Delhi HC Issues Notice On Former NCLT Legal Research Associate's Plea To Quash Performance Appraisal Report

The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a petition seeking the quashing of an appraisal report issued by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to a former Legal Research Associate. The petitioner has claimed that he also requires an experience certificate from the tribunal for an RBI recruitment process. Justice Tejas Karia, sitting as a Vacation Judge, issued notice to the NCLT, the Union of India, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The court also granted relief to the petitioner,...

Supreme Court Stays Bombay HC Ruling Holding JSW Steel Not Liable For Sunken Barge Removal Costs

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Bombay High Court judgment that had held JSW Steel Ltd was not liable for the costs incurred in removing the wreck of the barge M.V. Satyam from Mumbai harbor. The High Court, in its April 10, 2026 judgment, had directed Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) to refund ₹4.09 crore, comprising the ₹70 lakh deposited by JSW Steel and the accrued interest, within six weeks. A bench of Justices S.V.N. Bhatti and Atul S. Chandurkar issued notice in the matter, while recording...

Kerala Court Refuses To Refer Nivin Pauly's Firm-Magic Frames Dispute Over Two Films To Arbitration

A Munsiff Court at Ernakulam has refused to refer to arbitration a dispute over accounts relating to the films “Ramachandra Boss & Co” and “Malayali From India” between actor Nivin Pauly's production house, Pauly Junior Pictures LLP, and film production company Magic Frames. The court held that the arbitration clause relied on by Magic Frames was not mandatory and did not cover all the disputes raised in the suit. Additional Munsiff Nanda Krishna M passed the order while dismissing an...

Dedicated Ethanol Plants Cannot Be Disadvantaged After Investing Under Procurement Framework: Karnataka High Court

Dedicated ethanol plants that were set up to exclusively supply Oil Marketing Companies and invested substantial sums on the basis of long-term assurances cannot be denied the benefit of that framework without scrutiny, the Karnataka High Court has held. Justice M. Nagaprasanna delivered the ruling while allowing a petition filed by VINP Distilleries and Sugars Pvt. Ltd. against Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. The dispute...

Notice Returned As 'Unclaimed' At Correct Address Suffices For Deemed Service: Kerala High Court

A cheque demand notice returned with the postal endorsement "unclaimed" is sufficient to satisfy the statutory requirement of notice in a cheque dishonour case, the Kerala High Court has held. Justice A Badharudeen, allowing an appeal against an acquittal recorded by a magistrate's court in Kozhikode, held that when a demand notice is issued to the drawer's correct address, its return with the endorsement "unclaimed" would amount to deemed acceptance unless the accused proves otherwise. The...

Evidence Of Person Without Direct Knowledge Insufficient In Cheque Bounce Case: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has observed that a complainant in a cheque dishonour case cannot rely on evidence from a person who lacks direct knowledge of the transaction and execution of the cheque to prove those facts. “Indubitably such evidence shall be given by the person, who had direct knowledge regarding the transaction and execution of the cheque and the evidence of a person, who does not know the same is insufficient to prove the transaction and the execution of the cheque.” Justice A....

Delhi High Court Issues Summons In Former Tihar Jail Officer's Defamation Suit Against 'Black Warrant' Authors

The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a defamation suit filed by former Tihar Jail officer L.P. Nirmal against author and former Tihar jailer Sunil Gupta and others over the book 'Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer'. Nirmal claims the book falsely links him to an inmate escape that never occurred. Justice Subramonium Prasad issued summons in the suit on May 29. The Court did not grant any ex parte interim relief and has listed Nirmal's injunction application for hearing on August...

Bombay High Court Quashes Centre's Retrospective One-Time Spectrum Charge On Airtel, Vodafone Idea

The Bombay High Court on Monday quashed the Centre's decision imposing one-time spectrum charges retrospectively on Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea under the National Telecom Policy, 1999 (NTP-99) regime. The court held that the Union Government lacked authority under Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or the telecom licence agreements to levy such charges for spectrum held beyond 6.2 MHz from July 2008 onwards. A Division Bench of Justices Manish Pitale and Shriram V. Shirsat held...

Unauthenticated Alteration In Cheque Date Renders It Void: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that an alteration in the date of a cheque that is not authenticated by the drawer's full signature amounts to a material alteration and renders the cheque void, while upholding an acquittal in a cheque dishonour case. Justice A. Badharudeen held: “When there is alteration of the date in the cheque which is not authenticated by putting the full signature of the drawer on the place of alteration, the same operates as a material alteration and the same...

Cheque Dishonour Notice Must Specify Amount Demanded, Else No Valid Notice In Eye Of Law: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that a statutory demand notice issued in a cheque dishonour case must specifically mention the amount demanded, failing which there would be no legal notice in the eye of law. “Only when the notice is specific about the amount, it is possible for the recipient of the notice to pay the amount which was specifically asked for to avoid penal consequences,” the Court observed. Justice A Badharudeen made the observation while dismissing an appeal filed against the...

"Extremely Despicable": Bombay HC Orders Police Action Over Assault On Receiver During Counterfeit Goods Raid

The Bombay High Court has directed the Superintendent of Police, Ambala, to take action in relation to the assault on a court-appointed receiver during a court-ordered search-and-seizure operation in Haryana that allegedly uncovered a huge quantity of goods bearing Unilever Plc's trademarks, labels, and artwork. The court has also ordered police protection for the receiver during further execution proceedings. The order was passed on May 29 by vacation judge Justice Shreeram V. Shirsat. The...

Crypto Fraud Allegations Disclose Triable Issues, No Quashing At FIR Stage: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court on 15 May declined to quash criminal proceedings arising out of an alleged cryptocurrency investment scam, holding that allegations of false representations, fictitious entities, and dishonest inducement of investors disclose triable issues that require examination at trial rather than interference at the FIR stage. A Bench of Dr Justice Sanjeeb K Panigrahi observed: “Allegations involving organized financial fraud, systematic inducement of multiple investors, and...