Preventive Detention Statute II / The Revival of Ray LXXIV

Sarabjeet Singh Mokha is said to have procured fake Remdesivir injections which were administered to patients during COVID-19 pandemic to make illegal profits. Article 22 of the Constitution provides specific protections to undertrials and detainees in India. The communication of grounds is in aid of facilitating right of detenu to submit a representation against ‘order […]

Condonation of Delay X: Special Statues

Kalpraj Dharamshi v. Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd., (2021) SCC OnLine SC 204 considered applicability of Section 14 of The Limitation Act, 1963 to reckoning of limitation under Section 61(1) of The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The law on limitation with respect to IBC is settled and emphatic in its denunciation of delays [Essar Steel […]

The Doctrine of Fairness

The word ‘laches’ is derived from French, meaning “remissness and slackness”. A defence of laches can only be allowed when there is no statutory bar. The question as to whether there exists a clear case of laches is one of fact and so also of prejudice. The said principle may not have any application when […]

Condonation of Delay IX: 44

Appellate Tribunal has no jurisdiction at all to condone delays exceeding 15 days from the period of 30 days, as contemplated under Section 61(2) of The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. It cannot be said, Learned Appellate Tribunal committed any error in not condoning a delay of 44 days. Unless Parliament has carved out […]

Names in CBSE Certificates

“What’s in a name?“, said Juliet. It conveys, natural characteristics of an individual are more important than his/her artificial/acquired characteristics. A poetic statement as it certainly is, it does not go in tune with significance of a ‘name’ in marking identity of an individual in his/her societal transactions. An individual must be in complete control […]

Extraditable Fugitives II

Danish Khan & Ruhi Khan, Escaped, (Penguin, 2021) is beautifully detailed. The number of facts cited must be appreciated. It doesn’t matter whether the story is on Vijay Mallya or successful extradition of Hansie Cronje times Sanjeev Chawla or forgotten excuses of Raymond Varley who brought Goa to disrepute. Each one will educate. Excerpt follows. […]

Section 37 of The Arbitration Act III

N.V. International v. State of Assam, (2020) 2 SCC 109 has been wrongly decided and is therefore overruled. For appeals filed under Section 37 of The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 that are governed by Articles 116 and 117 of The Limitation Act, 1963 or Section 13(1A) of The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 a delay […]

Section 37 of The Arbitration Act II

My Lord, Appeal under Section 37(1)(c) would be maintainable against an Order refusing to condone delay in filing an Application under Section 34? Yes. It is important to note, the expression “setting aside or refusing to set aside” an Arbitral Award has to be read with the expression “under Section 34”. A refusal to set […]

Section 34(3) of The Arbitration Act II

Arbitral Process is strictly conditioned upon time limitation. This Court in P. Radha Bai v. P. Ashok Kumar, (2019) 13 SCC 445 observed: “Section 34(3) reflects the principle of unbreakability. According to this ‘unbreakability’ of time-limit and true to the ‘certainty and expediency’ of the Arbitral Awards, any grounds for setting aside the Award that […]

Condonation of Delay VIII: 663

Special Leave Petition has been filed with a delay of 663 days. Supreme Court of India cannot be a place for Governments to walk in when they choose, ignoring period of limitation prescribed. No doubt, some leeway is given for Government inefficiencies. But, sad part is, authorities keep on relying on judicial pronouncements for a […]

Timing of Votes

The disqualification under Section 8 of The Representation of the People Act, 1951 is relatable to Article 191(1)(e). Therefore, any interpretation to Section 8 should be in sync with the constitutional scheme. Once the period of disqualification starts running, the seat, hitherto held by the person disqualified, becomes vacant by virtue of Article 190(3). His […]

Day-Fraction

There can be no doubt, the principle which appears to have evolved over a period of time is, the law frowns upon determining a day with reference to its fractions. The principle, ‘fractions of the day’ are eschewed from consideration, is not a universal principle which knows no exceptions. Clearly the context and the purpose […]

The Plea of Limitation XIV: Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards / The Revival of Ray LIII

The issue of limitation for enforcement of Foreign Awards, being procedural in nature, is subject to the law of the forum where the Foreign Award is sought to be enforced. The Arbitration Act, 1996 does not specify any period of limitation for filing an application for enforcement of a Foreign Award. Section 43 provides, The […]

The Plea of Limitation XII: Written Statements, District Consumer Forums II

“By specifically enacting a provision under Sub-Section (3) of Section 13, with a specific clarification that violation of the principles of natural justice shall not be called in question where the procedure prescribed under Sub-Sections (1) and (2) of Section 13 of The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 has been followed or complied with, the intention […]

Order 8, Rule 1 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 II

The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 through Section 16 has amended The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in its application to commercial disputes. Whereas commercial disputes [as defined under Section 2(c) of The Commercial Courts Act, 2015] are governed by CPC as amended by Section 16 of the said Act, all other non-commercial disputes fall within […]

Condonation of Delay VII: 916

“From a consideration of the view taken by this Court, through the decisions cited, the position is clear that, by and large, a liberal approach is to be taken in the matter of condonation of delay. The consideration would not depend on the status of the party so as to apply a different yardstick. The […]

Order 9, Rule 13 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

“When an ex-parte decree is passed, there are two remedies – either (a) file an application under Order 9, Rule 13; or (b) file an appeal under Section 96(2). The question to be considered is whether the two options are to be exercised simultaneously or can also be exercised consecutively. If the appeal under Section […]

The Plea of Limitation XI: Inclusion of Section 5 of The Limitation Act, 1963

Section 5 of The Limitation Act is held applicable to Section 48 of The Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2005 as in Section 48 there is no express exclusion. Because of scheme of Act of 2005, it cannot be inferred, Section 5 of The Limitation Act is excluded. Section 29(2) of The Limitation Act […]

Order 8, Rule 1 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 I

A suit was filed on 10.03.2017. Defendant was served with summons on 14.07.2017. 120 days from this date takes us to 11.11.2017. No written statement had been filed. However, an Order 7, Rule 11 application was filed. The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Act, 2015 came into force on […]

Section 34(3) of The Arbirtration Act I

“Appeal arises from the Judgment of a Learned Single Judge of High Court of Calcutta by which the Respondent’s Application for condoning a delay of 514 days in filing an Application under Section 34 of The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 was allowed. This Court needs to assess whether the benefit of Sections 5 and […]

The Last Word

A Diversion for Lawyers and Others

Condonation of Delay