DORAISWAMY RAJU

The case concerns the murder of Thakkan Yadav on 16 June 1991, for which eight accused were convicted by a trial court under IPC sections 302 and 149, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act. The Patna High Court acquitted all eight, relying on alleged procedural lapses such as the victim’s transport to a distant…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of seven accused whose convictions for offences under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 302 of the IPC were upheld by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The Court clarified that a statement made by a deceased person before death can be treated as a dying declaration under Section 32 of the Ev…

Mahadeva Shetty, a mason, suffered 100% disability after a bus owned by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) plunged into a ravine. He claimed compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Tribunal awarded Rs.2.20 lakhs. The Karnataka High Court enhanced the award to Rs.6.25 l…

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Sucha Singh and five co‑accused for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and for abetment of suicide under Section 201 IPC. The Court examined whether the relationship of prosecution witnesses to the deceased affected their credibility, and held that a familial re…

The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Dakshina Kannada issued an order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code restraining Dr. P.B. Thogadia from entering the district for 15 days, fearing his inflammatory speeches would reignite communal tensions. Dr. Thogadia challenged the order, arguing the ADM lacke…

The State of Andhra Pradesh appealed the acquittal of two public servants who were members of a tender opening committee and were alleged to have demanded and accepted Rs 5,000 each as gratification for clearing a tender file. The complainant lodged a police complaint and was caught in a trap; the money was recovered. …

The appellant, an individual processing cashew nuts in ten units (four in Kerala, two owned and two leased), declared a lock‑out of the Kerala units due to labour problems and later settled with trade unions by paying five days' wages per year of service, amounting to Rs 4,18,107. He claimed a deduction for this paymen…

Kishorebhai Khamanchand Goyal, a motor‑transport operator, was convicted under the Bombay Shops and Establishments Act, 1948 and challenged the conviction on the ground that the later Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961 (specifically s.37) had by necessary implication repealed the State Act. The Supreme Court examined th…

The appellant Regu Mahesh filed an election petition challenging the election of Rajendra Pratap Bhanj Dev from the Saluru (ST) constituency on the ground that the respondent did not belong to a Scheduled Tribe. The Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed the petition, holding that it lacked proper verification, did not co…

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a recruitment process for constables, selecting several candidates including the respondents. Unsuccessful candidates challenged the selections, leading the CBI Director to form a Committee that identified valuation discrepancies in answer sheets and recommended cance…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by six accused, including Anil Sharma, convicted of murder and other offences under Sections 302, 307, 147, 148, 149, 326 and 452 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The appellants challenged the refusal to allow a fresh examination of a key eyewitness (PW‑6) and contended that Section 3…

The appellant and respondent were selected by the Andhra Pradesh Service Commission for the post of Road Transport Officer in 1987. The appointment order gave 60 days to join, but the appellant, then employed by the Central Government, obtained a 20‑day extension from the State Government and joined within the extended…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based primarily on the testimony of a ten‑year‑old child who witnessed the crime. The appellant challenged the conviction, arguing that a child’s evidence must be unblemished and corroborated, and that the child was likely tutored by a close relative. The Supr…

The case involved three accused—Dharambir, Joginder and Karambir—who were convicted for the murders of Dalbir, Vijender and Smt. Kitabo under Sections 302, 34 and 120‑B of the IPC. The trial court sentenced Dharambir and Joginder to death and Karambir to life imprisonment; the High Court commuted the death sentences to…

The respondent, a former senior compositor, was removed from service in 1977 and later reappointed as a junior compositor on a temporary basis. He filed a declaratory suit challenging the removal and seeking pay adjustments, which was dismissed by the trial court. The First Appellate Court reversed the dismissal and, b…

The petitioners, who were daily‑wage/N.M.R. workers in various Orissa government projects, filed writ petitions seeking regularisation of their services and equal pay with regular staff on the ground that they performed the same duties, invoking Article 14 of the Constitution. The Orissa High Court allowed the petition…

Northern Indian Glass Industries obtained land in Haryana for a glass factory under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. After the award and payment of compensation in 1974, the landowners sought enhanced compensation, which was granted by the High Court in 1988. Seventeen years later, the landowners filed a writ petition c…

The petitioners were appointed as "Peon" in aided educational institutions governed by the Orissa Education Act, 1969 and the 1974 recruitment rules, but the State refused to approve their appointments, claiming they exceeded the prescribed yardstick. The petitioners filed writ petitions seeking approval, and the Oriss…

The respondent, Manohar Lal, was convicted under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment plus a fine. The trial court and the First Appellate Court upheld the conviction and sentence, holding that the power to commute under Section 433(d) of the Code of Criminal Pr…

Sanaboina Satyanarayana, convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC), dowry harassment (Sec. 498A IPC) and tampering with evidence (Sec. 201 IPC), sought remission of his life sentence under a Government Order dated 25‑01‑2000 issued under Article 161 of the Constitution. The Order excluded "prisoners convicted for crimes again…

The case involved eight accused who formed an unlawful assembly and attacked the deceased Qasim, resulting in his death. The trial court convicted the accused under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC, but later the High Court altered the conviction to Section 304 Part I read with Section 149 and sentenced them to te…

Eleven accused were tried for the death of Ramdin and injuries to three witnesses arising from a sudden quarrel over a bullock‑cart fare. The trial court convicted ten of them under Section 323 read with Section 34 IPC, holding that the prosecution could not link specific injuries to specific accused, and acquitted one…

The State of Uttar Pradesh sought acquisition of lands that had been held by the heirs of Rana family under a perpetual lease and for which ground rent was periodically payable. The claimants, represented by the estate of B.B. Saha, argued that they were entitled to compensation as lessees, while the State contended th…

The appellant was convicted of murder under Sections 302 and 34 IPC for shooting the deceased, based primarily on the testimony of three eyewitnesses. The defence argued that the prosecution failed to explain the minor injuries on the accused, did not submit the recovered bullet for chemical/ballistic examination, and …

Bhanu Construction Co. Pvt. Ltd. entered into contracts with NTPC and later sought arbitration for a claim of Rs. 23 crore. The banks filed a suit in the Hyderabad Civil Court for recovery of Rs. 19 crore and obtained an interim order on 20 September 1994 directing NTPC not to pay the company. The company challenged th…

