Excise Law – Refund of Duty – Returned Goods – Section 173L of the Central Excise Act, 1944 – For refund of excise duty under Section 173L, the value of returned goods must be considered as the market value of the excisable goods and not the ex-duty or raw material value – Supreme Court held that the Department correctly determined the value of the returned goods at Rs. 8 to 10 per kg, treating them as scrap – Appeal dismissed [Paras 1-6].

Valuation – Market Value vs. Raw Material Value – Court emphasized that the statutory provision mandates considering the market value of returned goods – Submission that returned goods should be treated as raw material for valuation was rejected – Value must reflect market conditions and defects in returned goods [Paras 4-4.1].

Principles of Natural Justice – Market Survey Report – No Violation – Court found no breach of principles of natural justice in the non-supply of the market survey report to the assessee – Assessee neither requested the report nor raised the issue before the Tribunal – Such grievances cannot be raised for the first time before the High Court [Paras 3, 5].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – High Court's judgment and lower authorities' findings on the value of returned goods upheld – Denial of refund in accordance with Section 173L (v) confirmed [Para 6].

Constitutional Law – Compassionate Appointment – Articles 14 and 15 – Appointment on compassionate grounds cannot be extended to heirs of employees upon retirement or superannuation – Allowing such appointments would deny opportunities to outsiders who may be more meritorious or qualified – Court held that such appointments would be violative of Article 14 and Article 15 of the Constitution – Judgment and awards directing appointments to heirs of retired employees set aside [Paras 1-10].

Compassionate Grounds – Definition and Limits – Court emphasized that compassionate appointment is an exception to the normal recruitment process, intended to help families of employees who die in harness – Such appointments must consider the financial position and dependence of the family – Extending this to heirs of retired employees would defeat the purpose of compassionate appointments [Paras 3-8].

Industrial Disputes – Modification of Award – Historical Context – Judgment and award from 1981, which provided employment to heirs of retiring employees, was modified in 2005 to limit compassionate appointments to heirs of deceased employees only – Court reiterated that the modified scheme governs the appointments, not the original 1981 award [Paras 2, 6].

Decision – Appeals allowed – High Court's judgment and Industrial Court's awards quashed – Directions for compassionate appointments to heirs of retired employees set aside [Para 10].

Land Acquisition – Procedural Compliance – The acquisition of land for constructing grade separators and other structures was challenged on the grounds of non-compliance with procedural requirements under Rule 5(2) of the Tamil Nadu Highways Rules, 2003 – Supreme Court held that non-filing of a statement by the Highways Department in response to landowner objections does not vitiate the acquisition process – Rule 5(2) is procedural and not mandatory – Purpose is to provide Highways Department an opportunity to respond to objections, not a compulsory step [Paras 5.1-6].

Subordinate Legislation – Consistency with Parent Act – High Court's view that Rule 5(2) is inconsistent with Section 15(2) of the Tamil Nadu Highways Act, 2001, was unnecessary – Supreme Court held Rule 5 is not inconsistent with the parent Act – Procedural rules are meant to ensure fair hearing and response but are not grounds to invalidate the acquisition if substantially complied with [Paras 7-8].

Decision: Special Leave Petitions dismissed – Substantial compliance with procedural requirements found – Acquisition upheld.

Murder – Quantum of Punishment – Conviction under Section 302 IPC mandates either death or imprisonment for life along with a fine – Minimum sentence for murder under Section 302 IPC is imprisonment for life – High Court's reduction of sentence to period already undergone (approximately seven years and ten months) was held impermissible and unsustainable by the Supreme Court – Sentence less than life imprisonment for murder contrary to Section 302 IPC [Paras 1-6].

Right to Private Defence – High Court maintained conviction but gave benefit of right to private defence to respondent while reducing sentence – Supreme Court reiterated that once convicted under Section 302 IPC, the minimum sentence cannot be less than life imprisonment regardless of right to private defence considerations [Paras 3-5].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court's order reducing the sentence to the period already undergone set aside – Original sentence of life imprisonment restored – Respondent granted eight weeks to surrender before the concerned Court/Jail Authority to undergo life imprisonment.

Juvenile Justice – Determination of Age – High Court reversed the findings of the 4th Additional Sessions Judge Satna and accepted the plea of juvenility for the first respondent based on fabricated documents – Supreme Court emphasized the procedure under Rule 12(3) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 for age determination, allowing medical examination only when no valid documentary proof is available – High Court's reliance on a forged birth certificate and school records was erroneous – Medical Board's assessment confirmed non-juvenility [Paras 1-7, 17-29].

Credibility of Documents – Court scrutinized the credibility of the birth certificate issued by the Municipal Corporation and the date of birth recorded in the school register – Inquiry found both documents to be fabricated – First respondent's mother's statements and the absence of credible underlying documentation for school admission highlighted – Supreme Court found High Court's acceptance of these documents to be a significant error [Paras 25-28].

Role of Medical Opinion – Medical Board opined the first respondent's age to be between 17 to 21 years – The assessment was necessary due to the lack of reliable documentary evidence – The approximate age was calculated as 19 years, confirming non-juvenility on the date of the incident [Paras 7, 29].

Decision: Appeals allowed – High Court's judgment set aside – Findings of the 4th Additional Sessions Judge rejecting the plea of juvenility sustained – Case remanded for trial – Emphasized the importance of adhering to prescribed legal procedures for age determination and the scrutiny of documentary evidence.

