Civil Law - Interest on Arrears of Rent – Civil Appeal against High Court order directing payment of 12% interest per annum on arrears of rent from September 9, 1998, to March 24, 2008 – High Court had directed 12% interest per annum on arrears for the entire period including the time when the plaint was returned for rectification of defects – Supreme Court modifies the High Court's order – Interest for the period from January 20, 2000, to July 20, 2005, during which the plaint was not represented, disallowed – Landlady’s inaction and lack of diligence in re-presenting the plaint within a reasonable time noted – Court emphasizes that interest pendente lite should be awarded based on the facts and circumstances of the case, not as a matter of course – Appeal allowed in part, interest award for the disputed period set aside. [Paras 1-12]

Interest on Arrears - Principles – Section 34 CPC empowers courts to award interest from the date of the suit to the decree and from the decree to the payment – Pre-suit interest depends on contract, statutory provisions, or mercantile usage – Court finds that equitable considerations do not justify interest for the delayed period of re-presenting the plaint. [Para 11]

Decision – Modification of High Court’s Decree – Supreme Court sets aside the award of interest for the period January 20, 2000, to July 20, 2005 – High Court’s decree modified accordingly, other aspects of the decree stand – Appeal allowed in part – Parties to bear their own costs. [Para 12]

Criminal Law - Conviction under Section 302/34 IPC - Criminal Appeals against conviction for murder – Incident occurred on July 8, 2006, where Murari was shot dead – Conviction based on the testimony of three eyewitnesses (PW-7, PW-8, and PW-11) - FIR was registered promptly, and forensic evidence corroborated eyewitness testimonies - Supreme Court upheld the concurrent findings of guilt by the trial court and High Court, dismissing appeals. [Paras 1-25]

Eyewitness Testimony - Reliability - Analysis of evidence of PW-7, PW-8, and PW-11 – Held - PW-11's testimony deemed credible and corroborated by PW-7 and PW-8 despite minor discrepancies - Prosecution successfully established presence and involvement of accused - Supreme Court found no merit in defense arguments challenging the reliability of eyewitnesses. [Paras 16-21]

Hostile Witnesses - Legal Position - Evidence of hostile witnesses remains admissible - Courts can rely on credible parts of hostile witnesses’ testimony if corroborated by other evidence - Supreme Court reaffirmed this principle, relying on the acceptable portions of testimonies of PW-7 and PW-8 to support PW-11's account. [Paras 22-23]

Decision - Appeals Dismissed - Conviction under Section 302/34 IPC affirmed - Appellants’ arguments on discrepancies and alleged delayed FIR registration rejected - Supreme Court upheld life imprisonment sentences imposed by the lower courts. [Paras 23-24]

Administrative Law – Term and Reappointment of Tribunal Members – Writ Petition under Article 32 challenging refusal to consider reappointment after 10-year tenure – Administrative Tribunals Act amendments limit total tenure of CAT Members to 10 years – Petitioner argued eligibility for fresh appointment beyond 10 years term – Held: Legislative intent clear in fixing maximum term to 10 years, no eligibility for reappointment after completion of term – Provisions upheld as constitutional, dismissal of petition. [Paras 1-38]

Term of Office – Interpretation of Statutory Provisions – Sections 8 and 10A of Administrative Tribunals Act – Language unambiguous, Members of CAT limited to 10 years term – Post completion of 10 years, Members ineligible for reappointment – Proviso of Section 10A saving terms of service under unamended Act but not extending beyond 10 years – Legislative intent to provide fixed term upheld. [Paras 24-29]

Doctrine of Stare Decisis – Application in Tribunal Tenure – Previous rulings on tenure in A.K. Behra case upheld – Importance of consistency and certainty in judicial decisions emphasized – Judicial decisions binding unless extraordinary reasons warrant deviation – Doctrine applied in affirming dismissal of petition. [Paras 9-17]

