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 Tripura land title and possession suit, the trial court dismissed the plaintiffs' suit, but the First Appellate Court reversed this and declared the plaintiffs owners entitled to possession. The defendants challenged this in a second appeal before the Gauhati High Court. When the matter came up for hearing, counsel for the defendants-appellants failed to appear and no adjournment request was made on their behalf, so the High Court went ahead and dismissed the second appeal on its merits rather than simply for non-appearance.
The Supreme Court held that under Order XLI Rule 17(1) of the Code of Civil Procedure, as clarified by its 1977 Explanation, an appellate court faced with an absent appellant may only dismiss the appeal for default of appearance: it has no power to decide and dismiss the appeal on its actual merits. This rule exists precisely so that an absent appellant retains the opportunity to later show sufficient cause for non-appearance and have the appeal restored, an opportunity lost if the court rules on the merits instead. Since the High Court had expressly proceeded to decide the second appeal "on merits" in the admitted absence of the appellants' counsel, its order directly contravened Rule 17(1). The Supreme Court therefore set aside the High Court's judgment and decree and remitted the second appeal back to the High Court for fresh disposal in accordance with law, with no order as to costs.
If your lawyer misses a court date on appeal, the appellate court is legally barred from deciding your case on its merits in your absence: it can only dismiss for non-appearance, which preserves your right to seek restoration by showing a valid reason for being absent.
