#Statutory Interpretation

The court ruled that Section 69-A of the Tamil Nadu Court Fees Act permits full fee refunds only when disputes are referred under Section 89 CPC, not for private out-of-court settlements after evidence has been recorded. Section 69 overrides Section 69-A once trial commences, denying refunds to plaintiffs who settle privately mid-trial. This clarifies the scope of fee refunds and impacts litigants opting for private compromise after evidence stage.

CESTAT Chennai holds Circular 36/2010 cannot override Section 149 Customs Act; unchallenged conversion order binds revenue at drawback sanction stage.

Rajasthan HC holds police must provide assistance for Section 14 SARFAESI orders without levying charges under Section 46 Rajasthan Police Act.

The J&K High Court held that a single composite demand notice covering multiple dishonoured cheques satisfies Section 138 NI Act requirements, and that taking cognizance after the 15-day statutory payment window expires cures any premature filing defect. The ruling clarifies procedural compliance for cheque bounce complainants and limits technical grounds for quashing proceedings.

The Supreme Court ruled that Section 43D(7) UAPA's bail bar for foreign nationals applies only when initial entry was unauthorized, not when a valid visa merely expires. Default bail under Section 43D(2) remains unaffected by Section 43D(7)'s non-obstante clause, and bail cancellation requires supervening circumstances, not re-litigation of the original grant. The ruling shields legally present foreign nationals from automatic UAPA bail denial while preserving the framework for genuine threats.

The Bombay High Court held that import date under FTP is shipment date not arrival upholding Ganesh Das Bhojraj principle and that FTP restrictions apply only to goods dispatched after notification benefiting importers whose goods arrived before notice.

Calcutta HC held Customs officers may sample imported food under Section 144 for tariff classification even with food safety concerns, letting revenue probe duty evasion without waiting for separate food safety clearance.

An election petition must be filed in person by the petitioner under Section 81 RP Act, the Supreme Court ruled, and non-compliance results in dismissal under Section 86(1). The decision reinforces procedural strictness for election disputes, impacting petitioners and the electoral process.

Denying IVF solely because husband exceeds age limit under Section 21(g) of ART Act 2021 violates wife’s reproductive autonomy; age limits apply individually, allowing couples with one eligible partner to access assisted reproductive technology.

The Calcutta High Court held that Section 7(3) of the WB Premises Tenancy Act, 1997 cannot strike out a tenant’s defence unless rent arrears are admitted or judicially determined, requiring landlords to prove arrears before striking defences.

The Gauhati HC held a Section 73(2) CGST show cause notice dated 29 Nov 2024 timely as three months remained after excluding the notice date, letting the appellant reply. This clarifies the GST notice limitation period and affects taxpayers.

Section 50 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 does not empower the West Bengal State Consumer Commission to review orders passed under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. As a result, revision applications challenging such 1986 Act orders are dismissed, leaving consumers without a statutory review remedy under the newer law.

The Supreme Court ruled that escrow release under Regulation 15B(8) of the Buyback Regulations does not preclude independent PFUTP fraud proceedings, as the inquiries operate in distinct fields. The Court remitted to SAT for fresh adjudication, directing resolution of trading data discrepancies and contradictory SEBI reports within six months.

The Delhi High Court ruled that compensation under Section 20(3)(ii) of the Minimum Wages Act cannot exceed the statutory limit of Rs 10, setting aside the Authority's award of 50% compensation on overtime arrears. The court substituted the excess compensation with simple interest at 7% per annum from the date of claim accrual. This clarifies the ceiling on penal compensation for minimum wage violations, impacting employers and workers in sectors like private security.

The Supreme Court ruled that for National Highways Act acquisitions, solatium and interest are payable but must be calculated under the 1894 Land Acquisition Act when the Competent Authority's award pre-dates 1 January 2015 - the date the 2013 RFCTLARR Act was extended to highway projects. The 2013 Act's enhanced compensation regime does not apply retrospectively to finalised awards, directly impacting landowners with pre-2015 awards.