Latest Supreme Court Judgments

Supreme Court Upholds Nephew's Property Rights Over Ghardamad 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.

M/S ABC Express vs. State of Gujarat

The Supreme Court ruled that police cannot keep a seized vehicle rotting in the station indefinitely and must release it to the owner on interim custody during the trial, even if caught with illegal liquor.

Bijendra vs Rekha

The Supreme Court granted divorce to the husband on the ground of desertion, ruling that a wife's long-term physical separation and groundless refusal to return prove her intention to end the marriage.

Mahinder & Others v. Puran Singh

The Supreme Court decided that if a Hindu sibling wants to sell their share of inherited farming land, they must first offer to sell it to their other siblings before selling to an outsider.

Reji Baby vs Subi Mary & Ors.

A wife cannot demand maintenance by filing a domestic violence case after voluntarily giving up her claims in a court-approved divorce settlement.

Sujata Kumari & Ors. vs Rahul Kumar & Anr.

The Supreme Court ruled that a mother's income alone cannot be used to reduce a father's duty to pay for his children's upbringing.

Pazhanathal vs Alamathal

The Supreme Court ruled that a Will cannot be accepted as genuine unless the absence of all its witnesses is strictly proven and all suspicious doubts are cleared.

Harpreet Sawhney vs Puneet Sharma

The Supreme Court ruled that a husband's voluntary savings like PF cannot be deducted to show a lower income for calculating maintenance, and increased support for his cancer-stricken wife.

Dr. Lokesh B.H. vs State of Karnataka

The Supreme Court ruled that a woman in a live-in relationship can file a domestic cruelty case under Section 498A IPC if the relationship is like a marriage and there was an intent to marry.

Clear proof of adultery can stop temporary maintenance immediately without waiting for final trial

Himanshu Chordia vs State of Rajasthan & Anr.

The Supreme Court ruled that a husband's claim of his wife's adultery can be evaluated at the initial stage to decide if she is entitled to interim maintenance, rather than postponing the decision entirely to the final trial.

Daughters have equal rights in ancestral property by birth, regardless of when their father died

Vineeta Sharma vs Rakesh Sharma

The Supreme Court confirmed that daughters have an equal right by birth in ancestral (joint family) property, just like sons — even if the father had passed away before 2005.