Cooperative Societies and Right to Information – The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision that cooperative societies themselves are not ‘public authorities’ under the Right to Information Act, 2005, but their Assistant Registrars are considered public authorities - Consequently, societies under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act are required to provide information through their Assistant Registrars - Importance given to the public's right to access information held by public authorities

Application of Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act – The Court emphasized the Assistant Registrar's role under the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act in accessing information from cooperative societies - Information that can be statutorily accessed by the Registrar under the Act must be supplied to applicants under the Right to Information Act, 2005, subject to restrictions under Section 8(1) of the Act

Jurisdiction of Public Authority – Assistant Registrar identified as the appropriate public authority for requesting information from cooperative societies - Emphasized that information of public importance must be accessible to the general public.

Decision – The Supreme Court dismissed the special leave petition, agreeing with the High Court's reasoning and decision - No merit found in the petitioner's arguments - All pending applications were disposed of

Criminal Procedure – Examination of Witness – Prosecution Witness not examined – Examination as Defence Witness – Permissibility – The Supreme Court considered whether a witness listed by the prosecution but not examined can be permitted to testify as a defence witness. The Court held that if the prosecution chooses not to examine a witness, the defence may be allowed to call the witness to testify. The Trial Court has discretion to evaluate the evidentiary value of such testimony in reaching its conclusion. [Para 2-6]

Allowance of Appeal – High Court Order Set Aside – The Supreme Court set aside the impugned High Court order, affirming the Trial Court's decision, which had denied the appellant's request to examine the witness. [Para 5]

Direction for Examination – The Court allowed the appellant to examine the prosecution witness as a defence witness, with the prosecution retaining the right to cross-examine. [Para 6]

CEC Reconstitution – Observations and Directions for Effective Environmental Governance – The judgment discusses the history, constitution, and functioning of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and its evolution into a permanent body for monitoring compliance with Supreme Court orders on environmental, forest, and wildlife issues [Paras 1-7, 10-20].

Original Constitution of CEC – Initial mandate under Supreme Court orders for overseeing compliance and implementation of environmental laws, with a focus on forest conservation and regulation of non-forest activities [Paras 4-7].

Modifications and Developments in 2023 – Supreme Court’s concern over CEC functioning as an ad hoc body, leading to the notification by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, making CEC a permanent body with specified powers and functions [Paras 8-14].

Guidelines for CEC’s Functioning – Supreme Court directives for the CEC to adopt measures promoting transparency, efficiency, and accountability, including formulating internal guidelines and procedures for public meetings, site visits, report preparation, and periodic audits [Paras 20-21].

Environmental Rule of Law – Emphasis on the importance of environmental governance under the rule of law, highlighting the roles of various environmental regulatory bodies and authorities in India, and the need for effective and good governance in implementing environmental laws [Paras 22-27].

Effective Functioning of Environmental Bodies – Supreme Court’s examination of the effectiveness of environmental governance bodies, emphasizing the constitutional courts’ role in ensuring their proper institutionalization and vibrant functioning [Paras 28-32].

Decision:The Supreme Court directed the institutionalization of the Central Empowered Committee as a permanent body, outlining specific guidelines for its operation to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in environmental governance. The Court’s focus remained on the enforcement of environmental rule of law through effective functioning of various environmental bodies and authorities.

Scope of Contempt Jurisdiction – High Court's exercise of contempt jurisdiction in context of willful disobedience to stay order – Appellant's violation of status quo condition – High Court's decision to vacate stay order questioned – Appeal focuses on the appropriateness of High Court's action in contempt proceedings rather than initiating separate proceedings for contempt. [Paras 2, 3, 10-11, 17]

Property Dispute – Suit filed by Shrimati Hutheesingh Tagore Charitable Trust against Baitanik Society over property possession – Trial Court's decree for possession in favor of Trust, appealed by Society – Interim stay by High Court with conditions, including deposit of funds and maintaining status quo – Alleged violations by Society leading to contempt proceedings. [Paras 5-9]

