PUNJAB URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NOW GLADA) V. VIDYA CHETAL

SC-The Hon’ble SC overruled the case of HUDA vs. Sunita, (2005) 2 SCC 479,with the finding that it was rendered without considering any of the previous judgments of this Court and the objects of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.It opined that the determination of the dispute concerning the validity of the imposition of a statutory due arising out of a “deficiency in service”, can be undertaken by the consumer fora as per the provisions of the Act. Not all statutory dues/exactions are amenable to the jurisdiction of the Consumer Forum, rather only those exactions which are exacted for a service rendered, would be amenable to the jurisdiction of the Consumer Forum.-Hon'ble Justices N.V.Ramana, Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and Ajay Rastogi[16-09-2019]
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JANARDAN DAGDU KHOMANE V. EKNATH BHIKU YADAV .

*SC*-Affirming the decision of the *Bombay HC*, the Hon’ble SC opined that the Trust, being a *public trust*,was rightly registered on 8.8.1984 and so *cannot be questioned*. The respondents became *deemed purchasers* and the right under *Section 32 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948* accrued to them on Tillers’ Day, that is, 1.4.1957. The respondents *cannot be divested of such right upon subsequent registration of the Trust*.A Trust for a religious purpose has the *right to own and acquire property, however, such property may be taken away by authority of law*.-Hon'ble Justices  R.Banumathi and Indira Banerjee[18-09-2019]
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MUNICIPAL COUNCIL NEEMUCH V. MAHADEO REAL ESTATE

SC-Setting aside the Madhya Pradesh HC order,the Hon’ble SC held that the HC while exercising its powers of judicial review of administrative action, could not have interfered with the decision unless it suffers from the vice of illegality, irrationality or procedural impropriety. The Commissioner, instead of blindly accepting the directions contained in the communication, acted in larger public interest so that the Municipal Council earns a higher revenue by enlarging the scope of the competition and the State Government has re-examined and reconsidered the issue and authorised the Commissioner to pass appropriate orders directing initiation of fresh tender process and so such orders were not illegal, improper or irrational.-Hon'ble Justices Arun Mishra,M.R. Shah and B.R. Gavai [17-09-2019]
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THE BIHAR STATE HOUSING BOARD V. RADHA BALLABH HEALTH CARE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE (P) LTD

SC-Setting aside the order of the Patna HC,the Hon’ble SC held that the appellant as a State is required to act fairly in fixation of price for allotment of a plot. The order of the HC to direct the appellant to charge the price proportionate to the price advertised earlier has no legal basis and is a commercial decision taken by the appellant fixing the price of the plot. In the matter of fixation of price, the Board has a right to fix such price, more so, when such price was accepted by the respondent on three different occasions.The action of the respondent to dispute the allotment price after accepting the price is neither fair nor reasonable and so, cannot be accepted.-Hon'ble Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta [13-09-2019]
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UNION OF INDIA V. SANDEEP KUMAR

SC-Finding that the Tribunal exceeded its jurisdiction while setting aside the order of conviction passed by the DCM,the Hon’ble SC held that Section 15 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 confers wide power on the Tribunal so as to allow an appeal against conviction by a Court Martial where the finding of the Court Martial is legally not sustainable due to any reason; the finding involves wrong decision on a question of law or there was a material irregularity in the course of the trial resulting in miscarriage of justice but such wide powers do not confer jurisdiction to the Tribunal to reverse the findings merely because it finds that different view is possible.-Hon'ble Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta[13-09-2019]
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BAJARANG SHYAMSUNDER AGARWAL V. CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA

BAJARANG SHYAMSUNDER AGARWAL V. CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA

SC- Ordering that the appellant-tenant shall hand over the possession of the secured asset within 12 weeks of this order to the Assistant Registrar, who in turn shall deliver the same to the respondent no.1-bank,the Hon’ble SC dismissed the Appeal. The bank has produced multiple records to substantiate that this tenancy was created just to defeat the proceedings initiated under the SARFAESI Act and the appellant has failed to produce any evidence to substantiate his claim over the secured asset. So,the appellant cannot claim protection under the garb of the interim protection granted to him, ex parte, by solely relying upon the xerox of the rent receipts .Hence,the rejection of the stay application by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate cannot be held to be erroneous.-Hon'ble Justices N.V.Ramana, Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and Indira Banerjee [11-09-2019]
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COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, BANGALORE I V. M/S MOTOROLA INDIA LTD.

