Criminal Law – Circumstantial Evidence – Conviction of appellants based on circumstantial evidence in the murder case of Abhijit Pal and Moumita Das – Trial court awarded death sentence to Raju Das and life imprisonment to Kundan Das, Guddu, and Bablu – Appellate court evaluates the reliability of evidence and adherence to legal standards [Paras 1-64].

Confession – Admissibility – Confessional statements made to police officers deemed inadmissible under Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act – No independent corroboration of confession – Court underscores the necessity of verifying the voluntariness and authenticity of confessions [Paras 43-45].

Recovery of Evidence – Section 27 of Indian Evidence Act – Examination of recovered items linked to the deceased – Doubts on the credibility of recoveries due to lack of independent witnesses and contradictory statements by prosecution witnesses – Court emphasizes caution in relying on recovery evidence [Paras 47-52].

Suspicion vs. Proof – Legal Principle – Court reaffirms that strong suspicion cannot replace the requirement of legal proof – Prosecution’s failure to conclusively prove the chain of circumstances – Benefit of doubt extended to the accused [Paras 55-58].

Decision – Appeals Allowed – Held – Convictions and sentences set aside – Appellants acquitted of charges under Sections 302, 201, 392, 411, and 120B IPC – Appellants to be released immediately unless required in other cases – Compliance with Section 437A Cr.P.C. mandated [Paras 59-64].
 

Taxation Law – Definition of Purchase Price under UPTTA, 1948 – Review Application filed by Commissioner of Trade Tax against the High Court's decision favoring Tata Steel Ltd. – Dispute over inclusion of MODVAT credit in the purchase price for trade tax purposes – High Court dismissed the review application, reiterating limited grounds for review under Order 47 Rule 1 CPC – Previous failure to cite Supreme Court precedents not considered sufficient ground for review – Affirmation of previous decision favoring inclusion of MODVAT in purchase price. [Paras 1-25]

Scope of Review Jurisdiction – Judicial Precedents – Review sought on the basis of previously uncited Supreme Court judgments – High Court emphasized that review is not an appeal and is limited to errors apparent on the face of the record – Failure to cite relevant precedents during original arguments does not constitute an error apparent on the face of the record – Reference to multiple Supreme Court judgments delineating the limited scope of review jurisdiction – Reaffirmation of the principle that review cannot be used to reargue or re-litigate decided issues. [Paras 7-20]

Decision – Dismissal of Review Application – Held – The review application dismissed due to lack of grounds under Order 47 Rule 1 CPC – Original decision favoring Tata Steel Ltd. upheld – Emphasis on judicial finality and the limited scope of review jurisdiction to correct only manifest errors or newly discovered evidence not previously available – No costs awarded. [Paras 25-26]

Criminal Law – Conviction and sentencing revision – Appellant originally convicted under Section 436 IPC for setting fire to a thatched tea stall – On appeal, re-evaluated based on the nature of the structure and applicable legal provisions – Conviction modified to Section 435 IPC, focusing on the damage to property and intent – Held that the original structure does not meet the definition under Section 436 as it was not a ‘building’ used for specified purposes but a temporary stall, leading to application of Section 435 for mischief by fire with intent to cause damage [Paras 17-23, 30].

Interpretation of IPC Sections – Differentiation between Sections 435 and 436 IPC based on the nature of the property affected and the intent required – Misapplication of Section 436 corrected on appeal [Paras 19-22].

Application of Cr.P.C. Section 222 – Consideration of lesser charge under Section 435 when facts proven align more closely with this section than with the initially charged Section 436 – Adjustment of sentence and conviction accordingly [Paras 24-30].

Sentencing Adjustment – Modification of sentence to time already served and imposition of a fine with default stipulation – Compensation directed to be paid to the victim from fine, if collected [Paras 30-31].

