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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) Central Excise Act, 1944 — Section 2(f) (prior to amendment by Act 18 of 2017) — Manufacture — Exemption Notification No.5/98-CE, Entry No.106 — Eligibility for exemption — Manufacture includes series of processes; entire chain of activities must be considered — Where multiple units undertake distinct processes which are ‘integrally connected’ and form a ‘continuous chain’ to convert raw material (grey fabrics) into final excisable product (cotton fabrics), the entire activity constitutes ‘manufacture’ — Distinct ownership or separate bills between the units is irrelevant if the processes are interconnected and essential for producing the final product — Use of power in any intermediate, integrally connected process denies the exemption under Entry 106 (cotton fabrics processed without the aid of power or steam). (Paras 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 — Section 3(1)(d) — Right to property given at marriage — Divorced Muslim Woman — The Act allows a divorced woman to claim all properties given to her before, at the time of, or after marriage by her relatives, friends, the husband, or his relatives/friends — The objective of the Act is to secure the financial protection and dignity of a Muslim woman post-divorce. (Paras 3, 7, 9)

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))

Income Tax Act, 1961 – Section 275(1), 275(1)(a) -Period of limitation – Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Income- Tax Appellate Tribunal failed to appreciate that the period of limitation in the instant case is governed by the provisions of Section 275(1) as the penalty was initiated in the assessment order itself and the penalty order was issued within time in accordance with the provisions of Section 275(1)(a) of the Income- Tax Act, 1961

  (2013) 217 TAXMAN 400 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX — Appellant Vs. KEDIA POWER LTD. — Respondent ( Before : H.L. Dattu, J; Dipak Misra, J…

Examination of reports – The case arises of alleged ill-treatment of appellant by her husband and her father. The case is going on since 29th July, 1995. Appellant came up against the order passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate on 29th July, 1995 ordering to be admitted to Delhi Psychiatry center, 35, Defence Enclave, Vikas Marg, New Delhi, for observation and treatment

  (1997) 2 Crimes 62 : (1997) 5 JT 120 : (1997) 3 SCALE 761 : (1997) 5 SCC 346 : (1997) 1 UJ 736 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ANAMIKA…

Service Matters

A junior officer belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, by operation of Article 16(1) read with Atricle 16(4) and 16(4A) would steal a march over his erstwhile seniors in the lower cadre and get promotion – The principle of reservation in promotions would be applicable where the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are not adequately represented in promotional posts

  (1996) 3 AD 313 : (1996) 73 FLR 986 : (1996) 3 JT 439 : (1996) 3 SCALE 44 : (1996) 5 SCC 167 : (1996) 3 SCR 266…

Service Matters

Vacancies of drivers – The respondent was initially appointed as a daily-wager in Guntur Municipality. After completion of 5 years of service as NMR he was regularized. It is the claim of the respondent that during this period he was working as a driver and, therefore, after regularisation as a Class IV employee he should be assigned the duties and the pay scale of driver

  (1998) 8 SCC 380 : (1998) SCC(L&S) 1591 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA COMMISSIONER, GUNTUR MUNICIPALITY — Appellant Vs. B. CHRISTUDASU — Respondent ( Before : S. P. Kurdukar, J;…

Penal Code, 1860 – Section 376 read with Section 90 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 378 – Rape – Acquittal by High Court – Misconception of fact – If consent is given by prosecutrix under misconception of fact, it is vitiated – Accused had sexual intercourse with prosecutrix by giving false assurance to prosecutrix that he would marry her –

  AIR 2014 SC 384 : (2014) 1 CCR 28 : (2014) CriLJ 540 : (2014) 1 JCC 398 : (2014) 1 JT 315 : (2014) 1 RCR(Criminal) 173 :…

Accident—Proof of rashness and negligence on the part of the driver of the vehicle, is sine qua non for maintaining an application under Section 166 of the M.V. Act. Document—Admissibly of—Once a part of the contents of the document is admitted in evidence, the party bringing the same on record cannot be permitted to turn round and contend that the other contents contained in the rest part thereof had not been proved.

  2007(3) LAW HERALD (SC) 2513  IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Markandey Katju Civil Appeal No. 2526 of…

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