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Delhi High Court Annual Digest 2023: Part II [Citations 401 - 800]
Nupur Thapliyal
28 Dec 2023 12:23 PM IST
Citations 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 401 to 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 800NOMINAL INDEXSYNTHES GMBH v. CONTROLLER GENERAL OF PATENTS, DESIGNS AND TRADEMARKS AND ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 401MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC v. THE ASSISTANT CONTROLLER OF PATENTS AND DESIGNS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 402Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited & Anr. vs. Planet Media Group & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 403Durga P....
Citations 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 401 to 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 800
NOMINAL INDEX
SYNTHES GMBH v. CONTROLLER GENERAL OF PATENTS, DESIGNS AND TRADEMARKS AND ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 401
MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC v. THE ASSISTANT CONTROLLER OF PATENTS AND DESIGNS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 402
Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited & Anr. vs. Planet Media Group & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 403
Durga P. Mishra v. Govt of NCT Delhi & anr 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 404
Radnik Exports v. Supertech Realtors Pvt Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 405
S.S. Con-Build Pvt Ltd vs Delhi Development Authority 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 406
RAJU YADAV v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 407
Prateek Chitkara Versus JCIT 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 408
RAJESH PRAKASH LOHANI AND ORS v. THE STATE AND ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 409
GAUTAM GAMBHIR v. PUNJAB KESARI & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 410
Dev Saran v. State 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 411
VIVEKANANDA INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES- TECHNICAL CAMPUS v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS. and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 412
Dhananjay Rathi vs Shree Vasu Steels Private Limited & Ors 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 413
SAMEER DNYANDEV WANKHEDE v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 414
SMT KARTARI DEVI v. SH. VINOD KUMAR AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 415
M EHTESHAM UL HAQUE v. UNION OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 416
Master Arnesh Shaw v. Union of India & Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 417
KASHIF v. NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 418
RECKITT BENCKISER (INDIA) PVT. LIMITED & ANR. v. WIPRO ENTERPRISES (P) LIMITED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 419
Durga P. Mishra v. Govt of NCT Delhi & anr 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 420
Department of Transport, GNCTD vs Star Bus Services Pvt Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 421
SH. CHHATTER PAL & ORS. v. STATE & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 422
AVINASH JAIN versus CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 423
Atul Agarwal vs UOI & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 424
Maj Pankaj Rai v. NIIT Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 425
SMT. CHETNA RATHEE v. CHAHIT KUNDU 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 426
UNION OF INDIA & ANR. v. SHRI. JOGINDER SINGH 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 427
Kiran Thakur vs Resident Commissioner Bihar Bhavan 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 428
RITVIK SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 429
ANAND v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 430
KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT v. OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF DELHI & ORS. and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 431
JUSTICE FOR ALL v. LAXMI EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY AND ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 432
DR PRANNOY ROY & ANR. v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 433
Carpet Export Promotion Council Versus Union Of India 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 434
RDB AND CO. HUF v. HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 435
PROF. DR. SANJEEV BAGAI & ORS. v. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST) & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 436
Satish Chandra Verma v. UOI & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 437
ADV. SHIV KUMAR v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 438
Shruti Sharma v. UOI & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 439
RITU CHERNALIA v. AMAR CHERNALIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 440
VK & ANR versus STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 441
Roadway Solutions India Infra Limited vs National Highway Authority of India 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 442
DR. RAJENDRA KUMAR PACHAURI v. INDU JAIN & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 443
M/s Vindhya Vasini Construction Co vs M/s Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 444
Central PWD Engineers Assoc. & Anr. V. UOI & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 445
SANJAY GANDHI MEMORIAL TRUST v. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (EXEMPTION) & ORS. and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 446
Vodafone Mobile Services Ltd. & Anr vs Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 447
KUSH KALRA v. UNION OF INDIA & ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 448
MR. YUSUFFALI MUSALIAM VEETTIL ABDUL KADER vs MR. SHAJAN SKARIAH & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 449
New Delhi Nature Society v. Rajesh Bansal & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 450
INDU KAPOOR v. AU SMALL FINANCE BANK & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 451
Najmus Sehar vs M/s Bombay Marcantile Coop Bank & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 452
Shivalaya Construction Co. Pvt Ltd. v. National Insurance Company Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 453
Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 454
Kishore Kumar v. State 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 455
Ram Tej v. State 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 456
DHANPATI @ DHANWANTI v. THE STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 457
RENUKA v. University Grants Commission and Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 458
M/s Mahesh Construction vs Municipal Corporation of Delhi & Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 459
Manish Sisodia v. CBI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 460
XXX vs. GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 461
Daeyoung Jung v. Bar Council of India & Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 462
RESILIENT INNOVATIONS PVT. LTD. v. PHONEPE PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 463
Mayo Foundation For Medical Education & Research vs Bodhisatva Charitable Trust & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 464
Vipin Mittal v. NIA 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 465
Centre For Policy Research Versus Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 466
Ideal Broadcasting India Pvt. Ltd Versus Union Of India 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 467
Prem Kumar Chopra Versus ACIT 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 468
Fayiz Nangaparambil Versus Union Of India 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 469
EMECHERE MADUABUCHKWU v. STATE NCT OF DELHI & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 470
Sony Pictures Animation Inc. vs FLIXHD.CC/ & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 471
MAJ GEN. V.K. SINGH (RETD.) v. CBI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 472
CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGTATION v. KAPIL WADHAWAN & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 473
TARUN KUMAR & ANR. v. THE PRINCIPAL HAPPY HOURS SCHOOL & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 474
MADHURI JAIN GROVER & ANR. v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 475
RR v. THE STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 476
MS. BETTY RAME v. NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 477
Vikram Ruhal v. Delhi Police & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 478
M/S Mcdonalds India Pvt. Ltd. Versus Additional Commissioner 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 479
INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA v. THE COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 480
Kal Airways Pvt. Ltd vs M/s Spicejet Ltd. & Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 481
Tomorrow Sales Agency Private Limited vs SBS Holdings, Inc. and Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 482
MALVINDER MOHAN SINGH v. STATE NCT OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 483
Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited vs Union of India 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 484
SHAHNAZ KHATOON & ORS. v. GD GOENKA PUBLIC SCHOOL 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 485
AGFA NV & ANR. v. THE ASSISTANT CONTROLLER OF PATENTS AND DESIGNS & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 486
DAG PRIVATE LIMITED V. RAVI SHANKAR INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 487
SK v. Union of India & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 488
INDIAN TOURIST TRANSPORTERS ASSOCIATION (REGD.) v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 489
NHAI v. Suresh Chandra 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 490
NUOVOPIGNONE INTERNATIONAL SRL v. CARGO MOTORS PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 491
Unique Décor (India) Pvt. Ltd. v. Synchronized Supply Systems Ltd. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 492
MINOR K THROUGH BROTHER D v. STATE & ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 493
Manish Sisodia v. ED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 494
SANJAY JAIN (IN JC) v. ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 495
MARICO LIMITED v. DABUR INDIA LIMITED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 496
B.L. Kashyap and Sons Ltd v. MIST Avenue Pvt. Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 497
GA vs TA & Anr 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 498
SHRI PAN SINGH RAWAT v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 499
Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corp. Ltd. v. M/s Goel & Goel, OMP(COMM) 299 of 2021 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 500
Atishi Marlena v. Union of India & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 501
Man Industries (India) Limited vs Indian Oil Corporation Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 502
AL TAWAF HAJJ AND UMRAH TRAVEL AND TOURISM v. UNION OF INDIA and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 503
SHARAFAT KHAN & ANOTHER v. NORTHERN RAILWAY & ANOTHER 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 504
Shivam Chaudhary & Ors. vs All India Council for Technical Education & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 505
Travelport International Operations Limited United Kingdom Versus Commissioner Of Income Tax International Taxation 3 N.Delhi & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 506
EUREKA FORBES LIMITED (FORMERLY FORBES ENVIRO SOLU v. FLIPKART INTERNET PRIVATE LIMITED AND ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 507
PANKAJ BANSAL v. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT DELHI) & ANR. and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 508
SADANAND AND ANR. v. CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 509
RS v. MB 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 510
MINOR VICTIM-V v. THE STATE & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 511
SAMEER MAHANDRU v. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 512
FIITJEE LIMITED v. ALLEN EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES PVT. LTD & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 513
IBRAHIM PUTHANATHANI v. NIA 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 514
Preeti Chandra v. ED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 515
PROF DR SANJEEV BAGAI & ORS. v. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST) & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 516
Rishiraj Aluminium Private Limited Versus Goods And Service Tax Officer 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 517
Ohmi Industries Asia Private Limited Versus Assistant Commissioner 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 518
ALL RESIDENTS WELFARE SOCIETY (ARWS). v. CAELUM ARPIT BRAND TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 519
BADAM VERVA v. DELHI BUILDING AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WELFARE BOARD & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 520
MMTC Limited vs Aust Grain Exports Pty. Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 521
Sachin @ Joginder Singh v. State Govt Of NCT Of Delhi & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 522
Shah Alam v. NCT Delhi 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 523
MoolChand Kharaiti Ram Hospital & Ayurvedic Research institute v. Workers & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 524
SPP Food Products Pvt Ltd vs India Overseas Co 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 525
VODAFONE MAURITIUS LIMITED Versus ACIT 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 526
New India Assurance Co Ltd. v. Himanshu Sharma & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 527
Babu Lal Bhawariya v. State Of NCT Delhi 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 528
State v. Jeevak Nagpal 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 530
SH.PRADEEP KUMAR v. STATE OF U.P and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 531
MADHU BALA v. STATE 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 532
Siddharth Mishra & Ors. V. UPSC 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 533
Home Credit India B.V. Versus ACIT 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 534
South Delhi Municipal Corporation Versus B N Magon 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 535
DR. GEETA OBEROI v. NATIONAL JUDICIAL ACADEMY 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 536
DR SOHAIL MALIK v. UNION OF INDIA & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 537
Harkirat Singh Sodhi v. Oram Foods Pvt Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 538
RAJNEESH BHASKAR GUPTA versus Reserve Bank of India & Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 539
Aswini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 540
Manish Sisodia v. Enforcement Directorate 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 541
BUDHI SINGH v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 543
Viney Chaudhary v. Union Of India & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 544
SUDHIR GUPTA v. DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY & ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 545
DR. PRAMOD BATRA v. MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 546
RAJINDER NISCHAL v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 548
EX CT/GD OM PARKASH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 549
MAMTA RANI v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 550
SAP SE vs Swiss Auto Products and Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 551
TV 18 BROADCAST LIMITED v. BENNETT, COLEMAN AND COMPANY LIMITED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 552
NEETU SINGH v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 554
Microsoft Corporation vs Zoai Founder 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 555
PEMBROKE AIRCRAFT LEASING 11 LIMITED Vs. DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION & ORS. And other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 556
Sashi Kumar NagarJi & Ors. V. M/S Magnifico Minerals Pvt Ltd & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 557
Chaalak Shakti & Ors. v. GNCTD & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 558
MOHD. AMAAN MALIK v. State of NCT Delhi 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 560
SHRI CHARANJEET SINGH & ANR. v. SHRI HARVINDER SINGH & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 561
Rakesh Agrawal vs National Highway Authority of India and Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 562
M/s Wave Geo-Services Pvt Ltd vs M/s Devi Engineering and Construction Pvt Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 563
KAMDHENU LTD v. THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 564
INOX AIR PRODUCTS PRIVATE LIMITED v. MR. ARUN RATHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 565
M/s Abhijeet Angul Sambhalpur Toll Road Limited v. NHAI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 566
AMBUJ HOTELS & REAL ESTATE PVT. LTD. v. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 567
PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX v. MSECF and Anr, W.P.(C) 13754 of 2019 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 568
Uniseven Engineering and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd v. MSEF Council District (South) and Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 569
PEPSICO INDIA HOLDINGS PVT. LTD. v. KAVITHA KURUGANTI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 570
Ashow Swain v. Union of India & Ors 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 571
Principal Commissioner Of Income Tax Vs Nestle India Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 572
SIDDHARTH SAHIB SINGH v. APEX COUNCIL OF DDCA 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 573
NISAR AHMED v. AGYA PAL SINGH 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 574
Kamlesh Kumar v. UOI & Ors 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 575
LEENA PAULOSE v. STATE OF DELHI and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 576
TATA SKY LIMITED v. LINKEDIN CORPORATION AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 577
JAYSON INDUSTRIES AND ANR. v. CROWN CRAFT (INDIA) PVT. LTD. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 578
KD v. VS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 579
SPORTA TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD. AND ANR. v. UNFADING OPC PRIVATE LIMITED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 580
Margo Networks Pvt Ltd & Anr vs Railtel Corporation of India Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 581
Tahir Hussain v. State and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 582
ABHIGYAN v. STATE (NCT OF DELHI) & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 583
KRISHNA KISHORE SINGH v. SARLA A SARAOGI & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 584
GO AIRLINES INDIA LIMITED v. SMBC AVIATION CAPITAL LIMITED & ORS. and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 585
SUDEEP RAJ SAINI v. HIGH COURT OF DELHI & ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 586
State v. Hari Lal & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 587
Himanshu Kumar v. UPSC & Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 588
DELHI HIGH COURT BAR ASSOCIATION THROUGH ITS SECRETARY v. S. GURUMURTHY 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 589
Himalaya Wellness Company & Ors vs Wipro Enterprises Private Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 590
Rajeev Khatri Versus Commissioner Of Customs (Export) 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 591
TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL) v. COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA & ANR. and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 592
SUSHIL KUMAR v. THE STATE GNCTD THROUGH SHO & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 593
CHELAKARA RAMASWAMY v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 594
CAPT. AMIT KUMAR YADAV v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 595
Anay Kumar Gupta v. Jagmeet Singh Bhatia 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 596
The Commissioner Of Income Tax Versus Springer Nature Customer Services Centre GMBH 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 597
GLS FOILS PRODUCTS PVT. LTD V. FWS TURNIT LOGISTIC PARK LLP 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 598
X v. Y 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 599
RUPINDERJIT KAUR v. THE MANAGER, DHANPATMAL VIRMANI SR. SEC. SCHOOL AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 600
IDFC First Bank Limited v. Hitachi MGRM Net Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 601
PERNOD RICARD INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 602
MANUDEV DAHIYA v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH DG ITBP 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 603
NHAI v. IRB Pathankot Amritsar Toll Road Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 604
Sterlite Power Transmission Limited v. EPC Solutions LLP 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 605
M/S Goldy Engineering Works Versus Commissioner Of Central Excise 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 606
RXPRISM HEALTH SYSTEMS PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. v. CANVA PTY LTD & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 607
Shrikant Prasad v. Union of India & Ors 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 608
CHAPTER 4 CORP vs DHANPREET SINGH TRADING AS M/S PUNJABI ADDA 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 609
Suman Chadha v. SFIO 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 610
NARESH SHARMA v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 611
RAJIV BOOLCHAND JAIN v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 612
NISHANT SINGHAL v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 613
The Commissioner Of Income Tax -4 Versus GE India Business Services Pvt. Ltd. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 614
ALOK KUMAR v. HARSH MANDER & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 615
MAJOR GENERAL M.S. AHLUWALIA v. M/S TEHELKA.COM & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 616
SUJEET AND ANR v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 617
National Highways Authority of India vs GVK Jaipur Expressway Private Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 618
ICICI BANK LIMITED v. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 619
PAYPAL PAYMENTS PRIVATE LIMITED v. FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT INDIA & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 620
Ambience Developers and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd vs Zesty Foods 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 621
SAMEER MAHANDRU v. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 622
COTY GERMANY GMBH vs XERYUS RETAIL PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 623
DELHI WAQF BOARD v. UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 624
Satluj Vidyut Nigam Ltd v. Iaiprakash Hyundai Consortium 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 625
FSMA INDIA CHARITABLE TRUST v. UNION OF INDIA AND ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 626
ST STEPHENS COLLEGE v. UNIVERSITY OF DELHI AND ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 627
SECRETARY, FOOD AND BEVERAGE FOUNDATION SOCIETY REGD. v. DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION, GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 628
KUSH KALRA v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 629
NJ v. AJ 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 630
Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan & Anr. versus Vijay Rajpal & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 631
SHAHEEN MALIK v. STATE OF GNCTD THROUGH PRINCIPAL SECRETARY & ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 632
TTK Prestige Ltd. vs Gupta Light House 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 633
NISHANT SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA AND ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 634
VIJAY DARDA v. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 635
SYNGENTA LIMITED v. CONTROLLER OF PATENTS AND DESIGNS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 636
RE: TO CONSIDER SUO MOTU CONTEMPT OF COURT v. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE TIS HAZARI COURT LAWYERS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 637
ARG Outlier Media Private Limited vs HT Media Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 638
Vineet Saraf v Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 639
Vinod Keni & Ors. vs Technology Development Board 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 640
SHABNAM v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 641
J. VINUTHA v. ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES - AIIMS & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 642
SpiceJet Limited vs Kal Airways Pvt Ltd & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 643
MONK ESTATES PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 644
RAVINDER SINGH BHASIN v. KANWALJIT KAUR & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 645
B L Kashyap and Sons Ltd vs Emaar India Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 647
STATE (NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY) v. MOHD YASIN MALIK 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 648
VIVEKANANDA INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 649
TEJASWI CHHATWAL & ORS. v. DR.B.R. AMBEDKAR UNIVERSITY DELHI AND ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 650
MOHD. YASIN PATEL ALIAS FALAHI v. STATE 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 652
PCIT Versus Maharani Enterprises 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 653
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd vs Director of Legal Metrology & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 654
MANMOHAN SINGH @ MONU v. STATE (NCT OF DELHI) 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 655
Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh vs Union of India 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 656
VIVEK KUMAR & ORS. v. STATE & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 658
FOODLINK F AND B HOLDINGS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED v. WOW MOMO FOODS PRIVATE LIMITED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 659
Jaiprakash Associates Limited v. MSEFC 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 660
DISTRICT MAGISTRATE WEST DISTRICT THROUGH NEHA BANSAL v. JOSAN DIAGNOTICS CENTRE & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 661
DR. REDDYS LABORATORIES LIMITED & ANR. v. THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 663
SUN PARMA LABORATORIES LTD. v. MYLAN LABORATORIES LIMITED & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 664
RAKESH v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHII & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 665
SARTAJ @ALLAHARAKHA v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 666
RAVI MANCHANDA TRADING AS SEEMA ENGINEERING WORKS v. THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 667
PCIT Versus M/S Eltek Sgs Pvt. Ltd. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 668
ANURAG GOEL v. CHHAVI AGARWAL 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 669
NABAL THAKUR (IN J.C.) v. THE STATE 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 670
Landmark Property Development and Company Limited & ORS. vs Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Limited & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 671
ISHWAR SINGH DAHIYA v. STATE OF NCT DELHI AND ORS and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 672
ARJUN KAMTI v. THE STATE OF GNCT OF DELHI THROUGH SHO & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 673
Gannon Dunkerley and Co Ltd v. Zillion Infraprojects Pvt Ltd, OMP(COMM) 234 of 2023 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 674
GOOGLE LLC v. DRS LOGISTICS (P) LTD. & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 675
PARVIN JUNEJA v. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 676
MANKIND PHARMA LIMITED v. NOVAKIND BIO SCIENCES PRIVATE LIMITED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 677
Mrs. Vinnu Goel v. Mr. Santosh Goes and Ors 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 678
NHAI v. M/S. T.K. TOLL PRIVATE LIMITED 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 679
DR J THULASEEDHARA KURUP v. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE OF THE CABINET THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 680
DEPTT.OF HEALTH, GOVT.OF NCT OF DELHI v. KAMLA MEHNDIRATTA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 681
Oxfam India Versus Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 682
RANJEET KUMAR YADAV v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 683
H&M Pvt. Ltd. vs Legal Metrology Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 684
SRI SATYA SAI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL SCIENCES SEHORE v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 685
THE STATE v. MAIKALE RAM & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 686
Blackberry India Pvt Ltd. Versus The Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise And CGST Division 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 687
AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS INC. v. CONTROLLER GENERAL OF PATENTS, DESIGN, TRADEMARK AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS, & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 688
Diamond Entertainment Technologies Pvt Ltd & Ors. vs Religare Finvest Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 689
Reliance Infrastructure Limited v. Madhyanchal Vidhyut Vitran Nigam Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 690
HERO MOTOCORP LIMITED v. SHREE AMBA INDUSTRIES 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 691
PCIT Versus ARN Infrastructure Ltd. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 692
PCIT Versus Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 693
LK v. OPM 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 694
NARENDER BHUTANI v. ANJALI BHUTANI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 695
MANOHAR LAL SHARMA v. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (C.B.I) & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 696
SUN PHARMA LABORATORIES LTD. v. FINECURE PHARMACEUTICALS LTD& ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 697
Geeta Sharma vs Public Enterprises Selection Board & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 698
Emami Limited vs Dabur India Ltd. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 699
XYZ v. BHARAT PRAKASHAN (DELHI) LTD AND ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 700
Y.K. Goyal v. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 701
R.K. KAPOOR v. NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI & ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 702
Steelman Telecom Limited v. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 703
RDB AND CO(HUF) v. HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA PVT. LTD. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 704
CONFERENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (INDIA) (REGD.) v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 705
CCL M A v. STATE (NCT) OF DELHI and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 706
COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. SOUTH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 707
M/S Vikas Enterprises Versus Commissioner Of Central Tax (GST) 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 708
Deepak Khandelwal Proprietor Versus Commissioner Of CGST 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 709
Darpan Kohli Versus Assistant Commissioner Of Income Tax 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 710
SUMAIYA JAN @ SOUMAYYA v. STATE NCT OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 711
M/s G.S. Express Pvt Ltd v. NTPC Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 712
ABHIJIT MISHRA v. RESERVE BANK OF INDIA & ANR and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 713
Rajani Kumari v. BCD 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 714
ABHISHEK @ LOVE & ORS. v. THE STATE NCT OF DELHI & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 715
Government of NCT of Delhi v. R.S. Sharma Contractors Pvt Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 716
DGIT Versus The Indian Plywood Mfg. Co. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 717
VENUS WORLDWIDE ENTERTAINMENT PRIVATE LIMITED v. POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK (PEN) PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 718
UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC. AND ORS. v. DOTMOVIES.BABY AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 719
SAGAR v. THE STATE (GOVT. OF NCT) 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 720
Sachin Arora v. State of GNCT of Delhi 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 721
STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI v. MOHD K. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 722
Raghav Bahl v. ED and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 723
NIDHI KAPOOR v. PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER AND ADDITIONAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA & ORS. and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 724
STATE v. USHA DEVI & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 725
STATE v. HARIPAL and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 726
STATE v. DHEERAJ SHARMA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 727
SMT. K.S. SUMI MOL v. SH. SURESH KUMAR E.K. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 728
SEEMA CHOPRA v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS. and other connected matters 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 729
Flipkart India Private Limited Versus Value Added Tax Officer 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 730
KARAN S THUKRAL v. THE DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE & ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 731
Spelndor Landbase Ltd v. Aparna Ashram Society 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 732
Girish Kumari Gupta v. UOI and Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 733
NOVA EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 734
Splendor Landbase Ltd v. Aparna Ashram Society 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 735
SJ v. S 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 736
KSG v. P 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 737
Nishkarsh Singh Patel vs National Medical Commission & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 738
NHAI v. Trichy Thanjavur Expressway Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 739
VASU BAJAJ v. RAKESH BAJAJ 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 740
PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS (PETA) INDIA v. THE UNION OF INDIA & ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 741
NHAI v. Trichy Thanjavur Expressway Ltd 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 742
ANNWESHA DEB v. DELHI STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 743
SpiceJet Limited vs Kal Airways Pvt Ltd & Ors. and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 744
X v. Y 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 745
M/S.RSPL HEALTH PRIVATE LIMITED v. RECKITT AND COLMAN (OVERSEAS) HYGIENE HOME LIMITED & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 746
X v. Y 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 747
TIMES NOW NAVBHARAT v. NARESH BALIYAN 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 748
Shri Anil Kumar v. Election Commission of India & Anr 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 749
PCIT Versus M/S National Fertilizers Ltd. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 750
RAKESH KUMAR KALRA DEAF DIVAYANG v. STATE GOVT OF NCT DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 751
RAHUL v. STATE OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 752
Saurabh Shukla v. Max Bupa Insurance & Anr. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 753
Selishia Mohandas v. UOI & Ors. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 754
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SAS & ANR. v. M/S THE SHOE BOUTIQUE – SHUTIQ 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 755
M/S. Hanuman Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Versus The Additional Director General Directorate General Of GST 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 756
Aseem Aggarwal v. Ashi Kumar 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 757
ROYAL CHALLENGERS SPORTS PRIVATE LIMITED v. SUN PICTURES A DIVISION OF SUN TV NETWORK LTD.AND ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 758
RS v. AS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 759
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports v. ERNST and YOUNG PVT LTD 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 760
VARUN BHATIA v. STATE AND ANOTHER 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 761
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports v. ERNST and YOUNG PVT LTD 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 762
DELHI HIGH COURT LEGAL SERVICES COMMITTEE v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 763
RAMADA INTERNATIONAL,INC v. LA-RAMADA WORLD PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 764
GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS. v. SHEETAL 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 765
Siddharth Mishra & Ors. v. UPSC 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 766
POOJA SINGH v. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 767
Spelndor Landbase Ltd v. Aparna Ashram Society 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 768
RAMESH v. SMT. MEENAKSHI LEKHI 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 769
Rajeev Chhatwal Versus Commissioner Of Goods And Services Tax (East) 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 770
NATIONAL SEEDS CORPORATION LTD v. RAM AVTAR GUPTA 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 771
J BALAJI v. THE HINDU NEW DELHI AND ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 772
DIXITA GOLWALA vs NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 773
ZAHIR ABDULLAH & ANR v. OMAR ABDULLAH and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 774
PRAFUL BILLORE & ANR. v. BAEROJGAR & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 775
MS. N v. STATE & ANR 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 776
SHRI ANIL KUMAR v. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA AND ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 777
SILVERMAPLE HEALTHCARE SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED AND OTHERS vs DR AJAY DUBEY & ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 778
A v. S 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 780
Rekha Rani and Ors. v. State of NCT of Delhi 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 781
Liberty Footwear Company v. Liberty Shoes Limited 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 782
Amit Guglani v. L&T Housing Finance 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 783
UNION OF INDIA v. VANSH SHARAD GUPTA 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 784
CASA2 STAYS PVT LTD v. BBH COMMUNICATIONS INDIA PVT LTD 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 785
MOHD. IRSHAD & ANR. v. NADEEM 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 786
RAVI BHUSHAN UPADHYAY v. THE STATE 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 787
THE SURGICAL MANUFACTURERS & TRADERS ASSOCIATION THROUGH ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE v. UNION OF INDIA and other connected matter 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 788
Mamta v. Pradeep Kumar 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 790
PREETI v. VIKAS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 791
VAIBHAV KUMAR v. STATE NCT OF DELHI & ANR. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 792
AARIF HUSSAIN v. SHRI AJAY KUMAR BHALLA AND ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 793
THE STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI v. BABITA & ORS 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 794
GLOBAL MUSIC JUNCTION PVT. LTD. v. SHATRUGHAN KUMAR AKA KHESARI LAL YADAV & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 795
RAHUL MOHOD v. THE GOVT. OF NCT DELHI & ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 797
PW v. RW 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 798
M/S Frequent Logistics Services PVT. LTD. v. Commissioner Goods and Service Tax Department And ORS. 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 799
AMAN GUPTA v. STATE 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 800
Title: SYNTHES GMBH v. CONTROLLER GENERAL OF PATENTS, DESIGNS AND TRADEMARKS AND ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 401
The Delhi High Court has directed an Assistant Controller General Of Patents to undergo a course on passing judicial orders at the Delhi Judicial Academy as it was “seriously disturbed” about an order passed by the officer while rejecting an application for grant of patent.
Justice C Hari Shankar said that the order was nothing less than a “total mockery” of the functions which are vested in the quasi-judicial authorities in the office of the Controller General of Patents.
Title: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC v. THE ASSISTANT CONTROLLER OF PATENTS AND DESIGNS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 402
The Delhi High Court has observed that an invention should not be deemed as a “computer program per se” under the Patents Act merely because it involves algorithms and computer-executable instructions but the decision should be based on the technical advancements it offers and its practical application in solving real-world problems.
Justice Sanjeev Narula said that it is essential for the Indian Patent Office to adopt a more comprehensive approach when assessing computer-related inventions by taking into account technical effects and contributions provided by the invention, rather than solely focusing on implementation of algorithms and computer-executable instructions.
