DIPAK MISRA

The Supreme Court examined petitions filed under Article 32 seeking an inquiry into the death of Judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, who died on 1 December 2014 while presiding over the Sohrabuddin case. The petitioners relied on media reports alleging foul play and questioned the conduct of the judges who accompanied the …

The appellant, Balakram, was charged with murder and attempted murder and, after the prosecution's witness (the investigating officer) was examined, sought to produce copies of pages from the police diary obtained under the Right to Information Act to confront the officer. The trial court rejected the application, the …

Videocon Industries Ltd. and its directors were penalised by the adjudicating authority under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) for alleged violations of sections 18(2) and 18(3). They appealed before the Appellate Tribunal for Foreign Exchange, which held that the transactions (purchase of goods from Korea an…

The appellant, Sanjiv Kumar, a police sub‑inspector, was convicted under IPC sections 395 (dacoity), 450 (robbery) and 342 (wrongful confinement) for a robbery of Indian and foreign currency from a licensed forex firm. The trial court sentenced him to ten years for 395, seven years for 450 and an undisclosed term for 3…

HMT Watches Ltd filed a series of criminal complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against M.A. Abida for the dishonour of 57 cheques, which were stopped by a stop‑payment instruction and for which a demand notice had been issued. The High Court of Kerala, invoking its powers under Section 482 of…

The deceased employee, Ambadas Lahane, died while on duty and his legal heirs claimed compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923. The employer contended that the employee was an "insured person" under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, and therefore barred from any claim under the 1923 Act pursuant …

The Supreme Court examined a series of criminal complaints filed by borrower Prakash Kumar Bajaj against senior officials of Punjab National Bank Housing Finance Ltd. after the bank invoked the SARFAESI Act to recover a defaulted housing loan. The borrower, having settled the loan through a one‑time settlement, repeate…

The parents of Deepak, a 29‑year‑old assistant teacher who died in a bus‑truck collision, filed a claim under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs 61.20 million using a multiplier of 17 based on the deceased’s age, plus conventional heads. The Bombay…

The widowed wife of Om Prakash, who died in a road accident on 12‑08‑1995 when his truck was struck by Truck No. DIL‑5955, filed a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The offending truck was comprehensively insured by National Insurance Co. Ltd. (respondent No.2). The Motor Accident Claims Tribun…

The appellant, Atul Thakur, attacked Hitesh Thakur with a knife during a sudden quarrel at a drink party, inflicting six injuries that later caused Hitesh's death. The trial court convicted him of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part‑II IPC and sentenced him to five years' rigorous imprisonm…

The appellant's 20‑year‑old son died in a road accident and the claim for compensation was filed before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). The Tribunal rejected the father's income certificates claiming the deceased earned Rs 15,000 per month and instead fixed his income at Rs 6,000 per month, applying a multip…

The case involved a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act after a tractor allegedly ran over Ram Kanwar, resulting in his death. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal had awarded Rs. 21,38,000 to the claimants, finding the tractor driver negligent, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court reversed the award, ho…

The appellant, S. Krishna Sradha, was denied admission to the MBBS course under the sports quota despite being more meritorious than the candidates selected. The High Court, relying on the two‑judge decision in Jasmine Kaur, refused admission and awarded monetary compensation, holding that the cut‑off date for admissio…

The appellants, Jagmohan Bahl and another, were charged under IPC sections 420 and 34 for alleged cheating in a property transaction. Their first anticipatory bail application under Section 438 of the CrPC was rejected by Additional Sessions Judge‑6, but a second application was later allowed by a different Additional …

The deceased Saroj Bai was found hanging in her matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. The State alleged that her husband’s family demanded a motorcycle as dowry, subjecting her to cruelty and harassment, thereby invoking Sections 304B and 498A of the IPC and the statutory presumption under Section 113B of th…

The Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes allowed exemption on sales of polished granite stones, but later reopened the assessment and disallowed the exemption, contending that polished and unpolished granite fall under separate entries of the Karnataka Sales Tax Act. The assessee argued that polished granite sto…

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) floated a tender for two 660 MW super‑critical power units. After qualifying, two bidders – CSEPDI‑TRISHE and BHEL – submitted supplementary price bids which were evaluated by an independent financial consultant. The consultant’s report awarded the contr…

Montecarlo Ltd. submitted a techno‑commercial bid for NTPC Ltd.'s coal‑mine development project, but NTPC declared the bid technically non‑responsive because Montecarlo lacked experience in drilling for blasting. Montecarlo challenged this decision before the High Court, arguing that the qualification requirement only …

Ram Narayan filed a suit in 1966 which ultimately led to Civil Appeal No. 124 of 1987. The appellant died in 1994 and, because no substitution was filed within the 90‑day period prescribed by Rule 3 of Order XXII CPC and Article 120 of the Limitation Act, the appeal abated and was dismissed in default in 1997. After el…

The case concerned the pay‑scale disparity between Vocational Masters and Vocational Lecturers in Punjab schools. The State Government had issued a notification on 16 July 2003 restricting the higher pay‑scale (Rs.6,400‑10,640) to only those Vocational Masters appointed before 8 July 1995 and possessing certain qualifi…

The accused were convicted under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code for abetment of suicide and sentenced by the trial court to three years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine. On appeal, the High Court upheld the conviction but reduced the term to the period already served (four months and twenty days), citing lack o…

Saroj Kumar, an Indian Defence Accounts Service officer, was denied promotion on the ground of downgraded entries in his Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs). The ACR entries were later communicated to him, and he filed representations contesting the downgrades, which were rejected. The Central Administrative Tribunal (C…

The Supreme Court examined the chronic shortage of infrastructure in consumer dispute redressal fora across India, including inadequate posts, space, and remuneration at the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). It directed the Union Government to frame model rules within four months to ensure unifor…

The Supreme Court heard contempt petitions filed by the State of Tamil Nadu (and a private party) alleging that the Union of India had failed to frame a Cauvery water‑management scheme within the six‑week period ordered by the Court. The Court examined objections raised by Karnataka and Kerala to certain clauses of the…

The petitioner, a Food Safety Officer, was named in an FIR concerning illegal manufacture and sale of gutkha and pan masala. The Madras High Court issued a writ of mandamus directing the investigation to be transferred from the State Vigilance Commission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The petitioner chal…

