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 and respondent, a married couple embroiled in matrimonial litigation, challenged a Bombay High Court judgment arising from a dispute that included the custody of their child. The Supreme Court referred the parties to a trained mediator, Mrs. Sadhana Ramachandran, to try to resolve matters amicably. The parties ultimately reached a mutual Settlement Agreement dated 27.07.2018 and jointly applied for divorce by mutual consent under Section 10A of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869. A related contempt petition arising from the same litigation was also pending before the Court.
The Court, satisfied that the parties had genuinely and consciously agreed to separate, invoked its special power under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant complete justice and allowed the joint divorce petition under Section 10A. It dissolved the marriage by mutual consent, directed that the settlement agreement form part of the decree, and extended by six months the time for the parties to perform their obligations under Clause 6 of the agreement. The Court emphasised that despite the divorce, both parents remain permanently bound to love, protect, and guide their child, who in turn owes them respect and affection. The connected contempt petition was closed as a consequence of this disposal, and the Court specially commended the mediator's efforts.
Courts actively encourage mediated, mutual-consent resolution of matrimonial disputes, and even after a marriage ends, both parents retain an ongoing, non-negotiable duty of care and affection toward their children.