Case Title: Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited & Anr. vs. Planet Media Group & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 403
The Delhi High Court has restrained the use of “Miss India” by Planet Media Group in relation to the beauty pageants organized and promoted by it under the mark “MISS INDIA WORLD” and “TAJ MISS INDIA/MISS INDIA TAJ”.
The bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula remarked that Planet Media had been dishonestly using “MISS INDIA”- the registered mark of Bennett, Coleman and Company, in the title of the beauty pageants organized by the former, including on its websites and social media accounts.
Delhi High Court Refuses To Interfere With Demolition Of Mayapuri Chowk 'Kali Mata Mandir'
Case title: Durga P. Mishra v. Govt of NCT Delhi & anr
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 404
Considering that the religious committee has directed the removal of Kali Mata Mandir at Mayapuri Chowk because it is “unauthorised” and “obstructs the free flow of traffic”, the Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with the demolition of the religious structure to be carried out by the PWD.
Justice Pratibha M .Singh observed that,
"As per the sketch and the photographs which have been produced today, it is clear to the Court that the temple is on Government land. In fact the footpath for pedestrians as also the road has been encroached by the temple which is not permissible. Further, because of the location of the temple i.e. in the corner of two roads, one main road and one arterial road, the smooth flow of the traffic is bound to be impeded".
Case Title: Radnik Exports v. Supertech Realtors Pvt Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 405
The Delhi High Court has held that an issue of full and final settlement of dispute between the parties will be a question of fact which has to be decided by the arbitrator.
The bench of Justice Navin Chawla held that the Court while exercising powers under Section 11 of the A&C Act cannot determine a disputed question of fact as its jurisdiction is confined to a prima facie conclusion of the existence of the arbitration agreement.
Case Title: S.S. Con-Build Pvt Ltd vs Delhi Development Authority
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 406
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the disputes relating to determination of a lease or the arrears of rent payable in respect of public premises, are questions statutorily mandated to be determined exclusively by the Estate Officer under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 (PP Act). Thus, the same are non-arbitrable.
The bench of Justice Yashwant Varma was considering a petition filed under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act) seeking reference of the dispute concerning the computation of ground rent by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) with respect to the plot leased to the petitioner. The petitioner further sought adjudication of the validity of determination of lease by the DDA.
Title: RAJU YADAV v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 407
The Delhi High Court has observed that where the bone ossification test for determining age of a child victim under the POCSO Act opines the age between 15 to 17 years, the court should incline towards considering the lower side on the margin of error.
Observing that such an approach would be in consonance with the objectives of POCSO Act, Justice Jasmeet Singh observed:
“…the Supreme Court in Jarnail Singh case has only leaned towards the benefit of the lower age side to both the child in conflict with law and the minor victim under the POCSO Act. Hence, I am of the view that for determining the age of a child victim under the POCSO Act, where the bone ossification opines her age between 15-17 years, the inclination of the Court should be towards considering the lower side on the margin of error.”
Delhi High Court Quashes Penalty Order Under BMA On Failure Of Dept. To Consider Assessee's Email
Case Title: Prateek Chitkara Versus JCIT
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 408
The Delhi High Court has quashed the penalty order under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 (BMA) for non-consideration of the assessee's email.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju has observed that, as per the reply filed by the petitioner/assessee, his assertion was that the penalty proceedings should be kept in abeyance, having regard to the fact that the appeal preferred by him on the quantum levy was pending before the CIT (A).
Title: RAJESH PRAKASH LOHANI AND ORS v. THE STATE AND ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 409
The Delhi High Court has asked the Commissioner of Delhi Police to ensure that the investigating officers probing a case are present in court when such a case is taken up for hearing.
Expressing displeasure over the failure of an investigating officer in answering certain queries put to him by the court, Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar said:
“This has become routine invariable practice that the main Investigating Officers who have investigated the case are not appearing and substitute officials are appearing on their behalf and they are not versed with the facts of the cases.”
Title: GAUTAM GAMBHIR v. PUNJAB KESARI & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 410
The Delhi High Court refused to pass any interim injunction order for now in favour of former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir in the defamation suit filed by him against Hindi daily newspaper Punjab Kesari and its reporters seeking to restrain them from making any allegedly defamatory publication against him.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh issued notice on Gambhir's application seeking interim relief and listed it for hearing in October.
Case Title: Dev Saran v. State
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 411
Observing that “taking a false defence itself adds up as an incriminating circumstance against the appellant”, the Delhi High has upheld the conviction of a person sentenced to life imprisonment under Sections 363/302 of IPC for kidnapping and murdering a one-year-four-month-old child in 2016.
The division bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Poonam A. Bamba said that non-proving of motive on the part of the accused is not always fatal to the prosecution case. It said that the prosecution has proved that “beyond reasonable doubt” that the appellant had hit the deceased, an infant, against the floor/stairs of the mandir causing injuries on her head and other parts.
Title: VIVEKANANDA INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES- TECHNICAL CAMPUS v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS. and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 412
Observing that malpractices and backdoor entry into admissions in professional courses is not unknown in society, the Delhi High Court has said that transparent and merit based admission process needs to be encouraged as it encourages students to work hard and “realise their potential in their academic pursuits.”
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said that such a process also ensures that the “brightest and most talented students” are given the opportunity to study in educational institutions, which promotes excellence.
Case Title: Dhananjay Rathi vs Shree Vasu Steels Private Limited & Ors
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 413
The Delhi High Court has vacated the interim injunction against the use of the mark 'RATHI' by entities who were granted licenses by the Rathi Research Centre (RRC), in a trademark suit filed by businessman Dhananjay Rathi for permanent injunction against the infringement of the trademark.
Justice Amit Bansal said that the licensees were permitted users and thus, they cannot be said to be infringing the mark 'RATHI' by using the same in respect of their goods.
Title: SAMEER DNYANDEV WANKHEDE v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 414
The Central Bureau of Investigation has told the Delhi High Court that no coercive action will be taken against former Mumbai zonal director of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Sameer Wankhede till May 22 in the Aryan Khan bribery case.
The oral assurance was given by CBI's counsel Nikhil Goel before Justice Vikas Mahajan that the agency will not act against Wankhede till Monday. The court disposed of Wankhede's plea seeking a free and fair investigation in the case. In the interim, he also sought stay on the summons issued by the probe agency.
Appellate Tribunal Under Senior Citizens Act Should Make All Efforts To Decide Appeals Within One Month: Delhi High Court
Title: SMT KARTARI DEVI v. SH. VINOD KUMAR AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 415
The Delhi High Court has observed that the Appellate Tribunal under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 should make all efforts to ensure that section 16(6), which states that appeals must be decided within one month, is implemented in its true spirit to the extent it is practical.
Section 16(6) of the Act states that the Appellate Tribunal shall make an endeavour to pronounce its order in writing within one month of receipt of such appeal.
Title: M EHTESHAM UL HAQUE v. UNION OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 416
The Delhi High Court has dismissed the appeal challenging the appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia.
A division bench comprising of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Talwant Singh upheld a single-judge order passed on March 05, 2021, which dismissed a plea challenging her appointment.
The single judge had said that the court cannot sit in appeal over the decision taken by varsity's Search Committee.
Case Title: Master Arnesh Shaw v. Union of India & Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 417
The Delhi High Court has constituted a five-member committee so that the National Policy for Treatment of Rare Diseases, 2017 can be implemented in an efficient manner and also to ensure that its benefits reach the ultimate patients.
Justice Prathiba M Singh said that there is a need for certain urgent steps to be taken in close coordination between the medical community, providers of therapies for rare diseases and the Governmental agencies.
Title: KASHIF v. NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 418
The Delhi High Court has said that the application for drawing sample of a narcotic drugs or psychotropic substance before the concerned Magistrate under section 52A of NDPS Act should be made within 72 hours.
Justice Jasmeet Singh observed that such an application cannot be moved at the “whims and fancies” of Narcotics Control Bureau, being the prosecuting agency.
Title: RECKITT BENCKISER (INDIA) PVT. LIMITED & ANR. v. WIPRO ENTERPRISES (P) LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 419
The Delhi High Court has observed that comparative advertising includes the right to show the competing product but denigration or disparaging rival's product is impermissible.
“While it is permissible, therefore, to state that the advertised product is superior to the competitor's, it is not permissible to attribute this superiority to some failing, or fault, in the product of the competitor. An advertisement cannot claim that a competitor's goods are bad, undesirable or inferior. The subtle distinction between claiming one's goods to be superior to the others', and the other's goods to be inferior to one's, has to be borne in mind,” Justice C Hari Shankar observed.
Case title: Durga P. Mishra v. Govt of NCT Delhi & anr
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 420
The Delhi High Court has dismissed an appeal challenging a single judge order which refused to interfere with the demolition of 55-year-old Kali Mata Mandir at city's Mayapuri Chowk to be carried out by the Public Works Department.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad also refused to extend the time period for shifting idols and other religious objects from the temple to other temples.
Case Title: Department of Transport, GNCTD vs Star Bus Services Pvt Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 421
The Delhi High Court has ruled that an arbitral award passed after an inordinate, substantial and unexplained delay would be “contrary to justice and would defeat justice”. Consequently, the same would also be in conflict with the public policy of India.
The bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh was hearing a petition filed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act), challenging the arbitral award on the ground that it had been passed after a long and substantial delay of 18 months.
Title: SH. CHHATTER PAL & ORS. v. STATE & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 422
The Delhi High Court has issued a slew of guidelines to be followed by the mediators while drafting settlement agreements in matrimonial cases and said that such agreements must also be published in Hindi language, in addition to English.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that the guidance needed by mediators to draft agreements with a degree of coherence, consistency, and unambiguity will come a long way in “healing the lives of those in need” by immediately putting an end to a dispute and further insulating them from future litigation.
Title: AVINASH JAIN versus CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 423
Permitting the CBI to pick up one aspect of the investigation and file a piece-meal charge sheet to defeat the right of an accused to default bail, goes against the mandate of Article 21 of the Constitution, the Delhi High Court has ruled.
The court was hearing a plea challenging the denial of default bail to an accused in a loan fraud case by the CBI Court in February this year.
Case Title: Atul Agarwal vs UOI & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 424
The Delhi High Court has observed that there is a transparent legal mechanism in place to deal with the process of delisting of securities, including a remedy to an investor aggrieved by such delisting, under the Securities Contract (Regulations) Act, 1956.
“Not only this, even in case of compulsory delisting, which is a disciplinary mechanism, an aggrieved investor may file an Appeal before the SAT against the decision of the recognized stock exchange delisting the securities under Section 21A(2) of the SCRA,” a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said.
Case Title: Maj Pankaj Rai v. NIIT Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 425
The Delhi High Court has held that an arbitrator can be removed under Section 14(1)(a) which provides for de jure ineligibility of arbitrator only if his appointment falls within the grounds mentioned under the VII Schedule.
The bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh held that the mandate of the arbitrator on grounds of bias and prejudice cannot be terminated if the test of the Schedule VII is not satisfied as the grounds mentioned therein are the only situations that render an arbitrator de jure ineligible to act as arbitrator.
Title: SMT. CHETNA RATHEE v. CHAHIT KUNDU
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 426
The Delhi High Court has observed that the family courts are expected to not adopt a “hyper-technical approach” and close the right of cross examination of a party in a hurried manner while dealing with matrimonial cases.
Justice Rekha Palli made the observation while setting aside an order passed by the family court rejecting a wife's application for restoration of her right to cross examine the husband, who had appeared as a prosecution witness.
Title: UNION OF INDIA & ANR. v. SHRI. JOGINDER SINGH
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 427
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the medical claim of a government employee for reimbursement of treatment undertaken in emergency should not be denied merely because the hospital was not empanelled with CGHS facility.
A division bench of Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta observed that the test would be to see whether the claimant had actually undertaken the treatment in emergent condition as advised and if the same is supported by record.
No Sympathy Or Compassion For Employees Submitting Forged Documents To Employer: Delhi High Court
Case Title: Kiran Thakur vs Resident Commissioner Bihar Bhavan
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 428
The Delhi High Court has said that employees who are guilty of submitting forged documents to their employer have to be dealt with in a strict manner. It said such persons are certainly unfit to be employed and no sympathy or compassion can be shown to such an employee.
The bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna made the observation while upholding the termination order of a woman who was dismissed from services by the Bihar Bhavan for submitting a forged class 8th pass certificate.
The court noted that there was a clear finding made by the Enquiry Officer in the departmental proceedings initiated against the petitioner Kiran Thakur that she had failed to prove the authenticity of the Class 8th pass certificate submitted by her.
Title: RITVIK SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 429
The Delhi High Court has directed the Medical Counselling Committee to ensure that the provisions of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 are followed in admissions to medical courses in future.
The Medical Counselling Committee, an organisation affiliated to Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is responsible for allotting seats for undergraduate, postgraduate and super-specialty medical and dental courses in government colleges on the basis of a candidate's score in NEET examination.
Title: ANAND v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 430
The Delhi High Court has upheld the constitutional validity of an order passed by the Delhi Government making “resident of Delhi” as a mandatory condition to become eligible for being a civil defence volunteer.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela dismissed the plea moved by Advocate Anand challenging the order passed by the Secretary of Delhi Government's Revenue and Divisional Commissioner on March 18, 2015.
The court said that the authorities are competent to issue necessary directions in respect of the place of residence of a candidate while enrolling a person as a civil defence volunteer.
High Court Sets Aside Delhi Mayor's Decision For Re-Election Of MCD Standing Committee
Title: KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT v. OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF DELHI & ORS. and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 431
The Delhi High Court has set aside the decision of Mayor Shelly Oberoi to hold re-election for six members of the standing committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav allowed the pleas moved by BJP councillors Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Shikha Roy challenging the notice issued by the Mayor on February 24.
The court has ordered the Mayor to declare the results of the elections which were held on February 24 fortwith.
Title: JUSTICE FOR ALL v. LAXMI EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY AND ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 432
The Delhi High Court has said that while there are liberal rules regarding the locus to file a public interest litigation but it must be ensured that “busybodies, wayfarers or officious interveners” with oblique interests are not allowed to waste precious judicial time.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad made the observation while dismissing a PIL alleging misuse of the SARFAESI Act, 2002, to mortgage public land allotted to charitable societies under the Government Grants Act, 1895.
Title: DR PRANNOY ROY & ANR. v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 433
The Delhi High Court has permitted journalists Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy to travel abroad from July 25 to August 15, observing that they don't pose a flight risk owing to their professional standing.
“Owing to the professional standing of the petitioners [Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy] and their ties to India, they don't pose a flight risk. The petitioners are permitted to travel abrod,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said.
The court disposed of an application filed by the Roys and permitted them to travel abroad, subject to the condition that they will provide details of their itinerary to the Registrar of the court.
Case Title: Carpet Export Promotion Council Versus Union Of India
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 434
The Delhi High Court has held that the summary rejection of the application under the Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019 (SVLDR Scheme) without affording the opportunity to be heard would violate the principles of natural justice.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has observed that in terms of the SVLDR Scheme, the petitioner would be entitled to the waiver of interest and penalty as it had paid the requisite tax prior to the stipulated date. There is no dispute that the amount as estimated to be payable—that is, tax dues less relief—is nil.
Title: RDB AND CO. HUF v. HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 435
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday held that late director Satyajit Ray is the first owner of copyright in 1966 Bengali film 'Nayak' and the right to novelize its screenplay is also vested in him.
Justice C Hari Shankar was hearing a suit moved by RDB and Co. HUF, whose 'Karta' R.D. Bansal had commissioned Ray to write and direct the film, seeking to restrain publishing house Harpercollins from novelizing the film written by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay. The book was published in May 2018.
Title: PROF DR SANJEEV BAGAI & ORS. v. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST) & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 436
Observing that it would be “creeping legalised genocide of trees”, the Delhi High Court recently stayed a clause which permits regular pruning of tree branches of girth size upto 15.7cms without reference to the Tree Officer.
“Therefore, to ensure that there is no felling of trees for the asking or of chopping of large branches of trees at will to reduce them to a mere pole-like entity (as noted in the photograph at page 15 supra), clause 5 of the Guidelines shall not be given effect to till the next date [May 24],” Justice Najmi Waziri said in an order passed on May 10.
Delhi High Court Rejects Former IPS Officer Satish Chandra Verma's Plea Against Dismissal Order
Title: Satish Chandra Verma v. UOI & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 437
The Delhi High Court has upheld the order of the Union Government dismissing Gujarat IPS Officer Satish Chandra Verma, who probed Ishrat Jahan encounter case, one month before his retirement.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva dismissed the pleas moved by Verma against his termination.
Though initially Verma had challenged the departmental enquiry against him, however, he moved an application before the High Court last year to amend his petition to challenge the dismissal order which was passed during the pendency of the matter.
Advocates Appearing On Criminal Side Can't Claim A Right To Own Arms License: Delhi High Court
Title: ADV. SHIV KUMAR v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 438
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the lawyers appearing on the criminal side for an accused or the prosecution cannot claim a right to own an arms license as it could result in issuance of such licenses indiscriminately.
“An application by an advocate merely based on the ground of appearance on behalf of the accused persons, in the opinion of this Court, would not be sufficient to grant an arms license,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said in an order passed on May 22.
Case Title: Shruti Sharma v. UOI & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 439
Considering the absence of a recognized National Federation in the field of Karate, the Delhi High Court has directed the Director General of Sports Authority Of India (SAI) to constitute a Selection Committee consisting of players and a senior SAI coach to select a competent team to represent India in the sport of Karate in the upcoming Asian Games.
In the order dated May 18, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that the Director General, SAI will constitute a Selection Committee as as stipulated in the letter dated May 15 of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Department of Sports, Government of India “within one week from today”, “which shall, after such constitution proceed with the process of selecting the team as per Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Rules with all earnest”.
Title: RITU CHERNALIA v. AMAR CHERNALIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 440
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a daughter in law does not have an indefeasible right in a “shared household” and that the in-laws cannot be excluded from the same.
“Thus, the concept of 'shared household' clearly provides that the right of the daughter-in-law in a shared household is not an indefeasible right and cannot be to the exclusion of the in-laws,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said in an order passed on May 22.
Title: VK & ANR versus STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 441
The Delhi High Court quashed an FIR against a husband, who was accused of cruelty by his wife after the couple settled their differences. Besides dissolving the marriage by a decree of divorce under mutual consent, the wife also paid her husband an amount of Rs.12 Lakh towards all his claims.
"Out of the said amount, an amount of Rs.6 lacs was paid by the respondent no.2 [wife] to the petitioner no.1 [husband] at the time of recording of the statement of the first motion on 06.01.2023 and the remaining amount of Rs. 6 lacs was paid at the time of recording of the statement of the second motion, the receipt of which is acknowledged by the petitioner no.1," the court recorded in the order.
Case Title: Roadway Solutions India Infra Limited vs National Highway Authority of India
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 442
The Delhi High Court has ruled that in view of Sections 20A and 41(ha) of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 (SRA), the courts should grant no injunction relating to infrastructure projects where delay may be caused by such an injunction.
The bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh was dealing with a petition filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act) seeking to staying the operation of a 'Notice of Intention To Terminate' issued by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to a contractor, on the ground that the latter had failed to carry out its obligations under the Contract in relation to the strengthening/overlaying work on National Highway-48. The petitioner sought to restrain NHAI from flouting a fresh tender with respect to the said project.
Title: DR. RAJENDRA KUMAR PACHAURI v. INDU JAIN & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 443
Managing Director and Editor-in-chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami has tendered his unconditional apology before the Delhi High Court in a 2016 contempt case moved by former Executive Vice Chairman of TERI R.K. Pachauri against him and others for “fragrant and willful disobedience” of the court's earlier orders restricting them from publishing certain claims against him.
On May 22, the court discharged Arnab Goswami, Economic Times and Raghav Ohri after accepting their written unconditional apology. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora also dismissed the plea against Prannoy roy on merits.
Case Title: M/s Vindhya Vasini Construction Co vs M/s Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 444
The Delhi High Court has ruled where the Arbitration Agreement unambiguously provides that in case the stipulated person cannot act as an Arbitrator, the dispute is not to be referred to Arbitration at all, the same reflected the conditional acceptance of Arbitration by the party.
Case Title: Central PWD Engineers Assoc. & Anr. V. UOI & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 445
Observing that government servants "cannot be excluded from the protection" of fundamental rights, the Delhi High Court has set aside the 2019 Memorandum Order (M.O.) that de-recognised the Central PWD Engineers Association. During the pendency of the matter, the Association was granted recognition in 2021.
The decision was not issued with the approval of the Competent Authority, as provided under the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993, but was only taken at the level of DG, CPWD, the court said.
Title: SANJAY GANDHI MEMORIAL TRUST v. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (EXEMPTION) & ORS. and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 446
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a bunch of pleas moved by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Wadra, Aam Aadmi Party and other charitable trusts challenging the decision of Income Tax authorities to transfer their tax assessments to the central circle.
A division bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma dismissed the petitions and observed that transfer was in accordance with law. However, the court clarified that it did not examine the matter on merits.
Case Title: Vodafone Mobile Services Ltd. & Anr vs Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 447
The Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) recommendation to impose a penalty of Rs. 1050 crores on Vodafone for failing to provide interconnectivity services to Reliance Jio Infocom Limited under an Interconnection Agreement executed between them.
The bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad noted that both the Central Government's order dated 29.09.2021, imposing penalty of Rs. 950 Crores on Vodafone Idea, and TRAI's recommendation dated 21.10.2016, are under challenge before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Further, the TDSAT had already stayed the order passed by Central Government, the court noted.
Agniveer Vayus Being Recruited In Air Force Without Gender Discrimination: Delhi High Court
Title: KUSH KALRA v. UNION OF INDIA & ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 448
The Delhi High Court has said that the “Agniveer Vayus” are being recruited in the Air Force without any gender discrimination.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad disposed of a public interest litigation seeking directions to allow recruitment of females for the post of Airmen in group "X" and "Y" trade in all the departments of the Indian Air Force.
Case Title: MR. YUSUFFALI MUSALIAM VEETTIL ABDUL KADER vs MR. SHAJAN SKARIAH & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 449
The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to MA Yusuff Ali, Chairman of Lulu Group International, by directing Shajan Skariah, the editor of online Malayalam news portal "Marunadan Malayalee", to remove all defamatory content published against the billionaire businessman from social media within 24 hours.
On failure to do so, YouTube has been directed to take down all such defamatory content posted in the Marunadan Malayalee channel against Yusuff Ali and to suspend the operation of the channel . Further, the Court restrained Skariah from using any platform/social media platforms including YouTube for making any comments/remarks in relation to Yusuff Ali.
Victimization Of Trees: Delhi High Court Sentences Two Senior PWD Officers For Contempt Of Court
Case Title: New Delhi Nature Society v. Rajesh Bansal & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 450
The Delhi High Court recently sentenced two senior officers of the Public Works Department to imprisonment after they were held guilty of contempt of court last year for not following judicial orders with regard of protection of trees. The court had earlier directed the PWD to "exercise due caution apropos all its ongoing civil works as well as for all future projects."
Justice Najmi Waziri sentenced the Engineer-in-Chief and Executive Engineer of PWD to four and two months in jail respectively, along with fine of Rs. 2000 each.
Title: INDU KAPOOR v. AU SMALL FINANCE BANK & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 451
The Delhi High Court has asked the Union Ministry of Finance to install requisite infrastructure for internet connectivity and facilitation of hybrid hearings at Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) in the national capital.
“The court would expect the Administrative Ministry to be mindful of and anticipate the needs of the Bar and the Tribunals in the years to come and install all requisite infrastructure for such needs, including for facilitation of hybrid hearing of cases, as has been directed by the Supreme Court in Sanket Kumar Agarwal (supra),” a division bench of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Sudhir Kumar said.
Case Title: Najmus Sehar vs M/s Bombay Marcantile Coop Bank & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 452
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the limitation period for reference of money dispute between the cooperative society and its defaulting member to arbitration, would be determined as per the provisions of Section 85(1)(a) of the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 (MSCS Act), and not as per the Limitation Act, 1963.
The bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Girish Kathpalia observed that Section 85(1)(a) of the MSCS Act clearly provides that in such disputes, the limitation period for referral to arbitration would be computed from the date on which the member dies or ceases to be a member of the society. Further, the same is notwithstanding anything contained in the Limitation Act.
Case Title: Shivalaya Construction Co. Pvt Ltd. v. National Insurance Company Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 453
The Delhi High Court has held that ordinarily the dispute under insurance policy claims would not be referred to arbitration when the reference is limited to quantum of compensation and the insurer disputes liability.
The bench of Justice Prateek Jalan distinguished between a situation wherein the insurer denied the entire liability and where the entire liability is not disputed but only claims under one of the heads is disputed as being outside the scope of reference.
Title: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 454
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation challenging Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India's notifications that permit exchange of Rs. 2000 currency notes without requirement of any identity proof.
It observed that the Government's decision to dispense with Rs.2000 banknotes is not a decision towards demonetisation and that the currency shall continue to remain a legal tender.
Case Title: Kishore Kumar v. State
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 455
Observing that the statement of the child victim is of sterling quality, the Delhi Court has dismissed the appeal filed against conviction for aggravated sexual assault and sexual harassment committed on a 7-year-old boy under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO).
Justice Jasmeet Singh said the child with his vocabulary and comprehension was able to describe the incident and had a clear picture in describable words.
"He at 7 years of age, is not expected nor is it possible for a child of his age to recapitulate the harrowing incidents with mathematical precision," said the court.
Delhi High Court Modifies Life Sentence To 20 Years Imprisonment In 2015 Rape And Murder Case
Case Title: Ram Tej v. State
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 456
The Delhi High Court has modified life sentence in a 2015 rape and murder case to rigorous imprisonment for a period of 20 years without remission, while considering the mitigating and extenuating circumstances.
The bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Poonam A. Bamba noted the mitigating circumstances in the case are that the age of the appellant is 38 years at the moment, he has undergone 8 years of imprisonment and that he has two minor children and a wife to look after and there is no other person in the family to look after them.
Title: DHANPATI @ DHANWANTI v. THE STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 457
Lawyers are an essential and powerful pillar of judicial adjudicatory process and their duty towards a client has to be respected by all, the Delhi High Court observed.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that one of the fundamental principles of legal representation is that advocates must not allow personal biases or prejudices to influence or interfere with their professional obligations to their clients which is to uphold the principles of fairness and justice.
Title: RENUKA v. University Grants Commission and Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 458
Observing that women cannot be forced to choose between their right to education and right to exercise reproductive autonomy, the Delhi High Court has granted relief to a female candidate seeking relaxation of her attendance for completing Master of Education (MEd) course after having been denied maternity leave.
“The Constitution envisaged an egalitarian society where citizens could exercise their rights, and the society as well as the State would allow the manifestation of their rights. A compromise was then not sought in the Constitutional scheme. The citizens could not be forced to choose between their right to education and their right to exercise reproductive autonomy,” Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said.
Case Title: M/s Mahesh Construction vs Municipal Corporation of Delhi & Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 459
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a clause in a contract that prohibits payment of interest on delayed payments, does not prohibit the arbitrator from granting interest under Section 31(7) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act). The bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri held that the said stipulation only puts a restriction on the contracting party to claim interest on delayed payments. Since interest is compensatory in nature, the arbitrator's powers are not curtailed by such narrow clauses in the contract.
Title: Manish Sisodia v. CBI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 460
The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the CBI case alleging corruption in implementation of excise policy for 2021-22.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order. The court had reserved the decision on May 11
"…the allegations are very serious in nature that excise policy was formed at the instance of the “South Group” with malafide intention to give undue advantage to them. Such an act points towards the misconduct of the applicant, who was admittedly a public servant and holding highest position," Justice Sharma said.
Title: XXX vs. GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 461
Terming it a case with an unusual prayer, the Delhi High Court has dismissed a woman's plea seeking directions for her husband and father-in-law to submit their DNA Samples before a DNA profiling agency in Rohini. The woman along with her two children had approached the court after the father-in-law allegedly "cast doubt" on their identity by claiming that "they are not Mehtas* but Aroras*".
Justice Prathiba M. Singh in the ruling said the prayers in the petition are extremely vague. However, the court added that DNA testing was being sought. "The settled legal position that DNA testing is to be ordered very sparingly and cannot be directed on the basis of allegations such as those that are made in this writ petition," the court said as it refused to grant the prayer.