The appellants, a workers' union, challenged a complaint filed under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971, arguing that the employer‑employee relationship with the principal employer was disputed and should be decided under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. Th…

The appellants Jai Karan, Veer Bhadra and Babu were convicted for murder and related offences under Sections 148, 149, 302 and 323 of the IPC after a prosecution case that relied heavily on the testimony of an injured eyewitness, PW‑2, who was a relative of the deceased. The appellants challenged the credibility of PW‑…

The respondent, son of a government servant who died in harness in 1980, filed an application in 1997 for a compassionate appointment under the die‑in‑harness scheme, more than 17 years after the death. The State issued a letter in 1999 offering a Grade‑IV post but did not make the appointment. The Guwahati High Court …

The Supreme Court was asked to clarify whether a landowner whose land had been vested under the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act, 1976, but whose possession had not yet been taken, could obtain exemption under Section 20 (or Section 10) of the Act via a Government Order dated 31‑10‑1988. The High Court Division Be…

The petitioner, a 10‑year‑old son of a deceased Excise Constable, applied for a compassionate appointment in 1988 and again in 1996, but both applications were rejected as time‑barred. The High Court dismissed his writ petition and the Division Bench affirmed the dismissal. The petitioner argued that the delay was due …

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeals of Krishnan and others, upholding their conviction for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC and for voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323. The Court held that the FIR was lodged immediately after the incident, negating any possibility of a fabricated stat…

The appellants, Preventive Officers (POs) appointed in Central Services Group C, challenged the Department of Revenue (Customs Appraisers Recruitment) Rules, 1988 which fixed a 20% quota for POs and a 75% quota for Examining Officers (EOs) for promotion to the post of Appraiser (Group B), alleging arbitrariness and vio…

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted several accused for the murder of members of two families. The sole surviving witness, Harbhajan Kaur (PW‑4), gave a statement that was recorded as a dying declaration, although she later survived. The trial court convicted five accused based on her statement and other evidence, bu…

A.G. Sainath Reddy, a Welfare Officer in the Andhra Pradesh Jail Department, was promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Jails on an ad‑hoc basis while the posts were earmarked for direct recruitment by the State Public Service Commission. After the direct recruits joined, the Government regularised service of all, back‑d…

The appellants challenged the compensation awarded for land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, arguing that the market value fixed by the Collector and affirmed by the High Court was too low. The High Court had fixed compensation by averaging rates of residential and shop plots and considering only plotted …

The Collector initiated suo motu proceedings under the Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977 and Section 166‑B of the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Land Revenue Act, 1950 to cancel assignments of land that allegedly violated the Special Loani Rules. The Single Judge of the Andhra Pradesh …

The appellants, including Ram Dular Rai, were convicted for murder, attempted murder and related offences after a night‑time assault on a household in which they fired on the son and daughter of the informant. The trial court identified four of the accused but noted that several other armed persons were present. On app…

The accused, Puttaraja, was convicted of raping a pregnant woman in the presence of her husband under Section 376 IPC. The trial court sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment and a fine, despite the statutory minimum of seven years. The Karnataka High Court reduced the sentence to the 46 days already served, citing t…

The Jalandhar Improvement Trust appealed against a High Court order that dismissed its writ challenging the Land Acquisition Collector's decision to grant enhanced compensation to a mother (the fourth respondent) under Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The land had been acquired in 1978 and a reference und…

Tulshidas Kanolkar was convicted of rape and criminal intimidation of a mentally challenged girl who later gave birth to a stillborn child. The appellant argued that the delay in filing the FIR, the non‑examination of certain witnesses, and the victim’s alleged consent should exonerate him or reduce his sentence. The S…

The parents of an 18‑year‑old cyclist who died after being struck by a bus owned by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay filed a claim petition under Sections 110‑A and 110‑B of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. The Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal awarded compensation using a multiplier of 15, which the High Court u…

The State of Maharashtra prosecuted Kashirao and six others for assembling with deadly weapons and attacking Pundlik (PW‑I) with the common object of killing him. During the assault the deceased Subhash Warankar was chased, assaulted and killed, while PW‑I was seriously injured. The trial court convicted all accused un…

The appellants, Kaliyaperumal and Muthulakshmi, were convicted under Sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) of the IPC for the suicide of their daughter‑in‑law, Devasena, after alleged dowry demands and harassment. The trial court and High Court upheld both convictions, though the High Court reduced the 304B se…

The Bombay High Court quashed the detention of a prisoner under the National Security Act after finding that the jail officials had allowed unauthorised visitors to meet the inmate, facilitating conspiracies to commit murders. The High Court directed criminal prosecution of three jail superintendents under IPC sections…

S.A. Jalaluddin challenged a notification issued under Section 18(1)(a) of the City of Bangalore Improvement Act, 1945, which incorporated a two‑year limitation for issuing a declaration under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, as introduced by the Karnataka Amendment of 1967. He argued that the amendment’s limitat…

The appellants, Smt. Krishna Kanwar and co‑accused, were seized with heroin after a police interception and were convicted under Sections 8 and 21 of the NDPS Act. They challenged the conviction on the ground that the prosecution had breached procedural requirements of Sections 42, 50 and 57 of the NDPS Act, alleging l…

The State of Haryana alleged that Jagbir Singh and another accused kidnapped a four‑year‑old child, demanded ransom and caused the child's death. The trial court convicted them on the basis of circumstantial evidence – a ransom note allegedly in the accused's handwriting, an alleged extra‑judicial confession before a w…

The plaintiff Jineshwardas sued for specific performance of an alleged sale deed; the trial court and first appellate court dismissed the suit, holding the deed was merely an agreement to repay. In the second appeal before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the parties' counsel reached a settlement whereby the respondents …

M&T Consultants entered into a self‑financing agreement with the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) to erect house‑numbering, sign‑boards and direction boards in selected circles as a pilot project. The corporation invited other advertisers through a circular, but the writ petitioner, S.Y. Nawab, claimed that the pe…

The case involved Augustine Saldanha and Rocky Saldanha, who were accused of assaulting Paul Saldanha (who died) and Felix Saldanha (who was injured) with sticks on a dark night. The trial court acquitted them, doubting the credibility of the victim‑witness, but the Karnataka High Court convicted Augustine under Sectio…

