Disciplinary Authority Cannot Override Enquiry Officer’s Clean Chit Without Hearing the Employee: Madhya Pradesh High Court Remands Termination for Procedural Lapse Appointment Secured by Misstating Marks Is Void Ab Initio; Human Error No Excuse Where Advantage Gained: Allahabad High Court Appeal Maintainable Despite Modified MACT Award — Kerala High Court Clarifies Scope of Appellate Review in Motor Accident Claims No Notice, No Blacklist: Calcutta High Court Quashes Debarment Over Breach of Natural Justice Prosecution Must Elevate Its Case From Realm Of ‘May Be True’ To Plane Of ‘Must Be True: Orissa High Court Strict Compliance Is the Rule, Not Exception: Himachal Pradesh High Court Dismisses Tenant's Plea for Late Deposit of Rent Arrears When Accused Neither Denies Signature Nor Rebuts Presumption, Conviction Must Follow Under Section 138 NI Act: Karnataka High Court A Guardian Who Violates, Forfeits Mercy: Kerala High Court Upholds Natural Life Sentence in Stepfather–POCSO Rape Case Married and Earning Sons Are Legal Representatives Entitled to Compensation: Punjab & Haryana High Court Enhances Motor Accident Award to ₹14.81 Lakh Driver Must Stop, Render Aid & Report Accident – Flight from Scene Is an Offence: Madras High Court Convicts Hit-And-Run Accused Under MV Act Delay May Shut the Door, But Justice Cannot Be Locked Out: Gauhati High Court Admits Union of India’s Arbitration Appeal Despite Time-Bar Under Section 30 PC Act | Mere Recovery of Money Is Not Enough—Demand and Acceptance Must Be Proved Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Delhi High Court Allahabad High Court Slams Bar Council of U.P. for Ex Parte 10-Year Suspension of Advocate Supreme Court Invokes Article 142 to End Discrimination Against Ad-Hoc Employees in Allahabad High Court: Orders Reinstatement and Regularizationi 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

"CRIMINAL LAW" Digest

Facts: Conviction of the appellant for offenses including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and violation of the Bombay Money Lender's Act related to an incident on 18th November 2010. [Para 1-4] Issues: Examination of the reliability of child witnesses, determination of intentional murder under section 302 of the IPC, and involvement in illegal money lending. [Para 8-9, 16] Observat...

  Interim Compensation Under Section 143A NI Act – Discretion of Trial Court - Petitions filed challenging orders mandating interim compensation under Section 143A NI Act - Contested nature of "mandatory" versus "discretionary" powers of the court examined in detail - Supreme Court's interpretation underscores discretionary exercise by trial courts - Factors s...

Criminal Appeal – Conviction under POCSO Act – Acquittal based on age determination – Appeal challenging judgment convicting appellant – Victim alleged consensual sexual relationship leading to pregnancy – Radiological report indicated victim’s age as 16 to 17 years – Marginal error allowed in determining age – Lack of conclusive medical evidence to ...

Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - Section 138 - Expeditious Trial - Application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. seeking direction for expeditious conclusion of trial - Complaint filed in 2021 but trial not concluded - Emphasis on statutory mandate under Section 143(2) and 143(3) N.I. Act for day-to-day trial and conclusion within six months - Apex Court directions in Indian Bank Association v. Union of...

Factual Background – Instigation and Abetment of Suicide – FIR No. 294/2023 registered against Aarushi Gupta and Rishab Nayyar alleging instigation and abetment of suicide - Alleged victims were involved in a scuffle with the deceased, who later committed suicide - Accusations include serious verbal insults and threats - Evidence includes suicide note naming both applicants and other c...

Petitioner's Claim of Veto Power – Claims by petitioner to represent "We, the People of India" and purported 'veto power' to secure release of the Chief Minister (Respondent No.5) from custody in all criminal cases – Court dismisses claims as unfounded and fantastical – Locus standi and public interest litigation principles discussed – No substance in ...

Criminal Law – Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence Set Aside – Criminal Appeal against Trial Court's conviction for murder – Allegation of killing brother over property dispute – Evidence purely circumstantial with no direct eyewitness account – Prosecution's failure to establish motive convincingly – Suspicion alone insufficient for conviction &...

Obscenity and Privacy – Watching obscene content in private time – Whether it amounts to an offence under Section 292 IPC – Court's role in determining the same – The accused was charged with watching obscene videos in his mobile phone in public – No allegation of distribution or exhibition – Section 292 IPC requires evidence of sale, distribution, or public...

Detention Order and Background – Detention order issued under Section 3(1) of COFEPOSA against Sayyed Hussain Madar @ Chand on 02.05.2005 for involvement in smuggling 635.556 metric tonnes of diesel valued over Rs. 2.30 crores, detained posthumously challenged by his widow, Fazila Sayyed – Background of smuggling operations described, involving vessel M.T. AL SHAHABA and unloading oper...

Criminal Law – Appeal against Conviction – Eyewitness Reliability – Criminal Appeal challenging the conviction for offenses under Sections 147, 148, 302/149, and 392 IPC – Prosecution's case primarily based on the testimony of a sole eyewitness, PW-1 – Trial court acquitted one accused (Mahendra Kumar Kaushik) based on disbelieving part of the testimony of PW-1 re...