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Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Compensation for Death of a Child — Calculation of Compensation — Deceased 14-year-old schoolboy — Principles adopted for calculating compensation for death of child — Notional monthly income adopted based on Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for a Class B city (Rs. 5400/- per month) — Addition of 40% for future prospects — Multiplier of 15 adopted based on Reshma Kumari v. Madan Mohan — Deduction of one-half for personal expenses — Statutory heads of compensation (loss of estate, funeral expenses) awarded at Rs. 15,000/- each — Loss of filial consortium awarded at Rs. 40,000/- per parent — Compensation for pain and suffering of the deceased child, who died a day after the accident, awarded at Rs. 25,000/- to inure to the benefit of legal heirs — Total compensation enhanced to Rs. 8,65,400/- with interest at 7.5% per annum. (Paras 7, 8, 9) Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — Compensation — Assessment of income of deceased — Standard of proof — Where claimants assert a high monthly income (Rs. 95,000/-) for the deceased (a transport contractor owning two trucks), which exceeds the taxable limit, failure to produce Income Tax Returns (ITR) is highly relevant and undermines the claim — The contention that high EMI payments (approx. Rs. 42,500/-) imply double the income is an unfounded assumption, amounting to mere surmises and conjectures. (Paras 3, 6) Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 — Sections 13(1)(i-a) and 13(1)(i-b) — Divorce — Desertion and Cruelty — Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage — Where parties have been living separately for a long period (24 years in this case) without any prospect of reconciliation, this long period of separation amounts to mental cruelty to both parties, justifying dissolution of marriage — The marriage is deemed to have broken down irretrievably — Fact that spouses hold strongly views and refuse to accommodate each other also constitutes cruelty. (Paras 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34) Income Tax Act, 1961 — Sections 37(1), 44C — Deduction of Head Office Expenditure in case of Non-Residents — Interpretation of Section 44C and ‘Head Office Expenditure’ — Distinction between ‘Common’ and ‘Exclusive’ Expenditure — Section 44C, being a special provision with a non-obstante clause, governs the quantum of allowable deduction for any expenditure incurred by a non-resident assessee that qualifies as ‘head office expenditure’ — The definition of ‘head office expenditure’ in the Explanation to Section 44C does not distinguish between common expenditure (shared among branches) and exclusive expenditure (incurred solely for Indian branches) — The term ‘attributable to’ in Section 44C(c) is broad enough to include both common and exclusive head office expenditure; exclusivity is a form of strong attribution — Therefore, Section 44C applies to head office expenditure regardless of whether it is common or exclusive, subjecting the deduction to the statutory ceiling. (Paras 2, 26, 43-45, 47-49, 59-63, 71, 86, 88)

Constitution of India, 1950 – Articles 14, 16 and 226 – Education – Admission – Eligibility – Prospectus – Whether a State Government employee lent on deputation [at the request of the State Government employee on health ground] to a department of Central Government can be considered as a serving Central Government employee within the meaning of eligibility clause

  (1998) 9 AD 187 : AIR 1999 SC 227 : (1998) 8 JT 274 : (1998) 6 SCALE 375 : (1999) 1 SCC 126 : (1998) 3 SCR 271…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 311 – Summoning of witness – Closure of prosecution evidence – Order passed merely on ground that public prosecutor has not prayed for adjournment or for examination of other witnesses – No notice issued to Police Station Officer-in-charge – Order cannot be said to be proper – Witnesses can be summoned under Section 311 in spite of said order.

  AIR 2002 SC 270 : (2002) CriLJ 568 : (2002) 1 Crimes 197 : (2001) 10 JT 111 : (2001) 8 SCALE 320 : (2002) 1 SCC 655 :…

Land Acquisition Act, 1894 – Section – 4(1), 23(1) – Stamp Act – Section – 48 – Enhancement of the compensation – The High Court by the impugned judgment dated 22nd August, 1989 made in R.F.A. No52/89 and batch uniformly enhanced the market value to Rs. 12,000/- per bigha – Court has considered the entire gamut of the operation of the relevant provisions of Stamps Act and held that the fixation by the Government of the amount under Stamp Act for fiscal purpose bears no relevance to determine the market value

(1995) 4 SCALE 726 : (1995) 5 SCC 310 : (1995) 2 SCR 572 Supp SUPREME COURT OF INDIA PAINDER SINGH AND OTHERS — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA (UOI)…

Service Matters

Appellant, a professor in Physics was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University – Immediately another order passed rescinding earlier order as he had been facing a criminal case – This order had been passed immediately and much before the date on which appointment could become effective – There was no necessity to give him an opportunity

  AIR 1999 SC 849 : (1998) 8 JT 344 : (1998) 6 SCALE 378 : (1999) 1 SCC 422 : (1999) SCC(L&S) 229 : (1998) 3 SCR 165 Supp…

A lawyer, no doubt has a duty towards his client to do his best in his interest but within the parameters of law – He at the same time is equally responsible to assist the court fairly on the exact and latest position of law to his knowledge – His right to debate in the court is no licence to sidetrack the issue and mislead or pressurise the court to act in a particular manner – If he does so, it amounts of his misconduct attracting the wrath of disciplinary provisions of the Advocates Act.

  AIR 2001 SC 457 : (2000) 3 JT 505 Supp : (2000) 8 SCALE 76 : (2001) 2 SCC 221 : (2000) 5 SCR 345 Supp : (2001) 1…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Section 364-A – Abduction – Conveyance of demand of ransom – Abduction of victim, a college student – Accused persons told him that they will ask his father to pay a huge amount for his release – Victim managed to escape and informed villagers – Accused arrested on the spot – Demand of ransom has already been made by conveying it to victim

  (2004) CriLJ 4645 : (2004) 8 JT 72 : (2004) 7 SCALE 671 : (2004) 8 SCC 95 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA MALLESHI — Appellant Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA…

There are no cogent materials upon which the subjective satisfaction of the detaining Authority that the detenu was likely to be released on bail was arrived at; and there was a delay of 6 days in forwarding representation to the Central government – All the procedural requirements of Article 22 are mandatory in character and even if one of the procedural requirements is not complied with, the order of detention would be rendered illegal

  (2010) 10 JT 456(1) : (2010) 10 SCALE 248 : (2010) 9 SCC 618 : (2010) 10 UJ 5119 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA SMT. PEBAM NINGOL MIKOI DEVI —…

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 439 – Constitution of India – Article 21 – Bail – Cancellation – Accused cannot be granted bail only on the ground that he was in custody for seven months – Individual liberty is restricted by larger social interest and its deprivation must have due sanction of law.

(2012) CriLJ 4670 : (2012) 4 JCC 2909 : (2012) 9 JT 155 : (2013) 1 RCR(Criminal) 277 : (2012) 9 SCALE 165 : (2012) 9 SCC 446 SUPREME COURT…

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