J&K and Ladakh High Court Rejects Arbitration Plea Against HPCL, Finds No Agreement In Ad Hoc Dealership

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on 12 May dismissed a petition by Kanta Devi under Section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, holding that no valid arbitration agreement existed in relation to an ad hoc petrol pump dealership governed through a temporary arrangement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).Justice Rajnesh Oswal held that applying operational terms of HPCL's Standard Dealership Agreement to a temporary arrangement did not amount to...

GST Audit Completion Does Not Bar Further Tax Proceedings for Unpaid Tax: J&K and Ladakh High Court

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has recently held that completion of a GST audit does not prevent tax authorities from initiating further proceedings for unpaid or short-paid tax.Referring to section 65(7) of the CGST Act, the court observed, “A plain reading thereof makes it abundantly clear that where an audit conducted under sub-section (1) of Section 65 results in detection of tax not paid, short paid, erroneously refunded, or input tax credit wrongly availed or utilized,...

Delhi High Court Directs Meta To Take Down Ads Using StoryTV Content To Promote Bullet App

The Delhi High Court has temporarily restrained the entities allegedly behind misleading online advertisements from using StoryTV's copyrighted content and marks to promote rival short-drama app Bullet. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the order on May 11, 2026, in a suit filed by Greenhorn Wellness Private Limited, which owns and operates StoryTV. The Court also directed Meta to immediately take down the identified infringing advertisements across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Threads,...

Allahabad High Court Allows Writ Petition Against Arbitral Award Passed After Unilateral Shift Of Seat

The Allahabad High Court on 5 May held that a writ petition challenging an ex parte arbitral award is maintainable in exceptional circumstances involving lack of jurisdiction or violation of principles of natural justice. A Division Bench of Justices Ajit Kumar and Indrajeet Shukla allowed the writ petition filed by Sushil Kumar Prajapati the proprietor of Laxmi Medical Agency against the Central Hospital, North Central Railway, Allahabad, and set aside an ex parte arbitral award passed in...

Gir Forest Deputy Conservator Not Liable For Service Tax As Tour Operator, Performed Sovereign Functions: Gujarat HC

The Gujarat High Court has dismissed the Central Excise Department's appeals seeking to recover over ₹3.44 crore in service tax from the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests over charges collected from tourists visiting Gir Forest, holding that the officer was performing sovereign governmental functions and could not be treated as a tour operator. “The respondent - Deputy Conservator of Forest was discharging his sovereign function which cannot be brought within the purview of Service...

Patna High Court Refuses To Quash Central Excise Show Cause Notices Against ITC Despite Delay In Adjudication

The Patna High Court has recently refused to quash multiple Central Excise show cause notices issued to ITC Limited, holding that the company could not seek quashing solely on the ground of delayed adjudication when it had not participated in hearings despite repeated opportunities. “For one reason or another, the petitioner did not participate in the hearing. In such circumstances, prima facie, we agree with the submissions of the learned counsel for the Central Excise that the delay in the...

Delhi High Court Grants Zee Temporary Relief Against JioStar In Copyright Suit, Refers Parties To Mediation

The Delhi High Court has recently granted ad-interim relief to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited in its copyright suit against JioStar India Private Limited, while also referring the parties to mediation to explore an amicable settlement. The court directed JioStar to ensure that it does not use, publish, broadcast, stream, upload, or make copies of Zee's licensed works within 15 days in a dispute over the alleged continued hosting of content after expiry of licensing agreements. Justice...

Bombay High Court Pulls Up Petitioner Over Plea To Stay Sir Ratan Tata Trust Board Meeting, Petition Withdrawn

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday disposed of as withdrawn a petition seeking a stay on the May 16 board meeting of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) after expressing serious displeasure over the manner in which the proceedings were instituted.A vacation bench of Justices Advait Sethna and Sandesh Patil expressed shock after noting that petitioner Suresh Patilkhede had sought a stay on the SRTT board meeting based on representations pending before the Charity Commissioner even though those...

Delhi High Court Upholds Licence Fee In Goyal MG Gases Dispute, Says Conduct Affirms Contract

The Delhi High Court on 12 May dismissed the appeals filed by Classic Motors Pvt. Ltd., holding that its continued occupation of the premises and execution of a subsequent addendum amounted to clear affirmation of the contract, not rescission, and therefore it could not later seek reduction of the agreed licence fee on grounds of alleged misrepresentation. A Division Bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan upheld the Single Judge's decision restoring the contractual licence fee...

Delhi Metro Phase-III Project: Delhi High Court Upholds Arbitral Award Against DMRC Over ₹3.47 Crore ECC Claim

The Delhi High Court has recently upheld an arbitral award requiring Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) to reimburse contractor GYT TPL Joint Venture towards ₹3.47 crore in Environmental Compensation Charges (ECC), GST-related burdens and other additional costs. These arose during the execution of the Delhi Metro Phase III Dilshad Garden–New Bus Adda corridor project, including during the extended contract period. Justice Subramonium Prasad held that the Environmental Compensation...

West Bengal Coal Scam Case: Supreme Court Seeks Anup Majee's Reply In ED Plea Against Anticipatory Bail

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a reply from Anup Majee, an alleged key accused in the West Bengal coal smuggling-linked money laundering case, on a plea filed by the Directorate of Enforcement challenging a Delhi High Court order granting him anticipatory bail. The Delhi High Court had, on June 13, 2025, held that the “twin conditions” under Section 45 of the PMLA were satisfied. It noted that the investigation had continued for nearly five years without any attempt to arrest Majee, despite...

Delhi HC Sets Aside ₹2.43 Crore Award In NTPC-Tarapore Dispute Over Serving NTPC Officials As Arbitrators

The Delhi High Court has set aside an arbitral award directing Tarapore & Company to pay over ₹2.43 crore to National Thermal Power Corporation Limited in a dispute arising from the Farakka Super Thermal Power Project. The court held that the arbitral process was vitiated by a reasonable apprehension of bias, as both the original and substitute arbitrators were serving NTPC officials, with the substitute arbitrator having been appointed by an interested NTPC official. The Single Bench of...