Appointment – Legal Principles and Time Frame – The respondent applied for compassionate appointment 14 years after the death of her father, who was an employee of the Compassionate appellant – High Court directed reconsideration of the application – Supreme Court held that compassionate appointment is an exception to the general rule and aims to provide immediate relief to the family of the deceased – Held, application made after 24 years from the employee's death does not meet the objective of compassionate appointment, which is to alleviate immediate hardship [Paras 6-9].

Object and Purpose – Immediate Relief – Supreme Court reiterated that the purpose of compassionate appointment is to help the family tide over sudden financial crisis caused by the death of the breadwinner – Emphasized that it is not a means to secure employment irrespective of the time elapsed since the death – Held, reconsideration of such application after 24 years defeats the purpose of compassionate appointment [Paras 8-9].

Eligibility and Norms – Humanitarian Consideration – Supreme Court cited previous judgments to underline that compassionate appointment should be strictly governed by the policy in place at the time of the employee's death – Applications must be timely and based on current policy norms, not those at the time of the applicant’s majority or other subsequent changes in the applicant's circumstances [Paras 7-8].

Decision: Appeals allowed – High Court’s judgment directing reconsideration of the respondent's application for compassionate appointment set aside – Supreme Court held that such direction, after a lapse of 24 years from the employee's death, is against the principles and purpose of compassionate appointment [Paras 9-10].

Land Lease – No Objection Certificate – Appellant (State of Maharashtra) challenged the High Court's ruling that invalidated the requirement for a No Objection Certificate from the Collector for flat transfers in specified buildings – High Court found the requirement unjustified under the applicable Government Resolutions and lease terms – Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision, emphasizing that the lease terms and the Government Resolutions of 1983 and 1999 did not mandate such a requirement for the formed Co-operative Society [Paras 1-16].

Lease Terms and Conditions – Applicability of Government Resolutions – Plot leased to a builder for construction and sale of flats to private individuals – Flats subsequently transferred to a Co-operative Society – Supreme Court noted that the Government Resolutions of 1983 and 1999, which pertain to concessional land allotments to Co-operative Societies, did not apply to this scenario where the lease was initially granted to a builder following a successful bid [Paras 11-15].

Maharashtra Land Revenue Code – Sections 40 and 295 – State's power to dispose of land under Section 40 – Specific provisions for reclaimed land under Section 295 – Supreme Court held that the general powers of the State under Section 40 did not override the specific lease terms agreed upon with the builder and subsequently the Co-operative Society [Paras 9-14].

Decision: Appeals dismissed – High Court’s judgment upheld – Requirement for No Objection Certificate from the Collector invalidated – Interim stay of the direction for refund of the amount granted by Supreme Court vacated.

Tender Conditions – Judicial Review – Appellant (AAI) challenged the High Court's quashing of its tender conditions for ground handling services, including eligibility criteria and region-wise sub-categorisation of airports – High Court ruled these conditions arbitrary and discriminatory – Supreme Court overturned High Court’s decision, citing principles of judicial restraint in tender matters – Held, terms of the tender within the tendering authority’s domain, not open to judicial scrutiny unless proven arbitrary, discriminatory, or mala fide [Paras 6, 7, 10-13].

Locus Standi – NGO’s Standing in Tender Disputes – Respondent, an NGO, filed writ petition challenging AAI’s tender conditions – Supreme Court found NGO lacked locus standi as it was not an aggrieved party nor representing a public interest – Emphasized writ petitioners in tender disputes must show direct, tangible interest, and not merely act as advocacy bodies [Paras 5-7, 11].

Clustering of Airports – Rationality and Commercial Wisdom – AAI's decision to cluster 49 airports into region-wise sub-categories aimed at promoting regional connectivity and efficient administration – Supreme Court supported the rationale, holding that commercial and logistical considerations justify such clustering – Judicial interference not warranted unless clear evidence of arbitrariness or bias [Paras 3.2, 6-7, 9, 11].

Eligibility Criteria – Technical and Financial Requirements – AAI’s criteria for 36 months of past experience and financial turnover were established based on the nature of services required – High Court's ruling of these criteria as exclusionary and discriminatory overturned – Supreme Court upheld AAI’s right to set criteria ensuring capability and quality of service providers [Paras 2.3, 3.3, 3.4, 6, 9].

MSME Orders – Applicability to Tender Conditions – High Court applied MSME Orders of 2012 and 2018 incorrectly to tender process – Supreme Court clarified that MSME policies aim at procurement, not licensing of services like GHS – AAI's conditions were consistent with objectives and regulatory framework governing airport services [Paras 3.8-3.9, 7, 11].

