Latest Post

Classification of Military casualties and the eligibility for Liberalised Family Pension — Battle Casualty —Illness Caused by Extreme Climatic Conditions as Battle Casualty — The Court establishes that a soldier’s death due to illness resulting from extreme climatic conditions while on duty near a sensitive border area (such as the Line of Control) can be categorized as a ‘Battle Casualty’ — This expands the interpretation of what constitutes a battle casualty under military regulations. – Liberalised Family Pension (LFP) — Application of Category E (f) — The judgment clarifies that deaths occurring in war-like situations, including those near international borders or lines of control due to environmental stresses, fall under clause (f) of category E of the relevant military order — This broadens the scope of eligibility for LFP under such circumstances. Temple Bye Laws — Oachira Parabrahma Temple — Ancient structure without a building or deity, governed by Bye-laws with three-tier elected committees — Appellants, elected Secretary and President, challenged two High Court orders (2020 and 2023) that removed their committee and appointed an unelected one under an Administrative Head, citing violations of the temple’s Bye-laws and customs —Legality of appointing an unelected committee and removing the elected one contrary to the temple’s Bye-laws — Petitioner argues that the High Court overstepped its jurisdiction and violated the temple’s governance structure by appointing an unelected committee and removing the elected one without proper legal basis — The High Court’s actions were necessary for the efficient administration of the temple until a scheme could be framed and new elections held — The Supreme Court modified the High Court orders, appointing a new retired Judge as Administrative Head to conduct fair elections within four months, while directing all parties to cooperate — The Court emphasized the need to preserve temple properties and governance as per established customs and laws — The Supreme Court struck down the High Court’s order appointing an unelected committee, appointed a new Administrative Head to conduct elections, and directed all parties to cooperate, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the temple’s established governance structure and Bye-laws. Evidence Act, 1872 — Section 27 — Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 384, 364, 302 and 201 — Murder — Circumstantial Evidence — The Supreme Court acquitted the appellant of murder charges as the prosecution failed to prove the crucial link of the accused’s disclosure leading to the discovery of skeletal remains under Section 27 and the DNA evidence was also found to be inconclusive due to lack of proper collection of samples. – Proof of Disclosure Statements under Section 27 — Voluntariness and Uninfluenced Nature — The Court reiterates that the information provided by an accused under Section 27 must be voluntary and uninfluenced by threat, duress, or coercion. Arms Act, 1959 — Sections 25, 54 and 59 — Buttondar knife — Specific Intent Required — The court clarifies that mere possession of a knife covered by a notification like the DAD Notification is not sufficient to constitute an offense under the Arms Act — There must be specific intent to use it for the prohibited purposes such as “manufacture, sale, or possession for sale or test.” – The prosecution must clearly allege and prove the intent of the accused to use the weapon for the specified prohibited purposes — Absence of such allegation in the charge-sheet renders the proceedings defective. Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 21 — Right to Fair Investigation — The Court emphasizes that the petitioner has a fundamental right to a fair investigation and trial, which is inherently linked to the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. – Transfer of Investigation to Independent Agencies — The Court clarifies that while no party has an absolute right to choose the investigating agency, transfer of an investigation to an independent agency like the CBI or SIT can be ordered in exceptional circumstances — Such transfers are justified when there are serious allegations against high-profile officials, political interference is suspected, or the integrity of the investigation is in doubt.

Classification of Military casualties and the eligibility for Liberalised Family Pension — Battle Casualty —Illness Caused by Extreme Climatic Conditions as Battle Casualty — The Court establishes that a soldier’s death due to illness resulting from extreme climatic conditions while on duty near a sensitive border area (such as the Line of Control) can be categorized as a ‘Battle Casualty’ — This expands the interpretation of what constitutes a battle casualty under military regulations. – Liberalised Family Pension (LFP) — Application of Category E (f) — The judgment clarifies that deaths occurring in war-like situations, including those near international borders or lines of control due to environmental stresses, fall under clause (f) of category E of the relevant military order — This broadens the scope of eligibility for LFP under such circumstances.

