Hindu Law – Succession – Self-acquired Property – Inheritance Rights – Property of a male Hindu dying intestate – Daughter’s right to inherit – Property to devolve by inheritance, not survivorship – Daughter entitled to inherit father’s self-acquired property in preference to collaterals – Recognized under old customary Hindu Law and judi...
Specific Performance – Readiness and Willingness – Financial Capacity and Conduct – Court must assess both financial capacity and conduct of the plaintiff in determining readiness and willingness – Delay in performance, conduct inconsistent with agreement obligations, or inequitable benefit to plaintiff can bar specific performance – Contractual obligations, particula...
Land Tax – Vested Forest Lands – Validity of Ownership – Respondents' claims to ownership based on canceled jenmam rights and purchase certificates – Forest Tribunal's ruling against respondents stands unchallenged – Acceptance of basic tax from respondents would wrongly imply ownership – Appeal allowed [Paras 1-7].
Judicial Review – Role of Civ...
Competition Law – Jurisdiction of CCI – Anti-competitive Practices – CCI's role in investigating bid rigging, collusive bidding, and cartelization in lottery tenders – Lottery business regulated under Lotteries (Regulation) Act but CCI jurisdiction affirmed for anti-competitive aspects – Premature High Court intervention criticized – Proceedings remanded to ...
Trade Marks – Infringement – Identical Marks – Defendant’s use of a mark identical to the plaintiff’s registered mark – Presumption of confusion – Section 29 of Trade Marks Act applied – High Court erred by not acknowledging the legislative scheme presuming confusion when identical marks are used for similar goods/services – Appeal allowed with...
Promotion – Inspector General of Police's Authority – Punjab Police Rules – IG's power to review SP's recommendations for promotion under the 10% outstanding performance quota – Rule 13.7(14) empowers IG to scrutinize and approve SP's list – SP's recommendation not final until IG's approval – Three-stage scrutiny required for selection as...
Service Law – Departmental Proceedings – Jurisdictional Error – High Court erred in acting as an appellate court on merits – Departmental inquiry found respondent guilty of misconduct based on preponderance of evidence – Tribunal's findings on fraud and forgery upheld – Evidence led by the bank sufficient – High Court's remittance to Tribunal for e...
Criminal Law – Appeal Against Acquittal – High Court’s Duty – High Court must reappreciate entire evidence in detail in a first appeal against acquittal – General observations without detailed reappreciation inadequate – Presumption of innocence strengthened by trial court’s acquittal – Appeal allowed for reconsideration [Paras 1-8].
Appellate Jur...
Civil Procedure – Summary Suit – Leave to Defend – General Rule and Exception – Leave to defend should be granted unless the defendant has no substantial defence – Denial of leave is exceptional – Appellant raised triable issues regarding liability – High Court erred in denying leave – Appeal allowed with leave to defend granted [Paras 1-21].
Lega...
Service Law – Issuance of NOC – Appellant was appointed as a JBT Teacher in 2000 – Haryana Public Service Commission advertised 1647 posts of Assistant Professor (College Cadre) in Haryana on 16.02.2016 – Appellant applied for the post of Assistant Professor (History) and requested a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the appointing authority – Despite applying timel...