The State of Rajasthan appealed against the Rajasthan High Court’s order reducing the sentences of Vinod Kumar and Heera Lal for rape (s.376 IPC) from the trial court‑imposed seven years to five years and eleven months respectively. The High Court reduced the sentences without recording any "adequate and special reason…

The V.N. Public Health & Educational Trust applied to establish a medical college for the 2016-17 academic year, submitting an Essentiality Certificate that was later found to be conditional and not in the format prescribed by the 1999 MCI Regulations. The Medical Council of India (MCI) recommended disapproval, and the…

The Joint Secretary, Political Department, Government of Meghalaya filed a suo motu writ petition under Article 226 seeking to give effect to the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014 and to bring the Lokayukta institution into existence. The High Court, on its own motion, stayed the eligibility clause (s.3(2)(a)) of the Act a…

M/s M.P. Agencies, a distributor of the fabric whitener "Ujala Supreme" and the fabric stiffener "Ujala Stiff and Shine", appealed against the State of Kerala challenging the classification and tax rate under the Kerala Value Added Tax Act, 2003. The products are manufactured by Jyothy Laboratories by diluting acid vio…

M/S Southern Motors, a registered dealer under the Karnataka Value Added Tax Act, 2003, issued tax invoices for vehicle sales and later granted post‑sale discounts through credit notes, retaining only the net amount. The Assessing Authority disallowed deduction of these discounts from total turnover, insisting that a d…

The respondent, Jasobanta Nayak, secured rank 16871 in the general category and rank 80 in the physically challenged category in the 2012 Odisha Joint Entrance Examination for engineering admission. He submitted a disability certificate from the District Hospital stating a 40% visual impairment, which under the examina…

The State of Punjab sought to prosecute two retired public servants, Sikandar Singh and Labh Singh, for alleged corruption and related offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the Indian Penal Code. The department had refused sanction to prosecute them both before and after their retirements, yet a cha…

Ms. Z, a 35‑year‑old destitute woman with mild mental retardation and HIV‑positive status, alleged that she had been raped and sought termination of her 18‑week pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. The government hospital failed to perform the termination, involving the appellant’s father and…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Art. 32 filed by a social activist seeking directions to curb cow‑vigilantism, lynching and mob violence. It held that such acts are unlawful, violate fundamental rights and the State has a constitutional duty to protect life and human dignity. The Court issued compre…

The accused, a film producer, was charged with rape, kidnapping, criminal intimidation, and related offences under the IPC. He had earlier obtained anticipatory bail, which was cancelled for not disclosing a pending 2G Spectrum case, but later secured regular bail under Section 439 of the CrPC by the High Court. The ap…

The bank created an equitable mortgage over a flat by taking a loan from the directors of Allwyn Alloys. When the loan defaulted, the DRT and DRAT upheld the bank’s security and rejected the claim of the flat’s occupants (respondents 5 and 6) who relied on a later unregistered MOU. The High Court, however, set aside th…

Kiran Pal Singh, the Pramukh of a Kshettra Panchayat in Uttar Pradesh, challenged a second notice of a no‑confidence motion issued by the Collector, arguing that Section 15(12) of the Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Panchayats and Zila Panchayats Act, 1961 barred any subsequent notice within a year of the first notice. The High…

Writers and Publisher Ltd (WPL) was the highest bidder for the revival of the cooperative Super Bazar and infused funds, including share capital, as directed by the Supreme Court. The revival could not be effected, and the Court ordered that WPL be refunded its entire investment with 6% per annum interest, subject only…

The Kerala Assistant Public Prosecutors Association appealed to the Supreme Court seeking parity in retirement age with Public Prosecutors, arguing that both categories perform similar duties and that the former should retire at 60 years like the latter. The High Court had rejected this claim, holding that the modes of…

The claimants filed a petition under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation after a truck, allegedly without a valid permit, struck a motorcycle on 19‑02‑2013, causing the rider's death. The insurer contended that the vehicle was unpermitted and the driver unlicensed, invoking Section 149(2) to deny lia…

Mohan Lal was convicted for possession of 10 kg of opium under Section 18 of the NDPS Act and for theft under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC. He argued that the offence occurred before the NDPS Act came into force, that applying the Act was retrospective and violative of Art.20(1) of the Constitution, that the seizure…

The appellant Daulat Ram was convicted under Sections 302 read with 34 and Section 201 of the IPC for the murder of Zile Singh, based largely on the testimony of the victim's father and his relatives who claimed to have seen the accused throwing the dead body into a dry well. The prosecution's case relied on circumstan…

Black Pearl Hotels (Pvt) Ltd. entered into a "conducting agreement" with M/s Planet M Retail Ltd. and later sought arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The High Court Judge, invoking s.33(2)(b) of the Karnataka Stamp Act, 1957, referred the matter to the Registrar to determine whether the instr…

Anil Kumar was first convicted under Section 22 of the NDPS Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs.1 lakh and a default two‑year term. He was later convicted under Sections 27(b)(ii) and 28 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and sentenced to one year' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs…

S. Muthu Kumaran, a Havildar/Clerk in the Indian Army, was alleged to have participated in a fraudulent recruitment racket in 2006 and had earlier given a confessional statement, which he later claimed was made under coercion. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 26 Infantry Division issued a show‑cause notice, …

The petitioners, Lalita Ramesh Lase and others, claimed to be protected tenants of certain agricultural plots under the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1948, invoking Section 70(B) and seeking declaration of status dating back to the Tiller's Day of 1 April 1957. Their applications, initially approved by the …

The Supreme Court examined an appeal against a High Court order that granted bail to Mitthan Yadav, a history‑sheeter accused of multiple serious offences including murder, under several IPC sections. The High Court had relied on the principle of parity, noting that a co‑accused, Ashok Kumar, had previously been releas…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, which permits the traditional bull-taming sport of Jallikattu. The Court held that the Act collides with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 because it allows the taming of bulls for entertainment, contrary…

The petitioners sought an extension of the time schedule for online counselling and admission to technical courses of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, arguing that many seats remained vacant and AICTE had not adhered to its prescribed timetable. The University had issued a notification for supplementary couns…

