Civil Procedure – Amendment of Written Statement – Withdrawal of Admission – Application under Order 6 Rule 17 CPC seeking deletion of phrase "under different tenancies" in reply – Tenant clarified initial inconsistency regarding nature of tenancy in rent proceedings – Held: Admission in written statement can be explained or withdrawn – Amendment sought only to clarify confusion, not to set up new or inconsistent defence – Rent Controller and High Court erred in refusing amendment [Paras 5, 8–10, 13]

Civil Procedure – Order 6 Rule 17 CPC – Proviso – Commencement of Trial – Objection raised that amendment barred after trial began – Held: Trial includes filing of documents, examination of witnesses and arguments – In present case, issues not framed, documents not filed, trial not commenced – Proviso inapplicable – Amendment allowed [Paras 14–16]

Landlord-Tenant – Ejectment Proceedings – Tenant’s Clarification of Tenancy Terms – Amendment allowed to reflect actual understanding of rent structure and scope of tenancy – No prejudice caused to landlord – Amendment necessary for proper adjudication [Paras 5, 8, 13]

Judicial Discretion – Amendment of Defence – Liberal Approach – Law is settled that courts are more liberal in allowing amendments of written statement than plaint – Inconsistent or additional defences may be allowed – High Court failed to exercise discretion judiciously [Paras 10–11, 13]

Relief – Orders of Rent Controller and High Court Set Aside – Amendment of written statement allowed – Rent Controller directed to proceed with case and dispose of ejectment proceedings within six months [Paras 17–18]

Decision: Appeal allowed – Orders of Rent Controller and High Court set aside – Amendment of written statement permitted – Rent Controller directed to conclude ejectment proceedings within six months – No order as to costs.

Negotiable Instruments Act – Section 138 – Ingredients – Dishonour of Cheque – Cheque dishonoured with remark “reported lost by drawer” – No allegation of insufficiency of funds – Complainant issued statutory notice and filed complaint – Appellant sought quashing under Section 482 CrPC – Held: Penal liability under Section 138 arises only if dishonour is due to insufficiency of funds or amount exceeding arrangement – Return of cheque due to “reported lost” does not attract Section 138 – Legal fiction in penal provision must be construed strictly [Paras 2, 9–11, 14]

Criminal Procedure – Quashing of Proceedings – Section 482 CrPC – Complaint under Section 138 does not disclose basic ingredients of the offence – High Court erred in refusing to quash the proceedings – Supreme Court held that mere presentation of cheque and its dishonour for reasons other than insufficiency of funds does not amount to offence under Section 138 – Proceedings quashed [Paras 6–7, 14–15]

Penal Provisions – Strict Construction – Section 138 NI Act creates a legal fiction – Being penal in nature, must be interpreted strictly – Legal fiction limited to dishonour for reasons expressly provided in statute – Cannot be extended to cases where cheque is returned on ground of loss or stop-payment instructions unless those are meant to defeat liability [Paras 10–11]

Pleadings – Absence of Allegation – No allegation in complaint that bank returned cheque due to insufficient funds – Absence of essential pleading fatal to complaint under Section 138 – Even if intention to defraud alleged, remedy lies under other provisions, not under Section 138 [Paras 12–13]

Relief – Criminal Complaint Quashed – Supreme Court allowed appeal – Set aside High Court order – Quashed complaint under Section 138 of NI Act – No offence made out [Para 15]

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court judgment set aside – Complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act quashed – No offence disclosed.

Service Law – Compassionate Appointment – Fraudulent claim of adoption – Burden of proof – Respondent claimed appointment on compassionate grounds as the adopted son of deceased Head Master – Produced an unregistered deed of adoption and a joint succession certificate with his natural father – Application for compassionate appointment initially rejected by competent authority but later approved by a lower authority, which was cancelled upon discovery of fraud – Held: Respondent failed to prove valid adoption under Section 16, Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act – No evidence of datta homan or statutory compliance – Succession certificate does not establish relationship or confer status of adopted son – Appointment obtained by fraud; fraud vitiates all acts – Cancellation justified [Paras 12–23].

Constitution of India – Articles 14 & 16 – Compassionate appointment – Exceptional nature – Appointment on compassionate grounds is an exception to equality under Articles 14 and 16 – It cannot be claimed as of right or by inheritance – Must strictly conform to the statutory scheme – Nephew of deceased employee not eligible – Concession, not entitlement [Paras 15–17].

Evidence Act, 1872 – Section 106 – Burden of proof – Adoption – Burden lay upon respondent to prove facts within his special knowledge, i.e., adoption by deceased employee – Respondent failed to discharge such burden; records contradicted adoption claim [Para 18].

