(321) PRAMOD KUMAR SHUKLA Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 19-08-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 156(3) & Section 154 — Rejection of Section 156(3) application — Effect on subsequent registration of FIR — Rejection of an application under Section 156(3) Cr.PC does not operate as res judicata or create a legal bar against the subsequent registration of an FIR or continuation of criminal proceedings on same or similar allegations — Order under India Law Library Docid # 2449433
(322) AFIKMIYA AHMEDMIYA MALEK AND OTHER Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 19-08-2026 Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 — Sections 7, 12, 13(1)(d), and 20 — Demand and acceptance of illegal gratification — Requisites for drawing statutory presumption — Appellants (A1: Talati-cum-Mantri; A2: Peon) were convicted for demanding and accepting bribe for issuing an Income Certificate — High Court upheld conviction drawing statutory presumption under Section 20 — Validity — Held, statutory presumption under Section 20 of the 1988 Act can be drawn only after the initial demand of bribe India Law Library Docid # 2449434
(323) REENA Vs. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, KARNATAKA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 19-08-2026 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Sections 166, 168 & 173 — Contributory Negligence & Evidentiary Value of Police Records — Reversal of MACT Order by High Court — In a head-on collision between a light motor vehicle (Santro car) and a heavy passenger bus (KSRTC), the High Court apportioned 50% contributory negligence to the driver of the Santro car based solely on a topographical scene sketchq India Law Library Docid # 2449435
(324) SINGAPOGU BABU RAO AND OTHERS Vs. SPECIAL DEPUTY COLLECTOR (LAND ACQUISITION) AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 19-08-2026 Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — Sections 29, 30, and 31 — Apportionment of Compensation and Reference to Civil Court — Nature of Enjoyment Survey vs. Legal Title — Dispute as to entitlement over compensation cannot be conclusively determined by an enjoyment survey — Land Acquisition Officer referred title and apportionment disputes to the Civil Court under Sections 30 and 31 — Pending writ India Law Library Docid # 2449436
(325) P. SAKTHI AND OTHERS Vs. THIRU DHEERAJ KUMAR AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 19-08-2026 Contempt of Court — Service Law — Wrongful Denial of In-Service Recruitment — Retrospective Appointment and Consequential Benefits — Petitioner was wrongfully denied participation in the 2019 departmental quota selection for Sub-Inspector based on a disciplinary punishment that had already been set aside in appeal. State resisted compliance claiming the quota entailed recruitment via written examination rather than promotion. Held, even in recruitment, an employee cannot be prejudiced where non- India Law Library Docid # 2451824
(326) M/S G.R. INFRA PROJECTS LIMITED RATLAM Vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 19-08-2026 Administrative Law — Validity of Show Cause Notice or Order — Supplanting reasons by Counter-Affidavit — Impermissibility — When a statutory authority issues a notice or an order, the essential requirements and grounds establishing its validity must be contained in the notice or order itself — Where a notice is challenged for invalidity, non-application of mind, or failure to satisfy statutory conditions, the issuing authority cannot cure such deficiencies or supplant reasons by introducing fres India Law Library Docid # 2451832
(327) SURESH CHAND KATOCH Vs. THE STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 19-08-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Appeal against acquittal — Interference by High Court — Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 120-B and 471 — Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 — Section 4 — High Court reversed Trial Court's acquittal and convicted appellant for alleged misappropriation of muster roll wages — Appellant established his tour programme through defence and prosecution witnesses, showing the alleged money receipt was fictitious, and author of fingerprint report was not examined — India Law Library Docid # 2451738
(328) PATEL JOSHNABEN PRAVINKUMAR PATEL AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 306 & 114 — Abetment of suicide — Quashing of FIR — Essential ingredients of abetment — FIR registered against in-laws under Sections 306/114 IPC following the suicide of the deceased husband — Allegations in FIR and suicide note centered on marital dispute, wife leaving matrimonial home, and initiation of criminal/maintenance proceedings by wife — Held, to sustain an FIR for abetment of suicide, the essential ingredients under India Law Library Docid # 2449636
(329) HEMANT KUMAR AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF HARYANA[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Service Law — Deputation and Absorption — Backdoor Entry — Political Interference — Four officers of the Development and Panchayat Department were transferred on deputation and subsequently absorbed into the Public Works Department (Building and Roads) as Assistant Engineers/Sub-Divisional Engineers — The Court found these deputations and absorptions were initiated on individual India Law Library Docid # 2449431
(330) RAJENDRA PRASAD Vs. STATE OF GOA AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 439 — Grant of bail — Claim of parity and prolonged incarceration — Petitioner facing trial for murder under Sections 342, 302, 201 read with Section 120-B, IPC — Application for bail on ground of parity with co-accused who were granted bail, as well as prolonged incarceration of nearly three years — Held — Parity is not a mechanical mathematical formula and must be assessed based on the specific role attributed to each accused in the factual matrix — Pr India Law Library Docid # 2449437
