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].

Maintenance – Section 125 CrPC – Husband's Duty to Provide – Husband is required to earn money even by physical labor if he is able-bodied and cannot avoid his obligation except on legally permissible grounds – The Court directed the husband to pay a maintenance amount of Rs. 10,000 per month to the wife [Paras 9-13].

Social Justice – Section 125 CrPC as Social Legislation – Proceedings under Section 125 CrPC are meant to achieve social justice and prevent destitution and vagrancy – The object is to provide speedy remedy for food, clothing, and shelter to deserted wives and children [Paras 9-10].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Respondent directed to pay Rs. 10,000 per month as maintenance to appellant-wife from the date of filing the Maintenance Petition – Respondent to deposit arrears within eight weeks, adjusting any amount already paid or deposited [Paras 13-15].

Necessary Party – Tests for Determination – Two tests for determining a necessary party: (1) there must be a right to some relief against such party concerning the controversies involved in the proceedings; (2) no effective decree can be passed in the absence of such a party – Plaintiff admitted the suit property was jointly owned by defendant, his wife, and three sons – Effective decree could not be passed without impleading all co-owners – Suit for specific performance dismissed due to non-joinder of necessary parties [Paras 19-21].

Specific Performance – Joint Ownership – Agreement to sell property jointly owned by defendant, his wife, and three sons – Plaintiff failed to implead all necessary parties – Courts below erred in granting specific performance without all co-owners – High Court's judgment upheld with modification for refund [Paras 19-22].

Decision: Appeals dismissed – High Court's order for refund of Rs. 30,000 with 9% interest per annum affirmed – No order as to costs [Paras 22-24].

Specific Performance – Agreement of Sale – Condition Precedent – Agreement of sale stipulated obtaining permission from ULC Authorities within 75 days, failing which the purchaser could reclaim advance payment within 90 days – Defendant terminated agreement when permission was not obtained in time – Plaintiff's delay in taking action until after permission was granted – Courts denied specific performance due to plaintiff’s inaction and stipulation in agreement [Paras 10-14].

Discretion in Granting Specific Performance – Courts’ Discretion – Time stipulations in agreements must be given significance – Rising property prices and delay by plaintiff considered – Specific performance denied but compensation awarded due to long-held advance payment [Paras 12, 15-16].

Decision: Appeal partly allowed – Specific performance denied – Respondents directed to pay Rs. 15,00,000 to appellants within 3 months [Para 16].

Service Law – Leave Encashment – Salary Component – Leave encashment forms part of salary under the Rajasthan Non-Government Educational Institutions Act, 1989 – State responsible for 70% of leave encashment, with the management establishment covering 30% – Arbitrary Rule 5(viii) of the 2010 Rules invalidated as unconscionable and unenforceable [Paras 18-21].

Gratuity – Employer's Liability – Rule 82 of the 1993 Rules mandates gratuity payments by aided institution's management – Rajasthan Welfare Society case reaffirmed management's liability for gratuity – High Court's rejection of appellants' claim for gratuity and leave encashment overturned [Paras 22-23].

Decision: Appeal allowed – State to calculate and pay 70% of leave encashment, management establishment to cover remaining 30% – Management establishment to pay gratuity from date of employment to absorption in State service – Interest at 10% per annum on due amounts until payment [Paras 23-24].

SARFAESI Act – Powers of District Magistrate – Ministerial Role – Powers exercisable by District Magistrate (DM) under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act are ministerial – DM is not required to adjudicate disputes between the borrower and the secured creditor or any third party – High Court rightly set aside DM’s order delaying possession until tenant eviction proceedings were completed [Paras 5-8].

SARFAESI Act – Scope of Section 14 – Section 14 empowers DM to assist secured creditors in taking possession of secured assets without adjudicating rights – DM must act on a secured creditor's application for possession after verifying compliance with statutory requirements – Delay in action contradicts the Act's objective [Paras 5.1-5.2].

Decision: Special Leave Petition dismissed – High Court's order directing DM to dispose of the application under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act upheld [Paras 6-8].