Mere Pendency of Appeal Does Not Bar Eviction Suit – Res Judicata Not Attracted Where Issues Are Not Identical: Andhra Pradesh High Court Right to Speedy Trial is a Fundamental Right under Article 21: Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Bail Despite Recovery of Commercial Quantity Encroachments on River Puramboke Cannot Be Legalised or Protected Under the Guise of Long President was deemed to know that the property vested with the Municipal Council, yet failed to protect it: Karnataka High Court Upholds Disqualification of Municipal President for Misconduct Once the Term of Committee Ends, Right to Vote Ceases — Even if Name Remains in Voter List: Gujarat High Court Treating Equals Unequally Violates Article 14: Bombay High Court Strikes Down IOCL's Tiebreaker rule Preferring Younger Candidate in Tender Selection Mere Harassment Over Loan Recovery Not Abetment to Suicide: Punjab & Haryana High Court Upholds Acquittal in Vineet Kundu Case Taxpayer Cannot Be Penalized For Department's Mistake In Deposit Of GST — Allahabad High Court Directs NOIDA To Compensate The Taxpayer For Wrongful Imposition Of Tax And Penalty “When Large-Scale Fraud Vitiates Selection, En Masse Cancellation Is Inevitable: Supreme Court Validates Quashing of WBSSC 2016 Recruitment Reopening Based on Wrong Mutual Fund is No Reopening at All — Gujarat High Court Quashes Income Tax Notice for Lack of Nexus Between Allegation and Actual Transaction Exceeding Official Duty Does Not Automatically Remove Section 197 CrPC Protection: Supreme Court Quashed Proceedings Against Police Officials Possession Of A Higher Qualification Cannot Substitute The Qualification Prescribed Under  Rules: Supreme Court Upholds Rejection Of Candidate Without Required Lascar’s Licence Dismissal for Default Without Considering COVID Restrictions Was Illegal: Supreme Court Section 256 CrPC Does Not Mandate Automatic Acquittal On Complainant’s Absence — Judicial Satisfaction Is Mandatory: Supreme Court Judicial Test Likely as Waqf (Amendment) Bill Opens New Front on Constitutional Grounds Defence Under Places of Worship Act Opens Door for ASI's Impleadment: Supreme Court in Krishna Janmabhoomi Dispute

"NDPS" Digest

NDPS - Interim Custody of Seized Vehicle – Confiscation Not Automatic – Section 457 Cr.P.C. – Order Denying Custody Set Aside – The trial court erred in rejecting interim custody of the seized vehicle merely on the ground that it may be confiscated if the offence is proved – Confiscation is subject to trial and can only be ordered upon proof of guilt beyond reasonable...

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 ...

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...

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...

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, 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...

NDPS Act – Quashing - Admissibility of Statements under Section 67 – Reliance on Co-Accused’s Statement Quashed – The petitioner was implicated in the case solely based on the confessional statements of co-accused under Section 67 of the NDPS Act. Held: Such statements, being inadmissible under Section 25 of the Evidence Act as per Tofan Singh v. State of Tamil Nadu, cannot...

Bail in NDPS Cases – Prolonged Incarceration – Section 21 and 29 of NDPS Act – Bail Granted – The petitioner, accused of possessing intermediate quantity of contraband, has been in custody for over one year and three months, with trial expected to take considerable time – Out of 23 prosecution witnesses, only four have been examined, with delay not attributable to the...

Bail Application – NDPS Act – Long Incarceration – Section 439 Cr.P.C – Sections 18, 21, 25, and 29 of NDPS Act – Petition filed seeking regular bail citing prolonged incarceration (over 2.5 years) and non-compliance with procedural requirements in the investigation – Held: Restrictions under Section 37 of the NDPS Act are outweighed by the right to a speedy tri...

Bail in NDPS Cases – Possession of Commercial Quantity – Section 37 NDPS Act – Rigorous Conditions for Bail – Applicant was accused of possessing 220 grams of Mephedrone (MD), a quantity far exceeding the commercial threshold – Section 37 of the NDPS Act imposes stringent conditions for bail, requiring the court’s satisfaction that the accused is not guilty and ...