Arbitration and Conciliation Act – Section 34(3) – Limitation and Condonation - Limitation for Challenging Arbitral Award – Filing After Court Reopening – The appellants challenged the arbitral award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (ACA) on 04.07.2022, the date of court reopening after vacation – The 3-month limitation period expired on 29.05.2022, and the additional 30-day condonable period ended on 28.06.2022, during the court vacation – Held: Section 4 of the Limitation Act applies only to the "prescribed period" (3 months), not to the 30-day condonable period – Filing the petition after reopening did not extend the expired condonable period – High Court rightly dismissed the petition as time-barred [Paras 1.1, 13, 26.2, 28, 35.1–35.3].

Exclusion of Section 10 of the General Clauses Act – Section 10 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 does not apply where the Limitation Act governs the proceedings – The proviso to Section 10 excludes its application to acts or proceedings under the Limitation Act – Held: The appellants cannot benefit from Section 10 as the ACA is explicitly governed by the Limitation Act – The appeal against the High Court’s decision was rightly dismissed [Paras 29.3, 33–34, 35.4].

Application of the Limitation Act to Section 34 ACA – Section 43 of the ACA explicitly applies the Limitation Act to arbitration proceedings – Section 34(3) prescribes a 3-month limitation period and an additional 30-day condonable period – Held: The "prescribed period" under Section 4 of the Limitation Act refers to the 3-month period, not the additional 30 days – Courts cannot condone delays beyond the statutory limit, ensuring finality in arbitration awards [Paras 12, 18.1–18.2, 29.1, 35.1].

Judicial Suggestions for Reform – Observing the strict limitation framework under the ACA, the Court expressed concerns about the curtailment of remedies – Suggested uniform limitation periods across statutes with broader judicial discretion for condonation of delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act – Called for legislative intervention to address genuine cases of delayed filing, such as due to illness or custody, to avoid injustice on technical grounds [Paras 36.1–36.6, 19–21].

Decision: Appeal Dismissed – The appellants’ Section 34 application was held to be time-barred, as it was filed beyond the condonable period of 30 days after the 3-month limitation period – High Court's judgment affirmed – No costs awarded [Paras 37–39].

Maintenance under Section 125 Cr.P.C. – Decree of Restitution – Applicability of Section 125(4) Cr.P.C. – Whether a wife, despite not complying with a decree for restitution of conjugal rights secured by the husband, is entitled to maintenance – Held: Non-compliance with such a decree does not automatically disentitle the wife from claiming maintenance – It must be assessed whether she had valid and sufficient reasons to stay away from her husband – Conduct of the husband and circumstances causing mental cruelty were key factors – Reena suffered mistreatment, denial of basic amenities, and neglect during her miscarriage – Husband’s lack of bona fides and failure to pursue reconciliation or divorce underscored his attempt to evade responsibility – High Court erred in applying Section 125(4) Cr.P.C. – Family Court’s maintenance order restored – Maintenance @ ₹10,000 per month upheld with arrears payable in installments.

Decree for Restitution of Conjugal Rights – Binding Effect in Maintenance Proceedings – Findings in the decree for restitution do not conclusively bind the Court in maintenance proceedings under Section 125 Cr.P.C. – Maintenance laws aim at social justice and provide independent remedies – Findings of the Civil Court can only be treated as relevant material but not as determinative of the wife’s right to maintenance – Differentiation between civil and maintenance proceedings emphasized.

Mental Cruelty – Evidence and Cumulative Assessment – Wife subjected to mental cruelty owing to the husband’s neglect and ill-treatment – Denial of basic facilities, refusal to bear medical expenses during her miscarriage, and lack of care and support cumulatively established mental cruelty – Reena’s refusal to return to the matrimonial home was justified under the circumstances – Mental cruelty assessed through cumulative conduct rather than isolated incidents.

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court’s judgment set aside – Family Court’s maintenance order restored – Maintenance of ₹10,000 per month from 03.08.2019 reaffirmed – Arrears to be paid in three equal installments by December 2025 – No costs awarded.

Service Law – Promotion Criteria – Eligibility for Teaching Cadre – Dispute regarding promotion to the post of Associate Professor in the Teaching Cadre of the Medical Education Services, Kerala – High Court set aside the Tribunal’s decision dismissing the claim of Dr. Jyotish against the promotion of Dr. Sharmad – Supreme Court restored the Tribunal’s decision, holding that the High Court erred in imposing additional requirements not specified in the governing rules – Held: Dr. Sharmad’s promotion was valid under the applicable recruitment rules [Paras 1, 10, 29, 30].

