T S THAKUR

The deceased woman repeatedly fled her matrimonial home due to alleged dowry harassment and cruelty by her husband, mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law, and filed complaints and a maintenance suit. She later died after ingesting poison, claiming it was a mistake, and gave a dying declaration to that effect. The trial court…

Siemens and other bidders challenged the award of a contract by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for 486 standard gauge cars to Hyundai Rotem, arguing that the GEC (energy consumption) values used to adjust bids were untenable and that the Government’s appointment of a committee to review the tender process whil…

The appellants were convicted of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) for assaulting the deceased, Nripen Debnath, when his bullock cart entered the appellants' field. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of the eye‑witness PW‑3, the omission of certain details in the complaint, and the alleged political motive behind the prose…

The wife, Archana Hardenia, committed suicide, leading to criminal proceedings under IPC sections 498‑A (cruelty) and 306 (abetment of suicide) against her husband Amrish Hardenia, his parents, brother and sister‑in‑law. The Sessions Judge discharged the four relatives (parents, brother, sister‑in‑law) on the ground th…

The appellant, Sundaram Industries Ltd., directed its moulders to place production bags on an electronic weighing scale after their shift, which required extra effort and time without additional pay. Thirteen moulders refused, were suspended and later dismissed for alleged misconduct, persistent disobedience and insubo…

The writ petition filed by V. Vasanthakumar sought a mandamus directing the Supreme Court to consider proposals for establishing National/Regional Courts of Appeal to alleviate the massive backlog and improve access to justice. The petitioner argued that the Supreme Court has increasingly functioned as a regular appell…

Northern Coalfield Ltd., a government-owned corporation, entered into two contracts with Heavy Engineering Corp. Ltd. which contained an arbitration clause. Disputes were referred to the Government's "permanent machinery of arbitration" and awards were made, which Northern Coalfield challenged before the Law Secretary …

Three naval personnel (AK Singh, UK Singh and DK Singh) were accused of a bank robbery at the Andhra Bank counter in INS Virbahu. The Court Martial convicted AK and UK, dismissing them with disgrace, while the Armed Forces Tribunal later affirmed their convictions based on eyewitness testimony of the bank manager (PW‑1…

The petitioner filed contempt petitions alleging that the respondents, including state transport authorities and the contractor M/s Utsav Safety Systems Pvt. Ltd., failed to implement the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) scheme in accordance with Supreme Court orders dated 8 December 2011, which prohibit sub‑co…

The Supreme Court was approached by a consortium of banks that had financed the Kundli‑Manesar‑Palwal Expressway project, seeking directions to ensure that the newly appointed concessionaire would assume the outstanding loan liabilities of the outgoing concessionaire. The Court noted that ordering such a variation of t…

The appellant Kanhaiya Lal was convicted under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC for the murder of Kala, whose body was recovered from a well belonging to the appellant. The prosecution's case rested on the fact that the deceased and the appellant were last seen together at a neighbour's house and on an alleged motive of…

The Bihar Staff Selection Commission conducted a competitive exam for Junior Engineer posts using a defective model answer key, leading to erroneous merit lists and appointments. Unsuccessful candidates challenged the evaluation, and the High Court initially cancelled the entire examination, later modifying its order t…

The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed a High Court order that reduced the imprisonment of Mehtaab, convicted under IPC sections 304A (causing death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt), from one year and three months to merely ten days, the period already served. The incident involved Mehtaab laying a naked high‑voltag…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by the Union of India against the Armed Forces Tribunal’s orders granting disability pensions to several ex‑servicemen who were invalided out on medical grounds. The key issue was whether the disabilities were attributable to or aggravated by military service under Regulation 173 of…

The National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) floated two tenders for construction work, requiring bidders to submit earnest money. The respondents, Ashok Kumar Singh & Ors., submitted bids with earnest money but later withdrew their bids and sought a refund. NTPC refused the refund, invoking Condition No.2 of the…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by Telestar Travels Pvt. Ltd. and its directors challenging the adjudication order under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) that found them guilty of dealing in foreign exchange without RBI permission and of using a paper company, Bountiful Ltd., to route funds. The Court held…

The dispute concerned the appointment of a Headmaster in a West Bengal school. The School Service Commission had shortlisted three candidates but never prepared or published the statutory panel required under the West Bengal School Service Commission Regulations, 1988. Several writ petitions sought a mandamus directing…

The appellants (the State) issued a notice under Section 1668/166B of the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Land Revenue Act in 2004 seeking to cancel entries in the 1954‑55 Khasra Pahani, alleging fraudulent entries made decades earlier. The respondents, who had purchased the land, possessed it continuously since 1954 a…

Advocate Amit Chanchal Jha was convicted by the Delhi High Court for criminal contempt after allegedly abusing a lady advocate in the courtroom, resulting in a seven‑day imprisonment, three‑month debarment and a direction to refer the matter to the Bar Council of India. Jha appealed to the Supreme Court, contending tha…

Shalini was appointed as an Assistant Teacher and later promoted to Headmistress in a school vacancy reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, based on a caste certificate claiming she belonged to the Halba ST. The Maharashtra Caste Scrutiny Committee later declared the certificate invalid, finding she actually bel…

The Supreme Court examined a dispute over a parcel of land (described as "Parti Kadim Tilla") claimed by M/s Lakshmi Sugar & Oil Mills Ltd. to be agricultural and therefore exempt from acquisition under the Uttar Pradesh Sugar Undertakings (Acquisition) Act, 1971. Consolidation authorities had concurrently found that t…

The case concerned agricultural land held by Teegala Shivaiah, a protected tenant under the Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1950. After his death, his heirs obtained a succession certificate and a restoration order for possession, but the appellants claimed ownership based on a series of sales by the orig…

The landlord filed an eviction suit against the tenant, who admitted the tenancy but claimed an agreement to sell the premises and alleged payment of Rs. 82.5 lakhs, also filing a suit for specific performance. The trial court invoked Order 12 Rule 6 of the CPC and passed a decree for eviction on the basis of the tenan…

Talaulicar & Sons obtained environmental clearance on 25‑Nov‑2005 for expanding an iron‑ore mine, subject to a two‑year condition to submit a hydrogeological study. After submitting the report, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on 18‑Oct‑2007 deleted the two‑year limitation, effectively extending the clear…

