Tag: Delhi High Court

Supreme Court Quashes FIR in Land Deal Fraud Case Citing Civil Settlement
21Feb By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Quashes FIR in Land Deal Fraud Case Citing Civil Settlement

In this judgment, the Supreme Court exercised its plenary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to quash criminal proceedings solely against the appellant, based on a full and final settlement between the private parties. The Court clarified that such quashing would not impede the prosecution of other accused, who must be pursued independently. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from a dispute over the sale of a plot of land in Burari, Delhi. Respondent No. 2, while searching for land to build a house, was introduced by the appellant, Mool Chand, who claimed to be a reputed real estate agent. The appellant represented that he had an encumbrance-free plot suitable for the complainant, owned by his associate, accused No. 2, who needed urgent funds. Consequently,...
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Conservation or Cruelty? Supreme Court Steps In to Save Delhi’s Deer From Faulty Relocation Plan
12Feb By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Conservation or Cruelty? Supreme Court Steps In to Save Delhi’s Deer From Faulty Relocation Plan

The Supreme Court found prima facie violations of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, CZA norms, and IUCN translocation guidelines. It directed the Central Empowered Committee to conduct an independent scientific assessment of carrying capacity, post-release survival, and regulatory compliance. The Court prohibited further translocation pending expert evaluation, emphasizing constitutional duties under Articles 48A, 51A(g), and 21. Facts Of The Case: The A.N. Jha Deer Park, established in 1968 by the Delhi Development Authority in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, operated as a captive zoo facility under a license issued by the Central Zoo Authority under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Despite repeated extensions and warnings, evaluation reports from 2014 to 2022 revealed persistent non-com...
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Supreme Court: Subsequent Contracts Don’t Override Original Arbitration Agreement
9Feb By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Supreme Court: Subsequent Contracts Don’t Override Original Arbitration Agreement

The Supreme Court held that Part I of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996, including Section 11, does not apply to a foreign-seated international commercial arbitration. The arbitration clause in the principal "mother agreement" governs, and subsequent ancillary contracts with different parties cannot novate it or confer jurisdiction on Indian courts. Facts Of The Case: The petitioner, Balaji Steel Trade, entered into a Buyer and Seller Agreement (BSA) dated 06.06.2019 with respondent no. 1, Fludor Benin S.A., for the supply of cottonseed cake, containing an arbitration clause specifying arbitration in Benin. An Addendum was later executed. Subsequently, respondent no. 1 assigned its supply obligations. The petitioner then entered into separate Sales Contracts with r...
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A Landmark Ruling on Fair Trials: Supreme Court Issues New Guidelines for Video Conferencing and Witness Confrontation
4Feb By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

A Landmark Ruling on Fair Trials: Supreme Court Issues New Guidelines for Video Conferencing and Witness Confrontation

The Supreme Court of India acquitted the appellant, primarily on the ground that the dock identification of the accused by the sole injured eyewitness, recorded via video conferencing after an inordinate delay of over eight years, was deemed unsafe and unreliable. The Court found the testimony suffered from material improvements and inconsistencies, and the recoveries were not conclusively linked to the crime. Consequently, the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Facts Of The Case: In the intervening night of 2nd/3rd November 2008, five assailants broke into the Delhi residence of Madan Mohan Gulati and his wife, Indra Prabha Gulati (PW-18). The intruders assaulted the elderly couple, resulting in Madan Mohan's death and serious injuries to Indra Prabha. The poli...
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Supreme Court Directs Statutory Protection for Delhi Ridge to Curb Encroachments
31Jan By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Directs Statutory Protection for Delhi Ridge to Curb Encroachments

This Supreme Court judgment directs statutory reconstitution of the Delhi Ridge Management Board under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to function as a single-window authority. It mandates the Board to ensure the protection, removal of encroachments, and ecological restoration of both the notified Ridge and the Morphological Ridge, with oversight by the Central Empowered Committee and the Supreme Court. Facts Of The Case: The case concerns the long-standing litigation over the protection and management of the Delhi Ridge, a vital ecological area within the National Capital Territory. The primary legal proceedings originate from Writ Petition (C) No. 202 of 1995 (T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India) and connected matters. The Supreme Court was tasked with adjudicat...
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Supreme Court: Arbitrator Cannot Rewrite Contracts, Upholds IRCTC’s Catering Policy
28Jan By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Supreme Court: Arbitrator Cannot Rewrite Contracts, Upholds IRCTC’s Catering Policy

