Judgments of 2021

The builder Laureate promised delivery of a flat by October 2015. The original allottee, after paying several instalments, sold the flat to Charanjeet Singh in 2016, who stepped into her rights. Construction stalled due to environmental orders, and the builder failed to deliver possession. Singh sought a refund of the …

The appellant Somesh Chaurasia sought cancellation of bail granted to the second respondent, who had been convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC and whose sentence was suspended under Section 389(1) CrPC. While the suspension was in force, an FIR (No. 143 of 2019) alleged that the second respondent had murdered the …

The appellant, a resolution professional for National Plywood Industries Ltd., challenged a High Court order that allowed an operational creditor (Respondent No.1) to operate its bank account despite a moratorium imposed under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The appellant alleged that the creditor had receive…

The appellant, M/s Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd., was contracted by the State of Kerala to upgrade two highway stretches. The contract contained a clause (60.8) providing for interest on delayed payments, but the rate for local‑currency interest was left blank in the bid appendix. The arbitral tribunal awarde…

The case arose from a protracted dispute over a one‑acre property in Bengaluru that had been sold multiple times, leading to conflicting claims and a series of suits for declaration, possession, and execution. The decree‑holders obtained a decree for possession, but the judgment debtors and subsequent purchasers repeat…

The appellant, Ramesh alias Dapinder Singh, was the driver of two maternal uncles (S and N) who assaulted the informant PW1 and his friends, resulting in the death of one friend. The trial court convicted all three accused under Sections 302, 323, and 324 read with Section 34 of the IPC, a conviction affirmed by the Hi…

The Supreme Court dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by Brijesh Kumar challenging his conviction, finding no merit to interfere with the trial and high court judgments. While disposing the petition, the Court noted that the counsel appointed as amicus curiae for the petitioner was only given the impugned judgme…

The petitioners, Sesh Nath Singh and others, challenged the National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT) order admitting a Section 7 application by Baidyabati Sheoraphuli Co‑operative Bank to initiate corporate insolvency resolution against the corporate debtor. The issue was whether the three‑year limitation period for fili…

The appellant contractor and respondent entered a development agreement for a wind‑farm project that contained an arbitration clause providing for a three‑member tribunal, each party appointing one arbitrator who would then select a presiding arbitrator. A dispute arose over payments; the respondent invoked arbitration…

The Punatsangchhu‑I Hydro‑electric Project contract between the Bhutan Hydro‑electric Authority and Larsen & Toubro contained an arbitration clause (Clause 67) that referred to the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 in the absence of a Bhutanese arbitration law. After Bhutan enacted its Alternative Dispute R…

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) introduced a pension scheme in 1995, effective from 5 June 1995, the date on which the Cabinet approved it. Employees who retired before that date were covered only by a Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) scheme and had already received its benefits. The retired employees' …

The Union of India appealed against a Madras High Court order that directed it to grant a Freedom Fighter's pension to A. Alagam Perumal Kone under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme. The petitioner had first applied for the pension in 1997, but the application was rejected and the order became final. Thirtee…

The case concerned a consent decree dated 19‑08‑1991 that confirmed a family settlement whereby Smt. Jagno, a Hindu widow, transferred her half‑share in agricultural land to her nephews. The appellants challenged the decree on two grounds: (i) that the decree should have been registered under Section 17 of the Indian R…

The employee of Indian Bank applied for voluntary retirement on 21 January 2004, requesting a waiver of the three‑month notice period under Regulation 29 of the Indian Bank Employees Pension Regulations, 1995. The bank rejected the application on 20 April 2004, stating the employee was ineligible, and later initiated d…

The case arose from the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, investigated under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act, 2000 (KCOCA). The Commissioner of Police granted prior approval under Section 24(1)(a) to invoke Section 3 of KCOCA against several accused, including Mohan Nayak, based on material indicating o…

The appellants, Vaishno Devi Construction and others, claimed to be assignees of a decree holder (the late S.N. Kanungo) and sought execution of arbitration awards turned into decrees under Order XXI Rule 16 of the CPC. The dispute turned on whether the Explanation added to Order XXI Rule 16 by the 1976 Amendment Act, …

Valsan P. worked for the Central Government Telecom Department (1974‑1984), then for the State‑owned PSU SILK (1984‑1987), and finally for the Kerala Technical Education Department until his retirement in 2006. He claimed pension by counting his Central Government service and his later State service, seeking to have th…

The appellant Prem Shankar Prasad filed an FIR against respondent No.2 for offences under sections 406, 407, 468 and 506 IPC. An arrest warrant was issued, the accused absconded and a proclamation under s.82 CrPC was made, followed by proceedings under s.82‑83. The trial court dismissed the accused's anticipatory bail …

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from ONGC's invitation of Expressions of Interest for natural gas allocation. Three firms submitted bids; one later revised its offer to lift gas within 65 days, prompting ONGC to re‑invite fresh bids. The original writ applicant, Nobel Cera Coat, filed a petition seeking a …

The plaintiffs, heirs of some original partners of the partnership firm ‘Soorajmull Nagarmull’, filed a suit seeking declaration of entitlement to the firm’s assets, representation before authorities, injunctions, and dissolution of the firm. The defendants, heirs of the remaining original partners, contended that the …

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) issued a circular on 3 July 2012 creating super‑numerary Assistant Engineer (AE) posts for Sub‑Assistant Engineers (SAEs) and prescribed different eligibility criteria for diploma‑holders (25 years of service) and degree‑holders (13 years of service). The appellants, diploma‑hold…

The Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) entered a joint‑venture with EMTA Coal Ltd for the captive Pachhwara coal block. After the Supreme Court’s Manohar Lal Sharma judgment, the block was re‑allotted to PSPCL, which later decided to invite competitive bidding for a mine‑developer‑operator, rejecting EMTA’s cla…

The appellant Kala Singh and co-accused were involved in a sudden fight with the deceased, Shamber Singh, after a quarrel over a stolen pigeon while intoxicated. The co-accused struck the deceased on the head with a rod, causing death, after which the body was disposed of in a canal. The trial court convicted them unde…

The plaintiff, through his legatee, sued the defendants for declaration, injunction and possession alleging that they had encroached on land he purchased in 1995. The trial court dismissed the suit, a first appellate court affirmed the dismissal, and the High Court appointed a surveyor whose map showed the defendants o…

Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (the corporation) appealed against a High Court order that declared the date of birth of its employee T.P. Nataraja as 24‑01‑1961, contrary to the service record of 04‑01‑1960. The employee had filed a suit seeking a declaration of the corrected date of birth after 24 …