Land Acquisition – Public Interest vs. Private Interest – The case involves the acquisition of appellants' property for constructing a road – The Supreme Court emphasized that public interest, particularly when urgent and pressing, must take precedence over private interests to the necessary extent – The Court underscored that in a democratic society governed by the rule of law, individual rights are paramount and should not be arbitrarily infringed upon; any curtailment of such rights must be scrutinized meticulously [Paras 1-16, 20-42].

Interplay Between MRTP Act and MMC Act – The MRTP Act and MMC Act operate in distinct but sometimes overlapping fields – The powers under the MMC Act are not subsumed by the MRTP Act – The Municipal Corporation can act under the MMC Act to acquire land for public purposes such as road construction without amending the Development Plan under the MRTP Act [Paras 24-43].

Procedural Compliance – Section 91 of MMC Act – Despite the application for acquisition being forwarded by the Office of the Chief Engineer instead of the Commissioner, the Supreme Court held that this was a procedural defect and not a substantive violation – Emphasis on procedural laws being the handmaid of justice, not its mistress, and minor procedural lapses should not defeat the substantive rights or objectives of the legislation [Paras 44-71].

Adequate Safeguards and Hearing of Objections – Appellants were provided sufficient opportunity to raise objections under Section 5A of the Land Acquisition Act – The Supreme Court noted that Appellants focused on halting the acquisition process due to pending litigation rather than substantiating their claims regarding the lack of public purpose [Paras 50-57].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – The acquisition process under the MMC Act upheld – Public interest in constructing the link road recognized as paramount – Adequate procedural safeguards and opportunity for objections were provided.

Service Law – Reinstatement Post-Acquittal – Employee can be reinstated only upon honourable acquittal, not if acquitted on benefit of doubt – Respondent constable dismissed from service for gross misconduct involving extortion and misuse of a firearm – Acquitted in criminal trial on benefit of doubt, not on merits – Supreme Court upholds the principle that departmental proceedings are independent of criminal proceedings, and acquittal in criminal court does not automatically entitle reinstatement [Paras 1-14].

Departmental vs. Criminal Proceedings – Distinction emphasized between departmental proceedings and criminal trials – Departmental inquiries operate on the preponderance of probabilities, while criminal trials require proof beyond reasonable doubt – Merely because an employee is acquitted in a criminal trial does not mandate reinstatement if found guilty in departmental proceedings – Case of Capt. M. Paul Anthony v. Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. distinguished based on its unique facts, highlighting the limited scope of its applicability [Paras 8-10].

Standard of Proof – Burden on Employer and Employee – Departmental proceedings governed by different evidentiary standards than criminal trials – Burden of proof in disciplinary inquiries is on preponderance of probabilities, not beyond reasonable doubt – Decision of disciplinary authority given deference unless perverse or procedurally unfair – Acquittal on benefit of doubt does not negate findings of departmental misconduct [Paras 11-12, 39].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court's order of reinstatement set aside – Reaffirmed principles distinguishing departmental inquiries from criminal proceedings, emphasizing the independence of each process and the standard of proof applicable.

Amendment of Pleadings – Legal Principles – High Court permitted plaintiffs to amend plaint seeking enhancement of damages in a suit for specific performance – Supreme Court reiterated principles under Order 6 Rule 17 CPC: amendments should be allowed to avoid multiplicity of proceedings, provided they do not cause injustice, withdraw admissions, or introduce time-barred claims – Emphasized liberal approach before trial commencement, ensuring opposite party can meet amended case [Paras 19-30].

Bar under Order 2 Rule 2 CPC – Supreme Court clarified Order 2 Rule 2 CPC applies to subsequent suits, not amendments within the same suit – Rejected appellant’s contention that amendment should be barred under Order 2 Rule 2 – Cited past judgments reinforcing that bar is only on subsequent suits based on same cause of action [Paras 43-50].

Doctrine of Constructive Res Judicata – Doctrine inapplicable as there was no formal adjudication between parties – Amendment allowed to enhance damages did not alter the nature of the suit for specific performance [Para 52].

Specific Relief Act, 1963 – Proviso to Section 21(5) and Section 22(2) of Specific Relief Act discussed – Court’s discretion to award compensation in lieu of or in addition to specific performance highlighted – Amendment to enhance damages aligned with reliefs permissible under the Act [Para 54].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – High Court’s decision to allow amendment upheld – Emphasized discretion of courts to permit amendments that facilitate effective adjudication and justice.

Arbitration – Post-Award Interest – Arbitrator has discretion to grant post-award interest on part of the sum – Section 31(7)(b) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 does not fetter arbitrator’s discretion – If arbitrator does not grant post-award interest, award-holder is entitled to interest at eighteen percent per annum – Arbitrator’s discretion must be exercised reasonably and in good faith [Paras 19-22].

Interpretation of “Sum” and “Unless the Award Otherwise Directs” – Phrase “sum” includes principal and pre-award interest – Phrase “unless the award otherwise directs” qualifies only the rate of post-award interest, not the arbitrator’s discretion on granting post-award interest on part of the sum – Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd. v. State of Orissa overruled SL Arora to the extent it restricted post-award interest on principal and pre-award interest [Paras 14-22].

Purpose of Post-Award Interest – Ensure award-debtor does not delay payment – Arbitrator must consider financial standing of award-debtor and circumstances of parties – Discretionary power to grant post-award interest should be exercised reasonably, taking cognizance of relevant circumstances [Paras 21-22].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Delhi High Court’s judgment upheld – Arbitrator’s award of post-award interest on principal amount does not suffer from error [Paras 23-24].