151. Cheque bounce complaint – Presumption -- Once issuance and signature on cheque are not disputed, presumption u/s 139 that cheque was issued for legally enforceable debt arises and cannot be dislodged in summary manner at pre-trial stage – Complaint restored for trial. (SC) Decided on: 07.04.2026

152. S. 351 BNSS/ S. 313 Cr.P.C. -- Failure to put vital incriminating circumstances including medical evidence of rape, DNA report and forensic evidence to accused -- Trial Court relying upon such material for conviction and award of death sentence -- Serious prejudice caused -- Conviction and sentence set aside -- Matter remanded to Trial Court from stage of recording statements of accused. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 01.04.2026 Decided on: 06.04.2026

153. Quashing of criminal proceedings – Medical negligence – Consent form signed by patient’s father mentioned both Orchidopexy and Orchidectomy and Medical Board confirmed the latter as a recognized alternative procedure with no evidence of interpolation or malice – Criminal proceedings quashed. (SC) Decided on: 06.04.2026

154. Obscene – Bastard -- Mere use of the word “bastard” during a heated conversation does not by itself amount to obscenity -- Conviction u/s 294(b) IPC set aside. (SC) Decided on: 06.04.2026

155. Rebuttal evidence – Plaintiff did not reserve the right to lead rebuttal evidence while closing affirmative evidence -- Affidavit of plaintiff sought to be produced later in rebuttal cannot be taken on record. (P&H HC) Decided on: 02.04.2026

156. Ss. 164 and 165 BNSS -- Proceedings cannot be invoked to dispossess party found in actual possession -- Attachment order set aside. (All. H.C.) Decided on: 02.04.2026

157. Disciplinary Proceedings – Judicial Review of Punishment – Courts ordinarily should not interfere with punishment imposed by the disciplinary authority, being the best judge of misconduct, unless the punishment is shockingly disproportionate, amounting to using a “sledgehammer to crack a nut”. (SC) Decided on: 02.04.2026

158. Service Law – Recruitment – PE&MT – Absence on schedule date -- Advertisement stipulating schedule as final – Illness not exceptional and representations seeking rescheduling confer no enforceable right -- Tribunal/High Court erred in granting relief – Belonging to backward community not a ground to grant such relief. (SC) Decided on: 02.04.2026

159. Evidence -- Dying declaration – Reliable dying declaration recorded by Magistrate with medical certification and corroborated by medical evidence sufficient to sustain conviction even when eyewitnesses turn hostile. (SC) Decided on: 02.04.2026

160. Amendment of plaint – Amendment sought at initial stage – Amendment seeking existence of Will and validity of transfer deed in respect of suit property – Amendment allowed by trial court, interference in revisional jurisdiction is to be kept to the minimum. (P&H HC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

161. Eviction proceedings -- A co-owner landlord can maintain the petition alone and the tenant cannot compel impleadment of other co-owners. (P&H HC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

162. S. 319 Cr.P.C. -- Summoning as additional accused -- Petitioner named from inception with specific role of causing injuries on head with danda, duly corroborated by medical evidence -- Trial Court rightly exercised power u/s 319 -- Revision dismissed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

163. Regular bail – NDPS – Grounds of arrest -- Failure to supply written grounds of arrest to accused as mandated under Articles 21 and 22(1) of Constitution, as held in Mihir Rajesh Shah’s case (2026) 1 SCC 500, renders arrest illegal – Accused entitled to bail. (SC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

164. Seventh Central Pay Commission – Service Law – Non-Functional Upgradation – Benefit cannot be denied on the ground that employee did not enter service with Grade Pay Rs.4,800/- as such condition is not contemplated by the Pay Commission recommendations. (SC) Decided on: 01.04.2026

165. Dowry death -- Mere proof that death occurred within seven years of marriage is insufficient -- Prosecution must establish that death was caused by burns, bodily injury or otherwise than under normal circumstances and that there existed a live and proximate link between dowry-related cruelty or harassment and the death. (All. H.C.) Decided on: 31.03.2026

166. Regular bail – Murder -- Material witnesses not supported the prosecution case -- Petitioners are in custody since 14.06.2024 but only 04 of the 29 prosecution witnesses examined, trial not likely to be concluded soon – Bail allowed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 30.03.2026

167. Promotion -- Eligibility -- Employee already working as Junior Engineer (O&M) (Civil) prior to 2020 Amendment Rules held entitled to consideration for promotion notwithstanding non-recognition of diploma obtained through part-time/distance mode. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 05.03.2026 Decided on: 27.03.2026

