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 moreFour friends from Bijapur, on a pilgrimage to Shirdi, died on the spot when their car was hit head-on by a rashly driven goods lorry on the Bijapur-Horti Road. The claimants (family of one of the deceased) sought enhanced compensation. The Tribunal fixed the deceased's monthly income at Rs. 6,000, but the High Court reduced it to Rs. 5,500 without giving any reasoning, prompting this appeal.
The Supreme Court held that the High Court's reduction of income was unreasoned and unsustainable, since the trial court had relied on documentary evidence showing the deceased was a pharmacy diploma holder involved in a medical shop, a pharmaceutical distributorship, and a cooperative bank directorship (though none of these incomes was fully proven). Drawing an analogy to what even an unskilled worker (a coolie) would have earned by 2010, the Court fixed the deceased's monthly income at Rs. 12,000. It upheld the multiplier of 14 and 25% future prospects, along with standard amounts for loss of estate, funeral expenses, and loss of consortium (extended to spouse, children, and parents), raising the total award to Rs. 20,80,000, payable with 6% interest within three months.
In motor accident compensation cases, appellate courts must not reduce a tribunal's income determination without recording clear reasons or referring to evidence; compensation should realistically reflect a deceased person's demonstrated skills and multiple income sources rather than being arbitrarily lowered.