The State of Jharkhand issued a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for the construction of the Kharkai Dam. After a pre‑bid meeting ten firms participated, but stringent clauses reduced the field to three bidders, of whom only M/s CWE‑SOMA was responsive. The tender committee, invoking clause 4.18(d) of the Central Vigilance…

The State of Maharashtra created 471 posts of Legal Advisors, Law Officers and Law Instructors and, through Government Resolutions dated 21‑08‑2006 and 15‑09‑2006, declared that these posts would be filled on a contractual basis with a maximum of three eleven‑month terms. The respondents, after serving their contractua…

The case concerned a senior judicial officer, R.R. Parekh, who was dismissed from service after two disciplinary inquiries found him guilty of misconduct for awarding sentences below the statutory minimum under Section 135 of the Customs Act, allegedly motivated by corrupt or oblique motives. The High Court had revisit…

The petitioner, Sujatha Ravi Kiran, filed a complaint alleging physical and mental cruelty, sexual abuse and wife‑swapping by her naval officer husband, his family and five other naval officers, leading to FIR No.260/2013 in Kerala. The husband’s anticipatory bail was denied and the Kerala High Court ordered a special …

The Punjab Public Service Commission advertised 52 posts of Punjab Civil Services (Judicial Branch) in 2007‑08, with 27 General and 25 reserved seats. After the examination, 27 General, 10 SC and 5 OBC candidates joined, and the remaining eight reserved posts were de‑reserved; seven of these were filled by General cand…

Kedar Mishra, a co‑sharer and raiyat, claimed right of pre‑emption under Section 16(3) of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area and Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act for three parcels sold by his brother. He deposited the required ten percent of the purchase price, but the treasury challan recorded the deposi…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 5(4) of the Kerala Medical Officers' Admission to Post‑Graduate Courses under Service Quota Act, 2008, which mandated that in‑service doctors be selected for postgraduate seats solely on the basis of seniority. The Court held that Regulation 9 of the Med…

The petition was filed by the father of a college girl who died after falling from a hostel roof, alleging that the death resulted from ragging and that the Rajasthan police investigation was biased, incomplete, and failed to record the victim's statement. The petitioner sought a transfer of the investigation to the Ce…

The case concerned the Khalsa Girls High School, a Sikh‑run school in Calcutta, and whether it qualified as a minority institution under Articles 26 and 30 of the Constitution, thereby entitled to appoint its own teachers without complying with Rule 28 of the 1969 Management Rules. The appellants, two teachers appointe…

The Supreme Court, by a 9-judge bench, answered a reference on the interpretation of Articles 301-304 of the Constitution concerning the validity of entry taxes levied by states. The majority held that taxes simpliciter are not within the contemplation of Part XIII of the Constitution, and the word 'free' in Article 30…

The petitioners filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking emergency relief from the severe air‑pollution in the National Capital Region caused by the widespread use of fireworks during Diwali and the marriage season. They alleged that the pollution breached fundamental rights, especially the right to life and heal…

The appellant O.M. Cherian (Thankachan) was convicted under Sections 498A and 306 IPC for the suicide of his wife and was sentenced to two years and seven years of rigorous imprisonment respectively, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively by the trial court and the Kerala High Court. The appeal before the Supr…

Nar Singh was convicted under Section 302 IPC and Section 25(1B) of the Arms Act for the murder of Rajbir, based largely on circumstantial evidence and a forensic science laboratory (FSL) report (Ex‑P12) linking a recovered bullet to a country‑made pistol. The trial court and the High Court failed to put the FSL report…

Collector Singh, a semi‑skilled workman, was dismissed by L.M.L. Ltd. after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of throwing jute/cotton waste balls at a foreman and allegedly using abusive language. The Labour Court upheld the dismissal, relying on the appellant's apology letter, and the High Court affirmed that aw…

The petitioners filed a writ petition under Articles 32 and 21 of the Constitution seeking a Supreme Court order directing the Union of India to constitute a special committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to re‑investigate all bomb‑blast cases since 2002, alleging that innocent Muslim youths were being fal…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by Shanmugam and others challenging their conviction for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. The appellants argued that (i) the first information report (FIR) was lodged several hours after the incident without a satisfactory explanation, (ii) the sole eye‑witness, PW…

Rashmi Metaliks Ltd. submitted a bid for a KMDA pipe‑supply tender but was disqualified because it did not attach its latest income‑tax return (clause j) and allegedly failed to disclose any blacklisting (clause i). The High Court and a Division Bench upheld the disqualification, treating both clauses as essential. On …

The Union Territory of Lakshadweep appealed against a Kerala High Court order that allowed Seashells Beach Resort to operate despite lacking clearances under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules and land‑use diversion certificates. The High Court had granted interim relief on humanitarian grounds, ignoring alleged v…

The plaintiff sought specific performance of a sale agreement entered into by the trustees of the Subbaiah Paniker Family Welfare Trust. The appellant, a beneficiary of the trust, applied to be impleaded as a defendant, alleging prejudice if the sale proceeded at the agreed price. The trial court allowed his impleadmen…

The appellant was convicted under IPC sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) and sentenced to imprisonment and a fine. He later claimed to have been a juvenile at the time of the offence, asserting an age of 13 years 8 months, but documentary and medical evidence established his age as about 17 years, making hi…

Narane Construction Ltd marketed plots for sale, promising development of infrastructure, layout approvals and other amenities, and required purchasers to become members by paying fees. The purchasers alleged deficiencies in the promised services and contended that the company was a service provider under the Consumer …

The petitioners, a husband and wife accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act, sought transfer of their criminal trial from the Special Judge, CBI Cases, Rohini Court, New Delhi to the Special Judge, CBI Cases, Court of Sessions at Thane, Maharashtra, arguing that most of the 92 witnesses (88) were located in Maha…

The accused were charged with offences including assault (ss.324, 326 IPC) and murder (s.302 IPC) arising from a village feud. Four eyewitnesses saw the attack and the deceased gave a statement to the police implicating the accused. The trial court acquitted them of murder but convicted three of them under s.326, later…

