Criminal Law - Alternative Remedies - Judicial Review – Petitioners sought a writ of mandamus for an inquiry into alleged embezzlement of Gram Panchayat funds and land grabbing by the village Sarpanch. Held, in cases where a cognizable offence is made out, the proper course is to lodge an FIR under Section 154 of the Cr.P.C. For issues regarding grabbing of Panchayat land, remedies lie under the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 or the Civil Court. Courts are to discourage writ petitions when alternative statutory remedies are available. The petition was dismissed with directions for the petitioners to proceed according to statutory provisions. [Paras 1-12]

Role of Statutory Provisions - Held, where a statute confers a power to do an act and prescribes a method for exercising that power, the act must be done in that way and not otherwise. The statutory provisions must be followed for addressing the grievances. [Paras 9-10]

Decision - Dismissal of Petition - The writ petition was dismissed as the petitioners were directed to avail alternative statutory remedies for their grievances regarding embezzlement and land grabbing. [Para 12]

Succession – Inheritance Rights of Daughters from First Marriage – Plaintiff claimed title to deceased father's estate as daughter of first wife – Mutation dated 17.05.1954 recorded in favour of children from second wife excluding plaintiffs – Trial Court and First Appellate Court dismissed suit citing lack of proof and limitation – Held: Plaintiffs successfully proved relationship through oral evidence under Section 50 of Evidence Act – Mutation in favour of defendants alone held illegal – Plaintiffs entitled to share in estate of Jai Ram equally with children from second marriage.

Evidence Act – Section 50 – Proof of Relationship – Oral testimony of witnesses who identified plaintiffs as daughters of Jai Ram and Tulsa held sufficient – Cross-examination confirmed long-standing recognition of family ties – Courts below erred in selective reading of evidence – Entire cross-examination must be appreciated holistically – Failure to do so amounts to perversity in findings.

Limitation – Suit for Declaration of Inheritance – Article 59 of Limitation Act – Courts below wrongly held suit barred by limitation – Held: No limitation applies to claim inheritance under settled law – Plaintiffs pleaded they acquired knowledge of mutation only in May 2003 and suit was filed in October 2003 – Suit held to be within time.

Inheritance Law – Applicability of Hindu Laws – Court held that once factum of first marriage and birth of daughters is established, plaintiffs are entitled to claim inheritance under general Hindu law – Hindu Women’s Right to Property Act, 1937 not applicable – Succession must include both branches of family .

Appellate Powers – Duty of Appellate Court – Held: Lower appellate court as final court of facts and law must reappreciate evidence in full – Failure to consider entire testimony including cross-examination amounts to abdication of judicial duty – Findings perverse and unsustainable.

Decision: Second appeal allowed – Judgments and decrees of both courts below set aside – Suit decreed in favour of plaintiffs – Mutation No. 457 dated 17.05.1954 set aside as illegal, null and void – Plaintiffs declared entitled to equal share in estate of Jai Ram alongside children from second marriage – Decree to be drawn accordingly.

Land Law – Resumption of Plot – Power of Resumption – Petition against resumption of booth site due to default in installment payments – Petitioner paid 25% of auction price and three installments – Additional Rs. 1 lakh deposited between 1996-1997 – HUDA resumed booth in 2001 citing default – High Court holds power of resumption as ultimate civil sanction, to be used as last resort – Resumption order quashed due to failure to consider partial payments and determine wilfulness of default – Writ petition allowed, booth restored. [Paras 1-11]

Urban Development – Clause 8 of Allotment Letter – Section 17 HUDA Act – Resumption power must be exercised with caution – Estate Officer obligated to assess breach of terms and conditions including wilfulness of default – Failure to credit partial payments and perfunctory resumption order render action unsustainable – Court directs restoration of booth site with adjustment of amounts deposited. [Paras 5-10]

Decision – Quashing of Resumption Order – High Court quashes resumption order and related appellate and revisional orders – Orders restoration of booth site to petitioner – Allows respondents to levy interest and penalty per law, excluding extension fee for resumed period – Emphasizes procedural fairness and caution in exercising resumption powers. [Para 11]

Criminal Law – Dowry Death – Appeal against conviction under Sections 304-B, 201 IPC – Prosecution based on complaint by father of deceased (Bhateri) alleging dowry demand by husband and in-laws – Deceased died within seven years of marriage – Evidence showed continuous harassment for dowry by husband, leading to unnatural death – Appellants (mother-in-law and father-in-law) acquitted due to lack of specific evidence linking them to dowry demands or harassment – Conviction of husband upheld based on evidence of direct involvement in harassment and dowry demands – High Court emphasizes need for proximity between dowry demand and death for conviction under Section 304-B IPC. [Paras 1-28]

Evidence Law – Presumption under Section 113-B – Presumption of dowry death arises when it is shown that soon before her death, the deceased was subjected to cruelty or harassment for dowry – High Court upholds presumption against husband but not against in-laws due to insufficient direct evidence – Emphasizes importance of specific and credible evidence for invoking presumption. [Paras 23, 25]

Decision – Acquittal and Conviction – High Court acquits mother-in-law and father-in-law due to lack of evidence of direct involvement – Conviction of husband for dowry death upheld based on consistent evidence of harassment and dowry demands – Case remanded for reconsideration of sentence against husband, ensuring balance between severity of crime and evidentiary support. [Para 28]

Criminal Law – Conviction and Sentencing – Appeal against conviction under Sections 323, 324, 325, 326, 307 read with Section 34 IPC – Incident involved mutual injuries between complainant and accused parties – Injured Baldev Singh hospitalized for 23 days, injuries declared grievous – High Court upholds conviction based on evidence of participation by both parties in the occurrence – Considering two decades since occurrence, sentence reduced to 1½ years RI for each appellant – Appeal partly accepted. [Paras 1-33]

