🏛️ TOP 25 LANDMARK CIVIL LAW JUDGMENTS (INDIA)

(CPC · Contract · TPA · Limitation · Jurisdiction · Natural Justice)

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🟥 CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE (CPC)

1. Manohar Lal Chopra v. Seth Hiralal (1962)

👉 Courts have inherent power to grant injunction under Section 151 CPC.

2. Salem Advocate Bar Association v. Union of India (2005)

👉 Case management & procedural discipline under CPC amendments upheld.

3. Arjun Singh v. Mohindra Kumar (1964)

👉 Distinction between interlocutory orders and final orders.

4. Kiran Singh v. Chaman Paswan (1954)

👉 Decree passed without jurisdiction is a nullity.

5. Satyadhyan Ghosal v. Deorajin Debi (1960)

👉 Doctrine of res judicata applies at different stages of same proceedings.

6. Bhanu Kumar Jain v. Archana Kumar (2005)

👉 Res judicata applies even to ex-parte decrees.

7. Ramesh Chand Ardawatiya v. Anil Panjwani (2003)

👉 Even in ex-parte cases, plaintiff must prove case.

8. Gurbux Singh v. Bhooralal (1964)

👉 Order 2 Rule 2 CPC – all reliefs must be claimed in one suit.

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🟦 JURISDICTION & NATURAL JUSTICE

9. Dhulabhai v. State of M.P. (1968)

👉 Tests for exclusion of civil court jurisdiction.

10. A.K. Kraipak v. Union of India (1969)

👉 Principles of natural justice apply to administrative actions.

11. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)

👉 Procedure must be fair, just and reasonable (civil implications).

12. State of Orissa v. Binapani Dei (1967)

👉 Even administrative orders affecting rights require natural justice.

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🟩 CONTRACT LAW

13. Hadley v. Baxendale (1854)

👉 Rule of remoteness of damages.

14. Mohori Bibee v. Dharmodas Ghose (1903)

👉 Minor’s agreement is void ab initio.

15. Central Inland Water Transport v. Brojo Nath (1986)

👉 Unconscionable contracts void as opposed to public policy.

16. Balfour v. Balfour (1919)

👉 Domestic agreements lack intention to create legal relations.

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🟨 TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT

17. Narandas Karsondas v. S.A. Kamtam (1977)

👉 Agreement to sell does not create any interest in property.

18. Suraj Lamp v. State of Haryana (2012)

👉 GPA sale does not convey title.

19. Ram Baran Prasad v. Ram Mohit Hazra (1967)

👉 Nature of co-owner’s rights clarified.

20. Nathu Lal v. Phool Chand (1970)

👉 Conditions for part performance under Section 53A TPA.

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🟪 LIMITATION & DECLARATORY RELIEFS

21. Khatri Hotels v. Union of India (2011)

👉 Limitation starts when right to sue accrues.

22. Prem Singh v. Birbal (2006)

👉 Void documents can be challenged at any time.

23. Anathula Sudhakar v. P. Buchi Reddy (2008)

👉 When to file suit for injunction vs declaration.

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🟧 EVIDENCE & CIVIL TRIAL PRINCIPLES

24. Rangammal v. Kuppuswami (2011)

👉 Burden of proof lies on party asserting fact.

25. Vidhyadhar v. Manikrao (1999)

👉 Adverse inference when party avoids witness box.

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🎯 INTERVIEW USE TIP

If panel asks:

“Explain with case-law”

Use this format:

Legal Principle → One Supreme Court case → Practical implication

Example:

“Jurisdictional defect renders decree nullity, as held in Kiran Singh v. Chaman Paswan