Service Law – Appointment – Relaxation of Eligibility Criteria – Relaxation of eligibility criteria for appointment is within the powers of the legislature or executive, not the judiciary. Compassionate appointments must be made strictly as per the rules and eligibility criteria set by the authorities [Paras 8-13]​​.

Compassionate Appointment – The respondent's application for compassionate appointment was initially rejected due to adequate financial status and lack of requisite educational qualifications. Reconsideration was ordered by a higher authority but ultimately rejected as the respondent did not meet the minimum eligibility of having passed the 10th standard [Paras 2-4, 12-14]​​.

Judicial Review – Eligibility Criteria – Fixing eligibility criteria falls within the exclusive domain of the executive or legislature. The judiciary cannot interfere unless the criteria are arbitrary, unreasonable, or irrelevant to the objectives sought to be achieved. Courts should not issue directions to relax eligibility criteria or make appointments that contravene statutory provisions [Paras 7-9]​​.

Financial Condition and Educational Qualifications – The respondent did not meet the financial hardship requirement or the educational qualification for the post of Peon (Class IV). Compassionate appointment requires strict adherence to the set eligibility criteria to ensure fairness and adherence to constitutional provisions of equality [Paras 10-11]​​.

Decision:

Appeal allowed – High Court's direction to consider the respondent's application for compassionate appointment without regard to the amended rules was set aside. The court emphasized the need to adhere to established eligibility criteria and rules for compassionate appointments [Paras 14-16]​​.

Dowry Death – Conviction Under Section 304B IPC – The death of the deceased occurred within seven months of marriage due to consumption of poison in her matrimonial home. Evidence established a consistent pattern of cruelty and harassment for dowry demands by the appellant and his family. The conviction and sentence under Sections 304B and 498A IPC were affirmed, demonstrating the live and proximate link between the cruelty and the death [Paras 8-15]​​.

Presumption Under Section 113B Evidence Act – The prosecution established that the deceased was subjected to cruelty and harassment soon before her death. The court relied on the mandatory presumption of dowry death under Section 113B of the Evidence Act, requiring the accused to disprove the presumption, which they failed to do [Para 7]​​.

Evidence of Witnesses – Testimonies from the deceased’s family members consistently supported the claims of dowry harassment and cruelty. The court held that the evidence of close relatives is crucial in cases of matrimonial death, and the absence of outsider testimony does not diminish the credibility of the prosecution's case [Paras 9-13]​​.

Sentence – Minimum Punishment – The court noted that Section 304B IPC prescribes a minimum sentence of seven years imprisonment, extendable to life imprisonment. Given the established facts and the statutory mandate, the court refused to reduce the sentence despite the appellant's young age and other mitigating factors [Para 17]​​.

Decision:

Appeal dismissed – Conviction and sentence by the trial court and High Court upheld. The evidence supported the charges under Sections 304B and 498A IPC, and the statutory minimum sentence of seven years was affirmed [Paras 18]​​.

Constitutional Law – Right to Information – The provisions under Sections 12(5), 12(6), 15(5), and 15(6) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, regarding the eligibility criteria for the appointment of Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are challenged for being vague and not specifying any qualifications, which allegedly leads to arbitrariness and lack of judicial expertise in these roles [Paras 5-6]​​.

Legislative Competence and Judicial Review – The Act of 2005 falls within the legislative competence of the Indian Parliament and does not inherently violate the constitutional provisions. The Court emphasized the principle of presumption of constitutionality in favor of legislation and the judiciary's reluctance to declare laws unconstitutional unless they are found to be grossly violative of constitutional mandates [Paras 45-47]​​.

Eligibility Criteria – Persons of Eminence – Sections 12(5) and 15(5) prescribe that Chief Information Commissioners and Information Commissioners should be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in specified fields. The Court interpreted this to imply that knowledge and experience in these fields would typically presuppose certain basic qualifications, ensuring the appointments are not arbitrary [Paras 42-48]​​.

Disqualification Criteria – Sections 12(6) and 15(6) specify disqualifications, such as holding any office of profit, being a member of a political party, or carrying on any business. The Court noted the vagueness and potential arbitrariness of these provisions but chose to read them down, interpreting them as applicable post-appointment to avoid rendering them unconstitutional [Paras 49-53]​​.

