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 Unregistered Agreement Creating Right of Way Inadmissible in Evidence: Punjab & Haryana High Court Summary Decree in Partition Suit Denied: Unequivocal Admissions Absent, Full Trial Necessary: Delhi High Court 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

Criminal Law – Rape and Murder of Minor Girl – Sentencing – Appellant convicted for the offences under IPC and POCSO Act, sentenced to death by the trial court and confirmed by the High Court – Supreme Court commuted death sentence to life imprisonment, taking into account restorative justice principles and mitigating circumstances – Sentence of imprisonment for a per...

Criminal Law – Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 – Quashing of Proceedings – The Supreme Court deliberated on whether the proceedings under the Gangsters Act should continue against the appellants, Farhana and Sadarul Islam, following the quashing of the predicate offences. The appellants were initially charged under the Gangsters Act based...

Criminal Law – Malicious Prosecution – Quashing of FIR – The Supreme Court addressed the challenge against the High Court's dismissal of a petition for quashing FIR No. 248 of 2022. The FIR involved allegations of financial impropriety and deceit related to a job offer. The court scrutinized the circumstances under which the FIR was lodged, considering the delay in filing, la...

Criminal Procedure – Bail – Appeal against rejection of bail application by High Court – Appellant facing trial for multiple offences – Appellant in custody for over five years – Only two witnesses examined out of 35 prosecution witnesses – Co-accused granted bail by Supreme Court – Bail application allowed by Supreme Court – Conditions imposed for b...

Cancellation of Bail – Criminal Appeals against High Court orders granting bail – Assault and murder case involving accused Vivek Pal and Punit Pal – High Court granted bail which was challenged by the original complainant in Supreme Court – Supreme Court considers the severity of the crimes, the influence of the accused, and potential threat to the judicial process –...

Quashing of FIR – Criminal Appeal against High Court order dismissing petition to quash FIR lodged for offenses under Sections 498A, 406, 384, 420, and 120(B) IPC – Appeal brought following an acquittal in a related case and amidst allegations of consecutive FIRs on identical grounds in different states – Supreme Court finds High Court misinterpreted the chronological order of co...

Criminal Proceedings – Quashing – Cheating and Criminal Breach of Trust – Dispute of non-payment of bills under a contract – Allegations of issuing dishonored cheques – High Court quashes entire criminal proceedings including order taking cognizance, finding the dispute to be primarily civil in nature. [Para 10-11]   Intention to Cheat – Importance of...

Bail Granted by High Court – Review by Supreme Court – Criminal Appeal against the order of Allahabad High Court granting bail to accused persons convicted under multiple sections including 302/149 IPC – High Court granted bail based on period of incarceration and previous bails granted to co-accused – Supreme Court examines subsequent criminal activities and the involvemen...

Quashing of Conviction and Acquittal – Criminal Appeal against High Court and Trial Court's decision – Supreme Court acquits appellant convicted of robbery under Section 394 read with Section 397 IPC – No tangible or reliable evidence linking appellant to the crime – Recovery and identification of stolen items not proven to legal standards – Appeal allowed, and co...

Acquittal and Conviction History – Initial trial acquitted all accused (A-1 to A-6) due to inconsistent witness testimony and lack of credible evidence - High Court reversed acquittal for A-1, A-2, and A-3 based on re-evaluation of witness accounts and convicted them under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC - Supreme Court examined the High Court’s deviation from principles governing...