Criminal Trial – Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence – Standard of Proof – Benefit of Doubt – The appellant was convicted for abetting the murder of two victims based on circumstantial evidence – The Supreme Court emphasized that conviction cannot be sustained when there are serious inconsistencies and missing links in the chain of circumstances – Held: The prosecution failed to establish the appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, warranting acquittal.

Eyewitness Testimony – Reliability – Delay in Disclosure of Material Facts – The prosecution relied on two witnesses (PW-5 and PW-7) who claimed to have seen the accused at the crime scene but remained silent for nine days – The Supreme Court found their silence suspicious and held that unexplained delay in disclosing material facts raises doubts about the credibility of the witnesses – Held: Testimonies of PW-5 and PW-7 were unreliable, weakening the prosecution’s case.

Forensic Evidence – Ballistic Report Inconclusive – Absence of Direct Link to Crime – The prosecution relied on the alleged recovery of a country-made pistol based on the appellant’s disclosure statement – However, the forensic report did not establish that the bullets recovered from the crime scene were fired from the seized weapon – Held: The forensic evidence did not support the prosecution’s case, and the alleged recovery could not be relied upon to convict the appellant.

Motive – Property Dispute and Inter-Caste Marriage – Conflicting Narratives – The prosecution suggested that the murder was linked to a property dispute, while another witness suggested familial opposition due to an inter-caste marriage – The Supreme Court found the conflicting motives indicative of uncertainty and held that motive alone cannot substitute for proof of guilt – Held: The prosecution failed to establish a clear and convincing motive against the appellant.

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction set aside – Appellant acquitted – Immediate release ordered unless required in any other case – The Supreme Court found that the prosecution’s case was riddled with inconsistencies, unreliable witness testimony, and inconclusive forensic evidence – As the guilt of the appellant was not established beyond a reasonable doubt, the benefit of doubt was given, and his conviction was overturned.

Civil Law - Abatement of Appeals – Substitution of Legal Representatives – Delay Condonation – Procedural Compliance Under Order XXII CPC – The High Court dismissed the second appeals as abated on the ground that no application for substitution was filed by Om Prakash Gupta’s heirs – The Supreme Court held that when an application for substitution had already been filed by the heirs of the original respondent, a separate application by the appellants was unnecessary – Further, the court ruled that procedural requirements should not override substantive justice – Held: The High Court erred in dismissing the appeals as abated; applications for substitution and condonation of delay should have been allowed [Paras 13-16, 19].

Interpretation of Order XXII CPC – Duty of Courts in Abatement Proceedings – Justice-Oriented Approach – The Court emphasized that Order XXII CPC does not mandate that only the plaintiff/appellant must file an application for substitution upon a party’s death – If a valid application for substitution is already filed by the opposing party, it must be considered, and abatement should not automatically be declared – Held: The High Court failed to recognize the valid substitution application filed by the heirs of Satish Chandra, leading to an erroneous abatement order [Paras 17-18, 20-21].

Applicability of Rule 10-A, Order XXII CPC – Duty of Opposing Party’s Pleader to Inform Court About Death of Party – The Court reiterated that under Rule 10-A, Order XXII CPC, the pleader of a deceased party has a duty to inform the court of the death, after which the court must notify the opposing party – Failure to provide clear and unambiguous information about the death cannot be used to disadvantage the opposing party – Held: The notice regarding the death of Rooprani was obscurely mentioned in an unrelated application, and thus, did not constitute sufficient compliance with Rule 10-A [Paras 27-31].

Condonation of Delay – Liberal Interpretation in Substitution Applications – Avoiding Technicalities in Civil Procedure – The Supreme Court reiterated that courts must adopt a justice-oriented approach while considering delay condonation applications in substitution matters – It reaffirmed that a request for substitution inherently includes a request for setting aside abatement, even if not expressly stated – Held: The High Court adopted an overly technical approach; delay in filing the substitution applications should have been condoned [Paras 22-24, 32].

Decision: Appeals allowed – Orders of the High Court dismissing the applications for substitution and condonation of delay set aside – Abatement orders quashed – Second appeals restored – The Supreme Court directed the High Court to prioritize and dispose of the second appeals within six months, given the prolonged pendency of the litigation [Paras 33-36].

Criminal Law - Compounding of Offence – Distinction between Compounding and Quashing of Proceedings – Section 307 IPC – Settlement Between Parties – Quashing Allowed – The High Court erred in treating compounding and quashing as interchangeable concepts – While Section 307 IPC is a serious offence, courts must evaluate whether the charge is supported by evidence rather than blindly refusing relief – Held: In this case, where the injury was not of a life-threatening nature and the primary accused had passed away, quashing the proceedings under Section 482 CrPC was justified [Paras 6-7, 10-12].

