Deep Association of Money and Politics

The fear of reprisal and vindictiveness does not evaporate. The so-called protection exists only on paper. – Hon’ble Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India, [Writ Petition (Civil) No. 880 of 2017]. Constitution guarantees a right to informational privacy of political affiliation. Can such right be extended to contributions to political […]

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Principle of Generality v. Enumeration

Where a statute confers particular powers without prejudice to generality of a general power already conferred, those particular powers are only illustrative of the general power and do not in any way restrict the general power. However, the general power cannot be so exercised as to bring into existence ‘substantive rights or obligations or disabilities’ […]

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Gurwinder’s Bail

On 19.10.2018, secret information was received about 2 hanging cloth banners, on which Khalistan Jindabad and Khalistan Referendum 2020 was written, at Pillars Kot Mit Singh Flyover, Amritsar. Language of bail limitation adopted in Section 43D(5) of The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 remains unique. Courts are burdened with a sensitive task. Call Detail Records […]

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Forfeiture in Public Auctions

Learned Senior Counsel, Dr. S. Muralidhar vehemently submitted no error could be said to have been committed by High Court. We set aside. Harshness of a provision is no reason to ‘Read Down’ same. _____ Privy Council in Kunwar Chiranjit Singh v. Har Swarup, (1926) 23 LW 172 was referred to and relied upon by […]

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Accused No. 37, Mastermind Naidu

Case of State against Nara Chandrababu Naidu is, Naidu was a mastermind. Learned Senior Advocate, Mr. Mukul Rohtagi argued, since, at time of commission of offence, protective shield of Section 17A of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was not in force, Naidu could not claim benefits thereof. I do not accept. It has been already observed by me, […]

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25 Lakhs for Supreme Court

It is time to check with firmness, litigation initiated and laced with concealment, falsehood and forum hunting. This unnecessary turning of a civil matter into a criminal case not only overburdens criminal justice system but violates principles of fairness and right conduct in legal matters. It will set a harmful precedent if not addressed. Karan […]

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Adani Group of Companies

‘Acceptance of a Brief by a Lawyer’ in 2007 cannot be construed to reflect ‘bias’ or even a ‘likelihood of bias’ in 2023. There is an absence of proximity both in terms of time and subject matter. Writ Petitions filed before this Court raised concerns over precipitate decline in investor wealth and volatility in share […]

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Referred to Larger Bench XXV Answered Again: Doctrine of Separability of Arbitration Agreement

Curative Petition (C) No. 44 of 2023 Review Petition (C) No. 704 of 2021 Civil Appeal No. 1599 of 2020 _____ Approach of Majority in N.N. Global 2 would render unstamped agreements void ab initio and not void. _____ We enter into contracts or agreements several times in our interactions with others. To hold an […]

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Scheduled Offences

Learned Senior Counsel, Ms. Meenakshi Arora contended, Section 120­B of IPC alone, in absence of any other scheduled offence, cannot sustain a charge under The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002. Learned Additional Solicitor General argued, as Section 120­B of IPC is included in Part A to Schedule, even if allegation is of making a criminal […]

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Claim of Juvenility VII

Since, at commencement of 2015 Act, proceedings were pending before High Court, Section 25 of 2015 Act would be attracted [Satya Deo v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (2020) 10 SCC 555]. It would mean, The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 would be applicable including Rule 12. This aspect has also been […]

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The Fundamental Right to Marry

Supriyo @ Surpiya Chakraborty v. UoI Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1011 of 2022 My Lord, LGBTQ persons have a right to marry a person of their choice regardless of religion, gender and sexual orientation? No. A thing, an occurrence, or a practice is ‘Indian’ when it is present in India, takes place here, or is […]

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Grounds of Arrest

The finer connotations and nuances of Section 19 of The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002, left uncharted by this Court in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary, 2022 (10) SCALE 577, were still open to interpretation and resolution. Section 19 does not specify in clear terms as to how an arrested person is to be ‘informed’ of ‘grounds […]

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Test Identification Parade

We are conscious, M.P. Sharma v. Satish Chandra, AIR 1954 SC 300 came to be overruled in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, (2017) 10 SCC 1. M.P. Sharma had observed, privacy is not a right guaranteed by Indian Constitution. What is prohibited by Article 20(3) is procuring by compulsion, positive volitional evidentiary acts. It […]

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Preventive Detention Statute V

Learned Counsel has placed strong reliance on Cherukuri Mani v. Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh, (2015) 13 SCC 722. We may say with profound respect, Cherukuri Mani does not lay down correct law. It appears, attention of Learned Judges was not invited to T. Devaki v. Government of Tamil Nadu, (1990) 2 SCC 456 […]

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Minimum 75% in Class XII

Learned Senior Counsel, P.S. Patwalia contends, condition of having acquired 75% marks defeats objective of providing a sports quota because it assumes sports persons also have a degree of academic excellence. Doctrine of Equality has layered dimensions. State of Jammu and Kashmir v. Triloki Nath Khosa, (1974) 1 SCC 19 held, a ‘classification’ should not […]

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Vernon’s Bail

Dr. Anand Teltumbde v. National Investigation Agency, 2022 SCC OnLine Bom 5174 has not been interfered with. _____ Hitendra Vishnu Thakur v. State of Maharashtra, (1994) 4 SCC 602; Niranjan Singh Karam Singh Punjabi v. Jitendra Bhimraj Bijjaya, (1990) 4 SCC 76 and Usmanbhai Dawoodbhai Memon v. State of Gujarat, (1988) 2 SCC 271] were […]

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Monstrosity of Winnability III

It was urged, while it is undoubtedly important to respect popular will and Courts ought to be slow in upsetting them, equally it is important to maintain purity of an election process. Courts are, hence, duty bound to examine allegations without being unduly hyper-technical in their approach. Bhim Rao Baswanth Rao Patil defeated K. Madan […]

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