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Cochin University of Science and Technology Act, 1986 — Section 31(10) and 31(11) — Selection and Appointment — Validity of Rank List and Communal Rotation — Harmonious Construction — Section 31(10) stipulates that the Rank List remains valid for two years, and vacancies arising during this period “shall be filled up from the list so published” — Section 31(11) mandates that “Communal rotation shall be followed category-wise” — These sub-sections operate in distinct spheres but are not mutually exclusive; the Rank List’s validity period (Sub-sec 10) co-exists with the mandatory application of communal rotation (Sub-sec 11) for every appointment made therefrom — Interpreting Sub-section (11) as becoming operative only after the Rank List expires would render the reservation/rotation requirement otiose during the list’s validity, defeating legislative intent and violating the doctrine of harmonious construction. (Paras 5, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.5.1, 5.5.2 Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) —Section 302 read with Sections 149 and 148 — Murder —Conviction affirmed by High Court — Appeal to Supreme Court — Sufficiency of evidence — Role of interested/related witnesses — Deposition of PW-4 (mother of deceased and alleged eyewitness) scrutinized closely — Material contradictions found in PW-4’s evidence regarding the manner of assault and who informed her — Failure of prosecution to examine key witness (deceased’s granddaughter, who initially informed PW-4) — Independent witnesses (PW-1, PW-2, PW-3 and PW-9) turned hostile — Recovery of weapons based on accused’s memorandum/statement rendered unreliable when supporting witnesses hostile. (Paras 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15) Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 — Section 45A — Determination of contributions in certain cases — Preconditions for invoking Section 45A — Section 45A is a special provision for best-judgment assessment applicable only when an employer fails to submit, furnish, or maintain returns, particulars, registers, or records as required by Section 44, OR obstructs an Inspector or official in discharging duties under Section 45 — It is not an alternative mode of assessment available at the option of the Corporation — When records (ledgers, cash books, vouchers, etc.) are produced and the employer cooperates by attending multiple personal hearings, the mere allegation of inadequacy or deficiency of supporting documents does not satisfy the statutory threshold of “non-production” or “obstruction” to invoke Section 45A — Mere inadequacy of records does not confer jurisdiction under Section 45A. (Paras 14.6, 14.7, 24, 25, 27, 30) Tender and Contract — Eligibility Criteria — Interpretation of “prime contractor” and “in the same name and style” — Requirement of work experience — Where an NIT’s pre-qualification document requires “each prime contractor in the same name and style (tenderer)” to have completed previous work, and the term “prime contractor” is undefined, its meaning must be derived from common parlance as the tenderer primarily responsible for the contract offer; however, the requirement must be construed from the standpoint of a prudent businessman, considering the credentials and capacity to execute the work, not merely the name. (Paras 17, 20, 21.3) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 389 — Suspension of execution of sentence pending appeal and release on bail — Scope and distinction with bail — Appellate Court must record proper reasons for suspending sentence; it should not be passed as a matter of routine — The Appellate Court must not reappreciate evidence or attempt to find lacunae in the prosecution case at this stage — Once convicted, the presumption of innocence vanishes, and the High Court should be slow in granting bail pending appeal, especially for serious offenses like murder (Section 302, IPC). (Paras 6, 6.1, 6.2)

Cochin University of Science and Technology Act, 1986 — Section 31(10) and 31(11) — Selection and Appointment — Validity of Rank List and Communal Rotation — Harmonious Construction — Section 31(10) stipulates that the Rank List remains valid for two years, and vacancies arising during this period “shall be filled up from the list so published” — Section 31(11) mandates that “Communal rotation shall be followed category-wise” — These sub-sections operate in distinct spheres but are not mutually exclusive; the Rank List’s validity period (Sub-sec 10) co-exists with the mandatory application of communal rotation (Sub-sec 11) for every appointment made therefrom — Interpreting Sub-section (11) as becoming operative only after the Rank List expires would render the reservation/rotation requirement otiose during the list’s validity, defeating legislative intent and violating the doctrine of harmonious construction. (Paras 5, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.5.1, 5.5.2

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) —Section 302 read with Sections 149 and 148 — Murder —Conviction affirmed by High Court — Appeal to Supreme Court — Sufficiency of evidence — Role of interested/related witnesses — Deposition of PW-4 (mother of deceased and alleged eyewitness) scrutinized closely — Material contradictions found in PW-4’s evidence regarding the manner of assault and who informed her — Failure of prosecution to examine key witness (deceased’s granddaughter, who initially informed PW-4) — Independent witnesses (PW-1, PW-2, PW-3 and PW-9) turned hostile — Recovery of weapons based on accused’s memorandum/statement rendered unreliable when supporting witnesses hostile. (Paras 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15)

Quashing of criminal complaint – gap of more than four years between the initial investigation and the filing of the complaint, and even after lapse of substantial amount of time, no evidence has been provided to sustain the claims in the complaint – law, must always ensure that frivolous cases do not pervert the sacrosanct nature of the law – Criminal complaint quashed