J.K. Lakshmi Cement Ltd. appealed against the Commercial Tax Officer, Pali, contending that it could claim a dual benefit – the partial exemption under Notification dated 06.05.1986 and the reduced 6% tax rate under Notification dated 21.01.2000 – relying on a 1994 circular that had been withdrawn in 2001. The Court ex…

The petitioners sought a writ directing AICTE to issue a Letter of Approval for starting Anant Institute of Business Studies for the 2017‑18 academic year, alleging they had applied within the prescribed time and that AICTE’s delay caused loss. The Court examined the AICTE Act and its regulations, which fix 30 April of…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code for raping and intimidating the prosecutrix. The trial court and the High Court upheld the conviction based on medical testimony that semen was found on the victim's underwear and that the accused sustained injuries consistent with a strugg…

Kashmir Lal was arrested after police seized about 0.5 kg of opium from the toolbox of his scooter at a dhaba. He was convicted under Section 18 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1 lakh. On appeal, he contended that the prosec…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Ajit Nath during a dispute over land excavation, with the trial court finding them guilty under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the IPC. The Supreme Court examined whether an unlawful assembly of at least five persons existed, given that 27 co‑accused were acquitted,…

Jagbir Singh purchased a tractor with a loan from Central Bank of India. The tractor was initially insured but the insurance was not renewed after May 2005. On 24 September 2007 the uninsured tractor was involved in a fatal accident, and a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation against the driver and owner…

Shamim Bano, a Muslim wife, filed an application under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for maintenance before her divorce. While the application was pending, the divorce was finalized on 5 May 1997, after which she also filed an application under Section 3 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights …

The Supreme Court considered a contempt petition (Civil) No. 225 of 2013 filed by the State of Tamil Nadu against the Chief Minister of Karnataka and others, arising out of the inter‑state Cauvery water dispute. The petition sought to hold the respondents in contempt for allegedly violating the earlier judgment in Civi…

The Supreme Court adjudicated appeals against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's 2007 award allocating waters of the inter-State river Cauvery among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. The Court upheld the Tribunal's adoption of the principle of equitable apportionment as recognized in international rules…

The appellant, an advocate, was charged by his client for failing to return a cheque handed over for filing a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and for not obtaining an acknowledgment of its return. The Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council of India found him guilty of gross neg…

The Supreme Court, hearing Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India (Writ Petition No. 494 of 2012), considered interim orders that limited the use of Aadhaar to six government schemes and made its linkage voluntary pending a final decision. The petitioners argued that the Union could not make Aadhaar mandator…

The Supreme Court, hearing a civil appeal filed by the State of Uttar Pradesh against the All U.P. Consumer Protection Bar Association, examined the chronic shortage of infrastructure and vacancies in the consumer dispute redressal system. It noted that a three‑member Committee had been constituted to study infrastruct…

The appellant, a 26‑year‑old motorcyclist, was injured in a collision with a mini‑lorry owned by the second and third respondents and insured by the first respondent. He claimed Rs 40 lakhs compensation, but the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal assessed his permanent disability at 10% and awarded Rs 9 lakhs, later reduce…

The suit concerned possession of a property claimed to be joint Hindu family property. The appellant, Raj Kumar Bhatia, sought to amend his written statement to elaborate that the property was coparcenary undivided HUF, an argument already contained in his original statement. The Trial Court allowed the amendment under…

The Supreme Court examined whether the police could lawfully freeze the bank accounts of Teesta Atul Setalvad, Javed Anand and related trusts under Section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) without prior notice to the account holders. The investigation, stemming from an FIR alleging misappropriation of donation…

The respondents filed a suit for possession of land under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act, which was decreed ex‑parte. During execution, the appellant objected that the suit was barred by Section 185 of the Delhi Land Reforms Act because the land was agricultural. The executing court held that the land had been bu…

The appellant, a 28‑year‑old agriculturist, suffered total paralysis when a tractor at a demonstration turned turtle and fell on him. He claimed compensation before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which awarded Rs.8,66,000 based on his disability and loss of earning capacity. The insurer contended that the appellan…

The respondent, Brijlal Sadashuk Modani, was a senior employee of Osmanabad Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd., a multi‑state cooperative bank. While in service he received notices from the Anti‑Corruption Bureau demanding details of his assets, which he contested on the ground that the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PCA) …

Sumer Builders Pvt. Ltd. entered into a development agreement and MoU with Narendra Goran for a land parcel in Indore. After disputes over payment and possession, the respondent terminated the agreements and invoked the arbitration clause. The developer applied to the Bombay High Court for interim relief under Section …

The appellant, a probationary chest therapist at IGIMS, was terminated after a vigilance department complaint alleged illegal appointment and misconduct. The termination was effected without a regular departmental enquiry and the appellant was not provided the enquiry report, violating natural justice. The Supreme Cour…

The appellants, co‑sharers of a Shami/at Patti Sayar (common village land) in village Dahina, filed a civil suit seeking declaration and possession of the land against the respondents. The trial court and the first appellate court decreed in favour of the appellants, granting them possession. The High Court set aside t…

The State, represented by the Inspector of Police (Central Crime Branch), appealed against the Madras High Court's order quashing criminal proceedings against R. Vasanti Stanley and her husband for allegedly forging documents to obtain loans from several banks. The High Court had set aside the charges on the basis that…

The appellants, a group of ten accused, were charged with offences including voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons under Section 324 read with Section 34 of the IPC, among other sections. The trial court acquitted them, finding reasonable doubt due to inconsistencies in prosecution witnesses and lack of corrobo…

The husband appealed against a High Court order directing that maintenance to his wife and child be payable from the date of the application under Section 125 of the CrPC, rather than from the date of the Family Court's order. The Supreme Court observed that the wife’s application had remained pending for nine years du…

The appellant, a government-owned corporation formed by the merger of two Chinese rail manufacturers and their wholly‑owned subsidiaries, submitted a bid for a metro rolling‑stock project. The respondent rejected the bid, stating that the appellant lacked the required experience under clause 2.4 of the tender documents…

Jafar Imam Naqvi, a practising advocate, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Election Commission of India to take stern action against politicians and parties making hate speeches during the election campaign, including cancellation of party recognition and candidature. The petitione…

The appellant, Kamlendra Singh (Pappu Singh), was convicted under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 341 (wrongful restraint) with a common intention charge. He contended that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence (27 August 1993) and produced a high‑school mark‑sheet and admission register showing a date …

