Parens Patriae - Doctrine of State Protection – Public Interest Litigation seeking Government action to secure release of Indian seamen held hostage by Somali pirates – Duty of the State as protector of its citizens highlighted – Reference to the concept of parens patriae and the State’s responsibility to protect citizens under disability or in danger, both within and outside the country – Supreme Court acknowledges the efforts made by Government of India and directs periodic review and appointment of a nodal officer to coordinate further efforts and facilitate communication with the families of the victims. [Paras 10-13]

Constitutional Mandate - Welfare State Obligations – Held – The Constitution of India, through the Preamble and Directive Principles, enjoins the State to ensure protection and welfare of its citizens, including in situations where they are held hostage abroad – The Supreme Court emphasizes the State’s duty to safeguard the life and liberty of its citizens as an inherent obligation of a welfare state. [Paras 10-11]

Judicial Review and Executive Functions – Held – While the judiciary can review the actions of the executive to ensure the protection of fundamental rights, it cannot assume the role of the executive in matters requiring coordination with international agencies – The Court acknowledges the ongoing efforts of the Government at various levels to address the issue of piracy and hostage crises and declines to issue specific directives beyond ensuring continued efforts and periodic review. [Paras 11-12]

Decision – Directions to Government of India – Supreme Court directs the Government of India to continue its efforts for the release of hostages, to periodically review the situation, and to appoint a nodal officer to oversee the efforts and facilitate interaction with the families of the hostages. [Paras 13-14]

Referred Cases:

Charan Lal Sahu v. Union of India, AIR 1990 SC 1480

Specific Relief - Readiness and Willingness - Section 16(c) of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 – Civil appeals concerning refusal of specific performance of a land sale agreement – Agreement dated 10th May 1980 between Kalli Raja Rao and Telikicherla Sesibhushan – Appellant’s failure to repay a loan as per the agreement – Subordinate Judge dismissed the suit for specific performance filed by the appellant (O.S. No. 37 of 1985) and partially allowed the respondent’s suit for recovery (O.S. No. 28 of 1985) – High Court confirmed trial court’s decision – Supreme Court finds concurrent findings of fact against appellant’s readiness and willingness – Held that appellant failed to perform his contractual obligations, making him ineligible for specific performance – Appeals dismissed with costs. [Paras 1-8]

Requirement of Performance under Contract – Analysis of Readiness and Willingness – Held – Specific performance under Section 16(c) requires continuous readiness and willingness to perform contractual obligations – Appellant’s failure to repay the loan led to decreed suit by the Bank – Appellant’s delayed suit for specific performance and lack of demonstrated readiness led to the refusal of relief. [Para 4-5]

Decision – Denial of Specific Performance – Appeals dismissed – Concurrent findings by lower courts upheld – Appellant's failure to perform contractual obligations and delayed suit precluded the grant of specific performance – No error of law in the lower courts’ decisions – Appeals dismissed with costs. [Para 8]

Referred Cases:

Aniglase Yohannan Vs. Ramlatha and Others, AIR 2005 SC 3503

Civil Law – Validity of Will – Suspicious Circumstances – Appeals against the High Court's judgment upholding the validity of a Will – Alleged undue influence and coercion by the first respondent (daughter) on the testator – High Court reversed the trial court's decision which found the Will to be surrounded by suspicious circumstances – Supreme Court affirms the High Court’s judgment – Held, the Will is valid and properly executed without undue influence. [Paras 1-15]

Evidence – Non-production of Original Will – Use of Certified Copy – Contentions that the non-production of the original Will and reliance on the certified copy was suspicious – Supreme Court finds that the loss of the original Will was adequately explained – Held, secondary evidence was permissible. [Paras 12, 13]

Testamentary Capacity – Knowledge of Contents of Will – Allegations that the testator lacked knowledge of English and thus could not have known the contents of the Will – Supreme Court finds the argument unconvincing, citing standard practices of explaining the Will’s contents before registration – Held, the testator’s lack of English knowledge does not vitiate the Will. [Para 12]

