Constitutional Law – Civil Writ - Freedom of Speech and Press – Pre-censorship order – Article 19(1)(a) & 19(2) – Section 7(1)(c), East Punjab Public Safety Act, 1949 – Prior restraint on “Organizer” requiring pre-publication scrutiny of specified classes of matter – Held: Pre-censorship is a restriction on freedom of speech and of the press – Section 7(1)(c) authorizing such restraint is not within the saving of Article 19(2) as then framed – Impugned order quashed – Petition allowed [Paras 1, 3–5].

Meaning and scope – “Public order” and “public safety” – Legislative competence and constitutional limits – While the Act aims at public safety and maintenance of public order, the authorized restraint must fall within Article 19(2) – Majority applying Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras holds that mere “public order” grounds do not satisfy Article 19(2)’s narrower categories – hence Section 7(1)(c), to the extent it permits prior restraint on that basis, is unconstitutional [Paras 2, 5].

Liberty of the Press – Prior restraint doctrine – Blackstone’s formulation adopted – Liberty of the press consists in freedom from previous restraints, without immunity for punishment for criminal matter post-publication – Pre-censorship therefore prima facie infringes Article 19(1)(a) [Para 4].

Dissent – Fazl Ali, J. – “Public safety” ≈ security of the State; “public order” ≈ public tranquillity – Section 7(1)(c) confined to particular subjects connected with public safety/order – Article 19(2) intended to cover sedition-like threats to State security; public disorder undermines State security – Hence law is within Article 19(2); Chief Commissioner’s order intra vires; petition should be dismissed [Paras 6–14, 15–22, 25–26].

Decision – Writ petition allowed – Order dated 2 March 1950 of the Chief Commissioner, Delhi set aside – Majority per Patanjali Sastri, J.; Fazl Ali, J., dissenting [Paras 5, 27].

Taxation Law - Income from Property – Section 9(1)(iv) – “Annual charge not being a capital charge” – Deductibility of Bombay municipal property tax and urban immovable property tax – The assessee, an investment company, claimed deduction of municipal property tax and urban immovable property tax paid during the year – Held: Both levies are annual liabilities assessed year-to-year on annual value and are statutorily charged on the property under the Bombay Acts – They qualify as “annual charge not being a capital charge” within Section 9(1)(iv) – Appeal allowed – Questions answered in the affirmative [Paras 4–16].

Meaning of “Annual charge” and “Capital charge” – Section 9(1)(iv) – “Annual charge” means a charge securing an annual or recurrent liability – “Capital charge” means a charge securing a liability of a capital nature, not merely a charge on the corpus – Variability or contingency of the amount or half-yearly mode of collection does not destroy the “annual” character if the liability recurs annually [Paras 6–11, 15].

Municipal Property Tax/Urban Immovable Property Tax – Nature and statutory charge – Under the City of Bombay Municipal Act, 1888 (ss. 143–168 determine annual liability; s. 197 permits half-yearly payment; s. 212 creates first charge) and the Bombay Finance Act, 1932 (s. 22 levy; s. 24(2)(b) charge), the taxes are annual impositions secured by a first charge on the property – Liability and charge co-exist and are co-extensive notwithstanding collection mechanics – Hence deductible under Section 9(1)(iv) [Paras 10–12].

Statutory Interpretation – Primacy of text – In construing Section 9(1)(iv), the court must give effect to legislative intent expressed in the provision itself – Comparisons with Section 9(1)(v) (land revenue) or Section 10 (business deductions) are inapposite absent ambiguity since land revenue is of a different, paramount character and municipal taxes may or may not be a charge depending on local law [Para 13].

Precedents – Conflicting High Court views – Bombay view in CIT v. Mahomedbhoy Rowji and Madras view in Mamad Keys not followed – Allahabad view in Gappumal Kanhaiya Lal approved – English authorities (Moss Empires; Cunard Trustees) affirm that contingent/variable payments can still be “annual” – Bejoy Singh Dudhuria (PC) noted as background to 1939 insertion of “annual charge” limb in Section 9(1)(iv) [Paras 6–9, 13–16].

Decision – Appeal allowed – High Court’s negative answers set aside – Municipal property tax and urban immovable property tax are deductible as “annual charges not being capital charges” under Section 9(1)(iv) – Costs to the appellant [Paras 15–16].

