1. Sanction for prosecution – Even if a public servant has exceeded his powers while discharging his official duties, Section 197 CrPC would come into play. (J&K&L HC) Reserved on: 30.03.2026 Decided on: 08.04.2026

2. Pension – Eligibility – Service for pension to be reckoned from date of confirmation/ admission to Pension Fund – Appellant completed only 19 years, 9 months and 25 days of service – Case was of voluntary abandonment of service and not voluntary retirement – Conditions under Rules 22(i)(a) and 22(i)(c) of SBI Employees’ Pension Fund Rules, 1955 not fulfilled – Appellant not entitled to pension. (SC) Decided on: 08.04.2026

3. Impleadment as party in writ proceedings -- A person directly affected by an interim order in writ proceedings impleaded as a proper party cannot be denied impleadment merely because he was not an original party. (SC) Decided on: 08.04.2026

4. Cheque bounce complaint – Presumption -- Once issuance and signature on cheque are not disputed, presumption u/s 139 that cheque was issued for legally enforceable debt arises and cannot be dislodged in summary manner at pre-trial stage – Complaint restored for trial. (SC) Decided on: 07.04.2026

5. Quashing of criminal proceedings – Medical negligence – Consent form signed by patient’s father mentioned both Orchidopexy and Orchidectomy and Medical Board confirmed the latter as a recognized alternative procedure with no evidence of interpolation or malice – Criminal proceedings quashed. (SC) Decided on: 06.04.2026

6. Obscene – Bastard -- Mere use of the word “bastard” during a heated conversation does not by itself amount to obscenity -- Conviction u/s 294(b) IPC set aside. (SC) Decided on: 06.04.2026

7. Rebuttal evidence – Plaintiff did not reserve the right to lead rebuttal evidence while closing affirmative evidence -- Affidavit of plaintiff sought to be produced later in rebuttal cannot be taken on record. (P&H HC) Decided on: 02.04.2026

8. Disciplinary Proceedings – Judicial Review of Punishment – Courts ordinarily should not interfere with punishment imposed by the disciplinary authority, being the best judge of misconduct, unless the punishment is shockingly disproportionate, amounting to using a “sledgehammer to crack a nut”. (SC) Decided on: 02.04.2026

9. Service Law – Recruitment – PE&MT – Absence on schedule date -- Advertisement stipulating schedule as final – Illness not exceptional and representations seeking rescheduling confer no enforceable right -- Tribunal/High Court erred in granting relief – Belonging to backward community not a ground to grant such relief. (SC) Decided on: 02.04.2026

10. Evidence -- Dying declaration – Reliable dying declaration recorded by Magistrate with medical certification and corroborated by medical evidence sufficient to sustain conviction even when eyewitnesses turn hostile. (SC) Decided on: 02.04.2026

11. Amendment of plaint – Amendment sought at initial stage – Amendment seeking existence of Will and validity of transfer deed in respect of suit property – Amendment allowed by trial court, interference in revisional jurisdiction is to be kept to the minimum. (P&H HC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

12. Eviction proceedings -- A co-owner landlord can maintain the petition alone and the tenant cannot compel impleadment of other co-owners. (P&H HC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

13. Regular bail – NDPS – Grounds of arrest -- Failure to supply written grounds of arrest to accused as mandated under Articles 21 and 22(1) of Constitution, as held in Mihir Rajesh Shah’s case (2026) 1 SCC 500, renders arrest illegal – Accused entitled to bail. (SC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

14. Seventh Central Pay Commission – Service Law – Non-Functional Upgradation – Benefit cannot be denied on the ground that employee did not enter service with Grade Pay Rs.4,800/- as such condition is not contemplated by the Pay Commission recommendations. (SC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

15. Regular bail – Murder -- Material witnesses not supported the prosecution case -- Petitioners are in custody since 14.06.2024 but only 04 of the 29 prosecution witnesses examined, trial not likely to be concluded soon – Bail allowed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 30.03.2026

16. S.138 NI Act -- Multiple cheque bounce complaints -- Each dishonour constituting a distinct cause of action – Filing of two separate complaints held maintainable despite common transaction; conviction upheld and sentences directed to run concurrently. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 16.03.2026 Decided on: 27.03.2026

17. Approver – Bail – Detention of an approver till conclusion of trial is not an absolute bar, and High Court in exercise of inherent powers can release the approver on bail in once he has made full disclosure and been examined as a witness. (J&K&L HC) Decided on: 23.03.2026

