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Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 20 — Specific performance — Discretionary and equitable relief — Clean hands — Grant of specific performance is discretionary, not automatic even where a valid contract subsists; a plaintiff must approach the Court with clean hands. Where the plaintiff’s spouse lodged a criminal complaint seeking recovery of the advance paid, alleging the vendor fraudulently suppressed a subsisting injunction, while simultaneously maintaining a civil suit for specific performance, such conduct amounts to blowing “hot and cold” and disentitles the plaintiff to equitable relief. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 299 — Absence of order — Effect on conviction — Where no order under S. 299 was ever passed at the stage the co-accused was tried (case having been split due to abscondence), the earlier deposition of a witness (since deceased) could not be relied upon to convict the accused apprehended and tried years later; identification by surviving eyewitnesses being doubtful and other witnesses having turned hostile, conviction based on such uncorroborated prior testimony unsustainable — appellant acquitted. Hindu female’s property devolves equally on husband and daughter separately; gift of undivided coparcenary share needs no co-owner’s consent. A. Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Section 15(1)(a) — Devolution of Female Intestate’s Property — Properties of a Hindu female dying intestate devolve, in the absence of sons/daughters’ issue predeceasing her, upon her husband and daughter in equal shares under Section 15(1)(a); such undivided share in the husband’s hands does not partake the character of coparcenary property. Armed Forces — Air Force Order No. 33/2017 — Prior Permission for Civil Post — Mandatory Nature — Requirement of seeking prior permission before applying for a civil post, and subsequent grant of NOC, held mandatory and not merely procedural/directory, since AFO 33/2017 has necessary nexus with regulating premature discharge of Airmen and its object of maintaining operational preparedness of the Air Force. Consumer Protection Act, 2019 — Deficiency of Service — Maintenance Contractor’s Liability — Elevator Malfunction — Comprehensive maintenance contractor, being both manufacturer and repair contractor with exclusive technical knowledge of safety interlocks and brake mechanisms, held principally deficient in service for failing to act on its own identified remedy (voltage stabiliser) despite repeated notice of persistent malfunction over several months preceding fatal accident.

Therefore, in line with the law laid down by us, we hold that the determination of the dispute concerning the validity of the imposition of a statutory due arising out of a “deficiency in service”, can be undertaken by the consumer fora as per the provisions of the Act. The decision of this Court in the case of Sunita (2005) 2 SCC 479, wherein it was held that NCDRC has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the legitimacy of the aforementioned statutory dues, was rendered without considering any of the previous judgments of this Court and the objects of the Act. Consequently, the law laid down in the aforesaid case does not hold good before the eyes of law, and is thereby overruled.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH  PUNJAB URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NOW GLADA) — Appellant Vs. VIDYA CHETAL AND RAM SINGH — Respondent ( Before : N.V. Ramana, Mohan…

Medical Negligence—Patient was admitted with dengue fever in hospital–Hospital failed to regularly monitor the blood parameters of the patient during the course of the day as recommended in medical practice-Patient died due to cardiac arrest—Hospital held to be negligent. Medical Negligence—Standard of Proof—Where unreasonableness in professional conduct has been proven, a professional cannot escape liability for medical evidence merely by relying on opinion of a body of professionals

2019(2) Law Herald (SC) 915 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 729 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud Hon’ble Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta Civil Appeal…

Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1954 – Section 4(d1) – Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955 – Section 31 – Antitemple activities – Stopping of nitis/pujas/seva and misbehavior/misconduct HELD This Court have to authorize the Chief Administrator of the Temple, for the time being, to take appropriate steps against such servitors/incumbents, who create obstruction in seva/puja/niti and are involved in misbehavior and misconduct against the employees of the Temple Administration or with devotees

MRINALINI PADHI — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Arun Mishra, M.R. Shah and S. Ravindra Bhat, JJ. ) Writ Petition (Civil) No. 649…

Service Matters

The challenge in the present appeal is to an order passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, Jabalpur HELD We, thus, hold that the persons such as the respondent and the intervenors on deputation to APS from Department of Posts are not entitled to the benefit of OROP. Therefore, the order of the Tribunal is not sustainable in law and hence set aside. The appeal is allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. LT. COL. OM DUTT SHARMA (RETD.) DEAD THROUGH LRS AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before :…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Section 302 read with 34, 148 and 149 – Murder – Delay in registration of FIR – Accused persons denied their involvement in the commission of the offence – High Court, on reappreciation of the evidence on record, affirmed the finding of guilt against the appellants “R” (Accused No. 1) and “S” (Accused No. 2) but acquitted “R1” (Accused No. 4) and “D” (Accused No. 6) by giving them benefit of doubt. Appeal dismissed

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH ROHTAS AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF HARYANA — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal…

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