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, riding pillion on a motorbike, was seriously injured when a bus collided with the bike, killing the bike's driver and leading to amputation of the appellant's right leg below the knee along with a deformed right hand. He had been earning about Rs. 9,918 per month as a watchman, a job he could no longer continue. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal apportioned 20% negligence to the bike driver and 80% to the bus driver, and awarded roughly Rs. 16.3 lakh in compensation; the High Court increased the award by applying a 40% "future prospects" enhancement to the income figure.
The Supreme Court held that the High Court had misapplied the future-prospects addition, since the appellant's actual income loss (not a projected future income) was the relevant figure for permanent disability compensation, the calculation needed correction. Recomputing the heads of claim, the Court arrived at a total compensation of Rs. 28,79,112.72, factoring in loss of income (with the correctly applied 40% enhancement), attendant charges and special diet for six months, medical bills, and an increased amount for pain and suffering. The amount was apportioned between the bike and bus insurers in the same 20:80 ratio, payable within two months with 9% annual interest, after adjusting for sums already paid.
Motor accident compensation for permanent disability must follow the settled formulas precisely, including how "future prospects" enhancements interact with actual proven income, and victims are entitled to a fair, itemized award covering pain, suffering, and ongoing care costs, not just lost wages.
