R C LAHOTI

Harbhajan Singh, a former editor of the Indian Observer, had served two consecutive three‑year terms as a member of the Press Council of India (1982‑85 and 1985‑88). When the Federation sought to nominate him again for the seventh Council, the Press Council rejected his nomination, relying on Section 6(7) of the Press …

The case concerned the selection of migrant Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates for posts reserved for SCs in the Union Territory of Pondicherry. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had declared the selection illegal, holding that only SCs listed in the 1964 Presidential Order for Pondicherry were eligible. The Union…

The petitioners, migrant Scheduled Caste candidates, challenged the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) order allowing certain respondents to retain positions without reservation. The Madras High Court had dismissed the writ petition, but the Supreme Court revisited the matter, noting that the issues were identical…

Prof. Yashpal and other petitioners filed writ petitions under Article 32 challenging the Chhattisgarh Niji Kshetra Vishwavidyalaya (Sthapana Aur Viniyaman) Act, 2002 and its 2004 amendment, alleging that Sections 5 and 6, which allow the State to create private universities by Gazette notification without any infrastr…

The case concerned an eviction suit filed by a landlord under the Karnataka Rent Control Act against a tenant, H.S. Anand, who had deserted his wife, B.P. Achala Anand, leaving her in the tenanted matrimonial home. The wife sought to be impleaded and to contest the eviction, arguing that she retained a right to residen…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of the Bombay City Civil Court and Bombay Court of Small Causes (Enhancement of Pecuniary Jurisdiction & Amendment) Act, 1987, the Maharashtra High Court (Hearing of Writ Petitions by Division Bench and Abolition of Letters Patent Appeals) Act, 1986, and the Madhya…

The case concerned the nomination and subsequent termination of four members to the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) in Mizoram. The Governor had nominated the members on 8 August 2000 under the Sixth Schedule, terminated them on 5 December 2001, and re‑nominated four members on 6 December 2001. A writ petition …

The Supreme Court examined two election disputes where candidates had been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment of more than two years, raising questions about disqualification under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. It held that the relevant dates for determining qualification are the date…

The appellant, Janak Singh, contested the election of Ram Das Rai to the State Assembly, alleging miscounting of ballot papers, failure to grant a recount under Rule 63 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, and various irregularities in the counting process. The High Court found that the petitioner could not demonstr…

The appellant, Vashu Deo, was a sub‑tenant of Bal Kishan who had leased a shop from the Sarvjanik Sampati Trust under the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950. The appellant fell into rent arrears and Bal Kishan sued him for recovery of rent and eviction, while the Trust simultaneously sued Bal K…

Ganesh Trivedi bought a residential premises in Kanpur from landlord Jagdamba Prasad Awasthi. The premises had been let to Suraj Prasad, who died in 1985 leaving his brother Deo Narain as the sole heir and occupant. Vikas Shukla applied to the Rent Controller to have the premises declared "deemed vacant" on the ground …

The landlord, Mis. Atma Ram Properties (P) Ltd., filed an eviction suit under the Delhi Rent Control Act alleging illegal sub‑letting by the tenant, Mis. Federal Motors Pvt. Ltd. The Rent Controller ordered eviction, which the tenant appealed to the Rent Control Tribunal under Section 38. The Tribunal stayed the evicti…

The daughters (appellants) claimed ownership of a house and land settled on them by their father through a registered settlement deed, seeking a permanent injunction against the father’s attempts to evict them. The father contended that the deed was obtained by fraud, that he was only a witness to a sale deed, and that…

The tenant occupied a shop in the landlord's building and fell into arrears of rent, prompting the landlord to file an eviction suit under Section 13 of the Rajasthan Premises (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1950. The tenant had previously deposited rent in court under Section 19A, and again attempted to do so afte…

A motor accident occurred on 16 April 1987 at 10:00 am, killing Smt. Salta Bai. The bus involved was owned by respondent No. 5 and driven by respondent No. 6. The owner bought an insurance policy for the bus on the same day at 9:00 pm, and the policy expressly stated that its commencement was 16 April 1987 at 21:00 hou…

The landlord, Joginder Pal, filed an eviction petition under Section 13(3)(a)(ii) of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, claiming the premises were needed for the office of his chartered‑accountant son. The tenant, Naval Kishore Behal, occupied the premises for non‑residential purposes and contested the e…

