Supreme Court of India Judgements

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Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 20 — Specific performance — Discretionary and equitable relief — Clean hands — Grant of specific performance is discretionary, not automatic even where a valid contract subsists; a plaintiff must approach the Court with clean hands. Where the plaintiff’s spouse lodged a criminal complaint seeking recovery of the advance paid, alleging the vendor fraudulently suppressed a subsisting injunction, while simultaneously maintaining a civil suit for specific performance, such conduct amounts to blowing “hot and cold” and disentitles the plaintiff to equitable relief. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 299 — Absence of order — Effect on conviction — Where no order under S. 299 was ever passed at the stage the co-accused was tried (case having been split due to abscondence), the earlier deposition of a witness (since deceased) could not be relied upon to convict the accused apprehended and tried years later; identification by surviving eyewitnesses being doubtful and other witnesses having turned hostile, conviction based on such uncorroborated prior testimony unsustainable — appellant acquitted. Hindu female’s property devolves equally on husband and daughter separately; gift of undivided coparcenary share needs no co-owner’s consent. A. Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Section 15(1)(a) — Devolution of Female Intestate’s Property — Properties of a Hindu female dying intestate devolve, in the absence of sons/daughters’ issue predeceasing her, upon her husband and daughter in equal shares under Section 15(1)(a); such undivided share in the husband’s hands does not partake the character of coparcenary property. Armed Forces — Air Force Order No. 33/2017 — Prior Permission for Civil Post — Mandatory Nature — Requirement of seeking prior permission before applying for a civil post, and subsequent grant of NOC, held mandatory and not merely procedural/directory, since AFO 33/2017 has necessary nexus with regulating premature discharge of Airmen and its object of maintaining operational preparedness of the Air Force. Consumer Protection Act, 2019 — Deficiency of Service — Maintenance Contractor’s Liability — Elevator Malfunction — Comprehensive maintenance contractor, being both manufacturer and repair contractor with exclusive technical knowledge of safety interlocks and brake mechanisms, held principally deficient in service for failing to act on its own identified remedy (voltage stabiliser) despite repeated notice of persistent malfunction over several months preceding fatal accident.
Specific Performance

Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 20 — Specific performance — Discretionary and equitable relief — Clean hands — Grant of specific performance is discretionary, not automatic even where a valid contract subsists; a plaintiff must approach the Court with clean hands. Where the plaintiff’s spouse lodged a criminal complaint seeking recovery of the advance paid, alleging the vendor fraudulently suppressed a subsisting injunction, while simultaneously maintaining a civil suit for specific performance, such conduct amounts to blowing “hot and cold” and disentitles the plaintiff to equitable relief.

Aug 1, 2026 sclaw
Acquittal

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 299 — Absence of order — Effect on conviction — Where no order under S. 299 was ever passed at the stage the co-accused was tried (case having been split due to abscondence), the earlier deposition of a witness (since deceased) could not be relied upon to convict the accused apprehended and tried years later; identification by surviving eyewitnesses being doubtful and other witnesses having turned hostile, conviction based on such uncorroborated prior testimony unsustainable — appellant acquitted.

Aug 1, 2026 sclaw
Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 20 — Specific performance — Discretionary and equitable relief — Clean hands — Grant of specific performance is discretionary, not automatic even where a valid contract subsists; a plaintiff must approach the Court with clean hands. Where the plaintiff’s spouse lodged a criminal complaint seeking recovery of the advance paid, alleging the vendor fraudulently suppressed a subsisting injunction, while simultaneously maintaining a civil suit for specific performance, such conduct amounts to blowing “hot and cold” and disentitles the plaintiff to equitable relief.
Specific Performance
Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 20 — Specific performance — Discretionary and equitable relief — Clean hands — Grant of specific performance is discretionary, not automatic even where a valid contract subsists; a plaintiff must approach the Court with clean hands. Where the plaintiff’s spouse lodged a criminal complaint seeking recovery of the advance paid, alleging the vendor fraudulently suppressed a subsisting injunction, while simultaneously maintaining a civil suit for specific performance, such conduct amounts to blowing “hot and cold” and disentitles the plaintiff to equitable relief.
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 299 — Absence of order — Effect on conviction — Where no order under S. 299 was ever passed at the stage the co-accused was tried (case having been split due to abscondence), the earlier deposition of a witness (since deceased) could not be relied upon to convict the accused apprehended and tried years later; identification by surviving eyewitnesses being doubtful and other witnesses having turned hostile, conviction based on such uncorroborated prior testimony unsustainable — appellant acquitted.
Acquittal
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 299 — Absence of order — Effect on conviction — Where no order under S. 299 was ever passed at the stage the co-accused was tried (case having been split due to abscondence), the earlier deposition of a witness (since deceased) could not be relied upon to convict the accused apprehended and tried years later; identification by surviving eyewitnesses being doubtful and other witnesses having turned hostile, conviction based on such uncorroborated prior testimony unsustainable — appellant acquitted.
Hindu female’s property devolves equally on husband and daughter separately; gift of undivided coparcenary share needs no co-owner’s consent. A. Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Section 15(1)(a) — Devolution of Female Intestate’s Property — Properties of a Hindu female dying intestate devolve, in the absence of sons/daughters’ issue predeceasing her, upon her husband and daughter in equal shares under Section 15(1)(a); such undivided share in the husband’s hands does not partake the character of coparcenary property.
Will & Succession
Hindu female’s property devolves equally on husband and daughter separately; gift of undivided coparcenary share needs no co-owner’s consent. A. Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Section 15(1)(a) — Devolution of Female Intestate’s Property — Properties of a Hindu female dying intestate devolve, in the absence of sons/daughters’ issue predeceasing her, upon her husband and daughter in equal shares under Section 15(1)(a); such undivided share in the husband’s hands does not partake the character of coparcenary property.
Armed Forces — Air Force Order No. 33/2017 — Prior Permission for Civil Post — Mandatory Nature — Requirement of seeking prior permission before applying for a civil post, and subsequent grant of NOC, held mandatory and not merely procedural/directory, since AFO 33/2017 has necessary nexus with regulating premature discharge of Airmen and its object of maintaining operational preparedness of the Air Force.
Service
Armed Forces — Air Force Order No. 33/2017 — Prior Permission for Civil Post — Mandatory Nature — Requirement of seeking prior permission before applying for a civil post, and subsequent grant of NOC, held mandatory and not merely procedural/directory, since AFO 33/2017 has necessary nexus with regulating premature discharge of Airmen and its object of maintaining operational preparedness of the Air Force.
Cr P C

Decided on : 05-12-2019 – [Section 197 CrPC] No Protection Of Sanction Where The Acts Are Performed Using The Public Office As A Mere Cloak For Unlawful Gains HELD “The High Court was also not justified in observing ‘that the protection available to a public servant while in service, should also be available after his retirement’.”

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

[Section 197 CrPC] No Protection Of Sanction Where The Acts Are Performed Using The Public Office As A Mere Cloak For Unlawful Gains [Read Judgment] BY: ASHOK KINI8 Dec 2019…

Murder

Decided on : 05-12-2019 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 120B, 302, 201, 34 – Arms Act, 1959 – Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Sections 223, 227, 228 and 391 – Evidence Act, 1872 – Sections 8 and 10 – After the commission of the crime, accused absconded and did not join the investigation – Prosecution has made out a strong prima facie case and the materials on record are sufficient to frame charges against accused.

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH STATE OF NCT OF DELHI — Appellant Vs. SHIV CHARAN BANSAL AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Indu Malhotra and R. Subhash Reddy,…

Bail Declined

Decided on : 05-12-2019 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Sections 161 and 439 – Penal Code, 1908 (IPC) – Sections 147, 148, 149, 302 and 397 – Murder – Common intention – Bail granted by High Court – Appeal against – Merely recording “having perused the record” and “on the facts and circumstances of the case” does not sub-serve the purpose of a reasoned judicial order.

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MAHIPAL — Appellant Vs. RAJESH KUMAR @ POLIA AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and Hrishikesh Roy, JJ. )…

Service Matters
Service

Decided on : 05-12-2019 – Denial of voluntary retirement does not mitigate the legal consequences that flow from resignation – Denial of voluntary retirement cannot be invoked before this Court to claim pensionary benefits when the first respondent has admittedly resigned. Even if the first respondent had served twenty years, under Rule 26 of the CCS Pension Rules his past service stands forfeited upon resignation.

