Criminal Law – Death Sentence – Principles of sentencing – Death penalty converted to life imprisonment – Examination of whether life imprisonment or death sentence should be awarded in capital offences – Uncertainty and lack of uniformity in sentencing – Life imprisonment preferred when death sentence not unquestionably necessary [Paras 1-81].

Sentencing – Role of Remission – Power of appropriate Government under Section 432 CrPC – Remission is statutory, requiring procedural and substantive checks – Remissions to be granted case-by-case, not wholesale – Section 433A mandates 14 years of imprisonment for life sentences [Paras 55-77].

Death Penalty – Rarest of Rare Cases – Application of Bachan Singh principles – Need for fresh look at aggravating and mitigating circumstances approach – Sentencing must consider both crime and criminal – Judge-centric sentencing should be avoided in favor of principled sentencing [Paras 27-33, 80].

Decision: Appeals allowed to the extent – Death penalty awarded to appellants converted into sentence of life imprisonment – No evidence to support conclusions of sexual harassment or professional killing – Appreciation recorded for counsel efforts [Paras 81-83].

Motor Vehicles Act – Accident Compensation – Liability of Insurer – Nature of insurance policy crucial for determining liability – Certificate of Insurance alone insufficient to ascertain policy type – Requirement for full policy production to determine if it is an "Act Policy" or a "Comprehensive/Package Policy" – Liability depends on policy nature [Paras 7-14].

Legal Precedent – Distinction between Policy Types – Clarification provided in recent judgments distinguishing "Act Policy" and "Comprehensive/Package Policy" – Comprehensive policies include third-party coverage including vehicle occupants – Act policies cover statutory requirements only [Paras 13, 21-22].

Remand for Policy Examination – Absence of full policy necessitates remand to tribunal for complete policy examination – Parties granted liberty to file additional documents and evidence [Paras 14-15].

Decision: Appeals by insurer allowed in part – Matter remitted to tribunal for determination of policy nature – Compensation quantum upheld – Appeals by claimant for enhancement of compensation dismissed – No order as to costs [Paras 17].

Motor Vehicles Act – Insurance Liability – Comprehensive/Package Policy – Appeal questioning insurer's liability for compensating an occupant in a private car under comprehensive/package policy – Need for complete policy review to ascertain coverage – Tribunal and High Court failed to discuss policy nature, requiring remand for thorough examination [Paras 2-3, 22-24].

Legal Precedent – Policy Types – Distinction between "Act Policy" and "Comprehensive/Package Policy" highlighted – Comprehensive policies cover occupants in vehicle – Legal and factual scrutiny required to determine policy type – Adherence to regulatory authority guidelines [Paras 15-21].

Remand for Policy Examination – Tribunal to review complete insurance policy to establish liability – Additional evidence permitted to ascertain comprehensive coverage – Decision on liability dependent on policy type [Paras 22-24].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court and Tribunal findings on insurer liability set aside – Matter remitted to Tribunal for further scrutiny of insurance policy – Other findings affirmed – No order as to costs [Paras 24].

Criminal Procedure – Discharge – Section 239 CrPC – Strong suspicion regarding commission of the offence sufficient to justify framing of charges – Specific allegations against husband and parents-in-law of complainant-wife – Allegations cannot be determined at stage of framing charges but only at trial's conclusion – Appeal dismissed [Paras 17-18].

Evidence – Framing of Charges – Evaluation of material and documents – Court to consider if facts disclose existence of ingredients constituting alleged offence – Strong suspicion founded on material sufficient for framing charges – Evidence not deeply scrutinized at this stage [Paras 11-16].

Judicial Process – Abuse in Matrimonial Cases – Legal process often misused in matrimonial disputes – Courts to curb tendency to involve entire family – Specific allegations against parents-in-law taken seriously at framing stage [Paras 17-18].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Specific allegations against husband and parents-in-law warrant framing of charges – Personal appearance of elderly parents-in-law exempted, required to be represented by counsel on hearing dates [Paras 17-18].

Criminal Law – Prevention of Corruption – Section 13(2) read with Sections 13(1)(d) and 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 – Allegation against appellant for causing pecuniary loss to PSUs by deputing officials for personal assistance during medical treatment in London – Examination of whether appellant's actions constituted abuse of position for pecuniary advantage [Paras 3-18].

Discharge – Examination of Prima Facie Case – Consideration of evidence and statements – Witnesses' statements indicated officials performed tasks assisting appellant in discharge of public duties – Lack of evidence for dishonest intention or corrupt means – Prosecution for abuse of process of court [Paras 10-17].

