23‑11‑2004 and offered Singh a solati…

Krishna Nand Shukla claimed an ad‑hoc appointment as Lecturer of Military Science at a college affiliated to Gorakhpur University and filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the respondents to pay his salary. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition, relying on paragraphs 3(h) and 3(i) of a counter‑af…

The suit was filed to cancel a sale deed executed by a former partner (defendant No.1) in favour of defendant No.2, alleging that the property vested in the plaintiff after the partnership was dissolved. After the original plaintiff died, his heirs were impleaded; one heir (plaintiff No.5) sold the property to three pu…

The plaintiff filed a suit in the Indore court seeking declarations of nullity of a will, a sale deed, and transfer documents relating to two immovable properties—one in Indore and another in Mumbai—along with a claim of joint family ownership. Defendants 7 and 8, who were parties to the Mumbai sale deed, moved to dism…

Bir Singh (complainant) advanced a Rs 15 lakh loan to Mukesh Kumar (accused) and received a cheque which was dishonoured for insufficient funds on two occasions. After a statutory notice went unanswered, a criminal complaint under Sections 138 and 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 was filed. The trial court c…

The case concerns a candidate (Tirtha Sarathi Mukherjee) who failed to qualify for the Tripura Judicial Service examination and sought re‑evaluation of his answer scripts. His writ petition for re‑evaluation was dismissed in 2012, the Special Leave Petition was dismissed in 2013, and a review petition was filed after a…

The plaintiff, claiming to be a tenant, filed a suit under Section 38 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 seeking a permanent injunction against the landlord, asserting he was in actual possession of the premises. The landlord contended that a settlement in an earlier suit (RCS No.1004/1988) caused the plaintiff to vacate…

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD Board) occupied land in 1991 and was directed by the Madras High Court to ensure "fair and reasonable" compensation to the landowner. The District Collector fixed the land value at Rs 200 per sq ft (based on the 2012 guideline) and the Board paid the amount, which th…

The plaintiffs, villagers, sued to declare that a 72‑bigha parcel recorded as ‘Charnoi’ (common grazing land) vested in the State under the Madhya Bharat Zamindari Abolition Act, 1951, and could not be claimed by the ex‑Zamindar’s heirs. The ex‑Zamindar’s father had earlier obtained a Bhumiswami title under Section 5(f…

B.A. Srinivasan, a former Assistant General Manager of Vijaya Bank who retired on 31‑Oct‑2012, was alleged to have conspired with others to fraudulently sanction and disburse loans, violating bank rules. An FIR was lodged in 2013 and a charge‑sheet filed in 2014, charging him under IPC sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471,…

Mahipal filed a criminal appeal challenging the Rajasthan High Court's order granting bail to five accused in the murder of his nephew, Akhilesh. The FIR alleged that the accused assaulted the victim with rods, causing fatal head injuries, as corroborated by a post‑mortem report and a Section 161 statement of an eyewit…

The employee, a daily rated mazdoor appointed in 1968 and regularised as a peon in 1971, tendered his resignation in July 1990 after the employer denied his application for voluntary retirement on the ground that he had not completed twenty years of service. The employer denied pension benefits, invoking Rule 26 of the…

The Supreme Court was asked to decide the validity of Rule 5 of the 1997 Central Excise Rules, which was challenged on the grounds of being ultra vires of Section 3A of the Central Excise Act and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. The Division Bench, however, diverted attention to a different issue concerning…

The Supreme Court examined the State’s appeal against the discharge of several accused in the murder of S.N. Gupta. The prosecution alleged a pre‑planned criminal conspiracy involving Shiv Charan Bansal, his son, and others, supported by call‑detail records, recovered weapon, ballistic reports and statements. The Court…

The Supreme Court examined Tata Housing Development Co.'s attempt to construct a high‑rise housing project (CAMELOT) on 52.66 acres in Mohali, Punjab, which lay within 123 metres of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and inside the catchment area of Sukhna Lake. The appellants argued that the environmental clearance granted…

The Union of India appealed against an Armed Forces Tribunal order that had granted One Rank One Pension (OROP) to Lt. Col. Om Dutt Sharma (deceased) and other personnel who served in the Army Postal Service (APS) on deputation from the Department of Posts. The respondents argued that, as temporary commissioned officer…

The appellants Rohtas and Surender Singh were convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for stabbing the deceased Mohar Pal, based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW‑2). They challenged the conviction in a special leave petition, alleging deficiencies in the investigation, delay in FIR registration…

The appeal concerned the interpretation of Section 11(6A) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, introduced by the 2015 amendment and later omitted by the 2019 amendment. The appellant argued that the Supreme Court or High Court must still examine the existence of an arbitration agreement before appointing arbi…

The appellant, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, was charged with alleged irregularities in a foreign investment clearance and money‑laundering offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money‑Laundering Act (PMLA). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced a sealed cover containing doc…

