Payment of Gratuity – Meaning of "Wages" – Ad hoc payments made to workers pursuant to interim orders of the Supreme Court – Held, such ad hoc payments do not form part of "wages" under Section 2(s) of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, as they were not earned by the employee in accordance with the terms and conditions of employment – Interim benefits cease upon final adverse judgment – Supreme Court clarifies that "wages" includes only basic wages and Dearness Allowance [Paras 1-22].

Decision – Appeals allowed – Orders of High Court, Controlling Authority, and Appellate Authority under the Act set aside – Management directed not to recover amounts already paid to employees or their families due to passage of time and circumstances [Paras 21-22].

Consumer Protection – Jurisdiction of Consumer Courts – Failure to deliver possession of apartment – Refund and Compensation – The Consumer Protection Act empowers Consumer Courts to direct refund of amounts paid by consumers with interest and to compensate for deficiencies in service. This includes cases where developers fail to deliver possession as per the terms of the Apartment Buyers Agreement [Paras 1-22].

Section 2(g) – Deficiency in Service – Defined as any shortcoming or inadequacy in performance undertaken by a person in pursuance of a contract – Courts can direct refunds and compensation [Paras 6-20].

Decision – Appeals upheld – Developer directed to refund the amount paid by the consumer with interest at 9% p.a. for delay in possession – Commission's order upheld [Paras 20-25].

Eviction – Bona fide Requirement – Section 14(1)(e) – Eviction for personal necessity – The requirement must be genuine, and there must be no other reasonably suitable accommodation – The Rent Controller must be satisfied on both counts before granting eviction [Paras 1-22].

Leave to Defend – Section 25B(5) – The tenant must disclose facts that could disprove the landlord’s bona fide need – Mere assertions are insufficient; substantial material is needed to raise triable issues – The quality of adjudication lies between moonshine and adequate material [Paras 15-22].

High Court's Revisional Power – Proviso to Section 25B(8) – The High Court’s revisional jurisdiction is supervisory in nature and limited to ensuring the order is according to law – The High Court should not act as an appellate court by reassessing and reappraising evidence [Paras 19-21].

Decision – Appeal allowed – High Court’s order set aside – Rent Controller’s order restored – Eviction granted [Paras 22-30].

Civil Procedure – Order 41 Rule 33 – Extraordinary Powers of Appellate Court – The High Court invoked Order 41 Rule 33 to stay the dismissal of the respondent from service until the conclusion of the pending criminal case – Supreme Court held that Order 41 Rule 33 confers extraordinary power, to be used sparingly and in special cases – The power is not meant to be applied broadly across all appeals, particularly where the order under challenge is not specifically before the appellate court [Paras 13-14].

Disciplinary Proceedings – Parallel Criminal Proceedings – It is not generally desirable to delay disciplinary proceedings due to pending criminal cases – The principle that an employee should not disclose his defense in disciplinary proceedings if it may prejudice the criminal case does not apply uniformly – Each case must be assessed on its facts [Paras 9-11].

Decision – Appeal allowed – High Court's order set aside – Disciplinary proceedings and the resulting dismissal of the respondent are upheld – Respondent's rights to challenge the disciplinary proceedings in a competent forum are preserved [Paras 14].

Education Law – UGC Regulations – Applicability to State Universities – UGC Regulations 2010 are mandatory for Central universities and colleges, but directory for State universities and colleges – State Government has discretion to adopt and implement UGC Regulations for its institutions [Paras 1-22].

Pay Scale and Qualifications – Distinction between Teaching and Administrative Posts – The qualifications and pay scales for Registrars in State universities are governed by State-specific rules – Temporary assignments do not alter the inherent classification between administrative and teaching roles [Paras 14-22].

Decision – Appeal allowed – High Court’s judgment set aside – The State Government's decision regarding pay scales for Registrars is upheld – The writ petition filed by the respondent is dismissed [Paras 21-22].

Waqf Board – Composition and Term of Office – Section 14 and Section 15 – Appointments to the Waqf Board can be by election or nomination, as per the Waqf Act – The term of office for both elected and nominated members is prescribed as five years – The State Government has the authority to nominate members and also to cancel such nominations [Paras 1-12].

Nomination vs. Election – State’s Discretion – Nomination of members stands on a different footing compared to election – The State Government retains discretionary power over nominated members, allowing for the possibility of removal before the completion of the prescribed term [Paras 11-12].

High Court’s Jurisdiction – Arbitrariness and Procedural Lapses – The High Court’s intervention was based on perceived arbitrariness and procedural lapses by the State Government in cancelling the nomination – The Supreme Court found no factual basis for such arbitrariness and upheld the State’s discretionary powers [Paras 13-16].

Decision – Appeal allowed – High Court’s order set aside – The appointment cancellation by the State Government upheld – Respondent’s writ petition dismissed [Paras 17].

Service Law – ACP Scheme – Stepping Up of Pay – The case involved a pay anomaly where juniors were drawing higher pay due to upgradation under the ACP Scheme – Supreme Court upheld the High Court's direction to step up the pay of seniors to match that of their juniors to remove the anomaly – The principle under Fundamental Rule (FR) 22 allows for such adjustments to ensure equity among employees [Paras 1-7].

Fundamental Rule 22 – Anomaly in Pay – Removal of anomaly by stepping up the pay of a senior promoted or appointed to a higher post who draws less pay than a junior promoted or appointed subsequently to the same post – Such adjustment is necessary to maintain uniformity and avoid pay disparity [Paras 4-6].

Decision – Appeals dismissed – High Court’s order upheld – The appellant directed to step up the pay of the respondents to remove the anomaly, ensuring their pay matches that of their juniors from the date the juniors started drawing higher pay [Paras 7].

Recruitment – Shortlisting Criteria – Minimum Qualifying Marks – The imposition of minimum qualifying marks for interviews by the Goa Public Service Commission without specific authorization under the Rules is invalid – The selection process should be governed by the aggregate marks obtained in written exams and interviews as per Rule 12 of the Goa Civil Service Rules, 2016 [Paras 1-22].

Article 320 of the Constitution – Commission's Powers – While the Commission has a role under Article 320 to conduct examinations and interviews, it cannot impose additional qualifications or criteria beyond those prescribed by the statutory rules [Paras 4-6].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – High Court’s order upheld – Commission directed to prepare the select list based on aggregate marks without applying the disputed minimum qualifying marks for interviews [Paras 20-22].

Land Acquisition – Compensation – Market Value – Small plots/parcels of land cannot offer the same market value as large tracts of land – Sale instances of small plots are generally not comparable to large extents of land for determining compensation – The High Court erred in using small plot sale instances to determine compensation for a large area [Paras 1-22].

Development Charges – Deduction – Appropriate deduction towards development charges must be considered based on utilization and cost – The High Court's deduction of 33.33% was deemed insufficient, and a 40% deduction was found appropriate [Paras 20-22].

Decision – Appeals partly allowed – High Court’s judgment modified – Compensation for acquired land fixed at Rs. 6/- per square foot subject to 40% deduction towards development charges with all statutory benefits [Paras 21-22].