Latest Post

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 — Section 4 — Section 376 (3) IPC — Rape — Conviction upheld — Evidence of victim’s mother and medical evidence — Reliability of victim’s mother’s testimony confirmed despite lengthy cross-examination, finding it natural and trustworthy and corroborated by other witnesses and medical evidence — Medical evidence, though partially presented by defense, conclusively supported sexual assault, citing perineal tear and abrasions around anus Hindu Succession Act, 1956 — Section 6 (as amended by Amendment Act, 2005) — Retrospective application — Validity of pre-amendment sale deeds — The prohibition contained in the amended Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, does not affect registered sale deeds executed prior to December 20, 2004 (date of introduction of the amending provision) — This principle aligns with the judgment in Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma, (2020) 9 SCC 1. Judicial Process — Misuse of process — Challenging bail conditions previously offered voluntarily — Accused offering substantial deposits to secure bail and subsequently challenging the onerous nature of conditions or the counsel’s authority to make such offers — This practice is condemned for undermining the judicial process and preventing consideration of bail applications on their merits — Such conduct leads to setting aside of bail orders and remittal for fresh consideration. Social Media Posts — Content-Related Offenses — Retaliatory Action — Quashing of Proceedings — While the court made no final determination on the nature of the petitioner’s social media posts, it acknowledged the petitioner’s counsel’s submission that the tweets were ‘retaliatory’ and were made in response to an incident involving a social media influencer. This assertion formed part of the petitioner’s argument for quashing or consolidating the numerous FIRs, suggesting a motive beyond simple offensive content. Legal Profession — Autonomy and Independence — Administration of Justice — Role of Lawyers — Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India — Impact of direct summons to defence counsel by Investigating Agencies on the autonomy of the legal profession and the independence of the administration of justice — Need for judicial oversight.

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Sections 161, 164, 319 – Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Section 376(2) – Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 – Sections 5 and 6 – Sexual harassment – Order of summoning – The statement of the child so as to involve a person wearing spectacles as an accused does not inspire confidence disclosing more than prima facie to make him to stand trial of the offences. Therefore, This Court hold that the order of summoning the appellant under Section 319 of the Code is not legal

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MANI PUSHPAKJOSHI — Appellant Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. ) Criminal…

Service Matters

Service Law – it cannot be said that the appointment of the employees in the present set of appeals were irregular appointments. Such appointments are illegal appointment in terms of the ratio of Supreme Court judgment in Uma Devi. As such appointments were made without any sanctioned post, without any advertisement giving opportunity to all eligible candidates to apply and seek public employment and without any method of recruitment.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH THE STATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. DEVENDRA SHARMA — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. )…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 482 – Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 – Section 35 read with Section 3 – Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 – Section 23, 23(1) read with Section 4 and 4(1) – Cognizance of offence – The very fact that the High Court, in this case, went into the most minute details, on the allegtions made by the appellant-C.B.I., and the defence put-forth by the respondent, led us to a conclusion that the High Court has exceeded its power, while exercising its inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION — Appellant Vs. ARVIND KHANNA — Respondent ( Before : R. Banumathi and R. Subhash Reddy, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 34, 417, 418, 420, 422, 120(B), 403, 406, 420 and 506(B) – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 482 – Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (NI) – Section 138 – Though the contract is of civil nature, if there is an element of cheating and fraud it is always open for a party in a contract, to prosecute the other side for the offences alleged. Equally, mere filing of a suit or complaint filed under Section 138 of the N.I. Act, 1881 by itself is no ground to quash the proceedings. Appeal allowed

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH DR. LAKSHMAN — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : R. Banumathi and R. Subhash Reddy, JJ. )…

Land Acquisition Act, 1894 – Section 31 A – Review of award – It is settled legal proposition that unless the statute/rules so permit, the review application is not maintainable in case of judicial/quasi­judicial orders -the law on the point can be summarised to the effect that in the absence of any statutory provision providing for review, entertaining an application for review or under the garb of clarification /modification/ correction is not permissible

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH NARESH KUMAR AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI — Respondent ( Before : Arun Mishra, Vineet Saran and S. Ravindra…

Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 – Sections 10, 10(1) and 10(2) – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 482 – Prohibition of employment of contract labour – Non impleading recognised unions in proceedings – This in our opinion has resulted in prejudice for those who, given the opportunity, could have apprised the High Court with all facts and the detailed study/discussion by the Sub-Committees, preceding the 08.09.1994 notification.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH ONGC LABOUR UNION — Appellant Vs. ONGC DEHRADUN AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : R. Banumathi, A.S. Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, JJ. )…

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 – Sections 34 and 37 – Arbitration proceedings – Termination of contract – Once it is held that the termination was illegal and thereafter when the learned Arbitral Tribunal has considered the claims on merits, which basically were with respect to the unpaid amount in respect of the work executed under the contract and loss of profit. Cogent reasons have been given by the learned Arbitral Tribunal – Cogent award

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH THE STATE OF JHARKHAND AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. M/S HSS INTEGRATED SDN AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Arun Mishra and M.…

Income Tax Act, 1961 – Section 143(1) and 143(2) – Service of notice – Mere mentioning of the new address in the return of income without specifically intimating the Assessing Officer with respect to change of address and without getting the PAN database changed, is not enough and sufficient.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, MUMBAI — Appellant Vs. M/S I-VEN INTERACTIVE LIMITED, MUMBAI — Respondent ( Before : Uday Umesh Lalit, Indira Banerjee…

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Section 47 – Partnership Act, 1932 – Section 42(c) – Respondents were not parties to the partnership deed and that the partnership stands dissolved, in view of death of one of the partners, the respondents have not derived the benefit of assets of the partnership firm, the decree obtained by the predecessor of the appellants, is not executable against the respondents

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH S.P. MISRA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. MOHD. LAIQUDDIN KHAN AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Indu Malhotra and R. Subhash Reddy, JJ.…

You missed