(381) DEEPAK MADHU WAGHMARE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA[BOMBAY HIGH COURT] 19-01-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Section 302 — Murder — Circumstantial evidence — Prosecution failed to establish the chain of circumstantial evidence — Moti failure — Non-examination of material witnesses — Inconsistencies in panchnama — Recovery of clothes from open space — Doubtful seizure of weapon — Failure to prove voluntary confession — Trial vitiated due to non-compliance with Section 313 Cr.P.C. — Accused entitled to acquittal. India Law Library Docid # 2439009
(382) ADITYA BIRLA HOUSING FINANCE LTD. Vs. AXIS BANK LIMITED AND OTHERS[BOMBAY HIGH COURT] 19-01-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 9 — Interim measures — Preservation of subject matter of arbitration — Court can pass interim orders against third parties not privy to arbitration agreement if necessary to aid arbitral proceedings and protect the subject matter — Deposit of title deeds with court registry considered appropriate interim measure. India Law Library Docid # 2439010
(383) NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO. LTD. Vs. PRAKASH SHIVHARE AND OTHERS[MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT (INDORE BENCH)] 19-01-2026 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 173 — Insurance Company's Liability — Fitness Certificate — Absence of a valid fitness certificate for a vehicle does not absolve the insurance company from its liability to pay compensation, especially when the insurance policy itself has no condition regarding fitness. India Law Library Docid # 2439099
(384) DHARMANAND @ DHANNALAL AND OTHERS Vs. YASHWANT AND OTHERS[MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT (INDORE BENCH)] 19-01-2026 Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Section 100 — Second Appeal — Scope of interference — High Court can interfere in second appeal only on a substantial question of law, not on mere questions of fact — Erroneous findings of fact, even if grossly inexcusable, do not warrant interference in second appeal if there is no clear error of law India Law Library Docid # 2439100
(385) RINKU LODHA Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH[MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT (GWALIOR BENCH)] 19-01-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Section 306 — Abetment of suicide — Essential ingredients — Prosecution must prove instigation or intentional aiding with a positive act that drives the deceased to suicide with no option — Mere demand for repayment of loan, even if accompanied by retention of the debtor's motorcycle, does not constitute abetment of suicide under Section 107 IPC, as it does not amount to instigation or intentional aid India Law Library Docid # 2439101
(386) ANIL KUMAR Vs. SAHARA Q GOLD MART LTD;, SAHARA INDIA BHAWAN, 1-KAPURTHALA COMPLEX, LUCKNOW (U.P.) AND ANOTHER[PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT] 19-01-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 8 — Application for reference to arbitration — Timing — Must be filed not later than the date of submitting the first statement on the substance of the dispute — Filing written statement addressing the merits of the dispute constitutes submission to the jurisdiction of the Civil Court and estops reliance on arbitration clause subsequently India Law Library Docid # 2439208
(387) GODREJ DEVELOPERS AND PROPERTIES LLP Vs. M/S. GODREJ PROPERTIES LTD. AND ANOTHER[PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT] 19-01-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 29-A — Extension of mandate — Application for extension of mandate of arbitrator filed by an individual claiming to be authorized signatory and designated partner of a firm — Firm's contention that the individual was not authorized and was a stranger to the firm — Court's observations on the individual's locus standi in an application for recalling dismissal of the extension India Law Library Docid # 2439209
(388) BALWANT (DECEASED) THR LRS AND OTHERS Vs. SMT. RAM BAI AND OTHERS[PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT] 19-01-2026 Evidence Act, 1872 — Section 114 — Presumption as to lawful marriage — Long and continuous cohabitation as husband and wife, coupled with public and official recognition, raises a strong presumption of marriage — Burden to rebut this presumption lies heavily on the party denying the marital relationship. India Law Library Docid # 2439210
(389) SRI AMARESH DEBBARMA AND OTHERS Vs. THE STATE OF TRIPURA AND OTHERS[TRIPURA HIGH COURT] 17-01-2026 Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 226 — Writ petitions — Delay — Petitioners approached High Court belatedly — Court directed extension of benefit of minimum pay scale from a period preceding three years from the date of filing of respective writ petitions. India Law Library Docid # 2438811
(390) MR. ASHWANI AND OTHERS Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA[BOMBAY HIGH COURT (NAGPUR BENCH)] 17-01-2026 Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 — Rule 45 — Failure to comply with time limit for analysis of drug samples — The rule mandates Government Analysts to report within 60 days, with provision for extension for valid reasons — In this case, extension was sought after the 60-day period expired, and it was unclear if the extension was granted — This non-compliance vitiates the entire prosecution proceedings. India Law Library Docid # 2439011
