(261) BHADRA INTERNATIONAL (INDIA) PVT. LTD. AND OTHERS Vs. AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 12(5) read with Seventh Schedule — Ineligibility of Arbitrator — Unilateral Appointment — Effect of 2015 Amendment Act — Section 12(5) renders any person whose relationship falls under the Seventh Schedule ineligible to be appointed as an arbitrator, notwithstanding any prior agreement — Where the arbitration clause empowers the Chairman of one party (Airports Authority of India) to unilaterally appoint the India Law Library Docid # 2437736
(262) MOTILAL OSWAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED Vs. SANTOSH CORDEIRO AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 11(6-A) — Appointment of Arbitrator — Scope of judicial review — The court, while considering an application under Section 11, must confine its examination to the prima facie existence of an arbitration agreement, as mandated by the un-notified but effective Section 11(6-A) — The court's role is merely to inspect or scrutinize India Law Library Docid # 2437737
(263) NIRBHAY SINGH SULIYA Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Service Law — Disciplinary Proceedings — Judicial Officer — Removal from Service — Misconduct — Judicial orders and grant of bail — A judicial officer, with 27 years of unblemished service, was removed based solely on four bail orders where Section 59-A of the Madhya Pradesh Excise Act, 1915 (imposing twin conditions for bail) was not expressly mentioned, contrasted with 14 other India Law Library Docid # 2437738
(264) ANJANI SINGH Vs. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 302, 307, 504 read with 34 — Appreciation of Evidence — Sole Eye Witness Testimony (PW-1) — Reliability — Where a sole eye witness's testimony is wavering, inconsistent regarding the scene of the crime and the specific role of the accused, and where motive is alleged only against the PW but multiple innocent persons were killed at close range (suggesting targeted killing) without motive, the testimony India Law Library Docid # 2437739
(265) GULFISHA FATIMA Vs. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI)[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) — Section 43D(5) — Bail — Accused Sharjeel Imam — Role attributed is that of a "principal ideologue and early architect" of the alleged conspiracy, involving the creation of coordination platforms (WhatsApp groups), mobilization through pamphlets, and delivery of speeches advocating disruptive "Chakka Jam" (road blockage/paralysis of essential services) as India Law Library Docid # 2437740
(266) ADANI POWER LTD. AND ANOTHER Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (SEZ Act) — Section 30 — Customs Act, 1962 — Section 12 — Levy of Customs Duty on Electrical Energy — Clearance from Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) — Absence of Charging Event — Electrical energy generated in India within an SEZ and supplied to DTA is not ‘imported into India’ under Section 12 of the Customs Act — The deeming fiction in Section 30 of the SEZ India Law Library Docid # 2437741
(267) SUKHCHAIN Vs. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 389 — Suspension of Sentence — Fixed Term Sentence — Appellate Court's Approach — The High Court while considering an application for suspension of a fixed term substantive sentence passed by the Trial Court pending appeal must apply settled principles of law and consider the plea liberally, unless exceptional circumstances exist, in contrast to the approach India Law Library Docid # 2437833
(268) NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. Vs. MASTER FREWIN SEBY DE MELO AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 149(2) — Insurer's right to contest claim — Law settled by three-Judge Bench in Shila Datta’s case — Insurer, when impleaded as a party-respondent in the claim petition, is entitled to contest the claim on all available grounds, not being restricted to grounds available under Section 149(2) of the Act. India Law Library Docid # 2438180
(269) NOUSHAD Vs. STATE OF KERALA AND ANOTHER[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 438 — Anticipatory Bail — Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to the appellant by setting aside the High Court's order rejecting the bail application — Appellant directed to furnish cash security and two sureties, cooperate with the trial, not misuse liberty, and not influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. India Law Library Docid # 2438362
(270) SUBHAM KUMAR GUPTA @ SHUBHAM KUMAR GUPTA Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 389(1) — Suspension of sentence and grant of bail pending appeal — Appellant convicted under Section 302/120B IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment — Appeal pending before High Court — Interlocutory Application for suspension of sentence and bail dismissed by High Court — Supreme Court considers the appellant's period of custody and the India Law Library Docid # 2438374
(271) NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. Vs. MASTER FREWIN SEBY DE MELO AND OTHERS[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 170 — Impleading of insurer as party — Right to contest claim — When an insurer is made a party-respondent in a claim petition, it has the right to contest the claim on all available grounds, not just those specified in Section 149(2) of the Act. The rejection of an application under Section 170 by the Tribunal does not preclude the insurer from raising these grounds, India Law Library Docid # 2438514
(272) KAMYA BABBAR Vs. PARAG GOGIA[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Section 25 — Transfer of Matrimonial Case — Parties reached a settlement through Supreme Court Mediation Centre. India Law Library Docid # 2438516
(273) KUNI BHUYAN Vs. THE STATE OF ODISHA[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Bail — Factors for consideration — Continued incarceration not warranted at bail stage — Appellant in custody since the date of FIR along with her minor daughter (2 years old at time of incarceration) — Trial not likely to conclude soon as a significant number of witnesses have already been examined — Appeal allowed and bail granted. India Law Library Docid # 2438525
(274) TAMESHWAR VERMA Vs. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Bail — Grant of — Accused with four criminal antecedents in the same district, trial commenced, continued incarceration not warranted — Accused enlarged on bail with condition to mark attendance at police station every fifteen days to allay prosecution's apprehension. India Law Library Docid # 2438546
(275) ABHISHEK TIWARI @ MONU TIWARI Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Arms Act, 1959 — Sections 25(1-b)a, 26, 35 — Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 387, 120B, 34 — Bail — Suspension of sentence — Appeal against conviction — Appellant convicted for Arms Act offences, acquitted of IPC offences — Co-accused acquitted and another enlarged on bail — Appellant stands on same India Law Library Docid # 2438607
(276) ASHOK SINGH NATHAWAT Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Bail — Factors to consider — Delay in trial — Number of co-accused granted bail — Likelihood of trial taking a significant time to conclude, coupled with the fact that a large number of co-accused have been released on bail, can be grounds for granting bail. India Law Library Docid # 2438615
(277) DEEP CHANDRA GURJAR @ DEEPU Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Sections 8, 20, 29 — Bail — Accused driver of vehicle found carrying contraband — Driver claims ignorance of goods — Continued incarceration not warranted if trial will take time — Matters for trial court to decide claim of ignorance — Bail granted with conditions. India Law Library Docid # 2438617
(278) PUKHRAJ Vs. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, Sections 3 and 4 — Bail — Co-accused granted bail — Release of appellants on bail is justified where co-accused have been granted bail and the trial is likely to take considerable time. India Law Library Docid # 2438619
(279) NILU KUMARI Vs. STATE OF BIHAR[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Section 317(5) and Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2022, Section 30(a) — Bail — Appellant arraigned as accused for carrying liquor in a vehicle owned by her, which was abandoned by the driver — Court satisfied with appellant's cooperation with investigation — Interim protection granted earlier — Appeal allowed, appellant granted bail. India Law Library Docid # 2438624
(280) NAWAL KISHOR PRASAD Vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR[SUPREME COURT OF INDIA] 05-01-2026 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Anticipatory Bail — High Court rejecting anticipatory bail — Appeal to Supreme Court — Supreme Court granting leave and disposing of appeal with conditions — Appellant to furnish bail bonds and undertake to cooperate in trial/investigation — Appellant also to undertake not to threaten witnesses or tamper with evidence. India Law Library Docid # 2438670