Auction Purchaser Has No Vested Right Without Sale Confirmation: Calcutta HC Upholds Borrower’s Redemption Right Under Pre-Amendment SARFAESI Law Mere Breach of Promise to Marry Doesn’t Amount to Rape: Delhi High Court Acquits Man in False Rape Case Father Is the Natural Guardian After Mother’s Death, Mere Technicalities Cannot Override Welfare of Child: Orissa High Court Restores Custody to Biological Father Assets of Wife and Father-in-Law Can Be Considered in Disproportionate Assets Case Against Public Servant: Kerala High Court Refuses Discharge Identification Without TIP, Electronic Records Without 65B Certificate – Conviction Set Aside: Patna High Court Nothing Inflicts A Deeper Wound On Our Constitutional Culture Than A State Official Running Berserk Regardless Of Human Rights: Jharkhand High Court Orders ₹1.5 Lakh Interim Compensation Dishonour Due to ‘Account Blocked’ Not Attributable to Drawer—No Offence Under Section 138 NI Act: Delhi High Court Quashes Criminal Proceedings Presumption Under Section 139 NI Act Cannot Be Rebutted By Mere Assertions: Delhi High Court Affirms Conviction In 32-Year-Old Cheque Bounce Case Signature Alone Doesn’t Prove Debt: Kerala High Court Upholds Acquittal in Cheque Bounce Case, Rejects Blanket Presumption Under Section 139 NI Act Justice Cannot Be Left to Guesswork: Supreme Court Mandates Structured Judgments in Criminal Trials Across India Truth Must Be Proven Beyond Doubt—Not Built On Flawed FIRs, Tainted Witnesses And Investigative Gaps: Supreme Court Acquits Man in POCSO Rape-Murder Case Once parties agree and reconciliation is impossible, a fault-based decree is unnecessary: Supreme Court Sets Aside Divorce on Desertion No Escape from Statutory Ceiling: Exclusive Expenditure by Foreign Head Offices Also Attracts Section 44C Income Tax: Supreme Court Loss Of A Child Cannot Be Calculated In Rupees, But Law Must At Least Offer Dignity In Compensation: Supreme Court Enhances Compensation Sessions Court Cannot Direct Life Imprisonment Till Natural Life Without Remission: Supreme Court Reasserts Limits on Sentencing Powers of Subordinate Courts ‘Continuously Means Without a Single Break’: Supreme Court Bars Expired-and-Renewed Licences From Police Driver Recruitment Chief Justice’s Power Under Section 51(3) Is Independent and Continuing: Supreme Court Upholds Kolhapur Bench Notification Last Seen Evidence Alone Cannot Sustain Conviction: Supreme Court Acquits Accused in Murder Case No Cultivation on Forest Land Without Central Clearance: Supreme Court Cancels Lease Over 134 Acres, Orders Reforestation Appointment from Rank List Must Respect Communal Rotation: SC Declines Claim of SC Waitlisted Candidate After Resignation of Appointee Supreme Court Dissolves 20-Year Estranged Marriage Under Article 142 Despite Wife’s Objection Murder Inside Temple Cannot Be Treated Lightly: Supreme Court Cancels Bail of Father-Son Convicts in Group Killing Case

"CRIMINAL LAW" Digest

Cheque Dishonour – 138 of the NI Act - Presumption under Negotiable Instruments Act – Rebuttal of Presumption – Acquittal Upheld – The complainant alleged loan transaction and issuance of cheque in discharge of debt – Accused produced evidence (Ex.D4) obtained under RTI showing operation of unregistered finance business by complainant, which was denied by complainant ...

Criminal Law – Appeal Against Acquittal  – Cheque Dishonour Acquittal – Section 138 NI Act – Appeal Transferred to Sessions Court – The appellant sought leave to appeal under Section 378(4) Cr.P.C. against acquittal in a dishonoured cheque complaint – High Court relied on the Supreme Court’s ruling in M/s. Celestium Financial vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc.,...

Criminal Law - Quashing of FIR – Sections 115(2), 126(2), 351(3), 3(5) of the BNS - Cross Allegations in Family Dispute – Trial Not to Be Short-Circuited – Petitioners sought quashing of FIR citing contradictions in medical records and prior police intimation by complainant – Held: Allegations prima facie disclose cognizable offences – Disputed facts and evidence must...

Criminal Law - Dowry Death and Suicide – Conviction under Section 304B Modified – Section 306 and 498A Sustained – The appeal was preferred against conviction under Section 304B IPC for dowry death following suicide of wife within seven years of marriage—High Court found lack of evidence establishing harassment or dowry demand 'soon before death' but consistent dowr...

Matrimonial Law - Maintenance Revision – Quantum of Maintenance – Sections 125 and 127 CrPC – Enhancement Granted with Increment Provision – In this batch of revisions, the wife challenged the Family Court’s order reducing her maintenance from ₹30,000/- to ₹20,000/- while the husband sought further reduction on account of his retirement – The High Court scru...

Bail Appeal – Group Assault – Sections 118, 117 of BNS and SC/ST Act – Bail Granted – The appellant challenged rejection of bail under multiple sections of BNS, 2023 and SC/ST Act alleging injuries inflicted during an altercation – The High Court observed no specific role was initially attributed to the appellant and the parties had since entered into a compromise &nd...

Quashing Proclamation Proceedings – Non-Compliance with Section 82 Cr.P.C. – Declaration of Proclaimed Person Quashed – The petitioner was declared proclaimed person in proceedings under Section 138 NI Act and consequent FIR under Section 174-A IPC was registered – Held: Trial Court erred in straightaway issuing proclamation without prior steps of summons or bailable warran...

Criminal Law - Appeal Against Conviction – Dismissal for Non-Prosecution – Section 138 NI Act – Dismissal Set Aside - The petitioner challenged the order dismissing his appeal against conviction under Section 138 of the NI Act for non-appearance – The High Court held that appeal against conviction must be decided on merits even if the appellant is absent – Relying on ...

Criminal Law – Kidnapping of Minor – Sections 363 and 366 IPC – Conviction Affirmed – The appellant was convicted for kidnapping a minor girl aged 11-13 years under Sections 363 and 366 IPC – Evidence established the girl was taken away without parental consent under false pretext and confined unlawfully – The minor’s consistent testimony, corroborated by ...

Anticipatory Bail – Sections 364, 384, 388, 342, 120B of IPC - Rejection on Grounds of Absconding – Section 482 BNSS – Custodial Interrogation Required – The applicant, a police officer, sought anticipatory bail after being accused of kidnapping, extortion and corruption – The Court observed the applicant was evading arrest since registration of FIR and was declared p...