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 moreThis writ petition under Article 32 was filed highlighting the lack of any statutory scheme in India to protect witnesses in criminal trials from threats, intimidation, and retaliation, which the Court noted often causes witnesses to turn hostile or avoid testifying altogether. The Union of India, in response, placed before the Court a draft "Witness Protection Scheme, 2018," prepared with input from States, Union Territories, NALSA, police authorities, High Courts, and civil society. No Parliamentary legislation on witness protection existed at the time, despite the Court having flagged the need for one in earlier cases such as Sakshi.
The Supreme Court gave its approval to the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 in its entirety, covering categories of threat perception, protection measures (police protection, identity change, relocation, confidentiality of records, etc.), and procedure for witnesses to seek protection. It directed that the Scheme take effect immediately and be enforced by the Union, States, and Union Territories in letter and spirit, declaring it to have the force of "law" under Articles 141 and 142 of the Constitution until Parliament or the States enact a formal statute. It further directed that vulnerable-witness deposition complexes be set up in every district court in the country within a year (by the end of 2019), with Central Government financial support to the States.
Witnesses in India now have a court-mandated protection framework, the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, that is binding nationwide as law until Parliament legislates on the subject; a witness facing threats can invoke this Scheme for measures like police protection, identity concealment, or relocation.
