Latest Post

National Highways Act, 1956 — Amendments and compensation provisions — Section 3-J introduced in 1997 removed applicability of Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1894 Act) provisions for solatium and interest — Overturned by various High Courts, including reading down Sections 3-G and 3-J to grant solatium and interest — Subsequently, Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (2013 Act) and its amended provisions extended to NH Act — Court clarified that landowners acquired lands under NH Act between 1997 and 2015 are entitled to solatium and interest — Review Petition filed by NHAI arguing financial burden was underestimated rejected, but clarification on delayed claims issued. Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Order 21 Rule 102 — Applicability — Provision contemplates a situation where a judgment debtor transfers property after institution of suit to a person who then obstructs execution — Not applicable where respondents derived title from independent registered sale deeds, not from the judgment debtor. Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — Section 28-A — Re-determination of compensation — Second application for re-determination based on High Court award maintainable even after accepting compensation based on Reference Court award — Principle of merger means appellate court’s award supersedes earlier award, entitling landowners to benefit from higher compensation — Object of Section 28-A is to ensure equality in compensation among similarly placed landowners. Electricity Act, 2003 — Section 61, 86 — Tariff determination and Generation Based Incentive (GBI) — State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has exclusive power to determine tariff — Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced GBI to incentivise renewable energy generation — GBI is intended to be over and above the tariff fixed by SERC — SERC must consider GBI while determining tariff, but not necessarily deduct it — SERC’s power to determine tariff includes considering incentives — Parliament’s allocation of funds for GBI does not prevent SERC from considering it in tariff — SERC must exercise its power harmoniously with other stakeholders to achieve policy objectives. Contract Law — Award of Tender — Judicial Review — High Court should exercise restraint when reviewing tender evaluation processes, especially in technical matters, unless there is clear evidence of mala fide, arbitrariness, or irrationality — A marginal difference in scores, as seen in this case, does not automatically warrant interference, especially when the owner has the right to accept or reject bids and the contract is already underway.

Contract Act, 1872 – Section 65 – Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 – Section 18 – Refund of Entry Fee – If the party claiming restitution was equally or more responsible for the illegality (in comparison to the defendant), there shall be no cause for restitution

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH LOOP TELECOM AND TRADING LIMITED — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, Surya Kant…

Service Matters

No order as to Claim of salary etc – This gives a clear indication that upon an order being passed by the appellate authority finding the termination of employee to be illegal and leaves it there, it would not ipso facto inevitably follow that the employee will become entitled to claim the salary for the entire period consequent upon his being found to be entitled to reinstatement.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SUKHDARSHAN SINGH — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : K.M. Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy, JJ. ) Civil…

University Grants Commission Act, 1956 – Issuance of writ of quo warranto to set aside the appointment of Vice Chancellor – Therefore, any appointment as a Vice Chancellor contrary to the provisions of the UGC Regulations can be said to be in violation of the statutory provisions, warranting a writ of quo warranto – This is a fit case to issue a writ of quo warranto and to quash and set aside the appointment of Vice Chancellor.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH GAMBHIRDAN K GADHVI — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF GUJARAT AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and B.V. Nagarathna, JJ. )…

HELD instead of relegating the original applicants to approach the NCLT/Adjudicating Authority by moving an application under Section 12A of the IBC – This is a fit case to exercise powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India as the settlement arrived at between the home buyers and the appellant and corporate debtor –company shall be in the larger interest of the home buyers

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH AMIT KATYAL — Appellant Vs. MEERA AHUJA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and B.V. Nagarathna, JJ. ) Civil Appeal No.…

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Section 36A – Direction of stoppage of mining activity in the vicinity of the elephant corridor – Dispute can be resolved by giving a direction to the State Government to implement the Comprehensive Wildlife Management Plan and complete the process of declaration of the traditional elephant corridor as conservation reserve as provided in Section 36A of the Act

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH BINAY KUMAR DALEI AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. STATE OF ODISHA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai,…

Punjab Package Deal Properties (Disposal) Act, 1976 – Sections 10, 15(1) and 18 – Public Auction – Setting aside of auction sale – not open for the High Court to sit like a Court of Appeal over the decision of the competent authority and particularly in the matters where the authority competent of floating the tender is the best judge of its requirements, therefore, the interference otherwise has to be very minimal

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. MEHAR DIN — Respondent ( Before : Ajay Rastogi and Abhay S. Oka, JJ. ) Civil…

SARFAESI – Section 14(1A) – Taking of Possession of Secured Assets and Documents – Held, An advocate is and must be regarded as an officer of the court and subordinate to the CMM/DM for the purposes of Section 14(1A) of the 2002 Act – It is open to the District Magistrate (DM) or the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) to appoint an advocate and authorise him/her to take possession of the secured assets and documents relating thereto

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH NKGSB COOPERATIVE BANK LIMITED — Appellant Vs. SUBIR CHAKRAVARTY AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and C.T. Ravikumar, JJ. ) Civil…

You missed