Criminal Law – Identification of Assailants – PW-1, the informant, witnessed the assault on the deceased by the accused persons – Corroborated by PW-2 and PW-6 – Appellants contested identification by PW-1, citing her reliance on others for names – Supreme Court found evidence of PW-1, supported by PW-2 and PW-6, credible despite minor inconsistencies [Paras 4-12].

Delay in Lodging FIR – Justification – Incident occurred at 7:30 PM, FIR lodged at 11:50 PM – Appellants argued delay undermines prosecution case – Supreme Court accepted explanation of PW-1 and PW-6, detailing efforts to locate police and lodge FIR, thus delay justified and does not affect prosecution's credibility [Paras 13].

Common Object – Nature and Extent – Autopsy revealed 27 injuries inflicted on deceased – Appellants argued absence of common object to murder – Supreme Court held extensive injuries and manner of assault indicated common object of murder under Section 302 IPC read with Section 149 IPC – Conviction upheld [Paras 14-19].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – High Court’s judgment affirmed – Conviction and sentence under Sections 302 read with Section 149 IPC upheld [Para 20].

Unification of Religious Trusts – Validity of Change Reports – Compliance with Statutory Provisions: The unification of six churches, including the First District Church of the Brethren (FDCB), into the Church of North India (CNI) was purportedly based on internal resolutions. However, the statutory requirements under the Societies Registration Act (SR Act) and Bombay Public Trusts Act (BPTA) for the dissolution and merger of trusts were not adhered to. Consequently, the unification had no legal foundation as the FDCB trust never stood dissolved, and its properties could not automatically vest in CNI. The procedure under Section 50A of the BPTA was disregarded [Paras 3.1-14, 17, 19-20]​​.

Jurisdiction of Civil Courts – Bar under Section 80 of BPTA – Scope of Inquiry under Section 22: The civil court's jurisdiction is barred concerning matters where the Charity Commissioner has requisite authority under the BPTA. However, if the trust property or trust itself is not valid in law, civil courts may have jurisdiction. The scope of inquiry by the Charity Commissioner under Section 22 includes verifying changes in the trust entries and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements [Paras 22, 24]​​.

Estoppel – Freedom of Faith and Religion: The court dismissed the argument that the respondents were estopped from objecting to the unification after initially participating in the merger discussions. It upheld the right of individuals to change their views on religious matters and emphasized that the principles of estoppel do not apply to matters of faith and religion [Paras 21]​​.

Admissibility of Evidence – Procedure Before Charity Commissioner: The procedure before the Charity Commissioner must ensure fair opportunity to contest issues, and the evidence submitted must adhere to the basic principles of evidence law, even though strict rules of the Code of Civil Procedure may not apply [Paras 23]​​.

Decision: Appeals dismissed. The Supreme Court affirmed the orders of the High Court and City Civil Court, which had set aside the Charity Commissioner's order allowing the change reports. The FDCB trust continues to exist, and its properties do not vest in CNI [Paras 26-28]​​.

Criminal Law – Trial Procedure – Conviction on Guilty Plea – Lack of Notice to Complainant: The trial court convicted the respondents under Sections 323 and 343 IPC based on their guilty plea, without notifying the appellant or considering his statement under Section 164 CrPC. The proceedings were conducted hastily, violating the appellant’s rights and due process [Paras 2-14]​​.

Jurisdiction – Authority of Trial Court – Order Impact on Service: The trial court exceeded its jurisdiction by making observations that the conviction would not adversely affect the respondents' government service. Such observations have civil consequences and are beyond the scope of the trial court's authority [Paras 6-11]​​.

Probation of Offenders Act – Scope and Application: The benefit of Section 12 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, which prevents disqualification upon conviction, was misapplied. The trial court’s order improperly shielded the respondents from service-related consequences of their conviction [Paras 10-12]​​.

Decision: Appeal allowed – The Supreme Court set aside the judgments of the trial court and the High Court, remanding the matter for a fresh trial in accordance with law, emphasizing the necessity of notifying the appellant and properly considering the charges and evidence [Paras 13-14]​​.

Judicial Appointments – Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) – Procedural Validity: The removal of Shri G. Bhavani Singh as SPP without proper consultation with the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court and without valid reasons was deemed procedurally improper. The appointment and subsequent removal were affected by political motivations following a change in government, undermining the fairness of the trial​​.

Fair Trial – Speedy Trial – Article 21 of the Constitution: Emphasizing the right to a speedy trial, the Court noted that the abrupt removal of the SPP at a critical juncture of the trial, where significant progress had been made, jeopardized the fair trial process. The voluminous evidence and the nearing retirement of the trial judge further compounded the urgency and complexity​​.

Malice in Law – Political Interference – Section 21 of General Clauses Act: The Court found that the exercise of power to remove the SPP was vitiated by malice in law, indicating bad faith and political interference. The decision lacked a legally sustainable reason, reflecting an abrupt and unwarranted change in stance following a political transition​​.

Powers under Article 142 – Judicial Extension – Statutory Limits: The Supreme Court deliberated on its powers under Article 142 to extend the tenure of the Special Judge overseeing the trial but refrained from issuing such a directive, acknowledging statutory limitations and the appropriate jurisdiction of the state government to address the matter in consultation with the High Court​​.

Decision: Writ petitions allowed. The Court quashed the notification removing Shri G. Bhavani Singh as SPP and directed that the matter be reconsidered by the State Government and the High Court to ensure a fair and expeditious trial. The case was remanded for further proceedings in line with the principles of natural justice and statutory mandates​​.

Criminal Law – Murder Conviction – Evidence Evaluation: The appellant was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of three individuals, including a pregnant woman and a child. The prosecution's case relied heavily on eyewitness testimonies and forensic evidence. The defense of private defense was rejected by the trial court, a decision upheld by the High Court and Supreme Court. The courts found the prosecution's witnesses credible and consistent, and the appellant's defense implausible [Paras 1-25]​​.

