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Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 11(4) — Appointment of Arbitrator — Existence of Arbitration Agreement — Non-Signatory/Third Party — The Referral Court (Appointing Authority) is required to inspect and scrutinize the dealings between the parties to prima facie examine the existence of an arbitration agreement, including whether a non-signatory is a “veritable party” to the agreement. (Paras 24, 25, 27, 28, 35) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 482 — Quashing of First Information Report (FIR) — Abuse of process of law — When civil dispute is masked as criminal complaint — Allegations in FIR (claiming criminal conspiracy, forcible occupation, and caste abuse) found inconsistent with contemporaneous civil suit filed by the informant regarding the same property and on the same day — Suit’s cause of action traced to earlier dates and did not mention the specific criminal incident alleged in the FIR — Absence of relief to set aside primary sale deeds in the suit suggests the criminal allegations are an afterthought or exaggerated — FIR quashed as a clear abuse of the process of law. (Paras 3, 6, 8, 9, 10) Service Law — Resignation — Forfeiture of past service — Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972 — Rule 26(1) — Distinction between Resignation and Voluntary Retirement — An employee who resigns from service forfeits past service as per Rule 26(1) of the 1972 Rules, regardless of the length of service completed (20 years or more) — The act of resignation cannot be re-classified as voluntary retirement to claim pensionary benefits, as this would nullify the distinction between the two concepts and render Rule 26 nugatory — Claim for pension correctly denied where the employee resigned from service. (Paras 3, 4, 6, 9, 9.1, 9.5, 9.6, 12) Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006 — Section 30 — Maintenance of Map and Field Book — Correction of Revenue Map — Scope of Section 30 — Section 30 allows the Collector to record annual changes in boundaries or correct errors or omissions detected in the map or field book (khasra) — It does not permit reopening an issue settled previously between parties regarding the location or extent of plots, especially when the earlier decision attained finality and was based on determined possession and ownership — Efforts to change the location of a purchased plot, which has already been subject to final determination under the predecessor law (Uttar Pradesh Land Revenue Act, 1901), do not fall within the scope of “correction of errors or omissions” under Section 30. (Paras 5.1, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 — Section 3(1)(xi) — Conviction and Requirement of Caste-Based Intention — High Court’s finding that the offence was committed “simply for reason that the complainant was belonging to scheduled caste” held perverse — No statement in court by the victim or PW-2 suggesting that the accused were motivated by the victim’s caste — Finding based on mere observation without evidence is unsustainable. (Para 20)

-Culpable Homicide–Murder–Sudden Fight–The help of Exception 4 can be invoked if death is caused (a) without premeditation, (b) in a sudden fight; (c) without the offender’s having taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner; and (d) the fight must have been with the person killed–To bring a case within Exception 4 all the ingredients mentioned in it must be found–Penal Code, 1860, Section 300 Exception 4 and Section 304 Part I.

2008(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 423 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aftab Alam  Appeal (crl.)  12 of 2008 …

Service Matters

Promotion–Relaxation in Rules–There should not be any relaxation in rules unless the eligible and qualified candidates are not available–Relaxation should not be exercised to perpetuate mistake. Promotion–Respondent was promoted though he was not eligible and qualified–Held; mistakes are mistakes and can be corrected by following the due process of law.

2008(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 417 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice C.K. Thakker The Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.M. Panchal Civil Appeal No. 5865 of 2007…

Respondent themselves have prayed for mense profits @ Rs. 900/- pm and while granting SLP Supreme Court has directed to deposit Rs. 900/- pm and fact that son of the appellant has inducted a tenant in a premises, adjacent to tenanted premises @ Rs. 20,000/- pm–Interim order of depositing Rs. 20,000/- pm charges to Rs. 5,000/- pm.

2008(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 416 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dalveer Bhandari  Appeal (civil)  56 of 2008  Sharma…

Estoppel–Electricity Tariff–Levy of Surcharge–Doctrine of estoppel would apply in the case where the promise was made and it would not be applicable if no such promise was made. Tariff approved by the Commission cannot be changed by the Licensee–In case if the licensee(Corporation) violates the tariff so fixed, appropriate legal action can be taken against it.

2008(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 392 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi  Appeal (civil)  5789 of 2002 …

Surplus area–Utilisation of–High Court referred decision related to Maharashtra and U.P. to decided against appellant but recorded no finding to the effect whether Maharashtra and U.P. Statutes have any provision similar to Section 10A(b) of Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, matter remitted to High Court to decide afresh.

2008(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 388 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. Sathasivam Civil Appeal No. 1645-1647 of…

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