Legal Principles on Contempt Jurisdiction – Court's duty in exercising contempt powers – Necessity for explicit and self-evident directions in orders – Potential overlap with other corrective jurisdictions – Court's authority to issue directions for rectifying violations of its orders. [Paras 13-15]

High Court's Actions Beyond Contempt Jurisdiction – High Court's decision to vacate stay order while exercising contempt jurisdiction not aligning with principles of restitutive or remedying character – Inappropriate application of contempt powers beyond intended scope. [Para 16]

Remand to High Court – Supreme Court sets aside High Court's order vacating stay – Matter remanded to High Court for continuation of contempt proceedings – Trust's liberty to pursue appropriate measures for execution of decree, subject to compliance with legal provisions. [Paras 17-18]

Landlord's Appeal for Tenant Eviction – Challenge against Bombay High Court's judgment invalidating eviction decrees under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999 – Eviction sought for demolition and bona fide requirements – Appeals involve two separate tenancies in the same building. [Para 1]

Demolition Notice as Ground for Eviction – Initial demolition notice by Mahabaleshwar Municipal Council on 23.01.2002, cited as ground for eviction – Subsequent notices in 2005, 2009, and 2010 not part of original suit – Notice required immediate demolition of a dangerous portion of the building. [Para 2-3]

Eviction Notices on Various Grounds – Default in rent payment, unauthorized construction, subletting, and landlord's requirement for construction – Rent Control Act's provisions (Sections 15 and 16) analyzed for eviction grounds. [Para 3-4]

Trial and Appellate Court's Findings – Trial Court decreed eviction based on bona fide need and necessity to demolish – Appellate Court sustained decree, finding tenants in default of rent payment – Trial Court's findings on subletting and unauthorized construction upheld. [Para 4-7]

High Court's Reversal of Decrees – High Court set aside decrees, focusing on the satisfaction required under Rent Control Act for eviction – Landlord's claim rejected due to non-compliance with statutory requirements and lack of conclusive evidence of immediate need for demolition. [Para 8-11, 13-14]

Supreme Court's Analysis – Supreme Court affirmed High Court's view – No perversity found in High Court's judgment – Revisional Court's fitting of facts with legal provisions justified – Appeals dismissed. [Para 12-18]

Contempt of Court by Advocate – Appellant, a practicing advocate, found guilty of contempt for making threatening remarks to a lady advocate, failing to appear in court, and making baseless allegations against judges. Convicted by High Court under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and sentenced to three months civil imprisonment and fined Rs. 2,000 in each of the two contempt cases. [Paras 1-2, 3-5]

Misconduct and Non-Appearance – Appellant's misconduct in court, non-appearance on specified dates, and filing of applications with reckless allegations against judges noted as contemptuous acts. High Court observed a pattern of misbehavior with judges not agreeing with the appellant. [Paras 6-10, 21]

High Court's Analysis and Decision – High Court categorized appellant’s actions as an intention to malign the court, hamper the administration of justice, and extending threats. Found appellant's actions to be intentional, malicious, and persistent, interfering with the administration of justice. [Paras 11-12]

Supreme Court Proceedings – Appellant's submissions in Supreme Court included challenging the service of notice, alleging bias, and questioning the relevance of court-martial proceedings. However, the Supreme Court found these submissions unconvincing and upheld the High Court's decision. [Paras 14-20]

Sentence Modification – Supreme Court, considering the appellant’s age and medical condition, modified the sentence from three months imprisonment to imprisonment till the rising of the court. Connected matters de-tagged for separate hearing. [Paras 23-24]

Final Decision – Criminal Appeal No. 577/2007 dismissed, subject to the modification of the sentence. Pending applications disposed of, and no order as to costs. [Para 25]

