(101) BIPIN KUMAR AND ANOTHER Vs. THE STATE OF ASSAM[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 17-03-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) — Section 20(b)(ii)(c) — Suspension of sentence and release on bail — Appellants convicted under Section 20(b)(ii)(c) of NDPS Act sentenced to 15 years imprisonment — Co-accused enlarged on bail — Considering parity and period of custody of appellants being more than co-accused, Supreme Court suspended substantive jail sentence and directed release on bail, subject to no adverse orders and liberty to State to seek cancellation of su India Law Library Docid # 2441508
(102) RAMNIWAS Vs. THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 17-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 319 — Summoning of additional accused — High Court erred by only relying on statements recorded under Sections 161 and 164 Cr.P.C — to set aside a summoning order when the victim had been examined on oath during trial — Trial Court's order upheld, and case remanded to High Court for fresh decision. [Paras 2-4] India Law Library Docid # 2441511
(103) VELATHAL AND OTHERS Vs. PALANISAMY AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 17-03-2026 Civil Procedure — Settlement Agreement — Supreme Court modified High Court’s judgment in terms of a Settlement Agreement between the parties, directing them to abide by its terms and conditions, and making the agreement a part of the decree. [Paras 3 to 6] India Law Library Docid # 2441589
(104) GHOUSIA WILLIAMS Vs. PRASANNA H S AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 17-03-2026 Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 — Section 12 — Punishment for contempt of Court — Willful disobedience of Court order — Appellant convicted for willfully disobeying interim order directing payment of salary — Institute where appellant was Managing Trustee ceased to function due to acquisition of premises by Metro Rail Corporation and surrender of government grants — Employees had not performed any work since August 2018 — Non-compliance of order was not willful but due to intervening factors beyond India Law Library Docid # 2441597
(105) SHINY C.J. AND OTHERS Vs. SHALINI SREENIVASAN AND OHTERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Recruitment Rules — Interpretation of — Anganwadi Workers applying for Supervisor posts — Eligibility and quota for graduates vs. SSLC holders — Amendment to rules increasing quota for Anganwadi Workers and earmarking a portion for graduates — Whether graduates are excluded from the general quota for Anganwadi Workers with SSLC and 10 years' experience — Supreme Court held that India Law Library Docid # 2440765
(106) THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, KSRTC Vs. P. CHANDRAMOULI AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 166 — Compensation — Deduction of group insurance benefits — Whether amounts received by claimants under employer-provided group insurance or other contractual/social security benefits can be deducted from compensation awarded under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Held, such benefits arise from independent contractual relationships and lack nexus with India Law Library Docid # 2440766
(107) THE STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH Vs. SURAT SINGH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-03-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) — Section 50 — Compliance with search provisions — Accused must be apprised of legal right to be searched before a Magistrate or Gazetted Officer, not a Police Officer — Offering a third option to be searched before a Police Officer contravenes Section 50 and India Law Library Docid # 2440767
(108) 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
(109) 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
(110) 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
(111) 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
(112) 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
(113) 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
(114) 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
(115) 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
(116) 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
(117) RAJ BAHADUR SINGH Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 13-03-2026 Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act) — Sections 7 and 13(2) — Appeal against conviction and sentence — Supreme Court upheld the concurrent findings of the Trial Court and High Court regarding the guilt of the appellant based on ocular evidence and corroboration from independent witnesses — No error found in India Law Library Docid # 2440693
(118) RAJENDRA AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 13-03-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 376(2)(g) and 506 — Conviction based on sole testimony of prosecutrix — Delay in lodging FIR — Lack of corroborative evidence — Court held that conviction can be based on sole testimony of prosecutrix only if it inspires confidence — In this case, the prosecutrix's version did not inspire confidence due to unexplained delay and lack of disclosure to family, inconsistencies India Law Library Docid # 2440694
(119) OM SAKTHI SEKAR Vs. V. SUKUMAR AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 13-03-2026 Debts Recovery Tribunal Act, 1993 — Auction Sale — Revaluation of Property — High Court's direction to reconsider valuation after confirmation of auction sale is permissible if there are credible issues regarding adequacy of valuation or fairness of process for fixing reserve price, to ensure best possible value is realised for the secured asset. India Law Library Docid # 2440695
(120) MIZO CHIEF COUNCIL MIZORAM, THR. PRESIDENT SHRI L. CHINZAH Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 13-03-2026 Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 32 — Writ Petition — Delay and Laches — Doctrine of laches is a flexible rule of practice, not a rigid rule of law, to be applied on case-to-case basis based on judicial discretion — It requires balancing the equity of not allowing stale claims against the constitutional duty to enforce fundamental rights — Key considerations include inordinate delay, explanation for delay, and India Law Library Docid # 2440696