The case involved Dalbir Singh, a constable of the CRPF, who was convicted in a criminal trial for firing his service weapon, leading to his dismissal from service. He was later acquitted by the High Court, reinstated, and subsequently faced a fresh departmental charge sheet alleging misuse of his service rifle in 1993…

The case concerned import of Styrene‑Butadiene Rubber (SBR) of the 1900 series, which the importer M/s Ballarpur Industries Ltd. declared as ‘Lutex‑701’ and ‘Lutex‑780’ in its Bills of Entry. The Commissioner of Customs issued show‑cause notices alleging mis‑declaration and demanding confiscation, anti‑dumping duty, in…

The petitioners, who were personal guarantors to corporate debtors, challenged a Central Government notification dated 15‑Nov‑2019 that brought certain provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) into force only for personal guarantors. They argued that the notification exceeded the power conferred by …

Actress Ragini Dwivedi was arrested after a police search of her residence, which yielded only electronic devices and cigarettes, no narcotics. The prosecution relied on a statement by B.K. Ravishankar and alleged that she consumed drugs at parties, invoking Section 37 of the NDPS Act to deny bail, citing a total seizu…

M/s Bhag​at Singh purchased a truck on 26‑12‑2009 and was served a summons under the Rajasthan Tax on Entry of Motor Vehicle into Local Areas Act, 1988 in July 2012. An assessment order was issued on 9‑Oct‑2012 levying entry tax, penalty and interest. The assessee appealed, arguing that the assessment was barred by the…

The appellant, Reliance Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd., was assigned the loan of Hotel Poonja International Pvt. Ltd. (the corporate debtor) after the latter defaulted on a Rs.40 lakh term loan and was declared a non‑performing asset in 1993. A settlement was reached in 2001, a recovery certificate was issued by the…

The Supreme Court considered a Special Leave Petition filed by Rekha Sengar seeking bail under Section 439 of the CrPC after being charged in a non‑bailable offence under the PC&PNDT Act for alleged prenatal sex determination and sex‑selective abortion. A sting operation led to the seizure of an unregistered ultrasound…

The respondent, convicted of multiple serious offences including rape and assault, applied for furlough under the Bombay Furlough and Parole Rules. The Director General of Police (DGP) rejected the application, citing the respondent's criminal conduct, threats to witnesses, illegal activities in jail, and the risk to p…

An FIR was lodged on 14 July 2016 alleging that the accused had links with ISIS and were planning bombings under the UAPA. The Anti‑Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Nanded began investigation, arrested four persons and, on 8 September 2016, the Central Government directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Mumbai to take …

The Supreme Court entertained a miscellaneous application filed under Article 226 for correction of typographical errors in its earlier judgment dated 24 September 2021 in M/s Magadh Sugar & Energy Ltd. v. State of Bihar. The application sought to amend the monetary figures erroneously recorded as Rs 56 crores and Rs 6…

The appellant Jaswant Singh was named in an FIR for alleged cheating and breach of trust under Sections 406 and 420 IPC, arising from a dispute over a promised job placement in Italy. The complainant later settled the matter with the main accused Gurmeet Singh, and the offence against him was compounded, but the procee…

The respondent, a clerk‑cum‑cashier of Allahabad Bank, was suspended and later dismissed after a fire incident in which he was suspected of involvement, though no concrete evidence was presented. He challenged his dismissal before an Industrial Tribunal, which found no proof of misconduct but ordered a modest compensat…

The appellant, M/s Laxmi Continental Construction Co., entered into a contract with the State of Uttar Pradesh that contained an arbitration clause (Clause 52) appointing a sole arbitrator who must be a Superintending Engineer or higher. The appointed arbitrator, Shri S.S. Manocha, retired during the arbitration procee…

Under the Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1978, the landowner Nagarathinam Ammal was served notice to surrender 6,750 sq.m. of excess land. She complied by sending a letter on 11 November 1980 surrendering and delivering possession, and compensation was paid. The land was later allotted to the Madra…

The appellants' land in Bhoom, Maharashtra, was taken into possession by the State in 1984 and 1992 and later acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 in 1999. The Reference Court fixed compensation at Rs.70 per square foot after a 20% deduction for development cost, based on a sale exemplar (Exhibit 30) of Rs.137…

The respondents filed an eviction suit in 2013 against the petitioner. Between 2015 and 2019 the petitioner repeatedly sought adjournments, ten in total, and was given a final opportunity with a cost order to cross‑examine the plaintiff’s witness, which the petitioner failed to do. The trial court consequently closed t…

Geeta Gupta purchased a property in 1994 that had been let to Ramesh Chandra Dwivedi since 1975 under an agreement with Dhruv Narayan Tripathi, who claimed power of attorney from the original owners. The second respondent applied under Section 16 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Evi…

The appellant, Bhagwan Narayan Gaikwad, was convicted under IPC s.326 read with s.149 for violently amputating the victim's right arm and leg in 1993. The High Court upheld the conviction and sentenced him to five years' rigorous imprisonment and a monetary compensation under CrPC s.357. After serving five months, the …

The appeal concerned awards of compensation under the National Highways Act, where the amount was fixed by an arbitrator appointed by the Central Government. The petitioners argued that Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 should allow the court to modify such awards, especially where the award was …

The Union of India challenged the Constitution (Ninety‑Seventh Amendment) Act, 2011 which inserted Part IXB (Arts.243ZH‑243ZT) on cooperative societies, arguing that it curtails the exclusive legislative power of States under Entry 32, List II and therefore required ratification by at least half of the States under Art…

The trial court acquitted five accused persons of offences under Sections 302 read with 149, 304B and 498A of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The informant filed a criminal miscellaneous application under Section 378 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking leave to appeal the acquittal. The…

The complainant, brother of the deceased Sumer Singh, challenged the High Court's grant of bail to three accused (Kamlesh, Arif and Bhojraj Singh) who were alleged to have participated in an unlawful assembly that brutally murdered Sumer Singh and injured his brother Vikram Singh, causing 26 and 11 injuries respectivel…

The plaintiff filed a suit for injunction and declaration concerning a property, but the trial court rejected the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11(d) of the CPC, deeming it barred by law, and then directed the plaintiff to amend the plaint and pay court fees within 15 days. The plaintiff challenged this direction by filing…

