Criminal Law – Murder and Assault – Appellants convicted of murdering Mudi Parandhami Reddy and injuring others in a politically and land-dispute motivated attack – Trial Court acquitted all accused; High Court reversed acquittal for Accused Nos. 1 to 12, confirming life imprisonment and additional sentences – Supreme Court upheld High Court's findings but modified the conviction and sentence of A-2 for limited participation [Paras 1-31].

Witness Credibility – Testimony of Injured Witnesses – Despite the plea of alibi and claims of witness unreliability, evidence from injured witnesses (P.W. 3 and others) deemed credible – Minor inconsistencies in testimonies considered non-fatal to prosecution's case – Emphasis on consistent core narrative by multiple witnesses [Paras 10-21].

Evidence Act – Dying Declarations and Former Statements – Discussion on admissibility and use of dying declarations recorded under Section 164 CrPC, which, if the declarant survives, can be used for corroboration under Section 157 of the Evidence Act – Reference to precedents on treatment of such statements [Paras 24-29].

Section 149 IPC – Common Object – Multiple accused convicted under Section 149 IPC for acts committed in furtherance of common object – Detailed analysis of individual roles and specific acts committed during the attack [Paras 18-23].

Decision – Appeals partially allowed – Modification – Conviction of A-2 altered to Section 324 read with Section 34 IPC with reduced sentence to 2 years – Other appeals dismissed, confirming life imprisonment and sentences for other accused [Paras 30-31].

Armed Forces – Court of Inquiry (COI) – Allegations of bias in COI proceedings – Respondent officer challenged COI's procedural fairness under Rule 180 of the Armed Forces Rules, 1954 – Tribunal directed fresh COI with independent members – Supreme Court upheld Tribunal's decision, emphasizing procedural safeguards and Rule 180 compliance [Paras 1-57].

Bias – Doctrine of Bias – Principle of "no man can be a judge in his own cause" – Inclusion of officers involved in the preparation of documents as members of the COI – Reasonable likelihood of bias established – Supreme Court affirmed Tribunal's finding of bias, disqualifying the involved officers from COI membership [Paras 15-45].

Rule 180 – Procedural Safeguards – Full opportunity for affected officer to participate and cross-examine witnesses – Non-compliance with Rule 180 mandates vitiates COI proceedings – Supreme Court upheld Tribunal’s direction for fresh COI, ensuring full opportunity to the respondent under Rule 180 [Paras 46-55].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – Orders – COI quashed, new COI to be constituted with different Presiding Officer and independent members – Compliance with procedural fairness and Rule 180 emphasized [Paras 56-57].

Employees Provident Funds Act – Interest on Delayed Payment – Appellant challenged imposition of interest under Section 7Q for delayed remittances – High Court held alternative remedy before Tribunal available – Supreme Court held that Section 7Q orders are not appealable under Section 7I – Directed Competent Authority to provide computation sheet for objections [Paras 1-30].

Natural Justice – Right to Hearing – Employer entitled to limited opportunity to contest computation of interest under Section 7Q – Demand for interest must be transparent and open to objections for fairness – Supreme Court emphasized flexibility in applying natural justice principles [Paras 20-28].

Decision – Appeal allowed in part – Orders – Competent Authority to provide computation sheet within three weeks – Appellant to deposit further sum of Rs. 16,00,000 within four weeks – Computation objections to be resolved summarily [Paras 29-30].

Administrative Service – Appointment by Selection – Appellant sought selection into IAS under Non-civil services category – State Government restricted consideration to Joint and Additional Commissioners, excluding eligible Assistant Commissioners – Tribunal and High Court upheld restriction – Supreme Court held restriction invalid, violating Articles 14 and 16(1) – Directed damages for unjust non-consideration [Paras 1-23].

Eligibility Criteria – Interpretation and Application – Regulation 4 of the Administrative Service (Appointment by Selection) Regulations, 1997, requires considering all eligible officers, not just higher-ranking ones – State Government must assess outstanding merit and ability, not restrict by rank – Supreme Court emphasized adherence to laid down criteria for fairness [Paras 10-18].

Natural Justice – Right to Equal Opportunity – Eligible candidates cannot be excluded based on additional criteria not specified in the rules – Supreme Court underscored uniform application of rules and protection of candidates' rights to equal consideration in public employment [Paras 17-18].

Decision – Appeal allowed in part – Orders – Declaration that appellant and similarly situated candidates are entitled to consideration – No retrospective relief for completed selection process – Damages of Rs. 50,000 and litigation cost of Rs. 25,000 awarded – Prospective application of ruling for future selections [Paras 19-23].

Criminal Procedure Code – Maintenance – Respondent married appellant unaware of his subsisting first marriage – Trial court awarded maintenance under Section 125 CrPC – Appellant contended respondent not legally wedded wife – Supreme Court held respondent entitled to maintenance due to appellant’s deceit – Emphasized social justice and purposive interpretation of "wife" under Section 125 CrPC [Paras 1-28].

Legal Interpretation – Deception in Marriage – Respondent misled into marriage by appellant's false representation of single status – Supreme Court affirmed maintenance award, emphasizing appellant cannot benefit from his own deceit – Highlighted differential treatment where woman knowingly marries already married man versus being deceived [Paras 16-18].

