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Maternity leave as a facet of reproductive rights and dignity is a constitutional guarantee, requiring service rules to be interpreted liberally, not restricting benefit based on children from a previous marriage not in the employee’s custody. A flawed investigation, suppression of material evidence in the form of contradictory witness affidavits, and failure to address glaring inconsistencies render prosecution evidence unreliable, necessitating acquittal to ensure a fair trial. Five golden principles for cases based on circumstantial evidence reiterated: (1) circumstances establishing conclusion of guilt must be fully established; (2) facts established consistent only with hypothesis of guilt; (3) circumstances conclusive in nature; (4) exclude every possible hypothesis except guilt; (5) complete chain of evidence leaving no reasonable ground for innocence Appellant Trust’s contentions regarding non-demarcation, encroachment, and non-delivery of possession are baseless; demarcation was done and acknowledged, alleged encroachment is not proven by evidence, and delivery of possession was contingent on execution of lease deed, a condition appellant failed to meet — Respondent Corporation’s actions were in accordance with prescribed procedures and allotment terms Environmental Law — Public Trust Doctrine — MCGM’s mandate to develop recreational spaces providing legal foundation for project — Prior condition of water body suggested degradation, not functional lake — Completed park providing substantial public benefit, including green space and recreational amenities utilized by community — Post facto sanction restricting land use to recreational purposes providing legal safeguard — Delay in filing petition undermining challenge — Direction to maintain park in perpetuity for public use, explore alternative water body, and restore other deteriorated water bodies by MCGM.

V IMP ::: Accident —Railways—Interest on compensation can be paid from date of accident—Rate of interest to be as per motor accident claims and payable uniformly irrespective of stages of claim petition. Accident—Railways—Compensation and Interest thereon is payable on the same pattern as in motor accident claim cases. Accident—Railways—Death or injury at the time of boarding a train-Plea of negligence of victim is not maintainable. Accident—Railways—Mere absence of ticket would not negate the claim of being a bonafide passenger.

(2018) 2 ACC 591 : (2018) AIR(SC) 2362 : (2018) 2 LawHerald(SC) 515 : (2018) 7 SCALE 274 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH UNION OF INDIA — Appellant Vs. RINA DEVI — Respondent…

Arbitration—Different agreements between several parties for a single commercial project and all the agreements are interconnected—In such a case all the parties can be covered by the arbitration clause in the main agreement even if in some agreement there is no arbitration clause and such parties are not signatory to main agreement containing arbitration clause. Arbitration—Plea of Fraud—Duty of the Court is to impart “sense of business efficacy” to the commercial transactions pointing out that mere allegations of fraud were not sufficient to decline to refer the parties to arbitration.

2018(1) Law Herald (SC) 495 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 929   SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH AMEET LALCHAND SHAH — Appellant Vs. RISHABH ENTERPRISES — Respondent ( Before : Ranjan Gogoi and R.…

Murder-Motive-Non-mention of motive in FIR—- Not a fatal defect—An FIR is not to be read as an encyclopedia requiring every minute detail of the occurrence to be mentioned therein–The absence of any mention in it with regard to the previous altercation, cannot affect its veracity so as to doubt the entire case of the prosecution–The altercation suffices to establish motive—Conviction upheld-Evidence Act, 1872, S.8.

2018(2) Law Herald (SC) 484 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 928 :(2018) AIR(SC) 2142 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH SATPAL — Appellant Vs. STATE OF HARYANA — Respondent ( Before : Kurian Joseph, Mohan M.…