Exoneration In Disciplinary Proceedings Doesn't Bar Criminal Prosecution On Same Charge In All Situations : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has held that exoneration of a public servant in departmental disciplinary proceedings does not automatically warrant quashing of a criminal prosecution, particularly in corruption cases arising from trap proceedings, reiterating that the two processes operate independently and on different standards of proof.A Bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice K...

'Rules Of Game Can't Be Changed Midway' : Supreme Court Sets Aside Midway Criteria Change In BPSC Asst. Engineer Recruitment

Reaffirming that the “rules of the game cannot be changed midway”, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (January 6) set aside the Patna High Court's decision which had upheld the State Government's mid-process amendment of recruitment rules, a move that adversely affected candidates who had qualified under the written examination. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi allowed the...

Supreme Court Annual Digest 2025: Contract Act, 1872

Contractual Terms v. Statutory Mandates - Contractual terms, such as an arbitration clause, cannot override statutory mandates - If a statute designates a specific forum for adjudication, parties cannot, by mutual agreement, confer jurisdiction on an alternate forum - therefore, a clause providing for private arbitration is void ab initio in the context of a works contract governed by...

Supreme Court Daily Round-Up : January 6, 2026

Links to today's reports :Mere Participation In Arbitration Won't Bar Challenge To Arbitrator's Eligibility, Waiver Must Be "Express & In Writing" : Supreme CourtIn UAPA Bail Hearing, Defence Not To Be Considered; Only See If Prosecution Has Shown Prima Facie Case : Supreme CourtSupreme Court Grants Bail To Amtek Group Promoter Arvind Dham In Money Laundering CaseO 1 R 10 CPC | Plaintiff...

S. 138 NI Act | Cognizance Can't Be Taken Of Time-Barred Cheque Dishonour Complaint Without First Condoning Delay : Supreme Court

Cognizance can't be taken on a cheque dishonor complaint filed belatedly unless the delay is condoned by the Court, observed the Supreme Court. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe set aside the Karnataka High Court's decision, which upheld the trial court's decision to take cognizance of a cheque dishonor complaint filed belatedly, even without condoning the delay. “we have...

Sports Quota Admissions To MBBS/BDS: Supreme Court Quashes Midstream Policy Change In Punjab 2024 Session

The Supreme Court has set aside the midstream expansion of the zone of consideration for sports quota admissions to MBBS and BDS courses in Punjab, holding that altering admission criteria after the process has commenced violates settled principles of fairness, transparency and non-arbitrariness under Article 14 of the Constitution.A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Alok Aradhe allowed...

Single FIR Permissible In Mass Cheating Cases Arising From One Conspiracy : Supreme Court

Multiple FIRs need not be registered with respect to each duped individual, the Court held.

Public Sector Enterprise Can't Initiate Disciplinary Action Against Retired Employee If Rules Don't Expressly Enable It : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (January 6) ruled that a public-sector corporation cannot initiate or continue disciplinary proceedings against an employee after retirement in the absence of an express enabling provision in its service regulations. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi quashed the post-retirement disciplinary action taken against a former employee of the...

Reserved Category Candidate Who Availed Relaxation In Prelims Can't Seek Unreserved Seat Based On Final Rank : Supreme Court

Once relaxation has been taken by a reserved category candidate, they cannot be considered for unreserved vacancies, said the Court.

Right To Speedy Trial Not Defeated By Gravity Of Offence; Prolonged Pre-Trial Detention Becomes Punishment: Supreme Court

The right to a speedy trial, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, is not eclipsed by the nature of the offence, the Supreme Court held, observing that prolonged incarceration of an undertrial, without commencement or reasonable progress of trial, effectively converts pre-trial detention into a form of punishment. The Court made these observations while granting bail to former...

Forfeiture Of Earnest Money Given For Sale Agreement Impermissible When Buyer & Seller Are At Fault : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court observed that when both the buyer and seller were at fault in performance of a contract, it would be impermissible to order forfeiture of the earnest money deposited by the buyer, as it would unjustly enrich the seller. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard the buyer's appeal against a Delhi High Court ruling which, while setting aside the trial court's...

Law Cannot Change With Change Of Bench; Coordinate Bench's Decision Binding : Supreme Court

While granting customs duty exemption to Adani Power for electricity from a Gujarat SEZ, the Supreme Court faulted the Gujarat High Court for violating the principle of stare decisis, holding that it wrongly ignored a binding coordinate bench ruling and reiterating that the law cannot change with a change in Bench. “The discipline of precedent is not a matter of personal predilection; it is...