Dr. Ashwani Kumar, a former Law Minister, filed a miscellaneous application seeking a Supreme Court direction to Parliament to enact a comprehensive law against custodial torture, invoking the UN Convention against Torture and arguing that such torture violates Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court noted that the m…

The case concerned admission to the MBBS programme in Kerala under the sports quota. The appellant, a candidate who had applied under the individual sports category, sought a writ directing the Sports Council to shift another candidate from the individual to the team list, which would have raised the appellant’s rank. …

Motorola India imported raw materials under Notification No. 30/1997 which exempted such imports from customs duty provided they were used to manufacture pagers. The company ceased pager production, leaving a portion of the duty‑free material unused, and the Customs Commissioner levied duty, interest and penalty allegi…

The respondents, owners of a property purchased in 1959, applied to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation for conversion of land use to construct a commercial‑cum‑residential complex. The corporation demanded conversion charges of Rs 1,01,04,672, which the respondents deposited under protest and later sought to have refunde…

The appellant was charged under the IPC for allegedly obtaining a false Scheduled Caste certificate by misrepresenting his parentage and caste. The police, shortly after his arrest, applied to a civil court under Section 53 of the CrPC for a DNA test of the appellant, his mother and brothers, and the Additional Junior …

The appeal arose from tenants of a non‑residential shop challenging an eviction order under Section 14(1)(e) of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958, and seeking to have the Supreme Court’s decision in Satyawati Sharma case referred to a larger bench. The petitioners contended that the Satyawati Sharma judgment was per inc…

In the 2017 municipal elections for Ward 76 of the Bombay Municipal Corporation, the elected councillor was later disqualified after her caste certificate was invalidated. This created a casual vacancy. The appellant, who had secured the second‑highest number of votes, claimed he should be deemed elected under Section …

The Supreme Court considered appeals against the Gujarat High Court's judgment that acquitted several accused of murder and terrorism charges in the killing of former Home Minister Haren Pandya and the attempted murder of Jagdish Tiwari. The CBI had investigated and found both incidents were part of a larger conspiracy…

The case concerned contract labour employed in SAIL's captive limestone mines under a tripartite agreement with contractors. After a prohibition notification under Section 10(1) of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 was issued in 1993, the contract labour continued to work until their services were …

The victim, the brother and legal heir of a deceased murder victim, challenged the trial court's acquittal of the accused under Sections 452, 302/34 IPC. The State sought leave to appeal under Section 372 read with Section 378 of the CrPC, which was denied. The victim filed an appeal under the proviso to Section 372 (i…

The appellant borrowed Rs 30,000 from the respondent and issued a post‑dated cheque dated 04‑09‑2003, which was presented after three years and returned for insufficient funds. The respondent filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act; the trial court acquitted the appellant, holding that the…

The case concerned 2,040 contract labourers employed in SAIL's captive limestone mine who, after a 1993 prohibition on contract labour under the CLRA Act, continued to work and claimed parity of wages with regular SAIL employees under the NJCS memorandum. The respondents sought relief under Section 20(1) of the Minimum…

The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that a partnership firm, Vainqueur Corporate Services, and its partners issued several cheques that were dishonoured for insufficient funds after the appellant had performed data‑entry work. The complaint detailed the partnersh…

The Supreme Court heard appeals by Nutan Gautam (wife) against orders of the Allahabad High Court that directed her son, a ten‑year‑old boy, to be admitted to a boarding school in New Delhi and to return to his mother during summer vacations. The boy, who had been studying since first grade at Global International Scho…

The plaintiffs (sons of a co‑sharer) sued the defendants (purchasers of the suit land from another co‑sharer) for a perpetual injunction restraining them from interfering with possession of the suit property. The trial court dismissed the suit, and the first appellate court affirmed the dismissal. The High Court revers…

The appellants were convicted of murder and robbery based largely on the testimony of a nine‑year‑old child witness, recoveries under Section 27 of the Evidence Act, fingerprint and forensic reports, and the alleged motive of robbery. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had discharged its burden of proof…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against two orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that quashed FIRs relating to offences of attempt to murder (Sec. 307 IPC) and other offences (Secs. 323, 294, 308, 34 IPC) on the ground that the complainant had reached a compromise with the accused. The Supreme Court held that t…

The incident arose from a dispute over water where accused No.1 (Nasibkha) and No.2 (Asif Khan) first assaulted the complainant and his brother Sardarkha, then left on a motorcycle and returned after ten minutes armed with a knife. Accused No.2 held Sardarkha’s neck while accused No.1 stabbed him, causing a fatal liver…

A primary Ashram school in Jalgaon was derecognised in 2010 and its employees were ordered to be absorbed in other schools. In 2012 the Maharashtra Government passed a resolution handing over the closed school to Sant Dnyaneshwar Shikshan Sanstha, relocating it 400 km away, and directing the transfer of its staff. The …

