Criminal Law – Conviction under NDPS Act – Appeal against trial court's judgment convicting appellant for possession of 7 kg of 'charas' later identified as 'opium' – Alleged procedural lapses in compliance with mandatory provisions of Sections 50 and 52A NDPS Act – Safe custody of seized contraband not established – Discrepancies in forensic examination results – Appeal allowed, conviction and sentence set aside – Appellant acquitted due to non-compliance with mandatory legal requirements and reasonable doubt in prosecution's case. [Paras 1-50]

Criminal Law - Scope of Magistrate’s Powers Under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. - Petition filed under Article 227 challenging the order of the Magistrate directing a preliminary investigation by police. The petitioner argued that the Magistrate misinterpreted the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Priyanka Srivastava v. State of U.P. (2015) and Lalita Kumari v. Government of U.P. (2014). The court held that the Magistrate has the authority to order a preliminary investigation in appropriate cases as elucidated in Priyanka Srivastava and Kailash Vijayvargiya v. Rajlakshmi Chaudhuri (2023). The petitioner's application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. had not been finally disposed of by the Magistrate, rendering the current petition premature. The High Court directed the Magistrate to dispose of the application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. in accordance with the law laid down by the Supreme Court and the High Court, without being influenced by any observations made in this order. [Paras 1-16]

Judicial Vigilance - Filing Affidavit Under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. - Emphasized the necessity for applicants to support their applications under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. with affidavits as mandated in Priyanka Srivastava to deter frivolous filings. Magistrates are advised to verify the veracity of allegations in such applications to prevent misuse of judicial process. [Para 8]

Decision - Premature Petition - The petition challenging the Magistrate's order for preliminary investigation was dismissed as premature. The Magistrate's authority to direct preliminary investigations in appropriate cases was affirmed. The Magistrate was directed to decide the pending application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. expeditiously and on its own merits. [Paras 15-16]

Criminal Procedure – Quashing of Proceedings – Section 482 Cr.P.C. – Application to quash charge sheet, cognizance order, and entire proceedings under IPC and SC/ST Act – Applicants argued delay in FIR filing and lack of proper investigation – Court held prima facie case exists based on charge sheet and cognizance order – No grounds for quashing established – Application dismissed.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act – Misuse Allegations – Journalists accused of extortion, assault, and defamation under IPC and SC/ST Act – Applicants claimed false implication due to news report on illegal tree cutting – Court found no evidence of misuse of SC/ST Act – License validity and credentials of applicants in question – Court noted ongoing investigation into allegations of blackmail and antisocial activities by fake journalists.

Judicial Review – Limits of Section 482 Cr.P.C. – Court emphasized limitations of inherent powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. – Intervention only in cases of jurisdictional error, abuse of process, or absence of prima facie case – Reference to Supreme Court precedents on quashing of criminal proceedings – Application of legal principles to dismiss application for lack of merit.

Decision: Held: Application dismissed – No interference warranted in charge sheet, cognizance order, or ongoing trial – Prima facie case made out against applicants under IPC and SC/ST Act – State machinery advised to investigate credentials and activities of alleged journalists involved in blackmail.

Arbitration – Appointment of Arbitrator – The applicants sought the appointment of a neutral arbitrator, challenging the named arbitrator's eligibility on the grounds of a professional relationship with the respondent. The court held that an arbitrator's ineligibility under Section 12(5) of the Act, read with the Seventh Schedule, terminates the mandate of the arbitrator, and the appointment of a new arbitrator is warranted​​.

Arbitrator's Independence and Impartiality – Professional Relationship – The Court found that the named arbitrator's professional ties with the respondent created justifiable doubts about his independence and impartiality. The applicants' objections were valid under Section 12(5), which mandates the termination of the arbitrator's mandate in such cases​​.

Procedure for Challenging Arbitrator – The applicants had not previously raised objections before the arbitrator but approached the Court directly. The Court concluded that this approach was justified due to the ineligibility of the arbitrator under the Act, which allows for such direct applications in cases of clear ineligibility​​.

Decision:

The application was allowed. The appointment of the named arbitrator was set aside, and a new impartial, independent, and neutral arbitrator was appointed. The Court emphasized the importance of ensuring arbitrators' independence and impartiality to maintain the integrity of the arbitration process​​.

Criminal Law - Conviction and Sentence - Criminal appeal against conviction for dowry death under Section 304B IPC and cruelty under Section 498A IPC - Appellant convicted by Trial Court - Sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment under Section 304B and 2 years under Section 498A, with a fine and default imprisonment - Appeal challenges validity of conviction and sufficiency of evidence - High Court examines evidence, procedural delays, and inconsistencies in witness testimonies - Acquittal of co-accused not challenged by State - Held, prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt - Conviction and sentence set aside. [Paras 1-17]

Delay in FIR Registration - Examination - Incident on 06.07.1999, FIR registered on 12.07.1999 - Delay argued as a result of deliberation and false allegations - High Court finds initial DD entry and hospital intimation were timely - Delay in witness statements not sufficient to discredit prosecution case entirely. [Para 5]

Demand for Dowry - Analysis - Incidents of alleged dowry demands and harassment scrutinized - Testimonies of deceased's brothers inconsistent and partially hearsay - Lack of direct evidence from eye-witnesses and non-examination of key witnesses - Material contradictions noted in prosecution's case - Appellant's involvement in alleged demands not proven beyond reasonable doubt. [Paras 6-14]

Decision - Acquittal - Appeal allowed - Conviction and sentence under Sections 304B and 498A IPC set aside - Appellant acquitted due to insufficient evidence - Bail bonds and surety bonds discharged. [Paras 16-19]

