Tender Law – Judicial Review – Scope – Writ petition dismissed – Petitioner, an unsuccessful bidder, challenged acceptance of bid of 2nd opposite party on two grounds: (i) signing as "Rajesh Nayak" instead of full name "Rajesh Kumar Nayak"; and (ii) non-furnishing of details in Schedule-B (Certificate of List of Work in Hand) – Tender Committee, in its meeting dated 18.12.2024, found that the bid was submitted online using Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), which is a secure credential that cannot be used without the owner's knowledge, and that Schedule-B was not a mandatory condition of the TCN – Held: A writ court does not sit as an appellate authority over the Tender Committee; judicial review goes to the decision-making process, not the decision itself – No arbitrariness, irrationality, mala fides, or perversity demonstrated by the petitioner [Paras 6-8.17].

Tender Conditions – Mandatory vs. Directory – Schedule-B (work in hand certificate) and Check List under Schedule-E not designated as "mandatory" in the TCN checklist, unlike Schedule-F (Affidavit) which was expressly marked mandatory – Requirements in a tender notice classifiable into two categories: essential conditions requiring strict compliance and ancillary conditions where deviations are permissible – In the instant case, since Schedule-B was not an essential condition and almost all bidders had not submitted it properly, the Tender Committee's acceptance of the bid was not in error – Held: Non-filling of all columns of Schedule-B does not entail rejection of bid [Paras 7.6-8.2].

Digital Signature – Authenticity – Bid submitted online by 2nd opposite party using his DSC; no objection raised by petitioner to that fact – Variation in signature as "Rajesh Nayak" instead of "Rajesh Kumar Nayak" inconsequential in view of verified DSC submission – Tender Committee's decision to obtain an affidavit explaining the discrepancy, while not rejecting the tender, was a reasonable exercise of discretion – Held: Sanctity is attached to online bid submission by DSC; signature variation cannot be used to vitiate such bid [Paras 6-6.4].

Proportionality of Judicial Intervention – Public Interest – Work order was already issued on 22.01.2025 and 2nd opposite party had completed about 50% of work in one item before stay was granted – Court noted principle actus curiae neminem gravabit (an act of the Court shall prejudice no one) while vacating interim order – Directed works to be implemented forthwith with suitable modification of duration on mutually agreeable terms – Writ petition dismissed with no order as to costs [Paras 10.1-12].

Decision: Writ petition dismissed – Interim order vacated – Works to be implemented forthwith on mutually agreeable terms – No costs.

Adoption Law — Intercountry Relocation — HAMA Adoption — NOC by CARA — Adoption (Amendment) Regulations, 2021 — Adoption Regulations, 2022 — Petitioner no. 1 (minor) adopted by petitioners nos. 2 and 3 under HAMA, 1956 by adoption deed dated 08.02.2021 — Petitioners sought relocation of the child to Canada, a Hague Convention signatory — District Magistrate, Ferozepur furnished a Verification Report under Regulation 22B(1) and Schedule XXXIII — CARA, instead of issuing an NOC, issued merely a 'Support Letter' and marked the application as "rejected" on the portal with the remark "matter cannot be taken up as it is related to HAMA" — Held: Chapter IV-A of the 2021 Regulations is expressly titled to govern adoptions concluded under HAMA, 1956 where parents seek to relocate the child abroad — Upon receipt of verification report, CARA is mandated under Regulations 22B(2) and 22E(1) to ensure compliance with Articles 5 and/or 17 of the Hague Convention — The obligation to pursue and facilitate this compliance rests on CARA, not on the adoptive parents — CARA's abdication of its responsibility by issuing a mere support letter is untenable — Petition disposed of with directions [Paras 17–27, 34–35].

Hague Convention — Articles 5 and 17 — Central Authority's Obligation — Cooperation Between States — CARA and Canadian Authorities — Article 7(1) of the Hague Convention mandates cooperation between Central Authorities of the State of origin and the receiving State for the welfare and protection of the child — CARA proceeded on a misconception that the matter could not be taken up as the adoption was under HAMA — No objection by CARA as to the validity of the adoption — Held: CARA is directed to liaise with Canadian authorities, convey the statutory and regulatory position, and thereafter issue an NOC upon conclusion of the exercise under Articles 5 and/or 17 [Paras 28–35].

