B L HANSARIA

The Supreme Court considered two interlocutory applications concerning the Idgah Slaughter House in Delhi, which had been declared a hazardous/noxious industry and ordered to cease operations by 30 November 1996. The petitioners sought to set aside the July 8, 1996 order (IA No. 22) that modified a prior status‑quo ord…

Sm. Yashomati Harsukh Lal Lathia, having passed Matric which is treated as the 11th standard in Gujarat's Saurashtra region, applied for membership of the Saurashtra‑Kutch Stock Exchange but was rejected for not possessing a 12th standard qualification. The issue before the Court was whether the amendment to the Sauras…

Bhattad Leasing and Finance Co. Ltd. appealed to the Supreme Court against a contempt proceeding initiated by the Bombay High Court against Mr. N. Neville Wadia and others. The High Court had alleged that respondents 5, 6 and 7 violated a status‑quo order dated 30 May 1994, while respondents 1‑4 were also implicated. T…

The State of Punjab appealed against a High Court order that, while confirming the Collector's award of compensation for land acquisition, also granted additional statutory benefits under the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984. The Supreme Court held that a court can award the extra amounts under Sections 23(1‑A), …

The State of Karnataka appealed against the award made by the Collector in a land acquisition proceeding involving Mallinath and others. The issue was whether Section 23(1‑A) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, as amended by the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act 68 of 1984, which provides for additional compensation, cou…

In a civil suit concerning 0.7 acres of land covered by the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1951, the defendant objected that the suit was barred under Section 331 of the Act. The trial court and the appellate court rejected the objection, and the High Court dismissed the second appeal in limine. The def…

The proprietor of Mis. Jabalpur Tractors claimed garage charges of Rs. 18,000 against Sedmal Jainarain and another. The same dispute was already pending before the District Court (C.S. No. 49‑B/1990). The State Consumer Forum held the claim could not be entertained as it was sub‑judice, but the National Consumer Disput…

The Commissioner of Salem Municipality appealed to the Supreme Court against an order of the Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal that had summarily disposed of the matter without hearing the rival contentions. The Supreme Court held that the Tribunal was not justified in such summary disposal, as the competing claims re…

The appellant, a colour‑blind candidate, was selected by the Public Service Commission for the post of Agricultural Officer (Class II) but was not appointed because of his visual handicap. The appellant challenged the refusal before the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal, which dismissed his claim, leading him to file…

The Supreme Court considered an appeal by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) against the Dy. Commissioner of Police (Licensing) and others concerning the construction of a cinema building. The issue arose after an amendment to the Delhi Cinematograph Rules, 1981, which replaced the MCD with the Delhi Development …

The deceased Roshani was married in 1985 and, five to six months later, her husband, mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law allegedly demanded additional dowry items such as a television, fan and buffalo. The mother‑in‑law allegedly inflicted a wound with a sickle; the deceased later ingested naphthalene balls and died of poi…

The State of Punjab appealed to the Supreme Court against the compensation awarded for the acquisition of 25 acres of land for a grain market. The Collector initially awarded Rs 40,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre, which the Additional District Judge enhanced to Rs 90,000‑30,000 per acre. The Punjab & Haryana High Court reduc…

Ithara and his wife Annam, owners of 7 acres and odd land, executed a deed on 5 March 1966 giving 70 cents of land absolutely to Sosa in gratitude for her service, while reserving for themselves the right to live in the building, enjoy all income, and alienate or mortgage the remaining property during their lifetimes. …

The appellants sought compensation for land acquired by the State under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. After a notification in 1973, the Collector awarded Rs 10,080 per acre in 1975, which was later enhanced by the District Judge and the High Court to Rs 24,000 per acre. The High Court also awarded solatium, interest …

The appellant, Dr. KM Suman Agarwal, was directly recruited as a Reader in July 1987, while the respondent, Dr. (Mrs.) Hiru Kumar, was promoted to Reader in February 1985 under the personal promotion scheme. When the Director of the Home Science Institute went on leave, the respondent claimed the right to act as Direct…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had taken several Sub‑Inspectors of the West Bengal Government on deputation and assigned them to the duties of Assistant Grade‑II for more than eighteen years. When the deputationists were to be absorbed into FCI's regular service, the corporation’s circular proposed their fitment i…

The appellant, V.M. Mathew, contested the validity of a will executed by his sister V.S. Annama, while the respondents sought letters of administration. In the earlier proceeding, a witness named Kurian was examined, but he died before the case concluded. The appellant later sought to introduce Kurian's deposition in a…

The State of Orissa issued a notification under s.4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act on 16 July 1970, invoking the urgency clause s.17(4) to dispense with the enquiry required by s.5‑A, and later took possession of the land. Two writ petitions were filed in the Orissa High Court: one (OJC 43/77) challenged the validity o…

N.V. Phannendran, a travelling ticket examiner, was removed from service by the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM). He challenged the removal before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), arguing that the DRM, not being the appointing authority, lacked competence to impose removal under the Railway Servants (Discipli…

The Special Land Acquisition Officer acquired 7.14 cents of land near Bangalore for an agricultural university. The Collector awarded Rs 12,000 per acre for 5.20 cents of agricultural land and Rs 1,000 per acre for 1.34 cents treated as phot‑kharab land. On reference under s.18, the Court relied on a sale deed dated 24…

The landlord filed a civil suit for injunction against the appellant, who claimed to be in possession of agricultural land under an oral tenancy for the year 1968-69. The civil court referred the tenancy issue to the Tehsildar, who found no oral tenancy, but the Special Deputy Collector and the Revenue Tribunal later h…

The appellant, U.P. State Sugar Corporation Ltd., sought exemption of 2.18 acres of a 2.40‑acre parcel slated for acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, arguing that the land was needed for the convenient enjoyment of its General Manager's residence and staff quarters. The corporation offered an alternative …

The Union acquired a large tract of land comprising seven villages for defence purposes, issuing a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 on 21‑01‑1977. The Collector awarded compensation on 11‑04‑1980, which was later enhanced by the Additional District Judge in 1980 and 1982, and further en…

The Delhi Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Undertaking and Commodore S. D. Sinha filed a public‑interest petition under Article 32 seeking a direction that the upstream states release sufficient water in the Jamuna River for Delhi's drinking needs. The Supreme Court, after hearing the parties, issued an interim order d…

