Electricity Connection - Alternative Remedy - Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum: Petitioner sought court direction for a new electricity connection amidst pending civil suit for property possession and criminal writ for protection. High Court emphasized the statutory framework for consumer grievances under the Electricity Act, providing an effective, expeditious remedy through the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and Ombudsman. It underscored that writ petitions should not bypass prescribed statutory remedies unless exceptions apply [Paras 1-17].

Civil Procedure - Application of Order II Rule 2 CPC: Court noted petitioner’s previous suit encompassed similar relief for electricity load restoration, thus Order II Rule 2 CPC barred repetitive litigation in alternative forums. Petitioner’s claim of a new cause of action was rejected as misleading, portraying an artificial distinction to evade statutory process [Paras 8-11].

Decision: Writ petition dismissed - Petitioner directed to seek remedy through statutory consumer grievance mechanisms. Court highlighted procedural integrity and necessity of exhausting statutory remedies before invoking writ jurisdiction [Paras 12-17].

Criminal Law – Tampering of Recruitment Documents – Petitioner allegedly tampered with recruitment examination records to secure the post of Sub Inspector of Police – Utilized forged documents to move Central Administrative Tribunal for appointment – Complaint registered for offences under Sections 467, 468, and 471 of IPC – Final report filed and taken on record by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Puducherry – Petitioner seeks quashing of final report claiming lawful appointment and subsequent promotions [Paras 1-10].

Procedure under RTI Act – Fabrication of Documents – Petitioner obtained information through RTI, allegedly by manipulating records to show higher marks – Investigation revealed access to and tampering of examination documents – Statements of witnesses indicated involvement in furnishing false information [Paras 2-7].

Judicial Review – Prima Facie Case – High Court finds sufficient prima facie evidence to proceed with trial – Dismisses petition to quash final report, emphasizing need for full-fledged trial to uncover truth – Cites Vishnu Kumar Shukla v. State of Uttar Pradesh to highlight protection against vexatious prosecution not applicable here [Paras 8-11].

Decision – Criminal Original Petition Dismissed – Held – Material collected during investigation supports proceeding with charges – Petition dismissed, Miscellaneous Petitions closed [Para 11].

Family Law – Divorce – Grounds of Cruelty and Desertion – Appellant sought divorce alleging respondent’s disinterest in marriage, extra-marital relationship, and repeated desertion – Family Court dismissed petition citing lack of specific evidence and hearsay nature of allegations – Appellant’s claims of respondent’s cruelty and desertion found unsubstantiated – Appeal dismissed, upholding Family Court’s decision [Paras 1-32].

Specific Allegations and Evidence – Requirement of Specific Evidence – Appellant’s allegations of cruelty included respondent’s statements about disinterest in marriage, maintaining a relationship with another person, and threats of suicide – Claims based on hearsay, with no direct witness testimony or corroborative evidence – Appellant failed to produce crucial witnesses, including parents and panchayat members [Paras 4-15, 19-20].

Previous Petition – Res Judicata – Bar on Fresh Petition – Previous divorce petition filed by appellant dismissed for non-prosecution – Instant petition for same relief on same grounds deemed barred by law – Legal principle of res judicata applicable [Para 24].

Respondent’s Willingness to Reconcile – Evidence – Testimonies indicated respondent’s willingness to continue marital relationship – Appellant’s witnesses corroborated respondent’s willingness and appellant’s refusal to reconcile – Compromise agreement (Ext. R-1) signed by appellant admitted wrongful doubts about respondent’s character [Paras 18, 23, 28-29].

Compromise Agreement and Judicial Findings – Compromise agreement evidenced appellant’s apology and undertaking not to ill-treat respondent – Family Court noted appellant’s failure to prove allegations of cruelty and desertion – Findings from complaint under Section 12 of Domestic Violence Act and maintenance awarded to respondent also considered [Paras 21-23, 30].

Judgment of Family Court – Affirmation – Family Court’s findings regarding lack of specific allegations and hearsay evidence upheld – No direct or circumstantial evidence of alleged extra-marital relationship – Previous judicial findings and compromise agreement noted – Appeal found to lack merit and dismissed [Paras 13-32].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – No costs – Pending applications also disposed of.

