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,…
Supreme Court Leaves Open a Crucial Question on Buyers’ Right to Arbitrate Against Small Businesses
The Supreme Court disposed of an appeal by referring disputes between a buyer and an MSME to arbitration via DIAC, leaving open the question whether a buyer can independently invoke…
Supreme Court Rejects Medical College’s Five-Year Funding Claim After Constitution Bench Strikes Down Subvention Scheme
The Supreme Court held that the TMA Pai Foundation judgment rendered the interim subvention scheme unconstitutional with retrospective effect, quashing High Court orders that directed payment of aid for years…
Supreme Court Awards ₹5 Lakh to Police Constable Discharged Without Hearing Over Pending Criminal Case
The Court held that an employee cannot be discharged merely because a criminal case is pending without a hearing, and probation does not wipe away conviction. It directed Rs. 5…
When Quitting Becomes Final: Supreme Court Rules on Whether Public Employees Can Withdraw a Resignation After Moving On
The Supreme Court ruled that a university board's ratification validates a resignation accepted by an in-charge authority, preventing its withdrawal. An employee who accepts resignation benefits and obtains new employment…
Polluters Must Fund Restoration Too: Supreme Court Sets Ground Rules for Waste Compensation
The Supreme Court upheld the Central Implementation Committee under the SWM Rules, 2026, and laid down principles for environmental compensation, holding it restitutionary, proportionate to damage caused, and payable until…