Bail – Sexual Assault, Extortion, and Cheating – Sections 318(4), 351(3) BNS, read with Sections 480 & 483 BNSS – Bail Granted – Petitioner accused of fraudulently collecting money, drugging, sexually assaulting complainant, extorting funds, and threatening with photographs – Delay of 14 months in lodging FIR, existence of live-in relationship, and counter-complaint lodged earlier by accused’s family considered – Court noted 68 days of custody and substantial progress of investigation – Bail granted with stringent conditions [Paras 2, 5, 7-10].

Judicial Custody – Bail Considerations – Continued detention not necessary – Custodial interrogation substantially complete – Risk of absconding mitigated by conditions – Bail ordered subject to strict compliance [Paras 8-9].

Conditions of Bail – Accused to execute ₹20,000 bond with sureties – Weekly appearance before police – Not to leave district without permission – No intimidation of witnesses – Passport to be surrendered/affidavit to be filed – Breach of conditions to invite consequences [Para 9].

Decision – Criminal Petition allowed – Petitioner enlarged on bail with conditions [Para 10].

Kidnapping/Abduction/Rape – IPC Ss. 363, 366, 376; S. 375 Exception 2 (pre-2017) – Victim (16+) voluntarily accompanied; Nikah solemnised; cohabitation thereafter – No “taking”/“enticement” proved (S. Varadarajan; Thakorlal) – PCMA makes such marriage voidable; Independent Thought prospective – Convictions set aside; appellant acquitted [Paras 13-20, 25-26].

Kidnapping from Lawful Guardianship – Meaning of “Takes” & “Entices” – Section 361 IPC explained – “Takes” means causing or escorting; “Entices” means inducement/allurement – Mere voluntary accompaniment by victim is not “taking” – No active inducement proved – Appellant not liable under Section 363 IPC [Paras 14-17].

Abduction for Marriage – Section 366 IPC – Victim above 16 years married appellant and cohabited as wife; prosecution failed to show inducement or compulsion – No evidence of abduction with intent to compel marriage or illicit intercourse – Offence under Section 366 IPC not established [Paras 17-18].

Rape – Section 376 IPC – Physical relationship after marriage – Victim aged above 16 – Though Independent Thought v. Union of India (2017) struck down Exception 2 to Section 375 IPC, ruling applies prospectively – Since occurrence of 2005 pre-dates the judgment, sexual intercourse with wife above 16 years not rape – Offence under Section 376 not made out [Paras 22-25].

Child Marriage – PCMA, 2006 vis-à-vis Muslim Law – Under Muslim personal law, puberty (presumed at 15) confers capacity for marriage – PCMA defines marriage below 18 (for female) as voidable, not void – In absence of compulsion, Nikah valid in personal law – PCMA does not retrospectively criminalise such union – Benefit of doubt to appellant [Paras 19-21].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction and sentence under Sections 363, 366 & 376 IPC set aside – Appellant acquitted – On bail; personal bond cancelled; to furnish fresh bond under Section 437-A CrPC – Trial court records to be remitted [Paras 26-29].

Negotiable Instruments – Section 138 Conviction – Compounding of Offence Permitted – Revision petitioner convicted for dishonour of cheque – Conviction upheld in appeal – During pendency of revision, parties entered into joint compromise – Entire amount of Rs. 2,00,000/- paid and acknowledged by complainant – Held: In view of settlement, offence compounded under Section 147 of NI Act – Conviction and sentence annulled – Petitioner acquitted [Paras 1–5, 7–10, 45–46]

Criminal Law – Compounding of Offences – Scope under NI Act vis-à-vis BNSS – Court held that Section 147 of NI Act, being a special law with non obstante clause, prevails over Section 359 of BNSS – Compounding permissible even post-conviction and at revisional stage – Inherent power of High Court under Section 442 BNSS invoked to secure ends of justice [Paras 20–24, 31–36, 41–43]

Judicial Discretion – Late Compounding of Offence – Despite conviction being affirmed in appeal, High Court permitted compounding owing to full settlement – Held: Purpose of NI Act is compensatory, not punitive – Delay in compromise not a bar when no prejudice caused and justice demands it – Cited Damodar S. Prabhu and Meters and Instruments Pvt. Ltd. cases [Paras 12–14, 29–38, 44–46]

Special Law vs General Law – Interpretational Priority – Court reiterated principle that special law (NI Act) overrides general procedural provisions (BNSS) in event of conflict – Section 147 of NI Act allows compounding at any stage, including revision – Harmonious construction supports access to justice and early dispute resolution [Paras 32–36]

Compounding in Criminal Revision – Power of High Court – Even after dismissal of appeal, High Court retains power to permit compounding of offences under NI Act if parties have settled dispute – Inherent jurisdiction exercised under Section 442 BNSS to prevent miscarriage of justice and bring quietus to litigation [Paras 23–30, 40–42]

Decision: Criminal Revision allowed – Offence under Section 138 of the NI Act compounded based on Joint Memorandum of Compromise – Conviction and sentence passed by Trial Court and affirmed in appeal annulled – Petitioner acquitted – Revision disposed of accordingly [Paras 45–46]

Income Tax Act, 1961 – Ss.148 & 282 – reassessment notice sent by speed post (not registered post) without affixation – presumption of service u/s 27 GCA inapplicable – strict compliance mandatory – ITAT order set aside, reassessment quashed.