The appellant, H. Seshadri, was a shop tenant in a residential building whose residential tenant (respondent No.2) was evicted by a decree. During the execution of that decree, Seshadri was also evicted. He filed an application under Order XXI Rules 99 and 100 of the CPC claiming an independent right to the shop. The S…

In the Kerala Legislative Assembly election for Eravipuram, A.A. Azeez was declared elected by a margin of 21 votes over T.A. Ahamed Kabeer, who filed an election petition alleging double voting, impersonation, defective voter lists and invalid postal votes. The returned candidate filed a recrimination petition under S…

The Directorate of Education, Delhi, invited tenders to set up computer labs in government schools. After earlier tenders with low turnover thresholds failed, it imposed a Rs 20 crore turnover requirement for the 2002‑03 tender, citing the large scale of the project (over Rs 100 crores) and the need for financially sta…

The Union of India, as successor to the Coal Board, was statutorily obligated under Section 9 of the Coal Mines (Conservation and Development) Act, 1974 to provide stowing assistance to the coal company, while the coal company owed royalty for sand extracted for stowing under a mining lease. The Government sought to re…

The petitioner, Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt, was arrested on charges of conspiring to murder Sankararaman, an administrative manager. The prosecution alleged that the deceased had lodged complaints against the petitioner and that the petitioner offered Rs 50 lakhs to hired men to kill…

The landlord filed a suit in the Allahabad Court of Small Causes under the U.P. Urban Buildings Act for arrears of rent and eviction, which was decreed ex‑parte and executed. The tenants applied under Order 9 Rule 13 of the CPC to set aside the decree but neither deposited the decretal amount nor filed a prior applicat…

The tenant, Mis. Precision Steel and Engg. Works, occupied a ground‑floor flat in Greater Kailash, Delhi, under a licence deed dated 13 September 1971 that required residential use but permitted incidental office use subject to local authority approval. The landlord, Prem Deva Niranjan Deva Tayal, sought eviction under…

The petitioners challenged the panel prepared for appointing Vice‑Chairmen of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and the constitutional validity of the explanation to Section 6 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985. The Allahabad High Court, exceeding the issues raised, directed that only persons qualified a…

The appellant was granted a mining lease in 1980, while the late Dr. Sarojini Pradhan, who had also applied for a lease, filed a writ petition challenging the grant. Dr. Pradhan died during the pendency of the petition and her legal heirs were allowed to substitute her. The Orissa High Court set aside the appellant's l…

The respondent, Polamala Raju, was convicted by a Sessions Court for raping a five‑year‑old girl under Section 376 IPC and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld the conviction but reduced the term to five years, citing the passage of time and possible settlement between the…

The Sind Maharashtra Co‑operative Housing Society, a tenant‑co‑partnership society, sued its member (respondent 2) and the appellant who was occupying a flat as a licensee since December 1970, seeking vacant possession under Section 91 of the Maharashtra Co‑operative Societies Act, 1960. The society alleged default in …

The appellants, parents of two coolies killed in a motor accident, claimed compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded compensation based on a monthly income of Rs.3,000 per victim, applying multipliers of 13 and 14 and interest at 6% per annum. The insurer and the insure…

The case involved the death of Janak Kumari, who suffered extensive burn injuries and allegedly made five dying declarations implicating her husband, mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law. The trial court acquitted the accused, holding that none of the statements were reliable. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the admis…

In the 2001 Assam Legislative Assembly election for constituency No.115 Moran, Sarbananda Sonowal was declared elected, defeating Jibontara Ghatowar by 850 votes. Eight hundred twenty‑four ballot papers were rejected because they lacked the presiding officer’s signature and distinguishing mark. Ghatowar filed an electi…

The appellant was engaged as a daily‑wage worker under the Jawahar Rozgar Yojna, a temporary employment scheme, initially for 100 days and subsequently extended, completing a total of 240 days. The post he occupied was later abolished due to lack of funds, and his services were terminated. He filed a writ petition clai…

The tenant, Harrington House School, occupied an old, partially built property and ran an unrecognised private school. The landlords, who are builders, sought eviction under Section 14(1)(b) of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960, to demolish the dilapidated structure and erect a multistorey com…