Constitutional Law - Right to Property - Writ Petition under Article 226 – Petition challenging unauthorized construction of a road on private land - Article 300-A and human rights considerations - State cannot dispossess a citizen of property without legal sanction and compensation - The State's claim of adverse possession against a private individual is untenable - Held, construction on private land without acquisition violates constitutional rights. [Paras 1-36]

State's Liability and Officer's Responsibility - Executive Engineer's failure to comply with interim court orders – Interim orders required halting construction on private land - Admitted non-compliance indicates a hostile attitude towards legal processes and citizens' rights - Held, mesne profits for unauthorized use of land to be recovered from the officer’s salary - Officer directed to show cause for contempt of court. [Paras 7-36, 40-41]

Decision - Petition Allowed - Respondents directed to immediately cease road construction on petitioner’s land, dismantle any existing construction, and compensate petitioner for unauthorized use - Mesne profits to be deducted from salary of responsible officer - Cost imposed on the officer for non-compliance with interim orders. [Paras 31-41]

Limitation Law – Condonation of Delay – Probate Application – Petition under Article 227 of the Constitution challenging the legality of the order passed by the District Judge, Tinsukia allowing condonation of delay for 1443 days in filing a probate application – Petitioner argued that the delay was inordinate and not sufficiently explained – Respondent claimed the limitation period should be counted from the date of discovering the will – Held, the right to apply for probate is a continuous right exercisable at any time as long as the right survives and the object of the trust exists – Application for condonation of delay was unnecessary under the circumstances – Court observed that probate applications are actions in rem and not actions in law. Application allowed. [Paras 1-13]

Right to Apply for Probate – Analysis – The right to seek probate of a will is a continuous right which can be exercised any time after the death of the testator – Applications for grant of probate are not barred by limitation if made within three years from the date of knowledge of the will’s existence. [Para 7-11]

Decision – The impugned order by the District Judge allowing the condonation of delay was unnecessary as the application for probate itself was within the permissible period – Directions issued for further proceedings in the probate case without considering the delay condonation application. [Para 13]

Criminal Law – Conviction based on Circumstantial Evidence – Acquittal – Criminal Appeal against conviction under Section 302, IPC – Sessions Court convicted accused for murder of his wife – Prosecution witnesses turned hostile – Prosecution failed to establish motive or conclusively link the accused to the crime – Lack of direct evidence – Held that evidence insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt – Judgment of trial court set aside – Accused acquitted. [Paras 1-34]

Hostile Witnesses – Evidentiary Value – Analysis – Prosecution witnesses (P.W.2, P.W.3, and P.W.5) declared hostile – Testimonies did not substantiate the prosecution’s case – No direct evidence of accused committing the crime – Previous inconsistent statements not adequately confronted – Held that testimonies of hostile witnesses not wholly disregarded but did not provide sufficient corroboration to convict – Benefit of doubt given to accused. [Paras 21-23, 31]

Circumstantial Evidence – Legal Standards – Principles – Case based on circumstantial evidence requires proof beyond reasonable doubt – Entire chain of circumstances must be complete – Gaps in the chain of evidence can lead to acquittal – Application of the principle in Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra – Inference of guilt must exclude any other hypothesis – Held that the prosecution failed to meet these standards. [Para 32]

Decision – Acquittal – Appeal allowed – Judgment and Order of conviction and sentence set aside – Accused to be released forthwith if not required in any other case – Remuneration for Amicus Curiae as per rules. [Paras 34-36]

Criminal Law – Conviction for Murder – Circumstantial Evidence – Hostile Witnesses –  Appeal against the conviction under Section 302 IPC based on circumstantial evidence – Trial Court convicted appellant for the murder of his wife – Prosecution witnesses P.W.2, P.W.3, and P.W.5 declared hostile – Hostile witnesses did not support the prosecution case during trial – Trial Court relied on the remaining testimonies and circumstantial evidence to convict appellant – High Court held that the testimonies of hostile witnesses were not properly confronted with their previous statements – Lack of direct evidence or witness to the act of murder – Prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt – Accused entitled to benefit of doubt – Conviction set aside and appellant acquitted.

Hostile Witnesses – Role and Evidentiary Value – Analysis: Hostile witnesses (P.W.2, P.W.3, and P.W.5) did not support the prosecution’s case during the trial. The prosecution failed to confront these witnesses with their previous statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC to prove contradictions. The High Court emphasized that without proper confrontation and proof, previous inconsistent statements cannot be used to contradict the witnesses. [Paras 21-23]

Circumstantial Evidence – Legal Principles – Application: In cases based on circumstantial evidence, the prosecution must establish a complete and unbroken chain of events leading to the accused’s guilt. The evidence must be consistent only with the hypothesis of guilt and exclude any possibility of innocence. Suspicion, however strong, cannot replace proof beyond reasonable doubt. [Para 32]

Evaluation of Evidence – Lack of Direct Witnesses: None of the prosecution witnesses directly witnessed the murder or the assault. The evidence primarily consisted of post-occurrence witnesses who arrived after the incident. The explanation provided by the appellant during his examination under Section 313 CrPC was deemed plausible. [Paras 28-31]

Decision – Acquittal – Benefit of Doubt: The High Court found that the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence to conclusively establish the appellant’s guilt. The chain of circumstantial evidence was incomplete, and the prosecution failed to rule out the possibility of innocence. Consequently, the appellant was entitled to the benefit of doubt, leading to the acquittal. [Paras 33-34]