The respondent, V.K. Mahanudevan, obtained a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate in 1987 after the Kerala High Court accepted a KIRTADS report that he belonged to the Thandan community, a notified SC. Subsequent scrutiny, prompted by a Full Bench observation in Pattika Jathi case, led the State Government to re‑examine hi…

The respondents, employees of National Insurance Co., opted for voluntary retirement under the General Insurance Employees Special Voluntary Retirement Scheme, 2004 (SVRS 2004) and claimed pension under the General Insurance (Employees) Pension Scheme, 1995. The insurers rejected the claim, arguing that pension under t…

The appellants were accused of murdering a man and injuring another after a prior confrontation. The trial court acquitted them, but the High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted them under Sections 302 and 324 read with Section 34 of the IPC, imposing life imprisonment. The appellants challenged the High Court's…

The Supreme Court of India, in Civil Appeal No. 4715 of 2011 (State Bank of India & Ors. v. Neelam Nag & Anr.), issued a correction to its earlier judgment dated 16 September 2016. The correction clarifies that the name "Neelam Nag" in the cause title should read "Neelam Nag & Anr." and that every occurrence of the wor…

The appellants, the husband and his parents‑in‑law, were charged under Section 498A IPC for alleged dowry harassment and a specific incident of abandonment. They sought discharge under Section 239 of the CrPC, claiming the allegations were false. The Supreme Court examined the scope of Section 239 and the standard for …

The appellants, Shree Shyamji Transport Company, submitted a bid for a Mandi Labour Contract (MLC) of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). FCI rejected their bid invoking Clause 4(III) of the Model Tender Form, alleging that the appellants' Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) had been forfeited in an earlier Road Transport Con…

The petitioners, Indian seamen and their families, filed writ petitions under Article 32 seeking a direction to the Government of India to intervene and secure the release of Indian crew members held hostage by Somali pirates and to frame anti‑piracy guidelines. The Government responded with an affidavit detailing the …

Kavita Solunke was appointed as a teacher in an aided school in Maharashtra to a post reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, claiming to belong to the Halba tribe. Ten years later, a caste‑verification committee found that her father was a Koshti, a caste not listed as a Scheduled Tribe, and cancelled her caste certi…

The Gujarat government, after representations by labour unions, issued a resolution on 17 October 1988 to regularise daily‑wage and semi‑skilled workers across all departments, providing graded benefits based on years of service under Section 258 of the Industrial Disputes Act. The applicability of this scheme to daily…

The appellant Manoj and his relatives were convicted for the dowry death of Meena Devi, who died from burns after being allegedly doused with kerosene and set alight at the behest of her husband, mother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law. The prosecution relied heavily on a dying declaration recorded by Dr. Rajinder Rai, which w…

The appellant, a former Lower Division Clerk, was implicated in an FIR filed in 2000 for alleged embezzlement of Rs.4,39,617 based on a CAG report. The police investigation stalled for over nine years because the original records were never produced, despite repeated orders. Meanwhile, a departmental inquiry in 2008 ex…

The appellants, P. Nagesh and another, were convicted by a Fast Track Court for murder and related offences under Sections 302, 364, 379, 201 read with 34 of the IPC, based on circumstantial evidence. The Karnataka High Court upheld the conviction, relying on a presumption under Section 106 of the Evidence Act that the…

The student, Geetika Khare, filed a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against Controller, Vinayak Mission Dental College alleging deficiency in service because the college lacked recognition, forcing her to withdraw and causing loss of an academic year and mental harassment. The State Consumer Commissio…

The Supreme Court examined petitions seeking to shift investigation of the multi‑state chit‑fund (Ponzi) scam, which defrauded lakhs of depositors of roughly Rs 10,000 crore, from the State Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The scam involved companies operating across West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and …

The complainant, Mosiruddin Munshi, paid Rs.5,00,001 to the accused for a plot of land but the seller failed to deliver title documents, prompting a criminal complaint under IPC sections 420 and 1208. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate treated the complaint as an FIR and ordered investigation under CrPC secti…

The appellant, a government irrigation supervisor in Uttar Pradesh, was removed from service for contracting a second marriage while his first marriage was still subsisting, in violation of Rule 29(1) of the U.P. Government Servant Conduct Rules, 1956. He claimed that he had divorced his first wife before the second ma…

The case arose from a land dispute in which the complainant party attempted to forcibly take possession of a field owned by Ahmed Shah. A sudden scuffle ensued, during which Ahmed Shah and Gurmukh Singh inflicted fatal injuries on Sabbir Shah, while other accused injured Rakhu Shah and Rakhia. The trial court convicted…

The Board of Trustees of Kandla Port terminated a lease of a 1891.64‑sq‑m parcel to Smt. Pushpa Shah after she defaulted on rent, issuing a termination order on 8‑Aug‑1977 effective 13‑Dec‑1978 and taking possession via a panchnama on 14‑Dec‑1978. The lessee’s own letter of 22‑Feb‑1979 admitted that possession had been…

The appellants purchased a mortgaged property at a public auction conducted by a Recovery Officer under the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (RDDB Act). The auction was later set aside by the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal on the ground that the appellants were not bona‑fide purchas…

The petitioners filed a writ petition alleging deplorable conditions at Asha Kiran Home, a Delhi Government-run facility for persons with disabilities, and suggested remedial measures. The Delhi High Court directed a joint meeting, accepted the Government's report of actions taken, and disposed of the petition without …

The State of Jammu & Kashmir appealed against two orders of the High Court issued in a public‑interest litigation concerning the construction of a district court complex. The High Court, while hearing the PIL, directed the State to regularise 209 daily‑rated workers employed in the High Court and district courts, treat…

The appellant, a former Union minister, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC for offences of corruption and criminal conspiracy. She applied to the trial court for exemption from personal appearance, citing her 98‑year age, severe heart disease and senile dementia, and a medical board report t…

The Supreme Court examined appeals against bail orders granted by the Allahabad High Court to four accused in an assault case where a victim's son died. The State of Uttar Pradesh argued that the principal accused, Kunwar Singh (Respondent No.2), had a long criminal record and was threatening witnesses, making the High…

A Bangladeshi national was convicted under the Foreigners Act, 1946 for illegal entry into India and sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine. He filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the conviction and seeking relief from the Supreme Court. The Court examined whether it…