Title: Daeyoung Jung v. Bar Council of India & Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 462
The Delhi High Court has quashed the Bar Council of India's decision refusing to consider a South Korean citizen as eligible for enrolment as an advocate with Bar Council of Delhi. The foreign national had moved to India with his parents at the age of 11 and lived here continuously till he graduated from NALSAR University in 2016.
“The writ petition is allowed. The impugned order dated 23.7.2020 is quashed. The Bar Council of India is directed to process the application of the petitioner forthwith in accordance with law,” Justice Yashwant Varma said.
Title: RESILIENT INNOVATIONS PVT. LTD. v. PHONEPE PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 463
The Delhi High Court has allowed the appeals filed by BharatPe from an order dismissing its petitions for cancellation of PhonePe's trademark.
A division bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Talwant Singh set aside the single judge's orders dated 11 November 2021.
Case Title: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education & Research vs Bodhisatva Charitable Trust & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 464
Granting interim relief to Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research — a subsidiary of US -based charitable organisation Mayo Clinic, the Delhi High Court has restrained Bodhisatva Charitable Trust from using the trademark “Mayo” or any mark or name deceptively similar to it.
The Indian NGO and its associates have been particularly restrained from using names like Mayo Institute Of Medical Sciences, Mayo Medical Centre, Mayo Medical Centre Private Limited, Mayo Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Mayo School Of Nursing, Mayo Pharmacy and Mayo Gastro-Liver Clinic.
Case Title: Vipin Mittal v. NIA
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 465
Observing that prima facie he was used as an intermediary without knowledge of the smuggled contraband, the Delhi High Court has granted bail to the proprietor of Shree Balaji Trading Company in a case where 102.136 and 0.648 kgs of heroin were intercepted in a truck carrying licorice roots (Mulethi) from Afghanistan at the Attari border in Punjab's Amritsar last year.
"On a prima facie assessment ... this Court is of the considered opinion that there were reasonable grounds to believe that the petitioner's guilt may not be proved and further there is no material on record to show that he was likely to commit any offence while on bail," said the court, adding the trial in the matter is likely to take some time, and it would not be prudent to keep the petitioner behind bars for an indefinite period, particularly considering his medical condition.
Case Title: Centre For Policy Research Versus Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 466
The Delhi High Court has stayed the reassessment proceedings against the Centre for Policy Research.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has observed that the entire survey report was not submitted to the petitioner; only the relied-upon portion of the survey report was provided to the petitioner.
The petitioner has assailed the notices dated March 28, 2023, and March 29, 2023, issued under Section 148A(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Case Title: Ideal Broadcasting India Pvt. Ltd Versus Union Of India
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 467
The Delhi High Court has held that taxpayers filing declarations under the Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme Rules, 2019 (SVLDR Scheme) cannot quantify the duty under indirect taxes.
The bench of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Dharmesh Sharma has observed that in terms of Section 121(r) of the Finance Act, 2019, the word "quantified" means a written communication of the amount of duty payable under indirect tax enactment and that a unilateral quantification by the petitioner does not render the assessee eligible to avail the benefit of the scheme since it was the prerogative of the Department to quantify the amount and not the assessee.
Case Title: Prem Kumar Chopra Versus ACIT
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 468
The Delhi High Court has quashed the reassessment notices on the grounds that the department has initiated reassessment by deviating from prior views without any cogent reasoning.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has observed that the reassessment notice and order suffered from two infirmities, namely that it was proceeded on a view inconsistent with the earlier order despite the facts and circumstances being similar, and the ACIT concerned did not support the subsequent divergent view with reasoning.
Case Title: Fayiz Nangaparambil Versus Union Of India
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 469
The Delhi High Court has held that the Show Cause Notice was short of the necessary requirements as it did not contain any specific allegation.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has observed that the show cause notice is required to set out the relevant material in order to enable the noticee to meaningfully respond to it.
Title: EMECHERE MADUABUCHKWU v. STATE NCT OF DELHI & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 470
The Delhi High Court has said that the trial courts cannot direct foreign nationals be sent to a detention centre while granting them bail in cases lodged against them here.
“In any event what must be clarified is that a Court or Magistrates or a Sessions Court cannot as part of enlarging foreign national on bail can also direct the said person to be sent to a detention centre. The Court is not competent to pass such a direction when granting bail as has been conclusively held in various decisions,” Justice Anish Dayal said.
Case Title: Sony Pictures Animation Inc. vs FLIXHD.CC/ & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 471
In an interim relief to Sony Pictures Animation Inc, the Delhi High Court has restrained several rogue websites from posting and streaming the upcoming film “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse” and “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse”.
"Defendants 1 to 101, as well as all others acting on their behalf, are restrained from posting, streaming, reproducing, distributing or making available to the public, on their websites, or through the internet, in any manner whatsoever, any cinematograph work/content/program in which the plaintiff has copyright, including the films “Spider-Man: Across The Spider- Verse” and “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse”," said the court.
Title: MAJ GEN. V.K. SINGH (RETD.) v. CBI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 472
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea moved by Major General (retired) V.K. Singh against the FIR registered by CBI alleging that he published some classified and secret information about Research and Analysis Wing in his book authored in 2007 after his retirement.
After retiring from service in 2002, Singh published the book titled 'India's External Intelligence- Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)' in June 2007. An FIR was then registered by CBI after which a complaint and police report were filed before the trial court in 2008. The case against Singh was initiated by a Deputy Secretary, Government of India, Cabinet Secretariat.
The complaint was filed against Singh and another individual under the Officials Secrets Act, 1923. The grievance of CBI was that the names of officer, location of various places and recommendations of the GOM etc. were disclosed in the book.
Title: CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGTATION v. KAPIL WADHAWAN & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 473
The Delhi High Court has said that the right to statutory bail of an accused cannot be defeated merely because police report has been filed by the investigating agency even when investigation in the case is incomplete.
“The police has a right to conduct further investigation. However, at the same time, the investigating agency under the garb of further investigation cannot be allowed to file the police report without completion of investigation, only to defeat the right of statutory bail. The basic concept is that to fulfil the provision of Section 167, the charge sheet has to be filed upon completion of investigation,” Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma observed.
Title: TARUN KUMAR & ANR. v. THE PRINCIPAL HAPPY HOURS SCHOOL & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 474
The Delhi High Court has said that schools in the national capital may not insist upon following the “neighbourhood criteria” strictly in cases of admission under EWS or DG category, observing that it may not be possible for the Directorate of Education to follow such a criteria while allotting seats.
“This Court notes that in the present social milieu, the demand for admission under the EWS/DG category is much higher as compared to the number of seats that are available for allotment under the EWS/DG category. Therefore, if seats in a particular school are available under the EWS/DG category, then the DOE is required to allot such schools to the applicants who have applied for admission under the said category,” Justice Mini Pushkarna said.
Title: MADHURI JAIN GROVER & ANR. v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 475
The Delhi High Court has refused to stay investigation in the FIR registered against former BharatPe Managing Director Ashneer Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain Grover for alleged misappropriation of funds and causing loss of about Rs. 80 crores to the fintech company.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani issued notice on the plea moved by Ashneer Grover and Madhuri Jain Grover seeking quashing of the FIR registered by Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing on the complaint by BharatPe, as well as their application seeking stay of the investigation.
Title: RR v. THE STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 476
The Delhi High Court on Thursday observed that it is neither appropriate nor feasible for courts to draw any conclusion or return any finding at the stage of bail of an accused as to whether a promise of marriage made to a prosecutrix was false or in bad faith.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani added that such a a finding or decision must await a “thorough assessment and evaluation of evidence” to be led by the parties at the trial.
“This is also not the stage when the court must, or even can, finally decide if the purported false promise of marriage was of immediate relevance, or bore a direct nexus, to the prosecutrix's decision to engage in the sexual act,” the court said.
Title: MS. BETTY RAME v. NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 477
The Delhi High Court has said that the standing orders on sampling of narcotics drugs issued by the Narcotics Control Bureau and Union Government must be respected by the probe agencies and that they cannot be rendered optional for complaince.
“Therefore, in this Court's view, the Standing Orders ought to be respected by the investigating agencies and non-compliance of those Standing Orders may naturally invoke a reasonable doubt relating to the process of sampling which is the most critical procedure to be carried out in order to ascertain the nature of the substance and its quantity. In fact, the Field Officers Handbook issued by the Narcotics Control Bureau for Drug Law Enforcement also reiterates these procedures prescribed under the Standing Orders,” Justice Anish Dayal said.
Case Title: Vikram Ruhal v. Delhi Police & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 478
Observing that merely naming in the FIR does not lead to an inference that the employer can keep in abeyance the employment of an applicant for an indefinite period, the Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police to appoint a candidate to the Sub Inspector post, whose employment was kept pending till the disposal of the FIR pending against him.
The court also noted that he was placed in Column No. 12 of the charge-sheet and the evidence did not establish his involvement in matrimonial offences,
“He should have been logically considered suitable for appointment. Merely being named in the FIR cannot be treated as an impediment for public appointment, unless the involvement is substantiated on investigation, specially in relation to matrimonial offences,” said the court.
Case Title: M/S Mcdonalds India Pvt. Ltd. Versus Additional Commissioner
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 479
The Delhi High Court has held that the show cause notice lacks reasons in detail for the denial of refund of Input Tax Credit (ITC) to Mcdonald's India.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan found that there was no basis for the Appellate Authority to have concluded that the petitioner acts as a mediator between joint ventures or franchisees and McDonald's USA. The Appellate Authority has not considered that the Master License Agreement (MLA), which entitles the petitioner to enter into sub-licenses with franchisees, is a separate agreement.
Title: INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA v. THE COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 480
The Delhi High Court has held that power of the Competition Commission of India is limited to regulating markets and does not extend to reviewing the decisions taken by statutory regulators in exercise of their statutory powers.
Emphasizing that the power does not extend to “addressing any grievance” regarding arbitrary action by any statutory authority, Justice Vibhu Bakhru said:
“The CCI has wide powers under the Competition Act but this Court is unable to accept that the said powers extend to reviewing all decisions made by statutory bodies or a foreign government, which are not relatable to a sovereign function of the Government. The scope of examination must be confined to only those areas of economic activities, which have a bearing on the market that engages entities involved in trade and commerce.”
Case Title: Kal Airways Pvt. Ltd vs M/s Spicejet Ltd. & Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 481
The Delhi High Court has directed SpiceJet to pay the entire arbitral award of Rs. 380 crore to the airline's former promotor, Kalanithi Maran, and his firm, Kal Airways Pvt. Ltd, in an execution petition filed by Maran seeking enforcement of a 2018 arbitral award passed in his favour.
The court has also directed the airline to file an Affidavit of its assets within the specified time frame.
Case Title: Tomorrow Sales Agency Private Limited vs SBS Holdings, Inc. and Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 482
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a third-party funder, i.e., a non-signatory to arbitration agreement, who is not a party to the arbitral proceedings or the award, cannot be held liable for the awarded amount merely because it has funded a party in arbitral proceedings.
The court dismissed the contention that third-party funders must be held liable for funding impecunious persons who are unsuccessful in pursuing their claims in the arbitral proceedings. It held that permitting enforcement of an arbitral award against a non-party which has not accepted any such risk, is neither desirable nor permissible.
Delhi High Court Grants Bail To Malvinder Mohan Singh In Religare Finvest Scam Case
Title: MALVINDER MOHAN SINGH v. STATE NCT OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 483
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Malvinder Mohan Singh, erstwhile promoter of Religare Enterprises Limited, in the alleged Religare Finvest scam case amounting to Rs.2397 crores.
Justice Amit Sharma said that no possible prejudice can be caused to prosecution's case before the trial Court if Singh is released on bail with necessary conditions, especially when other co-accused persons have been granted bail.
The Expression “Any” Member of Arbitral Tribunal Cannot Be Read As “All Members”: Delhi High Court
Case Title: Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited vs Union of India
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 484
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the expression “any member” contained in a clause that lays down a mandatory qualification to be appointed as arbitrator, cannot be read as “all members” of the Arbitral Tribunal. The court said that the phrase “any member” must be interpreted in the context in which it is used.
The bench of Justice Yashwant Varma was dealing with an Arbitration Clause that required that “any member” of the Arbitration Tribunal shall be a “Graduate Engineer with experience in handling public works engineering contracts” at a level “not lower than Chief Engineer (Joint Secretary level of Government of India)”. The said Clause provided that the same was “a mandatory qualification to be appointed as arbitrator”.
Title: SHAHNAZ KHATOON & ORS. v. GD GOENKA PUBLIC SCHOOL
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 485
The Delhi High Court has ruled that schools in the national capital cannot deny admissions to students under the Economically Weaker Section or Disadvantaged Group category once there is a valid allotment by the Directorate of Education.
Justice Mini Pushkarna said that the court cannot ignore the fact that disadvantaged groups of the society have to be given equal opportunities to come forward in life.
Title: AGFA NV & ANR. v. THE ASSISTANT CONTROLLER OF PATENTS AND DESIGNS & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 486
The Delhi High Court has observed that there is an imminent need to update the “Manual of Patent Office Practice and Procedure” so that the Examiners and Controllers can get better guidance on dealing with intricate matters related to complex inventions.
“As the number of Patent filings in India are rapidly increasing and there is an imminent need to update the Manual of Patent Office Practice and Procedure so that Examiners and Controllers can get better guidance on dealing intricate matters like objections of lack of clarity and succinctness. This would be particularly useful when dealing with complex patents involving Artificial Intelligence systems, machine learning functions, agro- chemicals, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing methods,” Justice Amit Bansal said.
Case Title: DAG PRIVATE LIMITED V. RAVI SHANKAR INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 487
The Delhi High Court has upheld an arbitral award wherein the arbitrator held that the 'Balance Rent' during the lock-in period is a genuine pre-estimate of loss which requires no further proof of loss.
The bench of Justice V. Kameshwar Rao held that when the contract provides for payment of entire balance rent for the lock-in period if the deed is terminated before the expiry of the lock-in period, it would be a genuine pre-estimate of the losses that the lessor would bear for the early termination of the contract/deed. It held that lock-in period acts an assurance for the lessee that his possession would not be disturbed and it also guarantees the lessor a certain sum of money for a definite period and any breach involves consequences for both the parties.
Title: SK v. Union of India & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 488
The Delhi High Court recently directed Indian Kanoon to mask the name of a 29-year-old man who was acquitted in a rape case in 2018
Justice Prathiba M Singh was hearing the plea moved by the man seeking masking of his name in the judgment acquitting him in the FIR filed under section 376 and 506 of Indian Penal Code, 1860. The trial court in July 2018 acquitted him of all charges.
Title: INDIAN TOURIST TRANSPORTERS ASSOCIATION (REGD.) v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 489
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to not insist on the requirement of fitment of speed governors in high-end vehicles to be used as taxis for the guests attending the G20 summit scheduled to be held in the national capital in August and September.
A division bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Saurabh Banerjee granted relief to Indian Tourist Transporters Association which is solely involved in providing surface transport facilities to the foreign or domestic tourists. The Association is recognized by the Union Ministry of Tourism.
Case Title: NHAI v. Suresh Chandra
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 490
The Delhi High Court has held that 'partial reduction in traffic' due to a remote event of flood is not a force majeure event.
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri held that force majeure event contemplates a complete blockade of the road due to the floods and not mere reduction of the traffic on a particular road.
The Court set aside an arbitration award passed against NHAI on the ground that the interpretation adopted by the Arbitral Tribunal was contrary to the intent of the parties, therefore, the award would be vulnerable to challenge for being contrary to contractual provisions and would fall within the scope of Section 34(2)(b)(ii) of the Act.
A Consent Foreign Award Is Enforceable Under The New York Convention: Delhi High Court
Case Title: NUOVOPIGNONE INTERNATIONAL SRL v. CARGO MOTORS PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 491
The Delhi High Court has held that a consent foreign award is enforceable under the New York Convention/Part II of the A&C Act, 1996.
Justice Yashwant Varma held rejected the argument that consent arbitration award do not fall within the rubric of New York Convention. The Court rejected the argument that an award to be recognized under the Convention must be one based on adjudication as arbitration presupposes adjudication by the tribunal and any award incorporating the settlement agreement entered into by the parties during the pendency of the proceedings would not amount to an award.
Case Title: Unique Décor (India) Pvt. Ltd. v. Synchronized Supply Systems Ltd.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 492
The Delhi High Court has held that if the parties have, by written communications, extended the period of agreement, the arbitration clause that was a part of the agreement continues to be operative.
The bench of Justices Vibhu Bakhru and Amit Mahajan has distinguished between the situations wherein an arbitration clause expires with the novation of the main agreement and when the arbitration clause continues to be operative when the original agreement is not superseded by any other agreement but extended by the parties through written communications.
Title: MINOR K THROUGH BROTHER D v. STATE & ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 493
The Delhi High Court has recently ordered shifting of a 14-year-old pregnant minor to a children's home for girls for safe delivery of the child after she and her guardian brother refused to agree to medical termination of her pregnancy.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani was hearing a plea moved by the minor through her 22-year-old brother seeking medical termination of her 28 weeks old pregnancy.
The minor got pregnant as a result of physical relations between her and the accused in the FIR registered under sections 366A and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
Liquor Policy: Delhi High Court Denies Interim Bail To Manish Sisodia In Money Laundering Case
Title: Manish Sisodia v. ED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 494
The Delhi High Court has denied interim bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case related to the implementation of previous liquor policy in national capital.
Sisodia had sought interim bail for a period of six weeks in view of the poor health condition of his wife.
The court observed that the allegations against Sisodia are extremely serious in nature and that it cannot forget the positions held by him.
Title: SANJAY JAIN (IN JC) v. ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 495
The Delhi High Court has observed that the power to grant bail on medical grounds under PMLA is discretionary in nature and must be exercised in a judicious manner after recording satisfaction that necessary circumstances exist warranting exercise of such a discretion.
“The liberty of a person who is accused or convicted of an offence can be curtailed according to procedure established by law. However, right to health is also recognized as an important facet of Article 21 of the Constitution. Merely because a person is an under trial or for that matter even a convict, lodged in jail, this facet of right to life cannot be curtailed. It remains an obligation of the state to provide adequate and effective medical treatment to every person lodged in jail, whether under trial or a convict,” Justice Vikas Mahajan observed.
Title: MARICO LIMITED v. DABUR INDIA LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 496
The Delhi High Court has recently restrained Indian multinational consumer goods company Dabur from circulating its WhatsApp advertisement on “Dabur Amla Hair Oil” featuring bollywood actor Deepika Padukone.
Justice Navin Chawla passed the order in a suit filed by Marico Limited alleging disparagement of the goodwill and reputation of its product “Nihar Natural Shanti Badam Amla Hair Oil” and registered “Nihar” trade marks.
Arbitration Clause In A Contract Perishes With Its Novation: Delhi High Court
Case Title: B.L. Kashyap and Sons Ltd v. MIST Avenue Pvt. Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 497
The Delhi High Court has held that an arbitration clause contained in an agreement would perish with its novation if the novated agreement does not contain any arbitration clause.
Justice Prateek Jalan held that the view taken by the arbitral tribunal regarding the non-arbitrability of the dispute due to the novation of the agreement that contained the arbitration clause is a plausible view based on the contractual interpretation of the terms of the agreement, therefore, does not call for any interference under Section 34 of the Act.
Case Title: GA vs TA & Anr
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 498
The Delhi High Court has referred the issue of whether a suit for possession or injunction filed by the in-laws against the daughter-in-law concerning the suit property of which they are the exclusive owners, is required to be exclusively tried by the Family Court established under the Family Courts Act, 1984, to a larger bench.
The single bench of Justice Navin Chawla made the larger bench reference while hearing a suit for Permanent Injunction filed by the plaintiff against her daughter-in-law, seeking to restrain the later from visiting or entering the suit property.
Title: SHRI PAN SINGH RAWAT v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 499
The Delhi High Court recently restrained the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from taking any coercive steps with respect to the notices issued to various pensioners by it for making recoveries of the differential amount on higher pension received by them from many years.
Justice Rekha Palli passed the interim order in the pleas moved by four pensioners who, after their superannuation from different organizations, were drawing higher pension beyond the ceiling limit based on the options sought by EPFO in 2018/19.
Case Title: Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corp. Ltd. v. M/s Goel & Goel, OMP(COMM) 299 of 2021
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 500
The Delhi High Court has held that IRCTC is a State under Article 12 of the Constitution of India and is bound by its affidavit before any court of law and it cannot file contrary affidavit before the arbitral tribunal to defeat a claim of the other party in arbitration.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna also held that an arbitration award cannot be challenged on the grounds of lack of evidence for award of damages when the parties agreed to not lead any evidence at all at the beginning of the arbitration.
Moreover, it reiterated that a plea of fact or law not taken before the tribunal cannot be permitted to be raised for the first time before the Court under Section 34 of the Act.
Case Title: Atishi Marlena v. Union of India & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 501
The Union Government informed the Delhi High Court that political clearance has been granted to Delhi's Education Minister Atishi Marlena for her official visit to the United Kingdom.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh disposed of Marlena's plea seeking direction on the Union of India to process all requisite clearances. She has been invited in her official capacity by Cambridge University to speak at a conference on “India at 100: Towards Becoming a Global Leader” to be held on June 15.
Case Title: Man Industries (India) Limited vs Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 502
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the plea that the Arbitrator is de jure ineligible to act as an Arbitrator is a plea of lack of jurisdiction. This plea can be allowed to be raised as an additional ground in a petition filed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act), by way of an amendment and even without the same, the court has held.
Justice Navin Chawla made the observation while allowing the amendment application seeking to add an additional ground to challenge the arbitral award, even though the said application was filed much beyond the limitation period prescribed in Section 34(3) of the A&C Act. In its amendment application, the petitioner sought to raise the additional ground that the Arbitrator was de jure ineligible to act as such in view of Section 12(5) of the A&C Act.
Title: AL TAWAF HAJJ AND UMRAH TRAVEL AND TOURISM v. UNION OF INDIA and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 503
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the Haj pilgrimage falls within the ambit of religious practice and is protected under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
“Haj Pilgrimage and the ceremonies involved therein fall within the ambit of a religious practice, which is protected by the Constitution of India. Religious freedoms are one of the most cherished rights guaranteed and enshrined under the Constitution in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the Modern Indian Republic. The religious freedom of the person is guaranteed by the Constitution of India under Article 25,” Justice Chandra Dhari Singh observed.
Title: SHARAFAT KHAN & ANOTHER v. NORTHERN RAILWAY & ANOTHER
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 504
The Delhi High Court has directed the Northern Railway and a contractor, who was engaged for construction work of a rainy well, to pay over Rs. 23 lakhs compensation to parents of a 12 years old boy who died after falling and drowning in the pit in 2013.
A division bench of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain directed that the compensation be paid along with simple interest @ 6% from date of filing of the petition which was moved by the parents in 2019, till realization of compensation within three months.
Case Title: Shivam Chaudhary & Ors. vs All India Council for Technical Education & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 505
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Lateral Entry Regulations, 2007 cannot be construed to be mandatory in nature to mean that all institutions must grant admission through lateral entry.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav made the observation in the judgment on a writ petition seeking a direction to Public Universities to provide admission through the lateral entry process to second year B.Tech. programme to diploma holders in engineering and technology, as per the 2007 Lateral Entry Regulations laid down by AICTE.
Delhi High Court Directs Dept. To Reconsider Travelport UK's Refund Adjustment
Case Title: Travelport International Operations Limited United Kingdom Versus Commissioner Of Income Tax International Taxation 3 N.Delhi & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 506
The Delhi High Court has directed the department to reconsider Travelport UK's refund adjustment on the basis of the contents of the writ petition.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has set aside the department's action in adjusting a sum of Rs. 6,27,20,736 under Section 245 of the Income Tax Act and remanded the matter to the concerned authority to decide afresh, within a period of four weeks.
Title: EUREKA FORBES LIMITED (FORMERLY FORBES ENVIRO SOLU v. FLIPKART INTERNET PRIVATE LIMITED AND ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 507
Grating relief to Eureka Forbes Limited, the Delhi High Court recently restrained several entities from selling counterfeit goods such as filters, spares and consumables bearing the trade marks “Aquaguard”, “Aquasfilter”, and “Active Copper Maxx” of Eureka Forbes Limited (EFL).
Justice Amit Bansal was of the opinion that a prima facie case has been made out on behalf of the EFL, and the balance of convenience is in their favour.
Justice Bansal further opined that irreparable harm would be caused not only to EFL, but also to the public at large if an ex-parte ad interim injunction is not granted in favour of EFL.
Title: PANKAJ BANSAL v. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT DELHI) & ANR. and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 508
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the discretion of an applicant to choose either High Court or trial court for moving anticipatory bail plea cannot be restricted by construing section 438 of CrPC narrowly.
Analyzing the provision, a vacation bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said that there is no bar on approaching the High Court directly for seeking anticipatory bail and that both the courts have concurrent jurisdiction to deal with such cases.
“It is discretionary for the Applicant either to approach the High Court or the Court of Session. There is no restraint cast upon the Applicant to approach this Court first. It is based upon the discretion of the Applicant which Court they want to approach since both the Court have concurrent jurisdiction and the same cannot be restricted by construing the provision of Section 438 of Cr.P.C. narrowly,” the court said.
Title: SADANAND AND ANR. v. CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 509
Observing that right to identity is an intrinsic part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, the Delhi High Court has said that it is permissible for an individual to change his or her surname to be not able to be identified with any particular caste “that may be a cause of prejudice” to such person. The change will not lead to advantage of any reservation or any other benefit that may be available to the adopted caste/surname, said the court.
“The Right to Identity is an intrinsic part of Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. There is no denying the fact that Right to Life includes within its ambit, the Right to Live with Dignity, which includes not to be tied down by any casteism that a person may face on account of the caste to which such person belongs. Thus, if a person wants to change his or her surname, so as not to be identified with any particular caste that may be a cause of prejudice to such person in any manner, the same is permissible,” Justice Mini Pushkarna held in a judgment passed on May 19.
Title: RS v. MB
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 510
The Delhi High Court has observed that a revisional court, while considering the grant of stay of the interim maintenance order passed under section 125 of CrPC, cannot put a general direction of depositing the entire maintenance amount by ignoring the facts of circumstances of the case.
“While exercising the revisional scrutiny of an interim maintenance order passed in proceedings under Section 125 CrPC, the revisional court for yet another reason cannot impose as a pre-condition to grant of stay on operation of the assailed interim maintenance order, such general rider of deposit of the entire amount of awarded maintenance ignoring the overall circumstances of the case,” a vacation bench of Justice Girish Kathpalia observed.
Title: MINOR VICTIM-V v. THE STATE & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 511
The Delhi High Court has permitted a 13-year-old minor rape victim to undergo medical termination of pregnancy with 24 to 26 weeks old foetus.
A vacation bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh also directed the Delhi State Legal Services Authority to look into the compensation to be paid to the minor.
On June 09, the court had directed the medical board, comprising of minimum two doctors at Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, to review the minor's case for medical termination of her pregnancy.
Perusing the medical report submitted by the board, Justice Singh ordered: “In view of the opinion of the medical board wherein it has been opined that the continuation of pregnancy in this case carries the higher risk to both the mother and the foetus, it is directed that the termination of pregnancy be effected as soon as possible by the doctors at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.”
Title: SAMEER MAHANDRU v. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 512
The Delhi High Court has granted interim bail for six weeks on medical grounds to businessman Sameer Mahendru in the money laundering case related to the implementation of previous liquor policy in national capital.
A vacation bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh, who had reserved the judgment on June 07, directed that Mahendru be released from jail forthwith and that he shall surrender before the concerned Trial Court on July 25 on the expiry of the interim bail.
Title: FIITJEE LIMITED v. ALLEN EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES PVT. LTD & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 513
The Delhi High Court has denied interim relief to coaching institute FIITJEE in its suit against Allen Career Institute alleging that the latter claimed credit for one of its student's result who successfully cleared the JEE (Mains) 2023 examination.
It was FIITJEE's case that the student, Malay Kedia, opted for its “Four Year Classroom Program for IIT-JEE (Advanced)-Weekend Contact Classes” and enrolled himself in one of its coaching centres in 2018. The suit stated that the student attended classes till September 2022 but stopped after October 07 last year.
Title: IBRAHIM PUTHANATHANI v. NIA
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 514
The Delhi High Court has extended the custody parole of Popular Front of India's National Coordinator Ibrahim Puthanathani, accused in a UAPA case registered by NIA, from four hours to six hours to enable him attend his elder daughter's wedding in Kerala.
The UAPA case was registered against PFI, its leaders and cadres. NIA's chargesheet against Puthanathani alleges that he was responsible for organizing and conducting arms training camps across various states on behalf of Popular Front of India.