The petitioners, led by Asha Ranjan, sought the transfer of accused M. Shahabuddin, a notorious history‑sheeter involved in the murder of the petitioner's husband and other crimes, from Siwan Jail in Bihar to Tihar Jail in Delhi, and the conduct of his pending trials via video‑conferencing. The core issue was whether t…

The State of Jharkhand appealed against an award made by an arbitrator appointed by the Supreme Court, contending that the Court could not entertain an application to make the award a rule of court merely because it retained seisin over the arbitration. The Supreme Court examined the scope of Section 31(4) of the Arbit…

The appellant, Sharad Babu Digumarti, was charged under IPC Sections 292 and 294 and IT Act Section 67 for alleged possession of obscene material in electronic form. He was discharged of the IT Act charge but the trial court framed a charge under IPC Section 292, which the High Court upheld. The Supreme Court examined …

The appellants, Sameer Singh and another, challenged an order of a Sub‑Judge’s execution court that it had become functus officio and therefore could not entertain their application under Order XXI Rules 97, 99 and 101 of the CPC concerning a disputed immovable property. The execution court had earlier executed a decre…

Dr. Thakar Singh and others mortgaged several shops in Moga to Suba Singh and Saudagar Singh in 1942, later redeeming the mortgage in 1969. The mortgagees, however, retained possession and leased the premises to several tenants. The mortgagors sued for possession, and the lower court held the suit barred under the Rent…

The appellants filed a suit for declaration of ownership of a share in land and an injunction. The defendants filed a counter‑claim asserting title under a Will dated 18‑May‑1995, which the trial judge dismissed as barred by Order 2, Rule 2 of the CPC because the plea had not been raised in the earlier suit. The High C…

The petitioners, a Chinese elevator guide‑rail manufacturer, filed an arbitration petition under Section 11(5) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, seeking the appointment of a sole arbitrator pursuant to Clause 15 of their 2014 Commission Processing Contract with the respondents, an Indian partnership. Claus…

The petitioners sought a uniform policy for registration, arrest and bail in cases under Section 498‑A IPC, challenging the directions issued in Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P. that created Family Welfare Committees, barred arrests before their report, and allowed district courts to dispose of settled cases. The Court e…

The appellant, former ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan, was arrested in 1994 on alleged espionage charges that were later found to be false by the CBI, leading to his discharge. He spent nearly fifty days in police custody, during which the Supreme Court found that the investigation by Kerala police was malicious, cau…

Pankaj Sinha filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking comprehensive measures for leprosy‑affected persons, including periodic national surveys, free multi‑drug therapy, awareness campaigns, non‑discriminatory treatment, education, rehabilitation and disability certification. The Court examined the constitutional …

The petitioners, Annaii Medical College, sought confirmation of a conditional Letter of Permission (LOP) for the 2016‑17 MBBS session and relief from a decision that barred them from admitting students for 2017‑18 and 2018‑19 and authorised the Medical Council of India (MCI) to encash a Rs 2 crore bank guarantee. The M…

The appellant, Karpagam Faculty of Medical Sciences & Research, challenged the Central Government's order that barred it from admitting MBBS students for the 2017‑18 session and denied recognition under Section 11(2) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. The college argued that successive inspections by the Medical …

A motor accident on 10 May 2012 resulted in the death of Sanoj Kumar. The victims filed a claim before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, which awarded compensation but absolved the insurer on the ground that the driver, Shivgyani, held a fake licence. The vehicle owner appealed, arguing that the insurer should remain…

The State of Kerala terminated a road‑improvement contract with contractor M.K. Jose for alleged non‑completion and forfeited his security deposit. The contractor filed multiple writ petitions under Article 226 challenging the termination, extensions of time and denial of revised estimates. The High Court’s single judg…

The Supreme Court examined a challenge by the State of Uttar Pradesh to a Allahabad High Court order that, in a writ petition seeking quashment of an FIR, issued sweeping procedural directions for criminal trials, including mandating production of accused with Section 173 reports, requiring police stations to install p…

The appeal concerned a poem titled "Gandhi Mala Bhetala" published in a private bulletin, for which the author, publisher and printer were charged under Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code for obscenity. The Supreme Court examined whether the use of Mahatma Gandhi’s name as an allusion or symbol heightened the applica…

The Union of India appealed against a Delhi High Court judgment that struck down Rule 3.3(1)(b) of the PCPNDT Rules, 1996 and Rule 6 of the Six‑Months Training Rules, 2014 on the ground that the Act did not empower the Central Government to prescribe qualifications or training for persons using ultrasound equipment. Th…

On 19 November 2006, a dispute over cutting a tree led three accused (Arjun, Lalaram and Padumlal) to assault the deceased Ayodhya Prasad with a katta, gandasa and a stone, causing fatal head injuries. The prosecution proved the case through the testimony of a related witness (the deceased's brother, PW‑6), four eye‑wi…

The Commissioner of Customs cancelled the Customs House Agent (CHA) licence of Mis. K.M. Ganatra & Co. after finding that the licence had been sub‑let to unauthorised persons, facilitating fraudulent export documentation and causing revenue loss. The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, exercising its po…

The Commissioner of Central Excise issued a show‑cause notice to Hindustan National Glass & Industries Ltd., alleging that the company had not added the advance payments received from Coca‑Cola India and PepsiCo India to the assessable value of its glass bottles, thereby depressing the value and evading duty. The adjud…

Dr. Sabu Mathew George filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions to block online advertisements and content facilitating sex selection, and to compel Google India, Yahoo! India and Microsoft Corporation to comply with the Pre‑conception and Pre‑natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) …

The Union of India moved a transfer petition under Article 139A seeking to shift a writ petition (Civil) No. 15798 of 2009, pending before the Andhra Pradesh High Court, to the Supreme Court. The High Court writ challenged the constitutional validity of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recogn…

The Supreme Court was approached by the State of Tamil Nadu for clarification of its 15 December 2016 order that prohibited the grant of liquor licences along national and state highways, including stretches within municipal limits. The Court clarified that the purpose of the order is to curb liquor sales along highway…

