Supreme Court of India: Courts should address all issues, not just one decisive point.

Supreme Court of India: Courts should address all issues, not just one decisive point.

In Hemlata Eknath Pise v. Shubham Bahu-uddeshiya Sanstha Waddhamna & Ors., the Supreme Court of India held that courts should ideally decide all issues raised by the parties, rather than disposing of a case on a single decisive point. The Bench of Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma found that the Bombay High Court erred by remanding the dispute to the Tribunal based only on a technical issue regarding the Secretary’s authority, while ignoring allegations of violation of natural justice during the disciplinary inquiry. The Court emphasized that addressing every substantive issue ensures clarity, fairness, and assists appellate review. Since the appellant had already reached superannuation, the dispute now mainly concerned back wages and retiral benefits. The Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s orders and remanded the writ petition for fresh adjudication on all merits within four months.