Supreme Court of India judgments

The Supreme Court ruled developers cannot evade obligations under the Permanent Alternate Accommodation Agreement (PAAA) after accepting possession of cessed buildings for redevelopment under the MHAD Act. The judgment reinforces occupant rights and directs MHADA to enforce compliance, including flat handover within two months.

Supreme Court rules that liability under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 requires a direct causal connection between death and vehicle use. Compensation awarded without establishing such link set aside, clarifying the threshold for motor accident claims.

The Supreme Court ruled that a minor penalty imposed post-reinstatement in a departmental inquiry must relate back to the initial termination date, entitling the officer to back wages, notional benefits, and consequential promotions. The judgment quashed contempt proceedings with a cost of Rs. 10 lakhs and directed payment of arrears with interest, reinforcing the doctrine of retrospective effect in service law.

The Supreme Court ruled Section 50 NDPS Act applies only to personal searches, not searches of objects carried by the accused. Conviction under Sections 8 and 21 NDPS Act upheld but sentence reduced from 14 to 10 years. Impacts NDPS prosecutions involving object-based recoveries.

Supreme Court reaffirms limited revisional jurisdiction under Section 115 CPC, setting aside Punjab and Haryana High Court's interference with concurrent findings in a landlord-tenant dispute under the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949. The ruling clarifies the threshold for eviction on bona fide grounds, impacting landlords and tenants in rent-controlled jurisdictions.

The Supreme Court ruled that mere 'wrong statements' in pleadings do not justify criminal prosecution under Sections 193, 199, or 200 IPC. Courts must find deliberate falsehoods with intent to deceive and assess justice exigency before invoking Section 340 CrPC for complaints.

Supreme Court refuses to interfere with concurrent acquittal in a murder trial, reaffirming that where two reasonable views are possible, the view favouring the accused must prevail. The judgment underscores the limited scope of Article 136 intervention in cases marred by ocular-medical evidence mismatches and hostile witnesses.

Supreme Court rules that a lump-sum payment under a family settlement (Clause 10) extinguishes interim income-linked maintenance (Clause 9), affirming concurrent findings of the Family Court and High Court. The ruling clarifies the hierarchy of settlement terms over prior maintenance obligations, impacting parties bound by mutual consent decrees.

Supreme Court rules that inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC remains available despite the existence of an alternative remedy under Section 397 CrPC. It also quashes complaints for non-compliance with mandatory opportunity notice under Section 61(2) FERA and violation of the right to speedy trial under Article 21.

Supreme Court set aside Dr. Abdul Hameed’s death sentence in the Samleti bus blast case after finding a fair trial violation. The denial of legal representation throughout proceedings rendered the conviction unsustainable, mandating a de-novo trial.

Supreme Court rules that a lump sum payment under a family settlement (Clause 10) discharges interim income-linked maintenance (Clause 9), barring further claims. The ruling clarifies how settlement terms override statutory maintenance obligations in mutual divorce cases.

Supreme Court set aside the Punjab and Haryana High Court's interference with concurrent findings in a landlord-tenant dispute, emphasizing that revisional jurisdiction under Section 115 CPC cannot be exercised to reappraise evidence. The ruling reinforces the high threshold for overturning concurrent judicial findings in rent control matters.

Supreme Court rules Section 340 CrPC mandates judicial satisfaction of both false statements and expediency in justice before directing complaints for IPC Sections 193, 199, 200. Clarifies courts cannot act solely on procedural errors in pleadings. Impacts civil litigation where false statements may trigger criminal contempt proceedings.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the three-year limitation for filing a probate application under Article 137 of the Limitation Act begins only when the necessity to prove the Will arises - not at the testator's death. This removes the presumption of delay based on time elapsed since death and protects executors who delay seeking probate until estate administration demands it, reshaping how heirs and legal practitioners assess timing in succession disputes.

The Supreme Court ruled that conviction under the Arms Act requires proof of 'conscious possession'-mere recovery of weapons from premises is insufficient. The judgment underscores the necessity of establishing dominion and knowledge over seized arms, impacting prosecutions under extremist-related offenses.

The Supreme Court ruled that a recovery certificate issued by the Debt Recovery Tribunal under the RDB Act cannot substitute for a 'decree or order' required to trigger an insolvency notice under Section 9(2) of the Presidency Towns Insolvency Act, 1909. This holding clarifies the procedural boundaries for creditors seeking insolvency proceedings, impacting banking and finance litigation strategies.

The Supreme Court ruled that compliance with Section 5A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 requires more than a ritualistic hearing-landowners must be afforded a genuine and effective opportunity to present objections. The judgment quashes acquisition proceedings where objections were mechanically processed, reinforcing the principles of natural justice in administrative actions affecting property rights.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the mandatory 120-day limit for filing a written statement under Order VIII Rule 1 CPC extends to plaintiffs responding to a defendant's counter-claim in commercial suits governed by the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. This clarifies a critical procedural gap, ensuring equal time constraints apply to both parties and reinforcing procedural fairness in commercial litigation.

Supreme Court rules that the State's statutory authority under Section 15(3) of the MMDR Act to revise royalty rates prevails over silence in mining lease deeds. The judgment reinforces that statutory provisions override contractual gaps, ensuring compliance with Rules of Business for minor minerals.

The Supreme Court reiterated that motor accident compensation claims must be adjudicated on the 'preponderance of probabilities' standard, not criminal law standards. The ruling sets aside concurrent findings of negligence where the Tribunal and High Court failed to apply this civil law principle, impacting compensation calculations under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.

The Supreme Court ruled that ex parte opinions by Foreigners Tribunals, lacking meaningful adjudication, violate principles of natural justice. The Court set aside such orders and directed fresh hearings with strict procedural safeguards, reinforcing the burden of proof on the state under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and 1964 Order.

The Supreme Court ruled that failure to conduct a mandatory preliminary assessment under Section 19(1) of the Juvenile Justice Act before trial renders the proceedings void. The Court acquitted the appellant, who had been incarcerated for six years, reinforcing strict compliance with procedural safeguards for children in conflict with law.

The Supreme Court ruled that Children’s Courts must pass a reasoned order under Section 19(1) of the Juvenile Justice Act before proceeding with a trial as an adult. Failure to comply with this mandatory procedural safeguard vitiates the conviction, reinforcing the Act’s rehabilitative focus over punitive measures.

Supreme Court reinforces Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, mandating employers to accommodate and reinstate employees who acquire disabilities during service, with full back wages and costs. The ruling rejects waiver claims and retrospective exemptions, setting a precedent for disability rights in employment.