Dr. Narayan Warman Nerukar was charged under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and Section 120‑B IPC. After a prolonged trial, he invoked Section 482 of the CrPC to have the proceedings quashed on the ground of delay. The Delhi High Court quashed the case, holding that the right to a speedy trial had b…

The respondent, a former commercial superintendent of the Delhi Vidyut Board, was convicted under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.1,500. The trial court sentenced him to 20 months and 40 months of rigorous imprisonment respectively, with fines, an…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Sarjug Rai under Section 302 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging that they formed an unlawful assembly with a common object to kill the victim. The Supreme Court examined whether the prosecution had proved the essential ingredient of Section 149 – a c…

The appellant, D.P. Gupta, was charged under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and the TADA Act for possessing large quantities of gelatine, detonators and other explosive materials found in his godowns and an underground room. The key issue was whether he had "conscious possession"—i.e., both physical control …

The case arose from a property dispute in which Madan Rai and his three sons fired gunshots, killing a teenage boy. The trial court convicted Madan Rai under IPC sections 302 and 440 and the others under section 440, but the Allahabad High Court acquitted all accused, setting aside the convictions. The father of the de…

The State of Bihar appealed against High Court orders that quashed confiscation of trucks seized with illicit forest produce, arguing that the Bihar Forest Produce (Regulation of Trade) Act, 1984 does not strip the authorities of powers conferred by the Indian Forest Act, 1927 as amended by the Bihar Amendment Act, 199…

The appellants, the husband and his parents, were convicted for the suicide of their wife, who allegedly suffered dowry‑related cruelty. The trial court sentenced them under Sections 304‑B (dowry death) and 498‑A (cruelty) of the IPC, and the High Court reduced the sentence but upheld the convictions. On appeal, the Su…

The appellant, P.V. Radhakrishna, was convicted of murdering his wife by setting her on fire after a domestic quarrel. The deceased, Smt. Dharni, suffered extensive second and third degree burns and, while being treated in hospital, gave a statement in the presence of a police officer and a doctor, which was treated as…

Hasmukhbhai Patel was fatally injured on 12 August 1993 after a quarrel with Dhirajbhai Gorakhbhai Nayak, who was alleged to have assaulted him while he slept. The deceased's wife (PW I) and son (PW 3) testified that they saw the accused delivering blows, while a friend (PW 2) gave a contradictory statement. The FIR wa…

Smt. Gulaichi, a government employee of Uttar Pradesh, discovered that her service book recorded her date of birth as 31-07-1929, which would make her retire on 31-07-1987. A few weeks before retirement she claimed the correct date to be 31-07-1939 and an officer amended the entry; she then sued for a declaration that …

The State of Madhya Pradesh charged Sanjay Rai and his parents with offences under Sections 302, 3048 and 201 IPC for the death of Rai's wife, Anita Bai. The trial court convicted Rai under Section 3048, relying heavily on textbook opinions on medical jurisprudence to infer strangulation. On appeal, the High Court acqu…

The plaintiff, Surtu, daughter of Basanti, sued the defendants for possession of land after Basanti, a widow who held only a life estate in her husband's ancestral property, allegedly made an oral gift of portions of that land to collaterals in 1936. The trial court held that the widow had no right to alienate the prop…

Vyankat, the sole surviving coparcener of a Hindu joint family, died on 8 February 1978. Four months later his widow Krishnabai adopted Dattatraya. The plaintiffs, Vyankat's children, sued for partition claiming their statutory shares, while the defendants argued that the adopted son was also entitled to a share. The t…

The appellant Shriram and seven others were convicted for rioting and the murder of Hemraj, with the trial court finding them guilty under Sections 302 and 149 IPC. They claimed to have sustained injuries and pleaded right of private defence, arguing that the prosecution had failed to explain those injuries. The Suprem…

The appellants, untrained graduate teachers appointed in Science, Mathematics and Humanities, had been granted pay parity with trained teachers by various Government orders, High Court judgments and Administrative Tribunal awards. To alleviate the financial burden, the State enacted the Andhra Pradesh Educational Servi…

The State prosecuted four accused for a dacoity during which the deceased was murdered, alleging that the accused were identified at the scene by the victim (PW‑I) and other witnesses using torchlight and a gaslight. The trial court convicted them under Sections 302, 149, 148, 323 and 395 of the IPC and sentenced them …

The petitioner, a major son, owned agricultural land exceeding the ceiling limit under the A.P. Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973, while his mother’s family unit held land below the ceiling. He claimed that his excess could be set off against his mother’s deficiency pursuant to Section 4A of the…

Vashram Narshibhai Rajpara, a fruit vendor, was convicted of murdering his wife and four daughters by pouring petrol on them and setting them alight while they slept, motivated by a dispute over a house. The trial court sentenced him to death, a decision affirmed by the Gujarat High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Court …

The State Bank of India obtained a preliminary decree for a sum of Rs. 70,087.75 in 1987 and was required to apply for a final decree by 31‑12‑1991. It filed the application only on 27‑7‑1994, seeking condonation of a 714‑day delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 and Order 34 Rule 5 of the CPC. The subordin…

The State of Orissa, represented by forest officials, appealed against a complaint filed by G.C. Jew alleging assault, illegal seizure of ivory and other offences under the IPC, the Orissa Forest Act and the Wildlife Protection Act. The respondents claimed the officials acted without legal authority, while the official…

New Moga Transport Co., the appellant, was hired by United India Insurance Co. to transport goods to Bamala, where the goods were destroyed by fire. United India settled the loss with the original buyer and sued the transporter for compensation, filing the suit in the Bamala court where the cause of action arose. The a…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed against a Allahabad High Court order that directed a government employee, Gobardhan Lal, to make a representation to the Chief Secretary regarding his transfer and also issued sweeping directions on transfers and promotions of government servants. The employee had been transferred fr…

The appellants were convicted under Sections 3(1)(iii), 3(1)(v) and 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. They appealed, contending that the Special Court – a Court of Session designated under the Act – could not take cognizance of the offence suo moto and register t…

The plaintiffs, Sopan Sukhdeo Sable and others, filed a civil suit seeking a declaration that they were tenants of properties owned by the Shaneshwar Deosthan Trust, alleging forcible eviction and claiming injunction, compensation and other reliefs. The trial court dismissed the suit under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code…

