TOP 25 LANDMARK CRIMINAL LAW JUDGMENTS (INDIA)

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πŸ”₯ TOP 25 LANDMARK CRIMINAL LAW JUDGMENTS (INDIA)

1. Nathulal v. State of M.P. (1966)

πŸ‘‰ Mens rea is essential for offence of criminal breach of trust.

2. State of Maharashtra v. Mohd. Yakub (1980)

πŸ‘‰ Attempt begins when preparation ends (Sec. 511 IPC).

3. Nathuni Yadav v. State of Bihar (1998)

πŸ‘‰ Distinction between culpable homicide and murder clarified.

4. Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab (1958)

πŸ‘‰ Classic test under Section 300 β€œThirdly” IPC.

5. State of A.P. v. Rayavarapu Punnayya (1976)

πŸ‘‰ Difference between Section 299 and 300 IPC explained.

6. Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980)

πŸ‘‰ β€œRare of rare” doctrine for death penalty.

7. Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab (1983)

πŸ‘‰ Guidelines for awarding death sentence.

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

πŸ‘‰ Procedure must be fair, just, and reasonable β€” impacts criminal due process.

9. Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979)

πŸ‘‰ Right to speedy trial is a fundamental right.

10. Nirbhaya Case – Mukesh v. State (NCT of Delhi) (2017)

πŸ‘‰ Collective conscience & death penalty reaffirmed.

πŸ” FIR, ARREST & INVESTIGATION

11. Lalita Kumari v. State of U.P. (2014)

πŸ‘‰ Mandatory registration of FIR under Section 154 CrPC.

12. Joginder Kumar v. State of U.P. (1994)

πŸ‘‰ Arrest is not mandatory in every cognizable offence.

13. D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997)

πŸ‘‰ Arrest guidelines to prevent custodial torture.

14. Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar (2014)

πŸ‘‰ No automatic arrest in offences punishable up to 7 years.

🧠 CONFESSION, EVIDENCE & TRIAL

15. Nandini Satpathy v. P.L. Dani (1978)

πŸ‘‰ Right against self-incrimination during police questioning.

16. Selvi v. State of Karnataka (2010)

πŸ‘‰ Narco-analysis, polygraph without consent unconstitutional.

17. State of U.P. v. Deoman Upadhyaya (1960)

πŸ‘‰ Discovery under Section 27 Evidence Act explained.

18. Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra (1984)

πŸ‘‰ Five golden principles of circumstantial evidence.

19. Kali Ram v. State of H.P. (1973)

πŸ‘‰ Benefit of doubt must go to the accused.

πŸ‘©β€βš–οΈ WOMEN & SPECIAL OFFENCES

20. Tukaram v. State of Maharashtra (Mathura Case) (1979)

πŸ‘‰ Led to amendment in rape laws.

21. State of Punjab v. Gurmit Singh (1996)

πŸ‘‰ In-camera trial mandatory in rape cases.

22. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997)

πŸ‘‰ Sexual harassment guidelines (criminal implications).

🧾 BAIL & PROCEDURE

23. Gudikanti Narasimhulu v. P.P. (1978)

πŸ‘‰ Bail is rule, jail is exception.

24. Sanjay Chandra v. CBI (2012)

πŸ‘‰ Pre-trial detention should not be punitive.

25. R v. Prince (1875)

πŸ‘‰ Mistake of fact vs mistake of law (Sec. 76–79 IPC).

πŸ“ EXAM TIP

If asked:

β€œDiscuss with case-law”
Always quote Virsa Singh, Sharad Birdhichand, Lalita Kumari, D.K. Basu, Bachan Singh β€” these are evergreen citations

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