Income Tax – Reassessment – Service of Notice – Speed Post Not Equivalent to Registered Post – Appeal Allowed – Tribunal presumed valid service u/s 148 merely because envelope not traceable – Held: Strict compliance mandatory; presumption u/s 27 GCA applies only to registered post, not speed post – Notice through speed post without acknowledgment is insufficient for deemed service [Paras 13-21, 32, 35].

Procedure – Affixation of Notice – Requirement under Section 282 IT Act & Order V Rule 17 CPC – Inspector’s report showed assessee untraceable but no affixation was done – Held: Mandatory requirement not followed; service invalid [Para 36].

Statutory Interpretation – Taxing Statutes – Strict Construction – Service of notice u/s 148 is jurisdictional precondition – cannot be presumed or liberally construed – Jharkhand HC view in Milan Poddar (speed post = registered post) not accepted – Allahabad HC requires strict registered post service [Paras 19-21, 32].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – ITAT order dated 16.11.2011 set aside – Service of notice u/s 148 held invalid – Reassessment for AY 2002-03 unsustainable [Paras 35-37].

Partition – family settlement (13.12.2003) upheld as binding despite missing “original” – adverse inference for non-examined defendant – preliminary decree for partition and injunction granted; appeals allowed

Partition – Family Settlement – Exhibit A1 Treated as Original – Preliminary Decree Passed – Plaintiffs relied on Exh.A1 family settlement dated 13.12.2003 – Though “original” missing, mediator (PW3) testified to handing it over to defendant – all signatures present on last page – Defendants failed to enter witness box; adverse inference drawn – Exh.A1 accepted as genuine; partition preliminary decree granted in tune with A1–A5 sketches/drafts [Paras 12-23, 26-28].

Civil Procedure – Res Judicata & Partial Partition – Suit Maintainable – Earlier partition suit dismissed on basis of alleged will – Present suit based on subsequent family settlement; hence not barred by res judicata – Exclusion of certain properties justified as widow/daughters had no share therein; not bad for partial partition [Paras 11, 19-21].

Evidence – Non-examination of Party – Adverse Inference – 3rd defendant (widow of predeceased son) failed to depose – Held: adverse inference against her plea of fabrication of Exh.A1 – Plea of tampering rejected [Paras 14-15, 23-25].

Injunction – Rights of Co-owners – Permanent Injunction Granted – Plaintiff in O.S.193/2008 sought to restrain interference with quarry operations – In light of binding family settlement and possession of demarcated shares, injunction decree granted; prayer for damages rejected [Paras 27, 29-30].

Decision – Appeals Allowed – Common judgment set aside – O.S.232/2006 decreed; preliminary decree for partition passed in terms of Exh.A1–A5; O.S.193/2008 decreed for permanent injunction (damages denied); parties to bear own costs [Paras 28-30].

Local Body Elections – Ward Formation/Delimitation – Const. Arts. 243-O & 243-ZG – High Court cannot interfere once objections heard and final notification issued – Petitions dismissed; elections to proceed per SC mandate.

Local Body Elections – Ward Formation – Constitutional Bar – Arts. 243-C, 243-K, 243-O, 243-ZG, 329(a) – Delimitation and allotment of seats, once finalized after objections and hearing, immune from writ interference – Only narrow exception: no objections invited/hearing denied – Entertaining challenges would stall elections – Bar strictly applied [Paras 3-12, 18-21].

Elections – Timely Conduct – Supreme Court Order dated 06.05.2025 (Rahul Ramesh Wagh v. State of Maharashtra) – Directed SEC to notify Zilla Parishad elections within 4 months – High Court held bound not to derail process – Petitions seeking to challenge ward notifications rejected [Paras 12-14, 19-21].

Ward Delimitation – Govt. Order dated 12.06.2025 prescribing procedure – Based on 2011 Census, contiguity, natural boundaries, Gram Panchayat integrity, voter convenience – Hearing granted and reasons recorded by Divisional Commissioners – Notifications upheld; no arbitrariness found [Paras 15-18, 23-27].

