(21) UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS Vs. SAROJ DEVI [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 03-12-2024 Classification of Military casualties and the eligibility for Liberalised Family Pension — Battle Casualty —Illness Caused by Extreme Climatic Conditions as Battle Casualty — The Court establishes that a soldier's death due to illness resulting from extreme climatic conditions while on duty near a sensitive border area (such as the Line of Control) can be categorized as a 'Battle Casualty' — This expands the interpretation of what India Law Library Docid # 2420413
(22) HARE RAM YADAV Vs. STATE OF BIHAR [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 03-12-2024 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 302 and 304 Part II— Alteration of Sentence — Murder conviction to culpable homicide — The Court established a precedent that in cases involving sudden fights and grave provocations, a conviction under Section 302 can be converted to Section 304 if the circumstances do not indicate premeditation or cruel intent. India Law Library Docid # 2420553
(23) ASHOK Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 02-12-2024 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 313 — Power to examine the accused — Requirement to Put All Material Circumstances —The Court emphasized that it is the duty of the trial court to put each material circumstance appearing in the evidence against the accused specifically, distinctly, and separately. India Law Library Docid # 2420403
(24) BASTIRAM Vs. RAJASTHAN STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION AND ANOTHER [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 02-12-2024 Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 — Compensation as an Alternative Remedy — The court established that in cases where the Civil Court's jurisdiction is questioned, awarding compensation can be an appropriate alternative to deciding the jurisdictional issue outright — This approach resolves the dispute while avoiding protracted legal battles over jurisdiction India Law Library Docid # 2420551
(25) NUTAN BHARTI GRAM VIDYAPITH Vs. GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 02-12-2024 Service Law — Retiral Benefits — Liability of State Government under Grant-in-Aid Schemes — The court firmly established that in cases where an educational institution is receiving Grant-in-Aid from the State, the liability to provide retiral benefits to its employees as per the applicable scheme lies primarily with the State Government —This clarifies that the financial obligations under the pension scheme are not transferred to the aided institution merely because it receives funding from the India Law Library Docid # 2420552
(26) KAMARUDDIN DASTAGIR SANADI Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH SHO KAKATI POLICE [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 29-11-2024 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 306 and 417 — Abetment to Suicide — Mens Rea Requirement — The Court reiterates that for a conviction under Section 306 IPC, there must be clear mens rea on the part of the accused to abet the suicide — Merely causing discord or having a broken relationship is not sufficient. India Law Library Docid # 2420254
(27) CHAUDHARY CHARAN SINGH HARYANA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, HISAR AND ANOTHER Vs. MONIKA AND OTHERS [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 29-11-2024 Constitutional Law — Articles 14 and 16 — Non-arbitrariness and equality principles require consideration of experience gained through outsourced employment. Public Employment — Advertisement Criteria — Experience marks should be awarded based on the nature of work performed, not solely on the mode of employment. Public Employment — Sanctioned Post Requirement —Absence of a 'sanctioned post' prefix in the experience criteria of the advertisement allows for consideration of experience from outsou India Law Library Docid # 2420280
(28) SURESH CHANDRA TIWARI AND ANOTHER Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 28-11-2024 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 302 and 304 Part I — Murder — The appellants were accused of the crime based on circumstantial evidence — Whether the appellants were guilty of murder under Section 302 IPC or Section 304 Part I IPC — The appellants argued that the circumstantial evidence was not conclusive, the time gap between the last seen and recovery of the body was too India Law Library Docid # 2420253
(29) ANEK SINGH ETC. Vs. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 28-11-2024 Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — Sections 4, 6 and 18 — Proximity to Valuable Facilities — The court established that the proximity of acquired land to valuable facilities like a refinery significantly influences the determination of fair compensation — This suggests that lands closer to such facilities should be valued higher considering increased market potential and utility. India Law Library Docid # 2420548
(30) R. SHAMA NAIK Vs. G. SRINIVASIAH [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 28-11-2024 Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 16(C) — Limitations on Specific Relief under Section 16(C) — The court reaffirms that Section 16(C) bars the grant of specific performance to a plaintiff who fails to demonstrate readiness and willingness to perform their contractual duties. India Law Library Docid # 2420549
