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Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Sections 5, 34, and 37 — Scope of Judicial Intervention — Minimum intervention of judicial authority in domestic arbitration matters is required under Section 5 — Challenge to an arbitral award under Section 34 is limited to specific grounds, including patent illegality or conflict with the public policy of India — Scope of interference by the Appellate Court under Section 37 is akin to and cannot travel beyond the restrictions laid down under Section 34 — Appellate Court cannot undertake an independent assessment of the merits of the award or re-interpret contractual clauses if the interpretation by the Arbitral Tribunal was a plausible view and upheld under Section 34 — Setting aside an arbitral award under Section 37, which was upheld under Section 34, based on providing a different interpretation of contractual clauses is unsustainable in law. (Paras 24, 25, 30, 31, 36, 37, 39, 50, 51) Limitation Act, 1963 — Article 54 — Suit for specific performance — Commencement of limitation period — Where the defendant subsequently executed an affidavit ratifying the agreement to sell and conveying no-objection to the transfer, the period of limitation commences from the date of the admitted affidavit, as this is the stage at which the executant finally refused to execute the sale deed to the extent of her share — Trial court and High Court erred in dismissing the suit on the ground of limitation calculated from an earlier disputed date. (Paras 13, 35, 36, 37) Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 9(2) read with Rule 9(4) of 2001 Rules — Setting aside High Court judgment — High Court erroneously treated the date of filing of the Section 11 petition (28.06.2024) as the commencement date, leading to the conclusion that proceedings commenced beyond the statutory period — Where the arbitration notice was served (on 11.04.2024) well within the 90-day period from the ad-interim injunction order (17.02.2024), proceedings commenced in time as per Section 21 — High Court’s finding unsustainable, resulting in the restoration of the Trial Court’s initial ad-interim injunction order. (Paras 28, 31, 32) E. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 9 — Interim injunction — Dispute regarding existence Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 2(28) — Definition of “motor vehicle” — Components — Definition has two parts: an inclusive part (mechanically propelled vehicle adapted for use upon roads) and an exclusive part — The second part expressly excludes “a vehicle of a special type adapted for use only in a factory or in any other enclosed premises” — Although Dumpers, Loaders, etc., may fall under the first part of the definition, they are excluded if their nature of use is confined to factory or enclosed premises, being special type vehicles/Construction Equipment Vehicles. (Paras 36, 37, 38, 39) Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities of BootLeggers, Dacoits, Drug-Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders etc. Act, 1986 — Section 3(2) — Preventive Detention — Grounds for Detention — Requirement of finding ‘prejudicial to the maintenance of public order’ — Detenu, a ‘drug offender’, was detained based on three criminal cases involving Ganja, with an apprehension that if released on bail, she would engage in similar activities — Held, mere apprehension that the detenu, if released on bail, would be likely to indulge in similar crimes would not be a sufficient ground for ordering preventive detention — Order of detention failed to indicate how the detenu’s activities were prejudicial to ‘public order’ as opposed to ‘law and order’ and was therefore unsustainable. (Paras 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11)

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Sections 5, 34, and 37 — Scope of Judicial Intervention — Minimum intervention of judicial authority in domestic arbitration matters is required under Section 5 — Challenge to an arbitral award under Section 34 is limited to specific grounds, including patent illegality or conflict with the public policy of India — Scope of interference by the Appellate Court under Section 37 is akin to and cannot travel beyond the restrictions laid down under Section 34 — Appellate Court cannot undertake an independent assessment of the merits of the award or re-interpret contractual clauses if the interpretation by the Arbitral Tribunal was a plausible view and upheld under Section 34 — Setting aside an arbitral award under Section 37, which was upheld under Section 34, based on providing a different interpretation of contractual clauses is unsustainable in law. (Paras 24, 25, 30, 31, 36, 37, 39, 50, 51)

Limitation Act, 1963 — Article 54 — Suit for specific performance — Commencement of limitation period — Where the defendant subsequently executed an affidavit ratifying the agreement to sell and conveying no-objection to the transfer, the period of limitation commences from the date of the admitted affidavit, as this is the stage at which the executant finally refused to execute the sale deed to the extent of her share — Trial court and High Court erred in dismissing the suit on the ground of limitation calculated from an earlier disputed date. (Paras 13, 35, 36, 37)