A special NIA court on May 24 had granted custody parole to Puthanathani for four hours to visit Kerala for attending his daughter's wedding. He then moved the High Court challenging the trial court order with a prayer to grant him interim bail.
Title: Preeti Chandra v. ED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 515
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Preeti Chandra, the wife of Unitech promoter Sanjay Chandra, in a money laundering case probed by Enforcement Directorate.
However, at the request of ED, Justice Jasmeet Singh said that the order be not given effect to till Friday. As the court pronounced the order, ED Counsel Zoheb Hossain requested that the order may not be given effect to till June 16 as the agency has to challenge the same. The appeal will become infructuous, Hossain added.
Also Read: Woman Can't Be Classified Based On Their Education Or Occupation For Bail Under Proviso To Section 45(1) PMLA: Delhi High Court
Title: PROF DR SANJEEV BAGAI & ORS. v. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST) & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 516
The Delhi High Court has set aside the Delhi Government's Guidelines permitting regular pruning of branches of trees with girth upto 15.7 cm without prior permission of the Tree Officer.
“In view of the above, no pruning of trees will be permitted in Delhi except in accordance with the DPT Act. It will be open to the respondents to frame guidelines and/or rules as may be requisite,” Justice Najmi Waziri said in an order passed on May 29.
Delhi High Court Quashes SCN For Being Devoid Of Reasons, Restores GST Registration
Case Title: Rishiraj Aluminium Private Limited Versus Goods And Service Tax Officer
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 517
The Delhi High Court has quashed the show cause notice as it was devoid of reasons and restored the GST registration.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gadela observed that the show cause notice was deficient. It does not sufficiently disclose the reasons why the petitioner's GST registration was suspended or was proposed to be canceled. It is well settled that a show cause notice must clearly set out the reasons for proposing an adverse action in order for the noticee to respond to the same.
Case Title: Ohmi Industries Asia Private Limited Versus Assistant Commissioner
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 518
The Delhi High Court has held that Rule 89(4) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017 is inapplicable to cases of refund of integrated tax paid on zero-rated supply.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has noted that the opening sentence of Rule 89(4) makes it amply clear that it applies only in cases of zero-rated supply of goods or services without payment of tax under a bond or letter of undertaking.
In City Gasping For Breath, Felling Of Trees Should Be Last Resort: Delhi High Court
Title: ALL RESIDENTS WELFARE SOCIETY (ARWS). v. CAELUM ARPIT BRAND TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 519
Observing that felling of trees should be the last resort in national capital, the Delhi High Court has restrained the Delhi Development Authority and others from clearing of land and felling of trees on a plot located in Vasant Kunj.
“In a city gasping for breath, I am of the view that felling of trees should be the last resort. In case, any other alternative site is available, the same must be looked at,” said Justice Jasmeet Singh in the order.
Case Title: BADAM VERVA v. DELHI BUILDING AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WELFARE BOARD & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 520
The right of pension of construction workers cannot be deprived of merely due to hyper-technical issues or requirements such as production of original MR Slips or serial number of the notary records, the Delhi High Court has recently observed.
Noting that a large number of construction workers are either illiterate or even semi-illiterate and hail from rural background, Justice Prathiba M Singh added that their pension benefit application must be processed without any delay.
Case Title: MMTC Limited vs Aust Grain Exports Pty. Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 521
The Delhi High Court has reiterated that procedural irregularity cannot be a ground to set aside the Arbitral Award unless such irregularity goes to the root of the matter and shocks the conscience of the Court, thus making the Award illegal.
The bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh made the observation while dismissing a petition filed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act), challenging the majority Arbitral Award passed against the petitioner, MMTC Ltd.
Case Title: Sachin @ Joginder Singh v. State Govt Of NCT Of Delhi & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 522
Quashing an FIR related to an altercation, the Delhi High Court directed the accused to plant 10 trees each of indigenous variety in the vicinity of their residence, in consultation with the Investigating Officer.
Justice Jasmeet Singh asked the IO to get in touch with the concerned Horticulture Department of the MCD and indicate the area, where the trees are to be planted. "The trees need not be in one cluster but can be in parks, boundary walls etc, wherever the concerned department deems it fit and proper. The plantation process shall be carried out within 4 weeks," said the court.
The FIR was registered Sections 308, 452, 341, 506, 323 and 34 IPC, and has been quashed after the parties compromised the matter.
Case Title: Shah Alam v. NCT Delhi
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 523
Granting bail to an accused in a case of kidnapping for ransom after a custody of almost two years and nine months, the Delhi High Court said that at the stage of the trial, imprisonment cannot be prolonged only for the purpose of teaching the accused a lesson.
Justice Vikas Mahajan said it is trite that the seriousness of an offence is not the only criteria for denial of bail.
"A person who has not been convicted should only be kept in custody, if there is a possibility that he or she might abscond or tamper with evidence or threaten the witness. Merely because the offence is of a serious nature, cannot be the ground to curtail the personal liberty of an under trial for an indefinite period," said the court.
Case Title: MoolChand Kharaiti Ram Hospital & Ayurvedic Research institute v. Workers & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 524
Observing that an enterprise being run on commercial lines cannot escape liability under Payment of Bonus Act, the Delhi High Court recently upheld a single judge bench's decision of upholding Industrial Tribunal Award to pay bonus for the year 1997-98 to the workers of Moolchand Kharaiti Ram Hospital & Ayurvedic Research Institute.
“If an enterprise is being run on commercial lines involving generation of profit then it cannot escape liability under the Act by contending that it was not established for the purpose of profit,” said the division bench of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain.
Case Title: SPP Food Products Pvt Ltd vs India Overseas Co
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 525
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the process of the court cannot be utilized for the purpose of gathering information as to the whereabouts or other information in respect of the judgment debtor.
The court said it is the primary obligation of the decree holder itself to obtain such information from wherever it is possible.
The bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela made the observations while dismissing a petition challenging the order of the trial court that had rejected the application filed by decree holder, SPP Food Products Pvt Ltd, in the execution proceedings initiated against the judgment debtor, India Overseas Co.
Case Title: VODAFONE MAURITIUS LIMITED Versus ACIT
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 526
The Delhi High Court has directed the AO to provide information to Vodafone Mauritius to determine the validity of the Tax Residency Certificate (TRC).
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has observed that nothing in the form of information or material has been put to the petitioner, which would conclude that the TRC issued to the petitioner was not a viable document in law.
The petitioner has challenged the order and notice passed by the Assessing Officer without regard to the Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) issued in its favour.
Case Title: New India Assurance Co Ltd. v. Himanshu Sharma & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 527
The Delhi High Court has ordered for plantation of at least 10,000 trees in the national capital to utilise over Rs 80 lakhs that were deposited in the court as costs imposed on defaulting parties in different cases including contempt and writ petitions.
“These monies are to be utilized for larger public good. Plantation of trees is one such exercise which the court would consider because trees, for as long as they are alive, be it for decades or for centuries, would incessantly and silently provide multiple benefits to the city; provided however, that people and the land- owning agencies do not interfere in or hinder their growth,”said Justice Najmi Waziri.
Delhi High Court Rejects Bail Plea Of Teacher Accused Of Raping His Student
Case Title: Babu Lal Bhawariya v. State Of NCT Delhi
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 528
The Delhi High Court has rejected the bail plea of a teacher who was accused of repeatedly raping his minor student and threatening to make video-recording of it viral. The accused stands booked under section 376 of IPC and section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
“The court cannot also ignore the fact that since the petitioner and the prosecutrix were interacting as teacher and student, the alleged offence, if it comes to be proved during trial, takes an egregious and aggravated form, particularly in view of the specific statutory mandate under section 376(2)(f) of the IPC and section 5(f) of the POCSO Act,” Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said in the order.
Case Title: Darpan Kohli Versus Assistant Commissioner Of Income Tax
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 529
The Delhi High Court held that an assessment order cannot be directed against only one of the legal heirs of a deceased assessee.
The Bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has set aside an assessment order of Rs. 10 crores passed by the Income Tax Department, solely on the ground that it was passed against only one of the legal heirs of the deceased assessee and not against all legal heirs.
Title: State v. Jeevak Nagpal
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 530
The Delhi High Court on Monday commuted the death sentence awarded to a man for kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old minor boy in 2009.
A division bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Anish Dayal modified the sentence awarded to Jeevak Nagpal to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment without remission. Nagpal was awarded death penalty by the trial court in 2020. He was 21 at the time of the crime and 32 years old when he was convicted.
Title: SH.PRADEEP KUMAR v. STATE OF U.P and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 531
The Delhi High Court today upheld the conviction and 10 years of sentence awarded to five cops of the Uttar Pradesh Police over custodial torture resulting in death of a young 26-years-old man in 2006. They were convicted and sentenced in the year 2019.
A division bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Anish Dayal dismissed the appeals moved by the five police officials and upheld the trial court order convicting them for the offences punishable under sections 304 (causing death by negligence), 220 (commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 167 (public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury) and 34 (common intent) of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Title: MADHU BALA v. STATE
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 532
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to ensure that a sufficient number of short and long stay homes are available for mentally ill inmates who do not require regular hospitalization and have no homes to go back to live in a safe environment.
Observing that it is the bounden duty of the State to take care of the life of all its citizen, a division bench of Justice Mukta Gupta and Justice Poonam A. Bamba said:
“It is hoped and expected that in terms of the directions of this Court in Charanjit Singh (supra) the State will ensure sufficient number of Short Stay Homes and Long Stay Homes for people with mental illness who do not require regular hospitalization and who have no homes to go back to live in a safe, congenial and pleasant environment.”
Title: Siddharth Mishra & Ors. V. UPSC
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 533
The Delhi High Court has asked the Central Administrative Tribunal to decide expeditiously the plea seeking reduction in the cut off from 33% to 23% for qualifying Part II (CSAT) exam of 2023 Civil Services Examination conducted by UPSC last month.
A vacation bench of Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Manoj Jain refused the interim relief and disposed of a petition moved by a group of civil services aspirants against the Tribunal's refusal to grant any interim relief.
Case Title: Home Credit India B.V. Versus ACIT
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 534
The Delhi High Court has quashed the reassessment notice for non-application of mind by the department.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has directed the AO to recommence the proceeding if deemed necessary after gathering the relevant material that would show that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment by the petitioner.
Case Title: South Delhi Municipal Corporation Versus B N Magon
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 535
Holding that the "professional activity" of lawyers cannot be seen as "commercial activity", the Delhi High Court held that an advocate's office run from a residential building is not subject to property tax under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act as a "business building".
The division bench of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain noted that the Master Plan for Delhi(MPD), 2021 permits professional activity in residential buildings, subject to certain conditions. However, the said provision of MPD, does not empower the Corporation to levy tax for professional activity being carried out from residential buildings.
Delhi High Court Upholds Decision To Terminate Services Of National Judicial Academy's Professor
Title: DR. GEETA OBEROI v. NATIONAL JUDICIAL ACADEMY
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 536
The Delhi High Court has upheld the termination of Dr. Geeta Oberoi, a contractual professor of National Judicial Academy, Bhopal on the basis of a show cause notice issued to her in 2021 over allegations of “encouraging and harbouring” stray dogs inside the campus.
Justice Jasmeet Singh dismissed the plea of the professor, who was working in the Academy since 2014, challenging the show cause notice issued on February 01, 2021, by the Academy's Director as well as order of the Executive Committee passed on May 13 terminating her appointment.
Title: DR SOHAIL MALIK v. UNION OF INDIA & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 537
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the scope of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 or PoSH Act is not limited to cases where a woman employee is sexually harassed by another employee working in her own office or department but also extends to cases where the delinquent employee is employed elsewhere.
Analyzing the statute and its objectives, a vacation bench of Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Manoj Jain observed:
“Each and every one of these objectives is, conspicuously, “harasser-neutral”. In an era in which – one has to say it, as one sees it every day even in the Court – women are equalling, if not outnumbering, men in professional achievements, there can be no compromise on any of these objectives.”
Case Title: Harkirat Singh Sodhi v. Oram Foods Pvt Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 538
The Delhi High Court has held that 2019 Amendment to Section 29A of the A&C Act is procedural in nature and would apply to all arbitrations that were pending on the date of its coming into force. By way of the amendment, the time limit of 12 months for rendering an award was to be calculated from the date of the completion of proceedings and not from the date when the arbitrator entered reference as provided under the unamended Section.
The bench of Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani extended the time period for rendering an arbitration award after considering the peculiar facts of the cases including the death of two arbitrators, recusal by the third arbitrator and the delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Title: RAJNEESH BHASKAR GUPTA versus Reserve Bank of India & Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 539
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the Reserve Bank of India's decision to withdraw Rs 2,000 notes from circulation.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad rejected the plea moved by advocate Rajneesh Bhaskar Gupta. The court observed that the RBI was well within its power to issue the Notification in question which is only a part of the “currency management system.”
Title: Aswini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 540
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation seeking directions on the Delhi Police to ask the complainants if they are willing to undergo scientific tests like Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping during the investigation to prove the allegations.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad rejected the plea moved by advocate and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
Dismissing the plea, the bench said that it is well settled that courts do not interfere with the investigation as investigation is purely the domain of investigating agency.
Delhi High Court Denies Bail To Manish Sisodia In Money Laundering Case
Title: Manish Sisodia v. Enforcement Directorate
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 541
The Delhi High Court has denied bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case related to the implementation of previous liquor policy in national capital.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma also denied bail to co-accused persons Hyderabad businessman Abhishek Boinpally, AAP's communications incharge Vijay Nair and General Manager of Pernod Ricard India Benoy Babu.
Title: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY v. GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 542
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the high courts have the power to pass “pro-tem security deposit” order where an implementer fails to make payments to a Standard Essential Patent (SEP) holder and continues to derive benefit by using its technology.
A pro-tem order is where the court, as a temporary arrangement, directs an implementer to make payments as security to safeguard the interests of a Standard Essential Patent holder, till the dispute between the parties is finally decided.
Title: BUDHI SINGH v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 543
The Delhi High Court has ruled that where a convict's appeal against the conviction is pending before the Supreme Court, a direction to grant furlough under Delhi Prison Rules has to be necessarily taken from the Apex Court.
Rules 1199 and 1200 of the Delhi Prison Rules deal with the grant of parole and furlough to prisoners. Note 2 to Rule 1224 states that, "if an appeal of a convict is pending before the High Court or the period for filing an appeal before the High Court has not expired, furlough will not be granted and it would be open to the convict to seek appropriate directions from the Court."
Case Title: Viney Chaudhary v. Union Of India & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 544
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the decision to give higher priority to the wards of ex-servicemen than the wards of serving personnel under the Army quota of 5% for admission to various Colleges
According to the 2018 Union Government order, Priority VI is assigned to Wards of Ex-Servicemen and Priority VIII to Wards of Serving Personnel. Challenging the priority, the husband of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army argued that there is no intelligible differentia for placing the wards of serving personnel in a category below the wards of ex-servicemen.
Title: SUDHIR GUPTA v. DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY & ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 545
The Delhi High Court recently ordered that the football and hockey fields at the Siri Fort Sports Complex having natural grass be not destroyed or altered to artificial turf.
“Siri Fort Sports Complex (SFSC) lies in the heart of South Delhi and the adjoining greenery needs to be protected at all cost, as the entire area is a green lung for the city. A park or a green area in the midst of a thickly populated residential area or commercial area is of a far greater value than a forest removed kilometres away from a human habitation,” Justice Najmi Waziri said in a judgement passed on June 30.
Title: DR. PRAMOD BATRA v. MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 546
Observing that baseless targeting of doctors is bound to “seriously prejudice” public interest, the Delhi High Court has said that striking off name of such a doctor from the Indian Medical Register “partakes character of a civil death” in view of the individual's professional career.
“While it is true that a medical professional is expected to possess a certain minimum standard of competence, failing which he has no justification for dispensing medical treatment, and that conduct which fall short of even that minimum medical standard, or display callous negligence to the welfare of a patient, has to be dealt with severely, it is equally true that the scalpel cannot be wielded by a shaking hand. Baseless targeting of doctors, unmindful of the consequences, is bound, in the ultimate eventuate, to seriously prejudice public interest,” Justice C Hari Shankar added.
Title: Social Jurist, A Civil Rights Group v. Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 547
The Delhi High Court has rejected as not maintainable a public interest litigation seeking expeditious finalization of the Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015 which proposes to prohibit the screening procedure for admissions in nursery or pre-primary level in schools.
“In the considered opinion of this Court, even though the Bill has been passed by the House, it is always open to the Governor to agree or to send the Bill back to the House and this Court ought not to pass a writ of mandamus directing the Governor to act by passing a writ,” a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said.
Title: RAJINDER NISCHAL v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 548
Calling it a “publicity interest litigation”, the Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea challenging the method of empanelment of advocates to represent the Union Government.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad rejected the public interest litigation moved by Advocate Rajinder Nischal.
It was the lawyer's case that the size of the panel to represent the Government of India is not fixed and that the Union Government does not invite applications for appointment or renewal of the panel.
Title: EX CT/GD OM PARKASH v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 549
Observing that an officer of a force cannot be permitted to rebel the decisions of the competent authority, the Delhi High Court has upheld the dismissal of a former CRPF constable who was found a habitual offender for consuming liquor during duty hours and for misbehaving with a Sub-Inspector by directing a magazine-loaded carbine towards him in drunken state.
Observing that such an officer of the Force is expected to deal with it with patience and mind, a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said:
“By pleading that since petitioner‟s leave was rejected, under tension and depression, he consumed liquor; petitioner has admitted before this Court that he is unable to handle the strain or stress, which is least expected from an officer of the Force. It is not only the medical condition wherein petitioner is found heavily drunk, the situation worsened with petitioner‟s pointing loaded carbine to another officer of the Force, which is a blunder on his part. The misconduct committed by the petitioner leaves no scope for leniency towards him.”
Traffic Authorities Best Judges On Traffic Regulation; Courts Do Not Run Country: Delhi High Court
Title: MAMTA RANI v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 550
The Delhi High Court has observed that the traffic authorities are the best judges to decide on the issue of traffic regulation in the national capital and that it cannot, under the writ jurisdiction, sit over their decisions.
“The traffic authorities are the best judges to decide the issue of regulation of traffic in the city and this Court while exercising its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is not inclined to sit over as an Appellate Authority over the decisions taken by the traffic authorities for regulating the movement of traffic in the city,” a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said.
Case Title: SAP SE vs Swiss Auto Products and Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 551
The Delhi High Court has referred to the larger bench the issue of whether the rules dealing with procedural aspects, including those relating to the filing of evidence introduced by the Trademarks Rules, 2017, would apply retrospectively to proceedings initiated under the Trademarks Rules, 2002.
The bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula made the larger bench reference while dealing with the issue if the Registrar of Trademarks had rightly employed the 2002 Rules qua filing of evidence in the proceedings relating to the trademark application and opposition, while the Rules were in force.
Title: TV 18 BROADCAST LIMITED v. BENNETT, COLEMAN AND COMPANY LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 552
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday observed that prima facie, there is no likelihood of confusion between News 18's “Bhaiyaji Kahin” and Times Now Navbharat's “Bhaiya Ji Superhit” television shows.
Justice Amit Bansal dismissed the interim injunction application moved by TV 18 Broadcast Limited, which is part of the Network18 group, in its suit against Bennett Coleman and Company Limited alleging infringement of its trademark “Bhaiyaji Kahin” which is the name of its Hindi news show.
Title: ANTOSH v. STATE
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 553
Highlighting the importance of a fair trial, the Delhi High Court has observed that upholding the fundamental right of an accused to effective legal assistance cannot mean ineffective hearings or lack of opportunities to the prosecution.
“Prosecuting offenders to the full extent as law describes is a delicate task and cannot be performed without being awarded effective opportunity to prosecute and assist the Court to ensure smooth functioning of criminal justice system,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.
Case Title: NEETU SINGH v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 554
The Delhi High Court recently issued a slew of directions for implementing the project of uploading names and other details of proclaimed offenders and proclaimed persons on an online user-friendly portal.
Justice Talwant Singh, who retired last month, in the order dated May 25 directed the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to develop the necessary software and provide requisite infrastructure, web space and search facilities for the data, for implementing the project.
Case Title: Microsoft Corporation vs Zoai Founder
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 555
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the inclusion of the arbitrator's name in the “Hall of Fame” of a website created by him, based upon the fact that he had denied the maximum number of complaints under the “.IN Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy” (INDRP), gives rise to a justifiable apprehension as to his neutrality.
The court was dealing with a petition filed under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act), challenging the arbitral award passed by the Arbitrator under INDRP while adjudicating the claim for transfer of a disputed domain name.
Title: PEMBROKE AIRCRAFT LEASING 11 LIMITED Vs. DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION & ORS. And other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 556
The Delhi High Court has permitted various lessors to carry out inspection and interim maintenance tasks of their aircrafts, which are currently on lease with crisis-hit Go First airline, twice a month until final disposal of their pleas to de-register their planes from the airline.
In the judgment on the applications moved by the lessors seeking interim relief in their petitions, Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju said: “There can also be no denial of the fact that the Aircrafts of the Petitioners are extremely valuable and highly sophisticated equipment and require regular maintenance for their preservation.
Case Title- Sashi Kumar NagarJi & Ors. V. M/S Magnifico Minerals Pvt Ltd & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 557
Observing that the wanton arraignment of directors in the cheque dishonour cases, without reference to their role, amounts to an abuse of the salutary process of criminal law, the Delhi High Court has quashed the summoning orders against the directors of a company in a case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said it appears to have become common for complainants to arraign all and sundry directors of a company as accused in a criminal complaint in relation to dishonour of cheques, with the evident intention of pressurising and arm-twisting a company into paying-up a claimed debt.
Title: Chaalak Shakti & Ors. v. GNCTD & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 558
The Delhi High Court has upheld the validity of the Rules prescribing colour and description of uniform for drivers of auto rickshaws and taxis in the national capital, observing that there is no ambiguity in the same.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad upheld the validity of Rule 7 of the Delhi Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993, which prescribes that a auto rickshaw driver shall wear a khaki uniform with a name plate.
Establish Three Proposed Juvenile Justice Boards Within Two Years: High Court To Delhi Govt
Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 559
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to establish the three Juvenile Justice Boards proposed by it in the national capital within a period of two years.
Taking note of a recent status report filed by the city government in a suo moto case, a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad observed that Delhi is ready to lay foundation stone to set up an integrated complex for effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act comprising of various Juvenile Justice Institutions and statutory bodies for care and protection of children within a single premises.
Case Title: MOHD. AMAAN MALIK v. State of NCT Delhi
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 560
The Delhi High Court has said that a disturbing pattern is emerging where in certain instances, the accused marries the rape victim to evade criminal charges and promptly abandons her once the FIR is quashed or bail is secured.
"Shockingly, numerous cases have come to light where the accused deceitfully enters into a marriage under the guise of willingness, particularly when the victim becomes pregnant as a result of the assault and subsequent DNA testing confirms the accused as the biological father, and even after solemnization of marriage and subsequent immunity from criminal prosecution, the accused heartlessly deserts the victim within a few months," said the court.
Title: SHRI CHARANJEET SINGH & ANR. v. SHRI HARVINDER SINGH & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 561
It is anathema in this day and age to diminish the autonomous status of a woman by treating her “merely as an adjunct to her husband”, least of all in relation to what the law recognises to be her absolute property, the Delhi High Court observed on Thursday.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani allowed an application moved by a wife under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, seeking rejection of a plaint for a decree of permanent injunction to restrain her and her husband from creating any third-party rights in respect of a property situated in city's Rajouri Garden.
Case Title: Rakesh Agrawal vs National Highway Authority of India and Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 562
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) can enter into contracts for the purpose of collecting fee on behalf of the Central Government under Section 7 of the National Highways Act, 1956.
The court said that the contracts which have been entered into by NHAI for the purpose of performing its functions to collect fee on behalf of the Central Government, cannot be said to be violative of Rule 7 of the National Highways Fees (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
Case Title: M/s Wave Geo-Services Pvt Ltd vs M/s Devi Engineering and Construction Pvt Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 563
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the plea that the claimant's claim cannot stand in the absence of a third entity in the arbitral proceedings, is an aspect touching upon the maintainability of the claim(s) sought to be raised before the Arbitral Tribunal. The court said that the said plea can be urged before a duly constituted Arbitration Tribunal and the same cannot preclude the claimant from seeking or invoking Arbitration in terms of the arbitration agreement executed between the parties.
The bench of Justice Sachin Datta made the observation while hearing a petition filed under Section 11(2) and (6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act) seeking appointment of a Sole Arbitrator.
Title: KAMDHENU LTD v. THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 564
The Delhi High Court has held that when documentary evidence is sufficient for determining the well-known status of a trademark, the filing of evidence by way of affidavit is not mandatory.
Justice Prathiba M. Singh considered the question about the nature of the evidence, and the documents required to be filed by an applicant for determination as a well-known trademark under Section 11 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, read with Rule 124 of the Trade Mark Rules, 2017.
Civil Prisoners Eligible For Remission Under Delhi Prison Rules: Delhi High Court
Case Title: INOX AIR PRODUCTS PRIVATE LIMITED v. MR. ARUN RATHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 565
The Delhi High Court has observed that civil prisoners are eligible for grant of ordinary remission under the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018.
“…a plain reading of the aforesaid Rules would show that while providing eligibility for remission in Rule 1175, the expression used is “convicted prisoner”. The expression is inclusive and does not distinguish between a convicted “civil prisoner” and a “criminal prisoner”,” Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri observed.
Case Details: M/s Abhijeet Angul Sambhalpur Toll Road Limited v. NHAI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 566
The Delhi High Court has held that an order of the arbitral tribunal refusing to entertain additional counter-claims filed without making any application under Section 23 of the Act is not an 'interim award', therefore, it cannot be challenged under Section 34 of the Act.
The bench of Justices Najmi Waziri and Sudhir Kumar Jain held that order of the tribunal refusing to entertain additional counter-claims filed without requisite permission/authority of the tribunal is not an interim award as it neither conclusively settle any issue between the parties so to have the res judicate effect nor foreclose the right of the aggrieved party to refile the counter-claims by seeking “authority” or permission on an application under section 23 of the Act.
Title: AMBUJ HOTELS & REAL ESTATE PVT. LTD. v. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 567
The Delhi High Court has said that merely because sanction to prosecute a public servant under Prevention of Corruption Act is not granted, does not mean that the allegations of conspiracy or cheating by private accused persons under Indian Penal Code cannot stand trial.
“The matter of sanction qua public servant would have no effect upon allegations of conspiracy and alleged cheating by private accused and the only effect would be Section 120B IPC would now not be used to prosecute private individuals for the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Merely because the sanction is not granted does not mean the findings qua conspiracy/cheating cannot stand trial,” Justice Yogesh Khanna observed.
Case Title: PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX v. MSECF and Anr, W.P.(C) 13754 of 2019
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 568
The Delhi High Court has held that the provisions of MSMED Act, 2006 would not apply to a CA firm appointed as 'Special Auditor' under Section 142(2A) of the Income Tax Act (IT Act), 1961.
Justice Prathiba M. Singh held that MSMED Act no applicability in cases of CA firms appointed under Section 142(2A) of the IT Act for the purpose of carrying out special audit as there is no relationship of buyer and seller between the parties. Moreover, the assignment under Section 142(2A) is a statutory assignment and not a contractual relationship between the parties, therefore, despite their registration under the MSMED Act, a special audit firm cannot invoke the provisions of the Act against the IT department qua the amount payable for carrying out such audit.
Case Title: Uniseven Engineering and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd v. MSEF Council District (South) and Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 569
The Delhi High Court has held that the MSEF Council cannot entertain independent claims/reference filed at the instance of the buyer under the MSMED Act.
The bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh held that MSMED Act does not contemplate a scheme for the buyer approaching the facilitation council under Section 18 of the Act for recovering any monies from the seller. It is only the seller who can independently approach the facilitation council for adjudication upon its claims, but the buyer would have the right to make counter-claims, however, it cannot approach the facilitation council on its own.
Title: PEPSICO INDIA HOLDINGS PVT. LTD. v. KAVITHA KURUGANTI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 570
The Delhi High Court has upheld an order passed by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority revoking Pepsico India's registration with respect to a potato variety used for making Lay's chips.
Justice Navin Chawla dismissed the appeal moved by PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited challenging the Authority's order passed on December 03 last year on an application filed by Kavitha Kurungati, a farmers' rights activist.