The petitioners sought a writ directing the Kerala government, the Travancore Devaswom Board and the chief priest of Sabarimala to allow women aged 10‑50 to enter the Ayyappa temple, challenging Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965 as unconstitutional. The High Cou…

The appellant Abdul Wahab K. challenged the order of a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) that allowed the Public Prosecutor to withdraw prosecution under Sections 195A and 506 IPC, on the ground that the CJM had not applied the proper test under Section 321 of the CrPC. The petitioners, third parties, filed revision peti…

The Supreme Court examined a criminal case where the Public Prosecutor sought to withdraw prosecution under Sections 195A and 506 IPC, and the Chief Judicial Magistrate allowed the withdrawal. The order was challenged by the accused through revision petitions filed by third‑party petitioners, which the Kerala High Cour…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by Major S.D. Singh Medical College and Hospital challenging the Union Government’s order, based on the Medical Council of India’s (MCI) recommendation, that barred the college from admitting MBBS students for the 2017‑18 academic year and directed the encashment of a Rs…

Manjit Singh and Paramjit Singh were convicted for the murder of Jagmohan Singh and the attempted murder of Amarjot Singh after a gang fired on a tractor following a political dispute. The appellants challenged the convictions on five grounds, chiefly that two material witnesses were not examined, that the maxim falsus…

The State of Kerala appealed against the Kerala High Court’s order quashing an FIR that alleged offences under Sections 182, 194, 195, 195A and 306 of the IPC based on a suicide note left by the deceased, a senior investigating officer. The Supreme Court examined whether the suicide note established a prima facie case …

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) entered into a concession agreement with Gwalior Jhansi Expressway Limited (GJEL) to widen NH‑75. GJEL failed to complete the work, leading to arbitration. Both parties filed Section 17 applications before the arbitral tribunal seeking interim relief. The tribunal allowed…

The Supreme Court examined a batch of writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (criminal defamation) and Section 199 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The petitioners argued that criminal defamation infringes the freedom of speech guaranteed under Article …

The respondent, Abhay Kumar Singh, filed a nomination for a Bihar Legislative Council seat but the Returning Officer rejected his papers for not attaching the current electoral roll required under Section 33(5) of the Representation of People Act, 1951, as he belonged to a different constituency. The High Court set asi…

Assistant Sub‑Inspector Risal Singh was dismissed by the Superintendent of Police under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution, who dispensed with a disciplinary inquiry and gave no reasons for the dismissal. The appellant challenged the order, arguing that a reason must be ascribed when an inquiry is waived, and the Hi…

The respondent, Mis. Palakkad Heritage Hotels, applied for a FL‑11 beer/wine bar licence under the Foreign Liquor Rules, 1974. The Excise Commissioner recommended grant of the licence on 28‑Mar‑2012, but before the State Government could give its final approval the Rules were amended on 18‑Apr‑2012 to increase the mini…

The Union of India entered into a reconstruction contract with M/s. Simplex Infrastructures Ltd, which it later rescinded alleging delay. An arbitrator held the rescission illegal and awarded payment to the respondent. The Union filed a petition under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 to set asid…

Pallav Sheth was convicted by a Special Court under Section 10 of the Special Court (Trial of Offences Relating to Transactions in Securities) Act, 1992 for dishonestly misappropriating 20,000 shares and refusing to pay the agreed price of Rs.83 lakh to Canara Bank. The Special Court also ordered a civil decree of Rs.5…

G.C. Pandya, a former Deputy Engineer of the Gujarat Maritime Board, was disciplined and censured in 2002 and superannuated as Superintending Engineer. He sued for a declaration that the departmental enquiry and punishment were illegal and sought promotion to Chief Engineer effective 1 January 2002. The Board did not f…

The appellant Ganga Dhar Kalita was accused of forging signatures of three persons, including a minor, to execute a power of attorney for the sale of land, leading to an FIR under several IPC sections. The appellant filed a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking quash of the criminal proce…

The respondent was appointed as Veterinary Compounder in the Central Cattle Breeding Farms in 1999 by the then Director In‑charge without obtaining prior written approval of the competent authority as required by the Central Cattle Breeding Farms (Class III and IV) Recruitment Rules, 1969. The Department later issued a…

The respondent, Universal Tractor Holding LLC, sold its 49% share in Beever Creek Holdings to Escorts Agri Machinery Inc., a subsidiary of the petitioner, for $1.2 million payable in four installments. After Escorts AMI defaulted on the last two installments, the respondent sued in a North Carolina court, which entered…

The appellant, a public servant in the Finance Section of Zilla Parishad, Osmanabad, was alleged to have demanded and accepted bribes from the complainant for expediting his sister's pension and GPF dues. The complainant, after paying part of the demanded money, was caught in a trap where the accused was found with the…

The appellants, claiming to be landlords, filed an eviction petition under Section 13 of the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1973 against the respondents who asserted they were tenants of a temple. The respondents pointed to earlier proceedings under Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, wher…

Ajay Kumar Pal was sentenced to death by a Special CBI Judge on 9 April 2007, a sentence confirmed by the Jharkhand High Court and the Supreme Court on 16 March 2010. He filed a mercy petition on 10 April 2010, which was forwarded immediately but only disposed of after a delay of three years and ten months, with the Pr…

The Supreme Court examined whether the Chennai City Municipal Corporation (the Corporation) or the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTCL) had statutory authority to erect and manage bus shelters under the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919. By interpreting Sections 203, 285, and 285‑A, the Court held that …

The Supreme Court examined whether the Chennai City Municipal Corporation (the Corporation) or the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTCL) had statutory authority to erect and manage bus shelters under the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919. By interpreting Sections 203, 204, 285, 285‑A and related provisio…

The Union of India challenged the Allahabad High Court's order quashing a search and seizure conducted under Section 132(1) of the Income Tax Act at the premises of M/s Agarwal Iron Industries. The High Court had held that the search warrant was issued mechanically without a reasonable basis. The Supreme Court examined…

The Royal Medical Trust, which runs Kerala Medical College, applied for a Letter of Permission (LOP) to admit 150 MBBS students for the 2017‑18 academic year. After a surprise inspection by the Medical Council of India (MCI) revealed several deficiencies, the Central Government barred the college from admissions and au…

