(221) M/S. UTKAL REALTORS PVT. LTD. Vs. AKHIL AGARWAL AND ANOTHER[ORISSA HIGH COURT] 22-12-2025 Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 — Section 3(1) and Proviso — Ongoing Project — Completion Certificate — Determination of project status — A project is considered completed and not subject to the Act if it received a completion certificate prior to the Act's commencement, irrespective of whether an occupancy India Law Library Docid # 2438193
(222) NADEEM S/O JAHIR Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH[HIMACHAL PRADESH HIGH COURT] 20-12-2025 Criminal Procedure — Application for Additional Evidence at Appellate Stage — Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, Sections 348 and 432 (Corresponding to Cr.P.C., 1973, Sections 311 and 391) — Power of Appellate Court to summon witness or take further evidence — State moved application in a criminal appeal arising from POCSO conviction, seeking to re-examine the victim (PW-20) India Law Library Docid # 2438002
(223) RAMJEE PRASAD KAMKAR AND OTHERS Vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR[PATNA HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 366A (Procuration of minor girl), 120B (Criminal conspiracy), and 376 (Rape) — Appeal against conviction — Appreciation of Evidence — Minor Victim — Age of victim: Medical evidence was inconclusive regarding the exact age of the victim, merely suggesting it was around 17 years and stating that third molar eruption range (17–25 years) made precise age determination difficult. India Law Library Docid # 2437159
(224) SULEMAN BARBHAIYA LAKHIMPUR Vs. THE STATE OF ASSAM[GAUHATI HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Criminal Law — Murder (Section 302 IPC) — Appeal against conviction and sentence — Circumstantial Evidence — Last Seen Theory — Burden of Proof (Section 106 Evidence Act) — The appellant was convicted for the murder of his wife; no direct eye witnesses existed — Evidence indicated the appellant and deceased were last seen together, and the appellant admitted being with her when she India Law Library Docid # 2437230
(225) PANKAJ DIXIT Vs. THE UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[GAUHATI HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Service Law — Promotion — Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) — Below benchmark grading — Communication of ACR entries — The petitioner, an Executive Engineer (Civil) in the Border Roads Engineering Service (General Reserve Engineering Force), was denied promotion in 2010-11 due to "average" (below benchmark) ACR gradings for 2005-06 and 2006-07 — Petitioner contended that these gradings, being a downgrading compared to other years, should have been India Law Library Docid # 2437231
(226) SRI CHIRANJEEB DAS Vs. THE STATE OF ASSAM AND OTHERS[GAUHATI HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Assam Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964 (Rules of 1964) — Rule 9 — Disciplinary Proceedings — De Novo Enquiry — Powers of Disciplinary Authority — Absence of specific provision in Rules of 1964 for initiating de novo/fresh enquiry merely because Disciplinary Authority disagrees with Enquiry Officer's finding in favour of delinquent officer is established law — However, de novo enquiry is permissible to rectify serious defects or lapses in procedure (e.g., failure to furnish India Law Library Docid # 2437232
(227) SMT. NISHA DEVLIYA Vs. SMT. NANDINI AND OTHERS[MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT (INDORE BENCH)] 19-12-2025 M.P. Municipal Corporation Act, 1956 — Section 441-F(2), 441, 441-B, 441-D, 441-H — Setting aside election of Councillor — Disqualification for non-disclosure/false information in nomination affidavit — Scope of judicial review in Civil Revision — Trial court erred in setting aside the election based on assumptions (surmises and conjectures) about potential tax arrears if municipal records were updated, rather than on proof of existing arrears or substantial non-compliance with India Law Library Docid # 2437148
(228) JYOTINDER SINGH SALUJA AND OTHERS Vs. BHARAT HEAVY ELECTRICAL LTD.[MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 — Section 2(g), 5, 7 — Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants — Unauthorised Occupation — Licence Expiration — Where a licence for an industrial plot expired in 2011 and was not formally renewed, the occupant's continued possession falls under the definition of India Law Library Docid # 2437150
(229) P.V. RAVI, Vs. SPE/CBI KOCHI[KERALA HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 — Section 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) — Criminal Conspiracy – Indian Penal Code, 1860 — Section 120B — Misappropriation of loan amount — Allegation that public servant (Bank Manager, A1) conspired with a builder (A2) to misappropriate a housing loan sanctioned in the name of a third party (PW18) without house construction — Evidence showing loan amount (Rs. 3 Lakh) was sanctioned and almost entirely encashed using cheques by the builder (A2) through his st India Law Library Docid # 2437153
(230) SAYED HUSSAIN HYDROSE THANGAL Vs. K.J. PAUL AND OTHERS[KERALA HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Order 6 Rule 17 (Amendment of Pleadings) — Admissibility of amendment after completion of evidence — Res Judicata (Section 11 C.P.C.) — The court must ensure that a proposed amendment does not cause injustice or prejudice to the opposite party or circumvent a legal bar, such as res judicata; otherwise, it would be unjust and impermissible — The fundamental principles of res judicata, which confer finality and conclusiveness to decisions to India Law Library Docid # 2437154
