Facts:

The case involves appeals against a High Court order allowing writ petitions filed by Assessees challenging orders rejecting their applications under the Amnesty Scheme. The primary contention is the jurisdiction of the Designated Authority to issue a show cause notice under clause 8 of the Amnesty Scheme.

Issues:

Whether the Designated Authority has the jurisdiction to issue a notice under clause 8 of the Amnesty Scheme.

Whether the time limitation prescribed under clause 8(3) applies in this case.

Held:The Designated Authority does not possess the power under clause 8 of the Amnesty Scheme. The power to issue such notices is specifically vested in the Commissioner. The Designated Authority's power under clause 4 does not include the power to reopen decided matters as envisaged in clause 8. (Para 14)

The limitation prescribed by clause 8(3) does not apply in this situation. The respondent cannot take advantage of its failure to contest the notice earlier. Had the issue been raised timely, there would have been an opportunity for the Revenue to rectify the error. Therefore, the limitation prescribed by clause 8(3) does not apply in this situation. (Para 19)

Decision:The appeals are allowed, setting aside the High Court's order. The Revenue is directed to issue a fresh notice to the assessee under clause 8 of the Amnesty Scheme, if deemed necessary. (Para 20)

Facts:

The case involves Dushyant N. Dalal and Another v. Securities and Exchange Board of India (Civil Appeal No. 5677 of 2017). The appellants challenged the imposition of penalties and disgorgement of unlawful gains by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The issue pertained to the recovery of interest on these orders.

Issues:

Whether interest can be recovered on penalties and disgorgement orders under the SEBI Act.

Whether interest can have retrospective operation.

The applicability of Section 28A of the SEBI Act.

Correctness of findings by the Securities Appellate Tribunal regarding interest obligations.

Held:

The Interest Act of 1978 empowers tribunals like the Securities Appellate Tribunal to award interest in equity from the date the cause of action arose until the commencement of proceedings for recovery of such interest.

Interest belongs to substantive law and cannot have retrospective operation.

While Section 28A of the SEBI Act may ordinarily be retrospective as it pertains to procedural law, interest, being a part of substantive law, is chargeable only prospectively under this section.

The Securities Appellate Tribunal's finding that no interest could be charged from the date the penalty became due is set aside as it did not consider the Interest Act of 1978 (para 28). However, no future interest is payable if there is a default in payment within the stipulated time.

The SAT was incorrect in stating that an order contained an obligation to pay interest on the unlawful gain until payment, as a more severe penalty of being debarred from the market for 7 years was imposed instead.

Facts:

The appellant, along with 203 others, claimed to be legal heirs of the owner of the property in question based on a historical court order.

Various orders and memos were issued by the Revenue Department and other authorities, culminating in the rejection of their claim.

The Urban and Development Authority issued tenders regarding the disputed land.

The appellant filed a writ petition challenging the tenders and seeking a declaration of their rights.

Issues:

The appropriateness of the legal remedy pursued by the appellant.

Authorization and basis of representation for the appellant and other claimants.

The scope of challenge and adjudication of issues by the courts below.

The maintainability of the writ petition filed by the petitioners.

Held:

The appellant, having withdrawn the previous writ petition, could not resort to another writ petition on the same grounds. Doing so would constitute an abuse of the court process. (Para 20)

The appellant failed to establish authorization to represent the case of the 203 legal heirs, and other claimants did not establish the basis of their claims. Therefore, their appeals were not maintainable. (Para 21-22)

The judgment of the Single Judge was not challenged by the appellants, and hence, they cannot raise new issues not decided by the courts below. (Para 23)

The writ petition filed by the petitioners was also not maintainable, as the impugned memo did not create rights in their favor, and they were not communicated the relevant memos. (Para 24)

The appeals are dismissed. (Para 25)

Facts:

Respondent No. 1 filed a writ petition challenging his exclusion from the select list for promotion to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police for the years 2000 and 2001.

The High Court allowed the respondent's inclusion in the select list for 2001 through an order dated April 8, 2010.

