Background and History of the Case – Dispute between Cooperative Society Banks and Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank – Previous Supreme Court orders regarding freezing of funds and expediting of trial. [Para 3-4]

Dismissal of Previous Applications and High Court's Inaction – High Court's refusal to address merits due to perceived constraints from earlier Supreme Court orders – Dismissal of applications filed before the Supreme Court. [Para 5-6]

Issues Before the Court – Two primary issues: release of funds to Nagpur District Central Cooperative Bank and related interest accrued – Principal amount of Rs. 30 Crores remaining with Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank. [Para 7-8]

Clarification and Remittance to High Court – Supreme Court clarifies that its previous orders do not prevent High Court from deciding on merits – Issues regarding interest withdrawn and entitlement to remaining amount or accrued interest to be decided. [Para 9-11]

Concerns Over Delayed Trial – Inability of the trial court to conclude RCC No. 398/2002 – Directions to the High Court and trial court for expediting the trial and handling of case records. [Para 12-15]

Decision and Directions – Appeal disposed of with directions to High Court to decide on two flagged issues – All contentions of parties left open for argument – Trial to be concluded within a specified timeline. [Para 16-17]

Arbitration and Award Enforcement – Dispute between Department of Women and Child Development, Karnataka, and M/s Christy Friedgram Industry – Arbitration over termination of agreements for nutrition centres – Sole arbitrator awarded a total sum of Rs. 1,66,47,31,962/- to the respondent, including various claims and interests. [Paras 1-2]

Legal Proceedings and Challenges – Award challenged under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 – Commercial Court and High Court dismissed the challenges – Special Leave Petition by respondent dismissed by Supreme Court on 27 July 2022 – Petitioner's challenge to award also rejected, with High Court declining to condone delay of 225 days in filing appeal. [Paras 3-5]

Consideration of Independent Challenge by Petitioner – High Court’s observation on impact of SLP dismissal corrected – Petitioner's independent challenge to arbitral award acknowledged – However, delay in filing commercial appeal not condoned due to insufficient explanation. [Paras 6-9]

Negotiations and Court’s Intervention on Interest Rate – Parties engaged in negotiations for amicable solution – Supreme Court, upon agreement of parties, scaled down post award interest rate to 9% per annum – Remaining parts of the award unaffected. [Paras 10-12]

Compliance and Settlement of Dues – Petitioner deposited award amount with interest – Joint statement by advocates to quantify exact payable amount post-modification of interest rate – Balance refundable to petitioner after respondent’s withdrawal. [Paras 13-14]

Decision – Special Leave Petition disposed with modifications to post-award interest rate – All pending applications disposed of. [Paras 14-15]

Insurance Claim for Vehicle Total Loss – Adjudication of claims regarding the total loss of BMW 3 Series 320D car in an accident – Interpretation of insurance policy terms – Liability under Bajaj Allianz General Insurance policy and BMW Secure Advance Policy – Issues of delayed claim submission, policy repudiation, and compensation for the insured. [Paras 1-5, 9-14, 16-17, 19-21, 23-28, 30-31, 33-37, 39]

Consumer Protection Act, 1986 – Application in resolving disputes between insurer, BMW, and car owner – Criteria for consumer grievance redressal – Adjudication based on policy terms, insurer’s responsibilities, and consumer rights. [Paras 6-8, 12-14, 16-17, 20-21, 23-28, 30-31, 33-37, 39-42]

Territorial Jurisdiction – Acceptance of the State Commission, Delhi’s jurisdiction in dealing with the complaint – Reference to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 for jurisdictional issues. [Para 15]

Assessment of Insurance Claim – Determination of the extent of damage and total loss – Constructive total loss established when repair costs exceed 75% of Insured Declared Value (IDV) – Discrepancy in claim assessment by insurer and BMW addressed. [Paras 18-19, 22, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37]

Repudiation of Insurance Claim – Evaluation of grounds for repudiation by insurer – Consideration of policy terms, accident report discrepancies, delay in claim intimation, and suppression of facts – Findings on validity of repudiation grounds. [Paras 23-28]

