Competition Law – Jurisdiction of CCI – Anti-competitive Practices – CCI's role in investigating bid rigging, collusive bidding, and cartelization in lottery tenders – Lottery business regulated under Lotteries (Regulation) Act but CCI jurisdiction affirmed for anti-competitive aspects – Premature High Court intervention criticized – Proceedings remanded to CCI for completion [Paras 1-44].

Legal Interpretation – Service Definition – Inclusive Definition of Service under Section 2(u) of Competition Act – Services related to lottery distribution fall under Competition Act – Doctrine of res extra commercium not applicable to anti-competitive practices in regulated businesses [Paras 36-39].

Decision: High Court judgment set aside – CCI to proceed with investigation – State of Mizoram's writ petition closed – Private parties' writ petitions dismissed – Proceedings to conclude per Competition Act.

Trade Marks – Infringement – Identical Marks – Defendant’s use of a mark identical to the plaintiff’s registered mark – Presumption of confusion – Section 29 of Trade Marks Act applied – High Court erred by not acknowledging the legislative scheme presuming confusion when identical marks are used for similar goods/services – Appeal allowed with injunction granted [Paras 1-29].

Trade Marks – Honest Concurrent Use – Defendants' claim of good faith use rejected – Evidence showed deliberate adoption of plaintiff’s well-known mark – Registration and prior use rights upheld – Plaintiff's extensive use and reputation recognized [Paras 30-36].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court judgment set aside – Injunction granted against respondents from using "SAI RENAISSANCE" or any deceptively similar mark – Permanent injunction and removal of infringing materials ordered.

Promotion – Inspector General of Police's Authority – Punjab Police Rules – IG's power to review SP's recommendations for promotion under the 10% outstanding performance quota – Rule 13.7(14) empowers IG to scrutinize and approve SP's list – SP's recommendation not final until IG's approval – Three-stage scrutiny required for selection as Head Constable under 10% quota – State level comparative merit considered – Appeal dismissed [Paras 1-9].

Judicial Review – Decision-Making Process – Courts to review process, not decision – No arbitrariness in selection process – IG's scrutiny and approval justified – No indefinite right to promotion based on SP's recommendation [Paras 8-9].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – High Court judgment upheld – IG's scrutiny and approval powers affirmed – No right to retrospective promotion based on SP's initial recommendation.

Criminal Law – Murder vs. Grievous Hurt – IPC Sections 302 and 326 – Conviction converted by High Court – Deceased died due to head injury after six days – Head injury considered fatal and on a vital part of the body – Mere absence of fracture not sufficient to downgrade conviction – High Court’s conversion of conviction to Section 326 IPC erroneous – Appeal allowed [Paras 1-8].

Evidence – Medical Evidence – Post-Mortem Report – Cause of death due to head injury – Congestion and subdural hematoma over both temporal lobes – Internal injuries can be fatal despite absence of external fractures – High Court failed to consider full medical evidence [Para 7].

Judicial Review – Appellate Interference – High Court’s erroneous application of law – Reinstatement of trial court’s judgment – Conviction under Section 302 IPC for intentional causing of fatal head injury upheld [Paras 7-8].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court’s judgment set aside – Conviction under Section 302 IPC and Section 302/34 IPC restored – Respondents to undergo life imprisonment as ordered by the trial court.

Service Law – Departmental Proceedings – Jurisdictional Error – High Court erred in acting as an appellate court on merits – Departmental inquiry found respondent guilty of misconduct based on preponderance of evidence – Tribunal's findings on fraud and forgery upheld – Evidence led by the bank sufficient – High Court's remittance to Tribunal for expert opinion unnecessary – Appeal allowed [Paras 14-20].

Standard of Proof – Departmental vs. Criminal Proceedings – Standard of proof in departmental inquiries lower than criminal proceedings – Preponderance of probability sufficient – Handwriting expert not essential when sufficient evidence exists – Legal precedent supports lower standard for disciplinary actions [Para 17].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court's judgment set aside – Industrial Tribunal's award upheld – Respondent's dismissal from service justified and proportionate to misconduct.

Criminal Law – Rape and Murder of Minor Girl – Sentencing – Appellant convicted for the offences under IPC and POCSO Act, sentenced to death by the trial court and confirmed by the High Court – Supreme Court commuted death sentence to life imprisonment, taking into account restorative justice principles and mitigating circumstances – Sentence of imprisonment for a period of twenty years instead of life imprisonment for the remainder of the appellant's natural life for the offence under Section 376A IPC [Paras 36-45].

Restorative Justice – Opportunity for Rehabilitation – Supreme Court emphasized giving offenders an opportunity to repair the damage caused and become socially useful individuals – Balancing retributive and restorative justice principles in sentencing [Paras 43].

Circumstantial Evidence – Doctrine of Last Seen – Prosecution proved that the appellant was last seen with the victim, and there was no plausible explanation from the appellant for the victim's condition – DNA evidence confirmed appellant's involvement – Conviction upheld based on circumstantial evidence and corroborating medical reports [Paras 23-32].

Fair Trial – Right to Legal Representation – Supreme Court noted that the trial court provided legal assistance to the appellant, ensuring a fair trial – No evidence suggesting procedural unfairness or deprivation of legal rights [Paras 33-35].

Decision: Appeal partly allowed – Death sentence commuted to imprisonment for a period of twenty years for the offence under Section 376A IPC – Conviction and sentence for other offences under IPC and POCSO Act affirmed – All punishments to run concurrently [Paras 43-45].

Criminal Law – Appeal Against Acquittal – High Court’s Duty – High Court must reappreciate entire evidence in detail in a first appeal against acquittal – General observations without detailed reappreciation inadequate – Presumption of innocence strengthened by trial court’s acquittal – Appeal allowed for reconsideration [Paras 1-8].

Appellate Jurisdiction – Powers of High Court – High Court’s jurisdiction under Section 378 CrPC – High Court entitled to reappreciate evidence independently – Presumption of innocence continues at appellate stage – High Court’s failure to reappreciate entire evidence constitutes a jurisdictional error [Para 6].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court judgment set aside – Matter remanded back to High Court for fresh consideration on merits in accordance with law.

Civil Procedure – Summary Suit – Leave to Defend – General Rule and Exception – Leave to defend should be granted unless the defendant has no substantial defence – Denial of leave is exceptional – Appellant raised triable issues regarding liability – High Court erred in denying leave – Appeal allowed with leave to defend granted [Paras 1-21].

Legal Interpretation – Order 37 Rule 3 CPC – Principles for Leave to Defend – Triable issues and fair defence entitle the defendant to unconditional leave – Conditions may be imposed if defence appears plausible but improbable – Denial of leave justified only if defence is frivolous or vexatious [Paras 16-17].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court and Trial Court judgments set aside – Appellant granted leave to defend – Trial Court to proceed with the trial, considering the appellant’s deposit of Rs. 40,00,000 as per Supreme Court's interim order.

Criminal Law – Bail – Cancellation – Circumstantial Evidence – Seriousness of Offense – High Court's order granting bail without considering material evidence and gravity of the offense erroneous – Accused conspired with others to murder his wife for insurance money – Evidence shows call records and monetary motives – Bail granted on weak grounds reversed [Paras 1-10].

Legal Principles – Bail Considerations – Judicial Discretion – Factors for Granting Bail – Bail decisions must consider the nature of charges, severity of punishment, risk of absconding, and potential tampering with evidence – High Court failed to apply these principles adequately [Paras 8-9].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court's bail order set aside – Respondent to surrender within one week – Trial to proceed based on evidence without influence from bail decision.