Here is the daily roundup of important judgments and orders from the Supreme Court and the High Courts for August 18, 2026.
Contradictory Witness Statements Cast Doubt on Conviction: Supreme Court Sets Aside Nepal Singh’s Sentence
The Supreme Court set aside Nepal Singh’s conviction in a 1993 Madhya Pradesh case after finding major contradictions in key prosecution witnesses. The Bench also noted doubts arising from the land dispute and questioned the High Court’s differing treatment of accused persons based on the same evidence. Read more...
Bihar Govt Tells Supreme Court AK-47 Was Fired Into Air During Siwan Protest, Denies Disproportionate Force
The Bihar government has denied using disproportionate force against student protesters before the Supreme Court. It said an AK-47 was fired into the air after a constable became trapped in Siwan, while three protesters suffered minor firearm injuries in a separate pistol-firing incident. The State said departmental action was initiated. Read more...
Supreme Court Says Elephant Corridors Cannot Be Blocked, Orders Nationwide Survey to Protect Wildlife Movement
The Supreme Court directed the Union Government to conduct a fresh nationwide survey of elephant corridors and submit a comprehensive report on steps taken to prevent obstruction. The Bench said crop damage or fear among villagers cannot justify blocking elephant movement and also sought details on coercive measures against elephants. Read more...
98% Hygiene Compliance But Licence Still Suspended: Bombay HC Calls FDA Action Harassment, Orders ₹5 Lakh Compensation
The Bombay High Court quashed the suspension of a Pune sweet shop’s food licence after a re-inspection recorded 98% hygiene compliance. The Bench criticised the continued suspension despite the favourable report and directed the Maharashtra FDA to pay ₹5 lakh compensation for the 34-day closure. Read more...
Supreme Court Contempt Plea Challenges Patna HC’s 40% Quota for Judge-Recommended Regular Mazdoor Appointments
A contempt petition before the Supreme Court challenges Patna High Court rules permitting 40% of Regular Mazdoor posts to be filled through recommendations by the Chief Justice or judges. The petitioner alleges that the arrangement lacks public advertisement and transparent selection, contrary to principles laid down in Renu concerning appointments in judicial institutions. Read more...
Compassionate Appointment Policy Applies to First Child, Not Only Son: MP High Court
The Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed Alok Sharma’s appeal seeking compassionate appointment after his father’s death in 1998. The Division Bench held that the applicable policy allowed such appointment within seven years, with a limited exception for the first minor child. Since Sharma was not the first child and more than 25 years had passed, the claim could not succeed. Read more...
Madras HC Dismisses Election Petition Against TVK MLA N Elaiyaraja
The Madras High Court rejected C Geetha’s election petition challenging TVK MLA N Elaiyaraja’s victory from Uthangarai. Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy held that the electoral roll issue relied upon by Geetha had already been decided in earlier proceedings and allowed Elaiyaraja’s application seeking rejection of the election petition. Read more...
Delhi HC Halts JNU Admissions Based on Deprivation Points, Questions Addition of Marks to CUET Scores
The Delhi High Court has restrained JNU from finalising admissions based on deprivation points for the 2026–27 session. Justice Jasmeet Singh questioned whether adding such points effectively changes CUET scores and directed JNU to pause further admission steps based on the disputed mechanism until the next hearing. Read more...
Can Hanging Be Replaced As Death Penalty Method? Supreme Court Declines To Revisit Earlier Ruling
The Supreme Court dismissed Rishi Malhotra’s challenge to hanging as the method of executing death sentences. The Bench declined to reconsider the earlier constitutional ruling upholding hanging, while clarifying that future scientific, medical or empirical evidence could justify renewed constitutional scrutiny. The Union Government may also undertake an expert review. Read more...
Kerala HC Sets Aside POCSO Conviction After Finding Contradictions in Survivor’s Statements and Possible Family Dispute Motive
The Kerala High Court acquitted a man convicted under the POCSO Act, finding the survivor's testimony inconsistent and noting possible false implication linked to family disputes. He was ordered released after nearly three years in custody. Read more...
Delhi Police Tells Supreme Court Jantar Mantar Protest Was Controlled With ‘Minimum Required Force’
The Delhi Police has defended its handling of the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest before the Supreme Court, saying officers used graded and necessary force after barricades were breached. The police also defended plainclothes personnel and facial-recognition use, while the Court continues examining allegations of excessive police action. Read more...
Supreme Court Seeks Centre, States, Meta and X Responses on Police Posting Accused Persons’ Images Online
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Union Government, States, Union Territories, Meta and X over a plea seeking safeguards against police posting accused persons’ identities and degrading images online. The petition seeks uniform guidelines and mechanisms for removing such content from social media platforms. Read more...
Gujarat HC Directs GPSC to Restore Marks After Finding Arthashastra Source Unauthenticated
The Gujarat High Court allowed a candidate’s challenge to GPSC Question No.147 concerning Kautilya’s Arthashastra. Justice Nirzar S. Desai found the source material insufficiently authenticated and held that the candidate’s answer could be treated as correct. GPSC was directed to restore the deducted mark, award the question’s mark and consider her for the selection list if otherwise eligible. Read more...
