"What a tangled web we weave"

In Pragya Singh vs. Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board through its Directors (2025), Delhi High Court's Division Bench of Justices C. Hari Shankar and Anoop Kumar Mendiratta was constrained to recall words from Sir Walter Scott's poem, ‘Marmion’ saying, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave; When first we practice to deceive”. 

The Court examined whether Pragya Singh, the petitioner submitted one application form or two application forms. In case she submitted two application forms, the matter must rest there, she could not have submitted two application  forms and approached the Tribunal, or even the High Court to seek relief.

After examining the entire record, and the course of proceedings before the Tribunal and before the HighCourt, it observed: "we are of the view that the entire petition must fail on the basis of the averments contained in a single paragraph of the petition which, we are painfully constrained to observe, discloses that the petitioner has, throughout, been guilty of suppression and misstatement."

The judgement was authored by Justice C. Hari Shankar.