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The Supreme Court of India issues binding judgments that interpret criminal law, service regulations, and constitutional rights in final appeals. This page provides the latest judgments, detailed case analyses.
The Supreme Court ruled that a lone eyewitness who is a close relative is not per se an interested witness and can alone satisfy the evidential burden for a Section 302 IPC murder conviction; a delayed FIR is not fatal if explained. This guides prosecutors and defence in homicide trials.
Central government must provide subvention to private medical colleges only for students admitted up to the 2002-03 academic year, as the Supreme Court applied the T.M.A. Pai Foundation decision prospectively. Orders directing payments for later admissions are set aside, impacting colleges that relied on the scheme beyond that cut-off.
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 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 affirms legislative discretion in fiscal levies, ruling that royalty, District Mineral Foundation (DMF), and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) contributions can be included in the 'sale value' for mineral royalty calculation under the MMDR Act. The judgment reinforces anti-evasion measures and validates subordinate legislation, impacting mining operators and state revenue frameworks.
Supreme Court rules that denying refund of premium paid for unutilized Floor Space Index (FSI) is arbitrary and violates Article 14, directing refund of ₹27.41 lakh with 7% interest after deducting 10% administrative charges. The judgment reinforces that state actions under Development Control Regulations must align with constitutional guarantees of equality and non-arbitrariness, impacting property developers and urban planning authorities.
The Supreme Court ruled that a recovery certificate issued by the Debt Recovery Tribunal under the RDB Act does not qualify as a 'decree or order' under Section 9(2) of the Presidency Towns Insolvency Act, 1909. This strict interpretation bars creditors from initiating insolvency proceedings based solely on recovery certificates, reinforcing the need for a formal decree or order for insolvency notices.
The Supreme Court reiterated that conviction under the Arms Act demands proof of 'conscious possession'-mere recovery of weapons without evidence of dominion or knowledge is insufficient. The ruling sets a critical precedent for extremist-related prosecutions, emphasizing the prosecution's burden to establish active control over seized arms.
The Supreme Court reiterated that circumstantial evidence in murder cases must form a complete, unbroken chain pointing conclusively to guilt. While acquitting the accused under Section 302 IPC due to evidentiary gaps, the Court upheld their conviction under Section 201 IPC for destroying evidence, setting a critical precedent for criminal trials relying on indirect proof.
Supreme Court holds that 'knowledge' under Section 19 of the POCSO Act encompasses credible information from the victim, even without direct evidence. Failure to report such disclosures attracts criminal liability, as seen in the conviction of a school official while discharging others for lack of direct knowledge.
Madhya Pradesh High Court upholds employees' right to exercise the higher pension option under the 2014 EPF amendment, aligning with the Supreme Court's 2022 judgment. The ruling mandates EPFO to extend the exercise period for employees who missed the earlier deadline, ensuring compliance with the apex court's directions.
The Supreme Court upheld conviction under Section 506 IPC for threatening to upload a woman’s private video, holding that digital exposure to impute unchastity qualifies as criminal intimidation. The ruling expands the scope of 'unchastity' under IPC to include modern forms of digital harassment, reinforcing protections for women’s dignity and privacy.
The Supreme Court ruled that mere infliction of grievous injury does not automatically establish intent to murder under Section 307 IPC. Conviction altered to Section 325 IPC, emphasizing that mens rea must be independently proven beyond the severity of harm caused.
Supreme Court rules that back wages for illegally terminated employees must be computed from the date they became eligible for regularisation, not the actual regularisation date. The judgment invalidates employer-imposed conditions that delay wage entitlement, reinforcing labour rights under the Industrial Disputes Act.