Criminal Procedure – Quashing of FIR – Section 482 Cr.P.C. – The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and quashed the FIR against the appellants, relatives of the husband, under Sections 498-A, 323, 504, 494, 377 IPC, in light of general and nonspecific allegations. [Para 8, 14]

Dowry and Harassment Allegations – Specificity Required – Held – For invoking Section 498-A IPC, specific and clear allegations are necessary. The Court observed that general allegations without specific details do not constitute sufficient ground for proceeding against the relatives of the husband. [Para 8, 13]

Settlement Agreement – Non-adherence by Wife – The Court noted that despite an attempt to settle, which included a settlement agreement, the respondent (wife) changed her mind and did not adhere to the settlement, leading to continuation of the legal proceedings. [Para 10-12]

Scope of Inquiry – Limited to Appellants – The Court clarified that the proceedings against the husband may continue, but as far as the appellants (husband’s relatives) are concerned, the FIR lacked specific allegations to establish an offence under Section 498-A IPC. [Para 13]

Decision – FIR Quashed – The Supreme Court, applying principles for quashing under Section 482 Cr.P.C., quashed the FIR against the appellants due to lack of specific allegations and failure to establish the ingredients of the offence under Section 498-A IPC. [Para 14]

Proceedings Against Husband – To Continue Separately – The Court specified that the proceedings against the husband are not impacted by this decision and may proceed as per law. [Para 15]

Appeal against High Court Decision – Dismissal of quashing FIR in property fraud case involving misuse of Power of Attorney (PoA) – FIR No.87 of 2011 against appellant for offences under IPC Sections 467, 468, 469, 471, 409, and 420 – High Court decision from Patna in Criminal Miscellaneous No.42776 of 2013 challenged. [Para 3]

Background of Case – Allegations of property sale fraud – Misuse of PoA by Raj Kumar Karan Vijay Singh to sell property belonging to informant's family – Sale deed involving appellant questioned – FIR and subsequent cognizance based on alleged misuse of PoA and fraudulent sale deed. [Paras 4-5]

Appellant's Submission – Appellant as vendee in property transaction – PoA dated 12.04.1994 authorizing sale – Challenge on grounds of criminal liability, territorial jurisdiction, and nature of dispute being civil – Citing previous civil suit upholding PoA holder's right to sell the property. [Paras 6-15]

Respondent's and State's Submissions – Respondent No. 2 emphasizing PoA's clause requiring land-owners' assent for sale – State justifying prosecution based on FIR – Issues of territorial jurisdiction and civil nature of dispute raised. [Paras 17-20]

Court's Analysis and Decision – Interpretation of PoA clauses – Clauses 3, 11, and 15 not contradictory – Sale deed in favor of appellant by PoA holder valid – Dispute predominantly civil and inter-se among land-owners/principals – Criminal proceedings against appellant unwarranted – Quashing of FIR No.87 of 2011 and consequent orders as related to appellant. [Paras 21-37]

Conclusion – Appeal allowed – Parties to bear own costs. [Para 37]

Criminal Appeal – Rejection of Application for Handwriting Analysis and Additional Evidence – Appeal against High Court’s dismissal of application under Section 391 CrPC for additional evidence – Appellant convicted for offence under Section 138 of the NI Act – Dismissal of application for handwriting expert and additional evidence by trial and appellate courts. [Para 2, 4, 6, 7]

Cheque Dishonour – Signature Mismatch Allegation – Accused appellant’s claim of signature forgery on cheque – Trial court's rejection of application for handwriting expert – No further challenge to the order, leading to its finality. [Para 4, 5, 18]

Evidence in Criminal Trials – Role of Accused in Presenting Defense Evidence – Accused’s failure to question bank official about signature genuineness during trial – Appellate court's non-obligation to assist in collecting defense evidence. [Para 10, 16, 17]

Presumptions under Negotiable Instruments Act – Section 118 – Presumption regarding genuineness of cheque endorsements – Burden on accused to rebut presumptions by leading appropriate defense evidence. [Para 13, 14]

Exercise of Power under Section 391 CrPC – Criteria for Additional Evidence at Appellate Stage – Need for evidence to be unavailable despite due diligence or emerging facts during appeal – Application rejected as accused failed to demonstrate such circumstances. [Para 9, 19]

Decision – No Infirmity in Impugned Orders – Appeal dismissed for lack of merit, with all pending applications disposed of. [Para 20, 21]

Criminal Appeal – Challenging High Court Order – Appellant challenges High Court order in Criminal Appeal No. 1088 of 2002 that disallowed joint application under Section 320 CrPC for offence under Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST Act. High Court acquitted appellant of IPC Sections 354 and 451 but upheld conviction under SC/ST Act. [Para 2, 4]

Conviction under SC/ST Act – Review of Conviction for Outraging Modesty – Appellant's conviction for outraging the modesty of a Scheduled Caste woman under Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST Act reviewed. Court considers whether the act was committed with the intention of targeting a person from Scheduled Caste. [Para 3, 8-9]

Application of SC/ST Act – Interpretation of Intent Requirement – Analysis of Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST Act. Court emphasizes the necessity of an intention to commit the offence on the basis of the victim's caste identity for the application of the SC/ST Act. Reference to precedent in Masumsha Hasanasha Musalman Vs. State of Maharashtra for interpretation of similar provision in the SC/ST Act. [Para 7, 9-10]

Acquittal of Appellant – Setting Aside Conviction Under SC/ST Act – Conviction of the appellant under Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST Act set aside. Appellant acquitted due to lack of evidence showing intent to commit the offence based on victim's caste. Bail bonds of appellant discharged. [Para 11-12]

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Appeal allowed, leading to acquittal of the appellant from charges under SC/ST Act. Pending applications, if any, disposed of. [Para 12-13]