Recruitment Rules – G.O. dated 07th April, 2008 and G.O. dated 14th December, 2009 – The promotion criteria were governed by G.O. dated 07th April, 2008, which superseded all earlier rules regarding appointments in the Medical Education Services – High Court incorrectly excluded G.O. dated 14th December, 2009, which provided eligibility criteria – Held: G.O. dated 07th April, 2008 did not mandate five years’ post-M.Ch. experience for promotion to Associate Professor, and the High Court erred in reading such a requirement into it [Paras 4, 6, 9, 14, 20].

KS and SSR Rules – Rule 10(ab) and its Applicability – Rule 10(ab) of the Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules (KS and SSR) applies only when recruitment rules are silent – G.O. dated 07th April, 2008 qualified as a “special rule” and explicitly governed the qualifications – Supreme Court held that Rule 10(ab) had no application as the G.O. contained specific provisions regarding experience – High Court erred in relying on Rule 10(ab) to invalidate the promotion of Dr. Sharmad [Paras 16-23].

Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius – Interpretation of Recruitment Rules – The phrase “after acquiring postgraduate degree” was deliberately excluded in the qualifications for Teaching Cadre posts under G.O. dated 07th April, 2008 – Inclusion of this phrase for Administrative Cadre posts demonstrates a clear distinction between the two branches – Held: The absence of this stipulation for Teaching Cadre appointments was intentional, and the High Court’s contrary interpretation was erroneous [Paras 22, 26, 27].

Cited Precedents – Distinguishability and Application – Shesharao Jangluji Bagde v. Bhaiyya s/o Govindrao Karale – Held: Experience after qualification is generally required unless otherwise specified – Supreme Court found this case to favor Dr. Sharmad as G.O. dated 07th April, 2008 did not demand post-M.Ch. experience for promotion [Para 25] – Arun Kumar Agarwal v. State of Bihar – Held: Preference given to candidates with superspeciality qualifications if all other qualifications are equal – Supreme Court distinguished the case as Dr. Jyotish lacked the required experience as an Assistant Professor at the relevant time [Paras 27-28].

Decision – Civil Appeal No. 13422 of 2024 – Appeal allowed – High Court judgment set aside – Tribunal’s decision restored, dismissing the claim of Dr. Jyotish – Parties to bear their own costs [Paras 29-30].

Service Law – Promotion from Senior Lecturer to Assistant Professor – Dispute over the interpretation of required experience for promotion to Assistant Professor in Paediatrics – Tribunal upheld the requirement of three years’ physical teaching experience after acquiring a postgraduate qualification – High Court confirmed the applicability of Rule 10(ab) but set aside the Tribunal’s consequential directions – Supreme Court affirmed the Tribunal’s interpretation of Rule 10(ab) and dismissed the High Court’s findings regarding review of promotions [Paras 32-38].

Decision – Civil Appeal No. 13423 of 2024 – Appeal allowed – High Court judgment set aside – Original application dismissed – Parties to bear their own costs [Paras 38-39].

Criminal Law – Cross-Cases – Sentencing – Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 – The appellant was convicted under Sections 326, 325, 452, and 323 IPC while being acquitted of more serious charges under Sections 307, 148, and 149 IPC – High Court refused to grant the benefit of probation under the Probation Act despite acknowledging a settlement between the disputing parties in the cross-case – Supreme Court invoked its jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution and Section 11 of the Probation Act to extend the benefit of probation to the appellant, considering his age, absence of criminal antecedents, and the amicable settlement reached between the parties [Paras 13-19].

Cross-Cases – Settlement – Sentencing Disparity – Incident involved two groups of the same family, leading to cross-complaints arising from the same transaction on 01.01.1993 – While accused in the cross-case were released on probation, the High Court denied similar relief to the appellant despite the identical context and amicable settlement – Supreme Court rectified this disparity and extended probation benefits to the appellant, considering the interconnected nature of both cases [Paras 12-16].

Probation Act – Applicability – Appellant, aged 70, had already undergone over four months of imprisonment out of the six-month sentence imposed by the High Court – Benefit under Section 4 of the Probation Act granted, considering his advanced age, absence of adverse material, and the prolonged pendency of proceedings – Personal bond and surety of ₹10,000 each imposed with an undertaking to maintain peace and good conduct [Paras 17-19].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Appellant released on probation under Section 4 of the Probation Act – Interim bail order regularized with additional conditions [Paras 19-21].

Criminal Law – Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder – Conversion of Conviction under Section 302 IPC to Section 304 Part I IPC – Sentencing – Appellants convicted for the murder of the deceased by the Trial Court and High Court under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC – Trial Court sentenced appellants to life imprisonment – On appeal, Supreme Court held that the motive and circumstances of the assault do not establish premeditation or intent to murder – Assault caused by the appellants with deadly weapons proved to have been done with knowledge of likelihood of causing death but without clear intention to kill – Conviction altered from Section 302 IPC to Section 304 Part I IPC – Appellants sentenced to period already undergone, subject to a fine of ₹50,000 each to be paid to the deceased’s family, failing which additional six months simple imprisonment to be served [Paras 90-94].