Title: Ashow Swain v. Union of India & Ors
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 571
The Delhi High Court has set aside the order cancelling the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card of academic and writer Ashok Swain.
“Apart from repeating the Section (under which the OCI card was cancelled) as a mantra, no reason is mentioned ... as to why the registration of the petitioner as OCI holder has been revoked,” Justice Subramonium Prasad.
Case Title: Principal Commissioner Of Income Tax Vs Nestle India Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 572
The Delhi High Court observed that the subsidy received by Nestle India, the assessee as incentive to establish industrial unit is Capital receipt and cannot be adjusted against block of assets.
“Since the subsidy in this case was not intended as a payment to meet, directly or indirectly, a part of the cost of the assets, no adjustment could have been ordered, as was directed by CIT(A). The Tribunal, on this score, in our view, reached the correct conclusion” the division bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Girish Kathpalia observed.
Title: SIDDHARTH SAHIB SINGH v. APEX COUNCIL OF DDCA
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 573
While refusing to entertain his writ petition, the Delhi High Court has said the Secretary of Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) can approach the National Company Law Tribunal to challenge a notice issued by the cricket governing body's Apex Council for convening the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting to ratify the resolution appointing Justice (Retd.) M M Kumar as the Ombudsman cum Ethics Officer.
Justice Kumar is a former Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
Justice Subramonium Prasad disposed of the plea moved by DDCA's Secretary, Siddharth Sahib Singh, and granted him the liberty to approach NCLT for challenging the notice which was issued on June 10.
Title: NISAR AHMED v. AGYA PAL SINGH
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 574
A wife is neither an appendage nor an adjunct to her husband and her identity does not merge or get subsumed in her husband's identity, the Delhi High Court observed in a recent ruling, while directing a tenant to vacate a shop proposed to be used by daughters of a landlord, a Mutawalli of a Wakf-ul-aulad, for starting their business in the national capital.
Justice Najmi Waziri observed that a wife, in law, retains her individual entity, including the natural right to pursue her dreams, aspirations, desire and need to be financially independent or otherwise do some meaningful social work.
Case Title: Kamlesh Kumar v. UOI & Ors
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 575
The Delhi High Court has modified the Indo Tibetan Border Police's decision to invalidate a Head Constable out of the service due to Alcohol Dependence Syndrome and said his case be treated as 'compulsorily retired from service' so that he is entitled to pension, medical and other consequential benefits.
In 2016, the Head Constable was permanently incapacitated for any further service within the department on account of indulgence in drugs and drinks. He was diagnosed with 'Alcohol Dependence Syndrome'.
Delhi High Court Denies Bail To 'Conman' Sukesh Chandrasekhar's Wife Leena Paulose In Extortion Case
Title: LEENA PAULOSE v. STATE OF DELHI and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 576
The Delhi High Court has denied bail to Leena Paulose, the wife of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, in the Rs 200-crore extortion case.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma also rejected the bail pleas moved by co accused persons Kamlesh Kothari and B. Mohan Raj.
Paulose, who is presently in judicial custody, married Chandrashekhar in July 2014. She has been in jail since September 05, 2021.
Title: TATA SKY LIMITED v. LINKEDIN CORPORATION AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 577
The Delhi High Court has directed social media platform LinkedIn to provide details of its Grievance Officers and the relevant Rules applicable to persons creating user profiles as per its policy.
Justice Prathiba M Singh also directed Linkedin to place on record the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), if any, followed by its Grievance Officers whenever a complaint or grievance is received under Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Title: JAYSON INDUSTRIES AND ANR. v. CROWN CRAFT (INDIA) PVT. LTD
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 578
The Delhi High Court recently ruled that the Designs Act protects an idea which is to be applied to an article and not a mere “idea in vacuo” and that the test to decide if a shape or pattern applied to an article constitutes a design is ocular or visual.
Justice C Hari Shankar observed that an idea, which is not intended for “temporal manifestation”, by application of an industrial process cannot be protected under the Designs Act.
Title: KD v. VS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 579
The Delhi High Court has sentenced a business tycoon's son to three months in prison for failing to pay maintenance to a woman — who previously alleged that he performed a sham marriage ceremony with her, despite a judicial order recording his undertaking to pay the same.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna also imposed a fine of Rs. 2000 on the man and directed the SHO of Tilak Marg Police Station to issue warrants of arrest against him.
Delhi High Court Permanently Injuncts 'Satta Dream 11' In Trademark Infringement Suit By 'Dream 11'
Case Title: SPORTA TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD. AND ANR. v. UNFADING OPC PRIVATE LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 580
Ruling in favour of fantasy sports platform Dream 11, the Delhi High Court has granted permanent injunction against a website offering similar sports betting services under the mark “Satta Dream 11.”
Justice Prathiba M Singh observed that the domain name www.sattadream11.com is nothing but a “malafide attempt” to ride on the goodwill of Sporta Technologies' registered trademark Dream11.
Case Title: Margo Networks Pvt Ltd & Anr vs Railtel Corporation of India Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 581
The Delhi High Court has ruled that where a party is required to appoint an arbitrator from a panel made by the other contracting parties, it is mandatory for the panel to be sufficiently broad based, in conformity with the principle laid down by the top court in Voestalpine Schienen Gmbh vs. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, (2017) 4 SCC 665.
The bench of Justice Sachin Datta made the observation while dealing with a petition filed under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act), seeking constitution of an independent arbitral tribunal to adjudicate the dispute between the parties.
Delhi High Court Grants Bail To Tahir Hussain In Five Cases Related To North-Delhi Riots
Title: Tahir Hussain v. State and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 582
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain in five different cases registered against him in connection with 2020 North-East Delhi riots. However, Hussain will still remain in judicial custody in other FIRs registered against him, including the UAPA case alleging a larger conspiracy to commit the riots.
Justice Anish Dayal allowed the bail pleas which were moved by Hussain in FIRs 80/2020, 91/2020, 92/2020, 117/2020 and 120/2020 all registered at Dayalpur police station.
After perusing the FIRs in isolation, the court observed that Hussain's custody of 3 years as an undertrial has already overshot the maximum period of punishment prescribed in some of the offences.
Title: ABHIGYAN v. STATE (NCT OF DELHI) & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 583
The Delhi High Court has asked a Delhi University student and Delhi Unit President of CPI-ML's student wing All India Students' Association (AISA), to file a complaint before the Delhi Police in relation to his allegations of “illegal detention” before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the varsity.
A division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Gaurang Kanth was hearing a habeas corpus plea moved by Abhigyan who alleged that he was illegally detained by some police officials of Model Town police station in his friend's flat on June 30 for about five hours.
Title: KRISHNA KISHORE SINGH v. SARLA A SARAOGI & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 584
The Delhi High Court has refused to injunct further telecast of the movie “Nyay: The Justice” based on late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's life which was released on OTT platform Lapalap in June 2021.
Justice C Hari Shankar dismissed the application seeking interlocutory injunction moved by the late actor's father in his suit against the producers and director of the film. He alleged that the movie was made without taking the permission of legal representatives of Sushant Singh Rajput.
Title: GO AIRLINES INDIA LIMITED v. SMBC AVIATION CAPITAL LIMITED & ORS. and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 585
The Delhi High Court has permitted Go First to carry out maintenance of the aircrafts, currently on lease with the crisis-hit airline, subject to a monthly inspection by the lessors.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula was hearing an appeal moved by Go Airlines India Limited against a single judge order permitting the lessors to carry out inspection and interim maintenance tasks of their aircrafts, twice a month until final disposal of their pleas to de-register their planes from the airline.
The single judge has listed the matter for hearing on August 03.
Title: SUDEEP RAJ SAINI v. HIGH COURT OF DELHI & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 586
The Delhi High Court has set aside a notice declaring that the candidates appearing in the Delhi Higher Judicial Services Mains (Written) Examination, 2022 will be awarded additional marks in two papers i.e. Law-III and General Knowledge.
A division bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan directed the High Court administration to redraw the select list of candidates and take consequential steps.
The notice was published by the High Court administration on October 13 last year. While one additional mark was awarded to the candidates for Law-III paper, half mark was awarded for General Knowledge and Language paper.
Case Title: State v. Hari Lal & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 587
The Delhi High Court has dismissed an application seeking condonation of delay of about 28 years for filing an appeal against an acquittal order of 1995 in a case of anti-Sikh riots dating back to 1991.
The division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said that if the prosecution or the complainant were aggrieved by the judgment of acquittal, there was nothing which prevented them from filing the appeal.
Title: Himanshu Kumar v. UPSC & Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 588
The Delhi High Court has dismissed an application challenging Detailed Application Form (DAF) issued by Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) on July 10 inviting applications for Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh dismissed the application which was moved by various civil services aspirants in their plea challenging UPSC's decision to publish the answer key of prelims examination only after declaration of the final result.
Case Title: DELHI HIGH COURT BAR ASSOCIATION THROUGH ITS SECRETARY v. S. GURUMURTHY
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 589
The Delhi High Court has discharged editor of Tamil political weekly “Thuglak” and RSS Ideologue S Gurumurthy in a criminal contempt case filed against him for his tweet against Justice S Muralidhar in 2018, after accepting his apology and “expression of deep remorse”.
“We accept Mr. S Gurumurthy's apology and expression of deep remorse for the subject incident and consider it appropriate to discharge the show cause issued to him in the present contempt petition. He accordingly stands discharged,” a division bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul said.
The court was hearing a criminal contempt petition filed by Delhi High Court Bar Association against S Gurumurthy in 2018.
Case Title: Himalaya Wellness Company & Ors vs Wipro Enterprises Private Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 590
The Delhi High Court has restrained Wipro Enterprises from using the mark 'EVECARE' in relation to its intimate hygiene wash for women or any other product, in a trade mark infringement and passing off suit filed by Himalaya Wellness Company.
Justice Amit Bansal passed the interim order after noting that Himalaya has been selling its uterine tonic under the mark 'EVECARE' since 1998, whereas the product of Wipro was launched only around August, 2021.
Case Title: Rajeev Khatri Versus Commissioner Of Customs (Export)
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 591
The Delhi High Court has quashed the penalty against customs brokers on the grounds that knowledge is a necessary element for committing abetment.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has observed that knowledge of a wrongful act of omission or commission, which rendered the goods liable for confiscation under Section 111 of the Customs Act, is a necessary element for the offence of abetting the act.
Patents Act Must Prevail Over Competition Act In Exercise Of Rights By Patentee: Delhi High Court
Title: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL) v. COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA & ANR. and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 592
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the Patents Act, 1970 must prevail over the Competition Act, 2002 on the issue of exercise of rights by a patentee.
“Therefore, when asessed, by the maxim generalia specialibus non derogant or by the maxim lex posterior derogat priori, the Patents Act must prevail over the Competition Act on the issue of exercise of rights by a patentee under the Patents Act,” a division bench of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Vikas Mahajan observed.
Title: SUSHIL KUMAR v. THE STATE GNCTD THROUGH SHO & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 593
The Delhi High Court has observed that the right of an accused to cross examine a witness is at a “higher pedestal” under the POCSO Act in view of the serious nature of offences and harsh punishment prescribed under the statute.
While granting an accused the opportunity to cross examine a prosecution witness in a POCSO case, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed:
“The offences are of a very serious in nature and considering the fact that the offences under POCSO Act prescribe very harsh punishment, it would not be out of place to hold that the right to cross examine would be all the more at a higher pedestal.”
Publicize SOP On Transportation Of Mortal Remains Of Indians Who Die Abroad: Delhi High Court To MEA
Title: CHELAKARA RAMASWAMY v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 594
The Delhi High Court has directed the Union Ministry of External Affairs to publicize the standard operating procedure (SOP) and guidelines on transportation of mortal remains of Indian tourists or workers who die abroad.
A division bench of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Vikas Mahajan directed the MEA to “prominently post and make accessible” the SOP and guidelines on its website within one week.
Case Title: CAPT. AMIT KUMAR YADAV v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 595
The Delhi High Court has observed that there are sufficient precautionary measures in the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) to safeguard the crew members of aircrafts against “unfortunate false positive results” in breath analyzer tests.
Justice Gaurang Kanth added that the Requirements only imposes duty upon the airlines to conduct pre-flight breath analyzer tests and does not put any obligation upon such an airline to conduct blood and urine tests in case of positive results.
Case Details: Anay Kumar Gupta v. Jagmeet Singh Bhatia
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 596
The Delhi High Court has held the Court exercising power under Section 29A of the A&C Act, which provides for extension of time to conclude arbitral proceedings, is only concerned with the issue as to whether the arbitrator has acted with expedition in the matter and would not consider any issue regarding the conduct of the arbitration or the fees of the arbitral tribunal as they are not relevant for the purpose of the said Section.
Case Title: The Commissioner Of Income Tax Versus Springer Nature Customer Services Centre GMBH
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 597
The Delhi High Court has held that the subscription amount received from subscribers of e-journals cannot be treated as royalty.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has observed that the subscription amount cannot be treated as royalty, having regard to the fact that there is nothing on record to suggest that the respondent or assessee has granted the right in respect of copyright to the concerned subscribers of the e-journals. All that the respondent or assessee did was sell the copyrighted publication to the concerned entities without conferring any copyright in the said material.
Case Details: GLS FOILS PRODUCTS PVT. LTD V. FWS TURNIT LOGISTIC PARK LLP
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 598
The Delhi High Court has held that the Court under Section 37 of the A&C Act should not interfere with a reasoned order of the tribunal granting interim relief based on thorough examination of the matter.
Maintenance Case: Delhi High Court Sets Aside Arrest Warrant Against Man With Bipolar Disorder
Case Title: X v. Y
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 599
Ruling that the provision under Section 105 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 is mandatory in nature, the Delhi High Court has set aside an arrest warrant against a man, who said he is suffering from Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression.
The warrant had been issued by the court below in an execution petition filed by the man's wife in relation to an order directing him to pay a maintenance of over Rs.1 lakh per month to her and their minor daughter under Domestic Violence Act.
Title: RUPINDERJIT KAUR v. THE MANAGER, DHANPATMAL VIRMANI SR. SEC. SCHOOL AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 600
The Delhi High Court has observed that a merit list cannot stay alive for an indefinite period for enforcement and that it does not confer any right of appointment upon the selected candidates.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh made the observation while dismissing a plea moved by a candidate who was aggrieved of her non-selection and non-confirmation to the post of Trained Graduate Teacher, Maths at Dhanpatmal Virmani Senior Secondary School.
Case Title: IDFC First Bank Limited v. Hitachi MGRM Net Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 601
The Delhi High Court has held that a writ petition against an order of arbitral tribunal rejecting an application under Section 16 of A&C Act is maintainable only in exceptional cases.
Justice Prathiba M. Singh held in view of the Supreme Court judgment in Vidya Drolia, the disputes falling under RDB Act, 1993 would be non-arbitrable as the DRT would have the exclusive jurisdiction to decide these matters, however, the Court would not interfere with the arbitral proceedings unless it is ex-facie clear that the dispute falls under the RBD Act.
Title: PERNOD RICARD INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 602
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea moved by French company Pernod Ricard against the Delhi Department of Excise's rejection of its application for L-1 license to sell liquor in the national capital.
Justice Prathiba M Singh rejected the plea due to non-maintainability and said that Pernod Ricard must approach the Appellate Authority under the Excise Act, 2009 to challenge the order passed by the Delhi Government's excise department on April 13.
Pernod Ricard's application for liquor license was rejected on the ground that various documents were received from CBI and ED alleging its participation in the alleged liquor policy scam, involving Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and various others.
Title: MANUDEV DAHIYA v. UNION OF INDIA THROUGH DG ITBP
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 603
Deprecating the conduct of a Commandant posted in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police for acting with “extreme bias and vindictiveness” towards an Assistant Commandant, the Delhi High Court has said that it will not hesitate to take action against any erring superior officer it such orders are challenged.
Circulating a copy of the judgment to the Director General of Police in all the CAPFs for information and advice, a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said:
“Before concluding, we hereby advise all the concerned that while taking action against any subordinate officer/personnel, it has to be borne in mind that no one is above law and if such orders are challenged before the Court, the Court certainly will not hesitate to take action against the erring officer.”
Case Title: NHAI v. IRB Pathankot Amritsar Toll Road Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 604
The Delhi High Court has held that mere recommendation by Independent Engineer (IE) for Extension of Time (EOT) to the contractor does not necessarily mean the NHAI was responsible for the delays in the completion of the project work.
The division bench of Justices Vibhu Bakhru and Amit Mahajan held that when the agreement between the parties provides for compensation and extension of concession period in favour of the contractor only in the eventuality of a material breach by NHAI, the arbitrator cannot award damages or grant extension of concession period, without first determining the issue of breach of material breach of the agreement by NHAI, simply for the reason that the IE has recommended EoT in favour of the Contractor.
Date: Sterlite Power Transmission Limited v. EPC Solutions LLP
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 605
The Delhi High Court has Court held that the relevant date under the MSMED Act is the date of agreement and additionally the date on which the goods and services were supplied, therefore, a 'medium' enterprise can maintain a claim before MSEFC if it was a either a micro or a small enterprise at the relevant time.
Justice Prathiba M. Singh held that any subsequent upgradation of enterprise from 'micro or small' to 'medium' would not be a bar to the maintenance of its claim before the MSEFC, if it fulfilled the criteria at the relevant time.
Mere Pendency Of An Appeal Would Not Detract From The Excise Duty Refund Demand: Delhi High Court
Case Title: M/S Goldy Engineering Works Versus Commissioner Of Central Excise
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 606
The Delhi High Court has held that the mere pendency of an appeal or an order of stay that may operate would not detract from the obligation of any person claiming a refund to make an application within the period prescribed and computed with reference to the "relevant date".
"We do so observe in light of the indubitable principle that an order of stay that may operate in an appeal does not efface the demand or the obligation of refund that may have sprung into existence. It merely places the enforcement of the order appealed against in abeyance. The order of stay would, in any case, be deemed to have never existed once the appeal comes to be dismissed," the bench of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Dharmesh Sharma said.
Title: RXPRISM HEALTH SYSTEMS PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. v. CANVA PTY LTD & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 607
The Delhi High Court has restrained Canva, an Australian multi-national graphic design platform, from making available its “Present and Record” feature in India in a patent infringement suit filed by RxPrism Health Systems Private Limited.
Justice Prathiba M Singh also directed Canva to deposit Rs. 50 lakhs with the Registrar General as a security for RxPrism's claims for past use of the infringing feature in India. This was done considering revenue and sales figures of the users who used the feature in the country at least once till June 30, 2022.
Title: Shrikant Prasad v. Union of India & Ors
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 608
The Delhi High Court refused to entertain a public interest litigation challenging the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 promulgated by the Union Government on May 19.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula permitted Advocate Shrikant Prasad to withdraw the plea after noting that challenge to ordinance's constitutional validity is already pending before the Supreme Court.
Case Title: CHAPTER 4 CORP vs DHANPREET SINGH TRADING AS M/S PUNJABI ADDA
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 609
The Delhi High Court has declared the 'Supreme' red-box logo as a 'well-known' mark in respect of apparel and clothing, under Section 2(zg) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
Justice Prathiba M. Singh made the declaration in a suit for permanent injunction filed by Charter 4 Corp, seeking protection of its red-box device mark 'SUPREME'.
The court remarked that the red-box device mark 'SUPREME' has acquired a secondary meaning keeping in mind the extent of its usage and therefore, it deserves to be protected.
Case Title: Suman Chadha v. SFIO
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 610
Observing that severity of allegations cannot be a justification for pre-trial incarceration, the Delhi High Court has granted bail to a Director of M/s Parul Polymers Pvt Ltd. in a case under Section 447 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said, “Needless to add, that nothing in this judgment should be taken to detract from the position that economic offences are serious in nature, and the allegations against the petitioner and other co-accused, if proved at the trial, must be met with requisite punishment. However, that punishment must follow conviction, and the severity of the allegations by themselves cannot be justification for pre-trial incarceration.”
Title: NARESH SHARMA v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 611
The Delhi High Court has said that the Bar Council of India must frame guidelines for establishing an “ethical code” for “self represented litigants” to save precious judicial time and minimize frivolous litigations.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma added that the ethical grounding will play a crucial role in minimising the flow of frivolous litigation and will reduce the burden of courts.
“This embargo of absence of ethical conduct needs to be addressed by the Bar Council of India, and some guidelines for establishment of ethical code for self-represented litigants need to be framed. This ethical grounding will play a crucial role in minimising the flow of frivolous litigation, and thus reduce the burden of Courts,” the court said.
Title: RAJIV BOOLCHAND JAIN v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 612
The Delhi High Court has said that the Union Government must continue its efforts and remain steadfast in its endeavour to combat substance abuse, "as the it requires sustained attention and a multifaceted approach."
"By doing so, the Government can contribute to the overall betterment of society and protect public health," said a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula.
Title: NISHANT SINGHAL v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 613
The Delhi High Court has observed that an application for renewal of passport of an individual cannot be denied only on the basis of an apprehension that the earlier passports would have been misused.
“Denial of passport has the effect of seriously impeding the rights of a citizen. The application for passport can be denied only on valid grounds,” Justice Subramonium Prasad said.
Delhi High Court Excludes Comparable On Grounds Of Functional Dissimilarity & Amalgamation
Case Title: The Commissioner Of Income Tax -4 Versus GE India Business Services Pvt. Ltd.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 614
The Delhi High Court has held that the Software Development Services offered by TCS International could not be used as a comparable since the assessee was in the business of Indian Information technology-enabled services (ITES) or business process outsourcing (BPO).
The division bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju has observed that TCS International is in the business of rendering software development services, which, inter alia, include maintenance and updation of software, as per the requirements of the users. In comparison, the respondent/assessee was providing non-development software services, which involved the purchase of software for provisioning services.
Title: ALOK KUMAR v. HARSH MANDER & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 615
The Delhi High Court has set aside a trial court order directing Delhi Police to register an FIR against Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Alok Kumar, on a complaint filed by activist Harsh Mander, for allegedly giving a hate speech during a VHP rally in 2019.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that Mander had not leveled any allegation against Kumar in the complaint which he had lodged with the police.
“The single line averred by respondent no. 1 (Mander) against the petitioner (Kumar) in his complaint filed before the magistrate on the face of it does not constitute any offence, or make out any case against the petitioner,” the court said.
Title: MAJOR GENERAL M.S. AHLUWALIA v. M/S TEHELKA.COM & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 616
The Delhi High Court directed news magazine Tehelka, its former editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal and two reporters to pay Rs. 2 crores damages to Major General MS Ahluwalia in a defamation suit filed by the latter in 2002.
A story was carried by Tehelka in March 2001 depicting Ahluwalia as an alleged corrupt middleman in the defence deals relating to import of new defence equipments.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed that Ahluwalia's reputation had suffered as he not only faced lowering of estimation in the eyes of public but his character also got maligned with serious allegations of corruption, which no subsequent refutation can redress or heal.
Title: SUJEET AND ANR v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 617
The Delhi High Court has dismissed the plea moved by wrestlers Antim Panghal and Sujeet Kalkal against the exemption granted to Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia for Asian Games trials.
Justice Subramonium Prasad said that the unanimous decision taken by the ad-hoc Committee to grant exemption to Punia and Phogat and to not expose them to injuries during the trials cannot be said to be arbitrary or perverse.
Case Title: National Highways Authority of India vs GVK Jaipur Expressway Private Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 618
The Delhi High Court has ruled that non-consideration of a clause of the Agreement executed between the parties, cannot be said to be an error made by the arbitral tribunal which is opposed to the fundamental policy of Indian law. The court added that the same also cannot render the arbitral award patently illegal if the view of the Arbitrator is a plausible one.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad was dealing with an arbitral award which was challenged on the ground that the Arbitrator had ignored the relevant clause of the Concession Agreement while passing the award.
Title: ICICI BANK LIMITED v. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 619
The Delhi High Court has observed that the proceedings under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 will remain unaffected by the orders passed under SEBI Act, 1992.
“….an interpretation of Section 35 and Section 37 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002 would reveal that the proceedings under the SARFAESI Act, 2002 are to be treated as a carve out to, and remain unaffected by, the orders passed under the SEBI Act, 1992,” Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed.
Title: PAYPAL PAYMENTS PRIVATE LIMITED v. FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT INDIA & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 620
The Delhi High Court has held that payment platform PayPal is liable to be viewed as a “payment system operator” and consequently obliged to comply with reporting entity obligations as placed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Justice Yashwant Varma made the observation while quashing the monetary penalty imposed by Financial Intelligence Unit India on PayPal in December 2020 for having failed to comply with the reporting obligations as placed under the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules 2005.
The FIUI had held PayPal to be a reporting entity under the PMLA. However, it was the case of the payment platform that it was not a "payment system operator” as defined under PMLA and that it would be erroneous for FIUI to hold it to be a reporting entity.
Case Title: Ambience Developers and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd vs Zesty Foods
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 621
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a review of the court's order allowing the petition under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A&C Act), cannot be sought on the basis of the subsequent decision of the Supreme Court in N.N. Global Mercantile (P) Ltd. vs Indo Unique Flame Ltd., 2023 SCC OnLine SC 495.
The respondent, Zesty Foods, sough a review of the High Court's order dated 20.03.2023 where it had appointed a Sole Arbitrator, on the ground that the agreement executed between the parties containing the arbitration clause was not duly/sufficiently stamped. It thus sought a review on the basis of the subsequent decision of the Apex Court in N.N. Global Mercantile (2023).
Title: SAMEER MAHANDRU v. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 622
The Delhi High Court has extended by six weeks the interim bail granted to businessman Sameer Mahendru on medical grounds in the money laundering case related to the implementation of previous liquor policy in national capital.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma extended the relief till September 04, subject to the terms and conditions of an earlier order passed by a vacation bench on June 12 granting six weeks of interim bail to Mahendru.
Case Title: COTY GERMANY GMBH vs XERYUS RETAIL PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 623
The Delhi High Court has permanently restrained two websites from selling perfume 'testers' bearing the trade name Calvin Klein or cK and imposed a cost of Rs 1,00,000 on them to be paid to Coty Germany, which has global authorised licensees of Calvin Klein perfumes.
Justice C. Hari Shankar passed the ex parte order in a suit for infringement and passing off filed by Coty Germany against Xeryus Retail Private Limited, that owns the web entity namely www.perfumery.co.in, and website www.unboxed.in.
Title: DELHI WAQF BOARD v. UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 624
The Delhi High Court has directed the Railways administration to not take any action pursuant to its notices affixed on two mosques in the national capital for removal of “unauthorized structures and encroachment” allegedly built on the railway land.
Justice Prateek Jalan directed the Union Government to take necessary instructions in the plea moved by Delhi Waqf Board challenging the two notices pasted on walls of Masjid Takia Babbar Shah and Bengali Market Mosque situated near Railway Bridge and Babar Road railway line respectively.
Arbitrator Can't Decide Claims On Mathematical Derivations In Absence Of Evidence : Delhi High Court
Case Details: Satluj Vidyut Nigam Ltd v. Iaiprakash Hyundai Consrotium
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 625
The Delhi High Court has held that an arbitrator cannot decide the claims of a party based on mathematical calculation/derivations without any actual evidence supporting such claims by showing the actual amount incurred by the party claiming damages before the tribunal.
Justice Sachin Datta held that an arbitral award when it involves financial claims relying on novel mathematical derivations, lacking a solid basis in the pleadings and/or without substantial supporting evidence, can result in significant prejudice to the opposing party. Accordingly, the Court set aside the award as based on no-evidence at all.
Title: FSMA INDIA CHARITABLE TRUST v. UNION OF INDIA AND ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 626
The Delhi High Court has directed the National Rare Diseases Committee, constituted by it, to hold deliberations with companies manufacturing and marketing medicines for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic rare disease, to explore the possibility of procuring the medicines at a reasonable price.
Justice Prathiba M Singh asked the Committee to look into a note submitted by Senior Advocate Anand Grover, who is representing a public charitable trust Cure SMA India, setting out the pricing of medicines for the genetic disease in India and other countries.
Title: ST STEPHENS COLLEGE v. UNIVERSITY OF DELHI AND ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 627
The Delhi High Court has permitted St. Stephen's College to adopt 85% weightage for CUET score and 15% for the interview for admission of Christian minority candidates to undergraduate programmes.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad added that the varsity will adopt the marks secured in CUET alone as the sole eligibility criteria for admissions of non-minority candidates.
Title: SECRETARY, FOOD AND BEVERAGE FOUNDATION SOCIETY REGD. v. DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION, GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 628
The Delhi High Court has said that the persons indulging in supply of rotten chana in mid day meals given in government-aided schools cannot be permitted to continue to supply food items under the PM-POSHAN scheme.
