Writ - Passport Issuance – Pending Criminal Trial – Right to Possess Passport Distinct from Right to Travel – Petition Allowed - Petitioner facing trial under Section 15 of the NDPS Act – Trial Court permitted him to apply for passport but not to travel abroad – Passport authority denied issuance citing absence of departure permission under Section 6(2)(f) of Passports Act – Held: Right to hold a passport is part of personal liberty under Article 21, independent from actual travel – Issuance cannot be denied solely on ground of pendency of trial when court permits application [Paras 2–4, 7, 11].

Judicial Precedents – Supreme Court and High Court Guidance on Passport Refusals – Applied - Court relied on Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, Vangala Kasturi Rangacharyulu v. CBI, Ganni Bhaskara Rao v. UOI, and others – Held: Mere pendency of proceedings does not justify blanket refusal to issue passport – Convicted persons with less than two years’ sentence may also be entitled – Greater latitude warranted for accused persons presumed innocent [Paras 10–10.5].

Conditions Imposed – Undertaking and Deposit of Passport with Trial Court – Directions Issued - Court directed petitioner to submit an undertaking before trial court not to leave India without permission and to deposit passport with the court – Passport authority to process application upon compliance – Liberty granted to seek travel permission separately [Paras 12–13].

Decision – Petition Allowed with Directions – Passport to be Issued - Writ petition disposed of with detailed compliance conditions including affidavit to trial court, time-bound processing by passport office, and custody of passport with court – Petitioner's fundamental rights recognized and safeguarded [Paras 13–14].

Criminal Law - Juvenile Justice – Conflict of Jurisdiction – JJ Act Overrides NIA Act – Trial by Children’s Court – Juvenile charged under UAPA and other severe laws—Despite being tried as adult under Section 18(3) JJ Act, Court held: JJ Act, 2015 has overriding effect over all laws including NIA Act—Trial must proceed before Children’s Court, not Special NIA Court—Section 1(4) JJ Act is broad and unambiguous [Paras 10–11, 19–26].

Statutory Interpretation – Non-Obstante Clause – Later and Specific Law Prevails – Section 1(4) JJ Act overrides all conflicting statutes—In contrast, Section 13 NIA Act overrides only CrPC—Court relied on principles of statutory construction and later-in-time doctrine to affirm that JJ Act governs juvenile cases exclusively [Paras 12–17, 21–24].

Human Rights – Juvenile Protection – Purpose of JJ Legislation Emphasized – Court reiterated that JJ Act is beneficial and remedial in nature—Intended to protect children’s dignity and promote reintegration—Trial of juvenile under NIA would defeat purpose—Only Children’s Court has jurisdiction under such circumstances [Paras 6–9, 25].

Decision – Reference answered – Trial of juvenile under UAPA to be conducted by Children’s Court as per Section 18(3) JJ Act – Not by Special Court under NIA Act – MCrC disposed accordingly [Paras 26–28].

Civil Suit – Recovery Based on Ledger – Acknowledgment of Debt – Plaintiff claimed ₹1,06,569/- including principal and interest for unpaid amounts related to apple crop material—Defendant signed ledger acknowledging ₹77,504/-—Held: Concurrent findings by trial and appellate courts supported by evidence—Signature on ledger not disputed during cross-examination—Appeal dismissed [Paras 1–3, 5–8].

Pleading and Evidence – Signature Not Denied – Inference of Admission – Defendant alleged signatures obtained under pretext of cooperative bank resolution, but never denied signing the ledger—No explanation for non-response to legal notice—Held: Conduct of defendant indicated tacit admission—Courts rightly accepted plaintiff’s claim [Paras 4–7].

Substantial Question of Law – Concurrent Findings – No Perversity – Appellate court affirmed decree of ₹77,504/- with 6% interest—High Court found no illegality or perversity—Held: No interference warranted under Section 100 CPC—Substantial question answered against appellant [Paras 9–11].

Money Lending Act – No Bar on Recovery – Defendant pleaded that plaintiff lacked license under Money Lending Act—Held: Not substantiated—Claim was based on goods and services exchanged, not a money lending transaction per se—No bar to decree [Para 3].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – Judgment and decree of trial and first appellate court affirmed – No costs awarded – Decree to be prepared accordingly [Para 11].

Writ Jurisdiction – Section 154, 156(3), 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Refusal to Direct FIR Registration – Alternate Remedies Available – Mandamus Declined – Petitioner sought mandamus for registration of FIR against her husband for allegedly disseminating personal photographs taken before marriage – Despite remedies under Sections 154(3), 156(3) CrPC, and civil injunction suits, no such steps were taken by petitioner – Held: In view of efficacious alternative remedies available under CrPC and civil proceedings, writ petition is not maintainable to compel FIR registration – Petitioner’s choice to avoid civil remedy unexplained and suggests oblique motives [Paras 1, 5-10].

