Criminal Law – Dowry Death – Conviction under Section 304B IPC upheld – Appellants (mother-in-law and husband) harassed the deceased, Kanta, for dowry (motorcycle) – Kanta died by hanging within three months of marriage – Evidence established harassment and demand for dowry – Appeal dismissed [Paras 1-20].

Dowry Demand – Definition and Scope – Demand for motorcycle for business purposes held to be 'demand for dowry' – Reiterated that 'dowry' under Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act includes any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given in connection with marriage [Paras 11-16].

Evidence and Presumption – Section 113B of Evidence Act – Presumption of dowry death applied – Appellants failed to rebut the presumption – Evidence from prosecution witnesses (PW-8, PW-9, PW-10) found credible [Paras 17-19].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Conviction and sentence of seven years' rigorous imprisonment for both appellants upheld – Two months’ time granted to the first appellant (A-1) to surrender for undergoing the sentence [Para 20].

Customs Duty – Refund Claim – Appellant's claim for refund of customs duty rejected by Deputy Commissioner on grounds of unjust enrichment and failure to appeal assessment orders – Delhi High Court directed customs authorities to consider refund claims based on Essentiality Certificates – Supreme Court held that the refund claim was erroneously rejected ignoring High Court's specific directions [Paras 1-20].

Judicial Hierarchy and Compliance – High Court’s orders under Article 226 must be followed by subordinate authorities – Adjudicating authority circumventing High Court's order amounts to denial of justice – Subordinate authorities must approach the issuing court for clarification or modification if they believe the order is contrary to law [Paras 15-19].

Principles of Mandamus – High Courts have wide powers under Article 226 to issue writs to promote justice – Directions issued must be complied with unless legally challenged – Courts have the power to mould reliefs to meet the requirements of justice [Paras 16-17].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Customs authorities directed to consider the appellant's refund claim in accordance with the directions issued by the Delhi High Court – No costs awarded [Paras 20-21].

Narcotics – Possession and Transport – Appellant convicted under Sections 15 and 25 NDPS Act for being co-owner of truck transporting poppy husk – No evidence appellant had knowledge of the transport – Conviction based on presumption under Section 35 without foundational facts proving knowledge [Paras 1-8].

Presumption and Burden of Proof – Section 25 NDPS Act requires evidence of knowledge – Prosecution failed to prove appellant knowingly allowed vehicle use for illegal purpose – Presumption under Section 35 requires initial burden of proof on prosecution to establish foundational facts beyond reasonable doubt [Paras 8-9].

Judicial Review – Conviction based solely on incorrect address in truck registration insufficient to prove knowledge or involvement in narcotics transport – Appeal allowed, conviction and sentence set aside, appellant acquitted [Paras 10-11].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction under Sections 15 and 25 of the NDPS Act set aside – Appellant acquitted – Bail bonds discharged [Para 11].

Negotiable Instruments – Director’s Liability – Appellant resigned from directorship before issuance and dishonour of cheques – High Court dismissed revision applications to quash proceedings – Supreme Court quashed proceedings against appellant due to lack of connection with the company at the relevant time [Paras 1-21].

Evidence and Documentation – Resignation from Directorship – Appellant's resignation and its recording in Form No. 32 not disputed – Documents considered as public records indicating cessation of appellant's involvement in the company before the offence occurred [Paras 14-18].

Legal Principles – Scope of High Court's Power under Sections 482 and 397 CrPC – High Court can consider documents beyond suspicion at prima facie stage to prevent miscarriage of justice – Case distinguished from precedents requiring trial courts to consider defence during trial [Paras 20-21].

Decision: Appeals allowed – Judgment of Calcutta High Court and summons issued by Metropolitan Magistrate set aside – Complaints against the appellant quashed [Para 21].

Civil Procedure – Ex-parte Decree – Respondent/wife failed to appear despite repeated summons – Process servers reported refusal to accept summons – Substituted service through publication in "National Herald" deemed proper – High Court erroneously set aside ex-parte decree considering post-decree conduct – Supreme Court restored trial court’s order dismissing application under Order IX Rule 13 CPC [Paras 3-25].

Service of Summons – Presumption of Service – Registered AD cover and process server’s reports indicated refusal – High Court overlooked settled legal principles on presumption of service under Section 27 of General Clauses Act and Section 114 of Evidence Act [Paras 13-19].