Liability of Insurer and BMW – Determination of financial responsibility under the insurance policies – Assessment of compensation and interest payable by the insurer and BMW for the total loss of the vehicle. [Paras 32, 36-37, 38-42]

Decision – Appeals partly allowed – Directions for monetary compensation by insurer and BMW to the owner – Replacement of car not mandated but monetary compensation awarded based on policy terms and assessment of total loss. [Paras 38-42]

Ownership Dispute over Land – Interpretation of Commissioner’s Order – The appeal centered on the interpretation of an order by the Special Deputy Commissioner for Abolition of Inams, determining the rightful owner of a land parcel. The plaintiff claimed ownership based on purchase from a vendor who sought occupancy rights, while the defendant claimed title from Inamdar’s successor. [Paras 1-2, 7-9, 17-19]

Analysis of Legal Provisions – Sections 9 and 9A of the Inam Abolition Act – Examination of legal provisions to ascertain eligibility for application of occupancy rights. The Act permitted only tenants or Inamdars to apply for such rights. The plaintiff’s vendor, being a purchaser and not a tenant, was ineligible. [Paras 7-9]

Evidentiary Value of Revenue Records – Revenue records alone cannot establish ownership. The Court emphasized that revenue entries are fiscal in nature and do not confer title. The plaintiff’s reliance on revenue records to claim ownership was deemed insufficient. [Paras 10-15, 25-26]

Sale Deed Analysis – Comparative analysis of sale deeds of both parties. The defendant’s sale deed, supported by the Commissioner’s order, was found to be more legally sound compared to the plaintiff’s, which lacked solid evidence of title. [Paras 17-19]

Doctrine of Caveat Emptor – The principle of buyer’s responsibility to verify title was highlighted. The plaintiff’s failure to investigate the title and lack of evidence from the Commissioner in favor of the plaintiff’s vendor weakened the plaintiff’s claim. [Paras 20-21]

Burden of Proof in Title Disputes – Emphasis on the plaintiff’s burden to establish a clear and probable title in suits for declaration. The plaintiff’s inability to present a convincing title led to the dismissal of his suit. [Paras 22-24, 26]

Interpretation of Commissioner’s Order – The Trial Court erred in interpreting the Commissioner’s order in the plaintiff’s favor based solely on revenue records. The first appellate court correctly interpreted the order, which the High Court failed to appreciate. [Paras 27-29]

Decision – The Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s judgment and upheld the first appellate court’s decision. The plaintiff’s suit against the defendant was dismissed due to failure in establishing a better title. [Paras 30-31]

Arbitration - Application under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 for injunctive reliefs - Jurisdiction of the High Court to hear and decide the application - Proceedings related to performance/retention bank guarantees - First respondent's undertaking not to encash bank guarantees - Invocation of bank guarantees by the first respondent - Extension of protection for bank guarantees - Cooperation of parties in the hearing of the application - Special Leave Petition disposed of with all rights and contentions of the parties kept open. [Para 1-12]

Judicial Appointments – Validity of Additional Appointments Post Selection Process – Supreme Court examining the validity of appointments of Civil Judge (Junior Division) made after the original selection process – Original selection process based on advertised vacancies – Additional appointments made due to unanticipated vacancies arising post-advertisement – Legal implications and equity considerations in the context of judicial service appointments. [Paras 1-39]

Constitutional Law – Article 142 of the Constitution of India – Supreme Court’s exercise of powers under Article 142 to uphold flawed selection process post-result declaration – Factors considered: Long service of appointees as Judicial Officers, absence of favoritism or nepotism in appointments, and public interest – Upholding the appointments despite procedural anomalies. [Para 37]

Service Jurisprudence – Advertised vs. Unadvertised Vacancies – Principle that appointments should be limited to vacancies advertised – Supreme Court clarifying that vacancies arising post-advertisement should ideally be part of the next selection cycle – Impact on rights of candidates and service jurisprudence. [Paras 25-28, 35]

Judicial Review – High Court’s Role in Appointment Process – High Court’s involvement in post-selection appointment process – High Court’s failure to object to additional appointments critiqued – Shared responsibility among State Commission, Government, and High Court for procedural irregularities. [Para 34]

