Rojer Mathew, SLP (Civil) 15804/2017

Issues of Tribunals: Unresolved. 07.05.2018 “The functioning of Tribunals is required to be reviewed on the test of speedy and inexpensive quality justice. L. Chandra Kumar, (1997) 3 SCC 261 noted, various Tribunals have not evolved up to the expectations which is self-evident and widely acknowledged. Drastic measures were required to elevate the standards. R. […]

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The Proof of Valid Wills I

The execution of a Will is proved not only when the statutory requirements for proving that Will are satisfied but the Will is also found to be ordinarily free from suspicious circumstances [Pragnaben, (2008) 15 SCC 365]. Whether a Will is surrounded by suspicious circumstances or not is essentially a question of fact. “3 Courts […]

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Surrogacy

India’s first In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) baby, and World’s second, Kanupriya, was born in Kolkata on October 3, 1978. The scientific technology behind IVF is known as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Despite India being a hub of surrogacy, there is no legal framework. There are four types of surrogacy: traditional, gestational, commercial and altruistic. Commercial surrogacy […]

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The Case of the Honest Prostitute

Books on Constitutional Law are on Judges, Lawyers, occasionally on Politicians. Judges are central actors. The central actor in Rohit De, A People’s Constitution, (Princeton University Press, 2018) is the citizen litigant; private interests assumes public significance. We rarely meet those who have, at least, one positive act to share on Former Hon’ble Chief Justice […]

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En Passant II

“Reliance was placed on State of Maharashtra v. Shankar Krisanrao Khade, 2008 ALL MR (Cri) 2143. It may be mentioned, en passant, view of Bombay High Court in Shankar was not accepted by this Court in Shankar Kisanrao Khade v. State of Maharashtra, (2013) 5 SCC 546 in Paragraphs 60 and 61.” – Hon’ble Justice Madan […]

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The Revival of Ray X

Recently, Hon’ble Justice Ashok Bhushan quoted 650 words of 14th Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice A.N. Ray. These words are to be found in 4 Paragraphs in 2 Judgments. The style is exhibited below: “In Jagir Singh v. State of Bihar, (1976) 2 SCC 942 Court was considering the definition of “owner” as defined […]

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December 8, 1930

It was decided. 8 December, 1930 would be ‘Operation Simpson Day’. The journey began at 12:00 in the afternoon. Three Men sat in a taxi and headed for the Writers Building. One of them had his Birthday < 50 hours ago. The last ride together. [File No. 59/19/30] 12:30. Cap, coat, tie, trousers, boots – […]

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Courts of Record

“High Courts are Courts of Record, set up under Article 215 of The Constitution of India. It is clear that these Constitutional Courts, being Courts of Record, the jurisdiction to recall their own Orders is inherent by virtue of the fact that they are Superior Courts of Record. This has been recognized in: National Sewing […]

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Chymoral Forte v. Chymtral Forte : Acquiescing Passing Off

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd., ‘first past the post’, has a trade mark called ‘CHYMORAL’ and ‘CHYMORAL FORTE’, which is a drug administered post-surgically for swelling and/or wounds that may arise. They filed a suit against Wockhardt Ltd. for use of the mark ‘CHYMTRAL FORTE’. Fraud is not a necessary element of ‘passing off’ actions [Laxmikant, (2002) […]

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Beauty of NEET, 2018

Every examination must be evaluated for what it is, what it should be and not for what it was, what it could be. Primary duty is to avoid arbitrary results. Correct answers to questions presented in NEET-UG, 2018 was one of the 4 Options offered. Bi-lingual questions were set in English with an Option of […]

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Legal Aid

Several matters, every week, are considered for ‘legal aid’. I had briefly assisted Senior Advocate, Jaideep Gupta in this regard and had recommended aid for Ujwala Pandurang Toraskar v. Mormugao Port Trust [Diary No. 20112 of 2018]. Judgment of HC of Bombay at Goa [Writ Petition No. 279/2016], was challenged. On July 3, 2018 SC […]

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Hon’ble Justice Ashok Bhushan

Hon’ble Justice Ashok Bhushan was Elevated as a Permanent Judge of the Allahabad High Court on April 24, 2001. Circa 2005 RNR: Landmark Judgments – Hallmark of Judicial Brilliance? AB: The Judges are only known by their Judgment. They cannot have their own ideologies or perspectives in contrast to Politicians. Therefore, Judgments are the only […]

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Appointment of a Chief Justice

Recent Elevations to Supreme Court of 7 Judges is interesting. None of them shall be Chief Justice of India after Hon’ble Justice Dr. Chandrachud. Seniority is neither based on age nor on experience. It is purely accidental. The following is an extract from A.R. Antulay, Appointment of a Chief Justice, (Popular Prakashan, 1973). “Many Judges […]

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The Revival of Ray IX

“As early as in 1975, a Four Judge Bench of this Court in Pratap Narain Singh Deo v. Srinivas Sabata, (1976) 1 SCC 289 speaking through Shingal J. has held that an employer becomes liable to pay compensation as soon as the personal injury is caused to the workman in an accident which arose out […]

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The Revival of Ray VIII

Legal Journalists obsess over presence of Khanna J in ADM JABALPUR. A presence caused by… Supreme Court quoted recently: Gwalior Rayon, (1974) 4 SCC 98. Judgment of Justices Khanna, Alagiriswami and Bhagwati was delivered by Khanna J. Justice K. K. Mathew gave a Separate Opinion, on behalf of A. N. Ray, CJI and himself. My Lord, […]

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