The appellant filed separate writ appeals contesting the earlier order dated June 23, 2004 (directing consideration of respondent No. 1 for inclusion in the select list) and the subsequent order dated April 8, 2010 (inclusion of respondent No. 1 in the select list for 2001).

Issues:

Whether the decision to promote respondent No. 1 against the vacancy in 2001 was legal.

The impact of the punishment awarded to respondent No. 1 in 1997 on his promotion.

Held:

The judgment dated June 23, 2004, merely directed the State authorities to consider respondent No. 1's case in accordance with the law without mandating any specific action beyond this.

The punishment awarded to respondent No. 1 in 1997, with its operational timeline extending beyond two years from the date of award, was considered by the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) while deciding his inclusion in the select list. This was a valid consideration.

The subsequent decision on April 8, 2010, to include respondent No. 1 in the select list for 2001 was erroneous, as it ignored the valid considerations regarding his punishment and eligibility.

The appellant was justified in challenging the decision dated April 8, 2010, as it directly impacted his seniority.

Consequently, the order dated November 20, 2004, allocating respondent No. 1's notional promotion date as January 14, 2005, was revived, and all subsequent orders related to his promotion and seniority were declared null and void.

The authorities were directed to reassess respondent No. 1's promotion and seniority, allotting him the appropriate dates based on the revived order of November 20, 2004.

Facts:

The appellant's truck, insured with Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd., was stolen.

The appellant filed an insurance claim, which was rejected by the company citing delay in reporting the theft.

The appellant appealed through various consumer dispute redressal forums, culminating in an appeal before the Supreme Court of India.

Issues:

Whether the delay in reporting the theft justified the rejection of the insurance claim.

Whether rejection of insurance claims on purely technical grounds is permissible under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Held:

The Supreme Court held that the rejection of the insurance claim based solely on the delay in reporting the theft was not justified. The delay of 8 days was reasonable under the circumstances, as the appellant had actively cooperated with the police in attempting to locate the stolen vehicle. The Court emphasized the need for insurers to consider genuine claims and not use technicalities to avoid payment. The judgment highlighted that rejection of claims solely on technical grounds could erode confidence in the insurance industry. Therefore, the Court allowed the appeal and directed Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd. to pay the appellant Rs. 8,35,000 with interest at 8% per annum from the date of filing the claim petition till the date of payment. The payment was to be made within 8 weeks from the date of the judgment.

Facts:

The appellants sought the quashing of a FIR registered against them for offenses under various sections of the IPC, relating to a land transaction.

Allegations included extortion, forgery, and conspiracy in transferring valuable land based on forged documents.

High Court declined the application for quashing considering the seriousness of the allegations and criminal antecedents of the appellants.

Issues:

Whether the High Court's decision to decline quashing of the FIR under Section 482 of CrPC was justified.

Held:

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court to decline quashing the FIR. The court reiterated the principles laid down in previous cases regarding the quashing of FIRs. Considering the nature and gravity of the offenses alleged, which have a significant impact on society, the court found no merit in the appeal and dismissed it.

The court emphasized that economic offenses, forgery, and fraud, which have implications beyond private disputes and affect the societal interest, should not be quashed merely on the ground of settlement between the parties.

The decision was based on the observations made in the judgments of State of Maharashtra v. Vikram Anantrai Doshi and Central Bureau of Investigation v. Maninder Singh, which highlighted the societal impact of economic offenses and the importance of prosecuting serious crimes for the public interest.

Therefore, the Supreme Court held that the High Court's decision was justified, and accordingly, the criminal appeal was dismissed.

Facts:

M/s Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd., the respondent, established a cement manufacturing unit in Himachal Pradesh and was entitled to incentives under the Revised Rules Regarding Grant of Incentive to Industrial Units in Himachal Pradesh, 1991.

The incentives included a power tariff freeze for four years from the date of commencement of commercial production.

The State Electricity Board imposed Peak Load Exemption Charge (PLEC) for providing power during peak load hours.

The respondent sought reimbursement of PLEC under the power tariff freeze incentive scheme.