Three persons were tried for the murder of Sucha Singh. The trial court convicted all under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. On appeal, the High Court acquitted two co‑accused but upheld the conviction of Shera Singh, relying on the testimony of an approver (PW‑13) and treating the statement of a witness (P…

Anand Singh Bisht, a Naik in the Border Security Force, was convicted under the BSF Act and IPC section 307 for injuring a cadet and sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment. He had already spent about a year in pre‑trial detention and sought release by invoking Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, whic…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against the Allahabad High Court's order that set aside a disciplinary penalty imposed on Ravinder Nath Chaturvedi and another respondent. The High Court had held that the respondents were not given a reasonable opportunity to be heard during the inquiry and that no witness was exami…

The Union of India acquired land for defence purposes under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and a compensation award was made and became final. After the 1984 Amendment Act (Act 68) introduced additional solatium and interest benefits, the landowners filed an application under Sections 151 and 152 of the Code of Civil P…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed a High Court order concerning compensation awarded under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Supreme Court examined whether the State should be required to deposit a portion of the awarded amount while the appeal is pending. It directed the State to deposit 50% of the compensation aw…

The appellants were convicted under IPC sections 451, 426 read with 34 and sentenced to two months' imprisonment. The Himachal Pradesh High Court postponed the sentence under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, on the condition that the appellants file an undertaking of good conduct, which they failed to…

The appellant, Chandrashekhar Gatanan Bhogaonkar, filed a civil appeal challenging the findings of lower courts regarding his possession of a disputed parcel of land and the grant of an ad interim injunction. The trial court held that the appellant was in possession and that granting an injunction would cause irreparab…

Graphic Industries Co. supplied stores worth about Rs. 50 lakh to Eastern Railways, but payment was delayed. The company filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking a mandamus for payment, relying on correspondence between the Railway Minister and officials. The Calcutta High Court Division Benc…

The State of Punjab appealed against the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s orders granting enhanced solatium, interest and additional amounts under the 1984 amendment to the Land Acquisition Act in a case where the land acquisition notification (1974) and the original compensation awards (1976‑1980) pre‑dated the amendment…

The State of Punjab acquired land under the Land Acquisition Act, publishing a notification in February 1981 and the Collector making an award on December 22, 1983. The respondents did not seek a reference under Section 18 of the Act. After a High Court judgment in 1990 enhanced compensation for another claimant, the r…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Kummari Veeraiah and others challenging the compensation awarded for 69 acres and 25 gunthas of land acquired by the State of Andhra Pradesh for house‑sites. The petitioners relied on certified copies of several sale deeds, claiming a market value of Rs.40 per square yard, while …

The State of Tamil Nadu punished Thiru K.S. Murugesan with stoppage of three increments for misconduct in 1982, a penalty that was reaffirmed after a fresh enquiry in 1984. When his promotion to Deputy Director of Statistics for the 1983‑84 year was considered under Rule 8 of the Tamil Nadu Statistics Service Rules, hi…

The respondents, originally appointed as peons in 1970, opted for Group C status in 1971 after a pay‑scale revision that placed employees drawing above Rs 230 in Group C. When they reached the statutory retirement age of 58, a retirement notice was issued. They challenged the notice, contending that under Rule 76 of th…

The State of Uttar Pradesh issued a Government Order in 1980 offering two pension schemes to teachers of aided degree colleges, one of which provided pension without gratuity for those retiring at 60. Most teachers chose this scheme, but the Association challenged the computation of pension on the basis of the last pay…

The appellants, who were the first parties in a reference proceeding under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act concerning compensation for acquired land, sought to prove their pre‑existing title by producing revenue records and other public documents. Because the documents were not in their immediate possession, the…

Lal Singh, a constable of the Gujarat State Reserve Police, died in service. His widow received a family pension which was stopped after she remarried. The deceased's mother, Sarti Devi, filed a suit in a Haryana court seeking the family pension. The trial court and subsequent appellate courts decreed in her favour, bu…

Jayakumar Parida, appointed as an Extra‑Departmental Branch Post Master in 1989, was terminated in 1991 under Rule 6 of the Posts and Telegraph Extra‑Departmental Agents (Conduct and Salaries) Rules, 1964, on the ground that he had produced a false income certificate at the time of appointment. No notice or reason was …

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Article 32 filed by legal representatives of victims of a fire tragedy in Delhi, seeking compensation for the deceased and for injuries, medical expenses, and mental agony suffered by survivors. The petitioners contended that the Delhi Administration was liable to pay…

The plaintiffs filed a suit for specific performance of an agreement for reconveyance and later applied under Order 16 Rule 17 of the CPC to amend the plaint to claim that the sale deed and reconveyance were a single transaction (mortgage by conditional sale) and to seek alternative relief of redemption of the mortgage…

The Uttar Pradesh Public Services Tribunal set aside the removal of Rameshwar Dass Gupta and ordered his confirmation, promotion and payment of salary, gratuity and pension. Gupta filed an execution petition under Order 21 Rule 1 of the CPC to recover the awarded amounts. The executing court, however, added interest at…

Rameshwarlal, a former employee of the Municipal Council, Tonk, claimed arrears of salary for the period September 10, 1987 to August 18, 1988. He filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution in the Rajasthan High Court in February 1990, which was dismissed on the ground that the claim was civil in natur…

The Supreme Court considered a series of appeals and writ petitions filed by Mahavir Sugar Mills Ltd. and related parties against the State of Uttar Pradesh concerning the U.P. Sugar Undertakings (Acquisition) Act, 1971. The Court noted that the validity of the Act had already been upheld in Ishwari Khetan Sugar Mills …

The Collector acquired certain lands under a notification issued on 17 November 1980 pursuant to Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and awarded compensation of Rs 38,500. The petitioner claimed a higher amount and a reference under Section 18 of the Act was filed; he relied on a sale agreement dated 5 Decem…

The State of Bihar issued a notification under s.4 and a declaration under s.6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to acquire land for a housing project, and took possession on March 22, 1957, handing it to the Housing Board. The respondent filed a title suit and sought an interim injunction under Order 39 Rule 1 of the …

Lalitha filed a suit for declaration of title and possession and later filed an application on August 3, 1993, seeking to file a list of witnesses for summoning. Her husband, acting as general power of attorney, submitted an affidavit stating they mistakenly believed the list had already been filed, and the omission wa…

The government reserved clerk posts in ‘A’ class offices for ex‑servicemen, allowing only matriculation as the minimum qualification for them, while general candidates required higher marks. In 1979 it was decided that, if suitable ex‑servicemen were unavailable, the dependent sons or daughters of ex‑servicemen could b…

