1) Assist in process of restoration of tribal land: Supreme Court asks ex-Jharkhand minister Anosh Ekka while granting bail in land scam & disproportionate assets case
The Court granted bail to former Jharkhand Minister Anosh Ekka in a case of land acquisition and disproportionate assets while asking him to assist in the process of restoration of the tribal land to its original status as and when required.
The appeal was filed by the former Minister of the State of Jharkhand against the order of the Jharkhand High Court rejecting his application for suspension of sentence and grant of bail during pendency of the appeal.
Cause Title- Anosh Ekka v. State Through Central Bureau of Investigation (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 357) Appearance
Date of Judgment- April 13, 2026
Coram- Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
2) Creditworthy deposition of hostile witness can be looked at: Supreme Court restores conviction in corruption case
While restoring the conviction of a Taluk Supply Officer in a corruption case, the Court has held that every court considering the deposition of a hostile witness has to look at the extent of the deposition, which is creditworthy to provide proof of the case set up.
The Court was considering an appeal filed by the State challenging an acquittal order passed in a case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Cause Title- The State of Kerala v. K.A. Abdul Rasheed (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 365)
Date of Judgment- April 15, 2026
Coram- Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice K. Vinod Chandran
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3) COFEPOSA detenu can’t seek legal assistance in routine manner when officer merely assists advisory board on detaining authority's behalf
While upholding the detention orders passed under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), the Supreme Court has held that a detenu cannot seek legal assistance in a routine manner when an officer merely places the records and assists the Advisory Board on behalf of the Detaining Authority.
The petitioners approached the Apex Court challenging the judgments of the Karnataka High Court upholding the Detention Orders issued in exercise of the powers under Section 3(1) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974.
Cause Title- Priyanka Sarkariya v. The Union of India & Anr. (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 371)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice M. M. Sundresh and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh
4) Legal aid must be real, not symbolic: Supreme Court formulates sop to curb systemic delays in legal aid appeals & SLPs
The Court formally mandated a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to eliminate inordinate delays in filing legal aid appeals and Special Leave Petitions (SLPs). Grounded in the principle that equality before the law must be a lived reality rather than a symbolic gesture, the Court emphasised that legal aid is a fundamental constitutional responsibility under Articles 21 and 39A of the Constitution of India.
The newly established SOP creates a structured, digitalised lifecycle for record handling, ensuring that administrative bottlenecks do not infringe upon the right to speedy justice.
Cause Title- Shankar Mahto v. State of Bihar (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 369)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh
5) Regularisation of ad hoc employees without advertisement or interview arbitrary: Supreme Court strikes down Haryana’s 2014 policy
The Court has held that regularisation of ad hoc employees who were not appointed through any process of advertisement or interview is arbitrary and violative of the constitutional scheme of public employment. Striking down Haryana’s 2014 policy, the Court noted that such measures cannot bypass the requirement of fair and open recruitment.
The Court found that the impugned policy dated July 07, 2014, lacked any rational basis, particularly in prescribing a future cut-off date, and was designed to accommodate ad hoc employees outside the regular selection process.
Cause Title- Madan Singh & Ors. v. State of Haryana & Ors. (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 379)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar
6) Supreme Court quashes DV Act proceedings over wife’s "afterthought" allegation of ₹170 crore worth unreturned gold; dissolves marriage
The Supreme Court has quashed criminal proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 noting the wife’s attempt to stall a mutual consent divorce by alleging the non-return of gold and jewellery worth ₹170 crore, an allegation never mentioned during the mediation.
The Bench was of the opinion that it was a premeditated attempt to expand the dispute beyond the agreed terms in the settlement agreement and prolong litigation.
Cause Title- X v. Y [Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 360]
Date of Judgment- April 13, 2026
Coram- Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Vijay Bishnoi
7) Supreme Court mandates extreme legal measures against sand mining mafia In National Chambal Sanctuary; warns of CRPF deployment & directs total mining ban
Addressing the catastrophic failure of state machinery to protect the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, the Court has laid down a rigorous legal and operational framework to tackle organized illegal mining in National Chambal Sanctuary. The Court directed State Pollution Control Boards to recover environmental compensation from violators for ecological restoration.
To ensure enforcement, the bench ordered the immediate implementation of real-time monitoring through Wi-Fi-enabled CCTV and mandatory GPS tracking for all mining equipment in high-risk districts like Morena and Dhaulpur.
Cause Title- In Re: Illegal Sand Mining In The National Chambal Sanctuary And Threat To Endangered Aquatic Wildlife (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 380)
Date of Judgment- April 17, 2026
Coram- Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
8) Adjudication of landlord's bona fide need should be done on date of filing of eviction suit unless subsequent event changes ground of relief
While dealing with a landlord-tenant dispute, the Court has reiterated that the adjudication of bona fide need of landlord should be done considering the date when the suit for eviction was filed, unless some subsequent event materially changes the ground of relief.
