Delhi High Court
Arbitrator's Decision To Defer Compliance With Essential Pre-Condition In Agreement Amounted To Rewriting Contract, Vitiated It: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh while allowing a petition under Section 34, Arbitration and Conciliation Act (“ACA”) observed that when the contract required the bidder to establish an office in India as a pre-requisite to performance, the decision by the Arbitrator holding that compliance could be deferred, amounted to rewriting the contract. Such a holding violated fundamental policy of Indian law and the award was liable to be set aside. Facts The present...
Govt Is Promoting Start-Up Culture, Customs Should Be Sensitive In Proceedings Against Them: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has asked the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs to consider whether some “preferential treatment” ought to be given to Start-ups and MSMEs in terms of timelines, warehousing and provisional release in cases of misdeclaration of goods, especially in case of low value consignments.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain observed that considering the prevailing policy in India to encourage start-ups and MSMEs, the Customs Department also needs to...
Dismissal Of Plea U/S 8 Of A&C Act Amounts To Res Judicata; S.11 Court Cannot Refer Parties To Arbitration: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, while dismissing a Section 11 petition under the A&C Act, observed that dismissing a Section 8 application under the A&C Act amounts to res judicata. The Section 11 Court cannot refer the parties to Arbitration if the order dismissing Section 8 is not set aside or interfered with. A Collaboration Agreement dated 26.11.2018 was entered into by the parties, and the Petitioner was required to carry out the...
GST Dept Can't Probe Misuse Of GSTIN By Third Party, Power Lies With Economic Offences Wing: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has made it clear that allegations of misuse of a trader's GST identification number by a third party cannot be probed by the GST Department.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain observed,“Section 132 of the CGST Act, 2017 provides for certain offences which the GST Department can take cognizance of. However, the allegation here is that the GST number of the Petitioner has been misused by a third party, who is unknown. In the opinion of this Court,...
'Mere Prospect Of Filing Review Not Grounds To Hold Seized Goods': Delhi High Court Orders Customs To Release Woman's Gold Jewellery
The Delhi High Court has granted relief to a Muslim woman whose gold bangles were seized by the Customs Department on return from Mecca and were withheld despite an order of the Adjudicating Authority, directing release.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain observed that merely because the Department plans to seek a review of the order for return, as upheld by the Appellate Authority, is not grounds to withhold the return of seized articles.Four gold bangles were seized...
Department Can't Withhold Refund In Terms Of S.54(11) GST Act Unless Appeal Against Refund Order Is Filed: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has made it clear that the power to withhold refund under Section 54(11) of the Central Goods and Service Tax Act 2017 cannot be exercised by the Department in absence of an appeal against the refund order.The provision stipulates that where an order giving rise to a refund is the subject matter of an appeal and the Commissioner is of the opinion that grant of such refund is likely to adversely affect the revenue, he may withhold the refund after giving an opportunity of...
Govt Notifications Imposing Restrictions On Usage In Contracts For Supply Of Gas Are Laws Under Article 12, Must Be Complied With: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court, while dismissing a Section 34 petition, observed that the five contracts entered into between the parties were subject to the restrictions imposed by the Government. By providing the gas at a subsidised price, the Government has the authority to regulate the use of such gas. The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad held that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (“MoPNG”) had apprised the Petitioner of the Government's policy concerning the usage of APM gas....
'Total Non-Application Of Mind': Delhi High Court On Dept's Rejection Of Trader's Plea For GST Cancellation, Subsequent Cancellation Order
The Delhi High Court recently expressed its disapproval with the GST Department for rejecting a trader's application for retrospective cancellation of his GST registration on medical grounds, and later cancelling his registration with retrospective effect.Stating that this approach reflects a “complete non-application of the mind”, a division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain directed the Department to adjudicate both the issues afresh. It observed,“Clearly, the Petitioner...
Import Of Counterfeit iPhones Dilutes Brand Equity, Affects Consumer Welfare: Delhi High Court In Customs Fraud Case
The Delhi High Court has expressed concern over alleged import of counterfeit iPhones, stating that such imports not only affect brand owners but also adversely affect consumer welfare— as old and used products could get re-branded as new ones.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain thus observed,“Consumers in India may be made to pay more for used, second hand or counterfeit products under the impression that they are original branded products. Such imports also have an...
Delhi High Court Orders Blocking Of Sci-Hub, Mirror Websites In India In Publishers' Copyright Infringement Suit
The Delhi High Court has ordered blocking of shadow library website Sci-Hub and its mirror websites in India in a copyright infringement suit filed by publishing houses Elsevier, Wiley and American Chemical Society.Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed the DoT and Union Ministry of Information and Technical to issue a notification calling upon the various internet and telecom service providers to block access to Sci-Hub and its mirror websites available at www.sci-hub.se,...
Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Plea Challenging Appointment Of Ex-Railway Officials As Arbitrators In Railway Dispute
The Delhi High Court bench comprising Justice Amit Bansal has issued notice in a petition filed under Section 14 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (“Arbitration Act”), seeking termination of the mandate of the Standing Arbitral Tribunal (“SAT”) constituted by the Union of India, West Central Railway (“Respondent”) in view of the ruling of the Supreme Court in Central Organisation for Railway Electrification v. ECI SPIC SMO MCML (JV). Background Facts The matter arose...
Being 'Sick And Infirm' Not Automatic Passport For Bail In PMLA, Medical Plea Can't Override Gravity Of Offence: Delhi High Court
Underscoring that being “sick and infirm” is not an automatic passport for bail in PMLA cases, the Delhi High Court has observed that medical plea cannot override the gravity of offence of money laundering. Justice Ravinder Dudeja observed that illness warrants bail only when treatment in custody is clearly inadequate. “Therefore, the medical plea cannot override the gravity of the offence, societal interest, and the statutory rigour governing such matters,” the Court said. The judge made the...