The respondent, Simla Rani, was allotted a booth under the Punjab Urban Estate (Sales of Sites) Rules, 1965 and paid only the initial quarter of the purchase price. The balance was to be paid in instalments with 7% interest, but she defaulted, prompting the State to invoke Rule 13 and impose a 10% penalty plus the cont…

Akshaya Restaurant filed a suit for perpetual injunction against P. Anjanappa and others, alleging an agreement of sale of land. The defendants' written statement admitted a sale agreement, but later they sought to amend the statement under Order 6 Rule 17, claiming the agreement was for development of the land for mut…

Vareliweaves Pvt. Ltd. imported partially oriented yarn (POY) and claimed exemption from countervailing duty (CVD) under a 1982 notification, arguing that the yarn fell in the 100‑750 denier category. The customs authorities, relying on a 1980 circular, treated the POY as belonging to the 75‑100 denier range and levied…

The respondents, employees of the Tamil Nadu government, were compulsorily retired after attaining the age of 50 years under Fundamental Rule 56(d). The State Government had issued G.O. No. 761 (1973) directing that cases be sent to a review committee six months before the retirement point. The Madras High Court held t…

The Government of India issued Office Memorandum No. 18(4)-EV/79 on 25 May 1979, which stipulated that half of the dearness allowance should be treated as pensionable pay, changing the pension calculation from 3/10 to 5/10 of the ten‑month average salary. B. Rama Murthy challenged the memorandum before the Central Admi…

The Gujarat University advertised a Lecturer (Psychology) post reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Arunaben T. Bhojak, a member of the Bakshi Panch Scheduled Tribe, was initially not selected because she lacked laboratory experience. The selected candidate was appointed, and Bhojak challenged the decision. While the Gujarat…

The Union of India appealed a High Court order that had directed the Additional District Judge to award compensation of Rs. 90,000 per acre for land within a 500‑metre belt (belting) along a road, as identified by a Division Bench of the High Court under the Land Acquisition Act. The appellants contended that the Distr…

The appellants, C.S. Balan and others, applied to the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) seeking a declaration that they were entitled to promotion to Junior Telecommunication Officer effective December 1990, citing available vacancies in their quota. The CAT order merely noted the respondent's concession that the a…

The appellant, Shyam Lal (deceased) by legal representatives, appealed to the Supreme Court challenging a finding by the Allahabad High Court that certain constructions in a house were made after an earlier High Court judgment. The High Court had earlier struck off a trial court's direction for partition, directing tha…

The appellants, legal representatives of defendants 7‑9, filed a suit seeking a declaration that a compromise decree in an earlier suit (T.S. No. 72/26) was void. The trial court dismissed the suit; the appellate court held the compromise was not obtained by fraud but that the defendants had no right in the property, s…

The Supreme Court considered two writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises attempted suicide. The petitioners argued that the provision violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. After reviewing earlier High Court decisions, comparative law,…

The petitioner, T.R. Dhananjaya, was entitled by a Supreme Court direction to be promoted to Engineer‑in‑Chief and to receive consequential benefits, with the Bangalore City Corporation instructed to create a supernumerary post for him. The Karnataka Government, however, issued an order promoting another officer and li…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed a Himachal Pradesh High Court order that awarded the landowner, Shri Dharam Das, compensation for land acquisition along with interest at 12% per annum on equitable grounds from the date of taking possession in 1972 until payment in 1987, in addition to statutory interest and an a…

The appellant, a former employee of Rallis India Ltd., continued to occupy a residential flat after resigning, which the company claimed he held under its tenancy rights. The company prosecuted him under Section 408 of the IPC and Section 630 of the Companies Act for wrongful possession, and a criminal court convicted …

The respondents were workmen at Morinda Co‑op. Sugar Mills Ltd. who were engaged only during the annual crushing season. After each season the factory closed and the workers ceased to work. The Labour Court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court held that because the workers had worked more than 240 days in a year they we…

The State of Gujarat acquired land for an irrigation dam project. The land owners entered into written agreements under Section 11(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, accepting the compensation determined by the Collector plus an additional 25% and expressly waiving their right to seek a reference under Section 18. A…

In Civil Appeal No. 279 of 1987, the Supreme Court noted that the order passed in the main appeal contained typographical errors. An application was filed seeking modification of the erroneous part of that order to prevent further litigation. The Court examined whether such clerical mistakes could be corrected without …

The Supreme Court considered a petition for divorce by mutual consent filed by Preeti Singh and Sandeep Singh under Section 13(b) of the Hindu Marriage Act. The parties had reached a compromise in which the respondent paid Rs. 1.5 lakhs to the petitioner, deposited Rs. 1.25 lakhs and Rs. 30,000 in the name of his minor…

The respondent, Nirmala Devi, constructed a shop on a 4 ft × 6½ ft portion of a road in Karnal that was deemed a public street. The Municipal Committee issued a notice for demolition; when the respondent failed to comply, the Committee demolished the shop. The respondent sued for damages of Rs 20,000. The trial court d…

The petitioner, a Civil Judge appointed on probation after six months of training, remained on probation beyond the two‑year period without a confirmation order. The Madhya Pradesh High Court, finding his performance unsatisfactory, discharged him under Rule 52(a) of the M.P. Government Service (Temporary, Quasi‑perman…

The petitioners filed a suit for perpetual injunction to restrain the defendants from dispossessing them of land. The defendants filed a written statement raising a counter‑claim for possession, alleging trespass. The trial court dismissed the injunction suit and granted possession to the defendants; this was affirmed …

The appellants, who were defendants in civil suits filed in 1983, failed to appear before the trial court on 20 February 1992, leading to ex‑parte orders against them. They applied under Order 9 Rule 13 of the CPC to have those orders set aside, claiming they were diligent and that their non‑appearance was due to a rep…

The respondents were Physical Training Instructors employed by the Central Government who were later absorbed into the Haryana State Service as P.E.T.s/D.P.Es effective July 1, 1976. Their appointment order stipulated that from the date of absorption they would receive all allowances admissible to other state employees…

Respondent-4 (Ashok Kumar) claimed promotion to accountant, asserting seniority as a clerk since November 29, 1976, after the octroi moharrar and clerk posts were merged. The appellant (Kuldip Chand) argued that his fortuitous posting as a store‑keeper, though at a higher pay scale, gave him seniority over the responde…

