Jharkhand High Court Directs State To Complete Jonha Waterfall Approach Road Within 6 Months, Cites Letter By Villagers Flagging Issues

The Jharkhand High Court has directed the State Government to complete the strengthening, widening and metal paving of the approach road to Jonha Waterfall within six months, while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation initiated on the basis of a letter sent by a villager highlighting the miserable condition of the road.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and...

Oral Instructions Can't Override Statutory Duty: Bombay High Court Pulls Up Municipal Corp For Delaying Occupation Certificate

The Bombay High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) keeping an application for an Occupation Certificate (OC) pending solely on the basis of alleged oral instructions issued by the Additional Chief Secretary. The Court observed that statutory authorities are required to act strictly in accordance with law and that oral instructions...

Tender Cancellation Clause Can't Be Used To Record Findings Of Forgery Without Hearing Bidder: Patna High Court

The Patna High Court has held that while a tendering authority may reserve the contractual power to cancel a tender without assigning reasons, such a clause cannot be used to record findings that a bidder indulged in forgery, fraud or other misconduct without first affording the bidder an opportunity of hearing. The Court held that once findings carrying a stigma and adverse civil...

Urban Land Ceiling Act | Landholder Can't Claim Protection To Retain Surplus Land If Possession Was Taken Before Repeal Act: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that a landholder cannot claim the protection of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999 to retain surplus land where possession had already been taken under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 before the Repeal Act came into force. The Court also held that a writ petition challenging such ceiling proceedings, filed more than...

Petrol Pump Dealership Can't Be Cancelled On Mere Suspicion Of Tampering With Fuel Dispensing Unit: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that a petrol pump dealership cannot be terminated on mere suspicion of tampering with fuel dispensing unit.Justice Irshad Ali added that the dealership cannot be terminated unless it is established with evidence that the alleged irregularity was capable of manipulating fuel delivery to the consumers, and that such manipulation was attributable to the...

UP Consolidation Of Holdings Act | Delay Caused By Statutory Ban On Land Transfers Doesn't Render Sale Deed Void: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that a sale deed executed after the period fixed in a permission order granted under Section 5(1)(c)(ii) of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953 cannot be treated as void where the delay in execution was caused by a statutory restriction on the transfer of agricultural land in force at the relevant time. The Court held that mutation could not be...

Election Petition Filed After Vacation Not Time-Barred In Absence Of Notification Permitting Filing During Vacation: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that an election petition challenging the election of a Corporator under the U.P. Municipal Corporation Act, 1959, filed on the reopening of the District Court after the summer vacation, is within limitation by virtue of Section 10 of the U.P. General Clauses Act, 1904, where the 30-day limitation period expired during the vacation. It further held that...

Co-Operative Societies Act | Strangers Can Be Impleaded In Society Dispute If Necessary For Adjudication: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that a Co-operative Court exercising powers under Section 94(3)(c) of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 can implead a person who is not covered by the categories enumerated under Section 91(1)(a) to (e), if such person's presence is necessary for the effective and complete adjudication of the questions involved in the dispute. The Court,...

Revenue Officers Cannot Adjudicate Caste Status For Removing Tribal Land Protections: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that revenue authorities cannot adjudicate or determine the caste or tribe status of a person while exercising powers under Sections 36 and 36A of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. The Court observed that the determination of Scheduled Tribe status lies exclusively with the Caste Scrutiny Committee, and a revenue officer cannot deprive a person or...

Relative Allowed To Stay Gratuitously In House Can't Claim Tenancy Rights After Expiry Of Licence: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court dismissed a man's claim for possession over his relative's property despite expiry of 2-year license agreement, observing that the owner had permitted the defendant to stay at his premises gratuitously for a limited period and out of their relationship which cannot be used to claim tenancy rights. [2026 LiveLaw (Guj) 194]Justice JC Doshi noted that the defendant was in...

Voter's Choice Can't Be Ignored Merely Because Ballot Carried Tick Mark, Instead Of Prescribed Swastik Symbol: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court has held that a ballot paper bearing a tick mark (✓) instead of the prescribed "Swastik" mark could not have been rejected in the absence of any rule or bye-law mandating exclusive use of the Swastik symbol. [2026 LiveLaw (Tel) 102]Holding that election authorities cannot elevate "procedural formality over substantive democratic choice", the Court declared...

Know The Law | Does Delayed Payment By Auction Purchaser Invalidate Sale Under SARFAESI Act?

The Supreme Court has recently addressed an important question under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) concerning the validity of the auction sale in an event of delay in payment of the sale consideration by an auction purchaser, holding that the statutory timeline prescribed is mandatory in nature,...