Apex Digest

Parvathi Nairthi v. Laxmi Nairthy

(2026) INSC 521

Whether the Will executed by the testator bequeathing all his properties to his only sister, excluding his wife and children, is valid and duly proved under Section 68 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, and whether the exclusion of natural heirs alone constitutes a suspicious circumstance sufficient to vitiate the Will.

Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University v. Jitendra Singh

(2026) INSC 520

Whether the Visitor of the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (the President of India) has the authority to approve the termination of services of the First Registrar appointed under the transitional provisions of Section 46(b) of the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Act, 2013, or whether disciplinary action against such employee must be taken by the Executive Council under Statute No. 28.

Sukhendu Bhattacharjee v. State of Assam

(2026) INSC 523

Whether Muster Roll and Work Charged workers engaged prior to 1st April 1993, who were left out of the State's Cabinet decision dated 22nd July 2005 due to administrative lapses and clerical errors, are entitled to regularization and consequential benefits under Article 14 of the Constitution, despite not being appointed against sanctioned posts, given that nearly 30,000 similarly situated workers were regularized pursuant to that Cabinet decision.

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited v. Talwandi Sabo Power Limited

(2026) INSC 515

Whether the failure of a generating station to demonstrate its declared capacity (DC) when asked by the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) under Regulation 11.3.13 of the Punjab State Grid Code, 2013 constitutes a strict liability inviting penalty without proof of mens rea or illegal enrichment, and whether such demonstration must be achieved within the fourth time block from receipt of the notice under Regulation 11.5(xi).

Sri v. State Rep. by Inspector of Police, Q Branch, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu

(2026) INSC 516

Whether the appellant — a Sri Lankan national residing openly in Trichy under the name 'Ranjan' — is the same as the absconding accused 'Sri' (A-5) who allegedly handed over cyanide capsules and poisonous substances to co-accused Krishnakumar in May 2015 for revival of the banned LTTE organisation, and whether the conviction based solely on the belated and improved testimonies of two witnesses (who were themselves illegally staying in India on forged documents) is sustainable.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation v. Vijay Nagar Apartments

(2026) INSC 517

Whether a landowner who surrendered land reserved for a garden under Section 126(1)(b) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 and signed a Letter of Intent, Undertaking, and Maintenance Agreement agreeing not to claim additional amenity TDR against the development of the garden, is nevertheless entitled to such additional TDR as statutory compensation, and whether the claim is barred by delay and laches of 17 years.

In Re: City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price

(2026) 1 SCC 774

Whether stray dogs found within institutional premises such as educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, and railway stations fall within the classification of 'street dogs' or 'community owned dogs' under Rule 7(2) of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and whether Rule 11(19) mandating re-release of sterilised and vaccinated dogs to the same locality applies to such institutional areas, or whether this Court can, under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, direct their removal and prohibit re-release to safeguard public safety under Article 21.

Ram Balak v. State of U.P.

(2026) INSC 511

Whether the High Court, while exercising its statutory power under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) (corresponding to Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) to grant or reject bail, can issue far-reaching directions mandating the State Government and police authorities to create departmental accountability systems for service of summons, execution of coercive measures, and production of witnesses, or whether such directions exceed the scope of the statutory power of bail jurisdiction.

State of Tamil Nadu v. Ponnusamy

(2026) INSC 507

Whether the High Court was justified in reversing the Trial Court's conviction of nine accused for murder and criminal conspiracy, and acquitting them on the ground that the approver's evidence was unreliable, witnesses were chance witnesses with delayed disclosure, CDRs were not properly proved under Section 65-B of the Evidence Act, 1872, and electronic evidence (CCTV footage and gait analysis) was mishandled, despite the Trial Court having found the evidence credible and consistent.

Jennifer Messias v. Leonard G. Lobo

(2026) INSC 502

Whether a Preliminary Decree in a partition suit can be executed directly when the Advocate Commissioner reports that partition by metes and bounds is not possible, and the Preliminary Decree itself contains provisions for sale of the property and apportionment of proceeds, or whether a separate Final Decree is required before execution.

State of Odisha v. Sreepati Ranjan Dash

(2026) INSC 505

Whether employees who were eligible for promotion to the post of Assistant Regional Transport Officer under Executive Instructions dated 17.11.1981 have a vested right to be considered for promotion under those instructions after the enactment of the Odisha Transport Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2021 which superseded all previous instructions and provided for direct recruitment through competitive examination, and whether the State can be compelled to convene a Departmental Promotion Committee to fill vacancies under the old instructions.

