Service Law – Extension for exercising the switchover from CPF to GPF – The Pension Regulations and GPF Scheme require employees to opt for either CPF or GPF. The Supreme Court held that employees do not have an inherent right to demand an extension for exercising the switchover option [Paras 1-18].

Service Law – Pension and Provident Fund Schemes – The court distinguished between CPF and GPF, noting that they are governed by different rules. The Supreme Court reiterated the principle that options once exercised under the CPF or GPF schemes are final and binding, and any subsequent extensions granted by the University were without proper authority [Paras 12-17].

Service Law – Discrimination in Pension Benefits – The court addressed claims of discrimination by employees who were denied the chance to switch over to GPF, despite some employees being granted such extensions. The Supreme Court held that allowing one set of employees to benefit from illegal extensions does not entitle others to the same benefit under the principle of "no equality in illegality" [Paras 17-18].

Decision: Appeal allowed in part – The decisions of the learned Single Judge and Division Bench in N.C. Bakshi batch of cases upheld. Appeal in Shashi Kiran batch of cases allowed, setting aside the decision of the learned Single Judge and Division Bench [Para 18].

Minimum Wages – Correction of Errors – Only clerical or arithmetical mistakes in any order fixing or revising minimum rates of wages can be corrected under Section 10 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The notification dated 23/24.05.2016, which fixed minimum wages including special allowance, was issued after following due procedure. The subsequent errata notification dated 14.07.2016, which attempted to change the minimum wage structure by correcting "clause (i)" to "clause (iii)", was held invalid as it did not follow the proper procedural requirements. The notification could not be modified by such an errata notification issued under the guise of Section 10​​.

Procedure – Statutory Compliance – The correct procedure for fixing or revising minimum wages involves consultation with the Minimum Wage Advisory Board and following the steps outlined in Sections 4 and 5 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Any modification of a notification must follow the same procedure as the original issuance, as per Section 21 of the General Clauses Act​​.

Decision: The appeal is allowed. The impugned judgment of the High Court is quashed and set aside. The errata notification dated 14.07.2016 is quashed and the original notification dated 23/24.05.2016 is restored​​.

Service Law – Cancellation of Appointment – The entire selection/recruitment process was found to be fraudulent, including manipulation in the resolution and absence of a valid resolution for the appointment. The cancellation of the appointment was upheld [Paras 6-7].

Judicial Review – Selection Process – The court held that once a selection process is found to be fraudulent and manipulated, the proper course is to order a fresh selection process rather than directing the appointment of any individual from the tainted process. Directions issued by the lower court to forward documents for appointing the original writ petitioner were found unsustainable and set aside [Paras 6.1-8].

Decision: The appeal is partly allowed. The cancellation of the appellant’s appointment is upheld. The direction to appoint the original writ petitioner is quashed. A fresh selection process is ordered [Para 8].

Local Government – Elections – The process of delimitation and/or triple test compliance is continuous and time-consuming. However, the conduct of elections for installing newly elected bodies to take over from the outgoing elected representatives whose term had expired is mandated by the Constitution and relevant enactments. The State Election Commission must proceed with elections without waiting for the completion of delimitation or triple test requirements if these processes are not completed in time [Paras 15-19].

Constitutional Mandate – Term of Local Bodies – The term of local self-government is specified as five years from its first meeting and no longer. This mandate is inviolable, and all concerned must ensure that newly elected bodies are installed before the expiry of the outgoing body's term. Any delay in this process would result in a violation of the constitutional mandate [Paras 6-9].

Election Programme – Interim Order – The State Election Commission is directed to issue the election programme without further delay based on the delimitation of wards as per the previous configuration. The commission must ensure elections are conducted even if the triple test for OBC reservation is not completed, with seats notified as General Category except for those reserved for SC and ST [Paras 12-14].

Decision: The writ petition is allowed. The State Election Commission is directed to proceed with the election programme for the concerned local bodies based on the delimitation as per the existing wards. The State Government must support the State Election Commission in this task [Para 20].

Environmental Law – Utilization of Fly Ash – The NGT addressed issues regarding the handling of accumulated fly ash by thermal power plants. The NGT found that several thermal power plants failed to take adequate steps for the scientific disposal of fly ash in accordance with statutory notifications issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986​​.

Regulatory Notifications – Compliance – The MoEF&CC issued a notification on 31 December 2021 outlining the parameters for ash utilization from coal or lignite thermal power plants, including the utilization of 'legacy ash' stored before the notification. The Supreme Court held that the new notification's parameters and timelines supersede the earlier ones, thereby altering the basis of the NGT's orders​​.

