Judgments of 2024

The case arose from an FIR lodged under the IPC, POCSO Act and SC/ST Act against a school teacher for allegedly rubbing the breast of a 16‑year‑old girl, a sexual assault under Section 7 of the POCSO Act. The teacher and the victim's father later entered into a compromise, and the teacher sought quashment of the FIR un…

The Director of Medical Education, acting on an interim order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, directed two medical colleges to keep one MBBS seat vacant for the 2023-24 academic year. The interim order was issued to protect the interests of students challenging the amendment of the Mukhyamantri Medhavi Vidyarthi Yoja…

The petitioner, a non‑resident Indian, claimed entitlement to 400,000 and 200,010 equity shares under a 2011 Shareholders Agreement and sought appointment of an arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 after the respondents failed to issue share certificates. The respondents argued tha…

The appellant, HPCL Bio‑Fuels Ltd., entered into turnkey contracts with the respondent, Shahaji Bhanudas Bhad, for equipment supply. After a dispute over unpaid dues arose in 2014, the respondent invoked the arbitration clause and filed a Section 11(6) application in the Bombay High Court in February 2018, which he unc…

The Customs Department filed a review petition challenging the Supreme Court's earlier decision in Canon India Ltd. v. Commissioner of Customs, which held that Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers were not "proper officers" under section 28 of the Customs Act, 1962. The Court examined whether there was an…

The appellants challenged the Rajasthan High Court’s decision to fix a 75% cut‑off for the translator recruitment, alleging that it altered the eligibility criteria after the recruitment process had begun. The Supreme Court examined when a recruitment process starts and ends, the constitutional doctrine that the "rules…

The petitioners, a mining leaseholder and its shareholder, challenged the explanations to Rule 38 of the Mineral (Other than Atomic and Hydrocarbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016 and Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017, alleging that the inclusion of previously paid royalty, DMF an…

The petitioner, M/s D. Khosla & Co., obtained an arbitration award in 1997 that granted simple interest of 12% for the pre‑award period and 15% for the post‑award period, both described as payable on the "amount awarded" (the principal compensation of Rs.21,56,745). The petitioner later claimed that the 15% post‑award …

The appellant alleged that the respondent borrowed Rs. 2 lakh and issued a cheque as security, which later bounced for insufficient funds, leading to a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The trial court acquitted the respondent, finding contradictions in the appellant's testimony, lack of ev…

The Supreme Court examined two criminal appeals challenging High Court orders that quashed criminal complaints and set aside committal orders against police officers accused of custodial deaths. The appellants alleged that the deceased were killed in police custody and that the High Court relied solely on CID and CBI r…

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation awarded a tender to Blue Dreamz Advertising for advertising on street hoardings, but disputes arose over reciprocal obligations such as work orders, bank guarantees, and the number of hoardings installed. The Corporation issued a show‑cause notice and subsequently debarred the company …

The Supreme Court granted the petitioner absolute interim anticipatory bail on 8 December 2023, ordering his release on bail if arrested. Despite this, the police remanded him to custody on 13 December 2023, and the magistrate failed to release him after the remand period, resulting in an illegal detention of about 48 …

The Supreme Court suo motu took up an order dated 17 July 2024 issued by Justice Rajbir Sehrawat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in which the judge made gratuitous observations about previous Supreme Court orders while hearing a contempt proceeding. The Court examined whether such remarks undermine the authority …

The appeal was filed by a child in conflict with law (CCL) challenging a High Court order that set aside a Juvenile Justice Board's order directing his trial as an adult in a Children’s Court. The key issues were whether the three‑month period for completing a preliminary assessment under s.14(3) of the Juvenile Justic…

The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation and other bank staff unions challenged Section 17(2)(viii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and Rule 3(7)(i) of the Income Tax Rules, 1962, alleging that they amounted to an excessive delegation of the essential legislative function to the Central Board of Direct Taxes and that the…

The appellant, Amanatullah Khan, challenged the inclusion of his minor children and wife in a police "History Sheet" that alleged his bad character, arguing that there was no adverse material against them. The Delhi High Court dismissed his writ petition under Article 226 and Section 482 of the CrPC, prompting an appea…

The appellant Sukhpal Singh was convicted of murdering his wife Usha under Section 302 IPC. The prosecution relied heavily on the sworn statement of the complainant, Ashok Kumar Pathak, recorded under Section 299 of the CrPC, as well as a confession note and handwriting expert report. The appellant challenged the admis…

The Indian Medical Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking redress for the proliferation of misleading and deceptive advertisements, particularly in the food and health sectors. The Court examined the responsibilities of manufacturers, service providers, advertisers, advertising agencies, and endorse…

The appellant, a college professor, was charged under Section 153-A of the IPC for WhatsApp status messages protesting the abrogation of Article 370 and wishing Pakistan a happy Independence Day. He sought a writ petition to quash the FIR, which the Bombay High Court dismissed. The Supreme Court examined whether the me…

The appellants were convicted under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 for misbranding sugar‑boiled confectionery because the packages lacked the manufacturer’s address and date of manufacture. The conviction was upheld by the trial court, the district court and the Calcutta High Court, although the High Cou…

The appellants, doctors running a hospital, purchased land and filed a civil suit to confirm their ownership, while the respondent filed an FIR alleging forgery and fraud. The High Court refused to quash the FIR, holding that the alleged offences were made out. The appellants contended that the dispute was essentially …

The appellant, Gurwinder Singh, was arrested along with co‑accused for alleged involvement in a terrorist module of the banned organization ‘Sikhs for Justice’, including raising funds, conspiracy and attempts to procure weapons. The investigation, taken over by the NIA, resulted in charges under the UAPA, IPC and Arms…

The case concerned Sudhir Vilas Kalel (Appellant No.1), who was elected to a reserved OBC seat in Jambulani Gram Panchayat but failed to obtain a Validity Certificate for his caste certificate within the statutory twelve‑month period, leading to his automatic disqualification. He later obtained the certificate after re…

