Supreme Court Daily Round-Up : October 30, 2025

Links to today's reports :Minor Discrepancies In Subsequent Statements Do Not Weaken First Dying Declaration If Found Reliable And Consistent : Supreme CourtSupreme Court To Hear Petitions Challenging Online Gaming Act On Nov 4S. 149 IPC | Members Of Unlawful Assembly Vicariously Liable Once Common Object Proven, Even If No Fatal Blow Inflicted : Supreme CourtSupreme Court Transfers...

Cause Of Fire Is Immaterial If Insured Didn't Instigate It : Supreme Court Explains Principles On Fire Insurance

Reiterating that the exact cause of a fire is immaterial so long as the insured is not its instigator, the Supreme Court on Thursday (October 30) dismissed the appeal filed by the National Insurance Company and upheld the insured's claim for loss arising from a fire that originated from multiple sources.“Once it is established that the loss is due to fire and there is no allegation/finding...

'High Courts Must Keep Their Hands Away When Supreme Court Is Seized Of A Matter': SC Pulls Up Uttarakhand HC

The Court took exception to the High Court staying the prosecution sanction against an officer while it was monitoring the irregularities in the Corbett park.

'Significant Gaps In Evidence' :Supreme Court Acquits Man Accused Of Rape, Murder & Robbery Of 85 Year Old Woman

The Court granted the benefit of doubt to the accused due to the deficiencies in the circumstantial evidence.

2018 Amendment To Specific Relief Act Is Not Retrospective, Clarifies Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has clarified that the 2018 amendment to the Specific Relief Act, 1963, which made the grant of specific performance of contracts a mandatory relief, has no retrospective effect and does not apply to suits or transactions that arose before its enforcement on October 1, 2018.The Bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, while addressing the issue in a...

Motor Accident | Insurer Must Pay Compensation Even If There Was Route Permit Violation; Can Recover From Owner : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has held that insurance companies cannot deny compensation to accident victims merely because the vehicle involved had deviated from its permitted route. Emphasising the social purpose of motor vehicle insurance, the Court observed that to deny compensation on such a technical ground would be “offensive to the sense of justice”.A Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol...

S. 149 IPC | Members Of Unlawful Assembly Vicariously Liable Once Common Object Proven, Even If No Fatal Blow Inflicted : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 29) upheld the conviction of three individuals who were part of a six-member group involved in a fatal assault on the deceased. The Court held that, regardless of their individual acts, once they shared a common object and participated with overt intent as members of an unlawful assembly, they were vicariously liable for an offence under Section...

Minor Discrepancies In Subsequent Statements Do Not Weaken First Dying Declaration If Found Reliable And Consistent : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 29) upheld the conviction of a woman for murder, relying on the first dying declaration made by the deceased. The Court observed that even when multiple dying declarations exist, the first declaration cannot be disregarded if it is reliable, consistent, and supported by corroborative evidence. A Bench comprising Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vipul M....

Supreme Court Daily Round-Up : October 29, 2025

Links to today's Supreme Court reports :Non-Recovery Of Weapons Not Fatal To Prosecution If There's Direct Evidence : Supreme Court Upholds Murder ConvictionOnce Court Indicates Its Mind, Counsel Must Refrain From Further Submissions; Continued Insistence Affects Decorum: Supreme CourtSupreme Court Suggests Amendment To Employees Compensation Act To Include 'Adult Widowed Sister' In Definition...

When Should Plaintiff In Specific Performance Suit Seek Declaration That Contract's Termination Was Invalid : Supreme Court Explains

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 29) delivered a significant judgment which explained when should a plaintiff seeking specific performance of contract must also seek a declaration that the termination of the contract by the other party was invalid.The Court distinguished between termination and wrongful repudiation of the contract, clarifying when a declaration seeking invalidation of...

PC Act | Mere Recovery Of Currency Notes Insufficient For Conviction Without Proof Of Demand And Acceptance: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 28) acquitted a former Assistant Labor Commissioner booked for allegedly accepting a Rs. 3,000/- bribe, noting that the factum of demand and acceptance of the bribe was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt. A bench of Justices PK Mishra and Joymalya Bagchi set aside the Andhra Pradesh High Court's decision which interfered with the well-reasoned...

Supreme Court Suggests Amendment To Employees Compensation Act To Include 'Adult Widowed Sister' In Definition Of 'Dependent'

The Supreme Court has recommended an amendment to the definition of the word 'dependent' under Employees Compensation Act, 1923. Since, the current definition excludes the 'major widowed sister' from getting benefit as a deceased employee's dependent, the Court asked the Union Government to refer the matter for consideration by the Law Commission of India for suitable amendments in...