Rape and Murder of Minor – Death Penalty – Appellant convicted of rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl – Trial court and High Court confirmed death penalty – Supreme Court commuted death penalty to life imprisonment – Emphasized duty to consider possibility of reformation and rehabilitation – Appellant's young age, lack of criminal antecedents, and satisfactory conduct in prison considered – Life imprisonment imposed in place of death penalty [Paras 1-54].

Circumstantial Evidence – Chain of Circumstances – Conviction based on circumstantial evidence – Court found that prosecution established chain of circumstances leading to no other conclusion than guilt of the accused – Recovery of the body on appellant’s memorandum under Section 27 of Evidence Act crucial – Non-explanation of circumstances by accused fortified conclusion of guilt [Paras 13-45].

Judicial Process – Defense Opportunity – Court observed that sufficient opportunity must be given to defense counsel – Speedy trial should not compromise the defense's ability to prepare – Noted lack of adequate opportunity in the present case, but found no prejudice caused to the accused [Paras 46].

Reformation and Rehabilitation – Consideration of Socio-Economic Background – Court highlighted importance of considering the criminal's background, possibility of reformation, and socio-economic conditions – State failed to prove impossibility of reformation – Death penalty commuted to life imprisonment based on appellant's potential for rehabilitation [Paras 48-54].

Decision: Appeals partly allowed – Death penalty commuted to life imprisonment – Conviction under Sections 363, 366, 376(2)(i), 377, 201, 302 read with Section 376A of IPC and Section 6 of POCSO Act maintained – Sentences for other offences as affirmed by the High Court maintained [Para 54].

Contempt of Court – Executable Decree – Decree obtained under Land Acquisition Act is executable – Contempt not maintainable for non-compliance of such decree – Contempt jurisdiction discretionary, aimed at maintaining court's dignity and law – No right for aggrieved party to insist on contempt action – Petitioner advised to pursue available legal remedies under the Act [Paras 1-9].

Land Acquisition – Compensation Dispute – Petitioner alleged wrongful categorization of land in award for fixation of market value – Supreme Court clarified that issues regarding categorization and valuation to be addressed through statutory remedies under Sections 64, 66, and 74 of the 2013 Act – Contempt petitions dismissed, no deliberate violation of court's directions found [Paras 7-9].

Judicial Discretion – Contempt Proceedings – Discretion to use contempt jurisdiction sparingly – Must be exercised to maintain court's dignity – Not to be used in abundance or misused – Court emphasized adherence to legal remedies available under specific statutes for grievances [Paras 8-9].

Decision: Contempt petitions dismissed – No costs awarded – Petitioner advised to seek remedies under the 2013 Act for compensation determination – Court made no opinion on land categorization or market value determination in award [Para 9].

Casual Labourers – Temporary Status and Regularization – Respondent failed to meet the requirement of 240 days of service in a calendar year as per the 1989 Scheme – Committee's report confirmed respondent's service was below the required threshold – High Court and Tribunal erroneously granted temporary status without recording evidence – Appeals allowed, orders set aside [Paras 1-24].

Eligibility Criteria – Tribunal and High Court failed to adhere to eligibility criteria under Clause 5(i) of the 1989 Scheme – Incorrect computation of service days over multiple years – Required continuous service for 240 days in a single calendar year not met – Appeals allowed, orders set aside [Paras 16-24].

Decision – Appeals allowed – Orders of the Tribunal and High Court set aside – Respondent not entitled to temporary status under the 1989 Scheme due to non-fulfillment of eligibility criteria [Paras 23-24].

Environmental Law – Road Widening – Char Dham Highway project involves widening of approximately 900 km of roads to ensure safer, smoother, and faster traffic movement – Court emphasizes the need for sustainable development considering the fragile Himalayan ecosystem – Differing views on road width: DL-PS standard vs. IW standard – Majority view of HPC favors 2012 MoRTH Circular (DL-PS), minority and Supreme Court's earlier decision favor 2018 MoRTH Circular (IW standard) [Paras 1-88].

National Security – Strategic Border Roads – Ministry of Defence (MoD) seeks wider roads (DL-PS) for better movement of troops and equipment to Indo-China border – Court acknowledges change in circumstances necessitating wider roads for national security – Appeals allowed, permitting DL-PS standard for strategic roads [Paras 89-120].

Environmental Impact – Court highlights importance of balancing development with environmental preservation – Sustainable development principles to guide road construction – Environmental rule of law applied – Mitigation measures directed for environmental protection, including afforestation and slope stabilization [Paras 121-150].

Decision – Applications allowed – Roads from Rishikesh to Mana, Rishikesh to Gangotri, and Tanakpur to Pithoragarh to be developed to 7m carriageway width with 1.5m paved shoulders on either side – Detailed environmental mitigation measures to be implemented – HPC to ensure compliance and submit periodic reports [Paras 151-180].

