Supreme Court of India Judgements

46468 Judgements hosted as on 12/05/2024 - Search (FREE), Subscribe, Read & Download

Month: September 2023

Consumer

“Commercial Purpose” – Even purchases in certain situations for ‘commercial purposes’ would not take within its sweep the purchaser out of the definition of expression ‘consumer’ -if the commercial use is by the purchaser himself for the purpose of earning his livelihood by means of self-employment, such purchaser of goods would continue to be a ‘consumer’.

Sep 23, 2023 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH ROHIT CHAUDHARY AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. M/S VIPUL LTD. — Respondent ( Before : S. Ravindra Bhat and Aravind Kumar, JJ. ) Civil…

Contempt

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 – Section 2(b) – wilful breach or disobedience of the same would amount to “civil contempt” – There ought not to be a tendency by courts, to show compassion when disobedience of an undertaking or an order is with impunity and with total consciousness.

Sep 23, 2023 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH BALWANTBHAI SOMABHAI BHANDARI — Appellant Vs. HIRALAL SOMABHAI CONTRACTOR (DECEASED) REP. BY LRS. AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj…

Bail Granted

Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 – Section 4 – Punishment for money laundering – Bail – As a result, the respondents argue that this money is the proceeds of a criminal activity – Appellant being accused of possessing Rs. 30 lakh in his bank account, it’s important to note that this money was deposited on January 24, 2022, which precedes the alleged illegal activity

Sep 23, 2023 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH BACHHU YADAV — Appellant Vs. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT GOVERNMENT OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (PMLA) AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before :…

Election Laws

JK NC was entitled to the “plough” symbol and set aside the LADHC election notification S.O.53 published vide No.Secy/Election/2023/290-301 dated 05.08.2023 – A fresh Notification shall be issued within seven days from today for elections to constitute the 5th Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil – R1 is declared entitled to the exclusive allotment of the Plough symbol for candidates proposed to be put up by it.

Sep 23, 2023 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH UNION TERRITORY OF LADAKH AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. JAMMU AND KASHMIR NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and…

Circumstantial Evidence I P C

Circumstantial evidence, it’s essential to establish a complete chain of circumstances to prove the accused’s guilt and rule out alternative explanations – Sustaining a conviction based on incomplete evidence is deemed unsafe – Additionally, the legal presumption favors the accused, and in cases of doubt, the benefit goes to the accused, not the prosecution

Sep 23, 2023 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH R. SREENIVASA — Appellant Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No. 859…

Cheque Dishonour

Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 – Sections 138 and 142 – Dishonour of Cheque – – The limitation period, as per Article 34 of the Limitation Act, begins when the fixed time expires, in this case, December 2016 – Therefore, the cheque, dated April 28, 2017, falls within the limitation period –

Sep 23, 2023 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH K. HYMAVATHI — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : A.S. Bopanna and Prashant Kumar Mishra, JJ.…

G S T

Himachal Pradesh Passengers and Goods Taxation Act, 1955 – appellants are public sector organizations providing free transportation to their employees and their children in remote hilly areas for safety reasons, and recognizing that a substantial amount of time has passed since the enactment of the Amendment and Validation Act of 1997 (approximately twenty-six years), and that the appellants may have replaced their motor vehicles or buses during this time, the appellants should be liable to pay the tax starting from April 1, 2023, the current financial year onwards, and not for the period before that.

Sep 19, 2023 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH NHPC LTD. AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH SECRETARY AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan,…

Acquittal

In this case, the appellant and the deceased were in a romantic relationship – However, when the deceased stopped communicating with the appellant, the appellant became upset – There was an altercation between them, witnessed by the deceased’s mother – conviction under Section 302 of the IPC is alter to Section 304 part II, and the appellant is sentenced to the period of imprisonment already served – If not needed in any other case, the appellant shall be released immediately – Appeal partly allowed.

Sep 19, 2023 sclaw

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH N. RAMKUMAR — Appellant Vs. THE STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE — Respondent ( Before : S. Ravindra Bhat and Aravind Kumar, JJ.…

You missed

I P C

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 376(2)(g) and 506(1) – Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act, 1998 – Section 4 – Gang Rape – The victim’s testimony, along with her mother and aunt’s statements, was consistent with the initial complaint and corroborated by medical evidence – The defense argued that the long gap between the victim’s examination-in-chief and cross-examination led to inconsistencies in the witnesses’ testimonies – Whether the long gap between the victim’s examination-in-chief and cross-examination led to inconsistencies in the witnesses’ testimonies – The inconsistencies in the witnesses’ testimonies were not significant and did not affect the overall credibility of the evidence – The court dismissed the appeal and upheld the conviction of the appellant for gang rape and related charges – The court rejected the defense’s argument that the long gap between the victim’s examination-in-chief and cross-examination led to inconsistencies in the witnesses’ testimonies – The court found that the evidence presented was sufficient to convict the appellant for gang rape and related charges – The Supreme Court found that the evidence presented was sufficient to convict the appellant and rejected the defence’s arguments regarding inconsistencies in the witnesses’ testimonies.

May 12, 2024 sclaw
Limitation

Dismissal of Civil Suit – Condonation of delay – Standing to file an application – The court clarified that only parties to a suit or those who have accrued a right in the lis can file an application for condonation of delay in filing an application for restoration of the suit. A stranger to the proceedings cannot file such an application.

May 12, 2024 sclaw
Limitation

Limitation Act, 1963 – Haryana Public Moneys (Recovery of Dues) Act, 1979 – Section 3(1)(b) – State Financial Corporation Act, 1951 – Section 29 – The appeals arise from a High Court judgment regarding the recovery of time-barred debts under the Act, 1979, and the Act, 1951 – The main issue is whether a debt time-barred under the Limitation Act can be recovered using the aforementioned Acts – The appellants argued that time-barred debts cannot be recovered under the Recovery of Dues Act, citing the precedent set in V.R. Kalliyanikutty – The respondents argued that the Recovery of Dues Act and the State Financial Corporations Act allow for time-barred debt recovery, as they only bar the remedy, not the right – The court examined whether the Recovery of Dues Act creates a new right for creditors and allows for time-barred debt recovery – The court discussed the distinction between a debt and the right of action for its recovery, noting that the statute of limitation bars the latter but not the former – The court concluded that the Recovery of Dues Act and the State Financial Corporations Act provide an alternative mechanism for recovering debts, even if they are time-barred – Matter needs to be placed before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India to constitute an appropriate three-judge bench.

May 12, 2024 sclaw
Consumer

Consumer Law – Policy Claim – The appellants, family of the deceased, filed a complaint after the LIC repudiated their claim on a policy following the policyholder’s accidental death – The main issue was whether there was a concluded contract between the deceased and LIC at the time of his death, which would obligate LIC to pay the insurance benefits – The appellants argued that LIC had accepted the first premium and issued a receipt, thereby assuming risk and concluding the contract before the policyholder’s death – LIC contended that the policy was not communicated to the deceased and was blocked due to his demise, implying no concluded contract existed – The Supreme Court set aside the NCDRC’s order, restored the District Forum’s order in favor of the appellants, and directed LIC to pay the insurance benefits as per the policy terms – The Court found clear presumption of acceptance of the policy by LIC, as the first premium receipt indicated the corporation was on risk from the receipt date – The Court relied on precedents that establish the principles of insurance contracts and the obligations of good faith expected from insurers – The Supreme Court concluded that LIC had indeed entered into a contract with the policyholder before his death, and thus, was liable to pay the insurance benefits to the appellants.

May 12, 2024 sclaw