Best Interest of Child — Paramount Consideration — Adoption Regulations Cannot Be Construed to Leave Validly Adopted Children Without Relief — A construction that precludes parents who have effected a valid HAMA adoption from obtaining relocation approval under the 2021 Regulations would be contrary to the express wording of those Regulations and the paramount principle of the best interest of the child — Such construction is not acceptable [Paras 14, 25, 30].

Decision: Writ petition disposed of — CARA directed to liaise with Canadian authorities and convey the regulatory and statutory position — CARA further directed to issue NOC to petitioners upon conclusion of the exercise under Articles 5 and/or 17 of the Hague Convention — Pending applications disposed of.

Customs Law – Export Incentives – RoDTEP Scheme – Sugar Exports – Denial of Benefit – Petitioners engaged in export of white refined sugar (ITC(HS) Code 17011490) availed duty credit under RoDTEP Scheme – Export policy of sugar amended from "free" to "restricted" by Notification No. 10/2015-20 dated 24 May 2022, with exports permitted under specific permission of Directorate of Sugar – Revenue denied RoDTEP benefit treating such exports as ineligible "restricted" exports under Notification No. 76/2021-Customs (N.T.) – Held: Sugar exported with specific permission under prescribed conditions cannot be treated as a totally restricted or prohibited item so as to deprive petitioners of RoDTEP benefits – Petitioners entitled to duty credit under the Scheme [Paras 3-4, 9, 22].

Export Policy – Restricted vs. Prohibited Exports – RoDTEP Ineligibility – Item No. 1 of Table 1 to Notification No. 76/2021 excludes from RoDTEP duty credit goods "restricted or prohibited for export" – Revenue contended that sugar, post-Notification dated 24 May 2022, became blanketly ineligible – Held: The said notification does not impose a total embargo; it permits export with specific permission and prescribed quota – Characterising quota-permitted exports as "restricted/prohibited" is a misreading of the notification – Revenue's position contrary to the policy conditions set out in the notification itself [Paras 19-22].

Precedent – Finality of High Court Decision – Uniform Policy – Division Bench of Gujarat High Court in Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd. and M/s. Satyendra Packaging Ltd. held that RoDTEP benefit cannot be denied to sugar exporters acting under specific Government permission – Department's SLP dismissed by Supreme Court on 26 April 2024 – Department's own communications accepted finality of the Gujarat High Court orders and proceeded to grant benefit to those petitioners – Held: Once an issue has attained finality in view of an authoritative pronouncement by a High Court, the department ought not to re-agitate the same before other High Courts; doing so invites conflicting interpretations and judicial chaos – Principle of inter-High Court comity and uniform policy on Central legislation affirmed following Maneklal Chunilal & Sons Ltd. and Jayantilal Ramanlal & Co. [Paras 23-25].

Relief – Refund with Interest – Petitioners who were not granted RoDTEP benefit directed to be granted the same – Where benefit was already granted but subsequently recovered from petitioners, refund of amount so recovered directed within four weeks along with interest at 6% per annum – No coercive recovery action to be taken where benefit has been granted [Paras 26-27, Order clauses (i)-(iv)].

Decision: Petitions allowed – Petitioners held entitled to RoDTEP benefit – Respondents directed to grant rebate under the Scheme to petitioners who exported sugar under specific permission – Petitioners from whom benefit was recovered directed to be refunded with 6% p.a. interest within four weeks – No coercive action for recovery to be taken – Rule made absolute. No costs.

Service Law – Disciplinary Proceedings – Unauthorized Absenteeism – Removal from Service – Writ Petition Dismissed – Petitioner-Senior Assistant remained absent from duty from 22.04.2014 without obtaining leave or intimating the management, accumulating loss of pay for 993 days as on the date of the Charge Memo dated 29.03.2017 under Rules 4(7) and 4(8) of the CDA Rules 2014 – Petitioner neither replied to the Charge Memo nor participated in inquiry proceedings held between 13.07.2017 and 27.07.2017, leading to an ex parte inquiry report – After providing opportunity to respond to the inquiry report, Appointing Authority by order dated 10.01.2018 imposed penalty of removal from service – Appellate Authority and Chairman-cum-Managing Director both upheld the penalty – Held: No violation of principles of natural justice established; Petitioner herself chose to remain absent and not cooperate with inquiry proceedings; all notices and charge memos were duly served; penalty commensurate with prolonged unauthorized absence [Paras 9–11, 16, 31].

