Breaking Legal Update: Supreme Court Closes Chapter on Historic Bofors Payoff Case
New Delhi · Friday, 21 August 2026 9888666310 | [email protected]
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Supreme Court of India 2019-01-07 allowed

Sushil Thomas Abraham vs Skyline Build. Thr. Its Partner & Ors

Bench: 2 — Abhay Manohar Sapre

In Brief

This case concerns the rights of an indigent person to pursue an appeal without paying court fees. The appellant sued for recovery of money but was denied permission to file as an "indigent person" due to insufficient means. When appealing the judgment, he again sought indigent status. The High Court rejected this, relying on the earlier refusal. The Supreme Court held that an earlier rejection does not bar a later application at the appellate stage. The Court must conduct a fresh inquiry to determine if the person has become or remains indigent since the decree date, regardless of prior findings. The judgment was set aside and remanded for proper inquiry.

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Civil Procedure Indigent Persons Court Fees Appellate Practice Access to Justice

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