Syed Iftikhar Andrabi v. National Investigation Agency, Jammu

(2026) INSC 503

Whether the stringent bail conditions under Section 43-D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAP Act) and Section 37 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) can be relaxed on the ground of prolonged incarceration and delayed trial, especially in light of the three-Judge Bench decision in K.A. Najeeb, and whether smaller Benches can dilute or circumvent the ratio of a larger Bench.

Soumya Ranjan Panda v. Subhalaxmi Dash

(2026) INSC 488

Whether the students transferred from a de-recognised private medical college (SRMCH) to other private medical colleges pursuant to interim orders of the Supreme Court are liable to pay fees at Government rates or at the rates applicable to private medical colleges, and how the differential fee liability should be apportioned between the students, the defaulting Trust, and the State/MCI.

Talari Naresh v. State of Telangana

(2026) INSC 486

Whether the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the appellant for offences under Sections 302 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 3(2)(v) and 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, where the sole eyewitness was the mother of the deceased (an interested witness), the other eyewitness turned hostile, witnesses on the Panchayat turned hostile, and the medical evidence contained unexplained discrepancies regarding the date and time of postmortem.

Yatin Narendra Oza v. Suo Motu, High Court of Gujarat

(2026) INSC 470

Whether a senior advocate and President of the High Court Bar Association, who made public statements terming the High Court a 'gambling den' and alleging corruption, favouritism, and nepotism against the Registry, is guilty of criminal contempt under Section 2(c)(i) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and whether his repeated unconditional apologies should be accepted given his history of similar conduct.

Gunjan @ Girija Kumari v. State (NCT of Delhi)

(2026) INSC 468

Whether the essential ingredient of 'any place within public view' under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is made out when the alleged caste-based abuses and insults occurred inside a residential house, where no independent members of the public were present, and whether the FIR and charge-sheet can be quashed on this ground at the threshold.

In Re: Order Dated 17.03.2025 Passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Criminal Revision No. 1449/2024 and Ancillary Issues v. We the Women of India

(2026) INSC 165

Whether the accused's actions of taking a minor victim on a motorcycle, dragging her near a culvert, and committing sexually offensive acts constituted 'preparation' or 'attempt' to commit rape. Additionally, whether guidelines are required to inculcate sensitivity and compassion in judicial approach while dealing with sexual offences.

The Deputy Commissioner and Special Land Acquisition Officer v. M/S S.V. Global Mill Limited

(2026) INSC 138

Whether Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 applies to first appeals preferred before the High Court under Section 74 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, or whether Section 74 constitutes a self-contained code excluding the Limitation Act. Additionally, whether Section 24(1)(a) of the 2013 Act governs awards passed after its commencement even if proceedings were initiated under the 1894 Act.

M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India

(2025) INSC 1472

How should the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican be reconciled with the imperative of green energy generation to address climate change concerns, specifically regarding overhead transmission lines, wind turbines, and solar installations in priority habitats?

State of U.P. v. Ajmal Beg

(2025) INSC 1435

Whether the High Court was justified in reversing a conviction under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 for dowry death based on omissions, inconsistencies, and contradictions in witness testimonies, and whether the prosecution had established the essential ingredients of dowry death including demand 'soon before death'.

Dr Sohail Malik v. Union of India

(2025) INSC 1415

Whether the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) constituted in one department of the Central Government has jurisdiction to entertain a complaint of sexual harassment under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 against an employee of a different department; and whether the phrase 'where the respondent is an employee' in Section 11 mandates that ICC proceedings must be instituted at the respondent's workplace.

Poonam v. Dule Singh

(2025) INSC 1284

Whether a candidate's failure to disclose a conviction under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (sentencing her to one year of rigorous imprisonment) in her nomination affidavit, on the ground that the offence did not involve moral turpitude, renders her election void under Rule 24-A of the Madhya Pradesh Nagar Palika Nirvachan Niyam, 1994, and whether the Supreme Court should exercise its discretion under Article 136 of the Constitution to condone such non-disclosure.

Mihir Rajesh Shah v. State of Maharashtra

(2025) INSC 1288

Whether Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS 2023) and Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India require that grounds of arrest be furnished in writing to every accused in every case, and what is the consequence of non-compliance, particularly in the context of offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS 2023).

NaXXXX Kumar v. KaXXXX

Whether ad-interim maintenance can be granted under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 in the absence of a specific application, and whether such maintenance should be payable from the date of filing of the application or from the date of the order. Also, whether the dismissal of a maintenance application under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 bars a claim under Section 125 CrPC.