Abandoning Arbitration Proceedings Bars Fresh Section 11 Application On Same Cause Of Action: Supreme Court Department Must Lead Evidence, Examine Witnesses To Prove Charges Unless Employee Clearly Admits Guilt: Supreme Court Order IX Rule 13 And Section 96 CPC Have Distinct Scopes; Minor Unrepresented In Original Suit Can Seek Setting Aside Ex-Parte Decree: Supreme Court Minor Heir Cannot Be Expected To Respond To Public Notice Independently: Supreme Court Sets Aside Ex Parte Succession Certificate Supreme Court Restores Acquittal In POCSO Case, Holds DNA Evidence Not Infallible If Blood Sample Collection Is Disputed Bar Under Section 197 CrPC Applies At Stage Of Cognizance; Subsequent Notification Cannot Invalidate Valid Proceedings: Supreme Court State Cannot Apply Harsher Remission Policy Retrospectively To Deny Premature Release: Supreme Court Superficial Bail Orders In Dowry Death Cases Weaken Public Faith In Judiciary: Supreme Court Cancels Husband's Bail Non-Deposit of Balance Amount During Suit Doesn't Prove Lack Of Readiness: Bombay High Court Grants Specific Performance Of 1978 Oral Agreement Teacher Appointed In 'Pass' Graduate Category Entitled To Higher Pay Scale Upon Acquiring Master's Degree During Service: Calcutta High Court Ex-Parte Maintenance Order Under Section 144 BNSS Must Be Challenged Before Family Court First, Direct Revision Not Maintainable: Allahabad High Court Occupant Cannot Be Denied Electricity Merely Because Decree-Holder Demands Disconnection Pending Eviction: Andhra Pradesh High Court Anticipatory Bail In PMLA Cannot Be Granted If Accused Obstructs Probe & Gives False Answers Even If Beneficiary Of Section 45 Proviso: Delhi High Court Tender Condition Disqualifying Bidders For Past Bridge Collapses Does Not Amount To Blacklisting: Gauhati High Court Mere Unauthorized Entry On Government Land Does Not Constitute Criminal Trespass Without Intent To Annoy: Himachal Pradesh High Court Mere Buildings Without Life-Saving Machinery Don't Fulfil Article 21 Mandate: Jharkhand HC Orders State-Wide Functional Burn Wards Within 120 Days Unestablished Claim Of Co-Heirship Does Not Mandate Reference To Civil Court For Apportionment Of NHAI Compensation: J&K High Court

"CRIMINAL LAW" Digest

Criminal Law – Bail Conditions – Proportionality – Bail conditions must have a nexus to the purpose they serve and be proportional – Court emphasized that conditions leading to the deprivation of rights and liberties must be avoided – Blanket prohibition on social media activity deemed disproportionate and violating freedom of speech [Paras 29-30].   Crimin...

Criminal case – Bail – Petitioner filed for regular bail in FIR No. 148, dated 27th June 2021, under Sections 15, 25, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 – Petitioner seeks parity with co-accused who was granted regular bail in a previous case (Para 1 and 2). False Implication Allegation – Petitioner’s counsel alleges that ASI Jagtar ...

NDPS Act – Post-Arrest Bail – Commercial Quantity – Respondent accused of trafficking 50,000 Tramadol tablets (20 kg) – High Court granted bail, ignoring the application of Section 37 of the NDPS Act – Supreme Court quashed the bail order, highlighting the importance of "reasonable grounds" for believing the accused is not guilty and is unlikely to commit an...

Criminal Law – Testimony of Eyewitness – Trustworthiness – Eyewitness testimony found trustworthy and reliable cannot be rejected due to minor contradictions – Conviction upheld despite minor inconsistencies in witness statements [Para 22].   Evidence – Non-Recovery of Weapon – Conviction can be based on ample ocular and medical evidence even if the w...

Dishonour Cheque - Quashing of Complaint Case No.19930/2016 under Section 138 NI Act - Petitioner, Neeta Gupta, seeks quashing of complaint filed by Suman Anand, alleging dishonored cheque of Rs.20,00,000/- - Petitioner claims no involvement as the cheque was signed solely by her late husband and she did not receive the statutory demand notice - Respondent alleges refusal by petitioner to accept n...

Criminal Procedure – Anticipatory Bail – Appeal challenging the High Court’s orders which inquired into unrelated matters during the consideration of an anticipatory bail application – High Court exceeded its jurisdiction by involving third parties and overstepping the scope of Section 438 CrPC – Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s orders, emphasizing that ...

Criminal Procedure Code – Sections 82 and 83 – Quashing of orders – Petitioners sought quashing of order summoning them by way of proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. and declaring them proclaimed persons under Section 83 Cr.P.C. – Petitioners contended that their business had ceased to exist before the pandemic, and they were never served with warrants – Court found...

Criminal Procedure – Appeal against Conviction – Appellant convicted under Sections 302 and 120B IPC and Section 27(1) of Arms Act – Appeal admitted for final hearing – High Court dismissed appeal for non-prosecution as appellant was absconding – Supreme Court set aside dismissal, holding appeal cannot be dismissed for non-prosecution once admitted for hearing –...

Criminal Law – Rape - Conviction and Sentencing - Sonu Surender (Appellant) convicted under Sections 376 (2) (i) and 376 (2) (n), 506(II) IPC, and Section 6 POCSO Act for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl - Sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fined ₹2,000 - Appellant's defense of false implication due to financial dispute rejected by the court [Paras 1-2, 27-34]. ...

Evidence Act – Section 27 – Discovery of Weapon – Mere discovery cannot infer authorship of concealment by the person who discovered the weapon – Supreme Court emphasized the conditions under Section 27, including that the information must cause discovery and relate distinctly to the discovered fact [Paras A, C-D, 35-42].   Evidence Act – Sections 8 and 27 ...