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 moreThe appellant Chamber of Commerce had taken steps to expel certain members from its ranks. The expelled members challenged this before the civil court, which ruled in their favour, and that decision was upheld by both the First Appellate Court and the High Court, each finding that the expulsion violated principles of natural justice. The Chamber then appealed to the Supreme Court.
During the pendency of the appeal, both sides agreed to refer the dispute to a retired High Court judge (Justice A.R. Ramalingam) for an independent inquiry, with costs shared 67:33 between the parties and the expelled members directed to respond to the original show-cause notice. After the retired judge submitted his report, the Supreme Court declined to go into its merits, holding that since both sides had voluntarily agreed to this reference, the report could not be said to improperly override the earlier court judgments. The Court disposed of the appeal, clarifying that its order did not bar the respondents from pursuing other lawful remedies regarding membership, and noted it would be open to them to tender an unconditional apology and reapply, which the Chamber would be expected to consider generously.
When parties voluntarily agree to resolve a dispute through an independent, mutually appointed arbitrator/inquiry officer, courts will generally respect that consensual process rather than second-guess its findings on merits.
