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Constitution of India, 1950 — Articles 14, 21 — Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) — Substantive Equality and Inclusion — Scope and Spirit — The measure of a just society demands the removal of barriers for all citizens to realize their potential, transforming formal equality into substantive inclusion — Constitutional vision requires every person, regardless of physical or sensory limitation, to participate with dignity — Rights guaranteed to persons with disabilities are expressions of the constitutional promise of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination, not acts of benevolence. (Paras 1, 12, 13) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 321 — Withdrawal from prosecution — Requirement of High Court permission for withdrawal of cases against sitting or former MPs/MLAs — Following Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India — High Court must exercise judicial mind and give a reasoned order when considering an application for permission to withdraw prosecution against sitting/former legislators — Application must disclose reasons for withdrawal and records of the case must be before the High Court — Absence of requisite permission from the High Court means that the withdrawal application cannot be granted and the criminal proceedings cannot be quashed on this ground — High Court’s rejection of quashing petition confirmed. (Paras 2, 7, 9, 10) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 313 — Examination of Accused — Object and Scope — Non-compliance with mandatory requirement — Fair Trial — The object of Section 313 CrPC is to ensure a fair trial by providing the accused with an opportunity to explain all incriminating circumstances appearing in the prosecution evidence against them personally — It is a mandatory, non-negotiable obligation upon the Court and is not a mere formality; it is based on the cardinal principle of natural justice (audi alterum partem) — The statement cannot be the sole basis for conviction and is neither substantive nor a substitute piece of evidence. (Paras 6, 7.1, 7.2) Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971 — Section 14(1) — Mandamus to acquire land — Power of State Government to acquire land for Slum Rehabilitation Scheme — Preferential Right of Owner — The power of the State Government to acquire land under Section 14 read with Section 3D(c)(i) of the Slum Act is subject to the preferential right of the owner to redevelop the area — Acquisition is not warranted when the owner is willing to undertake development in exercise of their preferential right, and the process must be kept in abeyance until such right is extinguished — No mandamus can be issued to the State Government to acquire the subject property under Section 14 of the Slum Act where the subsequent purchaser from the original owner (Respondent No. 4) has a subsisting preferential right to develop the property. (Paras 63, 64, 71, 72, 77(1)) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 227 — Discharge of Accused — Principles for deciding discharge application — Standard of proof for framing charge — The Court, at the stage of framing charge, must sift the evidence to determine if there is a “sufficient ground for proceeding”; a prima facie case must be established — If two views are possible and one gives rise to “suspicion only, as distinguished from grave suspicion,” the trial Judge is empowered to discharge the accused — The Judge is not a “mere post office” but must exercise judicial mind to determine if a case for trial is made out — The strong suspicion required to frame a charge must be founded on material that can be translated into evidence at trial — Where the profile of allegations renders the existence of strong suspicion patently absurd or inherently improbable, the accused should be discharged. (Paras 14, 15, 16, 17)

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, S.50–Personal Search- -Contraband recovered from inside the car in which accused and co-accused were traveling and not in course of the search of their person—Therefore, S.50 had no application and hence its non-compliance is not adverse to accused

2017(1) Law Herald (SC) 262 : 2016 LawHerald.Org 2490 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitava Roy Criminal Appeal…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 319 – Summoning of additional accused – Powers of Court – Nature and exercise of – Power to summon an accused is an extraordinary power conferred on the Court. It should be used very sparingly and only if compelling reasons exist for taking cognizance against other person against whom action has not been taken.

  AIR 2004 SC 4298 : (2004) CriLJ 4185 : (2004) 7 JT 509 : (2004) 7 SCALE 282 : (2004) 7 SCC 792 : (2004) 3 SCR 894 Supp…

The case of the Appellants and the Writ Petitioners, in most of the cases, is based on the doctrine of promissory estoppel on the basis of a promise apparently made by the Respondents to the land owners that they would be granted dealerships in lieu of the lands offered by them for setting up of the retail outlets

  (2013) 8 AD 665 : (2013) 10 JT 304 : (2013) 8 SCALE 762 : (2014) 1 SCC 201 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA MOHD. JAMAL — Appellant Vs. UNION…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 378 – Appeal – Acquittal – Interference with possible reasonable view – Sole testimony of complainant alleged to have been beaten by the accused persons – The complainant reaching the place of occurrence by chance – Improbability of prosecution case – Order of acquittal, restored.

  AIR 1977 SC 1213 : (1977) 4 SCC 598(1) SUPREME COURT OF INDIA JIMMY HOMI BHARUCHA — Appellant Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA — Respondent ( Before : S. Murtaza…

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