The appellant, an 18‑year‑old student from a family of senior Supreme Court lawyers, suffered a 40% permanent disability in a motor accident. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded Rs 8,48,000 compensation with interest; the Delhi High Court added a Rs 50,000 lump‑sum and later enhanced the award by Rs 24,000 on r…

The appellant, Khushwinder Singh, was convicted of murdering six members of a family by kidnapping, drugging them with sleeping tablets and drowning them in a canal, motivated by a desire to steal Rs.37 lakh and ornaments. The prosecution relied on the eye‑witness testimony of the surviving victim (PW‑5), independent w…

The appellant, the Commissioner of Income Tax, Bombay, challenged the deduction claimed by Tasgaon Taluka Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd., a cooperative sugarcane processor, for the price paid to cane growers that exceeded the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) fixed under Clause 3 of the Sugar Cane (Control) Order, 1966. The…

The assessee, NRA Iron & Steel Pvt. Ltd., claimed receipt of Rs 17.6 crore as share capital/premium from various companies in AY 2009‑10. The Assessing Officer questioned the genuineness of the transaction and issued notices, but the investor companies did not appear and field enquiries revealed many were non‑existent …

The case involved six accused who were convicted of murder, robbery and rape of a woman in a hut robbery in 2003, based primarily on the identification of two eye‑witnesses (PW1 and PW8) in a test identification parade (TIP) and in court. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had proved guilt beyond reason…

The appellant, an open‑category officer, claimed that after his promotion to Joint Director of Town Planning (JDTP) he should gain seniority over the first respondent, a Scheduled Caste officer, under the "catch‑up" rule. The first respondent had been promoted to JDTP earlier and later to Director of Town Planning (DTP…

The petitioners alleged that the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board had allotted ecologically sensitive land for a software technology park, resulting in encroachment of storm‑water drains (Rajakaluves) and damage to the Bellandur lake catchment. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) found violations of wetland an…

Kakadia Builders Pvt. Ltd. and its promoter filed settlement applications before the Income Tax Settlement Commission while assessment proceedings were pending. The Commission, on 11 August 2000, added tax and waived interest under Sections 234A, 234B and 234C, but both the assessee and the Revenue filed rectification …

The appellant Pappi @ Mehboob was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Guddu, who was attacked with swords by a group of seven accused. Five of the accused, including the appellant, were tried; the others were absconding. While the trial court and the Rajasthan High Court upheld the appellant's conviction,…

The case involved four accused—Bikash Bora, Atul Bora, Haren Rautia and Dipankar Bora—convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Jugeswar Kurmi. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of Lakhiram Kurmi (PW‑5), who was later held not to be an eyewitness. T…

The State of Gujarat filed a criminal appeal challenging a Gujarat High Court order that set aside a magistrate’s cognizance and issuance of summons against Afroz Mohammed Hasanfatta in a complex economic offence involving alleged hawala transfers of foreign exchange to Dubai and Hong Kong. The prosecution’s charge‑she…

Ambi Ram, a Patwari in Uttarakhand, accepted a bribe of Rs.1,200 in 1985 and was caught in a sting operation. He was convicted under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 read with Section 161 of the IPC and sentenced to four years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.5,000, with an additional three…

The appellants, Asgar and others, were lessees occupying a large tract of land in Kerala and sought a declaration that they could remain in possession and claim compensation for improvements under the Kerala Compensation for Tenants Improvements Act, 1958. They first raised this claim in an execution application under …

The Mysore Urban Development Authority (the Authority) appealed a civil suit decree against it, but its first appeal was dismissed in default when its counsel failed to appear. The Authority sought restoration of the appeal under Order 41 Rule 19 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but the appellate court refused and…

The appellants filed a suit for permanent injunction claiming Sirdari (Asami) rights over Plot No. 719, asserting that their predecessor‑in‑interest, Amar Singh, was recorded as occupant of the land. The original owner, Tulsa Devi, died without heirs, so her land escheated to the State, and the Collector ordered that A…

The appellant, Ritu Bhatia, was appointed as Company Secretary of Central Railside Warehouse Company Ltd. but was later terminated for allegedly lacking the required five years of post‑qualification experience "as" a Company Secretary, as stipulated in the recruitment advertisement. The appellant claimed that her tenur…

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) observed that Venus Alloy Pvt. Ltd., though covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, had not paid ESI contributions on the remuneration paid to its directors. ESIC issued an order on 6 April 2005 directing the company to make the contribution, which the c…

The appeal concerned whether sales tax is payable on the free replacement of defective motor‑vehicle parts supplied by a dealer under a warranty, when the dealer receives a credit note from the manufacturer for the returned defective part. The dealer pays sales tax on the purchase of spare parts and on the sale of the …

The Supreme Court considered appeals by K. Sashidhar challenging the rejection of resolution plans for two corporate debtors, KS&PIPL and IIL, by the Committee of Creditors (CoC). The CoC had approved the plans with less than the statutory 75% voting share of financial creditors, leading the NCLT to deem the plans reje…

The Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram was implicated in a CBI‑filed FIR and a subsequent Enforcement Directorate money‑laundering case, though he was not named as an accused. After his arrest, he sought regular bail under CrPC s.439, which the Delhi High Court denied on grounds of alleged seriousness, flight‑risk, …

The widow of a government employee who retired on grounds of mental incapacity sought, after 14 years, fixation of pay and family pension, but never claimed invalid pension. The Odisha Administrative Tribunal ordered an invalid pension under Rule 39 of the Orissa Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1992, and the High Court…

The Maharashtra State Co‑operative Bank Ltd. (the Bank) took possession of mortgaged property of Vainganga Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. (the Karkhana) after the Karkhana defaulted on a loan and later sold the property to Wainganga Sugar and Power Ltd. The Karkhana’s employees obtained a recovery certificate under the …

Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) operates four units and a captive power plant, and entered into open‑access agreements with Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (AVVNL) for wheeling power to three of its units. A dispute arose over unscheduled interchange (UI) charges under clauses 8 and 9 of the agreements. The Rajasthan Electr…

M/s Seshasayee Steels Ltd entered into an agreement to sell land to Vijay Santhi Builders Ltd and granted a licence to commence construction, later executing a Power of Attorney and a compromise deed that reduced the consideration and stipulated payment by post‑dated cheques, all of which were encashed. The Assessing O…

The appellants, tenants of shops in a Gurudwara, challenged the Punjab Religious Premises and Land (Eviction and Rent Recovery) Act, 1997 on the ground that it withdrew the protection afforded to them under the East Punjab Urban Rent Restrictions Act, 1949 and violated Article 14. The Supreme Court held that the State …

The Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd., owner of a tug, entered into a six‑month time charter agreement with New Mangalore Port Trust. The Karnataka tax authorities directed the company to register under the Karnataka Sales Tax Act, 1957, claiming the agreement attracted tax under section 5C, which taxes the transfer of t…

The petition under Article 32 sought a court‑ordered investigation into the disappearance of the keys to the Ratna Bhandar of Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri, and directions for the preservation, management and inventory of the temple’s valuables, as well as provision of express darshan for devotees. The Supreme Court, hav…

The petitioners, students with locomotor disabilities, sought admission to the MBBS course for the 2019‑20 academic year under the 5% reservation for persons with disabilities, arguing that the eligibility criteria should be governed by the 2017 MCI regulations because the admission process began before the notificatio…

DUNCANS INDUSTRIES Ltd., a corporate debtor managing fourteen tea gardens, defaulted on payments to operational creditor A.J. Agrochem. The creditor filed an insolvency petition under Section 9 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). The debtor argued that, because the Central Government had issued a notific…

The petitioners challenged Gujarat University rules that gave preference to its own graduates for postgraduate medical seats, arguing that the NEET (PG) scheme and Section 10D of the Medical Council Act, 1956 require admissions to be based solely on NEET merit, rendering the institutional preference ultra vires. The Su…

The husband and wife were married in 1993 and have been living apart for more than 22 years. The husband filed a petition for divorce under Sections 13(1)(ia) and (ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging cruelty, and also sought dissolution on the ground of irretrievable breakdown, but the Family Court and the High Cou…

Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises Ltd. filed a suit in the Vadodara Commercial Court seeking specific performance of a mortgage deed concerning a parcel of land. The respondents contended that the dispute did not fall within the definition of a "commercial dispute" under Section 2(1)(c)(vii) of the Commercial Courts Act, 20…

M/s Madhoor Buildwell Pvt. Ltd. was awarded a contract by Yeola Municipal Council to lay a sewer system under the centrally‑sponsored Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme (AMRUT). After completing about 35% of the work, the contractor was not paid because the Central Government had not released the allotted funds. T…

Antoinette Bhagwat's will was probated in California and, in ancillary proceedings, letters of administration were granted by the Bombay High Court in 1994 to Dr. Surendra Parakhe. Ramesh Nivrutti Bhagwat, a relative of the deceased's husband, claimed he had no notice of this grant and filed a petition in 1999 seeking …

The appellants, including Fainul Khan, were convicted under IPC sections 302/149, 323/149 and 147 for participating in an unlawful assembly that resulted in the murder of a deceased and injuries to two eyewitnesses. They challenged the conviction on three grounds: the charge under section 147 was framed against only fo…

Ravi Setia filed a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement dated 10‑11‑1989, seeking execution of the sale deed on 30‑04‑1990. The trial court held that the plaintiff was ready and willing to perform, relying solely on a certificate from the Sub‑Registrar that he was present on the said date, despite the defe…

The appellant was convicted under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for selling milk whose Milk Solid Non‑Fat (MSNF) content was 7.7%, below the statutory standard of 8.5%. He argued that the delay in analysis caused a marginal shortfall, that he was denied the right under Section 13(2) to have a second sam…

