Criminal Law - Appeal against Conviction - Role of Accused in Crime - Credibility of Witness Testimony - The Supreme Court examined the inconsistencies in the complainant's (PW1 Dharam Singh) statements and the improvement made in his testimony during the trial. The complainant initially did not attribute any role to Accused No. 2 (Chet Ram) in the FIR or his statement to the police. However, during the trial, he stated that Chet Ram held the deceased while Accused No. 1 (Ganga Ram) inflicted the fatal stab wounds. The Court found this to be a significant improvement, raising doubts about the reliability of the complainant's testimony regarding Chet Ram's involvement. [Paras 8-11]

Criminal Law - Burden of Proof - Benefit of Doubt - The Court held that while the prosecution established the homicidal death of Udairaj, the evidence against Chet Ram was not convincing beyond a reasonable doubt due to inconsistencies in witness testimony. Given the benefit of the doubt, the conviction and sentence of Chet Ram were set aside, and he was acquitted. [Paras 13-14]

Decision - Appeal allowed. Conviction and sentence imposed on the appellant (Chet Ram) are set aside. He is acquitted of the charge under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and ordered to be released from custody unless required in another case. [Para 14]

Criminal Law – Conviction and Sentencing – Appellant convicted for participating in an armed extremist attack on a village, resulting in 15 deaths, injuries, and destruction of property – Trial Court and High Court sentenced Appellant to death under IPC Sections 148, 149, 302, 307, 326, 34, and Section 27(3) of the Arms Act – High Court upheld the death sentence, setting aside the conviction under Section 27(3) of the Arms Act due to its unconstitutionality – Appeal focused on whether this case fell under the "rarest of rare" category warranting the death penalty – Supreme Court held that while the crime was heinous, the involvement of multiple offenders and the socio-economic background of the appellant necessitated reconsideration – Death sentence altered to life imprisonment with a fixed term of 20 years without remission. [Paras 1-42]

Mitigating Circumstances – Analysis – Appellant's socio-economic background as a tribal from a marginalized community – Involvement of multiple perpetrators not apprehended – Residual doubt about the appellant's sole responsibility for the crime – Held, these factors militate against the imposition of the death penalty. [Paras 26-41]

Ineffective Legal Assistance – Consideration – Claims of ineffective legal representation raised but not substantiated to the degree warranting intervention – Held, adequate legal assistance provided, and conviction based on reliable eyewitness testimony and corroborative evidence. [Paras 32-37]

Decision – Sentence Modified – Death sentence commuted to life imprisonment – Appellant to serve a fixed term of 20 years without remission, in addition to the period already served – Appeal disposed of with the modified sentence. [Paras 42-43]

Arbitration Law - Termination of mandate of arbitrator - Sections 11, 14, 32 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 - Arbitral proceedings get terminated by the making of the final arbitral award or by an order of the arbitral tribunal as per Section 32(2) - On termination of arbitral proceedings, the mandate of the arbitral tribunal also ends - Whether the mandate of the arbitrator was legally terminated can be examined by the Court under Section 14(2) - Held, the termination of proceedings by the arbitral tribunal on the grounds of impossibility under Section 32(2)(c) can be reviewed by the Court to determine the legality of the termination - Appeal dismissed, Appellants advised to approach the appropriate court for redressal. [Paras 1-18]

Arbitration Law - Jurisdiction of High Courts - Section 11 application maintainability - Distinction between remedies under Section 14 and writ jurisdiction under Articles 226, 227 of the Constitution - Supreme Court clarifies that grievances against orders of arbitral tribunals typically do not fall under writ jurisdiction unless explicitly provided by the Arbitration Act - High Court's opinion directing Appellant to seek remedy under writ jurisdiction disapproved. [Paras 8-9]

Decision - Maintainability of Section 11 application - Supreme Court dismisses the appeal, affirming that the application under Section 11 for appointing a new arbitrator post-termination of the original arbitral proceedings is not maintainable - Appellants are directed to seek determination of the arbitrator's mandate termination legality under Section 14(2) before the appropriate court. [Paras 17-18]

