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 20-year-old man was rendered permanently paraplegic after suffering a C4-5 spinal fracture when a rashly-driven car hit the motorcycle he was riding pillion on, causing him to fall and be run over. The vehicle's owner was driving it himself, and it was insured. The victim (later represented by his mother, and now by his legal representative after his death) appealed only against the quantum of compensation: specifically the income assessed and the future medical expenses claimed through hospital bills from Goa and Bengaluru.
The insurance company disputed some medical bills, arguing they predated the High Court's earlier disposal and were hard to verify given they came from cities away from the victim's home. The Supreme Court held that even though the victim had not completed his Chartered Accountancy qualification, he could reasonably have been employed as an accountant, and fixed his notional monthly income at Rs. 5,000, adding 40% for future prospects as per the Pranay Sethi precedent. This produced a loss-of-income award of Rs. 15,12,000, which combined with Rs. 14 lakh in conventional heads and Rs. 11,22,356 in medical expenses totalled Rs. 40,34,356, carrying 9% interest. The Court additionally awarded Rs. 20 lakh towards future medical expenses for the parents, payable within four months (also carrying 9% interest if delayed).
In motor accident compensation cases, courts will assess a fair and realistic notional income for a young victim even without a completed professional qualification, and will separately account for genuine future medical expenses beyond the standard compensation heads.
