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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.

Accident—Personal Expenses—Where the family of the bachelor is large and dependent on the income of the deceased, his personal and living expenses may be restricted to one-third, as contribution to the family will be taken as two-third. Accident—Just Compensation—More than claimed—Court is duty bound and entitled to award “just compensation”, irrespective of whether any plea in that behalf was raised by the claimant or not. Accident—Filial Consortium—It is the right of the parents to compensation in the case of an accidental death of a child—An accident leading to the death of a child causes great shock and agony to the parents and family of the deceased. Accident—Interest on Compensation—Deceased was aged 24 years and his income assessed as that of unskilled worker—Compensation awarded with 12% interest p.a. from date of filing claim petition.

2018(3) Law Herald (SC) 2410 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1582 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. F. Nariman Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Indu Malhotra Civil Appeal No.…

Accident—Claim Petition—Finding of fact—Eye witnesses examined by the claimants were neither discarded as untruthful nor the High Court has found any contradiction in their version—Therefore, High court was wrong in reversing the finding of facts recorded by the tribunal by solely relying on the version of interested witness examined by the appellants in defence—Impugned order of High Court set aside.

2018(3) Law Herald (SC) 1859 :2018 LawHerald.Org 1264 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice Dipak Misra Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar Civil Appeal No. 8411…

Murder—Modification of charge—Acquittal—Sudden Fight—After exchange of heated words accused used the axe and gave blow on head of deceased causing multiple injuries—Deceased survived for one month after the attack—Appellant therefore cannot be said to have taken undue advantage of the same— Head injury caused was sufficient in the ordinary cause of the nature to cause death—Accused would fall under exception 4 to S.300 IPC— Conviction u/s 302 IPC modified to be under S.304 Part I IPC.

2018(3) Law Herald (SC) 1846   :2018 LawHerald.Org 1261 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ranjan Gogol Hon’ble Mrs. Justice R. Banumathi Criminal Appeal Nos. 2301-2302 of…

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