100 Supreme Court Cases Everyone Should Know
These cases span fundamental rights, constitutional law, criminal justice, environmental protection, and more, representing pivotal moments in Indian jurisprudence.
1-20: Fundamental Rights and Individual Liberties
| # | Case Name | Year | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras | 1950 | Struck down a ban on a journal under the Madras Maintenance of Public Order Act as violative of freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a). |
| 2 | A.K. Gopalan v. State of Madras | 1950 | Upheld preventive detention laws but laid groundwork for expanding Article 21’s scope to include due process. |
| 3 | State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan | 1951 | Invalidated caste-based reservations in education, leading to the First Amendment introducing Article 15(4). |
| 4 | Shankari Prasad v. Union of India | 1951 | Affirmed Parliament’s power to amend Fundamental Rights under Article 368. |
| 5 | Berubari Union Case | 1960 | Clarified that cession of territory requires a constitutional amendment, not just parliamentary legislation. |
| 6 | Golaknath v. State of Punjab | 1967 | Held that Fundamental Rights are not amendable by Parliament, introducing the prospect of judicial supremacy. |
| 7 | R.C. Cooper v. Union of India (Bank Nationalization Case) | 1970 | Expanded Article 31 to include the right to property and struck down parts of the Banking Companies Act. |
| 8 | Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala | 1973 | Introduced the Basic Structure Doctrine, limiting Parliament’s amending power to preserve the Constitution’s core features. |
| 9 | Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain | 1975 | Invalidated the 39th Amendment and reinforced the Basic Structure Doctrine in electoral law. |
| 10 | ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla (Habeas Corpus Case) | 1976 | Upheld suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency (later overruled). |
| 11 | Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India | 1978 | Expanded Article 21 to include due process, interlinking it with Articles 14 and 19 for personal liberty. |
| 12 | Minerva Mills v. Union of India | 1980 | Struck down parts of the 42nd Amendment, affirming judicial review as part of the Basic Structure. |
| 13 | Waman Rao v. Union of India | 1981 | Applied prospective overruling to Ninth Schedule laws post-Kesavananda. |
| 14 | Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum | 1985 | Upheld maintenance rights for divorced Muslim women under Section 125 CrPC, sparking UCC debate. |
| 15 | Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation | 1985 | Held that the right to livelihood is integral to the right to life under Article 21. |
| 16 | M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Oleum Gas Leak Case) | 1987 | Introduced absolute liability for hazardous industries, evolving environmental jurisprudence. |
| 17 | Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (Mandal Commission Case) | 1992 | Upheld 27% OBC reservations but capped total at 50% and excluded creamy layer. |
| 18 | S.R. Bommai v. Union of India | 1994 | Made imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356 subject to judicial review. |
| 19 | Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan | 1997 | Laid down guidelines to prevent sexual harassment at workplaces, later codified in POSH Act. |
| 20 | TMA Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka | 2002 | Defined the scope of state regulation over private educational institutions’ autonomy. |
21-40: Criminal Law and Justice
| # | Case Name | Year | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar | 1962 | Limited sedition law under Section 124A IPC to acts inciting violence, protecting critical speech. |
| 22 | State of Punjab v. Baldev Singh | 1999 | Mandated procedural safeguards for NDPS Act searches to prevent abuse. |
| 23 | D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal | 1997 | Issued guidelines to prevent custodial violence and torture, enhancing arrestee rights. |
| 24 | Selvi v. State of Karnataka | 2010 | Prohibited narco-analysis, polygraph, and brain mapping without consent as violative of Article 20(3). |
| 25 | Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar | 2014 | Directed that arrests in offenses punishable by <7 years be exceptions, curbing misuse. |
| 26 | Shatrughan Chauhan v. Union of India | 2017 | Issued guidelines for mercy petitions in death penalty cases, emphasizing commutation. |
| 27 | Common Cause v. Union of India (Passive Euthanasia) | 2018 | Legalized passive euthanasia and living wills for terminally ill patients. |
| 28 | Mukesh v. State (Nirbhaya Case) | 2017 | Upheld death penalty for gang rape, reinforcing fast-track justice for sexual offenses. |
| 29 | Joseph Shine v. Union of India | 2018 | Struck down Section 497 IPC (adultery) as unconstitutional, violating women’s dignity. |
| 30 | Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India | 2018 | Decriminalized homosexuality by reading down Section 377 IPC. |
