EC issues Statement of Objections in Amazon-iRobot merger

The European Commission, has issued a Statement of Objections, in relation to Amazon’s acquisition of iRobot, wherein it has provisionally concluded that the acquisition is likely to result in restricting competition in the market for the manufacturing & supply of Robot Vacuum Cleaners and would allow Amazon to strengthen its position in the market for online marketplace services to third-party sellers and/or other data-related markets.

Precise cause of a fire is immaterial, provided the claimant is not the instigator of the fire: SC

The Supreme Court (SC), dealing with the repudiation of fire insurance claim by the insurance company, has held that as long as the insured is not the person who caused the fire the insurance company cannot repudiate the insurance claim on the ground that the cause of fire is not certain. The SC, further, opined that insurance is governed by the doctrine of uberrimae fidei – there must be complete good faith on the part of the insured, which was established in the present case.

Absence of precise amount of claim for loss of goodwill does not render an Arbitral Award as patently illegal: DHC

The Delhi High Court, while dealing with an appeal for setting aside of the Arbitral Award on the ground that the Arbitrator has erred in granting claim of loss of goodwill, without any proof of loss or damage thereof, has held that, it is difficult to establish, with mathematical precision, the quantum of loss of goodwill & in such situations, claim based on liquidated damages as set out in the contract, if accepted, does not make the Arbitral Award patently illegal.

Hanson Quarry–Mick George Ltd. deal could lead to concentration in construction materials supply market: UK CMA

The Competition & Markets Authority in UK, has provisionally found that the Hanson Quarry Products’ (Hanson) acquisition of Mick George Limited (MGL) raises competition concerns in the market for supply of non-specialist aggregates or ready-mix concrete in East of England & East Midlands. Hanson & MGL are the leading construction material suppliers in the whole of UK & in the East of England and East Midlands, respectively, leading to a likelihood that the acquisition is likely to result in reduction in choice, higher prices & lower quality products for the contractors.

Courts must extend the benefit of plea of juvenility when no exact age of child can be established: SC

The Supreme Court, hearing a plea of juvenility in an appeal filed by the accused convicted by the Allahabad High Court for offence under Section 302 IPC, has held that when there are conflicting reports & documents regarding the assessment of age of the accused Rule 12(3)(b) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 would apply & the Court has to extend the benefit of juvenility to the accused by considering his age on lower side within the margin of one year.

Causing death of a person mistakenly other than the one whose death was intended amounts to murder: SC

The Supreme Court (SC), while dealing with the issue of whether an offence under Section 302 IPC could be reduced to culpable homicide not amounting to murder since the accused had no intention to kill the deceased, has held that the ‘Doctrine of Transfer of Malice’ applies in such cases, which provides that where there is ‘mens rea’ of committing an offence it can be transferred to another. The SC noted that the intention to kill some other person is immaterial as the accused had the intention of committing the offence, though accidently he might have killed another person.

Competition Tribunal – South Africa prohibits merger between two decorative paints companies

The Competition Tribunal – South Africa (CTSA), in an appeal filed against the order prohibiting acquisition of majority stake by Akzo Nobel N.V. (Dulux) in Kansai Plascon Africa Ltd (Plascon), passed by Competition Commission – South Africa (CCSA), has upheld the CCSA’s order & prohibited the proposed acquisition, on the ground that the acquisition would likely result in a substantial lessening of competition in the “market for the manufacture and supply of decorative coatings in South Africa.

State of Bihar increases reservation to 65% for recruitment in Govt. Jobs & admission in Educational Institutions

The Bihar (In Admission In Educational Institutions) Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 & the Bihar Reservation of vacancies in posts and services (For SC, ST, EBC and OBC) Amendment Bill, 2023 received the accent of the governor on 21.11.2023 thereby increasing the overall reservation for SCs, STs & OBCs from 50% to 65%. The statement of object stipulates the reason for bringing the amendment that according to the “‘Caste based Survey 2022-23’, it is apparent that large section of backward classes, schedule caste and schedule tribe need to be promoted…”