(461) DURGA PRASAD Vs. SMT. MINTU DEVI AND ANOTHER[MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT (GWALIOR BENCH)] 16-03-2026 Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Section 100 — Second Appeal — Scope of — Concurrent findings of fact by two lower courts on possession are generally not interfered with in second appeal, unless there are substantial questions of law involved and the findings are perverse or based on misinterpretation of evidence. India Law Library Docid # 2441191
(462) MAHESH SINGH Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND[UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 164 — Statement of victim recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C — is not substantive evidence — Such statement can only be used for corroboration or contradiction — Where there is a material departure between the victim’s earlier statement and her deposition in court, conviction cannot be sustained India Law Library Docid # 2441240
(463) ANIL GHILDIYAL Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND[UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973 — Section 313 — Statement of accused — Appellant pleaded innocence, denied charges, and stated he was falsely implicated due to suspension from police service. India Law Library Docid # 2441241
(464) SAFEEK QURESHI AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND[UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 162 — Identification of articles during investigation in presence of Investigating Officer (IO) — Any statement made by a witness during identification of articles brought by IO, in the presence of IO, is hit by Section 162 of CrPC and is inadmissible in evidence. India Law Library Docid # 2441242
(465) SHOBHABAI GORAKSHANATH VIDHATE Vs. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Bail — Grant of Bail — Circumstances for grant of bail includes pendency of trial, similarity of case with co-accused who has been granted bail, and no necessity of further detention pending trial — Supreme Court setting aside High Court’s order refusing bail in view of these circumstances — Order of bail subject to furnishing bail bonds and other conditions imposed by trial court — Breach of conditions may lead to cancellation of bail — Observations in ord India Law Library Docid # 2441398
(466) SANJU BANJARE Vs. THE STATE OF CHHATTISGARH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Bail — Appellant not named in FIR, complicity based on co-accused's confessional statement with no evidentiary value, appellant's prior acquittal in an Excise Act case, over one year of incarceration, and multiple co-accused already granted bail — High Court's rejection of bail set aside and appellant granted bail on terms and conditions imposed by the trial court. [Paras 1-8] India Law Library Docid # 2441409
(467) MANOJ PILLEY Vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Bail pending trial — Grant of bail — Where charges have been framed, trial is likely to take time, and further detention of the accused pending trial is not deemed necessary by the Supreme Court, the accused may be admitted to bail, subject to furnishing bail bonds, adherence to conditions like not influencing witnesses or breaching bail terms, and diligent attendance at trial proceedings, without prejudice to the merits of the case. India Law Library Docid # 2441410
(468) HITESH KUMAR Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Bail — Conditions for grant of bail — Appellant cooperated with investigation and did not influence witnesses — Supreme Court confirmed earlier order granting bail, directing appellant to continue cooperation and report to Investigating Officer — Supreme Court emphasized that any delay due to appellant's conduct could lead to cancellation of bail — Impugned High Court order set aside. [Paras 5-9] India Law Library Docid # 2441428
(469) HARSHDEEP THAKUR Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Sections 20 and 29 — Bail — Appellant granted bail on parity with co-accused who had criminal antecedents, while appellant had no prior criminal record and had been in custody for over a year — Appeal allowed. [Paras 1–3] India Law Library Docid # 2441478
(470) SAHIL ETC. Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Anticipatory Bail — High Court rejected bail prayers — Supreme Court considered that custodial interrogation was not necessary given the stage of investigation and that appellants had joined investigation — Impugned judgment set aside and appellants directed to be released on bail on terms and conditions to be fixed by the trial court, with liberty to cancel bail upon breach of conditions, and with a clarification that observations are not findings on merit India Law Library Docid # 2441492
