No Work No Pay Is Not a Universal Rule: Punjab & Haryana High Court Dock Identification Without Prior TIP Is Absolutely Useless: P&H High Court Upholds Acquittal in Attempt to Murder Case Filing Forged Court Pleadings in Union Government’s Name is Criminal Contempt: Karnataka High Court Sentences Litigant to Jail Execution of Will Proved, But Probate Justly Denied Due to Concealment of Property Sale: Delhi High Court Mere Designation Doesn’t Establish Criminal Liability: Bombay High Court Quashes Proceedings Against ICICI Officials in Octroi Evasion Case Law of Limitation Binds All Equally, Including the State: Allahabad High Court Dismisses Review Petition with 5743 Days’ Delay Once Selected, All Are Equals: Allahabad High Court Slams State for Withholding Pay Protection From Later Batches of Ex-Servicemen Constables Non-Compliance With Section 42 of NDPS Act Is Fatal to Prosecution: Punjab & Haryana High Court Acquits Two Accused In 160 Kg Poppy Husk Case Identification Vitiated, Diamonds Not Produced, Last Seen Theory Unreliable: Bombay High Court Acquits Two in 2011 Diamond Courier Murder Deposit of ₹5100 Crores Brings Quietus to Entire Criminal Web of Proceedings: Supreme Court Exercises Extraordinary Powers to Quash All Cases Against Hemant Hathi in Landmark Settlement-Driven Order Presumption Under Section 139 Can't Be Rebutted Pre-Trial: Supreme Court Restores Cheque Bounce Complaint Quashed By Patna High Court Supreme Court Invokes Article 142 to End Discrimination Against Ad-Hoc Employees in Allahabad High Court: Orders Reinstatement and Regularization Supreme Court Declares CSR a Constitutional Duty to Protect Environment: Orders Undergrounding of Powerlines in Great Indian Bustard Habitat A Minor’s Sole Testimony, If Credible, Is Sufficient for Conviction: Supreme Court Upholds Child Trafficking Conviction Under IPC and ITPA You Can’t Invent Disqualifications After the Bid: Supreme Court Holds Joint Venture Experience Can’t Be Ignored in Tenders High Court Can't Re-Appreciate Evidence or Rewrite Contract to Set Aside Arbitral Award: Supreme Court Reinstates Award Under Quantum Meruit Once Arbitration Invoked, Criminal Prosecution Cannot Be Weaponised in Civil Disputes: Supreme Court Quashes FIR Against Former Director in Rent Row Section 319 CrPC | Pursuing Legal Remedies in Higher Forums Is Not ‘Evasion of Trial’; Custody Not Required for Summoned Accused: Supreme Court Order 21 Rule 90 CPC | Undervaluation or Procedural Lapses Constitute ‘Material Irregularity’, Not ‘Fraud’; Separate Suit to Bypass Limitation Impermissible: Supreme Court Order 21 CPC | Separate Suit Challenging Auction Sale Barred for Pendente Lite Transferees; Remedy Lies in Execution Proceedings: Supreme Court Non-Signatories Cannot Force Arbitration: Supreme Court Blocks Claim by Sub-Contractor Against HPCL Resignation Forfeits Pension Rights, But Gratuity Is Statutory: Supreme Court Partly Allows Appeal of DTC Employee’s Legal Heirs Appellate Courts Can’t Blanket-Exempt Convicted Directors from Deposit under NI Act Merely Because Company Wound Up: Supreme Court Refers Interpretation of Section 148 to Larger Bench Inordinate Delay Cannot Be Condoned Without Reasons: Supreme Court Slams Madhya Pradesh High Court for Casual Approach in Condoning 1612 Days’ Delay Constitutional Rights & Witness Protection | State Authorities Cannot Victimise Litigants for Approaching Court: Supreme Court Review Jurisdiction is Not an Appeal in Disguise: Supreme Court Dismisses Konkan Railway’s Plea Over Employee’s Resignation Withdrawal Agreement to Sell Does Not Create Any Right in Property, Hence No Right to Compensation on Acquisition: Allahabad High Court Sexual Harassment Complaint Can Be Inquired by ICC at Woman’s Workplace Even if Accused Works Elsewhere: Supreme Court Settles Jurisdiction Under POSH Act Mandate Expired, Arbitrator Functus Officio: Supreme Court Orders Substitution After Delay in Arbitral Award

"CRIMINAL LAW" Digest

Money Laundering – Bail Application – Role in Proceeds of Crime – Applicant sought regular bail after being charged for his involvement in the money laundering activities of the "Mahadev Online Book" betting syndicate – Prosecution alleged that the applicant actively facilitated operations, including managing funds, handling visas for associates, and holding asset...

Criminal Law - Adjournments – Excessive and Repeated Requests – Court’s Duty to Prevent Abuse of Process – Repeated adjournments sought by the petitioner/accused for leading defence evidence were granted, including a final opportunity on 11/11/2024 – Despite this, no evidence was produced on 21/12/2024 – Held: The petitioner’s conduct was aimed at delaying...

False Information to Authorities – Section 58(2) of the NDPS Act – Disproportionality in Sentencing – Petitioner accused of providing false information to authorities, leading to the arrest of an innocent woman (Sheela Sunny) under Section 22(c) of the NDPS Act – Held: False implication in NDPS cases can have devastating consequences; penalties for such false accusations mu...

Criminal Procedure – Recording of Second Statement under Section 164 CrPC – Legal Validity – The prosecutrix's father moved an application for recording her second statement under Section 164 CrPC, claiming that the earlier statement was false and implicating the applicant would amount to abuse of process – Held: While the law permits recording of multiple statements un...

Criminal Law - Juvenile Justice – Quashing of Cruelty Charges Against Teacher for Disciplinary Action – Section 528 BNSS – Petition to quash charges under IPC Section 324 and Section 75 of the JJ Act, alleging physical discipline of a student who used abusive language towards the teacher – Prosecution alleged unnecessary suffering inflicted on the child, while the defense a...

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 – Conviction and Sentencing – Section 21(c) NDPS Act – Possession of Commercial Quantity – Appellants convicted under Section 21(c) NDPS Act for possession of narcotic cough syrups containing Codeine Phosphate – Trial Court sentenced appellants to 12 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs.1,10,000/- each, with a...

NDPS Act, 1985 and Cr.P.C. – Section 457 – Interim Release of Vehicles – Applicability in NDPS Cases – Reference answered concerning the applicability of Cr.P.C. provisions for interim release of vehicles seized under the NDPS Act – Supreme Court's recent decision in Bishwajit Dey v. State of Assam, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 40, considered – Held: NDPS Act does not...

Criminal Law – NDPS Act – Seizure of Contraband – Acquittal – Appeal by Prosecution – Respondents allegedly found in possession of 10,000 capsules of spasmo proxyvon containing Tramadol, a psychotropic substance – Trial court acquitted the respondents due to procedural lapses – High Court upheld the acquittal, holding that the prosecution failed to comply ...

NDPS Act – Recovery of Charas – Appeal by the State challenging the acquittal – Conviction  - Compliance with Section 42 of NDPS Act – Case of Chance Recovery – Not Attracted – It was argued that non-compliance with Section 42 of the NDPS Act rendered the prosecution's case invalid as the investigating officer suspected contraband before conducting the ...

Criminal Law – Acquittal Appeal – Scope of Appellate Review – Acquittal Upheld – Appeal by the State under Section 378(1)(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, challenging the acquittal of the accused for alleged cruelty and abetment of suicide under Sections 498-A, 306, and 114 IPC – The prosecution alleged that the deceased Kantaben was harassed by her in-laws...