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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

Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 – Section 26 – HELD The High Court, mainly on the ground that the Planning Authority has not prepared a draft development plan within the time prescribed under Section 26 of the MRTP Act, has allowed the writ petition with a further direction that the competent authority shall undertake the remaining work relating to preparation of draft development plan and submit to the State Government for sanction. – We are of the view that the said aspects need not be gone into at this stage by this Court. Chapter III of the MRTP Act deals with the preparation of development plan and as per Section 38 of the MRTP Act development plan is to be revised at least once in twenty years. We are of the view that it is not a fit case to interfere with the impugned order under Article 136 of the Constitution of India.

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH THE MAYOR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION — Appellant Vs. GOVIND BAJIRAO NAVPUTE AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and R. Subhash…

Service Matters

Service Law – Appointment – Primary Assistant Teachers – Various schemes were framed to fill up various vacant posts of teachers in different categories as per the policies framed by the State Government during the years 2001 and 2003 – Inordinate delay on the part of the appellants in approaching the High Court HELD Having regard to nature of such appointments, appointments made as per policies cannot be termed as illegal. Having regard to material placed before this Court and having regard to reasons recorded in the impugned order by the High Court, we are of the view that no case is made out to interfere with the impugned judgment of the High Court.

  SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH CHANDER MOHAN NEGI AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and…

Service Matters

No Reservation In Promotions Without Examining Adequacy Of Representation In Promotional Posts : SC HELD if they wish to exercise their discretion and make reservations in promotion, the States have to collect quantifiable data showing backwardness of the class and inadequacy of representation of that class in public employment, keeping in mind maintenance of efficiency, as indicated by Article 335 of the Constitution of India.

No Reservation In Promotions Without Examining Adequacy Of Representation In Promotional Posts : SC [Read Judgment] LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK 17 April 2020 9:52 PM Following the principle that reservation in…

Once A Mortgage, Always A Mortgage’ – Right To Redeem Mortgage Can Be Extinguished Only By Process Of Law : SC HELD “Section 90 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 casts a clear obligation on the mortgagee to hold any right acquired by him in the mortgaged property for the benefit of the mortgagor, as he is seen to be acting in a fiduciary capacity in respect of such transactions. Therefore, the advantage derived by the Appellants (mortgagee) by way of the re-grant must be surrendered to the benefit of the Respondents (Mirashi tenant––mortgagor)”

Section 90 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 casts a clear obligation on the mortgagee to hold any right acquired by him in the mortgaged property for the benefit of…

Service Matters

Gratuity Payable On Resignation From Employment After 5 Years Of Continuous Service: SC HELD ” As rightly pointed out by the learned counsel for the respondents, Section 4(1)(b) of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 provides that the gratuity shall be payable if the termination of employment is after 5 years of continuous service and such termination would include resignation as well.

Gratuity Payable On Resignation From Employment After 5 Years Of Continuous Service: SC [Read Judgment] LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK 16 April 2020 8:09 AM ‘Termination’ under Section 4(1)(b) of Payment of…

SC Releases New Standard Operating Procedure For Hearings Via Videoconferencing During COVID Lockdown: [Read Circular] @ SC Releases New Standard Operating Procedure For Hearings Via Videoconferencing During COVID Lockdown: [Read Circular] SC Releases New Standard Operating Procedure For Hearings Via Videoconferencing During COVID Lockdown: [Read Circular] https://main.sci.gov.in/php/FAQ/5_6246991526434439183.pdf

SC Releases New Standard Operating Procedure For Hearings Via Videoconferencing During COVID Lockdown: [Read Circular] Sanya Talwar 15 April 2020 9:08 PM In pursuance of conducting Video Conference Hearings effectively,…

Exemption Clauses In Insurance Contracts Are To Be Construed Against Insurer In Case Of Doubt : SC HELD Where there is ambiguity in the policy the court will apply the contra proferentem rule. It means that ambiguity in the wording of the policy is to be resolved against the party who prepared the contract.

Exemption Clauses In Insurance Contracts Are To Be Construed Against Insurer In Case Of Doubt : SC [Read Judgment] LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK 15 April 2020 7:48 PM In a notable…

Medical Oxygen IP & Nitrous Oxide IP Are ‘Drugs’ Under Section 3(b)(i) Of Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 : SC HELD “There is no doubt that Medical Oxygen IP and Nitrous Oxide IP are medicines used for or in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of any disease or disorder in human beings falling within the ambit of Section 3(b)(i) of the 1940 Act. We hold that Medical Oxygen IP and Nitrous Oxide IP fall within the ambit of Section 3(b)(i) of the 1940 Act and are consequently covered in Entry 88 of the 2005 Act”,

Medical Oxygen IP & Nitrous Oxide IP Are ‘Drugs’ Under Section 3(b)(i) Of Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 : SC [Read Judgment] LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK 14 April 2020 2:56 PM…

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