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? […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Referred to Larger Bench I: The Rules of The Game Principle

In Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation v. Rajendra Bhimrao, (2001) 10 SCC 51 a Two-Judge Bench [Babu and Raju JJ] held, “the rules of the game, meaning thereby the criteria for selection, cannot be altered by the authorities concerned in the middle or after the process of selection has commenced.” In K. Manjusree, (2008) 3 SCC 512 […]

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 […]

DNA Tests: The Divide Between Science and Morality

“Case to Case Basis” is a grand excuse. In Ramkanya Bai v. Bharatram, (2010) 1 SCC 85 Hon’ble Justice Tarun Chatterjee rejected the application for a DNA test to be performed on the child of the Appellant-Wife. One fact that validated that rejection was the Respondent-Husband had made the paternity of the child a ‘prestige […]

Article 136 and Criminal Appeals I

“It is essential to address the issue of propriety and the conceptual parameters or conceptions based on well-accepted norms and paradigms to exercise the power of this Court under Article 136 of the Constitution. In Arunachalam v. P.S.R. Sadhanatha, (1979) 2 SCC 297 it has been expressed thus: “The power is plenary in the sense that […]

In Re: Apar Gupta

Apar Gupta’s Post ______ It is easy to write about M.L. Sharma, easier to dismiss him. I invite you to fight, Apar, someone more suitable to your intelligence and passion: Mr. Ram Jethmalani. Ram Jethmalani’s interview with Karan Thapar is still not forgotten history. Mr. Jethmalani had said, “I will not do anything… but everything […]

Section 37 of The NDPS Act I

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 is to “consolidate and amend the law relating to narcotic drugs and to make stringent provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances et cetera…” [See, Narcotics Control Bureau vs. Kishan Lal, (1991) 1 SCC 705]. Section 37 has been […]

Section 11(6) of the Arbitration Act I : Attorney General’s Submissions Rejected

While it is correct that after the appointment of an Arbitrator is made, the remedy of the aggrieved party is not under Section 11(6) of The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 but such remedy lies elsewhere and under different provisions of the Act [Sections 12, 13], the context in which the aforesaid view is usually […]

The Drastic Power of Rejecting a Plaint I

“Rejection of the plaint under Order 7, Rule 11 is a drastic power conferred in Court to terminate a civil action at the threshold. The conditions precedent to the exercise of power under Order 7, Rule 11 therefore, are stringent and have been consistently held to be so by Court. It is the averments in […]

Judico Me Cremari

Senior Advocate, President of the Bar Association of the Highest Court of a Country, Dushyant Dave is said to have lent a willing ear to a rumor. The rumor is this: Judge of a High Court is being considered for an elevation to SC. Precious words have been used to describe how if this indeed […]

The Sting Operator

The expression ‘sting operation’ seems to have emerged from the title of a popular movie called “The Sting” which was screened sometime in the year 1973. The movie was based on a somewhat complicated plot hatched by two persons to trick a third person into committing a crime. Being essentially a deceptive operation, though designed […]

Mr. Harish Salve’s Alter Ego

Sir Salve and Sir Nariman argued on behalf of Sunil Bharti Mittal recently. It is to Mr. Harish Salve’s credit, his ‘neat submission‘ on ‘alter ego’ was accepted. A man is the alter ego of the company. Sir Salve submitted, “principle of alter ego has always been applied in reverse”. It is not the company that […]

En Passant I

En passant is a move in chess. It refers to a pawn capture. The capture is so effortless, it is imagined to be ‘in passing‘. There is a pawn that is ‘passing‘ too, literally, when it is won. Hon’ble Judges of Supreme Court of India are not averse to ‘in passing‘ orations. In Richpal Singh v. […]

Judges and Astrology I

Mysteries all around! Here is a mnemonic: “Downloading the disturbing Mary Kate movie clip, Kate’s Grandfather let extraordinary gentlemen – Stephen & George – justify, steadily but surely, (their) no apparent reaction. Maybe Grandpa Neville (is) shocked by public lewdity.” 1 2 3 Here you Go! “Downloading The Disturbing Mary Kate Movie Clip, Kate’s Grandfather […]

Advertising Standards Council of India, Skin Whitening Products Category

Previously, the Government of India monopolized broadcasting. Hon’ble Justice P.B. Sawant in Cricket Association of West Bengal v. Union of India, (1995) 2 SCC 161 however wrote: “Broadcasting is a means of communication and, therefore, a medium of speech and expression. Hence in a democratic polity, neither any private individual, institution or organization nor any […]

The Last Word

A Diversion for Lawyers and Others

Judges, Judgments & Lawyers