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 petitioners' late father's land had, according to them, been taken over by the State without proper acquisition or compensation. After a title suit, appeal and writ petition, the Calcutta High Court (Single Judge, confirmed by the Division Bench) had directed the State to complete acquisition proceedings and pay compensation by a deadline, with a daily penalty for delay; the Supreme Court had dismissed the State's further appeal in October 2017, granting it four months to comply. When the State still had not passed a formal compensation Award, the petitioners filed this contempt petition.
The Court noted that the State had deposited over Rs. 7.8 crore with the Supreme Court Registry during the contempt proceedings but had still not passed the formal "Award" required under land acquisition law, instead trying to apply a different compensation policy and citing a separate pending second appeal as a reason to withhold payment. The Court rejected this delay tactic, directing the State Government to pass an Award in accordance with the High Court's directions within four weeks, and for compensation to then be paid per that Award, while noting the State's pending second appeal could be considered separately by the High Court on its own merits. The contempt petition itself was accordingly disposed of with these compliance directions.
Depositing money with a court is not a substitute for actually complying with a court's substantive directions (such as passing a formal compensation Award): a contempt petition can succeed in forcing the specific compliance step that was being avoided, even while leaving a separate, genuinely pending appeal to be decided on its own track.