The appellants, Kulwant Singh and others, were charged with murder, attempt to murder and causing hurt arising from a land‑boundary dispute in which two of the victims, Kartar Kaur and Partap Singh, were injured and later died. The trial court acquitted them on the basis of private defence, but the High Court convicted…

The husband of the petitioner was detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) for alleged undervaluation of imported goods. He filed three representations – two to the Joint Secretary (detaining authority) and one to the Central Government – all of which wer…

The case involved a murder arising from a rivalry between two village groups, leading to the death of Ramkumar. Five persons were tried; the trial court convicted all under Sections 148, 302 and 149 of the IPC, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The Rajasthan High Court acquitted three of the accused of the charges …

The respondents, whose names were forwarded by employment exchanges for 150 Junior Assistant posts, filed writ petitions seeking a mandamus directing the State to complete recruitment and appoint them. The Orissa High Court ordered the State to hold interviews and fill the vacancies. On appeal, the Supreme Court held t…

The State of Punjab appealed the acquittal of Pohla Singh and Balkaur Singh, who had been convicted by the trial court for murder under s.302 r/w s.34 IPC. The Punjab and Haryana High Court set aside the conviction, citing an alleged delay in lodging the FIR and questioning why the murder was committed at 5.30 a.m. The…

Kheraj Ram, suspecting his wife's infidelity, murdered his wife, two daughters and his brother‑in‑law on the night of 10‑10‑1992. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC and imposed death, relying on a series of circumstantial facts – motive, prior quarrels, his presence with the victims, an extra‑judicial …

The case involved nine accused who conspired to kidnap foreign nationals in India to demand the release of jailed militants. The main conspirator, Umar Sheikh, escaped after an exchange of hijacked‑plane passengers, while six co‑accused were convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA…

The Commissioner of Police, Mumbai detained Shri Ramchandra Rammi​lan Mishra @ Pandey under Section 3(2) of the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (Bootleggers) Slumlords and Drug Offenders Act, 1981 to prevent activities prejudicial to public order. The detenu challenged the detention, contending that the …

The Revenue initiated prosecution under Section 276C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for alleged concealment of income for AY 1988‑89. The assessees filed a petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. seeking quash of the prosecution, contending that applications for settlement under Section 245C were pending before the Settlement …

The appellant, Munithimmaiah, owned land that was acquired under the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Act, 1976 for a development scheme. An award of acquisition was passed in 1995, but the appellant challenged it, invoking the limitation periods prescribed in Sections 6 and 11‑A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 …

The deceased, married to the brother of the appellant, was allegedly poured with kerosene and set alight by the appellant and her mother. She escaped the house, was rescued by neighbours, and later died from extensive burns. While in the hospital, a dying declaration was recorded by a Munsif Magistrate with the assista…

The appellant Dastagir Sab and another were convicted of rape under Section 376(2)(g) of the IPC. The prosecution proved that the victim had seen the accused on three occasions before the assault, that the accused were chased, caught, and allegedly confessed, and that semen was found on the victim's clothing. The defen…

The Government acquired 11.33 acres of agricultural land in Kammarapally village, Nizamabad district for housing weaker sections, issuing a notification under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Land Acquisition Officer fixed compensation at Rs.12,325 per acre, which was enhanced by the Reference Court …

The appellant Chittar Lal was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for killing Lattor Lal. The sole surviving eyewitness, PW3, was not named in the FIR, and two other eyewitnesses turned hostile during trial. The appellant argued that conviction could not rest on a single witness whose name was omitted from the FI…

The New Friends Co‑operative House Building Society rejected the nomination papers of three members on the ground that they were listed as defaulters. The respondents filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution before the Delhi High Court seeking to quash the election notification and to have a fresh de…

Four accused assaulted Kuttappan with the handles of an axe, spade and an iron rod at night, causing injuries mainly on non‑vital parts and a single fatal head wound. The trial court convicted them of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34, a decision affirmed by the Kerala High Court. On appeal, the Supreme Cou…

In a partition suit over ancestral coparcenary property, the children of a second wife (Jinia Keotin) born from a marriage that was void under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 claimed a share in the property. The trial court and the High Court allowed them a share only in the parents' property, invoking Section 16(3) of th…

N.B. Bhargavan Pillai, a public servant on deputation, failed to hand over stock of rice, palmolein and sugar at the end of his tenure, resulting in a shortage valued at Rs.1,63,770. He deposited Rs.50,000 and promised to pay the balance, but retired before a sanction for prosecution could be obtained. He was convicted…

The State of Rajasthan appealed to the Supreme Court against a Rajasthan High Court order that refused leave to appeal an acquittal without providing any reasons. The Supreme Court held that a High Court must record reasons when refusing leave under Section 378 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, as the refusal fo…

The appellants Vidhya Devi and others were convicted under Section 304‑B IPC for the dowry death of Satyawati, who was set ablaze four months after a dowry demand and died within seven years of marriage. The trial court and High Court upheld the conviction, and the appellants appealed, challenging the applicability of …

The appellant, a husband, was convicted for dowry harassment and cruelty towards his wife, which culminated in her suicide. The trial court found him guilty under IPC Sections 498A and 306 read with Section 34, sentencing him to three years for cruelty and seven years for abetment of suicide, to run concurrently. The H…

The deceased was killed in a road accident and his sons filed a claim under Section 109 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939. The insurer’s policy limited third‑party liability to Rs 50,000 and the premium paid was Rs 240. The Motor Vehicles Tribunal awarded compensation of Rs 72,000 with interest at 12% and a default rate …

The State seized a truck carrying forest produce without a transit permit and initiated confiscation proceedings under the West Bengal amendments to the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The District Judge set aside the confiscation order on the ground that the notice under Section 59‑B was invalid, directing the authorities to…

The appellant, Sardar Khan, was convicted under Sections 302 and 498A of the Indian Penal Code for brutally murdering his wife and attempting to burn her body, following a pattern of harassment, assault causing abortion, and pawn‑selling her jewellery. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment; the Karnataka H…

The case concerns the murder of Jaba Dhibar on 16 September 1985, for which five accused were convicted by the trial court under Sections 148 and 304 Part I read with Section 149 of the IPC. The Calcutta High Court acquitted the accused, disbelieving the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑3 and PW‑5) and labeling them …