The respondents were government servants who were deputed to the Rajendra Agricultural University, resigned from government service and were subsequently absorbed as university employees. Upon their retirement, the State of Bihar denied liability for any pension, relying on section 39(20) of the Rajendra Agricultural U…

The appellant, a widow of a deceased government employee, was appointed to a Class IV post on compassionate grounds under a rehabilitation scheme. Her services were later terminated on the ground that she had allegedly married her late husband's brother and concealed this marriage and the birth of a child, which the Bo…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) appealed a Delhi High Court order concerning the forfeiture of a deposit it had taken from Bhavana Cooperative Group Housing Society Ltd. The Supreme Court examined whether the DDA could lawfully retain the entire deposit or only a portion of it. Relying on its earlier decision in …

The appellant, a partner in a film‑exhibition partnership, was alleged to have colluded with another firm to misappropriate film prints and proceeds, leading the second respondent to file a complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patna. The Chief Judicial Magistrate examined the complainant and transferred the …

The petitioner challenged a land acquisition notification issued under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and the subsequent declaration under Section 6, arguing that the notification lacked required particulars. The District Judge, acting as the reference court under Section 18, declared both the notificat…

The Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad issued a notification under Section 28 of the 1965 Adhiniyam on 7 June 1982 and later obtained Government approval on 24 August 1982, followed by a declaration under Section 32 on 28 February 1987. Friends Cooperative Housing Society filed a writ petition contending that the n…

The Supreme Court entertained a public interest writ under Article 32 challenging large‑scale out‑of‑turn allotments of government residential quarters in Delhi, alleged to be made on a ‘Special Compassionate Ground’ and constituting a housing scam. A three‑member Gupta Committee examined the allotments and categorized…

In this civil appeal, the Supreme Court examined the method of determining market value for compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The State had acquired 20 acres of land from the appellants, and the Land Acquisition Officer fixed compensation based on the claimants' own purchase price of the land in 1957. …

The appellant, Durga Prasad (deceased) represented by LRs, appealed against a decree concerning the transfer of land held by the first respondent, Smt. Gita Kumar. The Patna High Court had earlier affirmed the respondent’s right to the land in Second Appeal No. 602/74. While the appeal was pending before the Supreme Co…

The appellants, LDCs in the Western Zone of the Controller of Imports and Exports, were promoted on an ad‑hoc basis in 1980 after exercising an option for transfer on promotion. The respondents, senior LDCs, were given the same option only in 1981 and claimed seniority over the appellants, arguing that the ad‑hoc promo…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) demanded that authorised retailer V.K. Sukumaran refund the price differential on rice purchased on 10‑11 October 1985 and on stock held on 9 October 1985, after the Government of India revised the issue price of rice effective 10 October 1985. The State of Kerala, invoking the Keral…

The respondents were appointed as Accounts Clerks Grade I in the Northern Railway and placed on probation, required to pass the departmental examination prescribed in Appendix II of the Indian Railways Establishment Manual (IREM) within a stipulated period. The Railway Board issued a circular on 24 June 1986 limiting t…

The respondents, temporary cultivators in the Gang Canal area, were to receive permanent allotments of government land under the Rajasthan Colonisation (Permanent Allotment and Sale of Land in Gang Canal Area) Rules, 1956. Because some cultivators held land exceeding the statutory ceiling, the government decided to re‑…

The State of Uttar Pradesh had made 2,056 ad‑hoc appointments of doctors between 1961‑62 and later failed to regularise the posts despite recommendations of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (PSC) in 1972 and 1977‑79. Some ad‑hoc doctors, having served over 20 years, obtained court orders directing their regu…

The husband and wife’s land was acquired under the Kerala Land Reforms Act. They filed a joint claim statement for compensation, but only the husband received compensation. The wife appealed the decision, arguing that the joint claim also covered her separate holding. The Kerala High Court dismissed the appeal, holding…

Mrs. Nutan J. Patel filed a writ petition challenging the detention of her husband, Jayantibhai Rambhai Patel, under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974. The petition argued that the detenu was not informed of his constitutional right under Article 22(5) to make a repre…

The appellant, S.N. Singh, a former railway shunting porter, claimed that his true date of birth was 22 January 1936, contrary to the 22 January 1926 recorded in his service file, and therefore argued that he was not liable to retire on 31 January 1984. He challenged the superannuation order before the Central Administ…

The State of Maharashtra acquired land under a notification of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and the Collector made an award of compensation that the respondents accepted. One claimant later obtained a reference under section 18, and the District Judge enhanced the compensation to Rs.10 per square metre. The State app…

The State of Punjab appealed a Punjab & Haryana High Court order that reinstated Shambhu Nath Singla, a government employee, while a criminal case against him was pending. The Supreme Court noted that the employee had been discharged by the criminal court because the required sanction was not obtained, and he was subse…

The State (Excis e Superintendent, Malkapatnam) sought to fill 723 posts by selecting candidates whose names were sponsored through the employment exchange, while the respondents, who applied independently, were excluded. The respondents approached the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, which issued interim direct…

The State of Maharashtra owned a jeep that was officially used to transport employees after office hours. The authorized driver, who was intoxicated, permitted a clerk (respondent No. 4) to drive the vehicle, resulting in a collision that killed Vijay Singh. The claimants sought compensation under the Motor Vehicles Ac…

The State of Maharashtra acquired land under the Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning Act, 1966 after the Act was amended to include a three‑year limit for publishing a declaration under s.126(2). The petitioners challenged the acquisition, arguing that the amendment applied only to pending proceedings and that compens…

Aries Advertising Bureau placed an advertisement for a circus operated by Balakrishnan and sued C.T. Devaraj, the circus’s financier, for the Rs 27,000 advertising cost. The trial court held that a contract existed between the advertiser and Devaraj and awarded a decree, but the Madras High Court reversed, finding no p…

The State of Punjab appealed against Sh. Satinder Bir Singh, who had received compensation for land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, but later filed an application for reference to the civil court beyond the prescribed period. The High Court had held that the notice under Section 12(2) was invalid because…

The State allotted 11 acres of land to a tribal respondent. The appellant entered into a sale agreement with the tribal and applied to the Collector for permission to alienate the land under the Bombay Revenue Code. The Collector and Commissioner refused, stating that land assigned to Scheduled Tribes cannot be sold or…