Criminal Law - Quashing of Prosecution – Criminal appeal against High Court’s refusal to quash prosecution under Section 16(1)(a) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act – Food Inspector found stored food items (Haldi and Rice) in District Jail for inmate consumption to be adulterated – Petitioner was the Superintendent of the Jail – Supreme Court examines whether 'storage' in Section 16 implies storage simpliciter or storage for sale – Held that 'storage' in the context of the Act implies storage for sale, not merely storage for consumption by inmates – Prosecution against the Appellant for storage of adulterated food items meant for jail inmates held to be an abuse of process of law – Prosecution quashed. [Paras 1-11]

Interpretation of Statute – Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 – Held – 'Storage' of adulterated food for purposes other than sale does not attract the penal provisions of the Act – Sections 7 and 16 are intended to prohibit and penalize the sale of adulterated food articles – Term 'store' interpreted in light of context and legislative intent to mean storage for sale – Prosecution for mere storage for consumption falls outside the scope of the Act. [Para 9-10]

Decision – Quashing of Prosecution – Appeals allowed – Impugned orders set aside – Prosecution of the Appellant quashed due to lack of evidence indicating storage for sale – Proceedings deemed to be an abuse of process of law. [Para 11]

Criminal Law – Alteration of Charges – Criminal Appeal against Designated Court's rejection of CBI’s application under Section 216 CrPC – Respondent involved in 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, absconding for 15 years, later arrested and confessed to participation in conspiracy – Common charges against all accused initially framed in 1995, with supplementary charge-sheet against Respondent in 2008 – Designated Court failed to invoke all applicable sections against Respondent due to oversight – Supreme Court held that delay attributed to abscondence, not prosecution – Application under Section 216 CrPC for alteration/addition of charges allowed – Designated Court directed to proceed in accordance with law. [Paras 1-18]

Scope of Section 216 CrPC – Analysis – Held – Power to alter or add any charge at any time before judgment is pronounced – Examination of evidence and necessity of addition/alteration after commencement of trial – Consideration of accused’s awareness and opportunity to defend – Significant delay due to Respondent's abscondence – Sufficient material and interconnected elements of crime justify charge alteration. [Paras 9-16]

Decision – Allowance of CBI's Application – Appeal allowed – Designated Court's order set aside – Application for alteration of charges allowed – Court directed to proceed further in accordance with law. [Para 18-19]

Service Law - Retrospective Dismissal - Legality - The Bank's order of dismissal dated 22.11.2001 with retrospective effect from 23.04.1985 was held to be impermissible. It was ruled that a dismissal order cannot be made retrospective to affect past service. The dismissal order could only operate prospectively from the date it was passed, in this case, from 22.11.2001. [Paras 1-30]

Superannuation - Service Continuance - The officer, Ram Niwas Bansal, was found to have completed thirty years of service on 25.02.1992 as per the State Bank of Patiala (Officers) Service Regulations, 1979. Since no extension was granted, he was deemed to have superannuated on that date. The service regulations require a positive act for any extension of service, which was not present in this case. [Paras 31-39]

Back Wages - Entitlement - While Ram Niwas Bansal's dismissal order was invalidated, he was found to have continued in service until his retirement on 25.02.1992. The Court held that back wages should be paid for the period between 23.04.1985 and 25.02.1992. However, full back wages were not granted, taking into account various factors including the conduct of the employee and the period of non-working. An equitable solution was directed, with an additional sum to be paid by the Bank. [Paras 40-42]

Decision - The appeal and transfer case were disposed of with directions to modify the High Court's order. The Bank was instructed to deposit a further sum of INR 5 lakhs with the Registrar General of the High Court within two months, in addition to any previously deposited amount, for the benefit of the legal heirs of Ram Niwas Bansal. [Para 42]