SC-Remitting the matter back to the HC,the Hon’ble SC held that the Karnataka HC was not justified in holding that the appeals are not maintainable under Section 130 of the Customs Act but are tenable before this Court under Section 130E of the Customs Act. The only question is as to whether the assessee has breached the conditions which are imposed by the notification for getting exemption from payment of the customs duty or not. The appeals do not involve any question of law of general public importance which would be applicable to a class or category of assessees as a whole. The question is purely inter-se between the parties and is required to be adjudicated upon the facts available.-Hon'ble Justices Arun Mishra,M.R. Shah and B.R. Gavai [05-09-2019]
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P. CHIDAMBARAM V. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT

SC-While dismissing the appeal against the Delhi HC order, the Hon’ble SC opined that the grant of anticipatory bail to the appellant will hamper the investigation and it is not a fit case for exercise of discretion to grant anticipatory bail.Having regard to the nature of allegations and the stage of the investigation,the investigating agency has to be given sufficient freedom in the process of investigation and such Grant at the stage of investigation may frustrate the  agency in interrogating the accused and in collecting the useful information and also the materials which might have been concealed. Grant of anticipatory bail, particularly in economic offences would definitely hamper the effective investigation.-Hon'ble Justices R. Banumathi and A.S. Bopanna[05-09-2019]
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NCLT – Understanding National Company Law Tribunal and its power

National Company Law Tribunal is the outcome of the Eradi Committee. NCLT was intended to be introduced in the Indian legal system in 2002 under the framework of Companies Act, 1956 however, due to the litigation with respect to the constitutional validity of NCLT which went for over 10 years, therefore, it was notified under the Companies Act, 2013. It is a quasi-judicial authority incorporated for dealing with corporate disputes that are of civil nature arising under the Companies Act. However, a difference could be witnessed in the powers and functions of NCLT under the previous Companies Act and the 2013 Act. The constitutional validity of the NCLT and specified allied provisions contained in the Act were re-challenged. Supreme Court had preserved the constitutional validity of the NCLT, however, specific provisions were rendered as a violation of the constitutional principles.

NCLT works on the lines of a normal Court of law in the country and is obliged to fairly and without any biases determine the facts of each case and decide with matters in accordance with principles of natural justice and in the continuance of such decisions, offer conclusions from decisions in the form of orders. The orders so formed by NCLT could assist in resolving a situation, rectifying a wrong done by any corporate or levying penalties and costs and might alter the rights, obligations, duties or privileges of the concerned parties. The Tribunal isn’t required to adhere to the severe rules with respect to appreciation of any evidence or procedural law.

Major Functions of NCLT

Registration of Companies

The new Companies Act, 2013 has enabled questioning the legitimacy of companies because of specific procedural errors during incorporation and registration. NCLT has been empowered in taking several steps, from cancelling the registration of a company to dissolving any company. The Tribunal could even render the liability or charge of members to unlimited. With this approach, NCLT can de-register any company in specific situations when the registration certificate has been obtained by wrongful manner or illegal means under section 7(7) of the Companies Act, 2013.

Transfer of shares

NCLT is also empowered to hear grievances of rejection of companies in transferring shares and securities and under section 58- 59 of the Act which were at the outset were under the purview of the Company Law Board. Going back to Companies Act, 1956 the solution available for rejection of transmission or transfer were limited only to the shares and debentures of a company but as of now the prospect has been raised under the Companies Act, 2013 and the now covers all the securities which are issued by any company. 

Deposits

The Chapter V of the Act deals with deposits and was notified several times in 2014 and Company Law Board was the prime authority for taking up the cases under said chapter. Now, such powers under the chapter V of the Act have been vested with NCLT. The provisions with respect to the deposits under the Companies Act, 2013 were notified prior to the inception of the NCLT. Unhappy depositors now have a remedy of class actions suits for seeking remedy for the omissions and acts on part of the company that impacts their rights as depositors.

Power to investigate

As per the provision of the Companies Act, 2013 investigation about the affairs of the company could be ordered with the help of an application of 100 members whereas previously the application of 200 members was needed for the same. Moreover, if a person who isn’t related to a company and is able to persuade NCLT about the presence of conditions for ordering an investigation then NCLT has the power for ordering an investigation. An investigation which is ordered by the NCLT could be conducted within India or anywhere in the world. The provisions are drafted for offering and seeking help from the courts and investigation agencies and of foreign countries.

