(541) HOTHAJI KHODAJI THAKOR Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER[GUJARAT HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948 — Section 43 — Bombay Land Revenue Code, 1879 — Section 65 — Grant of Non-Agricultural (NA) use permission — Collector’s power to examine title of land — The Collector, while processing an application for NA permission, is primarily concerned with whether the applicant is an 'occupant' of the land — The Collector does not have the power to conduct an inquiry India Law Library Docid # 2440896
(542) ABU SUFIAN Vs. STATE OF TRIPURA AND OTHERS[TRIPURA HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Public Procurement — Tender Award — Judicial Review — The court's role in reviewing tender awards is limited to ensuring legality, fairness, and reasonableness, and preventing arbitrariness or favoritism — The court does not substitute its own judgment for that of the executive on policy or commercial decisions unless there is an error of law, breach of natural justice, or irrationality. India Law Library Docid # 2442127
(543) DEEPAK ASARAM PAWAR Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS[BOMBAY HIGH COURT (NAGPUR BENCH)] 13-03-2026 Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 14 — Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation — Government policy — Reservation for sportspersons — Policy for 5% reservation was introduced in 2005, listing 'Body Building' as an eligible sport — Subsequent Government Resolution dated 01/07/2016, while superseding previous ones, limited eligible sports to those held in Olympics, Asiad, and Commonwealth Games, with an India Law Library Docid # 2441158
(544) S. THAMARAISELVAN ETC. Vs. S. JANAKIRAMAN[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 13-03-2026 Real Estate Law — Agreements to Sell and Specific Performance — Sale agreements were found invalid by the first appellate court and High Court due to differences in the place of execution and signature, lack of independent attesting witnesses, and the seller not being the owner at the time of agreement — While specific performance was denied, the High Court directed the seller to return the loan amount with interest, and the Supreme Court modified this to a total sum of Rs — 7,00,000/- to be pai India Law Library Docid # 2441477
(545) LOKPAL OF INDIA Vs. MUJAHAT ALI KHAN[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 13-03-2026 Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 — Section 20(3) — Opportunity of hearing — Delhi High Court judgment modified to ensure Lokpal accords an opportunity of hearing to respondent as per Section 20(3) of the Act — Respondent liberty to raise all contentions at hearing stage and Lokpal to consider all submissions — Appeal disposed of accordingly. India Law Library Docid # 2441499
(546) M/S. X-PRESS CONTAINER LINES (UK) LTD. Vs. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PORT OF CHENNAI[MADRAS HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 37(1)(c) — Appeal against order setting aside arbitral award — Scope of appeal — Grounds for setting aside award under Section 34 are narrow — Court must examine terms of agreement and correspondence to determine acknowledgment of liability, its binding nature, and whether negotiation India Law Library Docid # 2441661
(547) MOHAMMAD QAMRUL Vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR[PATNA HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Section 364 — Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder — Prosecution failed to establish that the deceased was kidnapped or abducted by the accused — Evidence of prior relationship and marriage between the parties was not conclusively established — No evidence that the deceased was compelled to go with the appellant or induced by deceitful means — All prosecution India Law Library Docid # 2441894
(548) THE GOVERNMENT OF JHARKHAND Vs. M/S K.S. SOFTNET SOLUTION PVT. LTD[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 13-03-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Sections 34/37 — Interim Award — Interference — Interim arbitral award based on a committee report, which was not seriously challenged by the appellant, was upheld by the High Court — Supreme Court found no grounds for interference as the award was based on an admitted India Law Library Docid # 2441702
(549) 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
(550) 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
(551) 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
(552) 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
(553) ASHU Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH[HIMACHAL PRADESH HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act — Sections 21 and 29 — Bail application — Possession of intermediate quantity of heroin — Rigours of Section 37 of NDPS Act not applicable — Petitioner is a first offender with no criminal antecedents — Continued detention may hinder reformation — Bail granted India Law Library Docid # 2440701
(554) LOVEPREET @ KANAS Vs. STATE OF HARYANA AND ANOTHER[PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 320 & 482 — Compounding of offences — While offences under Section 379A IPC are non-compoundable, High Court can quash proceedings in exercise of inherent powers under Section 482 CrPC to secure ends of justice, especially in cases involving dispute of a private nature, India Law Library Docid # 2440702
(555) LAKHVIR SINGH @ BAWA Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB[PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) — Sections 22, 25, 37 — Regular bail — Petitioner involved in FIR pertaining to alleged recovery of commercial quantity of Tramadol Hydrochloride — Trial underway, with some prosecution witnesses examined — Court found no cause to meet the rigors of Section 37 of the NDPS Act — Petition dismissed. India Law Library Docid # 2440703
(556) SREI EQUIPMENT FINANCE LIMITED Vs. ROADWINGS INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LIMITED[CALCUTTA HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 34 — Setting aside of arbitral award — Petitioner sought to set aside awards, claiming they were products of fraud and did not have legal existence — Court held that the burden was on the respondent to prove the existence and validity of the awards, which they failed to do — Absence India Law Library Docid # 2440704
(557) GOVIND RAM Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH[HIMACHAL PRADESH HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) — Section 37 — Grant of bail involving commercial quantity — Court must be satisfied that accused is not guilty and not likely to commit offence while on bail — Mere prolonged incarceration or delay in trial does not satisfy these twin conditions — Bail India Law Library Docid # 2440705
(558) JYOTI PRAKASH AND OTHERS Vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS[PATNA HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Civil Procedure (Mediation) (Amendment) Rule, 2019, [Bihar] — Validity — Challenge to enacted without legislative jurisdiction and contrary to Supreme Court’s mediation scheme — Petitioners sought direction for payment of arrears of fee, its enhancement, implementation of mediation schemes, restructuring of Mediation India Law Library Docid # 2440706
(559) SUDEEP SRINIVAS AND OTHER Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS[KARNATAKA HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 482 — Quashing of criminal proceedings — High Court's interference should be exceptional and cautious — Appreciation of evidence is not permissible at the stage of quashing proceedings — Serious triable issues and disputed facts must be examined during trial, not at the stage of quashing. India Law Library Docid # 2440707
(560) RAJESH THROUGH HIS LRS Vs. STATE OF HARYANA AND OTHERS[PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT] 13-03-2026 Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — Section 5 of Limitation Act, 1963 — Condonation of delay — Appeal filed after 3952 days — Appellant’s land part of same acquisition and decided by a common judgment granting enhanced compensation to similarly situated landowners — Liberal and justice-oriented approach required in condoning India Law Library Docid # 2440708