25.03.2020 – The Disaster Management Act, 2005 was invoked in India, for the first time, to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic that was then in its initial stages of spreading. LOCKDOWNS varied in scope and nature, depending on the situation on the ground. Disasters are testing times for institutions and individuals, processes and procedures, and policies […]
Read more "Examination of Disasters"Two-Judge Bench in ABL International Ltd. v. Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India, (2004) 3 SCC 553 analyzed a long line of precedent [K.N. Guruswamy, AIR 1954 SC 592; Gujarat State Financial Corporation, (1983) 3 SCC 379; Gunwant Kaur, (1969) 3 SCC 769] to conclude, Writs under Article 226 are maintainable for asserting contractual rights […]
Read more "Writ Jurisdiction in Contractual Arena"We will first discuss the scope of interference by a High Court in exercise of its Writ Jurisdiction with respect to disciplinary proceedings. State of Andhra Pradesh v. Chitra Venkata Rao, (1975) 2 SCC 557 reiterated the principles of State of Andhra Pradesh v. S. Sree Rama Rao, AIR 1963 SC 1723. “An error of […]
Read more "Writ Jurisdiction of High Courts II / The Revival of Ray LV"It may be added, every case in which a citizen/person knocks at the doors of the Writ Court for breach of his or its fundamental rights is a matter which contains a Public Law element, as opposed to a case which is concerned only with breach of contract and damages flowing therefrom. Whenever a plea […]
Read more "Principles of Natural Justice V"Commissioner of Police, New Delhi v. Mehar Singh, (2013) 7 SCC 685 while considering a case of antecedents verification, for appointment into Delhi Police Service, observed, a candidate wishing to join the Police Force must be a person having impeccable character and integrity. In a case where candidates have been acquitted in a criminal case, […]
Read more "Suitability of Candidate"“It is clear that ‘serious allegations of fraud’ arise only if either of the two tests laid down are satisfied, and not otherwise. The first test is satisfied only when it can be said that the Arbitration Clause or agreement itself cannot be said to exist in a clear case in which the Court finds […]
Read more "Arbitrability of Fraud"A. “West German Consul said, he had received information that, similar charges had been made against Hans Muller in Lebanon and in Egypt.” – Hans Muller of Nurenburg v. Superintendent, Presidency Jail, Calcutta, AIR 1955 SC 367. B. “On 15-9-1963, he left Delhi for Beirut under the name Donze Jean Claude, a French national. It […]
Read more "No Reservations, Lebanon"“We are reminded of the weighty observation of Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer in Pasupuleti Venkateswarlu v. The Motor & General Traders, (1975) 1 SCC 770. “We affirm the proposition that for making the right or remedy claimed by the party just and meaningful as also legally and factually in accord with the current realities, the […]
Read more "The Revival of Ray XLI"“It is settled law that the State Government cannot be directed to provide reservations for appointment in public posts [C.A. Rajendran, (1968) 1 SCR 721]. Similarly, the State is not bound to make reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in matters of promotions. However, if they wish to exercise their discretion and make such […]
Read more "Reservation in Appointment/Promotion"Writ Jurisdiction of Supreme Court may be resorted to when available remedies are exhausted [U.P. State Spinning Co. Ltd., (2005) 8 SCC 264]. This is essentially a ‘rule of policy, convenience and discretion’; it’s not a ‘compulsion’ [Mohammad Nooh, AIR 1958 SC 86; Harbanslal Sahnia, (2003) 2 SCC 107]. Supreme Court in Shrimath Balasaheb Patil […]
Read more "Writ Jurisdiction of Supreme Court / The Revival of Ray XXXII"Hon’ble Justice L. Nageswara Rao in State of Tamil Nadu v. G. Hemalathaa, Civil Appeal No. 6669 of 2019 quoted Chief Justice John Roberts in Caperton v. A.T. Massey, 556 U.S. 868 (2009). “Extreme cases often test the bounds of established legal principles. There is a cost to yielding to the desire to correct the […]
Read more "Hard Cases Make Bad Law"“While the powers the High Court may exercise under its Writ Jurisdiction are not subject to strict legal principles, two clear principles emerge with respect to when a High Court’s Writ Jurisdiction may be engaged. First, the decision of the High Court to entertain or not entertain a particular action under its Writ Jurisdiction is […]
Read more "Writ Jurisdiction of High Courts I"Sacred Games, Season 1 (2018, dir. Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane) was showcased by Netflix in June, 2018. Writ Petition (Civil) No. 7123 of 2018 was filed before Delhi High Court against Sacred Games soon after. One word used in Episode 4: ‘Brahmahatya‘ deserved correction. It remains unchanged. 09.04.2019 – Writ Petition (Civil) No. 7123 of […]
Read more "Sacred Games"“Read, Read for now I shall say a lot. The evidence of my battle fought. The only way I shall make you learn, I tried a lot when it was my turn.” Hon’ble CJI Dipak Misra shall retire in less than 30 days. His words on word-craft shall be remembered too as his ‘last words’. […]
Read more "Pragmatic Realism v. Romantic Idealism v. Recluse Extremism"“A Writ of Quo Warranto cannot be issued on the basis of assumptions, inferences or suspicion regarding the factum of fulfillment of eligibility criteria. Being an extraordinary power, ordinarily such a Writ ought to be issued only on the basis of indisputable facts leading to a singular conclusion that the incumbent was in fact or […]
Read more "The Writ of Quo Warranto"“There can be a conflict between two individuals qua their right under Article 21 of the Constitution and in such a situation, to weigh the balance, the test that is required to be applied is the test of larger public interest and further that would, in certain circumstances, advance public morality of the day. To […]
Read more "The Test of Sustenance of Public Confidence in the Justice Dispensation System"My Lord, Is a Tribunal, whose Order is challenged under Articles 226, 227 of The Constitution, a Necessary Party? The issue has been considered in Jogendrasinhji, (2015) 9 SCC 1. The Judgment holds thus, the Tribunals, who in law are entitled to defend the Orders passed by them, are Necessary Parties and if they are […]
Read more "Writ Against Order of Tribunals I"“The Court must necessarily abide the parameters which govern a nuanced exercise of judicial power. Hence, where an effort is made to bring issues of governance before the Court, the basic touchstone on which the invocation of jurisdiction must rest is whether the issue can be addressed within the framework of law or the Constitution. […]
Read more "Battle of the Articles II: 32/226"Several statutes confer power on authorities and officers to be exercised by them at their discretion and they are couched in permissive language, such as, “it may be lawful”, “it may be permissible”, “it may be open to do”, etc. But in certain situations, such power is coupled with duty and must be exercised. My […]
Read more "Power Coupled With Duty II"“We record our deep sense of appreciation for the valuable assistance rendered by Mr. Harish Salve. According to him, while deciding the question as to whether the Writ lies under Article 226 against any person, juristic body, organization, authority etc., the test is to examine in the first instance the object and purpose for which […]
Read more "The Public Function Test, Mr. Harish Salve"