Administrative Law – Natural Justice – Exception in cases of fraud – Though natural justice is a fundamental rule, it admits exceptions – Where appointment is obtained by fraud, cancellation without show cause notice is valid – Fraud itself constitutes prejudice – Reliance placed on S.L. Kapoor v. Jagmohan, AIR 1981 SC 136 and V.C., Banaras Hindu University v. Shrikant, AIR 2006 SC 2304 – High Court erred in holding otherwise [Paras 19–22].

Succession Certificate – Legal effect – Grant of succession certificate merely authorizes collection of dues; it does not determine or confer status of legal heir or adopted son – High Court misconstrued its legal effect [Para 23].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Judgment of High Court set aside – Respondent’s appointment held fraudulent and rightly cancelled – Costs of ₹10,000 imposed [Para 25].

Criminal Procedure Code – Section 482 – Inherent Powers – Quashing of FIR – Territorial Jurisdiction – Abuse of Process – Marriage between parties solemnized in India but matrimonial life and alleged offences occurred in Canada—FIR lodged in India by complainant’s father, a Canadian resident and retired police officer, alleging dowry misappropriation and cheating—Superintendent of Police’s enquiry found allegations baseless and recommended cancellation—Despite this, charge-sheet filed—Held: FIR discloses no cause of action in India; entire alleged offence occurred abroad—Filing of FIR at Jalandhar after divorce proceedings in Canada amounted to mala fide action and abuse of process—High Court erred in refusing to quash proceedings [Paras 7–9, 14–15].

Criminal Law – Cheating and Criminal Breach of Trust – Ingredients – For offence under Section 420 IPC, existence of dishonest intention at inception is essential—Subsequent failure to perform or matrimonial discord does not constitute cheating—Similarly, Section 405 IPC requires proof of entrustment and dishonest misappropriation—No such entrustment or misappropriation of “dowry” articles shown—Dowry Prohibition Act being special legislation prevails over IPC in such matters—Held: Allegations in FIR do not satisfy statutory ingredients of Sections 405 or 415 IPC—Continuance of criminal proceedings would amount to persecution [Paras 11–14].

Criminal Procedure – Exercise of Power under Section 482 CrPC – Guiding Principles – Reiterated that inherent power may be exercised to prevent abuse of process or to secure ends of justice—Court must quash proceedings where FIR, even if accepted at face value, discloses no offence—Reliance placed on State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal (1992) 1 SCC 335; R. Kalyani v. Janak C. Mehta (2009) 1 SCC 516; State of Karnataka v. M. Devendrappa (2002) 3 SCC 89—Superior Courts must ensure that innocent persons are not subjected to vexatious or mala fide prosecution [Paras 9, 15].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Judgment of the High Court dismissing the petition under Section 482 CrPC set aside – FIR No. 141 dated 30.05.2006 under Sections 406 and 420 IPC and all consequential proceedings quashed – Held that continuation of prosecution would amount to abuse of process of law [Para 16].

Criminal Procedure – Sanction for Prosecution – Section 197 CrPC – Scope and Applicability – Protection under Section 197 available only for acts done “while acting or purporting to act in discharge of official duty” – The act must be reasonably connected with official duty and not merely done during service – Held: It is no part of an official’s duty to commit offences like criminal conspiracy, forgery, or criminal breach of trust – Hence, sanction under Section 197 CrPC not required for offences under Sections 406, 409, 467, 468, 471 IPC or Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act [Paras 3–11].

Public Servant – Official Duty – Meaning of “While Acting or Purporting to Act in Discharge of Official Duty” – The test is whether there exists a reasonable connection between the act and official duty so that the public servant can claim it was done in performance of duty – Acts under “colour of office” covered, but criminal acts unrelated to official functions excluded – Liberal construction warranted only after such connection is shown [Paras 5–8].

Criminal Conspiracy and Corruption Offences – Sanction – Commission of criminal conspiracy or criminal misconduct cannot be part of discharge of official duty – Want of sanction not a bar to prosecution for offences under Section 120B read with Section 409 IPC and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act [Paras 10–11].

Criminal Procedure – Error in Framing of Charge – Effect of Section 464 CrPC – Error, omission, or irregularity in charge (including misjoinder) does not invalidate conviction unless it occasions a failure of justice – Burden lies on accused to establish prejudice – Acquittal on such ground unsustainable [Paras 15–17].

Appeal – Refusal of Leave by High Court – High Court erred in dismissing State’s application for leave to appeal solely on ground of invalid sanction – Matter remitted for hearing of appeal on merits [Paras 1, 14, 17].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Impugned order of High Court set aside – Leave to appeal to be granted and matter remitted to High Court for decision on merits – No opinion expressed on merits of prosecution case [Para 17–18].