(471) MSA GLOBAL LLC (OMAN) Vs. ENGINEERING PROJECTS (INDIA) LIMITED[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Arbitration Act, 1996 — Sections 17, 19.1, 19.3 — Validity of anti-arbitration suit order — arbitrator resigned during pendency of proceedings — resignation of arbitrator removes the primary reason for injuncting the appellant — High Court's order to be re-examined in light of changed circumstances — all contentions regarding arbitrator's past involvement and interim award are kept open for fresh consideration by High Court — Appeal allowed in part, impugned judgment set aside, and case remitted India Law Library Docid # 2441496
(472) SATYA PRAKASH BAGLA Vs. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 439 — Bail application — Special Leave Petition arising from order advancing hearing of bail application — Supreme Court not inclined to entertain Special Leave Petition as High Court had already advanced hearing of bail application to a specific date, prioritizing matters involving medical grounds — State's submission that urgent hospitalization not required based on medical opinion accepted — Directions issued for continued proper medical care, wi India Law Library Docid # 2441515
(473) PILA PAHAN@ PEELA PAHAN AND OTHERS Vs. THE STATE OF JHARKHAND AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Administration of Justice — Court Procedures — Transparency and Accountability — Recommendations of Amicus Curiae for strengthening institutional strength, transparency, and accountability in final hearings, judgment reservation, and pronouncements were circulated to lawyers and Registrar Generals of High Courts for suggestions within ten days — Further suggestions from counsel were also invited within ten days, with a two-week deadline for all recommendations. [Paras 1, 2, 3, 4] India Law Library Docid # 2441521
(474) SRI NARALASETTY PAVAN CHANDRA NAGOOR Vs. SRI RAVI KUMAR MERUVA[TELANGANA HIGH COURT] 16-03-2026 Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Section 44A — Execution of foreign decree — UAE declared as reciprocating territory — Decree from UAE Court is executable in India, subject to limitations under Section 13 of CPC — Judgment debtor failed to establish that the foreign decree falls under any exceptions of Section 13. India Law Library Docid # 2441458
(475) APSRTC AND ANOTHER Vs. M. POCHAIAH AND OTHERS[TELANGANA HIGH COURT] 16-03-2026 Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 — Section 25-F — Wrongful termination of daily-wage worker — Reinstatement and back wages are not automatic when termination is illegal due to a procedural defect, such as violation of Section 25-F — In such cases, monetary compensation is more appropriate to meet the ends of justice. India Law Library Docid # 2441459
(476) JANAKI AMMAL (DECEASED) THR. LRS. Vs. THE TAHSILDAR, BHUVANAGIRI TALUK AND OTHERS[MADRAS HIGH COURT] 16-03-2026 Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Section 15(1)(b) — Succession of property of a female Hindu dying intestate — When there are no children, the property devolves upon the heirs of the husband. India Law Library Docid # 2441552
(477) MAHESH PRATAP MEENA Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Service Law — Appointment — Relaxation of age and weightage for contractual experience — Supreme Court held that appellant, having worked on contract basis and securing first position in merit list, was entitled to age relaxation and weightage for prior experience — High Court erred in interfering with the CAT's order — Supreme Court set aside High Court's order, restored CAT's order, and directed appointment with prospective effect, also directing similar appointment for respondent no.5 with pr India Law Library Docid # 2441688
(478) M/S INDIA INFOLINE HOME FINANCE LIMITED Vs. NAGESWARA RAO PERIKALA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) — Section 14 — Execution of warrant of possession — Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) erroneously closed the petition without considering the Advocate Commissioner's report seeking extension of time due to obstruction by respondents — CJM has a statutory duty to ensure execution of the warrant of possession and time limits under Section 14 are directory, not mandatory — High Court er India Law Library Docid # 2441689
(479) AJEET @ AJAY BATHAM Vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Bail — Suspension of sentence during appeal — Supreme Court granted leave to appeal and suspended the sentence of an appellant convicted under Section 376(1) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and released him on bail — The High Court had previously rejected his prayer for bail — The Supreme Court noted that the prosecutrix was not examined before the Trial Court as she was not traceable, and directed the appellant to cooperate during the appeal hearing and no India Law Library Docid # 2441749
(480) TASLIM AND ANOTHER Vs. THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) — Sections 21(c), 25 — Bail — Appeal against dismissal of bail application by High Court — Supreme Court granted bail considering totality of circumstances and length of custody, setting aside High Court's order — Appellants to cooperate fully with trial and not misuse liberty — Trial expedited, with liberty to High Court to cancel bail if necessary. [Paras 5 to 8] India Law Library Docid # 2441761