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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) Central Excise Act, 1944 — Section 2(f) (prior to amendment by Act 18 of 2017) — Manufacture — Exemption Notification No.5/98-CE, Entry No.106 — Eligibility for exemption — Manufacture includes series of processes; entire chain of activities must be considered — Where multiple units undertake distinct processes which are ‘integrally connected’ and form a ‘continuous chain’ to convert raw material (grey fabrics) into final excisable product (cotton fabrics), the entire activity constitutes ‘manufacture’ — Distinct ownership or separate bills between the units is irrelevant if the processes are interconnected and essential for producing the final product — Use of power in any intermediate, integrally connected process denies the exemption under Entry 106 (cotton fabrics processed without the aid of power or steam). (Paras 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 — Section 3(1)(d) — Right to property given at marriage — Divorced Muslim Woman — The Act allows a divorced woman to claim all properties given to her before, at the time of, or after marriage by her relatives, friends, the husband, or his relatives/friends — The objective of the Act is to secure the financial protection and dignity of a Muslim woman post-divorce. (Paras 3, 7, 9)

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))

Electricity Supply Cannot Be Disconnected For Recovery Of Additional Demand Raised After Expiry Of Two Years Limitation Period HELD Section 56(2) however, does not preclude the licensee company from raising a supplementary demand after the expiry of the limitation period of two years. It only restricts the right of the licensee to disconnect electricity supply due to non-payment of dues after the period of limitation of two years has expired

Electricity Supply Cannot Be Disconnected For Recovery Of Additional Demand Raised After Expiry Of Two Years Limitation Period: SC [Read Judgment] LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK 19 Feb 2020 2:31 PM The…

Matrimonial Dispute – Petitioner has stated in her application that she is left homeless – Court are not entering into the merits of the rival contentions between the parties which will be heard at a future date – By way of an ad-hoc arrangement, This Court direct the respondent to pay a lump sum amount of Rs 4 lakhs to the petitioner on or before 31 March 2020.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH NEELAM MANMOHAN ATTAVAR — Appellant Vs. MANMOHAN ATTAVAR (D) THR LRS. — Respondent ( Before : D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant, JJ. ) I.A.…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) -Sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 – Allegation is that the appellant had sold the same flat to two persons – Continued custody of the appellant is not warranted – Charges have already been framed – Appellant has been in custody for over a year and three months – This Court direct that the appellant be released on bail

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH KHURSHID KHAN — Appellant Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH — Respondent ( Before : Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant, JJ. ) Criminal…

Registration of vehicles – As per the details of vehicles and chassis number filed by learned counsel, pursuant to this Court’s order, as they have already been purchased and are BS-IV compliant, as a one time measure they are ordered to be registered within ten days of lifting of lock-down in the city concerned,

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH NORTH DELHI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION — Appellant Vs. GNCTD — Respondent ( Before : Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta, JJ. ) Civil Appeal No(s). 4908-4909/2019…

Bail – Humanitarian grounds – There is no member of the family who is available to look after the spouse of the applicant and she is presently in the care of domestic staff – Applicant’s spouse had undergone three invasive open heart cardiac surgeries in the past and that she suffers from other serious medical conditions – In the past, when the applicant was released on interim bail, he had complied with the conditions which were imposed by the Court and had returned to custody as directed

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SUBRATA BHATTACHARYA — Appellant Vs. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant, JJ.…

Penal Code, 1860 – Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 – Grant of interim bail – Medical grounds – Applicant is a builder who is alleged to have defrauded nearly 1400 persons and to have collected an amount of over Rs 40 crores – Since the applicant has been in custody for over three and half years and has suffered from cancer for which he had to undergo surgery – It appropriate and proper to direct release of the applicant on interim bail for a period of six weeks

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH AZAM KHAN — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA — Respondent ( Before : D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant, JJ. ) I.A. No.47747/2020 in…

Measures for protection of health and welfare of the prisoners to restrict the transmission of COVID-19 – HELD Taking into consideration the possibility of outside transmission, this Court directs that the physical presence of all the undertrial prisoners before the Courts must be stopped forthwith and recourse to video conferencing must be taken for all purposes – Also, the transfer of prisoners from one prison to another for routine reasons must not be resorted except for decongestion to ensure social distancing and medical assistance to an ill prisoner

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH IN RE: CONTAGION OF COVID 19 VIRUS IN PRISONS ( Before : Sharad Arvind Bobde, C.J.I, L. Nageswara Rao and Surya Kant, JJ. )…

Application Not Necessary For Producing Secondary Evidence : SC HELD foundation of leading of secondary evidence, either in the plaint or in evidence, the secondary evidence cannot be ousted for consideration only because an application for permission to lead secondary evidence was not filed.”

Application Not Necessary For Producing Secondary Evidence : SC [Read Judgment] LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK 27 March 2020 3:38 PM In a judgment delivered on March 19, the Supreme Court has…

Coronavirus: Consider bail for all undertrials facing up to 7 years in jail to decongest prisons, Supreme Court to states HELD “…the State/Union Territory could consider the release of prisoners who have been convicted or are undertrial for offences for which prescribed punishment is up to 7 years or less”,

  Coronavirus: Consider bail for all undertrials facing up to 7 years in jail to decongest prisons, Supreme Court to states “…the State/Union Territory could consider the release of prisoners…

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