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Criminal Law — Murder and Conspiracy — Appreciation of Evidence — Supreme Court’s Role in Appeals Against Acquittal — The Supreme Court reiterated that its role in an appeal against an acquittal is to examine whether the High Court committed an error in disturbing the Trial Court’s findings, especially when two competent courts have reached opposite conclusions on the same evidence — The Court must re-appreciate the evidence to deliver a final finding. [Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Services Commission Act, 1980, S. 13(4)] – [A waitlisted candidate cannot claim appointment to an alternative post after failing to join the initially recommended post, particularly after the repeal of the Old Act.] A. Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Services Commission Act, 1980 (Old Act) vs. Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission Act, 2023 (New Act) — Comparative Analysis — Held, the New Act does not prescribe a power to the Director akin to Section 13(4) of the Old Act — After the commencement of the New Act, the validity of the list/panel under the Old Act lapses, and authorities are bound to follow the procedure under Sections 10 and 11 of the New Act. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Sections 439 and 483 BNSS — Bail Jurisdiction — Power to issue directions — High Court, while exercising bail jurisdiction, cannot issue directions that extend beyond the scope of the bail application and impinge upon the statutory powers of other authorities or create new systems for accountability, as this would amount to an error of jurisdiction. [MPID Act, S. 2(c) & 2(d)] – Amounts advanced with promise of return and interest qualify as “deposit” accepted by “financial establishment” under the Act. – Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999 Section 2(c) and Section 2(d) — Deposit and Financial Establishment — Amounts advanced to individuals with promise of repayment with interest constitute a “deposit” under Section 2(c) and the recipients are “financial establishments” under Section 2(d) of the MPID Act, irrespective of the transaction being termed as a “loan” — The nomenclature of the transaction is not determinative; the essential attributes of the transaction are key. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 432 — Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 72 & 161— Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) — Section 473 & 477 — Premature release of a prisoner — Rejection of recommendation — Non-speaking order — Order rejecting premature release must provide reasons and reflect due application of mind — Absence of reasons renders the order bald and impossible to ascertain if relevant factors were considered — Violates principles of natural justice and frustrates judicial review.

Criminal Law — Murder and Conspiracy — Appreciation of Evidence — Supreme Court’s Role in Appeals Against Acquittal — The Supreme Court reiterated that its role in an appeal against an acquittal is to examine whether the High Court committed an error in disturbing the Trial Court’s findings, especially when two competent courts have reached opposite conclusions on the same evidence — The Court must re-appreciate the evidence to deliver a final finding.

2026 INSC 507 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU Vs. PONNUSAMY AND OTHERS ( Before : M. M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ. )…

Service Matters

[Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Services Commission Act, 1980, S. 13(4)] – [A waitlisted candidate cannot claim appointment to an alternative post after failing to join the initially recommended post, particularly after the repeal of the Old Act.] A. Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Services Commission Act, 1980 (Old Act) vs. Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission Act, 2023 (New Act) — Comparative Analysis — Held, the New Act does not prescribe a power to the Director akin to Section 13(4) of the Old Act — After the commencement of the New Act, the validity of the list/panel under the Old Act lapses, and authorities are bound to follow the procedure under Sections 10 and 11 of the New Act.

2026 INSC 508 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH DR. MANOJ KUMAR RAWAT Vs. STATE OF UP AND OTHERS ( Before : J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar, JJ. )…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Sections 439 and 483 BNSS — Bail Jurisdiction — Power to issue directions — High Court, while exercising bail jurisdiction, cannot issue directions that extend beyond the scope of the bail application and impinge upon the statutory powers of other authorities or create new systems for accountability, as this would amount to an error of jurisdiction.

