(181) M/S. COAL INDIA LIMITED Vs. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (PORT), CUSTOMS HOUSE, KOLKATA[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 01-05-2025 Customs Act, 1962 — Section 14 — Customs Valuation (Determination of Price of Imported Goods) Rules, 1988 — Rule 9(1)(e) — Assessable Value — Payments to Third Party (Indian Agent) — Payments made by an importer (Appellant) to an Indian agent/distributor (M/s Voltas Ltd.) of a foreign supplier, stipulated as a percentage of the FOB value and payable in addition to the price paid to the foreign supplier, are includible in the assessable value India Law Library Docid # 2425256
(182) RAJU @ UMAKANT Vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 01-05-2025 Penal Code, 1860 — Sections 366, 376(2)(g), 342 — Evidence Act, 1872 — Section 114A — Rape — Testimony of Prosecutrix — Corroboration — The testimony of a prosecutrix in a sexual assault case, if found to be credible, consistent, and confidence-inspiring despite minor contradictions or variations from initial reports, is sufficient for conviction without corroboration — A victim of sexual assault is not an accomplice, and her evidence should be evaluated keeping in mind she is an interested witn India Law Library Docid # 2425284
(183) ASHOK KUMAR JAIN Vs. THE STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 01-05-2025 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR — Commercial Disputes — Abuse of Process — The inherent power under S. 482 CrPC to quash an FIR should be exercised sparingly and cautiously — While the court cannot embark upon an enquiry into the reliability of FIR allegations at this stage, where the FIR itself, read with undisputed documents related to the transaction, clearly points towards a dispute primarily of a civil nature (like non-payment in a commercial transaction involv India Law Library Docid # 2425285
(184) DINESH D PANCHAL AND OTHERS Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 01-05-2025 Service Law — Railways — Seniority — Absorption of Surplus Staff — Indian Railway Establishment Manual (IREM), Para 313A — Railway Board Circular No. RE 106/2004 dated 26.06.2004 — Upon redeployment or absorption into a new unit/department due to being rendered surplus, Railway employees are treated as fresh entrants in the matter of seniority under Para 313A of IREM (introduced via Circular dated 26.06.2004) — They are not entitled to the benefit of past service rendered in the previous unit fo India Law Library Docid # 2425286
(185) R. RANJITH SINGH AND OTHERS Vs. THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 01-05-2025 Service Law — Seniority — Direct Recruitment — Inter-se Seniority between Open Market Candidates and Departmental Candidates selected through same process — Basis of Seniority — Merit vs. Source — Constitution of India — Articles 14, 16 & 21 — Where recruitment to a post is made through a common direct recruitment process (including a common examination) involving candidates from the open India Law Library Docid # 2425319
(186) AJAY RAJ SHETTY Vs. DIRECTOR AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 01-05-2025 Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 — Section 4 — Release on Probation — Mandatory Duty of Court to Consider — Discretion and Recording of Reasons: While an offender cannot seek release on probation under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, as a matter of right, a mandatory duty is cast upon the court to consider whether the case warrants releasing the offender on probation if the circumstances stated in subsection (1) of Section 4 are attracted and applicability is not excluded; if India Law Library Docid # 2425506
(187) M/S. NARESH KUMAR GUPTA Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 01-05-2025 Punjab Value Added Tax Act, 2005 — Section 29 — Amendment by Punjab Value Added Tax Act, 2013 — Assessment of tax — Limitation period for assessment — Constitutional validity of amendment — Extension of limitation from three years to six years retrospectively — Effect of amendment on concluded proceedings challenged — Challenge based on prospectivity, overruling of judgments, violation of natural justice and Articles 14/19, extension of period for reassessment after expiry, and inconsistency wit India Law Library Docid # 2425830
(188) THADIYUS TIRKI Vs. STATE OF M.P.(NOW CHHATTISGARH)[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 01-05-2025 Criminal Law — Appeal — Concurrent findings — High Court affirming conviction under Section 458 of the Penal Code, 1860 — Appellant challenging affirmation of conviction — Supreme Court’s scope of intervention in concurrent fact findings India Law Library Docid # 2425960
(189) SHENBAGAVALLI AND OTHERS Vs. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KANCHEEPURAM DISTRICT AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Penal Code, 1860 — Section 306 — Abetment of Suicide — Ingredients — To constitute an offence under Section 306 IPC, the essential ingredients of abetment as defined under Section 107 IPC must be established — There must be proof of a direct or indirect positive act of incitement to the commission of suicide by the accused, reflecting a mens rea to instigate or aid the deceased to end their life. India Law Library Docid # 2425257
(190) KRISHNA KUMAR KEDIA Vs. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH DIRECTOR, CBI[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Evidence Act, 1872 — Section 133 — Approver Evidence — Corroboration — Conviction based significantly on approver’s testimony admitting forgery at appellant’s behest is sustainable when corroborated by: (i) testimony of the official denying the forged signature, (ii) testimonies of appellant’s employees confirming lifting of goods and diversion on appellant’s instructions, and (iii) testimonies of departmental India Law Library Docid # 2425258