Domestic Violence – Interim Protection Already Granted – No Fresh Mandamus Required – Trial Magistrate had already passed an order dated 02.05.2025 under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act restraining the husband from circulating the photographs – Court noted no justification for further intervention through writ [Paras 4, 10].

Judicial Precedent – Scope of Mandamus – Clarified by Supreme Court – Reference to judgments in Sakiri Vasu v. State of UP, (2008) 2 SCC 409 and M. Subramaniam v. S. Janaki, (2020) 16 SCC 728 – Mandamus to direct FIR registration is not to be issued when alternate legal avenues are unexhausted [Paras 7-8].

Decision – Writ Petition Dismissed – Liberty Reserved for Other Remedies – Petition and accompanying application dismissed – However, court clarified that the petitioner may still pursue other statutory remedies without prejudice from this order [Para 10].

PIL - Affidavits – Unauthorised Fees For Affidavit Photo Identification - Acceptance of Notarized Affidavits – Practice Clarified – Court held that affidavits sworn before Notary Publics appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952 are valid—Directed that all filings supported by such affidavits shall be accepted by the Registry/Stamp Reporting Section at Allahabad and Lucknow benches—Refusal or raising defects based on notarization declared impermissible [Paras 1, 3, 23–25].

Photo Identification – Charges by Bar Associations Illegal – Rs.500 Fee Banned – Court observed litigants were being charged Rs.500 for photo identification on affidavits—Held: Practice lacked statutory sanction—Bar Associations directed to cease collecting such fees—Only Rs.125 as per Chief Justice’s administrative approval permitted—Further collection constitutes contempt [Paras 5–6, 12, 34–36, 38].

Digital Reform – Suggestion for OTP-Based E-Affidavits – Kerala Model Invoked – Noting progressive steps by Kerala High Court for digital affidavit verification using OTP and email, Court recommended administrative reform—Suggested placing issue before Hon’ble Chief Justice for evolving more accessible alternatives [Paras 20, 27].

Access to Justice – Excessive Defect Objections – 272 Objections Lacked Statutory Basis – Court found that Stamp Reporting Section raised as many as 272 types of defects, many without statutory support—Held: Such excessive objections create barriers for poor litigants—Matter directed to be placed before Chief Justice for rationalisation [Paras 17–18, 29–32].

Judicial Policy – Procedures Must Enable, Not Obstruct – Court emphasized that procedural requirements must facilitate rather than obstruct access to justice—Excessive formalities defeat constitutional guarantees under Article 21 and Article 32—Highlighted principle that procedure must “lubricate, not resist” access [Paras 21, 26].

Decision – Registry directed to accept all affidavits sworn before Notaries across India – Bar Associations restrained from charging above ₹125 – Governing Bodies warned of contempt for violations – Suggestions for procedural and digital reform to be placed before Chief Justice – Petition remains pending for main issue [Paras 24–27, 33–39].

Civil Law - Res Judicata – Declaration And Injunction Over Ancestral Property - Previous Suit Involving Same Parties and Property – Appeal Dismissed – Plaintiff-appellants filed suit claiming coparcenary rights over 1/5th share of land through inheritance from Satnam Singh – Defendants contended suit barred by res judicata due to prior litigation involving same dispute and parties – High Court upheld findings of both courts below that earlier suit filed by legal representatives of Amar Singh (including present plaintiffs) had been dismissed finally – Held: Re-litigation on same grounds not maintainable [Paras 3, 6, 10].

Coparcenary Property – No Evidence of Joint Hindu Family Ownership – Concurrent Findings Affirmed – Plaintiffs failed to prove that the property was ancestral or part of joint Hindu family – Courts below found Satnam Singh had executed valid transfer deed during lifetime – High Court noted complete absence of material to establish coparcenary status – Mere assertion insufficient to rebut registered conveyance [Paras 2, 7, 10].

Unsoundness of Mind – No Proof to Invalidate Deed – Claim Rejected – Plaintiffs alleged Satnam Singh was of unsound mind and incapable of executing document – No medical or legal evidence produced to support this claim – Deed held validly executed and registered – Allegation of forgery or incapacity held baseless [Paras 2, 3].

Substantial Question of Law – None Arises – Appeal Not Maintainable – High Court held that no substantial question of law was raised or established – Findings of fact by both courts conclusive and consistent – Appeal dismissed as meritless [Paras 10–11].

Decision – Second Appeal Dismissed – No Question of Law – Regular second appeal found devoid of merit – Dismissed with pending applications disposed of – No interference warranted [Para 11].