The A.P. Mahesh Cooperative Urban Bank Shareholders Welfare Association (petitioner) challenged the election of the bank's board, alleging voter fraud and later loan fraud, and filed criminal complaints under various IPC sections. The accused respondents filed petitions under CrPC Section 482 seeking quash of the compl…

The Supreme Court, hearing a public‑interest writ petition filed by Lok Prahari, addressed the chronic backlog of about 57 lakh cases and the roughly 40% vacancy rate in High Courts. It held that the dormant constitutional provision under Article 224A can be invoked to appoint retired judges as ad‑hoc judges to clear o…

M/s Radha Krishan Industries challenged two orders of provisional attachment of its receivables issued by the Joint Commissioner under Section 83 of the Himachal Pradesh Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017, alleging that the orders were ultra vires, lacked a requisite opinion based on tangible material, and violated Rule 1…

The Supreme Court, exercising suo motu jurisdiction under Article 32, examined widespread inadequacies and inconsistencies in criminal trials across India, such as poor documentation of witnesses, exhibits, and material objects, and procedural delays. After issuing notices to all High Courts, State Governments and Unio…

PASL Wind Solutions and GE Power Conversion India, both Indian companies, entered a settlement agreement that provided for arbitration under ICC rules with the seat in Zurich and the substantive law of India. A dispute over warranty claims was arbitrated, the arbitrator held the seat to be Zurich (with hearings in Mumb…

The Supreme Court examined six bail orders granted by the Gujarat High Court to accused involved in a violent incident that resulted in five homicides. The Court held that the High Court failed to consider the seriousness and gravity of the offences, the role of each accused, and the material evidence contained in the …

Ms. X, a confirmed rape victim, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking rehabilitation, including free education for her minor children, housing accommodation, police protection, and legal aid. The Court noted that she had been convicted of rape in 2002 and had already received compensation under the Jharkhand V…

The case concerned a claim by Smt. Sureshwati that her services as a clerk/assistant teacher in a private school turned government‑aided were illegally retrenched on 8 March 2006 without a disciplinary enquiry. The school contended that she had abandoned her post in July 1997 after marriage and had not been in continuo…

The Haryana Space Application Centre (HARSAC), a nodal agency of the Haryana government, awarded a GIS modernisation contract to Pan India Consultants and incorporated an arbitration clause in the service level agreement. HARSAC appointed the Principal Secretary to the Government of Haryana as its nominee arbitrator, w…

Advocate-on-Record Siddharth Rajkumar Murarka filed a writ petition seeking to use the style "Law Chambers of Siddharth Murarka, Sole Proprietor Siddharth Rajkumar Murarka" on his letterhead and Vakalatnama, arguing that such a designation is permissible and that other High Courts allow it. The petition raised two ques…

The case concerned employees who were serving in the undivided State of Bihar before its bifurcation into Bihar and Jharkhand under the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000. The petitioners, members of SC/ST/OBC, claimed that their reservation benefits should continue in Jharkhand, where they were now resident, and that they…

The appellant, Ganesh Ramchandra Jadhav, intervened in a writ proceeding concerning the sale of a 2.48‑hectare parcel owned by the charitable trust Govardhan Sanstha (Regd) Wai, Pune. The trust had invited bids in 2015; the second respondent was initially accepted with a low offer, which the Charity Commissioner later …

The petitioners, environmentalists, sought protection for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican, arguing that overhead power lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat cause fatal collisions. They requested that the states and the Union underground all future power lines in priority and potential habitats, convert exi…

The State of Kerala appealed against a Kerala High Court order that granted bail to Mahesh, who was accused of brutally murdering a young doctor in the presence of her father. The Sessions Court had denied bail, citing the seriousness of the offence, the risk of witness tampering, and the accused's prior absconding. Th…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 applies to appeals filed under Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, especially when those appeals are governed by Articles 116, 117 of the Limitation Act or by Section 13(1A) of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. It overruled th…

Amitabha Dasgupta, a locker holder, complained that United Bank of India had inadvertently broken open his locker despite his rental dues being cleared, and that only two of the seven ornaments he claimed to have deposited were returned. The District Consumer Forum found a deficiency of service and awarded compensation…

The appellant, BAJRANGA (deceased) represented by legal heirs, challenged the State of Madhya Pradesh's declaration of his agricultural land as surplus under the Madhya Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings Act, 1960. He argued that a portion of the land had been decreed in favour of his mother‑in‑law, Jenobai, in a…

The appellants, aged 19 and 20, were convicted under Section 397 IPC for grievous hurt and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment. While the State argued that the mandatory minimum sentence could not be reduced, the appellants sought release on probation under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, citing their…

The case arose from a family dispute between Rama Narang (petitioner) and his sons Ramesh and Rajesh Narang (respondents) who were directors of a company. The Supreme Court had earlier ordered a settlement (Consent Order) requiring joint management of the company, but the petitioner alleged that the respondents violate…

The petitioners challenged Sections 3, 4, and 10 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2020, which introduced threshold requirements for allottees and certain financial creditors to initiate corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP), clarified that a corporate debtor can initiate CIRP against anot…

The plaintiff, Venigalla Koteswaramma, filed a suit for partition of her step‑mother Annapurnamma's properties, alleging that her siblings were co‑sharers and that defendant 4 had fraudulently obtained thumb impressions to execute a sale agreement and a will. The trial court held that both the alleged will (Ex. B‑9) an…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by the parents of a 21‑22‑year‑old civil engineering student who died in a motor vehicle accident. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal had fixed the deceased’s future loss of income at Rs.15,000 per month and applied a multiplier of 14 based on the parents’ age, awarding Rs.12,85,000…

In a miscellaneous application (No. 1770 of 2021) arising from Civil Appeal No. 5970 of 2021, the appellant sought correction of a clerical error in the Supreme Court's judgment dated 24 September 2021. The specific error was the reference to "Collector of Stamps, Mumbai" in paragraph 32, which was deemed inaccurate. T…

The petitioners, a trade union and former employees of Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), challenged the Union Government's plan to sell its remaining 29.54% stake in HZL, arguing that the Nationalisation Act, 1976 required a parliamentary amendment for any such disinvestment. The Court examined whether the earlier decision in …

The Supreme Court examined two convictions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act – one involving a 12‑year‑old girl (Satish) and another involving a 5‑year‑old girl (Libnus). The central issue was the interpretation of Section 7, specifically whether "touch" or "physical contact" required "s…

