Auction Process and Annulment of Attempts – Analysis of the tender process for mining leases under the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 – Issues related to the annulment of the first auction attempt due to lack of valid bids and the subsequent annulment of the second auction attempt – Appellants' discretion in decision-making examined. [Paras 1-6, 13-15]

Technical Bid Submission and Evaluation – Respondent's failure to submit a technical bid through the electronic platform as mandated – Subsequent evaluation and recommendation by the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) for annulment of the auction attempts – Legal implications of non-compliance with bid submission procedures. [Paras 4-5, 15]

Judicial Review of Tender Process – Scope and limitations of judicial review in tender and contractual matters – Importance of adherence to statutory provisions and ensuring public interest in the auctioning of natural resources – Examination of the decision-making process and its conformity with legal and procedural norms. [Paras 16-17]

Statutory Provisions and Public Interest – Obligations under the Mineral (Auction) Rules, particularly Rule 9, and the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act – State's role in managing natural resources and ensuring maximized validation and revenue from mineral exploitation – Interpretation of Rule 9 in the context of the auction process and annulment decisions. [Paras 13, 17]

Decision – Appeal allowed; impugned judgment set aside due to legal and procedural misinterpretations in the auction process – Emphasis on strict adherence to statutory rules and safeguarding public interest in the allocation of mining leases. [Para 19]

Money Laundering and Financial Irregularities – Alleged involvement of Tarun Kumar in financial irregularities and money laundering in SBFL – Accused of using his position in SBFL to facilitate and cover up financial fraud, with direct involvement in the use of shell companies for fake invoicing, diversion, and laundering of funds. [Paras 3-4, 7, 10, 16]

Bail Consideration in Economic Offences – Assessment of bail application under the stringent provisions of PMLA – Emphasis on the severe impact of economic crimes on national economy – Necessity of establishing innocence and non-likelihood of re-offending for bail consideration. [Paras 13, 17, 20-23]

Dismissal of Appeal – Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court and Special Judge, denying bail to Tarun Kumar – Recognized the complex and grave nature of economic offences, necessitating detailed investigation and trial. [Para 24]

Judicial Appointments – Validity of Additional Appointments Post Selection Process – Supreme Court examining the validity of appointments of Civil Judge (Junior Division) made after the original selection process – Original selection process based on advertised vacancies – Additional appointments made due to unanticipated vacancies arising post-advertisement – Legal implications and equity considerations in the context of judicial service appointments. [Paras 1-39]

Constitutional Law – Article 142 of the Constitution of India – Supreme Court’s exercise of powers under Article 142 to uphold flawed selection process post-result declaration – Factors considered: Long service of appointees as Judicial Officers, absence of favoritism or nepotism in appointments, and public interest – Upholding the appointments despite procedural anomalies. [Para 37]

Service Jurisprudence – Advertised vs. Unadvertised Vacancies – Principle that appointments should be limited to vacancies advertised – Supreme Court clarifying that vacancies arising post-advertisement should ideally be part of the next selection cycle – Impact on rights of candidates and service jurisprudence. [Paras 25-28, 35]

Judicial Review – High Court’s Role in Appointment Process – High Court’s involvement in post-selection appointment process – High Court’s failure to object to additional appointments critiqued – Shared responsibility among State Commission, Government, and High Court for procedural irregularities. [Para 34]

Equity and Public Interest – Long Tenure of Judicial Officers – Consideration of tenure and experience of appointees in judicial office – Equity favoring retention of appointees despite procedural flaws in their selection – Public interest in retaining experienced judicial officers. [Para 36]

Dismissal of Connected Appeals – Appeals by other candidates for inclusion in selection list dismissed – Supreme Court not disturbing High Court’s legal findings but providing equitable relief to specific appellants. [Para 38]

Future Implications of Litigation on Judicial Career – Direction that litigation should not adversely impact the career of judicial officers in question – Officers to be treated at par with other appointees of their batch. [Para 39]

Governor’s Role in Legislative Process – Challenged inaction of Governor regarding assent to Bills passed by Punjab Vidhan Sabha – Governor’s withholding of assent without valid constitutional basis – Dispute over the constitutional role and limitations of the Governor in the legislative process of a state. [Paras 1, 4-8, 19-21, 25-27, 44-46]

Adjournment and Prorogation of Legislative Assembly – Distinction between adjournment sine die and prorogation of legislative sessions – Legality of reconvening Punjab Vidhan Sabha by the Speaker after adjournment sine die – Speaker's authority in regulating procedures of the House affirmed. [Paras 29-34, 37-38, 40-41, 43-44]

Constitutional Function of the Governor – The Governor as a symbolic head, bound by the 'aid and advice' of the Council of Ministers except in discretionary areas – Governor's exercise of powers in legislative matters, constrained by constitutional provisions and democratic principles. [Paras 15-17, 20-21, 25-26, 44-45]

Jurisdiction under Article 32 – Invocation of the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction under Article 32 for resolution of constitutional issues involving the Governor's role and legislative procedures in Punjab Vidhan Sabha. [Paras 1, 9-10]

Decision – Petition allowed; Sessions of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on 19 and 20 June 2023, and 20 October 2023 declared valid – Governor directed to act on Bills presented for assent in a manner consistent with Article 200 of the Constitution. [Paras 44-47]