Videocon Properties Ltd. entered into a sale agreement with Dr. Bhalchandra Laboratories, paying Rs 38 lakhs as "deposit or earnest money". The sellers failed to fulfil their obligations, prompting Videocon to terminate the contract and demand a refund with 21% interest as per Clause 2.3. The sellers returned only the …

Mahila Bajrangi, through her legal representatives, filed a suit for declaration of title and possession of a house, claiming ownership based on a gift deed executed by her mother Gopali, who she alleged was the lawful wife of the deceased Gendilal. The defendants contended that Gopali's marriage to Gendilal was invali…

Sunil Kumar Rana filed a nomination for a municipal council seat, but his nomination was rejected because he had more than two living children, a disqualification under Section 13A of the Haryana Municipal Act as amended in 1994. The amendment introduced a proviso that a person with more than two children would not be …

The appellants, who were Supervisors in the Accounts & Entitlement wing of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, claimed promotion to Assistant Accounts Officer on the basis that their pay scale and duties were identical to Section Officers and that they were entitled to equal pay for equal work. The Department arg…

The case arose from a politically motivated attack in which two persons were killed after the accused threw stones at them; each accused allegedly threw only one stone. The trial court convicted the principal accused under Section 302 read with Section 109 IPC and the others under Sections 302 and 147, a decision affir…

The police received a secret telephonic tip that charas was being transported in a car, recorded the information and promptly transmitted it to the Superintendent of Police as required under Section 42 of the NDPS Act. A raiding party intercepted the vehicle, seized a bag containing charas, and sent sealed samples for …

The State of Madhya Pradesh challenged the closure orders issued by a Sub‑Divisional Magistrate under Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.) against Kedia Leather and Liquor Ltd. for alleged water and air pollution. The High Court held that the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and …

The deceased Khetrapal was proceeding to execute a will in favour of Bhuri Singh when Janak Singh and his accomplice Sarvesh, armed with firearms, opened fire, killing Khetrapal and injuring the witnesses. The prosecution relied on the testimony of Bhuri Singh (PW‑1), an injured eyewitness, to secure convictions of the…

The dispute concerned a 22-kanal agricultural plot that had been auctioned by the Rehabilitation Department and later sold to Rameshwari Dass. Karam Chand claimed to be the sub‑lessee of the land and applied for its transfer in his favour. After the sale was finalized and a conveyance deed issued to Dass, Chand filed a…

The State of Karnataka acquired agricultural plots in Bagalkot under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, fixing a base market value of Rs 3 per sq ft based on a 1979 valuation. The Reference Court applied a 10 % per‑annum appreciation for subsequent years, arriving at Rs 6.85 per sq ft for 1985 and, after a 20 % deduction …

The Haryana State Cooperative Land Development Bank (the Apex Bank) conducts its business through several Primary Cooperative Banks, whose staff (except class IV) are drawn from the Apex Bank. A union representing the Primary Bank employees filed a writ petition seeking bonus at the same rate as Apex Bank employees. Th…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted K. Srinivasulu Reddy and others for the murder of Gangi Reddy, alleging a conspiracy driven by property disputes. The trial court convicted A-1 and A-2 under Section 302 IPC, finding a common intention to kill, while acquitting A-3 and A-4 and dismissing a charge under Section 120…

The case arose from communal disturbances in Sandhwa, Madhya Pradesh on 21 October 1990, where the deceased Rajunath was killed and Narish Chandra (PW‑1) was seriously injured. The accused, Shamsuddin and others, were charged under Sections 302 and 307 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The trial court acquitted them, fi…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that quashed a criminal investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Awadh Kishore Gupta, an executive engineer, on the ground that he had acquired assets beyond his known sources of income. The High Court had relied on annexed docum…

The petitioner filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking conversion of a death sentence to life imprisonment on the ground that the execution had been delayed for a long time, alleging mental torture of the condemned. He claimed the case was a public interest litigation, relying on the ratio in Smt. Triveniben v. …

The Supreme Court examined a murder case where the initial information about the offence came via a cryptic telephone call, followed by a written report by a child witness (PW‑15). It held that such telephonic information does not constitute a First Information Report and therefore the written report is not barred by S…

The respondent, a government servant, was arrested and detained for more than 48 hours, leading to a deemed suspension under Rule 10(2) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965. The authorities later issued an order continuing his suspension, which the respondent challenged before …

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) appealed a Bombay High Court order that granted bail to D.P. Namade, who was charged under the NDPS Act for manufacturing and supplying Mandrax tablets. The High Court had granted bail on the ground that the Special Judge's order to provide copies of seized documents to the accused ha…

The Union of India acquired land in Madhya Pradesh for a project, and the landowners had houses on the land. The Land Acquisition Officer deducted a 5% depreciation from the valuation of the houses, which the landowners contested. The reference court held that no depreciation should be deducted and awarded full valuati…

The police received information that two persons at a railway platform were carrying large quantities of ganja in their suitcases. Acting on this information, they searched the suitcases and seized 40 kilograms of ganja, which was sent for forensic analysis and kept in sealed custody. The accused were convicted under S…

The State of Punjab appealed the acquittal of Ramdev Singh, who was convicted by a trial court for raping a minor girl. The FIR was lodged 17-18 days after the incident because the victim's father was seriously ill, and the medical report noted that the girl was habituated to sexual intercourse. The Punjab and Haryana …

The respondent filed a suit for possession of property on the basis of a Will that was signed by two attesting witnesses. At trial only one attesting witness and the scribe were examined, while the second witness, though alive, was not called. The trial court accepted the Will, but the District Judge reversed, holding …

The deceased Chandran was brutally assaulted by six accused who were armed with deadly weapons and later died of his injuries. The prosecution relied on the nephew’s eye‑witness testimony, dying declarations made before three police officers, and medical evidence, leading to convictions under Sections 302, 143, 148 and…

The appellant Bhupinder Sharma was convicted of gang rape under Section 376 read with Section 34 of the IPC and of kidnapping under Section 342. The trial court sentenced him to four years' rigorous imprisonment for the rape, citing that he had not actually completed the act before the victim escaped, thereby imposing …