Witness Testimony – Credibility of Sole Eye-Witness – Sole eye-witness Lata Bai (PW-10), the mother of the deceased, testified to witnessing the assault – Defence challenged her credibility due to delayed recording of her statement under Section 161 CrPC and alleged contradictions – Supreme Court upheld her testimony as credible and corroborated by medical evidence and other witnesses – Minor discrepancies held insufficient to undermine her testimony – Evidence of the hostile witnesses and informant Santosh (PW-6) partially relied upon for corroboration – Trial Court and High Court’s acceptance of her evidence upheld [Paras 50-84].

Motive and Circumstantial Evidence – Motive Not Clearly Established – Motive for the assault by the appellants on the deceased not conclusively proved – No evidence of premeditated intention or prior enmity – Circumstances indicated a sudden quarrel – Recovery of weapons corroborated the assault but motive remained ambiguous – Supreme Court held motive absence not fatal as guilt proved beyond reasonable doubt by other evidence [Paras 90-91].

Hostile Witnesses – Evidentiary Value – Informant Santosh (PW-6) and other non-official witnesses turned hostile – Their partial corroboration of the prosecution case used to support conviction – Supreme Court reiterated that hostile witnesses’ testimony need not be entirely discarded if parts are corroborated by credible evidence [Paras 76-77].

Medical Evidence – Injuries Sustained – Medical evidence confirmed grievous head injuries leading to the deceased’s death due to coma – Injuries consistent with weapons recovered – Medical reports corroborated eye-witness testimony and prosecution narrative – Supreme Court relied on the unchallenged testimony of medical witnesses to affirm the cause of death [Paras 69-70].

Seizure Evidence – Recovery of Weapons – Blood-stained axe and iron pipe recovered at appellants’ instance – Seizure witnesses turned hostile but admitted signatures on seizure memos – Supreme Court held seizure memos proved by the Investigating Officer and recovery valid – Deficiencies in procedure not fatal to the prosecution [Paras 67-68].

Decision: Conviction under Section 302 IPC altered to Section 304 Part I IPC – Sentence of life imprisonment reduced to period already undergone – Fine of ₹50,000 each imposed on appellants to be paid to the deceased’s family – Appeal partly allowed [Paras 93-95].

Criminal Law – Assault with Deadly Weapons – Common Intention – Accused No. 2 and Accused No. 3 assaulted the complainant (PW-1) and his son (PW-7) with a chopper and knife, respectively – Sessions Court convicted Accused Nos. 2 and 3 under Section 326 IPC read with Section 34 IPC and sentenced them to six years RI – High Court modified the sentence, acquitting Accused No. 1, reducing Accused No. 2’s conviction to Section 324 IPC with sentence of time served (16 days), and reducing Accused No. 3’s sentence to two years RI – Supreme Court held: Common intention (Section 34 IPC) established for Accused Nos. 2 and 3 based on the facts and circumstances – Appeal allowed partially [Paras 3–7, 10].

Common Intention – Section 34 IPC – Application to Accused – Accused Nos. 2 and 3 acted in concert during the assault, carrying deadly weapons – Supreme Court ruled: Common intention can be formed spontaneously during the incident – High Court erred in concluding that Section 34 IPC was not applicable – Conviction of Accused No. 2 under Section 326 IPC read with Section 34 IPC restored with sentence of two years RI and fine of ₹75,000 [Paras 7, 10–11].

Role of Accused No. 1 – Acquittal Upheld – High Court acquitted Accused No. 1 (Battegowda) on the ground that no active role was proved despite his presence at the scene – Supreme Court declined to interfere, holding that the High Court took a possible view based on the evidence [Para 6].

Modification of Conviction – High Court’s Error – High Court converted Accused No. 2’s conviction from Section 326 to Section 324 IPC, citing less severe injuries inflicted by him – Supreme Court held: Conviction under Section 326 IPC appropriate given the grievous nature of injuries caused using a chopper – Injuries inflicted on hands do not negate application of Section 326 IPC when common intention under Section 34 IPC is established [Paras 7, 10].

Legal Principles – Common Intention and Section 34 IPC – Supreme Court reiterated: Common intention does not require pre-planning and can develop during the incident – Reliance placed on Dharnidhar v. State of U.P. (2010) 7 SCC 759 to affirm the principle – Presence of Accused Nos. 2 and 3 at the scene with deadly weapons demonstrated concerted action to inflict injuries [Paras 8, 10].

