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Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 — Section 8(3) — Unauthorized alienation of minor’s property — Such alienation is voidable, not void ab initio, and can be challenged by the minor upon attaining majority or by someone claiming under the minor. Criminal Procedure — Delay in Investigation and Filing of Charge Sheet — Speedy Trial — Right to Speedy Trial and Timely Completion of Investigation are integral parts of Article 21 of the Constitution — Statutory recognition in CrPC for prompt investigation — Investigations should be completed within a reasonable time, not endlessly — Lack of strict timelines in CrPC does not permit indefinite investigations — Inordinate delay without adequate justification warrants intervention by Courts. Contract Law — Statutory Amendment — Impact on existing contracts — Where a statutory amendment alters a fundamental aspect like royalty rates, a pre-existing contract cannot prevent the application of the amended law, especially when the payment of royalty is linked to the removal or consumption of minerals — [MMDR Act] Applicability of S.9 — Scope — Section 9 applies broadly to all entities engaged in removal/dispatch of minerals, not only direct mining lessees. Criminal Procedure — Passport — Return/Surrender of Passport — Accused facing serious criminal charges — Right to travel abroad vis-à-vis right to speedy trial — Balance between individual liberty and societal interest — Accused charged with abetment of suicide and criminal conspiracy since 2014, trial still at stage of committal despite lapse of over ten years — Accused, a US citizen, had misused interim protection in prior proceedings to leave the country without Court’s leave — Whether High Court justified in permitting accused to travel abroad on grounds of medical treatment — Held, not justified — High Court indulgent rather than judicially restrained — Medical facilities in India comparable to those abroad — High Court’s revisional order set aside — Accused restrained from travelling abroad without express permission of Sessions Court — Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, S. 442 — Constitution of India, Art. 21 Service Law — Promotion — Entitlement to promotion to Chief Medical Director (Higher Administrative Grade) in Indian Railway Medical Service — Appellant was denied promotion despite being eligible, with a junior officer being promoted instead — Appellant’s case was rejected by the Tribunal and High Court based on her grading in Annual Confidential Reports

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S. 498-A and 406–Quashing of complaint–Cruelty to wife-Wife filed complaint under Section 498-A, 406 I.P.C. against husband and his parents–Major allegations against husband with only minor reference to the in-laws–Death of husband during pendency of trial–Husband already dead complaint against in-laws quashed.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 507 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before  The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.S.Sirpurkar The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Verma Criminal Appeal No. 949 of 2003 Neelu…

Suicide by bride within two years of marriage–Mother-in-law made accused, because in a letter to her husband deceased had stated that she was horrible and custody of child should not be given to her–Old mother-in-law was made scapegoat relying on the age old concept of bickering between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law–Order of conviction set aside.

  2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 504 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice V.S.Sirpurkar The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Verma Criminal Appeal No. 1198 of 2003…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S. 307 and 326–Attempt to murder–Grievous Hurt–Altercation between both parties–Accused caused two injuries on the person of complainant, one on the chest and other on the shoulder with a knife– Victim had remained in hospital for fifteen days due to the injuries caused to him, makes out a case of grievous hurt–Conviction under Section 307 I.P.C.  converted to one under Section 326–Accused faced trial for 22 years–Sentence reduced from 2 years to period already under gone.                                                  

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 499 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Verma Criminal Appeal No. 1012 of…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, S. 160, 170(2) and 171–Constitution of India, Article 21–Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, S. 3, 4 and 5–M.P. Police  Regulations, Regn. 2–Identification of prisoners–Impersonation–High Court directed the State Govt. to make amendment in Rules and to provide for taking of photographs of accused, important witness and prisoners etc. as a safeguard to avoid impersonation–Directions given by the High Court upheld but modified.       

  2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 495 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.K. Jain The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mukundakam…

Revisional Jurisdiction–Revisional jurisdiction, when invoked by a private complainant against an order of acquittal, cannot be exercised lightly and that it can be exercised only in exceptional cases where the interest of public justice require interference for correction of manifest illegality or the prevention of gross miscarriage of justice.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 487 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.V. Raveendran The Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.M. Panchal Criminal Appeal No. 2420 of 2009…

Whether respondent entitled to rents and profits till the passing of interim order i.e. prior to 5-4-2002?– For the rents and profits collected prior to the date of order of status quo, the applicant would be required to file a suit to recover the same–Directions given to the appellants to hand over the possession of other properties, relates to the immovable properties of the estate and not to the rents and profits collected by the custodian from the estate prior to 5-4-2002–Two sets of properties dealt with separately–Since the amount recorded in the custodian’s ledger as being credited to the Estate of Raja of Mahmudabad represents the collections made from the estate prior to the order of status-quo passed on 5-4-2002, respondent given leave to recover the same by filing a suit–Applications dismissed.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 479 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph Civil Appeal No. 2501 of 2002…

State Government failed to appreciate that the decisions for publication of advertisements, calling for tenders and payment of salaries were made by the entire council and the President-Appellant could not be singled out for those decisions taken by the Council–Actions of the appellant, even if proved, only amount to irregularities, and not grave forms of illegalities, which may allow the State Government to invoke its extreme power under Section 41-A–removal orders, quashed–In the absence of a finding that any loss was caused, the decision of the State Government can not be sustained–Disqualification of the appellant expunged.      

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 474 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan The Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. Sathasivam Civil Appeal No. 222 of…

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