Doctrine of Proportionality – Punishment Not Disproportionate – Prolonged Absence for Over Three Years – The petitioner, relying on various precedents, contended that the penalty of removal was disproportionate to the misconduct – Held: The doctrine of proportionality is attracted only when the punishment imposed shocks the conscience of the court – Petitioner's unauthorized absence extended for more than three years without any valid justification, without provision of contemporaneous medical evidence, and without cooperation with inquiry proceedings – Punishment commensurate with the gravity of misconduct and not shockingly disproportionate – Following North-Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation v. Ashappa, 2006(5) SCC 137 and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board v. T.T. Murali Babu, 2014(4) SCC 108, remaining absent for a long period cannot be treated as a minor misconduct [Paras 14, 28–29, 31].

Medical Ground – No Contemporaneous Evidence – Afterthought – Petitioner claimed prolonged ill-health on account of Polymenorrhagia, fibroid surgery, fissures, piles and anaemia as justification for absence – Held: Medical certificates were produced belatedly, the additional affidavit containing documentary evidence filed in March 2025 appeared to be an afterthought – Petitioner's illness was not of such serious nature as to warrant absence from duty for over three years without keeping the management informed – Petitioner failed to provide medical evidence during inquiry or prior to the Charge Memo [Paras 11, 23, 31].

Decision: Writ Petition dismissed – No costs.

Criminal Law — Murder — Transfer of Malice — Section 301 IPC — Doctrine of Transmigration of Motive — Bail Pending Appeal Rejected — Appellant convicted under Sections 302, 307, 506(2) IPC and 3/25 Arms Act for shooting dead Shakir, who was a bystander, while intending to shoot the informant — Appellant's plea that offence cannot travel beyond Section 304 IPC as he had no intention to kill the deceased rejected — Held: Under Section 301 IPC, if a person does an act intending to cause death of one person but causes death of another, the culpable homicide is of the same description as it would have been had the intended victim died — Intention to kill stands transferred — Bail application rejected [Paras 7–10].

Bail — Suspension of Sentence — Section 389 CrPC — Criminal Antecedents — Appellant claimed no criminal history but State placed on record 27 criminal cases against him including cases of murder, attempt to murder, dacoity with murder and Arms Act offences — Supplementary affidavit failed to satisfactorily explain the criminal history — Held: Appellant is a man of criminal character — No case made out for bail [Paras 9–10].

Decision: Bail application under Section 389 CrPC rejected — Appeal listed for hearing on 06.07.2026.

Criminal Law — Murder — Common Intention — Section 34 IPC — Conviction Upheld — Appellants Raj Narain, Kamlesh and Rajendra Prasad came to the field armed with gun, lathi and spade on 09.06.1984 and forcibly diverted the deceased's water course — On being confronted, appellants 2 and 3 exhorted to kill, whereupon appellant 1 fired at the deceased causing his death — Trial court convicted appellant 1 under Section 302 IPC and appellants 2 and 3 under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment — High Court upholds conviction — Held: Prior conduct of arriving armed, exhortation at the time of incident and fleeing together thereafter conclusively establish common intention — Appeal dismissed — Conviction and sentence confirmed [Paras 23, 37–39, 57–58].

Common Intention — Section 34 IPC — Scope and Application — Pre-arranged Plan — Exhortation as Evidence of Meeting of Minds — Section 34 IPC does not create a distinct offence but lays down the principle of constructive liability — Common intention need not be pre-planned from long before; it can be formed on the spot — Exhortation by appellants 2 and 3 to kill the deceased, coupled with their armed arrival and subsequent flight, constitutes sufficient proof of meeting of minds — Separate residence and absence of prior enmity are not grounds of acquittal once common intention is otherwise proved [Paras 30–38].

Ocular Evidence — Credibility — Eye Witnesses P.W.1 and P.W.2 — Cross-Examination Failed to Dislodge Testimony — P.W.1 (son of deceased) and P.W.2 (brother-in-law) are the principal eye witnesses whose testimonies were not shaken in cross-examination on any material aspect including presence of accused, manner of crime and exhortation — Presence of P.W.2 on spot corroborated by P.W.1 and P.W.4 — Cannot be discarded as chance witness [Paras 24–25].

Hostile Witness — P.W.4 — Evidentiary Value — P.W.4 (Kailash Narain) turned hostile but in cross-examination corroborated the time and place of incident, presence of P.W.1 and P.W.2, and identified persons fleeing with a gun and lathi — Further evidence of appellant 2 procuring a false affidavit from P.W.4 to prevent testimony reflects consciousness of guilt — Statement of hostile witness relevant under Section 8 of the Evidence Act [Paras 27–29].