2026 INSC 511 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH RAMBALAK Vs. STATE OF U.P ( Before : Sanjay Karol and Prasanna B. Varale, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No…..of 2026 (@…

[MPID Act, S. 2(c) & 2(d)] – Amounts advanced with promise of return and interest qualify as “deposit” accepted by “financial establishment” under the Act. – Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999 Section 2(c) and Section 2(d) — Deposit and Financial Establishment — Amounts advanced to individuals with promise of repayment with interest constitute a “deposit” under Section 2(c) and the recipients are “financial establishments” under Section 2(d) of the MPID Act, irrespective of the transaction being termed as a “loan” — The nomenclature of the transaction is not determinative; the essential attributes of the transaction are key.

2026 INSC 489 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH ALKA AGRAWAL AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS ( Before : Manoj Misra and N.V. Anjaria, JJ. ) Criminal…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 432 — Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 72 & 161— Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) — Section 473 & 477 — Premature release of a prisoner — Rejection of recommendation — Non-speaking order — Order rejecting premature release must provide reasons and reflect due application of mind — Absence of reasons renders the order bald and impossible to ascertain if relevant factors were considered — Violates principles of natural justice and frustrates judicial review.

2026 INSC 490 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH ROHIT CHATURVEDI Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS ( Before : B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, JJ. ) Writ Petition (Criminal)…

[Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, S. 3] – No State can levy VAT on inter-State sales; taxation power for inter-State trade vests exclusively with the Union. – Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 269 — Taxes on sale or purchase of goods in the course of inter-State trade or commerce — Levied and collected by Union but assigned to States — Parliament’s power to formulate principles for determining when such sale/purchase takes place — State legislature’s power restricted to intra-State sales.

2026 INSC 491 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND OTHERS Vs. RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LIMITED AND OTHERS ( Before : J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar,…

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Order 15 Rule 5 — Striking off defence for non-deposit of rent — This is a drastic consequence and the power to strike off a defence is not to be exercised mechanically — The court must consider whether there has been substantial compliance and whether the default is wilful or contumacious. [

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH DHARMENDRA KALRA AND OTHERS Vs. KULVINDER SINGH BHATIA ( Before : S.V.N. Bhatti and Prasanna B. Varale, JJ. ) Civil Appeal No…..of 2026 (@…

Landlord and Tenant — Eviction Suit — Pleading and Proof Satisfied — In this case, the plaint contained material facts of co-landlord status and eviction grounds — Evidence, including affidavits and documents like share certificates, was provided to support these pleaded facts, fulfilling both pleading and proof requirements.

2026 INSC 496 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MARIETTA D’ SILVA Vs. RUDOLF CLOTHAN LACERDA AND OTHERS ( Before : Manoj Misra and Manmohan, JJ. ) Civil Appeal No…..of…

Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 166 — Claim for compensation — Deduction of Mediclaim benefits — Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal — Award of compensation — Mediclaim policy is a contract of insurance purchased by an individual to cover uncertainties of life, with no specific accidental coverage — Compensation under Motor Vehicles Act is a statutory remedy arising from negligence and injury — Mediclaim reimbursement is a contractual benefit independent of the Motor Vehicles Act claim — Deduction of Mediclaim benefits would denude claimant of benefits from premiums paid and unduly benefit insurer of offending vehicle — Compensation awarded under Motor Vehicles Act is a beneficial legislation intended to put the injured in the position as if the accident had not occurred — Medical expenses claimed and paid under Mediclaim are not deductible from compensation awarded by the Tribunal under the Motor Vehicles Act — These two stand on different footing; one is statutory, the other is contractual.

2026 INSC 498 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED Vs. DOLLY SATISH GANDHI AND ANOTHER ( Before : Sanjay Karol and Vipul M. Pancholi, JJ.…

Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Proviso to Section 6 (erstwhile) and Section 8 — Devolution of interest on Class I heirs upon intestate death of a male — If a male Hindu dies intestate leaving a Class I female heir, his interest in coparcenary property devolves by intestate succession under Section 8 and not by survivorship — A notional partition is deemed to take place for ascertaining the deceased’s share.

2026 INSC 499 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH B.S. LALITHA AND OTHERS Vs. BHUVANESH AND OTHERS ( Before : Sanjay Karol and Augustine George Masih, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

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