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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.

Service and Labour Law–Industrial Disputes Act,1947, Section 25F–Termination–Workman appointed as a Security Guard in the Telecom Department on 1-10-1996–Terminated from service on 1-6-1999–Termination challenged on the ground that provisions of section 25F of the I D. Act had not complied with as he had completed 240 days of service before the impugned order

  2007(5) LAW HERALD (SC) 3874   IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee The Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. Sathasivam Civil Appeal No. 4264…

Administration of Justice–It cannot be laid as a rule of universal application that whenever any learned Single Judge had dealt with a case even for routine purposes like issue of process or rectification of defect or even to pass an order of adjournment, that would preclude him from hearing the appeal.

  2007(5) LAW HERALD (SC) 3856  IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.K. Jain Civil Appeal No. 4266 of…

Contraband–Secret Information–Fax message–The contents of a document could be held to have been proved in terms of section 66 only when the contents are decipherable and not otherwise. Contraband–Secret information–An officer who received such information was bound to reduce the same in writing and not for the person who hears thereabout.

  2007(5) LAW HERALD (SC) 3847 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi Criminal Appeal No. 311…

Appeal against acquittal–Interference with a judgment of acquittal may not be made when two views are possible to be taken, but when on appraisal thereof, only one view is possible, the appellate court would not hesitate to inerfere with the judgment of acquittal. Nobody shall be compelled to be a witness against himself –To be a witness” may be equivalent to “furnishing evidence” in the sense of making oral or written statements, but not in the larger sense of the expression so as to include giving of thumb impression or impression of palm or foot or fingers or specimen writing or exposing a part of the body by an accused person for purpose of identification.

   2007(5) LAW HERALD (SC) 3830   IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.S. Bedi Criminal Appeal Nos. 1394-1395 of…

Cognizance–Taking of–Power of Magistrate–Explained. Final Report–Protest Petition–Notice to informant–Magistrate has to give notice to the informant and provide an opportunity to be heard at time of consideration of report. Final Report–Notice to informant–The informant is entitled to a notice and an opportunity to be heard at the time of consideration of the report– Position is different so far as an injured person or a relative of the deceased, who is not an informant, is concerned. They are not entitled to any notice.

  2007(5) LAW HERALD (SC) 3824   IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta Criminal Appeal No.…

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