Possession and Part Performance: Stamp Duty Compliance Is Non-Negotiable, Says Delhi High Court Calcutta High Court Declares Disciplinary Action as ‘Shockingly Disproportionate’, Orders Reduction in Rank for Petitioner No Profits, No Deduction — Section 33AC Must Precede 80-I Calculation in Shipping Tax Disputes: Bombay High Court Equity and Merit Must Coexist: Kerala High Court Rules on Regularisation of Temporary Forest Department Employees Lawyers Have No Right to Strike: Madras High Court in Contempt Case Encroachment is like committing a 'dacoity' against public resources: Delhi High Court. High Court Rejects Plea of Kindergarten School Against ESI Contribution Assessment Kerala High Court Quashes Rape Proceedings Citing 'Humanitarian Consideration' After Accused Marries Victim Procedural Delays Do Not Justify Condonation of Delay," Rules Delhi Consumer Commission in National Insurance Case Elements of Section 300 IPC Are Not Made Out: Rajasthan High Court Quashes Murder Conviction in 1987 Beating Case Registrar Cannot Be a Judge of His Own Cause: Punjab and Haryana High Court Quashes Amendments MP High Court Upholds Prosecution for Forged Patta: 'Accountability in Public Office is Non-Negotiable Approval Must Be Granted for Altruistic Kidney Donations," Rules Madras High Court Grave Illegality in Appellate Remand: High Court of Rajasthan Orders Reassessment on Merits Commissioner Lacked Authority for Retrospective Cancellation: Punjab & Haryana High Court Restores Educational Trusts' Registrations Intent is Crucial in Violent Crimes: Single Blow with Axe Does Not Imply Attempt to Murder," Rules Madhya Pradesh High Court

"CRIMINAL LAW" Digest

Criminal Law - Protest Petition – Direction to Reconsider Case – Order Upheld – The appellant challenged the High Court's decision that set aside the Magistrate's order directing the investigating agency to reconsider the case based on a protest petition – The Court interpreted the Magistrate’s order as a direction for continuation of investigation, not reinve...

  Criminal Law – Bail Application – Offence under Section 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 – Bail Granted – The petitioner, accused of receiving Rs. 65,00,000 on the promise of arranging a job in Australia and failing to fulfill the promise, resulting in the suicide of the complainant, sought bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita...

Criminal Law - Jurisdiction to Take Cognizance – Section 195(1)(b) of Cr.P.C. – Complaint Not Filed in Competent Court – Quashing of Complaint Ordered – A complaint alleging forgery and conspiracy regarding a document used in Regular Civil Suit No. 427/1999 was filed before a Magistrate not having jurisdiction under Section 195(1)(b) of Cr.P.C., which mandates that only the...

Matrimonial Law - Enhancement of maintenance - Exercise of Inherent Powers – Section 482 CrPC – Scope and Application - The High Court dismissed the appellant's petition under Section 482 CrPC for enhancement of interim maintenance, citing the availability of an alternative remedy under Section 397 CrPC. The Supreme Court reiterated that the nomenclature of a petition is immaterial...

Civil Law - Employees’ Provident Fund Act – Quashing of Proceedings – Limitation Bar Applied – Proceedings Quashed – The petitioners challenged criminal proceedings alleging non-filing of provident fund returns, citing limitation and prior dissolution of their establishment – Held: Cognizance taken beyond the statutory limitation period under Section 468 CrPC re...

Criminal Law - Juvenile Justice – Bail Application – Expedited Consideration Sought – Interim Measures Permissible - The petitioner, a juvenile, sought a direction to the Juvenile Justice Board to decide his bail application on the same day of surrender – Held: A juvenile should not be unnecessarily detained in an observation home pending a bail decision – As per Sect...

Criminal Law – POSCO – Rape – Conviction Set Aside - Age Determination of Victim – Hierarchical Standards under Section 94 of JJ Act – Trial Court Erred in Relying on Birth Certificate Alone – As per Section 94 of the JJ Act and Rule 12(3)(a) of the JJ Rules, age determination must follow a hierarchical process, prioritizing a matriculation certificate, followed...

Quashing of Criminal Proceedings – Applicability of Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act – Demand and Acceptance as Sine Qua Non – Proceedings Quashed - Petitioner, a public servant, sought quashing of criminal proceedings against him for alleged involvement in irregularities linked to the I Monetary Advisory (IMA) Group scam – Allegations included receivin...

Criminal Law – Conviction for Murder – Acquittal – Appellants convicted under Section 302/34 IPC for the murder of Hari @ Bhaggu – Trial court sentenced them to life imprisonment – Prosecution based its case on circumstantial evidence alleging that the appellants administered poison to the deceased and staged a suicide – Key witnesses (P.W. 1, P.W. 2, P.W. 7) we...

Criminal Law – Conviction and Sentence – Evidence Assessment – Witness Credibility – Fardbeyan Credibility – Conviction for murder based on conflicting witness testimonies – High Court scrutinized witness statements and police procedures – Hostile witness evidence partially relied upon – Inconsistencies in prosecution case led to benefit of doubt &nd...