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Environmental Law — Environmental Clearance (EC) — Ex-post facto EC — The Supreme Court has held that the concept of ex-post facto Environmental Clearance is alien to Indian environmental jurisprudence and struck down notifications allowing it — However, in cases where industries were established based on Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) granted by Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) which were themselves unaware of the prior EC requirement, and the industries have subsequently applied for EC, the Court may allow them to operate while the EC process is pending, to avoid economic and livelihood impacts if no actual pollution is caused or norms are otherwise met. Land Revenue Records — Evidentiary Value for Title — Revenue records like Faisal Patti, Vasool Baqi, and Pahanies are primarily for fiscal purposes and do not confer title or ownership — Mutation entries do not create or extinguish title and have no presumptive value regarding ownership — Such records cannot be the sole basis for declaring title, especially when the primary document of title (patta) is not produced. Recruitment Process — Advertisement and Selection — While filling vacancies, State instrumentalities must adhere to comparative merit and avoid discrimination — A candidate in a select list does not gain an indefeasible right to appointment without specific rules to that effect. Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 28 — Rescission of contract for failure to pay purchase money within time limit prescribed by decree — Court’s discretion to extend time or rescind — Dismissal of appeal for non-prosecution does not result in merger of trial court decree — Permitting deposit of balance amount does not extinguish judgment-debtor’s right to seek rescission — Court can consider extending time to balance equities and compensate judgment-debtor for delay, but not automatically — Judgment-debtor’s conduct showing willful negligence is a factor for rescission. Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 — Section 45 — Bar of jurisdiction of civil courts — This section bars civil courts from entertaining suits or proceedings related to matters within the jurisdiction of authorities, Adjudicating Authorities, or the Appellate Tribunal under the Act — However, the question of whether a suit falls under this bar is itself a matter that can be considered in the context of Order 7 Rule 11 or Order XIV Rule 2.

Writ Jurisdiction—A private agreement cannot oust the jurisdiction of a High Court Writ Jurisdiction—Mere existence of alternative remedy does not bar High Court from exercising its Writ Jurisdiction Contract—Conferring Jurisdiction—Parties to contract cannot exclude the jurisdiction of all Courts

2019(3) Law Herald (SC) 1996 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 1247 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud Honble Mrs. Justice Indira Banerjee Civil Appeal…

Service Matters

Service Law—Misconduct—Merely because air tickets for govt. employee were booked through Travel Agent by private company for attending its seminar it cannot be said that employee has availed the hospitality of one of tenderers or it is equivalent to borrowing money by the appellant/govt. employee from a private company.

2019(3) Law Herald (SC) 1985 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 1246 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon*ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan Hon ble Mr. Justice Navin Sinha Civil Appeal No.5633…

Civil Procedure Code, 1908, O.21 R. 101-Execution of Decree-Possession was with person other than judgment debtor who was dispossessed—Claim for possession before executing court-Held;Execution of Decree—In an application under O.21 R.89,100 and 101 CPC executing Court has to decide all the issues including the question relating to right, title or interest in property objections for which were raised by third party

2019(3) Law Herald (SC) 1973 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 1245 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan Hon’ble Mr. Justice Navin Sinha Civil Appeal No. 5632…

Agreement to Sell—Subsequent Purchaser cannot be impleaded as defendant in the suit for specific performance of contract between buyer (original Plaintiff) and seller (original defendant) to which the subsequent purchaser was not a party and that to against the wish of the buyer (original Plaintiff)

2019(3) Law Herald (SC) 1966 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 1244 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.R. Shah Civil Appeal Nos. 5522-5523…

Second Appeal—In second appeal, in absence of cross-appeal or cross objections, High Court cannot go beyond the decree passed by Trial Court. Typographical Error—A “Note for speaking to Minutes” is required to be entertained only for the limited purpose of correcting a typographical error or an error through oversight, which may have crept in while transcribing the original order.

2019(1) Law Herald (P&H) 308 (SC) : 2018 LawHerald.Org 2061 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.K. Sikri Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan Hon’ble Mr. Justice…

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