In Brief
JSW Steel Ltd. challenged the Mumbai High Court's dismissal of its 1996 writ petition seeking relief from liability for removing a sunken barge ('Satyam'). The Port Trust demanded JSW pay removal costs under the Indian Ports Act, though the barge's actual owner was a third party. The High Court closed the case as infructuous after 20+ years without deciding the legal issue. The Supreme Court held that a pure question of law must be decided on merits despite systemic delay, and remanded the case to the High Court. The Court emphasized that lapse of time caused by the system, not party negligence, cannot defeat a claim, and prerogative writs must remain available to safeguard citizens' rights.
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