The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) issued a 1983 advertisement reserving houses for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Chandigarh, a Union Territory (UT) where no Presidential Order under Article 342 had identified any STs. Tarsem Lal, a resident of Chandigarh for twenty years but recognized as an ST on…

The appellant, a former Director of CSI Institute of Technology (CSIIT), sought to remain in service until the age of 65, relying on the 2010 amendments to AICTE and UGC regulations that raised the retirement age for teachers in technical institutions. The High Court dismissed his petition, holding that CSIIT, a privat…

The appellant, a sympathiser of a political party, participated in a violent clash on 11 April 2006 during which he stabbed the deceased Subrahmannian multiple times with a knife, causing fatal injuries to vital organs. The trial court convicted him under Sections 302, 324 and 326/34 of the IPC and sentenced him to lif…

The petitioners, who claim to be subsequent purchasers of a suit property, challenged a High Court order directing the execution court to grant possession to the decree‑holders (plaintiffs) in a suit for specific performance of a sale agreement. The trial court had decreed specific performance but did not expressly awa…

The appellant, as legal representative of a deceased partner, invoked an arbitration clause in a partnership deed under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, after the High Court dismissed his petition. The central issue was whether the clause was merely optional or required the consent of all pa…

The Supreme Court examined the demolition of Manoj Tibrewal’s ancestral house, which had been declared part of a national‑highway widening project. The State authorities demolished the house after only a public “munadi” announcement, without any written notice, without disclosing the extent of encroachment, the width o…

The Enforcement Directorate filed complaints under Section 44(1)(b) of the PMLA alleging money‑laundering offences by two civil servants, one a Vice Chairman/Managing Director of a state corporation and the other a Principal Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh government. The Special Court took cognizance of the complaints…

The appellants assaulted the deceased, Bahal, with lathis and an axe after threatening to kill him, during a land dispute that created prior enmity between the families. Bahal later died from head injuries, and the trial court convicted the appellants under Section 302 IPC and Section 307 read with Section 34, sentenci…

The Supreme Court examined whether a holder of a Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence, defined under Section 2(21) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, may drive a Transport Vehicle whose gross weight does not exceed 7,500 kg without a separate endorsement under Section 10(2)(e). After analysing the definitions, the 1994 amen…

The appellant, Sonu Choudary, was convicted under Sections 324 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code for assaulting the owner of a restaurant with a blade after being denied water for alcohol. While the prosecution proved that the appellant voluntarily caused hurt, the question arose whether the restaurant qualified as a "h…

The appellant, a civil judge on probation, was terminated in December 2009 following allegations of an illicit relationship and marital discord, a decision upheld by the High Court. The Supreme Court, in a 2022 judgment, set aside both the termination order and the High Court's dismissal of the appellant's writ petitio…

Two senior District and Sessions Judges of Himachal Pradesh filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the High Court Collegium's failure to reconsider their names for elevation, despite a Supreme Court Collegium resolution directing such reconsideration. They alleged that the High Court Chief Justice acted alo…

Baccarose Perfumes and Beauty Products Pvt. Ltd (the appellant) challenged the Special Judge's order taking cognizance of alleged offences relating to the payment of Countervailing Duty (CVD) on invoice value instead of Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The company claimed that it had been granted immunity from prosecution u…

Ricardo Constructions Pvt. Ltd. appealed against the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission’s order that barred it from filing a written statement in a complaint filed by Ravi Kuckian and 30 others. The appellant argued that it never received a copy of the complaint, only a notice, and therefore could not meet…

The case concerned a two‑year‑seven‑month‑old girl whose mother died in an unnatural death. The child had been in the care of her maternal aunts and grandparents since she was 11 months old. The father, who had been arrested and later released on bail, filed a habeas‑corpus petition before the Madhya Pradesh High Court…

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) issued a 2017 notification repatriating employees on deputation to their parent cadres in the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). The employees challenged the repatriation, and the High Court initially stayed the orders, directing them to repo…

The appellants, mother and brother of Ranjana Diwan, alleged that her death in 2016, officially recorded as suicide, was suspicious due to six ante‑mortem injuries and possible influence by her husband, a senior judicial officer, over the police investigation. They filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking a fair…

The appellant, Dharmendra Sharma, purchased an apartment from the Agra Development Authority (ADA) and sought possession after paying the agreed price, but ADA's offer of possession on 4 December 2014 was made without a completion certificate or firefighting clearance certificate. The appellant filed a consumer complai…

The petitioners were originally appointed as Research Assistants at the University of Udaipur and later redesignated as Lecturers and then Assistant Professors, receiving the same UGC‑recommended pay scale as directly recruited faculty. They claimed entitlement to the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), which provides a s…

The Peoples Rights and Social Research Centre (PRASAR), a Delhi‑based NGO, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking relief for the widespread occurrence of silicosis among workers in mining, construction, stone‑cutting and sand‑blasting industries. The petition alleged violations of fundamental rights under Artic…

The appellant, Jatinder Kumar Sapra, sought a decree of divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage, alleging ill‑treatment by his wife, while the wife alleged cruelty by the husband. Both the Family Court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court dismissed his petition under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu M…

The petitioners challenged the Bihar Superior Judicial Service Rules, 1951 and the Gujarat State Judicial Service Rules, 2005 for prescribing minimum qualifying marks in the viva voce interview for district and civil judges, alleging violation of the All India Judges (2002) decision, Articles 14 and 16, and procedural …

The appellants alleged that the Doloo Tea Estate in Assam, earmarked for a greenfield airport, was subjected to massive clearing of shade trees and uprooting of over 4.1 million tea bushes without the mandatory environmental clearance required under the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification. They pres…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal under Section 62 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code filed by the successful resolution applicants, Deccan Value Investors L.P. and DVI PE (Mauritius) Ltd., who sought to withdraw their approved resolution plan for Metalyst Forgings Ltd., alleging fraud by the resolution professio…