Madha Medical College and Research Institute, which had been granted recognition to admit 150 MBBS students, was found to have numerous deficiencies in faculty, residents, infrastructure, and hostels during inspections by the Medical Council of India (MCI). After two inspections within a month, the MCI recommended, and…

The petitioners, Varunarjun Trust, applied for a new medical college and were granted a conditional Letter of Permission (LOP) for the 2016‑17 session. Subsequent assessments by the Medical Council of India (MCI) revealed significant deficiencies in faculty (16.79%) and residents (21.73%), as well as shortcomings in mi…

The State of Uttarakhand appealed against the Board of Revenue’s order that had allowed a second appeal under Section 331(4) of the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, declaring that respondents had acquired Bhumidar rights by adverse possession. The Supreme Court examined whether Section 331(4) inc…

The appellant was charged with murder under Section 302 IPC for hacking a father and son to death with an axe while they slept. The trial court acquitted him, citing a 17‑hour delay in lodging the FIR, the absence of a proven motive, and the claim that the family witnesses could not have seen the accused. On appeal, th…

The respondent, a government servant, was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment. The High Court, on an application under Section 389(1) of the Cr.P.C., suspended the execution of the sentence but did not stay the conviction. The Department dismissed the…

Hindustan Unilever Ltd. and five others were charged under Section 16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act for allegedly selling adulterated Kesar Pista ice‑cream. The Public Analyst’s report declared the sample adulterated, but one co‑accused invoked the right under Section 13(2) of the PFA Act to have a s…

V. Sejappa, a public servant, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for allegedly demanding and receiving Rs 5,000 as bribe to issue a No‑Objection Certificate for a pension claim. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the prosecution failed to prove a demand and that the sanction order was def…

Tata Steel Ltd. had been granted an eight‑year sales‑tax exemption under the Bihar Industrial Policy (1995‑2000) and enjoyed the benefit from August 2000 to March 2006. When the Jharkhand Value Added Tax Act, 2005 came into force, the exemption was withdrawn and the company applied to convert the remaining exemption pe…

The Supreme Court examined challenges to the 2015 Notice Inviting Application (NIA) for spectrum auction, where petitioners alleged that the minimum bidding requirements, classification of bidders and spectrum‑capping provisions violated Article 14 and created a non‑competitive environment. The Court held that the gove…

Joginder Singh, selected for the post of Constable in Chandigarh Police, was denied appointment after a criminal case (FIR No. 200) was discovered during verification. He had been honourably acquitted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Bhiwani, on 4 October 1999. The appellant disclosed the existence of the case and its…

Commercial Motors Ltd., a dealer of two‑wheelers, was granted a sales‑tax exemption for the assessment year 1990‑91 based on certificates. The revenue later discovered a shortfall of Rs 97,02,050.65 and issued a show‑cause notice on 13 March 2002 under Section 21(2) of the U.P. Trade Tax Act, 1948, seeking reassessment…

The appellant Sukhjit Singh was convicted under Section 364 IPC for allegedly abducting his wife Kuljit Kaur and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The trial court and the High Court upheld the conviction, relying mainly on evidence establishing the marital relationship, while ignoring the mother’s testimon…

Asok Pandey, a member of the Bar, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking mandamus directing the Supreme Court to prescribe a fixed procedure for constituting benches—three‑judge benches to consist of the Chief Justice of India and the two senior‑most judges, and Constitution benches to consist of the five senio…

The Dental Council of India (DCI) sought to enforce a Government of India order disapproving a dental college's scheme to start MDS courses in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics for 2016-17. The college obtained a stay from the High Court, which allowed it to admit students on the condition that admission was at…

The appellant, K.S. Joseph, was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing bounced cheques. He challenged the magistrate's order of cognizance and issuance of summons on three grounds: the alleged non‑compliance with Section 200 of the CrPC requiring solemn affirmation, the delay of 62‑63 d…

The petitioners sought a writ of mandamus directing the Uttar Pradesh government to collect quantitative data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in its services, arguing that such data is a condition precedent for exercising the reservation in promotion power under Articles 16(4‑A), 16(4‑B) and 335 of the Constit…

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by several Development Officers of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) challenging a High Court order that set aside an award of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal. The core issue was whether these Development Officers qualified as "workmen" under Section 2(s) of the In…

The petitioners, led by Russell Joy, filed a writ under Article 32 seeking a mandamus directing the Union Government to appoint an international agency to assess the lifespan of the 121‑year‑old Mullaperiyar Dam and to order its de‑commissioning, alleging that the dam, originally designed for a 50‑year life, now poses …

The Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking that the legislature impose chemical castration as an additional punishment for perpetrators of rape against girl children. The petition highlighted alarming incidents of child sexual abuse and argued that the Indian Penal Code d…

The appellants challenged the Bombay Stock Exchange's refusal to allow the delisting of Hella India Lighting Ltd., arguing that the public shareholding threshold for continuous listing was 10% under SEBI guidelines, not the 20% stipulated in the BSE listing agreement. Hella India, after a voluntary offer, saw its publi…

The Supreme Court clarified that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the sole authority to constitute benches and allocate cases, a principle derived from the State of Rajasthan v. Prakash Chand judgment and applicable to the Supreme Court. The Court held that a two‑judge bench cannot direct the composition of a bench …

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals of Rohit Tandon challenging the denial of regular bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Court held that the threshold conditions of Section 45 of the PMLA were not satisfied, as the prosecution presented substantial evidence of the appellant’s involvement …

Manganese Ore India Ltd. challenged the levy of a 40% electricity duty on its ferro‑manganese plant, arguing that the plant’s activities constitute manufacturing, not "processing" as defined in Explanation (b) of Part B of the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Duty Act, 1949. The State contended that the plant fell within the…

The petitioners, female make‑up artists, challenged the Cine Costume Make‑up Artists and Hair Dressers Association's bye‑laws that barred women from obtaining make‑up artist cards and required a five‑year Maharashtra residence. The Court examined the constitutional guarantees of equality (Arts. 14, 15, 21), the right t…

The case concerned an alleged oral gift (hiba) of a house by Abdul Haq, a Muslim, to Rasheeda Khatoon about seven years before his death. After Haq's death, his heirs sought possession, prompting Rasheeda to file a suit for declaration of ownership. The trial court and first appellate court held the oral gift valid, de…

