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.
14543 more judgements for members
You're seeing the newest cases. Log in — it's free — to keep scrolling, search by name or judge, and filter by court or legal area.
Log in to see moreThe husband and wife were locked in prolonged, multi-front litigation spanning matrimonial appeals before the Kerala High Court, multiple writ petitions, proceedings before the Family Court at Tiruvalla, and several criminal complaints/FIRs, including disputes over a minor child's passport. The husband approached the Supreme Court challenging a Kerala High Court order in the matrimonial appeals.
The Supreme Court first directed the parties to mediation, and although the initial attempt failed, the Court itself held extended interactions with the parties and, with the help of a senior counsel appointed to mediate the remaining disputes, the parties finally reached a comprehensive settlement, including on monetary/alimony terms. The Court treated the deed of settlement as part of the decree, allowed the parties' joint application under Section 10-A of the Divorce Act, and dissolved the marriage by mutual consent. It also directed that the alimony of Rs. 1.25 crore not be treated as taxable income, ordered the Passport Officer to process the child's passport application without regard to the now-settled litigation, and closed out every connected writ petition, Family Court case, and criminal proceeding between the parties.
Courts can use structured mediation, including direct judicial interaction with the parties, to resolve even deeply entrenched, multi-forum matrimonial disputes through a single comprehensive settlement that disposes of all related civil and criminal proceedings at once: a far faster and less adversarial route than fighting out each case separately.