The Supreme Court examined whether tiger safaris can be treated like zoos under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and whether the proposed tiger safari at Pakhrau in Corbett Tiger Reserve was lawful. It held that a zoo, as defined in s.2(39), is an ex‑situ conservation establishment and tiger safaris, as envisioned b…

The appellant sought to quash FIR No. 52, registered under Sections 376(2)(n) and 506 IPC, alleging that the complaint was an abuse of process because the complainant, a married woman, had voluntarily entered into a relationship with him. The High Court dismissed the petition, but the Supreme Court examined the complai…

The Travancore Devaswom Board, which prepares and distributes Aravana Prasadam at Sabarimala Temple, procured cardamom through a series of tenders that were cancelled due to pesticide contamination, and subsequently awarded a supply order to respondent No.2 under an urgency clause. Respondent No.1, a previous supplier …

The appellant, Ravinder Kumar, was convicted for the murder of his wife Meena under Section 302 IPC, along with convictions under Sections 304B/34 and 498A/34. The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence, including blood‑stained clothes recovered from the appellant's parental home, an English cale…

The State of Punjab appealed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s acquittal of Gurpreet Singh and three co‑accused under sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Amarjit Kaur. The trial court had convicted them based on the eyewitness testimony of the victim’s husband and daughter, the reco…

The respondents, who had been tenants of an urban immovable property (a rolling mill) since 1949, filed a suit for pre-emption after the owners sold the property to the appellants in 1983, invoking the Punjab Pre-emption Act, 1913. The appellants contended that a State Government notification dated 08‑10‑1985, issued u…

The appellants, four members of the same family, were convicted for the murder of a villager amid a political rivalry, with the trial court and High Court finding them guilty under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and imposing life imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined the evidence, particularly the role …

Basudev Dutta, an Ophthalmic Assistant employed by the West Bengal Government since 1985, was terminated in 2011 after a police verification report, filed 25 years later, labeled him ‘unsuitable’ for the post. He challenged the termination, asserting Indian citizenship based on his father’s migration certificate and ar…

Eight judges of the Patna High Court, appointed from the District Judiciary, were denied subscription to the General Provident Fund (GPF) on the ground that they had previously been covered by the New Pension Scheme. They filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking equal treatment. The Supreme Court examined whether …

The Supreme Court of India, in a nine-judge bench decision, addressed two major constitutional questions. First, it held that Article 31C, to the extent it was upheld in Kesavananda Bharati, remains in force after the 42nd Amendment was struck down in Minerva Mills, as the amendment was a substitution and its invalidat…

The Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, which created a board to regulate standards, teacher qualifications and examinations in madrasas, was struck down by the Allahabad High Court on the ground that it violated secularism and Articles 14 and 21A of the Constitution. The petitioners challenged the High…

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) advertised for 2,211 Technician Grade‑II posts requiring a Certificate of 80‑hour Course on Computer Concepts (CCC) to be produced at the interview. Candidates who produced the CCC certificate at the interview were selected and issued appointment letters on 14 July 2015. A Hi…

The appellants, Nabha Power Ltd. and its associate, bid for a mega‑power project under a Request for Proposal (RFP) that required bidders to consider the law as defined in Clause 1.1 of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). They argued that a press release dated 01‑Oct‑2009 announcing Cabinet approval of modifications to…

The NOIDA Special Economic Zone Authority (appellant) claimed INR 6.29 crore as an operational creditor against Shree Bhoomika International Ltd., the corporate debtor, whose lease of a plot in the SEZ had defaulted. The claim was admitted, but the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved a resolution plan that aw…

The appellant, Karakkattu Muhammed Basheer, was convicted under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC for the murder of Gouri, based solely on circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution. The prosecution alleged an illicit relationship between the appellant and another accused, motive for the murder, and attempted t…

The appellant, an illiterate woman, filed an FIR alleging serious offences including rape (IPC s.376(2)(N)), criminal intimidation (IPC s.506) and caste-based atrocities (SC/ST Act s.3(1)(R), s.3(1)(w), s.3(2)(5)). The accused sought quashing of the charge sheet on the basis of a purported settlement, and the Gujarat H…

The appellants filed an original complaint on 11.11.2010 alleging offences under Sections 406, 420 and 34 IPC, which led to a police investigation and a negative final report accepted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) on 06.06.2011 after rejecting the complainant's protest (narazi) petition. Dissatisfied, the comp…

The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi challenged the Lieutenant Governor’s notifications nominating ten experts to the Delhi Municipal Corporation, arguing that the power must be exercised on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 239AA(4). The Court examined the constitutional…

The respondents filed a suit for specific performance of a sale deed in September 1993, based on an agreement dated 17 December 1989 that required execution of the deed within one month (by 16 January 1990). The trial court dismissed the suit as time‑barred, but the first appellate court set aside that order and decree…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of two accused under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for the murder of Balamurugan. It was discovered that the five material prosecution witnesses, who were close relatives of the deceased, had been taken to the police station a day before their testimony and instructed on how …

Shoma Kanti Sen was arrested in June 2018 in connection with the Elgar Parishad event and charged under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). The High Court dismissed her bail application, directing her to approach the trial court, after the investigation was transferred to th…

National Organic Chemical Industries Ltd. increased its authorized share capital from Rs.600 crores to Rs.1,200 crores and paid Rs.25 lakh stamp duty on the Form No.5 notice filed under Section 97 of the Companies Act, 1956. The company later sought a refund, arguing that the Articles of Association— the only instrumen…

The State of Madhya Pradesh filed a criminal appeal challenging the High Court's order that quashed FIR No. 551 of 2015, which alleged offences under Sections 420, 466, 467, 468, 471 and 120B IPC relating to fraudulent sale of government land. The dispute originated from a civil suit over possession of the suit propert…

