Right to Speedy Trial Prevails Over Gravity of Offence; Bail Must Be Considered When Article 21 Infringed: Supreme Court
In the instant case, the petitioner was in jail for almost 4 years, but not a single witness was examined.
criminal law
“Abhorrent, Degrading, and Unknown to Law”; Supreme Court Declares Imposition of Bail Conditions Such as Cleaning of Police Stations as Null and Void
“The most invaluable gift that the people of India gave unto themselves through the Constitution was the vision of a casteless society founded upon the principle of substantive equality.”
Simultaneous Parole or Furlough for Co-Accused is “Ordinarily Not Permissible” but Not Barred: Delhi High Court
The High Court interpreted Note (2) to Rule 1212 and Note (1) to Rule 1224, Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, holding that “ordinarily” denotes restriction, not prohibition.
Can Bona Fide Purchaser for Value be Held Criminally Liable for Forged Will-Linked Property? Supreme Court Answers
“Neither the FIR nor the impugned order discloses availability of any tangible material to substantiate the allegation that the appellant had conspired in the preparation of the alleged forged Will, or that the registered sale deed dated 18 December 1998 was executed by him with knowledge that the signatures on the Will were forged.”
“Court Not a ‘Post Office’ Bound to Continue Groundless Trial”: Calcutta High Court Quashes Section 138 NI Act Proceedings Against Non-Signatory Legal Heir
The Court observed that Criminal liability is not a heritable estate. The “legal fiction” created under Section 138 is restricted to the “drawer” of the instrument.
Grant of Anticipatory Bail to Accused with 22 FIRs “Very Unfortunate”; Criminal Antecedents Alone Sufficient to Deny Relief: Supreme Court
“Supreme Court set aside the impugned order granting anticipatory bail to the accused.”
Inside Delhi High Court Guidelines for Quashing of POCSO FIR in Consensual Adolescent Relationship
“The jurisprudential basis for the State being the prosecuting agency in criminal offences is to prevent a criminal prosecution from descending into an exercise in vengeance, where the victim goes baying-for-the-blood of the offender; and to maintain objectivity, neutrality, fairness and a sense of proportion in prosecution of an offender.”
Supreme Court issues directions for Systemic Legal Aid Reform, Delay in Appeals and Timely Access to Justice
“In India, the concept of legal aid is closely tied to the vision expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution, which promises justice be it social, economic, and/or political, along with equality of status and opportunity, and affirms the secular character of the State.”
Can Complainant Wife and Her Family Be Prosecuted for ‘Giving Dowry’? Supreme Court Clarifies
“If both the giver and the taker are penalised, no giver of dowry can be expected to come forward to make a complaint, being under the threat of being prosecuted himself.”
Conviction rests on evidence not suspicion: Uttaranchal High Court acquits accused on Sexual Assault charges due to anomalies in Chain of Custody of Forensic Evidence
“In the present case, the absence of documentary proof establishing the seizure and custody of the alleged forensic article creates a reasonable doubt as to the authorship of the sexual act.”
Supreme Court restores criminal proceeding over unauthorised sale of CSI Church land
“The land in question, though administered by a corporate body, is essentially trust property held for the benefit of the community, and any irregularity in its alienation is a matter of legitimate public concern.”
Absence of signature on charge curable irregularity, de novo trial not justified unless failure of justice shown: Supreme Court
The Court held that a de novo trial cannot be ordered merely on technical grounds, particularly when the trial had substantially progressed and no real miscarriage of justice is shown.
Conversion to Christianity extinguishes SC/ST status and protection under SC/ST Act: Supreme Court
“The SC/ST Act serves as a crucial legal framework to protect the rights and dignity of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India, ensuring stringent measures against offences of atrocities and promoting their welfare and security.”
2026 SCC Vol. 2 Part 4: Key Supreme Court Cases on Arbitration and Criminal Law
Explore the latest Supreme Court Cases in 2026 SCC Vol. 2 Part 2 on international commercial arbitration, limited scope of interference under Section 37, and registration of FIR.
High speed not ‘sine qua non’ to constitute offence under Section 279 IPC; Del HC grants leave to appeal against acquittal
“Possibility of rashness and negligence by a driver cannot be negated on the mere account of low speed, especially when it is alleged that the respondent was driving a heavy vehicle, carrying material over the permissible weight limit, in a zig-zag manner prior to the accident.”
Subsequent refusal to marry due to Kundali mismatch despite prior assurances, raises doubts; Delhi HC denies bail in false promise of marriage case
“The contention that the marriage could not take place due to non-matching of kundalis appears inconsistent with his own conduct and representations made over the years. If the issue of kundali matching was indeed of such determinative importance for the applicant and his family, the same should have been resolved at the threshold before entering into physical relations.”
Free consent can’t be retrospectively withdrawn to criminalise a failed consensual relationship: Delhi High Court
“Criminal law is meant to protect genuine victims of crime, not to rewrite the history of a relationship that was voluntarily entered into, publicly acknowledged, and sustained over several years.”
Successive FIRs to Defeat Bail amount to Abuse of Process : Supreme Court invokes Article 32 to grant Bail
“Article 32 of the Indian Constitution is deemed to be “heart and soul” of the Constitution as it empowers any citizen to directly approach the Supreme Court for the enforcement of fundamental rights.”
Personal appearance of accused before appellate/revisional court on every date after suspension of sentence & grant of bail not warranted: Supreme Court
“The proper course is to proceed with the appeal on merits, ensuring representation, while securing presence only in accordance with law upon dismissal or as otherwise required.”
Restraining entry in discharge of duty not Wrongful Restraint or Outraging Modesty; Delhi High Court quashes FIR against Security Guard
The Petitioners being Security Guards, had the bounden duty to ensure that no unauthorised person enters the office premises… act of restraining the Complainant for entering the Office for which she had no right, cannot be termed as an act of wrongful restraint.”