Rent Control – Eviction – Jurisdiction – Respondent filed for eviction due to non-payment of rent and personal necessity. The petitioner claimed ownership based on an unregistered sale deed, disputing tenant status and jurisdiction under the Rent Control Act. Rent Controller and Appellate Court held in favor of the respondent, affirming tenancy and non-payment of rent, rejecting the unregistered deed as proof of ownership. Petition dismissed by High Court, confirming the Rent Controller’s jurisdiction and dismissal of the unregistered sale deed [Paras 1-8].
Unregistered Sale Deed – Proof of Ownership – Petitioner’s claim of ownership based on an unregistered sale deed from 2010 rejected due to lack of a registered document. Tax receipts and independent evidence supported respondent’s ownership and tenancy claim. High Court upheld findings, emphasizing the necessity of registered documentation for proving ownership [Paras 5-6].
Jurisdiction under Rent Control Act – Rent Controller’s jurisdiction confirmed as rent was Rs.750/-, below the Rs.2,500/- threshold. High Court affirmed Rent Controller and Appellate Court’s findings, dismissing petitioner’s jurisdictional challenge [Paras 6-7].
Decision – Civil Revision Petition Dismissed – High Court found no grounds to interfere with lower courts’ orders. Petitioner’s inability to demonstrate ownership through a registered deed confirmed respondent’s ownership and entitlement to eviction. Petition dismissed without costs, pending miscellaneous petitions closed [Paras 7-8].
 

Criminal Law – Special Leave to Appeal – Petition filed under Section 378 (3) Cr.P.C. – Assailing acquittal in cheque bounce case where cheque issued by respondent was dishonored due to insufficient funds – Trial court acquitted respondent – Petitioner sought leave to appeal [Paras 1-4].

Section 138, 139 of Negotiable Instruments Act – Presumption and Burden of Proof – Petitioner argued that respondent did not dispute issuance or signature on the cheque – Presumption under Section 139 that cheque was issued for discharge of debt – Respondent failed to rebut this presumption – Trial court’s assessment challenged for improper appreciation of evidence [Paras 5-14].

Privity of Contract – Legally Enforceable Debt – No direct transaction between petitioner and respondent – Cheque issued allegedly to discharge loan of a third party (Sunil) – Lack of evidence of any agreement or contract between petitioner and respondent – No legally enforceable debt proven [Paras 10-14].

Criteria for Granting Leave – Judicial Scrutiny – Emphasized that leave to appeal is not a right – Must be based on substantial grounds showing error in trial court’s judgment – Safeguard to prevent undue harassment of acquitted persons – Leave to appeal should be granted only if lower court’s decision is materially flawed [Paras 5-17].

Decision – Petition Dismissed – No infirmities in trial court’s judgment – Lack of evidence to prove legally enforceable debt – No substantial grounds for appeal – Criminal original petition dismissed, and criminal appeal rejected at SR stage [Para 17].

Appointment – Essential Qualifications – Petitioner challenged the appointment of respondents 6 and 7 to the post of Tradesman – Contention that B.Tech does not qualify as a higher educational qualification for the post – Special Rules prescribe ITI or equivalent certificates – Court held B.Tech degree as a qualification in the same faculty, thus pre-supposing the lower qualification – Petition dismissed [Paras 1-19].

Recruitment Policy – Higher Qualification – Interpretation of Rule 10(a)(i) and (ii) – Supreme Court precedent in Jyoti K.K. applied – Higher qualification in the same faculty acceptable unless explicitly excluded by rules – Government orders and PSC decisions considered – Court deferred to the discretion of the appointing authority [Paras 14-19].

Decision: Writ Petition Dismissed – Appointment of respondent 6 upheld – B.Tech deemed sufficient under the rules – Petitioner’s qualifications acknowledged but no error found in respondent’s appointment process [Para 19].
 

Patents – Rejection of Patent Application – Appeal against rejection of patent application for method of preparation of Plasma-derived Hepatitis B Human Immunoglobulin Agent – Patent Controller’s order lacking discussion on prior arts and justifiable reasons – Remitted for fresh consideration [Paras 1-10].

Prior Arts – Lack of Discussion – Respondent failed to discuss cited prior arts documents D1 to D4 with specific reference to the appellant’s claimed invention – Summary rejection without detailed reasoning deemed unjustified [Paras 7-8].

Technical Features and Data – Appellant provided data and method steps not considered by Patent Controller – Findings on lack of inventive step and technical disclosure erroneous – Justifiable reasons for conclusions not supplied [Paras 8-9].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Patent application remitted for fresh consideration by a different Patent Controller – Fair hearing mandated within four months – No order as to costs [Paras 9-10].
 

Civil Procedure – Production of Additional Documents – Petitioner challenged the order of the Trial Court that partially allowed the application under Order VII Rule 14 CPC – Contention that documents were highly relevant for adjudication of the matter and were improperly excluded – Trial Court found the reasons for delay in preparing documents irrelevant – High Court dismissed the petition on grounds of unreasonable delay in filing and lack of cogent explanation for not producing documents earlier [Paras 1-37].

Petition under Article 227 – Timeliness and Diligence – Petition filed 21 months after the impugned order without sufficient explanation for delay – Court emphasized need for timely filing and reasonable explanations for delays – Petitioner’s conduct and lack of urgency noted as factors against them [Paras 22-26, 37].

