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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))

Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, S.87–User Charges-Municipal Corporation is competent to levy user charges for the use of municipal drain for the flow of waste water from the tube wells by installed by private institutions-Such user charges which are as per diameter of tube well does not amount to fee for which prior approval of State government is required.          

2019(1) Law Herald (SC) 555 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 603 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud Hon’ble Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta Civil Appeal…

Summons—Revision under S 397(2) Cr PC against order of issue of process is maintainable Cognizance of Offence—While taking cognizance of an offence under Section 190 (1) (b) CrPC, the Magistrate does not has to record reasons for its satisfaction of sufficient grounds for issuance of summons

2019(1) Law Herald (SC) 511 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 598 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Indira Banerjee Hon’ble Mrs. Justice R. Baumathi Criminal Appeal No. 224…

Rape–Medical certificate granted by the Doctor suggests that the Hymen was torn at 6’O clock position and the rugosity was lost–There was no reason for the poor girl to falsely implicate the accused. Rape–Defence cannot take advantage of bad investigation where there is clinching evidence available to the prosecution–Truthful version of the prosecutrix cannot be ignored.

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 593 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.S.Sirpurkar Criminal Appeal No. 222 of 2009 (Arising…

Landlord & Tenant-Eviction-Revision of Rent-Agreed rent which was being paid by the tenant with annual increment decided at the time of creation of tenancy (10%) is not liable to re-determined as per amendment in statutory Act fixing rate of annual increment (7.5%)–Rate of annual increment would be applicable after the commencement of amendment–Tenant cannot unilaterally revise the rent already paid as statutory amendment

2019(1) Law Herald (SC) 493 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 556 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Honble Mr. Justice Ashok Bhushan Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.M. Joseph Civil Appeal Nos. 12561-12562…

Consumer Protection Act, 1986, S.27–Imposition of Penalty-Appellant was shown as Secretary of the Society during the relevant period—For the default committed by a Credit Society (non return of amount invested alongwith interest as assured) and in absence of any personal liability imposed on the appellant, no order for imprisonment can be ordered for imprisonment of appellant

2019(1) Law Herald (SC) 572 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 2135 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. Subhash Reddy Hon’ble Mr. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit Civil Appeal…

Consumer Protection Act, 1986, S. 12–Medical Negligence-Vegetative State–Child aged two and half years underwent minor survey but thereafter developed respiratory distress and has been reduced to a vegetative state–Forums below had awarded Rs. 10 lakhs as compensation payable jointly by surgeon and the anesthetist-Compensation enhanced further by Rs.7 lakhs

2019(1) Law Herald (SC) 552 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 602 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Dhananjay Y. Chandrachud Hon’ble Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta Civil Appeal…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S.456–Forcible Dispossession-Restoration of Possession—Limitation-Limitation of 30 days filing an application would apply only if the Trial Court had not passed any order in respect of the case property while convicting the accused—No limitation has been provided for the higher courts to make an order for restoration of possession while disposing the proceedings before it. 

2019(1) Law Herald (SC) 535 : 2019 LawHerald.Org 60O IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta Criminal Appeal No. 1104 of 2011 Mahesh Dube v.…

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