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 moreA married woman's complaint led to a dowry-harassment FIR naming her husband and several in-laws, including the appellant, her husband's paternal uncle's son, who lived at a different address from the immediate family. Three of the accused (including the appellant) approached the Madras High Court to quash the proceedings against them; the High Court quashed the case against one relative but dismissed the appellant's plea, finding "some averments" against him. The appellant then appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court found that the complaint contained only a bald, non-specific allegation against the appellant (that he, his mother and wife were "abusing" the complainant), with no specific overt act attributed to him, and that he was not even residing with the immediate family at the relevant time. Applying the settled principles from State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal on when courts may quash proceedings to prevent abuse of process, the Court held the appellant was similarly placed to the relative already exonerated by the High Court, allowed the appeal, and quashed the proceedings against him, while making clear it expressed no view on the case against the husband and immediate family, which could proceed to trial.
Criminal cases under dowry-harassment laws cannot be sustained against distant or non-cohabiting relatives based on vague, generalised allegations: the law requires specific, attributable conduct, not guilt by family association.
