#landmarkjudgment

In The General Secretary, Vivekananda Kendra v. Pradeep Kumar Agarwalla & Others, reported as 2026 INSC 199, decided on 26 February 2026, the Supreme Court of India, comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti, set aside the Judgment of the Orissa High Court and restored the concurrent findings of the Trial Court and First Appellate Court. The core issue before the Court was whether a registered 99-year document styled as a “lease deed” created a lease or merely a licence. Answering decisively in favour of the Appellant, the Court held that the document satisfied all the essential attributes of a lease under Section 105 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, and that unilateral cancellation by the lessor was illegal.

In Israr Ahmad Khan v. Amarnath Prasad & Ors. and Md. Hanif v. Amarnath Prasad & Ors., 2026 INSC 209, decided on 24 February 2026, the Supreme Court of India, comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan, delivered a significant Judgment on the scope of contempt jurisdiction and the duty of authorities to comply with judicial orders.