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Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 168 — Notional income of skilled worker — Carpenter — Assessment — The appellant, a carpenter aged 38 years, suffered amputation of his right leg below the knee in a road accident in November 2004 — The Claims Tribunal assessed his monthly income at Rs. 3,000/- and the High Court enhanced it to Rs. 5,000/- relying on minimum wages. Held — A carpenter is a skilled artisan who works with precision and manual dexterity — His income cannot be equated with that of an unskilled worker — Where the appellant’s unrefuted evidence showed earnings of Rs. 8,000/- to Rs. 10,000/- per month, and a skilled job always has the potentiality to fetch higher income, the High Court erred in restricting the figure to Rs. 5,000/- — Considering the date of accident, decisions in comparable cases and the fact of the appellant being a skilled worker, his notional monthly income is assessed at Rs. 9,000/- per month. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Section 304 Part II — Culpable Homicide not Amounting to Murder — Conviction and sentence — Appeal against — Abatement of appeal due to death of co-accused — Death of two appellants during pendency of appeal — Appeal survives only for the third appellant. Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 — Section 154 — Transfer of land in contravention of ceiling limit — Not void ipso facto — Capable of ratification — Legality of transfer to be judged by law on date of execution — Sale deed executed on 04.06.1957 — Ceiling limit then was 30 acres, subsequently amended to 12.5 acres retrospectively from 01.07.1952 — Transfer in contravention of Section 154 not void but voidable at instance of Gaon Sabha coupled with liability for ejectment of transferee under Section 163 — No suit filed for ejectment within limitation period. Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 16(c) — “Readiness and Willingness” — Relief of specific performance is equitable and discretionary — Plaintiff must specifically aver and prove continuous readiness and willingness to perform obligations — Failure to do so disentitles plaintiff to relief — “Readiness” refers to financial capacity, “Willingness” to conduct and intention — Both cumulatively must be seen — Conduct of plaintiff prior and subsequent to suit, along with attending circumstances, must be considered — Availability of funds must be proved with reference to relevant time, not by documents created much later. Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Section 166 and 140 — Compensation for death in motor vehicular accident — Negligence — Truck stationed on road at night without warning lights or indicators — Wagon-R car collided from behind — Held, truck driver was negligent in leaving the vehicle unattended on the road without adequate precautionary measures, which was the proximate cause of the accident.

Appointment of arbitrator – Appellant’s own default in sleeping over his right for 14 years will not constitute a case of ‘undue hardship’ justifying extension of time under Section 43(3) of the 1996 Act or show ‘sufficient cause’ for condonation of delay under Section 5 of the Limitation Act . Held High Court’s observation that the entire dispute seems concocted so as to pursue a monetary claim against the respondents approved.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH M/S GEO MILLER & CO. PVT. LTD. — Appellant Vs. CHAIRMAN, RAJASTHAN VIDYUT UTPADAN NIGAM LTD. — Respondent ( Before : N.V. Ramana, Mohan…

In the instant case, none of the circumstances relied upon by the prosecution have been proved beyond reasonable doubt, and there is no question of a complete chain of circumstances being formed that would point towards the guilt of the accused. In Court’s considered opinion, the benefit of doubt should therefore be granted in their favour – The Courts below erred in convicting Accused Nos. 1 and 2 for the offences of the abduction and murder of the deceased – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH UMESH TUKARAM PADWAL AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA — Respondent ( Before : N.V. Ramana, Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and Ajay…

Unlawful assembly and rioting with deadly weapons – Common object – The important ingredients of an unlawful assembly are the number of persons forming it i.e., five; and their common object. Common object of the persons composing that assembly could be formed on the spur of the moment and does not require prior deliberations – Course of conduct adopted by the members of such assembly; their behaviour before, during, and after the incident; and the arms carried by them are a few basic and relevant factors to determine the common object.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH MANJIT SINGH — Appellant Vs. THE STATE OF PUNJAB — Respondent ( Before : A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No.…

High Court has erred in quashing and setting aside the acquisition proceedings on the ground that the same have lapsed as the award was not declared within a period of two years from the date of declaration under Section 6 of the Act – High Court has committed a grave error in not excluding the period of interim stay granted by it in writ petition – Even grant of interim stay of possession would also save lapsing of the acquisition – Appeal allowed.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. M/S MOTI RATAN ESTATE AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : Arun Mishra, M.R. Shah…

Weights and Measures Act, 1976 – Sections 12 and 30 – Short delivery of petrol and diesel – Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code has been made inapplicable under the Act as power of search and seizure is vested with the designated authorities under the Act. Therefore, the entire Code is inapplicable in respect of the prosecution under the Act that the police cannot enter any place for the purpose.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH — Appellant Vs. AMAN MITTAL AND ANOTHER — Respondent ( Before : L. Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta, JJ.…

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