The State of Arunachal Pradesh appealed against a Gauhati High Court order that road‑traffic offences must be dealt with solely under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and that prosecution under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was without legal sanction. The Supreme Court examined whether the special Motor Vehicles Act override…

The petition sought clarification on the scope of Section 9A of the Code of Civil Procedure (Maharashtra amendment) concerning the court's "jurisdiction to entertain" a suit and whether a plea of limitation could be decided as a preliminary issue. The Division Bench of the Bombay High Court had held that Section 9A inc…

The Kerala government banned arrack in 1996, leaving 12,500 abkari workers unemployed. In 2002 it issued a Government Order reserving 25% of future daily‑wage vacancies in Kerala State Beverages Corporation for these displaced workers, but later altered the policy in 2004 to earmark those vacancies for the dependent so…

Jagbir Singh was convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and criminal intimidation (Sec. 506 IPC) for allegedly pouring kerosene on his wife and setting her ablaze. The victim gave three statements: two early statements (24‑01‑2008 and 25‑01‑2008) describing an accidental fire, and a later dying declaration on 27‑01‑2008 im…

The State of Uttar Pradesh filed criminal appeals against Aman Mittal and others for alleged short delivery of petrol and diesel, invoking offences under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, the Essential Commodities Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The High Court had quashed the charge‑sheet under s.482 CrPC and issued…

The case arose from a partnership dispute in which one partner lodged an FIR alleging siphoning of funds and other improprieties. The appellant filed an application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 seeking appointment of an arbitrator pursuant to an arbitration clause in the partnership de…

The Intelligence Officer seized a Toyota Qualis carrying 7.4 kg of heroin after receiving a tip that the appellant had arranged its transport. The only evidence linking the appellant to the offence was a co‑accused’s statement that a person identified as ‘M’ from Bombay handed the heroin to a third person ‘N’, who then…

The State of Maharashtra sought to acquire land in Asarjan village under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. After issuing notifications under Sections 4 and 6, several landowners filed writ petitions challenging the acquisition. The High Court granted interim stays in writ petitions 7867/2012, 3051/2013 and 3159/2013, res…

The appellant, a SEBC candidate, applied for a Forest Service post and was selected after availing age relaxation granted to reserved categories. The Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) placed him in the reserved category list, but he argued that, per the Supreme Court's decision in Jitendra Kumar Singh, he should…

The Central Government, alleging mismanagement and public‑interest prejudice in IL&FS and its group companies, obtained an order from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) suspending the existing board and appointing a new one under Sections 241 and 242 of the Companies Act. Subsequently, the Government applied unde…

The appellants, Atul Chandra Das, sought ejectment of the respondents, the Bhattacharyyas, from a property alleging a valid sale, while the respondents contended that the original sale to Bholanath was a mortgage by conditional sale and that the appellants colluded to defeat the redemption period. The trial court dismi…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Hindu widow’s mere possession of property, without any recognized claim, right or devise, converts her limited interest into absolute ownership under Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. The appellant, Ajit Kaur, claimed that her mother Banti’s oral gift of the disputed …

The respondent sought appointment of an arbitrator under Section 20 of the Arbitration Act, 1940, invoking Clause 11 of a partnership deed of "Gupta Bus Service" dated 5 July 1960. The appellants objected, arguing that the partnership was unregistered and therefore barred by Section 69(3) of the Partnership Act, 1932, …

The plaintiffs, owners of Khasra No.146 in Himachal Pradesh, sued the defendants alleging encroachment on their land. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the First Appellate Court remitted additional issues and appointed a Local Commissioner to demarcate the land. After the commissioner’s report and objections, the…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against the High Court's conversion of the trial court's conviction of Kanha @ OmpraKash from Section 307 (attempt to murder) to Section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code. The facts revealed that on 8 October 2003 the accused shot Dashrath Singh with a firearm,…

The Federation of Haj Private Tour Operators (PTOs) challenged the Haj Policy for 2019-23, alleging that the Ministry of Minority Affairs gave undue weight to financial criteria and ignored the experience of operators. The petitioners sought a re‑allocation of seats based on years of experience and a lower turnover req…

Sh. Narendra Kumar Srivastava, an engineering assistant at Doordarshan, sought relief regarding his pay scale and obtained a High Court order directing the Doordarshan officials to pass an appropriate order. After the officials filed a show‑cause affidavit indicating compliance, the contempt petition against them was d…

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD Board) was granted permission to divert 0.055 hectares of forest land for a drinking‑water intake. It later used the water for industrial purposes, prompting a petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which ordered that the water be used only for drinking pu…

The appellant filed a revision petition challenging the lower courts' refusal to grant an interim mandatory injunction in a suit under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act concerning possession of a shop. The High Court set aside the appellate court's findings of fact and entertained the revision, despite the order bei…