The deceased employee of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) died in 1977. His eldest son applied for a compassionate appointment under the 1975 circular, but the application was rejected. Eighteen years later, in 1996, the widow filed a petition seeking a compassionate appointment for her second son; the Central A…

The appellant alleged that respondent No.2, Nishant Solanki, who was charged with serious offences including murder, was not a juvenile and challenged the Juvenile Justice Board's (JJ Board) declaration that he was a juvenile delinquent based on his matriculation certificate. The appellant argued that the admission for…

The case concerned Jawaharlic​h Nehru Technological University (JNTU) seeking a State Government No‑Objection Certificate (NOC) before granting affiliation to new courses in institutions that already had All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approval. The Telangana High Court, relying on the view that AICTE…

Ramashankar Pandey, a retired employee of South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd., had opted for a 90% pension under the Coal Mines Pension Scheme, 1998, which entitled his widow to a lump‑sum payment of 100 times his monthly pension upon his death. After his death on 12 January 2011, the widow’s claim for the lump sum was reje…

The Union of India entered into a work contract with Manraj Enterprises that contained clause 16(2) of the General Conditions of Contract, which expressly barred any interest on earnest money, security deposit, or amounts payable to the contractor. An arbitrator awarded pendente lite and future interest on the contract…

The father of the petitioner, Ashish Awasthi, was a work‑charge employee who died on 08‑Oct‑2015. At the time of his death, the applicable circular (dated 29‑Sep‑2014) provided only a Rs 2 lakh compensation and did not permit a compassionate appointment for his heirs. A later circular dated 31‑Aug‑2016 amended the rule…

The case involved three accused (A‑1, A‑2 and A‑3) who were convicted under IPC s.302 read with s.34 for the murder of A‑1’s brother. The prosecution alleged that the trio attacked the victim with a knife and lathis and that A‑2, after the killing, sent a false police report naming two other persons (PWs 6 and 7) as th…

The insured, a manufacturer of polyethylene products, suffered a total loss of plant, machinery and stock due to a fire on 6 November 1999. The insurer appointed joint surveyors who submitted a loss assessment, but thereafter delayed settlement and appointed an investigator in June 2001. The insured filed a complaint b…

The Supreme Court examined a bail order that required the accused, who was charged with sexual harassment and related offences, to visit the complainant’s house, tie a rakhi, and give gifts as a condition of bail. The Court held that such conditions amount to judicial overreach, compel contact with the survivor, and pe…

Antonio Paulo Vaz purchased a car from dealer Vistar Goa Ltd, paying the full price in 2011, but was delivered a used 2009 model instead of a new 2011 model. Vaz refused delivery and sought a refund or replacement, filing a consumer complaint. The district forum, state commission, and National Consumer Disputes Redress…

The appellant, an Assistant Commandant in the CRPF, was subjected to multiple disciplinary enquiries after a complaint alleged that he made threatening statements and exhibited misconduct. He was later diagnosed with a permanent mental disability (40‑70%) and classified as unfit for duty. The appellant challenged the d…

The builder, Brigade Enterprises Ltd., appealed against the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission’s order permitting 91 purchasers of 51 apartments to file a consumer complaint under Section 35(1)(c) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 on behalf of all 1,134 buyers in the residential project. The Supreme Cou…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute arising from the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) of Meghalaya Infratech Ltd., where four resolution applicants submitted bids and Ngaitlang Dhar emerged as the highest bidder (H‑1). The losing bidder, Panna Pragati Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (PPIPL), sought additional t…

Pani Ram, a former regular army infantry officer, re‑enrolled in the Territorial Army (TA) and suffered a severe accident while returning from leave, resulting in an 80% disability. The Medical Board and a Court of Inquiry found the injury attributable to military service, and he was invalided out, seeking a disability…

The appellant K. Anjinappa filed a professional misconduct complaint against an advocate before the Andhra Pradesh State Bar Council, which failed to dispose of the complaint within the one‑year period prescribed under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961, leading to its transfer to the Bar Council of India (BCI) unde…

The appellant Govindan was convicted under Section 304(ii) IPC for causing the death of Kamsala during a land dispute over a pathway. The trial court found that the incident arose from a sudden quarrel, with the complainant's family acting as aggressors, and held that there was no pre‑meditation, though the appellant e…

The appellant, mother of the deceased Rupesh Kumar, filed two FIRs alleging that the respondent, Pappu Kumar, attempted to murder her son in 2017 and murdered him in 2020, also violating the Arms Act. The respondent was arrested after absconding for seven months and was denied bail by the Sessions Court, but the Patna …

The appellant husband, Ram Sahay Mahto, and his mother-in-law, Parvati Devi, were convicted under Sections 304B, 201 and 34 of the IPC for the death of the appellant's wife, Fulwa Devi, who disappeared from her matrimonial home and was later found dead in a river. The prosecution alleged that the accused demanded dowry…

The appellants, daily‑rated employees of the Gujarat Water Supply & Sewerage Board, claimed entitlement to the higher pay‑scale of Rs.950‑1500 under Gujarat Government resolutions of 1991 and 1992, arguing that denial of the benefit violated Article 14. The Board, an autonomous statutory body, had adopted only the 1988…

Sunny Abraham, an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, was subjected to disciplinary proceedings under Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965. A charge memorandum was issued on 18 Nov 2002 without the Finance Minister’s (the Disciplinary Authority’s) approval, which was …

The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) advertised a State Service Examination for various posts. Respondent No.1, an SC candidate, applied with a preference order of Deputy District Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and Chief Municipal Officer (CMO). He scored 892 marks, insufficient for t…

The appellants, appointed as Judicial Magistrates in 2002‑03, were placed higher in the merit list than the petitioners belonging to reserved categories. The State prepared a gradation list for promotion using Rule 5 of the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005, which applied roster points meant for direct recruitmen…

The appellant, a non‑resident Indian (NRI), purchased a building in Punjab that was already occupied by a tenant who had been inducted by the previous owner. After returning to India, the appellant sought eviction of the tenant under Section 13‑B of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949. The central issue wa…

The Supreme Court heard appeals by third‑party defendants (Acqua Borewell Pvt Ltd and others) challenging a Karnataka High Court order that modified an interim injunction to restrain alienation of one‑seventh share in a large schedule of properties. The original suit sought declaration of a one‑seventh share in the pro…

The appellants, claiming to have purchased land from a Mahant, obtained an order of ejectment against the respondent tenant under Section 14A of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953. The tenant contested the existence of a landlord‑tenant relationship, arguing that the Mahant had no authority to convey title a…

