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 petitioner, a government Audit Inspector, was accused of demanding illegal gratification through a middleman in connection with an audit of development works carried out during a Sarpanch's tenure. The co-accused, who allegedly collected the bribe on the petitioner's behalf, was caught red-handed accepting the money, and an audio recording allegedly captured the petitioner confirming receipt of the bribe and instructing that it be passed to a third party. The High Court had already refused him anticipatory bail, and he approached the Supreme Court against that refusal.
The Supreme Court held that mere demand or solicitation of a bribe by a public servant is itself an offence under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and actual receipt of the bribe is not essential to establish guilt. Given the corroborating audio recording and the red-handed apprehension of the middleman, the Court found no exceptional circumstances, such as false implication or a politically motivated or frivolous case, that would justify anticipatory bail in a corruption matter, emphasizing that courts should not hesitate to deny pre-arrest protection where the evidence against a public servant is strong. The petition was accordingly dismissed, though the Court clarified this does not prejudge a future regular bail application, which would be decided on its own merits.
Anticipatory bail in corruption cases is granted only in truly exceptional circumstances, not as a matter of right, and even the mere act of demanding or agreeing to accept a bribe, without actually receiving it, is enough to constitute the offence and can be enough to deny pre-arrest protection.