Ms. Cynthia Ann Coates, a U.S.-based nurse, sought to adopt Anil, an Indian male child with developmental delays and learning difficulties. The District Judge and the Delhi High Court had refused the adoption petition. The Supreme Court, on a report from a medical board of experts at AIIMS, found that Ms. Coates posses…

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) awarded a contract to the Food Handling Co-operative Society in 1982, under which several workers performed duties such as dusting, picking and analysing. The workers claimed they were directly engaged by FCI as casual labourers and sought regularisation under the doctrine of equal p…

The appellant Manoj Giri was convicted of dacoity with murder and gang rape after a night-time assault on a married woman (PW1), her husband and father‑in‑law, during which the father‑in‑law died. The trial court acquitted the four co‑accused due to insufficient identification evidence, but upheld Giri's conviction bas…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition challenging the Government's decision to allow migration of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum to a Unified License (UL) and the imposition of a Rs 1,658 crore migration fee and a 1% spectrum usage charge (SUC) on Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. The petitioners alleged that t…

The State of Kerala granted mining leases for beach‑sand minerals but later stayed them pending an environmental impact study and subsequently rejected the applications, citing its 2007 industrial policy that such minerals be exploited only by State or Central public‑sector undertakings. The respondents filed revision …

The appellant, husband of a domestic worker who died from electric shock while operating a washing machine in the respondents' house, filed a private complaint under Section 304A of the IPC alleging negligent conduct by the employers. The High Court quashed the criminal proceedings, holding that the washing machine was…

The deceased Karamjit Kaur died of phosphorus poisoning within two and a half years of her marriage, and the prosecution alleged that her husband and in‑laws harassed her over a dowry demand for a scooter. The trial court convicted the husband, father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law under Section 304B (referred to as 3048) IP…

The appellant, Darga Ram @ Gunga, was convicted by the trial court and the Rajasthan High Court for the rape and murder of a seven‑year‑old girl, Kamala, based on circumstantial evidence linking him to the crime scene, blood‑group matches, and injuries on his body. The Supreme Court examined whether the circumstantial …

The appellant Venkatesha (A‑2) and co‑accused G. Venkatesh Murthy (A‑1) were convicted under IPC sections 302, 307, 427 read with s.34 and under the Explosive Substances Act, s.3 read with s.34 for planting a bomb in a hair‑salon to kill Muniraju (PW‑14). The bomb, placed by approver Hanif (A‑3) on their instructions, …

Rishipal was convicted by the trial court of murder (Sec. 302 IPC) and several offences under Sections 171, 201, 364, 420 IPC based largely on circumstantial evidence, with the victim's body never recovered. The High Court acquitted him of the murder charge while upholding the other convictions and altered the 364 conv…

Shiv Prasad Singh, a government employee, was reappointed in 1980 with a condition that he would not receive any future promotions. He later sought time‑bound promotions under a state scheme, and the Patna High Court held that despite the reappointment condition, he was entitled to such promotions and directed the Comm…

The Supreme Court heard appeals arising from a single‑bench order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court that dismissed the State's revision petition and allowed the respondents' revision petition, thereby restoring an earlier revenue order concerning tenancy rights over 190 acres in Gachibowli Village. Both parties conteste…

Surya Baksh Singh, a convicted offender, appealed his conviction before the High Court, which affirmed the conviction ex parte without his presence or counsel and rejected his request for remand. The Supreme Court examined the growing misuse of the appellate process whereby convicts obtain bail or exemption from surren…

The appellant issued a cheque of Rs.69,500 that was dishonoured and was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, receiving a sentence of six months imprisonment and a compensation order of Rs.80,000 under Section 357(3) of the CrPC. The Calcutta High Court, on revision, set aside the imprisonment …

The appellant, Samjuben Gordhanbhai Koli, was convicted by a trial court and the conviction was upheld by the Gujarat High Court. She appealed to the Supreme Court seeking remission of the remaining portion of her sentence. The Supreme Court held that remission or commutation of a sentence is a power vested exclusively…

Anees Khan, engaged as an assistant driver, was disengaged in July 1992 and obtained an ex parte order from the Labour Court in February 1994 directing his reinstatement with back wages. He received back wages for the period up to the order but neither reported for duty nor initiated any proceeding to enforce reinstate…

Chandreshwar Pathak was temporarily appointed as a police constable in 1988 by the Inspector General of Police without any advertisement or selection process. After a departmental review, a show‑cause notice was issued in 2003 and his services were terminated. He challenged the termination before the Patna High Court; …

The appellants were convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC for the death of Narendra Singh. The prosecution's case relied on the testimony of five ocular witnesses, two of whom were declared hostile and the remaining three were relatives of the deceased whose statements were recorded only…

The East Coast Railway conducted a type‑writing test for Chief Typist posts on 30 Oct 2006 and announced results on 22 Nov 2006. After complaints by some unsuccessful candidates about defective type‑writers, the railway cancelled the test on 14 Dec 2006 without recording any reasons. A fresh test was held on 16 Dec 200…

The case involved a violent land dispute in which twenty‑four accused, including the appellants, attacked a group working on disputed land, resulting in two deaths and several injuries. The trial court convicted twenty‑one accused under Sections 302, 149, 148 and 323 of the IPC, a decision affirmed by the High Court. O…

The appellant, a Sub‑Inspector of Police, was caught red‑handed accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 and was convicted under Sections 7 and 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, receiving two years’ rigorous imprisonment for each offence with fines. The appeal before the Supreme Court was limite…

The appellants were heirs of a grantee who received a 30‑year land grant under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Land Tenure) Regulation, 1926, which could be renewed once for a total of 60 years. After the 60‑year period expired in 1994, the administration sought possession. The appellants repeatedly sought a fresh gra…

The appellant Vijay lodged a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act alleging that respondent Laxman had issued a cheque to repay a personal loan of Rs.1,15,000, which was later dishonoured for insufficient funds. Laxman contended that the cheque was a security deposit taken as part of a customary…

The appellant was allotted a plot by HUDA but failed to pay the balance instalments, leading to non‑delivery of possession. He filed a complaint before the District Consumer Forum seeking possession, and during the proceedings accepted a 10% refund of the amount paid, a fact he did not disclose. The Forum ordered re‑al…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Saikat Saha under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC, based primarily on the testimony of a single eyewitness, PW‑6, who described how the accused acted in concert to kill the victim. The appellants challenged the conviction, arguing that the sole witness's evide…

