Author: Anvita Dwivedi
In a significant ruling reinforcing consumer rights in the real estate sector, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh has held the developer of the World Trade Center (WTC) project in Mohali liable for failing to deliver possession of a commercial unit within the stipulated time. The Commission observed that homebuyers cannot be compelled to wait indefinitely for possession, particularly when a substantial portion of the sale consideration has already been paid. The decision was delivered by a bench comprising Justice Raj Shekhar Attri (President) and Preetinder Singh (Member), who held WTC Chandigarh Development Company Pvt. Ltd. guilty of deficiency…
In a significant ruling on tax classification of food products, the Supreme Court of India has held that the iconic beverage Rooh Afza manufactured by Hamdard Laboratories (Wakf) must be treated as a “fruit drink/processed fruit product” under the Uttar Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2008. The Court ruled that the product is liable to 4% VAT instead of the higher 12.5% tax applied under the residuary entry, thereby overturning the earlier judgment of the Allahabad High Court. The decision resolves a long-standing tax dispute between the Uttar Pradesh tax authorities and Hamdard concerning the proper classification of the popular…
Mumbai, 5 March 2026: The Bombay High Court has declined to grant permission to taxi, autorickshaw and app-based cab drivers seeking to offer namaz near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, holding that security considerations at a high-sensitivity zone such as an airport must take precedence over religious accommodation. The order came while the court was hearing a petition filed by the Taxi-Rickshaw Ola-Uber Men’s Union, which sought restoration of a prayer space or the creation of a temporary shed near the airport premises so that Muslim drivers and passengers could perform prayers during the holy month of…
New Delhi, 5 March 2026: In a rare and extraordinary move highlighting concerns over judicial delays, the Supreme Court of India has transferred a set of criminal revision petitions pending before the Allahabad High Court to itself after noting that the High Court had reserved judgment nearly six years ago without delivering a verdict. The apex court said such prolonged inaction had the potential to infringe the litigants’ fundamental rights and warranted exceptional intervention. The case arose from a petition filed before the Supreme Court complaining that the Allahabad High Court had reserved orders in three criminal revision petitions in…
During a Convocation Ceremony at Gujrat National Law University , Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant offered a memorable analogy from T20 cricket noting that just as all-rounders may not be suited to bowl death overs, not every lawyer is suited for every kind of legal work. The observation came in the context of a broader judicial emphasis on specialisation and appropriate deployment of legal skills in contemporary practice. The remarks were made during the hearing of a case involving multiple complex legal issues where the Court was evaluating the quality of legal representation and the strategic deployment of…
New Delhi, 3 March 2026: The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has dismissed a consumer complaint for being time-barred, reinforcing that consumer claims must be filed within the statutory limitation period regardless of how meritorious the grievance might appear on facts. The Commission underscored that allowing stale claims would undermine the purpose of time limits prescribed under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (CPA). The dispute originated from a complaint filed by the petitioner against a builder over alleged deficiency in service relating to construction and delivery of a residential property. According to the grievance, the builder failed to complete…
Mumbai, 2 March 2026: In a significant ruling that reinforces depositor rights and financial transparency, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held HP Employees’ Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practices for enforcing an undisclosed restriction on premature withdrawal of deposits and for wrongly withholding admitted dues of a senior citizen member. The Commission’s order issued by a two-member bench of Presiding Member Mukesh V. Sharma and Member Poonam V. Maharshi not only directs the refund of principal sums with interest but also awards substantial compensation and litigation costs, highlighting the judiciary’s…
The Delhi High Court on Saturday stayed a controversial notification issued by the Delhi government that required private unaided schools in the national capital to constitute school-level fee regulation committees (SLFRCs) and submit proposed fee structures for the next three academic years. The interim order provides immediate relief to schools while challenges to the notification proceed before the court. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia passed the stay order, holding that the government’s February 1 notification titled “Delhi School Education (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2026” shall remain in abeyance until the matter is…
In a noteworthy and unusual turn in child safety litigation, the Bombay High Court has quashed a First Information Report (FIR) and chargesheet against a 52-year-old Pune man filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), while also directing that funds be used to support the minor victim’s education by purchasing her a laptop. A single-judge bench of Justice Ashwin D. Bhobe passed the order on 13 February 2026, allowing the man’s petition for quashing after both the victim and her family stated that the complaint arose from a misunderstanding and…
The Punjab & Haryana High Court has declined a petition seeking to prosecute the parents and grandmother of a man accused of raping a woman on the alleged promise of marriage. In a detailed order, the Court held that mere familial association with the accused does not automatically attract criminal culpability, particularly when there is no credible material to show their active complicity in the offence. The matter arose from a FIR registered against the accused man for allegedly raping a woman after making a false promise of marriage a circumstance recognized in Indian jurisprudence as a ground for inferring…