Decision – Dismissal of Appeals – Supreme Court dismisses the appeals, affirming the High Court's judgment validating the Will – No cost order made. [Para 15]

Referred Cases:Apoline D'Souza v. John D'Souza, AIR 2007 SC 2219Pentakota Satyanarayana v. Pentakota Seetharatnam, AIR 2005 SC 4362Ved Mitra Verma v. Dharam Deo Verma, (2014) 9 SCALE 219H. Venkatachala Iyengar v. B.N. Thimmajamma, AIR 1959 SC 443Mahesh Kumar (Dead) by L.Rs. v. Vinod Kumar, (2012) 4 SCC 387Rani Purnima Devi v. Kumar Khagendra Narayan Dev, AIR 1962 SC 567Bharpur Singh v. Shamsher Singh, AIR 2009 SC 1766

Criminal Law – Quashing of FIR based on Compromise – Civil Appeal against High Court Division Bench decision – FIR registered against Appellant company for alleged non-compliance in issuance of numismatic gold coins – Complainant and Appellant settled dispute – Single Judge quashed FIR – Division Bench set aside the quashing, directing investigation – Supreme Court observed that majority of claimants settled disputes, and continuance of proceedings would be an abuse of process – Appeal allowed, FIR quashed. [Paras 1-9]

Role of High Court under Section 482 CrPC – Analysis – Held – High Court possesses inherent powers to quash criminal proceedings where parties have settled disputes, especially in civil and matrimonial cases – Distinction between compounding of offences and quashing of proceedings highlighted – Court emphasized no illegality in quashing when chances of conviction are remote and continuation would result in injustice. [Paras 6-8]

Decision – Quashing of FIR – Appeal allowed – Supreme Court reinstated the order of the Single Judge quashing the FIR, emphasizing the importance of settlement and the improbability of conviction – No order as to costs. [Paras 8-9]

Referred Cases:

State of Haryana and others Vs. Ch. Bhajan Lal and others, AIR 1992 SC 604

Nikhil Merchant Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation and Another, AIR 2009 SC 428

B.S. Joshi and Others Vs. State of Haryana and Another, AIR 2003 SC 1386

Madhu Limaye Vs. The State of Maharashtra, AIR 1978 SC 47

Surendra Nath Mohanty and Anr Vs. State of Orissa, AIR 1999 SC 2181

Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and Another, (2012) 10 SCC 303

Criminal Law - Conviction based on Eye-Witness Testimony and Extra-Judicial Confession – Criminal Appeal challenging convictions under Sections 302, 307, 397 read with Section 34 IPC - Supreme Court upheld the convictions relying on the credible testimonies of an injured eye-witness (PW-2) and another eye-witness (PW-3), who identified the appellants despite the passage of 7.5 years – Extra-judicial confession corroborated by direct evidence found reliable – Convictions and sentences, including life imprisonment, confirmed by the Court. [Paras 2-22]

Identification of Accused - Reliability of Eye-Witnesses - Appeal challenging identification of accused by eye-witnesses after 7.5 years – Held, traumatic and significant nature of the incident allowed for reliable memory retention by the witnesses – Argument of unreliable identification dismissed – Appellants’ refusal to participate in Test Identification Parade (TIP) without valid reasons weakened the defense. [Paras 13-20]

Extra-Judicial Confession - Admissibility and Corroboration – Appeal questioning the validity of extra-judicial confession – Court observed that extra-judicial confession, though generally weak evidence, gains reliability when corroborated by credible eye-witness testimonies – Even absent the confession, eye-witness accounts were sufficient to sustain convictions. [Paras 21-22]

Decision - Dismissal of Appeals – Appeals dismissed based on the strength of eye-witness testimonies and corroborated extra-judicial confession – Convictions and sentences upheld by the Supreme Court. [Paras 22]

Referred Cases:

Balwinder Singh Vs. State of Punjab, AIR 1996 SC 607

Javier Suarez Medina v. Janie Cockrell (2002), United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Case No. 01-10763