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 498A, 306, 323 and 149 – Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 – Sections 3 and 7 – Committed suicide – Reliance cannot be placed on the sole testimony of PW1, on the basis of which the Appellant was convicted under Sections 498A, 114 and 323 as there is no corroboration by PW4 who is alleged to have given the information to him. Other than the above allegation, the Appellant stands on the same footing as of Accused Nos. 3, 4 and 5 who have been acquitted by the High Court. As the accusation of the physical assault by the appellant on the deceased is not proved, he is entitled to be acquitted.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  KANTILAL — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF GUJARAT — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No.…

Service Matters

Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation Compassionate Appointment Regulations, 2010 – Regulation 4(3) – Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 14 – Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 – Section 166 and 140 – Compassionate appointment – As the Respondent has received the compensation under the Act, he is not entitled for compassionate appointment under the Regulations – The judgment of the High Court is set aside the Appeal is allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  RAJASTHAN STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION — Appellant Vs. DANISH KHAN — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. ) Civil…

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) – Order 1 Rule 10 and Order 12 Rule 10 – Transfer of Property Act, 1882 – Section 52- It is well settled law that mere non-mentioning of an incorrect provision is not fatal to the application if the power to pass such an order is available with the court.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  PRUTHVIRAJSINH NODHUBHA JADEJA (D) BY LRS. — Appellant Vs. JAYESHKUMAR CHHAKADDAS SHAH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose,…

Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 142 – Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 – Section 16(1)(a) – Food adulteration – Minimum sentence – This Court are clearly of the view that the power under Article 142 cannot be exercised against the specific provision of law. Section 16(1)(a) of the Act lays down a minimum sentence of six months.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  RAJ KUMAR — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH — Respondent ( Before : Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal…

Commercial Courts Act, 2015 – Section 2(1)(c)(vii) – Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) – Order 7 Rule 10 – Return of plaint-A dispute relating to immovable property per se may not be a commercial dispute. But it becomes a commercial dispute, if it falls under sub-clause (vii) of Section 2(1)(c) of the Act viz. “the agreements relating to immovable property used exclusively in trade or commerce”. The words “used exclusively in trade or commerce” are to be interpreted purposefully. The word “used” denotes “actually used” and it cannot be either “ready for use” or “likely to be used” or “to be used”. It should be “actually used”. Such a wide interpretation would defeat the objects of the Act and the fast tracking procedure

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  AMBALAL SARABHAI ENTERPRISES LTD. — Appellant Vs. K.S. INFRASPACE LLP AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : A.S. Bopanna and R. Banumathi, JJ. )…

Service Matters

Kerala Abkari Shops Disposal Rules, 2002 – Rules 4(2) and 9(10)(b) – Ban of arrack in State of Kerala – Right of Employment.- It cannot be said that a vested right accrued to all the abkari workers to claim employment in retail outlets in the Corporation. This Court not agree with the submission of the Respondents that a vested right was created by the Government Order dated 20.02.2002 and that it was indefeasible.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  KERALA STATE BEVERAGES (M AND M) CORPORATION LIMITED — Appellant Vs. P.P. SURESH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and…

Service Matters

Appellant cannot be denied payment of pension applicable to the rank of Lt. Colonel (TS) on the ground that he fell short of the reckonable service of 21 years – Appellant retired in the year 1991 and has been made to run from pillar to post to get his rightful pension – It appropriate that apart from his entitlement to the pension applicable to the post of Lt. Colonel (TS), he is also entitled to be compensated for the avoidable litigation to which he was unnecessarily dragged into – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  IC 29547 L BOBBY JOSEPH — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta,…

Service Matters

Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Services Commission Act, 1982. In view of the enquiry report dated 06.05.2009 and the endorsement of the Management in their letters, it is clear that Respondent No.5 had actually worked during 1985 to 1995 and he was eligible for being considered for regularization of his service as LT Grade Teacher. The order of regularization was rightly upheld by the Division Bench – Appeal dismissed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  C/M KISAN INTER COLLEGE MANAGER — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and…

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