Arushi, Author at SCC Times

‘Typical example of frivolous litigants abusing the Court process’; Jharkhand HC quashes criminal proceedings against Century Cement

The Court stated that when the case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 was already filed by the petitioners, Respondent 2 had all the opportunity to defend in that pending complaint case, and without doing so, present complaint case was filed implicating the petitioners.

Case Briefs Tribunals/Commissions/Regulatory Bodies

CESTAT allows appeal by Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages challenging classification of ‘Minute Maid Nimbu Fresh’ as lemonade instead of fruit pulp or fruit drink

A show cause notice was issued to the appellant, to recover Central Excise Duty payable on the impugned product, during the period of April 2011 to August 2012, on the grounds that the appellant had misclassified the product as fruit pulp or fruit drink, instead of lemonade.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Totally unjust to deny Sports Gradation Certificate’; P&H HC directs Department of Sports to issue Certificate to shooter seeking to take admission in Panjab University

The Court stated that the petitioner is needed to be treated as a class apart, for which provisions are made for the admissions in the academic courses and in the Government Departments for public appointments by keeping seats reserved under Sports Category.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Deceased was a brilliant student’; Punjab and Haryana HC enhances compensation granted by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal for accidental death of nine-year-old child

The Court stated that the appellants were entitled to the compensation on the count of ‘loss of consortium’, ‘loss of dependency’, ‘loss of estate’ and ‘funeral expenses’.

Case Briefs High Courts

Court is required to look only into existence of the arbitration clause at the stage of appointing arbitrator u/s 11 of Arbitration Act: Jharkhand HC

The respondent raised an objection to the maintainability of the present application on the ground that the petitioner being an agent governed under Section 48 of the Bihar Cooperative Societies Act, 1935, was required to approach the Registrar of the Cooperative Societies for initiating a dispute resolution proceeding.

Case Briefs Tribunals/Commissions/Regulatory Bodies

‘Withholding exemption and demanding service tax was grossly illegal’; CESTAT sets aside order demanding service tax on interest earned on Overdraft and Cash Credit facilities

The Tribunal noted that Rule 4A (1)(i) of Service Tax Rules, 1994 requires disclosure of service tax payable on the value of service provided, thus, it cannot include exempted services. Moreover, a proviso inserted to the Rule by an amendment cannot enlarge the scope of the provision, at best it is only clarificatory.

Case Briefs High Courts

Constitutional Courts cannot fix timeframe to decide genuineness/voluntariness of resignation tendered by Legislative Assembly members: Himachal Pradesh HC

The Speaker is an officer of the State Legislative Assembly, who presides and represents the House for all intents and purposes. Allegations of mala fide and arbitrary action, made against him cannot be accepted considering the high status of the office in a parliamentary system of democracy.

Case Briefs High Courts

Punjab and Haryana HC directs Child Welfare Committee to conduct enquiry on minor’s safety who ran from her home on being allegedly forced to marry old man

The Court stated that the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur should take appropriate steps regarding the threat perception to the minor and her friend and to ensure that the minor, her friend and his family members were protected from the physical harm by minor’s family member.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Dispensing with inquiry should be an exception and not the rule’; P&H HC grants back wages to police officers who were reinstated after their dismissal

The Court observed that this was not the isolated case where the jurisdictional SSP of State had dispensed with inquiry. As soon as an FIR was registered against the police official, the jurisdictional SSPs opted to dispense with inquiry.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Necessary to determine real conflict between parties’; Patna HC sets aside order refusing to amend pleadings after commencement of trial

The Court stated that if the amendment was not allowed it would lead to unnecessary multiplicity of litigation, as the amendments appeared to be necessary to determine the real controversy between the parties.

Case Briefs High Courts

GST officers shall not force a person to give statement after office hours; Must follow instructions of GST-Investigation and CBIC while summoning: Jharkhand HC

The Court stated that to speak or not to speak has always been a dilemma for a person called for giving his statement before the Customs Officer, Central Sales Tax Officer, Police Officer etc, as the implications are serious.

Cases Reported Never Reported Judgments

Never Reported Judgment | Mere mentioning of quota holder’s wrong name in a form’s delivery column does not lead to inference of bad faith [(1953) 1 SCC 600]

This report covers the Supreme Court’s Never Reported Judgment dating back to the year 1953 on essentiality of mens rea.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Grave danger to mental health by continuation of pregnancy’: Bombay HC permits a 19-year-old woman to terminate twenty-five-week pregnancy

The Court stated that the petitioner was an adult and was entitled to her sovereign decisions for reproductive autonomy, and the views of her parents or of her partner were not relevant.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Attending police station merely for evidence seems implausible’; AP HC sets aside order cancelling bail after photos showing accused visiting police station

The Court stated that when considering the material produced, it appears improbable that the accused persons’ visit to the police station was solely to fabricate evidence.

Case Briefs Tribunals/Commissions/Regulatory Bodies

‘Racetrack not meant for public access as a right, thus not exempted from tax’; CESTAT upholds order directing to pay service tax for construction of racetrack

The Tribunal stated that for a place to fall within the ambit of a public place, the element of right of access of public was a necessary concomitant.

Case Briefs Tribunals/Commissions/Regulatory Bodies

‘Releasing prohibited goods without fine is not a valid option’; CESTAT upholds order directing to pay redemption fine and penalty on re-export of prohibited goods

The Tribunal stated that no court has held that prohibited goods were to be released for re-export without payment of redemption fine. Such a stance would encourage importers smuggling/making improper import of goods, to take a chance with the law and if caught, request for re-export without a fine.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Sorry state of affairs’: Chhattisgarh HC directs Health Secretary to stop circulation of video of a woman delivering baby on the floor in Sub-Health Centre

The Court stated that when the State Government had incurred huge amount of money for providing medical facilities to the public residing in remotest part of the State, and the authorities responsible were absent and missing when they were needed the most, the State ought to take some stringent measures.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Dealing liquor at personal level can create havoc in society’; P&H HC denies anticipatory bail to a woman accused of distilling liquor at her house

The Court observed that spurious liquor can cause devastating trauma and huge tragedy. It affects the poor people who go for a cheaper alternative of liquor, as usually instead of ethyl alcohol such liquor contains methyl alcohol which is lethal in nature.

Case Briefs High Courts

‘Deliberate attempt to mislead the Court’; Punjab and Haryana HC imposes costs of Rs 50 thousand for not disclosing similar petition that was dismissed for non-prosecution

Petitioner stated that he had not filed any such or similar petition for quashing before the present Court or the Supreme Court. However, the Court noted that the petitioner had earlier filed the present petition on 01-04-2024 and the present petition was filed on 17-05-2024.

Case Briefs High Courts

Cogent material required to indicate convict’s parole likely to endanger security of state; Punjab and Haryana HC directs District Magistrate to reconsider parole application

The Court stated that parole enables a prisoner to develop a feeling of self-confidence that there is a life beyond prison and develop a sense of hope and active interest in his life with a view to rehabilitate the prisoner.