The father of a deceased woman filed an appeal before the Madhya Pradesh High Court challenging the acquittal of five accused in a dowry‑death case. The High Court dismissed the appeal mechanically, without examining whether the appellant needed leave of the High Court under Section 378(3) of the Code of Criminal Proce…

The petitioners, Geeta Devi & Ors., challenged the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court's order dismissing their appeal against a single High Court judge's decision that had rejected a miscellaneous appeal arising from a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award. The central issue was whether such an intra‑court appea…

The State of Madhya Pradesh filed a civil revision under Section 19 of the Madhya Pradesh Madhyastham Adhikaran Adhiniyam, 1983, challenging an arbitral award dated 18 June 2003, but the revision was filed 80 days after the statutory three‑month period. The State also sought condonation of the delay under Section 5 of …

The petition sought a declaration that Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which requires prior sanction before a public servant can be prosecuted, is unconstitutional and that all pending cases should proceed without such sanction. The Court examined whether the sanction requirement infringes the rig…

The appellant, a returned candidate, appealed a High Court order that refused to dismiss an election petition filed by the respondent alleging irregularities in vote counting. The Supreme Court examined whether the petition disclosed a cause of action and could be struck out at the threshold, and whether the lack of an…

Raj Singh, a Territorial Army (TA) enrollee since 1995, was disembodied on 31 March 2008 and died on 4 August 2008 while in that disembodied state. His wife filed a writ petition seeking family pension, which was denied by the Armed Forces Tribunal on the ground that he had not completed the fifteen years of embodied s…

The appellants Iqbal and Khurshed were convicted under Section 396 of the Indian Penal Code for participation in a dacoity that occurred on a new‑moon night, based primarily on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses and their identification of the accused in a test identification parade. The prosecution failed to recover…

The State of Orissa granted a mining lease to MESCO Steels Ltd. for iron ore, but later a Director of Mines issued an intra‑departmental communication recommending reduction of the lease area due to overlapping claims and forest land. The State then issued a show‑cause notice to MESCO, which the company challenged in a…

The appellant, Rajamani, a professional driver, was caught transporting a large consignment of illicit liquor and was convicted under Section 55(a) of the Kerala Abkari Act. The trial court sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1 lakh; the High Court reduced the term to five years but inc…

The respondents, who were promoted to Scientific Officer in 1985, claimed eligibility for promotion to Assistant Director under the 25% promotion quota of the Uttar Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratories Technical Officers' Service Rules, 1987, having completed five years of service. The State of U.P. argued that the 19…

In the Jessica Lal murder investigation, the police sought a forensic opinion on two .22 cartridges. The appellant, Deputy Director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory, reported that the cartridges were .22 caliber and likely from a pistol, but could not give a definitive opinion on whether they were fired from th…

The appellant was convicted of murdering his son under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. Evidence showed that only the appellant, his wife (the mother), and the deceased were present, and the appellant's blood‑stained clothes matched the victim's blood group. The trial and high courts affirmed the con…

The appellants, MD Sahabuddin and others, were arrested for transporting 347 cartons of Phensedyl and 102 cartons of Recodex cough syrups, each containing codeine phosphate in quantities exceeding the limits prescribed under the Central Government notifications. They possessed no valid transport documents and could not…

Petitioners filed a public‑interest writ seeking a mandamus directing the Union and several State governments to curb the sale of adulterated and synthetic milk, relying on a 2011 FSSAI report that 68.4% of milk samples nationwide were non‑conforming. The respondents argued that the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 …

Apex Distributors and another issued a cheque on Vyasa Bank, Vellore, to Timex Group India Ltd., which was later dishonoured at Vellore. Timex sent statutory demand notices from Delhi and filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in a Delhi court. The petitioners filed a transfer pe…

The State of Haryana acquired 90.07 acres of land in Shahabad, Kurukshetra under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 for urban development. The claimants challenged the compensation awarded by the Reference Court, arguing that the deduction for development charges should be limited because the land lay within already develo…

The petitioners borrowed Rs.15 lakh from the respondent company and issued a cheque for partial repayment, drawn on a Bangalore bank but presented for encashment in Gurgaon, where it was dishonoured. The respondent served statutory notices from Gurgaon and filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrumen…

The Commissioner of Income Tax, Kochi appealed against Trans Asian Shipping Services (P) Ltd, which had elected to compute its income under the Tonnage Tax Scheme (TTS) of Chapter XIIG of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The dispute centered on whether income from slot‑charter arrangements, where the company did not own or fu…

The Supreme Court examined several writ petitions filed by army personnel who had been tried by Summary Courts Martial (SCM) convened by Commanding Officers (CO) of units other than the units to which they belonged. The Delhi High Court had held that only the CO of the accused's own unit could convene an SCM, while the…

The petition arose from a tragic incident on 1 February 2011 when over two lakh candidates gathered for an ITBP recruitment drive in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and, after the drive was postponed, many climbed onto the roof of the Himgiri Express. The train, travelling at 75 kmph, struck a low foot‑over‑bridge whose clear…

The appellant, an Assistant Wireless Operator in the Delhi Police, was charged with misconduct for refusing to open a locked cabin, shouting at an inspecting officer, not being in uniform, and snatching a log‑book. A disciplinary inquiry found him guilty and dismissed him; the dismissal was upheld by the appellate auth…

The case concerned two accused, Manoj and his father, charged with murder and criminal intimidation for the death of Sadashiv under Sections 302, 506 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The trial court convicted both of murder and intimidation; the High Court affirmed the murder conviction but set aside the intimidation c…

V.K. Bansal, a director of several companies, was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing cheques that were dishonoured while repaying loans from Haryana Financial Corporation. He received multiple imprisonment terms and fines and sought a direction under Sections 427 and 482 of the Co…

The State of Maharashtra acquired land for a polytechnic college and the Special Land Acquisition Officer awarded compensation of Rs 26.25 per square metre. The landowners sought a higher amount by invoking Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and the reference court enhanced the compensation to Rs 85 per squa…

