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Environment Law — Environmental Clearance — Prior clearance — Mandatory character — Prior environmental clearance under EIA Notification, 2006 is mandatory, being founded on the precautionary principle and couched in imperative terms — Word “prior” and the graded four-stage screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal process render an anterior assessment the sine qua non of the clearance regime — Decriminalisation of contraventions under Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 does not alter this mandatory character. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — Section 415 — Appeal — Maintainability — Conviction recorded for first time by appellate court reversing acquittal — An appeal under Section 374 CrPC (Section 415 BNSS) is not maintainable against a judgment of conviction recorded by a Sessions Court while exercising appellate jurisdiction and reversing an order of acquittal passed by the Trial Court — No such second appeal is contemplated under CrPC or BNSS — The only remedy available is revision under Section 397 r/w 401 CrPC (Section 438 r/w 442 BNSS) Income Tax Act, 1961 — Section 44B — “Carriage” of passengers — Meaning and scope of — Cruise operations by non-resident shipping entity — Held, the word “carriage” under Section 44B cannot be restrictively construed to mean movement only from Port A to Port B. A round-trip cruise voyage, where passengers have the option to disembark at intermediate ports without compulsion to return to the originating port, constitutes carriage of passengers within the meaning of Section 44B. Provision of incidental on-board entertainment and hospitality does not alter the essential character of the activity as carriage of passengers. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR — Scope of inquiry — Mini-trial impermissible — At the stage of considering quashing of an FIR, the Court’s inquiry is confined to whether the allegations, taken at face value, prima facie disclose commission of a cognizable offence — Court cannot conduct a “mini-trial” by sifting evidence, assessing probabilities, or evaluating witness credibility — High Court exceeding these limits by examining trap proceedings, absence of personal recovery, and departmental enquiry findings, held impermissible. Succession Act, 1925 — Sections 33, 35 and 38 — Hindu/Christian Succession — Applicability of S. 33 confined to property owned by deceased male; erroneous application by High Court set aside — Where property was purchased and registered in the joint names of two wives, the same is owned by them and not by the husband, notwithstanding that he provided the consideration — Section 33, which governs devolution on intestacy of a male’s property between his widow and lineal descendants, is not attracted to property never vested in the husband’s name — High Court’s application of S. 33 to the entirety of the suit property held misconceived.

Arbitrator—Appointment of—Section 10(1) of the Act provides that the parties are at liberty to determine the number of arbitrators provided such number shall not be an even number. In default of determination referred to in sub-section (1), the arbitral tribunal shall consist of a sole arbitrator in terms of Section 10(2) of the Act.

2007(4) LAW HERALD (SC) 3206 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Jusitce Lokeshwar Singh Panta Arbitration Petition 1 of 2007 [Under Section 10 (2) read with…

First Information Report—Only information in regard to commission of an offence may not for all intent and purport satisfy the requirement of the First Information Report. First Information Report—A First Information Report cannot be lodged in a murder case after the inquest has been held. Motive—Proof of motive by itself may not be a ground to hold the accused guilty.

  2007(4) LAW HERALD (SC) 3189 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Jusitce S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Jusitce Harjit Singh Bedi Criminal Appeal Nos. 844-846…

Fine—Imprisonment in default of payment of fine—Provisions of IPC and Cr.P.C. relating to award of imprisonment in default of payment of fine would apply to all cases wherein fines have been imposed on an offender unless “the Act, Regulation, Rule or Bye-law contains an express provision to the contrary”. Fine—Imprisonment in default of payment of fine—The nature of offence, circumstances under which it was committed, the position of the offender are relevant considerations

  2007(4) LAW HERALD (SC) 3172 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Jusitce C.K. Thakker The Hon’ble Mr. Jusitce Altamas Kabir Criminal Appeal No. 1375 of…

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