Issues:

Whether PLEC is covered under the reimbursement scheme of the power tariff freeze incentive.

Interpretation of the nature of PLEC in relation to the regular electricity tariff.

Held:

The Supreme Court held that the respondents were not entitled to reimbursement towards PLEC paid during the period of four years commencing from the date of commercial production. The Court analyzed the sequence of events, including notifications and communications from the State Electricity Board, to determine the nature of PLEC and its relation to the power tariff freeze incentive.

The Court concluded that PLEC was an additional charge for special dispensation during peak load hours, distinct from the regular electricity tariff. Therefore, the reimbursement under the incentive scheme did not cover PLEC.

The Court ordered that any reimbursement made for PLEC be returned by the respondents to the appellants with interest at the rate of 6% per annum. The appeal is allowed.

Facts:

The case originated from an incident where the de facto complainant, a tenant in the appellants' premises, alleged armed intrusion, threat to staff, property damage, and theft. The police filed a charge sheet under relevant sections of the IPC and the Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992, without naming the appellants.

Issues:

Whether sufficient evidence existed to invoke Section 319 of the CrPC against the appellants.

The significance of the statements recorded under Section 161 of CrPC in determining the invocation of Section 319.

The absence of specific attribution against the appellant-bailiff in the FIR or depositions.

Held:

The Court held that Section 319 of the CrPC allows summoning individuals not named in the charge sheet if sufficient evidence arises during trial. The trial court dismissed the application under Section 319 due to insufficient evidence against the appellants. The police had filed the charge sheet without implicating the appellants, and the complainant did not file a protest petition at that stage. The High Court erred in summoning the appellants without strong and cogent evidence.( Paragraphs 27, 30, 33)

The Court emphasized that evidence under Section 319 must surface during the trial. Statements under Section 161 of CrPC were considered corroborative and insufficient to implicate the appellants. No conspiracy allegation was made against them, and they were not present during the incident. Therefore, they couldn't be summoned under Section 319.( Paragraphs 34, 35)

Regarding the appellant-bailiff, there was no specific attribution in the FIR or depositions. The police investigation and departmental inquiry found no evidence against him. During trial, no strong evidence emerged to summon the appellant-bailiff under Section 319.( Paragraph 36)

Decision: The Supreme Court upheld the trial court's dismissal of the application under Section 319. It stressed the need for strong evidence before summoning individuals not named in the charge sheet.

FACTS:

The appellant filed a suit seeking to set aside a sale deed executed in March 1995, but defendant no. 7, the purchaser mentioned in the deed, was already deceased at the time of filing the suit.

Initially, the appellant filed an application under Order 22 Rule 4 of the Code for bringing on record the legal representatives of the deceased defendant no. 7, which was rejected by the trial court.

Subsequently, the appellant filed an application for impleading the legal representatives of the deceased defendant no. 7 on record, under Order 1 Rule 10 of the Code. This application was also dismissed by the trial court and affirmed by the High Court.

ISSUES:

Whether the legal representatives of a deceased defendant, who passed away prior to the filing of the suit, can be impleaded under Order 1 Rule 10 of the CPC?

Whether the dismissal of the earlier application under Order 22 Rule 4 of the CPC operates as res judicata for entertaining a subsequent application under Order 1 Rule 10 of the CPC?

HELD:

The Court held that the provisions of Order 22 Rule 4 of the CPC apply only when the death of a party occurs during the pendency of the suit. Since the defendant had expired prior to the filing of the suit, the legal representatives cannot be brought on record under Order 22 Rule 4.

The trial court could have treated the initial application under Order 22 Rule 4 as one under Order 1 Rule 10 in the interest of justice, but the failure to do so does not preclude the filing of a subsequent application under Order 1 Rule 10.

Order 1 Rule 10 empowers the court to add any person as a party at any stage of the proceedings if their presence is necessary to effectively adjudicate upon and settle all questions involved in the suit.

The principle of res judicata does not apply as the earlier dismissal was on grounds of maintainability under a different provision.