Sentencing – Death Penalty – "Rarest of Rare" Doctrine: The appellant was sentenced to death, with the trial court noting the brutality and premeditation involved in the crime. The High Court confirmed this sentence, emphasizing the gruesome nature of the murders. The Supreme Court, however, commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, considering mitigating factors such as the appellant's age and lack of criminal history. The Court reiterated that the death penalty should be reserved for the "rarest of rare" cases, and found that while the crime was heinous, it did not meet this threshold [Paras 26-36]​​.

Decision: Appeals partly allowed. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction but commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach in sentencing that considers both the severity of the crime and the potential for the appellant's reform [Paras 36-37]​​.

Criminal Law – Death Sentence – Commutation: The appellant State challenged the High Court's decision to commute the death sentence of Jamil Khan to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a minor girl. The Supreme Court emphasized the necessity to balance aggravating and mitigating factors while considering the rarest of rare doctrine. The Court upheld the life sentence, stressing that the death penalty should be reserved for the most heinous crimes​​.

Constitutional Law – Articles 72 and 161 – Scope of Remission and Commutation: The Court examined the scope of remission and commutation powers under Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution and Sections 432 and 433 of the CrPC. It reiterated that these powers should be exercised with caution, especially in cases involving heinous crimes. The Court clarified that minimum sentences prescribed by law cannot be reduced through remission or commutation​​.

Confirmation of Death Sentence – Procedural Requirements under CrPC: The Supreme Court highlighted the procedural requirements for confirming a death sentence under Chapter XXVIII of the CrPC. It noted the High Court’s responsibility to examine the special reasons provided by the trial court and ensure that the death sentence is warranted only in the rarest of rare cases​​.

Decision: Appeal disposed of. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment, with the stipulation that the sentences under Sections 302, 376, and 201 IPC shall run consecutively. The Court directed that any remission or commutation of the life sentence under Section 302 IPC should follow the mandatory 14-year imprisonment, followed by sentences for Sections 376 and 201 IPC​​.

Service Law – Recruitment and Promotion – Tamil Nadu Rural Development Engineers Association contested the recruitment rules and seniority list – Appellants, initially appointed as Overseers, absorbed in Rural Development Department (RDD) – Claimed promotion to Assistant Engineer (AE) without five years service as Overseer – High Court upheld Government's decision – Appeal dismissed – Supreme Court emphasized need for practical experience and upheld the requirement of five years service for promotion [Paras 1-32].

Seniority and Absorption – Appellants’ claim for past service in Highways Department to be considered for seniority in RDD rejected – Court held absorption as Overseer valid based on voluntary option given by appellants – Previous service not to be counted for promotion in RDD [Paras 25-28].

Quota System – Ratio for promotion to Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) contested – Appellants sought 1:1 ratio – Supreme Court upheld existing ratio of 6:2:1 (AE: Junior Engineer: Senior Draughting Officer) – Court found no violation of Articles 14 and 16 – Fixation of quota within prerogative of the executive [Paras 29-30].

Decision: Appeals dismissed – High Court judgment upheld – Appellants to follow prescribed service rules for promotion [Para 32].

Election Law – Secrecy of Voting – Petitioners challenged Rules 41(2), 41(3), and 49-O for violating the secrecy of voting – Court emphasized the importance of secrecy to ensure free and fair elections – Held, these rules violated Articles 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution – Directions issued to the Election Commission to provide a 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to maintain secrecy and ensure free expression [Paras 1-62].

Right to Vote – Fundamental Rights and Statutory Rights – Court held that while the right to vote is a statutory right, the freedom to vote or not vote is a facet of the fundamental right of expression under Article 19(1)(a) – Reiterated that secrecy in voting is integral to the electoral process [Paras 19-21, 26-28, 32-35].

Maintainability – Article 32 Petition – Court rejected the Union of India's contention that the petition was not maintainable under Article 32 as it did not pertain to a fundamental right – Held, the petition was maintainable as it involved the fundamental right of expression and the statutory right to vote [Paras 16-25].

Implementation – NOTA in EVMs – Court directed the Election Commission to include a NOTA button on EVMs – Emphasized that this would enhance voter participation and ensure that voters can express dissatisfaction with all candidates without violating the secrecy of the ballot [Paras 37-60].

Decision: Writ Petition disposed of with directions – Election Commission to implement NOTA option in EVMs and conduct awareness programs to educate voters [Para 62].

Criminal Procedure – Bail – Cancellation – High Court canceled bail granted by the Additional Sessions Judge – Allegation that trial judge misconstrued High Court's directions while granting bail – Supreme Court held that the trial judge’s order was based on a misinterpretation and lacked consideration of relevant factors under Section 439 CrPC – Order granting bail set aside – Directions issued for the appellant to surrender and apply afresh for bail [Paras 16-20, 25-27].

Judicial Discretion – Anticipatory Bail – High Court's Order – Supreme Court clarified that High Court's direction to surrender and apply for bail should not be misconstrued as a directive to grant bail – Emphasized the need for proper judicial discretion and consideration of relevant factors in bail applications [Paras 15, 21-23, 29].

Cancellation of Bail – Parameters – Supreme Court differentiated between setting aside an illegal bail order and cancellation due to misconduct or supervening circumstances – Highlighted the necessity of maintaining judicial integrity and adherence to statutory provisions [Paras 20, 28].

Decision: Appeal disposed of – Supreme Court set aside the order of bail and directed the appellant to surrender – Liberty granted to apply for regular bail, which should be considered on merits without influence from the previous cancellation order [Paras 26-30].