Civil Appeal – Environmental Compliance and Prosecution – Appellant challenged National Green Tribunal's order allowing prosecution for non-compliance with environmental norms – Issues related to ex-post facto Consent to Establish (CTE) and environmental clearance (EC) – Supreme Court set aside part of NGT's judgment, confirming the rest, allowing the appeal in part. [Para 1-12]

Environmental Clearance (EC) – Validity and expiration of EC for construction – NGT's observations on expired EC and illegal construction between specific dates set aside by Supreme Court as beyond the scope of the appeal before NGT – Matters left open for appropriate proceedings. [Para 7, 12(a)]

Consent to Establish (CTE) – Ex-post facto CTE and its implications – Appellant's prosecution for activities conducted before grant of ex-post facto CTE discussed – Supreme Court held that appellant bound by the terms of ex-post facto CTE, confirming NGT's judgment in this regard. [Para 8-11, 12(b)]

Prosecution Approval – Challenge to approval for prosecuting appellant under environmental laws – Supreme Court found no grounds to interfere with NGT's judgment confirming prosecution as per conditions of ex-post facto CTE. [Para 11, 12(b)]

Decision – Supreme Court partly allowed the appeal, setting aside NGT's observations on EC, but confirming its decision on legality of prosecuting the appellant as per ex-post facto CTE conditions. [Para 12]

Transfer Petition under Section 25 CPC - Petitioner seeks transfer of matrimonial case from Karnataka to Maharashtra.

Mutual Consent Divorce - Parties referred to Supreme Court Mediation Centre, leading to settlement agreement for mutual consent divorce under Article 142 of the Constitution and Section 13B(1) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

Settlement Agreement - Agreement detailing dissolution of marriage, financial settlements, property division, and child custody arrangements. Terms include Rs.7,50,000 payment by petitioner to respondent, no claim by son in respondent's property, and division of other assets.

Decree of Divorce - Court accepts the settlement agreement, granting mutual consent divorce and quashing proceedings initiated by each party against the other.

Disposition - Transfer Petition disposed of as per the mutually agreed terms and conditions. Related pending applications also disposed of.

Transfer Petition in Matrimonial Dispute – Settlement and Mutual Divorce – Petition filed under Section 25 CPC for transfer of matrimonial case from Karnataka to Maharashtra. Parties arrive at a settlement during mediation, agreeing to dissolve their marriage via mutual consent under Article 142 of the Constitution. [Para 1-2]

Settlement Terms – Property and Financial Arrangements – Settlement includes various financial terms: ₹7,50,000 payment by wife to husband, handling of local body taxes and CIDCO transfer charges by husband, and arrangements concerning a gold loan and property transfer. [Para 3-4]

Mutual Divorce Decree – Acceptance of Settlement Agreement – Supreme Court accepts the lawful settlement agreement, allowing the application for divorce by mutual consent. Marriage dissolved under Section 13 B (1) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. [Para 5-6]

Disposition – Quashing of Proceedings – All proceedings initiated by the parties against each other quashed, with the terms of the settlement becoming part of the order. Transfer petition consequently disposed of. [Para 6]

Civil Appeal – Pay Scale Parity – Appeal by Union of India against High Court order granting pay scale parity to Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) employees with Central Secretariat Service (CSS) employees – High Court’s decision based on recommendations of VIth Central Pay Commission and historical parity. [Para 1-3, 11]

Judicial Review – Limited scope in matters of pay scale fixation – Intervention permissible in cases of arbitrariness or palpable discrimination – High Court's intervention based on historical parity and Pay Commission’s recommendations. [Para 5, 10, 15]

Equal Pay for Equal Work – Historical parity of pay scales among similar posts – High Court recognized parity between OFB headquarters employees and CSS/CSSS employees – Consideration of Pay Commission's recommendations to maintain parity. [Para 6, 14]

Decision – Dismissal of appeal by Supreme Court – High Court's order upheld for maintaining pay scale parity among similarly placed employees – Recognition of historical parity and adherence to Pay Commission's recommendations. [Para 15-16]

Recruitment Process – Interpretation of Recruitment Rules – Issue regarding relaxation of prescribed essential qualifications post-application deadline – High Court's decision to allow relaxation for Post Codes 447 and 556 set aside – Relaxation deemed unsustainable post-application deadline without providing opportunity to similarly situated candidates. [Para 45(i)]

High Court Judgment – Direction in High Court judgment for recasting merit list using relaxed criteria – Direction overturned due to its inconsistency with established legal principles and constitutional mandates – Merit list for Post Code 556 not to be redrawn; recruitment for Post Code 817 to follow extant rules. [Para 45(ii)]

State Government's Relaxation Order – Relaxation/clarificatory order dated 21.08.2017 by State Government for certain recruitment post-codes – Held as legally unsustainable when issued after application deadline – Recruitment to adhere to qualifications specified in original advertisements and extant rules. [Para 45(i), (ii)]

Preservation of Existing Appointments – Appointments under Post Code 447 not to be disturbed despite eligibility gained through later relaxation – Considered decision in light of factors like nature of posts, period of appointments, and absence of specific allegations against appointees. [Para 45(iii)]

Constitutional Principles – Upholding of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution in public recruitment – Requirement of adherence to stipulated selection criteria and avoidance of mid-process alterations without due notification and opportunity to all potential candidates. [Paras 26, 34]

Administrative Decision-Making – State's discretion in prescribing qualifications and conducting recruitment – Judicial restraint emphasized unless recruitment policy is malafide, arbitrary, or irrational. [Para 39]