Supreme Court Strikes Down Expulsion of Bihar MLC as Disproportionate, Orders Immediate Reinstatement Private Banks Not Subject to Writ Jurisdiction Under Article 226: Punjab & Haryana High Court Mere Allegation of Forgery is Not Enough: Madhya Pradesh High Court Dismisses Second Appeal in Partition Dispute When a Case is Made Out for Bail, Courts Should Not Hesitate: Kerala High Court Allows Bail Despite Commercial Quantity of Drugs Seized Retailers Cannot Be Prosecuted for Manufacturer’s Fault" – Karnataka High Court Quashes Case Against Pesticide Dealers Mere Issuance of a Cheque Does Not Prove Legally Enforceable Debt": Delhi High Court Upholds Acquittal in Cheque Dishonor Case Courts Cannot Ignore Urgent Repairs When Public Safety is at Stake: Calcutta High Court Upholds Trial Court's Order Mutation Entries Do Not Confer Ownership: Bombay High Court Rejects Premature Dismissal of Partition Suit No Substantial Question of Law – High Court Cannot Re-Appreciate Evidence Under Section 100 CPC: Andhra Pradesh High Court Injunction Cannot Be Granted Without Proof of Possession: Allahabad High Court Quashes Relief in Land Dispute Section 197 CrPC | Sanction for Prosecution is a Shield, Not a Sword: Supreme Court Quashes Criminal Case Against BIS Officer Landlord is the Best Judge of His Needs: Supreme Court Orders Eviction in Favor of Landowner Vijaya Bank TT Scam | Supreme Court Acquits Jeweller in ₹6.7 Crore Vijaya Bank Fraud Case, Orders Return of 205 Gold Bars Procurement Preference for Small Enterprises is a Legal Mandate, Not a Mere Policy: Supreme Court Rules in Favor of MSMEs Revisional Jurisdiction Cannot Be Invoked Against Interlocutory Orders of Commercial Courts: Orissa High Court Declares Section 8 Bar Absolute Victim’s Testimony Must Be of Sterling Quality to Be Sole Basis of Conviction: Kerala High Court Reduces Sentence of Pastor Convicted for Repeated Rape of Minor Providing Set-Top Boxes to Subscribers Constitutes Sale”: Karnataka High Court Upholds VAT on Tata Play Limited Mere Registration of FIR Cannot Justify Denial of Passport Renewal: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court

"WRIT LAW" Digest

Taxation Law - Income Tax – Reassessment Proceedings – Rule Against Reopening Same Issue Twice – The petitioner’s income for AY 2017-18 was previously reassessed under Section 147 read with Section 144B based on allegations of undervaluation of shares – The assessment order passed on 29.03.2022 accepted the petitioner’s explanation and made no additions – ...

Service Law – Appointment as Aanganwadi Worker – Eligibility for BPL Bonus Marks – Petitioner’s appointment was annulled by the Commissioner, Rewa Division, on the ground that she erroneously received 10 bonus marks for BPL Category – The petitioner relied on a BPL card issued in the name of her co-sister (Jethani), which was later found to contain overwriting –...

Termination of Government Counsel – Violation of Principles of Natural Justice – Inquiry Based on Unverified Video – Termination Set Aside – The petitioner, who was serving as A.D.G.C. (Criminal) in District Hathras, was removed from his post by an order of the Joint Secretary, Law Department, based on an inquiry report alleging objectionable remarks against Mahatma Gandhi ...

Constitutional Law – Challenge to Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978 & Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984 – Not Considered – The Petitioners initially sought to challenge the constitutional validity of the Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978, and the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1984 – However, no substantial arguments were advanced in this regard &nda...

Service Law - Juvenile Justice Act – Applicability to Recruitment – Suppression of Criminal Case – Petitioner, a juvenile at the time of the alleged offence, did not disclose a pending criminal case in his attestation form when joining SSB – Termination of service on this basis held unsustainable – Juveniles are protected from disqualification under Section 19 of the ...

Animal Welfare – Fundamental Rights of Animals – Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 – Constitutionality Affirmed – The petitioners challenged the validity of Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, which mandates Resident Welfare Associations or Apartment Owner Associations to provide designated feeding spots for community animals – The responden...

Pension Law – Restoration of Commuted Pension – Period for Restoration – Petitioners, retired employees of Punjab National Bank, challenged the 15-year period prescribed under Regulation 41(4) of the Punjab National Bank (Employee) Pension Regulation, 1995, for restoration of commuted pension – Contended that lump sum amount paid on commutation is recovered within 10-11 yea...

Civil Writ - Challenge to the legality and procedural Mass Transfers of Panchayat Officials – Violation of Legislative Intent and Guidelines – Petitioners challenged mass transfers of Panchayat officials alleging they were carried out in violation of Section 89(8-A) of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, and guidelines framed in Kera Ram v. State of Rajasthan – Held: Legislat...

Writ - Mandamus - Compel the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to table - Constitutional Obligation – Laying of CAG Reports – Article 151(2) and Section 48 of the GNCTD Act – Laying of CAG reports in the legislature is a mandatory constitutional obligation under Article 151(2) of the Constitution and Section 48 of the GNCTD Act – Reports...

Service Law - Suspension of Home Guard Volunteer - Lack of Statutory Basis – Petitioner challenged suspension order dated 30.08.2019 and denial of subsistence allowance – Held: Punjab Home Guards Act, 1947, and Rules, 1963, lack provisions for suspension; instructions from Government of India and State Standing Orders permit suspension but fail to address subsistence allowance – ...