The Apex Court was considering an appeal challenging the order passed by a Single Judge of the Bombay High Court dismissing the writ petition preferred by the appellant challenging the reversal of the decree for eviction by the first Appellate Court.
Cause Title- Maria Martins v. Noel Zuzarte and Others (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 376)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar
9) Supreme Court appoints former Madras HC Chief Justice to oversee workmen claims, pf dues & asset valuation in Jaipur udyog case
The Court has appointed Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court as an independent Administrator to supervise verification of workmen’s claims, coordinate provident fund computations, and oversee valuation of assets and liabilities in the long-pending Jaipur Udyog litigation, highlighting the need for institutional oversight in complex labour recovery proceedings.
The Court vested the Administrator with wide-ranging powers to coordinate with Court Commissioners, engage experts, requisition official records, and manage escrow funds to facilitate timely and transparent disbursal of dues to workers of Jaipur Udyog Ltd. (JUL), whose claims have remained unresolved for decades.
Cause Title- Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, U.P. & Anr. v. State Of U.P. & Others (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 364)
Date of Judgment- April 15, 2026
Coram- Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Vijay Bishnoi
10) High Court cannot stifle investigation ordered u/s 156(3) CrPC stage if prima facie cognizable offence disclosed
The Court has held that a High Court transgresses its jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC, if it quashes a criminal investigation at the threshold stage of a Section 156(3) CrPC, provided the complaint discloses a cognizable offence.
The Court said that at the stage where a Magistrate merely directs the police to register an FIR and undertake an investigation, the judicial scrutiny is limited to ascertaining whether the allegations warrant an inquiry. By stifling the process at its inception, the High Court effectively prevents the investigating agency from performing its statutory duty to probe serious allegations of fraud and forgery.
Cause Title- Accamma Sam Jacob v. The State of Karnataka & Anr. Etc. (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 362)
Date of Judgment- April 13, 2026
Coram- Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar
11) Use of word ‘can’ in arbitration clause does not constitute mandatory agreement; leaves option of recourse to civil courts
The Court has affirmed that for an arbitration agreement to be legally enforceable under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, it must disclose a clear determination and obligation by the parties to refer their disputes to arbitration.
The Court held that permissive language, specifically the use of the modal verb ‘can’, indicates only a factual possibility or a desire to explore arbitration as a future mode of settlement rather than a mandatory mandate. Consequently, it held that such clauses do not qualify as valid arbitration agreements unless both parties provide fresh consensus at the time the dispute arises.
Cause Title- Nagreeka Indcon Products Pvt. Ltd. v. Cargocare Logistics (India) Pvt. Ltd. (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 384)
Date of Judgment- April 17, 2026
Coram- Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh
12) Reasoned judgment with points for determination necessary even in ex parte cases
The Court has held that even in ex parte civil proceedings, courts are bound to comply with the mandate of Order XX Rule 4 CPC by delivering a reasoned judgment that clearly identifies the “points for determination” and records findings with supporting reasons.
In an appeal arising from a suit for specific performance dismissed ex parte by the trial court and affirmed by the Calcutta High Court, the Bench, resultantly, set aside both the judgments for non-compliance with this requirement. The Court noted that even in the absence of a contesting defendant, a civil court must scrutinise pleadings, assess evidence, and articulate clear reasons addressing the core controversy.
Cause Title- Pramod Shroff v. Mohan Singh Chopra (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 378)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Augustine George Masih
(13) Order II Rule 2 CPC can't be invoked for rejection of plaint under Order VII Rule 11(D) CPC, requires evidence
The Court has held that a plea of bar under Order II Rule 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) cannot serve as a ground for the rejection of a plaint at the threshold. The Court noted that such a bar is not an absolute legal prohibition against filing a suit but rather a matter of evidence that must be established during trial.
The Bench noted the procedural distinction between a suit being "barred by law" and a plaintiff being precluded from seeking certain reliefs due to the omission of claims in a prior proceeding.
Cause Title- S. Valliammai & Others v. S. Ramanathan & Another (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 372)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
(14) Discharge stands on a better footing than acquittal; delinquent entitled to avail of all benefits: Supreme Court grants relief to Ex- IAF officer
While granting relief to former Indian Air Force personnel who was discharged by a criminal court, the Court has held that the Air Force, upon electing to have the alleged offence tried by the criminal court, cannot fall back on either a court martial or any disciplinary action. The Apex Court held that once the Officer was discharged by the criminal court, that should have marked the end of the matter.
The appeal before the Apex Court was filed by a septuagenarian former Indian Air Force personnel, who was dismissed from his services more than three decades back by the Central Government.
Cause Title- Ex. Sqn. Ldr. R. Sood v. Union of India (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 366)
Date of Judgment- April 15, 2026
Coram- Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice K.V. Viswanathan
(15) If indemnity holder incurred absolute liability, he is entitled to call upon indemnifier to pay it off
The Court has observed that if the indemnity holder has incurred a liability, and that liability is absolute, he is entitled to call upon the indemnifier to save him from that liability and pay it off.