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH BSES YAMUNA POWER LTD.— Appellant Vs. SH. GHANSHYAM CHAND SHARMA AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and Hrishikesh Roy,…

Service Matters
Service

Decided on : 06-12-2019 – Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam Subordinate Engineering Service Regulations, 1978 – Regulations 16(2), 17, 18, 20 and 23 – Appointment – Determination of Seniority – Method of giving appointment to the senior most person of each category is only a fortuitus circumstance as such appointments were made dehors the merit.

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH DHARMENDRA PRASAD AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. SUNIL KUMAR AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. )…

Service Matters
Service

Decided on : 06-12-2019 – Service law – Dismissal – Demand and acceptance of illegal gratification -It is settled law that interference with the orders passed pursuant to a departmental inquiry can be only in case of ‘no evidence’ – Sufficiency of evidence is not within the realm of judicial review

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH THE STATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. PHULPARI KUMARI — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. )…

Labour Cases

Decided on : 06-12-2019 After having accepted the appointment in FCI as per the Office Order dated 18.09.1973, it is not open to the Appellant-Union to take up the cause of the work charge employees and claim on their behalf benefits similar to those granted to the regular employees. – Appeals dismissed.

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH KANDLA PORT WORKERS UNION @APPELANT Vs. FCI AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

Service Matters
Service

Decided on : 06-12-2019 – Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 14 – There is no concept of negative equality under Article 14 of the Constitution of India – Appellants cannot, as a matter of right, claim appointment on the basis of two ineligible persons being given the benefit and no direction can be given to the Respondents to perpetuate illegality

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HAV (OFC) RWMWI BORGOYARY AND OTHER ETC. — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and…

Service Matters
Service

Decided on : 06-12-2019 Uttar Pradesh Industrial Training Institutes (Instructors) Service (Second Amendment) Rules, 2003 – Rule 8 – Appointment – Academic Qualification – Eligibility condition is that a candidate must have obtained a certificate in respective trade from NCVT – It is not necessary that a qualification prescribed in the Rules has to be possessed in one certificate

Dec 8, 2019 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH RAJESH KUMAR DWIVEDI — Appellant Vs. STATE OF U.P AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. )…

You missed

Specific Performance

Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 20 — Specific performance — Discretionary and equitable relief — Clean hands — Grant of specific performance is discretionary, not automatic even where a valid contract subsists; a plaintiff must approach the Court with clean hands. Where the plaintiff’s spouse lodged a criminal complaint seeking recovery of the advance paid, alleging the vendor fraudulently suppressed a subsisting injunction, while simultaneously maintaining a civil suit for specific performance, such conduct amounts to blowing “hot and cold” and disentitles the plaintiff to equitable relief.

Aug 1, 2026 sclaw
Acquittal

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 299 — Absence of order — Effect on conviction — Where no order under S. 299 was ever passed at the stage the co-accused was tried (case having been split due to abscondence), the earlier deposition of a witness (since deceased) could not be relied upon to convict the accused apprehended and tried years later; identification by surviving eyewitnesses being doubtful and other witnesses having turned hostile, conviction based on such uncorroborated prior testimony unsustainable — appellant acquitted.

Aug 1, 2026 sclaw
Will & Succession

Hindu female’s property devolves equally on husband and daughter separately; gift of undivided coparcenary share needs no co-owner’s consent. A. Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Section 15(1)(a) — Devolution of Female Intestate’s Property — Properties of a Hindu female dying intestate devolve, in the absence of sons/daughters’ issue predeceasing her, upon her husband and daughter in equal shares under Section 15(1)(a); such undivided share in the husband’s hands does not partake the character of coparcenary property.

Jul 30, 2026 sclaw
Service

Armed Forces — Air Force Order No. 33/2017 — Prior Permission for Civil Post — Mandatory Nature — Requirement of seeking prior permission before applying for a civil post, and subsequent grant of NOC, held mandatory and not merely procedural/directory, since AFO 33/2017 has necessary nexus with regulating premature discharge of Airmen and its object of maintaining operational preparedness of the Air Force.

Jul 30, 2026 sclaw