Real judgements, distilled
Court judgements broken down into the case type, how the decision played out, and the lesson worth remembering, with the full judgement available as a PDF.
Civil Appeal · 2026 INSC 1094
An older qualification must still satisfy the eligibility rules governing the appointment sought. Here, the certificate's early date did not secure reinstatement, and rejection of eligibility should not be confused with a conclusive finding that the certificate was forged.
Civil Appeal · 2026 INSC 1095
A party benefiting from a conditional stay must meet its deposit requirement or face enforcement. The additional ₹15 crore deposit secures the pending dispute; it does not settle the land's final compensation or amount to an immediate payment to the landowners.
Criminal Appeal · 2026 INSC 1093
An alleged attempt to kill does not become a lesser offence simply because the victim avoided a fatal injury. Restoring this charge means the accusation must be tried; it does not establish that the accused is guilty.
Civil Appeal · 2026 INSC 1090
For the assessment in this case, assistance reducing ordinary manufacturing costs was taxable even though the government wanted to encourage industry. The purpose and actual operation of the particular subsidy mattered more than its general development label.
Criminal Appeal · 2026 INSC 1091
Proof that someone caused a serious injury does not by itself prove the additional ingredients of robbery. A court can substitute a lesser offence supported by the evidence; the sentencing reduction here depended on Appa's particular circumstances.
Special Leave Petition (Civil) · 2026 INSC 1092
Someone challenging an election must ensure that the personal-presentation requirement is met and can be proved. Merely entering the court building does not establish compliance, and a filing defect can end the challenge before the election allegations are examined.
Civil Appeal · 2026 INSC 1088
An employee who retires on 30 June may be entitled to the increment that falls due on 1 July after completing a year of service. Authorities that delay paying the amounts due must pay interest after the deadline set by the court.
Civil Appeal · 2026 INSC 1089
Recruitment must follow the qualifications stated in the advertisement and the governing Recruitment Rules. A court will not override a merit-based eligibility decision made under those rules merely because the candidate concerned was higher in the written test.
Writ Petition (Criminal) · 2026:DHC:8797
A person who occupied property only because of employment has no independent right to remain once the employment and decree end. Even when a petition fails, courts can make practical arrangements to let a person recover personal belongings.
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Log in to see moreA Maharashtra co-operative bank obtained a recovery award and certificate against a defaulting firm and, through the Recovery Officer, put the firm's mortgaged plot in Chembur, Mumbai up for public auction in 2005. Adishakti Developers was the successful bidder and deposited a total of about Rs. 1.51 crore towards the sale, but the balance payment was accepted beyond the time limit fixed by the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Rules, 1961. Years later, the judgment-debtor's legal heirs challenged the auction, and the Bombay High Court held the sale confirmation void for breaching the statutory payment timeline, while also directing certain refunds and liberty to claim damages. Both the auction purchaser and the bank appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Court held that Rule 107(11)(g) and (h) of the 1961 Rules, which fix strict timelines for depositing auction money, are mandatory and serve a public purpose, preserving the integrity of public auctions, not merely the private interest of the creditor, so they cannot be waived merely because the parties did not object at the time. It therefore upheld the High Court's finding that the 2005 auction sale and its confirmation were void for non-compliance with the statutory timeline. However, since the delay in depositing the balance was attributable to the Recovery Officer's own conduct and not any fault of the auction purchaser, the Court modified the relief: it set aside the auction and confirmation, directed a fresh auction of the property under Rule 107(11)(j), and ordered the bank to refund Adishakti's deposited amount with 6% annual interest, while leaving the bank's rights against the original borrower open.
Statutory timelines governing public auctions of mortgaged or attached property are strictly enforced by courts because they protect the fairness of the auction process itself, not just the parties involved: a sale can be undone years later for missing them, but an innocent bidder who paid in good faith is entitled to a refund with interest rather than being left empty-handed.