The case involved seven accused persons charged with offences under Sections 147, 148 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Korma Rao. Two of the accused, Nagesar and Khetro (Accused Nos. 6 and 7), appealed their convictions on the ground that they were not named in the FIR and that no eyewitness identifie…

The State of Maharashtra prosecuted Ravikant Shankarappa Patil and others for alleged intimidation, forced marriage (Nikah) and rape of a student, invoking IPC sections 376, 386, 148, 452/149, 366/149, 342/149, 323/149, 506(2)/149 and Section 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act. The trial court convicted them, but the Bombay High…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) against a High Court order that required demolition of the Millennium Bus Depot, which had been constructed on land shown as a river flood plain in the Master Plan 2021 (MPD‑2021). The Court noted that the H…

The landlord, Damodar Lal, sought eviction of his tenants on the ground that they had made unauthorised structural alterations to the rented premises. Both the trial court and the first appellate court found that material alteration had occurred and dismissed the tenants’ appeal. The tenants appealed to the High Court,…

The appellant, Kulja Industries Ltd., supplied telecom equipment to BSNL under two tenders. BSNL later alleged that the appellant, in collusion with BSNL officials, received excess payments of Rs 7.98 crore through duplicate bills and blacklisted the appellant permanently. The appellant challenged the blacklisting, arg…

The dispute arose from an arbitration under Clause 70 of a contract, where the arbitrator issued an award without recording any reasons, merely noting "sustained", "partly sustained" or "not sustained" in the column titled "findings". The Delhi High Court set aside the award, holding that the term "findings" required a…

The Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) awarded a contract to Western Geco for modernising a seismic vessel, which was to be returned by 9 July 2001. The vessel was delayed until 6 May 2002 due to licensing issues for US‑origin hydrophones and subsequent substitution with Canadian ones, leading ONGC to deduct amounts …

The Supreme Court examined complaints filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in Delhi Metropolitan Magistrates, where cognizance was taken solely because statutory notices were issued from Delhi. The Delhi High Court had directed the return of such complaints, holding that the place of notice issuanc…

The case concerned complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act filed by the respondent companies against the appellants for dishonour of cheques. The issue was whether the presentation of a cheque for collection at a bank in Bombay or the issuance of a default notice from the complainant's location c…

The complainant presented a cheque, issued by the accused on a Karnataka bank, for collection at a Kerala bank and filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The question before the Supreme Court was whether the mere presentation of the cheque in Kerala, or the issuance of a notice demanding…

The appellants filed complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 in Delhi after cheques drawn on banks outside Delhi were presented for collection in Delhi and subsequently dishonoured. The notice of dishonour was also issued from Delhi. The Metropolitan Magistrate returned the complaints and t…

The case concerned the acquisition of land in Pune for the extension of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market yard, designated for a "Bamboo Trade and Flea Market". The land owners and Mutha Associates failed to object during the planning and acquisition stages and only challenged the award after poss…

The case arose from a violent clash over disputed agricultural land in Patiala, where a mob allegedly armed with firearms and sharp‑edged weapons fired on the complainant party, killing Amrik Singh and his son Vikramjit Singh. The trial court convicted eight accused under Sections 302 and 307 IPC and the Arms Act, and …

The appellant Rajaram Prasad Yadav was convicted for offences under Sections 324, 307 and 34 IPC. After the trial, the second respondent (the informant PW‑9) sought re‑examination under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, alleging coercion. The trial court dismissed the application, but the High Court allowe…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) found that Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd. and its affiliates had illegally raised public deposits through Optional Fully Convertible Debentures (OFCDs) and ordered them to refund the amount with interest. The companies failed to comply with the Court's and SE…

The Municipal Council of Sendhwa invited tenders for an integrated water supply scheme and accepted the bid of M/s P.C. Snehal Construction Company (respondent No.2). Tejas Constructions & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (appellant) challenged the award on two grounds: the successful bidder had not filed audited balance‑sheet…

The appellants, appointed as Senior and Junior Research Assistants at Dr. P.D. Krishi Vidyapeeth, challenged the cancellation of their appointments by the Chancellor, who had ordered an inquiry under the Maharashtra Agriculture Universities Act. The Chancellor appointed a single‑member Justice Dhabe Committee to invest…

The State of Punjab appealed against the High Court’s decision that the Commissioner of Excise and Taxation could not extend the three‑year limitation period for passing a sales‑tax assessment after that period had expired. The assessee, M/s Shreyans Indus Ltd., had filed returns for assessment years 2000‑01 to 2003‑04…

The appellant Chetram was convicted along with Ganga Ram for the murder of Udairaj under IPC sections 302 and 34. The sole eye‑witness, the victim's brother (PW‑1), initially reported in the FIR and to the investigating officer that only Ganga Ram stabbed the victim, attributing no role to Chetram. At trial, PW‑1 alter…

The petitioners, convicted under IPC 498‑A and the Dowry Prohibition Act, had their appeal dismissed and filed a revision petition under CrPC ss. 397 and 401 before the Jharkhand High Court. The High Court refused to register the revision because the petitioners had not surrendered to custody as mandated by Rule 159 of…

The Delhi Development Authority (DOA) awarded a construction contract to M/s Construction & Design Services for a sewerage pumping station, with Clause 2 stipulating liquidated damages of up to 10% of the estimated cost for delay. The contractor failed to complete the work, the contract was terminated, and the Superint…

Dr. Vinod Bhandari, Managing Director of a medical institute, was alleged to have conspired with Vyapam officials and middlemen to secure illegal admissions for undeserving candidates into MBBS courses, involving large sums of money and fraud. He was arrested in January 2014 and his bail applications were rejected by t…

The appellant, Kanaklata, challenged a discharge order of the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini, which dismissed the accused under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The High Court set aside that order and directed a fresh consideration, expressly stating that the trial court should not be influenced by it…

The respondent, a daily‑wage conductor, was employed by Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation from 3 October 1987 to 31 March 1989 and was terminated without payment of retrenchment compensation. The Labour Court held the termination illegal, ordering reinstatement with 65% back wages; the Gujarat High Court set aside the ba…

The Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh, representing 14 workmen of BCCL's Balihari Colliery, obtained a 1996 Industrial Tribunal award directing their regularisation without back wages. The Jharkhand High Court in 2004 modified the award, stipulating that the employer must give preference to these workmen when hiring reg…