(231) N.SUBRAMANYA SARMA Vs. E.N.NARAYANA SARMA AND OTHERS[KERALA HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Section 4 — Hindu Law and Customary Law — Ascetic life (Sanyasa) — Civil Death — The concept of "civil death" resulting from a Hindu adopting an ascetic life (Sanyasa) and renouncing worldly affairs, as recognized under Mitakshara law, is not abrogated or overridden by Section 4 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 or the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956. India Law Library Docid # 2437155
(232) SUJATHA KRISHNAN AND OTHERS Vs. RADHA MOHANDAS AND OTHERS[KERALA HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Indian Evidence Act, 1872 — Section 32(5) — Admissibility of statement of deceased person concerning relationship — Exception to Hearsay Rule — Verbal statement made by deceased father (Krishnan) confirming paternity of child (Plaintiff No. 2) conceived before marriage, when admitted by a person who heard it (PW1, father of Plaintiff No. 1), is admissible and relevant under Section 32(5) — Essential conditions: statement relates to existence of relationship by blood, maker had special India Law Library Docid # 2437156
(233) ANUSHREE SRIVASTAVA AND OTHERS Vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS[PATNA HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 482 — Quashing of Criminal Proceedings / Cognizance Order — Matrimonial Dispute — Allegations of intimidation, changing medicines, theft of valuable items, and secretly video recording the mother-in-law while bathing (under IPC Sections 354C, 504, 506/34) — Counterblast Theory — Where the nature of allegations (videographing during bath, theft, and abuse) constitutes a serious prima facie case, subsequent filing of India Law Library Docid # 2437157
(234) RAJ KUMAR GUPTA Vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS[PATNA HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 — Coverage and Continuous Service — Employer's Defenses — Finding that the employer's establishment was covered under the Act based on the number of employees (over 10) mentioned in official records — Finding that the employee rendered continuous service for over five years, satisfying the condition under Section 4, despite the employer's denial and lack of proper India Law Library Docid # 2437158
(235) SMT. SANNI BAI AND OTHERS Vs. VIPLOV RAI AND OTHERS[CHHATTISGARH HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 166 (Claim Petition) — Nature of death — Distinguishing Motor Accident from Murder — Claim petition dismissed by Tribunal holding deceased's death was a murder, not a motor accident — High Court found the non-accidental finding erroneous based on the acquittal of accused in the criminal trial (Sessions Trial No. 125/2010), testimony of independent eye-witness (A.W.-2) corroborated by medical evidence (post-mortem report stating cause of death as India Law Library Docid # 2437419
(236) LAXMAN PRASAD Vs. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH AND OTHERS[CHHATTISGARH HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959 — Section 230 — Appointment of Kotwar — Eligibility criteria — Residence — Residence within the concerned village is a mandatory and foundational requirement (jurisdictional fact) for appointment as a Kotwar under the Rules framed under Section 230 — Failure to satisfy this mandatory criterion constitutes a statutory disqualification that goes to the root of eligibility and cannot be India Law Library Docid # 2437420
(237) DUDHU GRAM SEVA SHAKARI SAMITI LTD. Vs. THE UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Constitution of India, 1950 — Articles 14, 19(1)(g), 300A, 226 — Judicial Review — Economic Policy — Demonetisation — Challenge to RBI Circulars dated November 14 and 17, 2016, prohibiting District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs)/Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) from accepting deposits of Specified Bank Notes (SBNs) — Scope of judicial review in economic matters is India Law Library Docid # 2437718
(238) RAJASTHAN STATE ROAD DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION, CORPORTATION LTD Vs. M/S PRAMAN CONSTRUCTION PVT. LTD.[RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Limitation Act, 1963 — Articles 18, 55, and 113 — Suit for recovery of money and breach of contract following contract rescission — Accrual of Cause of Action — Contract for construction rescinded by Corporation on 23.09.2010; final measurement conducted on 06.10.2010 — Cause of action for initiating legal proceedings stood crystallized, at the latest, on the date of final measurement (06.10.2010) — The India Law Library Docid # 2437719
(239) BHAURIKBHAI UTTAMBHAI GHIWALA AND OTHERS Vs. KOKILABEN W/O NADUBHAI @ NANDUBHAI HARIBHAI SURATI AND ANOTHER[GUJARAT HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control Act, 1947 (Rent Act) — Section 29(2) — Civil Revision Application — Scope of Revisional Jurisdiction — The revisional power under Section 29(2) is limited to correcting errors of law that go to the root of the decision; it does not authorize the High Court to re-hear the matter or reappreciate evidence, even if a different view of the evidence is possible — The High India Law Library Docid # 2437750
(240) RAVAL BHANUBEN BABUBHAI AND OTHERS Vs. RASHMIKABEN DEEPAKBHAI DOSHI AND ANOTHER[GUJARAT HIGH COURT] 19-12-2025 Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Order 7 Rule 11 — Rejection of Plaint — Scope of Jurisdiction — When considering an application for rejection of plaint under Order 7 Rule 11(d) (suit barred by law), the court must confine itself strictly to the averments made in the plaint and nothing else, without undertaking an inquiry into disputed facts, veracity of documents, or considering the defense — The suit must be India Law Library Docid # 2437751