| 31 | Hadiya Case (Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M.) | 2018 | Affirmed adults’ right to choose partners, striking down forced conversions. |
| 32 | P. Chidambaram v. Directorate of Enforcement | 2020 | Clarified bail under Section 438 CrPC in economic offenses, prioritizing liberty. |
| 33 | Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI | 2022 | Issued comprehensive guidelines on bail vs. jail, criticizing undertrial detention. |
| 34 | Bilkis Bano v. Union of India | 2024 | Quashed premature release of 2002 Gujarat riot convicts, upholding victim justice. |
| 35 | Kaushal Kishor v. State of UP | 2023 | Expanded hate speech regulation under Article 19(2), beyond IPC provisions. |
| 36 | Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India | 2020 | Struck down indefinite internet shutdowns in J&K as violative of free speech. |
| 37 | Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali v. NIA | 2019 | Set stringent bail criteria in terror financing cases under UAPA. |
| 38 | K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (Privacy) | 2017 | Declared right to privacy a fundamental right under Articles 14, 19, and 21. |
| 39 | Lalita Kumari v. Govt of UP | 2014 | Mandated FIR registration for cognizable offenses, preventing police discretion. |
| 40 | DK Basu Guidelines (reaffirmed in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh) | 2021 | Strengthened custodial death prevention protocols. |
41-60: Constitutional and Administrative Law
| # | Case Name | Year | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan | 1965 | Upheld Parliament’s amending power over Fundamental Rights (pre-Golaknath). |
| 42 | Three Judges Cases (S.P. Gupta, SCAORA, Special Reference) | 1981-1998 | Evolved the Collegium system for judicial appointments, ensuring judicial independence. |
| 43 | L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India | 1997 | Held tribunals subject to High Court/Supreme Court review under Articles 226/32. |
| 44 | IR Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu | 2007 | Allowed judicial review of Ninth Schedule laws if they violate Basic Structure. |
| 45 | NJAC Case (Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Assn. v. UOI) | 2015 | Struck down the 99th Amendment establishing National Judicial Appointments Commission. |
| 46 | Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India | 2018 | Affirmed Delhi CM’s executive primacy over Lt. Governor in most matters. |
| 47 | Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India (Defamation) | 2016 | Upheld criminal defamation under Sections 499/500 IPC as reasonable restriction. |
| 48 | Shayara Bano v. Union of India (Triple Talaq) | 2017 | Declared instant triple talaq unconstitutional, violating Article 14. |
| 49 | Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India (EWS Reservation) | 2022 | Upheld 10% EWS quota under 103rd Amendment as not violating Basic Structure. |
| 50 | Supriyo v. Union of India (Same-Sex Marriage) | 2023 | Denied constitutional right to same-sex marriage, leaving it to legislation. |
| 51 | Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India | 2024 | Struck down Electoral Bonds scheme as opaque and violative of voters’ right to information. |
| 52 | State of West Bengal v. Union of India | 1963 | Clarified federal structure, holding states as equal partners with Centre. |
| 53 | Ram Jawaya Kapur v. State of Punjab | 1955 | Executive derives power from Constitution, not mere legislative sanction. |
| 54 | UCO Bank v. Their Workmen | 1963 | Defined “industry” broadly under Industrial Disputes Act for labor rights. |
| 55 | Excel Wear v. Union of India | 1978 | Laid principles for retrenchment compensation in industrial disputes. |
| 56 | Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India | 1984 | Expanded Article 21 to include bonded labor eradication and rehabilitation. |
| 57 | People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (Right to Food) | 2001 | Directed implementation of food security schemes under Article 21. |
| 58 | Unni Krishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh | 1993 | Held education a fundamental right up to age 14 under Article 21. |
| 59 | Mohini Jain v. State of Karnataka | 1992 | Declared capitation fees unconstitutional, affirming affordable education. |
| 60 | Pramati Educational & Cultural Trust v. Union of India | 2014 | Exempted minority institutions from RTE Act’s 25% reservation quota. |
61-80: Environmental and Public Interest Law
| # | Case Name | Year | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India | 1996 | Introduced precautionary and polluter pays principles in environmental law. |
| 62 | M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Taj Trapezium) | 1996 | Ordered pollution control measures to protect Taj Mahal using sustainable development. |
| 63 | Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India (Bichhri Case) | 1996 | Applied polluter pays principle to remediate chemical industry pollution. |