The appellant-landlord sought eviction of six commercial tenants under Section 14(1)(b) of the Tamil Nadu Building (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960, claiming a bona‑fide need to demolish the existing 30‑year‑old building and erect a new double‑storeyed structure to augment his earnings. The Controller rejected the pe…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute among partners of the unregistered liquor‑trading firm Mis Ashok Traders, where a partner of Group A sought an interim order under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for the appointment of a receiver. The trial court dismissed the application on the ground that …

The plaintiff, Madhukar D. Shende, claimed title to a suit property based on a registered will executed by the deceased Bhagubai in favour of her niece Chingubai, which was later transferred to the plaintiff. The defendant, Tarabai Abashedage, contested the will, alleging oral gift and adverse possession, and the trial…

The appellant, a hereditary trustee of a temple, claimed ownership of a shop adjoining the temple and sued for declaration of title, possession and three years' rent arrears. The trial court and first appellate court upheld his claim based on oral testimony, rent agreements, ledger books and a charity commissioner’s or…

The petitioners, Common Cause, sought a writ of mandamus to compel the Union of India to issue a Gazette notification under Section 1(3) of the Delhi Rent Act, 1995, which required the Central Government to fix the date of the Act’s commencement. The Central Government had not issued such a notification because pending…

Citibank N.A. bought GOI 2009 bonds from Canbank Mutual Fund (CMF) and issued two Bankers Receipts (BRs) to Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) in exchange for Rs.50 crore. SCB asked for CMF's Subsidiary General Ledger (SGL) forms in lieu of the bonds; Citibank delivered the dishonoured SGLs and received the BRs back, which …

The petitioners, representing a section of the Jain community, filed a writ petition seeking a direction to the Central Government to notify Jains as a minority under section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, based on a recommendation of the National Commission. The High Court dismissed the peti…

The tenant, Nalakath Sainuddin, held a single tenancy over a shop with two doors and sublet one door to Koorikadan Sulaiman, who later purchased the entire property from the original owners. The landlord filed an eviction suit invoking three grounds under the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965: arrears…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by two tenants who were evicted from two shops in Indore after the widow of the former owner and her two sons filed eviction applications before the Rent Controlling Authority (RCA) under the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961, claiming bonafide requirement for their bus…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed against the acquittals of Pawan Kumar in two criminal appeals, challenging the High Courts' findings that Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was not complied with during the search of a bag carried by the accused. The Supreme Court examined whe…

In the civil appeals filed by India Petrochemicals Corp. Ltd. (employer) and the employees arising from a Bombay High Court judgment, the employees attempted to introduce an additional affidavit dated 19 February 1999 without any court order permitting its filing. The employer did not file a reply to the affidavit. The…

In the civil appeals filed by India Petrochemicals Corp. Ltd. (employer) and the employees arising from a Bombay High Court judgment, the employees attempted to introduce an additional affidavit dated 19 February 1999 without any court order permitting its filing. The employer did not file a reply to the affidavit. The…

The landlords sought eviction of the tenants under Section 10(2)(vii) of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1960, alleging non‑payment of rent and a denial of the landlords' title that was not bona‑fide. The tenants counter‑claimed that the municipal corporation, not the landlords, was the true owne…

The State of Rajasthan prosecuted Hat Singh and others under the Rajasthan Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 for "glorification of Sati" (Section 5) and for contravention of a prohibitory order issued by the Collector (Section 6(3)). The High Court held that once a prohibitory order was issued, Section 5 merged into Section …

The State of Bihar acquired land and the Collector awarded compensation to Sharda Devi, who claimed title as a raiyat. The State later sought a reference to the civil court under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, asserting that the land actually belonged to the State and that the award was therefore void. T…

Aristocrat Agencies, holders of distributor licences, obtained import permits for liquor and paid countervailing duty at the rate of Rs.45 per litre prevailing at the time of permit issuance. A notification dated 8 February 1991 raised the duty to Rs.70 per litre. The agencies imported liquor after the notification but…

The Supreme Court considered applications filed by the purchaser of Bengal Paper Mills' assets seeking clarification of its earlier judgment that ordered a refund of the Rs.2 crore purchase price but denied interest. The Court examined whether interest could be awarded under Order XXI Rule 93 of the CPC and whether res…

