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Environment Law — Environmental Clearance — Prior clearance — Mandatory character — Prior environmental clearance under EIA Notification, 2006 is mandatory, being founded on the precautionary principle and couched in imperative terms — Word “prior” and the graded four-stage screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal process render an anterior assessment the sine qua non of the clearance regime — Decriminalisation of contraventions under Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 does not alter this mandatory character. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — Section 415 — Appeal — Maintainability — Conviction recorded for first time by appellate court reversing acquittal — An appeal under Section 374 CrPC (Section 415 BNSS) is not maintainable against a judgment of conviction recorded by a Sessions Court while exercising appellate jurisdiction and reversing an order of acquittal passed by the Trial Court — No such second appeal is contemplated under CrPC or BNSS — The only remedy available is revision under Section 397 r/w 401 CrPC (Section 438 r/w 442 BNSS) Income Tax Act, 1961 — Section 44B — “Carriage” of passengers — Meaning and scope of — Cruise operations by non-resident shipping entity — Held, the word “carriage” under Section 44B cannot be restrictively construed to mean movement only from Port A to Port B. A round-trip cruise voyage, where passengers have the option to disembark at intermediate ports without compulsion to return to the originating port, constitutes carriage of passengers within the meaning of Section 44B. Provision of incidental on-board entertainment and hospitality does not alter the essential character of the activity as carriage of passengers. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR — Scope of inquiry — Mini-trial impermissible — At the stage of considering quashing of an FIR, the Court’s inquiry is confined to whether the allegations, taken at face value, prima facie disclose commission of a cognizable offence — Court cannot conduct a “mini-trial” by sifting evidence, assessing probabilities, or evaluating witness credibility — High Court exceeding these limits by examining trap proceedings, absence of personal recovery, and departmental enquiry findings, held impermissible. Succession Act, 1925 — Sections 33, 35 and 38 — Hindu/Christian Succession — Applicability of S. 33 confined to property owned by deceased male; erroneous application by High Court set aside — Where property was purchased and registered in the joint names of two wives, the same is owned by them and not by the husband, notwithstanding that he provided the consideration — Section 33, which governs devolution on intestacy of a male’s property between his widow and lineal descendants, is not attracted to property never vested in the husband’s name — High Court’s application of S. 33 to the entirety of the suit property held misconceived.
Service Matters

Indian Defence Service of Engineers (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2016 – Rule 12 – Rules not apply to Army Officers – It is categorically laid down in Rule 12 of the IDSE Rules that the Rules shall not apply to Army Officers appointed on a tenure basis as they are governed by the Army Act and the Rules framed thereunder – There is no dispute that the Respondent was appointed on a tenure basis in accordance with the MES Regulations

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. BRIG. BALBIR SINGH (RETD.) — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ.…

Environmental Clearance (EC) for the development of a greenfield International airport at Mopa in Goa – HELD This Court direct the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to be appointed to oversee compliance with the directions cumulatively issued by this Court – Project proponent shall bear the costs, expenses and fees of NEERI – The suspension on the EC shall accordingly stand lifted – The Miscellaneous Application is accordingly disposed of.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HANUMAN LAXMAN AROSKAR — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta, JJ.…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 439 – Special powers of High Court or Court of Session regarding bail HELD Jurisdiction of the Court under Section 439 of the Code is limited to grant or not to grant bail pending trial – Even though the object of the Hon’ble Judge was laudable but the jurisdiction exercised was clearly erroneous

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH STATE REP. BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE — Appellant Vs. M. MURUGESAN AND ANOTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant…

Service Matters

Service Law – Appointment – Direct recruitment to the posts of Administrative Officer/Assistant Assessor and Collector – Since the selection process has not been completed and keeping in view the mandate of the Statutory Rules – Appellants have no right to dispute the action of the Municipal Bodies to fill up the posts either by way of promotion or by deputation as such posts are being filled up in terms of mandate of the Rules

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MOHD. RASHID — Appellant Vs. THE DIRECTOR, LOCAL BODIES, NEW SECRETARIAT AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta,…

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