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Constitution of India, 1950 — Art. 16 and 226 — Public Employment — Direct Recruitment — Eligibility Criteria — Workshop Experience — Pendency of workshop renewal applications — Effect on candidates — Where a recruitment notification mandates a minimum of one year of experience in a Government-approved workshop, candidates cannot be prejudiced or disqualified merely because the workshop’s application for renewal of approval was pending with the State authorities during the period they gained experience — Depriving an otherwise eligible candidate of employment due to an administrative “period of eclipse” or delay on the part of state machinery is arbitrary and discriminatory–Ashok Kumar Yadav v. State of Haryana, 1985 INSC 137, relied on; State of Uttar Pradesh v. Atul Kumar Dwivedi, 2022 INSC 24, Distinguished. Right to Information Act, 2005 — S. 24(4) — Madhya Pradesh Special Police Establishment Act, 1947 — S. 2(1), S. 3 — “Intelligence and Security Organisation” — Scope and Applicability of Exemption — Jurisdiction of Special Police Establishment (SPE) — The expression “intelligence and security organisations” under Section 24 of the RTI Act implies that the concerned entity must be statutory or institutionally empowered to handle matters of intelligence and national/state security — The Special Police Establishment (SPE) of Madhya Pradesh, established under Section 2(1) of the Act of 1947, is clothed with a limited jurisdiction restricted strictly to investigating offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and select economic/fraud offenses under Sections 409, 420, and Chapter XVIII of the Indian Penal Code — Because neither the Lokayukt nor the SPE handles matters connected to general ‘intelligence’ and ‘security’, the SPE cannot be deemed an “intelligence and security organisation” under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act — Principle of institutional parity cannot be invoked to grant blanket exemptions to a anti-corruption investigation agency. Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Section 11, Explanation IV — Constructive Res Judicata — Application of the principle depends on the facts and circumstances of each case, considering the ambit of earlier proceedings and the nexus of the matter to the controversy — It is founded on public policy to prevent multiplicity of proceedings and avoid parties being vexed twice over for the same litigation — Parties are expected to exercise reasonable diligence and bring forward every point that properly belonged to the subject of litigation and which they might and ought to have brought forward — Negligence, inadvertence, or accident in omitting a part of the case does not exempt from its application. Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 165 and 166 — Liability for injuries sustained due to falling tree branch — Injuries caused by falling tree branch while vehicle was stationary under the tree during rain — Held, not an accident “arising out of the use of a motor vehicle” as the motor vehicle did not play an active role. [ Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) — Sections 24, 33(5), 36, 39 — Child-sensitive judicial processes — Mandatory safeguards for child victims — Courts must ensure child-friendly procedures, minimum intrusion, and psychological safety, avoiding re-traumatisation and secondary victimisation in all proceedings concerning children, especially those involving allegations of sexual abuse.

Constitution of India, 1950 — Art. 16 and 226 — Public Employment — Direct Recruitment — Eligibility Criteria — Workshop Experience — Pendency of workshop renewal applications — Effect on candidates — Where a recruitment notification mandates a minimum of one year of experience in a Government-approved workshop, candidates cannot be prejudiced or disqualified merely because the workshop’s application for renewal of approval was pending with the State authorities during the period they gained experience — Depriving an otherwise eligible candidate of employment due to an administrative “period of eclipse” or delay on the part of state machinery is arbitrary and discriminatory–Ashok Kumar Yadav v. State of Haryana, 1985 INSC 137, relied on; State of Uttar Pradesh v. Atul Kumar Dwivedi, 2022 INSC 24, Distinguished.

Right to Information Act, 2005 — S. 24(4) — Madhya Pradesh Special Police Establishment Act, 1947 — S. 2(1), S. 3 — “Intelligence and Security Organisation” — Scope and Applicability of Exemption — Jurisdiction of Special Police Establishment (SPE) — The expression “intelligence and security organisations” under Section 24 of the RTI Act implies that the concerned entity must be statutory or institutionally empowered to handle matters of intelligence and national/state security — The Special Police Establishment (SPE) of Madhya Pradesh, established under Section 2(1) of the Act of 1947, is clothed with a limited jurisdiction restricted strictly to investigating offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and select economic/fraud offenses under Sections 409, 420, and Chapter XVIII of the Indian Penal Code — Because neither the Lokayukt nor the SPE handles matters connected to general ‘intelligence’ and ‘security’, the SPE cannot be deemed an “intelligence and security organisation” under Section 24(4) of the RTI Act — Principle of institutional parity cannot be invoked to grant blanket exemptions to a anti-corruption investigation agency.

Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 226 – Income Tax Act, 1961 – Section 148 – Challenging Re-opening of Assessment – Dismissal of Writ Petition by High Court without giving reasons -An order bereft of reasoning causes prejudice to the parties because it deprives them to know the reasons as to why one party has won and other has lost – Remanded to HC

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH VISHAL ASHWIN PATEL — Appellant Vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CIRCLE 25(3) AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and B.V.…

Service Matters

Service Law – Regularization with all consequential benefits – There is no heavy financial burden upon the University and at the same time to strike a balance and considering the fact that the respective original writ petitioners have worked for more than 15 to 30 years, if it is ordered that the actual consequential benefits on regularization of their services are restricted to three years prior to filing of the writ petitions

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH JAI NARAIN VYAS UNIVERSITY, JODHPUR AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. MUKESH SHARMA ETC. ETC. — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and B.V. Nagarathna,…

In view of the difference of opinion expressed by two separate judgments, the Registry is directed to place the matter before Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India for appropriate orders/directions. CONTENTIONS rejection of the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 (d), for deciding the preliminary issue on pure question of law under Order XIV Rule 2(2) and for pronouncing a judgment on admission under Order XII Rule 6 being absolutely different and independent of each other

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SARANPAL KAUR ANAND — Appellant Vs. PRADUMAN SINGH CHANDHOK AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M. Trivedi, JJ. )…

Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) – HELD sequitur to a declaration under the IDS does not lead to immunity (from taxation) in the hands of a non-declarant.held that immunity granted by a tax amnesty scheme in respect of liabilities under some enactments, did not afford protection against action under other enactments or laws:

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (CENTRAL) CIRCLE 1(2) — Appellant Vs. M/S. M. R. SHAH LOGISTICS PRIVATE LIMITED — Respondent ( Before : Uday…

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 – Section 3 – An establishment contributing to the economy of the country and providing livelihood ought not to be closed down only on the ground of the technical irregularity of not obtaining prior Environmental Clearance irrespective of whether or not the unit actually causes pollution.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH M/S PAHWA PLASTICS PRIVATE LIMITED AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. DASTAK NGO AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Indira Banerjee and J.K. Maheshwari,…

Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 – Section 15Z – Appeal to Supreme Court – – A question of law may arise when there is an erroneous construction of the legal provisions of the statute or the general principles of law. In such cases, the Supreme Court in exercise of its jurisdiction of Section 15Z may substitute its decision on any question of law that it considers appropriate.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA — Appellant Vs. MEGA CORPORATION LIMITED — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha,…

Service Matters

Absorption and regularisation – When the employee were appointed on a fixed term and on a fixed salary in a temporary unit which was created for a particular project, no such direction could have been issued by the High Court to absorb them in Government service and to regularise their services –

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

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