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 moreIn a fatal road accident at 2:30 am on a national highway, the appellant's husband, driving a car, collided with a truck and died on the spot. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal found the truck driver solely negligent based on eyewitness testimony and awarded full compensation. On appeal, the High Court reversed this finding, holding both drivers 50% contributorily negligent, halving the compensation, and also deducting an amount awarded for loss of love and affection. The widow appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging only the finding of contributory negligence.
The Supreme Court examined the vehicle inspection report, which showed the truck's damage was concentrated on its left side, and the testimony of an eyewitness mechanic who saw the truck being driven rashly on the wrong (right) lane before it swerved left into the car's path. This evidence was corroborated by the truck driver's own conduct (he remained ex parte and did not contest the negligence allegation) and other witness testimony. The Court held the High Court had found contributory negligence on "mere surmises and conjectures" without any real evidentiary basis, set aside that finding, and restored the Tribunal's award in full (minus only the correctly deleted love-and-affection amount, since consortium compensation was separately awarded), with 7.5% interest.
A finding of contributory negligence in a motor accident claim must be based on concrete evidence, such as inspection reports and credible eyewitness testimony, not speculation: appellate courts should not disturb a well-supported Tribunal finding without a sound evidentiary basis.