Criminal Law – Prevention of Corruption Act – Demand and Acceptance of Bribe – Presumption under Section 20 – Appellant, a Sub-Inspector of Police, convicted for demanding and accepting Rs. 500/- as illegal gratification to prevent registration of a case arising out of a land dispute – Trial court acquitted the accused citing procedural lapses, hostile witnesses, and inconsistencies – High Court reversed acquittal finding the evidence of PWs. 2, 3, 13–16, and 21–23 credible and consistent – Held: Demand and acceptance duly proved – Recovery of tainted money corroborated by phenolphthalein test – High Court justified in setting aside perverse acquittal [Paras 1, 8–10, 12].

Presumption under Section 20 – Once demand and acceptance of illegal gratification are proved, statutory presumption arises that money was received as bribe – Burden shifts to accused to rebut the presumption – Appellant’s defence that money was “planted” or “kept without his knowledge” was unsupported and improbable – Failure to act against the complainant for alleged false implication further weakens defence – Presumption under Section 20 stands unrebutted [Paras 12–13].

Interference with Acquittal – Principles – Though appellate interference with an acquittal is limited, it is permissible when the trial court’s view is perverse or based on disregard of material evidence – High Court rightly reappreciated evidence and reversed acquittal – Supreme Court declined to interfere, finding no miscarriage of justice – Minimum statutory sentence imposed, no scope for reduction [Paras 4, 13–14].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Conviction under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act affirmed – Appellant directed to surrender to custody to serve remaining sentence [Para 14].

Criminal Law – Communal Violence – Reinvestigation – SIT – Witness Protection – Victims’ Rights – Fair Trial – Appointment of Public Prosecutors – Judicial Oversight – Directions Issued – Supreme Court directed constitution of a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by former CBI Director R.K. Raghavan to undertake further investigation in nine major Gujarat riot cases (Godhra, Naroda Patia, Naroda Gam, Gulbarg, etc.) – SIT to continue till completion of trials and submit periodic reports – Supplementary charge sheets to be filed against newly identified accused – Designated Fast Track Courts to conduct trials on day-to-day basis – Public Prosecutors to be appointed in consultation with SIT and subject to its supervision – SIT authorized to recommend change of prosecutors if required – Witnesses to be protected through safe passage, residence security, or relocation outside Gujarat depending on threat perception – Union of India directed to assist in relocation where necessary – Witness protection applications to be decided by SIT; its directions binding on State – Courts to ensure decorum and prevent intimidation of witnesses – Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court to designate senior judicial officers for these trials – SIT to submit quarterly progress reports to Supreme Court – Held: Ensuring a fair trial requires protection of victims and witnesses and impartial prosecution – Trials to proceed expeditiously [Paras 4–6, 35–46].

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Sections 173, 173(8) – Further Investigation – SIT authorized to conduct further investigation and file supplementary charge sheets where additional evidence or accused discovered – Magistrate to consider such material before proceeding [Para 4, 46(i)].

Fair Trial – Human Rights – Witness Protection – Victim Participation – Witnesses are “eyes and ears of justice”; their protection is essential for truth and fairness – State has constitutional duty to ensure safety of witnesses and victims, particularly in communal violence cases – Reference made to international models (U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, South Africa) and Law Commission Reports (14th, 154th, 178th, 198th) supporting witness protection – United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime (1985) reiterated – Held: Protection of witnesses is essential for administration of justice – Witness protection to be implemented under SIT supervision [Paras 6–24, 36–42].

Public Prosecutors – Appointment and Independence – Section 25A CrPC – Prosecutors to be appointed only in consultation with SIT; SIT’s opinion binding on State – SIT empowered to seek replacement or addition of prosecutors to ensure competent and impartial prosecution – State directed to ensure separation of prosecution and investigation wings as per statutory mandate [Paras 25–33, 46(v)].

Victims’ Rights – Right to Fair Trial and Participation – Victims entitled to be treated with dignity, participate in proceedings, and present views without prejudice to accused – UN Declaration and U.S. Crime Victims Rights Act (2004) recognized – Courts must maintain balance between rights of accused, victims, and society [Paras 26–28, 34–38].

Judicial Directions – Expeditious Trial – Oversight – Trials to proceed before designated fast-track courts on daily basis; SIT to monitor progress and submit quarterly sealed reports to Supreme Court – Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court requested to designate courts and judicial officers – Stay on trials vacated – SIT may seek cancellation of bail where appropriate [Paras 46(ii)–(vii), (viii), (xvii)].

Decision: Directions issued for continued supervision by SIT; fast-track trials to resume under judicial and prosecutorial safeguards – Witness protection mechanism to be implemented – Periodic SIT reports to Supreme Court – Matter to be listed after four months for further monitoring.