The appellant, a property clerk in the court of a Judicial Magistrate, was charged under Section 409 of the IPC for criminal breach of trust, alleged to have misappropriated court property and sold it to four persons. The trial court acquitted him on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove entrustment and misap…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) entered into contracts with rice millers that contained a standard arbitration clause referring disputes to the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA). The ICA refused to proceed with arbitration unless the parties executed a fresh arbitration agreement, prompting FCI to approach the De…

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission invited applications for Group‑HA services and selected candidates on the basis of written examination and interview. Three respondents, who possessed an additional law degree but did not disclose it in their applications, were not appointed and claimed that the service rule…

The appellant, Dharmendrasinh, was convicted of murdering his two sons. The prosecution relied primarily on the ocular testimony of his wife, who described the incident in detail, and was corroborated by a neighbour. The defence challenged the credibility of the wife’s testimony, the contradiction regarding where the F…

The Supreme Court examined the suicide of a young woman within months of her marriage, for which her brother‑in‑law (A‑1) and mother‑in‑law (A‑2) were convicted under Sections 304‑B IPC and 498‑A IPC for demanding dowry. The State appealed the High Court’s acquittal of the accused, arguing that a dowry demand, even wit…

The appellants, a doctor and his son, conspired with an assistant registrar to forge pre‑degree mark sheets to obtain medical college admission. The forged mark list was used knowingly, as evidenced by inconsistencies in marks, the date of the document, and the appellants' request for re‑valuation. The trial court conv…

The Commissioner of Commercial and Sales Taxes appealed against the order of the Supreme Court which upheld the High Court's direction that Orient Paper Mills deposit Rs 50 lakhs and later Rs 25 lakhs pending a sales‑tax assessment. The revenue argued that Section 14‑C of the Orissa Sales Tax Act did not apply because …

The Union of India appealed against a Bombay High Court order that set aside a forfeiture order under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 (SAFEMA) on the ground that the first proviso of Section 2(2)(b) rendered the proceedings non est after the detention order under the C…

The case arose from a bandh in which activists forcibly entered the flour mill of James Martin and his father, demanding its closure. When the activists assaulted the mill employee and threatened further violence, the accused retrieved a firearm and fired, killing two activists and injuring others. The trial court conv…

The appellant, Kamaljit Singh, was charged with the murder of Gurcharan Singh and Sucha Singh and with causing grievous hurt to Udain Gosha. The trial court acquitted him, citing a delay in filing the FIR, a minor discrepancy between medical and ocular evidence, and the alleged bias of the key eyewitness, PW‑5. The Pun…

The case concerned a dispute over whether the institution known as Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib at Jhandawala, Bhatinda, could be declared a Sikh Gurdwara under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925. Petitioners, represented by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, claimed the place satisfied the statutory criteria, while …

The respondent, a clerk of State Bank of India, was found to have unauthorisedly added three salary increments to his own account while serving as Head Clerk, an act proved in departmental inquiry. The disciplinary authority initially proposed discharge but, after considering his explanation, imposed a lesser punishmen…

The appellant Ram Bali Singh was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC based on the testimony of two eyewitnesses. He challenged the conviction alleging that medical evidence of an empty stomach contradicted the ocular evidence, that the investigation was defective because the gun was not forensic‑tested, that the …

The wife filed a petition for dissolution of marriage under Section 13(1)(i‑a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, alleging cruelty by the husband. In his written statement the husband accused the wife of unchastity and an extramarital relationship, but later withdrew those allegations. The trial court granted divorce and rejec…

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed a decision of the Allahabad High Court that ordered Trade Tax Officers (formerly Sales Tax Officers Grade II) to be placed in the revised pay scale of Rs 690‑1420, the same as District Level Officers who previously drew the Rs 400‑750 scale. The State argued that the Pay Commission’s…

The case concerned lands vested in the State under the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953 after the death of an intermediary (big raiyat) Ganga Das Pal. The heirs of the intermediary filed a writ petition challenging a 1971 order that vested the lands in the State, arguing they retained the right to choose lands…

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) made piecemeal recommendations for appointment to the post of Assistant Prosecuting Officer. When 30 candidates failed to join, the Uttar Pradesh Government requested seven additional names from the waiting list, but the UPSC refused, stating that the one‑year validity of the …

The State of Himachal Pradesh prosecuted Narendra Kumar (accused No.1) and a vendor (accused No.2) under Section 16(1)(a)(i) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act for selling adulterated sugar. A food inspector sealed a sample and sent it, along with a memorandum and seal impression, to a public analyst. The analy…

The Union of India appealed against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that quashed a COFEPOSA detention order passed on 31‑10‑2001 against Amrit Lal Manchanda. The respondent had obtained a stay of the detention order and later argued that the long lapse of time made the order untenable, relying on Sunil Fulchand S…

The appellants, partners of a firm, filed their income‑tax return for AY 1988‑89 on 20‑Mar‑1991, well after the statutory due date of 31‑Jul‑1988, and were later prosecuted under Section 276‑CC of the Income Tax Act, 1961. They contended that filing the return under Section 139(4) before the assessment was completed am…

Mehboob Dawood Shaikh was accused of instigating a mob assault and murder during a communal riot in Solapur. After being denied bail by the Sessions Judge, the Bombay High Court granted him bail. The State later moved an application under Section 439(2) of the CrPC to cancel the bail, alleging that Shaikh threatened a …

The case involved 39 accused persons alleged to have assaulted and caused the deaths of two villagers in Patharlapalle. The trial court convicted some and acquitted others, while the Andhra Pradesh High Court acquitted all, finding the prosecution’s case riddled with inconsistencies, delayed FIR filing, doubtful witnes…

The appellants, Parasa Raju Manikyala Rao and another, were convicted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Parasa Satyanarayana. They appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that no common intention to commit murder could be proved and that…

The deceased Jai Kishan was attacked and killed by Dharamvir and Sunil Kumar after a dispute involving a local eunuch. Rajesh, the brother of the deceased, witnessed the assault and later identified the accused, becoming the sole eye‑witness (PW5) whose testimony formed the basis of the prosecution case. The trial cour…

The police, while on patrol, apprehended Megh Singh sitting on gunny bags that contained poppy husk, a contraband article under the NDPS Act. The trial court convicted him under Section 15 of the NDPS Act, sentencing him to ten years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine, while acquitting the other two accused. On appeal, …

The husband of the respondent, Habib Khan, was dismissed from the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board on allegations of theft after a departmental inquiry that was later found to have violated principles of natural justice. The Labour Court set aside the dismissal, ordered reinstatement, and denied back wages; the I…

The victim, Krishna Jadhav, was allegedly assaulted by several accused with sticks, an axe and an iron pipe and died at the scene. The trial court acquitted the accused, finding discrepancies in the eye‑witness testimonies and questioning the investigation. The Karnataka High Court re‑examined the evidence, held that t…

A contractor complained that Dr. R.C. Anand, an employee of AIIMS, demanded illegal gratification for renewal of a supply contract. The Anti‑Corruption Branch laid a trap, recorded the conversation and the employee was suspended. The Ministry of Law & Justice and the Central Vigilance Commission did not recommend sanct…

The case involved Esher Singh and others who were accused of giving provocative speeches to promote a Khalistan movement and of conspiring to murder Joga Singh, the owner of several Sikh educational institutions. The Designated Court convicted Esher Singh under Section 4 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prev…

The appellant VidyadHarAn was convicted under Sections 354 and 448 of the IPC and Section 3(1)(xi) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly outraging the modesty of a married woman. He challenged the conviction on the grounds of false implication, the delay in filing the F…

The State of Punjab appealed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s acquittal of Karnail Singh, alleging that the trial court’s conviction was supported by credible eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence. The High Court had set aside the conviction on the basis of an alleged delay in lodging the FIR and doubts about t…

Thirty‑five daily‑wage helpers employed by Haryana Roadways filed writ petitions seeking regularisation and the same salary as regular employees, invoking the principle of "equal pay for equal work". The State of Haryana contended that the respondents were not educationally qualified for regular posts and that the prin…

The appellants, Ashwani Kumar Singh and Brij Nath Srivastava, appeared for the 1987 Combined State Services Examination and were placed low on the merit list. When several candidates selected in the examination failed to join, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission filled the resulting vacancies by appointing cand…

The State of West Bengal appointed Dinesh Chandra Vajpai, an Additional DGP, as Director General & Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP). Manas Kumar Chakraborty, a fellow IPS officer, challenged the appointment, arguing that only a substantive DGP could be appointed to the post and that the selection lacked a "credib…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted V. Vasudeva Rao, an Assistant Controller, for demanding a bribe to prevent his transfer and for accepting the money, which he claimed was a hand loan. A trap was arranged, the accused was caught with the money, and the complainant died before he could be examined. The trial court …

The Union of India appealed against a Madras High Court order that quashed a preventive detention order passed under Section 3(1)(i) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 against Smt. Ratnamala (referred to as the detenu). The detenu’s father had made a representation …

The State of Rajasthan charged Rajaram under Section 302 IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act for the murder of five persons. The trial court convicted him, relying mainly on extra‑judicial confessions to two witnesses (PW‑3 and PW‑4) and on circumstantial evidence such as his presence at the scene, suspicious conduct, b…

The State of Madhya Pradesh prosecuted Man Singh and three others for the murder of Dharamchand under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC, also charging them under Section 324 r/w 34. The trial court relied on the testimony of injured eyewitnesses (PW‑4 and PW‑7) whose statements were recorded under Section 164 CrPC, …

The State of Uttar Pradesh appealed the acquittal of Devendra Singh, who was charged under IPC sections 302, 376 and 201 for the rape and murder of a ten‑year‑old girl. The victim was last seen with the accused in his sugarcane field, and her body was later discovered buried there after the accused initially refused a …

Four employees of the Postal Services Department were transferred from the Agartala Division to the Meghalaya Division on the ground of alleged misbehaviour with a senior lady officer. They challenged the transfer before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which did not interfere, and subsequently filed writ petitions…

An accident occurred on 15 September 1990 and the claimants filed a petition under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 seeking compensation. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal held that only the vehicle owner (the insured) was liable, rejecting any liability on the insurer. The Madras High Court, relying on the earlier Satpal…

The parents of a 27‑year‑old deceased filed a claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claim Tribunal awarded compensation using a multiplier of 18, deducted 50% of the deceased's monthly income for personal expenses, and fixed interest at 6% per annum. The High Court dismissed thei…

The appellant, Sushil Murmu, a tribal and illiterate man, sacrificed a nine‑year‑old child before Goddess Kali, severed the child's head and disposed of it in a pond. He was convicted under Sections 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to death for murder and seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for the oth…

The State of Haryana acquired about 84 acres of agricultural land for the development of residential and commercial sectors. After a reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, the District Judge fixed a uniform compensation of Rs.125 per square yard. The High Court Single Judge reduced this amount to…

K. Samantara, an Administrative Officer of National Insurance Co. Ltd., was denied promotion for the years 1991-92 and 1992-93 under the company's "Promotion Policy for Officers" which stipulated a seniority‑cum‑merit system. He filed a representation, which was rejected, and subsequently a writ petition in the Orissa …

The Supreme Court examined the practice of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) referring consumer disputes to a retired judge for "consensual adjudication" and then treating the award as its own order. It held that the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 does not empower the Commission to delegate its…

The appellants, human‑rights activists including Teesta Setalvad, challenged certain remarks made by the Gujarat High Court in its judgment on the Best Bakery case, where the court disparaged the activists' credibility without giving them an opportunity to be heard. They sought deletion of those observations on the gro…

The case arose from the Best Bakery arson in Vadodara, where fourteen people were killed and the accused were acquitted by the trial court after key eyewitnesses turned hostile, allegedly due to political threats. Zahira Sheikh, an eyewitness, filed affidavits with the NHRC alleging coercion and the State sought to adm…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of two villagers after a violent mob attacked them with bombs and sharp weapons, subsequently burning the bodies. The prosecution alleged that the accused formed an unlawful assembly of five or more persons with a common object to kill the victims, and that each participant …

The appellants challenged the acquisition of about 496 acres of land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, claiming the land was "abadi" and therefore exempt under Uttar Pradesh's policy not to acquire village settlements. The Supreme Court in Om Prakash v. State of U.P. directed that the parties make representations u…

