Family Law – Divorce – Cruelty – Decree of Divorce Granted – Appellant alleged repeated abusive conduct by wife, threats of suicide, denial of physical relationship, and desertion without cause – Family Court dismissed petition citing isolated nature of incidents and unclean hands due to dowry allegations – Held: Cumulative effect of wife’s behaviour including verbal abuse, threats of false criminal charges, and persistent withdrawal from cohabitation amounted to mental cruelty – Appellant's evidence consistent and largely unshaken – Divorce granted under Section 13(1)(ia) of HMA [Paras 1, 3, 17, 20, 23–25]

Family Law – Clean Hands Doctrine – Section 23(1)(a) HMA – Appellant denied relief by Family Court on ground of unclean hands due to dowry harassment allegations – Held: Allegations by wife were belated and unsupported by contemporaneous evidence – FIR and other proceedings initiated only after divorce petition – No credible material to show petitioner’s conduct constituted matrimonial offence – Principle of clean hands wrongly invoked – Not a bar to relief [Paras 18, 21–22]

Family Law – Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage – Allegation of Sexual Misconduct by In-Law – Wife alleged attempted molestation by father-in-law – Parties living separately since 2020 – No child from marriage – Held: Allegation strikes at core of family trust and makes restoration of marital harmony impossible – Relationship has broken down irreparably – Compelling parties to continue in such marriage serves no legal or societal purpose – Divorce granted [Paras 23–25]

Decision: Appeal allowed – Judgment and decree dated 20/03/2025 of Family Court set aside – Marriage dissolved by decree of divorce under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 – Registry directed to draw up decree sheet – No orders as to costs.

Civil Law - Stamp Act – Validation of Document – Photocopy of Agreement – Admissibility – Civil Judge allowed validation of a photocopy of agreement to sell dated 05.03.2018 by directing payment of deficient stamp duty and penalty – Held: Contrary to law – Sections 33 and 35 of the Indian Stamp Act apply only to original instruments – Photocopies, even if secondary evidence is allowed, cannot be impounded or validated – Order suffers from jurisdictional error and is set aside [Paras 7, 9–9.1].

Secondary Evidence – Admissibility of Photocopy – Limitation under Stamp Act – Petitioner's grievance limited to permission for validation of photocopy, not against earlier order permitting secondary evidence – Court clarifies that allowing secondary evidence does not permit validation of a non-original document – Held: Mere copy or partial original cannot be treated as valid instrument for purpose of stamping [Paras 4.1, 5, 9].

Inconsistency in Orders – Legal Infirmity – Civil Judge had earlier rightly held that photocopy could not be impounded (Annexure P-5) but later permitted its validation (Annexure P-6) – Held: Two orders rest on mutually inconsistent legal premises – Challenge to Annexure P-6 maintainable even if Annexure P-5 not assailed – Impugned order quashed [Paras 3–5].

Reliance on Precedents – Supreme Court Judgments – Court referred to binding precedents including Hariom Agrawal v. Prakash Chand Malviya, State of Bihar v. Karam Chand Thapar, and Jupudi Kesava Rao v. Pulavarthi Venkata Subbarao – Held: Law well-settled that copy of instrument cannot be validated under Stamp Act – Validation possible only of original instrument when duly produced [Paras 6–8].

Revision Allowed – Impugned order of Civil Judge set aside – Clarified that findings limited to stamp duty issue and do not affect merits of underlying civil suit – All pending miscellaneous applications also disposed of [Paras 9.1–11].

Motor Accident Compensation – Just Compensation – Enhancement in Absence of Cross Appeal – Deceased, a self-employed photographer aged 45 years, died in accident involving APSRTC bus – Tribunal awarded Rs.19,97,000/- without granting future prospects or applying correct multiplier – High Court held: Even in absence of appeal by claimants, Courts are duty-bound to award “just compensation” under Section 168 of the MV Act – Following Pranay Sethi, Sarala Verma, and Ramla, compensation enhanced to Rs.26,80,000/- with 7.5% interest [Paras 13–20].

