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 moreThe appellant, a housing cooperative society, had filed a criminal complaint under the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act alleging violations by respondents in executing a housing project and allotting flats. The Metropolitan Magistrate dismissed the complaint and acquitted the accused. When the society sought leave to appeal that acquittal before the Bombay High Court under Section 378(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the High Court declined to grant such leave, prompting this further appeal to the Supreme Court.
The only question before the Supreme Court was whether the High Court was justified in refusing leave to appeal. After examining the Magistrate's order and the grounds raised, the Court held that given the nature of the alleged violations and the material on record, a full appellate hearing was warranted and the High Court ought to have granted leave. It accordingly allowed the appeal, set aside the High Court's refusal, and itself granted leave to the society to file its appeal in the High Court. The actual merits of the underlying criminal complaint were expressly left undecided and remanded to the High Court to be heard and decided on their own merits, uninfluenced by any of the Supreme Court's observations, with a request that the long-pending matter be expedited.
A High Court cannot summarily shut the door on a complainant's right to appeal an acquittal under Section 378(4) CrPC where the nature of the alleged violations and the record justify a full hearing on the merits; the threshold question of "leave to appeal" is distinct from, and must not substitute for, a decision on the merits themselves.