The appellant, Kanchan Sharma, was charged under Section 306 of the IPC for abetment of suicide and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after the deceased, her brother-in-law, consumed poison at her house. The High Court rejected her application under Section 482 of the CrPC to quash the proceed…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over a government tender for polyester hologram excise labels, where two unsuccessful bidders, Kumbhat Holographics and Alpha Lasertek India LLP, alleged that the tender specifications were tailored to favour the successful bidders, UFLEX Ltd. and Montage Enterprises. The Court held…

Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd. appointed Anil Kanwariya as a Technical Helper on probation. The employee concealed a prior conviction under Sections 341 and 323 IPC and filed a false declaration stating no criminal case was pending or any conviction. After police verification revealed the conviction, the em…

M/s Mitsubishi Corporation, a non‑resident Japanese company, was assessed for income attributable to its Indian operations for the years 1998‑99 to 2004‑05 and was levied interest under section 234B of the Income‑Tax Act for alleged default in payment of advance tax. The company argued that, because tax was deductible …

A group of heirs filed a suit in 1987 to set aside a 1963 Agricultural Lands Tribunal order and a 1954 sale certificate concerning land that had been placed under the control of a court‑appointed receiver after the death of the original owner in 1946. The defendants moved to reject the plaint under Order VII Rule 11(d)…

The appellant, Satya Prakash Dwivedi, suffered grievous injuries in a road accident and claimed compensation before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which awarded Rs.5,42,633 with a 50% permanent disability assessment. The insurance company appealed, and the High Court, exercising power under Order XLI Rule 33 of th…

The appellants, Praveen Kumar C.P. and Anitha Devi, applied for High School Assistant posts in Kerala where the recruitment notification required a B.Ed. in the concerned subject (Natural Science). Their B.Ed. degrees were in Biological Science (and related subjects) obtained from universities outside Kerala. They obta…

The petitioners, who qualified the NEET 2016 exam, were admitted to the 1st year MBBS course at Glocal Medical College through a private counselling process conducted by the college, contrary to the Uttar Pradesh Government's notification dated 22‑08‑2016 that mandated centralized counselling for all medical admissions…

Neelima Srivastava was appointed as a temporary music teacher in 1984 on a leave vacancy and continued in service for over three decades. She sought regularisation under the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Department Regularisation Rules, 2001, filing multiple writ petitions. The High Court Single Judge in 2006 and a…

The case concerned a Will executed by the deceased Rajendra Singh in favour of Sarjug Singh, which the objectors claimed had been revoked by a registered cancellation deed dated 02‑02‑1963. The trial court held the Will was revoked, but the Patna High Court reversed that finding, granting probate to the applicant, rely…

The case concerned land originally leased to Louis Club for club purposes, on which a pavilion was constructed and later sub‑let to another club and partially transferred to a Municipal Committee. The landlord filed an ejectment petition alleging non‑payment of rent, unauthorised sub‑letting and change of use. The High…

The appellant purchased a mortgaged land in 1964 from the original mortgagors, who had earlier mortgaged the property to the defendant mortgagee. The mortgagee filed a suit for foreclosure in 1965 without impleading the appellant, obtained a decree, and later took possession of the land from the appellant. The appellan…

HDFC Bank granted a loan to borrowers who mortgaged a flat as security. When the borrowers defaulted, the bank issued a notice under Section 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act to take possession of the secured asset. The appellant, Hemraj Ratnakar Salian, claimed to be a tenant of the flat since June 2012 and sought protection …

The Union of India challenged the Bombay High Court's orders directing the release of large quantities of yellow peas imported by M/s. Raj Grow Impex LLP and M/s. Harihar Collections, which were imported in excess of the quantitative limits and without the required licence under the 2019 FTDR notifications. The issue w…

The father (Aman Lohia) filed a guardianship petition under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 and the Family Courts Act, 1984 seeking declaration as guardian of his two‑year‑old daughter. The mother (Kiran Lohia) did not file a written statement but filed several applications under CPC, including a Section 151 applicat…

The State Government of Bihar issued a Departmental Order (D.O.) on 28 July 1981 to merge the pay scales of Lower Division and Upper Division Assistants/Clerks in Patna University, later extending the scheme to other universities. Subsequent communications in 1982, 1989 and 1990 led the Vice‑Chancellor of Ranchi Univer…

APIIC invited bids to develop a 350‑acre aerospace park and awarded the contract to Unitech, which paid Rs 165 crore in installments. The contract was conditioned on the outcome of a pending litigation concerning the title to the land, which the Andhra Pradesh High Court and later this Court held that the government di…

The Supreme Court considered two Special Leave Petitions filed by the High Court of Madras challenging its own order that granted a refund of court fees to M.C. Subramaniam, who had withdrawn appeal suits after reaching a private out‑of‑court settlement. The key issue was whether Section 69‑A of the Tamil Nadu Court Fe…

The appellant, Narayan Sitaramji Badwaik (deceased), filed a suit for possession of a property based on a sale deed dated 26‑09‑1978, which the respondents claimed was only a collateral security for a loan. The trial court dismissed the suit, the District Judge reversed the decision, and the High Court, on a second app…

The dispute concerned a suit for possession and mesne profits of a Delhi industrial property. The High Court had earlier settled that the petitioner was in possession of the entire 5,472 sq ft. and issued a consent decree directing hand‑over of possession and payment of mesne profits, but erroneously recorded a 10% ann…

The case concerned a joint family property in Ullal village that was declared excess land under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976. The appellant claimed to have purchased a portion of the land in 1994 from a family member and sought restoration of his name in the land records under the Repeal Act, 1999,…

The respondent, Bheemesh, sought a compassionate appointment after his sister, an unmarried government teacher, died in harness on 8 December 2010, claiming his family depended on her income. At the time of her death, the Karnataka Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 1996 did not recognise an u…

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd obtained an arbitral award on 28‑Feb‑2011 in its favour, which was dispatched by registered post on 15‑Mar‑2011 but was refused by the respondent, who finally received it on 23‑Mar‑2011. The appellant filed an execution petition on 27‑Jun‑2011; the respondent filed a petition …

Anita Rani filed two civil suits against her relatives Ashok Kumar and others to recover money. In the first suit, the respondents had taken a Rs 10.5 million loan, repaid Rs 5 million and claimed the repayment was a full and final settlement, but no written receipt or memorandum of compromise was produced. In the seco…

The Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad (appellant) sought to cancel a notification dated 15 September 2005 that rescinded an earlier notification of 7 April 2003 which had released land from acquisition under Section 48(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The land owners (respondents) had obtained the 2003 notifi…

M/S Star Paper Mills Ltd., a paper manufacturer, sued M/S Beharilal Madanlal Jaipuria Ltd. and others, a wholesale dealer, for non-payment of paper supplied on credit. The respondents contended that the invoices and related documents were fabricated, signed under duress, and that the transactions were fictitious to eva…

The original plaintiff filed a suit for permanent injunction which was dismissed by the trial court and set aside by the appellate court. The original defendants obtained a certified copy of the appellate decree in March 2017 but filed a second appeal only after a delay of 1011 days, in 2021. The High Court of Andhra P…

The plaintiff, IL & FS Engineering and Constructions Co. Ltd., obtained a decree for recovery of Rs.47,90,088 from defendants Bhargavaram Constructions and others. The defendants appealed the decree and, in the appellate proceedings, filed a miscellaneous application seeking to implead A.P. Transco as a party to the ap…

The respondent-plaintiff filed a suit seeking a declaration of ownership of agricultural land and an interim injunction against the petitioner. The trial court dismissed the interim injunction, but the High Court reversed that order, granting the injunction based on a certificate issued under Section 38‑E of the Andhra…

The State of Bihar appealed a High Court order that had directed the appointment of Madhu Kant Ranjan as constable with five extra marks for his NCC ‘B’ certificate. The advertisement for the 2004 constable recruitment required candidates to submit self‑attested photocopies of all documents, including the NCC certifica…

The Supreme Court examined the widespread filing of fraudulent compensation claims under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Workmen's Compensation Act, as investigated by a Special Investigating Team (SIT) in Uttar Pradesh. The SIT reported 1,376 suspicious claims, of which 247 had been examined, leading to 92 criminal cas…

The case concerned the appointment of Dinkar Gupta as Director General of Police (HoPF) of Punjab, which was challenged on the ground that the empanelment panel prepared by the UPSC violated the directions in Prakash Singh v. Union of India. The appellants alleged bias, procedural impropriety and that the Draft Guideli…

The petitioners, Citizens for Green Dehradun, challenged Stage‑I forest clearances for a highway project and were directed by the Supreme Court to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT). They filed an original application before the NGT under Section 14, which was dismissed on the ground that they were circumventin…

The appellant, wife of a deceased lecturer who had opted for the Contributory Provident Fund Scheme during his service, sought to exercise a "fresh option" under a university scheme introduced in 1998 that offered families a second chance to choose a retirement benefit scheme. The scheme's clause 5 provides that such a…

The appellants, parents of a seven‑year‑old child who died after being struck by a motorcycle, filed a claim under Section 163‑A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal fixed the notional income of the deceased at Rs.15,000 per annum (as per Schedule‑II) and awarded Rs.2,25…

The former manager of the Bank of Cochin, M.J. James, was dismissed for sanctioning advances in violation of head‑office instructions. During the disciplinary inquiry he was denied the right to be represented by an officer of a bank‑employees' union other than the Bank of Cochin, which he claimed violated Clause 22(ix)…

Akashdeep Morya applied for appointment as a Civil Judge (Junior Division) in Rajasthan. Four FIRs were lodged against him, charging him with offences under sections 324, 323, 341, 148, 149, 504 and 34 of the IPC; he was acquitted in all cases, but the acquittals were based on compromise and hostile witnesses, not on a…

The claimant suffered severe injuries in a motor accident in 1999 and filed a claim under Section 166(1)(a) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded only Rs.1,00,000, which the claimant appealed; he died in 2015 of causes unrelated to the accident, and his daughter was substituted as…

The petitioners filed a suit for specific performance of a sale deed, naming a minor as the third defendant and seeking the appointment of a guardian under Order XXXII, Rule 3 of the CPC. The trial court passed an ex‑parte decree and allowed execution without properly appointing a guardian, later dismissing the respond…

The police received a secret tip that the accused were selling poppy straw in a jeep (registration GUD‑4997) and raided the vehicle parked on a public road, seizing 75 kg of poppy straw. The trial court and High Court held that the seizure was covered by Section 43 of the NDPS Act, which applies to seizures in a "publi…

The Supreme Court, acting suo motu under Article 32, examined the massive backlog of cases filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, which was impeding the disposal of other criminal matters. After hearing the Amicus Curiae, the Solicitor General, the Reserve Bank of India and various state repre…

The appellants filed a consumer complaint before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on 18 June 2020 under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, seeking a refund of Rs. 2.19 crores. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 came into force on 20 July 2020, raising the NCDRC's pecuniary jurisdiction from Rs…

The petitioners challenged the selection list dated 11‑11‑2019 for police constable posts, alleging that candidates originally selected under reserved categories (OBC/SC/ST) were shifted to the open category, thereby prejudicing general‑category candidates. The Supreme Court had earlier directed that the remaining 3,29…

The appellant university rejected the NRI student’s application for the MBBS programme on the ground that she had not satisfied the biology subject requirement of the Medical Council of India (MCI) Regulation 4(2). The student relied on an equivalence certificate issued by the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Educ…

Kotak Mahindra Bank appealed against a Delhi High Court order that allowed guarantors Ambuj Kasliwal and others to file an appeal before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT) without making any pre‑deposit of the debt due, as required under Section 21 of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993 (RDBA). The …

Six members of a family were murdered in a house on 23 January 2014. The prosecution relied primarily on the ocular testimony of two interested witnesses, PW‑1 (Ali Sher Khan) and PW‑2 (Jaan Mohammad), who were closely related to both the deceased and the accused. The Supreme Court held that because the witnesses were …

The Bijnor Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd. rejected the original writ petitioner's application for a One Time Settlement (OTS) on the ground that she was a willful defaulter, her loan was classified as an NPA and the bank could recover the full amount by auctioning the secured property. The petitioner challenged the reject…

Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd, the successor to Jharkhand State Electricity Board, entered into a contract with M/s Anamika Conductors Ltd for supply of conductors. The supplier, claiming payment, approached the Rajasthan Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council under Section 18 of the MSMED Act. The Council i…

The Oriental Insurance Company appealed against an order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission which had allowed a claim by Malana Power Company under a Special Contingency Policy covering loss of power generation due to hydrology. The insurer alleged that the insured had suppressed or failed to disclo…