The Court was hearing a civil appeal arising from the enforcement of a Consent Award issued by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), which pertained to the scope and timing of an indemnity obligation undertaken by the promoters in favour of the appellant company.
Cause Title- VPS Healthcare Private Limited & Anr. v. Prabhat Kumar Srivastava & Ors. (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 361)
Date of Judgment- April 13, 2026
Coram- Justice S.V.N. Bhatti and Justice Prasanna B. Varale
(16) Seat of arbitration governed by agreement & not by stray recital in award: Supreme Court summarizes principles governing distinction between seat & venue
While explaining the principles governing the distinction between the seat and venue of arbitration, the Supreme Court has held that the seat of arbitration is governed by the agreement of the parties and not by any stray recital in the award.
The appeal before the Apex Court was filed against an order directing the return of a petition under Section 34 of the Jammu & Kashmir Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1997.
Cause Title- J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency v. Rash Builders India Private Limited (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 368)
Date of Judgment- April 15, 2026
Coram- Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe
(17) FIR against wife for ‘giving dowry’ cannot be based on her own statement; proceedings maintainable only on independent evidence
The Court held that an FIR for the offence of ‘giving dowry’ under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, cannot be founded solely on the complaint or statements made by the wife and her family members.
It clarified that such proceedings would be maintainable only where independent evidence exists, as statements of the ‘persons aggrieved’ are protected by statutory immunity under Section 7(3) of the Act.
Cause Title- Rahul Gupta v. Station House Officer & Ors. (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 374)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice K. Vinod Chandran
(18) Illicit relationship alone not sufficient to establish abetment of suicide in absence of mens rea and instigation u/s 306 IPC
The Court held that mere allegations of an illicit relationship, without any material indicating a positive act of instigation or intentional aid, are insufficient to sustain a charge of abetment of suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Further clarified that the offence requires clear mens rea on the part of the accused and a proximate act of instigation or incitement leading to the suicide, and in the absence of such elements, the charge cannot be sustained.
Cause Title- Balaji Jaiswal v. State of Chhattisgarh & Anr. (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 375)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice Atul S. Chandurkar and Justice K.V. Viswanathan
(19) Loan Repayments Not Expenditure To Reduce Liability To Pay Maintenance To Wife
While enhancing the amount of maintenance in favor of a wife, the Supreme Court has held that repayments of loans resulting in the creation or acquisition of assets are voluntary in nature and cannot be accorded precedence over the statutory and legally enforceable obligation of maintenance.
The Apex Court was considering a criminal appeal arising out of the judgment of the Uttarakhand High Court, partly allowing the revision preferred by the appellant-wife and enhancing the maintenance awarded by the Family Court from ₹8000 per month to ₹15000 per month.
Cause Title- ABC v. XYZ (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 370)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Augustine George Masih
(20) Bank's Failure To Present Cheques Within Validity Period Can Constitute Deficiency In Service Under Consumer Protection Act
The Court has held that a bank, acting as an agent for its customer, is under a strict obligation to exercise due diligence in presenting negotiable instruments within their prescribed validity period.
In the present case involving the failure to re-present cheques after a bank strike, the Court held that such negligence constitutes a "deficiency in service" under consumer protection laws, as it deprives the customer of legal remedies like those under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Cause Title- Canara Bank v. Kavita Chowdhary (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 363)
Date of Judgment- April 15, 2026
Coram- Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
(21) Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to businessman in case involving allegations of sexual assault and ₹30 crore extortion dispute
The Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to a businessman in a case arising out of allegations of sexual assault and offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, while taking note of the surrounding circumstances involving counter-allegations of extortion and financial settlement between the parties.
The Court was hearing a criminal appeal challenging the order of the Kerala High Court, which had declined anticipatory bail to the appellant in connection with FIR No.235 of 2025 registered at Infopark Police Station, Ernakulam, alleging offences including assault, sexual harassment, and provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Cause Title- Venu Gopalakrishnan v. State of Kerala & Anr. (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 373)
Date of Judgment- April 16, 2026
Coram- Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
(22) Safety of commuter constitutional obligation of state under Article 21: Supreme Court issues interim directions to NHAI, MoRTH following phalodi accident
Taking suo moto cognisance of the matter involving the tragic loss of people in successive road accidents in Phalodi and Rangareddy districts, the Court has issued interim directions to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to prevent such accidents and deal with the lapses resulting in a threat to public safety.
The matter before the Apex Court emanated from the tragic loss of 34 lives in successive road accidents in 2025, in the district of Phalodi, Rajasthan, and the district of Rangareddy, Telangana. The Apex Court had taken suo-motu cognisance of the systemic negligence and catastrophic infrastructure failures that led to these casualties.
Cause Title- In Re: Phalodi Accident v. National Highways Authority Of India (Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 388)
Date of Judgment- April 13, 2026
Coram- Justice J. K. Maheshwari and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar