NDPS Act – Bail – Recovery of psychotropic substances – Seizure of 137,665 tablets collectively weighing approximately 90 kg from four locations – Confessional statements recorded under Section 67 of NDPS Act held inadmissible in trial as per Tofan Singh v. State of Madras [2021] 4 SCC 1 – Absence of clarity on quantitative analysis of samples – Prosecution’s inability to establish possession of commercial quantity – Bail granted to A-4 and A-1 [Paras 1-12].

Evidentiary Standards – Reliance on Statements under Section 67 NDPS – Confessional statements alone insufficient for prosecution in absence of supporting evidence – Reliance on electronic communications (WhatsApp messages) and financial transactions insufficient without scientific analysis of devices – Bail granted due to lack of direct evidence linking appellants to the contraband [Paras 6-11].

Decision – Appeals allowed – Impugned order of the High Court quashed – Bail order of the Special Judge restored for Bharat Chaudhary (A-4) – Raja Chandrasekharan (A-1) granted bail as charge sheet filed and prolonged custody considered [Para 12].

Election Petition – Non-submission of Form 25 – Appellant contested 2019 elections from 16 Hassan (General) Parliamentary Constituency, alleging respondent no.1 filed a false affidavit and secured election by suppressing material facts – Respondent no.1 sought dismissal for non-compliance with Section 83(1) proviso of the RP Act, requiring Form 25 affidavit – High Court dismissed the petition – Supreme Court held non-submission of Form 25 is a curable defect – Election petition should not be dismissed at threshold – Appeal allowed, petitioner granted opportunity to file Form 25 affidavit [Paras 1-27].

Verification of Petition – Technical vs. Hyper-technical Compliance – Substantial compliance with Section 81(3) by verifying the petition and copies – Non-signing of index and synopsis not fatal – Allegations against respondent fall within broader ambit, requiring trial [Paras 20-25].

Opportunity to Cure Defects – Previous decisions support allowing petitioner to cure affidavit defect – High Court should permit filing of proper affidavit instead of dismissing petition summarily [Paras 22-24].

Decision – Appeal allowed – High Court's order set aside – Application under Order VII Rule 11 dismissed – Appellant granted 15 days to file Form 25 affidavit – Urgent trial of the election petition directed [Para 27].

Compassionate Appointment – Assessment of Family Pension – Appellant rejected respondent's application for compassionate appointment based on merit points, considering family pension of Rs 8265 per month – Tribunal and High Court directed reconsideration, stating pension would reduce to Rs 4959 after ten years – Supreme Court held pension on date of consideration is relevant – Policy mandates considering financial position at time of application – Compassionate appointment is to tide over immediate crisis, not a vested right – Appeal allowed, High Court's judgment set aside [Paras 1-14].

Evaluation Criteria – Pension is not an extraneous circumstance – Authorities must evaluate financial position per policy – Reassessment after ten years not a basis to discard current pension – Uniform criteria applied to all applicants – Granting appointment contrary to scheme's objective [Paras 10-13].

Decision – Appeals allowed – High Court’s judgment and order set aside – OA filed by respondent dismissed [Para 14].

Consumer Law – Limitation for Filing Complaint – Respondent's registration for house allotment under General Registration Scheme, 1985, was cancelled in 2000 for non-payment of seed money – Respondent filed consumer complaint in 2011 after Housing Board's 2009 policy decision on restoration of cancelled registrations – Supreme Court held complaint time-barred under Section 24A of Consumer Protection Act – Cause of action arose on cancellation date, not policy decision – Consumer forums must adhere to limitation period – Appeals allowed, NCDRC's order set aside [Paras 1-14].

Evaluation of Default and Restoration Policy – No formal allotment made – Respondent failed to pay seed money despite multiple notices – Registration cancellation in 2000 undisputed – 2009 policy not applicable as cancellation due to respondent's default – Complaint filed beyond two-year limitation period – Consumer forum's order erroneous [Paras 8-11].

Decision – Appeals allowed – NCDRC’s judgment set aside – Appellant to refund registration money if respondent unwilling to accept allotment at current rates [Para 14].

Compassionate Appointment – Revision of Post – Respondent appointed as Record Clerk on compassionate grounds despite qualifications for Junior Assistant – High Court directed revision to Junior Assistant retrospectively – Supreme Court held respondent’s acceptance of Record Clerk post with undertaking precluded later challenge – Appointment revision contrary to service jurisprudence and affects similarly situated candidates – Appeals allowed, High Court’s order set aside [Paras 1-14].