Madhav Hari Joshi paid Rs 1,75,000 as premium for LIC's Jeevan Aastha Plan but the insurer neither issued the policy nor refunded the amount for nearly five years. Joshi filed a consumer complaint seeking a refund with interest and compensation of Rs 5,00,000. The District Forum ordered a refund and Rs 4,25,000 compens…

The petitioners, former daily‑wage workers of U.P. Jal Nigam, claimed that the Supreme Court’s order of 7 September 2015 required their reinstatement after they were retrenched in 1991, and filed contempt petitions alleging wilful disobedience by the department. The Court observed that the order merely directed that an…

The case arose from a CBI investigation initiated in 1983 where the prosecution sought to examine a handwriting expert, H.S. Tuteja, as a material witness. Despite numerous summons and orders from the trial court and the Calcutta High Court over more than a decade, the expert never appeared, and the prosecution repeate…

The appellant Bhawna Bai complained that her husband was found dead in the field of the first respondent, Ghanshyam, who allegedly prevented her from reaching the body. An FIR was eventually registered under Section 302 IPC read with Section 34 IPC and the trial court framed charges against the accused respondents. The…

The appellants, owners of a 14-kanal land in Ludhiana, entered into a joint‑venture agreement with the respondent builder to construct a residential‑commercial complex, which was abandoned in 1999. After termination of the agreement, the parties attempted arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, wh…

Keystone Realtors Pvt. Ltd. undertook a residential redevelopment project in Mumbai. The project’s built‑up area grew from 8,720.32 sq m to 32,395.17 sq m, triggering the need for an Environmental Clearance (EC) under the 2006 EIA Notification, which was granted on 2 May 2013. The appellant later increased the area by …

The corporate debtor, holding a mining lease that was about to expire, sought a deemed extension of the lease through its resolution professional during a corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). The Karnataka Government rejected the extension, prompting the resolution professional to obtain a direction from the…

The appellant Oriental Insurance filed a petition under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 in the Jaipur District Court to set aside an arbitral award, but the court returned the petition for presentation before the Jodhpur court, fixing 2 April 2008 as the date of re‑presentation. The appellant r…

Air Commodore Naveen Jain, along with nine other officers, was considered for promotion to Air Vice Marshal. Although he topped the merit list, he was third in seniority on the select list and the vacancies arose after his superannuation, so he was not promoted. He challenged the Air Force Promotion Policy dated 20 Feb…

Narsingh Yadav, a Craftsman (CFN) in the Indian Army, was discharged in 2007 after an Invaliding Medical Board diagnosed him with schizophrenia (20% disability) and held that the disorder was neither attributable to nor aggravated by his military service. He sought a disability pension, which was rejected by the Armed …

The Okhla Enclave Plot Holders’ Welfare Association filed a writ petition alleging that the Colonizer (Durga Builders Pvt Ltd) failed to honour the terms of the plot‑allotment agreement and that many allottees had not paid the development charges required by the Supreme Court. The Court referred four questions to the a…

The plaintiffs, Virudh... Hindu Nadargal Dharma Paribalan Sabha, filed a suit seeking declaration that a notice convening a General Body meeting of the respondent society was illegal and obtained an interim injunction restraining the respondents from holding the meeting. The respondents filed a civil revision before th…

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

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

The appellant was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a 13‑year‑old girl and of destroying her body. The prosecution proved the case through a chain of circumstantial evidence corroborated by DNA, medical and forensic findings, including a slipper belonging to the victim recovered from the accused. The trial …

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

The Calcutta Club, a Section 25 company operating as a members' club, was served with a notice for non‑payment of sales tax on food and drinks supplied to its permanent members. The Club argued that, under the doctrine of mutuality, no sale occurred because the supplier and the buyer were the same persons, a view uphel…

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

The appellants claimed that the Bakers Choultry, a historic building in Chennai, was their private property, while the respondents argued it was a specific endowment under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959. The dispute centered on the interpretation of a 1834 rock inscription that direc…

The case arose from a violent incident on 03‑03‑2001 at the Barnala Court Complex where seven accused, including Manjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh, attacked members of a complainant party, causing grievous injuries and the death of Dalip Singh. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimony of two injured eye‑witnes…

The appellant Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd challenged an order of the Competition Appellate Tribunal which had found a prima facie case of abuse of dominant position under the Competition Act, 2002. The Commission alleged that Uber paid drivers incentives that caused a loss of Rs 204 per trip, amounting to predatory pric…

The Union of India appealed against judgments that applied the Madishetti Bala Ramul decision, which interprets the Land Acquisition Act, to disputes under the National Highways Act, 1956. The Supreme Court examined whether the award under the Land Acquisition Act, deemed a government offer under Section 25, could be c…

The Supreme Court examined a series of appeals arising from the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) orders that banned rat‑hole coal mining in Meghalaya, directed the State to deposit Rs 100 crore for environmental restoration, and held that all coal extracted after May 2016 vested in the State. The Court held that the NGT…