The appellant, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd., was created by the amalgamation of Jaiprakash Associates Pvt Ltd (the original lessee) and Jaypee Rewa Cement Ltd, pursuant to a scheme sanctioned by the High Court in 1986, which transferred four perpetually leased plots to the amalgamated entity. The Delhi Development Author…

The husband and wife were married in 2013, lived together in the United Kingdom for over seven years and later separated in 2021. The wife filed a divorce petition under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging non‑consummation due to the husband’s alleged impotency. The husband filed an application under …

The appellant was convicted under Section 302 IPC for stabbing the deceased, Rakesh, to death, an act witnessed by the victim's sister‑in‑law who identified the accused and the weapon. The knife recovered from the accused bore the deceased's blood, matching forensic evidence. The defence argued that the prosecution fai…

Shivani Tyagi, a 31‑year‑old woman, suffered 30‑40% burns and permanent facial disfigurement after an acid attack. Five accused were convicted under Sections 307/149 and 326A/149 of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Allahabad High Court suspended their sentences and released them on bail, conditioning the…

The appellant, a District Savings Officer, was charged under Section 306 of the IPC and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act for the suicide of a senior clerk who left a suicide note blaming work pressure and harassment. The charge sheet was based solely on that note, and the investigating agency had initially filed a clos…

The appellants, Sangam Milk Producer Company Ltd., challenged a 1994 Government of Andhra Pradesh notification that classified ghee as a "product of livestock" under the Andhra Pradesh (Agricultural Produce and Livestock) Markets Act, 1966, contending that ghee is not such a product and that the notification was issued…

The appellants, Suman L. Shah and Laxmichand Shah, had borrowed money in 1996-1997 from companies later alleged to be benami entities of Pallav Sheth, a notified debtor under the Special Court (Trial of Offences relating to Transactions in Securities) Act, 1992. The Custodian sought recovery of Rs.50 lakh and Rs.25 lak…

The deceased Shahin Parveen was set ablaze by her brother‑in‑law and his relatives, leading to her death. Her dying declaration, recorded at the District Hospital, identified the brother‑in‑law as the principal assailant and named his wife and brother as aides. The trial court and High Court convicted all three accused…

Snehadeep Structures Pvt. Ltd. (SSPL) entered into a supply/purchase order with Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd. (MSSIDCL) on 30 March 1995 for the delivery of goods to the Maharashtra State Electricity Board. The contract stipulated that MSSIDCL would pay SSPL only after the goods were a…

The Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad (the Board) sought to acquire land covered by Khasra No. 673 for a housing scheme, but the High Court quashed the acquisition on the ground that the respondents were not given a pre‑acquisition notice under Section 29 of the 1965 Act, denying them the right to object. The Supr…

The petitioner was convicted under Section 376AB of the IPC for raping a seven‑year‑old girl in a temple and also under various provisions of the POCSO Act. The trial court awarded death penalty, which the High Court commuted to life imprisonment. The petitioner challenged whether the commuted life sentence required fu…

The appellant was convicted under sections 3(a) and 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sentenced by the Sessions Court to ten years of rigorous imprisonment, a fine of Rs.5,000, a three‑month default sentence of simple imprisonment and a compensation of Rs.1,00,000 to the victim. The H…

Abdul Jabbar was convicted by a trial court for offences under Sections 323 and 325 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, receiving three months' imprisonment for the former and one year with a fine of Rs.500 for the latter. The High Court, noting a 13‑year delay in the proceedings, reduced the latter sentence…

The husband and his in‑laws were initially acquitted after a compromise before a Lok Adalat, but the complainant‑wife later withdrew her consent and the trial court re‑opened the case by issuing a docket order on 20 July 2021, charging them under sections 420, 498A, 506 IPC and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition…

The respondent, a class‑I civil contractor, completed work on the Koyna Hydro Electric Project funded by the World Bank and claimed duty drawback as a "deemed export" under the Exim Policy 1992‑1997. After multiple rejections by the DGFT, a Policy Interpretation Committee in 2002 allowed the drawback, which was paid in…

The appellant Pradeep Kumar was convicted under Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Shamsher Singh, based solely on circumstantial evidence and an alleged extra‑judicial confession. The prosecution relied on the testimonies of three key witnesses (PW‑10, PW‑11, PW‑12) and forensic reports tha…

The appellant, an Inspector, was summoned along with three other police officials under Section 319 of the CrPC following allegations that they demanded money and tortured the accused and his family in a misappropriation case. The trial court allowed the summoning, the High Court upheld that order, and the appellant ch…

The High Court, exercising its powers under Section 125 CrPC, fixed interim maintenance for the appellant-wife. Dissatisfied with the amount, she filed a petition under Section 482 CrPC seeking enhancement, which the High Court dismissed on the ground that she should have invoked a revision under Section 397 CrPC. The …

The Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) issued a 2012 notification for recruitment of Lower Division Clerks (LDC) in the Kerala Water Authority, prescribing a Certificate in Data Entry and Office Automation from a named institute or an equivalent government‑approved institution as the required qualification. Candid…

The Madhya Pradesh Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitran Company and its officers entered into a supply agreement with Bapuna Alcobrew Private Ltd, which required the latter to consume a minimum amount of electricity. The respondent installed a turbo‑generating set contrary to conditions, leading the appellant to issue show‑cau…

The Bihar Technical Service Commission (BTSC) issued an advertisement on 8 March 2019 for 6,379 Junior Engineer (Civil) vacancies, requiring AICTE‑approved diplomas. Private candidates whose diplomas were from institutions not approved by AICTE were declared ineligible, leading to writ petitions challenging Rule 9(1)(i…

Banshidhar Construction Pvt. Ltd. (the appellant) submitted a technical bid for a coal‑mining mega‑project tender floated by Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL). The Technical Bid Committee rejected the appellant’s bid, alleging non‑compliance with Clause 10 of the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) concerning the Power of Att…

