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Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 — Section 8(3) — Unauthorized alienation of minor’s property — Such alienation is voidable, not void ab initio, and can be challenged by the minor upon attaining majority or by someone claiming under the minor. Criminal Procedure — Delay in Investigation and Filing of Charge Sheet — Speedy Trial — Right to Speedy Trial and Timely Completion of Investigation are integral parts of Article 21 of the Constitution — Statutory recognition in CrPC for prompt investigation — Investigations should be completed within a reasonable time, not endlessly — Lack of strict timelines in CrPC does not permit indefinite investigations — Inordinate delay without adequate justification warrants intervention by Courts. Contract Law — Statutory Amendment — Impact on existing contracts — Where a statutory amendment alters a fundamental aspect like royalty rates, a pre-existing contract cannot prevent the application of the amended law, especially when the payment of royalty is linked to the removal or consumption of minerals — [MMDR Act] Applicability of S.9 — Scope — Section 9 applies broadly to all entities engaged in removal/dispatch of minerals, not only direct mining lessees. Criminal Procedure — Passport — Return/Surrender of Passport — Accused facing serious criminal charges — Right to travel abroad vis-à-vis right to speedy trial — Balance between individual liberty and societal interest — Accused charged with abetment of suicide and criminal conspiracy since 2014, trial still at stage of committal despite lapse of over ten years — Accused, a US citizen, had misused interim protection in prior proceedings to leave the country without Court’s leave — Whether High Court justified in permitting accused to travel abroad on grounds of medical treatment — Held, not justified — High Court indulgent rather than judicially restrained — Medical facilities in India comparable to those abroad — High Court’s revisional order set aside — Accused restrained from travelling abroad without express permission of Sessions Court — Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, S. 442 — Constitution of India, Art. 21 Service Law — Promotion — Entitlement to promotion to Chief Medical Director (Higher Administrative Grade) in Indian Railway Medical Service — Appellant was denied promotion despite being eligible, with a junior officer being promoted instead — Appellant’s case was rejected by the Tribunal and High Court based on her grading in Annual Confidential Reports

Gujarat Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 – Sections 6, 9, 10, 10(5) and 20(1)(a) – Physical possession – The settled legal position that it is difficult to take physical possession of the land under compulsory acquisition – HELD Subsequent thereto, the retention of possession would tantamount only to illegal or unlawful possession.HELD that the writ petition filed in the year 2001 by the appellants with limited relief of questioning the Possession Panchnama dated 20.3.1986, suffered from laches.

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH KAPILABEN AMBALAL PATEL AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari,…

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) – Section 141 – Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 226 – When the petition raises complex questions of fact, which may for their determination require oral evidence to be taken, and on that account the High Court is of the view that the dispute should not appropriately be tried in a writ petition, the High Court may decline to try a petition. HELD we have no hesitation in taking the view that in the facts of the present case, the High Court should have been loath to entertain the writ petition filed by the respondent No. 1 and should have relegated the respondent No. 1 to appropriate remedy

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. ATMANAND SINGH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ.…

Specific Relief Act, 1963 – Section 34 – Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) – Order 23 Rule 3A – Transfer of Property Act, 1882 – Section 52 – Bar to suit – Compromise decree – Merely because the appellant was not party to the compromise decree in the facts of the present case, will be of no avail to the appellant, much less give him a cause of action to question the validity of the compromise decree passed by the High Court by way of a substantive suit before the civil Court to declare it as fraudulent, illegal and not binding on him

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH TRILOKI NATH SINGH — Appellant Vs. ANIRUDH SINGH(D) THR. LRS AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi, JJ. )…

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 – Sections 12 and 14 – Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975 – Rule 3 – Suit for permanent injunction, possession and for recovery of rent and damages/mesne profits till the recovery of possession – This Court find force in the explanation offered by the respondent that as per its bona fide understanding, there was no outstanding dues payable to the petitioner – Moreover, as observed by the High Court, these aspects could be answered by the executing Court if the parties pursue their claim(s) before it in that regard

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HUKUM CHAND DESWAL — Appellant Vs. SATISH RAJ DESWAL — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ. ) Contempt Petition…

Andhra Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2005 – Section 31 – Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 226 – Assessment order – It is well settled that rejection of delay application by the appellate forum does not entail in merger of the assessment order with that order – Appeal allowed.  

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (CT) LTU, KAKINADA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. M/S. GLAXO SMITH KLINE CONSUMER HEALTH CARE LIMITED — Respondent ( Before :…

Electricity Act, 2003 – Section 125 – Electricity Supply Act, 1948 – Section 43(A) – Determination of tariff for sale of electricity by the generating company to the Electricity Boards – Agreement between the parties was that interest on the sum of Rs. 53.90 crores was payable for the specified period 01.07.2003 to 31.12.2009 -Therefore, CLP’s claim that any amount was payable, for any period prior to 01.07.2003, was not tenable

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH CLP INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED — Appellant Vs. GUJARAT URJA VIKAS NIGAM LTD AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Arun Mishra, Vineet Saran and…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 147, 148, 149, 300, 304, 304 Part I, 323, 307, 326 and 302 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 377(3) – Murder – Restoration of conviction – As the death of deceased was caused by the act of accused No. 5 giving one fatal blow on the head, which was with the intention of causing his death or causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, the case would be covered by Section 304 Part I, IPC. This Court disapprove that approach of the High Court – Appeal allowed.

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH STATE OF RAJASTHAN — Appellant Vs. MEHRAM AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal…

Service Matters

Constitution of India, 1950 – Articles 142 and 226 – Service Law – Recruitment – BSSC is directed to evaluate and publish the results afresh, in the light of the recommendations and report of the experts (constituted by this court) subject to care being taken by the BSSC and the Govt. of Bihar, not to disturb appointments made previously pursuant to the directions of the single judge

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH BIHAR STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. ARUN KUMAR AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Rohinton Fali Nariman and S.…

Accused Can Challenge Conviction In Appeal Filed By The State Even If He Did Not Prefer A Formal Appeal: SC HELD The accused No. 5 (Mehram S/o Chhagna Ram) is justified in contending that it is open to the said accused to challenge the finding and order of conviction under Section 326/148, IPC recorded against him in the appeal filed by the State, assailing the impugned judgment of the High Court.

Accused Can Challenge Conviction In Appeal Filed By The State Even If He Did Not Prefer A Formal Appeal: SC [Read Judgment] LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK 7 May 2020 11:09 AM…

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