Service Law – Promotion Eligibility – Distinction between Diploma and Degree Holders – Diploma holders acquiring AMIE qualification are not entitled to count their pre-AMIE service experience towards eligibility for promotion in the degree holders' quota. The three years’ experience required for promotion in the degree holders’ quota must be post-AMIE qualification. The Court emphasizes the qualitative difference in service experience required for promotions between diploma and degree holders. [Paras 20-34]

Regulations Interpretation – Seniority and Promotion Quotas – The Rajasthan Housing Board's regulations create distinct quotas for promotions from diploma holders and degree holders. The seniority list for Project Engineers (Junior) cannot be bifurcated based on educational qualifications alone. Service experience required for promotions must be calculated strictly within the stipulated educational qualifications and respective quotas. The preparation of separate seniority lists for degree and diploma holders, as directed by the Single Judge, was overturned. [Paras 17-19]

Past Practice and Administrative Instructions – The administrative practice of counting pre-AMIE service experience for diploma holders towards the eligibility for degree holders' quota promotions was found inconsistent with the regulations. The High Court’s directive for maintaining a single seniority list, while recognizing separate eligibility lists for promotions, was upheld. [Paras 14-15, 24]

Decision – Appeal Allowed – The appeals were allowed, reversing the High Court’s view regarding the counting of service experience prior to acquiring AMIE qualification. The Rajasthan Housing Board and its authorities were directed to dispose of the related writ petitions and grant reliefs to eligible persons within four months, without disturbing prior regular promotions not challenged in the writ petitions. [Paras 34-35]

Referred Cases:

Indian Airlines and Others v. S. Gopalakrishnan, (2001) 2 SCC 362

Shailendra Dania and Others v. S.P. Dubey and Others, (2007) 5 SCC 535

Vijay Singh Deora and Others v. State of Rajasthan and Another, (1997) 3 SCC 118

Anil Kumar Gupta and Others v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Others, (2000) 1 SCC 128

D. Stephen Joseph v. Union of India and Others, (1997) 4 SCC 753

K. Raghumani Singh and Others v. Gopal Chandra Nath and Others, (2000) 4 SCC 30

Chandravathi P.K. and Others v. C.K. Saji and Others, (2004) 2 SCR 330

N. Suresh Nathan and Another v. Union of India and Others, AIR 1992 SC 564

Roop Chand Adlakha and Others v. Delhi Development Authority and Others, AIR 1989 SC 307

M.B. Joshi and Others v. Satish Kumar Pandey and Others, (1993) 2 SCC 419 Supp

Challa Jaya Bhaskar and Others v. Thungathurthi Surender and Others, (2010) 13 SCC 348

Arbitration - Arbitrability of Disputes - Excepted Matters - Civil Appeal against the High Court judgment upholding the setting aside of an arbitration award related to the determination of rates for extra work performed by the contractor - Held, disputes classified as "excepted matters" in the contract cannot be arbitrated - Section 7(3) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 mandates that arbitration agreements must be in writing - Arbitrator's decision on non-arbitrable disputes quashed - Portion of the award pertaining to arbitrable disputes upheld - Contractor allowed to seek legal recourse for non-contractual work payment. [Paras 1-25]

Arbitration - Contractual Clauses - Clause 39 and Clause 63 - Interpretation - Clauses within the contract expressly excluding certain matters from arbitration - Finality of the Chief Engineer's decision on rates for extra work specified - Arbitrator overstepped jurisdiction by deciding on non-arbitrable issues despite objections - Arbitrator's award partially quashed where it concerns non-arbitrable disputes. [Para 16-24]

Decision - Appeal Partly Allowed - The award related to arbitrable disputes is upheld - The award concerning the rate determination for extra work performed by the contractor is quashed - Contractor is free to pursue legal action for recovery of payment for extra work not covered by the contract - No order as to costs. [Para 25]

Referred Cases:

