Supreme Court Daily Round-Up : May 18, 2026

Links to today's reportsSupreme Court Quashes Cheating Case Against Hospital Over Rs 2500 Billing ErrorSupreme Court Disapproves Judgment Denying Bail To Umar Khalid For Ignoring Binding Precedent In 'KA Najeeb'Upto 6% Conviction In UAPA Cases Nationally; In J&K, Conviction Rate Less Than 1% : Supreme CourtSupreme Court Stays Tree Felling in Hyderabad's KBR National Park...

Res Judicata Principle Applies Also Between Two Stages Of Same Litigation : Supreme Court Explains 'Interlocutory Res Judicata'

The Court said that a fresh application seeking a rejection of a plaint, having the same substantive issue, is not maintainable despite being filed by a different applicant.

Final Decree Application Not Necessary When Preliminary Decree Specifies Option If Physical Partition Was Impractical : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday (May 18) observed that merely because no separate application for passing a final decree under Order XX Rule 18 of the Code of Civil Procedure was filed, a preliminary decree would not become inexecutable, especially where the decree itself provided that the property should be auctioned if partition by metes and bounds was not possible, thereby giving the decree...

High Court Registrar General Cannot Suo Motu Initiate Disciplinary Action Against Judicial Officer : Supreme Court

The disciplinary control is vested collectively on the High Court (Chief Justice & Judges) and the Registrar General can only act on behalf of the CJ.

Supreme Court Quarterly Digest 2026 - Tax Law

Tax Law - Supreme Court Quarterly Digest Jan - Mar, 2026Central Excise Act, 1944 – Section 11A(1) Proviso – Extended Period of Limitation – Suppression of Facts – Revenue Neutrality – The Revenue invoked the extended period of five years alleging suppression of actual use of Naphtha - held that "suppression" requires a deliberate act to escape payment of duty - Where the assessee is...

Bail Is Rule, Jail Exception Even Under UAPA: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today held that “bail is the rule and jail is the exception” even under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and statutory restrictions on bail under Section 43D(5) cannot override constitutional guarantees under Articles 21 and 22.A bench of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice BV Nagarathna observed that the principle that bail is the rule was not merely a...

Upto 6% Conviction In UAPA Cases Nationally; In J&K, Conviction Rate Less Than 1% : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, while granting bail to a Jammu and Kashmir man accused in a narco-terror case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and incarcerated for over 5 years, noted that UAPA conviction rates across India ranged between 1.5% and 4% between 2019 and 2023, while conviction rates in Jammu and Kashmir remained below 1%.Referring to NCRB data placed before Parliament by the...

Supreme Court Disapproves Judgment Denying Bail To Umar Khalid For Ignoring Binding Precedent In 'KA Najeeb'

'Bail is the rule' even in cases under the UAPA, the Court noted.

Supreme Court Quashes Cheating Case Against Hospital Over Rs 2500 Billing Error

The Supreme Court has quashed criminal proceedings initiated against Narayana Health, its hospital in Kolkata, and senior officials over allegations arising from a ₹2,500 billing discrepancy, holding that the complaint disclosed no criminal offence and was essentially a service-related grievance better addressed through civil or statutory remedies.A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and...

Order XV Rule 5 CPC | Tenant's Defence Cannot Be Struck Off Without Examining If Default In Rent Deposit Was Wilful : Supreme Court

The Court further held that determination of 'first date of hearing' and the service of summons on the tenant was essential before striking off defence.

'Govt Servant Not Expected To Take Stand Against Govt' : Supreme Court Quashes Rs 25 Lakh Penalty On Officer Who Executed Govt Order

The Court noted that the officer was only following the policy which was prevalent at the time.

Supreme Court Quarterly Digest 2026 - Environmental Law

Environmental Law - Supreme Court Quarterly Digest Jan - Mar, 2026 CPCB Methodology for Environmental Compensation – Scope and Applicability – The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a facilitative and indicative tool, not a rigid or exhaustive code - While primarily designed for industrial sectors, its adoption by the NGT for residential projects is not...