Constitutional Law – Civil Writ - Freedom of Speech and Press – Ban on entry and circulation of newspaper – Article 19(1)(a) & 19(2) – Section 9(1-A), Madras Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1949 – Majority per Patanjali Sastri, J. – Order prohibiting entry/circulation of “Cross Roads” directly restricts freedom of speech and expression as circulation is integral to that freedom – A law authorising restrictions for the broad purposes of “public safety” or “maintenance of public order” is outside Article 19(2) (as it then stood), which permits restrictions only where the security of the State is undermined or its overthrow is threatened – Section 9(1-A) unconstitutional – Impugned order quashed – Petition allowed [Paras 4–5, 10, 12].

Article 32 – “Guaranteed” remedy – Maintainability before Supreme Court in first instance – Preliminary objection rejected – Article 32 confers a fundamental right to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of Part III rights and constitutes the Court the protector of those rights – No requirement to first approach the High Court under Article 226 – American and procedural analogies inapposite [Para 3].

“Public safety” and “public order” – Constitutional limits – Expressions are wider than “security of the State” – In the absence of limiting words, statutory power framed to secure public safety/order can extend to minor breaches of peace and thus exceed Article 19(2) – Constitution draws a line between aggravated disorders endangering State security and lesser public order breaches [Paras 5–9].

Severability – Existing law partly consistent with Article 19(2) – Where a statute authorises both permissible and impermissible restrictions in wide terms, and unconstitutional application cannot be ruled out, the provision is not severable and must be struck down wholly – Section 9(1-A) void in entirety [Para 11].

Dissent – Fazl Ali, J. – “Public safety” equated to State security – Disturbances menacing peace and tranquillity undermine State security – Impugned law falls within Article 19(2) – Petition should be dismissed [Paras 13–15].

Decision – Petition allowed – Order of Government of Madras dated 1 March 1950 banning entry/circulation of “Cross Roads” quashed – Majority (Patanjali Sastri, J.); Fazl Ali, J., dissenting [Paras 12, 13–15].

Civil Writ - Maintainability under Article 32 – Guaranteed remedy – Preliminary objection overruled – Article 32 confers a fundamental right to directly approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of Part III rights – No requirement to first move the High Court under Article 226 – Analogies to CrPC/CPC practice and U.S. exhaustion doctrine inapposite [Para 3].

Freedom of Speech and Press – Ban on entry/circulation of newspaper – Article 19(1)(a) & 19(2) – Section 9(1-A), Madras Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1949 – Freedom of propagation includes freedom of circulation – Prohibiting entry/circulation of “Cross Roads” is a direct restriction on speech – Unless saved by Article 19(2), such restriction is unconstitutional [Para 4].

“Public Safety” / “Public Order” vs “Security of the State” – Constitutional limits – Expressions “public safety” and “public order” are broader than “security of the State” – In absence of limiting words, Section 9(1-A) authorises restrictions for general public order purposes, including minor breaches of peace, which fall outside Article 19(2) as it then stood – Constitution draws a line between aggravated disorders endangering State security and lesser public order breaches [Paras 5–9].

Severability – Existing law inconsistent “to the extent” – Where a provision authorises both permissible and impermissible restrictions in wide terms, and unconstitutional application cannot be excluded, it is not severable – Section 9(1-A) void in its entirety [Para 11].

Decision – Petition allowed – Section 9(1-A) held unconstitutional – Government of Madras order dated 1 March 1950 prohibiting entry/circulation of “Cross Roads” quashed – Majority per Patanjali Sastri, J. – Fazl Ali, J., dissenting [Paras 10–12; 13–15].

Dissent – Fazl Ali, J. – “Public safety” equated with security of the State; serious public disorders undermine State security – Section 9(1-A) and the impugned order fall within Article 19(2) – Petition should be dismissed [Paras 13–15].

Labour Law - Industrial Tribunal – Nature of functions – Judicial or quasi-judicial – Tribunal has trappings of a Court and exercises powers analogous to civil courts such as summoning witnesses, administering oaths, and enforcing evidence – However, its awards require Government declaration to become binding – Held: Tribunal discharges quasi-judicial functions but not a Court in the strict sense – Difference of judicial views: Kania, C.J., Fazl Ali, J., and Mahajan, J. held Tribunal within scope of Article 136, while Mukherjea, J., and Sastri, J. held otherwise [Paras 2-3, 6-15, 66-83].

