Supreme Court

Here u will get all latest & landmark judgements of Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Quashes FIR in Property Dispute, Calls it “Abuse of Process of Law”
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Quashes FIR in Property Dispute, Calls it “Abuse of Process of Law”

The Supreme Court quashed the criminal proceedings, holding that the continuation thereof amounted to an abuse of the process of law. The allegations, arising from a civil dispute over a loan and its guarantee, did not constitute a criminal offense, especially after the withdrawal of an earlier complaint on the same cause of action. Facts Of The Case: This case originated from an FIR registered against the appellant, Bhawana Jain, under Sections 406, 420, 504, and 506 of the IPC. The dispute concerned a plot purchased jointly by her deceased husband and the complainant, Respondent No. 2. After a mutual partition, the husband mortgaged his share to secure a bank loan, with the appellant acting as a guarantor. Following her husband's death in 2016, the complainant filed a private complaint...
You Can’t Be Convicted Under a Law That Didn’t Exist: Supreme Court Corrects Legal Error in Decades-Old Case
Supreme Court

You Can’t Be Convicted Under a Law That Didn’t Exist: Supreme Court Corrects Legal Error in Decades-Old Case

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court set aside the conviction under Section 195-A IPC, holding it unconstitutional for being applied retroactively, violating Article 20(1). However, it upheld the conviction under Section 506-B IPC for criminal intimidation. The Court directed the State to reconsider the deceased appellant's termination and terminal benefits, considering only the surviving conviction. Facts Of The Case: In 1999, a minor girl, who was a witness in a molestation case, set herself ablaze and subsequently died. Before her death, she alleged in a dying declaration that Sheikh Akhtar, a court official (Naib Nazir), and three others had threatened to kill her and her father if she did not compromise her court testimony. Based on this, Akhtar was convicted in 2007 by a Se...
Supreme Court Facilitates Settlement in Rape and Cheating Case, Orders Return of Money and Gold
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Facilitates Settlement in Rape and Cheating Case, Orders Return of Money and Gold

The Supreme Court disposed of appeals concerning allegations under Sections 376, 406, and 506 of the IPC by facilitating a settlement. The Court directed the appellant to deposit a specified sum with the Trial Court and gold ornaments with the High Court Registrar for release to the prosecutrix, thereby resolving the disputes. Facts Of The Case: The case originates from an FIR registered against the appellant-accused based on a complaint filed by the second respondent, the prosecutrix. She alleged that the accused, who was assisting her with ongoing divorce proceedings, forcefully subjected her to sexual intercourse in December 2017 under the threat of disseminating her photographs. Subsequently, on multiple occasions in 2018, he established a physical relationship with her on the false ...
Supreme Court Landmark Ruling: Limitation Issues in Arbitration Must Get a Full Hearing
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Landmark Ruling: Limitation Issues in Arbitration Must Get a Full Hearing

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court held that a preliminary issue of limitation, being a mixed question of law and fact, cannot be permanently foreclosed by an arbitrator based on a demurrer. The Court clarified that such a decision on demurrer is not a final adjudication on merits and does not preclude a subsequent examination based on evidence, as it would violate the fundamental mandate of Section 3 of the Limitation Act, 1963. Facts Of The Case: The dispute arose from a Share Subscription Agreement (SSA) dated 23.07.2008 between Urban Infrastructure Real Estate Fund (Petitioner) and Neelkanth Realty Pvt. Ltd. (Respondent). The Petitioner invested Rs. 25 Crore, with a clause stipulating a refund if certain "Conditions Precedent" were not fulfilled within 90 days. The Respondent...
SBI Wins Case: Supreme Court Rules OTS Application Invalid Without Upfront Payment
Supreme Court

SBI Wins Case: Supreme Court Rules OTS Application Invalid Without Upfront Payment

The Supreme Court held that a borrower's failure to comply with the mandatory upfront payment requirement under a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme renders the application incomplete and not entitled to processing. The Court further ruled that, in judicial review, an administrative order of rejection can be upheld on an alternative legal ground apparent from the record, provided the affected party is granted a fair opportunity to respond. Facts Of The Case: The respondent, Tanya Energy Enterprises, availed credit facilities from the State Bank of India (SBI) by mortgaging seven properties but subsequently defaulted on its repayment obligations. After its account was classified as a non-performing asset, SBI initiated recovery proceedings under the SARFAESI Act. A prior One-Time Settlement...
No Complete Freeze on Waqf Law, Says Supreme Court: Caps Non-Muslim Members on Boards
Supreme Court

