Complete Revised List of 86 Leading Cases for AOR Exam Paper IV (2025):

Educational Guide & Strategic Study Plan

The Advocate-on-Record (AOR) examination conducted by the Supreme Court of India is a gateway to practising before the apex court. Paper IV – Leading Cases – carries 100 marks and tests your ability to identify, analyse, and apply landmark principles from 86 prescribed cases.

The Supreme Court revised and expanded this list to 86 cases through its official notification dated 9 April 2025 (Annexure ‘B’). These cases cover constitutional law, criminal law, civil procedure, arbitration, professional ethics, and more.

This educational article, prepared by Vikas Pandey (Advocate, Supreme Court of India), provides the complete official list of all 86 leading cases with cause titles and citations.

It also includes a practical study strategy, high-frequency topics, and preparation tips to help aspirants master this voluminous yet scoring paper.

Why Paper IV (Leading Cases) is Crucial for AOR Success

  • Questions test identification of the case from facts, the ratio decidendi, distinguishing features, and application to hypothetical scenarios.
  • Headnotes of all 86 cases are supplied in the examination hall (Volumes I, II & III – available on the Supreme Court website). You must return them after the exam.
  • Many principles from these cases overlap with Paper I (Practice & Procedure) and Paper III (Advocacy & Ethics).
  • Newly added cases (S.No. 65–86, w.e.f. 08.04.2025) are high-priority for 2025 attempts.

How to Study the 86 Leading Cases – Proven Educational Strategy

  1. Group by Subject (not chronological): Constitutional, Criminal, Civil/Procedural, Arbitration, PIL/Environmental, Professional Ethics, etc.
  2. Prepare One-Page Notes for each case:
    • Name & Citation
    • Key Facts
    • Issue(s)
    • Ratio Decidendi
    • Principle Established
    • Application/Overruling (if any)
  3. Link to Provisions: Connect each case to Articles/Rules tested in Paper I.
  4. Practice Application: Solve previous-year questions and create your own fact scenarios.
  5. Revision Cycle: Read all 86 once → Short notes → Mock tests → Final revision 3 weeks before exam.
  6. Resources: Official Volumes I, II & III (headnotes) + Supreme Court website PDFs.

Complete Revised List of 86 Leading Cases (Official – Notification 09.04.2025)