The respondents (plaintiffs) filed a suit in 1987 seeking declaration that certain lands were Inam lands of Niyamatullah Shah Dargah and also seeking possession of those lands from the defendants (appellants). The trial court dismissed the suit on the ground of limitation and non‑joinder of parties. The District Judge …

Amit Kumar Roy, an Air Force airman, applied for a bank probationary officer post without completing the mandatory seven years of service or obtaining prior permission under Air Force Order (AFO) 14/2008. He obtained a provisional No Objection Certificate (NOC) and discharge from the Armed Forces Tribunal, joined the b…

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

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

The respondent was engaged as a conductor by the Rajasthan State Roadways Transport Corporation on a one‑year contractual basis, with a clause allowing termination at any time without notice. His services were terminated on 21 March 2007. He challenged the termination by filing a writ petition, arguing a breach of the …

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission advertised vacancies for Assistant Commissioner (Drugs) and Drug Inspectors, specifying a degree and practical experience in the manufacture or testing of drugs as essential qualifications, with research experience in a laboratory only as a desirable preference. Several candida…

The case concerned the ownership of property originally belonging to Ramanna, who died in 1907 leaving a widow Seethamma and a daughter Venkamma. The appellants claimed title based on a 1955 sale deed executed by Jankamma, the granddaughter of Ramanna, while the respondents asserted possession derived from an earlier 1…

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

The State of Jharkhand and the Jharkhand State Electricity Board sought to energise a fully constructed electricity sub‑station on land claimed by three respondents who alleged possession of the suit property. The respondents had earlier failed to establish a title to the land in a title suit and could not specify the …

The Government of Haryana entered into a BOT concession agreement with M/s G.F. Toll Road Pvt. Ltd., which contained an arbitration clause requiring each party to nominate an arbitrator and the third arbitrator to be appointed by the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA). When the State nominated a retired engineer, the …

The case concerned scientists employed in DRDO, DAE and DOS who were granted a special pay of Rs 2,000 (effective from 1 Jan 1996) and Rs 4,000 (effective from 1 Jan 2006). The Union of India challenged the inclusion of this special pay in the definition of "pay" for computing pension under Fundamental Rule 9(21)(a)(i)…

Ravi Agrawal, a differently‑abled petitioner, filed a public‑interest writ under Article 32 seeking to compel the Union of India and LIC to allow annuity or lump‑sum payments from the Jeevan Aadhar insurance scheme to disabled dependents even while the parent/guardian is alive. The petitioner relied on a 2008 CBDT circ…

The appellant, a retired bank employee, obtained a loan of Rs.27 lakh from a money‑lending company whose director (respondent No.2) later filed a criminal complaint alleging non‑payment and threats. The High Court dismissed the appellant's Section 482 CrPC application to quash the FIR and the charge‑sheet, holding that…

Lt. Col. Sameer Singh, an Indian Army officer, was posted to the Directorate General Quality Assurance (DGQA) and later considered for Permanent Secondment. His case was evaluated by the Quality Assurance Selection Board (QASB) in February 2016, and he was not recommended because his Technical Assessment Reports (TARs)…

Sep. Satgur Singh, a serving army personnel, was discharged after a show‑cause notice highlighted seven punishments (red‑ink entries) incurred over 11 years of service. He replied only with vague family‑related explanations, and the Commanding Officer recorded him as a habitual offender and ordered discharge. The appel…

The Supreme Court examined whether Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), a department of the University of Mumbai, retained its autonomous status for the 2019‑2020 academic year despite the expiry of its five‑year autonomy and a pending extension application. The Court considered whether the Universit…

The Supreme Court, hearing M.C. Mehta's writ petition concerning the acute parking shortage in Delhi, observed that inadequate public transport and unplanned urban growth have led to severe congestion, pollution, and safety hazards, violating the right to life under Article 21. The Court noted the government's failure …

Ram Khilawan, an ex‑sepoy (washerman) who joined the Indian Army on 23 Oct 1987, was discharged on 31 Aug 1993 on medical grounds after being placed in a permanent Low Medical Category (BEE) due to a CNS seizure. He challenged the discharge, arguing that it was made under Rule 13(3)(III)(v) of the Army Rules, 1954, wit…

Prem Singh, a welder, worked for about 37 years in a work‑charged establishment of the Uttar Pradesh government and was later regularised before superannuation. He claimed that the period spent in the work‑charged establishment should be counted as qualifying service for pension under the Uttar Pradesh Retirement Benef…

The appellant claimed a default of Rs 6.7 crore against the respondent, which was declared a non‑performing asset in 1999 and a recovery certificate was issued in 2001. A petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code was filed in 2017, and the NCLT admitted it on the ground that the default was continu…

The appellant Ritesh Sinha was implicated in a fraud case and the police sought a voice sample to match a recorded phone conversation. The Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered him to appear and give his voice sample, which the appellant challenged under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. The High Court upheld the magistrate's ord…