Medical Evidence — Conflict with Ocular Evidence — Two Injuries from Single Fire — Doctor opined both injuries could have been caused by single fire; opinion of two fires was merely on suggestion and unsubstantiated by evidence — Use of a self-loaded cartridge with non-standard wadding piece explains close-range charring — No irreconcilable conflict between medical and ocular evidence [Paras 26, 44–46].

Ante-Time FIR — 250 C.C. Semi-Digested Food — Contention that the deceased could not have been murdered at 08:00 AM as semi-digested food found in stomach implies he must have eaten much earlier — Held: In rural households, persons going to fields commonly take light food or liquid before leaving — FIR is not ante-time [Para 46].

Criminal Procedure — Section 313 CrPC — Statement Recorded on Old Proforma — Section 364 CrPC 1898 — Vitiating Effect — Statement of accused recorded on proforma prescribed under Section 364 CrPC 1898 though court's own order referred to Section 313 CrPC 1973 — Held: By virtue of Section 484(2)(b) CrPC 1973 and Section 8 of the General Clauses Act 1897, forms prescribed under the old code are deemed prescribed under the corresponding provision of the new code — Mere reference to wrong provision does not vitiate proceedings unless prejudice is shown — No prejudice demonstrated by appellants [Paras 49–52].

Investigation — Tainted Investigation — Non-Recovery of Gun — Defects in Investigation Not Fatal if Charge Otherwise Proved — Non-recovery of the gun and minor investigative lapses do not entitle the accused to acquittal if the charge is proved beyond reasonable doubt by reliable ocular evidence [Para 48].

Decision: Appeal dismissed — Conviction of Kamlesh (appellant 2) and Rajendra Prasad (appellant 3) under Section 302 IPC read with Section 34 IPC and sentence of life imprisonment confirmed — Appeal on behalf of Raj Narain (appellant 1) had already abated upon his death — Appellants 2 and 3 directed to surrender within two weeks before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Pratapgarh.

Hindu Succession – Intestate Succession of Female Hindu – Section 15 HSA – Plaintiff's Entitlement – Interim Relief Refused – Plaintiff-brother filed administration suit claiming sole heirship of his deceased sister who died intestate, contending that the gift deed and Will executed by her were void – Defendant No.1 appointed Executrix under Will dated 10.04.2023, and probate obtained on 07.03.2026 – Held: Under Section 15(1) of the HSA, property of a female Hindu dying intestate devolves first upon sons, daughters and husband, secondly upon heirs of the husband, thirdly upon mother and father, fourthly upon heirs of the father, and lastly upon heirs of the mother – Since deceased had no children, her husband pre-deceased her, but her husband's sister Mrs. Shridevi Ruparel survived, the latter falls in entry 'b' (heirs of husband) under Section 15(1) and, by virtue of Section 16, excludes the plaintiff who falls in entry 'd' (heirs of father) – Plaintiff therefore has no entitlement to the estate of the deceased under intestate succession [Paras 57–69].

Constitutionality of Section 15(1) HSA – Single Judge Finding Not Binding – The plaintiff relied upon Mamta Dinesh Vakil v. Bansi S. Wadhwa (2012 SCC OnLine Bom 1685) wherein a Single Judge declared Section 15(1) unconstitutional – Held: The Single Judge had directed that the issue of constitutionality be referred to the Division Bench; the Division Bench declined to decide the constitutional question on the ground that it was unnecessary on the facts of that case and gave no finding of unconstitutionality – Section 15(1) has not been declared unconstitutional and continues to be applied by the Supreme Court – Law Commission's 207th Report recommending modification of Section 15 has not been legislatively implemented and cannot carry the plaintiff's case further [Paras 62–71].

Probate – Effect on Interim Relief – Probate as Authenticated Evidence of Will – Defendant No.1 obtained probate of the Will dated 10.04.2023 on 07.03.2026 – Plaintiff failed to file a caveat in the probate proceedings, which amounts to an admission of absence of caveatable interest – By virtue of the probate, the property of the deceased vested in Defendant No.1 from the date of the deceased's death – Unless and until the probate is revoked, interim reliefs in the administration suit cannot be granted – Plaintiff's petition for revocation of probate to be decided by the Testamentary Court on its own merits [Paras 77–79].

