Taxation – Classification – Article 14 – Validity of taxing only Virginia Tobacco – Andhra Act XIV of 1955 amended Section 5 of Madras General Sales Tax Act to impose tax on Virginia tobacco while exempting country tobacco (Nattu tobacco) – Held: Classification based on clear and intelligible differentia such as taste, texture, cultivation, usage, and marketability &n...
Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Section 11 – Res Judicata – Four partition suits decided by common judgment in 1944 on issue whether sale deed of 1885 by widow Sirtaji in favour of Mata Badal was for legal necessity – In Suit No. 98 (Kurthuwa lands), sale held invalid; appeal dismissed as time-barred in 1945, decree attained finality – In other suits (Nos. 99, 100), appe...
Hindu Marriage Act – Divorce – Grounds of Cruelty and Desertion – Marriage solemnized in 1974, wife allegedly insisted husband live separately from parents, frequently quarrelled, and ultimately deserted matrimonial home in 1984 leaving minor daughter – Husband filed divorce petition in 1992 – Family Court, after detailed evaluation of oral and documentary evidence, g...
Contempt of Court – Civil Contempt – Alleged violation of orders dated 07.03.2006 and 09.03.2007 – Petitioners alleged UPPSC suppressed facts, shifted stands and refused to disclose marks and cut-off – Respondents (Chairman and Secretary of UPPSC, and State) filed affidavits explaining compliance steps, production of merit lists and reasons for non-recommendation – Te...
Service Law – Trade Tax Officers – Limited Departmental Examination, 1987 – 97 posts withdrawn from UPPSC due to delays – Cabinet approved departmental selection – Appointments in 1987 described as ad hoc owing to interim High Court orders – Held: Government intended substantive appointments – 1987 appointees deemed substantively appointed from date of ini...
Service Law – Suppression of Criminal Cases in Attestation Form – Probationer in RPF – Termination Upheld - Respondent appointed as probationary constable in RPF in 1993, suppressed pendency of criminal cases under IPC including Section 376 in attestation form – Services terminated during probation upon verification report – High Court quashed termination for being st...
Service Law – Army Promotion – Judicial Review – Article 226 – Non-promotion to Colonel rank upheld – Appellant Lt. Col. challenged supersession despite allegedly better record than batchmates – Selection Board considered overall profile including ACRs, war reports, honours, courses, appointments, and disciplinary background – Held: Promotion to Colonel is...
Environment – Diversion of forest land for highways, transmission lines, mining, and Commonwealth Games projects – Conditional clearances granted subject to CEC recommendations, NBWL conditions, FC Act approval, and NPV payments [Paras 6-8, 26, 40-44].
Forest Land Diversion – National Highway Expansion – Wildlife Sanctuary Land – Conditional Approval - NHAI sought ...
Environmental Protection – Aravalli Mining – Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900 – Preparation of Macro Plans Ordered - CEC filed a report on mining activities in Aravalli region – Court directed that macro-level environmental and land use plans must be prepared before permitting site-specific projects including relocation of Trade Fair Authority, Police Training Academy, an...
Delhi Rent Control Act – Constitutionality of Section 14(1)(e) – Bona fide requirement – Discrimination between residential and non-residential premises – Section 14(1)(e) held partly unconstitutional – The classification restricting landlord’s right of eviction to residential premises only held violative of Article 14 – Provision read down to apply unifor...