Judicial Review – Powers of High Court and Trial Court – Examination of materials at stage of discharge – Requirement for substantive evidence of criminal misconduct – Proper administrative conduct distinguished from criminal misconduct [Paras 16-17].

Decision: Appeal allowed – High Court and trial court orders set aside – Criminal proceedings against appellant quashed – Actions of appellant while on medical treatment abroad not constituting offence under Section 13(1)(d) – Prosecution deemed abuse of process [Paras 18].

Service Tax – Composition Scheme – Rule 3(3) of the 2007 Rules – Clarification on classification and payment – Circular No. 98/1/2008-ST dated 4.1.2008 upheld – Assessee who paid tax prior to 1.6.2007 not entitled to opt for Composition Scheme under amended provisions – Scheme applies only if option exercised before payment under reclassified works contract [Paras 13-29].

Legal Precedent – Circular Interpretation – Circular providing guidelines to revenue officers – Consistent with Rule 3(3) of the 2007 Rules – Not discriminatory as it applies differentially to distinct classes based on tax payment dates – Reclassification and service tax computation under amended rules [Paras 26-30].

Administrative Law – Circular vs. Statutory Provision – Circular cannot override statutory provision but can explain its application – Validity of Circular No. 98/1/2008-ST affirmed as explanatory, consistent with Rule 3(3) [Paras 21-30].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – High Court's decision upheld – Circular No. 98/1/2008-ST dated 4.1.2008 valid – Appellant not entitled to opt for Composition Scheme after paying service tax under previous classification – No order as to costs [Paras 30].

Service Law – Wrongful Discharge – Reinstatement and Terminal Benefits – Appellant wrongfully discharged and subsequently reinstated without salary and terminal benefits for intervening period – High Court set aside discharge but denied salary and terminal benefits – Supreme Court examines whether intervening period should be counted for terminal benefits despite non-entitlement to salary [Paras 1-12].

Judicial Review – High Court Findings – Setting Aside Termination – High Court's finding that discharge was unsustainable – Reasoning for denial of terminal benefits based on conduct of appellant (4 Red Ink Entries) – Supreme Court holds that High Court's denial of terminal benefits not sustainable due to setting aside of discharge [Paras 9-11].

Decision: Appeals allowed – High Court's order denying terminal benefits for intervening period set aside – Intervening period to be counted for terminal benefits – Respondents directed to fix terminal benefits within two months [Paras 11-12].

Criminal Law – Culpable Homicide – Section 304 IPC – Requirement of positive acts beyond mere omissions, lapses, or negligence – Allegations against ashram authorities of delay in organizing search, informing police, and guarding access to river – High Court quashed FIR under Section 304 IPC due to lack of positive actions indicating culpable homicide – FIR did not disclose ingredients of Section 304 IPC [Paras 18-19].

Criminal Procedure – Investigation Interdiction – High Court's power to quash investigation when facts do not disclose specific offense – Judicial review to ensure allegations justify continuation of proceedings – High Court's decision to continue proceedings under Section 304A IPC and Section 23 of Juvenile Justice Act supported by allegations of negligence [Paras 20-21].

Evidence – Post-Mortem and Expert Opinions – Cause of death by drowning supported by forensic evidence – Absence of diatoms and injuries not conclusively ruling out drowning – Expert opinions and post-mortem reports considered in determining prima facie liability [Paras 11-13].

Decision: Appeals dismissed – High Court's order quashing FIR under Section 304 IPC upheld – Investigation and proceedings under Section 304A IPC and Section 23 of Juvenile Justice Act to continue – Observations confined to current stage, allowing trial court's power under Sections 216 and 323 CrPC if justified by subsequent facts [Paras 20-21].

Criminal Law – Section 493 IPC – Deception and False Belief of Marriage – Appellant convicted for inducing the complainant to believe she was lawfully married to him, leading to cohabitation – Examination of whether deceitful inducement and cohabitation were established beyond reasonable doubt [Paras 1-26].

Deceit and Cohabitation – Legal Definitions and Interpretations – Definition of 'deceit' from judicial dictionaries and law lexicons – Elements required to prove deceit under Section 493 IPC – Inducement to believe in the existence of a lawful marriage and subsequent cohabitation or sexual intercourse with the complainant under that belief [Paras 2-6].

Evidence and Findings – Detailed review of evidence showing the appellant lived with the complainant for nine years, had children, and signed documents supporting the belief of a lawful marriage – Voters' lists and other documents listing the complainant as the appellant's wife – Deception established as per legal standards [Paras 7-26].

Decision: Appeal dismissed – Conviction under Section 493 IPC upheld – Sufficient evidence of deceitful inducement and cohabitation leading the complainant to believe in a lawful marriage – Appellant to surrender to serve remaining sentence [Paras 10, 27].