The State of Punjab appealed against the District Collector's order demanding stamp duty and registration fees on a sale deed executed in favour of M/s Mahajan Sabha, a society registered under the Societies Registration Act. The deed, valued at Rs. 2,50,000, was registered without stamp duty or registration charges, a…

Six accused were tried for a terrorist attack on a temple. All made confessional statements before a Superintendent of Police under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive (Prevention) Activities Act (TADA). Two of them, Baba Peer Paras Nath and Baldev Nath, were charged only under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for at…

The respondents filed an application under Section 32G of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948 seeking the price for purchasing 8 acres 26 guntas of land held by the appellant as landlord. The Tribunal held that the respondent possessed 54 acres, exceeding the statutory ceiling of 48 acres, and therefore…

The case involved a partition suit concerning the inheritance of Haji Ishan Ali (HA) who died in 1955, leaving a widow, two daughters, and three sons. The High Court had held that property purchased in the name of HA's son Sabul Hassan (SH) belonged solely to SH, raising the question of whether HA was a sharer in SH's …

The State of Maharashtra appealed a civil court order that granted additional compensation, solatium and interest under the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984 to claimants whose land had been acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The original compensation was awarded by the Land Acquisition Officer and lat…

The respondent, a manager in the Orissa State Guest House, was found to have committed serious financial irregularities and was later discovered to possess disproportionate assets. The appointing authority suspended him pending disciplinary proceedings and a criminal investigation under Rule 12 of the Orissa Civil Serv…

The appellant, a milk vendor, had a sample of his milk taken by a food inspector on 19 March 1983, which was sent for analysis and reported as adulterated. He was convicted under Section 7 read with Section 16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, sentenced to six months imprisonment and a fine, later reduc…

The appellant, Rajpal, was the only employee in his field who had not been regularised despite similarly situated colleagues being taken into service. He filed an appeal challenging the State of Haryana's refusal to regularise him. The Supreme Court examined whether the principle of equal treatment required his regular…

The petitioner, Resham Singh Pyara Singh, claimed ownership of land purchased from a charity trust and obtained an interim injunction against the respondent's alleged trespass. The single judge of the Bombay High Court, hearing an appeal under Order 43, directed demarcation of the land in the petitioner's exclusive pos…

The Government of Andhra Pradesh appealed against an order of the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal that had granted parity of pay to senior Junior Analysts who claimed that their juniors were drawing higher scales. The seniors argued that Article 39(A) of the Constitution required equal pay, while the juniors ear…

The Supreme Court heard two writ petitions on 20 September 1994. In Kanta Devi v. Union of India, a widow of an ex‑serviceman was denied family pension because the Army Instructions No. 51 of 1980 excluded marriages contracted after retirement; the Court held the exclusion to be harsh, heartless and unconstitutional, s…

The Scheduled Caste Uplift Union filed a writ petition challenging an amendment to the Defence Quality Assurance Rules, 1979 which required a three‑year regular service as Junior Scientific Officer and a degree in engineering for promotion to Senior Scientific Officer Grade‑II. The petitioners, who were only diploma ho…

The appellant filed an ejectment suit in 1988 which was repeatedly adjourned. On 8 August 1994, due to a lawyers' strike, the case was adjourned to 9 August 1994. The appellant's counsel fell ill and requested a short adjournment, offering to pay costs, but the trial court refused and ordered forfeiture of the appellan…

The respondents, Assistant Linemen, challenged a new promotion policy issued on 10 October 1988 that replaced the earlier rule reserving 15% of Lineman promotions for Assistant Linemen with Matriculation and L.T.I. The trial court dismissed their suit, the appellate court set aside that decision, and the Punjab and Har…

Bharat Forge Co. Ltd. challenged the Industrial Tribunal's refusal to allow it to adduce fresh evidence in support of a dismissal order against employee AB Zodge. The Tribunal, and subsequently the Bombay High Court, held that under Section 11A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the employer could not be permitted t…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) offered land to cooperative housing societies at a price of Rs 975/950 per sq m and required a Rs 5 lakh earnest money deposit. Before possession, DDA raised the premium to Rs 1,650.65 per sq m, which the High Court upheld as reasonable. The societies failed to pay the enhanced pre…

Madras Fertilizers Ltd. manufactured a mixed fertilizer (Vijay N.P.K.17-17-17) containing urea, potash, phosphoric acid, ammonia and ammonium phosphate formed during mixing, and claimed exemption from excise duty under Notification 25/70 of the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944. The Assistant Collector denied the exemp…

The appellants, co‑sharers in the khatedari rights of an agricultural holding, challenged a sale by a khatedar tenant, claiming a right of pre‑emption under the Rajasthan Pre‑emption Act, 1966. The central issue was whether the transfer of khatedari rights constituted a transfer of ownership within the meaning of Secti…

Kartar Kaur, the widow of the deceased Ranjit Singh, sued his son Ajmer Singh for declaration and possession of a suit property situated in the former PEPSU area. The son claimed sole inheritance under local custom, while the widow asserted a special custom allowing a widow to inherit alongside the son and relied on th…

The appellants were appointed as Assistant Inspectors in 1963 despite lacking the then‑required degree qualification. After the 1966 rules relaxed the qualification to a diploma, the Labour Commissioner attempted to regularise their services on 15 December 1967 based on a 17 August 1966 notification that allowed regula…

The Maharashtra State Financial Corporation (appellant) granted a bridge loan of Rs. 3 lakh to Mis. Suvarna Board Mills (respondent), which defaulted and accrued arrears of about Rs. 25 lakh. On 7 January 1992 the corporation issued a notice under Section 29 of the State Financial Corporation Act demanding payment by 2…

M/s Angile Insulations filed a suit in the Sub‑Judge Court, Dhanbad, to recover sums due under a contract with Davy Ashmore India Ltd. The respondent invoked clause 21 of the contract, which stipulated that any legal proceedings would be subject to the jurisdiction of the High Court of Bangalore. The trial court return…

The appellant, Madanagopal, son of Jayarama Mudaliar, claimed a one‑fourth share in certain properties alleging they were joint family assets. Earlier, in 1947, his father and uncle had denied being members of the joint family and settled a partition suit by accepting a cash sum. In 1965 the appellant filed a partition…

The respondent, a Branch Manager of State Bank of India, claimed reimbursement for moving his household goods after a transfer and was charged with five offences, including false claims and irregular loan disbursement. An enquiry officer found all charges proved on documentary evidence, and the disciplinary authority i…

