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Constitution of India, 1950 — Articles 14, 21 — Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) — Substantive Equality and Inclusion — Scope and Spirit — The measure of a just society demands the removal of barriers for all citizens to realize their potential, transforming formal equality into substantive inclusion — Constitutional vision requires every person, regardless of physical or sensory limitation, to participate with dignity — Rights guaranteed to persons with disabilities are expressions of the constitutional promise of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination, not acts of benevolence. (Paras 1, 12, 13) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 321 — Withdrawal from prosecution — Requirement of High Court permission for withdrawal of cases against sitting or former MPs/MLAs — Following Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India — High Court must exercise judicial mind and give a reasoned order when considering an application for permission to withdraw prosecution against sitting/former legislators — Application must disclose reasons for withdrawal and records of the case must be before the High Court — Absence of requisite permission from the High Court means that the withdrawal application cannot be granted and the criminal proceedings cannot be quashed on this ground — High Court’s rejection of quashing petition confirmed. (Paras 2, 7, 9, 10) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 313 — Examination of Accused — Object and Scope — Non-compliance with mandatory requirement — Fair Trial — The object of Section 313 CrPC is to ensure a fair trial by providing the accused with an opportunity to explain all incriminating circumstances appearing in the prosecution evidence against them personally — It is a mandatory, non-negotiable obligation upon the Court and is not a mere formality; it is based on the cardinal principle of natural justice (audi alterum partem) — The statement cannot be the sole basis for conviction and is neither substantive nor a substitute piece of evidence. (Paras 6, 7.1, 7.2) Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971 — Section 14(1) — Mandamus to acquire land — Power of State Government to acquire land for Slum Rehabilitation Scheme — Preferential Right of Owner — The power of the State Government to acquire land under Section 14 read with Section 3D(c)(i) of the Slum Act is subject to the preferential right of the owner to redevelop the area — Acquisition is not warranted when the owner is willing to undertake development in exercise of their preferential right, and the process must be kept in abeyance until such right is extinguished — No mandamus can be issued to the State Government to acquire the subject property under Section 14 of the Slum Act where the subsequent purchaser from the original owner (Respondent No. 4) has a subsisting preferential right to develop the property. (Paras 63, 64, 71, 72, 77(1)) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 227 — Discharge of Accused — Principles for deciding discharge application — Standard of proof for framing charge — The Court, at the stage of framing charge, must sift the evidence to determine if there is a “sufficient ground for proceeding”; a prima facie case must be established — If two views are possible and one gives rise to “suspicion only, as distinguished from grave suspicion,” the trial Judge is empowered to discharge the accused — The Judge is not a “mere post office” but must exercise judicial mind to determine if a case for trial is made out — The strong suspicion required to frame a charge must be founded on material that can be translated into evidence at trial — Where the profile of allegations renders the existence of strong suspicion patently absurd or inherently improbable, the accused should be discharged. (Paras 14, 15, 16, 17)

(IPC) – Section 120(B), 147, 364 ,302 r/with 120(B)/149, 201 & 396 – Murder-HELD since the super-imposition report was not supported by any other reliable medical evidence like a DNA report or post-mortem report, it would be very risky to convict the accused believing the identification of the dead body of the victim through the super-imposition test.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH S. KALEESWARAN — Appellant Vs. STATE BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE POLLACHI TOWN EAST POLICE STATION, COIMBATORE DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU — Respondent ( Before…

Income Tax Act, 1961 – Section 10(5) – Exemption – Amount received by the employees of the assessee employer towards their Leave Travel Concession (LTC) claims is not liable for the exemption as these employees had visited foreign countries which is not permissible under the law

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH STATE BANK OF INDIA — Appellant Vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX — Respondent ( Before : Uday Umesh Lalit, CJI., S. Ravindra Bhat…

Appointment of arbitrator – Share Subscription and Shareholders Agreement – High Court has refused to refer the dispute between the parties and appoint an arbitrator, proceedings at the instance of the respondent as minority shareholder for oppression and mismanagement is pending before the NCLT – HC erred.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH VGP MARINE KINGDOM PRIVATE LIMITED AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. KAY ELLEN ARNOLD — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and Krishna Murari, JJ.…

Taxation – Entry tax – i.e. for the purpose of their “consumption, use or sale” within that area. It could even be that the goods enter within the industrial area or estate, as the ultimate point of destination for their use. In any case, the levy would be attracted because the incidence is the entry into the local area.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH M/S. OCL INDIA LIMITED — Appellant Vs. STATE OF ORISSA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Uday Umesh Lalit, CJI, S. Ravindra Bhat…

HELD The High Court was justified in exercising its appellate jurisdiction in reversing the order of acquittal as there were certain glaring mistakes, and distorted conclusions in the decision of the Trial Court. The High Court was duty-bound to reverse the decision as there existed very substantial and compelling reasons to do so, failing which it would have caused a grave miscarriage of justice.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH ASHOK KUMAR SINGH CHANDEL — Appellant Vs. STATE OF U.P. — Respondent ( Before : Uday Umesh Lalit, CJI., S. Ravindra Bhat and Pamidighantam…

Bombay Riots – Compensation to victims – The houses, places of business and properties of the citizens were destroyed – These are all violations of their rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India – One of the root causes of their suffering was the failure of the State Government to maintain law and order. Therefore, the affected persons had a right to seek compensation from the State Government.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH SHAKEEL AHMED — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Abhay S. Oka and Vikram Nath,…

Consumer – Illegal sold of hypothecated vehicle – Compensation – Hypothecated vehicle was detained/seized and thereafter, sold which was found to be illegal, the complainant shall be entitled to the compensation/loss suffered because of not plying of the vehicle seized and sold illegally

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MAHINDRA AND MAHINDRA FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED — Appellant Vs. NIZAMUDDIN — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and M.M. Sundresh, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

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