Land Acquisition – Unauthorized Use of Land – Compensation – Plaintiffs filed a suit for possession, permanent, and mandatory injunction after their land was utilized for road construction without their consent or due process – Trial court directed the State to acquire the land following legal procedures and disburse the assessed compensation to the landowners – High Court dismissed the State’s appeal, reinforcing the obligation for due process in land acquisition and fair compensation [Paras 1-14].

Legal Obligation for Compensation – The State constructed the Auhar-Kohina road using plaintiffs’ land without written consent or formal acquisition – Notification for acquisition issued but not completed – High Court emphasized that utilizing private property for public projects requires legal acquisition and fair compensation, rejecting the argument of oral consent and public interest overriding the requirement of lawful process [Paras 2-4].

Judicial Findings – Concurrent Judgments – Lower courts found the State’s actions unlawful due to lack of written consent and incomplete acquisition process – The State’s appeal was dismissed for lack of a substantial question of law – High Court reiterated the principle that the State cannot utilize private land without adhering to legal procedures and ensuring compensation [Paras 4-5].

Statutory Compliance – Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act – The issuance of notification under Section 4 is a necessary preliminary step in the land acquisition process – Failure to proceed with subsequent steps led to the lapsing of the notification – The State’s failure to comply with statutory requirements invalidated its claim of lawful use of the land [Paras 2-4].

Compensation for Public Use – High Court held that public use of private land without compensation is impermissible – The construction of public infrastructure does not exempt the State from following due legal processes and ensuring landowner rights – Compensation is mandatory unless the landowner voluntarily transfers land in a legally recognized manner [Paras 4-5].

Decision:
Appeal dismissed – Judgments of the lower courts upheld – State directed to initiate proper land acquisition procedures and compensate landowners as per legal requirements.
 

Criminal Law – Murder – Dying Declarations – Conviction based on multiple dying declarations – Deceased consistently stated that appellant poured kerosene on her, set her on fire, and threw her from the stairs – Conviction upheld – Dying declarations found credible and trustworthy [Paras 1-45]. 

Evidence Law – Dying Declaration – Section 32(1) of Indian Evidence Act – Declarations made to brother, father, cousin, police officer, and doctor – Consistency across multiple declarations – Declarations corroborated by forensic evidence and witness testimonies – Declarations made in conscious state [Paras 30-45]. 

Forensic Evidence – Corroboration – Presence of kerosene residues on clothes, hair, and scene of crime – Recovery of stove, plastic can with kerosene, burnt clothes, and hair clip from crime scene – Forensic evidence supported dying declarations [Para 44]. 

Decision:  Appeal dismissed – Conviction and sentence upheld – Appellant directed to surrender within one week to serve remaining sentence – Trial court record to be returned with judgment copy for compliance. 

Civil Procedure – Preliminary Issue – Maintainability of Suit – Petitioner challenged the order deciding the maintainability of the suit as a preliminary issue based on an alleged admission during cross-examination – High Court held that the issue involved mixed questions of fact and law, unsuitable for determination as a preliminary issue under Order XIV, Rule 2 of CPC – Order set aside and application rejected – Preliminary issues must be purely of law unless facts are admitted in pleadings [Paras 1-12].

Order XIV, Rule 2 of CPC – Determination of Preliminary Issues – Court lacks jurisdiction to decide mixed questions of fact and law unless facts are clearly admitted in pleadings – In this case, admission was from cross-examination, not pleadings or affidavits – Misapplication of Order XIV, Rule 2 by the trial court [Paras 6-10].

Application under Article 227 – Maintainability and Scope – High Court emphasizes proper use of Article 227 to correct jurisdictional errors – Trial court’s erroneous decision on preliminary issue corrected [Para 11].

Decision: Petition allowed – Impugned order dated 11.04.2023 set aside – Application under Order XIV, Rule 2 of CPC rejected – Issue of suit’s maintainability to be considered along with other issues at trial’s conclusion.
 