Exercise of Inherent Powers – Section 482 CrPC – Offences Affecting Society vs. Private Disputes – Settlement Considerations – The Supreme Court reiterated that while heinous crimes with a strong public impact should not be quashed, certain cases with a predominantly civil character or arising out of personal disputes may be considered for quashing – Held: The case in question, involving a minor injury (fracture of a finger), did not fall within the category of offences requiring strict non-interference, and continuation of trial would be futile [Paras 9, 17-20].

Nature of Injury and Weapon Used – Whether Section 307 IPC Attracted – Applicability of Section 149 IPC – The Court examined the medical evidence and found that the injuries sustained were not on vital parts of the body and did not justify a charge under Section 307 IPC – Further, there was no clear common object attributable to the accused under Section 149 IPC – Held: Prosecution under Section 307 IPC was unwarranted, and the proceedings were quashed in the interest of justice [Paras 14-16, 19].

Judicial Discretion – Compromise Between Parties – Long Pendency of Case – 33 Years Since Incident – The case stemmed from a 1991 incident, and the parties had since reached a settlement – The appellants were unaware of the pending proceedings for years due to procedural delays – Held: Continuing the prosecution would be an abuse of process, and the ends of justice required quashing the proceedings [Paras 13, 20-22].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court's order refusing to quash proceedings set aside – Criminal proceedings in Complaint Case No. 8023 of 2015, arising from Case Crime No. 248 of 1991, pending before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Court No. 5, Moradabad, quashed – The Court held that prosecuting the appellants would serve no purpose, given the long passage of time, the compromise reached between the parties, and the lack of sufficient evidence to sustain a charge under Section 307 IPC [Paras 23-24].

Motor Accident Compensation – Determination of Income – Income Tax Returns as Conclusive Proof – The Tribunal and the High Court erred in computing the deceased’s income by ignoring his Income Tax Returns – The Supreme Court held that when available, Income Tax Returns should be considered a reliable document for determining income – Held: The deceased’s annual income must be taken as Rs.1,98,192/- as per his Income Tax Returns, not Rs.90,000/- as assessed by the lower courts [Paras 6-8].

Future Prospects – Applicability in Motor Accident Compensation – Multiplier Method – The Court reiterated that future prospects must be considered while computing compensation – Following National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Pranay Sethi, 25% was added to the deceased’s income as he was aged 47 at the time of death – Held: Compensation recalculated by applying a multiplier of 13, and the total compensation payable was enhanced to Rs.24,53,280/- [Paras 9-10].

Loss of Consortium and Non-Pecuniary Damages – Standardized Compensation – The Court reaffirmed that non-pecuniary damages, such as loss of estate, loss of consortium, and funeral expenses, should be awarded in accordance with Pranay Sethi and New India Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Sonigra Juhi Uttamchand – Held: Claimant entitled to additional compensation under these heads [Para 9].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Compensation enhanced from Rs.13,91,300/- to Rs.24,53,280/- – Interest to be paid as awarded by the Tribunal – The Supreme Court modified the compensation award by recalculating the income of the deceased and applying the correct legal principles – The impugned judgment of the High Court was set aside, and the insurance company was directed to pay the revised compensation [Paras 10].

Motor Accident Compensation – Applicability of Exchange Rate – Whether Compensation Should Be Computed at Exchange Rate on Date of Accident or Date of Claim Petition – Held: Date of Claim Petition – The deceased, a U.S. resident, earned $11,600 per month – The High Court applied an exchange rate of the accident date (2009), reducing the compensation – Held: As per Jiju Kuruvila v. Kunjujamma Mohan, (2013) 9 SCC 166, compensation in foreign currency cases should be calculated based on the exchange rate prevailing at the date of filing of the claim petition (2012), not the date of accident (2009) – Exchange rate fixed at ₹57/USD for final compensation determination [Paras 9-10].

Motor Accident Compensation – Multiplier to be Applied for Deceased Earning in Foreign Currency – High Court’s Reduction from ‘14’ to ‘10’ – Whether Justified – Held: No – The MACT applied a multiplier of 14 following National Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Pranay Sethi, (2017) 16 SCC 680, considering the deceased’s age of 43 years – The High Court erroneously reduced it to 10, citing foreign income as justification – Held: The law does not differentiate based on income source (domestic or foreign) – Multiplier of 14 reinstated [Paras 7-10].

Calculation of Compensation – Future Prospects and Deductions – Application of Pranay Sethi Principles – Held: MACT Correct in Granting 30% Future Prospects – Future prospects fixed at 30% following Pranay Sethi guidelines – 1/3rd deduction applied for personal expenses as deceased had three dependents – Final calculation based on 14 multiplier and ₹57/USD exchange rate resulted in enhanced compensation of ₹9,64,52,220/- [Paras 10-11].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Enhanced Compensation Awarded – The Supreme Court modified the High Court’s judgment and reinstated the compensation awarded by the MACT with enhancements – Final compensation awarded: ₹9,64,52,220/- with interest at 7.5% per annum – State Road Transport Corporation directed to pay the enhanced amount within six months [Para 11].

