Environmental Law – Ex Post Facto Environmental Clearance – Central Government's power to grant ex post facto EC under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 – Generally disfavored but permissible in specific circumstances with strict compliance to environmental norms – High Court's decision vacating interim orders allowing operation set aside – Emphasizes balance between environmental protection and economic consequences [Paras 1-28, 83-94].

Judicial Review – Proportionality Principle – Assessment of the economic impact on livelihoods and operation of the plant against the procedural violation of environmental clearances – High Court’s discontinuation of interim relief not proportionate to potential harm to economy and employment [Paras 88-94].

Economic Considerations – Impact on Employment – Court considers broader implications on employment and economy due to immediate cessation of plant operations – Importance of compliance with environmental norms balanced with potential socioeconomic repercussions [Paras 82-84, 88-94].

Decision – Appeals allowed – High Court’s order vacated – Interim orders restored – Central Government to decide on the application for revised EC within three months – Plant operations not to be interfered with pending decision [Paras 95].

Service Tax – Banking and Financial Services – Interchange Fee – Whether the interchange fee received by the issuing bank (Citi Bank) from the acquiring bank in credit card transactions is subject to service tax – Tribunal relied on the decision in M/s ABN Amro Bank NV v. Commissioner of Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax, Noida, holding interchange fee not liable to service tax – Principal Commissioner’s contrary findings rejected [Paras 1-40].

Statutory Interpretation – Section 65(33a) Finance Act, 1994 – Defines credit card, debit card, charge card, or other payment card service – Includes services related to settlement of amounts transacted through such cards – Interchange fee deemed consideration for service rendered by issuing bank in settlement process – Tribunal's reliance on ABN Amro Bank decision found misplaced; interpretation of law upheld by Principal Commissioner [Paras 33-38].

Double Taxation – Respondent’s contention that interchange fee is part of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) already taxed in hands of acquiring bank – Argument of double taxation rejected – Separate consideration for service rendered by issuing bank and acquiring bank – Each liable to pay tax on respective earnings [Paras 40-41].

Judicial Review – Scope of Tribunal's Decision – Tribunal’s failure to appreciate inclusive definition in Section 65(33a) – Principal Commissioner's comprehensive analysis upheld – Tribunal’s order set aside – Service tax, penalty, and interest reinstated [Paras 42-43].

Decision – Appeals allowed – CESTAT orders set aside – Principal Commissioner’s order restored – Service tax, penalty, and interest on interchange fee confirmed [Paras 44-46].

Consumer Protection – Amendment of Complaint – Insurer's repudiation of claim after complaint filed – Whether appellant can be compelled to amend complaint to challenge repudiation – Appellant contends relief sought includes payment of due amount, making amendment unnecessary – NCDRC erred in directing amendment and allowing written statement – Appellant should decide on amendment, continuation, or withdrawal of complaint [Paras 1-13].

Dominus Litis – Right to Amend Pleadings – Plaintiff/complainant’s prerogative to amend pleadings – Appellant cannot be forced to amend complaint against their decision – NCDRC’s order deprives appellant of rights under existing complaint [Paras 9-13].

Constitution Bench Judgment – Reference to Hilli Multipurpose Cold Storage Private Limited (2020) 5 SCC 757 – Written statement not filed within statutory period – NCDRC order contravenes mandatory timelines for filing written statements under Consumer Protection Act – Rights and options available to appellant clarified [Paras 7-14].

Decision – NCDRC order set aside – Appellant has options: pursue current complaint, amend complaint, or withdraw and file fresh complaint – Respondent's right to file written statement preserved depending on appellant's choice [Paras 14-16].

Criminal Law – Conviction and Sentence – Gruesome murder of two siblings and one nephew – Conviction under Sections 201, 302, and 506-B IPC upheld – Death sentence converted to life imprisonment for 30 years considering the appellant's rural and economically poor background, lack of criminal antecedents, and possibility of reformation [Paras 1-47].

Sentencing – Death Penalty – Considerations for imposing death penalty include brutality of crime and possibility of reformation – Appellant's conduct in jail satisfactory – Lack of evidence from State showing no possibility of reformation – Emphasis on balancing crime and criminal, considering socio-economic background [Paras 41-44].

Judicial Review – Mitigating and Aggravating Circumstances – Courts must consider both crime and criminal – Sentencing process requires a balance sheet of mitigating and aggravating circumstances – Trial and High Courts erred in focusing only on the crime [Paras 43-44].

Decision – Appeals partly allowed – Death sentence converted to life imprisonment for 30 years – Conviction under Sections 201, 302, and 506-B IPC affirmed – Recognition of the need for social reintegration and possibility of reformation of the appellant [Paras 45-47].