Order VII Rule 14 CPC – Requirements and Discretion – Rule mandates that documents should be produced with the plaint unless leave of court is obtained – Petitioner’s failure to justify delay and improper reasons for document preparation highlighted – Court stressed that discretion under Rule 14 must be exercised judiciously with sound reasons [Paras 27-28, 36].

Decision: Petition Dismissed – Held – No interference with the Trial Court’s order – Petitioner’s explanations deemed insufficient and their conduct noted as not diligent or vigilant in pursuing the case [Paras 37].

Foreign Exchange Regulation – Contravention Allegations – ITC Limited challenged proceedings initiated under FERA for alleged unauthorized foreign exchange transactions – Key allegations include remittance of funds generated through counter trade and failure to repatriate amounts to India – Searches at ITC premises and recording of statements of executives supported allegations [Paras 1-14].

Adjudication and Criminal Proceedings – Impact of Exoneration – Petitioner exonerated in departmental adjudication proceedings – High Court analyzed whether such exoneration on merits could quash criminal proceedings – Reference made to Supreme Court precedents emphasizing that criminal proceedings cannot continue if adjudication exoneration on merits demonstrates allegations are unsustainable [Paras 15-40].

Merits of Evidence – Reliance on Executive Statements – Examination of statements from ITC executives and directors revealed inconsistencies – Adjudicating authority found statements to be general, vague, and unsupported by concrete evidence – High Court upheld adjudicating authority’s conclusions, determining that continuation of criminal proceedings would be an abuse of process [Paras 41-55].

Decision – Revisional Application Allowed – Held – Complaint case pending before Metropolitan Magistrate quashed – High Court reiterated the principle that criminal prosecution must cease when adjudicatory findings on merits exonerate accused of all allegations – Emphasized adherence to higher standards of proof in criminal cases [Paras 56-60].

Execution of Decree – Back Wages Liability – Petitioner, an Education Officer, challenged orders directing her to pay back wages to the decree holder, a terminated Assistant Teacher – School Tribunal's judgment reinstating the teacher with back wages became final – High Court held State Government primarily liable for payment, not the individual officer – Orders of Executing Court directing personal recovery against Education Officer modified to impose liability on State Government – Petition dismissed with directions for the State to comply with the Tribunal’s judgment [Paras 1-35].

Superintendence of High Court – Article 227 of the Constitution – High Court's power to vary orders of the Executing Court – Emphasized need for prompt compliance with judicial orders to prevent frustration of decrees – Directed State Government to pay outstanding dues promptly and granted liberty to recover amounts from School Management [Paras 31-35].

Decision – Writ Petition dismissed – Held – Executing Court’s orders modified – State Government directed to pay full back wages to the decree holder and recover from the School Management if necessary – No stay on the judgment despite request from State Government [Paras 28-36].

Criminal Procedure – Application under Section 91 Cr.P.C. – Quashing of Trial Court Order – Petitioner sought to quash the order directing partial production of documents from the respondent – Contention that complete documents including invoices with UDID numbers for 2017-2020 were necessary for defense – Trial Court allowed production only for 2018 transactions with conditional directive “if any” – High Court upholds Trial Court’s order – Observes that the trial pertains only to the 2018 cheque dishonour and documents for other years irrelevant – Application for documents from 2017-2020 rejected as fishing enquiry – Adverse inference permissible if documents not produced [Paras 1-10].

Section 91 Cr.P.C. – Scope and Application – High Court clarifies Section 91 cannot be used for roving or fishing enquiries – Accused must justify necessity of documents for the specific trial year – Permits adverse inference if relevant documents not produced [Paras 7-10].

Reliability of Evidence – Witness Testimony and Document Production – High Court supports Trial Court’s approach in limiting document production to 2018, the transaction year – Highlights discretion under Section 91 Cr.P.C. – Adverse inference under Section 114 of the Evidence Act applicable if documents not furnished [Paras 9-10].

Decision: Petition dismissed – Trial Court’s order upheld – Petitioner’s request for documents beyond 2018 denied – Option to seek adverse inference maintained.

Industrial Disputes - Settlement Validity - Appellants, retired employees, were denied IDA increments due to a 12(3) Settlement dated 03.11.2017 between Trade Unions and Management - Settlement excluded those retired before 01.04.2017 - Appellants not parties to the settlement - Court held that the settlement, being unjust and discriminatory, did not bind the appellants - Orders denying IDA increments set aside [Paras 6-14].

Settlement Exclusion - Challenge Requirement - Court noted appellants need not challenge the 12(3) Settlement as they were not parties and had retired prior to the settlement - Relief granted in line with earlier Court orders mandating IDA increments [Paras 12-14].

Financial Constraint Argument - Rejected - Court dismissed respondent's argument of financial constraints as a ground for denying statutory dues - Emphasized compliance with judicial orders [Paras 13-14].

Representation and Service - Court noted appellants' long, unblemished service and unjust exclusion from IDA benefits despite favorable Court orders - Directed compliance with prior directives to grant IDA increments from January 2016 to retirement date [Paras 6-14].

Contempt of Court - Earlier Non-Compliance - Noted previous Court orders (01.03.2016 and 12.07.2017) in W.P.No.13121/2013 and W.A.No.899/2016 mandating IDA increments were not adhered to by respondents - Appellants' representations ignored, leading to contempt petition - Current decision reiterates enforcement of these orders [Paras 7-12].

Decision: Writ Appeal allowed - Orders denying IDA increments set aside - Respondents directed to grant IDA increments from January 2016 to the date of retirement as per earlier judicial orders.