Zile Singh, a sitting municipal member, was held disqualified under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Haryana Municipal Act, 1973 after the birth of his third child in August 1995. The disqualification arose from the First Amendment (1994) which barred persons with more than two living children, but its proviso contained a draf…

The appellant sought a permanent and ad interim injunction on title and possession of agricultural land, but both the trial court and the appellate court rejected his claim. He then filed a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, which the High Court dismissed on the ground that the relief sought was against pr…

Citibank sold IRFC bonds to Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) and issued a Banker’s Receipt (BR) which SCB later returned with an endorsement, also handing over a non‑transferable BR issued by CANFINA. SCB then demanded delivery of the bonds from Citibank, leading to suits in a Special Court. The Special Court held Citiban…

The appellant entered into a 1985 construction contract with the Union of India that contained an arbitration clause but did not require a reasoned award. In 1986 the Government amended the General Conditions of Contract, adding a provision that arbitrators must give reasons when the claim exceeds Rs 1 lakh, effective …

The appellant, a cooperative sugar factory, entered into a contract with the respondent for the design and supply of machinery, which contained an arbitration clause. Disputes arising under the contract were referred to two arbitrators who awarded Rs. 151.97 lacs to the appellant. The civil judge, finding apparent erro…

Gujarat CyproMet Ltd imported copper cathodes that remained unclaimed at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and were sold by public auction in 2000 for Rs 52.5 lakh. The Port Trust deducted 50 % of the sale proceeds as "sale expenses" pursuant to Board Resolution No. 624 dated 23‑July‑1999. The company challenged the deductio…

The Supreme Court examined the convictions of eight accused in a gang assault that resulted in the death of Gopikrishna and injuries to Sanjay Patil. The trial court and High Court had convicted all accused under Sections 143, 144, 147, 302/149 and 324/149 IPC. On appeal, the Court distinguished two separate assaults –…

The case involved ten accused charged with offences under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 302 of the IPC for an alleged murder during an unlawful assembly. The sole eyewitness, PW9, altered his testimony at trial compared to his original FIR statement, and his account was not corroborated by medical or forensic evidence. Th…

Utkal University advertised a Reader position in Oriya and formed a selection committee that recommended Dr. Surendranath Dash, who was appointed. Unsuccessful candidate Dr. Nrusingha Charan Sarangi filed a writ challenging the selection on three grounds: the D.Litt degree he obtained after the application deadline was…

The appellants, tea manufacturers, challenged the constitutional validity of the Tamil Nadu Scheduled Articles (Prescription of Standards) Order, 1977, which regulated tea as an essential commodity. They argued that tea is not a "foodstuff" under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and that the Central Government had …

The case concerned the inter‑se seniority of nine directly recruited judges (appellants) and eleven promotee judges (respondents) in the Bihar Superior Judicial Service after the creation of Jharkhand. The dispute arose because the Jharkhand High Court, relying on a committee report, declared the promotees senior to th…

The appellant, a subordinate judicial officer, was ordered by a High Court Single Judge to expedite a criminal trial and to explain delays. After the trial judge submitted a detailed written explanation citing massive case pendency, witness numbers, and administrative bottlenecks, the High Court dismissed the accused’s…

Raghunath G. Waingankar claimed a pension under the Goa Freedom Fighters Scheme, asserting participation in the Goa Liberation Movement and a bullet injury, but lacked primary documentary proof and relied on a certificate and newspaper cuttings. The State Government rejected his claim, and the High Court, invoking its …

The appellant, a candidate for the Bihar Judicial Services Competitive Examination, obtained 35 marks in the General Science paper and, after a routine scrutiny found no error, petitioned the High Court for re‑evaluation of his answer‑book. The Single Judge directed the answer‑book to be re‑evaluated by expert teachers…

The State of Andhra Pradesh appealed against a Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court that had struck down Andhra Pradesh Motor Vehicles Rules 297‑A(1)(c) and 297‑A(6)(f) as ultra vires the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Article 19(1)(g). The respondents, holders of contract‑carriage permits (Sec. 74) and all‑In…

D. Saibaba, a practising advocate, was accused by his estranged wife of professional misconduct for continuing to hold a telephone booth allotted in the handicapped quota. The Bar Council of India directed him to surrender the booth and, after his failure to do so within a short period, ordered his deletion from the ro…