Mysore Cements Ltd. entered into a contract with Svedala Barmac Ltd. for rock‑crushing machines. After the machines failed, the parties attempted conciliation, signing a Memorandum of Conciliation and a Letter of Comfort on the same day. Mysore Cements sought execution of these documents, claiming they were a settlemen…

Police seized a truck carrying resin on the ground that the driver could not produce an export permit. The Forest Officer ordered confiscation of the truck under Section 59(2) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (as amended). The Additional Sessions Judge, on appeal, held that the officer lacked jurisdiction because the pro…

The appellants, T. Shankar Prasad (Assistant Commercial Tax Officer) and Ghaiz Basha (Junior Assistant), were convicted under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and receiving a bribe to issue way‑bills. The complainant paid the demanded amount to the junior assistant …

The petitioners, daughters of the deceased, filed an application under Sections 192‑195 of the Indian Succession Act seeking possession of their ancestral house, alleging illegal occupation by the respondent who claimed title under a purported joint will. The District Judge, in a summary proceeding, examined the will i…

Dr. Prabha Atri, an anaesthetist at Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital, was suspended pending a domestic enquiry after being charged with negligence and breach of medical ethics. She wrote a letter on 9 January 1999 stating that if her grievances were not addressed, she would resign with immediate effect. The hospital treat…

Six accused, including Ghanshyam Singh, assaulted a group of persons and Ghanshyam fired a gun, causing the death of Samam Singh. The trial court convicted all under sections 302, 307, 148, 149 etc. The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that Ghanshyam's act fell under Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC, thereby constituting c…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Sujatha, whose husband Babu was accused of strangling her after she rebuffed his sexual advances and subsequently dumping her body in a well. The trial court convicted Babu under Section 302 IPC and imposed death, but the Kerala High Court acquitted him, deeming the father's tes…

The dispute concerned the retirement age and service conditions of air hostesses employed by Air India and Indian Airlines, who under various agreements were required to retire from flying duties at age 50 (later 45/50) with the option of ground duties up to age 58, while male cabin crew could serve until 58. A small g…

Dr. B. Singh filed a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the appointment of a High Court judge on the basis of newspaper clippings and an affidavit that did not disclose the source of the allegations. The petitioner offered no personal knowledge, did not investigate the truth of the claims, and fa…

The State of Orissa, exercising powers under Rule 7(1) of the Orissa Industries Service Rules, 1985, merged various categories of posts into Industries Promotion Officers (IPOs) and later amended the rule to delete the pay‑scale restriction, thereby making all IPOs eligible for promotion to Class‑II posts. The Industri…

The State of Andhra Pradesh was occupying a century‑old school building owned by GoverdhAnlal Pitti under a tenancy. The landlord obtained an eviction order from the High Court, which also directed the State to vacate the premises. While the eviction was pending, the State initiated acquisition proceedings under Sectio…

The appellant, A-1, assaulted the victim PW-3 with a weapon, causing injuries that were classified as simple hurt. The trial court acquitted A-1, discarding the testimony of several eyewitnesses on the ground that they were friendly with the victim and deeming their evidence not cogent. On appeal, the Karnataka High Co…

The appellant, Raju Pandurang Mahale, lured the prosecutrix to the house of another accused by false pretence, locked the door from outside, supplied liquor and forced her to consume it, after which she was assaulted, forcibly disrobed and raped by another accused while nude photographs were taken. The trial court conv…

Four accused entered the complainant's house, threatened the occupants with a pistol and knives, and stole cash, a gold chain and a Sten gun. The victims identified the accused in court, but no test identification parade was conducted. The trial court convicted them under Sections 452, 392 and 397 IPC read with Section…

Hare Ram Pandey was detained under Section 12 of the Bihar Control of Crimes Act, 1981. He challenged the pre‑detention order before the Patna High Court under Article 226, claiming the order was beyond legal authority and was motivated by political vendetta. The High Court dismissed the petition and the matter reached…

The appellant Chaudhary Ramji Narsang and two co‑accused were alleged to have assaulted the appellant's father and brothers in an agricultural field, resulting in the father's death. The trial court acquitted them, finding contradictions among witnesses and questioning the medical evidence. The Gujarat High Court set a…

Wing Commander T. Parthasarathy applied for premature retirement from the Indian Air Force effective 31‑08‑1986 due to family illness. He later amended the request and, on 19‑02‑86, withdrew the application. The Air Headquarters, unaware of the withdrawal, approved the retirement on 20‑02‑86, effective the same future …

A long-standing land dispute led to a violent confrontation on 10 June 1984 when the deceased Mohan Singh and his relatives were ploughing the contested field. The respondents, claiming ownership, assaulted them with sticks, causing Mohan Singh's death. The trial court held the land was in the complainants' possession,…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu contempt petition filed by environmental activist M.C. Mehta, examined the failure of the Union of India, the NCT of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to comply with its earlier orders directing the relocation or closure of non‑conforming industries operating in resident…

The case arose from a violent clash over a disputed passage construction in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in three deaths and several injuries. Twenty‑four persons were charged; the trial court convicted seven under Sections 302 and 307 read with Section 149 IPC, while the High Court affirmed those convictions, acquitted fi…

The appellants, Dhanaj Singh @ Shera and others, were convicted for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. They contended that the police investigation was defective – forensic samples were not sent for chemical or ballistic analysis and several potential witnesses were not examined – and that the ey…

The appellant, Koppula Venkat Rao, was convicted of rape for allegedly forcing a teenage girl into a cattle shed, dragging her onto his bicycle, and ejaculating before any penetration occurred. The trial court and High Court upheld the conviction under Section 376 IPC, treating ejaculation as the consummating act of se…

The appellants were convicted of rape under Section 376(2)(g) IPC based largely on the testimony of the prosecutrix, a minor girl, while other witnesses turned hostile. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether a prosecutrix's testimony can be relied upon without corroboration and whether the evidence established t…

The appellant, K. Kunhambu, purchased a saw‑mill business and obtained a lease of lands that were expressly for running a saw‑mill and other industrial activities. He applied for occupancy rights under Sections 45 and 48A of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, claiming he was a tenant cultivating the land. The Taluk …

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed against the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order quashing charges against M.P. Gupta, a former Chief Conservator of Forests, on the ground that the prosecution lacked the sanction required under Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The accused had been charged with offences …