Justice Subramonium Prasad observed that such incidents bring “bad name” to a noble cause that has been initiated by the Union Government which is to encourage children to attend schools.
Title: KUSH KALRA v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 629
The Delhi High Court has directed the Union Government to ensure “highest standards” of safety and security at all railway stations across the country after conducting a periodic audit of the situation.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Saurabh Banerjee disposed of a public interest litigation moved by one Kush Kalra raising concerns in respect of safety measures at the railway stations in the country.
Title: NJ v. AJ
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 630
The Delhi High Court has observed that the act of an estranged wife taking recourse to law by initiating legal action and filing petitions will not amount to cruelty qua the husband.
“Merely because appellant (estranged wife) had taken recourse to law by initiating legal action before a court of law, it would not amount to cruelty. Taking recourse to law, cannot be, by any stretch of imagination, labeled as an instance of cruelty,” a division bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Manoj Jain said.
Case Title: Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan & Anr. versus Vijay Rajpal & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 631
Emphasizing on the importance of instilling efficiency and accountability in the administrative functioning of institutions like the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), the Delhi High Court has said that educational institutions should have robust systems for the preservation of records.
Stressing on the need for better record-keeping, the court directed the KVS to adopt better practices such as digitization to ensure proper preservation of records.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula passed the order while setting aside a cost of Rs 2 Lakh imposed on KVS by a Single Judge for negligence in preservation and non-production of the Annual Confidential Report (ARC) of a teacher who was discharged from his services in a Kendriya Vidyalaya.
Title: SHAHEEN MALIK v. STATE OF GNCTD THROUGH PRINCIPAL SECRETARY & ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 632
While refusing to put a complete ban on the sale of acid in the national capital, the Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to ensure proper implementation of existing laws and take swift action against those using it unlawfully. The court said a complete ban may inadvertently affect businesses and individuals who require it for lawful purposes
Acknowledging the threat posed by uncontrolled acid sales and the need for stringent measures to prevent acid attacks, a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula said:
“Therefore, on the basis of material before us, we are of the opinion that an outright ban on the sale of acid may not be the most appropriate approach. Instead, we propose that the State must focus on stringent implementation of the existing rules and regulations governing the sale. By enforcing 2015 Rules with full rigor, the authorities can effectively regulate the sale of acid and prevent its misuse for criminal purposes. This approach would balance the concerns addressed by the Petitioner with the need for safeguarding the legitimate needs of various industries and individuals.”
Case Title: TTK Prestige Ltd. vs Gupta Light House
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 633
The Delhi High Court has found a Delhi-based manufacturer guilty of design piracy under Section 22(1) of the Designs Act, 2000 after finding the design of its pressure cookers imitative of Prestige's “Pressure Handi Cookers”.
Justice C. Hari Shankar was hearing a suit for infringement of design filed by TTK Prestige Limited against the manufacturer Gupta Light House seeking a decree of permanent injunction and damages against the latter.
Title: NISHANT SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA AND ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 634
The Delhi High Court has rejected a public interest litigation seeking to restrain alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, accused in a cheating case, from releasing the alleged derogatory letters from jail to media about actors Jacqueline Fernandez, Nora Fatehi and Chahatt Khanna.
The PIL was moved by Nishant Singh, a public servant calling himself as “one of the hard-core fans” of the three actors, alleging that Sukesh's malicious efforts are intentional to outrage the modesty of India's women artists and that he is “ruthless in dealing emotions.”
Delhi High Court Grants Interim Bail To Former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, Son In Coal Scam Case
Title: VIJAY DARDA v. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 635
The Delhi High Court has granted interim bail to former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, his son Devender Darda and businessman Manoj Kumar Jayaswal who were recently convicted and sentenced to four years of imprisonment in a coal scam case.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice on the pleas moved by Dardas and Jayaswal against the trial court order convicting and sentencing them in the case.
Title: SYNGENTA LIMITED v. CONTROLLER OF PATENTS AND DESIGNS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 636
The Delhi High Court is set to examine a question as to whether the requirement of plurality of inventions in the parent patent application is necessary for a divisional application to be maintainable even where it is filed by the applicant suo moto and not on the basis of any objection raised by the Controller of Patents and Designs.
Justice C Hari Shankar referred the question to be decided by a division bench to be constituted by Chief Justice.
The court also framed the question that assuming if the such requirement in the parent application is necessary for a divisional application to be maintainable, does the plurality of inventions have to be reflected in the claims in the parent application or is it sufficient if the same is reflected in disclosures in complete specifications accompanying the claims in the parent application.
Title: RE: TO CONSIDER SUO MOTU CONTEMPT OF COURT v. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE TIS HAZARI COURT LAWYERS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 637
The Delhi High Court has discharged 12 lawyers, including former Delhi High Court Bar Association President Rajiv Khosla and former Delhi Bar Association President Sanjeev Nasiar, in a suo motu criminal contempt case in connection with the violence at the Tis Hazari Court in 2006.
A full bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul, Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar and Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta observed that there was no substantial evidence to establish obstruction of justice, acts of manhandling, or destruction of property by the lawyers.
Therefore, it cannot be conclusively established that the act of protesting interfered with the administration of justice, the court said.
Title: ARG Outlier Media Private Limited vs HT Media Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 638
The Delhi High Court has ruled that though in terms of the judgment of the Supreme Court in M/s N.N. Global Mercantile Private Limited vs M/s Indo Unique Flame Ltd. & Ors., 2023 SCC OnLine SC 495, an Agreement containing an arbitration clause which is not properly stamped, cannot be admitted in evidence.
However, once the Agreement has been admitted in evidence by the Arbitrator, who has passed an award by relying on the said Agreement, the award cannot be set aside on the ground that the Agreement was insufficiently/improperly stamped, the court said.
Title: Vineet Saraf v Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 639
The Delhi High Court Bench has refused to issue a Writ of Prohibition to prevent the creditor from approaching the NCLT under Section 95 of IBC against the personal guarantor.
On the issue of whether a writ of prohibition can be issued to prevent creditor from approaching NCLT, the Bench opined that when an alternative remedy exists, then the Petitioner must prove, (i) that the proceedings or actions being taken are wholly without jurisdiction; and (ii) as to why the alternate forum must be deprived of an opportunity to decide upon its own jurisdiction.
Title: Vinod Keni & Ors. vs Technology Development Board
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 640
The Delhi High Court has said that in many NI Act cases, the petitioners, with malafide intention, and to prolong the litigation, raise false and frivolous pleas, and consider the high court as their only option.
"On this, the High Court is made to step into the shoes of the Metropolitan Magistrate and examine their defence first and exonerate them," the court said, adding that even petitioners with genuine defence, instead of following due procedure of law under the NI Act and the CrPC, and further by misreading of the provisions, follow the same approach.
Title: SHABNAM v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 641
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to conduct a survey of all the pending applications for ration cards and decide if the persons will be entitled to receive the food security allowance.
Justice Subramonium Prasad directed the Delhi Government to complete the exercise “as expeditiously as possible” and sought a status report on the same.
“The State Government is, therefore, directed to conduct the survey of all pending applications to see as to whether they would be entitled to receive the allowance under Section 8 of the Food Security Act,” the court said.
Title: J. VINUTHA v. ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES - AIIMS & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 642
The Delhi High Court has directed AIIMS to permit a candidate, whose OBC certificate was initially rejected on the ground that it was not as per the prescribed format and later because the re-submission was beyond the cut off date, to appear in second stage interview for the post of senior resident doctor.
Granting interim relief to the candidate who approached the court challenging the rejection of her candidature under OBC category during the selection process, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said:
“Prima facie, this Court finds force in the arguments advanced on behalf of the petitioner that the candidature of the petitioner for the Reserved Category post may not be rejected on the sole ground that the Caste Certificate of the petitioner was not in accordance with the prescribed format, especially when the same was issued by an authorised and competent authority.”
Case Title: SpiceJet Limited vs Kal Airways Pvt Ltd & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 643
The Delhi High Court has upheld the 2018 arbitral award passed in favour of Kalanithi Maran, former promoter of SpiceJet, and his firm Kal Airways Pvt Ltd, in a share transfer dispute with the airline and its current promoter, Ajay Singh.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh has also dismissed Maran's challenge to the award where his claim for damages and restitution of 58.46% shareholding in SpiceJet was rejected by the Tribunal.
The dispute between the parties had arisen under a 'Share Sale and Purchase Agreement' (SSPA) executed between them in 2015, where Maran and his firm had sold their entire 58.46 per cent stake in SpiceJet to its co-founder, Singh.
Title: MONK ESTATES PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR. v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 644
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to ensure availability of Delhi Online Registration System (DORIS), a cloud storage server, to all Sub-Registrars for preservation of documents including those relating to land records.
“For the said purpose the Principal Secretary (Revenue), GNCTD shall be personally responsible to ensure implementation of the DORIS system,” Justice Prathiba M Singh directed.
Title: RAVINDER SINGH BHASIN v. KANWALJIT KAUR & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 645
The Delhi High Court has said that the family court should not give an adjournment for long period while referring the parties to a matrimonial dispute to a Court Counsellor for exploring the possibility of a settlement.
While preponing a matrimonial dispute pending before a family court which was adjourned to October 18, Justice Navin Chawla said:
“Even though the order records that there are approximately 4000 matrimonial cases of various nature pending before the learned Family Court, such a long adjournment is still not warranted. The Court has to keep a watch on the petition/counseling proceedings that take place before the Court Counselor on a regular basis, and such watch cannot happen if the Court adjourns the matter for such a long date.”
Title: ASHWINI KUMAR UPADHYAY v. UNION OF INDIA & OTHERS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 646
The Delhi High Court recently refused to entertain a public interest litigation to restrict cash transaction of goods, products and services purchased through online shopping platforms like Amazon and Flipkart.
The petitioner, Advocate and BJP leader Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay, sought to withdraw the PIL after a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula expressed the inclination of dismissing the plea.
As the bench was about to reserve the order on merits, Upadhyay prayed for withdrawal of the petition, with the liberty to take recourse to other remedies available under law.
Case Title: B L Kashyap and Sons Ltd vs Emaar India Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 647
The Delhi High Court has ruled that alleged liquidity crunch of the award debtor cannot be a sufficient cause under Order XXI Rule 26(1) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) to grant stay of the enforcement proceedings in relation to an arbitral award.
The bench of Justice Yogesh Khanna made the observation while hearing a plea seeking modification of the court's order in the execution petition filed by the award holder, where the court had directed the award debtor to deposit the entire award amount of Rs.165 crores. The award debtor sought to modify the court's order so as to enable him to furnish bank guarantee instead of cash deposit, on the ground that the same shall lead to liquidity crunch in its company.
Title: STATE (NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY) v. MOHD YASIN MALIK
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 648
The Delhi High Court has directed the Tihar jail superintendent to produce Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, convicted in a terror funding case, via video conferencing only and not in person on August 09, when the appeal moved by NIA seeking death penalty for him is listed for hearing.
A division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Anish Dayal allowed an urgent application moved by Tihar jail authorities to produce Malik through video conferencing.
The court modified its earlier order passed on May 29issuing production warrants against Malik for August 09. The jail authorities had moved the application citing heavy security issue” in producing Malik physically in court.
Title: VIVEKANANDA INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 649
The Delhi High Court has said that the candidates intending to apply for admissions in different colleges affiliated with the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University under the Management Quota seats shall be eligible to apply in both online and offline modes.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna directed the varsity to make an online portal to display the branch and college-wise seats available with it under Management Quota so that the prospective students can apply online as well as offline against the available seats.
“The college shall display the list of aspirant admission seekers on the online portal as well as on the notice board of the college. The college shall prepare common merit wise list of candidates who have applied through online and offline mode. The merit list college wise shall be published online,” the bench directed.
Title: TEJASWI CHHATWAL & ORS. v. DR.B.R. AMBEDKAR UNIVERSITY DELHI AND ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 650
The Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University has informed the Delhi High Court that it has withdrawn the advertisement requiring a mandatory disclosure of religion by those applying to the post of Guest Faculty in the varsity's School of Global Studies.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh was informed by the varsity's counsel that the employment notice published on July 24 has been withdrawn.
Taking note of the University's submission, the court disposed of a plea moved by three “prospective applicants” for their empanelment as the Guest Faculty who challenged the advertisement.
Case Title: WHITEHAT EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY PRIVATE LIMITED v. VINAY KUMAR SINGH
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 651
The Delhi High Court has permanently restrained an individual from using 'Whitehat SR' mark, logos or any name which is either identical or deceptively similar variant of the mark “WhiteHat Jr” which is registered in favour of an online coding tutoring platform for children.
“The mark 'WHITEHAT JR' is a registered trademark which has acquired enormous reputation owing to the extensive use which has been done over a short period of time. The impugned mark of the Defendant is 'WHITEHAT SR', which is almost identical to the Plaintiff's mark. In fact, the writing style of the letter 'W' is also identical to the Plaintiff's writing style. The mark is a registered trademark of the Plaintiff,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said.
Case Title: MOHD. YASIN PATEL ALIAS FALAHI v. STATE
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 652
The Delhi High Court recently allowed a US national, who was convicted in 2003 under the POTA Act and for the offence of Sedition under IPC for being member of the banned outfit SIMI, to travel abroad for four weeks to visit his ailing father in Chicago.
“Accordingly, we allow the applicant/appellant to travel to Chicago, U.S.A. for the abovementioned purpose for the period of 4 (four) weeks from the date he actually departs from Delhi,, subject to furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- in respect of him with the Surety Bond of like amount each to be furnished by his wife, two sons and one daughter with the Register General of this Court,” a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.
No TDS Deductible On Commission Payment To Non-Resident Agent Overseas: Delhi High Court
Case Title: PCIT Versus Maharani Enterprises
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 653
The Delhi High Court has held that commission payments to non-resident agents overseas are not chargeable to tax and there is no TDS required to be deducted under Section 195 of the Income Tax Act.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has observed that there is no material on record to even remotely suggest that the non-resident, who had been paid the export commission, had any permanent establishment in India, carried on any business within the taxable territory in India, or had any business connection in India rendering them liable to pay tax.
Case Title: Indian Oil Corporation Ltd vs Director of Legal Metrology & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 654
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the 'compounding fee' paid for compounding an offence under a Statute, is not in the nature of a tax or duty. The court remarked that the compounding fee is deposited by a person to avoid initiation of coercive proceedings against him and to obtain closure. Thus, the deposit of compounding fee should not in all circumstances be necessarily viewed as an acceptance of guilt or an admission of violation of a statutory obligation, the court said.
The bench of Justices Yashwant Varma and Dharmesh Sharma made the observation while hearing a plea filed by oil marketing companies- the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). The appellant-companies had challenged the Single Judge's order where it had refused to grant refund of the compounding fee paid by them under Section 48 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 for compounding the offences under the Act.
Case Title: MANMOHAN SINGH @ MONU v. STATE (NCT OF DELHI)
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 655
The Delhi High Court has deprecated the practice of filing writ petitions for grant of parole instead of approaching the competent authorities for seeking the relief.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma was hearing a plea moved by one Manmohan Singh alias Monu seeking second spell of furlough for two weeks or grant of parole for 30 days in a gang rape case registered against him in 2008.
The FIR was registered at Tilak Nagar police station for the offences under Sections 376(2)(g) [punishment for gang rape], 328 [causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence] and 34 [common intention] of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Case Title: Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh vs Union of India
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 656
The Delhi High Court has dismissed the writ petition challenging the Central Government's decision to convert the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) from a government department into seven public sector companies.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula said the corporatisation of OFB was a policy decision of the Government of India taken in national interest keeping in view the defence requirements of the country, and therefore, no case of interference was made out.
Case Details: NATIONAL PROJECTS CONSTRUCTIONS CORPORATION LTD v. M/S INTERSTATE CONSTRUCTION
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 657
The Delhi High Court has held that the arbitrator cannot add the amount of pre-reference interest to the principal amount while determining pendente lite interest as the same would amount to levying interest on a compounded basis. It held that the principal amount has to remain static throughout.
The bench of Justices Yashwant Varma and Dharmesh Sharma held that Section 31(7)(a) of the A&C Act provides only for two periods of interest payable under the Act i.e., from the cause of action till the date of the award and from the date of the award till the payment is made. Further, it held that the distinction between pre-reference and pendente lite interest has vanished and is inapplicable to arbitrations governed by the Act of 1996.
Title: VIVEK KUMAR & ORS. v. STATE & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 658
The Delhi High Court has taken serious objection against the drafting of settlement agreements in matrimonial cases by mediation centres on “printed proforma.”
“This court while dealing with petitions of matrimonial quashing often comes across the settlement agreements being drafted by the Mediation Centres which are on a printed proforma. This court takes serious objection to it,” Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said.
The court added that the settlements on printed proforma sometimes gives an impression that there is no application of mind and the settlement deed has been drafted mechanically.
Title: FOODLINK F AND B HOLDINGS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED v. WOW MOMO FOODS PRIVATE LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 659
The Delhi High Court has temporarily restrained fast food chain WOW! Momo from using the mark “WOW China Bistro” in a trademark infringement suit filed by an entity that has been operating various restaurants under its registered mark “China Bistro.”
Justice C Hari Shankar however clarified that WOW! Momo would be entitled to use the mark “WOW! CHINA” or “WOW! CHINA LIVE CHINESE” logo.
The court observed that when compared as wholes, the two individual marks in question are deceptively similar as their textual components, which constitute their essential and distinctive features, are deceptively similar to each other.
Case details: Jaiprakash Associates Limited v. MSEFC
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 660
The Delhi High Court has held that an issue whether an agreement is in the nature of works contract and the consequent issue of applicability of MSMED Act to such contracts is to be decided by the arbitrator.
The bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra and Justice Saurabh Banerjee dismissed an LPA against the orders of a single judge bench holding that the single bench had correctly referred the issue to be decided by the arbitrator as the court cannot go into the said determination at the stage of appointment of arbitrator or in a writ petition. It further held that that mere nomenclature of the agreement is not material to determine its nature.
Title: DISTRICT MAGISTRATE WEST DISTRICT THROUGH NEHA BANSAL v. JOSAN DIAGNOTICS CENTRE & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 661
The Delhi High Court has observed that courts should prioritize the purpose and objective of Pre-Conception and-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, while adjudicating the applications seeking condonation of delay in cases pertaining to the enactment.
“The primary intent of PC&PNDT Act is to safeguard the rights of the unborn girl child and promote gender equality by curbing the misuse of diagnostic techniques for sex determination. Therefore, while deciding applications seeking condonation of delay, Courts should prioritize the Act's underlying purpose over technicalities,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.
Case Title: SUPER CASSETTES INDUSTRIES PRIVATE LIMITED vs GOLDMINES TELEFILMS PRIVATE LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 662
The Delhi High Court has directed the production house Goldmines Telefilms to not upload songs from 14 Bollywood movies on YouTube after T-Series filed a suit for permanent injunction claiming copyright over the same.
T-Series said that it owns prior assignment deeds in respect of the audio-visual works and the cinematograph films for the songs from movies like Guru and Vaastav, and that Goldmines does not have rights to authorise uploading of the songs on YouTube.
Title: DR. REDDYS LABORATORIES LIMITED & ANR. v. THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 663
The Delhi High Court has ruled that a revocation petition under Section 64 of the Patents Act is not a suit within the meaning of Section 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Section 64 of the Patents Act provides various grounds for revocation of patents. On the other hand, section 10 of CPC deals with stay of a suit — it states that no court shall proceed with the trial of any suit in which the matter is also directly and substantially in issue in a previously instituted suit between the same parties or between parties under whom they or any of them claim litigating under the same title where such suit is pending in India.
Title: SUN PARMA LABORATORIES LTD. v. MYLAN LABORATORIES LIMITED & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 664
The Delhi High Court has awarded costs of Rs. 5 lakh to pharma company Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited in a trademark infringement suit filed by it over its registered mark “Oxiplat”, which is named after one of its drug preparations.
The mark 'Oxiplat' was coined by Sun Pharmaceuticals in 2001. Since then, it has been used for medicinal preparations consisting of Oxaliplatin, a drug which is used in treatment of cancer of colon and rectum.
Title: RAKESH v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHII & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 665
The Delhi High Court has observed that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, is a gender-neutral legislation and that it is insensitive to argue that the law is being misused.
While dealing with a POCSO case where the accused submitted that the enactment is a gender-based law and therefore is being misused, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said:
“To say the least, POCSO Act is not gender based and is neutral as far as victim children are concerned. Moreover, to argue that the legislation is being misused and using the language such as “as the complainant by keeping a gun on her minor daughter's shoulder had implicated the applicant in the present case so as to coerce him to re-pay a friendly loan that he had taken from her husband” (as mentioned in the petition) have been found to be most insensitive by this court."
.Title: SARTAJ @ALLAHARAKHA v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 666
The Delhi High Court has issued a slew of directions to the authorities for ensuring protection of mental and emotional health of the prisoners, observing that while imprisonment restricts the right to liberty, it does not restrict the human rights of convicts.
“It is time to ensure that a convict who leaves the correction home/prison is restored to the society as a law abiding citizen who has repented his past conduct. This can be achieved only if the mental health issues of the convicts in prisons are recognized and attended to, rejecting the notion that this view is too idealistic,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed.
The court directed that in case a convict shows signs of mental health issues which are reflected through the behaviour, the administration concerned should bring it to the notice of psychiatrist posted in the prison.
Title: RAVI MANCHANDA TRADING AS SEEMA ENGINEERING WORKS v. THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 667
Taking exception to a “blank order” passed by a Senior Examiner of Trade Marks, the Delhi High Court recently said that it is no longer surprised at the kind of orders passed by the Registry of Trade Marks or Controller General of Patents.
“This Court never ceases to be surprised at the kind of the orders which come before it, from the office of the Registry of Trade Marks/Controller General of Patents. The present case is, in fact, sui generis,” Justice C Hari Shankar said in an order passed on August 03.
Case Title: PCIT Versus M/S Eltek Sgs Pvt. Ltd.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 668
The Delhi High Court has held that depreciation is allowable on goodwill arising in a scheme of amalgamation even though no actual cash payment was made for the acquisition of goodwill.
The bench of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Dharmesh Sharma has observed that sections 49 and 55(2) deal with 'capital gains' arising on the sale of goodwill and not with respect to depreciation on goodwill. Section 47, in express terms, excludes the transfer of capital assets in a scheme of amalgamation from the purview of capital gains.
Title: ANURAG GOEL v. CHHAVI AGARWAL
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 669
The Delhi High Court has held a wife guilty of contempt of court for wilfully violating a settlement agreement with her husband and disobeying the undertaking to abide by the same given to the family court.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora imposed a penalty of Rs. 2,000 on the wife and also sentenced her to one month of simple imprisonment, considering that she “deliberately, wilfully, intentionally and defiantly” disobeyed the undertaking despite various opportunities were granted to her, “only with an intent to enhance her financial settlement with the husband.”
“This Court therefore, imposes a fine of ₹ 2,000/- on the Respondent. This Court further sentences the Respondent to simple imprisonment for a term of one (1) month. In case of default of payment of fine, the Respondent shall further undergo 15 days of simple imprisonment,” the court said.
Title: NABAL THAKUR (IN J.C.) v. THE STATE
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 670
The Delhi High Court has issued various guidelines to be followed by the doctors and the Delhi Police while dealing with cases of medical termination of pregnancy of victims of rape.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed that where an order for medical termination of pregnancy has been passed, the Delhi Police's Investigating Officers must produce the victim before the concerned hospital for conducting the procedure within 24 hours, even in cases where the gestation period of the pregnancy is less than 20 weeks.
The court also directed the Delhi Government's Department of Health and Family Welfare and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ensure that the existing guidelines or Standard Operating Procedure for conducting examination of the victims of sexual assault are circulated in all the hospitals in the national capital.
Case Title: Landmark Property Development and Company Limited & ORS. vs Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Limited & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 671
The Delhi High Court has directed release of over Rs. 16 Crores deposited with the court Registry, in favour of the Landmark Group in the execution petition filed by it seeking enforcement of the arbitral award passed against the Ansal Group.
In 2018, an Arbitral Tribunal had awarded a sum of Rs. 46.01 Crores in favour of the Landmark Group against the Ansals in a dispute between the two business groups.
Vide order dated 05.01.2022, the Delhi High Court in the execution petition filed by Landmark, had directed Ansals to deposit the entire principal amount of Rs. 46.01 Crores awarded by the arbitrator, along with an additional amount of Rs. 34 Crores. Ansals were directed to deposit the amounts as a condition for vacating the stay order that had been passed in relation to their immovable properties.
Title: ISHWAR SINGH DAHIYA v. STATE OF NCT DELHI AND ORS and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 672
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police to continue taking steps to restrain the sale of banned Chinese manjha in the national capital during the Independence day season.
"It is directed that Delhi Police shall continue to take steps to restrain the sale of Chinese manjha in Delhi even during the forthcoming Independence Day period, which is the kite-flying season,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said in an order passed on August 08.
While hearing a bunch of pleas highlighting the menace of manufacturing and sale Chinese manjha for kite flying in Delhi, the court perused the status report filed by the Delhi Police indicating the steps taken to stop the sale of Chinese manjha in the national capital.
Title: ARJUN KAMTI v. THE STATE OF GNCT OF DELHI THROUGH SHO & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 673
The Delhi High Court has quashed a rape and POCSO case against a man after he and the victim consensually got married and the complainant father said that he had filed the FIR out of anger and misunderstanding. It was alleged that the accused kidnapped the girl and took her out from her father's guardianship.
The accused and the victim, who expressed her desired to live with him, got married with each other. They also became parents of two children.
Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain quashed the proceedings in the case after noting that the victim stated that she was leading a happy married life with the accused and the complainant father also took a stand that he was not interested in the continuing the case.
Case Title: Gannon Dunkerley and Co Ltd v. Zillion Infraprojects Pvt Ltd, OMP(COMM) 234 of 2023
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 674
The Delhi High Court has held that a contractor cannot deny payments to the 'Sub-contractor' merely on the ground that the contract is on back-to-back basis and it has not received the payments from the main employer.
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri held that ordinarily in back-to-back contracts, the payments due to a 'Sub-contractor' is subject to the payment by employer to the Contractor. However, this mechanism is to be followed only during the currency of the contract and once the parties are in a dispute, Contractor cannot defer payments in perpetuity on the ground of the pendency of payments, when it has not otherwise disputed the correctness of the bills.
Title: GOOGLE LLC v. DRS LOGISTICS (P) LTD. & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 675
The Delhi High Court has ruled that Google is not entitled to the safe harbour protection under the Information Technology Act, 2000, as well as from the liability of trademark infringement where it uses a trademark as a keyword in its Ads Programme.
“It is difficult to accept that Google is entitled to exemption under Section 79 of the IT Act from the liability of infringement of trademarks by its use of the trademarks as keywords in the Ads Programme. It can hardly be accepted that Google can encourage and permit use of the trademarks as keywords and in effect sell its usage and yet claim the said data as belonging to third parties to avail an exemption under Section 79(1) of the IT Act,” a division bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan said.
The bench noted that while Google did not permit use of trademarks as keywords prior to 2004, it amended its policy thereafter for increasing the revenue and introduced the tool which actively searches the most effective terms including well known trademarks as keywords.
Case Title: PARVIN JUNEJA v. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 676
The Delhi High Court has permitted an accused in a money laundering case to travel abroad for admission of his son, observing that a person should not be denied such “special moments of small pleasures in life” even if he is accused and facing trial.
"Admission of a child whether in school or in a college/University is a moment the parent and the child cherish forever. It is a feeling of togetherness as well as support by the mere presence with each other, which is expected by each child and parent while achieving such a milestone. Even if a person is an accused and is facing trial, he should not ordinarily be denied these special moments of small pleasures in life," Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed.
'Mankind' And 'Novakind' Marks Confusing When Used For Pharmaceutical Preparations: Delhi High Court
Case Title: MANKIND PHARMA LIMITED v. NOVAKIND BIO SCIENCES PRIVATE LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 677
Observing that the marks “Novakind” and “Mankind” are confusing when used for pharmaceutical preparations, the Delhi High Court has made absolute the interim injunction order against an entity manufacturing medicines using the suffix “Kind” till final disposal of a trademark infringement suit filed by Mankind Pharma.
