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, named as accused No. 18 in an NIA case arising from RC No. 38/2018/NIA/DLI, is alleged to have been part of a conspiracy linked to a terror group, with an alleged role in funding and communication with other accused. He has been in custody since 31.08.2021, more than five years, and the trial has only just begun, with one of 161 prosecution witnesses examined. The Special Court refused him bail on 29.05.2024.
The Division Bench set aside the Special Court's order and granted bail. It held that the trial was unlikely to end soon, that there was no positive evidence yet that incriminating chats came from the appellant, and that the prosecution could only prove those matters through the evidence. Relying on Supreme Court decisions on the right to a speedy trial under UAPA-type restrictions, it held that restrictions on bail melt down where the trial is far off and detention is long. The release was subject to a bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties, surrender of any passport, a bar on leaving his native district except to attend court, fortnightly reporting, and no contact with witnesses or social-media statements. The Court stressed that its observations were made only for the bail question.
In serious security-related cases, a very long pre-trial detention with little progress can outweigh restrictive bail provisions, and courts may release the accused with strict conditions. Bail can always be cancelled if conditions are breached.
