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Environment Law — Environmental Clearance — Prior clearance — Mandatory character — Prior environmental clearance under EIA Notification, 2006 is mandatory, being founded on the precautionary principle and couched in imperative terms — Word “prior” and the graded four-stage screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal process render an anterior assessment the sine qua non of the clearance regime — Decriminalisation of contraventions under Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 does not alter this mandatory character. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — Section 415 — Appeal — Maintainability — Conviction recorded for first time by appellate court reversing acquittal — An appeal under Section 374 CrPC (Section 415 BNSS) is not maintainable against a judgment of conviction recorded by a Sessions Court while exercising appellate jurisdiction and reversing an order of acquittal passed by the Trial Court — No such second appeal is contemplated under CrPC or BNSS — The only remedy available is revision under Section 397 r/w 401 CrPC (Section 438 r/w 442 BNSS) Income Tax Act, 1961 — Section 44B — “Carriage” of passengers — Meaning and scope of — Cruise operations by non-resident shipping entity — Held, the word “carriage” under Section 44B cannot be restrictively construed to mean movement only from Port A to Port B. A round-trip cruise voyage, where passengers have the option to disembark at intermediate ports without compulsion to return to the originating port, constitutes carriage of passengers within the meaning of Section 44B. Provision of incidental on-board entertainment and hospitality does not alter the essential character of the activity as carriage of passengers. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR — Scope of inquiry — Mini-trial impermissible — At the stage of considering quashing of an FIR, the Court’s inquiry is confined to whether the allegations, taken at face value, prima facie disclose commission of a cognizable offence — Court cannot conduct a “mini-trial” by sifting evidence, assessing probabilities, or evaluating witness credibility — High Court exceeding these limits by examining trap proceedings, absence of personal recovery, and departmental enquiry findings, held impermissible. Succession Act, 1925 — Sections 33, 35 and 38 — Hindu/Christian Succession — Applicability of S. 33 confined to property owned by deceased male; erroneous application by High Court set aside — Where property was purchased and registered in the joint names of two wives, the same is owned by them and not by the husband, notwithstanding that he provided the consideration — Section 33, which governs devolution on intestacy of a male’s property between his widow and lineal descendants, is not attracted to property never vested in the husband’s name — High Court’s application of S. 33 to the entirety of the suit property held misconceived.

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S.125–Maintenance–Proof of Marriage–Under S.125 Cr.P.C, strict proof of marriage is not necessary—Unlike matrimonial proceedings where strict proof of marriage is essential, in the proceedings under Section 125 Cr.P.C, such strict standard of proof is not necessary as it is summary in nature meant to prevent vagrancy.

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2954 : 2018 LawHerald.org 1768 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before                                                          Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. Banumathi Honble Mrs. Justice Indira Banerjee Criminal Appeal Nos. 2368-2369…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S.302 and S.304-A—Murder—Alteration of Charge—Death by Negligence—Blast occurred in a factory—7 workers died due to stampede caused by smoke in whole area—Respondent are directors of company involved in day to day functioning—High Court held to have rightly alerted the charges from S.302 IPC to S.304-A IPC

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2952 : 2018 LawHerald.org 1767 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Kishan Haul Criminal Appeal…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S.451–Superdari–Release of Vehicle-­ Respondent was engaged as a contractor by the National Highway Authority—In the process of the work, as per the direction given by his superior officers, the building was demolished for the purpose of National Highway development-Held; Bank guarantee for the alleged loss need not be insisted for releasing a vehicle involved in the process.   

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2950 : 2018 LawHerald.org 1766   IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA                                           Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul…

Service Law—Back Wages—Labour Court in one line simply directed the appellant (employer) to pay full back wages for a long period to the deceased workman while directing his reinstatement in service without considering the factors required to determined before awarding full back wages

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2943 : 2018 LawHerald.org 1764 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Abdul Nazeer Civil Appeal…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S.304 Part-II and S.34-Culpable Homicide-­ Common Intention—Occurrence had taken place at spur of the moment without premeditation—It cannot be said that the appellants had any common intention to kill or knowledge that death was likely to ensue- Therefore, in absence of common intention to kill, each appellant was liable for his own individual acts.

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2940 : 2018 LawHerald.org 1763 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Navin Sinha Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.M. Joseph Criminal Appeal No. 1540…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S.125–Maintenance–Non-earning Husband-Determination of monthly maintenance amount payable to the wife on the basis of notional minimum income of the husband as per the current minimum wages is untenable-Living standard of the husband, his family and his past conduct must be taken into consideration.

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2933 : 2018 LawHerald.org 1762 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice DipakMisra Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr.…

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