Judicial Interpretation and Reading Down – The Court preferred to interpret and read down the provisions of the Act to maintain their constitutionality. It emphasized the need for practical implementation and clarified that the disqualifications under Sections 12(6) and 15(6) should apply only post-appointment, ensuring the selected individuals cease any disqualifying activities upon their appointment [Paras 53-54]​​.

Decision:

Writ petition disposed of with directions to interpret the provisions of Sections 12(5), 12(6), 15(5), and 15(6) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, in a manner that ensures their constitutionality. Disqualifications under Sections 12(6) and 15(6) to be applied post-appointment, and necessary qualifications implied under Sections 12(5) and 15(5) to ensure appointments are not arbitrary or discriminatory [Paras 58-60]​​.

Juvenile Justice – Determination of Age – The Court emphasized that the determination of juvenility must be conducted in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007. The inquiry should rely on documents such as matriculation certificates, school records, and birth certificates. Medical opinions should be considered only if these documents are unavailable [Paras 26-27]​​.

Scope of Inquiry – Rule 12 of the 2007 Rules – The Court reiterated that the inquiry under Rule 12 is not an investigation or trial under the Criminal Procedure Code but a specific inquiry under the Juvenile Justice Act. The evidence considered should be primarily documentary, and oral testimony should be limited to exceptional cases [Paras 27-28]​​.

Presumption of Age – Section 49 of the Act – The age determined by the inquiry conducted as per Rule 12 should be considered conclusive. This presumption ensures that the juvenile's age is accurately and fairly determined without unnecessary delays or complications [Paras 35-36]​​.

Decision:

Appeal allowed – The Court set aside the orders of the lower courts which dismissed the appellant's claim of juvenility. The Court directed the Juvenile Justice Board to determine the appropriate sentence considering the appellant's age and the time already served. The appellant was found to be a juvenile at the time of the offense [Paras 47-48]​​.

Revisional and Inherent Jurisdiction – The High Court’s revisional jurisdiction under Section 397 CrPC is limited and should be exercised only on questions of law or perverse findings. Inherent powers under Section 482 CrPC should be used sparingly and with caution to prevent abuse of process and to secure the ends of justice [Paras 8-15]​​.

Quashing of Charges – The High Court quashed the charge under Section 306 IPC on the grounds that the ingredients of the offense were not made out based on the suicide note and witness statements. The Supreme Court held that at the stage of framing charges, the Court is not to meticulously judge the veracity of the evidence but to see if there is a strong suspicion that the accused committed the offense [Paras 10-11]​​.

Presumption of Guilt – For framing charges under Section 228 CrPC, a tentative view that there is ground for presuming that the accused has committed an offense is sufficient. The standard is not as high as required for conviction and the material on record should be examined to see if it can sustain the charge [Paras 11-12]​​.

Decision:

Appeal allowed – The order of the High Court quashing the charge under Section 306 IPC is set aside. The trial court is directed to proceed with the trial for offenses under Sections 306 read with 107 and 448 IPC, based on the presumption of guilt at the stage of framing charges [Paras 28]​​.

Eligibility for Allotment – Special Scheme – The application sought modification of the court’s earlier order to allow eligibility for allotment of two plots under the Special Scheme. The court reiterated that the Special Scheme is distinct from the General Scheme of NOIDA and is subject to specific restrictions, including the ineligibility of individuals who have already been allotted a plot under any previous NOIDA scheme [Paras 1-2].

Double Benefit Prohibition – The court emphasized that no individual should derive double benefits under the Special Scheme, even if they were running multiple clinics or nursing homes. The intention of the scheme was to prevent the allocation of multiple plots to a single individual, ensuring fair distribution of resources [Paras 2, 4].

Policy Implementation – The court noted that Clause 3 of the Special Scheme, which permitted bidding for two plots, was inconsistent with the scheme's purpose and ordered its deletion. The scheme aimed at providing single allotments to ensure wider access and prevent monopolization of resources [Paras 2-4].

Net Worth Irrelevance – The net worth of an applicant was deemed irrelevant in determining eligibility for multiple plots under the Special Scheme. The focus remained on equitable allocation rather than financial capacity to acquire multiple plots [Paras 3-4].

Decision:

Application dismissed – The court refused to modify its earlier directions, maintaining the prohibition on double benefits under the Special Scheme. Clause 3 of the Special Scheme was quashed, and NOIDA was directed to formulate a General Scheme for any unallotted plots, under which the applicant could apply if eligible [Paras 5-6].