The case involved the death of a 14‑year‑old girl who underwent surgery in a government hospital performed by three medical officers. The girl's father filed a criminal complaint alleging murder under Section 304A of the IPC. The doctors filed an application under Section 197 of the CrPC seeking a sanction from the Sta…

Corporal Nallam Shiva of the Indian Air Force overstayed his casual leave of about one and a half years without informing his superiors, leading to his conviction for desertion and overstaying leave under the Air Force Act, 1950. The District Court Martial sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment, dismissal from service …

The original plaintiff, J. Vasanti & Ors., filed a suit seeking a declaration that several sale deeds relating to her inherited property were null and void and also sought a permanent injunction. The defendants argued that the plaintiff, being a party to the sale deeds, was effectively seeking cancellation of those dee…

The appellant Gurnaib Singh was convicted for the death of his young wife Amarjeet Kaur, who allegedly committed suicide after being harassed for a dowry demand of Rs 50,000. The trial court and the Punjab High Court upheld a conviction under Section 3048 IPC (dowry death) and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imp…

The plaintiffs, sisters and co‑owners of ancestral land, alleged that their brothers fraudulently executed a registered sale deed in 1996, forging their signatures and thumb impressions, and transferred the property without their knowledge. Upon discovering the fraud in late 2012, they filed a suit for declaration and …

The Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu appealed against a High Court order that set aside a detention order issued under Section 3(1)(ii) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974, on the ground that the order did not specify the period of detention. The Supreme Cou…

The appellant Raja Rajinder was convicted of murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder under IPC sections 302, 201 and 34, based primarily on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution established that the deceased was last seen with the appellant, that a knife, blood‑stained clothes and burnt blanket were rec…

The respondents were convicted by the Special Court for Economic Offences for failing to pay contributions under the Employees' State Insurance Corporation Act, 1948 and were sentenced to imprisonment until further order and a fine of Rs 1,000. The corporation appealed, contending that Section 85(a)(i)(b) mandates a mi…

Charanjit Kaur filed a criminal complaint under Sections 498A, 406 and 1208 of the IPC alleging dowry harassment and criminal conspiracy by her husband, Bikram Singh. The trial court convicted the husband and sentenced him to one year imprisonment for each offence, with a fine of Rs.1,000. The Sessions Court dismissed …

Harmony Innovation Shipping Ltd. entered into a charter agreement with Gupta Coal India Ltd. that stipulated arbitration in London, governed by English law, and specified the arbitrators as members of the London Arbitration Association. The appellant sought interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Concilia…

Satish Kumar Jayanti Lal Dabgar was convicted under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping for marriage) and 376 (rape) for abducting and raping a girl who was under sixteen years of age. The trial court sentenced him to three years for kidnapping, five years for kidnapping for marriage and seven years rigorous…

Vijay Pal was convicted under Section 302 IPC for allegedly setting his wife Savitri on fire with kerosene after a domestic quarrel. The prosecution relied on the oral dying declaration of the deceased to her brother, corroborative medical evidence showing 100% burns and kerosene residues, and eyewitness testimony of r…

The appellants were convicted by the trial court and the Allahabad High Court for kidnapping and rape under IPC sections 363, 366 and 376 based largely on the testimony of the prosecutrix and her mother. The FIR was lodged eleven days after the alleged kidnapping, and the mother failed to file a missing report, raising…

The case involved two excise officers, a superintendent (Accused 1) and his subordinate (Accused 2), who demanded bribes from a manufacturer after issuing an illegal show‑cause notice. The complainant reported the demand, and a police‑led trap was set up; the bribe money was handed to Accused 2, who was caught and the …

The appellant, Sharad Kumar Sanghi, Managing Director of Sanghi Brothers (Indore) Ltd., was charged under Section 420 IPC for allegedly cheating a buyer by delivering a vehicle with a replaced engine after an accident. The complaint, filed under Section 200 of the CrPC, primarily alleged wrongdoing by the company but d…

Arun Bhandari, an NRI, paid Rs.1.05 crore as part payment for a plot in Greater Noida on the basis of an agreement with respondents Savita Singh and Raghuvinder Singh, who later transferred the property to a third party. When the property was not delivered, Bhandari filed an FIR alleging cheating and criminal breach of…

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu challenging the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. The core issue was whether Article 262(2) of the Constitution together with Section 11 and Section 6(2) of the Inter‑State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 bars the Court’s powe…

The Supreme Court examined whether video conferencing could be used in matrimonial disputes under the Family Courts Act, 1984, particularly in transfer petitions. It held that Section 11 of the Act obliges the court to hold proceedings in camera if either party desires, and that allowing video conferencing on the conse…

H.S. Sidhu and Devendra Bapna, both direct recruits as Assistant Directors, were promoted to Deputy Director, with Bapna senior to Sidhu. When a vacancy for Joint Director arose, the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) prepared a merit list under Rule 15(3) of the 1987 Rules, placing Sidhu ahead of Bapna based on hi…

The Uttar Pradesh State Cement Corporation was wound up in 1999, leaving a group of employees retrenched under the Uttar Pradesh Absorption of Retrenched Employees Rules, 1991. Earlier Supreme Court judgments had affirmed that such employees were entitled to be absorbed in government service despite the later rescissio…

Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL) defaulted on a loan from IDBI Bank, prompting the bank to initiate a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). Home buyers filed a writ petition alleging that the CIRP ignored their interests and sought a pro‑rata refund of the Rs 750…

The parents of a deceased driver filed a claim petition under Section 163A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for compensation after a fatal accident in which the driver was also the tortfeasor. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation, but the Karnataka High Court set aside the award, holding that compensa…

The deceased, a small‑scale seller of desi ghee and namkin bhujia, was killed in a road accident in 1992 when a government jeep struck his moped. The appellants, his wife and children, claimed a monthly income of Rs 3,500 and sought compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Clai…

The Supreme Court, hearing Civil Appeal No. 4235 of 2014, examined the draft Constitution of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prepared by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to implement the Lodha Committee reforms. The Court considered submissions on membership categories, the inclusion of Maharashtr…

Vasant Rao Guhe, a Sub‑Engineer, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The trial court, and later the High Court, computed his income and expenditures by making presumptive calculations and altered the charge without framing a fre…

