Land Acquisition – Compensation for Injurious Affection and Severance – Supreme Court examined the legality of the award concerning the acquisition of a trolley line and related infrastructure – Held that the High Court erroneously denied compensation for rails and sleepers in the unacquired portion of land, affirming the Reference Court’s award under this head – Clar...
Insolvency Law – Operational Creditor – Advance Payment – Supreme Court held that an advance payment for goods or services that remains unpaid due to contract termination constitutes an operational debt under the IBC – The appellant, having made an advance payment for light fittings which were not delivered after the project termination, qualifies as an operational creditor...
Service Law – Selection Grade – Clean Record Requirement – The respondent, who was compulsorily retired and faced 19 charge-sheets during his service, sought Selection Grade benefits – Supreme Court held that employees are entitled to Selection Grade only if their service record is satisfactory, which implies an unblemished record – The respondent's multiple disci...
Labour Law – Industrial Disputes Act – Contractors’ Workmen – The respondent Union representing workmen engaged by contractors claimed wages and service conditions at par with ONGC employees – Supreme Court upheld the Tribunal’s award, as modified by the High Court, finding that the settlement of 19th September 2016 did not bind the respondent workmen and that t...
Service Law – Premature Retirement – Entire Service Record Consideration – Supreme Court held that an order of premature retirement must consider the entire service record, including both adverse and positive entries, up to the time of retirement – Recent reports are given more weight but do not exclude earlier records – The High Court’s decision to ignore recor...
Labour Law – Section 33(C)(2) of Industrial Disputes Act – Jurisdiction of Labour Court – Supreme Court held that the Labour Court under Section 33(C)(2) cannot adjudicate disputes regarding entitlement or the basis of the claim of workmen – The Labour Court's jurisdiction is limited to interpreting the award or settlement on which the claim is based, akin to the jurisd...
Constitutional Law – Article 226 – Protocols for Funeral Rites – Supreme Court upheld a mutually agreed protocol and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between the Parsi Panchayat Board and the Union Government – The SOP ensures the observance of Parsi Zoroastrian funeral rites while adhering to Covid-19 safety guidelines – This decision resolves the dispute between t...
Civil Procedure – Modification of Consent Decree – Court's Inherent Powers – Supreme Court held that a consent decree can be modified under Sections 152 and 153 read with Section 151 of the CPC if it is vitiated by fraud, misrepresentation, or misunderstanding – The application for modification should be treated under the proviso to Order 23 Rule 3 read with Section 151...
Constitutional Law – Detention of Goods under CGST Act, 2017 – Release of detained goods under Articles 226 and 227 – Challenge against order of Assistant Commissioner detaining goods under Section 129 of CGST Act, 2017 – Authorities' power to check goods in transit when accompanied by valid documents – Investigation report relied upon to initiate proceedings unde...
Freedom Fighters' Pension – Eligibility Criteria – Supreme Court held that benefits under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme 1980 should be awarded only to those who meet the eligibility criteria specified in the scheme – Respondent's claim was based on being underground during the freedom struggle without sufficient documentary proof or the required Non-availab...