Social Justice – Judicial Approach – Courts must bridge gap between law and societal realities – Emphasis on "social context adjudication" for marginalized sections – Maintenance provision under Section 125 CrPC serves constitutional vision of social justice [Paras 17-20].

Decision – Leave to appeal denied – Orders – Maintenance to respondent upheld – Interpretation aligned with principles of social justice and constitutional empathy for weaker sections [Paras 27-28].

Trade and Commerce – Tax Rebate – Government of Uttar Pradesh issued notifications granting tax rebate to cement manufacturers using fly-ash within the state – Rebate not extended to manufacturers outside Uttar Pradesh – High Court held the condition discriminatory, violating Articles 301 and 304(a) – Supreme Court upheld High Court's decision, affirming the rebate discriminates against imported goods [Paras 1-54].

Constitutional Law – Article 304(a) – Interpretation – Supreme Court emphasized equal treatment for goods imported from other states – Rebate of tax constituting discriminatory taxation when applied only to local manufacturers – Stressed the importance of ensuring free trade and commerce across state boundaries [Paras 27-33].

Doctrine of Severability – Validity of Notifications – Striking down discriminatory conditions while preserving the beneficial aspects – Supreme Court applied doctrine, severing the invalid condition from the notification, maintaining the rebate for eligible entities without altering overall legislative intent [Paras 48-50].

Decision – Appeals dismissed – Orders – Condition restricting rebate to manufacturers within Uttar Pradesh declared invalid – Directed state to extend rebate to eligible manufacturers irrespective of location – Refund excess deposits with interest at 10% per annum [Paras 53-54].

Criminal Law – Dishonour of Cheque – Prosecution under Section 138 of the NI Act – Accused directors contended absence of specific averments that they were in charge and responsible for the conduct of business at the time of the offence – High Court quashed prosecution of Vikram Prakash but declined for A.K. Singhania – Supreme Court examined specific allegations in complaints and found them inadequate to establish necessary averments for holding directors liable [Paras 1-22].

Section 141 NI Act – Liability of Directors – Supreme Court reiterated that for fastening liability under Section 141, it is essential to aver that directors were in charge of and responsible for the conduct of business – Mere designation as directors not sufficient – Specific role or involvement in day-to-day operations required to be stated [Paras 17-20].

Quashing of Prosecution – Exercise of Inherent Powers – High Court’s decision to quash prosecution of Vikram Prakash affirmed due to lack of specific allegations – High Court’s decision to not quash prosecution of A.K. Singhania reversed on same grounds – Supreme Court emphasized uniform application of law regarding necessary averments [Paras 22-23].

Decision – Appeals by Gujarat State Fertilizers Company Ltd. dismissed – Appeals by A.K. Singhania allowed – Prosecution against A.K. Singhania quashed [Para 23].

Criminal Law – Dowry Death – Appellant convicted under Section 304B IPC for causing the death of his wife – Trial court imposed life imprisonment – High Court affirmed the conviction and sentence – Supreme Court examined proportionality of life sentence under Section 304B(2) IPC – Emphasized need for balancing aggravating and mitigating factors in sentencing [Paras 1-14].

Sentencing – Principles for Determination – Supreme Court reiterated principles for sentencing, especially under Section 304B IPC – Considered factors such as time between marriage and death, conduct of accused, persistence of dowry demands, and circumstances of cruelty – Also considered the acquittal of appellant under Section 302 IPC and his young age at the time of the offence [Paras 6-13].

Mitigating Factors – Reduction of Sentence – Considering appellant’s age, lack of criminal record, and specific circumstances, Supreme Court found life imprisonment disproportionate – Reduced sentence to ten years rigorous imprisonment, maintaining the fine imposed [Paras 13-15].

Decision – Appeal partly allowed – Orders – Sentence of life imprisonment reduced to ten years rigorous imprisonment – Fine maintained – Appellant to serve remaining sentence as per modified order [Para 15].

Motor Vehicles Act – Compensation Claim – Appellants, wife and daughters of Nicolau Fernandes, claimed compensation for his death in a motor vehicle accident – Tribunal rejected the claim based on findings of negligence by the deceased – High Court affirmed Tribunal’s decision – Supreme Court reversed the findings, holding accident was due to rash and negligent driving by respondent – Awarded compensation to claimants [Paras 1-10].

Evidence – Negligence and Liability – Supreme Court found Tribunal erred in rejecting evidence of claimants’ witnesses and accepting respondent’s version – Noted that the respondent was charge-sheeted and there was no medical evidence of deceased’s intoxication – Emphasized the Tribunal’s duty to assess claims based on preponderance of probabilities, not proof beyond reasonable doubt [Paras 7-8].

Compensation – Quantum – Tribunal assessed compensation at Rs. 666,041.78, withheld due to adverse findings on negligence – Supreme Court awarded the same amount with 6% interest from date of Tribunal’s award [Paras 9-10].

Decision – Appeal allowed – Orders – Compensation of Rs. 666,041.78 with interest at 6% per annum from 20.07.2004 awarded to claimants – Costs not ordered [Paras 9-10].