Supreme Court Restores Refund Decree, Denies Specific Performance on Equity Grounds
The Supreme Court denied specific performance of a property sale agreement, ruling that the buyers failed to prove readiness and willingness, lacked clean hands, and the two-decade delay caused hardship.…
Supreme Court Holds a 19-Year Wait Would Leave a Stray-Cattle Victim’s Widow Remediless
Supreme Court held that after nearly two decades, directing a widow to sue in civil court would render her remediless; since the facts were undisputed, it decided her compensation claim…
Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd. v. S.P. Singh: Supreme Court Rules Statutory Land-Acquisition Benefits Attract Ad Valorem Court Fee
An appeal challenging only statutory benefits in a land acquisition case must carry ad valorem court fee, the Supreme Court ruled, as solatium, interest and additional amount are integral parts…
Supreme Court Rules That a Failed Joint Development Agreement Is Not Cheating or Criminal Breach of Trust
The Supreme Court quashed criminal proceedings against landowners in a joint development dispute, ruling that the allegations disclosed only a civil breach of contract and that cheating and criminal breach…
Director of Income Tax v. Star Cruises: On-Board Hospitality Does Not Take a Cruise Outside India’s Presumptive Shipping Tax Regime
The Supreme Court affirmed that round-trip cruise services with ancillary on-board hospitality constitute 'carriage' of passengers under Section 44B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, upholding concurrent findings for the…
Supreme Court Restores 13-Year-Old Bank Promotion and Clarifies How Delegated Rules Can Be Amended
The Supreme Court restored a cooperative bank employee's promotion, ruling that the Registrar had power to amend service rules and the rule-laying requirement was directory. It ordered reinstatement with protected…
Supreme Court Rules Insurer Not Liable Where Driving Licence Validity Is Not Proved: *Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. v. Om Parkash & Ors.*
The Supreme Court set aside a High Court judgment that had made an insurer liable for a motor accident award, ruling that the driver lacked a valid licence; liability for…
Property Bought in Wives’ Names Belongs to Them, Not the Husband: Supreme Court Clarifies Christian Intestate Succession in *Shakuntala v. Robert Anthony*
The Supreme Court held that property purchased in the names of a Christian man's two wives belonged to them, not his estate under Section 33 of the Indian Succession Act.…
Mandatory Prior-Permission Rule for Airmen Seeking Civil Jobs
Supreme Court holds Airmen must seek prior permission before applying for civil posts as Air Force Order No.33/2017 requirements are mandatory for operational readiness. An enrolled Airman has no unqualified…
Supreme Court Upholds Grandfather’s Gift of Half-Share but Bars Recovery Without Partition
Court held that a Hindu female's intestate property devolves equally on husband and children, and the husband can gift his half share without co-owner consent. A plaintiff claiming title cannot…