Masterly Concubinage I

Yajnavalkya Smriti classifies concubines into two types: (1) Avaruddha and (2) Bhujasya. An Avaruddha Stree operates under an injunction to stay at the master’s home whereas a Bhujasya is not kept in the house but elsewhere. There is some protection for an Avaruddha Stree in modern India. There is a presumption in favor of a […]

Read more "Masterly Concubinage I"

Lalita Kumari I

There had been divergent judicial opinions on the issue whether a Police Officer is bound to register a FIR upon receiving any information relating to a commission of a cognizable offence. While some opinions granted the Police Officer the latitude of conducting a preliminary inquiry to test the veracity of the information received, some others […]

Read more "Lalita Kumari I"

Referred to Larger Bench II (Answered): Suits of Borrower Against Banks

It is always interesting to note References to a Larger Bench, ones especially made on account of ‘difference’ of opinions amongst Equal Bench Strengths. Eventually, it is flocculation of law of the land; per incuriam decisions stand filtered, retaining still its historical significance. Which SC Judge is known to have scripted, most number of per incuriam decisions? […]

Read more "Referred to Larger Bench II (Answered): Suits of Borrower Against Banks"

Justice Dattu v. Justice Joseph

Records seem to indicate, in 2006, No. 13 was skipped while assigning numbers to Courtrooms in a newly inaugurated Kerala High Court Complex. One Mr. N.K. Chandramohan filed Writ Petition No. 4268 of 2006 wherein it was alleged, Triskaidekaphobia had arisen out of a belief: ‘Guest 13’ at ‘Last Supper’ was Judas and such a […]

Read more "Justice Dattu v. Justice Joseph"

Judges and Astrology II

45 have served the Nation as Chief Justice of India. First was a November born. Present one is an October born. Of the 45, 23 CJIs were born in October/November/December/January. 22 others are spread over remaining 8 months. 4 special months thus account for 51% of CJIs, India has witnessed. Notably, next CJI was born […]

Read more "Judges and Astrology II"

Misra J I

Recently, Sophocles has found a place in a Judgment authored by Hon’ble Justice Dipak Misra  [State of Punjab v. Saurabh Bakshi, Criminal Appeal No. 520 of 2015]. Sophocles has never been quoted before, though Euripides was mentioned once [(1985) 3 SCC 398]. The Iyeresque style of Justice Misra is undeniable and I have commented on […]

Read more "Misra J I"

Guesses & Conjectures I

August Bench of Hon’ble Judges A.K. Ganguly and Swatanter Kumar [Trishala Jain v. State of Uttaranchal, (2011) 6 SCC 47] once held: “guess as understood in its common parlance is an estimate without any specific information while calculations are always made with reference to specific data; guesstimate is an estimate based on a mixture of […]

Read more "Guesses & Conjectures I"

Dr. Dang

If you live in New Delhi and if you find yourself approaching the Hauz Khas Market, you would surely notice Dr. Dang’s Lab/Dr. Dang’s Diagnostic Centre at the corner of the road. It has at least caught my attention several times. No can one forget the face-off between Dilip Kumar and Anupam Kher in the […]

Read more "Dr. Dang"

Market Place of Ideas

There can be no quarrel about Supreme Court’s competence to quash criminal proceedings pending before Subordinate Courts. However, this power must be exercised sparingly and with circumspection. In S. Khushboo v. Kanniamal, (2010) 5 SCC 600 Supreme Court quashed several criminal proceedings initiated against actress Khushboo for comments she had made on pre-marital sex. Hon’ble […]

Read more "Market Place of Ideas"

Powers of Review of NCDRC

Consumer Tribunals are creatures of a statute and derive their power from the express provisions of that statute. It is now settled law that District Consumer Forums and State Commissions have no power to recall or review their own orders [(2011) 9 SCC 541]. There is no provision in The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 granting […]

Read more "Powers of Review of NCDRC"

Thika Tenancy II

The Battle Royale between Mr. Jaideep Gupta and Mr. Harish Salve on “Thika Tenancy Laws” now stands concluded in Mr. Gupta’s favour. Congratulations, Sir. I saw it all. In Nemai Chandra Kumar v. Mani Square Limited, 2015 (2) SCALE 657 – Respondents, led by Mr. Salve, contended, under The Calcutta Thika Tenancy Act, 1949, by […]

Read more "Thika Tenancy II"

Writ Against Order of Tribunals II

My Lord, Is a Writ Application maintainable against an Order of West Bengal Land Reforms and Tenancy Tribunal, refusing to initiate Contempt Proceedings against an Authority arrayed as a Respondent before the Tribunal? Yes. “Such a pristine question of law does not require any reference to the facts… We are unable to agree with the […]

Read more "Writ Against Order of Tribunals II"