Consumer Protection – Jurisdiction – Appellant, a retired Medical Officer, claimed non-payment of retiral benefits and filed a complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum – Supreme Court examined whether such matters fall under the Consumer Protection Act – Held that service-related disputes of government servants do not fall within the jurisdiction of consumer forums as they do not constitute 'consumer' disputes under the Act – Appeal dismissed [Paras 1-17].

Service Law – Retiral Benefits – Government servant claimed deductions from retiral benefits without notice – Supreme Court reiterated that service matters, including payment of retiral benefits, should be adjudicated under relevant service rules and not consumer protection laws – Government assured refund of penal rent if charged [Paras 18].

Decision – Appeal Dismissed – Held – Government servants cannot approach consumer forums for service-related disputes – Appropriate forum is the State Administrative Tribunal or Civil Court – Assurances given by the government regarding payment of dues and penal rent recorded [Paras 16-18].

Administrative Law – Selection and Appointment – Suppression of Material Facts – Appellants, selected for the post of police constables, were discharged during training due to alleged suppression of their involvement in a criminal case – Tribunal and High Court upheld the discharge based on the suppression in attestation forms – Supreme Court found appellants were not aware of the criminal case registration at the time of filling forms – Held, appellants did not suppress any material fact intentionally [Paras 1-7].

Criminal Procedure – Preventive Arrest – Sections 151 CrPC – Appellants detained under Section 151 CrPC during a protest, unaware of formal case registration – No information provided about the arrest or registration of crime – Supreme Court held that preventive arrest under Section 151 CrPC does not constitute involvement in a criminal case requiring disclosure in attestation forms [Paras 4-7].

Employment Law – Continuity of Service – Supreme Court directed reinstatement of appellants with continuity of service but without back pay for the period of exclusion – Ordered immediate re-induction for training and restoration of seniority – Emphasized non-discrimination for other similarly situated candidates [Paras 8-9].

Decision:

Appeal allowed – Orders of High Court and Administrative Tribunal set aside – Appellants to be re-inducted into training immediately with original seniority restored – No entitlement to back pay for the period of exclusion unless there is a delay in implementation [Paras 8-10].

Constitutional Law – Legislative Powers – Sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 – Challenge to Validity – Petitioners challenged the validity of Sub-section (4) of Section 8 on the grounds that it was ultra vires the Constitution – Supreme Court held that the affirmative words in Articles 102(1)(e) and 191(1)(e) confer power on Parliament to make one law laying down the same disqualifications for both candidates and sitting members of Parliament or State Legislature – Articles 101(3)(a) and 190(3)(a) prohibit Parliament from deferring the date of disqualification – Sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Act is ultra vires the Constitution and invalid [Paras 1-20].

Constitutional Law – Disqualification on Conviction – Different Treatment for Sitting Members – Supreme Court examined whether sitting members could be treated differently under Sub-section (4) of Section 8 – Held, the same disqualifications apply to both candidates and sitting members, and any provision deferring the date of disqualification for sitting members is unconstitutional [Paras 14-20].

Criminal Law – Stay of Conviction – Appellate Court Powers – Supreme Court clarified that a sitting member convicted of an offence can seek stay of conviction from the Appellate Court under Sections 389(1) and 482 CrPC – This provides adequate remedy without needing Sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Act [Paras 21-22].

Decision:

Sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, declared ultra vires the Constitution – Writ petitions allowed [Paras 20, 24].

Election Law – Right to Vote – Disqualification of Prisoners – Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides that individuals confined in prison or in lawful custody are disqualified from voting – High Court held that such individuals are also disqualified from being "electors" and thus cannot contest elections – Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision, emphasizing that the right to vote is statutory and can be taken away by law [Paras 1-6].

Electoral Law – Qualification for Contesting Elections – Definition of Elector – Sections 4 and 5 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 require a candidate to be an "elector" – Supreme Court agreed with High Court that individuals disqualified from voting under Section 62(5) are not "electors" and therefore cannot contest elections [Paras 1-6].

Decision:

Civil appeals dismissed – High Court's order affirmed – Individuals confined in prison or lawful custody are disqualified from voting and contesting elections [Paras 7].

Juvenile Justice – Determination of Age – Appellant claimed to be a juvenile at the time of the offence in 1988 – Supreme Court ordered an inquiry into the appellant's age – Inquiry confirmed appellant's date of birth as 31st August 1974, making him a juvenile under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 – Conviction upheld but sentence remitted to the Juvenile Justice Board for appropriate orders [Paras 1-21, 41-42, 68].

Criminal Law – Dowry Death – Conviction under Sections 304B and 498A IPC – Appellant convicted for causing dowry death by setting wife on fire – Conviction based on evidence of dowry demands and harassment – Conviction upheld by Supreme Court [Paras 22-27, 75-77].

Juvenile Justice – Sentencing – Special Provisions – Section 20 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 – Juvenile to be forwarded to Juvenile Justice Board for appropriate orders – Supreme Court directed imposition of fine and compensation to the victim's family [Paras 41-46, 68].

Criminal Procedure – Duties of Police – Compliance with CrPC Sections 41B, 50, 50A, 54 for juveniles in conflict with law – Mandated procedures to minimize risk of juveniles being treated as adults [Paras 63-67].