The appellant Prempal was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC for allegedly grappling his sister‑in‑law Anita, pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze. The conviction rested primarily on Anita's dying declaration recorded by a Tehsildar after a medical officer certified her fitness to testify, despite her …

The State of Maharashtra took possession of the appellant's land in 1998 for a flood protection wall and later issued acquisition notifications under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Special Land Acquisition Officer awarded compensation in 2000, and the State paid rental compensation based on that award. The referen…

The appellant, an independent candidate, filed an election petition challenging the acceptance of nomination papers of the other candidates on the ground that their affidavits were not in the prescribed format required under the Representation of People Act and Election Commission directions. The High Court dismissed t…

The Supreme Court examined several petitions for compassionate appointments of dependents of government employees who died in service, filed under the Kerala Education Rules and a 1999 Government Order. It held that applications must be made within two years of death, or within three years after a minor attains majorit…

The Union of India appealed the acquittal of Mohanlal and another by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had held that the prosecution failed to prove the destruction of 3.36 kg of opium seized under Sections 8/18(b) read with 29 of the NDPS Act. The Supreme Court examined whether the lack of proof of destruction inva…

Ankush Shivaji Gaikwad and two others were convicted of murder for the death of Nilkanth Pawar after a sudden quarrel over a barking dog, during which Gaikwad struck the victim on the head with an iron pipe. The appellant argued that the incident was a sudden fight without pre‑meditation and that Exception 4 to Section…

The case involved a love affair between Sukumar Ray and Bandana Panchal, which was disapproved by Bandana's family. On the night of July 10, 1990, Sukumar entered Bandana's house and was violently beaten and dragged down a staircase by the accused, resulting in fatal head injuries. The trial court convicted the four ac…

The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against the respondent for dishonoured cheques, after serving a statutory notice on 23‑09‑2008. The complaint was lodged on 07‑10‑2008, i.e., before the expiry of the 15‑day period prescribed in the proviso to Section 138(c). The magist…

Omnia Technologies Ltd. entered into a marketing agreement with Dutch citizen W.M.A. Van Loosbroek on 14 January 2008, which was terminated by a separate termination agreement on 29 February 2008. Omnia alleged that Van Loosbroek failed to fulfil post‑termination obligations under Clause 13 of the original agreement an…

The petitioner filed a public‑interest writ under Article 32 seeking directions for adequate security and investigation of thefts of historic artefacts from several Indian museums, including the Viswabharati University museum, Asiatic Society, Nandan Art Gallery and Victoria Memorial. The Union of India and various mus…

The Supreme Court examined a public interest writ petition challenging the effectiveness of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 and its 2016 amendment, which aim to ensure speedy recovery of bank and financial institution dues through Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and Appellate Trib…

The Supreme Court, in an order dated 2 January 2017, directed the appointment of a new senior counsel to assist the Court in nominating members of the Committee of Administrators for the BCCI, after senior counsel Fali S. Nariman expressed a conflict of interest due to his prior retainer for the BCCI in 2009. The Court…

The mother of a deceased driver filed a claim under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923, and the Commissioner awarded Rs.4,48,000 as compensation. The insurer appealed, and the Karnataka High Court set aside the award, holding that the relationship between the deceased and his brother, the vehicle owner, was not satis…

The plaintiff, Praful Manohar Rele, sued the heirs of Narayan Keshav Ghosalkar for possession of a house, alleging that they occupied it as gratuitous licensees whose licence had been validly terminated. The defendants counter‑claimed that they were tenants and sought eviction under the Bombay Rent Act. The trial court…

Ishwar Chandra Jayaswal, a 75‑year‑old railway employee with 23 years of service, was charged with demanding and accepting small sums (Rs 26, Rs 34 and Rs 18) for issuing Fit Certificates to fellow railway staff. A departmental inquiry proved two of the three charges and the disciplinary authority removed him from serv…

The State of Maharashtra transferred a group of under‑trial prisoners from Arthur Road Jail in Bombay to other jails, citing overcrowding and security concerns, and the jail authorities later used force to quell a disturbance involving some of those prisoners. The prisoners filed writ petitions alleging that the transf…

The National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) was appointed as the executing agency for the redevelopment of Kidwai Nagar East colony in Delhi. Residents' welfare associations filed writ petitions alleging that NBCC had progressively encroached and permanently closed a public road, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali M…

The appellants were selected as police constables in Bihar on the basis that their recorded height exceeded that of the last candidate selected in each category. After four years of service they were dismissed following a departmental enquiry that found they had manipulated their height records, and a re‑measurement sh…

The appellant, a non‑resident Indian (NRI), let a shop to the respondent tenant and later returned to India, seeking eviction under Section 13‑B of the East Punjab Urban Land Restriction Act, 1949, on the ground of personal use. The Rent Controller and the High Court dismissed the petition, holding that the landlord ha…

Zuari Cement Ltd. had previously obtained exemption from the Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme under Section 87 of the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 for 1986‑1993, but its application for renewal for 1993‑2001 was rejected, leading to demand notices for contributions. The High Court directed the company to a…

The appellants were initially engaged on a contractual basis as Assistant Managers (Civil) by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority and continued to work for over ten years without a sanctioned post. An advertisement for the post was issued on 20‑Nov‑2002, but a regularisation policy for contractual employ…

The Supreme Court examined whether a magistrate had taken cognizance of an offence under Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) when a complaint was recorded and whether a complaint could be amended before cognizance was taken. It held that cognizance requires the magistrate to apply his judicial mind to the…

The case concerned a tea estate (Mathura Tea Estate) that defaulted on EPF contributions. After the estate was taken over by Eveready Industries (later McLeod Russel India Ltd.), the new management argued it was not the "employer" liable for damages under Section 148 of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous …

The appellants were charged under Sections 498A, 304B, 406 and 34 IPC for the death of Ms Chandni, the wife of Jasvinder Saini. The trial court initially framed charges under 498A, 304B and 34, but after the Supreme Court’s direction in Rajbir v. State of Haryana to add Section 302 IPC in dowry‑death cases, it mechanic…

