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 had been convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (dishonour of cheque) and fined Rs. 10,000, which he had already paid. While admitting his revision petition against the conviction, the High Court suspended his sentence but imposed an additional condition requiring him to deposit one-fourth of the cheque amount. The appellant challenged this extra condition before the Supreme Court, which had earlier stayed it.
The Supreme Court noted that the Magistrate's fine of Rs. 10,000 had already been paid, and that while a Revisional Court does have the power to impose conditions when suspending a sentence, doing so here was not warranted given the peculiar facts. The first respondent's counsel had no objection to allowing the appeal provided the High Court was directed to dispose of the pending revision expeditiously. The Court accordingly vacated the High Court's condition requiring deposit of one-fourth of the cheque amount and requested the High Court to dispose of the Criminal Revision Case within six months, noting the respondent was a senior citizen. The appeal itself was disposed of in these terms.
A court suspending a sentence pending appeal/revision can impose reasonable conditions, but such conditions must be proportionate to the facts, where the underlying fine has already been fully paid, an additional heavy deposit condition may not be justified.
