Possession and Part Performance: Stamp Duty Compliance Is Non-Negotiable, Says Delhi High Court Calcutta High Court Declares Disciplinary Action as ‘Shockingly Disproportionate’, Orders Reduction in Rank for Petitioner No Profits, No Deduction — Section 33AC Must Precede 80-I Calculation in Shipping Tax Disputes: Bombay High Court Equity and Merit Must Coexist: Kerala High Court Rules on Regularisation of Temporary Forest Department Employees Lawyers Have No Right to Strike: Madras High Court in Contempt Case Encroachment is like committing a 'dacoity' against public resources: Delhi High Court. High Court Rejects Plea of Kindergarten School Against ESI Contribution Assessment Kerala High Court Quashes Rape Proceedings Citing 'Humanitarian Consideration' After Accused Marries Victim Procedural Delays Do Not Justify Condonation of Delay," Rules Delhi Consumer Commission in National Insurance Case Elements of Section 300 IPC Are Not Made Out: Rajasthan High Court Quashes Murder Conviction in 1987 Beating Case Registrar Cannot Be a Judge of His Own Cause: Punjab and Haryana High Court Quashes Amendments MP High Court Upholds Prosecution for Forged Patta: 'Accountability in Public Office is Non-Negotiable Approval Must Be Granted for Altruistic Kidney Donations," Rules Madras High Court Grave Illegality in Appellate Remand: High Court of Rajasthan Orders Reassessment on Merits Commissioner Lacked Authority for Retrospective Cancellation: Punjab & Haryana High Court Restores Educational Trusts' Registrations Intent is Crucial in Violent Crimes: Single Blow with Axe Does Not Imply Attempt to Murder," Rules Madhya Pradesh High Court

"NDPS" Digest

Criminal Law – NDPS Act – Procedural Violations – Appeals against conviction under Section 15 of NDPS Act – Prosecution failed to comply with Sections 52 and 52A – Samples not produced before magistrate for certification – Appellants not informed of arrest grounds – Mandatory procedural breaches caused serious prejudice – Appeals allowed, convictions...

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances – Procedural Irregularities – Conviction Appeal – Non-compliance with Sections 100 and 165 CrPC amounts to mere irregularity – Evidence of official witnesses deemed credible – Conviction upheld – Sentence reduced considering the appellant’s age and trial duration. [Paras 1-12]   Evidence Law – Cre...

NDPS Act - Section 42 - Appeal against Conviction - Non-compliance - Secret information regarding transportation of contraband received but not reduced to writing - Trial Court wrongly recorded compliance - Section 42 mandatory, not directory - Appellant acquitted for non-compliance with Section 42. [Para 14]   NDPS Act - Section 52-A - Procedure for Producing Contraband - Contraband no...

Criminal Law – Quashing - NDPS Act - Vicarious Liability of Property Owner - The petitioner was implicated under the NDPS Act for allegedly allowing his property to be used for a drug-related event without his knowledge. The court analyzed the applicability of Section 25 of the NDPS Act, which requires conscious knowledge for the owner to be held liable. Citing precedents, the court emphasiz...

NDPS Act - Compliance with Section 42 - Conviction Challenged - Search and Seizure from Private Vehicle - Secret information not reduced to writing - No evidence of information conveyed to senior officer - Held, a private vehicle does not qualify as a 'public place' under Section 43 - Provisions of Section 42 are mandatory - Conviction set aside due to non-compliance with Section 42. [Para...

Criminal Law – Conviction under NDPS Act – Appellant convicted for possession of small quantities of heroin – Trial court’s conviction based on police testimony, despite minor inconsistencies in witness accounts – Appeal dismissed, with the court affirming the conviction and sentence, noting that procedural lapses and the absence of independent witnesses did not signi...

Confiscation of Hypothecated Vehicle – Section 63 NDPS Act – Proviso Interpretation – Held, under the proviso to Section 63(2) of the NDPS Act, no order of confiscation shall be made without giving the financier an opportunity of hearing – The Special Court's order confiscating the vehicle without hearing the petitioner is set aside – The case is remanded for fres...

Criminal Law - Anticipatory Bail – Section 438 CrPC – NDPS Act – Non-commercial quantity – Grant of bail to petitioner – Petitioner not named in FIR, no recovery effected from him, only based on wife's disclosure statement – Petitioner’s wife found with 6.25 grams of heroin, far less than commercial quantity – Petition allowed. [Paras 1-18] &n...

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act – Regular Bail – Individual vs. Collective Recovery – Petition for bail where 1 kg opium was recovered from petitioner and 9 kg from co-accused. Held, the total quantity should not be considered collectively when individual recovery is effected. Individual recovery from petitioner is non-commercial quantity, making Section 37 of NDPS...

Criminal Law - Regular Bail - Non-compliance with NDPS Act Procedures - Criminal Miscellaneous Petition seeking regular bail under Section 439 of Cr.P.C. - Allegation of possession and sale of 20,000 intoxicating tablets of Tramadol Hydrochloride - Petitioner argues non-compliance with Section 42 of the NDPS Act - Held, total non-compliance with Section 42 is impermissible; delayed compliance acce...