Madnani Construction Corporation (P) Ltd. v. Union of India (UOI) & Ors., AIR 2010 SC 383

General Manager Northern Railways & Anr. v. Sarvesh Chopra, AIR 2002 SC 1272

Societies Registration Act - Applicability - Exemption of Religious Societies - Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975Civil appeal challenging the High Court's dismissal of a writ petition seeking exemption from the 1975 Act – TELC, a society promoting religion, registered under the 1860 Act – Section 4(3) of the 1975 Act exempts societies promoting religion from compulsory registration – Section 53 deems societies registered under the 1860 Act to be registered under the 1975 Act, but interpretation must exclude religious societies – Court holds that the 1975 Act does not apply to TELC, and therefore, the entire litigation is without basis. [Paras 18-24]

Effect of Section 53 of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 - Interpretation - Societies Promoting ReligionHeld – Section 53 must be interpreted to exclude societies promoting religion from being deemed registered under the 1975 Act – Inclusion would violate Article 14 of the Constitution, creating an unreasonable classification – Appeal allowed, High Court's judgment set aside, TELC not governed by the 1975 Act. [Paras 22-23]

Decision – Applicability of 1975 Act to TELC - Interpretation Avoiding Constitutional ViolationHeld – The 1975 Act does not apply to TELC as it promotes religion, falling under Section 4(3) exemption – Continuing proceedings against TELC under the 1975 Act is unwarranted – Appeal allowed, High Court's judgment set aside – No order as to costs. [Paras 23-26]

Referred Cases:

Ramanarayan Popli v. CBI (2003) SCC (Crl.) 869

P.K. Narayanan v. State of Kerala (1995) 1 SCC 142

Mohd. Naushad v. State (NCT of Delhi) 2023 SCC Online SC 784

Hari and Anr. v. State of UP 2021 SCC Online SC 1131

Koli Lakhmanbhai Chanabhai v. State of Gujarat (1999) 8 SCC 624

State through Superintendent of Police v. Nalini & Ors. (1999) 5 SCC 253

Yakub Abdul Razak Memon v. State of Maharashtra (2013) 13 SCC 1

Arvind Singh v. State of Maharashtra (2021) 11 SCC 1

State of Haryana v. Krishan (2017) 8 SCC 204

Phula Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh AIR 2014 SC 1256

Indrakunwar v. State of Chhattisgarh 2023 SCCOnline 1364

Chandran v. State of Kerala (2011) 5 SCC 161

P.N. Krishna Lal v. Govt. of Kerala 1995 Supp (2) SCC 187

Mekala Sivaiah v. State of A.P. (2022) 8 SCC 253

Ravasaheb and Ors. v. State of Karnataka (2023) 5 SCC 391

Excise Law – Retrospective Amendment – Recovery Orders – Natural Justice – Appeals against High Court judgment affirming recovery orders issued by Assistant Commissioner without show-cause notice – Retrospective amendment of notifications by Finance Act, 2003, necessitated recovery of excise duty refunds previously granted – Assessee argued violation of natural justice for lack of notice – Supreme Court declined to interpret necessity of notice but found High Court improperly assessed factual issues – Directed Assessee to deposit specified amounts and pursue statutory appeals. [Paras 1-13]

Principles of Natural Justice – Recovery Without Notice – Analysis – Held – Assessee's contention on violation of natural justice not adjudicated as it was not argued before the High Court – High Court's factual assessment found improper; appellate mechanism under Central Excises and Salt Act, 1944, should address both law and factual disputes. [Para 9-11]

Decision – Partial Allowance of Appeals – Court allowed appeals in part – Set aside High Court's judgment – Directed Assessee to deposit specific sums before adjudicating authority – Ordered statutory appeals to be filed and decided within three months – Directed return of bank guarantees upon compliance. [Paras 11-13]

Referred Cases:R.C. Tobacco Pvt. Ltd. and Another vs. Union of India (UOI) (2005) 7 SCC 725East India Commercial Co. Ltd. vs. Collector of Customs 4 SCR 361