The appellant, Kailash, elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, challenged a High Court order that refused to accept his written statement filed after the 90‑day limit prescribed by Order VIII, Rule I of the CPC. The Supreme Court examined when the trial of an election petition begins, whether the CPC time‑li…

The Gupte Cardiac Care Centre & Hospital filed a suit in Nashik seeking recovery of Rs.28.35 lakh after a heart‑lung machine purchased from a German manufacturer and its Indian dealer performed unsatisfactorily. The dealer, Olympic Pharma Care Pvt. Ltd., filed a suit in the Delhi High Court for the balance price of Rs.…

The appellant, a director of a Maharashtra cooperative society, was the sole nominee for the post of Chairman. The returning officer refused to declare him elected because the quorum for the special meeting was not met, despite the nomination being in order and unwithdrawn. The appellant filed a writ petition seeking a…

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi and others entered into a contract with International Security & Intelligence Agency Ltd. containing an arbitration clause. A non‑speaking award was made and later declared a rule of court, leading to a decree. Various objections, a review petition, and multiple appeals were filed. Th…

Ashok Transport Agency filed a money suit against Mis OMC Alloys Ltd, a government company, which was dismissed for default. While the suit was pending restoration, the Government of India issued an amalgamation order under Section 396 of the Companies Act, 1956, merging the company with Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd a…

Dolly Chhanda, daughter of an ex‑serviceman with permanent disability, qualified in the 2003 Joint Entrance Examination for MBBS under the reserved MI category. At the first counselling her father’s certificate from the Zilla Sainik Board mistakenly stated “not eligible”, leading to rejection of her candidature. After …

In the Pondosguda Gram Panchayat election for Sarpanch, the respondent was declared elected but was later found disqualified under the Orissa Grama Panchayats Act for having more than two children. The appellant filed an election petition seeking to have the respondent's election declared void and to be declared the so…

The appellant, N. Balaji, challenged the election of directors of the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd., alleging irregularities in the voters list. After multiple representations to the Minister and the Central Registrar and a writ petition, the Delhi High Court directed the Central Registrar to …

The appellant, Dr. Jacob Mathew, was charged under Section 304A IPC for the death of a patient who died after an empty oxygen cylinder was attached to him in a private hospital. The trial court framed charges and the High Court dismissed the petition to quash the FIR. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the d…

The complainant filed a consumer complaint alleging that LIC should pay the death claim of his son, who was insured under a policy back‑dated to 28‑April‑1995. The first premium was paid on 21‑August‑1995, making the next premium due on 28‑April‑1996 with a one‑month grace period until 28‑May‑1996. No premium was paid …

The Supreme Court was asked to consider a reference under Article 317(1) of the Constitution, seeking an inquiry into alleged misbehaviour by Dr. H.B. Mirdha, Chairman of the Orissa Public Service Commission. The respondent raised a preliminary objection questioning the maintainability of the reference, specifically wh…

The suit concerned a gift deed of agricultural land made by the father to his son Kishun, which was challenged by the other son Behari on the ground that the land was joint family property and the deed was fraudulent. Behari claimed that a compromise had been reached before the Tehsildar dividing the land equally, but …

The Goa Urban Co‑operative Bank leased a 47.04‑sq‑m portion of a building for the purpose of an "office" under a two‑year lease. In 1982 the bank shifted its branch office to another building and used the demised premises solely as a godown for storing records, without obtaining Reserve Bank of India permission to cont…

The appellant, a partnership firm, paid Rs. 781.33 lacs for the purchase of land and buildings of a cooperative cotton mill that had been partially resumed by the State. The liquidator executed a sale agreement, but the State later cancelled it, claiming the price was far below market value and that the sale lacked pro…

The appellant, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), held mining leases for iron ore in Madhya Pradesh and was levied royalty by the State on the waste material known as 'slimes' produced during ore processing. NMDC contended that slimes are a waste with no commercial value and are not covered by Entry 23 of…

Anil Panjwani purchased a vacant plot from Shri Niwas Vaidhya under a sale agreement dated 1‑Dec‑1985 and took possession, erecting a boundary wall. The defendant, R.C. Ardawatiya, later attempted to erect a hut on the plot. Panjwani sued for declaration of title, restoration of possession and injunctions. The trial co…

Anil Panjwani, the plaintiff in a civil suit for possession, filed affidavits containing reckless allegations against the presiding Supreme Court judge, leading to contempt proceedings under Section 14 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The Court initially ordered his detention, but he later expressed remorse and sou…

