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Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 302, 449, 376, 394 — Appeal against High Court’s upholding of conviction and sentence — Case based on circumstantial evidence — Absence of direct evidence connecting appellant to offense — Falsely implicated — Prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt — No scientific evidence linking appellant — Important witnesses not associated in investigation or produced in court — Appeal allowed, conviction and sentence set aside. Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 — Section 138 — Dishonour of cheque — Quashing of proceedings — Cheques issued as security and not for consideration — Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) clearly stated cheques were for security purposes to show banks and not for deposit — Complainant failed to read the complete terms of MOU in isolation and misinterpreted it to claim cheques were converted into debt — Court empowered to consider unimpeachable documents at pre-trial stage to prevent injustice — Complaints under Section 138 NI Act liable to be quashed. Insurance Law — Fire Insurance — Accidental Fire — Cause of fire is immaterial if the insured is not the instigator and there is no fraud. The objective of fire insurance is to indemnify the insured against loss by fire. Tender Conditions — Interpretation — Ambiguity — The terms of a tender must be clear and unambiguous — If a tendering authority intends for a specific document to be issued by a particular authority, it must be clearly stated in the tender conditions — Failure to do so may lead to rejection of the bid being deemed arbitrary and dehors the tender terms. Public Interest Litigation (PIL) — Environmental Protection — Monitoring Committee — Powers and Scope — A PIL was filed concerning environmental issues in Delhi, leading to the appointment of a Monitoring Committee. The Supreme Court clarified that the committee was appointed to prevent misuse of residential premises for commercial purposes and not to interfere with residential premises used as such. Their power was limited to making suggestions to a Special Task Force regarding encroachments on public land, not to summarily seal premises.

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 498A, 306, 323 and 149 – Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 – Sections 3 and 7 – Committed suicide – Reliance cannot be placed on the sole testimony of PW1, on the basis of which the Appellant was convicted under Sections 498A, 114 and 323 as there is no corroboration by PW4 who is alleged to have given the information to him. Other than the above allegation, the Appellant stands on the same footing as of Accused Nos. 3, 4 and 5 who have been acquitted by the High Court. As the accusation of the physical assault by the appellant on the deceased is not proved, he is entitled to be acquitted.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  KANTILAL — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF GUJARAT — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No.…

Service Matters

Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation Compassionate Appointment Regulations, 2010 – Regulation 4(3) – Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 14 – Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 – Section 166 and 140 – Compassionate appointment – As the Respondent has received the compensation under the Act, he is not entitled for compassionate appointment under the Regulations – The judgment of the High Court is set aside the Appeal is allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  RAJASTHAN STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION — Appellant Vs. DANISH KHAN — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ. ) Civil…

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) – Order 1 Rule 10 and Order 12 Rule 10 – Transfer of Property Act, 1882 – Section 52- It is well settled law that mere non-mentioning of an incorrect provision is not fatal to the application if the power to pass such an order is available with the court.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  PRUTHVIRAJSINH NODHUBHA JADEJA (D) BY LRS. — Appellant Vs. JAYESHKUMAR CHHAKADDAS SHAH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose,…

Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 142 – Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 – Section 16(1)(a) – Food adulteration – Minimum sentence – This Court are clearly of the view that the power under Article 142 cannot be exercised against the specific provision of law. Section 16(1)(a) of the Act lays down a minimum sentence of six months.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  RAJ KUMAR — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH — Respondent ( Before : Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal…

Commercial Courts Act, 2015 – Section 2(1)(c)(vii) – Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC) – Order 7 Rule 10 – Return of plaint-A dispute relating to immovable property per se may not be a commercial dispute. But it becomes a commercial dispute, if it falls under sub-clause (vii) of Section 2(1)(c) of the Act viz. “the agreements relating to immovable property used exclusively in trade or commerce”. The words “used exclusively in trade or commerce” are to be interpreted purposefully. The word “used” denotes “actually used” and it cannot be either “ready for use” or “likely to be used” or “to be used”. It should be “actually used”. Such a wide interpretation would defeat the objects of the Act and the fast tracking procedure

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  AMBALAL SARABHAI ENTERPRISES LTD. — Appellant Vs. K.S. INFRASPACE LLP AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : A.S. Bopanna and R. Banumathi, JJ. )…

Service Matters

Kerala Abkari Shops Disposal Rules, 2002 – Rules 4(2) and 9(10)(b) – Ban of arrack in State of Kerala – Right of Employment.- It cannot be said that a vested right accrued to all the abkari workers to claim employment in retail outlets in the Corporation. This Court not agree with the submission of the Respondents that a vested right was created by the Government Order dated 20.02.2002 and that it was indefeasible.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  KERALA STATE BEVERAGES (M AND M) CORPORATION LIMITED — Appellant Vs. P.P. SURESH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and…

Service Matters

Appellant cannot be denied payment of pension applicable to the rank of Lt. Colonel (TS) on the ground that he fell short of the reckonable service of 21 years – Appellant retired in the year 1991 and has been made to run from pillar to post to get his rightful pension – It appropriate that apart from his entitlement to the pension applicable to the post of Lt. Colonel (TS), he is also entitled to be compensated for the avoidable litigation to which he was unnecessarily dragged into – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  IC 29547 L BOBBY JOSEPH — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta,…

Service Matters

Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Services Commission Act, 1982. In view of the enquiry report dated 06.05.2009 and the endorsement of the Management in their letters, it is clear that Respondent No.5 had actually worked during 1985 to 1995 and he was eligible for being considered for regularization of his service as LT Grade Teacher. The order of regularization was rightly upheld by the Division Bench – Appeal dismissed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH  C/M KISAN INTER COLLEGE MANAGER — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and…

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