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Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 — Section 8(3) — Unauthorized alienation of minor’s property — Such alienation is voidable, not void ab initio, and can be challenged by the minor upon attaining majority or by someone claiming under the minor. Criminal Procedure — Delay in Investigation and Filing of Charge Sheet — Speedy Trial — Right to Speedy Trial and Timely Completion of Investigation are integral parts of Article 21 of the Constitution — Statutory recognition in CrPC for prompt investigation — Investigations should be completed within a reasonable time, not endlessly — Lack of strict timelines in CrPC does not permit indefinite investigations — Inordinate delay without adequate justification warrants intervention by Courts. Contract Law — Statutory Amendment — Impact on existing contracts — Where a statutory amendment alters a fundamental aspect like royalty rates, a pre-existing contract cannot prevent the application of the amended law, especially when the payment of royalty is linked to the removal or consumption of minerals — [MMDR Act] Applicability of S.9 — Scope — Section 9 applies broadly to all entities engaged in removal/dispatch of minerals, not only direct mining lessees. Criminal Procedure — Passport — Return/Surrender of Passport — Accused facing serious criminal charges — Right to travel abroad vis-à-vis right to speedy trial — Balance between individual liberty and societal interest — Accused charged with abetment of suicide and criminal conspiracy since 2014, trial still at stage of committal despite lapse of over ten years — Accused, a US citizen, had misused interim protection in prior proceedings to leave the country without Court’s leave — Whether High Court justified in permitting accused to travel abroad on grounds of medical treatment — Held, not justified — High Court indulgent rather than judicially restrained — Medical facilities in India comparable to those abroad — High Court’s revisional order set aside — Accused restrained from travelling abroad without express permission of Sessions Court — Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, S. 442 — Constitution of India, Art. 21 Service Law — Promotion — Entitlement to promotion to Chief Medical Director (Higher Administrative Grade) in Indian Railway Medical Service — Appellant was denied promotion despite being eligible, with a junior officer being promoted instead — Appellant’s case was rejected by the Tribunal and High Court based on her grading in Annual Confidential Reports

Under sub-section (1) of Section 75A of the Customs Act, where duty drawback is not paid within a period of three months from the date of filing of claim, the claimant would be entitled to interest in addition to the amount of drawback -Since there was belated refund of the duty drawback to the respondent, it was entitled to interest at the rate which was fixed by the Central Government at the relevant point of time being fifteen percent.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. M/S. B. T. PATIL AND SONS BELGAUM (CONSTRUCTION) PVT. LTD. — Respondent ( Before : Abhay…

Accused-appellant also providing for the day-to-day expenses of the victim and her child and therefore, further imprisonment will impact not only his family but also the victim’s – Ends of justice would be met if the period of imprisonment awarded against the accused-appellant is reduced to the period already undergone by him – Conviction u/s. u/S. 3(a) r/w Sec. 4 of the POCSO Act, 2012 is hereby confirmed – Sentence imposed by the Sessions Court and confirmed by the High Court is hereby modified and reduced to the period already undergone – Appeal allowed in part.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH RAJASEKAR — Appellant Vs. THE STATE REP. BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ.…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 323 and 325 – Grievous injury – Reduction of sentence – Taking into consideration the totality of circumstances, coupled with the fact that underlying incident occurred in 2010, the appeal is allowed in part and the Impugned Order is modified to the extent that the Appellants’ sentence is reduced to the period already undergone i.e., 1 (one) month; and 3 (three) days.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH ABDUL JABBAR — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF HARYANA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ. )…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 420, 498A and 506 – Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 – Sections 3 and 4 – Quashing of criminal proceedings – Phenomenon of false implication by way of general omnibus allegations in the course of matrimonial disputes is not unknown to this Court – A bare perusal of the complaint, statement of witnesses’ and the charge-sheet shows that the allegations against the Appellants are wholly general and omnibus in nature; even if they are taken in their entirety, they do not prima facie make out a case against the Appellants

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MAMIDI ANIL KUMAR REDDY — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and Satish Chandra…

Service Matters

Gujarat Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2022 – Rule 25 – Pension – It is well settled that pension scheme(s) floated by the State Government form a part of delegated beneficial legislation; and ought to be interpreted widely subject to such interpretation not running contrary to the express provisions of the Pension Rules – Furthermore, it would be relevant to underscore that the State Government is a model employer; and ought to uphold principles of fairness and clarity.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH VINOD KANJIBHAI BHAGORA — Appellant Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ. )…

Service Matters

Jharkhand Superior Judicial Service (Recruitment, Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2001 – Rules 11, 14 and 30 – Judicial Service – Change of Selection criteria – Selection process of District Judge Cadre – Part of the Full Court Resolution of the Jharkhand High Court dated 23.03.2023 by which it was decided that only those candidates who have secured at least 50% marks in aggregate shall be qualified for appointment to the post of District Judge is quashed – Writ petitions allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SUSHIL KUMAR PANDEY AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Aniruddha Bose and Sanjay…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Section 302 IPC read with Section 149 – Murder – Unlawful Assembly with Common Object – An overt act of some of the accused persons of an unlawful assembly with the common object to kill the deceased and to cause grievous hurt to the other family members is enough to rope in all of them for an offence under Section 302 IPC in aid with Section 149 IPC

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HAALESH @ HALESHI @ KURUBARA HALESHI — Appellant Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA — Respondent ( Before : Abhay S. Oka and Pankaj Mithal, JJ.…

Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002 – Rule 9(5) – Contract Act, 1872 – Sections 73 and 74 – Forfeiture of earnest-money deposit by the secured creditor – Constitutional validity of Rule 9(5) of the SARFAESI Rules is upheld – Any dilution of the forfeiture provided under Rule 9(5) of the SARFAESI Rules would result in the entire auction process under the SARFAESI Act being set at naught by mischievous auction purchaser(s) through sham bids, thereby undermining the overall object of the SARFAESI Act of promoting financial stability, reducing NPAs and fostering a more efficient and streamlined mechanism for recovery of bad debts

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH THE AUTHORISED OFFICER, CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA — Appellant Vs. SHANMUGAVELU — Respondent ( Before : Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, CJI., J.B. Pardiwala and…

Environmental Rule of Law – The importance of ensuring the effective functioning of these environmental bodies as this is imperative for the protection, restitution, and development of the ecology – The role of the constitutional courts is therefore to monitor the proper institutionalisation of environmental regulatory bodies and authorities

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH IN RE: T.N. GODAVARMAN THIRUMULPAD — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : B.R. Gavai, Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 482 – Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 409, 467, 468, 471 and 420 – Quashing of FIR – Misuse of Power of Attorney -The dispute, if any, is between the land-owners/principals inter-se and/or between them and the PoA-holder – It would be improper to drag the appellant into criminal litigation, when he had no role either in the execution of the PoA nor any misdeed by the PoA-holder vis-a-vis the land-owners/principals – Moreover, the entire consideration amount has been paid by the appellant to the PoA-holder

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH BHARAT SHER SINGH KALSIA — Appellant Vs. STATE OF BIHAR AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, JJ. )…

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