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Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 223(d) — Persons accused of different offences committed in the course of the same transaction may be charged and tried together — Legislative intent is to prevent multiplicity of proceedings, avoid conflicting judgments, and promote judicial economy while ensuring fairness — Segregation without legally recognized grounds like distinct facts, severable evidence, or demonstrated prejudice, is impermissible. Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — Sections 420, 463, 465, 467, 468, 471, 474 read with Section 34 — Offences relating to cheating and forgery — Anticipatory bail — Rejection challenged — Appellants, public servants at the time, accused of certifying mutation entries based on forged documents — High Court rejected anticipatory bail — Supreme Court affirmed the High Court’s decision Waqf Act, 1995 (as amended) — Challenge to constitutional validity of amendments — Petitioners contended that amendments are ultra vires the Constitution, violating fundamental rights including Articles 14, 15, 19, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30 and 300A. Respondents argued for legislative competence and presumption of validity of enactments. Court emphasized that statutes should only be declared unconstitutional if there is a clear, glaring, and undeniable violation of constitutional principles or fundamental rights, or if manifestly arbitrary, and that courts must strive to uphold legislative validity. Consumer Protection Act, 1986 — Section 25 — Enforcement of orders — Pre-2002 amendment and post-2019 Act, all orders could be enforced as decrees. The period between 15.03.2003 to 20.07.2020 saw an anomaly where only interim orders (and monetary recovery) were clearly enforceable under Section 25, leaving final non-monetary orders in a gap. Interpretation of Statutes — Casus omissus — Court can fill gaps in legislation using interpretative tools like purposive construction when literal interpretation leads to absurdity or defeats the object of the Act, especially for remedial legislation like the Consumer Act. Constitution of India, 1950 — Article 14, 39(d) and 43 — Equal pay for equal work — Contractual Assistant Professors performing identical duties as regularly appointed or ad-hoc Assistant Professors are entitled to the minimum pay scale of Assistant Professors.

Right to Information–Judicial Order–Under the RTI Act an applicant cannot ask for any information as to why opinions, advices, circulars, orders, etc. have been passed, especially in matters pertaining to judicial decisions–A judge is not bound to explain later on for what reasons he had come to such a conclusion.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC)  311 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. B.S. Chauhan Special Leave Petition (Civil)…

Limitation Act, 1963, Art. 58–Limitation–Cause of action–Mere existence of a wrong entry in the revenue records does not, in law, give rise to a cause of action within the meaning of Article 58 of the Act. — Cause of action for the purposes of Article 58 of the Act accrues only when the right asserted in the suit is infringed or there is atleast a clear and unequivocal threat to infringe that right–Therefore, the mere existence of an adverse entry into the revenue record cannot give rise to cause of action.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 307 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aftab Alam Civil Appeal No.5339 of 2002 Daya…

Constitution of India, 1950, Article 32–Sexual intimidation-Denial of service dues–Contention of the petitioner that she was sexually intimidated by her senior colleagues in office and that they had misused their positions and amassed huge fortunes–She also emphasized that it was on account of her attempts to highlight the misconduct of these officers that she had been harassed & hounded time and again and had even been denied her service dues–Allegations made by the petitioner enquired into by several independent bodies but no merit found

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 305 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi The Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.M. Panchal Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 60…

Eviction–Amendment of Section 13 of the East Punjab Rent Act restricting the landlord from seeking eviction of a tenant from non-residential premises held, as unconstitutional–Correct interpretation of bonafide requirement of a landlord of a residential building must include a non-residential building

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 299 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.S. Sirpurkar Civil Appeal No. 8417 of 2009…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S. 319 –Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S. 244–Cross-examination–Right of cross-examination of the witnesses before the framing of the charge–If right to cross-examine under Section 244, CrPC not given to the newly joined accused then there would be a complete denial to such accused of an important right of cross-examination–Under Section 244, Cr.P.C. the accused has a right to cross-examine the witnesses and in the matter of Section 319, Cr.P.C. when a new accused is summoned, he would have similar right to cross-examine the witness examined during the inquiry afresh–Again, the witnesses would have to be re-heard and then there would be such a right–Merely presenting such witnesses for cross-examination would be of no consequence.

  2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 294 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.S. Sirpurkar The Hon’ble Dr. Justice Mukundakam Sharma Criminal Appeal No. 28 of…

Once it is proved that the FIR itself was given with the consultation of the legal advisors and in the guidance of the local Member of Legislative Assembly who was inimical towards the appellant on account of the party factions, the whole story and more particularly, the part played by (PW-1) becomes suspicious–Evidences of prosecution witnesses No. 2 to 5 full of contradiction and omissions–High Court nowhere considered that there was no explosive substance found at the place where allegedly the bombs were exploded –Once the benefit of kiosk has been given to the other accused the same advantage should have been given even to the appellant–Impugned judgment of the High Court, set aside and that of the trial Court restored.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 277 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.S. Sirpurkar The Hon’ble Dr. Justice Mukundakam Sharma Criminal Appeal No. 451 of 2007…

Custody and Guardianship–Question of custody distinct from guardianship–In selecting proper guardian of a minor, the paramount consideration should be the welfare and well-being of the minor–Custody–Merely because the father has love and affection for his children and is not otherwise shown unfit to take care of the children, it cannot be necessarily concluded that welfare of the children will be taken care of once their custody is given to him Custody –Prima facie case lies in favour of the father as under Section 19 of the GWC Act, unless the father is not fit to be a guardian, the Court has no jurisdiction to appoint another guardian–

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 261 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarun Chatterjee The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.S. Sirpurkar Civil Appeal No. 11 of 2010…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, Section 218, 323 and 342–Public servant–Voluntary causing hurt and wrongful confinement–Police atrocities–Case has a long history as well as political overtones–Illegal detention of appellant’s father by the police–Appellant was beaten up by the respondent with other 6 accused and a false case u/s 107/151 CrPC was registered against him–High Court had not taken into consideration any of the evidences of prosecution witnesses–Once it is found that the High Court had not taken into consideration any of vital pieces of evidence, difficult to uphold the order of the High Court–Impugned judgment of the High Court, set aside–Matter remanded back to the High Court for fresh consideration

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 257 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.S. Sirpurkar The Hon’ble Dr. Justice Mukundakam Sharma Criminal Appeal Nos. 125-126 of 2003…

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