(31) S. N. DUBEY AND OTHERS Vs. RAMAN KHANDELWAL AND OTHERS [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 28-11-2024 Independent Judicial Scrutiny of NGT Orders —The Supreme Court emphasized that while the NGT has specialized jurisdiction, its orders are not immune from judicial review by higher courts — Higher courts must independently scrutinize the NGT's decisions, especially when they involve significant public interests, legal principles, and factual determinations. India Law Library Docid # 2420550
(32) GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL AND OTHERS Vs. DR. AMAL SATPATHI AND OTHERS [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 27-11-2024 West Bengal Service Rules, 1976 — Rule 54(1)(a) — The Supreme Court held that an employee cannot claim retrospective financial benefits for a promotional post they did not actually assume due to administrative delays — The court relied on Rule 54(1)(a) and previous precedents which establish that promotion benefits accrue only upon assuming the duties of the higher post — The fundamental right to be considered for promotion does not equate India Law Library Docid # 2420191
(33) X Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN AND ANOTHER [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 27-11-2024 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Section 376D and Section 342 — Caution Against Premature Bail in Serious Offences — The Court reiterates that bail should be granted with extreme caution in serious offences like rape, especially when the trial has just commenced and key witnesses, such as the victim, have not yet been examined. India Law Library Docid # 2420255
(34) BENZO CHEM INDUSTRIAL PRIVATE LIMITED Vs. ARVIND MANOHAR MAHAJAN AND OTHERS [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 27-11-2024 Environmental Law — Procedural Fairness in Imposing Environmental Penalties — The Court emphasizes the necessity of providing notice to the appellant before imposing significant environmental penalties — This ensures that the party has an opportunity to present its case and defend against the allegations. India Law Library Docid # 2420545
(35) GRASIM INDUSTRIES LIMITED Vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND ANOTHER [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 27-11-2024 Implication of Natural Justice — Principle Violated — The Supreme Court held that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) violated the principles of natural justice by not impleading the appellant as a party respondent in the proceedings — The Court emphasized that no party can be condemned unheard — Proper notice and an opportunity to be heard are essential prerequisites before any adverse decision is made against a party. India Law Library Docid # 2420546
(36) NALIN CHOKSEY Vs. THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, KOCHI [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 27-11-2024 Customs Act, 1962 — Sections 28(1) and 124 — Subsequent Purchaser's Liability — The Court clarifies that a subsequent purchaser of imported goods, who had no role in the importation or misdeclaration, cannot be held liable for unpaid customs duties or penalties imposed on the original importer — The liability squarely rests on the importer. India Law Library Docid # 2420547
(37) PAYAL SHARMA Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 26-11-2024 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 406 and 498-A — Quashing of FIR in Matrimonial Disputes — Caution Against Over-Imputation —The Court emphasized the need for caution in matrimonial disputes where allegations are often exaggerated — It highlighted that courts should scrutinize allegations against relatives who do not reside with the couple with great care and circumspection. India Law Library Docid # 2420081
(38) KALI CHARAN AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF U.P. AND OTHERS [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 26-11-2024 Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — Sections 4(1), 17(1) and 17(4) — Integrated Development Projects — Acquisition for integrated development projects, such as the Yamuna Expressway, is a valid public purpose under the Act, 1894 — Residential, industrial, and recreational developments alongside infrastructure are considered complementary and part of an integral scheme. India Law Library Docid # 2420115
(39) MAHESH DAMU KHARE Vs. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANOTHER [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 26-11-2024 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 376, 375, 420, 504 and 506 — Rape — False promise of marriage — Whether the sexual relationship was consensual or based on a false promise of marriage, and whether the FIR should be quashed — The appellant argued that the relationship was consensual and that the complainant's allegations were made only after he stopped providing financial assistance — The State contended that the matter should be investigated further to determine the nature of the consent — The India Law Library Docid # 2420116
(40) C. SELVARANI Vs. THE SPECIAL SECRETARY- CUM-DISTRICT COLLECTOR AND OTHERS [SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 26-11-2024 Scheduled Caste Community Certificate — Denial of — The appellant applied for a Scheduled Caste community certificate but was denied on the grounds that she did not profess Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism — Whether the appellant is entitled to a Scheduled Caste community certificate indicating she belongs to the Valluvan caste — The appellant argued that she professes Hinduism and belongs to the Valluvan caste, which is recognized as a India Law Library Docid # 2420117