The Union of India filed disciplinary proceedings against IRS officer Upendra Singh alleging that, while handling income‑tax proceedings under sections 133A, 144A and 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, he acted illegally by ignoring incriminating evidence, acquiescing to a reduced disclosure by the assessee and directing pr…

The Supreme Court heard an appeal by Prakash Marotirao Shere challenging the High Court's order that the State Government appoint an administrator to oversee the election of a Maharashtra cooperative society. The Court had previously directed the appointment of an administrator and set a timetable for finalising the vo…

The State of West Bengal appealed against a Calcutta High Court order that created an intermediate pay scale for direct‑recruit Lower Division Clerks (LDCs) after the posts of Muharrirs were redesignated and fused into the LDC cadre. The Supreme Court examined whether former Muharrirs, now LDCs, could be given a higher…

The Supreme Court had earlier directed the State Government to set up a committee, including an Additional District Judge, to monitor the allotment of houses to weaker sections under a scheme exempted under section 21 of the Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act, 1976. The State filed an affidavit seeking to modify thi…

The appellants owned a house in Sangrur that was assessed for the 1987‑88 year at a rateable value of Rs 1,50,472.50, calculated on the basis of the actual rent of Rs 12,687 per month received from the State Bank of India, after deductions under s.3(1)(b) of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911. The respondents argued that t…

The appellant, the owner of a ground‑floor flat, had let the premises to Mr. Stayner in 1940. After Mr. Stayner's death, his wife succeeded to the tenancy and died on 9 July 1981. The appellant filed a suit for ejectment against the respondent, who was occupying the flat after the wife's death, alleging that the respon…

The Assistant Commissioner, GADAG Sub‑Division appealed against a decision that land owners were entitled to additional compensation under Section 23(1‑A) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The land was taken into possession on 23‑Jan‑1971, the notification under Section 4(1) was published on 2‑Aug‑1994, and the award …

The respondent bought a cashew‑nut estate on 16 April 1969. Section 84(1) of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 declares all voluntary transfers made after the Bill’s publication on 1 April 1964, except for certain exemptions, to be void. The Kerala High Court held that the sale was saved by clause (a) of the Explanatio…

The respondents, Union of India and others, initiated eviction proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 against nine of the 169 original allottees of Lumbini Nagar Cooperative Housing Society Ltd. Those nine allottees, who had allegedly relinquished their right to occupy thei…

A complaint was lodged that the United Bank of India, where the respondent was branch manager, had been defrauded of Rs. 45,000 in collusion with some officers. The Superintendent of Police (C.B.I.) investigated and obtained sanction under s.6(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 to file a charge‑sheet for s…

The State of Uttar Pradesh filed a special leave appeal against an interim order of the Allahabad High Court that directed the respondents to be paid as regular employees. The High Court had issued the direction while the substantive employment dispute was still pending before it. The Supreme Court examined whether suc…

The Registrar of Co-operative Societies, West Bengal, appointed an arbitrator under the West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act, 1983 to resolve a dispute with a transport contractor. The arbitrator failed to render an award within the one‑year period prescribed by s.96(5)&(6). The contractor approached the Calcutta High…

The case concerned lands acquired for construction of explosive magazines under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Collector awarded compensation, which the petitioners accepted by signing an agreement (Ex‑B) and received the amount. Subsequently they objected to the award and, without having taken protest at the time…

The case involved land‑acquisition proceedings where compensation was successively enhanced by the Additional District Judge, a High Court Single Judge and a Division Bench. The claimants filed appeals under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act but paid court fee only on the lower amount originally claimed. After the…

A. Raghumani Singh, a government employee of Manipur State, died while in service. His widow, Smt. A. Ongbi Memcha Devi, was appointed on compassionate grounds as a Lower Division Clerk on 1 January 1974 and later promoted to Upper Division Clerk. In 1991 she filed a writ petition seeking the appointment of her brother…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had several registered trade unions and needed to select a sole bargaining agent. Both FCI and the unions agreed to use a secret ballot to determine which union(s) represented the majority of workers. The Supreme Court was asked to prescribe a procedure that would ensure a fair and r…

The appeal arose from an order of the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal rejecting a service matter involving P.S. Ramakrishna. The appellant argued that a notice sent on 28 September 1993, which was returned marked “Not present”, should be deemed served on the respondent. The Tribunal had not treated the notice as serv…

The Commissioner of Commercial Tax appealed against an Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal order that held Rule 22 of the State and Subordinate Service Rules did not apply to appointments by promotion for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The Supreme Court examined Rule 5 of the A.P. Commercial Tax Subordinate …

The State of Karnataka and the Union of India issued a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 to acquire 114 acres for the Defence Research & Development Organisation, dispensing with the enquiry under Section 5A by invoking Section 17(4) and publishing a declaration under Section 6 on June 2…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by the State of Tamil Nadu against a Madras High Court order that had quashed a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, on the ground that it was vague because the development scheme was not fully formulated. The Court held that a scheme need not be comple…

The Supreme Court examined the massive appointment of over 6,000 Class III and IV employees by Dr. A.A. Mallick, Deputy Director of the Tuberculosis Scheme, without written orders and in violation of the 1980 and 1982 recruitment circulars. The appellants claimed that their casual appointments were not to any post, tha…

The appellants' land was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and the Collector initially awarded Rs 4,500 per acre, which the appellants accepted without protest. Other claimants obtained a reference under Section 18, leading the Civil Court to enhance compensation to Rs 12,000 per acre and the High Court to …

The Supreme Court entertained an appeal under Article 136 seeking special leave to direct the Delhi High Court to fix an early date for the final hearing of a pending appeal. The High Court had earlier ordered the matter to be listed for hearing on October 17, 1994, but the date had lapsed and the appeal remained undec…

In 1988 the Uttar Pradesh government advertised fifteen Treasury Officer‑Accounts Officer posts, four of which were reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates. The State Public Service Commission (PSC) recommended four names, but those candidates never joined the service. The appellant, Jai Narain Ram, was the fourth…

The Madhya Pradesh Public Health and Family Welfare Department’s 1989 recruitment rules for Auxiliary Nurse‑cum‑Midwife (ANM) required a 10+2 qualification with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The respondents, who lacked this qualification, were nevertheless selected by the District Medical Officer for training and sub…