Negligence – Evidence and Burden of Proof – APSRTC contended accident was due to deceased’s negligence – Driver examined as RW-1 failed to rebut evidence – Eye-witness (PW-2) and police records (FIR, charge sheet) confirmed negligence of bus driver – Tribunal and High Court held accident was caused solely due to rash and negligent driving by APSRTC driver [Paras 10–11].

Assessment of Income – Self-Employed Deceased – Documentary evidence insufficient to prove income of Rs.40,000/- – Tribunal rightly disbelieved income certificate (Ex.A5) – Income reasonably assessed at Rs.18,000/- per month – High Court upheld income computation but modified multiplier and added conventional heads [Paras 11–14].

Multiplier – Error in Tribunal’s Application – Tribunal applied multiplier of 13 though deceased was aged 45 – High Court corrected error and applied multiplier of 14 as per Sarala Verma – Compensation recalculated accordingly [Paras 15–16].

Interest Rate – Award of Interest – Tribunal granted 6% per annum – High Court modified and awarded 7.5% per annum in line with consistent judicial practice [Para 19].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Award modified – Compensation enhanced from Rs.19,97,000/- to Rs.26,80,000/- with interest at 7.5% per annum – Appellant (APSRTC) directed to deposit enhanced amount within two months – No order as to costs – All pending IAs closed [Paras 20–21].

Tender Law – Bid Evaluation – Technical Disqualification – Arbitrary Selection – Judicial Review – Opposite Party No.2 submitted credentials for work related to sewage pump house and wastewater treatment plant – NIT specifically required experience in “cleaning of overhead tanks/underground reservoirs by mechanical means” – Submitted work order unrelated and of far lower value than threshold – Held: Employer (NALCO) misconstrued and misapplied essential tender conditions – Work submitted did not fall within “similar work” as defined – Declaration of Opposite Party No.2 as L1 was arbitrary, irrational, and violated Article 14 [Paras 6.3–8.4]

Public Contracts – Scope of Judicial Review – Terms of NIT – Essential Conditions Must Be Rigidly Enforced – Court reiterated that judicial review is confined to the decision-making process, not the merits of the decision – However, deviation from essential terms must apply equally to all bidders – In this case, deviation was applied only to one bidder without justification – Therefore, interference by writ court is warranted [Paras 7.2–8.3]

Administrative Law – Arbitrariness – Equal Treatment in Tendering – While government has freedom in awarding contracts, that freedom must be exercised transparently and fairly – Allowing a bidder with non-conforming experience to qualify offends equality and fairness – Acceptance of such a bid defeats purpose of tender conditions and affects public interest [Paras 6.6, 8.2]

Decision: Writ Petition allowed – Declaration of Opposite Party No.2 as L1 quashed – NALCO directed to re-evaluate bids in accordance with NIT – No order as to costs.

Election Law – Rejection of Election Petition – Order VII Rule 11 CPC – Application for rejection of election petition on grounds of vague pleadings and lack of cause of action – Allegations included concealment of assets in Form 26, improper acceptance of nomination, and non-compliance with mandatory provisions regarding EVM/VVPAT use – Held: Petition discloses material facts and poses triable issues – Rejection under Order VII Rule 11 not warranted [Paras 1, 30–34].

Material Facts – Concealment of Assets – Petitioner alleged suppression of property and liabilities by the returned candidate in election affidavit – Revenue documents annexed – Held: Sufficient disclosure of material facts pleaded – Applicant's explanations and defences are matters of trial, not grounds for rejection at the threshold [Paras 2, 17, 30–31].

Nomination Challenge – Improper Rejection of Objection – Petitioner alleged her objection to the nomination was wrongly rejected by Returning Officer on erroneous grounds – Documents regarding objection annexed – Held: Pleadings raise substantial triable issue under Section 100(1)(d)(i) – Not liable to be struck down at threshold [Paras 17–18, 31].