18. Regular bail – Murder/Unlawful assembly -- Petitioner was named after three months, no specific role or injury was attributed to him and mere presence or videography of the incident could not equate his culpability with the main assailants, in custody since 18.10.2023 and trial had not progressed – Bail allowed. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 17.03.2026 Decided on: 23.03.2026

19. Compensation – Motor vehicle accident – Death of minor child (3 years old) – Multiplier – Multiplier of 18 held appropriate – Minimum wages payable to a skilled worker in the State of Haryana i.e. Rs.11,233.18/- taken as monthly income of the minor deceased. (P&H HC) Decided on: 23.03.2026

20. MACT – Liability -- Vehicle requisitioned for election duty – Where a vehicle requisitioned by the State for public functions meets with an accident during the period of requisition, liability is to be borne by the requisitioning authority and not by the insurer of the owner. (SC) Decided on: 23.03.2026

21. Compromise quashing of FIR -- Attempt to murder -- Mere registration of offence u/s 307 IPC does not bar compromise -- An injury which has been “declared dangerous to life” is in fact an injury which is “endangering life” and therefore would be punishable u/s 326 IPC -- FIR and consequential proceedings quashed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 20.03.2026

22. Summoning of accused – Since summoning in a criminal case is a serious matter, the Magistrate must scrutinize the evidence on record, and satisfy himself that a prima facie offence is made out before issuing process; mere production of a two witnesses by the complainant is not sufficient to set criminal law in motion. (SC) Decided on: 20.03.2026

23. SARFAESI / Debt Recovery Tribunal – Contempt jurisdiction – DRT, being a Tribunal and not a court, has no statutory power to initiate contempt proceedings; however, it may enforce compliance of its orders by exercising powers u/s 19(25) of the 1993 Act. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 30.01.2026 Decided on: 20.03.2026

24. Company as Consumer -- A body corporate can be a consumer because the determining factor is the dominant purpose of the transaction not the legal status of the purchaser (SC) Decided on: 19.03.2026

25. Cheating -- Offence is made out only when dishonest or fraudulent intention to deceive exists at the time of making the promise or inducement; mere subsequent failure to fulfil the promise does not by itself establish cheating (SC) Decided on: 19.03.2026

26. MACT -- Permanent disability / Functional disability -- Permanent disability 63% -- Partial blindness, cognitive impairment, and partial loss of range of motion and stability of the left knee -- Functional disability/ Loss of earning capacity assessed at 100% (SC) Decided on: 18.03.2026

27. S. 319 Cr.P.C -- Summoning of additional accused -- Mere naming of a person by a witness in his deposition, without the support of strong and cogent evidence, cannot by itself justify the exercise of the extraordinary power u/s 319 Cr.P.C. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 11.03.2026 Decided on: 18.03.2026

28. Striking off the defence -- Striking off the defence in a Section 144 BNSS maintenance petition is hasty and unjustified, as only two effective opportunities were granted without a last opportunity warning, necessitating a trial on merits (P&H HC) Decided on: 18.03.2026

29. Compromise decree – Compulsory Registration -- Family settlement arrived at even between persons standing in remote familial relationships having even a semblance of claim in the property, when acknowledged through a compromise decree, does not require compulsory registration under the Registration Act (P&H HC) Reserved on: 09.03.2026 Decided on: 18.03.2026

30. Quashing of FIR -- High Court's quashing of an FIR for forgery and fraud u/s 482 CrPC is premature and unjustified as vital forensic evidence (SFSL report) is still pending (SC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

31. Summoning u/s 319 Cr.P.C. -- Sworn testimony of three witnesses, including the complainant, meets the strong and cogent standard for summoning additional accused, as minor inconsistencies are matters of trial and cannot be used to conduct a mini-trial at the stage of summoning (SC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

32. Bail – Writ jurisdiction -- Continued incarceration of toll employees for over two months for a scuffle arising out of demand of toll, held unjustified and violative of Article 21 -- Bail granted in the exercise jurisdiction under Article 32 (SC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

33. Part-time/Daily wages service – Pensionary benefit – Past service rendered on part-time/daily wage basis followed by regularisation, particularly where the work is of perennial nature, is liable to be counted towards qualifying service for pension, and the employee is entitled to the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme along with interest on delayed retiral dues (P&H HC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

34. MACT -- Holder of a valid LMV driving licence is competent to drive a transport vehicle not exceeding 7500 kg GVW and no separate endorsement is required -- Insurance Company liable to indemnify and pay compensation (P&H HC) Reserved on: 19.12.2025 Decided on: 17.03.2026

