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Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Section 13(1)(d) — Disproportionate Assets — Chargesheet splitting — Allegations of acquiring disproportionate assets and tribal lands misuse — Two separate chargesheets filed from the same FIR, R.C — Case No 04(A)/2010-AHD-R(B) and R.C — Case No 04(A)/2010-AHD-R(C) — Overlapping allegations in both cases — Plea of double jeopardy raised — Supreme Court noted overlapping allegations and previous conviction with suspended sentence, inclined to grant bail in the present case as well. Kerala Agricultural Income Tax Act, 1991 — Section 12 — Set-off of losses — Accumulated losses of amalgamating company cannot be set-off against income of amalgamated company as it had not suffered the losses itself. Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 — Section 13B — Divorce by Mutual Consent — Settlement agreement reached in mediation — Wife withdrew consent before Second Motion for divorce — Held, while ordinarily consent can be withdrawn, when a settlement agreement has been entered into for full and final settlement of disputes, it is not open for a party to resile from its terms without demonstrating fraud, force, or undue influence — Wife failed to prove her allegations of fraud or compulsion by Husband, and her claims about substantial jewelry not mentioned in the settlement were unsubstantiated and raised suspicion due to delayed assertion — Held, wife’s withdrawal of consent was not justified. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 36 — Enforcement of Consent Award — Construction of compromise deed and consent award — Promoters undertook to defend proceedings and ensure no liability recovered from Appellants by any forum — Deposit of an amount by Appellants to prevent execution of award against their properties constituted a liability that triggered Promoters’ obligation under the consent award — High Court erred in deferring enforceability of consent award until final confirmation by the highest court of appeal — Appeal allowed, impugned judgment set aside. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 482 — Quashing of criminal proceedings by High Court — High Court quashed FIR and proceedings at a nascent stage when Magistrate had merely directed investigation under Section 156(3) CrPC — Sale deeds relied upon by accused were examined by High Court, treating them as determinative of the dispute, and criminal proceedings were quashed on the ground that the dispute was predominantly civil in nature and sale deeds were not cancelled under Section 31 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Such exercise by High Court was beyond the permissible scope of scrutiny in a petition under Section 482 CrPC, as it involved delving into defence material and adjudicating disputed questions of fact, which is the domain of investigation and trial — This approach stifled the investigative process and ran contrary to well-settled principles — High Court fell into error.

Dowry Death–A pregnant woman ordinarily would not commit suicide unless relationship with her husband comes to such a pass that she would be compelled to do so. Proof of document–A document in terms of Section 65 of Act is to be proved by a person who is acquainted with handwriting of author thereof. Dowry Death–Offence under Section 304B is not compoundable and only because marriage of accused had taken place, same by itself cannot be a ground for rejecting the prosecution story.

 2008(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 117 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi Criminal Appeal No. 1021 of…

Cognizance–Taking of–Bar on–Limitation–Cruelty to wife–The court can invoke Section 473 Cr.P.C. and can take cognizance of an offence after expiry of the period of limitation keeping in view the nature of allegations, the time taken by the police in investigation and the fact that the offence of cruelty is a continuing offence and affects the society at large. Quashment–The High Court should not go into the merits and demerits of the allegations simply because the petitioner alleges malus animus against the author of the FIR or the complainant.

2008(1) Law Herald (SC) 101 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.S. Singhvi Criminal Appeal No. 1708 of 2007…

Dishonour of Cheque–Cognizance of offence–Amendment of 2002 to operate retrospectively–Complaint filed in 1998–Insertion of proviso 142(b) by Amendment of 2002 would not be applicable. Dishonour of cheques– Clause (a) of the proviso to Section 138 does not put any embargo upon the payee to successively present a dishonoured cheque during the period of its validity–On each presentation of the cheque and its dishonour, a fresh right- and not a cause of action – accrues in his favour

  2008(1) Law Herald (SC) 98 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dr. Arijit Pasayat The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aftab Alam Appeal (crl.) 1704 of…

Service Matters

Disciplinary Proceedings–Enquiry officer appointed to inquire into the charge leveled against a delinquent employee/officer is neither a court nor the provisions of the Evidence Act are applicable. Disciplinary Proceedings -Natural Justice–Summoning of witnesses–Enquiry officer has discretionary power to summon or not to summon the witnesses.

  2008(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 93 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi Civil Appeal No. 5608…

Gift–Acceptance of– It is one thing to say that the execution of the deed is based on an aspiration or belief, but it is another thing to say that the same constituted an onerous gift. Gift–Acceptance of — Once a gift is complete, the same cannot be rescinded. For any reason whatsoever, the subsequent conduct of a donee cannot be a ground for rescission of a valid gift. Gift–Acceptance of–Whether an averment made in the deed of gift in regard to handing over of possession is sufficient proof of acceptance thereof by the donee? YES.

  2008(1) Law Herald (SC) 87 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi Civil Appeal No. 5942…

Accident–Compensation–Term ‘Income’–The amounts, which were required to be paid to the deceased by his employer by way of perks, should be included for computation of his monthly income as that would have been added to his monthly income by way of contribution to the family as contradistinguished to the ones which were for his benefit from the said amount of income, the statutory amount of tax payable thereupon must be deducted.

    2008(1) Law Herald (SC) 80 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi Civil Appeal No.…

Dishonour of Cheque—Offence by Company—If drawer of cheque (company) is not party, complaint qua accused is not maintainable merely because he was signatory of cheque. Dishonour of Cheque—Offence by Company—Complaint against director but company was not impleaded—Company cannot be allowed to be impleaded u/s 319 Cr.P. C—Complaint quashed.

2017(3) Law Herald (SC) 1794 : 2017 LawHerald.Org 1338 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’bie Mr. Justice J. Chelameswar Hon’ble Mr. Justices. Abdul Nazeer Criminal Appeal No. 1534…

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