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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.

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Section 302 – Murder by giving poisoning – Reports of Chemical Examiner – Samples were not handed over to the Assistant Chemical Examiner who had to conduct the analysis in a sealed form – Cutting, and a fresh note regarding parcels being open also creates a doubt – Chances of tampering with the samples could not be ruled out – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISON BENCH RAJBIR SINGH — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF PUNJAB — Respondent ( Before : Hemant Gupta and Vikram Nath, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No.…

Service Matters

Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 226 – Power of High Courts to issue certain writs the actions or decisions taken solely within the confines of an ordinary contract of service, having no statutory force or – backing, cannot be recognised as being amenable to challenge under Article 226 of the Constitution

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISON BENCH ST. MARY’S EDUCATION SOCIETY AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. RAJENDRA PRASAD BHARGAVA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Aniruddha Bose and J.B. Pardiwala,…

Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act 1999 – Section 2(1)(d) – Illegal gambling – Organized crime – It is settled law that more than one charge sheet is required to be filed in respect of the organized crime syndicate and not in respect of each person who is alleged to be a member of such a syndicate.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISON BENCH ZAKIR ABDUL MIRAJKAR — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant,…

Power Purchase Agreement – Compounded interest – Change in Law – Adani Power is justified in stating that if the banks have charged it interest on monthly rest basis for giving loans to purchase the FGD, any restitution will be incomplete, if it is not fully compensated for the interest paid by it to the banks on compounding basis

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH UTTAR HARYANA BIJLI VITRAN NIGAM LTD. AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. ADANI POWER (MUNDRA) LIMITED AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : N.V. Ramana,…

Specific performance – There is no doubt that the claim of purchaser is hit by delay and laches on their part as they did not take appropriate measures within the stipulated time and filing of the suit was delayed by almost five years – It is not an appropriate case for granting relief to the purchaser in terms of Section 12 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 as the claim of the purchaser is barred by delay, laches and limitation.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH SMT. KATTA SUJATHA REDDY AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. SIDDAMSETTY INFRA PROJECTS PVT. LTD.AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : N.V. Ramana, CJI., Krishna…

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