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 Singapore bank, on behalf of an exporter of chickpeas, sent shipping documents to State Bank of Hyderabad for collection of payment from Indian buyers. The State Bank accepted bills of exchange by telex and fax, but did not pay. It later said the telexes had been issued without authority by officials who were acting with outsiders, and the CBI had registered a case. The Singapore bank filed a summary suit and obtained a decree without the State Bank being allowed to defend it.
The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and set aside the decree. It held that the State Bank had raised real, triable issues: whether the telexes were authorised, whether the bills were properly accepted, whether the suit was time-barred, and whether the CBI and RBI material supported its case. Following settled principles, a defendant who raises a triable issue or a reasonable defence must be given leave to defend, and a summary decree can be passed only where the defence is illusory or sham. The State Bank was therefore granted unconditional leave to defend. The trial court was directed to decide all issues afresh, and the Court expressed no view on the merits, and there was no order as to costs.
A quick "summary" judgment for money cannot be given where the defendant shows a genuine, arguable defence; that dispute must go through a full trial. Parties in large cross-border banking transactions should make sure that any acceptance of a bill is properly documented under the law.
