The cases every Indian business should know — what each one established, and the Act it connects to. AI-curated summaries pending expert review (beta); educational, not legal advice. Always read the judgment at the official source.
An agreement with a minor is void ab initio — a foundational reading of who can enter a binding contract under the Indian Contract Act.
📚 Referenced in 4 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2014
You cannot accept an offer you did not know about — knowledge of the offer is essential to acceptance (and to claiming a reward).
A negative covenant operating DURING employment (e.g. not to work for a competitor while employed) can be valid and is not necessarily a restraint of trade under s.27.
📚 Referenced in 3 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2025
A restraint that operates AFTER employment ends is generally void under s.27 of the Indian Contract Act — a key point for post-employment non-compete clauses.
📚 Referenced in 5 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2025
Laid down binding guidelines against workplace sexual harassment — the framework later codified by the POSH Act, 2013.
📚 Referenced in 80 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2026
A nine-judge Constitution Bench unanimously recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Part III of the Constitution (Articles 14, 19 and 21), overruling the earlier MP Sharma and Kharak Singh views — the constitutional foundation the DPDP Act, 2023 later builds on.
📚 Referenced in 127 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2026
Restates the doctrine of privity of contract: a person who is not a party to a contract generally cannot sue to enforce its terms, subject to recognised exceptions.
📚 Referenced in 4 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2024
Recognised that a domain name can function like a trade mark, identifying commercial origin, and may be protected under the law of passing off.
📚 Referenced in 3 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2018
Read the 'public policy' ground in s.34 to include 'patent illegality', widening the scope to set aside a domestic arbitral award — a position later narrowed by the 2015 amendments.
📚 Referenced in 62 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2026
Distinguished mere allegations of fraud (arbitrable) from serious, complex allegations of fraud (which a court may decline to refer to arbitration) when considering a s.8 reference.
Addressed territorial jurisdiction for a s.138 dishonoured-cheque complaint, tying it to the drawer's bank where the cheque is dishonoured — later modified by the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act, 2015.
📚 Referenced in 19 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2026
Held that immovable property is transferred only by a duly stamped and registered deed of conveyance; a sale agreement, general power of attorney or will does not by itself convey title.
📚 Referenced in 27 judgments in the open corpus · most recent 2026
Examined the standard for relief against oppression and mismanagement, holding the threshold is stringent and that disagreement or loss of confidence alone does not establish oppression.