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 respondents had earlier obtained directions from the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) requiring preference to be given to a group of women candidates in filling 3,000 Basic Health Worker vacancies. When the respondents complained that the state health department had not properly complied, the High Court, in contempt proceedings, found a prima facie case of contempt and directed that if compliance was not made within 15 days, the Principal Secretary and the Director General of the department personally appear before it to show cause. The state officials appealed to the Supreme Court against this direction compelling their personal appearance.
The Supreme Court condoned the delay in filing and granted leave, then agreed with the appellants' counsel that the High Court should not have compelled the personal appearance of the Principal Secretary and other officials before first giving them an opportunity to submit their explanation for the alleged non-compliance. The Court disposed of the appeal by clarifying the correct procedure: only after the High Court considers the officials' explanation, and finds it unacceptable with the officials otherwise liable to be proceeded against for contempt, should their personal appearance be insisted upon. No costs were awarded.
Even in contempt proceedings against government officials for not complying with a court order, basic fairness requires giving the officials a chance to explain themselves in writing before a court compels their personal appearance to "show cause": personal appearance is a later step, not the first one.