  1. His Holiness Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalavaru v. State of Kerala [1973] Suppl. SCR 1; (1973) 4 SCC 225
  2. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India [1978] 2 SCR 621; (1978) 1 SCC 248
  3. Minerva Mills Ltd. & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [1981] 1 SCR 206; (1980) 3 SCC 625
  4. Sharad Birdhi Chand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra [1985] 1 SCR 88; (1984) 4 SCC 116
  5. A.R. Antulay v. R.S. Nayak & Anr. [1988] 1 Suppl. SCR 1; (1988) 2 SCC 602
  6. Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu and Others [1992] 1 SCR 686; (1992) Supp 2 SCC 651
  7. Indra Sawhney and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors. [1992] 2 Suppl. SCR 454; 1992 Supp (3) SCC 217
  8. S.R. Bommai and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors. [1994] 2 SCR 644; (1994) 3 SCC 1
  9. L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India and Others [1994] 6 Suppl. SCR 261; (1995) 1 SCC 400
  10. Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India and Ors. [1996] 5 Suppl. SCR 241; (1996) 5 SCC 647
  11. D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal [1996] 10 Suppl. SCR 284; (1997) 1 SCC 416
  12. Mafatlal Industries Ltd. v. Union of India [1996] 10 Suppl. SCR 585; (1997) 5 SCC 536
  13. Vishaka and Ors. v. State of Rajasthan and Ors. [1997] 3 Suppl. SCR 404; (1997) 6 SCC 241
  14. Githa Hariharan and Anr. v. Reserve Bank of India and Anr. [1999] 1 SCR 669; (1999) 2 SCC 228
  15. Rupa Ashok Hurra v. Ashok Hurra and Anr. [2002] 2 SCR 1006; (2002) 4 SCC 388
  16. Pradeep Kumar Biswas and Ors. v. Indian Institute of Chemical Biology and Ors. [2002] 3 SCR 100; (2002) 5 SCC 111
  17. P. Rama Chandra Rao v. State of Karnataka [2002] 3 SCR 60; (2002) 4 SCC 578
  18. T.M.A. Pai Foundation and Ors. v. State of Karnataka and Ors. [2002] 3 Suppl. SCR 587; (2002) 8 SCC 481
  19. P.A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra (2004) 8 SCC 139
  20. Technip SA v. SMS Holding (Pvt.) Ltd. & Ors. [2005] 1 Suppl. SCR 223; (2005) 5 SCC 465
  21. M/s. S.B.P. and Co. v. M/s. Patel Engineering Ltd. and Anr. [2005] 4 Suppl. SCR 688; (2005) 8 SCC 618
  22. Rameshwar Prasad & Ors. v. Union of India and Anr. [2006] 1 SCR 562; (2006) 2 SCC 1
  23. I.R. Coelho (Dead) By LRs. v. State of Tamil Nadu [2007] 1 SCR 706; (2007) 2 SCC 1
  24. Common Cause (A Regd. Society) v. Union of India & Ors. [2008] 6 SCR 262; (2008) 5 SCC 511
  25. State of West Bengal & Ors. v. The Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights, West Bengal & Ors. [2010] 2 SCR 979; (2010) 3 SCC 571
  26. Smt. Selvi & Ors. v. State of Karnataka [2010] 5 SCR 381; (2010) 7 SCC 263
  27. Re: Special Reference No. 1 of 2012 [Under Article 143(1)] [2012] 9 SCR 311; (2012) 10 SCC 1
  28. Republic of Italy and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors. [2013] 4 SCR 595; (2013) 4 SCC 721
  29. Novartis AG v. Union of India & Others [2013] 13 SCR 148; (2013) 6 SCC 1
  30. Dr. Balram Prasad v. Dr. Kunal Saha & Ors. [2013] 12 SCR 30; (2014) 1 SCC 384
  31. Lalita Kumari v. Govt. of U.P. and Ors. [2013] 14 SCR 713; (2014) 2 SCC 1
  32. National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India and Others [2014] 5 SCR 119; (2014) 5 SCC 438
  33. Pramati Educational & Cultural Trust ® & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [2014] 11 SCR 712; (2014) 8 SCC 1
  34. M/s. Kailash Nath Associates v. Delhi Development Authority & Anr. [2015] 1 SCR 627; (2015) 4 SCC 136
  35. Shreya Singhal v. Union of India [2015] 5 SCR 963; (2015) 5 SCC 1
  36. Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association and Another v. Union of India [2015] 13 SCR 1; 2016 (5) SCC 1
  37. Union of India v. V. Sriharan @ Murugan & Ors. [2015] 14 SCR 613; 2016 (7) SCC 1
  38. Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited v. EMCO Limited & Others [2016] 1 SCR 857; (2016) 11 SCC 182
  39. Mukesh & Anr. v. State for NCT of Delhi & Ors. [2017] 6 SCR 1; (2017) 6 SCC 1
  40. Excel Crop Care Limited v. Competition Commission of India and Another [2017] 5 SCR 901; (2017) 8 SCC 47
  41. Common Cause v. Union of India and Ors. [2017] 13 SCR 361; (2017) 9 SCC 499
  42. Shayara Bano v. Union of India and Others [2017] 9 SCR 797; (2017) 9 SCC 1
  43. Justice K S Puttaswamy (Retd.) and Anr. v. Union of India and Ors. [2017] 10 SCR 569; (2017) 10 SCC 1
  44. Common Cause (A Regd. Society) v. Union of India & Another [2018] 6 SCR 1; 2018 (5) SCC 1
  45. Municipal Corporation, Ujjain and Anr. v. BVG India Limited and Ors. [2018] 6 SCR 861; [2018 (5) SCC 462]
  46. Shakti Vahini v. Union of India & Others [2018] 3 SCR 770; (2018) 7 SCC 192
  47. Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. v. Union of India [2018] 7 SCR 379; (2018) 10 SCC 1
  48. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. [2018] 8 SCR 1; (2019) 1 SCC 1
  49. Jarnail Singh & Others v. Lachhmi Narain Gupta & Others [2018] 10 SCR 663; (2018) 10 SCC 396
  50. Joseph Shine v. Union of India [2018] 11 SCR 765; (2019) 3 SCC 39
  51. Competition Commission of India v. Bharti Airtel Limited and Others [2018] 14 SCR 489; (2019) 2 SCC 521
  52. Swiss Ribbons Pvt. Ltd. & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. [2019] 3 SCR 535; (2019) 4 SCC 17
  53. Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. v. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) [2019] 7 SCR 522; 2019 (15) SCC 131
  54. Dr. Ashwani Kumar v. Union of India and Another [2019] 12 SCR 30; 2019 SCC Online SC 1144
  55. Rojer Mathew v. South Indian Bank Limited and Ors. [2019] 16 S.C.R. 1; (2020) 6 SCC 1
  56. Central Public Information Officer Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal [2019] 16 S.C.R. 424; (2020) 5 SCC 481
  57. Committee of Creditors of Essar Steel India Limited v. Satish Kumar Gupta and Others [2019] 16 S.C.R. 275; (2020) 8 SCC 531
  58. M/s Shanti Conductors Private Limited v. Assam State Electricity Board and Others [2019] 16 S.C.R. 252; (2020) 2 SCC 677
  59. Keisham Meghachandra Singh v. The Hon’ble Speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly & Ors. [2020] 2 S.C.R. 132; 2020 (2) SCALE 329
  60. Sushila Aggarwal and Others v. State (NCT of Delhi) and Another [2020] 2 S.C.R. 1; (2020) 5 SCC 1
  61. Dheeraj Mor v. Hon’ble High Court of Delhi [2020] 2 S.C.R. 161; (2020) 7 SCC 401
  62. Internet and Mobile Association of India v. Reserve Bank of India [2020] 2 S.C.R. 297; (2020) 10 SCC 274
  63. Indore Development Authority v. Manoharlal and Others [2020] 3 S.C.R. 1; (2020) 8 SCC 129
  64. Madras Bar Association v. Union of India & Anr. [2020] 2 S.C.R. 246; 2020 (13) SCALE 443
  65. Nandini Sundar v. State of Chhattisgarh [2011] 8 SCR 1028; (2011) 7 SCC 547 (Newly Added)
  66. Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar [2014] 8 S.C.R. 128; (2014) 8 SCC 273 (Newly Added)
  67. Abhiram Singh v. C.D. Commachen [2017] 1 S.C.R. 158; (2017) 2 SCC 629 (Newly Added)
  68. Neeraj Dutta v. State (NCT of Delhi) [2022] 5 SCR 104; (2023) 4 SCC 731 (Newly Added)
  69. Sukhpal Singh Khaira v. State of Punjab [2022] 10 S.C.R. 156; (2023) 1 SCC 289 (Newly Added)
  70. Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI [2022] 10 S.C.R. 351; (2022) 10 SCC 51 (Newly Added)
  71. Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India [2022] 14 S.C.R. 1; (2023) 5 SCC 1 (Newly Added)
  72. Shilpa Sailesh v. Varun Sreenivasan [2023] 5 S.C.R. 165; (2023) 14 SCC 231 (Newly Added)
  73. Kaushal Kishor v. State of U.P. [2023] 8 S.C.R. 581; (2023) 4 SCC 1 (Newly Added)
  74. Subhash Desai v. State of Maharashtra [2023] 8 S.C.R. 857; (2024) 2 SCC 719 (Newly Added)
  75. Cox & Kings Ltd. v. SAP India (P) Ltd. [2023] 15 S.C.R. 621; (2024) 4 SCC 1 (Newly Added)
  76. Interplay B/w Arbitration Agreements under Arbitration Act, 1996 & Stamp Act, 1899, In re [2023] 15 S.C.R. 1081; (2024) 6 SCC 1 (Newly Added)
  77. Article 370 of the Constitution, In re [2023] 16 S.C.R. 1; 2023 SCC OnLine SC 1647 (Newly Added)
  78. Assn. for Democratic Reforms (Electoral Bond Scheme) v. Union of India [2024] 2 S.C.R. 420; (2024) 5 SCC 1 (Newly Added)
  79. Kavita Kamboj v. High Court of Punjab & Haryana [2024] 2 S.C.R. 1136; (2024) 7 SCC 103 (Newly Added)
  80. Sita Soren v. Union of India [2024] 3 S.C.R. 462; (2024) 5 SCC 629 (Newly Added)
  81. State (NCT of Delhi) v. BSK Realtors LLP [2024] 5 S.C.R. 1159; (2024) 7 SCC 370 (Newly Added)
  82. Mineral Area Development Authority v. SAIL [2024] 7 S.C.R. 1549; (2024) 10 SCC 1 (Newly Added)
  83. State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh [2024] 8 S.C.R. 1321; (2025) 1 SCC 1 (Newly Added)
  84. Aligarh Muslim University v. Naresh Agarwal 2024 SCC OnLine SC 3213 (Newly Added)
  85. Property Owners Association & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. [2024] 11 S.C.R. 1; 2024 SCC OnLine SC 3122 (Newly Added)
  86. Tej Prakash Pathak v. High Court of Rajasthan [2024] 12 S.C.R. 28; (2025) 2 SCC 1 (Newly Added)

