Administrative Service – Appointment by Selection – Appellant sought selection into IAS under Non-civil services category – State Government restricted consideration to Joint and Additional Commissioners, excluding eligible Assistant Commissioners – Tribunal and High Court upheld restriction – Supreme Court held restriction invalid, violating Articles 14 and 16(1) – Directed damages for unjust non-consideration [Paras 1-23].

Eligibility Criteria – Interpretation and Application – Regulation 4 of the Administrative Service (Appointment by Selection) Regulations, 1997, requires considering all eligible officers, not just higher-ranking ones – State Government must assess outstanding merit and ability, not restrict by rank – Supreme Court emphasized adherence to laid down criteria for fairness [Paras 10-18].

Natural Justice – Right to Equal Opportunity – Eligible candidates cannot be excluded based on additional criteria not specified in the rules – Supreme Court underscored uniform application of rules and protection of candidates' rights to equal consideration in public employment [Paras 17-18].

Decision – Appeal allowed in part – Orders – Declaration that appellant and similarly situated candidates are entitled to consideration – No retrospective relief for completed selection process – Damages of Rs. 50,000 and litigation cost of Rs. 25,000 awarded – Prospective application of ruling for future selections [Paras 19-23].

Criminal Procedure Code – Maintenance – Respondent married appellant unaware of his subsisting first marriage – Trial court awarded maintenance under Section 125 CrPC – Appellant contended respondent not legally wedded wife – Supreme Court held respondent entitled to maintenance due to appellant’s deceit – Emphasized social justice and purposive interpretation of "wife" under Section 125 CrPC [Paras 1-28].

Legal Interpretation – Deception in Marriage – Respondent misled into marriage by appellant's false representation of single status – Supreme Court affirmed maintenance award, emphasizing appellant cannot benefit from his own deceit – Highlighted differential treatment where woman knowingly marries already married man versus being deceived [Paras 16-18].

Social Justice – Judicial Approach – Courts must bridge gap between law and societal realities – Emphasis on "social context adjudication" for marginalized sections – Maintenance provision under Section 125 CrPC serves constitutional vision of social justice [Paras 17-20].

Decision – Leave to appeal denied – Orders – Maintenance to respondent upheld – Interpretation aligned with principles of social justice and constitutional empathy for weaker sections [Paras 27-28].

Trade and Commerce – Tax Rebate – Government of Uttar Pradesh issued notifications granting tax rebate to cement manufacturers using fly-ash within the state – Rebate not extended to manufacturers outside Uttar Pradesh – High Court held the condition discriminatory, violating Articles 301 and 304(a) – Supreme Court upheld High Court's decision, affirming the rebate discriminates against imported goods [Paras 1-54].

Constitutional Law – Article 304(a) – Interpretation – Supreme Court emphasized equal treatment for goods imported from other states – Rebate of tax constituting discriminatory taxation when applied only to local manufacturers – Stressed the importance of ensuring free trade and commerce across state boundaries [Paras 27-33].

Doctrine of Severability – Validity of Notifications – Striking down discriminatory conditions while preserving the beneficial aspects – Supreme Court applied doctrine, severing the invalid condition from the notification, maintaining the rebate for eligible entities without altering overall legislative intent [Paras 48-50].

Decision – Appeals dismissed – Orders – Condition restricting rebate to manufacturers within Uttar Pradesh declared invalid – Directed state to extend rebate to eligible manufacturers irrespective of location – Refund excess deposits with interest at 10% per annum [Paras 53-54].

Criminal Law – Dishonour of Cheque – Prosecution under Section 138 of the NI Act – Accused directors contended absence of specific averments that they were in charge and responsible for the conduct of business at the time of the offence – High Court quashed prosecution of Vikram Prakash but declined for A.K. Singhania – Supreme Court examined specific allegations in complaints and found them inadequate to establish necessary averments for holding directors liable [Paras 1-22].

Section 141 NI Act – Liability of Directors – Supreme Court reiterated that for fastening liability under Section 141, it is essential to aver that directors were in charge of and responsible for the conduct of business – Mere designation as directors not sufficient – Specific role or involvement in day-to-day operations required to be stated [Paras 17-20].

Quashing of Prosecution – Exercise of Inherent Powers – High Court’s decision to quash prosecution of Vikram Prakash affirmed due to lack of specific allegations – High Court’s decision to not quash prosecution of A.K. Singhania reversed on same grounds – Supreme Court emphasized uniform application of law regarding necessary averments [Paras 22-23].

Decision – Appeals by Gujarat State Fertilizers Company Ltd. dismissed – Appeals by A.K. Singhania allowed – Prosecution against A.K. Singhania quashed [Para 23].

Criminal Law – Dowry Death – Appellant convicted under Section 304B IPC for causing the death of his wife – Trial court imposed life imprisonment – High Court affirmed the conviction and sentence – Supreme Court examined proportionality of life sentence under Section 304B(2) IPC – Emphasized need for balancing aggravating and mitigating factors in sentencing [Paras 1-14].

