Recruitment Process – Public Employment – Systemic Fraud – Entire recruitment process for the post of Head Clerk (Grade II (DASS)) annulled due to systemic fraud and irregularities including mass cheating and impersonation – Decision to cancel the entire process upheld to preserve public confidence in recruitment processes – Cancellation causing hardship to a few not sufficient to nullify the decision [Paras 1-19, 26].

Judicial Review – Recruitment Cancellation – Scope and Principles – Court’s role to balance preserving public confidence and fairness to candidates – Extensive findings of systemic irregularities justified cancellation – Precedents support cancellation when entire process vitiated by fraud [Paras 26-33, 36-45].

Decision – Appeals Dismissed – Held – Notification cancelling the Tier-I and Tier-II examinations upheld – Entire recruitment process legitimately annulled due to pervasive irregularities [Para 45].

Insolvency and Bankruptcy – Section 9 Application – Limitation – Corporate Debtor's acknowledgement of arrears of salary within the limitation period – Date of the last acknowledgement (30.09.2014) to the date of filing the petition (27.07.2017) falls within three years – NCLT's admission of Section 9 application justified – Appeal allowed [Paras 1-10].

Acknowledge of Debt – Corporate Debtor's Liability – Managing Director's acknowledgment of arrears of salary – Liability recognized for the period of at least three years prior to the last acknowledgment – No dispute as to the amount owed – NCLT’s decision to admit Section 9 application affirmed [Paras 3, 6, 8-10].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Held – NCLAT judgment set aside – NCLT judgment restored – No further hearing required on merits as NCLT's admission was correct [Para 10-11].

Criminal Law – Murder by Pouring Kerosene Oil – Dying Declaration – Victim suffered 90% burn injuries and was in a fit condition to make a dying declaration – Dying declaration recorded by Judicial Magistrate found reliable – Family members’ presence in the hospital not a ground to disbelieve the dying declaration – Conviction under Section 302 IPC upheld [Paras 1-17].

Judicial Review – Evidentiary Value – Dying Declaration – Dying declaration made before a Judicial Magistrate holds significant evidentiary value – Corroboration by other witnesses strengthens the case – No reason to disbelieve dying declaration absent evidence of tutoring or coercion [Paras 13-16].

Decision – Appeal Dismissed – Held – Conviction and sentence under Section 302 IPC affirmed – Appeal devoid of merit [Para 17].

Criminal Law – Murder by Gunshot – Circumstantial Evidence – Conviction of the accused based on the complete chain of circumstantial evidence leading to the irresistible conclusion of guilt – Motive established by evidence of the deceased's relationship with accused's wife – Recovery of weapon and forensic evidence supporting the prosecution’s case – Appeal dismissed [Paras 1-23].

Judicial Review – Evidentiary Value – Interested Witnesses – Testimony of interested witnesses (family members) admissible and credible if corroborated by other evidence – Concurrent findings by lower courts upheld – Evidence scrutinized under settled legal principles for circumstantial evidence [Paras 17, 19, 21].

Decision – Appeal Dismissed – Held – Conviction and sentence affirmed – Appellant may seek remission of sentence after serving 14 years as per state policy [Para 23].

Ex Parte Decree – Setting Aside – Provincial Small Cause Courts Act – Compliance with Proviso to Section 17 – Application under Order 9 Rule 13 to set aside ex parte decree cannot be granted automatically – Compliance with proviso to Section 17 is a precondition – Tenant failed to deposit entire decretal amount or give security at the time of application – Trial court's rejection of application upheld [Paras 1-23, 27-29].

Judicial Review – Approach of Courts – High Court's Hyper-Technical and Pedantic Approach – Trial court and revisional court did not adopt a hyper-technical or pedantic approach – High Court erred in setting aside their decisions – Compliance with legal provisions mandatory [Paras 53-55].

Decision – Appeals Allowed – Held – High Court's orders set aside – Trial court’s rejection of application under Order 9 Rule 13 upheld – Executing court directed to execute the decree within three months – Costs of Rs. 25,000 imposed on respondent [Para 56-58].

National Green Tribunal Act – Condonation of Delay – Environmental Clearance – NGT's rejection of application for condonation of delay was erroneous – Communication of order includes dissemination to affected parties, not just publication on the website – Delay explained due to voluminous documents and need for expert legal advice – Appeal allowed, delay condoned, case remanded to NGT for merit hearing [Paras 1-30].

Condonation of Delay – General Clauses Act – Section 10 – Last date for filing appeal falling on a Sunday – Appeal filed on the next working day deemed within time – NGT's narrow interpretation rejected – Sufficient cause shown for delay [Paras 19-21].

Judicial Review – Exercise of Discretion – "Sufficient Cause" – Relative and fact-dependent – Bona fide explanation given – NGT's refusal to condone delay based on narrow reading of the law – Exercise of discretion to be fair and just, especially in environmental matters affecting public interest [Paras 22-29].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Held – NGT's order set aside – Delay condoned – Case remanded to NGT for decision on merits [Para 30].

Land Acquisition – Compensation – Section 28(A) Land Acquisition Act – Entitlement to enhanced compensation – Appellant entitled to compensation re-determined in accordance with enhanced compensation awarded to his father and brother by the same notification – Reference Court’s denial of relief on grounds of delay held erroneous – Appeal allowed, compensation awarded at Rs. 8500 per Are, with Solatium @ 30% and other benefits under Sections 23(1A) and 28 of the Act, and interest [Paras 1-17].

Judicial Review – Delay in Filing Reference Petitions – Not a ground to deny relief when similarly situated landowners have been granted enhanced compensation – Uniformity in compensation ensured for lands acquired under the same notification [Paras 13-16].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Held – Reference Court and High Court judgments set aside – Compensation re-determined at Rs. 8500 per Are with additional benefits – No order as to costs [Para 17].

Penal Code – Murder – Circumstantial Evidence – Absence of Motive – Lack of evidence suggesting violence or struggle – Medical expert did not rule out suicidal death – Post-Mortem report indicated death due to asphyxia by hanging – Absence of motive weighs in favor of the accused – Benefit of doubt given – Appellant acquitted [Paras 1-34].

Criminal Procedure – Section 313 CrPC – False Explanation – Non-explanation by the accused used as additional circumstance only when prosecution proves chain of events leading to guilt – Cannot be used to complete the chain of evidence – Appellant's non-explanation not sufficient for conviction [Paras 24].

Evidence – Section 106 Indian Evidence Act – Burden of Proof – Does not directly operate against husband or wife staying together and being last seen with deceased – Prosecution must first discharge its primary burden – Section 106 only considered when prosecution's evidence sustains a conviction [Paras 22-23].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Held – Conviction and sentence set aside – Appellant acquitted of all charges – Directed to be released forthwith if not required in any other case [Para 34].

Taxation – UP VAT Act – Classification of Goods – Embroidered ladies suits considered as "textile made ups" – Respondent's process includes cutting, embroidery, and partial stitching – Product does not remain 'textile' under Entry 21 of Schedule I, nor does it qualify as 'other textile made ups' under Entry 16 of Schedule II – Product falls under residuary Entry 1 of Schedule V taxed at 12.5% – Appeal allowed, lower court's decision set aside [Paras 1-17].

Legal Interpretation – Ejusdem Generis Rule – Interpretation of "other textile made ups" in conjunction with bed sheets and pillow covers – General term takes color from specific items preceding it – Ensures uniform classification and taxation [Para 14].

Decision – Appeals Allowed – Held – High Court's order set aside – Tribunal and first appellate authority's decisions also set aside – Order of Assessing Authority restored – No order as to costs [Paras 17-18].