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Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 168 — Just Compensation — Award of compensation for prosthetic limb — No fixed guidelines for compensation amount — Courts can deviate from governmental notifications if they are too low — Emphasis on “restitutio in integrum” principle to restore the claimant as close as possible to their pre-injury state — Claimants are entitled to choose private centres for prosthetic limbs and renewal costs should be considered — Compensation can be awarded for periodic replacement and maintenance of prosthetic limbs. Dispute over cadre change versus mere transfer — A transfer is a change of posting within the same service without altering seniority or substantive status, differing from a cadre change which involves a structural shift between services with significant implications for seniority and promotional avenues, requiring specific authority. Evidence Act, 1872 — Eyewitness testimony vs. Medical evidence — In case of conflict, eyewitness testimony, especially of an injured witness who is found to be reliable and has withstood cross — examination, is generally superior to expert medical opinion formed by an expert witness — Lack of independent witnesses does not automatically compromise the prosecution case, especially when societal realities suggest potential fear or hesitation Protracted Government Inaction and Third — Party Rights — Despite an initial timeline of two months for an inquiry and subsequent hopes for completion within six months, the government showed significant delay, stretching over six years without a final decision — During this period, extensive third — party rights were created through land sales and construction of villas and flats by innocent purchasers — The Court observed that it’s inappropriate for a welfare state to attempt to undo decades — old transactions, especially when innocent citizens have invested their hard — earned money, and basic amenities should not be denied to occupants of constructed properties. Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 vs. Government Grants Act, 1895 — Relationship Governed by Grant — A lease originating from a Government grant, as governed by the Government Grants Act, 1895, is not subject to the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 — The incidence and enforceability of such a grant are governed solely by its tenor — The legal character of the grant does not derive from conventional landlord — tenant relationships but from the sovereign grant and its embedded conditions — Therefore, eviction proceedings under the Delhi Rent Control Act are not maintainable for holdings originating from a Government grant.

Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 – Section 2(d), 11, 13 and 18(a) – Payment to State Governments in lieu of royalty – State being person interested in the land shall be entitled to the compensation/rental over and the amount of royalty leviable/payable under Section 18(a) of the Act, 1957

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MAHANADI COALFIELDS LIMITED — Appellant Vs. STATE OF ODISHA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar, JJ. ) Civil…

Service Matters

Rajasthan Non-Governmental Educational Institutions Act, 1989 – Section 18 – Even in case of termination/removal of an employee of a recognized institution after holding departmental enquiry/proceedings prior approval of the Director of Education has to be obtained as per first proviso to Section 18 of the Act, 1989.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH GAJANAND SHARMA — Appellant Vs. ADARSH SIKSHA PARISAD SAMITI AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar, JJ. ) Civil…

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 – Section 34 – Filing of additional evidence – Exparte award – before the arbitral tribunal, such evidence was not there and nothing was on record on the amalgamation of the plots – High Court has not committed any error in permitting the respondents to file affidavits/additional evidence in the proceedings under section 34 of the Arbitration Act.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH M/S ALPINE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PRIVATE LIMITED — Appellant Vs. ASHOK S. DHARIWAL AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and C.T.…

Service Matters

Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 – Rule 54(14)(b) – Family pension – A son or daughter adopted by the widow of a deceased government servant, after the death of the government servant, could not be included within the definition of ‘family’ under Rule 54(14)(b) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, not entitled to family pension

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SHRI RAM SHRIDHAR CHIMURKAR — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna, JJ. )…

Wikipedia – note of caution against using such sources for legal dispute resolution – These sources, despite being a treasure trove of knowledge, are based on a crowdsourced and user generated editing model that is not completely dependable in terms of academic veracity and can promote misleading information as has been noted by this court on previous occasions also – Courts and adjudicating authorities should rather make an endeavor to persuade the counsels to place reliance on more reliable and authentic sources.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HEWLETT PACKARD INDIA SALES PVT. LTD. (NOW HP INDIA SALES PVT. LTD.) — Appellant Vs. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT), NHAVA SHEVA — Respondent (…

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