Land Acquisition – Compensation Enhancement – Market Value Determination – Notification under Section 28 of U.P. Awas Evam Vikas Parishad Adhiniyam, 1965, equivalent to Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894, issued on 26.06.1982 for acquiring land – Special Land Acquisition Officer awarded Rs. 50/- per square yard – Reference Court enhanced to Rs. 120/- per square yard – High Court further enhanced to Rs. 297/- per square yard – Supreme Court set aside High Court’s enhancement – Market value determined on basis of comparable sale instances and judicial precedents [Paras 2-13, 27-34].

Potentiality of Land – Determination – Potentiality refers to possibility for changing or developing into the state of actuality – Factors include existing conditions, proximity to residential/commercial/industrial areas, amenities, and development prospects [Paras 29-30].

Judicial Precedents – Relevance – Land acquisition for planned development in Noida and Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) not comparable with acquisition by Parishad – Different dates of notifications and development activities considered – Uniform compensation not applicable across different acquisitions [Paras 35-43].

Decision – Appeals Allowed – High Court’s order awarding Rs. 297/- per square yard set aside – Compensation awarded by Reference Court at Rs. 120/- per square yard restored – Statutory benefits upheld [Para 44].

Limitation Act – Exclusion of Time – Application under Section 7 of IBC – Whether time spent in proceedings under the SARFAESI Act can be excluded under Section 14 of Limitation Act – Proceedings under SARFAESI Act are civil proceedings – Applicant entitled to benefit of Section 14 in respect of proceedings under SARFAESI Act – NCLAT's decision in Ishrat Ali case, which held otherwise, found unsustainable – Section 14 applies to application under Section 7 of IBC [Paras 1-11, 96-98].

Civil Proceedings – Definition – SARFAESI Act proceedings classified as civil proceedings – Section 14 of Limitation Act, which provides for exclusion of time spent in proceedings in wrong forum, applies to such proceedings – Section 238A of IBC makes Limitation Act applicable to proceedings before NCLT/NCLAT [Paras 96-98].

Section 5 of Limitation Act – Condonation of Delay – No formal application required – Court/Tribunal has discretion to condone delay if there is sufficient cause – Absence of formal application does not bar relief under Section 5 [Paras 63-64].

Judicial Pronouncements – Precedents – Citing various cases to establish interpretation and applicability of Section 14 to proceedings under different statutes – Interpretation to advance cause of justice and avoid hyper-technical approach [Paras 72-74, 78-84].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Financial Creditor entitled to exclusion of time under Section 14 – Proceedings under SARFAESI Act bona fide – Application under Section 7 of IBC within limitation after excluding period spent in SARFAESI Act proceedings [Paras 87-88].

Criminal Law – Special Leave Petition – Conviction Upheld – Petitioner convicted by Trial Court and High Court – Habitual offender involved in serious crimes – No grounds found to interfere with lower courts' judgments – Petition dismissed [Para 1].

Legal Representation – Article 21 of Constitution – Right to life and liberty includes right to legal representation – Legal aid must ensure no distinction between rich and poor – Effective representation essential for justice [Paras 3-4].

Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 – Objectives – Providing free and competent legal services to weaker sections – Ensuring justice is not denied due to economic or other disabilities – Nationwide network of Legal Services Authorities and Committees [Para 4-5].

Observations – Legal Aid Counsel and Amicus Curiae – Advocates face challenges due to lack of necessary documents – Right to effective legal representation hampered by incomplete records – Promise of competent legal services remains unfulfilled without full access to documents [Paras 8-9].

Directions – Provision of Documents – Legal aid counsel/amicus curiae must be provided with all relevant documents and official translations – Directions to National Legal Services Authority and State Legal Services Authorities for immediate compliance – Ensuring effective legal representation [Paras 10-12].

Decision – Special Leave Petition Dismissed – Conviction upheld – Directions issued to improve provision of documents to legal aid counsel and amicus curiae [Paras 1, 13].

Criminal Law – Common Intention – Conviction – Appellant, along with two others, tried for murder under Sections 302, 323, 324 read with Section 34 of IPC – Ocular testimony of PW1 did not attribute specific overt act or weapon possession to appellant – No evidence of appellant's direct involvement or exhortation in the assault leading to murder – Appellant's presence and collective assault inferred common intention, but lacked evidence for direct liability under Sections 302 and 324 – Convicted under Section 323 read with Section 34 – Other charges not substantiated [Paras 1-16].

Common Intention – Vicarious Liability – Section 34 IPC – Essential for prosecution to establish prior meeting of minds or participation in common intention – Mere presence or minor role without clear evidence does not substantiate common intention for severe charges – Case-specific assessment necessary [Paras 13-15].

Decision – Appeal Partly Allowed – Conviction under Sections 302 and 324 read with Section 34 set aside – Conviction under Section 323 read with Section 34 upheld – Appellant to be released if sentence for Section 323 already served, unless required for other cases [Para 17].

Criminal Law – Bail – Murder Accusation – Appeal by the State of Kerala against High Court's bail grant to the respondent accused of murdering a lady doctor – High Court overlooked material evidence indicating the respondent's guilt – High Court did not consider the severity of the offense, the accused's absconding behavior, and potential witness influence – Appeal allowed; bail order set aside [Paras 1-40].

Grant of Bail – Judicial Discretion – Exercise of discretion in granting bail must be judicious – High Court failed to apply mind to the severity of the punishment and absconding nature of the accused – High Court's order flawed for not considering materials on record [Paras 33-34].