Judicial Review – Procedural Compliance – The Supreme Court set aside the NGT’s orders and directed the MoEF&CC to ensure that the enforcement, monitoring, audit, and reporting mechanisms outlined in the notification dated 31 December 2021 are implemented. The MoEF&CC was also tasked with determining whether any modifications to the notification were necessary to comply with the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016​​.

Decision: The appeals are disposed of in terms of the directions provided. The impugned orders of the NGT are set aside. The MoEF&CC is directed to revisit the parameters of the notification dated 31 December 2021, ensure its enforcement, and determine if further modifications are needed​​.

Criminal Law – Quashing of Proceedings – The appellant, Rekha Jain, was charged under Section 420 of the IPC. The allegations primarily concerned her husband, Kamalesh Mulchand Jain, who was accused of cheating and dishonestly inducing the complainant to deliver gold jewellery. There were no allegations against Rekha Jain of any inducement or dishonest actions to deceive the complainant to part with the property. Hence, the proceedings under Section 420 of IPC against Rekha Jain were quashed [Paras 3-8].

Judicial Review – Scope of Section 420 IPC – For an offence under Section 420 IPC, there must be allegations of dishonest inducement to deceive someone to deliver property. In the absence of such allegations against the appellant, the criminal proceedings could not be sustained [Paras 8-9].

Decision: The appeal is allowed. The criminal proceedings against the appellant, Rekha Jain, under Section 420 of IPC are quashed. However, this does not affect any other potential charges that may be brought against her​​.

Registration – Execution of Document – Execution is not merely signing the document. Execution involves signing by way of assent to the terms embodied in the document. Admitting a signature does not equate to admitting execution, especially if the signature was obtained under misleading circumstances or without the signatory fully understanding the document's content. The Sub-Registrar must refuse registration if there is a denial of execution under Section 35(3)(a) of the Registration Act​​.

Legal Procedure – Enquiry by Registrar – Upon refusal of registration by the Sub-Registrar on grounds of denied execution, the Registrar must conduct an enquiry under Section 74 to ascertain if the document was duly executed and whether the law's requirements were complied with. This involves a quasi-judicial process to establish the validity of the document's execution​​.

Decision: The appeal is allowed. The registration of the sale deed by the District Registrar is set aside. The order of the Single Judge of the High Court is quashed. The case is remanded for reconsideration by the Registrar following the proper legal framework and ensuring a fair enquiry into the execution of the document​​.

Criminal Law – Compensation for Unlawful Detention – The appellant was convicted under Section 376 IPC and sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment. The High Court reduced the sentence to 7 years but the appellant was not released after completing the reduced sentence. He remained in custody for an additional period due to an alleged administrative oversight, which violated his rights under Articles 19(d) and 21 of the Constitution​​.

Legal Procedure – Sentencing and Remission – The appellant was entitled to remission as per the Madhya Pradesh Prison Rules, 1968, adopted by the State of Chhattisgarh. The Superintendent of Central Jail, Ambikapur, acknowledged the remission period but did not account for it in the actual release date calculation, resulting in excessive imprisonment​​.

Constitutional Rights – Violation of Personal Liberty – The appellant’s continued detention beyond the permissible period, without any legal justification, constituted a violation of his fundamental rights under Articles 19(d) and 21 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court held that such unlawful detention demands compensatory relief to address the violation and the resultant mental agony and deprivation of liberty​​.

Decision: The appeal is allowed. The appellant is awarded compensation of Rs. 7.5 lakhs for the unlawful detention period. The State is held vicariously liable for the actions of its officers and is directed to have recourse against the erring officers​​.

Negotiable Instruments Act – Vicarious Liability – The appellant, a partner of M/s. Global Packaging, was convicted under Section 138 of the NI Act for cheque dishonour, despite the firm not being prosecuted. The Supreme Court held that vicarious liability under Section 141 can only be imposed if the firm is prosecuted as the principal offender. Without establishing that the appellant was in charge of and responsible for the firm's conduct, his conviction cannot stand​​.

Legal Interpretation – Section 141 NI Act – For vicarious liability under Section 141, the prosecution must prove that the person was responsible for the firm's business conduct at the time of the offence. Liability cannot be inferred merely from partnership status or guarantor role. Sub-section (2) extends liability to directors, managers, and other officers only if the offence was committed with their consent, connivance, or neglect​​.

Precedent – Firm as Principal Offender – The court referred to the decision in Aneeta Hada v. Godfather Travels and Tours Private Ltd., establishing that the firm must be arraigned as an accused for vicarious liability under Section 141. The absence of the firm as a party invalidates the prosecution against individual partners based on their roles alone​​.

Decision: The appeal is allowed. The conviction of Dilip Hariramani under Section 138 read with Section 141 of the NI Act is set aside. The judgments of the High Court, Sessions Court, and Judicial Magistrate are reversed. Bail bonds executed by the appellant are cancelled, and he is acquitted​​.