The plaintiff filed a commercial suit in October 2018 seeking a permanent injunction against the defendant for alleged trademark infringement and obtained an ex‑parte interim injunction. Realising the suit was not compliant with the Commercial Courts Act, the plaintiff withdrew it on 27 July 2019 and filed a fresh suit…

The appellant, a truck driver, was stopped by Sub‑Inspector D.K. Tiwari who attempted to board the vehicle; the appellant pushed the officer, causing him to fall off and be run over by the truck's rear wheels, resulting in the officer's death. The trial court convicted the appellant of murder under Section 302 IPC and …

The Allahabad High Court entertained a writ petition seeking removal of an LCD from a specific area and, in addition, issued a direction that no permission for a DJ should be granted because the noise was deemed unpleasant and beyond permissible limits under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. The…

Dr. Rohit Kumar, a government doctor in Delhi, cleared the INICET‑2020 exam and was allotted an MD seat at PGI Chandigarh. He applied for study leave, but a policy dated 20 Oct 2020, issued in view of the COVID‑19 pandemic, barred further study leaves for government doctors, leading to the rejection of his application …

The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) and the State of Uttar Pradesh sought to enhance the superannuation age of NOIDA employees from 58 to 60 years, issuing a government order on 30 September 2012 that applied prospectively. The Allahabad High Court set aside the order’s prospective effect and directe…

In February 2012 two Indian fishermen were killed when Italian marines aboard the vessel M.V. Enrica Lexie opened fire. An FIR was lodged in Kerala and the marines were arrested, leading to criminal proceedings under sections 302, 307, 427 and 34 of the IPC and the 2002 Suppression of Unlawful Acts Act. The parties inv…

The Asset Reconstruction Company (India) Ltd., a consortium of lenders, filed a Section 7 application before the NCLT seeking initiation of corporate insolvency proceedings against Corporate Power Ltd. after the latter defaulted on its loans. The NCLT admitted the application, relying on entries in the debtor's balance…

The petitioners, two pharmacy colleges, obtained approval from the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) in April 2020 to run first‑year B.Pharm courses for 2020‑21. The Uttar Pradesh government later issued a policy limiting pharmacy colleges to two per district, which the petitioners successfully challenged in the Allahaba…

An FIR was lodged against Fakhrey Alam under several IPC sections, the Arms Act and Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The police filed a charge sheet for the IPC and Arms offences within the 180‑day period but delayed the UAPA charge sheet beyond that period, filing it after 211 days. The a…

The corporate debtor Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd (GNCL) initiated a corporate insolvency resolution process, but its promoter Arun Kumar Jagatramka was deemed ineligible to submit a resolution plan under Section 29A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). After the liquidation order, Jagatramka filed an application under…

The Secunderabad Cantonment Board entered three contracts with M/s B. Ramachandraiah & Sons that contained arbitration clauses. After final payments were made in early 2003, the contractor sought reimbursement for price variations and, in November 2006, demanded the appointment of an arbitrator, reiterating the demand …

Sartaj Singh, the injured eye‑witness, was attacked by several persons and lodged an FIR naming the private respondents. The investigating officer filed charge‑sheets against other accused but not the private respondents. During trial Singh testified, again naming the private respondents, and filed an application under…

The appellant, a registered valuer, was appointed by the resolution professional (RP) to value plant and machinery of Kavveri Telecom Infrastructure Ltd during a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). His fee of Rs 7.5 lakhs and expenses were ratified by the Committee of Creditors, but after the National Compa…

The appellant filed a criminal appeal after the Allahabad High Court granted bail to the second respondent, who was accused of murdering the appellant’s son. The FIR detailed a brutal knife attack resulting in eight ante‑mortem injuries and death, and the accused had initially been declared a fugitive before surrenderi…

The appellant, Naveen Singh, filed a criminal appeal challenging the Allahabad High Court's order that granted regular bail to the accused Mahesh Singh (Respondent No.2), who was charged under IPC sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120‑B for allegedly forging and manipulating a court order and benefitting from it in a sep…

The Supreme Court examined the practice of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) of issuing operative orders without accompanying reasons, which prejudiced the parties and violated their right to a fair hearing under Article 21 of the Constitution. In the present case, the NCDRC pronounced an oper…

The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission conducted an exam for Gram Panchayat Adhikari in which a question asked for the current Panchayati Raj Minister. The correct option at the time the question was set was "Kailash Yadav" (option B), but the minister died twelve days before the exam, rendering non…

The case concerned the interpretation of Section 6 of the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976. The Competent Authority had issued forfeiture notices under Section 6(1) to the relatives of a convicted smuggler, V.P. Selvarajan, but not to the convict himself, and the High Court…

M/s Selva Foods, a trader, imported spices from outside Karnataka, processed them and sold the processed goods within the market area of APMC Yashwanthapura. The Market Committee levied market fee under Section 65 of the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) Act, 1966, which the responde…

The appellants, a group of home buyers, filed a petition under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) against M/s Bharath Hi Tech Builders for defaulting on a repayment of Rs 33.84 crore. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) declined to admit the petition and instead directed the corporate debtor to …

The State of Haryana awarded a road‑maintenance contract to M/s. Shiv Shankar Construction Co. for Rs 5.26 crore at a rate of Rs 1,000 per km per month, assuming traffic of 3,364 PCU/day. After the closure of a nearby road, traffic on the contract road surged to 24,418 PCU/day, causing additional maintenance costs. The…

The Supreme Court examined the Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna, a project to widen about 900 km of national highways in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, which includes three strategic border roads. Environmental groups challenged the project before the National Green Tribunal, leading to the formation of a High Po…

The appellant, a 23‑year‑old resident of Chhattisgarh, was convicted of kidnapping, rape, murder and related offences after a missing‑child case led to his confession and the recovery of the victim’s body from a concealed sack. The trial court sentenced him to death for murder and to rigorous imprisonment for the other…

The father of a married woman filed a complaint alleging that her husband, brother‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law demanded dowry, beat her and eventually hanged her. The FIR named all of them and the prosecution charged the husband, the brother‑in‑law (first appellant) and the mother‑in‑law (second appellant) under IPC secti…

The petitioner’s 29.38‑acre land in Bihar was initially acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 with a 1981 notification and possession taken, later declared a protected forest. An award was passed in 2006, but the Supreme Court in August 2015 held that the acquisition proceedings had lapsed and directed the Stat…

The dispute concerned the eligibility of Shri Deo Kumar Rai, a casual labourer of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), for temporary status and regularisation under the Department of Telecommunications' 1989 Scheme, which requires at least 240 days of work in a single calendar year. A Committee examined his service records…

