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 nine-year-old girl went missing in Madhya Pradesh in January 2013 and was later found dead; the appellant, a neighbour, was arrested and charged with her abduction, rape and murder under the IPC and the POCSO Act. A legal-aid lawyer was appointed for him only the day before charges were framed, and the trial, including examination of all 13 prosecution witnesses, was completed within about a week, resulting in a conviction and death sentence that the High Court confirmed. The appellant challenged this before the Supreme Court, arguing he was never given real, meaningful legal assistance.
The Supreme Court held that in a capital case, courts must ensure legal aid counsel is given adequate time and opportunity to study the matter and effectively represent the accused, appointing counsel at the last minute in a fast-tracked trial, as happened here, amounted to a denial of meaningful legal aid and resulted in a miscarriage of justice. The Court therefore set aside the conviction and death sentence passed by both the Trial Court and the High Court and directed a de novo (fresh) trial, allowing the appellant's new counsel to raise issues on charges, recalling witnesses, and expert evidence. It also laid down prospective norms: Amicus Curiae/legal-aid counsel in potential life/death sentence cases should have at least 10 years at the Bar, Senior Advocates should be preferred in death-confirmation matters before High Courts, and at least seven days should normally be given to prepare.
The right to a fair trial includes the right to genuinely effective legal representation, not just a lawyer's formal presence: this is especially critical where a death sentence is possible, and courts must guard against justice being sacrificed for speed.