Appellate Procedure – Order XLI Rule 31 CPC – High Court failed to comply with statutory requirements in deciding the appeal – Judgment lacked consideration of material findings by trial court [Paras 20-24].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Judgment and order of Delhi High Court set aside – Judgment and order of trial court restored – Appellant directed to pay Rs. 10 lakhs as lump sum maintenance to respondent in two installments within six months [Paras 24-25].

Land Acquisition – Additional Compensation – The Respondents were awarded compensation for acquired land along with statutory benefits under Sections 23(1A), 23(2), and 28 – The Executing Court and the High Court awarded additional amount under Section 23(1A) on the solatium amount – Supreme Court clarified that the additional amount under Section 23(1A) is payable only on the market value of the land and not on the solatium [Paras 1-9].

Compensation Components – Section 23 of the Act outlines four distinct amounts: (i) Market value of the land, (ii) Damages/expenses under Section 23(1), (iii) Additional amount at 12% per annum under Section 23(1A), (iv) Solatium at 30% under Section 23(2) – No judicial exercise involved for additional amount or solatium as they are statutory benefits [Paras 4-6].

Interest and Enhanced Compensation – Clarified interpretation of additional amount and solatium as part of 'enhanced compensation' for Income Tax purposes as per Commissioner of Income Tax Faridabad vs. Ghanshyam (HUF) – Distinguished from interpretations under the Land Acquisition Act [Paras 8-9].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court and Executing Court orders set aside – Declared that additional amount under Section 23(1A) is only on the market value determined under Section 23(1) and not on solatium under Section 23(2) [Para 9].

Criminal Law – Dowry Death – Conviction under Section 304B IPC upheld – Appellants (mother-in-law and husband) harassed the deceased, Kanta, for dowry (motorcycle) – Kanta died by hanging within three months of marriage – Evidence established harassment and demand for dowry – Appeal dismissed [Paras 1-20].

Dowry Demand – Definition and Scope – Demand for motorcycle for business purposes held to be 'demand for dowry' – Reiterated that 'dowry' under Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act includes any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given in connection with marriage [Paras 11-16].

Evidence and Presumption – Section 113B of Evidence Act – Presumption of dowry death applied – Appellants failed to rebut the presumption – Evidence from prosecution witnesses (PW-8, PW-9, PW-10) found credible [Paras 17-19].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Conviction and sentence of seven years' rigorous imprisonment for both appellants upheld – Two months’ time granted to the first appellant (A-1) to surrender for undergoing the sentence [Para 20].

Customs Duty – Refund Claim – Appellant's claim for refund of customs duty rejected by Deputy Commissioner on grounds of unjust enrichment and failure to appeal assessment orders – Delhi High Court directed customs authorities to consider refund claims based on Essentiality Certificates – Supreme Court held that the refund claim was erroneously rejected ignoring High Court's specific directions [Paras 1-20].

Judicial Hierarchy and Compliance – High Court’s orders under Article 226 must be followed by subordinate authorities – Adjudicating authority circumventing High Court's order amounts to denial of justice – Subordinate authorities must approach the issuing court for clarification or modification if they believe the order is contrary to law [Paras 15-19].

Principles of Mandamus – High Courts have wide powers under Article 226 to issue writs to promote justice – Directions issued must be complied with unless legally challenged – Courts have the power to mould reliefs to meet the requirements of justice [Paras 16-17].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Customs authorities directed to consider the appellant's refund claim in accordance with the directions issued by the Delhi High Court – No costs awarded [Paras 20-21].

Narcotics – Possession and Transport – Appellant convicted under Sections 15 and 25 NDPS Act for being co-owner of truck transporting poppy husk – No evidence appellant had knowledge of the transport – Conviction based on presumption under Section 35 without foundational facts proving knowledge [Paras 1-8].

Presumption and Burden of Proof – Section 25 NDPS Act requires evidence of knowledge – Prosecution failed to prove appellant knowingly allowed vehicle use for illegal purpose – Presumption under Section 35 requires initial burden of proof on prosecution to establish foundational facts beyond reasonable doubt [Paras 8-9].

Judicial Review – Conviction based solely on incorrect address in truck registration insufficient to prove knowledge or involvement in narcotics transport – Appeal allowed, conviction and sentence set aside, appellant acquitted [Paras 10-11].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction under Sections 15 and 25 of the NDPS Act set aside – Appellant acquitted – Bail bonds discharged [Para 11].