Bombay HC Grants Bail to Sachin Andure, Suspends Life Sentence in Narendra Dabholkar Murder Case
The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Sachin Andure and suspended his life sentence in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case. A bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice Ranjitsinha Bhonsale passed the order while hearing Andure’s appeal against his 2024 conviction and life imprisonment. Read more...
Consumer Forum Jurisdiction: Should It Depend on Price Paid or Compensation Claimed? Supreme Court Asks Centre
The Supreme Court has asked the Union Government to file an affidavit addressing concerns over consumer commission pecuniary jurisdiction. The Bench examined whether jurisdiction should be linked to consideration paid or compensation claimed, and also sought reasons for reducing the National Commission’s limit from ₹10 crore to ₹2 crore. Read more...
Police Must File Unnatural Death Final Reports Before Judicial Magistrate, Not Executive Magistrate: Telangana High Court
The Telangana High Court held that police cannot file final reports arising from Section 174 CrPC inquiries before an Executive Magistrate. Such reports must go before the jurisdictional Judicial Magistrate First Class, with due notice to the affected complainant. The Court nevertheless closed the petitioner’s reinvestigation plea due to the long delay. Read more...
DMRC's Time-Barred Arbitration Appeal Revived by Delhi High Court, But Slapped With ₹5 Lakh Cost for "Sham" Review Bid
The Delhi High Court set aside dismissal of DMRC’s delayed arbitration challenge, holding that a formally filed Section 33 application extends limitation until disposal even if defective, while imposing ₹5 lakh punitive costs for misuse of the provision. Read more...
Kerala HC Defers IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman Trial For One Month, Awaits Appointment Of Special Public Prosecutor
The Kerala High Court has deferred proceedings in the 2019 road accident case involving IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman for one month. The Court confirmed the transfer of the case to Additional Sessions Court-IV and directed that the appointed Special Public Prosecutor conduct the trial after the government issues the formal notification. Read more...
Writ Petitions Maintainable Against Private Unaided Schools For Statutory Teacher Salary Rights: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court held that teachers of private unaided educational institutions can seek writ relief to enforce salary rights arising from statutory rules. It also ruled that amended Maharashtra pay-scale rules remained operative despite not being laid before the State Legislature, and dismissed the appeals against the Bombay High Court judgment. Read more...
Chargesheet Lacked Specific Allegations: Supreme Court Quashes FIR Against Central Government Employee
The Supreme Court quashed criminal proceedings against a Central Government employee after finding no specific allegation against him in the FIR or chargesheet. The Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran held that the material on record did not justify continuation of the proceedings. Read more...
Delhi HC Orders Contempt Proceedings Against Advocate After Finding Suppression of Prior Litigation
The Delhi High Court dismissed Harjeet Singh Mendiratta’s writ petition after finding suppression of an earlier quashing proceeding. The Court referred advocate Ms. Kalpana to the Bar Council of Delhi, directed suo motu contempt proceedings, restrained her from representing Mendiratta, and imposed Rs 2 lakh in costs. Read more...
Supreme Court Quashes Criminal Proceedings Against Woman Accused in Son’s Marriage-Promise Case
The Supreme Court quashed criminal proceedings against Ilaben, mother of a man accused in a marriage-promise dispute. The Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran found that the allegations did not establish criminal culpability against her and ordered the proceedings to be quashed. Read more...
Calcutta HC Dismisses PIL Alleging Police Directions To Remove Mosque Loudspeakers
The Calcutta High Court dismissed a PIL alleging that West Bengal police orally directed mosque committees to remove loudspeakers. The Bench found the allegations insufficiently specific and unsupported by documentary material. The State denied that such meetings or directions had occurred, while the petitioner argued that PIL proceedings should focus on the underlying grievance. Read more...
AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar Released; Delhi High Court Closes Habeas Corpus Plea
The Delhi High Court closed a habeas corpus petition concerning AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar after Delhi Police informed the Bench that he had been released at 3:48 PM. The Court said the immediate purpose of the petition was fulfilled, while permitting his family to pursue appropriate legal remedies over the alleged detention and property damage. Read more...
Supreme Court Cancels Absorption of Four Haryana PWD Engineers, Calls Their Entry "Political"
The Supreme Court has quashed the absorption of four Haryana officers into the PW(B&R) Department, holding that their appointments by transfer lacked the special circumstances required under the 1965 Rules. The Court ordered their repatriation to the Development and Panchayat Department and set aside the contrary portion of the High Court judgment. Read more...
Allahabad HC Acquits Two Men in 1978 Robbery Case, Sets Aside 1985 Conviction Over Delayed Identification Parade
The Allahabad High Court acquitted Chhotey and Ram Balak, convicted in 1985 for a 1978 robbery, after finding the delayed identification parade and weak recovery evidence insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Read more...
Insurance Company Cannot Assume Additional Risk Without Prior Premium Payment Under Section 64VB: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court allowed New India Assurance's appeals and held that additional insurance risk could not be retrospectively covered after the loss occurred. The Bench ruled that Section 64VB of the Insurance Act required the additional premium to be paid or properly guaranteed before the insurer assumed the enhanced risk. Read more...