The appellant Nitya Nand was convicted along with others for the murder of his uncle Satya Narain under Sections 148 and 302/149 of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution alleged that the accused, motivated by a property dispute, formed an unlawful assembly and that Nitya Nand, while carrying a country‑made pistol, fir…

The appellant, Navneet Kaur, contested the validity of her "Mochi" Scheduled Caste certificate that had been approved by the Maharashtra Scrutiny Committee in 2017, after her election to a reserved parliamentary seat was challenged on grounds of alleged fraud. The High Court, exercising its writ jurisdiction under Arti…

The case concerned the selection and appointment of ten Shiksha Karmi Grade‑III candidates who were close relatives of members of the selection committee. The Collector cancelled their appointments on the ground of bias under Section 40(c) and Section 100 of the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, but the appellants were…

The case concerned the custody of a 14‑year‑old twin daughter who had been raised since infancy by her paternal aunt (appellant No.2) and the aunt's husband (respondent No.10). The biological father (respondent No.2) sought to have the child returned to his care, prompting the High Court to order her recovery and hando…

The case concerned a registered Will dated 9 October 1984 executed by the deceased Palaniandi Udayar in favour of Navamani Ammal, the daughter of his brother. The widow (Thangam) and the minor daughter of the testator challenged the Will, alleging that the testator was ill‑health, that the Will was executed under suspi…

The appellant, a home buyer, applied for a home loan from HDFC (respondent No.1) after being assured via email that the interest rate would be linked to the RBI's Prime Lending Rate. The loan agreement, signed on 11 January 2006, included an adjustable rate clause that allowed HDFC to vary its retail prime lending rate…

The appellant, Sita Soren, a member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly accepting a bribe to vote for an independent candidate in a Rajya Sabha election, but she ultimately voted for her party's candidate. She sought to quash the charges invoking Artic…

The plaintiffs filed a suit in 1999 seeking a share in family properties, alleging a partition of the family estate. The High Court based its decision on an alleged 1965 partition, awarding shares accordingly, despite the fact that the 1965 partition was never pleaded in the original suit and the plaintiffs' amendment …

The Supreme Court examined the powers conferred on the appropriate authority under Sections 20(1), (2) and (3) of the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation & Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 to suspend or cancel the registration of a genetic clinic. The respondents' hospital was inspected in Oct…

The dispute arose from a US$60 million investment by HSBC PI Holdings in Avitel Post Studioz, governed by an arbitration clause designating Singapore as the seat. After alleged fraud, SIAC rendered a final award in 2014 ordering the appellants to pay the amount. The appellants challenged enforcement in India, alleging …

The appellant, Darshan Singh, was convicted of murdering his wife, Amrik Kaur, under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, based on the prosecution's claim that he and his paramour Rani Kaur administered aluminium phosphide poison. The trial and High Courts relied primarily on circumstantial evidence, especially the testimon…

The appellant challenged the validity of a preventive detention order issued under Section 3 of the COFEPOSA Act against the detenue, alleging that the authorities failed to serve the grounds of detention and did not inform him of his right to make a representation as mandated by Article 22(5) of the Constitution. The …

The appellant, a civil engineering contractor, entered into a contract with the Karnataka State Public Works Department and later sought arbitration for alleged delays and non‑payment, obtaining an award of Rs.14,68,239 with 18% interest. The Civil Judge, invoking Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, red…

The All India Judges Association filed a writ petition challenging the allowances recommended by the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC) for judicial officers and retired judges. The Union and several State governments objected, arguing that the recommendations would impose a financial burden, should be gov…

The appellants, elected Secretary and President of the Executive Committee of Oachira Parabrahma Temple, challenged two High Court orders that removed the elected committee and appointed an unelected committee under an Administrative Head. They argued that the High Court, having disposed of the regular first appeal, la…

The CBI appealed a Punjab & Haryana High Court order that acquitted Jagat Ram, a public servant, on the ground that the sanction order authorising prosecution was not examined. The trial court had convicted him under Sections 7 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, based on evidence of a bribe demand and ac…

The case concerns the murder of MLA Brij Bihari Prasad and his bodyguard Lakshmeshwar Sahu at IGIMS Hospital in 1998. The trial court convicted several accused, but the Patna High Court acquitted all, prompting appeals by the State (through the CBI) and the victim's wife, Rama Devi. The Supreme Court examined the credi…

The deceased, Rajeev Jain, a 23‑year employee of Hindustan Lever Ltd., committed suicide on 3 November 2006 after a meeting where senior officers allegedly humiliated him and forced him to accept a lower‑grade posting under a Voluntary Retirement Scheme. The appellants, senior officers of the company, were charged unde…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of appeals concerning reassessment notices issued by the Revenue after the Finance Act 2021 amended Sections 147‑151 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Court considered whether the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 (TOLA) and its notifica…

The State of Uttar Pradesh sought to recover annual lease rent from Northern Coal Fields Ltd., a government company, for forest land transferred for mining under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957. The land had been acquired by the Central Government in 1981 under s.10(1) of the Act and subs…

The appellants, two women related to a co‑accused, were charged under Sections 120‑B, 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC and Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged loan fraud involving a bank. The borrowers later entered into a One‑Time Settlement with the bank, paid the full amount …

The Punjab government enacted the Khalsa University (Repeal) Act, 2017 to repeal the Khalsa University Act, 2016, singling out Khalsa University among sixteen private universities. The appellants challenged the repeal on the grounds that the Act arbitrarily discriminated against them and violated Article 14 of the Cons…

Journalist Sukanya Shantha filed a writ petition alleging that various State prison manuals sanction caste‑based discrimination in the division of labour, segregation of barracks and the classification of "habitual offenders", thereby violating Articles 14, 15, 17, 21 and 23 of the Constitution. The Court examined whet…