168. S.138 NI Act -- Multiple cheque bounce complaints -- Each dishonour constituting a distinct cause of action – Filing of two separate complaints held maintainable despite common transaction; conviction upheld and sentences directed to run concurrently. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 16.03.2026 Decided on: 27.03.2026

169. Additional documents -- Public documents -- Certified copies of Jamabandi and mutations being public documents do not automatically entitle party to produce same at any stage of proceedings -- Requirement of due diligence must still be satisfied. (H.P. HC) Decided on: 24.03.2026

170. Scheduled Caste status -- Conversion to Christianity -- Person openly professing and practising Christianity as Pastor ceases to be member of Scheduled Caste within meaning of Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 -- Statutory protections and benefits under SC/ST Act not available. (SC) Decided on: 24.03.2026

171. Promotion -- Inspector of Police -- DPC -- Merit-cum-seniority -- Non-communication of “average” ACR -- Such entry cannot be relied upon for adverse effect in promotion -- Violation of principles of natural justice -- Promotion directed from date juniors were promoted with consequential benefits. (H.P. HC) Decided on: 24.03.2026

172. Approver – Bail – Detention of an approver till conclusion of trial is not an absolute bar, and High Court in exercise of inherent powers can release the approver on bail in once he has made full disclosure and been examined as a witness. (J&K&L HC) Decided on: 23.03.2026

173. Regular bail – Murder/Unlawful assembly -- Petitioner was named after three months, no specific role or injury was attributed to him and mere presence or videography of the incident could not equate his culpability with the main assailants, in custody since 18.10.2023 and trial had not progressed – Bail allowed. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 17.03.2026 Decided on: 23.03.2026

174. Compensation – Motor vehicle accident – Death of minor child (3 years old) – Multiplier – Multiplier of 18 held appropriate – Minimum wages payable to a skilled worker in the State of Haryana i.e. Rs.11,233.18/- taken as monthly income of the minor deceased. (P&H HC) Decided on: 23.03.2026

175. MACT – Liability -- Vehicle requisitioned for election duty – Where a vehicle requisitioned by the State for public functions meets with an accident during the period of requisition, liability is to be borne by the requisitioning authority and not by the insurer of the owner. (SC) Decided on: 23.03.2026

176. Confiscation proceedings -- Disproportionate assets -- Death of delinquent public servant during pendency of appeal does not automatically terminate confiscation proceedings, particularly when wife/other person holding property had been independently noticed and heard -- Abatement is distinct from acquittal -- High Court required to decide appeal on merits. (SC) Decided on: 20.03.2026

177. Compromise quashing of FIR -- Attempt to murder -- Mere registration of offence u/s 307 IPC does not bar compromise -- An injury which has been “declared dangerous to life” is in fact an injury which is “endangering life” and therefore would be punishable u/s 326 IPC -- FIR and consequential proceedings quashed. (P&H HC) Decided on: 20.03.2026

178. Summoning of accused – Since summoning in a criminal case is a serious matter, the Magistrate must scrutinize the evidence on record, and satisfy himself that a prima facie offence is made out before issuing process; mere production of a two witnesses by the complainant is not sufficient to set criminal law in motion. (SC) Decided on: 20.03.2026

179. SARFAESI / Debt Recovery Tribunal – Contempt jurisdiction – DRT, being a Tribunal and not a court, has no statutory power to initiate contempt proceedings; however, it may enforce compliance of its orders by exercising powers u/s 19(25) of the 1993 Act. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 30.01.2026 Decided on: 20.03.2026

180. Departmental proceedings -- Continuance of disciplinary proceedings after retirement -- Where disciplinary proceedings were initiated before employee attained age of superannuation and Service Regulations permit continuation of proceedings, same can continue and be brought to logical conclusion even after retirement. (SC) Decided on: 19.03.2026

181. Kidney transplantation -- Swap donation -- Near relative -- Mother-in-law held to fall within definition of “near relative” for purpose of swap transplantation. (P&H HC) Decided on: 19.03.2026

182. Company as Consumer -- A body corporate can be a consumer because the determining factor is the dominant purpose of the transaction not the legal status of the purchaser (SC) Decided on: 19.03.2026

183. Cheating -- Offence is made out only when dishonest or fraudulent intention to deceive exists at the time of making the promise or inducement; mere subsequent failure to fulfil the promise does not by itself establish cheating (SC) Decided on: 19.03.2026