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HASMUKHLAL D. VORA AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU — Respondent ( Before : Krishna Murari and S. Ravindra Bhat,…

(CrPC) – Section 427 – there must be a specific direction or order by the court that the subsequent sentence to run concurrently with the previous sentence.rule is that where there are different transactions, different crime numbers and cases have been decided by the different judgments, concurrent sentence cannot be awarded under Section 427 Cr.P.C

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH IQRAM — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, CJI. and Pamidighantam Sri…

Multiple dying declarations – in case the court comes to the conclusion that the dying declaration is true and reliable, has been recorded by a person at a time when the deceased was fit physically and mentally to make the declaration and it has not been made under any tutoring/duress/prompting; it can be the sole basis for recording conviction – In such an eventuality no corroboration is required

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH RAJARAM — Appellant Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : S. Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia, JJ. ) Criminal…

HELD there may be an illegal residential colony , therefore, it cannot be believed that the respondent Nos. 1 and 2 original writ petitioners are in possession of the land in question and/or at the relevant time possession was not taken. Following (2020) 8 SCC 129 in case possession has been taken, compensation has not been paid then there is no lapse. Similarly, if compensation has been paid, possession has not been taken then there is no lapse. Writs dismissed

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH SECRETARY, LAND AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. RAM PRAKASH SEHRAWAT AND OTHERS — Respondent (…

Deficiency in service – way the issue was addressed by the Max Life Insurance Corporation following the information conveyed does fail, in our opinion, the test of Reasonable Conduct. HELD acts of Max Life Insurance Corporation amount to a clear case of deficiency of service and a non-bonafide conduct by the Max Life Insurance Corporation

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH GOKAL CHAND (D) THR. LRS. — Appellant Vs. AXIS BANK LTD. AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : K.M. Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy, JJ.…

Slump Sale Agreement – liability of the purchaser for the dues relating to activities and operations of the unit for the period anterior to 17.7.2010, could not therefore have been fastened on the appellant HELD that the liabilities for the transactions made prior to the sale agreement, are to be borne by the seller, U.P State Sugar Corporation .

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH WAVE INDUSTRIES PVT. LTD. — Appellant Vs. STATE OF U.P. AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : K.M. Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy, JJ. )…

Service Matters

Service Law – whether the seniority of direct recruits who were recruited in the recruitment process which commenced in the relevant recruitment year but ended thereafter, can be fixed by following rotation of quota by interspacing them with the direct recruits of the same recruitment year who were promoted earlier during the same year? Matter placed before 5 judge bench

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HARIHARAN AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. HARSH VARDHAN SINGH RAO AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : S. Abdul Nazeer and Abhay S. Oka,…

Death case – Motor Accident – the actual income should be computed @ Rs. 1,50,000/- per annum. Applying 40% towards future prospects, the total annual income (Rs. 1,50,000 + Rs. 60,000) amounts to 2,10,000 – With a 1/4th deduction (4 dependents), the annual loss of dependency ( 2,10,000 – 52,500) would be Rs. 1,57,500 – Applying a multiplier of 16, total loss of dependency (i.e., Rs. 1,57,500 x 16) is Rs. Rs. 25,20,000 – Filial and parental consortium have to be increased – Each of the children, and the mother of the deceased, is entitled to Rs. 40,000/- – Thus, the total amount payable towards filial and parental consortium is Rs. 1,20,000/- – Appellants are entitled to Rs. 25,20,000/- towards loss of dependency; and the three appellants being the children and mother of the deceased, are entitled to Rs. 40,000/- each towards filial and parental consortium – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH HARPREET KAUR AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. MOHINDER YADAV AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Krishna Murari and S. Ravindra Bhat, JJ. )…

(CrPC) – S 482 – (IPC) – S 420 – Quashing of Criminal Proceedings – Cheating – Forged signatures on sale deed – Civil remedy – if civil remedy is available and is in fact adopted, as has happened in the case on hand, the High Court should have quashed the criminal proceeding to prevent abuse of process of court – Criminal proceedings quashed –

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH R. NAGENDER YADAV — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF TELANGANA AND ANOTHERR — Respondent ( Before : S. Abdul Nazeer and J.B. Pardiwala, JJ.…

Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act, 2015 – Section 3 – Offence of ‘organised crime’ could be said to have been constituted by at least one instance of continuation, apart from continuing unlawful activity evidenced by more than one charge-sheets in the preceding ten years – If ‘organised crime’ was synonymous with ‘continuing unlawful activity’, two separate definitions were not necessary –

DIVISION BENCH THE STATE OF GUJARAT — Appellant Vs. SANDIP OMPRAKASH GUPTA — Respondent ( Before : S. Abdul Nazeer and J.B. Pardiwala, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No. 2291 of…

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