Dispute Over Payment for DA Gas Supply – Involving appellant Sachin Garg, Head of Exide Industries Limited, and respondent, supplier of DA Gas – Disagreement over purchase order amendments and resulting payment – Respondent's complaint alleging criminal breach of trust, intimidation, and abuse against Garg. [Paras 2-3]

Quashing of Summons and Complaint Case – High Court dismissed appellant’s plea for quashing summons and complaint case, citing adjudication of disputed facts – Supreme Court examined principles for quashing under Sections 405, 406 IPC, and noted lack of criminal offense disclosure in the complaint, categorizing it primarily as a commercial dispute. [Paras 5, 8-11, 14]

Absence of Criminal Breach of Trust – Supreme Court found no evidence of dishonest misappropriation or conversion by the appellant, identifying the matter as a regular commercial transaction dispute, not meeting Section 405/406 IPC's requirements. [Para 14]

Inadequacy of Criminal Intimidation Allegation – Complaint's criminal intimidation claim deemed insufficiently substantiated, lacking particulars or evidence, and considered a mere commercial disagreement. [Paras 17-18]

Dismissal of Appeal – Supreme Court set aside the High Court judgment, quashed the criminal complaint and summoning order, characterizing the dispute as commercial with no criminality element. Consequential steps in connection with the proceeding were also quashed. [Paras 19-21]

Illegal Demolition and Coercion – Tenants' illegal detention and forced signing of documents by police and others following the vendor's suicide – Demolition of disputed premises without court order – Complaints by tenants leading to criminal proceedings against 13 accused, including police personnel and purchasers. [Para 1-3]

Magistrate's Inquiry and High Court's Direction – Magistrate's order for inquiry under Section 202 Cr.P.C. against certain accused – Revision by Sessions Judge directing FIR registration and investigation – High Court's affirmation and additional directives for investigation challenged in Supreme Court. [Para 4-6]

Settlement and Compensation – Settlement between complainants (tenants) and accused, with compensation paid to tenants – Tenants' withdrawal of complaints leading to consideration of quashing criminal proceedings. [Para 7-8]

Role of Police Personnel – Scrutiny of police personnel's involvement in the crime – Direction for police personnel to pay costs as a consequence of their actions in the demolition and illegal detention. [Para 9-10]

Conclusion and Orders – Special Leave Petitions allowed with conditions – Directions for police personnel to deposit costs in specified fund, with implications for their service records and continuation of petitions based on compliance. [Para 11-13]

Decision – Criminal proceedings against purchasers and deceased's family quashed following settlement – Proceedings against police personnel conditionally quashed subject to payment of costs for their misconduct. [Para 13]

Criminal Appeal – FIR against Appellant – Allegations of rape and other offences – First Information Report (FIR) registered against appellant for offences under IPC and the SC/ST Act. Contention of long consensual relationship and marriage to the complainant. Issues of consent and false promise to marry raised. [Para 1-5]

Consensual Relationship – Analysis of Complainant's Allegations – Consideration of the physical relationship between appellant and complainant, beginning from 2012 and continuing till 2017. Engagement ceremony in 2017 acknowledged by complainant. Analysis of whether the physical relationship was consensual or based on a false promise to marry. [Para 8-12]

Quashing of Proceedings – Abuse of Process of Law – Court finding that continuation of prosecution would be a gross abuse of process. Physical relationship deemed consensual, particularly from 2013 to 2017. Prosecution case deemed not sustainable. [Para 13]

Compensation and Maintenance – Directions for Financial Support – Appellant directed to pay Rs. 5 lakhs to complainant, without prejudice to her right to claim further maintenance. Rs. 10 lakhs deposited by appellant to be invested for the benefit of the child born to the complainant, with quarterly interest to be paid to the complainant. [Para 14-17]

Conclusion – Appeal Allowed – Quashing of FIR and subsequent proceedings. Directions regarding deposit of additional funds and maintenance rights of the complainant and child upheld. [Para 15-19]