Arbitration – Pendente Lite Interest – Clause barring interest in contract – Arbitrator cannot award pendente lite interest if contract explicitly bars it – Section 31(7)(a) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 emphasizes parties' agreement over arbitrator’s power – High Court's rejection of pendente lite interest upheld [Paras 1-23].

Contractual Clauses – Validity under Section 28 of Indian Contract Act – Clause barring interest payments not ultra vires – Contracts can lawfully include terms that restrict interest payments – Interest Act, 1978 permits parties to waive interest by agreement [Paras 19-22].

Decision – Appeal Dismissed – High Court's order upheld – Parties to bear their own costs [Para 23].

Lease Agreement – Termination and Payment Compliance – Dispute over non-payment within stipulated time – LOI required Rs. 9.34 crore within 30 days – Extensions granted but payment not completed within extended time – Termination of LOI upheld as justified – Amounts paid beyond deadlines ordered to be refunded – Appellant allowed to pursue civil suit for additional amounts [Paras 1-22].

Writ Jurisdiction – Contractual Disputes – High Court's dismissal of writ petition due to disputed facts upheld – Appropriate forum needed for resolution – High Court's assessment affirmed but modified to include specific directions for refund and further civil litigation [Paras 16-22].

Decision – Appeal Partially Allowed – High Court's order modified – Termination of LOI upheld – UAHCL directed to refund Rs. 4.11 crores paid after deadline – Appellant may file civil suit for recovery of Rs. 4.41 crores paid within extended time – Rs. 3 crores deposited in Supreme Court to be refunded to appellant with interest – No costs ordered [Para 22].

Anticipatory Bail – Dowry Death – Conduct and Gravity of Offense – High Court granted anticipatory bail to respondent accused despite her absconding for over two years – Absconding and the nature of the offense distinguished her from co-accused granted bail – High Court's decision set aside as it ignored relevant factors [Paras 2-14].

Bail Cancellation – Legal Principles – Cancellation of bail requires cogent reasons – Consideration of irrelevant factors or overlooking relevant material can render bail orders untenable – Societal impact and ensuring fair investigation are critical considerations [Paras 9-10].

Procedural Irregularities – Absconding and Bail – Procedural irregularities in declaring the accused an absconder do not justify anticipatory bail in cases of grave offense – Investigation integrity must be preserved [Para 13].

Parity in Bail – Misapplication – High Court wrongly applied parity with co-accused for respondent accused despite different allegations and conduct – Respondent accused's role and absconding period distinguished from co-accused [Para 14].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – High Court's order granting anticipatory bail set aside – Respondent accused directed to surrender – Free to seek regular bail upon surrender, which should be considered on merits without influence from this order [Para 16].

COVID-19 Ex-Gratia Assistance – Guidelines and Compliance – National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued guidelines recommending Rs. 50,000/- ex-gratia assistance for kin of deceased due to COVID-19 – Assistance to be provided from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) – District Disaster Management Authority/District Administration responsible for disbursement – Guidelines for death certificate issuance and grievance redressal also outlined [Paras 1-12].

Death Certificates – Certification of COVID-19 Deaths – Guidelines require certification of COVID-19 deaths within 30 days of testing or clinical determination – Grievance redressal mechanism established for disputes regarding cause of death – Committee to verify and amend death certificates as necessary [Paras 5-12].

Directions Issued – Ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 50,000/- to be paid within 30 days of application – Wide publicity to be given for awareness – No denial based on cause of death not stated as COVID-19 in death certificate if other documents support COVID-19 cause – Specific timelines for committee formation and grievance resolution [Para 10].

Decision – Miscellaneous Application Disposed – Directions issued to all states and Union Territories to comply with guidelines and directions for ex-gratia assistance and death certification [Para 13].

First Appellate Court – Duty to Address All Issues – High Court failed to re-appreciate the evidence and did not comply with Order 41 Rule 31 CPC – Appellate court must frame points for determination and address all issues based on evidence – High Court's judgment set aside for non-compliance [Paras 6-7].

Willingness to Perform Contract – Specific Performance Suit – Plaintiff's readiness and willingness to perform contract critical for decree – Plaintiff initially demanded eviction of tenants before executing sale deed – Plaintiff's affidavit in High Court stating willingness to purchase with tenants not considered as per original pleadings – Trial court's findings on willingness upheld [Paras 8-10].

Procedure for Amending Pleadings – Affidavit Filed Without Amendments – High Court improperly relied on plaintiff’s affidavit filed in appeal without amending the original plaint – Procedure adopted by High Court disapproved – Proper procedure under Order VI Rule 17 CPC required [Paras 8-9].

