As many as 35,642 cases of Indian Made Foreign Liquor of different brands got destroyed in fire on 10/04/2003. We need not delve, for present purpose, on classification or various other jurisprudential features of ‘liability’. We are primarily concerned with question of ‘liability’ arising out of ‘negligence’. Without multiplying case law, sufficient it would be […]
Read more "Act of God"The question had been floating for a while. It was January 1, 2019 when I wondered who amongst then Chief Justices of HCs, if elevated, could be our 51st CJI. January 18, 2019 – we finally received an answer. CJI No. 51 would be Hon’ble Justice Sanjiv Khanna who wasn’t ever a Chief Justice of […]
Read more "The Nature of Judicial Power: Article No. 1101"Learned Senior Counsel made a request to wait for a decision. “We do not consider it necessary to do so.” Only after Reference to Larger Bench in State Bank of India v. Sheo Shankar Tewari, (2019) 5 SCC 600 this Court decided Indian Bank v. Promila, (2020) 2 SCC 729; N.C. Santhosh v. State of […]
Read more "Compassionate Appointment IV"As per settled proposition of law, mere mentioning and using of word ‘fraud’/’fraudulent’ is not sufficient to satisfy test of ‘fraud’. Hon’ble Justice Vivian Bose, Bishundeo Narain v. Seogeni Rai, (1951) SCR 548: “Now if there is one rule which is better established than any other, it is – in cases of fraud, undue influence and […]
Read more "Fraud I"Lord Diplock in Council of Civil Service Unions v. Minister for Civil Service, [1985] AC 374; Lord Greene in Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd. v. Wednesbury Corp., [1947] 2 All ER 680. An administrative action is subject to judicial review on grounds of illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety. _____ When a person takes a chance […]
Read more "Risky Participation / The Revival of Ray LXXV"An interpreter, to deviate from defined meaning, should record reasons to show word/expression in a particular provision carries a different meaning; contrary context is not to be assumed or accepted easily, in absence of indication and reason to differ from defined meaning. Repugnancy is not indicated and does not arise in context of clause 22(ix)(a) […]
Read more "Repugnancy II"Girdhari Lal Gupta v. D.H. Mehta, (1971) 3 SCC 189; State of Karnataka v. Pratap Chand, (1981) 2 SCC 335; Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Ram Kishan Rohtagi, (1983) 1 SCC 1; Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Purshotam Dass Jhunjunwala, (1983) 1 SCC 9; National Small Industries Corporation Limited v. Harmeet Singh Paintal, (2010) 3 […]
Read more "Vicarious Liability"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 […]
Read more "The Doctrine of Fairness"Sessions Court acquitted Methu Meda from charge of kidnapping for ransom. Methu Meda applied for post of Constable in Central Industrial Security Force and got selected through Staff Selection Commission. A mere disclosure of offences alleged and result of trial is not sufficient. In said situation, appointment cannot be compelled. The expression ‘honourable acquittal’ […]
Read more "Suitability of Candidate III / Honourable Acquittal II"In service jurisprudence, retrospective seniority cannot be claimed from a date when an employee is not even borne in service. It is also necessary to bear in mind, retrospective seniority, unless directed by Court or expressly provided by applicable Rules, should not be allowed. As in so doing, others who had earlier entered service will […]
Read more "Compassionate Appointment III"The present case is not one of resignation per se but of exercising an option available under Modified Voluntary Retirement Scheme. Clause 5.1 required, the post to be abolished simultaneously with request of voluntary retirement being accepted. This had to be done before disbursing retirement benefits. There was a specific stipulation, no person would be […]
Read more "Modified Voluntary Retirement Scheme"The locus classicus is State of J&K v. Triloki Nath Khosa, (1974) 1 SCC 19. Justice Y.V. Chandrachud elaborated on extent of judicial review in matters of classification in public employment. On whether Educational Qualifications can be recognized as a criterion for classification, State of Mysore v. P Narasing Rao, AIR 1968 SC 349; Ganga […]
Read more "Educational Qualifications in Promotion II / The Revival of Ray LXXI"Krishan Pal Singh was appointed as Clerk-cum-Cashier in Allahabad Bank on 23.09.1985 and his service was confirmed on 24.03.1986. During 1989, he was posted in Aurangabad Branch, District Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. On 08.02.1989, there was a fire accident. Balak Ram, prime accused, was Krishan’s friend. Alleging involvement in incident relating to burning of Allahabad […]
Read more "Compensatory Jurisprudence of Constitutional Courts XII"The employer terminated services on non-disclosure of pending criminal case. B. Chinnam Naidu, (2005) 2 SCC 746 observed, when a candidate suppresses material information and/or gives false information, he cannot claim any right for appointment or continuance in service. Daya Shankar Yadav, (2010) 14 SCC 103 observed, purpose of seeking information with respect to antecedents […]
Read more "Moral Turpitude III"We endorse the opinion of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud in Chairman and Managing Director, Food Corporation of India v. Jagdish Balram Bahira, (2017) 8 SCC 670 where Court has noted the responsibility of Courts to guard against fraudulent employment. The workmen here, having hoodwinked a Government Undertaking in a fraudulent manner, must be prevented from enjoying […]
Read more "Fraudulent Employment – Faustian Bargain"Chief Justice A.N. Ray, speaking for a Two-Judge Bench of this Court, in K. Ramadas Shenoy v. Chief Officer, Town Municipal Council, (1974) 2 SCC 506 observed, Municipality functions for public benefit and when it “acts in excess of the powers conferred by the Act or abuses those powers then in those cases it is […]
Read more "Unauthorized Constructions / The Revival of Ray LXX"Constitution Bench of this Court in Marri Chandra Shekhar Rao, (1990) 3 SCC 130 had an occasion to examine, whether Scheduled Castes in relation to a particular State would be entitled to benefits or concessions allowed to Scheduled Castes in matters of education/employment in another State. Court observed, if such a contention is to be […]
Read more "Relation to State"The principle of equality is applicable to employment at all stages and in all respects, namely, initial recruitment, promotion, retirement, payment of pension and gratuity. _____ The seniority-cum-merit principle is well established in service jurisprudence and does not need much discussion. Three-Judge Bench, B.V. Sivaiah v. K. Addanki Babu, (1998) 6 SCC 720 observed: “In […]
Read more "Seniority in Promotion / The Revival of Ray LXVIII"The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority is constituted under provisions of The U.P. Industrial Area Development Act, 1976. Regulation 25 of The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority Service Regulations, 1981 states, age of superannuation of employees. Any enhancement of age of superannuation would require an amendment of Service Regulations necessitating prior approval of State Government. […]
Read more "Promissory Estoppel VII"Senior Advocate, Sanjoy Ghose argued for Captain Arvind Kumar Sharma, Captain K Sai Sashanka, Captain Jeetender Yadav, Captain Jitender Singh Randhawa, Captain Adish M. Chavan, Captain Reuben James, Captain B Sujimon, Captain Vishal V Chandorkar and Captain Vijay Kumar Dahiya before Hon’ble Justice Jyoti Singh of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. The common thread was […]
Read more "Façade of ‘Commercial Decision’"
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