Specific Relief Act, 1963 – Section 9 – Civil suit for possession of agricultural land – Ejectment of tenant – Denial of landlord’s title – Jurisdiction of civil court – The Court held that if defendants deny the title of the plaintiffs in their written statement, it is sufficient to hold that they have denounced the title of the plaintiff, thereby giving the civil court jurisdiction to entertain the suit for possession [Para 10].

Specific Relief Act, 1963 – Section 9 – Limitation Act, 1963 – Section 27 – Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887 – Section 51 – Tenancy of agricultural land – Adverse possession – The defendants claimed adverse possession but did not plead tenancy. The First Appellate Court incorrectly found them to be tenants. The Court emphasized that findings cannot go beyond pleadings, and evidence led beyond pleadings should not be appreciated [Paras 11, 13].

Adverse Possession – Requirements – The Court noted that adverse possession must be hostile, actual, visible, exclusive, and continuous over the statutory period. The defendants' plea of adverse possession was not supported by evidence, and thus they did not perfect their title by adverse possession [Paras 5-7].

Denial of Title and Tenancy Rights – The Court ruled that denying the title of the plaintiffs by claiming ownership through adverse possession results in forfeiting tenancy rights. The civil court has jurisdiction to grant possession to the plaintiffs in such cases [Paras 9-10].

Decision: The appeals filed by the plaintiffs (RSA-1735-1990 and RSA-1734-1990) are allowed. The suits filed by the plaintiffs for possession are decreed in toto. The appeal filed by one of the defendants (RSA-1245-1990) is dismissed. The judgments of the trial courts in both suits are restored.

Arbitration Clause Interpretation – Scope and Ambit – Arbitration clause in the agreement, covering disputes “arising out of or in relation to the agreement”, was not restricted solely to the validity of the agreement – Court emphasized the need for purposive interpretation to give effect to all expressions in the clause and avoid redundancy – Forum selection clause read in conjunction with the arbitration clause, indicating all disputes related to the agreement, including validity, were referable to arbitration [Paras 22-28].

Issue of Limitation – Force Majeure Clause Consideration – Petitioners contended that mining operations were halted due to government restrictions, invoking the force majeure clause in the agreement – The court held that the issue of limitation was arguable and required evidence, thus should be decided on merits by the arbitrator [Paras 43-49].

Cause of Action for Arbitration – Court found the cause of action arose from the respondent’s failure to place purchase orders and provide post-dated cheques as per the agreement – The agreement was based on a previous debt and the dispute was not “dead wood” – Arbitration clause intended to cover such disputes [Paras 50-60].

Decision: Application under Section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 allowed – Sole arbitrator appointed to resolve the disputes – All issues left open for consideration by the arbitrator [Paras 61-63].
 

Criminal Law – Rash and Negligent Driving – Conviction and Sentencing – Petitioner convicted under Sections 279, 337, and 304-A IPC for causing a fatal accident while driving a tanker in a rash and negligent manner. Trial court sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment and fines. Conviction and sentence upheld by appellate court, leading to the filing of the present revision petition​​.

Evidence – Witness Identification and Test Identification Parade (TIP) – Absence of TIP does not invalidate witness identification during trial. Multiple witnesses, including the Matador driver, identified the petitioner. Evidence found reliable and trustworthy despite minor inconsistencies​​.

Defective Investigation – Impact on Conviction – Defective investigation does not automatically entitle the accused to acquittal. Independent scrutiny of evidence determines reliability. Non-examination of certain witnesses like the mechanic considered a procedural lapse that did not materially affect the prosecution's case​​.

Sentencing – Consideration of Age and Probation – Court refused to modify sentence or grant probation based on petitioner's age, emphasizing strict punishment for motor vehicle accidents causing death. Petitioner had only served 29 days of sentence, considered too lenient for the offense committed​​.

Decision: Revision petition dismissed, conviction and sentence upheld. Compliance and information dissemination directed to concerned trial court and Chief Judicial Magistrate, Palwal​​.