High-Frequency & Must-Know Cases (Based on Past Patterns)

  • Constitutional: Kesavananda Bharati, Maneka Gandhi, Minerva Mills, S.R. Bommai, Puttaswamy, Article 370 Reference
  • Criminal/Procedural: Lalita Kumari, Arnesh Kumar, Satender Kumar Antil, D.K. Basu
  • PIL/Environmental: Vishaka, Vellore Citizens, Nandini Sundar
  • Recent/Contemporary: Electoral Bonds, Electoral Bond Scheme, Shilpa Sailesh (divorce), Interplay (Arbitration & Stamp Act)

Strategic Timeline for Mastering 86 Cases

  • Months 1–2: Read all cases + make subject-wise notes (focus on 1–64 first).
  • Months 3–4: Revise newly added cases (65–86) + link to Paper I topics.
  • Last 6 Weeks: 3 full revisions + solve past papers + mock application questions.

Download Official Resources

  • Notification & Annexure B (09.04.2025): Supreme Court website
  • Volume I, II & III (Headnotes): Available under AOR Examination section at www.sci.gov.in/aor-examination/

The 86 leading cases are not just a syllabus — they are the bedrock of Indian jurisprudence. Master them with structured notes, repeated revision, and practical application, and Paper IV will become your highest-scoring paper.

For personalised coaching, detailed case summaries, mock tests, and one-on-one mentorship on the AOR Exam (including the 86 leading cases), visit Vikas Pandey, Advocate, Supreme Court of India at www.vikaspandey.co.in.

This article is based on the official Supreme Court of India notification and resources available at www.vikaspandey.co.in.

Vikas Pandey Advocate, Supreme Court of India www.vikaspandey.co.in