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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.

Transfer of Case—Matrimonial Disputes— Where the parties have difficulty and there is no place which is convenient and where one or both the parties make a request for use of video conference, proceedings may be conducted through video conferencing, obviating the needs of the party to appear in person. Administration of Justice—Use of Technology—Every district court must have at least one e-mail ID and notified phone number—A designated officer/ manager to be appointed to respond to emails and phone queries—These steps would take care of the problems of litigants to some extent.

(2017) 174 AIC 103 : (2017) AIR(SCW) 1345 : (2017) 2 AIRJharR 462 : (2017) AIR(SC) 1345 : (2017) AllSCR 900 : (2017) 122 ALR 905 : (2017) 5 ALT…

Civil Procedure  Code, 1860, S.100–Second Appeal-Substantial question of law-­House Tax-While disposing off the appeal the high court did not decided the questions whether the suit seeking a declaration that the demand of House Tax raised under the Act is maintainable, Matter remanded back to be decided afresh-Haryana Municipal Act, 1973.

(2017) 174 AIC 95 : (2017) AIR(SCW) 1330 : (2017) 3 AIRJharR 321 : (2017) AIR(SC) 1330 : (2017) AllSCR 2127 : (2017) 123 ALR 284 : (2017) 3 AndhLD…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S.307 and S.34–Attempt to Murder-Common Intention- -Appellant came along with three other person—One of them with the bomb- Accused 4 in coming together with the other four accused and going together with them, and in shouting the words “Kill him” certainly attracted the change under Section 307 read with Section 34 of the code

(2017) 100 ACrC 937 : (2017) 177 AIC 267 : (2017) AIR(SCW) 1415 : (2017) AIR(SC) 1415 : (2017) ALLMR(Cri) 3116 : (2017) 2 ALT(Crl) 69 : (2017) 2 AndhLD(Criminal)…

Anticipatory Bail — Murder — Father of deceased had sworn affidavit that death was natural-Police has started investigation on basis of an anonymous letter that appellant had extra material affair and had took advantage of his profession-Held; appellant has already joined investigation-High Court ought to have granted anticipatory bail in view of statement of father of deceased-Ordered accordingly-Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S.438.

(2017) 99 ACrC 699 : (2017) 173 AIC 271 : (2017) 2 AICLR 360 : (2017) AIR(SCW) 1439 : (2017) AIR(SC) 1439 : (2017) ALLMR(Cri) 2210 : (2017) 1 BBCJ…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S.307–Attempt to Murder–Non-examination of investigating officer—Since the evidence of eye witnesses has remained unimpeached, and as there are no major contradictions or omissions in the evidence of these witnesses, the non-examination of the Investigating Officer by the prosecution may not tilt the balance in favour of the defence

(2017) 99 ACrC 901 : (2017) 174 AIC 76 : (2017) 2 AICLR 356 : (2017) AIR(SCW) 1400 : (2017) 4 AIRJharR 95 : (2017) AIR(SC) 1400 : (2017) 1…

Murder–Non-examination of witness-Witnesses have vividly deposed about the genesis of the occurrence, the participation and involvement of the accused persons in the crime-Mere non-examination of the witnesses, who might have been there on the way to hospital or the hospital itself when deceased narrated the incident, would not make the prosecution case unacceptable-Conviction upheld.                                                       

(2017) 99 ACrC 976 : (2017) 174 AIC 244 : (2017) 3 AICLR 520 : (2017) AIR(SCW) 1121 : (2017) 2 AIRJharR 668 : (2017) AIR(SC) 1121 : (2017) 1…

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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.