Article 136 – Scope and ambit – Wording wide enough to cover determinations of tribunals – Special leave jurisdiction extraordinary and discretionary – To be exercised only in rare and exceptional cases where grave miscarriage of justice or violation of natural justice is shown – Held: Supreme Court may entertain appeals from tribunals, but interference restricted [Paras 3, 16, 41-43, 56-57, 88-92].

Industrial Disputes Act – Award of Tribunal – Section 15 – Effect of Government declaration – Government bound to declare award binding except where it is party to dispute – Declaration is mechanical in most cases – Award essentially determines rights – Mere requirement of Government’s declaration does not alter judicial character – However, where Government is party and Legislature may reject award, complications arise as award ceases to be final [Paras 13-15, 36-40, 79-80].

Procedural irregularity – Award signed only by two members though Tribunal consisted of three – Section 16 Industrial Disputes Act mandatory – Failure to have award signed by all members renders it invalid – Tribunal not reconstituted under Section 8 – Held: Award vitiated [Paras 61-64].

Natural Justice – Award based on no evidence – Tribunal proceeded on mere statements of counsel without sworn testimony, affidavits, or cross-examination – Bank’s affidavit evidence ignored – Held: Procedure contrary to principles of natural justice – Award unsustainable [Paras 60].

Decision – By majority, appeal dismissed – Kania, C.J., Fazl Ali, J., and Mahajan, J. dismissed appeal with costs holding it not a fit case for interference – Mukherjea, J. and Sastri, J. upheld preliminary objection that no appeal lies under Article 136 – Mahajan, J., however, quashed award for being based on no evidence and not signed by all members, directing reconsideration of issue 18 by properly constituted Tribunal – Result: Appeal dismissed/allowed only to limited extent as per separate opinions [Paras 4, 19, 57, 65, 93-96].

Civil Writ - Fundamental Rights – Right to Carry on Trade – Article 19(1)(g) – Monopoly in favour of a single contractor – Bye-laws of Municipal Board struck down – The petitioner, a wholesale commission agent in vegetables and fruits, was prohibited from carrying on his trade as monopoly rights were auctioned to another person by the Municipal Board – Bye-laws prohibited carrying on wholesale business except through the contractor, leaving no scope for licensing others – Held: Such absolute prohibition amounts to violation of Article 19(1)(g) and is not a reasonable restriction under Article 19(6) – Bye-laws declared void under Article 13(1) [Paras 4-5, 8].

Bye-laws – Section 241(2) U.P. Municipalities Act – Requirement of License – Non-existence of Bye-law for grant of license – The Board rejected petitioner’s application for license on the ground that no bye-law authorised issuance of license – Held: Section 241(2) permits refusal only if conditions under the Act are not complied with – Refusal without legal basis invalid – Petitioner’s right to trade cannot be extinguished merely due to absence of enabling bye-law [Paras 5].

Effect of Pre-Constitution Laws – Applicability of Article 19(1)(g) – Contention that petitioner’s rights were extinguished before the Constitution came into force as bye-laws operated from 1.1.1950 rejected – Held: Article 19(1)(g) protects all citizens after commencement of Constitution irrespective of whether trade was lawfully carried on earlier [Para 6].

Writ Jurisdiction – Availability of Alternative Remedy – Section 318 U.P. Municipalities Act – Adequacy of Appeal – Respondent argued that remedy lay in appeal to local Government – Held: Existence of alternate remedy not a bar to relief under Article 32 – Appeal under Section 318 inadequate since Board itself disabled from granting license – Supreme Court has wider powers under Article 32 [Para 7].

Decision – Petition Allowed – Fundamental right under Article 19(1)(g) infringed – Municipal Board directed not to prohibit petitioner from carrying on wholesale trade in vegetables and fruits within Kairana limits except in accordance with validly framed bye-laws in future – Prosecution against petitioner to be withdrawn – Costs awarded to petitioner [Para 8].

