7-Judge Bench of this Court in Samsher Singh v. State of Punjab, (1974) 2 SCC 831 has held: “The authority may, in some cases, be of view, conduct of probationer may result in dismissal or removal on an inquiry. But in those cases, authority may not hold an inquiry and may simply discharge probationer with […]
Read more "The Revival of Ray LXXXII"A person who seeks refuge under umbrella of Article 25 has to demonstrate not only ‘essential religious practice’ but also its engagement with constitutional values. There is absolutely no material placed on record to prima facie show wearing of Hijab is a part of an ‘essential religious practice’ in Islam. It is not so, if […]
Read more "Hijab I"Whether, and if so where, an employee should be posted are matters which are governed by exigencies of service; an employee has no fundamental right or a vested right to claim a transfer or posting of their choice; individual convenience of persons who are employed in service is subject to overarching needs of administration. Court […]
Read more "Proportionality in Culture of Justification II"Court has noticed a rising trend of cases where parties have attempted to take ‘another bite at the cherry’ by initiating proceedings over various forums, particularly to circumvent jurisdiction of this Court. A purportedly ancillary remedy is urged in another forum as a dilatory tactic or as an attempt at ‘forum shopping’. One of us […]
Read more "Forum Shopping I"Court notices, medical practitioners have a quasi-fiduciary relationship with their patients. A doctor’s prescription is considered final, even if cost of such medication is unaffordable or barely within economic reach – such is level of trust reposed. Therefore, it is a matter of great public importance and concern, when it is demonstrated, a doctor’s prescription […]
Read more "Freebies"Orchestra Bars are required to secure premises and performance licenses. Court is no stranger to controversies relating to prohibition and restriction in participation of women from performances in establishments in Maharashtra: State of Maharashtra v. Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, (2013) 8 SCC 519 – Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association v. State of Maharashtra, (2015) […]
Read more "Morality of Orchestra Bars"By a Notification dated 03/12/2011, Staff Selection Commission invited applications for recruitment of Constables (GD) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) such as ITBP, BSF, CISF, CRPF and SSB and of Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles. My Lord, Candidates who have indicated preference to a Particular Service can be kept out of consideration for appointment […]
Read more "The Rules of The Game Principle VI / Recruitment of Constable, Rifleman"My Lord, Was Resignation of Ms. X, on 15/07/2014, Voluntary? We are only examining, i) correctness of Order of Transfer, ii) rejection of ‘representations’ and iii) question as to whether ‘resignation’ could be construed to be voluntary or not. Ms. X tendered a ‘resignation’ on 15/07/2014, which was accepted by Government of Madhya Pradesh, Law […]
Read more "Involuntary Resignation"Three-Judge Bench in Posts and Telegraphs Board v. C.S.N. Murthy, (1992) 2 SCC 317, after Baikuntha Nath v. Chief District Medical Officer, Baripada, (1992) 2 SCC 299, held, Courts would not interfere with exercise of power of compulsory retirement if arrived bona fide-ly and on basis of material available on record. Three-Judge Bench in Union […]
Read more "Compulsory Retirement II"Where a statute is adjudged to be unconstitutional, it is as if it had never been. Rights cannot be built up under it; contracts which depend upon it for their consideration are void; it constitutes a protection to no one who has acted under it and no one can be punished for having refused obedience […]
Read more "The Doctrine of Prospective Overruling I"Raja Ram Pal v. Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, (2007) 3 SCC 184 delineated principles. These principles have been restated in Amarinder Singh v. Special Committee, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, (2010) 6 SCC 113. It is open to demonstrate, ‘action’ of Legislature is manifestly arbitrary. As expounded in Amarinder Singh, important consideration for scrutinizing exercise of legislative […]
Read more "Action Against Gross Disorder"Judgments cited on changing ‘rules of game midway’ referred to changes in selection criteria or procedure for selection. Those cases are distinguishable from case before us. _____ An examination can only reflect current competence of an individual but not gamut of their potential, capabilities or excellence, which are also shaped by lived experiences, subsequent training […]
Read more "The Rules of The Game Principle V / The Revival of Ray LXXIX"Number of candidates was not quite large. 4270 in U.P. Public Service Commission v. Subhash Chandra Dixit, (2003) 12 SCC 70. 51524 and 5748 in preliminary and main examinations respectively in Sanjay Singh v. U.P. Public Service Commission, Allahabad, (2007) 3 SCC 720. 3000 in Mahinder Kumar v. High Court of Madhya Pradesh, (2013) 11 […]
Read more "The Rules of The Game Principle IV"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"In our opinion, it is a sound and well-established rule of law, Court is concerned with quality and not with quantity of evidence necessary for proving or disproving a fact. Generally speaking, oral testimony in this context may be classified into three categories, namely: (1) wholly reliable; (2) wholly unreliable; (3) neither wholly reliable nor […]
Read more "Review of Death Penalty XXIV"It is clear, for resting a conviction in case of circumstantial evidence, circumstances from which conclusion of guilt is to be drawn should be fully established and all facts so established should be consistent only with hypothesis of guilt. There must be a chain of evidence so complete as not to leave any reasonable ground […]
Read more "Review of Death Penalty XXIII"Dibrugarh offered a simple, uncomplicated lifestyle and we grew up in a milieu with a consistent feel-good ambience. My greatest satisfaction as a Lawyer was, help I could render to my Father outside Court when he had faced a disqualification under Tenth Schedule in 1994. P.K. Goswami, Senior Advocate, represented my Father. Amitava Roy [Retired […]
Read more "Justice Ranjan Gogoi’s Justice"Mofil Khan v. State of Jharkhand, [Review Petition (Criminal) No. 641 of 2015 in Criminal Appeal No. 1795 of 2009] has observed, possibility of reformation and rehabilitation of convict is an important factor which has to be taken into account as a mitigating circumstance. It is also our duty to take into consideration, state of mind of […]
Read more "Review of Death Penalty XXII"Court has propounded several tests for determining reasonableness for purpose of Article 19(1)(g). These have ranged from testing restrictions for arbitrariness [Dwarka, AIR 1954 SC 224; Shree Meenakshi Mills, AIR 1974 SC 366], excessiveness [Chintaman Rao, AIR 1951 SC 118] and discerning their objective of compliance with Directive Principles of State Policy [Saghir Ahmad, (1955) […]
Read more "Proportionality in Culture of Justification I"United Nations Conference on Human Environment at Stockholm in 1972, United Nations Conference on Environment and Development known as Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 and Glasgow Climate Change Conference in 2021 have all voiced grave concerns about global environmental degradation resulting in extinction of […]
Read more "Environmental Jurisprudence II"
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