Equity and Public Interest – Long Tenure of Judicial Officers – Consideration of tenure and experience of appointees in judicial office – Equity favoring retention of appointees despite procedural flaws in their selection – Public interest in retaining experienced judicial officers. [Para 36]

Dismissal of Connected Appeals – Appeals by other candidates for inclusion in selection list dismissed – Supreme Court not disturbing High Court’s legal findings but providing equitable relief to specific appellants. [Para 38]

Future Implications of Litigation on Judicial Career – Direction that litigation should not adversely impact the career of judicial officers in question – Officers to be treated at par with other appointees of their batch. [Para 39]

Money Laundering and Financial Irregularities – Alleged involvement of Tarun Kumar in financial irregularities and money laundering in SBFL – Accused of using his position in SBFL to facilitate and cover up financial fraud, with direct involvement in the use of shell companies for fake invoicing, diversion, and laundering of funds. [Paras 3-4, 7, 10, 16]

Bail Consideration in Economic Offences – Assessment of bail application under the stringent provisions of PMLA – Emphasis on the severe impact of economic crimes on national economy – Necessity of establishing innocence and non-likelihood of re-offending for bail consideration. [Paras 13, 17, 20-23]

Dismissal of Appeal – Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court and Special Judge, denying bail to Tarun Kumar – Recognized the complex and grave nature of economic offences, necessitating detailed investigation and trial. [Para 24]

Auction Process and Annulment of Attempts – Analysis of the tender process for mining leases under the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 – Issues related to the annulment of the first auction attempt due to lack of valid bids and the subsequent annulment of the second auction attempt – Appellants' discretion in decision-making examined. [Paras 1-6, 13-15]

Technical Bid Submission and Evaluation – Respondent's failure to submit a technical bid through the electronic platform as mandated – Subsequent evaluation and recommendation by the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) for annulment of the auction attempts – Legal implications of non-compliance with bid submission procedures. [Paras 4-5, 15]

Judicial Review of Tender Process – Scope and limitations of judicial review in tender and contractual matters – Importance of adherence to statutory provisions and ensuring public interest in the auctioning of natural resources – Examination of the decision-making process and its conformity with legal and procedural norms. [Paras 16-17]

Statutory Provisions and Public Interest – Obligations under the Mineral (Auction) Rules, particularly Rule 9, and the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act – State's role in managing natural resources and ensuring maximized validation and revenue from mineral exploitation – Interpretation of Rule 9 in the context of the auction process and annulment decisions. [Paras 13, 17]

Decision – Appeal allowed; impugned judgment set aside due to legal and procedural misinterpretations in the auction process – Emphasis on strict adherence to statutory rules and safeguarding public interest in the allocation of mining leases. [Para 19]

Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction for Anticipatory Bail – Clarification of legal position concerning the scope of Section 438 of CrPC – High Court or Court of Session can grant limited/transitory anticipatory bail for an FIR registered outside its territorial jurisdiction, subject to certain conditions. [Paras 36-41]

Scope of Section 438 of CrPC – Consideration of fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution – Protecting personal liberty, dignity, and access to justice through the provision of anticipatory bail. [Paras 24-31, 40-42]

Forum Shopping and Abuse of Process – Caution against misuse of extra-territorial anticipatory bail – Need for establishing territorial connection or proximity between the accused and the jurisdiction of the court approached. [Para 40]

Transit Anticipatory Bail – Concept and applicability clarified – Temporary relief granted by a court outside the jurisdiction where the FIR is lodged, allowing the accused to approach the competent court for full-fledged anticipatory bail. [Paras 35-37]

Jurisdiction in Matrimonial Cases – Application of Rupali Devi vs. State of U.P. – Courts at the place where the wife takes shelter after separation can have jurisdiction to entertain complaints under Section 498A IPC. [Para 48]

Implications for Interstate Arrests – Need for restraint in police action during interstate arrests – Importance of transit remand and protection against arbitrary arrest. [Para 33]

Decision – Set aside the impugned orders of the learned Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Bengaluru City – Directed no coercive steps against the accused for four weeks to approach the jurisdictional court in Chirawa, Rajasthan for anticipatory bail. [Para 49]