Appeal Against Dismissal of Writ Petition and Restoration Application – Challenging High Court of Uttarakhand’s orders dismissing writ petition for non-prosecution and subsequent applications – Land acquisition case from 1987 – Appellant still claims possession of the land. [Paras 3-8, 14]

Restoration Application Filed Within One Month – Application for restoration filed promptly after writ petition dismissal in 1992 – High Court considered it as delayed without merit – Supreme Court found this incorrect, stating application was timely and never considered on merits. [Paras 9-13]

Misinterpretation of Delay by High Court – High Court incorrectly held that restoration application was delayed by seven years – Supreme Court clarifies that it was filed within a month, as admitted by respondents in counter affidavit. [Para 13]

Decision to Hear Writ Petition on Merits – Supreme Court sets aside impugned orders – Matter remitted to High Court of Uttarakhand to hear and decide the original writ petition on merits expeditiously. [Paras 14-15]

Appeals Allowed – Supreme Court allows appeals, setting aside High Court’s orders – High Court directed to restore and decide the writ petition on merits, providing a fair hearing to all concerned. [Paras 15-16]

Challenge Against Defamation Proceedings – Appeal filed against criminal defamation proceedings under Section 500 of IPC for an article in 'Sunday Blast' newspaper alleging false case registration by the complainant – Original complaint filed by respondent Anand Dubey alleging damage to reputation due to the article. [Paras 2-3]

Magistrate's Rejection of Complaint, Reversed by Sessions Court and High Court – Initial rejection of the complaint by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Hoshangabad, was reversed by the Additional Sessions Judge and upheld by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, leading to the present appeal. [Paras 4-5]

Fundamental Right of Freedom of Speech and Expression – The Magistrate's order emphasized the appellant's exercise of the Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution – Held that the publication did not warrant prosecution under Section 500 of IPC. [Para 8]

Supreme Court Quashes High Court and Sessions Court Orders – The Supreme Court found the Magistrate’s view justified, ruling that the article was published in good faith and under the Fundamental Right of Freedom of Speech and Expression – Orders of the Sessions Court and High Court quashed. [Paras 9-11]

Final Decision – All proceedings against the appellant under Section 500 of IPC quashed – Appeal allowed. [Para 11]

Dispute Over Promotion to Under Secretary – High Court's Reversal of Promotion of Respondent Nos. 2 and 3 Under CSIR Rules – Challenged by Appellant CSIR on Grounds of Eligibility Criteria – High Court Judgment Upheld by Supreme Court [Paras 2, 4-8]

Eligibility for Promotion – Requirement of Performing Duties as Section Officer – Contention Regarding Formal Appointment and Experience Certificates – High Court Found Respondent Nos. 2 and 3 Ineligible, Accepting Respondent No. 1's Formal Appointment as Section Officer [Paras 5-7]

Merit-Based Promotion Argument – Dismissed by High Court, Focusing on Eligibility Criteria Instead – Supreme Court Agrees, Holding Promotion Denial to Respondent No. 1 as Incorrect [Paras 8, 10]

Dismissal of Appeals – Supreme Court Finds No Ground to Interfere with High Court Judgment – Appeals by CSIR Dismissed [Paras 10-11]

Medical Negligence – Consumer Protection Act, 1986 – Appellant-complainant loses vision in left eye due to alleged medical negligence by respondent doctor – Initial award of Rs. 2 Lakhs compensation by DCDRC, Faridabad – Series of appeals and revisions leading to the current judgment. [Para 2-6]

Jurisdiction – Territorial Jurisdiction in Consumer Disputes – Dismissal of appellant’s complaint by SCDRC on grounds of lack of territorial jurisdiction – Matter remanded back to SCDRC by NCDRC for decision on merits. [Para 3-4]

Professional Misconduct – Medical Council of India – Ethics Committee of MCI finds respondent doctor guilty of professional misconduct – Removal of doctor's name from Indian Medical Register for six months. [Para 10-12]

Compensation – Revision of Compensation and Interest Rate – NCDRC’s reduction of interest rate from 12% to 6% – Appellant’s challenge to the reduced interest rate and non-receipt of compensation. [Para 15-16]

Modification of NCDRC Orders – Supreme Court’s modification of NCDRC orders – Appellant entitled to Rs. 2 Lakhs compensation with 12% interest per annum from complaint filing date until payment – Enhanced interest to 15% per annum for delayed payment beyond two months. [Para 17-18]

False Representation and Costs – Imposition of costs on respondent for false representation regarding compensation payment – Rs. 50,000/- costs to be paid to appellant. [Para 19]

Final Decision – Disposal of Appeals – Appellant’s appeals allowed – Respondent’s appeals rejected – Pending applications disposed of. [Para 20-21]

Maintenance Award Enhancement – Enhanced maintenance to appellant, Yagwati @ Poonam, from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month under Section 18 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 – Consideration of respondent's financial capacity and pension from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) – Arrears of maintenance to be paid in installments not exceeding 50% of the respondent's pension [Paras 2-3, 8-14].

Marital History and Proceedings – Marriage complications leading to separate living since 1998 and ex-parte divorce decree in 2005, later set aside – Appellant's struggle for maintenance post-divorce and remarriage of the respondent [Paras 4-7].

Financial Circumstances of Respondent – Respondent's significant salary as Assistant Manager in BSNL and pension post-retirement – Appellant's appeal for increased maintenance considering respondent's capacity [Paras 8-10].

Court's Direction – Supreme Court's direction to Family Court, Jaipur, for calculation and payment of arrears in maintenance, ensuring total monthly payment does not exceed 50% of respondent's pension – Direction to BSNL for compliance in disbursing maintenance [Paras 12-14].