• NATIONAL

Caveat in Andhra High Court by RoC

The Registrar of Companies has filed a caveat in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, as a precautionary measure, with regard to the Company Law Board (CLB) orders restraining former whole-time directors, chairman, the chief financial officer and the company secretary of Satyam Computer Services from selling or mortgaging their assets. Caveat is a legal warning to a judicial officer to suspend a proceeding until the opposition gets a hearing.

Prawn not a fish for purpose of levy of cess: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court while deciding the issue, whether export cess was applicable for prawn as it was applicable for fish under the Agricultural Produce Cess Act, 1940 held that prawn is not fish and so the cess is not leviable. The court held that prawn and fish can be differentiated for various purposes such as for development of feed or providing financial assistance for research for agricultural or marine products and so on.

SC says State has no power to raise permit fee on alcohol

The Supreme Court ruled in the case of Mohan Meakin Ltd vs State of Himachal Pradesh that the government of Himachal Pradesh could not increase the levy on the import/ transport of rectified spirit and/ or potable alcohol brought from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. In this case, the distillery in Kasauli (HP) imported "malt spirit of over proof strength" from its units in Mohan Nagar and Una in UP. It had earlier obtained import permit from the Collector Excise, Himachal Pradesh. The authorities thereafter imposed a higher permit fee which was challenged in the high court. The company's writ petition was, however, dismissed. On appeal, the Supreme Court set aside the high court decision and asked it to reconsider the case.

Rail ministry directed by SC to reconsider bid of Ganpati RV-Talleres Alegria Track

The Supreme Court has asked the evaluation committee of the Railway Ministry to reconsider the bid of M/s Ganpati RV-Talleres Alegria Track Ltd, which was rejected earlier at the last moment without giving reasons, with respect to tender for thick web switches. The company filed writ petition alleging that there was a cartel in the bid; however, Delhi high court dismissed the writ petition of the company stating that it had not fulfiled the eligibility criteria set by the railways. However, on its appeal, the Supreme Court stated that the high court was wrong and asked for a reconsideration of the company's offer.

• INTERNATIONAL

Hiring of illegal Indians immigrants

Britain's high-street fashion giant 'Primark' is at the centre of a controversy yet again for allegedly hiring illegal Asian immigrants in the UK. This comes barely a year after an undercover probe exposed Primark for using firms employing child refugees in India.

Apple wins patent for iPhone touch-screen controls

US based 'Apple' has won a US patent for touch-screen controls and gained a potential legal weapon against iPhone competitors. The patent details iPhone or iPod Touch commands such as finger or thumb swiping, twisting, or spreading to flip pages, rotate views, or enlarge images. The patent was issued last week, a day before Apple on January 21 announced record-high quarterly profits.