Decision: Conviction under Section 436 IPC set aside – Appellant convicted under Section 435 IPC, sentenced to time served, fined Rs. 10,000 with specific directives for payment failure – Fine, if realized, to be paid to victim as compensation – Appeal disposed of accordingly [Paras 30-37].

Criminal Law – Rape and Cheating – Appeal against conviction for rape under false promise of marriage – Initial conviction for offenses under Section 376 (rape) and 417 (cheating) of IPC by the Sessions Court – High Court scrutinizes evidence and previous relationships, focusing on consensual aspects of the relationship and prior marital status of the complainant – Finds that the sexual relationship was consensual and no forcible intercourse evidenced; hence, conviction under Section 376 IPC set aside – Conviction under Section 417 upheld due to established deceit regarding marriage promise [Paras 15-26].

Evidence and Consent – Analysis of complainant’s age (36 years) and previous marriage status – Discrepancies in prosecution’s claims about appellant’s forcible actions – Reliance on Supreme Court precedents negating rape charges where consent evident and no resistance shown by victim – Conviction under Section 376 IPC deemed unsustainable and overturned; however, deceit under Section 417 upheld [Paras 20-23, 26].

Sentence Modification – Conviction under Section 376 IPC overturned; sentence under Section 417 modified to a fine of Rs. 10,000, in default simple imprisonment for three months – Fine to be paid as compensation to the victim/complainant [Para 26].

Decision: Conviction under Section 376 IPC set aside due to lack of evidence on forcible intercourse – Conviction under Section 417 IPC affirmed with modified sentence – Directions given for compliance and execution of modified sentence [Paras 24-32].

Administrative Law – Pension and Gratuity Withheld – Resolution directed by the High Court to release funds along with interest following unjust withholding by municipal authorities despite clearances from multiple enquiry reports – Kunal Chandra Sen, a school headmaster accused of misappropriation but later cleared, struggled to receive pension and gratuity after retirement – Several enquiry reports from 2015 to 2017 confirmed no evidence against petitioner, leading to court’s order for immediate release of funds and accrued interest [Paras 26-35].

Employment Law – Misuse of Investigative Power by Municipality – Municipal corporation improperly constituted a Fact Finding Committee without legal basis under The West Bengal Municipal Corporation Act, 2006, after state investigations cleared petitioner of all charges, thereby acting beyond jurisdiction and violating petitioner’s rights [Paras 27-29].

Pension Rights – Final Entitlement and Interest Compensation – High Court recognized pension and gratuity as statutory rights upon successful employment completion, criticized wrongful withholding by authorities, and directed compensation for the delay [Paras 30-34].

Future Contingency Based on Criminal Proceedings – If future criminal proceedings by CBI prove guilt, recovery measures may be initiated – Ensures fairness while addressing prolonged judicial delay and procedural errors by authorities [Para 35].

Decision: The High Court directed the immediate release of withheld pension and gratuity payments totaling Rs. 28,67,213 along with interest at 8% per annum from the date of retirement to the date of deposit, providing relief to the petitioner and establishing precedent on handling cases of administrative overreach and rights of retired employees [Para 33-34]. The court allowed the writ petition, recognizing the statutory right to pension and addressing the misuse of administrative powers in conducting unauthorized enquiries [Para 36].

Criminal Procedure – Right to Documents Post Discharge – Accused, discharged by investigating authorities and Internal Complaint Committee, seeks access to documents including the closure report and other investigative materials to participate effectively in the protest petition hearing – Supreme Court precedents and legal principles on the entitlement of an accused to such documents discussed – Trial court and revisional court denied the request leading to a revision under Section 482 CrPC.

Court’s Rationale – Dismissal of Revisional Application – High Court upholds decisions of lower courts, agreeing that at the stage of further investigation under Section 173(8) CrPC, the accused does not have the right to participate or access documents that form part of the investigative process – Principles of natural justice not violated as the accused is recognized legally only post-cognizance – Court stresses the distinction between the rights of a de facto complainant and an accused in accessing investigative documents.

