India’s Top Court Freezes Development Along a Dying River System and Orders Institutional Overhaul in Rajasthan
In re: Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan (2026 INSC 812), 7 August 2026 What the case was about This was no ordinary lawsuit. The Supreme Court initiated suo moto proceedings…
No Court Can Close an Appeal With a Pending Evidence Request Still Undecided, Rules Supreme Court
Chowdappa v. Hanumantharayappa and Others, 2026 INSC 816 (C.A. No.-010172-010173 – 2026) | August 6, 2026 What the case was about This case tackles a foundational question of appellate procedure:…
After 25 years, Karnataka farmers win equal pay for seized land—but lose interest for years of delay
Invoking Article 142, the Supreme Court awarded Rs. 6.5 lakh per acre compensation to landowners for parity under the same acquisition notification, but refused interest for 4,427 days of abnormal…
A Registered Sale Deed Survives Unpaid Balance, Supreme Court Rules
Supreme Court holds that a registered sale deed is valid under Section 54 of the Transfer of Property Act even when only part of the price is paid; non-payment of…
Disputed Documents Can Stay on Record Until Final Judgment, Supreme Court Holds
The Supreme Court ruled that objections to document admissibility in civil trials should generally be decided in the final judgment, not at the threshold; mere marking as an exhibit does…
Supreme Court: Tribal Protection Laws Cannot Bar Civil Court Jurisdiction Over Non-Tribal Disputes in Scheduled Areas
Civil courts can hear partition suits between non-tribals in Scheduled Areas, as the Andhra Pradesh Civil Courts Act exclusion protects tribes, not territory. Applying it to non-tribals violates Article 14;…
Supreme Court Upholds Compulsory Retirement, Rules Past Record Stays Relevant Even After Promotion
The Supreme Court upheld the compulsory retirement of a CISF Inspector under FR 56(j), holding that the washed-off theory applies only to promotions and the entire service record is relevant…
Supreme Court Bars Tax Department from Splitting Single Contracts to Impose Service Tax
The Supreme Court held that prior to 2007, the Finance Act, 1994 did not authorise vivisection of indivisible turnkey contracts to levy service tax on embedded installation services, and no…
Supreme Court Rules That Suing Farmers Over Seeds Is Not by Itself Grounds for Revocation
Supreme Court dismisses plea to revoke PepsiCo's plant variety registration, ruling that filing infringement suits under the PPVFRA is not per se vexatious. Farmers can claim Section 39(1)(iv) protection as…
Supreme Court: Mere ‘Kitting’ of Imported Parts in a Warehouse Is Not Taxable Manufacturing
The Supreme Court upheld the tribunal order holding that merely grouping imported photocopier modules at a warehouse does not amount to 'manufacture' under Section 2(f) of the Central Excise Act,…