Supreme Court Archives

interim protection to contractual Junior Engineers

Supreme Court dismisses SLP against interim protection granted to contractual Junior Engineers appointed under World Bank-funded project

Supreme Court dismissed the SLP challenging interim protection granted to contractual Junior Engineers, permitting them to continue in service on the same terms and conditions pending the High Court’s decision on regularization.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Frame charges in 60-90 days, no unnecessary adjournments: SC gives directions for effective Speedy Trials in Dowry & Cruelty cases

The latest set of directives issued by the Supreme Court in pursuance of its December 2025 directions intends to address the systemic delay and ineffective implementation attending prosecutions under Sections 304-B, Section 498-A, Penal Code, 1860 and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

Environmental Liability of Art of Living International Centre

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Polluter-pays principle applies only where damage is attributable to the polluter; SC sets aside NGT’s liability assessment against “Art of Living International Centre”

The Court held that the mere existence of environmental degradation is insufficient. A causal connection between the conduct of the alleged polluter and the environmental damage must be established.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

SC orders Pan-India SIT probe into fraudulent motor accident claims, warns insurers against “pick and choose approach” for reporting claims

The present proceeding initially concerned with a narrow question as to whether the vehicle stated to have caused a motor accident was in fact the vehicle involved in the accident, however, subsequently revealed a much wider concern regarding fraudulent motor accident claims in a recurring and organised pattern.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Supreme Court cancels bail of accused in pre-planned Satara murder case; holds repeated threats and carrying petrol prima facie indicate common intention

Supreme Court cancels bail of Accused 3 and 4 in the Satara murder case, holding that repeated threats, prior preparation and carrying petrol indicated a pre-planned attack.

Maintenance waiver under matrimonial settlement

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Wife’s waived maintenance claims cannot be revived through subsequent DV proceedings; daughter’s rights remain unaffected: Supreme Court

The Court held that once the wife had voluntarily relinquished all monetary claims, including maintenance, revival of such claims through subsequent proceedings cannot be permitted.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Victim has a Right to Speedy Trial too: SC rejects a reading of Section 12, Gangsters Act that would freeze a Murder Case

Supreme Court held that Section 12, Gangsters Act does not require other criminal trials to be kept in abeyance, but only gives priority to Gangsters Act proceedings where there is a clash of dates.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

A mother’s daily care for her children counts too: Supreme Court on why her income, by itself, cannot halve father’s liability to maintain

The Court held that considering the parties’ status, the father’s admitted income and the needs of the 2 school-going daughters, maintenance of ₹60,000 per month was just and reasonable.

Advocate's duty of confidentiality towards former client

Case Briefs Supreme Court

“That time belonged to other litigants”: SC imposes ₹5 lakh cost on Advocate and Client for prolonging litigation for 11-year

The Court observed that both parties had “occupied the time of the Bar Council of India, a High Court and this Court for eleven years”, time, it noted, “that belonged to other litigants, waiting for reliefs they genuinely need.”

Case Briefs Supreme Court

SC seeks Centre’s response on how Consumer Fora’s Pecuniary Jurisdiction is decided in view of identified anomalies

The Court accepted that determining the basis of pecuniary jurisdiction is within the domain of the law-making body.

Justice Vinod Chandran dissent Civil Judge

Case Briefs Supreme Court

The courtroom is “the most profound of all Classrooms”: Inside Justice Chandran’s dissent on the 3-year practice rule for Civil Judge appointment

Justice K. Vinod Chandran, J., held that 3 years’ practice at the Bar is essential before entry into the judicial service, as practical courtroom experience cannot be adequately substituted by a structured training programme, and therefore found no ground to review the earlier judgment.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Pre-deposit conditions in Arbitration can’t make right to sue “illusory or nugatory”; SC doubts S.K. Jain; Larger Bench to decide

The Court held that “a stipulation mandating the deposit of a substantial percentage of the claim amount, as a precondition to invoking arbitration would inevitably suppress claims, deter recourse to alternative dispute resolution, and thereby defeat its very object”.

3-year practice rule for Civil Judge recruitment

Case Briefs Supreme Court

From 3 years to 1, plus training and law clerkship: SC modifies path to becoming a Civil Judge (Junior Division) in a 2:1 verdict

Supreme Court modified the 3-year Bar practice requirement for recruitment as Civil Judge (Junior Division), introducing a transitional regime for fresh law graduates and prescribing 1 year of actual practice, followed by structured judicial training and Law Clerkship, for subsequent recruitments.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

“Not a single instance of a botched execution in India”: SC declines to refer Deena’s ‘Hanging-Method’ ruling to Larger Bench for reconsideration

A three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court in Deena v. Union of India, (1983) 4 SCC 645, specifically analysed and evaluated comparative merits of different methods of execution of death sentence and upheld the constitutional validity of hanging as mode of execution of death penalty.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

NEET Paper Leak Protest Violence: SC sets up 5-Member Enquiry Committee; Probe into harassment of Women Protestors to be prioritised

The HPEC which is to be headed by Justice Subhash Reddy, former Judge, Supreme Court of India, was requested to consider issues highlighted by the parties and to prioritise investigation into alleged harassment, and molestation of female protestors.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Saradha Chit Fund Scam | Supreme Court grants bail to Sudipta Sen after nearly a decade in custody

The Supreme Court, by order dated 9 May 2014 in Subrata Chattoraj v. Union of India, (2014) 8 SCC 795, had directed the transfer of investigation into the Saradha Chit Fund Scam and other chit fund cases from the State Police to the CBI.

Supreme Court on oral evidence and excluded documents

Case Briefs Supreme Court

“No dearth of financial resources, no obligation to aid the Court”: SC shuts down RIL’s latest attempt to reopen Excluded Evidence through Witness Testimony in 2005 Suit

Supreme Court held that the contents of documents already excluded from evidence cannot be introduced through oral testimony, while upholding the Bombay High Court’s redaction and imposing ₹10 lakh costs on RIL.

Supreme Court guidelines to curb black money in elections

Case Briefs Supreme Court

No more withdrawing cases after a change in Government: Supreme Court’s guidelines to curb black money and electoral inducements

“The right to vote freely for the candidate of one’s choice is of the essence of a democratic society, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative Government.” – Warren, CJ in Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 1964

consortium in motor accident compensation

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Spousal and Parental Consortium form part of “Just Compensation” in Motor Accident Claims; SC enhances Compensation by ₹1.46 Lakh

The Court held that the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal committed a manifest error in granting only ₹5000 to the wife and not awarding any parental consortium to the children.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Electrocution claims attract Strict, Not Absolute Liability; Disputed facts bar recourse under Article 226: Supreme Court

The Court held that where material facts are disputed, the appropriate remedy ordinarily lies before the competent adjudicatory forum and not before High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.