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Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 168 — Notional income of skilled worker — Carpenter — Assessment — The appellant, a carpenter aged 38 years, suffered amputation of his right leg below the knee in a road accident in November 2004 — The Claims Tribunal assessed his monthly income at Rs. 3,000/- and the High Court enhanced it to Rs. 5,000/- relying on minimum wages. Held — A carpenter is a skilled artisan who works with precision and manual dexterity — His income cannot be equated with that of an unskilled worker — Where the appellant’s unrefuted evidence showed earnings of Rs. 8,000/- to Rs. 10,000/- per month, and a skilled job always has the potentiality to fetch higher income, the High Court erred in restricting the figure to Rs. 5,000/- — Considering the date of accident, decisions in comparable cases and the fact of the appellant being a skilled worker, his notional monthly income is assessed at Rs. 9,000/- per month. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Section 304 Part II — Culpable Homicide not Amounting to Murder — Conviction and sentence — Appeal against — Abatement of appeal due to death of co-accused — Death of two appellants during pendency of appeal — Appeal survives only for the third appellant. Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 — Section 154 — Transfer of land in contravention of ceiling limit — Not void ipso facto — Capable of ratification — Legality of transfer to be judged by law on date of execution — Sale deed executed on 04.06.1957 — Ceiling limit then was 30 acres, subsequently amended to 12.5 acres retrospectively from 01.07.1952 — Transfer in contravention of Section 154 not void but voidable at instance of Gaon Sabha coupled with liability for ejectment of transferee under Section 163 — No suit filed for ejectment within limitation period. Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 16(c) — “Readiness and Willingness” — Relief of specific performance is equitable and discretionary — Plaintiff must specifically aver and prove continuous readiness and willingness to perform obligations — Failure to do so disentitles plaintiff to relief — “Readiness” refers to financial capacity, “Willingness” to conduct and intention — Both cumulatively must be seen — Conduct of plaintiff prior and subsequent to suit, along with attending circumstances, must be considered — Availability of funds must be proved with reference to relevant time, not by documents created much later. Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 166 and 140 — Compensation for death in motor vehicular accident — Negligence — Truck stationed on road at night without warning lights or indicators — Wagon-R car collided from behind — Held, truck driver was negligent in leaving the vehicle unattended on the road without adequate precautionary measures, which was the proximate cause of the accident.

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 482 – Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 405, 419 and 420 – Quashing of proceedings – Mere breach of contract cannot give rise to criminal prosecution for cheating unless fraudulent or dishonest intention is shown right at the beginning of the transaction – Proceedings quashed – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  MITESH KUMAR J. SHA — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : S. Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari,…

Compensation – Claim petition filed by mother in law ‘dependent’ – Maintainability – Mother ­in ­law was living with the deceased and his family members – In order to maintain a claim petition, it is sufficient for the claimant to establish his loss of dependency – Section 166 of the MV Act makes it clear that every legal representative who suffers on account of the death of a person in a motor vehicle accident should have a remedy for realization of compensation – Mother in law of deceased is legal representative under Section 166 of MV Act and entitled to maintain the claim petition.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  N. JAYASREE AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. CHOLAMANDALAM MS GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED — Respondent ( Before : S. Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari,…

Rejected the constitutional challenge to the validity of Sections 52 (1)(a), Section 55(b)(1) and Section 56 of the UP Water Supply and Sewerage Act. Appeals allowed HC judgement set aside. Writ petition dismissed. The appellants entitled to recover balance of dues to be recovered per notice of demand, interest at 9 per cent p a.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH  JALKAL VIBHAG NAGAR NIGAM AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. PRADESHIYA INDUSTRIAL AND INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Dr. Dhananjaya Y.…

Murder – Organized crime – High Court quashed charge sheet against accused for KCOCA offences – Appeal against – High Court has completely glossed over the crucial fact that the writ petition was filed only after the sanction was accorded by the competent authority under Section 24(2) and more so cognizance was also taken by the competent Court of the offence of organized crime committed by the members of organized crime syndicate including the writ petitioner

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH KAVITHA LANKESH — Appellant Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and C.T. Ravikumar, JJ. )…

Procedure adopted by the High Court disposing writ petition by permitting / allowing the original writ applicant to modify its offer and that too in exercise of powers under Article 226 of the Constitution is unsustainable and unknown to law -HELD Once the writ of mandamus was issued, instead of disposing of the writ petition, the High Court ought to have allowed the writ petition – Impugned order passed by the High Court is unsustainable in as such no reasons whatsoever have been assigned by the High Court on merits.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH VAIBHAVI ENTERPRISE — Appellant Vs. NOBEL CERA COAT AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

Prisons Act, 1894 – Section 59 – Prisons (Bombay Furlough and Parole) Rules, 1959 – Rules 4(4), 4(6) and 4(10) – Rape Case – Prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment – Furlough Leave – Appeal against – Jail Superintendent has given a negative opinion based on the fact that the respondent kept a mobile phone inside the jail illegally and attempted to make contacts with the outside world – Rule 4(4) of the Rules provides for denial of furlough on grounds of disturbance to public peace and tranquillity – Order of High Court directed the release of respondent on furlough set aside – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. NARAYAN @ NARAYAN SAI @ MOTA BHAGWAN ASARAM @ ASUMAL HARPALANI — Respondent ( Before :…

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