(191) KESHAV S/O LAXMAN RUPNAR AND ANOTHER Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Criminal Law — Rape — Evidence — Testimony of Prosecutrix — Reliability — While conviction for rape can be based solely on the testimony of the prosecutrix if it inspires confidence (State of Punjab v. Gurmit Singh), the court must carefully evaluate the testimony in the context of the entire case — Where the narrative contains significant inconsistencies, lacks corroboration on material aspects, and appears unbelievable, raising grave suspicion, implicit reliance cannot be placed solely on the India Law Library Docid # 2425259
(192) RINA RANI MALLICK Vs. SUSIM KANTI MOHANTY AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Compensation — Injury to Minor — Non-Pecuniary Heads — In motor accident claims involving injury to minors resulting in permanent disability, compensation is determined primarily under non-pecuniary heads (pain, suffering, loss of amenities, inconvenience, discomfort) in addition to actual expenses incurred for treatment, attendant care etc., as establishing loss of future earnings is difficult — The quantum for non-pecuniary loss can be guided by the structured amount India Law Library Docid # 2425260
(193) SMT. M. SABITHA AND OTHERS Vs. BRAHMA SWAMULU AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Negligence — Contributory Negligence — Head-on Collision — Overtaking Vehicle and Speeding Vehicle — In a head-on collision between a car overtaking another vehicle and a lorry approaching from the opposite direction at high speed (evidenced by dragging the car post-impact), both drivers are contributorily negligent — The car driver failed to exercise sufficient care while overtaking, and India Law Library Docid # 2425261
(194) MEERA BAI AND OTHERS Vs. ICICI LOMBARD GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Negligence — Proof — Absence of Eyewitness — The High Court erred in dismissing a motor accident claim petition solely on the ground that no eyewitness was examined to prove rash and negligent driving, especially when other evidence indicated negligence — Eyewitness testimony is not indispensable India Law Library Docid # 2425262
(195) PRAGYA PRASUN AND OTHERS Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Constitution of India — Article 21 — Right to Life — Digital Accessibility — In the contemporary digital era, the Right to Life under Article 21 encompasses the right to digital access — Bridging the digital divide and ensuring universal accessibility to digital infrastructure, government portals, and essential services (including financial and telecommunication services) for all, including persons with disabilities and marginalized populations, is a constitutional imperative for the State to en India Law Library Docid # 2425263
(196) KANIZ AHMED Vs. SABUDDIN AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Unauthorized Construction — Public Interest Litigation — Eviction and Demolition — High Court Directions Affirmed — Supreme Court affirms the High Court’s directions issued in a Public Interest Litigation, mandating authorities to ensure vacation of premises built unauthorizedly, eviction of occupants using adequate police force if necessary by a specified timeline, and subsequent demolition of the unauthorized structure by the Municipal Corporation, with the entire process being videographed a India Law Library Docid # 2425287
(197) GAYATRI BALASAMY Vs. M/S. ISG NOVASOFT TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 30-04-2025 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Sections 34 & 37 — Power of Court — Modification of Arbitral Award — Courts exercising power under Section 34 (setting aside) or Section 37 (appeal) of the Act do not have the power to modify or vary the terms of an arbitral award — The legislative scheme confines the court's power primarily to setting aside the award on enumerated grounds, reflecting the principle of minimal India Law Library Docid # 2425294
(198) SHYAM NANDAN MEHTA Vs. SANTOSH KUMAR AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 29-04-2025 Service Law — Appointment — Validity — Discrepancy in Category Certificate — No Undue Advantage — An appointment secured on merit cannot be set aside merely due to a discrepancy between the candidate’s actual reservation category (Backward Class - BC) and the category mentioned (Most Backward Class - MBC) in the qualifying Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) certificate, especially when: (i) the candidate applied for and was selected under their correct category (BC); (ii) they secured higher marks t India Law Library Docid # 2425190
(199) PUNIT BERIWALA Vs. THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 29-04-2025 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR — Scope of Inquiry — The power to quash an FIR under Section 482 Cr.P.C. must be exercised sparingly and with circumspection — The Court cannot embark upon an inquiry into the reliability or genuineness of the allegations made in the FIR/complaint and must proceed assuming the averments to be true — Investigation should not be thwarted at the initial stage unless no cognizable offence India Law Library Docid # 2425191
(200) RENUKA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 29-04-2025 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR/Chargesheet — Scope of Inquiry — Mini Trial — The High Court, while exercising its inherent jurisdiction to quash criminal proceedings, particularly under Sections 498-A, 324, 355, 504, 506 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, cannot embark upon an inquiry into the credibility or reliability of the evidence presented in the FIR/Chargesheet — Comparing allegations in India Law Library Docid # 2425178