Landmark Supreme Court of India rulings, explained in clear, plain language.
Showing 15 of 177 judgments
Can an uncle-in-law adopt a ghardamad to inherit property under Oraon tribal custom?
Bejla Oraon vs Kali Das Oraon & Ors.
The Supreme Court set aside concurrent lower court findings and held that in Oraon tribal custom, the nearest male agnate (nephew) inherits property over an unproved ghardamad claim of an uncle-in-law.
Can a bank merger transfer tenancy without the landlord's written consent?
British Motor Car Company (1939) Ltd. vs M/s Hindustan Commercial Bank Ltd. Since Has Been Merged Into Punjab National Bank & Anr.
The Supreme Court held that a bank merger transferring tenancy without the landlord's written consent attracts the eviction ground under Section 14(1)(b) of the Delhi Rent Control Act 1958, whether the transfer was voluntary or involuntary.
Does receiving a child victim's complaint amount to knowledge of the offence under POCSO?
AAA vs Linda Sema & Ors.
The Supreme Court held that a school headmistress who received a child victim's complaint of sexual assault had knowledge of the offence under Section 19 of the POCSO Act and could not be discharged from prosecution for failing to report it.
Can the government force a high-performing officer to retire early shortly after promoting them?
S.S. Das vs. Union of India
The Supreme Court set aside the arbitrary compulsory retirement of an outstanding officer who had been promoted just months prior.
Must closed partnership land be valued at current rates or old closing-date rates
V. Sumitra Reddy & Anr. vs. K. Ranganadha Reddy & Ors.
Upon dissolution of a partnership, its immovable assets must be sold at current market value to pay the partners their shares fairly.
Does returning a company's deposit prove it did not commit stock market fraud?
Securities and Exchange Board of India vs. Vedanta Limited & Ors.
The Supreme Court ruled that returning a company's escrow deposit does not protect it from being investigated and fined for market fraud.
Does temporary work done before becoming permanent count for old pension scheme eligibility
Punjab School Education Board vs Satnam Singh
The Supreme Court ruled that temporary service rendered before permanent status must count towards pension, qualifying employees for the old pension scheme.
Can a person be convicted of murder if the police investigation is highly careless
Ashok Upadhyay and Anr. vs. The State of Bihar
The Supreme Court acquitted two men convicted of murder because the investigation was full of gaps and the family witnesses were untrustworthy.
Can a public servant be convicted of corruption without proof of any financial gain
Khanindra Kr. Dutta vs. Central Bureau of Investigation
The Supreme Court ruled that a public servant cannot be convicted of corruption under Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act without proof of pecuniary advantage.
Can a qualified professor keep his job if his PhD is fake?
Annu Kumar and Another vs. Maharshi Dayanand University and Others
The Court protected the teacher's job due to his valid NET qualification, but ordered a strict university inquiry and possible police case into his fake PhD degree.
Can helpers escape a murder conviction if they did not fire the fatal shot?
Santosh Singh v. The State of Madhya Pradesh and Ors.
The Supreme Court ruled that individuals who actively assist a killer by holding the victim or urging them to shoot share the common intention and must be convicted of murder.
Which law decides extra compensation for highway land acquired before January 2015?
Manav Bhanot vs National Highway Authority of India
Highway land compensation awards passed before January 1, 2015, must have their interest and solatium calculated under the old 1894 Land Acquisition Act.
Can government authorities charge penalties if they fail to provide promised road access?
New Okhla Industrial Development Authority vs M/s Sunshine Trade Tower Private Limited
Government authorities cannot penalize developers for delays if they fail to provide the promised road access to the property.
Can a court restrict an arbitrator from deciding if a dispute is within their jurisdiction
M/s. GVV Constructions Private Limited vs. The Union of India & Ors.
The Supreme Court clarified that courts cannot restrict an arbitrator's power to decide their own jurisdiction, including whether a dispute is an excepted matter.
Can a personal guarantor be dragged into arbitration if their guarantee lacks an arbitration clause?
National Skill Development Corporation v. Surya Wires Private Limited & Ors.
The Supreme Court ruled that a personal guarantor is bound by the main loan agreement's arbitration clause if both agreements form a single transaction.