“The “KIND” suffix not being endemic to pharmaceutical preparations, there is every likelihood of a customer of average intelligence and imperfect recollection, who chances across the defendant‟s “NOVAKIND” product, to believe it to be one of the KIND family of the marks belonging to the plaintiff,” Justice C Hari Shankar observed.
Case Title: Mrs. Vinnu Goel v. Mr. Santosh Goes and Ors
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 678
The Delhi High Court has held that all the members of the families would be bound by the terms and conditions of a settlement agreement executed between the heads of the two branches of families if they have signed the said agreement that pertains to the properties owned by them.
Justice Navin Chawla held that a party appending its signature of an MoU is bound by the terms and conditions of such an agreement, including the arbitration agreement. It held that a party cannot escape the agreement merely on the ground that it was not expressly made a party under the agreement.
Case Title: NHAI v. M/S. T.K. TOLL PRIVATE LIMITED
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 679
The Delhi High Court has held that a supplementary agreement executed by a contractor whereby it agrees to forego of its claims cannot preclude him from claiming damages against the employer if the execution of such agreement was a pre-condition to the issuance of PCC necessary for collection of toll taxes in BOT contracts.
Justice Yogesh Khanna held that a party would be acting under economic duress or coercion if it has to execute a supplementary agreement foregoing all its claims against the employer as a pre-condition for the issuance of PCC, ergo, it would not be a bar to contractor later claiming damages for the losses suffered by it.
Title: DR J THULASEEDHARA KURUP v. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE OF THE CABINET THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 680
The Delhi High Court has upheld a January 2019 decision of the Union Ministry's Department of Personnel and Training rejecting the proposal for appointment of Dr. J Thulaseedhara Kurup as the director of National School of Drama.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh observed that were adequate reasons for the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for not accepting the proposal for consideration of Kurup's candidature for the post.
“Hence, considering the entirety of the matter, the facts, circumstances, submissions, objections, the contents of the impugned order and, most importantly, the contents of the original files as placed before this Court by Ms. Anjana, Under Secretary, Ministry of Culture, this Court does not find any reason to interfere with the impugned order dated 29th January 2022. There were adequate reasons for the ACC for not accepting the proposal for consideration of the petitioner's candidature for the post of Director at respondent no. 3/NSD,” the court observed.
Title: DEPTT.OF HEALTH, GOVT.OF NCT OF DELHI v. KAMLA MEHNDIRATTA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 681
The Delhi High Court has observed that condonation of delay is an exception which should not be used as per convenience of the Government departments.
Justice Chandra Dhari Singh added that courts must not treat Government agencies differently while deciding the applications for condonation of delay and that the Government is under “special obligation” to ensure that their duties are properly performed.
While pulling up the Delhi Government's health department for filing an application seeking condonation of delay of 651 days in filing the application for restoration of a petition which was dismissed in default in May 2017, the court said:
“The petitioner though a State Department having numerous resources at its disposal, has still been unable to file the application of restoration in a timely manner. It is a well settled principle that the Government is under a special obligation to perform duties with diligence and commitment. The condonation of delay is an exception which should not be used as per convenience of the Government Departments.”
Delhi High Court Stays Income Tax Reassessment Proceedings Initiated Against Oxfam India
Case Title: Oxfam India Versus Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 682
The Delhi High Court has stayed the income tax reassessment proceedings initiated against Oxfam India.
"A counter-affidavit will be filed within the next six (6) weeks. Rejoinder thereto, if any, will be filed at least five days before the next date of hearing. In the meantime, there shall be a stay on the continuation of the reassessment proceeding till further directions of the court," the bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has observed.
The assessee/appellant has challenged the reassessment notice under Section 148A(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Title: RANJEET KUMAR YADAV v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 683
The Delhi High Court has observed that mere absence of injuries on victim's private parts cannot be a ground to hold that penetrative sexual assault under the POCSO Act did not take place.
Justice Amit Bansal made the observation while upholding the conviction of a man for committing rape of a four and a half years old girl in June 2017.
The court observed that the man, who was the minor's neighbor, was not able to shake the version of the prosecution which had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Delhi HC Quashes Summons Issued To H&M Over Alleged Violation Of 2011 Legal Metrology Rules
Case: H&M Pvt. Ltd. vs Legal Metrology Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 684
The Delhi High Court bench led by Justice Amit Bansal quashed a summoning order against H&M Pvt. Ltd., situated at Select City Walk Mall, Saket for violating Section 13(3)(b) of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 [“2011 Rules”].
H&M Pvt. Ltd. is a multinational clothing company based in Sweden that focuses on fast-fashion clothing. Upon being inspected, the Legal Metrology Department wrongfully concluded that H&M Pvt. Ltd. had not followed the mandatory labelling requirements. The High Court held that the 2011 Rules are not applicable on 'loose garments'. Hence, H&M Pvt. Ltd. was absolved of liability.
Title: SRI SATYA SAI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL SCIENCES SEHORE v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 685
The Delhi High Court has observed that no dilution of the time schedule with respect to medical courses, which is mandatory and binding on all, is permissible in exercise of writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in absence of any justifiable reason.
“Undoubtedly, medical education requires facilities and infrastructure of the highest standard as also the adherence to the time schedule for imparting premier education to candidates, thereby ensuring that the community receives the best possible medical practitioners,” Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said.
Title: THE STATE v. MAIKALE RAM & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 686
Invoking the famous American short story “Rip Van Winkle”, the Delhi High Court has refused to condone the delay of more than 27 years in filing of an appeal by the prosecution against the acquittal of various accused persons way back in 1995 in relation to the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots case.
“In the present case, Rip Van Winklian Slumber has extended to more than 27 years and there is no explanation for this inordinate delay and the grounds taken by the State are not justifiable. Therefore, we find no merit in the present application, and the same is hereby dismissed,” a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.
Case Title: Blackberry India Pvt Ltd. Versus The Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise And CGST Division
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 687
The Delhi High Court has directed the adjudicating authority to process Blackberry's claim of interest under Section 11BB of the Excise Act.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has observed that there is no cavill that the petitioner would be entitled to interest in terms of Section 11BB of the Excise Act from the date immediately after the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of an application for a refund if it is not processed within the said period of three months.
Title: AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS INC. v. CONTROLLER GENERAL OF PATENTS, DESIGN, TRADEMARK AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS, & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 688
The Delhi High Court has requested the Controller General Of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks to ensure strict compliance of the provisions dealing with pre or post grant oppositions to a patent under the Patents Rules, 2003.
“…Controller General is requested to ensure that, hereafter, there is strict compliance with the provisions of the Patents Rules, particularly Rule 57, read with the judgment of the Supreme Court in Cipla, while dealing with and processing pre- or post-grant oppositions,” Justice C Hari Shankar said.
The Supreme Court in Cipla Ltd v. Union of India held that the report or recommendation of the Opposition Board should be made available to the parties in question before the Controller passes orders under Section 25(4) of the Patents Act.
Case Title: Diamond Entertainment Technologies Pvt Ltd & Ors. vs Religare Finvest Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 689
The Delhi High Court recently observed that the SARFAESI Act provides statutory remedies for borrowers, including the right to appeal, and that the court should not interfere in recovery proceedings unless there is a clear violation of law.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav reiterated that the borrower will have to wait till measures under Section 13(4) of the SARFAESI Act for taking possession of the mortgaged property are taken by the creditor. In the interregnum period, the scope for interference in writ jurisdiction is not warranted.
Designation Of Venue Would Override A Generic 'Exclusive Jurisdiction' Clause: Delhi High Court
Case Title: Reliance Infrastructure Limited v. Madhyanchal Vidhyut Vitran Nigam Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 690
The Delhi High Court has held that a venue where the arbitral proceedings were anchored is essentially the 'seat of arbitration' and it would override a generic exclusive jurisdiction clause. It held that a generic exclusive jurisdiction clause is not a contrary indicia that prevents the venue from becoming the seat of arbitration.
The bench of Justice Sachin Datta held that for an exclusive jurisdiction to override a venue clause, it must specifically provide that the Courts at a particular place have exclusive jurisdiction over the arbitral proceedings and a generic exclusive jurisdiction clause which does not refer to arbitration proceedings as such does not override the venue clause.
Title: HERO MOTOCORP LIMITED v. SHREE AMBA INDUSTRIES
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 691
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to temporarily restrain a bike manufacturer from selling front fender for its motorcycles in a suit filed by Hero Motocorp alleging that it was a copy of its registered V shaped front fender design fixed to “HERO HF DELUXE” bikes.
Justice Amit Bansal said that Hero Motocorp failed to make out a case for grant of interim injunction in its favour and that irreparable harm will be caused to manufacturer, Shree Amba Industries, if an interim injunction is granted in favour of Hero.
Officer Concerned Not Authorized To Administer Oath, No Evidentiary Value: Delhi High Court
Case Title: PCIT Versus ARN Infrastructure Ltd.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 692
The Delhi High Court while upholding the ITAT's ruling held that the addition of Rs. 10 crore was made purely on the basis of the statement made by directors without corroborative evidence.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has observed that there is a qualitative difference between the statement recorded under Section 133A and Section 132(4) of the Income Tax Act. The statement recorded under Section 133A of the Act has no evidentiary value since the officer concerned is not authorised to administer an oath and record a sworn statement. It is in contradiction with the statement recorded under Section 132(4), which is recorded on oath by an officer who is vested with the necessary powers.
Case Title: PCIT Versus Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 693
The Delhi High Court has deleted the Bright Line Test (BLT)-based Advertising, Marketing, and Promotion (AMP) Adjustment for Yakult Danone for the non-existence of international transactions.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has dismissed the department's appeal, which challenged the ITAT's order, and held that the "bright line test" has no statutory mandate and a broad-brush approach is not mandated or prescribed.
False Allegations Of Illicit Relationship Are Ultimate Kind Of Cruelty: Delhi High Court
Case Title: LK v. OPM
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 694
Upholding a family court order granting decree of divorce to a husband on the ground of mental cruelty by wife, the Delhi High Court has observed that false allegations of illicit relationship are “ultimate kind of cruelty.”
“False allegations of illicit relationship are the ultimate kind of cruelty as it reflects a complete breakdown of trust and faith amongst the spouses without which no matrimonial relationship can survive,” a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.
Case Title: NARENDER BHUTANI v. ANJALI BHUTANI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 695
The Delhi High Court has directed its Registry to register a case of criminal contempt against a man for making scandalous allegations against a Principal Judge of a family court in the national capital.
“The Registry is directed to register a case of Criminal Contempt against the petitioner and subject to the orders of Hon'ble the Chief Justice, place the same before an appropriate Division Bench of this Court,” Justice Navin Chawla said.
While directing the man to appear in person before the division bench on September 1, the court prima facie observed that the husband was in the habit of making scandalous remarks against the judges in order to browbeat them.
Case Title: MANOHAR LAL SHARMA v. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (C.B.I) & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 696
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police and college authorities to ensure that proper police force is available before a fest or function is organized in the institutions in national capital.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula also clarified that as and when such functions take place in any college or institution, it shall be the Delhi Police's duty to ensure the safety and security of the students.
The court passed the order while disposing of a public interest litigation seeking inquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged instances of molestation and sexual misconduct inside Delhi University's Gargi College in 2020.
Case Title: SUN PHARMA LABORATORIES LTD. v. FINECURE PHARMACEUTICALS LTD& ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 697
The Delhi High Court has ruled that proprietorship of registration in respect of a trademark does not ipso facto entitle to the proprietor the right to obtain relief against infringement of the mark.
Justice C Hari Shankar added that the rights to claim exclusivity over the trademark and to obtain relief against its infringement, as envisaged under Section 28(1) of the Trade Marks Act, are conditional on the trademark registration being valid.
Case Title: Geeta Sharma vs Public Enterprises Selection Board & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 698
The Delhi High Court has referred to a larger bench the issue of whether Seniority Guidelines based on pay scales/Board Level positions can override the preference for Chartered Accountants in the job advertisement for the post of Director (Finance) in Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs).
Justice Jyoti Singh was dealing with a petition challenging the appointment of Directors (Finance) in Telecommunications Consultants (India) Ltd. (TCIL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Case Title: Emami Limited vs Dabur India Ltd.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 699
The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order restraining Dabur from selling its 'Cool King Thanda Tel' in a packing confusingly or deceptively similar to Emami's 'Navratna Ayurvedic Oil'.
The bench comprising of Justice C. Hari Shankar noted that there was a clear attempt by Dabur to make its product appear similar to Emami's Navratna Ayurvedic Oil and that prima facie, the same was intended to create confusion in the mind of an average consumer.
Case Title: XYZ v. BHARAT PRAKASHAN (DELHI) LTD AND ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 700
The Delhi High Court has directed RSS weekly magazine “Organizer” and another website “The Commune” to remove an article alleging that the Principal of a reputed Christian school in the national capital sexually exploited nuns and Hindu women.
Justice Jyoti Singh passed an ex parte ad-interim injunction in favour of the Principal in his suit against the two publications which published the article titled “Indian Catholic Church Sex Scandal: Priest exploiting nuns and Hindu women exposed” in June this year.
Case Title: Y.K. Goyal v. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 701
The Delhi High Court has held that in a multi-tier dispute resolution clause which provides for pre-arbitration reference to Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), the failure to refer the dispute to DRC would not be a ground to refuse appointment of arbitrator when the Chief Engineer against whose decision an appeal was to be filed before DRC failed to respond to notice of dispute.
The bench of Sachin Datta held in a multi-tier arbitration clause, a party would have no occasion to file an appeal before the DRC when the Chief Engineer has failed respond to that party's notice of dispute, therefore, not approaching the DRC would be no ground to dismiss the arbitration petition. It further held that it is incumbent upon the Chief Engineer to render its decision within the time period provided in the agreement.
Case Title: R.K. KAPOOR v. NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI & ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 702
Taking note of the “unprecedented weather events” witnessed by the national capital this year, the Delhi High Court has observed that rainwater harvesting should be seamlessly integrated into the city's climate resilience planning for which the authorities must continually explore innovative strategies.
“A persistent focus on educating the public and resident welfare associations about the advantages of rainwater harvesting, coupled with practical implementation guidance, can catalyze a cultural shift towards sustainable water practices,” a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula said.
Case Title: Steelman Telecom Limited v. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 703
The Delhi High Court has held that the equilibrium is disturbed where the party drawing up the panel of arbitrator is given a further right to accord its “confirmation” to nomination made by other party.
Justice Sachin Datta held that in terms of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), the appointment of an arbitrator from a panel maintained by the other party is not invalid as it seeks to counterbalance the right of one party to draw a panel of arbitrator with the right of the other party to make the appointment from such a panel, however, it must be a broad panel as held by the Apex Court in Voestalpine Schienen.
Case Title: RDB AND CO(HUF) v. HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA PVT. LTD.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 704
The Delhi High Court has upheld a single judge order which ruled that late director Satyajit Ray is the first owner of copyright in 1966 Bengali film 'Nayak' and that the right to novelize its screenplay is also vested in him.
A division bench of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela dismissed the appeal moved by RDB and Co. HUF, whose 'Karta' R.D. Bansal had commissioned Ray to write and direct the film, challenging the single judge order passed on May 23.
Case Title: CONFERENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (INDIA) (REGD.) v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 705
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government and civic authorities to continue making efforts for sterlization and immunization of stray dogs in the national capital.
“The respondents are directed to ensure that they continue with their efforts and drive for sterilization and immunization of stray dogs, as the same is an important public function and is required to be performed in all its earnestness,” a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Jasmeet Singh ordered.
Case Title: CCL M A v. STATE (NCT) OF DELHI and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 706
The Delhi High Court has ruled that every preliminary assessment under section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act in relation to heinous offences committed by a juvenile must be initiated and concluded expeditiously in terms of section 14 of the Act.
“In case of heinous offences, the Juvenile Justice Boards are required to follow the mandate of Section 14(3) and proviso to Section 14(4) in their true spirit and dispose of the proceedings before it expeditiously and without any unnecessary and unreasonable delay,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.
Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. SOUTH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 707
The Delhi High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to ensure that there is no illegal dumping of electrical, plastic and medical garbage in the national capital.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula also directed the civic body to take appropriate action against all the defaulting units under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.
Case Title: M/S Vikas Enterprises Versus Commissioner Of Central Tax (GST)
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 708
The Delhi High Court has imposed a cost of Rs. 5,000 on the department and observed that the provisional attachment of bank accounts adversely impacts the assessee's business.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has observed that the communication seeking to place a debit freeze on the petitioner's account emanated from Superintendent Anti-Evasion and not from the Commissioner exercising jurisdiction in respect of the taxpayer. The communication also does not indicate that it was issued with the authority of the Commissioner.
Case Title: Deepak Khandelwal Proprietor Versus Commissioner Of CGST
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 709
The Delhi High Court has directed the release of the currency and other valuable assets seized from the petitioner during the search proceedings.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav has observed that the notice under Section 74 of the CGST Act does not specify any particular reasons to show that "input tax credit has been wrongly availed of or utilised."
Case Title: Darpan Kohli Versus Assistant Commissioner Of Income Tax
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 710
The Delhi High Court has quashed the penalty notice issued on the strength of a non-existent assessment order.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has observed that the department had issued a show cause notice for penalty under Section 271 F on the strength of an assessment order dated May 9, 2023, which was already set aside by the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court vide judgement dated May 31, 2023.
Title: SUMAIYA JAN @ SOUMAYYA v. STATE NCT OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 711
The Delhi High Court has said that the trial court is required to give a prima facie view stating that on what basis charges have been framed against an accused under the Juvenile Justice Act.
“Though at the stage of charge the court is not required to pass detailed order. However, the court is required to give prima facie view that on what basis the charges were framed,” Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said.
Case Title: M/s G.S. Express Pvt Ltd v. NTPC Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 712
The Delhi High Court has reiterated that an arbitration clause that restricts the right of a party to a mere of 6 months is invalid. The bench of Justice Yogesh Khanna held that the right to invoke arbitration cannot be restricted to a period lesser than that provided under the Limitation Act, 1963.
The Court was hearing an application under Section 11(6) filed by G.S. Express Pvt Ltd (Petitioner) seeking appointment of a sole arbitrator to adjudicate the dispute that has arisen between the parties.
Delhi High Court Dismisses PILs Alleging Violation Of Regulatory And Privacy Norms By Google Pay
Title: ABHIJIT MISHRA v. RESERVE BANK OF INDIA & ANR and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 713
The Delhi High Court has dismissed two public interest litigations filed against Google Pay alleging that the payment platform violated regulatory and privacy norms under the Indian law.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad rejected the petitions moved by Abhijit Mishra, who sought directions on Reserve Bank of India to direct Google Pay to cease its operations in India for the alleged violation.
One of the PILs moved by Mishra sought direction upon the UIDAI to initiate action against Google Pay for collecting, storing and using the users' Aadhar information in the violation of the Aadhar Act, 2016.
Case Title: Rajani Kumari v. BCD
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 714
The Delhi High Court has directed the Bar Council of Delhi to notify on its website the notification which withdrew an earlier notification issued on April 13 making filing of Aadhar Card and Voter ID bearing address of Delhi or NCR region mandatory for future enrolments.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula granted four weeks' time to the lawyers' body to notify the subsequent notification.
Case Title: ABHISHEK @ LOVE & ORS. v. THE STATE NCT OF DELHI & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 715
Observing that settlement of non-compoundable offences through mediation agreements is not permissible, the Delhi High Court has issued various guidelines to be followed in such cases by mediators in all mediation centres in the national capital.
“… to permit the accused and complainant to compromise an offence on payment of money, in session triable serious criminal cases which attracts punishment up to life, cannot be subject matter of mediated settlement agreements,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.
Case Title: Government of NCT of Delhi v. R.S. Sharma Contractors Pvt Ltd, OMP(COMM) 130 of 2023
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 716
The Delhi High Court has held that mere execution of an NCC in favour of the employer would not disentitle the contractor from later claiming damages if it is shown that it was executed under duress and not out of free will.
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri held that an endorsement given by Contractor, while seeking extension of time, would not come in its way in seeking escalation cost, especially when the delay was attributable to the employer.
Case Title: DGIT Versus The Indian Plywood Mfg. Co.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 717
The Delhi High Court has held that the income tax department is not under the obligation to grant additional tax concessions as per the order passed by the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has observed that the obligation to extend further concessions could not be imposed on the Central Government (Income Tax Department) without its consent. The Income Tax Department had not consented to extend any concession.
Case Title: VENUS WORLDWIDE ENTERTAINMENT PRIVATE LIMITED v. POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK (PEN) PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 718
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the mark “Khiladi” pertaining to the 1992 Akshay Kumar starrer Bollywood movie and the mark “Khiladi” of a Telugu action thriller film which was released last year are prima facie not similar.
Justice Jyoti Singh dismissed the application seeking interim injunction filed by Venus Worldwide Entertainment Private Limited, the production company which produced the 1992 movie, in its trademark infringement suit against filmmakers of the Telugu movie.
Case Title: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC. AND ORS. v. DOTMOVIES.BABY AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 719
The Delhi High Court has passed a “dynamic+ injunction” order restraining various vogue websites from streaming the existing as well as future content of six American studios.
Justice Prathiba M Singh passed the ex parte ad interim injunction in favour of Universal City Studios LLC, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc, Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., Netflix Studios LLC, Paramount Pictures Corporation and Disney Enterprises Inc, in their suit against the rogue websites.
Case Title: SAGAR v. THE STATE (GOVT. OF NCT)
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 720
Observing that discovering husband's infidelity shortly after marriage can have devastating effects on the mental and emotional well-being of a woman, the Delhi High Court has denied bail to a husband accused of abetting suicide of his wife who was found dead within 13 days after marriage.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that the emotional trauma of discovering infidelity and subsequent ill behavior of a spouse can drive a woman to take extreme steps to the extent of committing suicide.
Case Title: Sachin Arora v. State of GNCT of Delhi
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 721
Observing that Section 50 of the NDPS Act will be attracted in case of 'comprehensive search' of belongings as well as personal search, the Delhi High Court has granted bail to a person accused of supplying heroin and apprehended under Sections 21 and 25 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS) in 2019.
Case Title: STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI v. MOHD K.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 722
The Delhi High Court has upheld the acquittal of a Muslim man in a rape case observing that his physical relationship with the child victim aged about 15 years, who was also his wife, cannot be termed as rape.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna upheld the trial court order which observed that no offence under Section 6 read with Section 5(1) of POCSO Act was made out against the man in view of the testimony of the child victim that she got married to him in December, 2014, and only thereafter did they have a physical relationship.
Case Title: Raghav Bahl v. ED and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 723
The Delhi High Court has allowed The Quint's founder Raghav Bahl and co-founder and his spouse Ritu Kapur to travel abroad to London and New York next month for attending business meetings between September 02 - September 16.
Justice Amit Bansal also suspended the Look Out Circular issued against them by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case, on the said dates.
Case Title: NIDHI KAPOOR v. PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER AND ADDITIONAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA & ORS. and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 724
The Delhi High Court has ruled that the importation of gold is a “prohibited item” within the meaning of Section 2(33) of the Customs Act, 1962.
A division bench of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Dharmesh Sharma also observed that the redemption in case of importation of gold which is brought into India illegally in the form of smuggling does not entitle the owner or importer for automatic release of such item.
Case Title: STATE v. USHA DEVI & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 725
Pulling up the Delhi Police for conducting “terrible and unfair investigation”, the Delhi High Court has acquitted two accused persons and awarded them Rs. 50,000 compensation each, since the prosecution “floated trial” despite lack of evidence against them.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna gave a word of caution to the prosecution agencies to carry out investigation in a prudent manner and said that the trial courts are expected to judiciously assess the material placed on record, “so that no innocent has to bear the torment of incarceration.”
Case Title: STATE v. HARIPAL and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 726
The Delhi High Court has observed that procuring call detail records, including the tower-wise location of the police officials can prejudice their safety and privacy.
“The concerned police officers may be involved in dealing with cases of different nature, including sensitive or heinous cases or cases of national security, and orders, such as those impugned before this Court, can directly encroach upon the privacy of the police officials,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.
Case Title: STATE v. DHEERAJ SHARMA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 727
The Delhi High Court has deprecated the Delhi Police for conducting “lackadaisical investigation” in a dowry death case and said that no effort was made by the probe agency to ascertain the actual cause of death of the 23-years-old deceased woman.
“The ante mortem injuries and the Post Mortem Report clearly pointed out that it may be a case of homicidal death despite which the Investigating Agency has not even made any effort to conduct thorough investigations to ascertain the actual cause of death,” a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.
Case Title: SMT. K.S. SUMI MOL v. SH. SURESH KUMAR E.K.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 728
The Delhi High Court has issued a slew of directions to the family courts in the national capital for speedy disposal of cases relating to marriage and family affairs within a time frame, in the absence of any specific Rules regarding the same.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna directed that when a suit has been duly instituted, summons may be issued to the defendant to appear and answer the claim and to file the written statement of defence within 30 days.
Title: MS. SEEMA CHOPRA v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS. and other connected matters
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 729
The Delhi High Court has ordered release of various “end of life vehicles” subject to an undertaking being furnished by their owners that such vehicles will not be plied on the streets or parked in any public space within the national capital and will be kept in a private parking space.
Justice Prateek Jalan also asked the Delhi Government to frame a policy to deal with similar vehicles in cases where the owners are ready to give an assurance that the vehicles will not be used in the national capital.
Case Title: Flipkart India Private Limited Versus Value Added Tax Officer
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 730
The Delhi High Court, while allowing the refund to Flipkart India, held that a pre-deposit made before the Objection Hearing Authority (OHA) cannot be adjusted against any other tax dues.
The bench of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Dharmesh Sharma has observed that Section 38(2) of the Delhi Value Added Tax Act, 2004 (DVAT Act) uses the expression "recovery of any other amount due under this Act".
Case Title: KARAN S THUKRAL v. THE DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE & ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 731
The Delhi High Court has directed all the district courts in the national capital to adopt a “standardized online filing system” for pleadings, documents, and miscellaneous applications and issued a slew of directions to be followed till the time appropriate Rules are in place.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula directed the District Courts to centralize all filings related to ongoing and pending cases, similar to the existing procedure for new cases.
Case Title: Spelndor Landbase Ltd v. Aparna Ashram Society
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 732
The Delhi High Court has held that the true or certified copy of the agreement containing the arbitration agreement would be sufficient for the purpose of Section 11 petition when on the face of it, the same is duly stamped and a statement to this effect is made in the petition under Section 11 of the Act, and the same is not controverted by the opposite party.
Case Title: Girish Kumari Gupta v. UOI and Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 733
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation seeking directions on the Delhi Government to frame a policy to connect coaching centres with schools and colleges.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula observed that the court cannot direct the Delhi Government to frame such a policy and thus, it found no reason to grant the relief as prayed in the matter.
Case Title: NOVA EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 734
The Delhi High Court has observed that an apex body like National Medical Commission is not expected to assess different institutions on different yardsticks, based on grounds that seem wholly arbitrary.
“The NMC is entrusted with the functions and duties conferred under the provisions of the NMC Act, 2019. The NMC and all autonomous Boards constituted under the NMC Act, 2019 discharge public function. The action of statutory bodies must conform to the norms and standards stipulated therein and are to be uniformly made applicable to all the institutions. Their action must necessarily be reasonable and free from any prejudice,” Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav observed.
Case Title: Splendor Landbase Ltd v. Aparna Ashram Society
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 735
The Delhi High Court while reiterating that it is mandatory for the Court exercising power under Section 11 of the A&C Act to impound the non-stamped or insufficiently stamped agreement held that the Court can itself collect the deficient/requisite stamp duty under Section 35 of the Stamps Act, 1899 and enable deposit of the requisite stamp duty along with penalty as contemplated under proviso (a) to Section 35 of the Stamp Act.
Case Title: SJ v. S
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 736
The Delhi High Court has held that wife's insistence to live separately from other family members of the husband without any justifiable reason can be termed as an act of 'cruelty'.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna added that such acrimonious atmosphere at home cannot be a conducive environment for a married couple to forge a cordial conjugal relationship.
Case Title: KSG v. P
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 737
The Delhi High Court has observed that a wife's conduct of making false allegations against the husband and his family members and a constant threat to them regarding being summoned to the police station are acts of cruelty which severely impact mental balance.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna allowed a husband's appeal against a family court order dismissing his petition seeking divorce on the ground of cruelty and desertion by the wife.
Case Title: Nishkarsh Singh Patel vs National Medical Commission & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 738
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the Graduate Medical Education Regulations 1997 as ultra vires and violative of the New Education Policy 2020, insofar as it requires an aspirant to have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English together at 10+2 level.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Saurabh Banerjee was dealing with the plea of a candidate who had cleared his 10+2 back in 2010 with subjects Physics, Chemistry and Maths, and after obtaining a degree in engineering and masters in management, transgressed his career path to medicine.
