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.
Service Matters

Power of judicial review in the matters of disciplinary inquiries, exercised by the departmental/appellate authorities discharged by constitutional courts under Article 226 or Article 136 of the Constitution of India is well circumscribed by limits of correcting errors of law or procedural errors leading to manifest injustice or violation of principles of natural justice.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH REGIONAL MANAGER, UCO BANK AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. KRISHNA KUMAR BHARDWAJ — Respondent ( Before : Ajay Rastogi and Abhay S. Oka, JJ.…

Specific Relief Act, 1963 – Sections 21, 21(4) and 21(5) – Claim for damages in lieu of specific performance of contract – Appellant did not claim any relief for damages – Even in the appeal filed by the Appellant, no relief for damages was claimed by the Appellants – Appellant not entitled for damages – Appeal dismissed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH UNIVERSAL PETRO CHEMICALS LIMITED — Appellant Vs. B. P. PLC AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai, JJ.…

Service Matters

Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010 – Regulations 6, 7 and 116 -Exemption from the applicability of Regulation 6 & 7 of the Safety Regulations by the order dated 13.02.2019 can be granted only in favour of persons who were employed with the KSEBL on the date of the formulation of the transfer scheme and such of those employees who have joined service after 31.10.2013 were not entitled to such an exemption.

Vs. STATE OF KERALA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai, JJ. ) Civil Appeal Nos. 1498-1500 of 2022 (Arising out of SLP (Civil)…

Service Matters

Service Law – Promotion – considering Rule 14, it can be seen that the bar was against teachers who have obtained B.A./B.Sc./B.Ed degree simultaneously during the same academic year – In the present case it cannot be said that the appellant obtained the degree of B.A. (English) and M.A. (Tamil) during the same academic year

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH A. DHARMARAJ — Appellant Vs. THE CHIEF EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, PUDUKKOTTAI AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M. R. Shah and B. V. Nagarathna,…

Re-auction – re-auction of the entire properties by fixing the upset price higher than what has been fixed earlier, the auction purchaser who purchased the property in the year 1998- Valuation as on the date of auction is the relevant consideration and not the value after so many years

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH K. KUMARA GUPTA — Appellant Vs. SRI MARKENDAYA AND SRI OMKARESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and B.V.…

Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 15(1) and 19(1)(g) – Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 – Section 33(1)(w)(i) and 33(w)(ii) and 162(1) – Licensing and Performance for Public Amusement including Cabaret Performance, Melas and Tamashas Rules, 1960 – Rules 108A, 109, 118, 207 and 209- Condition limiting female performers in bars – Restriction directly transgresses Article 15(1) and Article 19(1)(g)-

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HOTEL PRIYA, A PROPRIETORSHIP — Appellant Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : K.M. Joseph and S. Ravindra Bhat,…

Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules,1989 – Rule 174(2)(c) – Under Rule 174(2)(c) of Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules,1989 – discretion will have to be exercised reasonably, fairly as the facts and circumstance would clearly demonstrate – For instance, where the vehicle sought to be substituted is marginally and inconsequentially older than the vehicle covered under the permit, the Authority may perhaps be justified in permitting such an application

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. SHAJU ETC. — Respondent ( Before : K.M. Joseph and Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, JJ. ) Civil…

You missed