Service Law - Civil Services – Promotion to Chief Secretary Grade – Incomplete ACRs and Review Committee Assessment – Denial of Promotion Upheld – The appellant, a 1991-batch IAS officer, was denied promotion to the Chief Secretary grade on the ground of incomplete ACRs and adverse remarks – Held: Though considered as a ‘special case’ with less than 90% ACRs, Screening Committee found his record below noteworthy; Review Committee affirmed the decision based on absenteeism, poor leadership, and disciplinary concerns [Paras 1-10, 20-21].

Review of Promotion Denial – Scope and Legitimacy – No Illegality Found – The Review Committee did not expand beyond the Screening Committee’s reasoning but merely amplified it with supporting material including post-2016 conduct – Held: Prior adverse entries not relating to dishonesty are weak material post-promotion but can be reinforced by subsequent similar behavior – No case for procedural impropriety or mala fide made out [Paras 14-19, 22].

Screening Criteria – No Benchmark Required – Clause 7.2 of Guidelines – Appellant’s Argument Rejected – Held: Absence of benchmark does not render assessment arbitrary, especially where candidate was given special consideration despite incomplete ACRs – Screening was not vitiated by this reason [Para 23].

Judicial Interference – Wednesbury Principle – Not Attracted – The Court found that decisions of the Screening and Review Committees were based on objective evaluation, fairness, and relevant material – Held: No irrationality or mala fides – Appeal dismissed [Paras 24-25].

*Decision – Appeal Dismissed – Promotion Denial Upheld – The Supreme Court upheld the Review Committee’s decision rejecting promotion – Held: Screening Committee had rightly considered post-promotion conduct and incomplete ACRs – Appellant permitted by High Court to take steps for future reconsideration upon completion of ACRs, but no grounds for judicial interference presently exist [Paras 24-25].

Civil Law - Production of Documents – Scope of Order 11 Rule 14 CPC – Application Allowed Despite Dismissal of Suit – Relief Set Aside – Order 11 Rule 14 enables production of documents during pendency of a suit – In the present case, the suit had already been dismissed under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC – Held: Once the plaint is rejected, there is no question of document production – First Appellate Court exceeded its jurisdiction by ordering production of Mutation Register extract – Trial Court and High Court orders set aside [Paras 7–9].

Scope of Appellate Jurisdiction – Limited to Pleadings at Rejection Stage – No Fresh Evidence Permissible – It was reiterated that the First Appellate Court, when dealing with an appeal from an order under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, is limited to examining the contents of the plaint – It cannot consider additional documents or evidence – Observations of Supreme Court in earlier criminal SLP were misapplied – Held: Lower courts misdirected in their interpretation of procedural law [Paras 8–9].

Pleading Additional Grounds – Appellate Discretion – Liberal Approach – Application Allowed – The Court upheld the order of the First Appellate Court allowing additional grounds to be raised in the appeal – Held: Raising additional grounds does not equate to leading evidence, and is not barred unless prejudicial or beyond pleadings – No interference warranted [Para 10].

Decision: Appeal Partly Allowed – Document Production Order Set Aside – Additional Grounds Allowed – The Supreme Court allowed the appeal in part by setting aside the First Appellate Court’s and High Court’s order permitting production of documents under Order 11 Rule 14 CPC, holding it as procedurally untenable – However, the order permitting additional grounds to be raised in the appeal was affirmed – Civil Appeals accordingly disposed of [Paras 9–11].

Service Law - Seniority – Date of Appointment v. Date of Selection – Partial Relief Granted – Appellants participated in 2003 judicial service exam and were appointed after a High Court order in 2012 – Though appointed in 2013, they claimed seniority over later batches – Held: They cannot claim seniority over those appointed before 2nd May 2012 (date of HC order), but are entitled to rank above officers appointed on 10th July 2012 due to State’s delay – Right to appointment accrued from judicial direction [Paras 9–16].

Delay in Implementation of Court Order – State Inaction Prejudicial to Appellants – Judicial Direction Binding – Though SLP filed by State was dismissed without stay, appointments were delayed – Held: State cannot benefit from inaction in implementing Court's order – Appellants should not suffer loss of seniority due to administrative delay [Paras 12–15].

Doctrine of Finality – No Challenge to 2012 HC Order – Scope Limited – Appellants bound by earlier High Court order stating seniority shall be reckoned from date of appointment – Held: Cannot reopen or seek general retrospective seniority beyond 2nd May 2012 – Challenge rightly confined to 2012 batch [Paras 8–11].

Decision: Appeal Partly Allowed – Seniority Directed over 2012 Batch – The Supreme Court directed that the appellants be shown senior to judicial officers appointed on 10th July 2012 – They were not entitled to seniority over candidates appointed prior to 2nd May 2012 – No costs awarded [Paras 16–17].