Freezing assets of a company

The NCLT isn’t just empowered to freezing the assets of a company for using them at a later stage when such company comes under investigation or scrutiny, such investigation could also be ordered on the request of others in specific conditions.

Converting a public limited company into a private limited company

Sections 13-18 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with rules control the conversion of a Public limited company into the Private limited company, such conversion needs an erstwhile confirmation from the NCLT. NCLT has the power under section 459 of the Act, for imposing specific conditions or restrictions and might subject granting approvals to such conditions.

source: https://cleartax.in/s/national-company-law-tribunal

M/S GEO MILLER & CO.PVT.LTD. V. CHAIRMAN, RAJASTHAN VIDYUT UTPADAN NIGAM LTD

SC-The Hon’ble SC affirmed the view of the Rajasthan HC that the entire dispute seems concocted so as to pursue a monetary claim against the respondents, taking advantage of the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The appellant’s own default in sleeping over his right for 14 years will not constitute a case of ‘undue hardship’ justifying extension of time under Section 43(3) of the 1996 Act or show ‘sufficient cause’ for condonation of delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act. The appellant should have approached the Court for appointment of an arbitrator under Section 8(2) of the Indian Arbitration Act, 1940 within the appropriate limitation period.-Hon'ble Justices N.V. Ramana,Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and Ajay Rastogi [03-09-2019]
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M.J.THULSIRAMAN V. COMMR.

SC- The Hon’ble SC while dismissing the Appeal against the Madras HC held that the “Bakers Choultry”, and the rock inscription therein, constitute a “specific endowment” as defined under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, and the same is not the private property of the appellants. The contents of the rock inscription are sufficient to hold that there has been a valid divestment of the right to receive a certain part of the income, with the inscription also stipulating a bar on the right of the Manager to transfer the choultry.- Hon'ble Justices N.V. Ramana,Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and Ajay Rastogi [03-09-2019]
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SEP. SATGUR SINGH V. UNION OF INDIA

SC-Without finding any error in the order of discharge of the Appellant and dismissing the Appeal, the Hon’ble SC opined that the parameters laid down in para 5(a) of the Army Instructions dated December 28, 1988 stand satisfied. The appellant has not given any explanation of his absence from duty on seven occasions. The Commanding Officer has recorded that the appellant is a habitual offender. As the absence of duty was on several different occasions for which he was imposed punishment of imprisonment, hence, the order of discharge cannot be said to be unjustified.-Hon'ble Justices L.Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta [02-09-2019]
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SYED ZAINUL ABEDEEN V. RAJASTHAN BOARD OF MUSLIM WAQF.

SC-Dismissing the appeal and without finding any manifest error with the observation of the Courts that the suit filed by the appellant/plaintiff under Sec. 6 of the Wakf Act, 1954 was barred by limitation ,the Hon’ble SC held that once the property after the survey has been registered in the list of wakfs as Wakf-Al-Allah on the basis of the finding recorded by the Survey Commissioner in its report dated 2nd January, 1965, the dispute regarding the nature of wakfs registered is open to be examined only within the four corners of Sec. 6 of Act, 1954.The plea of the appellant that Sec. 6 has been erroneously referred to and the limitation has to be guided by Sec. 113 of the Limitation Act, is without substance and deserves rejection.-Hon'ble Justices N.V. Ramana and Ajay Rastogi [30-08-2019]
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EX.SEPOY (WASHERMAN) RAM KHILAWAN V. UNION OF INDIA

SC-The Hon’ble SC allowed the Appeal in a case challenging the orders passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal regarding the discharge of the Appellant from service. It held that the discharge is covered by clause (iii) of Rule 13(3)(III) of the Army Rules, 1954, as the discharge of the appellant was only on the ground of his medical unfitness for further service, therefore, he could not be invalidated out of service without the recommendation of the Invalidating Board. Such discharge which was not under the residual clause (v) but under clause (iii) of Rule 13(3)(III) of the Rules and which was made without reference to Invalidating Medical Board, is not legally sustainable.-Hon'ble Justices L.Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta [02-09-2019]
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