Delhi High Court Frames Criminal Contempt Charges Against Advocate For Scandalizing Judge On LinkedIn After Cyber Cell Traces IP Logs Testimony Of Partially Hostile Witnesses Can Be Relied Upon If Corroborated: Delhi High Court Upholds Police Officer's Conviction Subordinate Engineers Entitled To Non-Functional Upgradation Even If Level 8 Reached Via MACP: Supreme Court FEMA Adjudicating Authority Cannot Overrule Competent Authority's Refusal To Confirm Asset Seizure: Supreme Court Candidate Cannot Claim Lower Preference Post After Securing First Choice Under Merit-Cum-Preference System: Madhya Pradesh High Court Official Cannot Escape Corruption Trial Merely Because 90% Payment Was Made Prior To His Joining: Calcutta High Court Employee Who Evades Cross-Examining Witnesses Cannot Later Claim 'No Evidence' In Departmental Enquiry: Andhra Pradesh High Court Fictitious Or Non-Genuine Revenue Entries Cannot Confer Adhivasi Rights Under UP Zamindari Abolition Act: Allahabad High Court Calcutta High Court Quashes Termination Of Compassionate Appointee Over Age Dispute, Says Such Claims Cannot Be Kept Pending Indefinitely Alleged Custodial Torture Does Not Automatically Attract Contempt Under 'D.K. Basu' Unless Specific Arrest Guidelines Are Violated: Gujarat High Court Authority Cannot Act As 'Judge In Own Cause'; Himachal Pradesh High Court Quashes Distillery License Cancellation Over Procedural Impropriety Financial Corporations Have Absolute Power To Fix Employee Pay, Prior State Govt Approval Not Required: Jharkhand High Court Custodial Interrogation Not Required For Police Inspector Accused Only Of Illegal Confinement Prior To Victim's Death: Karnataka High Court Rescission Of Contract Without Hearing Is Illegal; Courts Cannot Interfere In Second Appeal If Findings Rest On Unrebutted Evidence: Gauhati High Court RTI Penalty Proceedings Are Between Commission and SPIO Alone — Complainant Has No Right To Be Heard: Kerala High Court Catastrophic To Allow Law To Take Its Own Course: MP High Court Quashes POCSO, BNS FIR After Victim And Accused Marry No Presumption Under Section 20 PC Act Without Proof Of Demand And Acceptance: Telangana High Court Quashes Case Against Sub-Inspector Attack On Judicial Officers Is Criminal Contempt; Supreme Court Orders CBI/NIA Probe Into West Bengal Incident Prolonged Physical Relationship By Educated Woman Amounts To 'Promiscuity', Not Rape Induced By Misconception Of Fact: Punjab & Haryana High Court Father Cannot Escape Duty To Maintain Minor Children Merely Because Mother Earns Substantial Income: Uttarakhand High Court Divorced Wife Entitled To Maintenance; Mere Earning Capacity Not A Bar: Orissa High Court

"CRIMINAL LAW" Digest

Arms Act, 1959 - Section 13 - Application for Arms License - Rejection - Challenge by way of Writ Petition - Petitioner, a businessman, sought an arms license for self-protection and carrying cash related to his business - Application rejected based on a police report that did not recommend granting the license for self-protection - Petitioner contended lack of proper application of mind in the im...

Vicarious Liability – Requirements under Section 141 of NI Act – The Supreme Court held that merely stating that directors are in charge of and responsible for the conduct of the business of the company does not fulfill the requirements of Section 141 of the NI Act. Specific averments detailing their role and responsibility are necessary [Paras 1-88].   Personal Appearance &...

Bail application - Rejection of bail - Accused charged under Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) - Accused Leena Paulose and B. Mohanraj involved in an organized crime syndicate - Accused Leena Paulose received money through Hawala transactions, failed to explain the source of credited entries in her bank account, and purchased luxury cars without plausible explanation - Accused Lee...

Bail application under Section 439 of CrPC read with Section 37 of the NDPS Act – Applicant seeks regular bail in a Sessions Case pending before the Special Judge (NDPS), Patiala House, New Delhi – Allegations involve trafficking of contraband – Applicant’s identity allegedly misused by co-accused – Statements, mobile phone messages, and seizure of contraband form the...

Bail – Adequacy of Reasons – Appellant challenged the High Court’s order granting bail to the first respondent – Supreme Court noted that the High Court's order lacked specific reasons and was formulaic – Held, courts must provide clear reasons based on the case's facts when granting bail in serious criminal matters, considering factors such as the crime's...

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 - Section 50(1) - Compliance - Mandatory requirement - Failure to adhere vitiates conviction - Right to be searched before a gazetted officer or magistrate - Individual communication of right - Joint communication may create confusion and dilute significance of the right - Accused must be made aware of their right to exercise it effectively. [Pa...

Bail – Seriousness and Gravity of Offense – Appellant challenged the High Court’s order granting bail to respondent No. 2 – Supreme Court noted that the High Court did not consider the seriousness and gravity of the offense alleged against the respondent, who is facing trial for offenses under Sections 302 and 120B IPC – Held, High Court failed to consider relevant ma...

Criminal Revision Petition - Maintenance - Validity of order granting maintenance - Allegation of marriage and paternity dispute - Admissibility of evidence - Scope of Section 14 of the Family Courts Act - Photographic evidence and messages - Deliberate cheating and fraudulent intention of the respondent - Consideration of Supreme Court judgment on the treatment of a woman as a wife for the purpos...

Animal Welfare – Custody of Seized Cattle – Appellant challenged the High Court’s order granting interim custody of seized cattle to private respondents – Supreme Court held that prima facie evidence indicated cruelty in transportation conditions – Held, under the proviso to Section 8(3) of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, pending trial, seized cattle sh...

Criminal Law – Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence – Appeal against conviction under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC – High Court upheld trial court's decision – Supreme Court set aside the conviction – Held, reliance on voluntary statements made to police inadmissible under Section 161 Cr.P.C. and Article 20(3) of the Constitution – Lack of dir...