Thyssen Stahlunion Gmbh Etc vs Steel Authority Of India Ltd on 7 October, 1999
Various decisions have been cited before us to show as to what is a mere
right and what is right accrued or acquired. We have to examine this
question with reference to the provisions of Section 6 of the General
Clauses Act if it could be said that when the arbitral proceedings have
commenced under the old Act, a party has acquired a right to have the award
given thereafter enforced under the old Act. The question that arises for
consideration is if a right has accrued to the party or it is merely an
inchoate right. The three cases referred to, namely, Abbott v. The Minister
for Lands, (1895) AC 425 PC; Hungerfort Investment Trust Ltd. v. Haridas
Mundhra & Ors., [1972] 3 SCR 690 and AC, Bhatia & Ors. v. Union of India &
Anr., [1995] 1 SCC 104 show that something more is required for vested
right to accrue. Right did exist but then nothing was done to show that any
act was done or advantage taken of the enactment under which the right
existed till it was repealed. An Act gave the right and the new Act which
repealed the old Act took away that right. Mere right to take advantage of
the provision of an Act is not a right accrued.