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 morePunjab National Bank had earlier absorbed 23 of its canteen workers into regular service. This long-running dispute concerned 29 more canteen workers (represented through their union) who were similarly seeking absorption into the Bank's regular workforce. By the time the matter reached the Supreme Court, the only surviving issue was whether these 29 workers were entitled to the same relief.
The Supreme Court invoked its special constitutional power under Article 142 to do complete justice and bring finality to the long-pending dispute. It directed the Bank to appoint all 29 canteen workers forthwith, on the condition that they be paid at least half the wages of Class-IV employees (or the prevailing state minimum wage, whichever is higher), and that they receive the same other benefits already extended to the 23 workers absorbed earlier, effective from the same date as those 23 workers' appointments. In exchange, it directed that no further or additional claims could be raised by the workers on this count. The High Court's judgment under appeal was set aside, and the appeal was finally disposed of on these terms.
The Supreme Court can use its Article 142 powers to craft a practical, final settlement in long-running labour disputes, balancing workers' claims to parity and absorption against finality for the employer, rather than leaving the matter to further rounds of litigation.