Conviction and Evidence – Ocular and Medical Evidence – The prosecution relied on the statements of eyewitnesses and medical evidence to establish the guilt of the accused. The court held that minor discrepancies in the eyewitness accounts do not undermine their credibility. The medical evidence, including the postmortem report, corroborated the eyewitness testimonies, proving the injuries and cause of death consistent with the assault described by the witnesses [Paras 8-10]​​.

Reliability of Eyewitnesses – The court emphasized that the statements of the eyewitnesses, although having some inconsistencies, were credible and trustworthy. The fear and immediate response of the witnesses were deemed normal human reactions under the circumstances. The presence of the eyewitnesses at the scene and their accounts of the events were corroborated by other evidence [Paras 11-15]​​.

Common Intention – Section 34 IPC – The court found that the accused acted with a common intention to commit the crime, as evidenced by their coordinated actions and the nature of the assault. Section 34 IPC was applicable, making all participants in the crime equally liable for the murder and abduction [Paras 31-33]​​.

Hostile Witnesses – The fact that some witnesses turned hostile did not weaken the prosecution's case, as the remaining evidence was sufficient to support the conviction. The statements of hostile witnesses were not relied upon for corroboration [Para 27]​​.

Decision:

Appeal dismissed – The conviction and sentence of life imprisonment under Sections 302/34 IPC and ten years under Sections 364/34 IPC were upheld. The evidence presented by the prosecution was found credible and sufficient to sustain the conviction beyond a reasonable doubt [Paras 34]​​.

Maintainability of Writ Petition – Article 226 – The writ petition is maintainable against an unaided private educational institution performing public functions. The High Court's reliance on the institution being a private body to dismiss the writ petition was incorrect. The institution's role in providing education is a public function, bringing it within the scope of Article 226 [Paras 11-13]​​.

Disciplinary Proceedings – Fairness and Bias – The disciplinary proceedings against the appellant were vitiated by bias. The participation of the Principal, who was a key witness against the appellant, in the Disciplinary Committee violated the principle that no person can be a judge in their own cause. The Disciplinary Committee's decision must not only be fair but also appear to be fair, ensuring justice is done and seen to be done [Paras 18-19]​​.

Alternative Remedy – Appeal to Education Tribunal – Given the disputed questions of fact, the case is best suited for determination by an appropriate tribunal. The State of Punjab has established the Punjab School Education Tribunal, which can hear appeals from disciplinary decisions of even unaided private institutions. The appellant is directed to file an appeal with the tribunal, which shall decide the case on merits without being barred by the limitation period [Paras 16, 20-21]​​.

Decision:

Appeal allowed – The orders of the Single Judge and the Division Bench of the High Court are set aside. The appellant is directed to file an appeal before the Punjab School Education Tribunal, which shall decide the case on merits within three months, disregarding any limitation period [Paras 22-23]​​.

Murder Conviction – Eyewitness Testimony – The conviction of the appellant for murder was based on the consistent and credible testimonies of eyewitnesses PW2 and PW3, who saw the appellant attacking the deceased with a Daranti (sickle) while another accused held her down. Despite minor inconsistencies, the witnesses' accounts were found reliable and corroborated by other evidence [Paras 8-15, 18]​​.

Medical Evidence – The medical evidence, including the post-mortem report, supported the eyewitness accounts. The report detailed incised wounds and injuries consistent with strangulation, confirming the cause of death as asphyxia due to strangulation, which matched the witnesses' descriptions of the attack [Paras 16-17]​​.

Defective Investigation – Impact on Conviction – The court held that defects in the investigation, such as the failure to obtain a serological report for the blood-stained Daranti and pyjama, did not vitiate the prosecution's case. The defects were seen as lapses by the investigating officer, but the overall evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. The court emphasized that defective investigations should not automatically result in acquittal if other evidence is credible and sufficient [Paras 19-21]​​.

Interest of Witnesses – The court rejected the argument that the witnesses' testimonies were unreliable due to their relationship with the deceased, stating that related witnesses are not necessarily interested witnesses. Their presence at the scene was natural and their testimonies credible [Paras 11-13]​​.

Decision:

Appeal dismissed – The conviction and sentence of life imprisonment under Section 302 IPC were upheld. The court directed disciplinary action against the investigating officer for serious lapses in the investigation process, underscoring the need for accountability in police investigations [Paras 22-23]​​.