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 case concerned a disputed election for the post of Mukhiya (village head) of Gram Panchayat Kansi, District Darbhanga, Bihar. At the time results were declared, the votes of one polling booth (Booth No. 8), though actually counted, were left out of the result sheet, causing the first respondent to be declared the winner. The appellant challenged the election, and after multiple rounds of litigation the Election Tribunal ordered re-totaling of votes, which was then further contested before the High Court.
The Supreme Court examined the official vote records (Form 21) and found that, once Booth No. 8's votes were properly included, the appellant had actually scored 1565 votes against the first respondent's 1557 votes, meaning the appellant was the true winner. The Court held that the first respondent had continued to hold office only due to the Returning Officer's clerical lapse, and that "no technicality shall stand against the will of the people expressed through their votes." Noting the litigation had already dragged on for two-and-a-half years, the Court decided to give it finality, dismissed the pending High Court proceedings, and directed the Returning Officer to formally notify the correct result and administer the oath of office to the appellant within one week.
In election disputes, the actual votes validly cast and counted take precedence over administrative or clerical errors in compiling the result sheet: courts will look past technical lapses to honour the genuine will of the voters, and will act to bring long-pending election litigation to a swift conclusion.
