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 moreA bank branch manager (T. Maran) at the Indian Overseas Bank, Narikudi, was accused of sanctioning agricultural jewel loans by manipulating jewel-pledge account records, in three separate transactions involving different loanees. The trial court and the Madras High Court convicted the branch manager under provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, and also convicted two of the loanees (M. Ramalingam and N. Rajangam) as co-accused under conspiracy and forgery-related charges, holding all appellants liable with two years' rigorous imprisonment. The branch manager and the two loanees filed separate appeals before the Supreme Court against their convictions.
The Supreme Court upheld the branch manager's conviction, finding sufficient evidence that he had manipulated jewel-loan records for his own benefit and no error in the courts below. However, for the two loanees, the Court found no evidence connecting them to the fraudulent scheme: they were illiterate agriculturists who had merely applied for loans, with no proof they knew the loans were sanctioned without proper security being pledged. The prosecution failed to prove the conspiracy and forgery charges against them beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the appeals of the two loanees were allowed and their convictions set aside, while the branch manager's appeal was dismissed and he was directed to surrender to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Criminal conviction for conspiracy or fraud requires proof of actual knowledge or complicity, not mere association with a transaction later found fraudulent: an ordinary borrower who innocently avails a loan cannot be convicted merely because the sanctioning official acted dishonestly.
