PIL - Motor Vehicles – High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) – Enforcement of Statutory Scheme – States directed to take final decision within six months – Petitioner sought implementation of Supreme Court's earlier judgment in Association of Registration Plates v. Union of India regarding mandatory use of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) under Rule 50 of CMV...
Constitutional Law – Article 14 – Equality before Law – Discretion under Section 19 of Slum Areas Act – Challenge on ground of unguided and arbitrary power – Held: Though Section 19(3) does not expressly lay down guidelines, its operation is controlled by the object and purpose of the Act as reflected in the Preamble and operative provisions – Sufficient legisla...
Criminal Law – Sentence of Transportation for Life – Nature and Legal Effect – Petitioner convicted for murder under Section 302 IPC and sentenced to transportation for life – Held: Even before the 1955 amendment, such sentence did not necessarily involve deportation overseas – As per Pandit Kishori Lal v. King Emperor, transportation for life is to be treated as rigo...
Mines and Minerals – Scope of Coal Bearing Areas Act – Applicability to Worked or Dormant Mines – Notification under Section 4 – Whether Limited to Virgin Land – Held: Act applies not only to virgin land but also to dormant collieries and previously worked mines not actively operated at the time of notification – Notification under Section 4 is not ultra vires m...
Constitutional Law – Article 19 – Validity of Section 144 CrPC – Wide powers conferred on magistrates under Section 144 CrPC challenged as violative of the fundamental rights to free speech and peaceful assembly – Held: Powers under Section 144 are preventive in nature, meant to deal with urgent situations to maintain public order – Exercise of such power is judicial ...
Constitutional Law – Article 14 – Discretionary Power – Section 19 of the Slum Areas Act – Validity of Legislative Guidance – Challenge to Section 19(3) of the Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956 on ground that it vests arbitrary power in competent authority to permit or refuse execution of eviction decrees – Held: Provision constitutionally valid &...
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...
PIL - Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 – Independence of Judiciary – Articles 14, 19(1)(g), 21, 50, 323B – Validity of provisions on Adjudicating Authorities and Appellate Tribunal – Petition partly allowed – PIL challenged provisions of PMLA and Rules of 2007 alleging executive dominance in selection/removal of adjudicatory members – Held: Judicial inde...
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 ...
Constitutional Law – Writ - Article 14 – “One-man legislation” – Proviso to Section 11(1A), AIIMS (Amendment) Act, 2007 – Held unconstitutional – Amendment directed only against incumbent Director P. Venugopal, prematurely terminating his five-year tenure without justifiable reasons or safeguards – Such singling out constitutes naked discrimination, ...