Criminal Law – Circumstantial Evidence – Prosecution Failed to Establish Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt – Acquittal Granted – The appellant was convicted for the murder of his first wife based on circumstantial evidence – Key prosecution witnesses, including the deceased’s brother and sister, turned hostile and denied any foul play – The medical opinion on the cause of death was inconclusive, and the investigating officer’s recovery of the alleged murder weapon was unreliable – Held: Prosecution failed to establish a complete chain of evidence; conviction set aside, and appellant acquitted [Paras 17-19, 25].

Burden of Proof – Applicability of Section 106 of the Evidence Act – Not a Substitute for Prosecution’s Failure – The State argued that, as per Section 106 of the Evidence Act, the appellant was obligated to explain the circumstances leading to the death, as the incident occurred in his home – The Supreme Court held that the initial burden always rests on the prosecution to establish prima facie guilt – Only after such a burden is discharged does Section 106 come into play – Held: Section 106 cannot be invoked when the prosecution fails to establish essential elements of the crime [Paras 20-23].

Medical Evidence – Cause of Death Not Conclusive – Tuberculosis Considered a Possibility – The post-mortem report indicated that the deceased died due to asphyxia, possibly caused by hanging – However, the doctor admitted in cross-examination that asphyxia could also result from chronic tuberculosis, which the appellant claimed the deceased was suffering from – The Court noted that the prosecution failed to counter this alternative possibility – Held: Cause of death remained uncertain, and benefit of doubt must go to the accused [Paras 15-16, 24].

Statement Under Section 313 CrPC – Failure to Rebut Defense – Strengthens Case for Acquittal – The appellant, in his statement under Section 313 CrPC, stated that his wife died a natural death due to tuberculosis – The prosecution neither produced medical records nor re-examined the post-mortem doctor to refute this claim – The Court observed that the unexplained failure to disprove the defense version weakened the prosecution’s case – Held: Prosecution’s inability to counter the appellant’s defense entitled him to acquittal [Paras 24-25].

Acquittal and Release – Over Ten Years in Custody – Immediate Release Ordered – The appellant had already served more than ten years in custody – The Supreme Court found no justification for further incarceration and directed his immediate release – Held: Conviction set aside; appellant ordered to be released forthwith [Paras 26-27].

Decision – Conviction Set Aside – Acquittal Granted – Immediate Release Ordered – The prosecution failed to establish the guilt of the appellant beyond reasonable doubt, as required in circumstantial evidence cases – The alternative possibility of natural death due to tuberculosis remained unrefuted by the prosecution – Section 106 of the Evidence Act cannot be used to compensate for the prosecution’s failure to prove essential elements of the crime – The appellant had already served over ten years in custody and was ordered to be released immediately – Held: Appeal allowed, conviction set aside, and appellant directed to be released forthwith [Paras 25-27].

Criminal Law – Circumstantial Evidence – Failure to Prove Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt – Acquittal Granted – The appellant was convicted under Section 302 IPC for the murder of one Ramlal based solely on circumstantial evidence – The prosecution alleged that the appellant was last seen with the deceased, had a motive related to non-payment of wages, and fled from the scene with a farsi (axe) – The Supreme Court held that the circumstances relied upon were not conclusive, and the prosecution failed to establish a complete chain of evidence to exclude all other possibilities – Held: Conviction set aside; appellant acquitted [Paras 9-12, 16-18].

Motive – Alleged Wage Dispute – Found to be Insufficient and Unsubstantiated – The prosecution claimed that the appellant had a strained relationship with the deceased due to non-payment or delayed payment of wages – The Supreme Court observed that such a dispute, even if assumed to exist, was too trivial to motivate a murder – Further, no independent evidence supported the existence of any discord between the appellant and the deceased – Held: Motive not established beyond reasonable doubt [Para 11].

Last Seen Theory – Uncorroborated Testimony – Not a Conclusive Circumstance – The prosecution relied on the testimony of Budhiyarin Bai (PW-5), the wife of the deceased, who claimed that she left home while the appellant was with the deceased and later saw him running away – However, her statements were inconsistent, and no other witness corroborated the claim that the appellant had returned after allegedly leaving for his native village – Held: Last seen theory not established with certainty; cannot be the sole basis for conviction [Paras 12-14].

Recovery of Weapon – Farsi (Axe) – Doubtful and Not Linked to Crime – The alleged murder weapon was recovered nearly 20-25 days after the incident based on the appellant’s supposed disclosure – The prosecution failed to produce forensic evidence linking the bloodstains on the weapon to the deceased – The Supreme Court held that the recovery was unreliable, and the absence of forensic confirmation further weakened the prosecution’s case – Held: Recovery of weapon does not establish guilt; benefit of doubt given to the appellant [Paras 13-14].

