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 […]

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Section 34 of The Arbitration Act IV / Arbitral Award Dissent

Mr. Peter Leaver [Queen’s Counsel], Justice V.K. Gupta [Retd.] and Mr. Anthony Houghton [Senior Counsel] delivered their International Arbitral Award in New Delhi, on 12.05.2014. Majority Award [Mr. Peter Leaver and Mr. Anthony Houghton] was in favor of Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Pty Ltd. and Dissenting Award [Justice V.K. Gupta] dismissed the claim of Anglo […]

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Section 53 of The Competition Act / Aggrieved Person II / The Revival of Ray LVII

Samir Agarwal sought, by an information filed, CCI to initiate an inquiry, under Section 26(2) of The Competition Act, 2002, into the alleged anti-competitive conduct of Ola and Uber. Shri Rajshekhar Rao, appearing on behalf of Ola, submitted, Samir cannot be said to be a ‘person aggrieved’ for the purpose of sections 53B and 53T. […]

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Referred to Larger Bench XVIII Answered: Arbitrability, The Transfer of Property Act

We overrule Himangni Enterprises, (2017) 10 SCC 706 and hold, landlord-tenant disputes are Arbitrable as The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 does not forbid or foreclose Arbitration. However, landlord-tenant disputes covered and governed by Rent Control Legislation would not be Arbitrable when a specific Court or Forum has been given exclusive jurisdiction to apply and […]

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Leo, Raph, Mikey, Don

Titty, alias George Kurian, a Turtle, was seized. Veterinary Surgeon identified the Turtle, on inspection, as ‘Indian Flap Shell’. The scientific name is ‘Lissemys Punctata’. Court, near immediately, directed the Turtle to be freed. Section 9 of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 prohibits hunting of any wild animal under Schedule I, II, III and […]

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Taxing Lottery I

Section 2(b) of The Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998 defines, ‘lottery’ means a scheme, in whatever form and by whatever name called, for distribution of prizes by lot or chance to those persons participating in chances of a prize by purchasing tickets. State of Bombay v. R.M.D. Chamarbaugwala, AIR 1957 SC 699 had occasion to consider […]

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Poison

Majority of 2:1 affirmed the conviction in Anant Chintaman Lagu v. State of Bombay, AIR 1960 SC 500.   There is absolutely no evidence relating to poison in relation to the deceased. If it were forcible poisoning by using any kind of poison, there would be struggle and resistance. There are none. The existence of […]

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Promissory Estoppel VI

Crabb v. Arun DC, [1976] 1 Ch 179 (Court of Appeal). The requirements of Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel have also been formulated in ‘Chitty on Contracts’, 32nd Edition. Combe v. Combe, [1951] 2 KB 215 has been noticed to be inconsistent [Wyvern Development, Re, [1974] 1 WLR 1097; Tungsten Electric Co Ltd. v. Tool Metal […]

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Principles of Natural Justice VI

A lot of noise but no music! The present case is a classic one where multiple proceedings have been initiated but have resulted in no culmination over a period just short of a decade. 1. Principles of Natural Justice requires only a substantial compliance and not every miniscule violation would spell illegality [Chairman, Board of […]

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Venue v. Seat, Arbitration

The Shashoua Principle has been followed repeatedly in a series of decisions [See, BGS SGS Soma JV v. National Hydro Electric Power Corporation Ltd., 2020 (4) SCC 234]. Court, in facts of this case, is of opinion, it is inessential to explain or notice difference between ‘venue’ and ‘seat’. – Hon’ble Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, […]

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Experts VI: Ballistics Experts

Mohinder Singh, AIR 1953 SC 415 was considered by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Gurucharan Singh, (1963) 3 SCR 585. The evidence of a ballistics expert would assume significance where direct evidence is not satisfactory, or is of interested witnesses or where nature of injuries requires expert corroboration. In other words, whether examination […]

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The Revival of Ray LIV

Court should be over­ cautious to place reliance on a piece of evidence with which the concerned witness has not been confronted despite an opportunity to do so. As held by this Court in Sita Ram Bhau Patil v. Ramchandra Nago Patil, (1977) 2 SCC 49 an admission must not only be proved but also […]

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