Interim Relief – Prima Facie Case – Maintainability – Principles Reiterated – Following Asma Lateef and Anr. v. Shabbir Ahmad and Ors. (2024) 4 SCC 696, a court hearing an interim application must record at least a prima facie satisfaction on maintainability before granting relief – Where, at the interim stage, the plaintiff fails to establish even prima facie interest in the estate of the deceased, interim reliefs are liable to be refused [Paras 82–85].

Decision: Interim Application (L) No.26854 of 2025 rejected – No order as to costs.

Service Law – Selection and Appointment – Validity – Qualifying Written Test – Petitioner selected as Assistant Registrar after qualifying written test at 60% cut-off and performing well in interview – Post-appointment complaints led to constitution of successive committees which questioned the selection on grounds of low written test marks and alleged defects in selection committee constitution – Held: Written test was expressly a qualifying test; selection on the basis of interview performance of those who cleared the qualifying benchmark is not illegal – Respondents estopped from cancelling appointment after petitioner left secure employment in SBI and materially altered his position [Paras 28-35, 39-41].

Selection Process – Defect in Constitution of Selection Committee – Ratification by Board of Governors – Committee noted that Director delegated chairmanship of selection committee to in-charge Director and that matter was not placed before BoG before appointment – Held: Delegation at best an irregularity; selection was duly ratified by BoG in its 43rd meeting held on 10.07.2019; ratification relates back to the date of the act ratified and cures any prior defect of authority – Challenge by management itself after lapse of time and in absence of any complaint by unsuccessful candidates not sustainable [Paras 36-38, 41].

Pay Protection – Competence of Appointing Authority – BoG is the competent appointing authority for the post of Assistant Registrar under the Act and Statute – No final order on pay protection passed by BoG or any competent authority – Note-sheets not constituting conscious institutional decision – Held: Matter to be placed before competent authority for decision after petitioner submits reply to show cause notice – No order by Court at this stage [Para 43].

Probation – Extension Till Further Orders – Non-Speaking Order – Respondents directed to consider confirmation of petitioner based on fair appraisal of his performance, without being influenced by the committee findings discussed in the judgment – No order on this issue at present stage [Para 44].

Decision: Petitions disposed of with directions – Respondents restrained from re-examining validity of petitioner's selection and appointment – Petitioner granted liberty to submit reply to show cause notice dated 17.03.2026 on pay protection; competent authority to pass speaking order thereafter – Respondents directed to consider probation matter based on impartial appraisal of petitioner's performance.

GST – Cancellation of Registration – Section 29(2)(a) CGST Act – Input Tax Credit – Fake Invoices – Physical Movement of Goods – Appellant, a proprietorship firm, availed ITC of approximately Rs. 18,62,11,749/- on purchases of goods – During inspection, business premises found insufficient for transactions of such magnitude – Show cause notice issued for non-proof of actual movement of goods – Appellant produced only e-way bill printouts and claimed goods were transported by tricycle/motorcycle – Held: Mere production of e-way bills is not proof of real physical transportation of goods – Proof of freight charges, loading and unloading charges, lorry receipts and way bills necessary to establish physical movement under Section 16(2)(b) – Having failed to produce such documents, cancellation of GST registration under Section 29(2)(a) upheld [Paras 3-5].

GST – Co-location of Premises – Mere Shared Premises Not Sufficient Ground for Cancellation – Appellant contended that sharing premises with M/s Gaurav Metal (a distinct entity which had surrendered GST after dissolving partnership) cannot by itself justify cancellation, absent evidence of overlapping operations, intermingling of stock or common financial nexus – Held: While co-location alone may be insufficient, in the present case cancellation is justified on independent and substantive ground of failure to establish physical movement of goods supporting ITC claims – Constitution guarantees only genuine and honest trade, not illegal and fake trade intended to defraud revenue [Paras 2, 4].

GST – Section 86A – Action Against Fake Suppliers – Consequential proceedings under Section 86A for blocking ITC and action under Section 74 initiated against the suppliers as well – Allegation that no action taken against suppliers found factually incorrect – Appellant's challenge on that score rejected [Para 4].

Writ Jurisdiction – Scope – Concurrent Findings of Fact – Appellant attempted to canvass questions of fact in writ jurisdiction which had been held against it concurrently by both first and second respondents – Held: Learned Single Judge rightly dismissed the writ petition after examining records – Division Bench affirms the order [Para 5].

Decision: Writ Appeal dismissed – Order of cancellation of GST registration affirmed – No costs.