Decision: Appeals allowed – High Court’s judgment quashing AAI’s tender conditions set aside – AAI's tender criteria upheld as rational, fair, and within its policy-making domain – Writ petition by respondent NGO dismissed for lack of locus standi [Paras 12-13].

Civil Procedure – Preliminary Issue – Limitation – Determination of Limitation as a Preliminary Issue – Issue of limitation can be framed and determined as a preliminary issue under Order XIV Rule 2(2)(b) CPC when it can be decided on admitted facts – Though limitation is a mixed question of law and facts, it becomes a question of law when foundational facts determining the starting point of limitation are clearly stated in the plaint – The Court can frame and decide the preliminary issue on limitation if it warrants postponement of settlement of other issues [Paras 1-18].

Civil Procedure – Concurrent Findings – Scope of Appeal – Concurrent findings by three courts are binding unless infected with perversity – Interference in appeal under Article 136 of the Constitution is limited to cases where the judgment is absolutely perverse [Paras 3-4].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – No perversity or illegality in the concurrent findings of the Trial Court, First Appellate Court, and High Court – Preliminary issue of limitation correctly determined based on admitted facts in the plaint [Paras 27-28].

Electricity Law – Grant of Licence – Minimum Area of Supply – Appeal against the cancellation of distribution licence – Interpretation of Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and Explanation to Rule 3 of the Distribution of Electricity Rules, 2005 – Held, 'minimum area of supply' within a municipal council or corporation does not imply the entire area but must fall within the defined boundaries – The licence granted to JSPL for an industrial park and two villages within a revenue district is valid – Interpretation should support distribution in specified areas to promote efficient electricity supply and competition [Paras 26-46].

Regulatory Compliance – Statutory Interpretation – The 'area of supply' as defined under Section 2(3) of the Act does not necessitate the entire municipal or revenue district but should be within it – Emphasis on practical application and historical permissions granted under previous laws [Paras 31-45].

Decision: Appeals allowed – The cancellation of JSPL's distribution licence is set aside – The licence granted by CSERC is reinstated with specified conditions on supply obligations [Paras 44-46].

Civil Procedure – Review Petition – Trial Court initially rejected plaintiff's application to file a rejoinder – Plaintiff filed review petition, presenting the rejoinder was already filed – Trial Court reviewed its decision and accepted the rejoinder – High Court disapproved, stating review powers were exceeded – Supreme Court held review was justified, allowing rejoinder and permitting defendants to file sur-rejoinder if new facts are introduced [Paras 1-16].

Civil Procedure – Article 227 Jurisdiction – High Court interfered with Trial Court's procedural order under Article 227 – Supreme Court limited High Court's interference, emphasizing necessity of expeditious trial proceedings and balance in procedural operations [Paras 11-13].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Trial Court's order accepting the rejoinder reinstated with modification – Defendants permitted to file sur-rejoinder limited to new facts in rejoinder – Directions for expeditious trial proceedings reiterated [Paras 12-16].

Medical Termination of Pregnancy – Scope of Rule 3B – Unmarried women are entitled to safe and legal abortion under Section 3(2)(b) of the MTP Act read with Rule 3B – The rule includes all women who face a change in material circumstances, irrespective of marital status – The exclusion of unmarried women is discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution – Interpretation of Rule 3B must be broad and inclusive to uphold constitutional values of equality and reproductive autonomy [Paras 121-137].

Reproductive Rights – Constitutional Protection – Right to reproductive autonomy, dignity, and privacy under Article 21 extends to unmarried women – Legal interpretation should support these rights equally for married and unmarried women – Law must not be guided by patriarchal principles regarding permissible sex and family structures [Paras 100-103, 121-137].

Decision: Appeal allowed – The exclusion of unmarried women from Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003, is set aside – Directions issued for inclusive interpretation of Rule 3B to encompass all women facing changes in material circumstances [Paras 136-137].

Appeal against the High Court’s decision allowing the writ petition and setting aside the cancellation of the fair price shop licence of respondent No.9.

Criminal Law – Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence – Appeal against conviction and death sentence for rape and murder – Prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence without medical examination of the accused – Failure to obtain Forensic Sciences Laboratory report on blood/semen stains – Prosecution’s failure to provide medical evidence critical when victim is deceased – Serious doubts raised on prosecution’s case due to lack of trustworthy ocular evidence and delay in FIR transmission [Paras 9-13, 58-68, 69-81].

Judicial Responsibility – Higher Scrutiny in Heinous Crimes – Courts must carefully assess evidence quality, especially in heinous crimes – Sessions Court and High Court failed to scrutinize contradictions and procedural lapses adequately – Injustice to the appellant due to improper investigation and judicial oversight [Paras 83-84].

Decision: Appeals allowed – Conviction and death penalty set aside – Appellant to be released forthwith if not required in connection with any other case [Para 85].