#Section 12

Demotion after maternity leave violates Section 12 of the Maternity Benefit Act, the Delhi High Court found. It reinstated the employee as senior manager, awarded Rs 10 lakh for mental harassment, and directed the Union to issue guidelines for private employers. The ruling expands maternity protection to post-leave career progression for women workers.

The Supreme Court ruled that Section 12 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act grants trial priority only when two cases have overlapping dates, and cannot be used to halt an ongoing murder trial. This narrows the Act’s reach, ensuring parallel prosecutions continue unless scheduling conflicts arise, affecting prosecutors and accused in gang-related and other serious offences.

Conviction can justify termination of a government employee even when Section 12 of the Probation of Offenders Act is invoked. The Supreme Court also awarded Rs 5 lakh compensation for the earlier illegal discharge, underscoring that Section 12 offers no protection against service termination.

ITAT Ahmedabad holds that failure to submit documents during assessment does not preclude reconsideration when evidence is produced before CIT(A); penalty cancelled due to set-aside of assessment.

Madhya Pradesh High Court condones seven-year delay in filing criminal appeal, emphasizing no prejudice to state and remanding for merits-based hearing under Section 12 of Probation of Offenders Act.