Service Law – Lokayukta Enquiry – Preliminary Memorandum Issued by Deputy Registrar – Not Invalid – Petitioner challenged departmental enquiry alleging procedural illegality under Section 9(3) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, contending only Lokayukta/Upa-Lokayukta could issue preliminary notice—Held: Though issued by Deputy Registrar, it was under Upa-Lokayukta’s direction—Lack of direct challenge to 2018 memorandum fatal to plea—Writ dismissed [Paras 7–11, 45–47].

Property Mutation – Gift Deed Dispute – Civil Nature – Not a Bar to Disciplinary Proceedings – Petitioner accused of tampering with municipal property register to change site number and facilitate transfer to husband—Civil suit regarding ownership pending—Held: Pendency of civil suit does not bar disciplinary action based on misuse of official position—Departmental proceedings independent of title dispute [Paras 3–6, 12–13, 27–28].

Government Procedure – Compliance with Transaction of Business Rules – Substantial Compliance Sufficient – Petitioner argued entrustment and show cause notice violated Rules 18 & 19 by not being issued in Governor’s name—Held: Entrustment order was issued “by order and in the name of the Governor” and signed by competent authority—Substantial compliance upheld—Challenge meritless [Paras 17–18, 34–36].

Delay and Participation – Acquiescence to Proceedings Bars Belated Challenge – Petitioner participated in departmental enquiry without protest, sought time for reply to show cause notice—Held: Challenge to process belated and barred by acquiescence—Court declined to interfere at final stage [Paras 9, 46–48].

Natural Justice – Sufficient Opportunity Given – No Prejudice Demonstrated – Petitioner failed to demonstrate breach of natural justice or denial of opportunity—Court found full participation in proceedings—Held: No grounds to interfere under Articles 226 or 227 [Paras 42–44].

Decision – Writ petition dismissed – Departmental enquiry upheld – Show cause notice and entrustment order found valid – No costs awarded [Final Para].

Service Law - Disability Pension – Injury Sustained During Active Service – Entitlement Under CCS (EOP) Rules – Lump Sum Compensation Awarded - The petitioner, a retired BSF Sub-Inspector, sought disability pension for a gunshot wound sustained in active duty in 1993 resulting in permanent disability of 30% – The injury was acknowledged as attributable to service by the Medical Board – Held: Though not invalidated from service, petitioner is entitled to lump sum compensation in lieu of disability pension under Rule 9(3) of CCS (EOP) Rules [Paras 1, 3, 6, 28-31].

Delay and Laches – Continuing Cause of Action – Pensionary Claims – Not Time-Barred - Respondents opposed the petition on grounds of delay, as it was filed 14 years post-superannuation – Held: Delay not fatal since pension claims are continuing in nature and do not impact third-party rights – Relief granted despite lapse of time [Paras 20-22].

Legal Entitlement – Causal Connection to Service – Rule 3-A of CCS (EOP) Rules – Disability Attributable to Government Service - The gunshot injury suffered during anti-militancy operations in J&K was clearly attributable to service – Petitioner was recommended for gallantry medal – Held: Injury satisfies criteria under Rule 3-A for attributability and entitlement to compensation [Paras 5, 24-26].

Decision – Writ Petition Allowed – Compensation with Interest Directed - Court held that petitioner is entitled to lump sum compensation in lieu of disability pension – Directed respondents to compute and release the compensation with 6% interest within 3 months [Paras 31-33].

Civil Revision – Leave under Section 80(2) CPC – Grant of Leave Valid – The trial court allowed plaintiffs to institute suit prior to completion of the two-month notice period, citing urgency to prevent tampering with artefacts at a protected monument – Held: Government defendants did not object to the waiver; private revisionist (Masjid Committee) had no locus standi to challenge it – Leave granted lawfully under Section 80(2) CPC [Paras 29–60].

Commission for Local Investigation – Appointment Justified – Order XXVI Rule 9 CPC – Advocate Commissioner was appointed by the trial court to inspect the site and submit a report with photography and videography – Held: Proper compliance with procedural rules was made, and no lis was decided – Mere collection of evidence at preliminary stage not prejudicial – Challenge to Commission not sustainable [Paras 61–85].

Protected Monument – Access under 1958 Act – Suit Not Barred by 1991 Act – Plaintiffs sought right of access to a structure notified in 1920 as protected monument – Held: Relief sought was limited to public access under Section 18 of AMASR Act, 1958; no prayer to convert religious character – Provisions of 1991 Act not applicable [Paras 86–122].

Decision – Civil Revision Dismissed – Trial court orders granting leave to file suit under Section 80(2) CPC and appointing Advocate Commissioner upheld – Suit not barred under Place of Worship Act – No interference warranted under revisional jurisdiction – Interim order vacated – Suit to proceed [Paras 123–127].