| 64 | Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India | 2000 | Balanced development with rehabilitation rights under Article 21 for displaced persons. |
| 65 | T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India | 1997 | Expanded forest conservation to all non-recorded forest areas. |
| 66 | Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar | 1991 | Enforced right to pollution-free water as part of Article 21. |
| 67 | A.P. Pollution Control Board v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu | 1999 | Emphasized expert committees in environmental decision-making. |
| 68 | Hanuman Laxman Charati v. State of Maharashtra | 2009 | Upheld community rights over private property in eco-sensitive zones. |
| 69 | Techi Tagi Tara v. Rajendra Oinam | 2016 | Mandated cumulative impact assessments for mining in fragile ecosystems. |
| 70 | M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (CNG Vehicles) | 2001 | Directed switch to CNG for public transport to combat Delhi air pollution. |
| 71 | Research Foundation for Science v. Union of India (Shipbreaking) | 2007 | Regulated hazardous shipbreaking under Basel Convention principles. |
| 72 | Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India | 2011 | Allowed mining post-environmental clearance if public interest served. |
| 73 | Orissa Mining Corporation v. Ministry of Environment | 2013 | Quashed mining leases in violation of Forest Rights Act. |
| 74 | Common Cause v. Union of India (Ganga Pollution) | 2017 | Ordered cleanup of Ganga, holding states accountable under Article 21. |
| 75 | M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India (Girnar Sanctuary) | 2014 | Protected wildlife habitats from development without clearance. |
| 76 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals v. Rohit Prajapati | 2020 | Relaxed effluent standards enforcement during COVID but upheld monitoring. |
| 77 | Hanif Qureshi v. State of Bihar | 1958 | Upheld cow slaughter bans as reasonable under Article 19(1)(g). |
| 78 | Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra v. State of UP | 1985 | Closed mining operations in Dehradun valley for ecological restoration. |
| 79 | Kamal Nath v. Union of India | 1998 | Applied Public Trust Doctrine to protect natural resources from commercial exploitation. |
| 80 | Intellectuals Forum v. State of AP | 2006 | Mandated relocation of coastal structures with environmental compensation. |
81-100: Economic, Electoral, and Miscellaneous Law
| # | Case Name | Year | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | Keshav Mills v. CIT | 1965 | Defined judicial review scope in tax matters under Article 136. |
| 82 | Excel Wear v. Union of India | 1979 | Upheld closure rights of industries under labor laws. |
| 83 | Air India v. Nergesh Meerza | 1981 | Struck down discriminatory retirement age for air hostesses. |
| 84 | M.G. Abellha v. State of Kerala | 1989 | Affirmed right to health as part of Article 21 for medical negligence. |
| 85 | Consumer Unity & Trust Society v. State of Rajasthan | 1991 | Allowed private participation in telecom under licensing regime. |
| 86 | Delhi Science Forum v. Union of India | 1996 | Upheld TRAI’s regulatory powers in telecom liberalization. |
| 87 | Association of Registration Plates v. Union of India | 2005 | Mandated high-security plates for vehicles under MV Act. |
| 88 | Centre for Public Interest Litigation v. Union of India (2G Spectrum) | 2012 | Cancelled 122 2G licenses for arbitrariness, ordering auctions. |
| 89 | Manohar Lal Sharma v. Principal Secretary (Coal Scam) | 2014 | Declared coal block allocations illegal, mandating e-auctions. |
| 90 | Yashwant Sinha v. CBI (Rafale Deal) | 2019 | Dismissed PIL challenging Rafale purchase, affirming commercial confidentiality. |
| 91 | Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (Electoral Rolls) | 2023 | Transferred ECI appointment to a committee including CJI for neutrality. |
| 92 | K. Krishna Murthy v. Union of India | 2020 | Mandated state EC appointments by independent committees. |
| 93 | People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (VVPAT) | 2013 | Directed VVPAT implementation for verifiable voting. |
| 94 | Lily Thomas v. Union of India | 2013 | Disqualified convicted legislators immediately upon conviction. |
| 95 | Public Interest Foundation v. Union of India | 2018 | Capped political party office terms and mandated inner-party democracy. |
| 96 | National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India | 2014 | Recognized transgender as third gender with equal rights. |
| 97 | Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (Aadhaar) | 2018 | Upheld Aadhaar’s constitutionality with privacy safeguards. |
| 98 | Kaushambi Brickfield v. State of UP | 2017 | Protected child laborers’ rights under Article 24 and 21. |
| 99 | Entertainment Network v. Super Cassette | 2008 | Balanced copyright and broadcasting rights under fair use. |
| 100 | Shreya Singhal v. Union of India | 2015 | Struck down Section 66A IT Act for chilling free speech online. |
This list highlights cases that have profoundly influenced Indian law and society.
