Supreme Court

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

“Supreme Court Exposes Builder-Politician Nexus in Pune Pune Forest Land Scam”
Supreme Court

“Supreme Court Exposes Builder-Politician Nexus in Pune Pune Forest Land Scam”

The Supreme Court ruled that the allotment of 11.89 hectares of reserved forest land in Pune for non-forest purposes violated Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the public trust doctrine. It quashed the illegal allotment to private builders, ordered restoration of the land to the Forest Department, and mandated a nationwide audit of similarly diverted forest lands. The judgment reaffirmed the state's fiduciary duty to protect forest resources and prohibited their conversion for commercial use without Central approval. Violations were held irreparable even under the doctrine of desuetude. Facts Of The Case: The case involved 11.89 hectares of reserved forest land in Pune's Kondhwa Budruk village, originally notified under the Indian Forest Act, 1878. In 1968, the land wa...
Justice for Disabled Victim: Supreme Court Awards ₹12 Lakh Extra for Disabled Accident Victim’s Future Care”
Supreme Court

Justice for Disabled Victim: Supreme Court Awards ₹12 Lakh Extra for Disabled Accident Victim’s Future Care”

The Supreme Court ruled that insurance companies cannot be compelled to provide non-monetary relief like prosthetic limbs or ongoing medical supervision to accident victims. Emphasizing indemnity principles, the Court held compensation must be monetary, calculating ₹12 lakh for future prosthetic/wheelchair needs. It overturned the High Court's directive for in-kind support, reaffirming insurers' liability is limited to pecuniary compensation under motor accident laws. The judgment clarifies that "just compensation" under Section 168 of the Motor Vehicles Act excludes imposing perpetual welfare obligations on insurers. Facts Of The Case: The case arose from a motor accident on 21.12.2008, where respondent Suraj Kumar, a 22-year-old tempo cleaner, suffered severe injuries...
Supreme Court Rejects Salary Cut: Widow, Kids, and Parents Get Full Compensation in Fatal Truck Accident Case”
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Rejects Salary Cut: Widow, Kids, and Parents Get Full Compensation in Fatal Truck Accident Case”

The Supreme Court restored the Tribunal’s compensation award for the family of a deceased truck driver, rejecting the High Court’s reduction of income from ₹10,000 to ₹4,076 per month. Citing Ramachandrappa v. Royal Sundaram Alliance, it upheld ₹10,000 as justified wages for 2014. The Court also affirmed loss of consortium for children and parents under Somwati v. New India Assurance, stressing equitable apportionment. The judgment reinforces fair compensation principles in motor accident claims, emphasizing statutory and precedential rights of dependents. Facts Of The Case: The case involved a fatal motor accident where a truck driver, aged 28, was hit and killed by another negligently driven truck while he was boarding his parked vehicle. The deceased’s legal representatives—his wido...
“Supreme Court Rules on Food Adulteration Cases : Strict Punishment in Food Adulteration Cases
Supreme Court

“Supreme Court Rules on Food Adulteration Cases : Strict Punishment in Food Adulteration Cases

The Supreme Court ruled that Section 20AA of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PoFA), 1954, bars probation for offenders convicted under the Act between 1976 and 2006, upholding strict sentencing to deter food adulteration. It also held that the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006’s repeal clause preserves penalties under PoFA, denying retrospective benefit of reduced sentences. However, citing discrepancies in evidence, the Court partially allowed the appeals by converting imprisonment into fines, balancing strict legal interpretation with equitable relief. The judgment reaffirms legislative intent to prioritize public health over reformative leniency in food safety violations. Facts Of The Case: The case involved two criminal appeals before the Supreme Court of India, ari...
Supreme Court Clarifies Key Tax Exemption Case: Customs Duty Exemption Upheld for Soybean Oil Imports
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Clarifies Key Tax Exemption Case: Customs Duty Exemption Upheld for Soybean Oil Imports

The Supreme Court ruled that crude degummed soybean oil is not an agricultural product but a distinct manufactured commodity, entitling the appellant to duty exemption under Notification No. 53/2003-Cus. The Court held that a circular (No. 10/2004) cannot expand statutory exclusions beyond the notification’s scope. It clarified that manufacturing processes creating new marketable products alter the original commodity’s identity, and exemptions must align with statutory intent, not administrative clarifications. The judgment reinforces the primacy of statutory notifications over executive circulars. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, Noble Resources and Trading India Pvt. Ltd. (formerly Andagro Services Pvt. Ltd.), a recognized export house, imported crude degummed soybean oil under the Du...
“Can Employers Enforce a Minimum Service Period” Supreme Court Upholds Employees Must Pay for Premature Resignation
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“Can Employers Enforce a Minimum Service Period” Supreme Court Upholds Employees Must Pay for Premature Resignation