The appellants, who were wives of borrowers, were charged by the CBI under sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged fraud in a bank loan. The borrowers had settled the entire debt through a One Time Settlement and the bank closed the loan account, obtaining a No Dues Certificate. The appella…

The appellant, M/s Safari Retreats, constructed a shopping mall and accumulated input tax credit (ITC) on the inputs used for construction, but was denied ITC on the GST payable on rental income because Section 17(5)(d) of the CGST Act blocks credit for construction of immovable property on the taxpayer's own account. …

The respondents filed a suit for specific performance of a 2005 sale agreement, which was eventually decreed by the appellate court directing the appellants to execute the sale deed upon payment of the balance consideration. While the execution application was pending, the appellants sought rescission of the contract u…

The appellant, Vaibhav Motors, was a dealer of Hindustan Motors and was sued for compensation after a Hindustan Motors employee died in a test‑drive accident involving a vehicle that had not been sold to the dealer. The key question was whether the dealer could be deemed the "owner" of the vehicle and thus jointly liab…

A suit filed in 1963 for possession and correction of mutation was decreed in 1973, directing an inquiry into mesne profits from the suit's filing date under Order XX Rule 12 of the CPC. After execution, the respondents obtained possession in 2005 and, in 2014, filed an application under Section 141 CPC or Order XX Rul…

The deceased Anjali Agarwal was found dead after allegedly falling from the terrace of her matrimonial home. The trial court framed charges against her husband and in‑laws under sections 498‑A, 306, 302 and 201 IPC read with section 34, alleging abetment to suicide and murder. The High Court quashed these charges, hold…

The appellant, a police guard, was convicted of murder and attempted murder for shooting a man inside a Delhi police station, motivated by the victim's alleged affair with the appellant's wife. The prosecution presented multiple eye‑witnesses, forensic evidence of close‑range gunshots, and a post‑mortem report showing …

Javed Gulam Nabi Shaikh was arrested in February 2020 with a large consignment of counterfeit currency and charged under Sections 489B, 489C, 120B read with 34 of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The investigation was taken over by the NIA and, after four years of custody, the trial court had…

The appellant entered into an agreement to sell 16 kanals of land with respondent No.3, paid earnest money and later obtained a temporary injunction against alienation of the property on 28 July 2003. On the same day respondent No.3 executed a release deed in favour of his son (respondent No.4), who subsequently sold t…

The appellants, heirs of a predecessor in interest, were decreed in a pre-emption suit to deposit a balance amount of Rs. 9,214 minus a fifth already paid, by 10 October 1988. Due to a clerical miscalculation, they deposited Rs. 7,600 instead of the correct Rs. 7,614, leaving a shortfall of Rs. 14, which they sought to…

The appellant, Achin Gupta, was the sole accused in a chargesheet under IPC sections 323, 406, 498A and 506 arising from an FIR filed by his wife alleging dowry demands and cruelty. The FIR was lodged in April 2021, more than two years after the husband had filed a divorce petition and after the wife’s mother filed a d…

The appellant was convicted of murdering his wife inside their home, where their five‑year‑old daughter also lived. The prosecution relied on forensic evidence, the appellant's blood‑stained clothes, and his conduct in leading police to the weapon, while the defence claimed unknown intruders were responsible. The key l…

The appellants were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC for the murder of Sahabuddin Choudhury. They challenged the convictions on the ground that the prosecution witnesses' statements contained material omissions and contradictions, and that the "last seen together" theory and motive were not …

The Union of India filed a civil appeal seeking restoration of a writ petition that had been dismissed for non‑prosecution in 2006, but the application for restoration was filed after a delay of 12 years and 158 days. The High Court declined to condone this delay, prompting the Union to challenge the order before the S…

The appellant society employed respondent No.1 as a peon from 1991, and after he obtained a B.A. and B.P.Ed., he sought promotion to the post of Shikshan Sevak, a teaching position reserved for non‑teaching staff who acquire the requisite qualifications. The High Court had directed the society to appoint him to that po…

The appellant filed a civil suit for declaration of title, possession and permanent injunction over an 8‑cents parcel of land, which had previously been the subject of litigation culminating in a High Court judgment on 30 March 1990. In the second round of litigation, the trial court and a later High Court judgment lim…

DBS Bank Limited Singapore extended a USD 50 million loan to Ruchi Soya Industries Limited, secured by first charges over immovable assets. A resolution plan was approved by the Committee of Creditors with 96.95% support, but DBS dissented, receiving a pro‑rata distribution that was lower than the liquidation value of …

Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Bharti Hexacom Ltd. entered into spectrum trading agreements with Aircel Ltd. and Dishnet Wireless Ltd., which later led to disputes over bank guarantees and payments. When Aircel entered the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP), Airtel claimed a right to set‑off Rs. 112.87 crore agains…

The petitions arose after Hindenburg Research alleged that the Adani Group manipulated its share price and failed to disclose related‑party transactions, prompting the petitioner to seek a court‑monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team or the CBI and the revocation of certain SEBI regulations. The Suprem…

The Allahabad High Court, hearing a writ petition filed by the Association of Retired Supreme Court and High Court Judges, directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to notify rules framed by the Chief Justice concerning domestic help and other post‑retirement benefits for former judges, and later held a recall application …

Three individuals were appointed as Assistant Teachers in 1999 and their salaries were abruptly stopped in October 2005. The State alleged that the school had manipulated the sanctioned number of posts from two to three and colluded with the appellants, but no material was produced to prove any collusion or wrongdoing …

Satish P. Bhatt and Vishwanath R. Nayak, directors of Astral Glass Pvt Ltd, were convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and sentenced to ten months imprisonment with a compensation liability of Rs.1.10 crore. They entered into a settlement undertaking on 3 July 2018 to pay Rs.4.63.5 lakh to the c…