Jayshree Chemicals, a power‑intensive industry, entered into supply agreements with the Orissa State Electricity Board. The State Government, invoking Section 228 of the Electricity Act, 1910, issued yearly notifications restricting power consumption and waiving minimum‑charge liability for certain water years. For the…

Sadashib Behera completed a one‑year apprenticeship as a welder with Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. and later applied for a welder post but was not appointed. He filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking a mandamus directing the company to appoint him. The Orissa High Court, relying on a claim that nine welder posts we…

The suit property, a house and land, was gifted by the deceased to two sisters who became co‑owners. Both sisters jointly sued two tenants for eviction, alleging default in rent and sub‑letting. One sister later sold her share to partners of one tenant firm, who argued they were not interested in eviction; the other si…

The landlords filed a suit for eviction of the tenant under Section 5(1)(c) of the Assam Urban Areas Rent Control Act, 1972, claiming the premises were needed for their own cloth business. The trial court, the first appellate court and the Assam High Court upheld the eviction decree. The tenant appealed to the Supreme …

The plaintiff, who had been operating a colour lab and studio under the trade name "Muktajivan Colour Lab and Studio" since at least 1995, sued the defendants for passing off after they intended to use the same name for a similar business. The plaintiff sought a permanent injunction and an ad‑interim injunction; the tr…

The plaintiff obtained an ex‑parte decree in a title suit. The defendant filed a petition under Order IX Rule 13 of the CPC, together with an application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, to set aside the decree, and subsequently filed an appeal against the decree with a condonation application. Both the petition …

The original landlord, Mohammad Yahya, had authorized Fatimabi to collect rent. When municipal taxes remained unpaid, the Municipal Council attached the house and sold it at public auction to Fatimabi, who later transferred the title and the right to recover rent arrears to Sheikh G.S. Ibrahim. The tenants refused to r…

The appellants, Kailash Chand and Nokha Ram, owned a two‑storeyed building in Shimla and sought eviction of their tenant, Dharm Dass, under Section 14(3)(a)(i) of the Himachal Pradesh Urban Rent Control Act, 1987, claiming a bona‑fide requirement for his own occupation. An eviction order was initially granted, but duri…

The Supreme Court entertained a public‑interest writ petition filed by Vishwa Jagruti Mission seeking directions to curb the menace of ragging in educational institutions. Relying on Articles 32 and 142 of the Constitution, the Court observed that ragging is a serious social problem requiring not only criminal legislat…

The plaintiffs claimed ownership of land by adverse possession, relying on an unstamped, unregistered sale deed dated 9 May 1931. The defendants denied the deed, asserted they had regained possession in 1957‑58, and pleaded that the plaintiffs were merely sub‑tenants (shikmi). The High Court, on appeal under Section 10…

Dwarkaprasad, the Karta of a joint Hindu family, owned a property in Nasik that he let to Niranjan under a lease deed executed by all family members. He filed an eviction suit on grounds of rent default and bonafide requirement of the premises for himself, his son and his younger brothers. The trial court granted evict…

The case concerned a suit for eviction of a tenant (Sheela et al.) by a partnership firm claiming to be the landlord of a shop premises under the Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, 1961. The tenant contested the eviction, arguing that the firm was not the owner and that his written statement merely sought proof …

The Ludhiana Improvement Trust acquired 8.4 acres of land owned jointly by five respondents and framed the 1964 Land Disposal Rules, which allowed only one plot per local displaced person. The respondents claimed that each joint khata holder was entitled to a separate plot, relying on a letter dated 19‑Aug‑1994 from th…

The case involved a partition suit of a joint Hindu family where a compromise decree dated 13‑Feb‑1978 allocated specific parcels of land to each party by metes and bounds, but it was not engrossed on stamp paper. A later decree dated 24‑May‑1979, executed on stamp paper, merely reproduced the earlier decree and cured …

The owners of a commercial complex leased the premises to Goyal under a registered deed that expressly prohibited sub‑letting without the landlord’s written consent. Goyal subsequently allowed two occupants to occupy parts of the premises. The owners filed an eviction petition under Section 13(2)(ii)(a) of the East Pun…

