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, a manufacturer of aluminium foil products, hired the respondent logistics company to ship containers of goods to the USA. A dispute arose when the respondent released one container's goods to the buyer without receiving payment or the original bill of lading, causing the appellant a financial loss of about USD 28,065. When the appellant tried to invoke arbitration under Clause 25 of the shipping contract's bill of lading, the respondent objected, arguing the clause only gave an option to arbitrate, not a binding obligation to do so. The Bombay High Court agreed with the respondent and refused to appoint an arbitrator, prompting this appeal.
The Supreme Court examined Clause 25, which stated disputes "can be settled by arbitration," and applied settled principles of contractual interpretation: that the words chosen by the parties are the best evidence of their intent, and courts must not read in obligations the text does not support. Relying on precedent (including Jagdish Chander v. State of NCT of Delhi), the Court held that words like "can" merely indicate a possibility or desire to arbitrate, not a binding commitment, and such clauses require a further, fresh agreement between the parties before arbitration can actually be invoked. Since Clause 25 lacked the essential attributes of a true arbitration agreement (such as a determination that the tribunal's decision would be binding), the Court held it was not a valid arbitration agreement and dismissed the appeal, upholding the High Court's refusal to appoint an arbitrator.
When drafting a contract, use unambiguous, mandatory language ("disputes shall be referred to arbitration") if you want arbitration to be compulsory: permissive words like "can" or "may" will likely be read by courts as leaving the door open to other remedies (like ordinary civil litigation), not as locking parties into arbitration.
