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 State Bank of India employee, had his application for voluntary retirement rejected by the Bank on the ground that disciplinary proceedings were pending against him; the High Court had upheld that rejection as justified. By the time his appeal reached the Supreme Court, the Bank informed the Court that the disciplinary proceedings had since concluded with a penalty of "lowering of one grade," and that the appellant was now free to apply afresh for voluntary retirement. The appellant separately raised that certain salary and allowance arrears remained unpaid, and had also filed a contempt petition connected to the matter.
Given that the disciplinary proceedings were no longer pending, the Supreme Court held it unnecessary to rule on the correctness of the earlier rejection and instead resolved the dispute practically: it directed the Bank to clear any outstanding arrears of salary and allowances within one month, subject to the appellant completing the required formalities, and expressly preserved his right to challenge the penalty imposed on him under the applicable service rules, clarifying that this judgment would not stand in his way. On that basis, the appeal was disposed of, and the connected contempt petition was closed since no separate orders were needed in light of the judgment.
When the factual basis for an administrative rejection (such as pending disciplinary proceedings) ceases to exist during litigation, courts will often resolve the dispute through practical directions, such as clearing dues and preserving the right to pursue fresh remedies, rather than ruling on the now-moot original rejection.