The case concerns the infamous Nirbhaya gang‑rape and murder, where the accused Mukesh was convicted and sentenced to death by the trial court, a decision affirmed by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. Mukesh filed a review petition under Article 137 of the Constitution, alleging illegal arrest, police‑induced…

The petitioners, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Kumar Gupta, filed review petitions challenging the Supreme Court's order dismissing their criminal appeals in the Nirbhaya gang‑rape case. They raised numerous grounds, including the abolition of the death penalty, alleged errors in the assessment of eye‑witness testimony, the i…

The respondents, who were public servants, were accused of corrupt practices in the construction of a sub‑station and the Economic Offences Wing sought prior sanction for their prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Administrative Department declined to grant sanction, and the Special Judge direc…

The appellant, a soldier, was involved in a drunken altercation at a farewell party where the deceased Dafadar Ram Pratap attempted to intervene and was later found stabbed to death. The appellant surrendered to police, gave a voluntary confession, and was tried before a General Court Martial, which convicted him of cu…

The case arose from public interest litigation challenging the clinical trials of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine on adolescent girls in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, alleging irregularities and health risks. The petitioners relied on reports of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare (7…

Petitioner Pramod Laxman Gudadhe filed a PIL challenging the Election Commission's decision to hold a bye‑election after the resignation of the Lok Sabha member from Bhandara‑Gondiya constituency. He argued that the remaining term would be less than one year, making the election futile and an undue burden on the excheq…

Kameng Dolo was elected unopposed to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly after the other candidate, Atum Welly, allegedly withdrew his candidature. The High Court held that the withdrawal notice did not comply with the requirements of Section 37 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and declared Dolo's e…

The Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation (NMRCL) issued a tender for 69 EMU rolling stock, which was won by a Chinese government-owned company (Respondent No.2) whose bid was Rs.851 crore, marginally lower than the appellant's Rs.852 crore. The appellant challenged the award, arguing that Respondent No.2 was not a "single ent…

The case arose from a habeas corpus petition filed by the father of Hadiya (respondent No.9), alleging that his adult daughter was being illegally detained and might be taken abroad. Hadiya appeared before the Kerala High Court, asserted her freedom of choice, and later disclosed that she had married Shafin Jahan (appe…

The petitioner, Common Cause, a registered society, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a declaration that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, and for directions to recognize 'living wills' or advance directives. The case was referred to a Constitution B…

MIS. Yeshwant Gramin Shikshan Sanstha, a society that runs 29 grant‑in‑aid schools and colleges in Maharashtra, appointed 16 part‑time librarians with the permission of the State Government. The Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner claimed the society had defaulted on EPF contributions for those part‑time employees un…

On 15 December 2011 a gas tanker was parked in the middle of a busy highway without indicators, causing a Maruti car to collide with it; the car driver and a passenger died and two others were injured. The claimants filed a claim under s.166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held th…

In a motor accident on 22 September 2009, Ajit Singh, aged 23, died, and his parents filed a claim for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal initially applied a multiplier of 15 based on the parents' age, which the High Court reduced to 14, relying on the Ash…

Vijay Kumar Rastogi suffered severe injuries in a bus accident in 2005 and claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation but calculated loss of income only on his net salary of Rs 44,511, ignoring income from bank interest and commission disclosed in his inco…

The deceased, a 21‑year‑old contract worker, was killed in a collision between his motorcycle and a bus operated by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation. The appellants filed a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act for compensation, and the Madras High Court awarded loss of dependency based on the deceased's earning…

Shyam Narayan Chouksey filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions to ensure public respect for the National Anthem, including a mandatory requirement that all cinema halls play the anthem before feature films and that audiences stand. The Supreme Court’s interim order of 30 November 2016 imposed such dir…

The plaintiff filed a suit for permanent injunction over a disputed property and lost at trial. He appealed, and during the pendency of the appeal filed an application seeking scientific examination of a will's signature. The first appellate court allowed the application under Order 41 Rule 27, but the defendant obtain…

The Supreme Court considered whether the State Bank of India (SBI), acting on a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directive to purchase Exim scrips (formerly replenishment licences) at a 20% premium and subsequently cancel them, was liable to purchase tax under the Bengal Finance (Sales Tax) Act, 1941. The revenue argued tha…

The Supreme Court heard two writ petitions challenging the implementation of the Pre‑conception and Pre‑natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 and its Rules. The petitioners sought directions for stricter enforcement, a centralised civil‑registration database, training of officials, and al…

The trial court convicted Nathiya and Suresh under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the murder of Gurunathan, relying on circumstantial evidence and alleged confessional statements. The High Court upheld the conviction, but on appeal the Supreme Court examined the evidence and found no eye‑witness, an in…

The State of Jammu & Kashmir dismissed senior assistant R.K. Zalpuri in 1999 for alleged misappropriation of funds. Zalpuri filed a writ petition in 2006 challenging his dismissal, alleging non‑compliance with Rule 34 of the J&K Civil Services Rules. The State raised a preliminary objection of inordinate, unexplained d…

The Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research applied for renewal of its permission to admit 100 MBBS students for the 2016‑17 session. The Medical Council of India (MCI) inspection identified deficiencies, notably a significant shortfall in bed occupancy, and recommended debarment of the college for two academi…

The Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Institute of Medical Sciences challenged the Central Government's order dated 31 May 2017, which barred it from admitting MBBS students for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 sessions and authorised the Medical Council of India (MCI) to encash its Rs.2 crore bank guarantee. The Court noted that th…

Subharti Medical College sought to increase its MBBS intake from 100 to 150 seats for the 2017‑18 session. The Medical Council of India (MCI) inspection flagged several deficiencies, most notably a low bed‑occupancy rate of 55.27%, while the Hearing Committee found no fault with faculty, residents or clinical material …

The Supreme Court examined whether the State Government of Rajasthan could influence the grant of recognition to private teacher‑training institutions under the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Act, 1993 and its 2014 Regulations. The State argued that its recommendations were binding, while the NCTE conten…

Baljinder Pal Kaur, an Assistant Sub Inspector of Punjab Police, was dismissed after a departmental enquiry found her guilty of taking a bribe to illegally send persons to the USA. A criminal trial under IPC sections 406, 420, 1208 and the Prevention of Corruption Act resulted in her acquittal by a Special Court, with …