In Uttar Pradesh, 93 vacancies for Civil Judge (Junior Division) were to be filled with reservations as per the 1993 and 1994 Uttar Pradesh Public Service Acts. The prescribed percentages yielded 46.5 seats for the general category, which the High Court held should be rounded up to 47, and three seats reserved for free…

The appellant, Feroze N. Dotivala, occupied a portion of a terrace flat owned by the respondents after paying compensation in 1969. The respondents later demanded a written acknowledgment that he was a "paying guest"; he refused and obtained a decree declaring him a deemed tenant. The High Court reversed, holding he wa…

The State of Uttar Pradesh leased a 5‑acre government parcel for 50 years in 1887 with a covenant allowing the lessee to renew for another 50 years. The original lessee transferred his interest to Lalji Tandon, who, as assignee, exercised the renewal option and obtained a fresh lease on 20‑Feb‑1945 that incorporated al…

The appellant, Shanti Kumar Panda, obtained a preliminary order and attachment of a shop under Sections 145 and 146 of the CrPC, while the real possessor, Shakuntala Devi, was not impleaded and was denied a hearing. The civil judge later granted her an ad‑interim injunction restraining the appellant from disturbing her…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a High Court order that reduced the conviction of Bala for rape (under IPC s.376(2)(g)) from the statutory minimum of ten years' rigorous imprisonment to the nine‑month period already served. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court could lawfully depart from the minimum pu…

The petitioner, Shakuntla Devi, filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking a pension as a freedom fighter, alleging that the State Government had not recommended her claim to the Central Government. The petition was presented before the Supreme Court, with Madan Mohan Rai (her husband) and a leg…

The case arose from a violent incident in which the deceased, Laiq Ram, fired a gun at the accused Durga Nand while trying to rescue his son, after which the accused seized the gun and inflicted fatal injuries on the deceased. The appellants Dharminder and Durga Nand were convicted under Sections 302/34, 307/34 and 323…

Bibi Haliman obtained a decree for eviction of a property and filed an execution petition for possession. Judgment debtor No.7, claiming the premises belonged to the Sufi Ashram (Tanzeem‑e‑Sufia), resisted delivery. The Ashram filed an application under Order XXI Rule 97 CPC seeking to be heard as a third‑party in poss…

The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to curb ragging in educational institutions by directing the Central Government to give wide publicity to the guidelines issued by the Court on 4 May 2001. The petitioner contended that the earlier order had achieved its s…

The West Bengal State Electricity Board issued a notice inviting tenders (NIT) for the sale of surplus power, requiring a Rs 30 lakh earnest money deposit from all bidders except Central/State Government organisations and public sector undertakings (PSUs). Global Energy Ltd., lacking the requisite Category F licence (i…

The appellants, tenants of a building, argued that having acquired the rights of some co‑owner landlords in 1988 extinguished their lease under the doctrine of merger, invoking Section 111(d) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, and therefore the order directing them to deposit fair rent under the Bihar Buildings (Le…

The landlord appealed a High Court decision after eviction proceedings were started under the Karnataka Rent Control Act, 1961. While the case was pending, the Karnataka Rent Act, 1999 came into force, which exempts non‑residential premises larger than 14 square metres from its provisions. The tenant argued that, becau…

Two daughters of a retired engineer of the General Reserve Engineering Force filed an eviction suit against a tenant, invoking the special procedure under Section 29B of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956, on the ground that they were dependent on their father. The Kolkata High Court held that the father’s reti…

The appellants, daily‑wage project employees, challenged their retrenchment by the State of Bihar, arguing that the notices issued under Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 did not accompany the required compensation and that the compensation was not paid directly to them. The State contended that a one‑mo…

The appellant purchased agricultural land near the Grand Trunk Road in 1986 and erected a dhaba without obtaining permission under the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963. The land lay in a "controlled area" declared by a Gazette notification under Section 4(1) o…

Dharma Prathishthanam entered into a construction contract with Madhok Construction Pvt. Ltd. that contained an arbitration clause referring disputes to arbitration under the Arbitration Act, 1940. When a dispute arose, the respondent unilaterally appointed Shri Swami Dayal as sole arbitrator, gave notice, and the arbi…

