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 appellants were workmen who, despite having around five years of service, were denied reinstatement by their employer (the District Development Officer) even though their juniors were retained, leading to decades of litigation that continued even after one of the appellants, Khimjibhai Muljibhai Mahida, passed away and was represented by his legal heirs. The High Court of Gujarat had earlier awarded the workmen compensation of Rs. 1,85,000 instead of reinstatement, and this amount was challenged as inadequate before the Supreme Court. During the hearing, the Court directed the respondents' counsel to check whether any vacancies existed for the appellants, and was informed that none currently existed.
The Supreme Court allowed the appeals, finding that the compensation of Rs. 1,85,000 awarded by the High Court was too low given the roughly three decades of prolonged litigation the workmen had endured. It enhanced the compensation to Rs. 6,50,000 each, in addition to amounts already paid, as full and final settlement of all claims, to be paid within six weeks. The Court also directed that one of the appellants, Karshanbhai Ramjibhai Jaladiya, be given preferential appointment if any future vacancy for Work Charged Clerk or Carpenter arises, subject to his eligibility. The Court was careful to clarify that this enhanced compensation was fixed based on the peculiar facts of this specific case and should not be treated as a general precedent for other matters.
Compensation awarded in lieu of reinstatement should reasonably account for the length and hardship of litigation a workman has had to endure, though courts may tailor such relief to the specific facts of a case rather than setting a fixed formula for all similar disputes.
