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Constitution of India, 1950 — List II, Entry 34 — “Betting and gambling” — Whether confined to games of chance — The expression “betting and gambling” in Entry 34 cannot be split to mean that the staking angle alone constitutes “betting” and the chance element alone constitutes “gambling” — Both betting and gambling involve the aspect of staking money on an uncertain outcome — Merely because the risk element is commonly perceived as “taking a chance”, it cannot mean the expression covers only games of chance — The expression is a set composite expression and cannot be rewritten by Courts to read as “betting on gambling” — Such a judicial rewriting would constitute a clear constitutional aberration — State of Bombay v. R.M.D. Chamarbaugwala, AIR 1957 SC 699 (RMDC-I) and R.M.D. Chamarbaugwala v. Union of India, AIR 1957 SC 628 (RMDC-II), explained and distinguished. Constitution of India — Articles 246A, 366(12), 366(12A), 265 — Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (CGST Act) — Sections 2(1), 2(31), 2(52), 7, 9, 15 — Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 — Rules 31A, 31B, 31C — Schedule III, Entry 6 — Actionable claims arising from betting and gambling — Constitutional validity of levy of GST — Legislative competence of Parliament — Whether online gaming, fantasy sports and casino transactions involve betting and gambling — Whether actionable claims arise therefrom — Valuation of taxable supply. Betting and Gambling — Essential ingredients — The essential element of “betting and gambling” lies in staking money or money’s worth upon uncertain outcomes — The character of betting and gambling does not depend exclusively upon whether the underlying activity is a game of skill or a game of chance, but upon the existence of stakes placed upon uncertain future contingencies — Consequently, even where the underlying activity involves substantial elements of skill, once participation is conditioned upon staking money or money’s worth upon uncertain outcomes, the resulting transaction acquires the character of betting and gambling within the framework of the GST legislation — Accordingly, online gaming activities, including fantasy sports and other games played on digital platforms involving staking upon uncertain outcomes, constitute betting and gambling for purposes of the GST framework. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 438 — Grant of Anticipatory Bail — Abuse of Authority by Law Enforcers — Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s order granting anticipatory bail to police officers accused of misusing their authority, extorting money, and causing stress to a citizen and his minor daughter — The Court emphasized that in cases where there is a clear abuse of authority by law enforcement officials, the normal presumptions applicable to ordinary accused persons may not apply, and greater caution is warranted — Observations made by the Supreme Court were held to be prima facie and not to govern the trial SIR ::: Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 324 — Representation of the People Act, 1950 — Sections 21(3) — Electoral Rolls — Special Intensive Revision (SIR) — Election Commission of India (ECI) has power to conduct SIR — Commission’s authority under Article 324 operates in conformity with valid law made by Parliament, but parliamentary legislation cannot extinguish Commission’s constitutional function — ECI’s powers supplement law where necessary but cannot override express statutory prohibition — SIR exercise was not in direct conflict with RP Act and 1960 Rules — Exercise subserves constitutional goal of free and fair elections.

Constitution of India, 1950 — List II, Entry 34 — “Betting and gambling” — Whether confined to games of chance — The expression “betting and gambling” in Entry 34 cannot be split to mean that the staking angle alone constitutes “betting” and the chance element alone constitutes “gambling” — Both betting and gambling involve the aspect of staking money on an uncertain outcome — Merely because the risk element is commonly perceived as “taking a chance”, it cannot mean the expression covers only games of chance — The expression is a set composite expression and cannot be rewritten by Courts to read as “betting on gambling” — Such a judicial rewriting would constitute a clear constitutional aberration — State of Bombay v. R.M.D. Chamarbaugwala, AIR 1957 SC 699 (RMDC-I) and R.M.D. Chamarbaugwala v. Union of India, AIR 1957 SC 628 (RMDC-II), explained and distinguished.

Constitution of India — Articles 246A, 366(12), 366(12A), 265 — Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (CGST Act) — Sections 2(1), 2(31), 2(52), 7, 9, 15 — Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 — Rules 31A, 31B, 31C — Schedule III, Entry 6 — Actionable claims arising from betting and gambling — Constitutional validity of levy of GST — Legislative competence of Parliament — Whether online gaming, fantasy sports and casino transactions involve betting and gambling — Whether actionable claims arise therefrom — Valuation of taxable supply.

Consumer Protection Act, 1986 – Sections 12 and 24A – Banking Regulation Act, 1949 – Imposition of costs -the Society would now be required to pay stamp duty at an enhanced rate, that by itself does not give any entitlement to seek relief against the Appellant

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH THE MANAGER, THE MAHARASHTRA STATE COOPERATIVE BANK LTD — Appellant Vs. FARMER BANK EMPLOYEES COOPERATIVE HOUSING SOCIETY LTD. AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before…

East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 – Sections 13-B and 18-A – Constitutional validity of Section 13-B of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 – Right of Non-Resident Indians to initiate eviction under the summary procedure provided in Section 18-A of the Rent Act is not an unfettered and absolute right – Held such amendment, Constitutional

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH RAM KRISHAN GROVER AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Ranjan Gogoi, CJI, L. Nageswara Rao…

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 – Section 11(6) – Contract Act, 1872 – Section 62 – Alteration of contract – As the very jurisdiction of the arbitrator is dependent upon the existence of the arbitration clause under which he is appointed, the parties have no right to invoke a clause which perishes with the contract.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH WAPCOS LIMITED — Appellant Vs. SALMA DAM JOINT VENTURE AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ. ) Civil…

Enforcement of the foreign award in Delhi High Court – Contempt petition – Disobeying the orders – Malvinder Mohan Singh (Contemnor Nos.9 and 12) and Shivinder Mohan Singh, (Contemnor Nos.10 and 13) have knowingly and wilfully violated the orders of this Court dated 11.08.2017, 31.08.2017 and 15.02.2018 as continued on 23.02.2018 – Therefore, this Court hold both of them guilty of committing Contempt of this Court

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH VINAY PRAKASH SINGH — Appellant Vs. SAMEER GEHLAUT AND OTHER RESPONDENT ( Before : Ranjan Gogoi, CJI, Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, JJ. )…

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 – Section 62 – Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888 – Section 92 and 92A -Resolution plan – Section 238 cannot be read as overriding the MCGM’s right – Indeed its public duty ­ to control and regulate how its properties are to be dealt with exists in Sections 92 and 92A of the MMC Act – there can be no estoppel against the express provisions of law .

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF GREATER MUMBAI (MCGM) — Appellant Vs. ABHILASHLAL AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Arun Mishra, Vineet Saran and S. Ravindra…

Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 – Sections 5(v), 7 and 7(1) – Special Marriage Act, 1954 – Section 24 – Evidence Act, 1872 – Sections 101, 102 and 103 – Suit for partition – Certificate of registration of marriage – In the agreement of marriage, it is only stated that both parties are of same caste and with the permission and consent of both of their fathers, they have entered into this agreement of marriage – This type of marriage is not recognized in law as Section 7 of the Act

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH RATHNAMMA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. SUJATHAMMA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

Service Matters

All India Services Act, 1951 – Section 3 – Indian Administrative Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955 – Regulations 5(1), 5(2), 5(4), 5(5), 6, 6A and 7 – Review of promotions made to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for the year 2004 – High Court was not right in holding that the Selection Committee has miserably failed to assess all the aspects of the case in their proper perspective and that the promotions made to the IAS for the vacancies of the year 2004 is vitiated and the same is to be reviewed. Judgement set aside.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION — Appellant Vs. JAWAHAR SANTHKUMAR AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : R. Banumathi, A.S. Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, JJ.…

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