35. Quashing of summoning order -- Where the Magistrate issues process without recording satisfaction, without discussing the material produced by the complainant, and without considering the inquiry report u/s 202 Cr.P.C., the order reflects non-application of mind and cannot be sustained – Matter remitted back (P&H HC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

36. Execution -- Limitation -- For execution of a MACT award, limitation of 12 years runs from the appellate decree due to the doctrine of merger, and not from the date of the original award (P&H HC) Decided on: 16.03.2026

37. Specimen signature of witness -- Court cannot direct a third-party appeared as witness, who is neither complainant nor accused, to give specimen handwriting. (P&H HC) Decided on: 16.03.2026

38. Scope of S. 528 BNSS -- Inherent powers u/s 528 BNSS are to be exercised sparingly and cannot be used unless the order reflects patent illegality or miscarriage of justice (P&H HC) Decided on: 13.03.2026

39. Regular bail -- Attempt to murder -- Charges framed in January 2025 but the prosecution failed to examine any witness and trial made no substantial progress, prolonged incarceration of the accused would violate the right to speedy trial under Article 21 -- Bail granted considering custody period (1 year 7 months) and delay not attributable to the accused. (P&H HC) Decided on: 13.03.2026

40. S. 311 Cr.P.C. -- Belated stage – Power u/s 311 Cr.P.C. is very wide and can be exercised at any stage of trial. (P&H HC) Decided on: 13.03.2026

41. Quashing of FIR -- Agreement to sell -- Dispute arising from non-execution of sale deed and subsequent sale during pendency of specific performance suit -- Unexplained delay of 11 years in lodging FIR and absence of allegations of forgery or dishonest intention at inception -- FIR and consequential proceedings quashed. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 11.03.2026 Decided on: 12.03.2026

42. Dying declaration – If the Court is satisfied of the fit state of mind of the injured from the evidence on record, a contrary medical opinion or an absence of it will be inconsequential. (SC) Decided on: 11.03.2026

43. Regular bail – Attempt to murder – Accused alleged to be member of unlawful assembly causing injuries with axe remained in custody for over one year and trial had not progressed -- Even charges have not been framed -- Bail allowed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 10.03.2026

44. Framing of additional issues -- Failure of the Trial Court to frame issues on the defendants’ plea of ownership based on exchange and mutation, specifically denied by the plaintiff as illegal and fraudulent, amounted to material illegality, warranting direction to frame additional issues – Revision allowed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 10.03.2026

45. Quashing of FIR – Cheating/ Forgery -- Allegations regarding return of money and an alleged partnership without any written agreement -- Purely a civil dispute -- FIR quashed. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 03.02.2026 Decided on: 10.03.2026

46. Regular bail – Cheating/ Criminal breach of trust – Delay in trial --Accused remained in custody for over ten months, offence triable by Magistrate with maximum punishment up to seven years and trial not likely to conclude soon – Bail allowed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 09.03.2026

47. Offence under SC/ST Act -- Mere attempt at reconciliation cannot prevent the police from taking cognizance of criminal acts -- A prima facie case made out -- Anticipatory bail cancelled. (SC) Decided on: 09.03.2026

48. Quashing of criminal proceedings – General and omnibus allegations against in-laws -- Court cannot apply different standards while allowing quashing of criminal proceedings against sister-in-law and dismissing for other-in-laws -- Relief extended to one similarly placed accused must equally extend to the others. (SC) Decided on: 09.03.2026

49. Cyber fraud – Regular bail -- Petitioner in custody for the last about one year and one month -- Out of 24 prosecution witnesses, only two witnesses have been examined so far -- Keeping in view the period of custody already undergone, the fact that the petitioner has already been granted bail in the connected FIR arising out of the same incident, the nature of allegations which would ultimately be a matter of evidence during trial, the medical condition of the petitioner and the slow pace of trial no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner behind bars for an indefinite period – Bail allowed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 07.03.2026

50. Murder -- Regular Bail -- As per prosecution, the occurrence took place on the spur of the moment on a trivial issue -- It would be a moot point during the course of the Trial as to whether the offence made out is one under Section 302 IPC (Section 103 BNS, 2023) or Section 304 IPC (Section 105 BNS, 2023) -- Petitioner is a lady, a first-time offender, in custody since 21.03.2025 but none of the 23 prosecution witnesses has been examined so far -- Trial not likely to be concluded anytime soon – Bail allowed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 07.03.2026