Sentencing – Principles for Determination – Supreme Court reiterated principles for sentencing, especially under Section 304B IPC – Considered factors such as time between marriage and death, conduct of accused, persistence of dowry demands, and circumstances of cruelty – Also considered the acquittal of appellant under Section 302 IPC and his young age at the time of the offence [Paras 6-13].

Mitigating Factors – Reduction of Sentence – Considering appellant’s age, lack of criminal record, and specific circumstances, Supreme Court found life imprisonment disproportionate – Reduced sentence to ten years rigorous imprisonment, maintaining the fine imposed [Paras 13-15].

Decision – Appeal partly allowed – Orders – Sentence of life imprisonment reduced to ten years rigorous imprisonment – Fine maintained – Appellant to serve remaining sentence as per modified order [Para 15].

Motor Vehicles Act – Compensation Claim – Appellants, wife and daughters of Nicolau Fernandes, claimed compensation for his death in a motor vehicle accident – Tribunal rejected the claim based on findings of negligence by the deceased – High Court affirmed Tribunal’s decision – Supreme Court reversed the findings, holding accident was due to rash and negligent driving by respondent – Awarded compensation to claimants [Paras 1-10].

Evidence – Negligence and Liability – Supreme Court found Tribunal erred in rejecting evidence of claimants’ witnesses and accepting respondent’s version – Noted that the respondent was charge-sheeted and there was no medical evidence of deceased’s intoxication – Emphasized the Tribunal’s duty to assess claims based on preponderance of probabilities, not proof beyond reasonable doubt [Paras 7-8].

Compensation – Quantum – Tribunal assessed compensation at Rs. 666,041.78, withheld due to adverse findings on negligence – Supreme Court awarded the same amount with 6% interest from date of Tribunal’s award [Paras 9-10].

Decision – Appeal allowed – Orders – Compensation of Rs. 666,041.78 with interest at 6% per annum from 20.07.2004 awarded to claimants – Costs not ordered [Paras 9-10].

Criminal Law – Bail – Appellant reported attack by Kunwar Singh and others, resulting in injuries and death of appellant's son – Kunwar Singh granted bail by High Court despite criminal antecedents – Supreme Court found High Court erred in granting bail without considering past criminal record and potential for witness intimidation [Paras 1-6].

Bail Cancellation – Multiple Criminal Cases – Supreme Court emphasized the need to deny bail to individuals with multiple pending cases and likelihood of tampering with evidence – Cancelled bail of Kunwar Singh and Rafal Singh, both with significant criminal history – Upheld bail for Shashpal and Hanish due to lack of prior cases and specific allegations [Paras 5-10].

Decision – Appeals allowed in part – Orders – Bail of Kunwar Singh and Rafal Singh cancelled, directed to be taken into custody – Bail of Shashpal and Hanish upheld, with condition against witness intimidation – Observations not to affect trial merits [Paras 6, 9-10].

Criminal Law – Murder Investigation – Petitioner, widow of Madan Tamang, alleged improper investigation by state and CBI into husband's murder by Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha supporters – Sought quashing of charge sheets and re-investigation by Special Investigation Team or further investigation by CBI – Supreme Court directed transfer of trial to Calcutta, monitored by Joint Director CBI, ensuring comprehensive investigation [Paras 1-42].

Evidence – Intercepted Telephonic Conversations – Supreme Court considered authenticity of intercepted conversations and their relevance in investigation – Emphasized importance of admissible evidence in ensuring justice – Directed forensic verification of transcripts to be included in further investigation [Paras 6-25].

Monitoring of Investigation – Role of Courts – Supreme Court highlighted judicial duty in monitoring investigations to prevent miscarriage of justice – Directed CBI to proceed with thorough investigation, ensuring all accused are brought to trial – Issued comprehensive directions for effective prosecution and trial [Paras 30-37].

Decision – Writ petition partly allowed – Orders – Transfer of trial to Calcutta Civil and Sessions Court, continued investigation by CBI under Joint Director’s supervision – CBI to file comprehensive report within three months – Further trial to proceed post-report submission – Regular updates to Supreme Court for further directions [Paras 38-42].

Criminal Law – Framing of Charges – Appellant, former Central Government minister, charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC – Special Judge directed framing of charges – Appellant, aged 98 and suffering from severe health issues, sought exemption from personal appearance – Medical board's report noted potential senile dementia, impaired memory, and other serious health conditions – Trial Court directed personal appearance despite medical findings [Paras 1-6].

Section 329 CrPC – Mental Fitness – Supreme Court emphasized need for High Court to evaluate appellant's capability to understand proceedings – Application of Section 329 CrPC in context of appellant’s age and medical condition – High Court failed to address appellant's specific medical incapacity claims [Paras 8-9].

Judicial Review – Supreme Court’s Intervention – Supreme Court remitted case to High Court for re-evaluation – Directed High Court to consider medical reports and testimony to determine appellant's fitness to face trial – Ensured fair trial without pre-judging mental fitness [Paras 10-11].

Decision – Appeals allowed in part – Orders – High Court to re-examine appellant’s medical condition and capacity to defend herself – Expedited disposal directed within three months due to delayed trial of co-accused [Paras 10-11].