Case Title: NHAI v. Trichy Thanjavur Expressway Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 739
The Delhi High Court has held that the Courts exercising powers under Section 34 of the A&C Act has the power to partially set aside an arbitration award to strike off the offending portion of the award while retaining the remaining award.
The bench of Justice Yashwant Varma held that the doctrine of severability of arbitration award is explicitly recognised under Section 34(2)(a)(iv) of the Act.
Title: VASU BAJAJ v. RAKESH BAJAJ
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 740
The Delhi High Court has ruled that arrears of maintenance by a husband becomes “debt” once the definite amount becomes payable to the dependent wife or children or parents which can be recovered by way of a civil suit.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna held that a civil suit for recovery of maintenance amount, which acquires the character of a “debt” is maintainable, once a final order is made under Section 125 of Cr.P.C.
Title: PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS (PETA) INDIA v. THE UNION OF INDIA & ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 741
The Delhi High Court has directed the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals and other government bodies to continue conducting routine inspections to assess the welfare and well-being of animals in preparation of anti-venom and anti-rabies serums.
A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula also directed the authorities to initiate action against defaulting establishments under extant laws and regulations.
Case Title: NHAI v. Trichy Thanjavur Expressway Ltd
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 742
The Delhi High Court has held that the recourse to Section 34(4) of the A&C Act, that grants courts the authority to remit an arbitral award to the Arbitral Tribunal, can only be taken for correcting the curable defects such as filling the gaps in reasoning, correct typographical and arithmetical errors and not to allow the tribunal to do a review of the award.
Case Title: ANNWESHA DEB v. DELHI STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 743
The Delhi High Court has observed that pregnant working women are entitled to maternity benefits and cannot be denied reliefs under the Maternity Benefit Act, 2017, solely due to the nature of their employment.
“There is nothing in the language of the Act or in its provisions which suggests that a working expecting woman would be barred from getting the reliefs due to the sole reason of the nature of their employment,” Justice Chandra Dhari Singh ruled.
Case Title: SpiceJet Limited vs Kal Airways Pvt Ltd & Ors. and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 744
The Delhi High Court has refused to stay a single judge order upholding an arbitral award asking SpiceJet and its promoter Ajay Singh to refund of Rs. 579.08 crores plus interest to media baron Kalanithi Maran.
A division bench comprising of Justice Yashwant Varma and Justice Dharmesh Sharma dismissed the plea moved by SpiceJet seeking stay of the single judge order passed on July 31.
Title: X v. Y
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 745
The Delhi High Court has directed a shelter home in the national capital to provide counselling to parents of a 22-years-old lesbian woman, at least on alternative days, for accepting their daughter “as per her wishes.
A division bench of Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna also ordered the shelter home's Director to admit the woman for her stay, give her necessary facilities including food and shelter and provide her with counselling sessions.
Case Title: M/S.RSPL HEALTH PRIVATE LIMITED v. RECKITT AND COLMAN (OVERSEAS) HYGIENE HOME LIMITED & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 746
The Delhi High Court has upheld the registration of “Harpic Drainxpert” trademark in favour of household goods manufacturer Reckitt and Colman.
Justice C Hari Shankar dismissed the appeals moved by RSPL Health Private Limited, engaged in manufacturing similar goods such as dish washing bars and gels under the mark 'Xpert', seeking rectification of Register of Trademarks by removing the mark “Harpic Drainxpert”.
Case Title: X v. Y
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 747
The Delhi High Court has observed that insistence of a wife's family for her husband to abandon his parents, become a “Ghar Jamai” and live in their house amounts to cruelty.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna granted divorce to a couple, who got married in 2001 and started living separately after a year, on the ground of cruelty and desertion under the Hindu Marriage Act.
Case Title: TIMES NOW NAVBHARAT v. NARESH BALIYAN
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 748
The Delhi High Court has refused to entertain a plea moved by Times Now Navbharat challenging a trial court order restraining the news channel from telecasting a programme “Operation Paap” against Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Balyan.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora refused to entertain the petition in light of the statutory provisions contained under Code of Civil Procedure and the remedies available with the news channel under the statute.
Case Title: Shri Anil Kumar v. Election Commission of India & Anr
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 749
The Delhi High Court has refused to entertain a PIL against the conduct of State Election Commission during the “First Level Check" of EVMs and VVPATs at eleven district offices in the national capital for their use in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The petition was moved by Anil Kumar, President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee which is a unit of Indian National Congress party.
Case Title: PCIT Versus M/S National Fertilizers Ltd.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 750
The Delhi High Court has rejected the appeal of the income tax department and refused to condone the delay of 498 days.
"Even in this hi-tech "click of the mouse" age, some of the government officials are yet to come out of their love for the "snail pace" style of working. The worst is when such delays are aimed at simply completing formalities so that the government appeals get dismissed on the grounds of limitation, to the intended benefit of the other party. Whatever the reason, it is either the loss to the exchequer or the abrogation of the valuable rights of the assessee litigating against the state," the bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia observed.
Case Title: RAKESH KUMAR KALRA DEAF DIVAYANG v. STATE GOVT OF NCT DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 751
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to provide infrastructure and financial assistance for procuring essential electronic gadgets for conducting trial in cases where the accused person is differently-abled.
“No citizen in this country should feel that due to his physical or mental disability, justice was not done to him either due to lack of material infrastructure or moral, ethical, sensitive and understanding by the judicial system and Court,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed.
Even Minimal Penetration Is Sufficient To Establish Sexual Intercourse: Delhi High Court
Case Title: RAHUL v. STATE OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 752
Observing that the nature of the offence as to whether it constitutes rape or an attempt to commit rape needs to be considered carefully, the Delhi High Court has said that even minimal penetration is sufficient to establish sexual intercourse by a man.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma made the observation while upholding the conviction of a man in 2008 for attempting to rape a seven year old girl child in 2006 and confining her in a room. The court also upheld the sentence of rigorous imprisonment for five years and fine of Rs. 5,000 awarded to him.
Case Title: Saurabh Shukla v. Max Bupa Insurance & Anr.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 753
Noting that a total of 29 insurance companies in India have introduced health insurance products for persons with disabilities, the Delhi High Court has observed that the step will offer such individuals a ray of hope and would be a first step in achieving equality for them.
“While the said products may not be the most ideal for persons with disabilities, this would merely be a first step in the process of achieving Equality for PwDs, which is the solemn intent of legislations including the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said.
NEET-UG: Delhi High Court Imposes Rs 20K Cost After Candidate Produces Fabricated OMR Sheet
Case Title: Selishia Mohandas v. UOI & Ors.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 754
The Delhi High Court recently imposed a cost of Rs. 20,000 against a NEET aspirant who claimed to have scored higher marks than what was reflecting on the record by producing a fabricated OMR Sheet.
Expressing shock over the stand of the aspirant, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said, “it is stated by counsel for the petitioner that earlier the name of the petitioner was appearing, however, on modification of the answer sheet, the same stands deleted. Such a stand is again unacceptable and shocking to the conscience of the court.”
Case Title: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SAS & ANR. v. M/S THE SHOE BOUTIQUE – SHUTIQ
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 755
Refusing to rely on ChatGPT responses in a suit filed by french luxury company Christian Louboutin over its unique “red sole” shoes design, the Delhi High Court has said that artificial intelligence cannot substitute either human intelligence or humane element in the adjudicatory process.
“Accuracy and reliability of AI generated data is still in the grey area. There is no doubt in the mind of the Court that, at the present stage of technological development, AI cannot substitute either the human intelligence or the humane element in the adjudicatory process. At best the tool could be utilised for a preliminary understanding or for preliminary research and nothing more,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said.
Case Title: M/S. Hanuman Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Versus The Additional Director General Directorate General Of GST
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 756
The Delhi High Court has held that the Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGI) cannot be stopped from taking intelligence-based enforcement action when investigations by other authorities are going on.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Amit Mahajan has observed that if any of the authorities have found it necessary to investigate the petitioner based on certain information, the investigation cannot be stopped or interdicted on account of an investigation conducted with respect to any other entity.
Case Title: Aseem Aggarwal v. Ashi Kumar
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 757
The Delhi High Court recently said that Courts must judiciously use the provision for rejection of plaint, Order VII Rule 11, to dispose of the pleas expeditiously and to discard frivolous litigation.
The division bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna and Justice Suresh Kumar Kait observed,
“ Scrupulous adherence to provisions of CPC especially provisions like Order VII Rule 11 CPC can curtail litigation like the present one, which aside from clogging the litigation that could have been nipped in the initial stage itself, also keeps the parties embroiled in litigation with a false hope of some relief, which is never to come their way. This not only leads to dejection amongst the litigants towards the system but also leads to prolonged acrimony between the parties which is not conducive to a robust judicial system and ultimately to a peaceful society.”
Don't Exhibit 'RCB Jersey' In Jailer Movie: Delhi High Court To Filmmakers In Suit By IPL Team
Case Title: ROYAL CHALLENGERS SPORTS PRIVATE LIMITED v. SUN PICTURES A DIVISION OF SUN TV NETWORK LTD.AND ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 758
The Delhi High Court has directed the filmmakers of Rajnikanth starrer Jailer movie to ensure that from September 01 onwards, none of the theatres exhibit the jersey of IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore, as worn by a contract killer in one of the scenes in the film.
Regarding the movie's release on television, satellite or any OTT platform, Justice Prathiba M Singh said that an altered version of the film shall be broadcasted or telecasted prior to such release.
Husband Has No Right To Torture Wife And Beat Her Merely Because They Are Married: Delhi High Court
Case Title: RS v. AS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 759
While dissolving a decade old marriage of a couple, the Delhi High Court has observed that no law has given husband the right to subject his wife to beatings and torture merely because they got married.
“ Merely because the parties got married and the respondent was her husband, no law gave him the right to subject his wife to beatings and torture,” a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.
Case Title: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports v. ERNST and YOUNG PVT LTD
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 760
The Delhi High Court has reiterated that a Section 34 petition filed unaccompanied by the impugned award and without the statement of truth would not constitute a valid filing. The Court observed that the petition as originally filed was without the impugned award and statement of truth and constituted of only 46 pages, however, the refiled version ran into 1785 pages which included the impugned award, therefore, the original filing would be non-est.
The bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna held that the period of limitation for the purpose of Section 34 would stop only on the date when the petition is properly filed and a non-est filing would not stop the limitation.
Case Title: VARUN BHATIA v. STATE AND ANOTHER
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 761
The Delhi High Court has ruled that insulting a woman, being rude to her and not behaving with her in a chivalrous manner, as she would expect one to behave, will not be covered under the definition of “outraging the modesty of a woman” as per Section 509 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
“ The Courts will also have to consider, while adjudicating the cases of Section 509 IPC, the background of the complainant before it, as that can also guide the Courts in deciding as to what the complainant in a case, in given circumstances, would have interpreted or would the complainant's modesty with those words could be said to be outraged,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.
Case Title: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports v. ERNST and YOUNG PVT LTD
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 762
The Delhi High Court has held that an email sent by the arbitral tribunal to the parties wherein the scanned copy of the signed award is attached constitutes a valid delivery of the award under Section 31(5) of the A&C Act.
The bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna held that the period of limitation for challenging an arbitral award under Section 34 of the Act would commence on the date of the subject email and the fact that the award was physically collected on a later date is immaterial qua the limitation.
Case Title: DELHI HIGH COURT LEGAL SERVICES COMMITTEE v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 763
The Delhi High Court has constituted a four member fact finding committee to evaluate the drinking water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in Tihar Jail.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula directed that the members of the committee shall be Advocates Dr. Amit George, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, Nandita Rao and Tushar Sannu.
Case Title: RAMADA INTERNATIONAL,INC v. LA-RAMADA WORLD PRIVATE LIMITED & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 764
The Delhi High Court has directed a hotel to deposit Rs. 5 lakhs with its Registry for repeated breach and “contumacious disobedience” of an injunction order passed against it in a trademark infringement suit filed by international hospitality company Ramada.
Justice C Hari Shankar said that in case the sum is not deposited, Kumar Sambhav, the Director of La Ramada World Resort and Spa, would be taken into custody to suffer incarceration in civil prison for a period of week.
Case Title: GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS. v. SHEETAL
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 765
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) to amend its selection process and ask the candidates to upload documents showing their eligibility, caste and other details at the time of submission of the application itself.
A division bench of Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta passed the direction to ensure that in case a candidate is unable to upload the said documents after the results are announced, the DSSSB can rely or consider them after they are uploaded at the time of submission of the application and due verification.
Civil Services Exam 2023: Delhi High Court Dismisses Plea Seeking 10% Reduction In CSAT Cut-Off
Case Title: Siddharth Mishra & Ors. v. UPSC
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 766
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea challenging the order of Central Administrative Tribunal which refused to order reduction in cut off for Civil Services Aptitude Test 2023 from 33% to 23%.
Referring to a number of precedents including Ranjan Kumar & Ors. v. State of Bihar & Ors., (2014), the division bench of Justice V. Kameshwar Rao and Justice Anoop Kumar Mendriatta said,
“ The Tribunal had rightly observed that the said judgments restrain judicial bodies/fora from interfering with competitive selection processes merely on the ground that some of the candidates may have questioned the selection process or the syllabus of the examination, even though they had voluntarily participated in the examination.”
Extortion Case: Delhi High Court Grants Bail To Conman Sukesh Chandrashekar's Alleged Woman Aide
Case Title: POOJA SINGH v. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 767
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to a woman, an alleged close aide of conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, accused of assisting him while he was lodged in Tihar Jail through a contractual nursing staff and for helping him run an extortion racket from the prison.
Pooja Singh was employed by Chandrashekar's wife Leena Maria Paul as manager of her nail artistry salon. Paul is also a co-accused in the case.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma observed that Singh was a young woman of about 25 to 26 years and that the Enforcement Directorate did not allege that she used “even a single paisa” for her own benefit.
Case Title: Spelndor Landbase Ltd v. Aparna Ashram Society
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 768
The Delhi High Court has held the Court exercising power under Section 11 of the A&C Act has the power to issue time bound directions to Collector of Stamps to decide on unstamped arbitration agreements to ensure that the mandate of Section 11(13) of the A&C Act that provides for expeditious disposal of Section 11 petition should not be defeated.
Case Title: RAMESH v. SMT. MEENAKSHI LEKHI
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 769
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea challenging the election of Meenakshi Lekhi, current Union Minister of State for External Affairs, from the New Delhi Parliamentary Constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Justice Sanjeev Narula rejected the plea moved by Ramesh who contested as an independent candidate from the constituency and raised allegations of discrepancies in Lekhi's election expenditure and her involvement in corrupt election practices.
Case Title: Rajeev Chhatwal Versus Commissioner Of Goods And Services Tax (East)
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 770
The Delhi High Court has held that Section 67(2) of the GST Act does not empower the seizure of currency available on premises during a search.
The bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav has directed the department to remit the amount seized to the petitioner's bank account within a period of two weeks, along with accrued interest.
Case Title: NATIONAL SEEDS CORPORATION LTD v. RAM AVTAR GUPTA
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 771
The Delhi High Court has held that Section 14 of the Limitation Act, which provides for exclusion of time consumed in civil proceedings initiated before a Court not having the jurisdiction, applies to proceedings under Section 34 of the A&C Act.
The bench of Justice Jyoti Singh excluded 1239 days spent in prosecuting the petition under Section 34 petition before a Court not having the pecuniary jurisdiction. The Court observed that a party prosecuting its case with due diligence, in good faith and under a bonafide mistake before a Court not having the jurisdiction would get the benefit of Section 14 of the Limitation Act and the time consumed in such proceedings would stand excluded from the purview of limitation.
Title: J BALAJI v. THE HINDU NEW DELHI AND ANR
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 772
The Delhi High Court has observed that the situs of a workman's place of employment is a determinative factor in conferring territorial jurisdiction on a labour court although not specified in the Industrial Disputes Act.
“Though the Industrial Disputes Act does not make any reference to the aspect of territorial jurisdiction, however, situs of the place of employment of a workman would be a determinative factor in conferring territorial jurisdiction upon a Labour Court for deciding a labour dispute raised by a workman,” a division bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna observed.
Recovery Of Drugs From Couple's Bedroom Is Attributable To Both Husband And Wife: Delhi High Court
Case Title: DIXITA GOLWALA vs NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 773
The Delhi High Court observed that recovery of drugs from the bedroom of a couple is attributable to both the husband and wife.
The court made the observation in a bail plea filed by the woman who was arrested in 2021 after drugs were recovered from the couple's bedroom at their residence and from the husband's office premises.
Justice Jasmeet Singh said that bedroom is a private space shared by a husband and wife. Therefore, even if ganja is recovered from the couple's bedroom at the instance of the husband, the recovery was made from the joint space of the couple and thus, it cannot be attributable to the husband alone.
Title: ZAHIR ABDULLAH & ANR v. OMAR ABDULLAH and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 774
The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to pay interim maintenance of Rs. 1,50,000 per month to his estranged wife Payal Abdullah.
Justice Subramonium Prasad increased the amount of interim maintenance from Rs. 75,000 which was directed by the family court in April 2018.
Case Title: PRAFUL BILLORE & ANR. v. BAEROJGAR & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 775
The Delhi High Court has directed nine YouTube channels to take down certain “defamatory and disparaging videos” against cafe chain MBA Chai Wala and its founder Praful Billore.
Justice Prathiba M Singh viewed one of the videos and noted that expressions like “MBA Fraud Wala” and various other derogatory expressions were used by the YouTube channels.
Case Title: MS. N v. STATE & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 776
The Delhi High Court has directed its Registrar (Vigilance) to seek an explanation from a trial court judge for passing a “non-reasoned” order granting bail to a POCSO accused.
“The Registrar (Vigilance) of this Court is directed to seek explanation on the administrative side from the concerned Judge, as to the reasons for passing the non-reasoned impugned order, report whereof shall be placed before the concerned Hon‟ble Inspecting Judges Committee of this Court within one week for consideration,” Justice Saurabh Banerjee said.
Case Title: SHRI ANIL KUMAR v. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA AND ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 777
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a PIL against the procedure adopted by the Chief Electoral Officer during the First-Level Checking (FLC) of EVMs and VVPATs to be used in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in 2024.
The PIL was filed by the President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee through Advocates Aljo K. Joseph and Sunil Kumar alleging that sufficient notice was not given to political parties before conduct of FLC and that EVM details were not provided despite asking, thus defeating the whole purpose of the process.
Case Title: SILVERMAPLE HEALTHCARE SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED AND OTHERS vs DR AJAY DUBEY & ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 778
The Delhi High Court has ruled that in cases where the impugned mark has been used by the defendant for any length of time, the courts must give an opportunity to the defendant to respond to the application for interim injunction filed in a trademark infringement suit before passing any orders.
“ Where the impugned mark has been used by the defendant for any length of time, that sole factor would entitle the defendant to an opportunity to respond, inviting, to the prayer for interlocutory injunctive relief, before orders are passed by the Court thereon,” the bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar observed.
Case Title: A v. S
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 780
The Delhi High Court has observed that making false allegations of dowry harassment or rape against the husband's family members is an act of extreme cruelty for which there can be no condonation.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna upheld a family court order which held a husband as entitled to divorce from his wife on the ground of cruelty under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
Title: Rekha Rani and Ors. v. State of NCT of Delhi
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 781
The Delhi High Court has observed that it will not be safe to prosecute an accused for the offence of abetment of suicide when the deceased was “hyper-sensitive.”
Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain observed that in order to constitute the offence of abetment of suicide under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, there should be abetment and intention of the accused to aid or instigate or abet the deceased to commit suicide.
Case Title: Liberty Footwear Company v. Liberty Shoes Limited
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 782
The Delhi High Court has decided that if a petition under Section 9 is submitted to any court other than the one where the initial application was made, Section 42 of the A&C Act will prevent it.
This section grants exclusive jurisdiction to the first court for arbitration-related cases. First court is basically the court where an arbitration petition is filed at the first instance. Section 42 says that if I have filed an application before the Delhi High Court, any other application that I file before any other court say Calcutta, would be barred by limitation.
Case Title: Amit Guglani v. L&T Housing Finance
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 783
The Delhi High Court has held that when there are two interconnected agreements with conflicting arbitration clauses, the arbitration clause contained in the main/umbrella agreement should be given primacy over the other clause.
Justice Jyoti Singh held that when disputes under two connected agreements had different Arbitration Clauses, the disputes should be resolved under the main or umbrella agreement and the seat of arbitration should be determined as per the clause contained in the main agreement.
Case Title: UNION OF INDIA v. VANSH SHARAD GUPTA
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 784
The Delhi High Court has directed the Union Ministry of Law and Justice to periodically monitor the status of uploading Central Acts and subordinate legislations on “India Code” portal.
“The Secretary, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice is directed to periodically monitor the status of uploading the Acts on the India Code portal and ensure that the process is completed seamlessly and in a time-bound manner,” Justice Manmohan ordered.
Case Title: CASA2 STAYS PVT LTD v. BBH COMMUNICATIONS INDIA PVT LTD
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 785
The Delhi High Court has held that the principles of natural justice are not violated when the opportunity to make oral submissions on an issue was granted but not availed by the party. It held that no party has the absolute right to insist on his convenience in every respect.
The bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Neena Bansal Krishna held that an Arbitrator has a right to manage the proceedings and to give directions to the parties to be present on a particular date, time and place and this would be sufficient compliance of the principles of natural justice.
Title: MOHD. IRSHAD & ANR. v. NADEEM
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 786
The Delhi High Court has observed that mere second marriage of the father, when he lost his first wife, cannot be held per-se a disqualification from his continuing to be a natural guardian of his child.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna also observed that even the disparity in the financial status cannot be a relevant factor for denying the custody of a child to the natural parent.
Case Title: RAVI BHUSHAN UPADHYAY v. THE STATE
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 787
The Delhi High Court has observed that courts cannot be used as “matrimonial facilitators” for pressurizing the accused to get married to the victim or be denied bail in sexual assault cases.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma added that courts can also not be used by the accused for obtaining bail by asking the complainant to appear before the court and state that he was ready to get married to her.
Case Title: THE SURGICAL MANUFACTURERS & TRADERS ASSOCIATION THROUGH ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE v. UNION OF INDIA and other connected matter
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 788
The Delhi High Court has upheld the validity of a 2020 notification issued by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare notifying all medical devices, intended for use on human beings or animals, as drugs within the meaning of Section 3(b)(iv) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
A division bench comprising Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju observed that the Union Government, in its wisdom, thought it fit to bring all medical devices within the ambit of the expression “drug”, which is clearly a policy matter.
CaseTitle: RAJESH KUMARI v. DHIRAJ & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 789
The Delhi High Court has observed that merely because the relationship between the parents has turned acrimonious, resulting in FIRs and making serious allegations against each other, cannot be a ground to deny an attempt at re-establishing the bond between a mother and her minor child.
Justice Navin Chawla set aside a family court order denying custody of a 10 year old minor child to the mother, observing that the interest of the child would lie in receiving the love and affection from both parents, though they may be warring with each other.
Case Title: Mamta v. Pradeep Kumar
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 790
The Delhi High Court has made some striking observations with respect to the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 not recognizing incompatibility of a married couple as a ground for divorce, leaving such couples to "suffer acrimonious relationship" with no exit.
" Unless the opposite party was shown to be at fault, whether it was for 'Adultery', 'Cruelty', 'Desertion' or other grounds as specified under Section 13 of the Act, 1955, no divorce can be granted. With the passage of time, experience has shown that many a times, the marriages do not work because of incompatibility and temperamental differences, for which neither party can be blamed. However, since only Fault Theory prevails, these parties end up warring with each other for years to come only because they have no way of exiting this relationship " a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed.
Case Title: PREETI v. VIKAS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 791
The Delhi High Court has observed that while looking at acts of 'mental cruelty', the courts must look at the married life of a couple as a whole and not merely a few isolated incidents.
A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna also observed that mere filing of an FIR by wife is not sufficient to prove the allegations of cruelty and dowry harassment without being proved by cogent evidence.
Case Title: VAIBHAV KUMAR v. STATE NCT OF DELHI & ANR.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 792
The Delhi High Court has observed that acid attack cases, “characterized by their sheer brutality and devastating consequences”, are among the most grievous crimes which send shockwaves through communities and thus, the role of a court in granting or denying bail to the accused is of vital significance.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma noted that such attacks often result in life-altering injuries, causing not only physical pain but also emotional scars that may never heal.
Case Title: AARIF HUSSAIN v. SHRI AJAY KUMAR BHALLA AND ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 793
The Delhi High Court has granted seven weeks time to the Union Government for complying with a division bench judgment passed in December last year extending the benefit of House Rent Allowance (HRA) to every personnel in the paramilitary forces, irrespective of the rank, as per their entitlement.
Justice Jasmeet Singh passed the order in a plea seeking contempt action against the authorities for failing to comply with the judgment.
Case Title: THE STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI v. BABITA & ORS
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 794
The Delhi High Court has observed that gender based assumptions in favour of a female accused, without any substantive basis or valid grounds, goes against the core principles of our justice system.
“ Our legal system is founded on the principle of gender neutrality, unless otherwise provided, where each individual, regardless of their gender, is held accountable for their actions in accordance with the law. Presumptions based on gender have no place within this framework, unless provided by law, as they undermine the pursuit of truth and justice,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.
Case Title: GLOBAL MUSIC JUNCTION PVT. LTD. v. SHATRUGHAN KUMAR AKA KHESARI LAL YADAV & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 795
The Delhi High Court has observed that the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018, has changed the nature of specific relief from an equitable, discretionary remedy to a statutory remedy and has made specific performance of a contract a general rule rather than an exception.
A division bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Saurabh Banerjee said that the 2018 Amendment Act has brought the Indian Specific Performance Act in line with the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts, as it aspires to achieve “harmonization in international law governing commercial contracts.”
Delhi High Court Limits Adjustment Of Tax Refunds Against Disputed Demands At 20%
Case Title: Jindal Stainless Ltd Versus DCIT
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 796
The Delhi High Court has limited the adjustment of tax refunds against disputed demands to 20%.
The bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Girish Kathpalia has observed that the action of the AO in adjusting the refund due to the petitioner/assessee for AY 2022–23 against the disputed demands for AYs 2011–12, 2012–13, and 2014–15 was not only hasty but was also contrary to law.
Case Title: RAHUL MOHOD v. THE GOVT. OF NCT DELHI & ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 797
The Delhi High Court has said that the Delhi Government is addressing the immediate healthcare requirements of animals and is also investing in the training and skill development of veterinary personnel through construction of a veterinary college.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula also said that the government is seized of the threat posed by Canine Distemper virus and Parovirus in animals and is actively vaccinating them for the same.
'Mental Cruelty' Wide Enough To Include 'Financial Instability' Of Spouse: Delhi High Court
Case Title: PW v. RW
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 798
The Delhi High Court has ruled that term “mental cruelty” is wide enough to take within its ambit the “financial instability” of a spouse.
“In the present case, it is easy to decipher the mental trauma as the appellant [wife] was working and the respondent [husband] was not working. There was a huge disparity in the financial status of the appellant and the respondent. The endeavours of the respondent to be able to sustain himself had admittedly failed. Such kind of financial instability is bound to result in mental anxiety on account of husband being not settled in any business or profession which resulted in other vices, can be termed as a constant source of mental cruelty to the appellant. The term “mental cruelty” is wide enough to take within its ambit the “financial instability”” a division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.
Case Title: M/S Frequent Logistics Services PVT. LTD. v. Commissioner Goods and Service Tax Department And ORS.
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 799
The Delhi High Court has recently set aside show cause notice proposing to cancel GST registration and the consequential order cancelling the same on the ground that reasons for cancelling registration of assesee were not clearly mentioned in the show cause notice.
A bench comprising of Justices Vibhu Bakhru and Amit Mahajan held: “At the least, the Show Cause Notice must clearly indicate the reasons for which an adverse order is proposed to be passed in order for the noticee to respond to the same.”
Case Title: AMAN GUPTA v. STATE
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 800
The Delhi High Court has observed that issuing fake invoices and e-way bills for GST evasion is an economic offence involving loss to the public exchequer which needs to be viewed seriously.
Justice Amit Bansal made the observation while denying anticipatory bail to a chartered accountant accused of forgery and GST evasion by creating false invoices issued by non-existent entities.