Criminal Law – Conspiracy and Abetment – Respondent accused of abetting and conspiring with a senior government official (A-1) in the income tax department to accumulate disproportionate assets – High Court quashed charge sheet due to lack of evidence directly linking the respondent to the offense – Suspicion alone insufficient for framing charges [Paras 1-27].

Prevention of Corruption Act – Disproportionate Assets – Respondent, not a public servant, cannot be charged under Section 13(1)(e) read with Section 13(2) – No evidence showing respondent received monetary benefit or held property for A-1 – Allegations did not meet threshold for criminal conspiracy or abetment [Paras 23-26].

Judicial Review – Quashing of Charges – Courts must examine whether prima facie evidence supports charges – Allegations and material presented did not implicate respondent in the crime – Chargesheet and final report did not connect respondent with money trail or property transaction – High Court's decision upheld [Paras 20-33].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – High Court's order quashing charges against respondent affirmed – Insufficient evidence to support charges of conspiracy and abetment [Para 33].

Criminal Law – Common Intention – Conviction under Sections 302 and 34 IPC upheld – Appellant’s exhortation to co-accused immediately before the fatal shot was fired proves involvement – Presence and role at the crime scene established beyond reasonable doubt [Paras 1-28, 83-94].

Evidence – Eye-witness Testimony – Credibility of eye-witnesses affirmed despite being related to the deceased – Testimonies consistent and credible – Non-recovery of weapon and failure to produce ballistic expert report not sufficient to impeach prosecution case [Paras 14-18].

Common Intention – Section 34 IPC – No need for overt act if common intention established – Common intention can develop on the spot – Evidence of acting in concert sufficient for constructive liability under Section 34 [Paras 21-27].

Judicial Review – High Court’s affirmation of trial court’s conviction upheld – Delay in lodging FIR satisfactorily explained – Allegations of false implication due to prior enmity dismissed [Paras 7-14].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – Conviction and life sentence for murder under Sections 302 and 34 IPC affirmed [Paras 28-29].

Civil Procedure – Res Judicata – Previous proceedings had concluded on the issue of title against the respondent (KIC) – Trial court rightly rejected subsequent suit on the same issue – High Court erred in setting aside the trial court's rejection of plaint – Appeal allowed [Paras 16-21].

Civil Procedure – Order 2 Rule 2 CPC – Respondent's omission to seek declaration of title in earlier suit for injunction – Barred from subsequent suit for declaration and possession on the same cause of action – High Court overlooked statutory bar [Paras 10-11, 19-20].

Judicial Precedent – Compliance with Previous Judgments – Decisions of the trial court and High Court in earlier suits deemed final – Findings of non-est grant to respondent cannot be re-litigated – High Court’s reversal of trial court’s rejection of plaint erroneous [Paras 7, 16-21].

Decision – Appeal allowed – High Court’s order set aside – Trial court’s order rejecting the plaint affirmed – No costs [Para 21].

Employment Law – Misconduct and Reinstatement – Conductor failed to issue tickets to 17 passengers – Tribunal and High Court directed reinstatement with 50% back wages – Supreme Court found that the representative of the employer was not cross-examined on key points – Evidence of misconduct was not disputed – Orders of Tribunal and High Court set aside – Appeal allowed, and order of removal from service restored [Paras 1-12].

Admissibility of Evidence – Domestic Inquiries – Indian Evidence Act not strictly applicable to domestic inquiries – Evidence must be logically probative – Witness statements need not meet formal requirements if they support the charges [Paras 7-9].

Section 11A of the Industrial Disputes Act – Tribunal’s jurisdiction to reappraise evidence – Tribunal misapplied principles of law – Employer's evidence of misconduct unchallenged – Tribunal’s findings deemed perverse [Paras 5-6, 11-12].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Orders of the High Court and Industrial Tribunal set aside – Order of removal from service dated 14.12.2001 restored [Para 12].

Motor Accident – Compensation Reduction – Deceased aged 33 years at the time of death – High Court reduced compensation from Rs. 22,60,000 to Rs. 17,00,000 without assigning reasons – Supreme Court recalculated compensation considering loss of future prospects, spousal consortium, and conventional expenses – Total compensation determined as Rs. 31,01,000 [Paras 1-16].

Loss of Future Prospects – Deceased self-employed with a fixed salary – 40% addition to established income as deceased was below 40 years – Adjusted compensation considering future prospects [Paras 13-15].

Section 173 of Motor Vehicles Act – Appeal as continuation of original proceedings – High Court’s duty to provide reasons for modifying Tribunal’s award – Supreme Court found High Court’s reduction arbitrary [Paras 12, 17].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Compensation enhanced to Rs. 31,01,000 – Insurer directed to deposit balance amount with interest at 7.5% per annum within eight weeks – Disbursement to claimants as directed by Tribunal [Para 17].