Section 62 – Amendments and Section 63 – Waivers

My Lord, Difference between Amendment and Waiver, in context of The Indian Contract Act, 1872? Amendment It is settled law that an amendment to a contract being in the nature of a modification of the terms of the contract must be read in and become a part of the original contract in order to amount […]

Don’t Mess with People from Allahabad

On 10.03.2015, Markandey Katju (MK) published two posts on his Facebook page. One called ‘Gandhi – A British Agent‘, the other referred to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose as an ‘Agent of Japanese Fascism’. On 11.03.2015, Rajya Sabha unanimously passed the following ‘resolution’: “This House expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the recent remarks of the Former Judge of the […]

The K3G National Anthem Scene Reloaded

Social activist Shyam Narayan Chouksey’s (‘SNC’) life changed the day he went to see ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ (2001, Director: Karan Johar). In one scene, a boy sings the National Anthem of India at a school function in London (‘scene’). He forgets the last five words. “To some it may appear lapsus linguae, slip of […]

Contemptuous Katju

Armed with 35 years of hindsight, Justice Bhagwati, in 2011, expressed regret for his 1976 Judgment upholding Prevention Detention during the Emergency. Justice Chandrachud did so in 1978 in case his chances of being CJI were blighted. Were these declarations simply a flourish to catch the public eye? Do Judges even concede they are wrong? […]

Etymological Excursions in Bread & Butter Statutes

“Purposive interpretation in a social amelioration legislation is an imperative, irrespective of anything else. This is eloquently brought out in Atma Ram, (1988) 4 SCC 284. How labour legislations are to be interpreted has been stated and restated by this Court time and again. In Surendra Kumar, (1980) 4 SCC 443, this Court reminded, semantic […]

Chamber Practices of Former Supreme Court Judges

Retired Hon’ble Chief Justice of India A.N. Ray, though expected to be President, one day, once said, as evidenced by George H. Gadbois, Jr, “An Indian Chief Justice, like the Lord Chief Justice, in England, should not take up any post-retirement positions.” Taking up a post-retirement position is one thing; soliciting one is quite another. […]

Section 8 of The Arbitration Act II: Arbitrability of Fraud

Fraud is a knowing misrepresentation of the truth or concealment of a material fact or abuse of a position of confidence to induce another to act to his detriment. Serious allegations of fraud may not be referred to Domestic Arbitrations. “When the case involves serious allegations of fraud, the dicta contained in N. Radhakrishnan, (2010) 1 […]

The Exquisite Corpse of Soumya II: Law and Other Things, 05.10.2016

[The following was first published here] It is murder, if the intentional infliction of bodily injury is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death. In February 2011, a day before her engagement ceremony, 23-year-old Soumya was injured, raped and robbed. She died a few days later, in a hospital, having never regained […]

Judge Made Law: Fixed Term Sentences I

It was contended before SC in Vikas Yadav v. State of Uttar Pradesh, [Criminal Appeal Nos. 1531-1533 of 2015], under Section 302 of The Indian Penal Code, 1860 life is minimum and maximum is Death Sentence and therefore Court has a choice between the two and is not entitled to follow any other path. It would […]

Legal Proceeding

“The expression ‘legal proceeding’ has been the subject matter of consideration in the Federal Court decision in Governor-General in Council v. Shiromani Sugar Mills Ltd., AIR 1946 FC 16. In that decision Section 171 of The Indian Companies Act, 1913 came up for consideration. “When a winding-up order has been made or a Provisional Liquidator […]

Prima Facie

Throughout the history of the use of the term in Latin, ‘prima facie’ meant only the most cursory, initial impression. It retained that meaning upon its adoption into colloquial English. The term ‘prima facie’ is used in the law both as an adjective and as an adverb. Common Law Courts which developed the judicial meaning […]

Indubitably, Yatin Narendra Oza

Yatin Narendra Oza is as an outspoken Senior Advocate. He was Designated at 39. He has served as President of Gujarat High Court Advocates Association 16 times. YNO, while contemptuously alleging that 2 Judges had proximity to the Prime Minister, was “under the impression that he was making a genuine effort to protect the interest […]

Ex Debito Justitiae I

“The principle of ‘ex debito justitiae’ has been elaborately dealt with in the concurring Judgment of Umesh C. Banerjee J in Rupa Ashok Hurra, (2002) 4 SCC 388, Paragraph 69. The principle is founded on a recognition of a debt that justice delivery system owes to a litigant to correct an error in a judicial […]

রাজ্য সরকারের মতামত পরিবর্তন

As the governing hands of Kerala have changed, so have its stands on the Sabarimala Controversy. This has attracted widespread reportage. An inspired Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Senior Advocate argued recently, a State Government cannot be allowed to change its stand before SC in proceedings borne out of Article 136, at time of arguments especially, […]

First Information Report I

Manoj Kumar Sharma, serving in the Indian Air Force at the relevant time, got married to one Nandini on 27.04.1999. On 20.09.1999, Nandini Sharma committed suicide at her matrimonial home. Ambala Police closed the case after fulfilling the requirements of Section 174 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 holding, there was no foul play […]

Order 6, Rule 16 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

“We think it profitable to examine the scheme of Order 6, Rule 16: “16. Striking out pleadings – Court may at any stage of the proceedings order to be struck out or amended any matter in any pleading – (a) which may be unnecessary, scandalous, frivolous or vexatious, or (b) which may tend to prejudice, […]

Section 311 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 I

Every criminal trial is a voyage of discovery in which truth is the quest. It is the duty of a Presiding Judge to explore every avenue open to him in order to discover the truth and to advance the cause of justice. Presiding Judge must cease to be a spectator and a mere recording machine. […]

Writ Against Order of Tribunals I

My Lord, Is a Tribunal, whose Order is challenged under Articles 226, 227 of The Constitution, a Necessary Party? The issue has been considered in Jogendrasinhji, (2015) 9 SCC 1. It holds, Tribunals, who in law are entitled to defend Orders passed by them, are Necessary Parties and if they are not arrayed as Parties, […]

The Nature of Judicial Power: Powers of Review of Supreme Court I

Enviro Legal Action v. Union of India, (2011) 8 SCC 161 elaborated scope of Article 137. Kamlesh Verma v. Mayawati, (2013) 8 SCC 320 further held as under: (A) Review Maintainability: Discovery of new and important matter or evidence which, after the exercise of due diligence, was not within knowledge or could not be produced; […]

Order 18, Rule 17 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

“In K.K. Velusamy, (2011) 11 SCC 275 while dealing with the power of Court under Order 18, Rule 17 this Court held that :- “Order 18, Rule 17 of the Code enables Court, at any stage of a suit, to recall any witness who has been examined (subject to the law of evidence for the […]

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