Decision:

Appeal partly allowed – Conviction upheld – Sentence set aside – Matter remanded to Juvenile Justice Board for determining appropriate fine and compensation [Paras 72-71].

Criminal Law – Quashing of FIR – Section 482 CrPC – Appellant challenged FIR registered in 2000 alleging embezzlement during his tenure as LDC-cum-Cashier – High Court refused to quash FIR despite lack of evidence and prolonged investigation – Supreme Court emphasized constitutional right to speedy trial and investigation – Held, continuation of investigation without evidence violates Article 21 – FIR quashed [Paras 1-34].

Criminal Procedure – Right to Speedy Trial – Article 21 of Constitution – Investigating Agency failed to produce evidence despite repeated requests – Departmental inquiry exonerated appellant – Supreme Court held continuation of FIR proceedings without evidence as abuse of process – Directed quashing of FIR [Paras 30-34].

Criminal Law – Investigation and Evidence – Section 156(3) CrPC – Direction by CJM to reinvestigate with assistance of complainant – Original records not made available – Inquiry report exonerated appellant – Supreme Court noted lack of cooperation by respondent in providing evidence – Directed quashing of FIR [Paras 25-33].

Decision:

Appeal allowed – FIR No. 10/2000 lodged at Police Station Dausa against appellant quashed [Para 34].

Labor Law – Regularization of Daily Wage Workers – Resolution of State Government:

State of Gujarat and its officials directed to regularize services of daily wage workers based on their long-term engagement and nature of work – Resolution dated 17th October 1988 found applicable to all daily wage workers, not limited to those engaged in building maintenance and repairing work – Orders of the High Court affirmed with modifications directing implementation of benefits under the Resolution dated 17th October 1988 [Paras 1-26].

Resolution Scope and Applicability – Interpretation of Government Orders:

Resolution dated 17th October 1988 extended to daily wage workers performing any nature of job, not confined to building maintenance – Full Bench decision of Gujarat High Court and subsequent departmental resolution restricting applicability to building maintenance workers found erroneous – Supreme Court clarifies broader scope of the Resolution for all daily wage workers in various state departments [Paras 20-21].

Judicial Review – Article 226 of Constitution – Limits on Regularization Orders:

Supreme Court emphasizes that High Courts under Article 226 cannot direct regularization of employees unless appointments were made in a regular manner – However, finds the case of daily wage workers in Forest and Environment Department meets criteria for regularization based on long-term engagement and essential services performed [Paras 23-24].

Decision:

Appeals disposed of – High Court's order modified – State of Gujarat directed to grant benefits of the Resolution dated 17th October 1988 to all eligible daily wage workers in the Forest and Environment Department – Benefits to be applied retrospectively from 29th October 2010 within four months from receipt of the order [Para 26].

Criminal Law – Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence – Review of Appellate Decision:

Appellants convicted for offences under Sections 364, 302, 379, 201 read with Section 34 IPC based on circumstantial evidence – Trial court's decision upheld by the High Court – Supreme Court sets aside High Court judgment, remitting case for fresh disposal, emphasizing the necessity to address all contentions raised by appellants [Paras 1-8].

Evidence Act – Section 106 – Burden of Proof:

High Court failed to sufficiently address questions on prosecution's evidence, including the recovery of the motorcycle and wristwatch, identification of the deceased, and circumstances of the exhumation – Supreme Court highlights the burden of proof under Section 106 on the accused to explain possession of the stolen motorcycle [Paras 3-7].

Discovery of Evidence – Reliability and Procedural Integrity:

Discrepancies in witness testimonies regarding recovery of motorcycle and wristwatch – Prosecution's theory of exhumation and last seen evidence challenged – Supreme Court remands for thorough examination of the facts and evidentiary inconsistencies [Paras 6-7].

Decision:

Appeal disposed of – High Court's judgment set aside – Case remitted to High Court for fresh disposal in accordance with law – Appellants allowed to raise all contentions, and respondents permitted to defend the trial court’s judgment [Paras 8].

Service Law – Re-evaluation of Examination Scripts – Appointment Cancellation:

Challenge to the re-evaluation of examination scripts and cancellation of appointments based on a revised merit list – Original merit list canceled due to errors in examination questions and answers – Supreme Court upholds the re-evaluation process and revised merit list but provides relief to appellants based on length of service and absence of their fault in the errors [Paras 1-29].

Re-evaluation Procedure – Clause 14 of the Examination Conduct Rules:

Detailed examination of Clause 14 of the Rules, which provides for the deletion of incorrect questions and pro-rata distribution of marks – Re-evaluation of certain questions found incorrect in the original evaluation – Supreme Court finds re-evaluation process valid and within the Board's authority [Paras 13-17].

Equitable Relief – Length of Service and Training Considerations:

Given the appellants' completion of training and more than three years of service, Supreme Court directs their retention at the bottom of the revised merit list – Ensures no unfair advantage to appellants while avoiding undue hardship from termination [Paras 18-28].

Decision:

Appeals disposed of – High Court's order modified – Appellants to be placed at the bottom of the revised merit list with fresh appointments – No entitlement to back wages, seniority, or other benefits from prior appointments [Paras 27-28].