In Brief
Bharat Hydro Power Corporation challenged a trial court's dismissal of a suit for compensation for expenditures incurred on a hydroelectric project before the 1996 Act came into force. The respondent argued the suit was barred by prior settlement and res judicata. The High Court had earlier held the Commission lacked jurisdiction over pre-Act claims. The Supreme Court held that a general settlement does not bar claims the High Court had specifically disallowed on jurisdictional grounds. The Court set aside the concurrent findings and remanded for fresh consideration on the merits, clarifying that jurisdiction and limitation findings remain undisturbed.
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