Decision – Dismissal of Writ Petition – Court dismissed the petition, upholding legislative provisions limiting CAT Members' tenure to 10 years – Found no merit in the argument for eligibility of reappointment post 10 years – Reinforced statutory interpretation and doctrine of stare decisis. [Paras 36-38]

Land Acquisition - Determination of Market Value - Appeal against High Court's decision to enhance compensation for acquired land - Land Acquisition Officer initially awarded Rs. 45,000/- per acre - Reference Court increased to Rs. 2,17,372/- per acre based on sale deed (Ex. P-2) of a neighbouring plot - High Court further increased to Rs. 4,42,000/- per acre based on another sale deed (Ex. P-19) - Supreme Court held Ex. P-2 to be more appropriate due to proximity and size - Standard deduction for development costs and appreciation rate applied. [Paras 2-10]

Method of Valuation - Auction Sales as Basis - Court noted auction sales introduce competitive elements affecting fair market value - Applied 20% deduction to offset competitive hike - Adjusted for three-year gap between auction and acquisition notification - Applied cumulative increase of 10% per annum - Deduction for development costs set at 40% considering urban development potential. [Paras 6-9]

Decision - Appeal Allowed - Reduction of Compensation - Supreme Court reduced the compensation from Rs. 4,42,875/- to Rs. 2,95,500/- per acre, with all statutory benefits as previously awarded - Reasoned that fair compensation was determined considering location, development potential, and correct application of deductions and appreciation rates. [Paras 10-11]

Civil Law - Interest on Arrears of Rent – Civil Appeal against High Court order directing payment of 12% interest per annum on arrears of rent from September 9, 1998, to March 24, 2008 – High Court had directed 12% interest per annum on arrears for the entire period including the time when the plaint was returned for rectification of defects – Supreme Court modifies the High Court's order – Interest for the period from January 20, 2000, to July 20, 2005, during which the plaint was not represented, disallowed – Landlady’s inaction and lack of diligence in re-presenting the plaint within a reasonable time noted – Court emphasizes that interest pendente lite should be awarded based on the facts and circumstances of the case, not as a matter of course – Appeal allowed in part, interest award for the disputed period set aside. [Paras 1-12]

Interest on Arrears - Principles – Section 34 CPC empowers courts to award interest from the date of the suit to the decree and from the decree to the payment – Pre-suit interest depends on contract, statutory provisions, or mercantile usage – Court finds that equitable considerations do not justify interest for the delayed period of re-presenting the plaint. [Para 11]

Decision – Modification of High Court’s Decree – Supreme Court sets aside the award of interest for the period January 20, 2000, to July 20, 2005 – High Court’s decree modified accordingly, other aspects of the decree stand – Appeal allowed in part – Parties to bear their own costs. [Para 12]

Criminal Law - Conviction under Section 302/34 IPC - Criminal Appeals against conviction for murder – Incident occurred on July 8, 2006, where Murari was shot dead – Conviction based on the testimony of three eyewitnesses (PW-7, PW-8, and PW-11) - FIR was registered promptly, and forensic evidence corroborated eyewitness testimonies - Supreme Court upheld the concurrent findings of guilt by the trial court and High Court, dismissing appeals. [Paras 1-25]

Eyewitness Testimony - Reliability - Analysis of evidence of PW-7, PW-8, and PW-11 – Held - PW-11's testimony deemed credible and corroborated by PW-7 and PW-8 despite minor discrepancies - Prosecution successfully established presence and involvement of accused - Supreme Court found no merit in defense arguments challenging the reliability of eyewitnesses. [Paras 16-21]

Hostile Witnesses - Legal Position - Evidence of hostile witnesses remains admissible - Courts can rely on credible parts of hostile witnesses’ testimony if corroborated by other evidence - Supreme Court reaffirmed this principle, relying on the acceptable portions of testimonies of PW-7 and PW-8 to support PW-11's account. [Paras 22-23]

