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Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 168 — Just Compensation — Award of compensation for prosthetic limb — No fixed guidelines for compensation amount — Courts can deviate from governmental notifications if they are too low — Emphasis on “restitutio in integrum” principle to restore the claimant as close as possible to their pre-injury state — Claimants are entitled to choose private centres for prosthetic limbs and renewal costs should be considered — Compensation can be awarded for periodic replacement and maintenance of prosthetic limbs. Dispute over cadre change versus mere transfer — A transfer is a change of posting within the same service without altering seniority or substantive status, differing from a cadre change which involves a structural shift between services with significant implications for seniority and promotional avenues, requiring specific authority. Evidence Act, 1872 — Eyewitness testimony vs. Medical evidence — In case of conflict, eyewitness testimony, especially of an injured witness who is found to be reliable and has withstood cross — examination, is generally superior to expert medical opinion formed by an expert witness — Lack of independent witnesses does not automatically compromise the prosecution case, especially when societal realities suggest potential fear or hesitation Protracted Government Inaction and Third — Party Rights — Despite an initial timeline of two months for an inquiry and subsequent hopes for completion within six months, the government showed significant delay, stretching over six years without a final decision — During this period, extensive third — party rights were created through land sales and construction of villas and flats by innocent purchasers — The Court observed that it’s inappropriate for a welfare state to attempt to undo decades — old transactions, especially when innocent citizens have invested their hard — earned money, and basic amenities should not be denied to occupants of constructed properties. Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 vs. Government Grants Act, 1895 — Relationship Governed by Grant — A lease originating from a Government grant, as governed by the Government Grants Act, 1895, is not subject to the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 — The incidence and enforceability of such a grant are governed solely by its tenor — The legal character of the grant does not derive from conventional landlord — tenant relationships but from the sovereign grant and its embedded conditions — Therefore, eviction proceedings under the Delhi Rent Control Act are not maintainable for holdings originating from a Government grant.

Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958 — Section 48(1) — Refund of stamp duty — The appellants sought a refund of stamp duty paid for a property transaction that was later cancelled — The High Court dismissed their claim, holding that the amended six-month limitation period applied — The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that the unamended two-year limitation period applied, and the appellants were entitled to a refund.

2025 INSC 104 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH HARSHIT HARISH JAIN AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath, Sanjay…

Civil Dispute vs. Criminal Offence — The court emphasized that the dispute was essentially civil in nature (related to employment termination) and that initiating criminal proceedings was an abuse of the legal process. – Civil Dispute vs. Criminal Offence — The court emphasized that the dispute was essentially civil in nature (related to employment termination) and that initiating criminal proceedings was an abuse of the legal process.

2025 INSC 105 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MADHUSHREE DATTA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Dipankar Datta and Prashant…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Section 498A — Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 — Section 4 — The appellant was convicted for harassing his wife for dowry — The High Court modified the sentence from three years to two years imprisonment — The Supreme Court upheld the conviction but reduced the sentence to the period already undergone (approximately 3 months) and directed the appellant to pay Rs. 3,00,000 as compensation to the wife.

2025 INSC 106 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH M. VENKATESWARAN — Appellant Vs. STATE REP. BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE — Respondent ( Before : K.V. Viswanathan and S.V.…

Service Matters

Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 309 — Executive Orders as Recruitment Rules — The court affirms that in the absence of formal rules framed under Article 309 of the Constitution, executive orders issued by the government can serve as the governing recruitment rules — Specifically, Government Order (G.O.) dated 07th April, 2008 is recognized as the applicable executive order for the Medical Education Service.

2025 INSC 70 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH DR. SHARMAD Vs. STATE OF KERALA AND OTHERS ( Before : Dipankar Datta and Prashant Kumar Mishra, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

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