(331) BAPPA BARAI AND OTHERS Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Railway Protection Force Rules, 1987 — Rules 52 and 67 — Employment Notice — Attestation Form — Discharge from service — Non-disclosure and deliberate suppression of pending criminal antecedents during recruitment process — Appellants, candidates for the post of Constable in RPF/RPSF, suppressed details of pending criminal cases in their attestation forms — Orders of discharge passed after India Law Library Docid # 2449356
(332) M/S. UTKARSH ENTERPRISES AND OTHERS Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Government Contracts and Tenders — Tender Conditions — Challenge to Eligibility Criteria — Delay and Laches — Public Procurement — Directorate of Education issued tenders for procurement of sports goods and gym equipment for government schools — Appellants challenged conditions relating to past performance, India Law Library Docid # 2449357
(333) GOPI @ SAHAYA PURUNA Vs. THE STATE, REP. BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 386(b) & 397/401 — Enhancement of sentence — Revisional jurisdiction vs. Appellate jurisdiction — Appellant challenged his conviction and life sentence before the High Court — High Court exercised suo motu revisional power and enhanced sentence to imprisonment for remainder of natural life — Held, in an appeal against conviction filed by the India Law Library Docid # 2449358
(334) THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED AND OTHERS Vs. M/S LOUIS DREYFUS COMMODITIES INDIA PVT. LTD[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Insurance Act, 1938 — Section 64VB — Marine Cargo Annual Turnover Policy — Advance payment of premium — Statutory embargo on risk assumption — Insured obtained a Marine Cargo Annual Turnover Policy for INR 1200 Crores, but its actual turnover exceeded the insured limit prior to a fire loss at its freight station — Additional premium to enhance coverage was paid after the incident India Law Library Docid # 2449359
(335) RAJIV CHANDRA JHA Vs. STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD. AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Service Law — Disciplinary Proceedings — Proof of misconduct — Disagreement by Disciplinary Authority — Appellants terminated for alleged impersonation in examination based solely on CFSL report showing signature variations — Inquiry Officer exonerated appellants — Disciplinary Authority reversed findings ignoring oral testimony of independent witnesses affirming appellants' presence — Held, initial burden on employer was not discharged — CFSL expert or exam invigilator was not examined — Signat India Law Library Docid # 2451789
(336) SHAILENDRA MANI TRIPATHI Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 32 — Police Excesses and Right to Peaceful Assembly — Constitution of High-Powered Enquiry Committee — Batch of writ petitions alleged indiscriminate and disproportionate force by security forces against peaceful protestors, including deployment of pellet guns, electric batons, and violence against women. Respondents counter-alleged violence by protestors, injury to police personnel, and damage to public property. Finding a prima facie case for an independen India Law Library Docid # 2451809
(337) LAKKAPPA Vs. RITESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 — Section 138 — Dishonour of cheque — Sentencing and compensation — Balancing punitive severity with financial restitution — High Court set aside simple imprisonment and limited sentence to fine — Cheques were issued towards purchase of agricultural produce, leaving dues unpaid since 2016 — Held, Section 138 provides a regulatory remedy enabling imposition of fine up to twice the cheque amount — Substantial justice requires balancing punitive severity with financ India Law Library Docid # 2451819
(338) PATEL JOSHNABEN PRAVINKUMAR PATEL AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 306 and 107 — Abetment of suicide — Essential ingredients — Initiation of legal proceedings — Wife lodged an FIR under Sections 498A/323 IPC against deceased husband and sent a notice for maintenance, following which husband died by suicide — Deceased's brother lodged FIR against wife's parents and brother under Sections 306 and 114 IPC — Held, lodging an FIR or claiming maintenance constitutes exercise of a legal right and does not, per se, amount to instigatin India Law Library Docid # 2451827
(339) RISHI MALHOTRA AND ANOTHER Vs. UNION OF INDIA[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Constitution of India, 1950 — Articles 14, 21 and 32 — Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 — Section 354(5) — Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — Section 393(5) — Capital punishment — Mode of execution — Constitutional validity of hanging by the neck — Precedent and stare decisis — Validity of hanging as the sole statutory mode was exhaustively examined and upheld in Deena v. Union of India and affirmed in Shashi Nayar — Principle of stare decisis restricts a two-Judge Bench from departing f India Law Library Docid # 2452229
(340) BALBIR SINGH Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 18-08-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Section 20 — Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 439 — Regular bail — Conscious possession and delay in trial — Recovery of 1.477 kg charas from vehicle — Chargesheet filed, but trial progressed at a snail's pace with only 6 of 18 witnesses examined — Independent witness (Gram Pradhan) testified that the vehicle was parked and appellant was not seen driving — Prosecution yet to establish conscious possession of contraband at trial India Law Library Docid # 2451731