The State acquired land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, publishing a notification in 1978, making an award in 1986 and taking possession later that year. The respondents challenged the acquisition on grounds of alleged discrimination under Article 14, the effect of an errata notification, irregular service of not…

The State of West Bengal exempted the slaughter of healthy cows on Bakri‑Idd day under Section 12 of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter (Control) Act, 1950, claiming it was required for a religious purpose of the Muslim community. The High Court held that such slaughter was not an essential religious requirement and the …

The appellant, Sanjay Dutt, was charged under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA) and the Arms Act, 1959 for the Bombay bomb blast. His bail application was rejected by the Designated Court. Following the Supreme Court’s direction in Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab, Central and State R…

The State of Kerala acquired land under the Kerala Land Acquisition Act, 1961, issuing a notification on 22 June 1976 and an award in 1977. The Additional Subordinate Judge enhanced the compensation on 24 June 1980. The claimants sought the benefit of the 1984 amendment to the Central Land Acquisition Act, 1894, specif…

The Supreme Court heard appeals filed by the State Government against a Karnataka High Court judgment concerning awards made by a Land Acquisition Officer on 12 October 1978 and a Reference Court on 31 March 1980. The issue was whether the claimants were entitled to the enhanced compensation benefits under Sections 23(…

The State Government appealed a Karnataka High Court decision concerning lands acquired under a notification issued on 23 January 1980 under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Land Acquisition Officer had made an award on 28 March 1980, and the claimants later sought an additional amount calculated at …

The Special Land Acquisition Officer (the State) awarded compensation under Section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, but a dispute arose over its apportionment. The Collector referred the matter to a civil court under Section 30, depositing the compensation amount in that court as required by Section 31. The civil…

The Special Land Acquisition Officer determined compensation for land acquired from the respondents at Rs 3,000 per acre. The reference court enhanced it to Rs 15,000 per acre using a 15‑year multiplier, an award dated 14 December 1981. The High Court held that a 15‑year multiplier was illegal and that a 10‑year multip…

The State of Orissa challenged two provisions of the Orissa District Revenue Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1983. The first was the proviso to Rule 5(1) allowing relaxation of the maximum age limit for certain categories, which the Orissa Administrative Tribunal held gave the Governmen…

Tarapore & Co. entered into a contract with the State of Madhya Pradesh for the construction of a masonry dam, which required the contractor to pay not less than "fair wages" and to observe labour laws without any claim against the Irrigation Department. After the State revised minimum wages, the contractor paid the hi…

The appellant, Deepa, was originally accepted as a tenant of a parcel of land that formed part of a former jagir. The respondent, Ram Chandra, sought her eviction under Section 177 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955, but the suit was dismissed because the jagir had been abolished by the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resum…

The State of Kerala appealed a Kerala High Court judgment that had allowed claimants to receive additional compensation under Section 23(1-A) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The sole question was whether the respondents were entitled to this additional amount given that the Collector's award was dated 21 April 1980.…

The appellants, six of the forty candidates who appeared for the constable selection, challenged the selection process alleging lack of fairness, ministerial interference, and that some selected candidates had previously served as gunmen for VIPs. The selection committee, comprising three officers, conducted a written …

The Union of India appealed to the Supreme Court under Article 136 against an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that had given certain directions to the respondent officer. The Court examined the service record of the first respondent, noting that his career was outstanding both before and after the pe…

The land in question was notified for acquisition under Section 7 of the Requisition and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952 and an award was made by the Collector in 1973. The respondents refused to accept the award and, under Section 8(3) read with Rule 9, applied for the appointment of an arbitrator in 1977.…

The appellant, Mahesh Kumar Agal, a police officer, sought seniority based on his passing of the mandatory Hindi proficiency test, which was a prerequisite for promotion under the service rules. The Madhya Pradesh Administrative Tribunal rejected his claim, holding that his seniority should not be backdated. Agal appea…

Kaveri Engineering Industries Ltd entered into a contract with United Shipping Corporation Ltd for the transshipment of 400 MT of fabricated steel structures from Madras to Chittagong for a fixed freight of Rs 2 lakhs, irrespective of cargo volume. The shipping agent later demanded Rs 10.70 lakhs based on volume, refus…

Maharashtra State and others appealed a Bombay High Court order that directed the issuance of a D.S.V. licence and release of an alcohol quota to Pooja Brew‑Chem Industries Ltd. The company had applied for a licence under Rule 26 of the Bombay Denatured Spirit Rules, 1959, to manufacture certain chemicals and was assur…

The State of Andhra Pradesh sued Korukondasuryanarayana Chowdhary alleging that lands he had sold were to be counted towards his agricultural‑holding ceiling under the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973. Chowdhary submitted an affidavit stating that the sale dated 16 October 1971 w…

Balkrishna Pandey, a Junior Statistical Supervisor, was appointed on deputation to a temporary post of Senior Statistical Assistant in the Directorate of Special Employment and Planning. When the temporary post was made permanent, Pandey was reverted to his parent department, while another employee (the fifth responden…

The respondent was appointed on a temporary basis for three months or until a regular incumbent assumed office, but his appointment was terminated after 240 days. A writ petition challenged the termination, and a Single Judge held that the termination violated Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, ordering …

The Supreme Court examined two appeals filed by the State of Uttar Pradesh and aggrieved persons challenging the ceiling area determined under Section 10 of the U.P. Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960. The appeals arose while proceedings to determine surplus land were pending. Before the appeals were file…

The appellants, sons of Nihal Chand, challenged a declaration by the Official Receiver that the insolvent partner Chiranjee Lal held a one‑third share in certain properties. They argued that the Receiver’s 1966 application under Section 4 of the Provincial Insolvency Act was barred by the six‑year limitation period und…

Karanpura Development Company Ltd obtained a 999‑year mining lease in 1946, which was terminated when the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950 came into force. The company claimed compensation under Section 4(1) of the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957, relying on a 1963 notification issued under Section…

An officer of the Karnataka Government, J. Vasudevan, was sentenced to one month imprisonment for wilful disobedience of a Supreme Court order in a contempt proceeding. The officer applied for remission of his sentence, but the Court rejected his application. The State of Karnataka then filed an application seeking rev…

Kailash Potlia was convicted of murder (section 302 IPC) and robbery (section 380 IPC) on the basis of circumstantial evidence, including a hotel clerk’s sighting, a finger injury, an alleged extra‑judicial confession to PW‑13, and a recovery statement by PW‑22. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the reliability of …

