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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)

Murder and Robbery—Accused threw deceased in the canal—No evidence that there has been any intention to cause death—Case falls under Section 304, Part II IPC. FIR—Delay in lodging of—Mere delay in lodging the first information report, cannot be held to be fatal to the prosecution case.

2007(4) LAW HERALD (SC) 2914 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.H. Kapadia The Hon’ble Mr. Justice B.Sudershan Reddy Criminal Appeal No. 1107 of 2007…

Chief Minister and Minister—Appointment of—Whether respondents being members of Rajya Sabha are disqualified under Article 164(4) and 164(1) of Constitution ? NO. Chief Minister and Minister—Appointment of—Person can be appointed, to continue in office without getting himself elected within a period of six consecutive months.

  2007(4) LAW HERALD (SC) 2908 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.P. Naolekar Civil Writ Petition No. 296…

Workman—Definition of—Nomenclature is not of any consequence. Whether a particular employee comes within the definition of workman has to be decided factually. Labour Law—Industrial Relation Executive—Plea that appellant was not doing managerial or administrate work, not accepted.

2007(4) LAW HERALD (SC) 2890 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta Civil Appeal Nos. 6543-6544 of…

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