The Supreme Court held that an arbitral award which contravenes binding government policy circulars—incorporated into the parties' contracts—is patently illegal and in conflict with the public policy of India under Section 34(2A) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. An arbitrator cannot rewrite contractual terms that reflect such policy. Facts Of The Case: The case arose from contracts for catering services on premium Indian Railways trains (Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto). The Railway Board initially increased meal tariffs in 2013 but simultaneously introduced a cheaper "combo meal" to replace the second regular meal on long journeys. This combo meal was swiftly discontinued days later, and caterers were directed to serve a second regular meal instead, but were to be reimbu...
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Arbitration Award Final: Supreme Court Dismisses MMTC’s Post-Decree Objections
17Jan By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Arbitration Award Final: Supreme Court Dismisses MMTC’s Post-Decree Objections

This Supreme Court judgment reaffirms that objections to the execution of an arbitral award under Section 47 of the CPC are maintainable only within a very narrow compass, limited to grounds of jurisdictional infirmity or voidness. The Court emphasized that allegations of fraud or breach of fiduciary duty by a party’s own officers, raised after the award has attained finality, do not constitute such grounds unless they render the award a nullity. The business judgment rule protects decisions that fall within a range of reasonableness. Facts Of The Case: The dispute arose from a Long Term Agreement (LTA) dated 07.03.2007 between MMTC Limited and Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Pvt. Limited for the supply of coking coal. The agreement included an option for MMTC to extend the con...
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Supreme Court Unifies Patent Litigation in One Court to Prevent Conflicting Judgments
4Jan By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Unifies Patent Litigation in One Court to Prevent Conflicting Judgments

The Supreme Court allowed the transfer of an infringement suit from Delhi to Bombay High Court under Section 25 of the CPC, prioritizing the suit filed earlier in time to avoid multiplicity of proceedings and conflicting judgments. It held that a suit for groundless threats under Section 106 of the Patents Act constitutes an independent cause of action, but consolidation is necessary when legal and factual issues substantially overlap. Facts Of The Case: Atomberg Technologies launched its "Atomberg Intellon" water purifier on June 20, 2025. Shortly after, its competitor, Eureka Forbes Limited, allegedly made oral threats to Atomberg's distributors, claiming patent infringement and threatening legal action. In response, Atomberg filed a suit for "groundless threats...
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Supreme Court Explains “Sufficient Cause”: Key Tests for Granting Stay on a Money Decree
4Dec By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Explains “Sufficient Cause”: Key Tests for Granting Stay on a Money Decree

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's grant of unconditional stay on a money decree's execution under Order XLI Rule 5, CPC, ruling that deposit of the decretal amount is not mandatory. An unconditional stay can be granted in exceptional cases where the decree is egregiously perverse, patently illegal, or facially untenable, upon establishing "sufficient cause." Facts Of The Case: The petitioners, Lifestyle Equities C.V. & Anr., proprietors of the "Beverly Hills Polo Club" (BHPC) trademark, filed a suit for infringement and damages against Amazon Technologies Inc. and others before the Delhi High Court. The suit claimed damages of approximately Rs. 2 crore. Amazon was proceeded against ex parte in April 2022. The learned Single Judge, after an ex parte trial, decreed the suit...
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Supreme Court Cancels Bail in Cheating Case, Slams Accused for “Misleading Courts”
19Nov By The Legal ChamberNo Comments
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Cancels Bail in Cheating Case, Slams Accused for “Misleading Courts”

The Supreme Court set aside the bail orders, emphasizing that the grant of bail must consider the totality of circumstances, including the accused's conduct and antecedents. The Court held that lower courts erred by ignoring relevant factors and precedents, and by granting bail mechanically without proper application of mind to the material on record. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, M/s Netsity Systems Pvt. Ltd., filed a criminal complaint alleging that the accused respondents, a husband and wife, had cheated them of ₹1.9 crores by promising to transfer a piece of land that was already mortgaged and sold to a third party. An FIR was subsequently registered. The accused sought anticipatory bail, and the High Court granted them interim protection for nearly four years, during which media...
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