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Where a private vehicle is searched in a public place on the basis of prior information received by the detecting officer, Section 43 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) is not attracted and compliance with Section 42 is mandatory, observed the High Court of Kerala in Sudin Babu v. State of Kerala [2026:KER:43659].

The doctrine of approbate and reprobate is a specific species of estoppel. The broader principle of estoppel prevents you from going back on what you have stated, while approbate and reprobate specifically prevents you from accepting the benefits of a transaction while simultaneously rejecting its burdens.

When a post is specifically intended for candidates possessing lower educational qualifications, allowing a person with higher qualifications to secure such employment would deprive a genuinely eligible and deserving candidate of the opportunity, the Supreme Court observed in General Manager (HR) & Anr v. K. Poovarasan [2026 INSC 581].

A claim for damages arising from malicious prosecution does not survive against the legal heirs of a defendant who dies during the pendency of the trial. Under the long-standing common law maxim actio personalis moritur cum persona (a personal right of action dies with the person), actions for personal torts—such as malicious prosecution and defamation—abate entirely upon the death of either the plaintiff or the defendant.

The Supreme Court, in Union of India v. Radha Kissen Agarwalla and Anr [1969 AIR 762] and in Union of India v. Jyoti Chit Fund & Finance [AIR 1976 SC 1163], consistently held that pension and provident fund amounts retain statutory protection only till they are actually paid to the employee, and that once received, they can be subjected to attachment.

In a suit for the partition of a joint property filed by one co-owner, the other co-owners, even if included as respondents, are entitled to their respective shares with no need to file a formal counterclaim.

In the landmark case of Nahalchand Laloochand v. Panchali Co-op Housing Society [2010 INSC 563], the Supreme Court ruled that open or stilt parking spaces are "common areas" intended for the use of all residents. Consequently, these spaces cannot be sold as independent units. In practice, these areas must be handed over to the housing society and shared among the apartment owners.

The Kerala High Court, in V.K. Thajudheen and Ors. v. State of Kerala and Ors [2025:KER:88675], directed the State government to pay Rs. 14 Lakhs compensation to a NRI man, Thajudheen, and his family after he was imprisoned for a period of 54 days in judicial custody based on false charge of chain snatching, causing much ignominy to them.

Retirement benefits, such as pension and gratuity, are attachable in maintenance proceedings, observed the High Court of Kerala in Rifa Fathima v Salim [2025:KER:84776].