Dibrugarh offered a simple, uncomplicated lifestyle and we grew up in a milieu with a consistent feel-good ambience. My greatest satisfaction as a Lawyer was, help I could render to my Father outside Court when he had faced a disqualification under Tenth Schedule in 1994. P.K. Goswami, Senior Advocate, represented my Father. Amitava Roy [Retired […]
Read more "Justice Ranjan Gogoi’s Justice"Mofil Khan v. State of Jharkhand, [Review Petition (Criminal) No. 641 of 2015 in Criminal Appeal No. 1795 of 2009] has observed, possibility of reformation and rehabilitation of convict is an important factor which has to be taken into account as a mitigating circumstance. It is also our duty to take into consideration, state of mind of […]
Read more "Review of Death Penalty XXII"On a fair reading of Section 427 of CrPC, when a person who is already undergoing a sentence of imprisonment is sentenced on a subsequent conviction to imprisonment or imprisonment for life, such imprisonment or imprisonment for life shall commence at expiration of imprisonment to which he has been previously sentenced. However, there is an […]
Read more "Section 427 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973"“Insurance is a contract of speculation. Good faith forbids either party, by concealing what he privately knows, to draw the other into a bargain from his ignorance of the fact, and his believing the contrary.” – Lord Mansfield, Carter v. Boehm, (1766) 3 Burr 1905. What is necessary to be disclosed are ‘material facts’ which […]
Read more "Contracts of Insurance IV"Court has propounded several tests for determining reasonableness for purpose of Article 19(1)(g). These have ranged from testing restrictions for arbitrariness [Dwarka, AIR 1954 SC 224; Shree Meenakshi Mills, AIR 1974 SC 366], excessiveness [Chintaman Rao, AIR 1951 SC 118] and discerning their objective of compliance with Directive Principles of State Policy [Saghir Ahmad, (1955) […]
Read more "Proportionality in Culture of Justification I"Waiver is abandonment of a right which normally everybody is at liberty to waive [Pravesh Kumar Sachdeva v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (2018) 10 SCC 628]. Waiver of mandatory requirement of a statute was considered by this Court in depth in Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai v. Virgo Steels, Bombay, (2002) 4 SCC 316. Similarly, in […]
Read more "The Doctrine of Waiver"A land dispute caused loss of life of Abdul Wahab. An endeavour to escape by taking shelter did not succeed. Taijuddin said, “Wahab is there in house of Shorab“. It is right, mere fact of not being brave enough to conceal where Wahab was hiding doesn’t make Taijuddin part of an unlawful assembly. Once we […]
Read more "Faction-Ridden Village Community"Section 220, CrPC envisages situations when a person shall be tried for multiple offences at one trial. It now needs to be determined, if Section 220, CrPC can be applied to proceedings before a Special Court constituted under The Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. It is apparent, on combined reading of […]
Read more "The Principle, Rule, Doctrine of Implied Repeal II"Mrinal Das v. State of Tripura, (2011) 9 SCC 479 observed, credible evidence even of a hostile witness can form basis for conviction in a criminal trial. It is a harsh reality, particularly, in those cases where accused persons/criminals are tried for heinous offences, or where accused persons are influential persons or in a dominating […]
Read more "Witness Protection"It would be profitable to refer to Mohd. Mannan v. State of Bihar, (2019) 16 SCC 584 in which it was held, before imposing extreme penalty of Death Sentence, Court should satisfy itself Death Sentence is imperative, as otherwise convict would be a threat to society and there is no possibility of reform or rehabilitation […]
Read more "Review of Death Penalty XXI"It is by now a lucid dictum, for purpose of constituting an offence under Section 307, IPC there are two ingredients – first, whether there was any intention or knowledge on part of accused to cause death of victim, and, second, such intent or knowledge was followed by some overt actus rea in execution thereof, […]
Read more "Section 307, Indian Penal Code I"It is settled law, Court cannot interfere with soundness and wisdom of a policy. A policy is subject to judicial review on limited grounds [Asif Hammed v. State of Jammu & Kashmir, 1989 Supp (2) SCC 364; Sitaram Sugar Co Ltd. v. Union of India, (1990) 3 SCC 223; Khoday Distilleries Ltd. v. State of […]
Read more "Unchartered Ocean of Policy Decision III / The Revival of Ray LXXVII"After Narayan Govind Gavate v. State of Maharashtra, (1977) 1 SCC 133 a ‘discordant note’ came to be struck in Pista Devi, (1986) 4 SCC 251. Chameli Singh, (1996) 2 SCC 549 proceeded to consider decisions in Gavate, Pista Devi and Rajasthan Housing Board, (1993) 2 SCC 84. Chameli Singh was not noticed in Om […]
Read more "The Revival of Ray LXXVI"There is a subtle difference between a defective investigation and one brought forth by a calculated and deliberate action or inaction. While dealing with a defective investigation, Court is expected to sift evidence available and find out truth. Every case involves a journey towards truth. We are distressed to note, investigation has not been conducted […]
Read more "Colorable Investigation"A claim of juvenility may be raised at any stage of a criminal proceeding, even after a final disposal. An application claiming juvenility could be made either before Court or JJ Board. It is neither feasible nor desirable to lay down an abstract formula to determine age of a person. It has to be on […]
Read more "Claim of Juvenility I"The act of ‘touching’ sexual part of body or any other act involving ‘physical contact’, if done with ‘sexual intent’, would amount to ‘sexual assault’ within meaning of Section 7 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Restricting interpretation of words ‘touch’ or ‘physical contact’ to ‘skin to skin contact’ would not […]
Read more "Ut Res Magis Valeat Quam Pereat"Lord Diplock in Council of Civil Service Unions v. Minister for Civil Service, [1985] AC 374; Lord Greene in Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd. v. Wednesbury Corp., [1947] 2 All ER 680. An administrative action is subject to judicial review on grounds of illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety. _____ When a person takes a chance […]
Read more "Risky Participation / The Revival of Ray LXXV"An interpreter, to deviate from defined meaning, should record reasons to show word/expression in a particular provision carries a different meaning; contrary context is not to be assumed or accepted easily, in absence of indication and reason to differ from defined meaning. Repugnancy is not indicated and does not arise in context of clause 22(ix)(a) […]
Read more "Repugnancy II"Refaz Kotwar stabbed Mohd. Jamil Kotwar with a dagger. We see no reason to doubt testimony of witnesses examined. PW7 and PW8 are injured eye-witnesses. State of Madhya Pradesh v. Mansingh, (2003) 10 SCC 414 held, evidence of an injured eye-witness has great evidentiary value and unless compelling reasons exist, their statements are not to […]
Read more "Injured Eye-Witness"High Court of Karnataka confirmed Death Sentence for Irappa Siddappa Murgannavar. Shanti Devi v. State of Rajasthan, (2012) 12 SCC 158 had considered, factum of recovery of body at instance of accused is a strong circumstance for conviction. Similar is Ranjit Kumar Haldar v. State of Sikkim, (2019) 7 SCC 684. On an overall view […]
Read more "Review of Death Penalty XX"
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