Service Law - Disability Pension – Presumption in Favour of Serviceman – Rules 5, 9 and 14 of 1982 Rules – Orders Set Aside - Supreme Court held that under the entitlement rules, a person entering service is presumed medically fit unless a disability is recorded at the time of joining – Any subsequent disability leading to discharge must be presumed attributable to or aggravated by service unless cogent medical reasoning disproves the same – No such reasoning was provided by the Medical Board – Appellant’s invaliding on medical grounds automatically triggered presumption of service-related disability – Orders of Tribunal not sustainable [Paras 29, 32, 34-36, 43-45].

Disability Pension – Minimum Threshold – Applicability of Instructions dated 31.01.2001 and Letter dated 20.07.2006 – Relief Granted - Supreme Court ruled that the artificial threshold of 20% disability for pension entitlement was abrogated post 01.01.1996 – Persons invalided out with even 1% disability attributable to service are entitled to rounding off and 50% disability pension – Appellant’s disability assessed at 15–19% thus qualifies – Appellant granted 50% disability pension with interest from 01.01.1996 for life [Paras 19.4, 25, 40, 42].

Medical Board – Inadequacy in Reasoning – Failure to Justify Non-Attribution – Decision Reversed - The Invaliding Medical Board did not record any reasons as to why appellant's condition was not attributable to military service, despite clear presumption in favour of attribution – The Board’s conclusion contradicted Rule 14(b) which requires reasons if disease is claimed as non-detectable at induction – Tribunal’s reliance on such an opinion without scrutiny was legally erroneous [Paras 22, 46].

Decision – Impugned Tribunal Orders Set Aside – Disability Pension Allowed - Supreme Court allowed the appeals, set aside both Tribunal orders dated 26.02.2016 and 22.01.2018 – Directed Respondents to pay appellant disability pension at 50% from 01.01.1996 with 6% annual interest, within three months [Para 47-48].

Service Law - Leave Encashment – Re-employment After Superannuation – Interpretation of Leave Rules – Appeal Allowed – The respondent, a government servant, retired after attaining 58 years and was granted leave encashment for 300 days – He was re-employed and on relieving, was again granted leave encashment for another 300 days – The State later issued a clarification and withdrew the second benefit, prompting writ proceedings – Held: Rule 36 applies only to retirement from regular service and not re-employment; Rule 32, which treats re-employed officers as new appointees for leave purposes, does not entitle a second round of leave encashment under Rule 36 – High Court's interpretation allowing such benefit was erroneous – The clarification by the State was found to be consistent with the Leave Rules [Paras 19-24].

Principles of Leave Encashment – Public Service and Financial Prudence – Re-employment Benefit Disallowed – The Court underscored the importance of balancing individual employee rights with institutional and financial sustainability – Leave encashment is a welfare provision linked to service rendered without availing leave, not an entitlement during re-employment – Allowing multiple encashments would amount to unjust enrichment and strain public finances [Paras 25-29].

Natural Justice – Cancellation Without Hearing – Procedural Challenge Repelled – Although the respondent argued that the cancellation order was passed without notice, the Court held that no prejudice was caused as the claim lacked legal basis – Violation of natural justice was not established in the circumstances [Para 32].

Decision: The Supreme Court allowed the appeals, set aside the judgments of the learned Single Judge and the Division Bench of the High Court of Sikkim, and held that the respondent was not entitled to leave encashment for the period of re-employment beyond the first 300 days granted at the time of his initial retirement. No costs were awarded [Para 33].

Civil Law - Gift Deed – Validity under Muslim Law – Deed Upheld – A registered Gift Deed dated 26.04.1958 executed by the plaintiff’s grandfather was found to be valid under Mahomedan Law, where the grandfather transferred land to his grandson who otherwise would not have inherited – Delivery of possession was proven and misdescription of dag numbers held to be immaterial to the identity of the property – Held: Gift Deed valid, delivery of possession accepted through plaintiff’s mother [Paras 4(viii), 4(x), 4(xii), 4(xiii)].

Declaratory Relief – Necessity of Seeking Cancellation of Void Sale Deed – Not Mandatory – The High Court erred in holding that the plaintiff’s failure to seek cancellation of a subsequent sale deed disentitled him from obtaining declaration of title – Supreme Court clarified that a person not party to a void document (like the plaintiff here) need not seek its cancellation under Section 31 – Mere declaration of non-binding nature is sufficient [Paras 24–36].

Right to Seek Declaration – Plaintiff as Non-Executant – Legal Right Recognized – The plaintiff, not being party to the subsequent sale deed, was held entitled to a declaration of title and recovery of possession – Courts below rightly entertained suit without insistence on cancellation relief – Held: Declaration of title includes implicit negation of rights under void sale deed by third parties [Paras 34–37].

High Court Judgment – Improper Reversal – High Court concurred on validity of Gift Deed but reversed decree solely on technical omission – Supreme Court held that such omission did not defeat the suit and trial court findings should be restored – Appeal allowed, decree of trial court restored [Paras 36, 46].