Criminal Law – Murder - Circumstantial Evidence – Last Seen Together – Appellant alleged to have taken deceased from his home along with co-accused and later found near scene of murder – Prosecution relied on last-seen theory based on testimonies of PW1 (mother) and PW2 (sister-in-law) – Supreme Court found material contradictions in their statements, particularly regarding timings, sequence of events, and prior knowledge of accused's identity – Held: In absence of reliable and consistent testimony, last-seen theory cannot sustain conviction [Paras 7-8]

Criminal Law – Recovery of Articles – Identity Card Found – Merely because accused’s identity card was found near the dead body, held not sufficient to prove guilt – No direct link established between recovery and commission of offence – Fingerprint evidence did not implicate appellant – Co-accused (A1) who was linked via fingerprints had already been acquitted by High Court – Held: Recovery of ID card without corroboration not a conclusive circumstance [Para 9]

Criminal Trial – Benefit of Doubt – Prosecution failed to establish chain of circumstances connecting accused to crime beyond reasonable doubt – Delay and inconsistencies in FIR and witness statements – Supreme Court reiterated that suspicion, however strong, cannot take place of legal proof – Held: Appellant entitled to benefit of doubt [Paras 8-10]

Criminal Law – Acquittal – Conviction set aside – Supreme Court held that the conviction of the appellant was unsustainable in light of the unreliable evidence and faulty application of last-seen theory – Appeal allowed – Accused to be released unless required in any other case [Paras 10-11]

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction under Section 302 IPC set aside – Appellant acquitted – To be released forthwith unless detained in any other case.

Criminal Law – Rape and Murder – Circumstantial Evidence – Last Seen – Extra-Judicial Confession – Recovery – Conviction Upheld – Appellant convicted for kidnapping, rape and murder of 10-year-old girl – Conviction based on chain of circumstantial evidence including last seen theory, extra-judicial confession, recovery of articles and forensic evidence – Trial Court sentenced appellant to death – High Court confirmed both conviction and death sentence – Supreme Court (Pasayat, J.) upheld conviction and confirmed death sentence holding case fell under rarest of rare category [Paras 1–5, 21, 39–40].

Criminal Law – Circumstantial Evidence – Tests and Principles – Conviction Valid – Court reiterated principles from Hanumant, Sharad Birdhichand Sarda, Padala Veera Reddy, and Bachan Singh – Held: Circumstances form a complete chain pointing unerringly to guilt – Conviction sustainable even in absence of direct eyewitness [Paras 12–20].

Criminal Law – Sentencing – Death Penalty – Rarest of Rare Doctrine – Confirmed – Per Pasayat, J.: Brutal rape and murder of helpless child – Nature and manner of crime shocked collective conscience – Death sentence justified – Circumstantial nature of evidence not a bar to capital punishment if cogent and credible [Paras 22–39].

Criminal Law – Extra-Judicial Confession – Admissibility and Retraction – Split View – Appellant made extra-judicial confession to complainant’s relative – Retraction at trial stage considered insufficient to discard confession – Pasayat, J. upheld admissibility; Ganguly, J. held retraction not properly addressed by trial or High Court – Procedural safeguards under Section 313 CrPC and evidentiary value of retracted confessions discussed [Paras 9, 26–28].

Criminal Law – Sentence – Procedural Safeguards – Section 235(2) and 354(3) CrPC – Not Followed – Sentence Vitiated – Per Ganguly, J.: Trial Court imposed death sentence on same day as conviction without bifurcated hearing or meaningful opportunity for mitigation – High Court failed to correct this error – Held: Violation of mandatory sentencing safeguards requires interference with sentence [Paras 63–78].

Constitutional Law – Article 21 – Due Process in Sentencing – Bachan Singh Guidelines Reiterated – Dissenting Opinion – Per Ganguly, J.: Death sentence must pass test of due process under Article 21 – Failure to consider mitigating factors, absence of prior criminal record, possibility of reformation and procedural non-compliance render sentence invalid – Case does not meet threshold of ‘rarest of rare’ – Death sentence commuted to life imprisonment [Paras 33–36, 69–94, 104–108].

Criminal Law – Robbery – Not Proved – Sentence for Robbery Unsustainable – Per Ganguly, J.: No specific allegation of robbery in FIR – Accused not questioned regarding robbery under Section 313 CrPC – High Court’s finding of robbery unsustainable in law – Conviction for robbery not maintainable [Paras 33–36].

Decision: Conviction upheld – Per Pasayat, J.: Death sentence confirmed – Per Ganguly, J.: Sentence commuted to life imprisonment – Disagreement on sentence – Matter referred to larger bench on sentencing issue.