Supreme Court Issues SOP Mandating Strict Timeline Framework For Filing Legal Aid Appeals

The Supreme Court on Thursday (April 16) issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prescribing binding timelines for translation, transmission, and filing of records in legal aid appeals, alongside directions for the creation of a unified digital platform to enable real-time monitoring. The issue relates back to 2017, when the Supreme Court first took note of delays in legal...

Distinction Between 'Seat' & 'Venue' Of Arbitration : Supreme Court Summarises Principles

The Supreme Court has reiterated that merely conducting arbitral proceedings at a place different from the designated seat of arbitration does not confer jurisdiction on the courts of that location. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe set aside the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court's decision, which had refused to entertain the Appellant's Section 34 plea for challenging...

Discharged Accused Stands On Better Footing Than One Acquitted After Criminal Trial : Supreme Court

When an accused is discharged, it means that there was no evidence to even send the matter for trial, the Court observed.

Air Force Act | Disciplinary Proceedings Can't Be Initiated Against Officer Discharged In Criminal Trial On Same Charge : Supreme Court

Setting aside the dismissal of the officer, the Court ordered that a formal farewell be organised for him, to restore his honour.

Supreme Court Weekly Digest March 14 - 23, 2026

Amicus Curiae - Procedure for Appointing Amicus Curiae for Absentee Appellants – Guidelines – To prevent technical pleas of unfairness, the Supreme Court directed that when appointing an Amicus Curiae due to the absence of a convict's counsel, the Registry should issue notice to the convict's address via the jurisdictional police station - If the convict remains dormant...

Bank Liable For Delay In Presenting Cheque : Supreme Court Upholds Penalty Under Consumer Protection Act

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (April 15) held that a failure of the bank to present the cheque within the prescribed validity period of the cheque without any reasonable explanation would amount to 'deficiency in service' under the Consumer Protection Act. A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan upheld the liability of the Canara Bank for deficiency in rendering service to...

Supreme Court Daily Round-Up : April 15, 2026

Links to today's reports :Convicts Sentenced To Only Fine Also Entitled To Benefit Of Probation Of Offenders Act : Supreme Court'We're Surprised' : Supreme Court Stays Telangana High Court's Transit Anticipatory Bail To Pawan Khera In Assam FIRSabarimala Reference | Travancore Devaswom Board Disagrees With Nair Service Society's Argument On Articles 25(2)(b) & 26(b)'Go To HC': Supreme...

Deposition Of Hostile Witness Acceptable To Creditworthy Extent : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (April 15) held that courts cannot discard the testimony of a hostile witness in its entirety and must instead identify and rely on the “creditworthy” portions of such evidence. “…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.”, observed...

Supreme Court Appoints Former Madras HC CJ As Administrator To Clear Jaiput Udyog Ltd Workers' Dues

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday (April 15) appointed former Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava as Court Administrator to verify and oversee the long-pending issue of unpaid dues along with PF claims of thousands of workers of Jaipur Udyog Ltd. (JUL), directing completion of the exercise by August 31, 2026. “An exercise be carried out in...

Declaratory Decree Can't Be Set Aside Merely Because Plaintiff Didn't Seek Its Execution: Supreme Court

The Court held that execution of a decree declaring title is immaterial if the plaintiff is already in possession.

Kerala Agriculture Income Tax | Amalgamating Company's Loss Can't Be Set-Off From Income Of Amalgamated Company : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has observed that a loss suffered by an amalgamating company cannot be set off against the income of an amalgamated company upon amalgamation unless permitted by a statute. A bench of Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Vijay Bishnoi dismissed a batch of appeals filed against the Kerala High Court's judgment, which declined the plea for setting off a loss of the...

Convicts Sentenced To Only Fine Also Entitled To Benefit Of Probation Of Offenders Act : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has observed that offenders sentenced only to payment of a fine can still be granted the benefit of probation under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958. A bench of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Atul S Chandurkar ordered the release of convicts, who were convicted under Sections 323 and 324 read with Section 34 IPC for assault and were sentenced to only a...