Evidence Law – Mutual Injury – Presence of Both Parties – Injuries Sustained – Both parties actively involved and sustained injuries – Injured Baldev Singh's MLR confirmed grievous injuries – Medical evidence corroborated injuries on both sides – High Court emphasizes equitable treatment considering mutual harm. [Para 28]

Decision – Sentence Reduction – High Court maintains conviction but reduces sentence – Original sentences reduced from 4 and 3 years RI to 1½ years RI each – Fine maintained – Emphasizes significant time lapse and mutual injuries as factors for sentence reduction – Directs compliance and surrender within 15 days. [Paras 33-34]

Criminal Law – Harboring Offenders – Section 212 IPC – Petition against conviction for harboring terrorists and dismissal from BSF – Petitioner convicted by General Security Force Court – Alleged confessional statement denied by petitioner – High Court held that no knowledge or reason to believe the harbored persons were terrorists – Offense under Section 212 IPC not made out – Orders of conviction and dismissal set aside. [Paras 1-14]

Evidence Law – Confessional Statements – Admissibility and Reliability – Petitioner denied alleged confessional statement – No evidence of knowledge that harbored individuals committed any offense – High Court emphasizes importance of mens rea and knowledge under Section 212 IPC – Confessional statement cannot be sole basis for conviction without corroborative evidence. [Paras 11-12]

Decision – Quashing of Conviction and Dismissal – High Court quashes conviction and dismissal of petitioner – Finds serious miscarriage of justice due to lack of evidence and non-speaking orders by authorities – Orders reinstatement with all consequential benefits. [Para 18]

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act – Evidence – Acquittal on Grounds of Insufficient Evidence – Appeal challenging conviction under Section 15(c) of NDPS Act – Appellant not apprehended at the spot, identified solely by a police witness – No independent corroboration or ownership link to the vehicle – Prosecution’s case had discrepancies in witness statements – No connection established between appellant and recovered contraband – High Court acquits appellant giving benefit of doubt. [Paras 1-23]

Identification and Independent Witnesses – Importance of Reliable Identification – Appellant identified by a single police witness with no prior acquaintance – Independent witness not examined, raising doubt on prosecution’s case – High Court holds lack of reliable identification and independent corroboration as crucial in acquitting the appellant. [Paras 18-22]

Evidence Law – Discrepancies in Prosecution Evidence – Material contradictions in statements of prosecution witnesses – Inconsistent testimonies regarding the location and manner of search and recovery – High Court emphasizes need for clear, corroborative evidence in NDPS cases – Benefit of doubt extended to appellant due to these discrepancies. [Paras 21-22]

Decision – Acquittal of Appellant – High Court sets aside conviction and sentence under Section 15(c) of NDPS Act – Orders immediate release of appellant if not required in any other case – Emphasizes strict adherence to evidence standards in criminal cases, especially under NDPS Act. [Para 23]

Service Law – Selection Process – Essential Qualifications – Petition against Tribunal's order setting aside selection of petitioner for Tutor (Bio-Informatics) – Petitioner selected despite not meeting essential qualifications as per advertisement – Tribunal found petitioner did not have required qualifications and set aside selection – High Court held PGIMER erred by considering petitioner's qualification without amending recruitment rules – Essential qualifications must be strictly adhered to – Selection process vitiated due to non-compliance with advertised qualifications – Petition dismissed, selection set aside. [Paras 1-22]

Recruitment Rules – Adherence to Qualifications – Importance of Strict Compliance – PGIMER considered M.Sc. in Bio-Informatics equivalent to advertised qualifications without amending recruitment rules – High Court emphasizes strict adherence to recruitment rules and qualifications mentioned in advertisement – Selecting authority cannot modify or relax qualifications during selection process – Selection of petitioner declared invalid for lacking essential qualifications. [Para 12]

Judicial Review – Arbitrary Selection Process – Tribunal's Jurisdiction – High Court upholds Tribunal's decision – Affirms that unsuccessful candidate can challenge selection if fundamental rules are violated – Tribunal justified in setting aside selection due to non-compliance with essential qualifications – Orders PGIMER to re-conduct selection process within two months. [Para 19]

Decision – Dismissal of Petition – High Court dismisses petition challenging Tribunal's order – Directs PGIMER to re-conduct selection process adhering to prescribed qualifications – Ensures compliance with recruitment rules and fair selection process. [Para 22]

Service Law – Adverse Remarks in ACR – Quashing of Adverse Remarks – Petitioner, a judicial officer, challenged adverse remarks in ACR for 2010-11 and compulsory retirement – Adverse remarks included issues of integrity and conduct – Petitioner argued no material evidence or complaints to support adverse remarks – High Court found adverse remarks inconsistent with positive remarks on judgment quality and work quantity – No complaints substantiating integrity doubts – Adverse remarks quashed – High Court directed to reconsider representation on ACR. [Paras 1-46]

Judicial Review – Procedural Fairness – Recording of Reasons – High Court emphasized need for detailed reasons when rejecting representations against adverse ACR remarks – Noted absence of complaints or material evidence against petitioner – Ordered fresh decision on petitioner’s representation ensuring reasons are recorded – Reaffirmed importance of procedural fairness in administrative decisions affecting service careers. [Paras 39-45]

Decision – Reconsideration of Representation and Compulsory Retirement – High Court quashed adverse remarks in ACR and ordered fresh consideration of representation – Directed to reconsider order of compulsory retirement post ACR decision – Emphasized adherence to principles of natural justice and procedural fairness – Both writ petitions disposed of with directions for timely reconsideration. [Para 46]