Jurisdiction under Article 226 – High Court not appellate authority – Cannot decide factual disputes of inclusion/exclusion of villages – Proper forum: election petitions – Precedents followed: State of U.P. v. Pradhan Sangh Kshetra Samiti, Anugrah Narain Singh v. State of U.P., Meghraj Kothari v. Delimitation Commission, Jadhav Shankar Dnyandeo v. Collector, Satara [Paras 4-11, 20].

Delay/Acquiescence – Petitioners who failed to object to draft notification cannot later challenge final ward notification – Belated challenges held impermissible, especially when elections imminent [Paras 11, 21].

Decision – All writ petitions dismissed – Final ward formation notifications upheld – No interference under Article 226; petitioners relegated to remedies under election law [Paras 21-22].

Consumer Protection Act, 2019 – execution of enhanced award – doctrine of merger – 18% interest on enhanced compensation relates back to 2017 District Commission order – unjust enrichment plea rejected – Article 227 petition dismissed.

Consumer Law – Execution of Enhanced Award – Interest on Enhanced Amount – Petition Dismissed – DCDRC awarded compensation with 18% interest (2017); State Commission later enhanced amount (2023) – Held: By doctrine of merger, enhanced amount relates back; interest applies from original award date – Interest not “interest on interest”; statutory and precedential basis affirmed – Petitioners’ plea of unjust enrichment rejected [Paras 32-34].

Consumer Protection Act, 2019 – Maintainability – Article 227 – Petition Maintainable but No Interference Warranted – Court clarified against ex parte State Commission orders, remedy lies before National Commission (s.51(5)); otherwise Article 227 can be invoked – In present case, orders of District and State Commissions affirmed as proper; supervisory jurisdiction not exercised [Paras 22-30].

Interest – Reasonableness – High Rate of 18% – Validity – Petitioners argued excessive and contrary to Experion Developers (2022) & Suneja Towers (2023) – Held: Rate awarded by consumer fora intended as deterrent to delay; not compound interest; cannot be interfered with in supervisory review [Paras 13-16, 34].

Decision – Miscellaneous Petition Dismissed – Orders dated 03.10.2023 (DCDRC-II) and 09.11.2023 (SCDRC, Bhopal) affirmed; enhanced compensation with 18% interest payable from 18.01.2017 – No interference warranted [Para 35].

Delay Condonation – Article 227 – Law of Limitation – Delay of Over Three Years – Petition Dismissed – Defendants sought condonation citing Covid-19 and alleged ignorance of decree; Court found they were aware through counsel and execution proceedings; held gross negligence and indolence not excusable – Appellate Court rightly rejected delay condonation – High Court upheld refusal [Paras 8–14].

Specific Performance – Execution of Decree – Sale Deed Registered – Once execution completed, subsequent challenge barred – Defendants’ silence during execution proceedings proved lack of diligence; no ground to reopen concluded decree [Paras 4.1–4.3, 9–10].

Supervisory Jurisdiction – Limits of Article 227 – Court cannot interfere merely because a second view is possible – Interference limited to jurisdictional error; appellate court order well-reasoned – Petition rejected [Para 15].

Decision – Writ Petition Rejected – Impugned Order Confirmed – Rule discharged; no order as to costs [Paras 16–18].

Civil Writ - Illegal Migrant - Foreigners’ Tribunal – Burden of Proof – Section 2(a) of the Foreigners Act, 1946 – Declaration as Foreigner Upheld – Petitioner failed to establish linkage with projected parents through sale deed, jamabandi, and electoral rolls – Tribunal held evidence unreliable and inadmissible – High Court upheld Tribunal’s view, holding petitioner failed to discharge burden of proof of Indian citizenship [Paras 6-7, 21-23].

Reference Procedure – Local Verification Officer’s Report – Validity of Reference – Report indicated petitioner failed to submit documents – Electoral Registration Officer rightly referred matter to Tribunal – Held: No illegality in reference as suspicion of citizenship required adjudication by Tribunal [Paras 16-18].

Reliance on Precedents – Anjana Biswas, Indira Newar, Sona Kha, Md. Rahim Ali – Distinguished – Petitioner’s reliance misplaced as facts differed; here, absence of documents and contradictions in testimony justified reference and adverse finding [Paras 19-22].

Evidentiary Contradictions – Sale deed of 1971 and voter lists of 1985/1989 inconsistent – Petitioner concealed step-mother’s identity and linkage inconsistent – DW2’s voter identity card contradicted claim of relationship – Minor discrepancies held material, undermining credibility [Paras 21-22].

Judicial Review – Scope under Article 226 – High Court cannot re-appreciate evidence but only review procedural lapses – No procedural impropriety found – Petition dismissed [Paras 13, 23].

Decision – Writ petition dismissed – Opinion of Foreigners’ Tribunal declaring petitioner a post-1971 foreigner sustained [Para 23].