184. Co-owner -- Permanent injunction -- Construction over joint property can be restrained where it prejudices rights of other co-owners and affects partition proceedings -- Concurrent findings granting injunction held proper -- RSA dismissed. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 11.03.2026 Decided on: 18.03.2026

185. Minor offence under section 222 Cr.P.C. – Punishment for minor offence compare to charged offence -- Section 364 IPC cannot be treated as minor/cognate offence of Section 302 IPC -- Accused charged under Section 302 IPC cannot be convicted under Section 364 IPC in absence of specific charge. (SC) Decided on: 18.03.2026

186. MACT -- Permanent disability / Functional disability -- Permanent disability 63% -- Partial blindness, cognitive impairment, and partial loss of range of motion and stability of the left knee -- Functional disability/ Loss of earning capacity assessed at 100% (SC) Decided on: 18.03.2026

187. S. 319 Cr.P.C -- Summoning of additional accused -- Mere naming of a person by a witness in his deposition, without the support of strong and cogent evidence, cannot by itself justify the exercise of the extraordinary power u/s 319 Cr.P.C. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 11.03.2026 Decided on: 18.03.2026

188. Striking off the defence -- Striking off the defence in a Section 144 BNSS maintenance petition is hasty and unjustified, as only two effective opportunities were granted without a last opportunity warning, necessitating a trial on merits (P&H HC) Decided on: 18.03.2026

189. Compromise decree – Compulsory Registration -- Family settlement arrived at even between persons standing in remote familial relationships having even a semblance of claim in the property, when acknowledged through a compromise decree, does not require compulsory registration under the Registration Act (P&H HC) Reserved on: 09.03.2026 Decided on: 18.03.2026

190. Compassionate appointment -- Claim is to be considered under policy prevailing on date of death of employee and vested right accrued thereunder cannot be defeated by subsequent rules having no retrospective effect -- Denial of similar benefit given to other held violative of Article 14 -- Respondents directed to consider appointment under Rules of 2003. (P&H HC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

191. Quashing of FIR -- High Court's quashing of an FIR for forgery and fraud u/s 482 CrPC is premature and unjustified as vital forensic evidence (SFSL report) is still pending (SC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

192. Summoning u/s 319 Cr.P.C. -- Sworn testimony of three witnesses, including the complainant, meets the strong and cogent standard for summoning additional accused, as minor inconsistencies are matters of trial and cannot be used to conduct a mini-trial at the stage of summoning (SC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

193. Bail – Writ jurisdiction -- Continued incarceration of toll employees for over two months for a scuffle arising out of demand of toll, held unjustified and violative of Article 21 -- Bail granted in the exercise jurisdiction under Article 32 (SC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

194. Part-time/Daily wages service – Pensionary benefit – Past service rendered on part-time/daily wage basis followed by regularisation, particularly where the work is of perennial nature, is liable to be counted towards qualifying service for pension, and the employee is entitled to the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme along with interest on delayed retiral dues (P&H HC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

195. MACT -- Holder of a valid LMV driving licence is competent to drive a transport vehicle not exceeding 7500 kg GVW and no separate endorsement is required -- Insurance Company liable to indemnify and pay compensation (P&H HC) Reserved on: 19.12.2025 Decided on: 17.03.2026

196. Quashing of summoning order -- Where the Magistrate issues process without recording satisfaction, without discussing the material produced by the complainant, and without considering the inquiry report u/s 202 Cr.P.C., the order reflects non-application of mind and cannot be sustained – Matter remitted back (P&H HC) Decided on: 17.03.2026

197. Termination of LIC agency for failure to make proper enquiries -- In absence of fraud or connivance agent entitled to renewal commission and removal of stigma – Termination of agency upheld. (P&H HC) Reserved on: 04.02.2026 Decided on: 16.03.2026

198. Execution -- Limitation -- For execution of a MACT award, limitation of 12 years runs from the appellate decree due to the doctrine of merger, and not from the date of the original award (P&H HC) Decided on: 16.03.2026

199. Specimen signature of witness -- Court cannot direct a third-party appeared as witness, who is neither complainant nor accused, to give specimen handwriting. (P&H HC) Decided on: 16.03.2026

200. Scope of S. 528 BNSS -- Inherent powers u/s 528 BNSS are to be exercised sparingly and cannot be used unless the order reflects patent illegality or miscarriage of justice (P&H HC) Decided on: 13.03.2026