The appellants, Neeraj Sharma and Ashwani Kumar Yadav, abducted an 18‑year‑old student, attempted to murder him by strangulation and burning, and stole his money and phone. The trial court and High Court convicted them under Sections 307/120B, 364‑A, and 392/397 of the IPC, imposing life imprisonment for the 364‑A char…

The appellant, Brij Narayan Shukla, purchased a 3500 sq. ft. plot by a registered sale deed dated 21 January 1966 and sought an injunction with alternative relief for possession after the respondents obstructed construction in 1975. The respondents claimed title by adverse possession, alleging continuous possession sin…

The Supreme Court examined two civil appeals challenging the decisions of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, State Commission and District Forum, which had held the insurer liable to pay the sum assured after the assured's suicide. The central issue was the date from which an insurance policy becomes …

The respondent was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act, and the investigation period of 90 days expired on 15 September 2020. The investigating officer obtained two extensions, first to 11 November 2020 and then, on 7 November 2020, a further 30‑day extension …

The plaintiffs filed a suit seeking a declaration that a 2011 sale deed was void, claiming ownership of a parcel of land based on an alleged oral partition among four brothers and a will executed by one brother. The trial court and the subordinate appellate court dismissed the suit, finding that the oral partition was …

The appellant, Perumal Raja, was detained during an investigation into a separate murder and gave a disclosure statement that led police to recover the body parts of his cousin, Rajini, and other stolen items. The key issue was whether the appellant was "in custody" for the purposes of Section 27 of the Evidence Act de…

The appellant was accused of raping and murdering a ten‑year‑old girl in 2009, with the prosecution relying primarily on the testimony of the victim's seven‑year‑old cousin and recovered clothing items. The trial court convicted him under IPC sections 376, 302, 201 and the SC/ST Act, imposing the death penalty, which t…

The private college Nutan Bharti Gram Vidyapith, which receives grant-in-aid from the Gujarat Government, challenged a High Court order directing it to pay retiral benefits to a former lecturer dismissed for misconduct. The lecturer was dismissed in 1994, reinstated by an appellate authority in 2000, and later superann…

The appellant sought a perpetual injunction claiming possession of agricultural land under an agreement of sale dated 29‑06‑1999, which the respondent contested as insufficiently stamped and therefore inadmissible. The respondent filed an application under Section 33 of the Karnataka Stamp Act, 1957 to impound the agre…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by National Insurance Company Ltd. against compensation awarded by the Motor Accidents Claim Tribunal (MACT) to the families of two deceased victims of a road accident on 11 April 2017. The insurer contended that the vehicle it insured was not involved in the accident, that the poli…

The dispute concerned a garden lease of a Nazul plot in Lucknow that vested in the State of Uttar Pradesh. City Montessori School (CMS) had the highest bid in a 1995 auction, but the State cancelled its bid and later converted the leasehold to freehold in favour of the alleged lessee for a nominal sum. CMS challenged t…

The State of Gujarat appealed against the Gujarat Value Added Tax Tribunal and the High Court, which had allowed M/s Ambuja Cement Ltd. to exclude Value Added Tax (VAT) and the value of purchases on which no tax credit was claimed from its taxable turnover of purchases under Section 11(3)(b) of the Gujarat Value Added …

The Supreme Court examined petitions seeking the cancellation of the 2024 NEET (UG) exam on the ground that the question paper had been leaked in Hazaribagh and Patna and that the exam’s integrity was compromised. The Court evaluated evidence from the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (…

The appellant, Sudeep Chatterjee, was accused under Section 498A IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act by his wife. The High Court of Patna granted him provisional pre‑arrest bail on the condition that he file a joint affidavit within four weeks undertaking to fulfil all physical and financial needs of his wif…

The appellants, Shankar and Vishal, were named in an FIR for the murder of Vijay Singh based solely on the mother’s (PW‑1) suspicion arising from a long‑standing family enmity. PW‑1 later clarified in her Section 161 statement and during trial that the names were included falsely and that she was not an eyewitness. No …

The Bangalore University advertised a vacancy for an Assistant Professor (English) reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, stating that the selection would be made in accordance with the Karnataka State Civil Services (Special Recruitment) Rules, 2001. The appellant, Chaitra Nagammanavar, was appointed on the basis of…

The respondent, A.S. Raghavendra, was appointed by Bharti Airtel Limited as Regional Business Head (South) in the grade of Senior Manager (B2)‑Sales with a salary of Rs.22 lakh per annum and supervised four Account Managers. After resigning in 2011, he claimed his resignation was forced and filed a petition before the …

Level 9 Biz Pvt. Ltd. challenged a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that allowed HIMUDA to withdraw its cancellation of an earlier tender and let the originally successful bidder, M/s Vasu Constructions, execute the project on the same terms despite the tender having been cancelled on grounds of irregularities. The Hi…

The appellant borrowed Rs.2,00,000 from the complainant and issued a cheque which was later dishonoured for insufficient funds. The complainant filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, while the appellant simultaneously filed a civil suit seeking a declaration that the same cheque…

The appellant obtained a decree for possession in 1986, which became final on 9 November 2000. Seeking to enforce the decree, the appellant filed an execution application before the Tehsildar on 18 December 2000, which was rejected on 29 January 2005 on the ground of lack of jurisdiction. The appellant then filed a fre…

The appellants were charged with murder and related offences under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC for the death of Mahesh Sahu, allegedly due to a love‑relation dispute. The trial court acquitted them, finding that the prosecution's circumstantial evidence was unreliable, witnesses were inconsistent, and the chain…

The respondent, a piece‑rated mazdoor, initially declared his date of birth as 27‑12‑1948 when he joined Barsua Iron Ore Mines in 1972, enabling him to meet the statutory minimum age of 18. In 1982 he altered his recorded birth date to 12‑03‑1955 without documentary proof, and only in 1998 submitted a school transfer c…

The appellant applied for a contractual Amin post under a public advertisement that fixed the age cut‑off at 40 years as of 1 January 2011. After he cleared the written exam and was placed high on the merit list, the authorities issued a later notice changing the cut‑off date to 1 November 2011, thereby disqualifying h…