Decision: Appeal partly allowed – Conviction of Accused No. 2 under Section 324 IPC set aside and restored to Section 326 IPC read with Section 34 IPC – Accused No. 2 sentenced to two years RI with fine of ₹75,000, matching the sentence of Accused No. 3 – Accused No. 2 directed to surrender within four weeks to serve the remaining sentence – Acquittal of Accused No. 1 upheld [Paras 11–12].

Divorce by Mutual Consent – Settlement Under Article 142 of the Constitution – Petitioner sought transfer of restitution of conjugal rights proceedings – Parties agreed to dissolve marriage amicably with the respondent paying ₹25 lakhs to the petitioner as full and final settlement – Supreme Court exercised its powers under Article 142 to dissolve the marriage solemnized on 14/02/2021 by mutual consent and to quash all pending litigation between the parties – Held: Transfer petition disposed of as infructuous; decree of divorce passed [Paras 2–6, 8].

Quashing of Multiple Proceedings – Domestic Disputes Resolved Amicably – Court quashed all pending cases inter se parties under Article 142 of the Constitution, including cases under Section 9 HMA, maintenance under Section 125 Cr.P.C., domestic violence under Section 12 DV Act, FIR under IPC and Dowry Prohibition Act – Parties sought closure of all litigation to avoid further disputes – Held: Litigation closed, decree drawn in terms of settlement [Paras 7–9].

Scope of Article 142 – Finality in Matrimonial Disputes – Supreme Court reiterated that powers under Article 142 can be invoked to grant complete justice between parties, including dissolving a marriage and quashing associated litigations where parties mutually agree – Held: Article 142 ensures expeditious and final resolution in matrimonial disputes [Para 6].

Decision:

Marriage dissolved by mutual consent under Article 142 of the Constitution of India – All pending cases, including restitution of conjugal rights, maintenance, domestic violence, and criminal cases, quashed – Transfer petition disposed of as infructuous – Registry directed to draw decree in terms of settlement [Paras 6–9].

Criminal Law – Abetment of Suicide – Section 306 IPC – Evidence Insufficient – Presumption under Section 113A of the Evidence Act – Held: Presumption under Section 113A of the Evidence Act requires cruelty as defined in Section 498-A IPC to establish abetment of suicide – In the absence of cogent evidence of cruelty or harassment, the presumption cannot arise – Conviction under Section 306 IPC set aside [Paras 12-13].

Criminal Law – Dowry Prohibition Act – Section 4 – Demand for Dowry – Absence of Independent Corroboration – Held: Allegations of dowry harassment must be supported by credible evidence – Where prosecution fails to establish dowry demand, conviction cannot stand – Conviction under Section 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act set aside [Para 13].

Criminal Law – Appellate Review – Evidence Appreciation – Held: Courts below failed to properly assess evidence against the appellant (brother-in-law) – Conviction set aside due to lack of direct involvement or evidence linking him to abetment of suicide [Para 11].

Evidence Law – Section 113B, Evidence Act – Dowry Death – Applicability – Held: Presumption under Section 113B requires proof of cruelty or harassment soon before death – Absence of evidence of incessant harassment invalidates presumption under Section 113B [Para 13].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction and sentence under Sections 306, 498-A IPC, and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act set aside.

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 – Taxi Driver – Possession of Contraband – Appellant, a taxi driver, prosecuted under the NDPS Act for recovery of 20 kilograms of ganja from his vehicle – Passengers fled the scene upon interception by police – Trial court convicted appellant based on inability to provide details of passengers – High Court upheld conviction – Supreme Court held: No evidence linking appellant to the contraband – Contraband not concealed, and no incriminating material found on appellant’s person – Conviction set aside [Paras 1–6].

Burden of Proof – Lack of Direct Evidence – Appellant contended ignorance of contraband in the taxi, attributing it to the passengers who fled – Supreme Court observed: Ordinarily, taxi drivers do not record passenger details – Appellant’s failure to provide passenger details insufficient to establish guilt – Prosecution failed to trace the passengers or prove connivance by the appellant [Paras 4–5].

Procedural Lapses – Search and Seizure – Personal search procedure under the NDPS Act not followed – Supreme Court emphasized the importance of compliance with prescribed procedures in NDPS cases to avoid prejudice against the accused [Para 5].

Exoneration – No Evidence of Guilty Intent – Supreme Court noted that appellant made no attempt to flee and no efforts were made to link him directly to the contraband – Held: Mere presence of contraband in a taxi does not automatically establish culpability of the driver in the absence of further evidence [Paras 5–6].

Decision: Appeal allowed – Conviction and sentence under NDPS Act set aside – Bail bonds and sureties discharged [Para 6].