Decision - Appeals Dismissed - Conviction under Section 302/34 IPC affirmed - Appellants’ arguments on discrepancies and alleged delayed FIR registration rejected - Supreme Court upheld life imprisonment sentences imposed by the lower courts. [Paras 23-24]

Administrative Law – Term and Reappointment of Tribunal Members – Writ Petition under Article 32 challenging refusal to consider reappointment after 10-year tenure – Administrative Tribunals Act amendments limit total tenure of CAT Members to 10 years – Petitioner argued eligibility for fresh appointment beyond 10 years term – Held: Legislative intent clear in fixing maximum term to 10 years, no eligibility for reappointment after completion of term – Provisions upheld as constitutional, dismissal of petition. [Paras 1-38]

Term of Office – Interpretation of Statutory Provisions – Sections 8 and 10A of Administrative Tribunals Act – Language unambiguous, Members of CAT limited to 10 years term – Post completion of 10 years, Members ineligible for reappointment – Proviso of Section 10A saving terms of service under unamended Act but not extending beyond 10 years – Legislative intent to provide fixed term upheld. [Paras 24-29]

Doctrine of Stare Decisis – Application in Tribunal Tenure – Previous rulings on tenure in A.K. Behra case upheld – Importance of consistency and certainty in judicial decisions emphasized – Judicial decisions binding unless extraordinary reasons warrant deviation – Doctrine applied in affirming dismissal of petition. [Paras 9-17]

Decision – Dismissal of Writ Petition – Court dismissed the petition, upholding legislative provisions limiting CAT Members' tenure to 10 years – Found no merit in the argument for eligibility of reappointment post 10 years – Reinforced statutory interpretation and doctrine of stare decisis. [Paras 36-38]

Land Acquisition - Determination of Market Value - Appeal against High Court's decision to enhance compensation for acquired land - Land Acquisition Officer initially awarded Rs. 45,000/- per acre - Reference Court increased to Rs. 2,17,372/- per acre based on sale deed (Ex. P-2) of a neighbouring plot - High Court further increased to Rs. 4,42,000/- per acre based on another sale deed (Ex. P-19) - Supreme Court held Ex. P-2 to be more appropriate due to proximity and size - Standard deduction for development costs and appreciation rate applied. [Paras 2-10]

Method of Valuation - Auction Sales as Basis - Court noted auction sales introduce competitive elements affecting fair market value - Applied 20% deduction to offset competitive hike - Adjusted for three-year gap between auction and acquisition notification - Applied cumulative increase of 10% per annum - Deduction for development costs set at 40% considering urban development potential. [Paras 6-9]

Decision - Appeal Allowed - Reduction of Compensation - Supreme Court reduced the compensation from Rs. 4,42,875/- to Rs. 2,95,500/- per acre, with all statutory benefits as previously awarded - Reasoned that fair compensation was determined considering location, development potential, and correct application of deductions and appreciation rates. [Paras 10-11]

Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 - Section 25 - Termination of Employment – Appeal against the High Court order which set aside the Labour Court’s directive for reinstatement and back wages for the appellant, a daily wage worker terminated following his involvement in a criminal case – Criminal case concluded in acquittal – Labour Court ruled in favor of reinstatement with fifty percent back wages – High Court set aside the Labour Court’s award entirely, despite the writ petition challenging only the back wages – Supreme Court holds that the High Court overstepped the scope of the writ petition’s plea – High Court’s orders quashed and Labour Court’s order of reinstatement restored. [Paras 1-25]

Scope of Writ Petition – Pleadings – Held – The High Court’s judgment went beyond the respondent's writ petition, which had only contested the award of back wages – Parties bound by their pleadings and cannot exceed the prayer clause – Supreme Court emphasizes adherence to the scope of the initial plea. [Para 3]

Decision – Appeal allowed – Restoration of Labour Court’s Award – Reinstatement with back wages directed from January 2010 onwards – Appellant’s costs assessed at Rs. 5,000/-. [Paras 3-4]