Criminal Law - Reversal of Acquittal - Demand and Acceptance of Bribe - Criminal Appeal challenging the High Court's order reversing the acquittal of the appellant for charges under Sections 7 and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act - The appellant allegedly demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs. 1,000 to alter a demarcation report. - The High Court reversed the acquittal, finding sufficient evidence to convict. - Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision, citing lack of explanation from the appellant for incriminating circumstances and valid application of presumption under Section 20 of the Act - Appeal dismissed, acquittal reversed, and sentence of one year RI and fine imposed. [Paras 1-12]

Presumption of Guilt in Corruption Cases - Analysis - Held - Appellant failed to explain his presence in the complainant’s house, the recovery of marked currency notes, and the chemical reaction confirming handling of the bribe money - Section 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act justifiably applied - Absence of rebuttal evidence from the appellant supported adverse inference. [Para 6-10]

Scope of Appellate Review - Reversal of Acquittal - Principles - Held - Appellate court justified in reversing acquittal if the trial court's decision is perverse or contrary to evidence - Presumption of innocence and respect for trial court’s judgment must be balanced against compelling circumstances - Supreme Court found no perversity in High Court’s decision warranting interference. [Para 10-11]

Decision - Appeal Dismissed - Acquittal Reversed - The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, confirming the High Court's decision to convict the appellant under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The appellant is ordered to surrender to serve the remaining sentence. [Para 12]

Arbitration - Award of Interest - Applicability of Contractual Clauses - Civil Appeal against High Court's dismissal of appeals by Union of India challenging the award of interest by an arbitrator - Arbitration award included interest for the period prior to and post-deposit of the principal amount in court - Union of India argued prohibition of interest under contract clauses and sought quashing of interest awarded - Supreme Court examined contract provisions barring interest on amounts withheld under lien - Held that arbitrator erred in awarding interest for the period covered by contractual prohibition, and High Court also erred in upholding such award - Directed that no interest shall be payable from the date of recovery till award and until deposit in court - Appeals allowed, modifying the arbitral award accordingly. [Paras 14-22]

Arbitration Law - Prohibition on Interest - Interpretation of Contract Clauses - Held - Arbitrator failed to account for clauses 2401 and 2403 of the contract prohibiting interest on amounts withheld - High Court erred in not recognizing contractual stipulations against interest - Award of interest up to the deposit date in court unsustainable under contractual terms. [Para 18-20]

Decision - Modification of Arbitral Award - Supreme Court directs that no interest be payable from the date of recovery until the award and until the deposit in court - Arbitrator's award modified, and the appeals by Union of India allowed to that extent. [Para 22]

Service Law – Recruitment Process – Change of Selection Criteria – The Supreme Court examined the legality of applying the Uttaranchal Subordinate Service (Emergency Direct Recruitment (First Amendment)) Rules, 2003 to a selection process initiated under the Uttaranchal Subordinate Engineering Service (Emergency Direct Recruitment) Rules, 2001. The Court held that the 2003 Rules could not retroactively alter the selection criteria established by the 2001 Rules. Consequently, the 2003 Rules could not be applied to the selection process which was already in progress. [Paras 1-25]

Preference to Apprentices – Interpretation and Scope – The Court clarified that the provision for granting 10 bonus marks to apprentices, introduced by the 2003 Rules, could not be retrospectively applied to candidates who participated in the selection process under the 2001 Rules. The Court rejected the High Court's interpretation that the 2003 Rules could amend the 2001 Rules, which had already ceased to exist. [Paras 20-23]

Executive Orders vs. Statutory Rules – The Court reaffirmed the principle that executive instructions cannot supplant or amend statutory rules framed under Article 309 of the Constitution. The 2004 clarification by the State Government, which sought to restrict the application of bonus marks to cases of tie, was held to be an executive instruction that could not override the statutory rules. [Paras 26-28]

Decision – The Supreme Court set aside the High Court's judgment, ruling that the 2001 Rules governed the selection process and no additional marks could be awarded to apprentice candidates as per the 2003 Rules. The appeals were allowed, and the High Court's directions were quashed. [Paras 29]