Witness Testimonies – Contradictions and Lack of Corroboration – Creates Doubt on Prosecution Case – The prosecution witnesses, including the complainant Jogi Ram (PW-1), made conflicting statements regarding whether the appellant was seen fleeing the crime scene – The wife of the deceased initially stated that the appellant had already fled before she returned but later claimed to have seen him running away – The Supreme Court held that such contradictions created serious doubt about the prosecution’s version – Held: Witness inconsistencies weaken the case; benefit of doubt must be given to the accused [Paras 14-15].

Forensic Evidence – Absence of Conclusive Blood Analysis – Weakens Prosecution Case – The clothes allegedly worn by the appellant at the time of the incident had bloodstains, but the prosecution failed to prove that the stains matched the blood of the deceased – The Supreme Court observed that in the absence of forensic confirmation, such evidence could not be relied upon to convict the appellant – Held: Lack of scientific corroboration further weakens prosecution case [Para 15].

Decision – Conviction Set Aside – Acquittal Granted – Appellant Already Released on Bail – The Supreme Court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the appellant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt – The circumstantial evidence did not establish a conclusive chain pointing to the appellant’s involvement – The benefit of doubt was given to the appellant, and his conviction was set aside – Since he had already served over 10 years in jail and was on bail, his sureties and bail bonds were discharged – Held: Appeal allowed, conviction set aside, and appellant acquitted [Paras 17-19].

Motor Accident Claim – Compensation Computation – Reliance on Minimum Wages – Set Aside – The claimant-appellant, a young student, sustained grievous injuries in a motor accident – The Tribunal awarded Rs.7,09,303/- as compensation, which was enhanced by the High Court to Rs.23,90,719/- but based on minimum wages – The Supreme Court held that for a student in his twenties, notional income should not be equated to that of an unskilled worker – Instead, reliance was placed on Harpreet Singh v. Navjot Singh, fixing notional income at Rs.10,000/- per month – Compensation recalculated to Rs.34,56,103/- with interest at 7.5% per annum – Held: Appeal allowed, and compensation enhanced accordingly [Paras 6-9].

Joint and Several Liability – Compensation Payment – Insurer Liable – The Tribunal held all respondents, including the driver, owner, and insurer, jointly and severally liable to pay compensation – However, the primary responsibility was placed on the insurer to discharge the liability – The Supreme Court upheld this finding, reaffirming that the insurer must pay the awarded sum in full – Held: Tribunal's finding on liability upheld [Para 5].

Public Employment – Recruitment Process – Non-Compliance with Constitutional Requirements – Declared Invalid – The recruitment process initiated through the advertisement dated 29th July 2010 for Class IV posts was challenged on grounds of non-transparency and violation of Articles 14 and 16 – The Supreme Court held that a valid public employment advertisement must specify the total number of vacancies, reservations, eligibility criteria, and selection procedure – The Court found that the advertisement failed to meet these requirements and was thus unconstitutional – Held: Advertisement and consequential appointments quashed [Paras 17-24].

Natural Justice – Non-Impleadment of Affected Candidates – Not Required When Appointments Are Null and Void – The appellant-employee argued that the termination order was passed without affording him an opportunity of hearing – The Supreme Court held that principles of natural justice are not applicable when appointments are found to be void ab initio – Since the recruitment process was unconstitutional, hearing the affected candidates would have been a futile exercise – Held: No requirement to afford a hearing in cases of void appointments [Paras 30-32].

Cancellation of Selection Process – Backdoor Entry – No Right to Continue in Service – The Court reaffirmed that appointments made without following due process are a nullity in law – Individuals who gain employment through an invalid selection process cannot claim a vested right to continue in service – Held: Candidates selected through unconstitutional recruitment cannot claim a legitimate right to employment [Paras 34-38].

Directive for Fresh Recruitment – Age Relaxation for Affected Candidates – Recognizing the prolonged litigation and its impact on candidates who might have crossed the age limit, the Court directed the State to issue a fresh advertisement within six months, ensuring compliance with constitutional mandates – Age relaxation was also ordered for previously eligible candidates – Held: Fresh recruitment process to be conducted within six months with age relaxation for affected candidates [Para 41].

Decision – Advertisement and Consequential Appointments Quashed – Fresh Recruitment Ordered – The advertisement dated 29th July 2010 and all consequential appointments were quashed for violating Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution – The Supreme Court declared all appointments made under the previous recruitment process invalid and set them aside – The State of Jharkhand was directed to conduct a fresh recruitment process within six months, ensuring compliance with constitutional mandates – Suitable age relaxation was ordered to accommodate affected candidates who might have crossed the age limit – Held: Appeals disposed of accordingly [Paras 41-45].