The appellants, convicted of murder under Section 302 and kidnapping for ransom under Section 364A of the Indian Penal Code, were sentenced to death. They challenged the constitutional validity of Section 364A on the grounds that prescribing death for kidnapping for ransom violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitutio…

The original mining lease granted to Rajendra Nath Bhaskar was revoked after 13 years. Bhaskar died during the pendency of his challenge, and no substitution petition was filed by his heirs. The Madhya Pradesh High Court set aside the revocation but the lease expired, and the heirs later sought to continue mining for t…

The appellants, Bishnu Sarkar and his brother Madhab Sarkar, were convicted under Section 304 Part I read with Section 34 of the IPC for the death of Shyamalendu, an Income Tax Inspector, after a verbal altercation escalated into a physical assault. The trial and High Courts upheld a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment for …

P. Sanjeeva Rao was tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act for demanding and receiving a bribe. During the trial, prosecution witnesses PW1 (the complainant) and PW2 (an independent witness) were examined, but their cross‑examination was deferred pending the examination of the trap‑laying officer PW11. The appell…

Abdul Nasar Adam Ismail was detained under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) to prevent future smuggling. He challenged the detention on two grounds: that the detaining authority had not independently considered his representation and that t…

The appellants were convicted of murder under Sections 302 and 34 IPC based primarily on the testimony of a single witness (PW7) and the alleged motive that one accused disapproved of the victim's relationship with his sister. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of PW7, noting a material contradiction between hi…

Vismay Digambar Thakare, a former employee, appealed against Ramchandra Samaj Seva Samiti and an institution for back wages. The High Court had set aside a tribunal award of back wages. During the Supreme Court hearing, the parties negotiated a settlement where the respondents agreed to pay Rs 1 lakh as full and final …

The Supreme Court was asked to interpret Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, specifically the meaning of the pronoun "his" and whether the provision bars appeals based on religion, race, caste, community or language of the candidate, rival candidate, or the voter. The majority, led by Justice …

The Delhi High Court suo motu initiated contempt proceedings against the editor, city editor, publisher and cartoonist of the newspaper Mid Day for publishing articles and a cartoon that alleged judicial impropriety by former Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, deeming the publications contemptuous of the Supreme Court. The …

The Supreme Court examined the chronic delay in disposal of serious criminal cases in district courts, noting that many stays were issued by High Courts under Art. 226 of the Constitution and Sections 397/482 of the CrPC. It evaluated the Law Commission's "rate of disposal" method and the criticisms thereof, and consid…

Indira Jaising filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the designation of senior advocates under the Advocates Act, 1961. The Supreme Court reserved its order on 21 October 2016, but an application by R.R. Nair sought recall, arguing that non‑designated lawyers were not heard fully and that a related High Co…

Krishna Narayan Tewari, an officer of Allahabad Bank, was suspended in 2004 and subjected to a disciplinary enquiry that concluded he was guilty of misconduct, leading to his removal from service in 2005. His departmental appeal was dismissed, and he filed a writ petition before the Allahabad High Court, which quashed …

The petitioners, a group of army porters engaged as casual daily‑wage labour in border areas, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking to be treated as regular employees with the benefits of minimum pay‑scales, medical facilities, compensation and regularisation. The Union government argued that the porters are s…

The Supreme Court examined the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) failure to implement the Lodha Committee recommendations, particularly the appointment of a CAG nominee to the Apex Council, despite a prior judgment dated 18 July 2016. The Court found that President Anurag Thakur had sought a letter from th…

The Supreme Court heard extensive arguments in State of Uttar Pradesh v. Jai Bir Singh (Civil Appeal No. 897 of 2002). The Court examined the correctness of the view expressed in Bangalore Water Supply & Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa (1978) 2 SCC 213, which had been questioned in a prior reference order. Recognising the…

The appellant State of Madhya Pradesh challenged a Division Bench order that had set aside the Superintendent of Police’s refusal to grant a compassionate appointment to the respondent, Parvez Khan, who sought recruitment to the police service after his father’s death in service. The respondent had two criminal cases p…

The Supreme Court observed that the State of Jharkhand and other governments habitually file appeals and writ petitions after excessive delays, often justifying the lag by bureaucratic red tape. In the present case, a second appeal before the High Court was filed after 501 days and the petition before the Supreme Court…

The Supreme Court examined the proper territorial jurisdiction for criminal complaints filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. It held that the offence is completed when a cheque is dishonoured by the drawee bank, and therefore the court having jurisdiction over the place where the cheque is dishonou…

The appellants, including DSR Steel (P) Ltd., challenged the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission’s tariff order and the withdrawal of an incentive scheme, alleging promissory estoppel. Their review petitions were dismissed by the Commission and the Appellate Tribunal, and they filed appeals under Section 125 of…

The Supreme Court examined whether the doctrine of prospective overruling applied in Kailash Chand Sharma's case— which struck down bonus marks based on domicile for primary school teacher appointments— could be extended to a large group of appointees who were not parties before the High Court. The appellants, whose se…

Mahesh Chand Sharma appealed against the State of Rajasthan and others challenging a service law appointment/selection decision. The High Court had earlier dismissed the appeal, prompting a civil appeal. The Supreme Court condoned the delay in filing the appeal and granted leave to proceed. It held that the issues rais…

The appellants, who held B.L.S. degrees obtained through distance education from Alagappa University, applied for appointment as school librarians under the Bihar Municipality Secondary and Higher Secondary Teachers (Appointment and Service Condition) Rules, 2006 (amended 2008). The High Court dismissed their writ peti…

The appellants were convicted for publicly exhibiting obscene blue films to a young audience under Section 292 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7 of the Cinematograph Act. The trial court sentenced them to six months' simple imprisonment and a fine; the appellate court reduced the imprisonment …

Five workers employed on a temporary daily‑wage basis were terminated and approached the Labour Commissioner for conciliation after delays ranging from three to ten years. The Labour Court awarded reinstatement, but the High Court quashed the award on the ground of inordinate delay, directing only a Rs 10,000 compensat…

The Supreme Court examined a series of seven ordinances issued by the Governor of Bihar between 1989 and 1992 to take over non‑government Sanskrit schools. None of the ordinances were laid before the state legislature as required by Article 213(2) and they were repeatedly re‑promulgated, violating the precedent set in …