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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.

Criminal Law–Five persons convicted and sentenced by Session Court–Four accused preferred Criminal appeals–High Court allowed the appeal of one but in respect of others confirmed the order of conviction and sentence–Appeal before Supreme Court–Contention that when the High Court acquitted one of the accused not believing the prosecution story and granted benefit of doubt to him, such benefit ought to have been to the appellant also when a part of the prosecution story was not believable and was not behaved by the High Court, on the same set of facts and circumstances, it ought not to have convicted the appellant–Contention repelled

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 42 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice C.K. Thakker The Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.K. Jain Criminal Appeal No. 386 of 2007…

Backwages–Backwages are ordinarily to be granted, keeping in view the principles of grant of damages in mind–It cannot be claimed as a matter of right. Transfer of Employee–Ordinarily an employee who has been transferred should, subject to just exceptions, join at his transferred place–Ordinarily in an industrial undertaking indiscipline should not be encouraged.

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 27 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph Civil Appeal No. 7011 of 2008…

Dowry death–No evidence on record to show that the cruelty or harassment was meted out to her for brining insufficient dowry–Ingredient of section 304-B cannot be said to have been proved. Dowry–Meaning of–Giving or agreeing to give any property or valuable security in connection with marriage of the parties–Customary payment in connection with birth of a child and other ceremonies are not covered.

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 19 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph Criminal Appeal No. 476 of 2005…

Amendment of decree–Court may not have suo moto power to award a decree but same would not mean that court cannot rectify a mistake–If a property was subject matter of pleadings and court did not frame an issue which it ought to have done, it can, at later stage when pointed out may amend the decree — Decree–When the parties have brought on records by way of pleadings and/or other material that apart from property mentioned by plaintiff in his plaint, there are other properties which could be a subject matter of partition, the court would be entitled to pass a decree even in relation thereto.

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 14 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph Civil Appeal No. 7008 of 2008…

Evidence Law–Extra Judicial confession–Circumstantial evidence–An extra judicial confession is, on the face of it, a weak piece of evidence and the Courts are reluctant in the absence of a chain of cogent circumstances to rely on this evidence for the purpose of recording a conviction–Evidence Act, 1872, Section 3 and 24.

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 11 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dalveer Bhandari The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi Criminal Appeal No. 377 of…

Cooperative Law–Revision–Recovery of dues–Recovery certificates issued against appellant for recovery of dues to cooperative bank–Petitioner filed application before Divisional Joint Registrar, who ordered to maintain status quo and set aside recovery certificate–High Court set aside impugned order–Appeal against–Order upheld by Supreme Court

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 7 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Markandey Katju Special Leave Petition (C) No. 18563…

Land and Property Law–Acquisition of land–Lapsing of Reservation–Land reserved under development plan–Land not acquired within 10 years of final plan and no steps under Land Acquisition Act were commenced–After 10 years, land owner served notice under Section 127 of Act of 1966 to authorities to acquire land, within six months or take steps to acquire it–No action from authorities–Reservation lapsed and land has to be released in favour of the appellant

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 6 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Markandey Katju The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aftab Alam Civil Appeal No. 7801 of 2002…

Dishonour of cheque–Appeal against acquittal–Complaint dismissed by Trial Court–High Court without assigning reason refused to grant leave–On the plainest consideration of justice, the High Court ought to have set forth its reasons, howsoever brief, in its order indicative of an application of its mind, all the more when its order is amenable to further avenue of challenge

2009(1) LAW HERALD (SC)  4 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Mukundakam Sharma Criminal Appeal No. 810…

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