The appeal concerned a order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) that condoned a 100‑day delay in filing the respondent's written statement in a consumer complaint. The condonation was granted on 25 February 2020, a few days before the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench judgment in New India …

Abdul Khuddus, a statutory tenant under the Karnataka Rent Control Act, was evicted when the Bangalore City Corporation demolished the dilapidated building under Section 322 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act. The tenant filed suits for injunction, possession and damages, which the High Court allowed, holding …

Arcelor Mittel Nipp​on Steel India Ltd. and Essar Bulk Terminal Ltd. entered into a cargo‑handling agreement containing an arbitration clause. The appellant invoked the clause, the respondent claimed the dispute was non‑arbitrable and filed Section 9 applications for interim relief in the Commercial Court. While the Hi…

The appellant, married to the deceased for 25 years, had a quarrel with his wife on the day she later ingested pesticide and died; the appellant also consumed pesticide and survived. He was convicted under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for abetment of suicide and under Section 4(b) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition …

National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) filed a claim of Rs.673.85 crore against Dunar Foods Ltd in the insolvency proceedings initiated by the State Bank of India. The Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) rejected the claim on the ground of no privity of contract and no guarantee, a decision upheld by the NCLT. NSEL appeal…

The Supreme Court examined the winding‑up of six open‑ended mutual‑fund schemes of Franklin Templeton, focusing on the interplay between SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, particularly Reg. 18(15)(c) and Regs. 39‑42. The Court held that when the trustees, by majority, decide to wind up a scheme under Reg. 39(2)(a),…

The Madras Bar Association challenged the Finance Act, 2017 as amended by the Tribunal Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021, contending that the first proviso to s.184(1) (minimum age of 50 for appointment as Chairperson or Member), the second and third provisos (parity of allowances with…

In a 2019 Lok Sabha election for the Hassan constituency, the appellant A. Manju, who finished second, filed an election petition under Section 81 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 alleging that the elected candidate, Prajwal Revanna, had committed corrupt practices by filing a false affidavit and concealing ma…

The case involved three branches of a Mitakshara joint Hindu family that executed a partition deed in 1961. In 1969 the eldest brother of one branch, acting as Karta, and a cousin executed a relinquishment deed surrendering their branch's share in favour of the eldest uncle who had repaid a family mortgage. Four younge…

The appellant, a former branch manager of Sri Rama Grameena Bank, was convicted under Sections 409, 420 and 477A of the IPC and Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly allowing withdrawals from an account of the Nishita Educational Academy and prematurely encashing two fixed d…

The case concerns the murder of a police officer for which two accused were acquitted by the trial court. The High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted them for life, relying on the testimony of police witnesses and a purported dying declaration. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the scope of appellate review…

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized over 1.37 lakh tablets from four locations in Chennai, alleging they were psychotropic substances. Accused A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 (Bharat Chaudhary) were arrested; A-4 was detained based solely on statements of A-1 and A-3 recorded under Section 67 of the NDPS Act. A specia…

Welspun Specialty Solutions Ltd. (formerly Remi Metals Gujarat Ltd.) supplied steel casing pipes to ONGC under four purchase orders that contained a liquidated damages clause for delayed delivery. During performance, ONGC granted several extensions and later deducted US$807,804.03 and Rs.1,05,367 as liquidated damages,…

The dispute arose from a contract for the supply of wooden batons. The arbitrator rejected the respondents' claim for payment and the security deposit. The respondents filed a petition under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, which the District Judge dismissed. The appellants appealed to the High…

The appellants participated in the 1987 competitive exam for English stenographers and were placed on a select list dated 14‑07‑1987, which under Rule 14(3) of the Subordinate Civil Courts Ministerial Establishment Rules, 1947, was valid for only one year. They were subsequently appointed on a temporary basis to Hindi …

The dispute concerned promotion to the post of Accounts Officer (AO) in the Himachal State Electricity Board. Direct recruits to the lower post of Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) argued that the amendment notification of 02.01.2010, which made passing the SAS Part II examination mandatory for promotion to AO, was arbi…

The Supreme Court considered three appeals where successful resolution applicants sought to withdraw or modify their resolution plans after approval by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) but before approval by the Adjudicating Authority under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. The Court held that the IBC doe…

The Supreme Court examined whether the first proviso of Section 54(3) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 imposes a substantive restriction on refunds of unutilised input tax credit (ITC) arising from an inverted duty structure, and whether Rule 89(5) of the CGST Rules, which limits the refund calculation t…

The appellant and respondent were married in 2002 but the marriage was never consummated and the parties lived apart for almost two decades. The appellant filed for divorce on the ground of cruelty; the trial court granted a decree on the basis of irretrievable breakdown, which was later set aside by the appellate cour…

The wife of a deceased driver filed an FIR alleging that her husband was murdered by his employer, the appellant, with the help of friends. Based on her deposition, the prosecution invoked Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to summon the appellant, and the Sessions Judge ordered the summons, a decision uphel…

The mother of V. Somyashree, a government employee in Karnataka, died on 25 March 2012. At the time of her death the daughter was married; she later obtained a decree of divorce by mutual consent on 20 March 2013 and applied for a compassionate appointment on 21 March 2013 under the Karnataka Civil Services (Appointmen…

A notification under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (s.4) acquired 297 kanals of land in Bhatinda for a cotton spinning mill. The Land Acquisition Officer initially fixed compensation at Rs 25,000 per acre. The Reference Court, relying on a 1979 sale deed (Rs 50,000 per acre), applied a flat 12% annual increase and a 2…

The Labour Court, Dehradun awarded reinstatement and back wages to Balbir Singh, which the appellants challenged by filing Writ Petition No.6898 of 1997 before the Allahabad High Court. After the creation of Uttarakhand, Section 35(2) of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 required such proceedings to be transfe…

The plaintiff, the heir of Bhimrao Ramchandra Khalate, had executed a document titled “conditional sale deed” on 22‑Feb‑1969, borrowing Rs.3,000 from defendant No.1 and agreeing that the land would be reconveyed upon repayment within a year. Defendant No.1 refused to reconvey and later transferred the land to his broth…

Kaptan Singh, acting as power of attorney for Munni Devi, filed a complaint alleging assault and other offences arising from a disputed sale of a plot. An FIR was registered, investigated, and a charge‑sheet was filed for offences under Sections 147, 148, 149, 406, 329 and 386 IPC. The accused filed a petition under Se…