Decision – High Court dismisses the revisional application CRR 784 of 2023 affirming that no legal provision mandates hearing the accused or providing him documents at the pre-cognizance stage of a protest petition under Section 173(8) CrPC – Revision against order denying document access to discharged accused is not supported by law.

Pre-emption Proceedings and Title Disputes – Rejection of an amendment to a pre-emption application that sought to introduce questions about the title and share entitlement over land sold – Original application filed under Section 8 of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act based on non-notification of sale to a co-sharer and a misstated sale price – Amendment aimed to challenge the vendor’s title to sell the full extent of the land – High Court held that such issues exceed the scope of Section 8 and must be addressed in a separate title suit – Pre-emption is viewed as a statutory right with specific constraints, and is not intended to resolve title disputes – Amendment rejected as it sought to convert the nature of the proceedings from pre-emption to a title and partition suit [Paras 1-37].

Judicial Interpretation of Statutory Rights in Pre-emption – Application of the Code of Civil Procedure to pre-emption applications does not extend the jurisdiction of a Civil Judge (Junior Division) to include resolution of title disputes inherently within such cases – The court emphasized the limited and specific jurisdiction under the West Bengal Land Reforms Act for deciding pre-emption applications without delving into broader title issues unless they relate directly to establishing pre-emptive rights [Paras 14, 20, 25, 26].

Criminal Procedure – Quashing of FIR – Petitioner, a neighbor in a land dispute, alleged to have been maliciously implicated in the criminal case – Contention that dispute is civil in nature, lacking ingredients of offences under SC/ST (PoA) Act – Reliance on Supreme Court judgments emphasizing scrutiny of allegations for malicious prosecution [Paras 1-4].

SC/ST (PoA) Act – Allegations of Harassment – Respondent, a member of Scheduled Caste, claimed harassment by petitioner preventing construction on his land – Court noted absence of land dispute, deemed it a case of untouchability – Offence under SC/ST (PoA) Act held to be made out [Paras 5-7].

Decision – Writ Petition Dismissed – Held – Criminal proceedings not quashed, as allegations of harassment on account of untouchability substantiated – Dismissal based on acknowledgment of discriminatory practices against SC/ST individuals [Para 7].

Commercial Dispute – Recovery of Payments – Appeal against Commercial Court’s decree ordering appellant to pay ₹8,49,385 with 18% p.a. interest from the date of suit filing for goods supplied to appellant – Dispute involves recovery of payments for 2500 T-shirts supplied under invoice dated 30.06.2018 (Ex.PW-1/2A) – Appellant challenges correctness of transactions, claims of defective goods, and pre-suit interest calculation under MSMED Act [Paras 1-40]

Defective Goods Claim – Appellant contends goods were defective and returned; however, Commercial Court finds only a portion (22 T-shirts) were disputed regarding quality – No full return was executed, and emails indicate ongoing discussions on quality but no complete denial of receipt [Paras 12-14, 32-33]

Interest Calculation under MSMED Act – Appellant disputes the entitlement to 18% p.a. pre-suit interest, alleging non-establishment of respondent’s MSMED status and lack of notice on interest penalty – Commercial Court finds sufficient notice and basis under MSMED Act despite appellant’s denial – Upholds interest claim as per Act’s provisions [Paras 36-39]

Judgment Assessment – Commercial Court found that despite discrepancies in transaction recording, evidence (ledger entries and emails) confirmed ongoing business transactions and non-payment specific to the challenged invoice – Ledger review indicated non-payment for the goods received; thus, financial claims by respondent were justified [Paras 17-20, 24-29]

Decision – High Court upholds Commercial Court’s judgment, dismissing the appeal, affirming respondent’s claim on principal and interest amounts due under provided invoices – Confirms legal and factual basis for the original decision, including the appropriateness of invoking MSMED Act provisions for interest calculation [Paras 38-40]