EVM/VVPAT Irregularities – Non-compliance with Section 61A – Petitioner alleged absence of permanent identification on EVMs and denial of information under Rule 93 – Forensic examination sought – Held: Allegations sufficiently pleaded to warrant trial under Section 100(1)(d)(iv) of the RP Act [Paras 18, 32–33].

Verification and Form Compliance – Petition accompanied with Form 25 and verified per Section 83 – Held: No defect in verification or affidavit that renders petition liable to rejection [Para 19].

Cause of Action – Pleadings Disclose Triable Issues – Petition sets out basic and primary facts to challenge election under statutory grounds – Distinguished from cases where pleadings were vague or defective – Petition not liable to rejection at the threshold [Paras 29–34].

Decision: Application under Order VII Rule 11 CPC dismissed – Election Petition to proceed to trial.

Civil Writ - Industrial Zoning – Use of Land in Food Processing Park – Environmental Impact – Writ Appeal Dismissed as Infructuous – Appellants challenged licence agreement (Ext.P4) issued by KINFRA in 2013 permitting R5 (Malabar Gold Pvt. Ltd.) to establish a gold manufacturing unit in Kakkancheri Food Processing Park – Held: The land was part of a general zone within the industrial park, as per State notification and KINFRA scheme, permitting non-food industries – NEERI report confirmed negligible environmental impact – Retail operations commenced in 2023 under lease deed dated 07/05/2021 – Appeal challenging earlier licence agreement rendered infructuous by subsequent developments – No interference warranted with judgment of learned Single Judge [Paras 2.3, 6–10].

Industrial Development – Scope of Permissible Activities – Zoning – High Court upheld that Kakkancheri Park included food, IT, biotech, and general industrial zones – Gold manufacturing facility permitted within general zone, subject to pollution control compliance – No bar under 1993 Act or 1999 Act prohibiting such activity – Park’s mixed-use character supported by Government Notification and KINFRA Board decisions [Paras 5–7, 9–10].

Environmental Concerns – NEERI Report – Negligible Impact – Appellants alleged risk from chemicals used in gold manufacturing to food-related production – Held: NEERI’s expert report found environmental risk to be negligible – Manufacturing permitted subject to clearances – No basis for interference under Article 226 [Paras 2.3, 10].

Writ Appeal – Infructuous Appeal – Licence Agreement Implemented – Construction Completed – Lease Deed Executed – Commercial Operations Started – Held: Once lease deed signed and unit commenced operations, challenge to initial licence agreement becomes infructuous – Writ Appeal dismissed on this ground [Paras 4, 9].

Decision: Writ Appeal dismissed – Challenge to licence agreement (Ext.P4) held infructuous in view of subsequent lease, construction, and operational commencement – No illegality in permitting gold manufacturing unit in general zone of KINFRA Park – Judgment of learned Single Judge upheld.

Preventive Detention – PIT NDPS Act – Habeas Corpus – Detention order and confirmation order quashed due to non-consideration of representation by State Government independent of Advisory Board opinion – Failure to apprise detenu of right to represent to Central Government – Non-consideration of bail orders vitiates detention order – Held: Detention illegal and set aside [Paras 15-22].

Constitutional Law – Article 22(5) – Independent Consideration of Representation – Section 9(f) of PIT NDPS Act – Petitioner contended that the State Government (Respondent No. 2) failed to consider the representation dated 17.07.2025 independent of the Advisory Board's opinion while passing the confirmation order – Court examined original records and found the confirmation order was approved based on the Advisory Board's report without any independent perusal or examination of the representation – Held: The power of the Government to confirm detention under Section 9(f) is independent of the Advisory Board's opinion – The Government is strictly bound to consider the representation independently – Failure to do so violates Article 22(5) and vitiates the confirmation order [Paras 10-16, 18].

Procedural Safeguards – Right to Representation to Central Government – Revocation of Detention – Section 12 of PIT NDPS Act – Detaining Authority failed to apprise the detenu of his right to make a representation to the Central Government – Held: While not expressly stated in Article 22(5) or Section 9(f), the detenu must be apprised of the fact that a report is made to the Central Government to enable him to exercise the right to seek revocation under Section 12(1)(b) – Failure to apprise affects the detenu's fundamental right to make a representation [Paras 19-21].

