Supreme Court Daily Round-Up : August 5, 2026

Links to reports of August 5 :News Outlets Can Report Court Proceedings Without Sharing Audio-Video Clips : Supreme Court ClarifiesSupreme Court Acquits Murder Convict After 22 Years In Jail, Flags Collective Failure Of Criminal Justice System'Tomorrow Gen Alpha, Beta Will Come' : Petitioner Urges Supreme Court Not To Allow Withdrawal Of Cases Against Student ProtestersEmployee Who...

Central Excise | 'Mere Grouping And Unpacking Does Not Attract Excise Duty', Supreme Court Dismisses Revenue's ₹17.86 Crore Demand Against Xerox

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (August 5) held that a mere grouping and fitting together of imported photocopier modules for dispatch to customers does not amount to “manufacture” under the Central Excise Act, 1944, to attract an excise duty. A bench of Justice S.V.N. Bhatti and Justice N.V. Anjaria dismissed the revenue's appeal, upholding the Customs Excise & Service Tax Tribunal (CESTAT) order to set aside the central excise demand of ₹17.86 crore raised against Xerox India Ltd. for...

Comprehensive/Package Motor Insurance Covers Vehicle Occupants: Supreme Court Explains Different Types Of Policies

The Supreme Court has held that a comprehensive motor insurance policy covers the owner and occupants of the vehicle and cannot be treated on par with a basic third-party insurance policy, while also recommending that insurers adopt a standardised "opt-in" mechanism enabling customers to choose additional covers at the time of purchasing insurance.The judgment came in an appeal filed by National Insurance Company against a Telangana High Court decision awarding compensation to the family of T....

Judgments Are Retrospective Unless Expressly Made Prospective : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has reiterated that unless its judgment expressly states that the decision would apply prospectively, it shall apply retrospectively. “If a decision of the Apex Court does not expressly provide its application to be prospective, then it is settled law that all decisions of this Court are retrospective in application…”, observed a bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu.The bench made this observation while setting aside that part of the Karnataka High...

Cheque Dishonour | Defence That Complainant Lacks Financial Capacity Ought To Be Raised In Accused's Reply Notice : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has held that the initial burden of raising a defence that the complainant lacked the financial capacity to advance a loan rests on the accused and must ordinarily be taken in the reply to the statutory demand notice issued under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. If no such plea is raised at that stage, the complainant cannot later be expected to lead evidence proving his financial capacity while presenting his case.The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 4) held that...

Order 18 Rule 17 CPC | Parameters On Recall Of Witness : Supreme Court Explains

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 4) reiterated that the power of the Court under Order XVIII Rule 17 CPC only permits recall of witnesses for examination by the Court itself, not for cross-examination by either of the parties “…the scope and object of Order XVIII Rule 17, CPC, was to enable the court to clarify doubts regarding evidence led by the party. It was further stated that the provision was not meant to fill up the omissions in the already adduced evidence. It was held that the...

Failure To Add Company As Accused In Cheque Dishonour Case Can't Be Cured By Summoning It Under S.319 CrPC : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has held that the failure to arraign a company as an accused in a cheque dishonour complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is a fatal defect that cannot be cured by subsequently summoning the company as an additional accused under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure during the trial.A Bench of Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Vijay Bishnoi ruled that where a cheque is drawn on a company's bank account, prosecution of the company is a mandatory...

States Cannot Cite Financial Burden To Oppose Raising Judicial Officers' Retirement Age : Supreme Court

The Court further ruled that States cannot raise the objection that the retirement age of government officials was different.

Employee Who Accepts Benefits Of Resignation Cannot Later Revoke It Claiming Its Acceptance Was Invalid : Supreme Court

“He cannot have his cake and eat it too," the Court observed, saying that the employee's conduct precluded him from challenging the acceptance of his resignation.

Supreme Court Acquits Murder Convict After 22 Years In Jail, Flags Collective Failure Of Criminal Justice System

The Court lamented that the cumulative failure of Courts "resulted in 22 years being erased out of a person's life"

Supreme Court Daily Round-Up : August 4, 2026

Links to reports of August 4 :Supreme Court Asks CEC To Examine Environmental Issues Concerning Himachal PradeshNEET-SS : Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Seek Retention Of Entire Unfilled Seats With State, Urge Supreme Court To Modify OrderMere Breach Of Contract Not Cheating Unless Fraudulent Intention Existed From Beginning: Supreme Court Quashes Criminal CaseSpecific Performance Of Agreement...

Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 : Supreme Court Directs Centre To Frame Guidelines On Environmental Compensation

The Court's judgment laid down certain principles for the Centre to follow.