Inordinate Delay Cannot Be Condoned Without Reasons: Supreme Court Slams Madhya Pradesh High Court for Casual Approach in Condoning 1612 Days’ Delay Constitutional Rights & Witness Protection | State Authorities Cannot Victimise Litigants for Approaching Court: Supreme Court Review Jurisdiction is Not an Appeal in Disguise: Supreme Court Dismisses Konkan Railway’s Plea Over Employee’s Resignation Withdrawal Sexual Harassment Complaint Can Be Inquired by ICC at Woman’s Workplace Even if Accused Works Elsewhere: Supreme Court Settles Jurisdiction Under POSH Act Mandate Expired, Arbitrator Functus Officio: Supreme Court Orders Substitution After Delay in Arbitral Award Mere Delay in Execution Cannot Defeat Specific Performance Decree: Supreme Court Restores Buyer’s Right Despite 87-Day Delay Granting protection from arrest after refusing to quash the FIR is nothing short of backdoor anticipatory bail: Supreme Court Warns High Courts Against Judicial Overreach Routine Discord Is Not Cruelty: Supreme Court Quashes FIR Against Husband, Cautions Against Misuse of 498A IPC in Matrimonial Disputes State Cannot Name Villages After Individuals in Violation of Its Own Policy: Supreme Court Quashes Rajasthan’s Naming of ‘Amargarh’ and ‘Sagatsar’ as Arbitrary Deficiency in Service Not the Same as Medical Negligence: Supreme Court Upholds WB Clinical Commission’s Power to Award Compensation for Deficiency in Patient Care Bail Cannot Be Granted By Ignoring Prior Misuse Of Liberty: Supreme Court Cancels Bail In Case Where Accused Allegedly Murdered Prime Witness After Release Income Tax | Enduring Advantage Is Not Always Capital: Supreme Court Allows Deduction of Non-Compete Fee as Revenue Expenditure When Liberty is Made Conditional, the Constitution is at Risk: Supreme Court Allows Passport Renewal Despite Pending Criminal Cases Section 311 CrPC Is Not a Gateway for Speculative Testimony: Supreme Court Bars Minor Child’s Examination 7 Years After Dowry Death Truth May Wear Rags, But It Must Be Recognized: Supreme Court Upholds Conviction in Murder Case Despite Minor Inconsistencies in Eyewitness Testimony

"CIVIL LAW" Digest

Civil Law – Damages Suit - Electrocution Death – Strict Liability – Appeal Allowed – Trial Court awarded ₹5,08,400/- compensation to widow, children, and mother of deceased who fell from open terrace onto high-tension wire—High Court held that principle of strict liability under Rylands v. Fletcher and M.C. Mehta v. Union of India not applicable where accident was d...

Taxation Law – GST – Provisional Attachment – Reissuance of Provisional Attachment Orders Post-Lapse – Validity – Respondent issued fresh provisional attachment orders on 13th November 2024 and 18th December 2024 claiming them to be a ‘renewal’ of earlier orders dated 17th and 26th October 2023 – Appellant challenged the orders before Gujarat High Co...

Civil Law - Challenge Ordinance - Temple Management – Constitutionality of Ordinance – Prior Judicial Directions Modified – Interim Committee Constituted – Status Quo Restored – The Supreme Court dealt with a batch of writ petitions challenging the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, and seeking modification of earlier directions allowing...

Judicial Service Law  – Appointment from Waitlist – Rule 18 of DJS Rules – Petition Dismissed - The petitioner, waitlisted at Rank 5 under unreserved category in Delhi Judicial Services Exam 2022, sought appointment upon resignation of a selected candidate who had already joined – Held: Rule 18(vi) permits appointment from waitlist only in case of non-joining, not post...

Guardianship and Child Custody – Interim Custody During Summer Vacation – Expedited Order Directed – Petitioner-father sought interim custody of minor son during summer holidays pending decision in OP(G&W) No. 921/2021—Family Court delayed disposal of application—High Court directed disposal of IA No. 22/2025 (Ext.P7) without delay—Held: Delay could render a...

Writ Petition – Ex-parte Decree – Order 5 Rule 17 CPC – Section 96(2) CPC – Section 224 Rajasthan Tenancy Act – Three impugned judgments quashed – Petitioner assailed ex-parte decree (09.05.2002) and affirming appellate orders (21.07.2004; 22.09.2020) on ground of defective service and denial of hearing – Held: Appeal under Section 96(2) CPC against an ex-...

Bar Association Election – Interim Stay by Bar Council of India – Writ Petition for Recount of Votes – Petition Disposed – The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana had ordered a recount of votes in the election for President, District Bar Association, Chandigarh—Bar Council of India stayed the recount pending revision—Petitioner approached High Court seeking relief...

Matrimonial Law - Divorce – Mutual Consent – Section 13B HMA – Cooling-off Period Waived – During pendency of appeals, parties settled disputes and filed joint petition for divorce under Section 13B—High Court satisfied of voluntary, collusion-free consent—Held: Irretrievable breakdown of marriage established; parties living separately since 2017—Cooling-o...

Arbitration Law – Estoppel by Conduct – Consent Decree from Arbitral Award – Interim Measures Sought – Held Maintainable – Parties jointly appointed arbitrator and secured a consent decree in terms of the arbitral award which was not challenged – Respondents later opposed execution by claiming award was nullity under Section 92 CPC – Held: Respondents are ...

Limitation Law - Restoration of Appeal – Delay of 5,250 Days – High Court Order Set Aside – Appeal Allowed – Appellant challenged High Court’s order condoning an inordinate delay of 5,250 days in filing a restoration application for a First Appeal dismissed for non-prosecution – Restoration was granted in absence of non-applicants based only on affidavit of priv...