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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)

Jharkhand High Court (Public Interest Litigation) Rules, 2010 – HELD allegations made by petitioner vague, very much generalized and not at all substantiated by anything worthy to be called an evidence. Allegations of corruption and siphoning of money from shell companies are nothing but a bald allegation, without substantiating the allegations. Petitioner non- disclosure of the credentials of the petitioner and the past efforts made for similar reliefs. PILs dismissed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH STATE OF JHARKHAND — Appellant Vs. SHIV SHANKAR SHARMA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Uday Umesh Lalit, CJI., S. Ravindra Bhat and…

Land Acquisition Act, 1894 – Sections 4 and 6 – Acquisition of land – When the acquisition is solely for the purpose of excavation of coal and the entire land is acquired on the basis of the estimates of the coal reserve identified and the entire land is to be mined and used and no further developmental activity is required

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH S. SHANKARAIAH THR. GPA HOLDER AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. THE LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER AND REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER PEDDAPALI KARIMNAGAR DIST. AND OTHERS —…

Mesne profits/compensation – From the date of the decree of eviction, the tenant is liable to pay mesne profits or compensation for use and occupation of the premises at the same rate at which the landlord would have been able to let out the premises – Landlord not bound by contractual rate of rent

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SUMER CORPORATION — Appellant Vs. VIJAY ANANT GANGAN AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and M.M. Sundresh, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 – Section 52(1A) read with Section 102(1)(ca) – Election – Non-disclosure of conviction – Failure to disclose conviction for an offence under the Kerala Police Act for holding a dharna in front of the Panchayat office, not a ground for declaring an election void – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH RAVI NAMBOOTHIRI — Appellant Vs. K.A. BAIJU AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : S. Abdul Nazeer and V.Ramasubramanian, JJ. ) Civil Appeal Nos.…

Suit for specific performance – There was no specific issue framed by the learned Trial Court on readiness and willingness on the part of the plaintiff – There must be a specific issue framed on readiness and willingness on the part of the plaintiff in a suit for specific performance and before giving any specific finding, the parties must be put to notice. Remanded

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH V.S. RAMAKRISHNAN — Appellant Vs. P.M. MUHAMMED ALI — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and M.M. Sundresh, JJ. ) Civil Appeal Nos. 8050-8051…

Standard Fire & Special Perils policy – Once it is proved that there is a deficiency in service and that insurance company knowingly entered into a contract, notwithstanding the exclusion clause, the consequence would flow out of it HELD per the common law principle of acquiescence and estoppel, insurance cannot be allowed to take advantage of its own wrong, if any. It is a conscious waiver of the exclusion clause by insurance company.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH M/S TEXCO MARKETING PVT. LTD. — Appellant Vs. TATA AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Surya Kant and…

Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 – jurisdiction of a Civil Court to try a suit filed by a borrower against a Bank Not ousted by RDB Act – the proceedings under the RDB Act will not be impeded in any manner by filing of a separate suit before the Civil Court – there is no question of transfer of the suit whether by consent or otherwise to DRT

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH BANK OF RAJASTHAN LIMITED — Appellant Vs. VCK SHARES & STOCK BROKING SERVICES LIMITED — Respondent ( Before : Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Abhay S.…

Stamp (West Bengal Amendment) Act, 1990 – Section 47A – Public auction – Market value of property – Determination of – to say that even in a court monitored auction, the Registering Authority would have a say on what is the market price, would amount to the Registering Authority sitting in appeal over the decision of the Court permitting sale at a particular price.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH REGISTRAR OF ASSURANCES AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. ASL VYAPAR PRIVATE LTD. AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Abhay S.…

University Grants Commission Regulations, 2018 – – the members of such Search-cum-Selection Committee shall be the persons of eminence in the sphere of higher education and shall not be connected in any manner with the University concerned or its colleges – While preparing the panel, the Search Committee shall give proper weightage to the academic excellence etc.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH PROF. NARENDRA SINGH BHANDARI — Appellant Vs. RAVINDRA JUGRAN AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and M.M. Sundresh, JJ. ) Civil…

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