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Service Law — Recruitment and Appointment — Suppression of Criminal Antecedents — Candor and Integrity — Application forms (Attestation and Verification Forms) required disclosure of pending criminal cases — Applicant answered in the negative despite two criminal cases pending against him (Case Crime Nos. 198/2019 and 215/2018) — Non-disclosure was repeated (in both forms) and therefore held to reflect deliberate concealment/mal-intent, striking at the core of trust required for public service — Suppression was a violation of clear stipulations/disclaimers in the forms making concealment a disqualification/render applicant unfit for government service — Subsequent voluntary disclosure (via affidavit) or later acquittal/dropping of proceedings do not nullify the fact that candidate provided incorrect and false information at the time of filling the forms — High Court erred in overlooking the repeated concealment and calling the undisclosed information ‘of trivial nature’ — Cancellation of appointment upheld. (Paras 3, 6, 8, 9) Consumer Protection Act, 2019 — Section 71 — Execution of Order — Judgment Debtor Company — Liability of Directors/Promoters — Execution must strictly conform to the decree; it cannot be employed to shift or enlarge liability to bind persons who were neither parties to the decree nor otherwise legally liable thereunder — Where consumer complaints were consciously proceeded against the Company alone (Corporate Debtor), and directors/promoters were dropped as parties during admission/pre-adjudication stage (order unchallenged), the final order binds the Company exclusively, not the directors/promoters. (Paras 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 23) Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) — Order 21 Rules 97 to 102 — Resistance and Obstruction to Execution of Decree for Possession — Adjudication of rights of obstructionists — Where transferees pendente lite obstruct execution of a decree for possession, the Executing Court must adjudicate the claim; if the obstructionist is found to be a transferee pendente lite, the scope of adjudication is limited to this fact, and such a transferee has no right to resist execution of the decree — The remedy for removal of obstruction is by application under Order 21 Rule 97 by the decree holder, followed by adjudication under Rule 98-101 (Maharashtra Amendment) which bars a separate suit. (Paras 53, 54, 55, 59, 65) Administrative Law — Competence of authorities — State Governments lack legislative competence to prescribe additional experience as an essential qualification for Drug Inspectors when the Central Government has already occupied the field. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) — Section 12 — Constitutional Mandate — Free and Compulsory Education — Admission of children from weaker and disadvantaged sections — Obligation of “neighbourhood school” to admit twenty-five percent of class strength from weaker and disadvantaged sections (Section 12(1)(c)) is transformative, securing the preambular objective of ‘equality of status’ and the constitutional right under Article 21A, requiring effective implementation. (Para 1)

Service Law — Recruitment and Appointment — Suppression of Criminal Antecedents — Candor and Integrity — Application forms (Attestation and Verification Forms) required disclosure of pending criminal cases — Applicant answered in the negative despite two criminal cases pending against him (Case Crime Nos. 198/2019 and 215/2018) — Non-disclosure was repeated (in both forms) and therefore held to reflect deliberate concealment/mal-intent, striking at the core of trust required for public service — Suppression was a violation of clear stipulations/disclaimers in the forms making concealment a disqualification/render applicant unfit for government service — Subsequent voluntary disclosure (via affidavit) or later acquittal/dropping of proceedings do not nullify the fact that candidate provided incorrect and false information at the time of filling the forms — High Court erred in overlooking the repeated concealment and calling the undisclosed information ‘of trivial nature’ — Cancellation of appointment upheld. (Paras 3, 6, 8, 9)

Consumer Protection Act, 2019 — Section 71 — Execution of Order — Judgment Debtor Company — Liability of Directors/Promoters — Execution must strictly conform to the decree; it cannot be employed to shift or enlarge liability to bind persons who were neither parties to the decree nor otherwise legally liable thereunder — Where consumer complaints were consciously proceeded against the Company alone (Corporate Debtor), and directors/promoters were dropped as parties during admission/pre-adjudication stage (order unchallenged), the final order binds the Company exclusively, not the directors/promoters. (Paras 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 23)

Benami Transactions—Financial Assistance—Merely because some financial assistance has been given by the father to the sons to purchase the properties, the transactions cannot be said to benami in nature. Benami Transactions—Intention of the person who contributed the purchase money is determinative of the nature of transaction–Source of money had never been the sole consideration—It is merely one of the relevant considerations but not determinative in character

2019(2) Law Herald (SC) 1163 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 831 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice L. Nageswara Rao Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. R. Shah Civil Appeal…

Dishonour of Cheque—Friendly Loan—Failure of complainant to prove the source of funds for advancing loan to accused cannot be a ground rebutting the presumption u/s 139 N.I. and because of that burden of proof on accused to prove probable defence does not get shifted on complainant. Dishonour of Cheque—Rebuttable Presumption—By mere denial or mere creation of doubt the presumption u/s 139 N.I. act cannot be held to have been rebutted by the accused

2019(2) Law Herald (SC) 1029 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 784 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari Criminal Appeal No.…

Un­ necessary Amendment—Amendment was sought belatedly when suit was fixed for final arguments—Further, suit could still be decided even without there being any necessity to seek any amendment in the plaint—Application for amendment of plaint held to be rightly dismissed by Trial Court.   

2019(2) Law Herald (SC) 1027 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 838 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre  Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari Civil Appeal No.…

Agreement to Sell—Specific Performance—Plaintiff has to aver and prove his readiness and willingness—Merely because defendant has not taken any objection in their written statement in this regard is of no consequence Agreement to Sell—Specific Performance—Pleadings of plaintiff were essentially directed towards the existence and validity of the alleged agreement and the surrounding dealings of the parties; but is lacking in those material assertions on readiness and willingness on his part–Decree of sped fie performance declined. Second Appeal—Substantial Question of law—It cannot be laid down as a matter of rule that irrespective of the question/s formulated, hearing of the second appeal is open for any other substantial question of law, even if not formulated earlier

2019(2) Law Herald (SC) 1017 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 783 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari Civil Appeal No.…

Specific Relief Act, 1963, S.34-Suit for declaration-Public Temple or Private Temple-Mahant of temple/Dera–The onus of proving that the appellant-Shri Ram Mandir falls within the description of private temple is on the appellant who is asserting that the temple is a private temple and that he is the Mahant of the temple

2019(2) Law Herald (SC) 994 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 780 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hontile Mrs. Justice R. Banumathi Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. Subhash Reddy Civil Appeal No.…

Service Matters

Writ Petition-Error apparent on face of record–Non speaking order-High Court dismissed the writ petition for regularization of services on the basis of pleadings which were not part of record–Judgment and order of High Court set aside-Matter remanded back for deciding the writ afresh on the basis of pleadings on record.                          

2019(2) Law Herald (SC) 989 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 779 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.M. Joseph Civil Appeal Nos.2544-2545 of…

Alienation of property of minor by natural guardian—Minor died before attaining majority—Limitation to avoid instrument made by guardian of the ward is 03 years from the death of ward as provided in Article 60 of Limitation Act Alienation of property of minor—Without praying for setting aside the sale deeds executed by natural guardian of minor (father), the suit for declaration and possession was not maintainable

2019(2) Law Herald (SC) 972 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 778 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.M. Joseph Civil Appeal No. 1782…

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