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 Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai had filed a contempt petition against the respondents (a workers'/employees' body) before the Bombay High Court, alleging that the respondents had violated a court order by going on an illegal strike back in 2007. The High Court dismissed the contempt petition after the respondents explained their conduct and tendered an unconditional apology, concluding it was difficult to make a definitive finding of contempt. The Corporation, dissatisfied with this outcome, appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court noted that the 2007 strike was now several years in the past, that the parties appeared to have "purchased peace" since then, and that the respondents had already tendered an unconditional apology before the High Court for their alleged contumacious conduct. Given this, the Court did not consider it necessary to conduct any further inquiry into whether contempt had actually been committed. The Court did, however, add a clear caution that the respondents remain bound to respect and comply with court and tribunal orders in letter and spirit, and that failing to do so in future would expose them to a contempt charge. Subject to this observation, the appeal was disposed of with no order as to costs.
Courts may decline to press a contempt finding where significant time has passed, peace has been restored between the parties, and an unconditional apology has been tendered, but this leniency comes with an explicit warning that future non-compliance with court orders will not be treated so lightly.