Sharadchandra Ganesh Muley, a landowner, challenged a notification under section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. After the Bombay High Court dismissed his first writ petition in 1992, the Land Acquisition Officer made an award on March 30, 1994. Muley appealed, contending that the award was beyond the two‑year …

In a transfer petition filed by the wife seeking to transfer her pending divorce petition, the court directed the parties to attempt reconciliation. The husband and wife settled their differences and the wife agreed to join her husband within two years after resolving her property issues in another city. The court cons…

The State of Punjab acquired 58 acres of land in 1979 and the Land Acquisition Officer fixed compensation at Rs 50,000 per acre for Block A and Rs 36,000 per acre for Block B. The Civil Court and subsequently the High Court enhanced the compensation to Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 60,000, and then to Rs 1,60,000 per acre respect…

The respondent, a lecturer in the College of Military Engineering, was compulsorily retired following a departmental inquiry and challenged the order on the ground that he was not supplied with a copy of the inquiry report. The Central Administrative Tribunal set aside the retirement order and directed the department t…

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) engaged several workers on daily‑wage contracts for its development projects. The workers filed a writ petition seeking regularisation of their services and parity in pay with regular employees. The Allahabad High Court single judge denied regularisation but directed the GDA to…

The Supreme Court examined whether two members of the Bihar University (Constituent Colleges) Service Commission, Dr. B.P. Yadav and Prof. Suresh Prasad Singh, possessed the statutory qualification of being Professors as required by Section 6 of the Service Commission Act, given that their promotions to Professor were …

M/s Dodsal Pvt. Ltd. entered into a contract with the Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking (DESU) that contained an arbitration clause. DESU later challenged the arbitral award, arguing that the contract was void because it violated Sections 201 and 203 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act and a bye‑law, rendering the a…

The landlord obtained a loan from State Bank of Patiala to construct a building which he would lease back to the bank for its commercial use. The loan agreement stipulated a 16% interest rate with quarterly rests, which the landlord contested. The trial court reduced the rate to 15% and eliminated the quarterly rests, …

The appellant, Viswanath (deceased) by LRs, sought ejectment of the respondent who occupied land under a mortgage executed by Hanuman Singh, the brother‑in‑law of a minor, before the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 came into force. The Assistant Collector and Board of Revenue held the mortgage void …

Mrs. Saroj Bala, a civil servant, had her date of birth recorded as 4 April 1949 in university records and consequently in her service record when she joined the All India Revenue Service in 1972. After 18 years of service, she sought to correct her date of birth to 5 April 1950, obtaining a birth certificate and other…

The appellant purchased agricultural land from the erstwhile landlord, who was a protected tenant under the Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1950. The respondent, the protected tenant, filed a suit claiming rights over the land. The High Court appointed a receiver and ordered the appellant to deposit a sum …

The appellants were allotted 2 acres 9 guntas of land for agricultural purposes on the condition that it could not be used for any other purpose without written permission. They sold a portion of the land for building purposes and applied for permission to use the land for non‑agricultural purposes, but no order was pa…

The Supreme Court examined whether medical services rendered by doctors, hospitals and nursing homes fall within the definition of "service" under Section 2(1)(o) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, and thus attract consumer‑redress. It held that services provided for consideration – even if partially free or paid th…

The Supreme Court considered whether workmen of the Government Mint in Calcutta, who were allotted government accommodation and therefore did not receive house rent allowance (HRA), could notionally include HRA in the "ordinary rate of wages" for calculating overtime allowance under Section 59 of the Factories Act, 194…

The petitioners' land was acquired under a 1969 notification and an award dated August 2, 1972 fixed compensation at Rs 1.25 per square metre. Subsequent awards for other lands under the same notification in 1985 fixed higher rates, and a High Court award in 1987 and a Reference Court award in 1989 also fixed higher co…

Jagdish Prasad, who was four years old when his father, a government employee, died in harness in 1971, filed a writ petition after attaining majority in 1994 seeking a compassionate appointment. The High Court dismissed the petition, and the appellant appealed to the Supreme Court. The Court held that compassionate ap…

Mis Packraft (India) Pvt Ltd, through its director, filed a contempt petition against the Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation alleging that the corporation sold the appellant's defaulter property in breach of the Supreme Court's guidelines laid down in Mahesh Chandra's case. The petition claimed wilful disobedience of …

The appellant, a senior IAS officer, was convicted under IPC 120‑B read with Section 5(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for conspiring to award a contract to a black‑listed firm at exorbitant rates. The trial court imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 and imprisonment till the rising of the court; the High Court dismis…

The appellant, Madhukar B. Pingal, was selected and appointed as Police Patil based on a selection scheme that allotted 50 % of the total marks to a written test and 50 % to a viva‑voce. An unsuccessful candidate (Respondent‑I) challenged the appointment before the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal, which held that t…

The appellant, Dilawar Singh (deceased) through his legal representatives, filed a return under Section 10(2) of the U.P. Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1960, claiming that he had gifted several parcels of land to his grand‑nephew. The Prescribed Authority and the lower appellate court held that the gift d…

The landlord leased premises to Esso Company in 1969. When Esso merged into Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPC) in 1974, the landlord filed an eviction suit under the Karnataka Rent Control Act, 1961 alleging sub‑letting. The lower courts dismissed the suit, holding that under the Esso (Acquisition of Undertaking…

The appellant's truck was seized by police for non‑payment of tax under the Motor Vehicles Act. The trial court held the seizure illegal due to the officer's alleged incompetence but denied damages, citing the appellant's contributory negligence. The High Court reversed, finding the officer competent to seize and affir…

The Union of India challenged the validity of Sections 24 and 25 of the Cine Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1981 and a 1986 notification requiring employers and employees to contribute to a provident fund. The Madras High Court upheld the Act but ordered the respondent, Mis. Murugan …

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the U.P. High Court (Abolition of Letters patent Appeals) (Amendment) Act, 1972, which sought to eliminate letter‑patent appeals in land‑reform matters. Petitioners contended that the Act exceeded State legislative competence, violated Article 14’s equality guar…

The Birla Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mill had earmarked three acres for staff quarters in 1951; after the mill became non‑functional, its employees bought the land for residential use. The land was later included in a planned‑development acquisition under sections 17(1) and 17(4) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, wit…

The appellant, a workman, was terminated and his demand for reinstatement was rejected. He applied to the State Government for a reference of the dispute under Section 10(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947; the first application was refused and a second application was also rejected on the ground that the earlier …