Dowry Death – Quashing of Chargesheet – FIR named multiple family members without specific allegations – Appellants (brother-in-law and mother-in-law of the deceased) had alibis, with the brother-in-law at work 40 km away at the time of the incident – Postmortem revealed asphyxia as cause of death with no external injuries except ligature mark – High Court's order directing appellants to seek bail set aside – Chargesheet quashed for lack of specific allegations and evidence [Paras 1-13].

Specific Allegations – Legal Requirement – Emphasis on need for specific allegations against accused in dowry death cases – Casual naming of family members without detailed involvement considered an abuse of judicial process – Citing Geeta Mehrotra and Anr. v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Anr. (2012) 10 SCC 741, court reiterated quashing of proceedings in absence of specific accusations [Paras 10-12].

Decision – Appeals allowed – High Court’s order set aside – Chargesheet and cognizance order quashed – Noting abuse of judicial process in implicating family members without substantial evidence [Paras 13].

Insolvency Resolution – Threshold for Admission – Adjudicating Authority's jurisdiction under Section 7 of IBC is limited to ascertaining the existence of default and admitting or rejecting the application accordingly – NCLT cannot dismiss the petition on the basis that the corporate debtor is exploring settlement possibilities without addressing the merits of the petition – Appeals allowed, orders set aside [Paras 1-36].

Jurisdiction of Adjudicating Authorities – Powers under IBC – NCLT and NCLAT overstepped their jurisdiction by directing parties to settle disputes and failing to admit the petition despite clear evidence of default – IBC provides a statutory framework where Adjudicating Authorities cannot act beyond their conferred powers – Petition restored to NCLT for fresh consideration [Paras 27-33].

Decision – Appeals allowed – NCLT and NCLAT orders set aside – Petition under Section 7 of IBC restored for disposal afresh by NCLT – Impleadment applications disposed of with liberty to applicants to adopt appropriate proceedings in accordance with law [Paras 34-36].

Criminal Breach of Trust by Public Servant – Proof of Entrustment – Section 409 IPC pertains to criminal breach of trust by a public servant – Prosecution must prove that the accused was entrusted with the property and dishonestly misappropriated or used it – Mere retention of property without misappropriation does not constitute criminal breach of trust – Essential ingredients: entrustment, dishonest misappropriation, and dishonest use [Paras 41-45].

Cheating and Dishonestly Inducing Delivery of Property – Section 420 IPC – Requires proof of deception, fraudulent inducement, and dishonest intention at the inception of the transaction – Mere breach of contract cannot give rise to criminal prosecution under Section 420 IPC unless fraudulent or dishonest intention is shown from the beginning [Paras 46-48].

Falsification of Accounts – Section 477-A IPC – Prosecution must prove destruction, alteration, or falsification of accounts by a clerk, officer, or servant with intent to defraud – Evidence must show wilful act and intent to defraud [Paras 49-50].

Evidence and Burden of Proof – Non-examination of key witness (B. Satyajit Reddy) materially fatal to prosecution – Handwriting expert’s testimony supported appellant’s version – No financial loss caused to the Bank or the depositor – Benefit of doubt given to appellant due to inconsistent and insufficient evidence [Paras 61-67].

Decision – Appeals allowed – Conviction and sentence under Sections 409, 420, 477-A of the IPC and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of the PC Act set aside – Appellant acquitted of all charges [Para 67].

Hindu Law – Karta’s Power to Alienate – A Karta may alienate joint family property for value either for legal necessity or for the benefit of the estate to bind the interests of all the undivided members of the family whether they are adults, minors, or widows – No specific grounds to prove legal necessity; it depends on the facts of each case – Karta’s discretion in fulfilling legal necessity, although not beyond challenge on the grounds of lack of existence of legal necessity or absence of benefit to the estate [Paras 1-30].

Limitation for Challenging Alienation – Suit for declaration and cancellation of the relinquishment deed filed nearly 24 years after execution – Governed by Article 109 of the Limitation Act, providing 12 years from the date the alienee takes possession – Suit barred by limitation as filed well beyond the prescribed period [Paras 31-34].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – High Court's judgment upheld – Suit barred by limitation [Paras 34].

Appeal in Case of Acquittal – Section 378 CrPC – State’s right to appeal against acquittal – Appellate Court's duty to consider whether the trial court’s decision is plausible and possible – Double presumption of innocence for acquitted persons – Importance of the trial court's advantage of observing witnesses in person – High Court must undertake deeper scrutiny and ensure the trial court's findings are not perverse before overturning acquittal [Paras 20-23].

Dying Declaration – Evidence – High Court erroneously relied on dying declaration not supported by credible witness testimony – Trial court correctly rejected the dying declaration based on inconsistencies and lack of corroboration – High Court’s approach critiqued for not addressing detailed trial court reasoning [Paras 24-32].

Merits of Evidence – High Court overlooked discrepancies in key witness testimonies and failed to consider trial court's detailed analysis – Importance of trial court’s advantage in evaluating witness credibility – Reversal of acquittal found unjustified [Paras 24-33].

Decision – Appeals allowed – High Court’s conviction set aside – Trial court's acquittal upheld – Orders of conviction by High Court overturned [Para 33].