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Vijaya Bank's employment bond clause requiring a minimum 3-year service period or payment of Rs. 2 lakhs for premature resignation. The Court ruled this condition does not violate Section 27 of the Indian Contract Act (restraint of trade) as it applies during employment, nor is it opposed to public policy under Section 23. The judgment clarified that while standard form contracts reflect unequal bargaining power, such terms remain enforceable unless proven unconscionable or unreasonable. The Court recognized the bank's legitimate interest in maintaining workforce stability through such reasonable restrictions. This decision reinforces the distinction between restraints during employment versus post-employment and sets parameters for evaluating liqui...
Supreme Court Acquits Accused in Chhattisgarh Murder Case : “Eyewitness Failures Lead to Acquittal”
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Acquits Accused in Chhattisgarh Murder Case : “Eyewitness Failures Lead to Acquittal”

The Supreme Court acquitted the accused in a double murder case, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judgment emphasized that eyewitnesses must identify accused in court and link them to specific roles, noting material omissions and contradictions in testimonies. It reinforced Section 162 CrPC standards for reliable evidence, overturning concurrent convictions due to fatal investigative lapses. Facts Of The Case: The case involved a violent incident on March 24, 2001, in Masturi, Chhattisgarh, where nine accused armed with swords, lathis, and poleaxes allegedly attacked a medical shop, killing Manrakhan Singh and Narayan Singh and injuring five others, including family members of the deceased. The prosecution claimed the attack stemmed from a pr...
Supreme Court Upholds MSMED Act’s Supremacy, Rejects Bengaluru Arbitration Clause : “MSMED Act Overrides Arbitration Agreements”
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Upholds MSMED Act’s Supremacy, Rejects Bengaluru Arbitration Clause : “MSMED Act Overrides Arbitration Agreements”

The Supreme Court ruled that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMED) Act, 2006 overrides arbitration agreements under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, affirming its special law status. It held that the supplier’s location determines arbitration jurisdiction, disregarding contractual seat clauses. The judgment reinforces statutory protection for MSMEs, ensuring disputes proceed before designated Facilitation Councils as per Section 18(4). Facts Of The Case: The dispute arose from a construction contract between M/s Harcharan Dass Gupta (Appellant), an MSME-registered supplier, and ISRO (Respondent), following a 2017 tender for staff quarters in Delhi. The agreement included an arbitration clause designating Bengaluru as the seat. When conflicts emerged, the supplier app...
Supreme Court Directs Army to Reconsider Promotion After Finding Bias in Confidential Reports
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Directs Army to Reconsider Promotion After Finding Bias in Confidential Reports

The Supreme Court upheld the Armed Forces Tribunal’s decision to expunge biased entries in an Army officer’s Annual Confidential Report (ACR) for 2018–19, citing mala fide intent by the reporting officer. Extending the relief, the Court also ordered expungement of the 2017–18 ACR, holding that both reports suffered from the same arbitrariness. It directed reconsideration of the officer’s promotion, emphasizing that concealed adverse remarks without justification violate principles of fairness under Army Order 02/2016. The judgment reinforces judicial scrutiny over subjective assessments in service matters to prevent career prejudice. Facts Of The Case: Brigadier Sandeep Chaudhary, a decorated officer with 12 awards including two Vishisht Seva Medals, was commissioned into the India...
Govt Can Impose Conditions on Land Allotments to Charitable Trusts : Supreme Court on Land Allotment vs. Sale
Supreme Court

Govt Can Impose Conditions on Land Allotments to Charitable Trusts : Supreme Court on Land Allotment vs. Sale

The Supreme Court ruled that government land allotments to charitable trusts under statutory schemes are not absolute sales, allowing the State to impose usage conditions. It held that Section 10 of the Transfer of Property Act (restricting alienation conditions) does not apply to such allotments, as public interest overrides private contractual principles. The Court emphasized that violation of allotment terms (e.g., unauthorized commercial use) justifies land resumption without compensation, branding such breaches as "fraud on statute". The judgment reaffirmed the State’s authority to enforce conditional grants for charitable purposes under revenue laws. Facts Of The Case: The case involved a dispute over 3.01 acres of government land in Telangana allotted to Dr. Pasupuleti Nirmala Han...