📢 40 Most Important Landmark Judgement.
1. Kesavananda Bharti v. State of Kerela, 1973 SC
Declared Preamble as part of Constitution and introduced Basic Structure Doctrine.
2. E.P Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu, 1974 SC
Introduced Doctrine of Non-arbitrariness redefining equality under Article 14.
3. Selvi v. State of Karnataka, 2010 SC
Lie detector test needs consent, otherwise violates Article 20(3).
4. Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation, 1986 SC
Recognized Right to Livelihood under Article 21.
5. L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India, 1997 SC
Article 32 and Article 226 Jurisdiction forms part of Basic Structure.
6. Bacchan Singh v. State of Punjab, 1980 SC
Death Sentence only in rarest of rare cases.
7. Mahboob Shah v. Emperor, 1945 PC
Established interpretation for section 34 IPC – Common Intention.
8. McNaughten’s Case, 1843
Defined legal insanity defence.
9. Joseph Sine v. Union of India, 2019 SC
Section 497 IPC (Adultery) struck down as unconstitutional.
10. Satbir Singh v. State of Haryana, 2021 SC
Dowry death presumptions under section 304-B IPC & Evidence Act Section 113-B.
11. D.K Basu v. State of West Bengal, 1997 SC
Guidelines for arrest and custodial safeguards.
12. Abhilasha v. Prakash, 2020 SC
Major daughters not entitled under section 125 CrPC if not infirm.
13. SFIO v. Rahul Modi, 2022 SC
Default bail applicable only if chargesheet not filed in time.
14. Gudikanti v. Public Prosecutor, 1978 SC
Reiterated ‘Bail not Jail’ doctrine.
15. Gurubaksh Singh Sibba v. State of Punjab, 1980 SC
Laid principles for Anticipatory Bail under section 438 CrPC.
16. Saleem Advocates Bar Association v. Union of India, 2005 SC
Code is procedural to ensure justice, not punitive.
17. Manohar Lal v. Sath Hiralal, 1962 SC
Discussed inherent power of court under section 151 CPC.
18. Dhulabhai v. State of Madhya Pradesh, 1969 SC
Jurisdiction exclusion must be strictly interpreted.
19. Daryao v. State of Uttar Pradesh, 1961 SC
Res judicata is a part of Rule of Law.
20. M. Siddiq v. Suresh Das, 2020 SC
Explained section 11 Explanation 6 CPC scope beyond Order 1 Rule 8 CPC.
21. R v. Foster, 1834
Res Gestae principle recognized.
22. Dudh Nath Pandey v. State of Uttar Pradesh, 1981 SC
Defined scope of plea of alibi.
23. R. M. Malkani v. State of Maharashtra, 1973 SC
Tape recordings admissible with safeguard.
24. Palaka Narayan Swami v. Emperor, 1939 PC
Defined Confession and its admissiblity.
25. Nand Lal Wasudeo v. Lata Nandlal, 2014 SC
DNA test can rebut section 112 IEA presumption.
26. Carlil v. Carbolic Smoke Ball, 1893
General offer can lead to contract without communication.
27. Lalman Shukla v. Gauri Dutt, 1913
Offer must be known to accept.
28. Felthouse v. Bindley, 1863
Silence not acceptance; acceptance must be communicated.
29. Mohiri Bibee v. Dharmodas Ghose, 1903
Minor’s contract is void and non-enforceable.
30. Leslie Limited v. Sheill, 1914
Minor not liable for restitution for money obtained by fraud.
31. Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India, 1995 SC
Second marriage after conversion is void under Hindu Marriage Act.
32. Saroj Rani v. Surdarshan Kumar, 1984 SC
Upheld constitutionality of section 9 HMA (Restitution of Conjugal Rights).
33. Dastane v. Dastane, 1975 SC
Defined cruelty in matrimonial disputes.
34. Daniel Latifi v. Union of India, 2001 SC
Maintenance beyond iddat under Muslim Women Act upheld.
35. Shayara Bano v. Union of India, 2017 SC
Triple Talaq declared unconstitutional.
36. Ashby v. White, 1703
Legal Inquiry without damage (Injuria Sine damnum).
37. Smith v. London & Western Railway Corporation, 1870
Negligence and directness principle.
38. Rylands v. Fletcher, 1868
Established rule of strict liability.
39. Donoghue v. Stevenson, 1932
Landmark case on negligence; neighbour principle.
40. Bird v. Jones, 1845
No false imprisonment if movement not totally restrained.