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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.

Revisional Jurisdiction–Revisional jurisdiction, when invoked by a private complainant against an order of acquittal, cannot be exercised lightly and that it can be exercised only in exceptional cases where the interest of public justice require interference for correction of manifest illegality or the prevention of gross miscarriage of justice.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 487 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.V. Raveendran The Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.M. Panchal Criminal Appeal No. 2420 of 2009…

Whether respondent entitled to rents and profits till the passing of interim order i.e. prior to 5-4-2002?– For the rents and profits collected prior to the date of order of status quo, the applicant would be required to file a suit to recover the same–Directions given to the appellants to hand over the possession of other properties, relates to the immovable properties of the estate and not to the rents and profits collected by the custodian from the estate prior to 5-4-2002–Two sets of properties dealt with separately–Since the amount recorded in the custodian’s ledger as being credited to the Estate of Raja of Mahmudabad represents the collections made from the estate prior to the order of status-quo passed on 5-4-2002, respondent given leave to recover the same by filing a suit–Applications dismissed.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 479 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph Civil Appeal No. 2501 of 2002…

State Government failed to appreciate that the decisions for publication of advertisements, calling for tenders and payment of salaries were made by the entire council and the President-Appellant could not be singled out for those decisions taken by the Council–Actions of the appellant, even if proved, only amount to irregularities, and not grave forms of illegalities, which may allow the State Government to invoke its extreme power under Section 41-A–removal orders, quashed–In the absence of a finding that any loss was caused, the decision of the State Government can not be sustained–Disqualification of the appellant expunged.      

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 474 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan The Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. Sathasivam Civil Appeal No. 222 of…

Service Matters

Major penalty was imposed upon him–Appellant preferred appeal–Division Bench remitted the matter to the Single Judge to be heard afresh–No serious infirmity with the impugned judgment of the Division Bench–However, the appellant has been facing inquiry and Court proceedings for almost twenty five years and at this stage remitting the matter to the Single Judge would be very harsh–Supreme Court directed that instead of withholding of two increments, three increments be withheld which should meet the ends of justice.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 464 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dalveer Bhandari The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly Civil Appeal Nos. 475-476 of…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S. 302–Murder–Murder of Wife–Circumstantial evidence –Burn injuries–Kerosene oil stove was planted at the site in a fake attempt to hide the homicidal death–Prosecution proved beyond pale of doubt that the deceased died a homicidal death and not an accidental death on account of bringing insufficient dowry and appellant having extra-marital affairs–Presence of kerosene oil on the body of the deceased and clothes put on by her, rules out the theory of accidental fire.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 455 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi The Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.M.Panchal Criminal Appeal No. 125 of 2009…

Investigation–Transfer of investigation to CBI–In an appropriate case when the court feels that the investigation by the police authorities is not in the proper direction,  it is always open to the court to hand over the investigation to the independent agency like CBI –Cannot be said that after the charge sheet is submitted, SC is not empowered, to hand over the investigation to an independent agency like CBI. Investigation–Transfer of investigation to CBI–Accusations are directed against the local police personnel in which high Police officials of the State involved– Direction issued to CBI to take up the investigation

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 441 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aftab Alam Writ Petition (Crl.) No.6 of 2007…

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