Bail Conditions – Influencing Witnesses – High Court's condition to restrict the accused from entering Ollur Police Station jurisdiction inadequate to prevent witness tampering – Most witnesses were from Thrissur and Ernakulam, beyond Ollur Police Station's jurisdiction – Importance of ensuring fair trial emphasized [Paras 35-36].

COVID-19 Pandemic Considerations – High Court misinterpreted Supreme Court directives on releasing prisoners due to COVID-19 – Directions aimed at minor offenses, not heinous crimes like murder – High Court's rationale for bail based on COVID-19 concerns deemed inappropriate [Paras 37-38].

Decision – Appeal allowed – High Court's bail order set aside – Respondent to be taken into custody – Compliance directed to concerned police station and jurisdictional Chief Judicial Magistrate [Paras 39-40].

Criminal Law – Bail Conditions – Sexual Harassment – Appeal against the High Court's order using rakhi tying as a bail condition for an accused of sexual harassment – Supreme Court finds the condition wholly unacceptable and diluting the offence of sexual harassment – Such conditions transform a molester into a brother by judicial mandate and perpetuate gender stereotypes – Appeal allowed; bail condition set aside [Paras 1-88].

Judicial Conduct – Gender Sensitization – Supreme Court issues guidelines for courts to avoid patriarchal notions and ensure gender sensitization – Bail conditions should protect complainant from further harassment – Orders must not reflect stereotypical notions about women – Courts should avoid suggesting or mandating compromises between prosecutrix and accused – Judges should be sensitive and avoid traumatizing prosecutrix during proceedings [Paras 44-47].

Role of Courts – Ensuring Fairness – Courts must ensure fairness and impartiality, avoiding stereotypes in judicial reasoning – Judges should be aware of diversity and not manifest bias or prejudice – Importance of judicial sensitivity in sexual offence cases emphasized [Paras 31-38, 45-46].

Training and Sensitization – National Judicial Academy and State Judicial Academies to include gender sensitization in judicial training – Bar Council of India to include topics on sexual offences and gender sensitization in LL.B programs and All India Bar Examination – High Courts to formulate modules on judicial sensitivity for Judicial Services Examination [Paras 46-48, 50].

Decision – Bail conditions using rakhi tying set aside and expunged from the record – Directions issued for gender sensitization of judges and lawyers – Appeal disposed of with no order on costs [Paras 51-54].

Service Law – Pay Scale Merger – Retrospective Application – Appeal concerning the merger of pay scales for Upper Division and Lower Division Assistants/Clerks in the universities of Bihar – The communication dated 28.07.1981 provided clear guidelines for merger applicable only to posts with distinct senior and junior scales – Appellants' posts of Typist, Counter Clerk, Routine Clerk, and Store Keeper were not eligible for the merged scales – Supreme Court holds that without re-designation of posts with Vice Chancellor's approval, benefits under the Government Orders (GOs) cannot be granted – Appeal dismissed [Paras 1-22].

Natural Justice – Recovery of Benefits – Despite dismissal of the appeal, Supreme Court rules that benefits accrued to appellants from 1990 to 1995 should not be recovered – No misrepresentation by appellants – Delay by authorities in deciding the issue – Principles from Shyam Babu Verma and Sahib Ram cases applied – Relief granted under Article 142 of the Constitution [Paras 23-24].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – Benefits accrued from 1990 to 1995 not to be recovered – Parties to bear their own costs [Para 24].

Family Courts Act – Jurisdiction and Procedure – Family Court does not have plenary powers to bypass mandatory procedural requirements ensuring fairness and transparency – Section 7 defines jurisdiction, while Section 10 integrates CPC procedures for dispute resolution – Family Courts must adhere to principles of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, as mandated by Section 14 of the Act – Procedural lapses by Family Courts, especially in ex parte decisions, can vitiate proceedings [Paras 27-28, 33-37].

Guardianship – Procedural Compliance – Family Court exceeded its jurisdiction by hastening proceedings without ensuring proper service and compliance with procedural requirements – Applications filed without notice to the appellant cannot be adjudicated ex parte – The Court’s failure to follow the due process of law violates principles of natural justice [Paras 32-37].

Remand and Revival of Proceedings – Guardianship petition (G.P. No. 09/2018) and related applications remanded and revived for proper adjudication – Family Court directed to decide pending applications and the main petition on merits, ensuring fair opportunity to both parties [Paras 42-44].

Decision – Impugned judgment and orders dated 21.9.2019 and 16.10.2019 set aside – Guardianship petition and related applications to be heard afresh – Respondent to surrender U.S. citizenship and passport of the minor child as assured – Respondent restrained from traveling outside Delhi or abroad with the minor child without Court's permission [Paras 42-45].

Service Law – Reservation and Merit – Reallocation of Reserved Category Candidates – Petitioners, General Category candidates, challenged the reallocation of Reserved Category candidates to Open Category posts in the selection process for Constable PAC and Fireman – Supreme Court held reallocation to be valid and consistent with prior directives – Petitioners did not establish that any candidates with lower marks were selected over them – The reallocation ensured adherence to merit and reservation principles as per Court directives in Ashish Kumar Yadav and Ors. vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors. (2018) 17 SCC 398 – Petition dismissed [Paras 1-9].

Principles of Selection – Compliance with Court Orders – The selection process adhered to the principles set forth by the Supreme Court, emphasizing merit-based selection within the framework of reservation – Additional posts created by reallocation due to the invalidation of earlier selections were appropriately adjusted – No evidence of procedural irregularity affecting petitioners' prospects [Paras 6-8].

Decision – Petition dismissed – Reallocation of candidates from reserved categories to open categories upheld – Petitioners' claims found without merit – Compliance with Court directives ensured [Para 9].