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Meritorious reserved category candidates must be considered against unreserved vacancies at the screening stage without availing any concession, prioritizing merit over category bias. The Commission under the WBCE Act has jurisdiction to adjudicate deficiencies in patient care services and qualifications of personnel, distinct from medical negligence handled by State Medical Councils. Income Tax Act, 1961 — Section 37(1) — Revenue Expenditure vs. Capital Expenditure — Non-compete fee — Whether payment of non-compete fee constitutes allowable revenue expenditure or capital expenditure — Non-compete fee is paid to restrain a competitor, which protects or enhances the business profitability and facilitates carrying on the business more efficiently — Such payment neither creates a new asset nor increases the profit-earning apparatus for the payer, meaning the enduring advantage, if any, is not in the capital field — The length of time of the advantage is not determinative if the advantage merely facilitates business operations, leaving fixed assets untouched — Payment of non-compete fee made by the appellant (formed as a joint venture) to L&T (previous partner) to restrain L&T from competing for 7 years was essentially to keep a potential competitor out and ensure the appellant operated more efficiently and profitably, without creating a new capital asset or monopoly — Held: Payment of non-compete fee is an allowable revenue expenditure under Section 37(1) of the Act. (Paras 16, 25-29) Evidence Act, 1872 — Section 118 — Competency of child witness — Effect of delay and tutoring — Although a minor child is competent to testify, the reliability and evidentiary value of testimony given many years after the event, especially when the child has been residing with the complainant’s family (maternal grandparents), is significantly affected by the high possibility of memory distortion and tutoring. (Paras 5, 7, 10.2) Service Law — High Court Staff — Regularization — Discrimination — Appellants (Operator-cum-Data Entry Assistants/Routine Grade Clerks) appointed by Chief Justice under Rules 8(a)(i), 41, and 45 of Allahabad High Court Officers and Staff (Conditions of Service and Conduct) Rules, 1976 — High Court refused regularization of Appellants while regularizing numerous similarly situated employees appointed through the same channel — Justification based on whether initial appointment was labelled ‘ad-hoc’ or whether appointment letter stipulated an examination — Held, distinction based solely on stipulations in appointment letters, when the channel of appointment and nature of work are identical, is arbitrary, unreasonable, and superficial — Such differential treatment violates Articles 14, 16, and 21 of the Constitution, as equals must be treated equally without rational differentia. (Paras 3, 4, 17, 23-28)

Accident—Recovery of Excess amount-Future Prospects—Deceased was aged 42 years—Claimants were entitled to an addition of 25% instead of 30% computed by the Tribunal—They were also entitled to compensation under conventional heads also—However, if the amount withdrawn is higher than total award then no recoveries is to be made

(2018) AAC 637 : (2018) 1 ACC 714 : (2018) AIR(SCW) 712 : (2018) AIR(SC) 712 : (2018) 2 JT 92 : (2018) 1 LawHerald(SC) 269 : (2018) 2 RCR(Civil) 118 : (2018) 1…

Service Matters

Service Law–Appointment–Lecturer–NET qualification is now minimum qualification for appointment of Lecturer and exemption granted to M.Phil, degree holders have been withdrawn and exemption is allowed only to those Ph.D. degree holders who have obtained the Ph.D. degree in accordance with 11.7.2009 regulations-Regulations 2009 of UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure).

(2018) AIR(SCW) 1148 : (2018) AIR(SC) 1148 : (2018) 1 ESC 94 : (2018) 2 JT 20 : (2018) 1 LawHerald(SC) 236 : (2018) 1 Scale 465 : (2018) 2 SCT 86 : (2018)…

Exparte Decree—Setting aside of—Remand of Case-After setting aside of ex-parte order Trial Court was required to issue fresh notice of the suit despite their non-appearance in first round of trial in suit and in O.9 R. 13 proceedings (as per local amendment in State of Kerala)—No such fresh notice was issued—High Court rightly remanded the case to trial court for fresh trial.

(2018) AIR(SCW) 718 : (2018) AIR(SC) 718 : (2018) 2 ALT 44 : (2018) 1 CTC 685 : (2018) 1 JT 484 : (2018) 1 LAR 189 : (2018) 1 LawHerald(SC) 233 : (2018)…

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