Hostile witnesses — Effect — When a large number of witnesses, including eyewitnesses, turn hostile, prosecution case often collapses for want of evidence — While reasons for hostility can be varied (coercion, fear, monetary consideration, etc.), it cannot automatically lead to conviction based on prior S. 161 statements or IO’s testimony about such statements, as these are not substantive evidence — Court’s consternation at collapse of a serious case due to witness hostility cannot be a reason to convict on insufficient or inadmissible evidence, amounting to a moral conviction anathema to criminal jurisprudence.
2025 INSC 657 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH RENUKA PRASAD Vs. THE STATE REPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE ( Before : Sudhanshu Dhulia and K. Vinod Chandran, JJ.…
Sales Tax — Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963 (Kerala Act) — Section 5A — Tamil Nadu General Sales Tax Act, 1959 (Tamil Nadu Act) — Section 7A — Purchase Tax — Liability of assessee purchasing goods from dealers exempt from sales tax — Where goods are purchased from dealers who are exempt from payment of sales tax by virtue of notifications or exemptions under the Kerala Act or Tamil Nadu Act, such a purchase is considered a purchase of “goods, the sale or purchase of which is liable to tax” within the meaning of Section 5A of the Kerala Act or Section 7A of the Tamil Nadu Act
2025 INSC 661 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH C.T. KOCHOUSEPH Vs. STATE OF KERALA AND ANOTHER ETC. ( Before : Sanjiv Khanna, CJI., Sanjay Kumar and R. Mahadevan, JJ.…
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 — Sections 7, 13(1)(d) r/w S. 13(2) a— Illegal gratification — Demand and Acceptance — Proof beyond reasonable doubt — Where prosecution case regarding demand and acceptance of bribe by public servant (Revenue Inspector) suffered from material contradictions and inconsistencies in evidence of complainant (PW1) and other prosecution witnesses (PW7) Minor discrepancies may not be fatal, but serious contradictions going to root of matter, rendering evidence untrustworthy, are grounds for acquittal.
2025 INSC 655 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH PARITALA SUDHAKAR Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA ( Before : Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No…..of 2025 [@…
Under Rule 17, CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, prior contractual service counts towards pension upon subsequent regularisation, subject to the employee opting to refund/forgo specified monetary benefits.
2025 INSC 594 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH S.D. JAYAPRAKASH AND OTHERS Vs. THE UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS ( Before : Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, JJ.…
Service of an IBC Section 8 demand notice upon Key Managerial Personnel at the Corporate Debtor’s registered office constitutes valid service on the company, emphasizing substance over technical form.
2025 INSC 597 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH VISA COKE LIMITED Vs. M/S MESCO KALINGA STEEL LIMITED ( Before : J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…
High Court’s inherent power to quash criminal proceedings precludes conducting a ‘mini trial’ by assessing evidence credibility; consistency requires acknowledging coordinate bench decisions involving co-accused.
2025 INSC 596 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH RENUKA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ANOTHER ( Before : Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No…..of…
Quashing FIR under 482 CrPC impermissible when complaint prima facie discloses cognizable offences; allegations accepted true, investigation not thwarted based on delay, civil suit, or witness status if complicity alleged.
2025 INSC 582 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH PUNIT BERIWALA Vs. THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI AND OTHERS ( Before : Dipankar Datta and Manmohan, JJ. ) Criminal…
Appointment secured on merit cannot be invalidated for an unintentional category error in a qualifying certificate if no undue advantage accrued therefrom.
2025 INSC 586 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SHYAM NANDAN MEHTA Vs. SANTOSH KUMAR AND OTHERS ( Before : Dipankar Datta and Prashant Kumar Mishra, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…
Under Sections 34/37 of Arbitration Act, 1996, courts lack power to modify awards but can set aside, partially set aside (sever) severable parts, or correct computational/clerical errors.
2025 INSC 605 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA 5 JUDGES BENCH GAYATRI BALASAMY Vs. M/S. ISG NOVASOFT TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED ( Before : Sanjiv Khanna, CJI., B.R. Gavai, Sanjay Kumar, Augustine George…
Courts must strictly enforce building laws, order demolition of unauthorized structures, and refuse regularization pleas from violators, upholding the rule of law.
2025 INSC 610 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH KANIZ AHMED Vs. SABUDDIN AND OTHERS ( Before : J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, JJ. ) Petition for Special Leave to…