The Central Bank of India conducted an e‑auction of a secured asset under the SARFAESI Act and the successful bidder, Shanmugavelu, deposited 25% earnest‑money. After being granted a 90‑day extension, he failed to pay the balance and the bank forfeited the entire deposit under Rule 9(5) of the SARFAESI Rules. Shanmugav…

The appellant, Vinod K. Bhagora, served as a Postal Assistant for the Central Government from 1983 to 1993 and then joined the Gujarat State Government as a Senior Assistant after obtaining a No‑Objection Certificate and tendering a technical resignation. He sought to have his ten years of Central Government service co…

Vashist Narayan Kumar, a reserved‑category candidate, applied for the post of Police Constable and cleared the written exam and Physical Eligibility Test. The online application, filled at a cyber‑café, mistakenly recorded his date of birth as 08‑12‑1997 instead of the correct 18‑12‑1997 shown on his school mark sheet.…

The petitioners, a film production company and its proprietor, borrowed Rs 41.28 lakh in five instalments from the complainant on a hand‑loan basis at 2% per month interest and issued five cheques to discharge the debt, which were returned for insufficient funds. The complainant filed five complaints under Section 138 …

The appellant was convicted of rape and criminal intimidation on 30 April 2015, but before his sentencing hearing the presiding judge was transferred. The appellant sought to have the new judge rehear the case, including the conviction, invoking Sections 353 and 354 of the CrPC. The High Court dismissed the petition, h…

The Supreme Court, by a 6:1 majority, overruled its earlier decision in E.V. Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh and held that sub-classification of Scheduled Castes for the purpose of reservation is constitutionally permissible. The Court examined whether the Scheduled Castes constitute a homogenous class under Artic…

The appellants, MSME borrowers, challenged the classification of their loan accounts as non‑performing assets by Canara Bank and other banks, contending that the banks had violated the procedural framework prescribed in the Government’s 29 May 2015 Notification under Section 9 of the MSMED Act. The High Court had held …

The National Housing Bank filed a criminal complaint under Section 200 CrPC alleging that Bherudan Dugar Housing Finance Ltd., its Managing Director, and five directors violated Section 29A(i) read with Section 50 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987, an offence punishable under Section 49(2A). The High Court quashed…

The respondents were appointed to the Eastern Railway on compassionate grounds, but the railway authority later discovered that the documents supporting their claims were forged and terminated their services. The respondents challenged the termination before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which dismissed their ap…

The appellant, Ram Balak Singh, claimed possession of 0.32 decimal of land that had been settled in favour of his adoptive father Makhan Singh by an ex‑landlord and later recorded in his name by the Consolidation Officer under the Bihar Consolidation Act. After the consolidation proceedings closed, the State of Bihar a…

The respondents owned land that was acquired by the Central Government under the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952, with vesting occurring in April 1964. The Government delayed offering compensation for twelve years, and the arbitral process to determine market value took another twenty yea…

The respondent, FEMC Pratibha Joint Venture, claimed refunds of excess VAT credits for the 4th quarter of 2015‑16 and the 1st quarter of 2017‑18, filing revised returns in 2017 and 2019. The Commissioner of Trade and Taxes failed to refund the amounts and, in 2022, issued an adjustment order that set off the pending re…

The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) conducted a recruitment process for 571 posts, but an amendment to Rule 4 of the Madhya Pradesh State Service Examination Rules, 2015 on 17‑02‑2020 altered the method of segregating reservation‑category candidates and was applied to the ongoing examination. This led …

The Supreme Court examined three criminal appeals arising from chargesheets filed in Uttar Pradesh that were alleged to lack sufficient factual detail and evidence under Section 173(2) of the CrPC. It considered whether a chargesheet must contain detailed facts and material evidence to enable a magistrate to take cogni…

The State of Kerala filed an original suit under Article 131 of the Constitution challenging the Union of India's imposition of a Net Borrowing Ceiling that limited the State's ability to raise funds, including borrowings by State‑Owned Enterprises and public‑account liabilities. Kerala sought a mandatory interim injun…

The respondents filed a consumer complaint alleging that the sole proprietor developer failed to complete construction and pay dues under a 1996 Development Agreement. The developer died during the pendency of the case, and the legal representatives were directed by the NCDRC to both pay monetary amounts and to perform…

The appellants were charged under Section 8(c) read with Section 20(b)(ii)(c) of the NDPS Act for allegedly transporting about 80 kg of ganja seized from a vehicle. The prosecution relied on a seizure panchnama, samples sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory, and confessions recorded by police officers, but failed to …

The appellant was convicted under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly abetting the suicide of his former tenant, X, who died after consuming organophosphate poison. The prosecution's case relied on testimonies of family members and neighbours, alleging that the appellant had threatened X to marry him and…

The appellant lodged an FIR in 1999 alleging assault, abduction and other offences under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323 and 364 IPC against three accused. During trial, the accused entered into a settlement agreement with one victim (Respondent No.5) but the original complainant (the appellant) was neither a party to nor …

The petitioners, an Afghan franchisee, sought appointment of a sole arbitrator under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to resolve disputes over royalty payments and renewal of franchise agreements with the respondent. The key issues were whether the Limitation Act, 1963 applied to a Section 11…

The Supreme Court examined the selection process for District Judge posts in Jharkhand where the High Court, via a Full Court resolution, introduced a 50% aggregate marks requirement after candidates' performances were already assessed. Petitioners challenged this alteration, arguing it violated the 2001 Rules, the 201…

The appellant, Dattatraya, was convicted for the death of his nine‑month‑pregnant wife after he allegedly poured kerosene on her during a drunken quarrel, causing severe burns, a still‑born child and her eventual death. The prosecution relied on the dying declaration of the deceased, testimony of the maternal grandmoth…