Landmark Supreme Court of India rulings, explained in clear, plain language.
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Showing 15 of 19 judgments
Can Tiger Safaris be permitted in core tiger habitats, and how must reserves be governed?
T. N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India & Others
The Supreme Court prohibited Tiger Safaris in core tiger habitats, directed ecological restoration of Corbett Tiger Reserve, and issued comprehensive pan-India governance directions for all Tiger Reserves.
Can an accused obtain bail by suppressing material facts from the High Court?
Senior Intelligence Officer vs Mohammed Kamran
The Supreme Court set aside the High Court's bail order granted to a GST fraud accused who had suppressed the refusal of his ad-interim release prayer from the same court on the same day.
Can gravity of allegations alone justify denying bail when investigation is complete?
Mahesh Chandra Joshi vs. State of Rajasthan and Mukesh Pathak vs. State of Rajasthan
The Supreme Court granted bail to two accused in the Jal Jeevan Mission tender fraud, holding that completed investigation, voluminous record, and prolonged custody warranted their release subject to conditions.
Can a contemnor appeal to a Division Bench against a Single Judge's contempt order?
Sanjay Prasad vs Madhusudan Dwivedi & Ors.
The Supreme Court held that a Special Appeal lies before a Division Bench against a Single Judge's contempt order that decides substantive rights, and referred the correctness of Ram Kishan Fauji to a larger Bench.
Can the Supreme Court compel a regulatory framework for pharmaceutical marketing ethics?
Federation of Medical & Sales Representatives Association of India & Ors. vs Union of India & Ors.
The Supreme Court directed the Union of India to constitute within two weeks a committee to examine and recommend a statutory or regulatory framework to curb unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices.
Can accused in a serious corruption case be kept in pre-trial custody indefinitely?
Sanjay Badaya vs. State of Rajasthan & Shubhanshu Dixit vs. State of Rajasthan
The Supreme Court granted bail to two accused in the Rajasthan Jal Jeevan Mission corruption case, holding that prolonged pre-trial detention violated their right to personal liberty under Article 21 when the trial was not imminent.
Can a coerced police confession alone justify preventive detention under NSA?
Mulla Afroz vs Union of India and Ors.
The Supreme Court quashed the NSA preventive detention order holding that a coerced extra-judicial confession to police cannot, without independent supporting material, form the basis for preventive detention.
Can the State be held accountable for systemic failures that endanger women in public spaces?
In Re: Recent Rape Incidents in Delhi NCR
The Supreme Court took suo moto cognizance of repeated rape incidents in Delhi NCR and ordered immediate safety audits, vulnerability mapping, enhanced patrolling, and status reports from Delhi authorities.
Are workers of defunct State corporations entitled to interest on delayed wages and EPF dues?
Bihar State Ardh Sarkari Arajpati Karamchari Maha Sangh and Others vs State of Bihar and Others
The Supreme Court directed Bihar and Jharkhand to pay 12% interest on delayed EPF dues, 6% interest on delayed wages, and Rs.1,00,000 one-time payment to each daily-wage worker of five defunct State corporations.
Is the right to walk on a footpath a fundamental right under the Constitution?
Maniyar Iliyaz @ Shaik Riyaz & Anr. vs P. Ayyappan & Ors.
The Supreme Court declared that the right to walk on demarcated footpaths is a fundamental right under Articles 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution, imposing an enforceable duty on municipal bodies to build and maintain footpaths.
Can a mother's sole eyewitness testimony sustain a death sentence in a child rape-murder case?
Waris vs The State of Madhya Pradesh
The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of a stepfather convicted of raping and throttling to death his six-year-old stepdaughter, finding the mother's eyewitness testimony reliable and corroborated by medical and objective evidence.
Can police automatically re-arrest someone released due to constitutional arrest violations?
Jaskaran Jeet Singh Deol vs State of Punjab
The Supreme Court held that re-arrest of a person released for violation of Articles 22(1) and 22(2) of the Constitution is not automatic and requires prior judicial sanction from the concerned Magistrate.
Can courts order fresh de novo investigation after acquittal if prior investigations were biased?
Kusumavati Gowda vs The Government of Karnataka & Ors.
The Supreme Court set aside the High Court's refusal and ordered a de novo investigation by a fresh SIT into the 2012 rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl after three prior investigations were found to be tainted and inadequate.
Can courts declare investigation complete and grant default bail under UAPA?
The State of Maharashtra & Anr. vs. Momin Moiuddin Gulam Hasan @ Moin Mistri & Anr.
The Supreme Court set aside the Bombay High Court's order granting default bail to UAPA accused persons, holding that the second extension of time for filing the charge sheet was legal and the investigation was not complete.
Can an NBFC seize a vehicle at midnight without notice to the borrower?
Hari Dutta Sharma vs State of U.P. & Ors.
The Supreme Court quashed the High Court's order, held the midnight repossession of a truck without notice was arbitrary and unconstitutional, and awarded the borrower Rs. 10 lakh compensation plus refund of sale proceeds.
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