No Complete Freeze on Waqf Law, Says Supreme Court: Caps Non-Muslim Members on Boards

In an interim order, the Supreme Court declined to stay the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, upholding the legislative presumption of constitutionality. However, it partially stayed specific provisions, including the "five-year practice of Islam" requirement and certain clauses related to government property inquiries, deeming them prima facie arbitrary pending a final constitutional validity hearing. Facts Of The Case: A batch of writ petitions challenged the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, before the Supreme Court. The petitioners, arguing on behalf of Muslim community interests, contended that the amendments violated fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, 19, 21, 25, 26, and 300A of the Constitution. Key challenges were mounted against provisions that de-recog...
No Retrial Merely to Fill Gaps in Prosecution, Rules Supreme Court in Drug Case
Supreme Court

No Retrial Merely to Fill Gaps in Prosecution, Rules Supreme Court in Drug Case

The Supreme Court held that a retrial is an exceptional remedy not warranted merely to rectify procedural lapses in evidence admission. Electronic evidence complying with Section 65B of the Evidence Act is admissible without a transcript. The non-examination of a Chemical Analyst or non-production of samples is not automatically fatal, as an appellate court can remedy such defects under Section 391 CrPC instead of ordering a retrial. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from a raid conducted by police on a hut based on information that the appellant, Kailas, and another accused were stocking Ganja for sale. Following due procedure, the raiding party, which included panch witnesses and a gazetted officer, searched the hut and recovered 18 plastic packets containing 39 kilograms of Ganja...
Supreme Court Slams Misuse of Criminal Law to Settle Civil Disputes, Quashes Proceedings
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Slams Misuse of Criminal Law to Settle Civil Disputes, Quashes Proceedings

The Supreme Court quashed criminal proceedings under Section 420 IPC, ruling that a mere breach of contract does not constitute cheating. The essential ingredient of a dishonest intention at the inception of the agreement was absent. Allegations of supplying non-conforming goods disclosed only a civil dispute, not a criminal offense, making the FIR unsustainable. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from a business transaction dated 12.12.2017, where M/s Soma Stone Crusher (complainant) agreed to purchase a 'sand rrulla machine' from M/s Saini Engineering Works, run by Sarabjit Singh. An advance of ₹5,00,000 was paid via cheque. The complainant alleged that the appellant, Paramjeet Singh, acting on behalf of his brother, had assured that the machine would meet specific specifications (...
Supreme Court Slams Special Treatment, Orders Joint Trial for All Accused in Nuh Violence Case
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Slams Special Treatment, Orders Joint Trial for All Accused in Nuh Violence Case

The Supreme Court held that segregating the trial of an accused solely based on their status as an MLA is legally unsustainable. Such an order violates the statutory scheme for joint trials under Sections 218-223 CrPC when offences arise from the same transaction and common evidence. It also infringes upon the fundamental rights to equality under Article 14 and a fair trial under Article 21 of the Constitution. The direction for a separate charge sheet was also quashed as it exceeds the court's jurisdiction. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from two FIRs (Nos. 149 and 150 of 2023) registered at Police Station Nagina, District Nuh, concerning large-scale communal violence that occurred on July 31, 2023. The appellant, Mamman Khan, a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) f...
Supreme Court :You Can’t Escape a Murder Charge Just Because the Victim Lived for Months
Supreme Court

Supreme Court :You Can’t Escape a Murder Charge Just Because the Victim Lived for Months

This Supreme Court judgment clarifies that a time gap between the infliction of an injury and death does not automatically reduce the offence from murder to attempt to murder. If the original injury was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death, subsequent complications like septicemia do not break the chain of causation. The offence remains punishable under Section 302 IPC, rendering Section 307 inapplicable. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from a violent incident on February 22, 2022, in which the appellant, Maniklal Sahu, along with three co-accused, trespassed into the house of Rekhchand Verma. They dragged the victim to the terrace of his house and flung him down. After the fall, the accused further assaulted the injured Rekhchand with sticks and fists. The v...