(391) RAVINDRA @ RITESH BAPU NIKUMB Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS[BOMBAY HIGH COURT (AURANGABAD BENCH)] 17-01-2026 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 — Sections 4 and 6 — Penetrative sexual assault and aggravated penetrative sexual assault — Conviction for these offences cannot be sustained if the prosecution fails to prove the age of the victim beyond reasonable doubt. India Law Library Docid # 2439012
(392) RAMESH @ BHAIJAN MOHAN PATIL Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA[BOMBAY HIGH COURT] 17-01-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Section 396 — Dacoity with Murder — Liability of all participants — If any one of five or more persons committing dacoity commits murder during that dacoity, every person involved is liable for the murder, regardless of who inflicted the fatal blow. India Law Library Docid # 2439013
(393) STATE OF MAHARASHTRA Vs. M/S. PATWARDHAN INFRASTURCTURE PVT. LTD.[BOMBAY HIGH COURT] 17-01-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 37 — Appeal against arbitral award and judgment upholding it — Standard of review for Section 37 Court is same as Section 34 Court, especially concerning pre-2015 amendments — Grounds for interference under Section 34 prior to 2015 amendments were limited, not including "patent illegality" or Explanation 1 to Section 34(2)(b)(ii) concerning public policy. India Law Library Docid # 2439014
(394) AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA AND OTHERS Vs. SHAM KRISHNA B AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-01-2026 Reservation in Public Employment — Migration of Reserved Category Candidates — Reserved category candidates who score higher marks than the cut-off for General Category candidates must be treated as qualified against an open/unreserved post, provided they did not avail of any concession or relaxation. Their appointment on merit in the general category does not count against the reserved category quota. India Law Library Docid # 2438266
(395) MD. FIROZ MANSURI AND OTHERS Vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-01-2026 Bihar Pharmacists Cadre Rules, 2014 (as amended in 2024) — Rule 6(1) and Note in Appendix-I — Constitutional validity — Fixation of minimum qualification for recruitment of Pharmacist — Held valid — "Note" providing Bachelor’s/Master’s degree holders are eligible subject to possession of Diploma is not arbitrary or exclusionary — Supreme Court upheld the validity of the amended Cadre Rules, India Law Library Docid # 2438267
(396) TULASAREDDI @ MUDAKAPPA AND ANOTHER Vs. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-01-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 302, 120-B, 201, 506 read with Section 34 — Conviction by High Court after acquittal by Trial Court — Supreme Court's role — Appellate court can review and reconsider evidence, but must respect the presumption of innocence accorded to an accused who has been acquitted. A plausible view taken by the trial court should not be overturned merely because another view is possible. India Law Library Docid # 2438268
(397) HT MEDIA LIMITED Vs. PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER DELHI SOUTH GOODS AND SERVICE TAX[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-01-2026 Finance Act, 1994 — Section 65(105)(zu) — Event Management Service — Service Tax cannot be imposed if the activity does not fall strictly within the definition of "event management" as provided in the statute. Strict interpretation of taxing statutes is crucial. India Law Library Docid # 2438269
(398) X Vs. O/O SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF PEOPLE & ORS. . RESPONDENTS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 16-01-2026 Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 — Section 3(2), First Proviso — Constitution of Joint Committee — Proviso applies only when notices of motion given on the same day in both Houses are admitted by both Houses — Does not mandate a Joint Committee if the motion is admitted in one House and rejected in the other — Presiding Officer of the House where motion is admitted can independently proceed to constitute a India Law Library Docid # 2438270
(399) SMT. SUNITA DEVI AND OTHERS Vs. SH. NARINDER KUMAR AND OTHERS[PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT] 16-01-2026 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Compensation for death in motor accident — Appeal for enhancement of compensation — Cross objections by Insurance Company seeking setting aside of award — Tribunal found negligence of driver in favour of claimants. India Law Library Docid # 2438327
(400) DR. MANOJ KUMAR Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS[UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT] 16-01-2026 Public Service Commission — Age Limit Relaxation — Uttarakhand Public Service (Relaxation in Age Limit for Recruitment) Rules, 2003, Rule 3 — Uttarakhand Medical and Health Service Rules, 2014, Rule 10 — Uttarakhand Recruitment in Service Upper Age Limit Rules, 2014, Rule 2 — Rejection of representation for age relaxation — State government's power to grant relaxation — Impugned order passed without considering the power to grant relaxation — Order quashed. India Law Library Docid # 2438340