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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.

Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act, 1952 – Section 8(1)(a) – Sale of properties – Properties acquired under 1952 Act alongwith other properties – Concurrent finding recorded by Single Bench and Division Bench upholding validity of notification – Under the 1952 Act, fair market value had to be determined on the date of acquisition

  AIR 2007 SC 357 : (2006) 3 ARBLR 414 : (2006) 8 JT 434 : (2006) 8 SCALE 768 : (2006) 10 SCC 227 : (2006) 5 SCR 696…

Deceased executed will in favour of wife in respect of all his properties – She became owner of properties and after her death, her nephews would be owner of properties in equal shares – First appellate Court hold that wife was not competent to gift properties in favour of Gurdwara – After her death life estate ceased and plaintiffs would be entitled to recover possession and not entitled to mesne profits – Suit filed by plaintiffs decreed for recovery of possession.

  AIR 2006 SC 3282 : (2006) 4 CTC 773 : (2006) 8 JT 525 : (2006) 9 SCALE 83 : (2006) 8 SCC 75 : (2006) 5 SCR 799…

Delay in lodging of FIR was bound to occur as the FIR was filed after return of prosecutrix from Jaipur after one and a half years remaining under the ordain of accused/appellant – She had been forced to indulge in prostitution during this period – Prosecutrix had become habitual to sexual intercourse – In such a fact-situation, question of having any physical injury marks would not arise – Offences punishable under Section 366 and 376 proved beyond reasonable doubt – Appeal dismissed.

  AIR 2009 SC 2729 : (2009) CriLJ 3942 : (2009) 7 JT 491 : (2009) 8 SCALE 801 : (2009) 15 SCC 543 : (2009) AIRSCW 4182 SUPREME COURT…

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