Criminal Procedural Law - Cognizance – Sufficiency of Reasoning – Recording of Prima Facie Case – Cognizance Restored - The High Court remanded the matter to the Trial Court stating that the cognizance order lacked disclosure of prima facie material – Held: The approach of the High Court was erroneous – It is settled law that a Magistrate is not required to record detailed reasoning while taking cognizance as long as judicial mind has been applied – Cognizance order of 13.06.2019 was valid and required no interference – Bhushan Kumar and other precedents reiterated [Paras 15-17].

Quashing of FIR – Civil Dispute Camouflaged as Criminal – Mala Fide Allegation – Not Entertained - Appellants contended that the FIR was a misuse of criminal law to settle civil disputes relating to property ownership and harassment post-relationship breakdown – Held: Without categorical assertion that no material existed in the chargesheet, such challenge could not be sustained – The matter raised factual questions to be evaluated during trial – The plea to quash proceedings was not accepted [Paras 18-21].

Application of Judicial Mind – Material in Police Papers – Enquiry Scope – Cognizance Upheld - Court reaffirmed that at the stage of taking cognizance, the focus is on presence of prima facie material and not its probative value – Judicial application of mind noted in the cognizance order – Chargesheet corroborated allegations – Court held there was no infirmity warranting High Court interference [Paras 20-21].

Relief Beyond Cross-Appeal – Complete Justice – Impugned Judgment Set Aside – Despite no cross-appeal by Respondent No. 2, the Supreme Court exercised jurisdiction to set aside the High Court's remand order to correct legal error on the need for detailed reasoning in cognizance orders – Held: Cognizance was valid and proceedings must continue from that stage [Para 22].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Cognizance Order Restored – Trial to Proceed - Supreme Court allowed the appeal, set aside the High Court judgment, and restored the cognizance order – Directed the appellants to appear before the Trial Court on next hearing – Liberty granted to appellants to press for discharge or other remedies at the appropriate stage – No costs awarded [Paras 23-25].

Criminal Law – Murder – Appeal Against Conviction - Section 313 CrPC – Inadequate Examination of Accused – Prejudice Caused – Conviction Set Aside – Appellant’s examination under Section 313 CrPC merely summarized the prosecution's case rather than presenting specific evidence against him – Supreme Court held this as fatal irregularity causing inherent prejudice – Trial court failed to present material circumstances for the accused to respond meaningfully [Paras 7–13].

Conviction Under Section 302 IPC – Defective Trial – No Effective Defence Opportunity – Acquittal Granted – Appellant’s right to fair trial violated due to non-compliance with mandatory requirements under Section 313(1) CrPC – Court held that prosecution must put each incriminating circumstance specifically to the accused – In absence of such examination, appeal allowed and appellant acquitted [Paras 10–15].

Remand – Not Feasible Due to Passage of Time – 14 Years Elapsed – Acquittal Ordered – Although such procedural defects are curable, Supreme Court declined remand due to long delay since incident (2011) and prolonged custody (14 years served) – Appellant ordered to be released forthwith unless required in another case [Paras 14–17].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Conviction under Section 302 IPC set aside – Appellant acquitted of all charges – Supreme Court directed his immediate release [Paras 15–17].
 

Criminal Law – Murder – Appeal Against Acquittal - Dying Declarations – Non-compliance with Section 313 CrPC – Acquittal Upheld – The Supreme Court held that the prosecution’s failure to put the contents of the dying declarations to the accused during examination under Section 313 CrPC prejudiced the accused – As such, the declarations could not be relied upon for conviction – Further remand to rectify this defect after 14 years would cause undue prejudice – Appeals dismissed [Paras 16–23, 27].

Minor Witness – Competency of Child Witness – Procedural Lapse – The minor son of the deceased, who was presented as an eyewitness, was not subjected to preliminary questioning by the Trial Court to assess competence – Major contradictions in testimony led the Court to hold the evidence unreliable – Testimony not considered safe to rely on for conviction [Paras 10–14].

Contradictory Evidence – Medical Evidence and Dying Declarations – Burn Injuries on Co-Accused and Accused – The prosecution failed to explain injuries on the co-accused who later died and the accused who sustained 20% burns – This weakened the prosecution case and added to reasonable doubt about their role in the incident [Paras 24–25].

Appeal Against Acquittal – Judicial Review – Principles Reiterated – The Court reiterated that if the High Court’s view is a possible one based on evidence, even if another view is possible, the acquittal should not be interfered with – High Court's decision upheld despite some differences in interpretation [Paras 26–27].

Judicial Directions – Compliance with Section 313 CrPC – Procedural Safeguards Suggested – The Court directed that High Courts must verify the adequacy of Section 313 statements at the appellate stage to prevent prejudice and suggested trial courts seek assistance from counsels to ensure proper questioning under Section 313 CrPC [Para 28].

Decision – Appeals dismissed – Acquittal confirmed – No interference warranted as prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt due to procedural and evidentiary lapses [Para 30].