Temple Bye Laws — Oachira Parabrahma Temple — Ancient structure without a building or deity, governed by Bye-laws with three-tier elected committees — Appellants, elected Secretary and President, challenged two High Court orders (2020 and 2023) that removed their committee and appointed an unelected one under an Administrative Head, citing violations of the temple’s Bye-laws and customs —Legality of appointing an unelected committee and removing the elected one contrary to the temple’s Bye-laws — Petitioner argues that the High Court overstepped its jurisdiction and violated the temple’s governance structure by appointing an unelected committee and removing the elected one without proper legal basis — The High Court’s actions were necessary for the efficient administration of the temple until a scheme could be framed and new elections held — The Supreme Court modified the High Court orders, appointing a new retired Judge as Administrative Head to conduct fair elections within four months, while directing all parties to cooperate — The Court emphasized the need to preserve temple properties and governance as per established customs and laws — The Supreme Court struck down the High Court’s order appointing an unelected committee, appointed a new Administrative Head to conduct elections, and directed all parties to cooperate, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the temple’s established governance structure and Bye-laws.

Assault on Public Servant-Obscene Acts—Reduction in Sentence—Keeping in view age of appellant (60 years),  his spotless career throughout without any criminal antecedents and fact that he has already undergone one month jail sentence out of 3 months sentence for the offence committed 13 years ago; sentence reduced to already undergone subject to payment of enhanced fine

2018(3) Law Herald (SC) 2294 : 2018 LawHerald.Org I486 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA                                                                Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre Hon’ble Mr. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit Criminal…

Income-Deceased aged 38 years was in the business of selling desi ghee and namkeen bhujia in a small village—Held; Income assessed by Tribunal as Rs.1200/ – per month is on lower side—Income should have been assessed at Rs.2500/- per month keeping in view circumstances of case

2018(3) Law Herald (SC) 2305 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1492 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice DipakMisra Honble Mr. Justice A M Khanwilkar Civil Appeal No.7279of2018 (Arising…

IMP – PAY & RECOVER — Accident—Tractor-trailer—No evidence that any trailer was insured or trailer was attached to the tractor—Thus, it would follow that injured person (other than driver of tractor) travelled in tractor as a passenger–Insurance company not liable to pay-However, insurance company directed to pay & recover.

  2018(3) Law Herald (SC) 2288 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1489 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice Dipak Misra                  Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar CIVIL…

Rape—Injuries on Prosecutrix—Gang Rape—Admittedly, there was a tussle at a time of alleged incident and she tried to save herself—However, victim has not sustained any injury except some bruises on her cheeks–Her clothes were not even soiled with mud—Accused acquitted Rape—Gang Rape—Medical record and the Doctor’s evidence do not specify whether there were any signs of forcible sexual intercourse-Accused acquitted Rape—Absence of semen—Gang Rape—Clothes worn by victim (petticoat) did not contain any seminal stain—Hard to believe that sexual assault had taken place on the victim—Accused acquitted Identification of Accused—Identification from the voice of the accused may be possible if there is evidence to show that the witness was sufficiently acquainted with the accused in order to recognize him or her by voice.

  2018(3} Law Herald (SC) 2274 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1454 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Honble Mr. Justice N.V. Ramana Honble Mr. Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar Criminal Appeal…

Lis Pendence—Agreement to Sell-During pendency of litigation some more transaction took place in relation to suit property—Such transactions are directly hit by the principle of lis pendence-These transaction are not binding on parties to the suit much less on plaintiffs—Such parties would be at liberty to now work out their inter se rights

2018(3) Law Herald (SC) 2245 : 2017 LawHerald.Org 2213   SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH NADIMINTI SURYANARAYAN MURTHY(DEAD) THROUGH LRS. — Appellant Vs. KOTHURTHI KRISHNA BHASKARA RAO & ORS. — Respondent ( Before…

You missed

Temple Bye Laws — Oachira Parabrahma Temple — Ancient structure without a building or deity, governed by Bye-laws with three-tier elected committees — Appellants, elected Secretary and President, challenged two High Court orders (2020 and 2023) that removed their committee and appointed an unelected one under an Administrative Head, citing violations of the temple’s Bye-laws and customs —Legality of appointing an unelected committee and removing the elected one contrary to the temple’s Bye-laws — Petitioner argues that the High Court overstepped its jurisdiction and violated the temple’s governance structure by appointing an unelected committee and removing the elected one without proper legal basis — The High Court’s actions were necessary for the efficient administration of the temple until a scheme could be framed and new elections held — The Supreme Court modified the High Court orders, appointing a new retired Judge as Administrative Head to conduct fair elections within four months, while directing all parties to cooperate — The Court emphasized the need to preserve temple properties and governance as per established customs and laws — The Supreme Court struck down the High Court’s order appointing an unelected committee, appointed a new Administrative Head to conduct elections, and directed all parties to cooperate, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the temple’s established governance structure and Bye-laws.