Estoppel and Service Jurisprudence – Respondent estopped from challenging Record Clerk appointment after accepting post with undertaking – Service revision based on GO Ms No 1499 misinterpreted – Collector’s role in vacancy allocation procedural, not obligatory for appointment – Directions for retrospective appointment and promotion unsustainable [Paras 11-12].

Decision – Appeals allowed – High Court’s judgment set aside – Writ petition dismissed – Promotion consideration unaffected by impugned direction [Para 13].

Medical Negligence – Professional Indemnity Insurance – Hospital conducted eye camp, resulting in multiple cases of eye infections and loss of vision – Hospital claimed indemnity under insurance policies obtained by doctors – NCDRC ruled insurance policies did not cover hospital’s liability – Supreme Court upheld NCDRC’s decision – Hospital not beneficiary of insurance policies held by individual doctors – Appeals dismissed [Paras 1-18].

Privity of Contract – Insurance Coverage – Insurance policies were professional indemnity policies for doctors, not hospital – Negligence findings against hospital and staff, not individual doctors – Hospital cannot claim indemnity under policies not covering it or its staff – District Forum and State Commission erred in holding insurer liable [Paras 14-16].

Decision – Appeals dismissed – NCDRC’s judgment upheld – Hospital may pursue other legal remedies against potentially negligent parties – Disbursed compensation confirmed [Paras 16-18].

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act – Recovery of Contraband – Accused found guilty of possessing 900 grams of smack – No incriminating substance recovered during personal search – Defence of false implication rejected – Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence upheld [Paras 1-18].

Procedure under NDPS Act – Compliance with Section 50 – Argument of non-compliance not accepted as recovery was from a vehicle, not a personal search – Court held Section 50 not applicable in this context – Conviction based on vehicle search upheld [Paras 11, 15-16].

Constitutional Law – Article 136 – Scope of Supreme Court interference – Interference under Article 136 warranted only in cases of gross error or perverse findings – Supreme Court found no error warranting interference – Appeal dismissed [Paras 17-18].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – Conviction and sentence affirmed – Accused had already served the sentence; no further directions issued [Para 19].

Criminal Law – Bail – Proper Exercise of Judicial Discretion – Appeal against bail orders granted by High Court for serious offenses including murder and use of firearms – High Court’s orders set aside due to lack of detailed reasoning and failure to record satisfaction for granting bail – Emphasizes necessity of reasoned decisions in bail matters, particularly for grave offenses [Paras 1-18].

Anticipatory Bail – Denial Justified – Second set of appeals for anticipatory bail dismissed – Complaint against appellants was not merely a counterblast; injuries and serious allegations warranted detailed investigation – Appellants advised to surrender and apply for regular bail [Paras 16-19].

Constitutional Law – Article 136 – Scope of Supreme Court Interference – Supreme Court intervenes to correct errors in High Court's discretionary power when orders are devoid of reasoned analysis and consideration of case specifics – Emphasizes the importance of judicial discipline and transparency [Paras 13-15].

Decision – Orders granting bail set aside; accused to be taken into custody – Anticipatory bail appeals dismissed; appellants may seek regular bail on merits – All contentions kept open for appropriate stage of proceedings [Para 19].

Workmen's Compensation – Calculation of Wages – Deceased workman was earning Rs. 2400 per month plus Rs. 25 daily for food expenses – High Court erred in reducing the compensation based on minimum wage without evidence – Supreme Court restores compensation to original amount [Paras 1-9].

Interest on Compensation – Section 4A – Compensation becomes due from the date of the accident – High Court's reduction of interest from 12% to 8% was incorrect – Supreme Court orders interest at 12% from the date of the accident till realization [Paras 6-9].

Judicial Conscience – Social Justice – Supreme Court criticizes the insurance company's prolonged litigation over a paltry sum – Emphasizes the need for state-owned companies to act with social conscience [Para 7].

Decision – High Court’s order set aside – Compensation of Rs. 262,164 with 12% interest from the date of accident till realization reinstated – Respondent directed to pay within one month – Costs of Rs. 1 lakh awarded to appellants [Paras 9-12].