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 2020 FIR in Bangalore alleged a conspiracy involving 17 accused under the IPC, the Arms Act, and the UAPA; the case was later taken over by the NIA. Saleem Khan (accused no. 11) and Mohd. Zaid (accused no. 20) were both denied bail by the trial court, but the Karnataka High Court's 2022 order granted bail to Saleem Khan (finding his alleged links to an organisation called AL-Hind, which is not a banned organisation) while refusing bail to Mohd. Zaid (found to have links to banned terrorist organisations and dark-web activity). The Union of India appealed the grant of bail to Saleem Khan, while Mohd. Zaid separately appealed the refusal of his own bail.
The Supreme Court declined to interfere with either part of the High Court's order, holding both outcomes were fully justified and reasonable on the material on record. It upheld bail for Saleem Khan, noting AL-Hind was not a banned organisation, that the High Court's order was already about 3.5 years old, and that the accused had been in custody 5.5 years with charges still not framed and trial not begun. It upheld the refusal of bail to Mohd. Zaid given his documented links to banned terrorist outfits and dark-web involvement, even though he had separately obtained bail in a related Tamil Nadu case. Recognising the prolonged pre-trial custody (over 100 prosecution witnesses yet to be examined), the Court directed the trial court to expedite and conclude the trial within two years, with full cooperation from both prosecution and accused, and left it open to seek cancellation of Saleem Khan's bail if he caused delay. Both appeals were accordingly dismissed.
Even in serious anti-terror prosecutions, bail decisions turn on specific evidence linking an individual to a banned organisation or activity: mere association with a non-banned group is not enough to deny bail, especially after years of custody without trial. At the same time, courts can pair a bail grant with firm timelines to prevent further delay in the underlying trial.
