Delhi HC Rejects Vodafone’s Plea For Expeditious Processing Of Over Rs 4,759Cr Tax Refund Claim [Read Judgment]

HC says once scrutiny notice is issued, refund not to be mandatorily processed within one yearThe Delhi High Court has rejected the plea of Vodafone Mobile Services Ltd seeking direction to the IT department to expeditiously process its refund claim and issue refund of Rs 4,759.74 crore in respect of its income tax returns for assessment years 2014-15 to 2017-18 along with interest.A bench...

NGT Sets Aside TN Order Permanently Shutting Down Vedanta Copper Plant [Read Order]

The National Green Tribunal on Saturday set aside the order passed by the Tamil Nadu government closing Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin. “…we allow this appeal, set aside the impugned orders and direct the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to pass fresh order of renewal of consent and authorization to handle hazardous substances, in the light of above finding, subject...

SC Cancels Bail Granted By Rajasthan HC To Alleged Illegal Sand Mafia [Read Order]

In a significant order, the Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled bail granted by the Rajasthan High Court to four accused charge-sheeted for the commission of a brutal murder of a village sarpanch belonging to the Scheduled Tribe in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. The petitioner/informant alleged that the accused were illegal sand mafia and killed the sarpanch as he was taking a very...

Full Court Fee To Be Refunded If Case Referred To Mediation By Court Ends In Compromise Decree [Read Order]

Providing more clarity around the interpretation of Sections 16 and 16A of the Court Fees Act in cases which have been referred to mediation by the court at pre-evidence stage and a compromise decree is incorporated, the Delhi High Court on Friday held that an interpretation of the statute inuring to the litigant’s benefit should be preferred and if a plaintiff is able to demonstrate that...

A Judicial Officer Is Not An Ordinary Government Servant & Must Be Above Suspicion: Allahabad HC [Read Order]

Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday upheld the dismissal of a judicial officer on grounds of misconduct, on the basis of two orders passed by her in land acquisition cases.In doing so, the bench comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Shabihul Hasnain observed, “A judicial officer is not an ordinary Government Servant and must be above suspicion. The conduct...

Jammu & Kashmir Brings In Law Against “Sextortion”

Jammu and Kashmir has become the first State in the country to bring in a law banning “sextortion”, i.e. sexual exploitation of women by those in positions of authority or those in a fiduciary relationship or by a public servant.The State Administrative Council (SAC), under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, on Friday approved the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment)...

‘Hindu Country’ Remark: CPI(M) Considering ‘Impeachment Motion’ Against Justice SR Sen

Justice Sudip Ranjan Sen’s controversial communal remarks has evoked strong reaction from political parties and leaders across the country.While considering a petition relating to refusal of Domicile Certificate to an Army recruit, Justice SR Sen had observed that, based on religion, India should have been declared a Hindu country. He had also said that anybody opposing the Indian laws...

Therapeutic Benefit To Humans Could Not Have Been Given Less Importance: Delhi HC Quashes Ban On Manufacture And Sale Of Oxytocin By Pvt Cos [Read Judgment]

“The risk of such a consequence can be drastic: the scarcity of the drug, or even a restricted availability can cause increase in maternal fatalities, during childbirth, impairing lives of thousands of innocent young mothers. The impugned notification and preceding decision-making process placed far greater importance on the need to prohibit availability of Oxytocin from what was perceived...

Force Majeure Not Ground For Builder To Seek Condonation Of Delays In Giving Possession Of Flats [Read Order]

Availability of land and approvals from competent authorities are fundamental requirements of a housing project and the responsibility of builder and non-fulfillment of its overall responsibilities of project planning, execution and completion are not grounds for condoning or overlooking delay in completion and handing over possession of residential units, the National Consumer Disputes...

SC Collegium Recommends Additional Judge Of Gauhati HC For Permanent Judgeship [Read Resolution]

The Supreme Court collegium on Thursday recommended the appointment of Justice Rumi Kumari Phukan, Additional Judge of Gauhati High Court as a Permanent Judge of the court.In its resolution, the collegium comprising Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice MB Lokur and Justice AK Sikri noted that views of the State government, on the proposal, have not been received as the file has...

Sohrabuddin Case: Witness Azam Khan’s Wife Seeks Recalling Of All Witnesses In The Case, Alleges Torture By Rajasthan Police [Read Petition]

In a petition filed before the Bombay High Court, 36-year-old Rizwana Khan, wife of Azam Khan, has alleged that her husband was tortured consistently for 20 days by the Udaipur Police and then brought to Mumbai for his deposition before the Special CBI Court conducting the trial in alleged fake encounter cases of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his associate Tulsiram...

Bombay HC Imposes Cost Of Rs. 1 Lakh On Maharashtra Govt For Repeatedly Missing Deadlines In Completing Court Infrastructure Work [Read Judgment]

The Bombay High Court recently imposed a cost of Rs. 1 lakh on the State of Maharashtra for failing to complete construction of a building at the District and Sessions Court, Sangli, for breaching their own undertakings and repeatedly missing deadlines.A division bench of Justice AS Oka and Justice MS Sonak was hearing a civil application in a writ petition filed by the Sangli Bar...