The appellant, Lingala Kondala Rao, occupied a shop that had been gifted to the respondent, Vootukuri Nara Yana Rao, by his father through a registered deed of settlement. The respondent, a member of a joint Hindu family, sought eviction under Section 10(3)(a)(iii) of the A.P. Buildings (Lease, Rent & Eviction) Control…

Gurmej Singh brutally assaulted his brother Jagjit Singh, his brother's wife and son, resulting in three deaths and injuries to three others. The trial court sentenced him to death on three counts of murder under IPC s.302, along with fines and other imprisonment terms. The Punjab High Court declined to confirm the dea…

The Supreme Court entertained a public interest writ petition under Article 32 seeking mandamus to compel the Union and State governments to enforce the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 more effectively. The petitioners alleged that despite the enactment of the Act and its amendments, the provisions and rules were not being…

The Central Government issued the Kerosene (Restriction of Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price) Order, 1993 fixing a "declared price" that may include charges, rates, duties and taxes prescribed by the State. Madhya Pradesh’s Director and district Collectors fixed wholesale and retail kerosene rates using a "rounding off…

The appellants filed a suit under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 seeking recovery of possession of immovable property from which they claimed to have been dispossessed. The trial court decreed in their favour, but the respondents filed a revision under Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and t…

The Friends Colony Development Committee (appellant) challenged unauthorized construction by Mis Modem Mechatech Housing Ltd. and its managing director, who built a five‑storey building exceeding the four‑storey plan sanctioned under the Orissa Development Authorities Act. The Development Authority ordered demolition o…

The Andhra Pradesh amendment of Section 73 of the Indian Stamp Act gave the Collector power to inspect, seize and impound any registers, books or documents, including those in banks, without any procedural safeguards. The High Court struck down this provision as unconstitutional, and the State appealed. The Supreme Cou…

The appellant Jaipal was convicted by the trial court and the Punjab & Haryana High Court for murdering his wife Prakash Devi by allegedly administering aluminium phosphide (celphos) based on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution relied on the testimony of the sister‑in‑law, the victim's father, medical findings, an…

The appellant K. Prabhakaran challenged the election of P. Jayarajan, who had been convicted of several offences and sentenced to 29 months of imprisonment, on the ground of disqualification under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The trial court had ordered the sentences to run consecutively, ma…

Shamim Ara, a Muslim wife, filed an application under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code seeking maintenance on grounds of desertion and cruelty. The husband, Respondent No.2, denied the claim and in his written statement asserted that he had divorced her on 11 July 1987, relying on the Muslim Women (Protection…

The appellant filed an election petition on July 1, 1996, the first day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court resumed from its summer vacation, although the 45‑day limitation period had expired during the vacation. The High Court, relying on a November 27, 1995 notification that the court was not "closed" for electio…

The Supreme Court examined two criminal appeals arising from a 1980 incident in which a dispute over tubewell irrigation led to a lathi assault followed by simultaneous gunshots that killed the victim, Mangali. The Court held that the two accused who fired the guns (Ram Swarup and Raja Ram) shared a common intention to…

In a Rajya Sabha election, three candidates filed nominations; one candidate, Luis Alex Cardozo, withdrew his candidature before the election. The appellant filed an election petition alleging that Cardozo, after withdrawal, agreed to receive gratification to vote for the respondent, constituting a corrupt practice und…

The appellant, a lessee of a non‑residential municipal premises, sub‑let the property to the respondent and later served a notice under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act to terminate the tenancy for non‑payment of rent and self‑occupation. The respondent filed an eviction suit which was dismissed by the trial…

The landlord Abdul Sattar sought eviction of the heirs of his former tenant Mohammed Gouse under clause (p) of Section 21(1) of the Karnataka Rent Control Act, 1961, alleging that one heir had been allotted a house by the Housing Board. The house was allotted in 1984 to the son, Mohammed Ismail, while the original tena…

The landlord filed eviction proceedings against the tenant under Section 21 of the Karnataka Rent Control Act, 1961, and obtained a decree for possession. The tenant appealed to the Supreme Court under Article 136. While the appeal was pending, the Karnataka Rent Act, 1999 came into force, repealing the 1961 Act. Secti…

The appellant, General Manager Northern Railways, entered into a construction contract with the respondent, Sarvesh Chopra, which contained both General and Special Conditions. Disputes arose and the respondent filed a petition under Section 20 of the Arbitration Act, 1940 seeking arbitration of six claims. The trial c…