The trial court convicted Yasmeen Mohammad Zahid under Section 120B of the IPC and Section 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for conspiring to wage war and associating with ISIS, sentencing her to three years and seven years respectively. The Kerala High Court acquitted her of the charges under Sect…

Col. Rajnish Bhandari appealed against the Union of India challenging the constitutionality of Section 497 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and the continuation of prosecution under Section 63 of the Army Act after an acquittal subject to confirmation. The Court, relying on the Joseph Shine judgment, held that Section 49…

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) procured power through a competitive bidding process and selected M/s Adani Power (Mundra) Ltd. (the appellant) for a 1000 MW supply at Rs 2.35/kWh, contingent on an assurance from Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) to provide indigenous coal. When GMDC f…

The State of Jharkhand, through its Revenue Board, issued a notification under Section 90 of the Jharkhand Excise Act, 1915 imposing an import fee of Rs.6 per litre of pure alcohol (LPL) on rectified spirit used for manufacturing Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). Ajanta Bottlers & Blenders challenged the levy, arguing…

Star Wire (India) Vidyut Pvt. Ltd. operates a 9.90 MW biomass plant that became commercially operational on 3 May 2013. The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) amended its 2010 tariff regulations by a notification dated 12 August 2015, classifying projects commissioned in FY 2013‑14 differently from those …

The dispute concerned a Delhi property that had been sold at a public auction by the Income Tax Department in 1964 to V.N. Vasudeva. The respondents, grandchildren of the original owner, challenged the sale through a civil suit and a writ petition, while the appellants, heirs of the lawyer who bought the property, defe…

In Sundar Gupta & Ors. v. Sunil Vasudeva & Ors., a contempt petition (C) No. 1721 of 2017 was filed alleging contempt of the Supreme Court under Section 293 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The petition arose from proceedings in I.A. No. 4 of 2017 and Civil Appeal No. 5140 of 2019, which were also the subject of Special Le…

M/S Craft Interiors Ltd., a dealer in interior decoration, claimed deductions under Rule 6(4)(m)(i) of the Karnataka Sales Tax Rules for goods purchased from registered dealers and used in works contracts in the same form. The assessing authority denied the deduction, issuing provisional assessment notices under Sectio…

The case concerned the partition of the estate of John D. Abraham, who died intestate in 1964 leaving a wife, two sons and two daughters, one of whom (Triza Kalyani John, later A.S. Meenakshi) converted to Hinduism, married the plaintiff and was paid Rs 50,000 and gold ornaments allegedly to relinquish any claim to the…

Dalbir Singh, an army soldier posted to 3 Rashtriya Rifles, participated in a cordon‑and‑search operation on 13 August 2006 in Jammu and Kashmir. During an intense exchange of fire, a fellow soldier, Sapper Gurmail Singh, was killed and the militants seized the Light Machine Gun. Singh jumped over a stone wall, was wou…

Tata Power Company Ltd (TPC), a city‑wide distribution licensee, supplied standby power to BSES/Reliance Energy Ltd (later Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd) which served Mumbai suburbs. TPC paid Rs.24.75 crore per month as standby charges to Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) and recovered this amount, plus an addi…

The respondent, a Junior Engineer in the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department, was compulsorily retired under Article 226(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations after a vigilance FIR alleged bribery and a sanction for prosecution was granted. The respondent challenged the retirement in a writ p…

On 23 November 1997, while ploughing a disputed piece of land, accused No.1 (Ashok Singh) and accused No.2 (Kalusinh) allegedly fired three shots, killing Somiben (wife of PW‑5) and injuring PW‑6 and PW‑7. The trial court convicted both accused under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and sentenced them to lif…

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

Pawan Kumar filed a suit seeking declaration of title over a shop, alleging he paid the purchase price while the deed was placed in his father's name. The second defendant moved an Order VII Rule 11 application to dismiss the suit on the ground that it was barred by Section 4 of the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act…

Pioneer Urban Land & Infrastructure Ltd. (the builder) launched the Araya Complex project and entered into an Apartment Buyer’s Agreement with Govindan Raghavan (the flat purchaser) to sell an apartment for Rs.4.83 crore, obligating the builder to obtain an occupancy certificate within 39 months of excavation plus a 18…

The appellant, a Junior Telecom Officer promoted to Sub‑Divisional Engineer under the seniority‑cum‑fitness quota, challenged the seniority list prepared by the Department of Telecommunications, arguing that seniority should be fixed according to dated executive orders and that the ROTA rule should apply. The seniority…

The Municipal Corporation of Kanpur, governed by the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, sought to limit gratuity payments to its employees to the rates prescribed under the 1962 Retirement Benefits and General Provident Fund Regulations, arguing that the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 did not apply to local bodies…

The petitioners, led by Dharani Sugars and Chemicals Ltd., challenged the constitutional validity of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2017 which introduced sections 35AA and 35AB, and contended that the RBI circular of 12‑02‑2018 directing banks and NBFCs to resolve stressed assets within six months was ultra vi…