Tag: Ultra Vires

Illegal Memo Struck Down: Supreme Court Says Registration Certificate is Enough, No Need for Registrar’s Recommendation
Supreme Court

Illegal Memo Struck Down: Supreme Court Says Registration Certificate is Enough, No Need for Registrar’s Recommendation

In this judgment, the Supreme Court held that executive mandates imposing superfluous requirements beyond statutory provisions constitute illegality in administrative law. It ruled that requiring a Cooperative Registrar's recommendation for stamp duty exemption under Section 9A of the Stamp Act is irrelevant and unnecessary, as a society's registration certificate is conclusive proof of its existence under Section 5(7) of the Cooperative Societies Act. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, Adarsh Sahkari Grih Nirman Swawalambi Society Ltd., a cooperative society registered under the Jharkhand Self-Supporting Cooperative Societies Act, 1996, challenged an executive memorandum issued by the Principal Secretary of the Registration Department, Jharkhand. The impugned Memo No. 494, dated Fe...
Supreme Court: Registration Authorities Can’t Demand Mutation Proof Before Registering a Sale
Supreme Court

Supreme Court: Registration Authorities Can’t Demand Mutation Proof Before Registering a Sale

The Supreme Court struck down sub-rules (xvii) and (xviii) of Rule 19 of the Bihar Registration Rules, 2019, holding them ultra vires the Registration Act, 1908. The Court ruled that the rule-making power under Section 69 does not authorize registering authorities to demand proof of mutation or title as a precondition for document registration, deeming such a requirement arbitrary and beyond the scope of the Act. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from challenges to the 2019 amendments to the Bihar Registration Rules, 1989, specifically the introduction of sub-rules (xvii) and (xviii) to Rule 19. These new rules empowered registering authorities to refuse registration of a sale or gift deed if the document did not mention, and the seller did not produce proof of, a "jamabandi a...
Directly Approaching High Court Barred When Tribunal Exists, Rules Supreme Court
Supreme Court

Directly Approaching High Court Barred When Tribunal Exists, Rules Supreme Court

The Supreme Court upheld the principle that the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT) is the designated court of first instance for service disputes, including recruitment matters. The High Court's writ jurisdiction under Article 226 cannot be invoked when an effective statutory alternative remedy exists, barring exceptional constitutional circumstances not present in this case. Facts Of The Case: The State of Karnataka issued a recruitment notification in March 2022 for 15,000 Graduate Primary Teacher posts. Following examinations, a provisional select list was published in November 2022. This list excluded certain married women candidates who had applied under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category because they submitted caste and income certificates in their fathers' n...
Beyond Impeachment: Supreme Court Validates Its Internal Mechanism for Judicial Misconduct
Supreme Court

Beyond Impeachment: Supreme Court Validates Its Internal Mechanism for Judicial Misconduct

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the 'In-House Procedure' for investigating allegations of judicial misconduct. It ruled that the mechanism, which can recommend a judge's removal, is a valid exercise of the CJI's authority under the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985, and does not violate the constitutional scheme for impeachment. Facts Of The Case: In March 2025, a fire broke out in the store-room of a Delhi High Court judge's official bungalow while he was away. During efforts to douse the flames, officials discovered burnt currency notes on the premises. This discovery raised serious suspicions of misconduct, potentially violating the values outlined in the Restatement of Judicial Life. Consequently, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court sought an explanation from the ...