Subjective Satisfaction – Consideration of Bail Orders – Detaining Authority did not consider the bail applications and orders passed in the three criminal cases pending against the detenu – Held: It is mandatory for the Detaining Authority to consider bail applications and orders – Non-consideration of these material facts vitiates the subjective satisfaction and the detention order [Para 17].

Decision: Writ Petition allowed – Order of confirmation (Annexure-B) and Detention Order (Annexure-A) quashed – Detenu to be set at liberty if not required in any other case.

Consolidation Law – Post-scheme Allotment – Civil Court Jurisdiction – Consolidation scheme concluded in 1962 – Assistant Director passed order on 02.07.1964 under Section 21(4) allotting land from shamlat thola gordhan without amending the consolidation scheme and without notice to right-holders – Held: Once consolidation proceedings conclude, consolidation authorities become functus officio – Any post-scheme order not in conformity with statutory procedure and natural justice is open to challenge in Civil Court – Civil Court rightly assumed jurisdiction [Paras 19, 20].

Title Dispute – Consolidation Authorities Exceeded Jurisdiction – Assistant Director relied on possession since 26.01.1950 to declare ownership under Village Common Lands Act – Held: Consolidation authorities have no power to decide title or confer ownership – Title determination lies exclusively with Civil Court – Orders Ex.D1 to D4 held illegal and without authority [Paras 20, 23–25].

Limitation – Execution Application Filed After 14 Years – Application under Section 42 filed in 1978 to execute 1964 order – Delay casually condoned without sufficient cause – Scheme amended retrospectively to accommodate illegal allotment – Held: Exercise amounts to misuse of process and cannot be sustained [Paras 21–24].

Estoppel – Non-Objection at Time of Allotment – Appellants claimed plaintiffs were estopped from challenging allotment due to non-objection – Held: Absence of objection does not validate an order passed without jurisdiction and contrary to law – No estoppel against challenging a void act [Para 6].

Second Appeal – Framing of Substantial Question of Law – Held: As per settled law and decisions in Pankajakshi, Randhir Kaur, and Gurbachan Singh, framing of substantial questions of law is not mandatory in second appeals before the Punjab and Haryana High Court under Section 41 of the Punjab Courts Act, 1918 [Para 26].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Judgment and decree of First Appellate Court upheld – Orders Ex.D1 to Ex.D4 held illegal and void – Civil Court jurisdiction affirmed – Miscellaneous applications also disposed of.

Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 – Section 138 – Dishonour of Cheque – Conviction – Revisional Jurisdiction – Petitioners convicted for dishonour of cheque amounting to Rs. 25,00,000/- issued as partial refund for unfulfilled property sale agreement – Defence pleaded coercion in obtaining the cheque and refund agreement, and denied receipt of original consideration – Held: Mere lodging of a police complaint by the accused alleging coercion, without further corroborative evidence or legal steps to challenge the agreement, is insufficient to displace statutory presumption – Existence of signed Refund Agreement acknowledging liability of Rs. 1,10,00,000/- weakens defence – Failure to produce financial records to disprove receipt of consideration renders the defence of "no liability" improbable – Concurrent findings of guilt by Trial Court and Revisional Court upheld [Paras 16-19, 24].

Evidence – Statutory Presumption – Rebuttal – Minor Discrepancies – Petitioners argued that the Complainant failed to specify the exact place of signing/handing over the cheque during cross-examination – Held: Once the issuance of the cheque and signature are admitted, technical omissions regarding the place of execution do not constitute material contradictions – Such minor discrepancies cannot defeat the prosecution case when the accused fails to prove their defence affirmatively [Paras 20-21].

Decision: Revisional application dismissed – Judgment and order of conviction and sentence affirmed – Petitioner nos. 2 and 3 directed to surrender within 15 days to serve the sentence – Stay prayer rejected.