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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.

Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, S.166–Accident-Insurance–Pay & Recover- Insurance company held not liable to pay keeping in view breach of terms of policy—Insurance company contended since owner of offending vehicle has been proceeded exparte therefore it will be difficult to trace the owner so they are not liable to first pay and then recover—Contention rejected- Insurance company directed to pay & recover.

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2841 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1746 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice Dipak Misra Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar Hon’ble Mr. Justice…

Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, S.I38—Dishonour of Cheque—Legal enforceable debt—Cheques were issued towards repayment of capital infused by the complainant in the company of accused—Cheques were dishonoured with memo of ‘Stop payment’ and “Insufficient funds”–Accused admitted his signatures—Presumption under S.I39 would operate

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2829 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1744 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rohinton Fall Nariman Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Indu Malhotra Criminal Appeal No(S).…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S.482—Inherent Power—Stay of proceedings–Presence of parties–When the proceedings are stayed, there is no need for the parties to be in lower court till the stay is vacated or modified by the higher court, which granted the stay.

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2828 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1743 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Abdul Nazeer Transfer Petition(s)(Criminal) No(s).…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S.302~Murder—Premature Release—Petitioner has been in jail for over 29 years and with remission total sentence undergone is 36 years—Petitioner has also crossed the age of 60 years—As per rules a person who has crossed 60 years of age and served 16 years of sentence, without remission, is entitled to be considered for premature release- Directed accordingly.   

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2827 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1742 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph  Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Abdul Nazeer Writ Petition (Criminal)…

Pecuniary Jurisdiction—Objection with regard to pecuniary jurisdiction cannot be taken for the first time before the appellate court —Section 21 CPC contains a legislative policy which policy has an object and purpose—The object is also to avoid retrial of cases on merit on basis of technical objections

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2800 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1741 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.K. Sikri Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan Civil Appeal Nos. 9051…

Family Settlement—Gift deed—A reversioner who consents to an alienation by a widow or other limited right heir made without legal necessity or to an invalid surrender and transferees from him are precluded from disputing the validity of the alienation though he may have received no consideration for his consent.

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2789 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1614 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.V. Ramana Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar Civil Appeal No.…

Medical Negligence—Post surgery ailments—Patient was not able to prove that the ailments which she suffered after she returned from the hospital were result of faulty surgery (removal of Gall Bladder) by the doctor and such aliments were not normal post surgery effect-Complaint dismissed.

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2772 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1611 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vineet Saran Civil Appeal No.3971…

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