Decision – Appeals Allowed – High Court's judgment and decree set aside – Trial court's dismissal of specific performance suit restored – Appellant directed to refund advance payment with interest within eight weeks [Paras 10-11].

Family Settlement – Admissibility of Unregistered Document – High Court held family settlement document inadmissible – Supreme Court found document recorded past transactions, did not create or extinguish rights in property – Held Khararunama as admissible for explaining arrangement made and conduct of parties – Document did not attract Section 17(1)(b) of the Registration Act [Paras 1-37].

Evidence of Past Transactions – Use of Khararunama – Document containing record of past transactions can be admitted to show nature of possession and arrangement – Not to be used to prove transaction itself if it affects property rights – Unregistered family arrangement document can corroborate conduct and oral agreements [Paras 26-37].

Registration and Stamp Duty – Applicability – Document recording family settlement does not require registration if it does not create or extinguish rights – No need for stamp duty if it is merely a memorandum of past events [Para 35].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – High Court's judgment set aside – Document admitted for limited purpose of explaining family arrangement and conduct – No order as to costs [Paras 36-37].

Loss of Dependency – Enhancement of Compensation – Deceased was a driver with a heavy vehicle driving license – Tribunal adopted minimum wage for skilled labor to compute income – High Court's dismissal of appeal without considering evidence and grounds raised by appellants – Income assessment based on minimum wage not justified – Oral evidence of deceased's income considered – Income assessed at Rs. 8,000 per month – Compensation recalculated including future prospects and deductions for personal expenses [Paras 1-12].

Consortium and Dependency – Parental Consortium – Appellants entitled to compensation for loss of consortium – Tribunal's finding that parents were not dependents contrary to legal precedents – Compensation enhanced to include consortium [Para 10].

Assessment of Income – Evidence and Reality – Income assessment should not be detached from reality – Guesswork allowed in absence of documentary evidence – Oral testimony of deceased’s income at Rs. 15,000 per month accepted – Income considered at Rs. 8,000 per month for calculating dependency loss [Para 10].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Compensation enhanced – Additional amount awarded for loss of dependency and parental consortium – Total compensation of Rs. 4,13,964/- with interest at 6% p.a. from date of claim petition [Paras 10-12].

Motor Accident – Negligence and Liability – High Court overturned Tribunal's finding of contributory negligence – Evidence from witnesses (PW-1 and PW-3) indicated Eicher van took sudden right turn without signal – High Court's reliance on witness evidence over First Information Report justified – Accident due to negligence of Eicher van driver affirmed [Paras 1-9].

Quantum of Compensation – Assessment and Enhancement – High Court assessed deceased's income based on Form-16 for FY 2012-2013 – Annual income determined as Rs. 12,29,949/- – Future prospects and multiplier applied correctly – Compensation awarded in line with precedents (Sarla Verma, Pranay Sethi) – No reduction warranted [Para 9].

Weightage of Evidence – FIR vs. Witness Testimony – Tribunal's reliance on FIR over witness testimony incorrect – High Court rightly prioritized witness testimony under Section 166 of Motor Vehicles Act – Case-specific evidence evaluation necessary [Paras 8-9].

Decision – Appeal Dismissed – High Court's order upheld – Compensation awarded affirmed – Appellant to pay balance compensation within two months – No order as to costs [Paras 9-10].

Arrears of Salaries – Compliance with Pay Commission Recommendations – High Court directed the appellant to pay salaries as per 5th and 6th Pay Commissions – Appellant’s failure to comply led respondents to approach Deputy Director (Education) – Submission to restrict arrears to three years preceding the writ petition rejected – Duty of institution to comply with pay scale revisions without requiring staff to repeatedly approach authorities [Paras 1-5].

Duty to Pay Revised Salaries – Legal Obligations – Entitlement to revised pay scales per Schedule C of Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools Rules – Arrears must be cleared without imposing limitations based on delayed compliance or procedural delays [Para 4].

Equitable Relief – Inaction and Liability – Lapse and inaction by appellant institution do not negate entitlement of staff to arrears – Respondents not to suffer due to institutional non-compliance – Arrears to be paid within eight weeks, failing which interest at 9% per annum applicable [Para 5].

Decision – Special Leave Petitions Dismissed – High Court’s order upheld – Appellants directed to clear arrears within eight weeks – Deputy Director (Education) to ensure compliance and disbursement to respondents [Paras 5-6].