Civil Writ – Habeas Corpus - Preventive Detention – Constitutionality – Article 13(2) & Preventive Detention Act, 1950 – Validity upheld – Petitioner contended that the Preventive Detention Act abridges fundamental rights under Part III and is void under Article 13(2) – Held: The issue already decided in A.K. Gopalan v. State where Act was upheld except Section 14 (severable) – Hence Act not unconstitutional [Paras 2, 8].

Preventive Detention – Mala Fide Allegation – Order of District Magistrate – Scope of Judicial Review – Petitioner alleged mala fide exercise of power in detaining him despite his role in refugee relief and absence of published press report – Held: Satisfaction of detaining authority is subjective and Court cannot substitute its own satisfaction – Burden lies on detenu to establish mala fides, which was not discharged – Suspicion not equivalent to proof – No mala fides conclusively established [Paras 5-6, 9-10].

Alternative Remedies – Availability of Ordinary Law – Section 144 CrPC vs. Preventive Detention Act – Question of propriety – Observed: Though ordinary law like Section 144 CrPC could have sufficed, use of extraordinary preventive detention powers cannot be invalidated merely on suspicion – Court expressed caution against misuse of preventive detention powers but did not find sufficient ground to interfere [Paras 6, 11].

Decision – Petition Dismissed – Detention order under Preventive Detention Act upheld – No mala fide established – Court dismissed writ petition but cautioned authorities to prevent misuse of extraordinary detention powers [Paras 6, 11].a

Civil Law - Equitable Mortgage – Deposit of Title Deeds – Section 58(f), Transfer of Property Act – Creation of Mortgage – Mortgage by deposit of title deeds is complete when deeds are deposited with intent to create security – No registered instrument necessary unless parties intend to reduce bargain into writing – Law implies contract from deposit itself [Paras 4-5].

Registration – Section 17, Registration Act – Memorandum recording deposit of title deeds – Distinction between operative instrument and evidential memorandum – If memorandum embodies essential terms of bargain and constitutes agreement, registration compulsory – If it merely records past transaction, no registration required – Time of delivery not decisive; intention of parties is crucial [Paras 4-5].

Precedents – Privy Council Decisions – In Obla Sundarachariar v. Narayana Ayyar (58 I.A. 68), memorandum held not registrable as it merely recorded delivery of deeds – In Hari Sankar Paul v. Kedar Nath Saha (66 I.A. 184), memorandum held registrable as it embodied essential terms of transaction and operated as agreement – Principle reiterated by Supreme Court [Para 5].

Application to Present Case – Memorandum in form of letter recorded deposit of deeds already made – Did not create or embody operative bargain – Only evidential in nature – Held: Not compulsorily registrable – Properly admitted in evidence to prove equitable mortgage [Para 6].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – Decree enforcing mortgage upheld – Costs awarded against appellant [Paras 7-8].

Criminal Law – Murder Conviction – Scope of Interference by Supreme Court – Appellant convicted by Sessions Judge and conviction confirmed by Punjab High Court – Evidence of five eye-witnesses, including mother of deceased, accepted by both courts – Held: Supreme Court not a regular court of criminal appeal and will not re-weigh evidence where concurrent findings of fact based on witness credibility exist – No reason to depart from settled rule [Paras 1-3].

Special Leave – Article 136, Constitution of India – Nature and Scope – Assumption that once leave granted, all findings of fact open to challenge rejected – Only points fit to be urged at stage of grant of leave may be argued at final hearing – Principle consistent with Privy Council rulings in Ibrahim v. Rex [1914 A.C. 615] – Special leave not to convert Supreme Court into third fact-finding tribunal [Paras 4-5].

Appellate Jurisdiction – Articles 132–136, Constitution of India – Comparative Scope – Article 132 applies to substantial questions of constitutional law (civil/criminal); Article 133 confined to civil matters; Article 134 restricts criminal appeals to specified cases; Article 135 preserves jurisdiction of Federal Court; Article 136 confers wide discretionary power over judgments of any court or tribunal – Power to be exercised sparingly and in exceptional cases only [Paras 6-7].

Principles for Grant of Special Leave – Exceptional and special circumstances must exist – Substantial and grave injustice must be shown – Case must present features of sufficient gravity – These principles consistent with Privy Council practice, though not binding – Present case did not satisfy these conditions – No interference warranted [Paras 8].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – Conviction and sentence of death upheld – No exceptional circumstance justifying interference under Article 136 [Para 9].