Contempt Jurisdiction IX

We are of the view, contemnor is clearly guilty of contempt. His actions to scandalize the Court cannot be countenanced. He continues with his contumacious behavior. The apologies submitted by him are only endeavors to get out of consequences, again followed by another set of allegations. Thus, a charade. The last apology can hardly be […]

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Compoundable II

True it is, offences which are ‘non-­compoundable’ cannot be compounded by a Criminal Court in purported exercise of its powers under Section 320, CrPC. Any such attempt by Court would amount to alteration, addition and modification of Section 320, CrPC. There is no patent or latent ambiguity in language of Section 320 CrPC, which may […]

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Modified Voluntary Retirement Scheme

The present case is not one of resignation per se but of exercising an option available under Modified Voluntary Retirement Scheme. Clause 5.1 required, the post to be abolished simultaneously with request of voluntary retirement being accepted. This had to be done before disbursing retirement benefits. There was a specific stipulation, no person would be […]

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Section 37 of The NDPS Act II

Union of India v. Shiv Shanker Kesari, (2007) 7 SCC 798 observed, bail may be cancelled if it has been granted without adhering to parameters under Section 37. Given seriousness of offences punishable and in order to curb menace of drug-trafficking, stringent parameters for grant of bail have been prescribed. Union of India v. Prateek […]

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Compensatory Jurisprudence of Constitutional Courts XII

Krishan Pal Singh was appointed as Clerk-cum-Cashier in Allahabad Bank on 23.09.1985 and his service was confirmed on 24.03.1986. During 1989, he was posted in Aurangabad Branch, District Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. On 08.02.1989, there was a fire accident. Balak Ram, prime accused, was Krishan’s friend. Alleging involvement in incident relating to burning of Allahabad […]

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The Doctrine of Basic Structure II

I do not think there is any serious contestation. Constitution of Kenya, 2010 has a Basic Structure. Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 violates certain components of our Constitution’s Basic Structure. [Mr. Justice D.K. Musinga, President of Court of Appeal] Constitutions, like human beings, are never perfect. Judges were agreed, Indian Constitution has a Basic […]

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Monstrosity of Winnability II

The nation continues to wait, and is losing patience. A political party can always give a reason, a candidate with criminal antecedents is found to be more suitable than a person who does not have criminal antecedents. If the political party is of the prima facie opinion, a candidate has been falsely implicated, it can […]

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Contempt Jurisdiction VIII

“Babu Ram Gupta v. Sudhir Bhasin, (1980) 3 SCC 47 was clarified and held in part to be obiter by a Three-Member Bench in Rama Narang v. Ramesh Narang, (2006) 11 SCC 114. Rama Narang pointed out, distinction between two categories of cases covered by Section 2(b) of The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 – (i) wilful disobedience to a […]

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Red Herrings

Recently, Hon’ble Justice Prathiba M. Singh of Delhi High Court in Sulphur Mills Limited v. Dharmaj Crop Guard Limited, [CS(COMM) 1225/2018 & CC(COMM) 9/2019] said, to argue on basis of submissions made before Commissioner of Customs, there is no novelty or inventive step in Indian Patent Number 282429, would lead to an anomalous situation and […]

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Seniority in Promotion / The Revival of Ray LXVIII

The principle of equality is applicable to employment at all stages and in all respects, namely, initial recruitment, promotion, retirement, payment of pension and gratuity. _____ The seniority­-cum-­merit principle is well established in service jurisprudence and does not need much discussion. Three-Judge Bench in B.V. Sivaiah v. K. Addanki Babu, (1998) 6 SCC 720 observed: […]

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Veil of Protest

13 March, 2015 – Members of Legislative Assembly, belonging to Party in Opposition, climbed over to Speaker’s dais and damaged furniture and articles, causing a loss of Rs. 2,20,093/-. _____ A copy of the video recording of the incident was procured from the Electronic Control Room of the Legislative Assembly. The first question to be […]

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Compoundable I

Analyzing decisions [Biswabahan Das v. Gopen Chandra Hazarika, AIR 1967 SC 895; Sheonandan Paswan v. State of Bihar, (1987) 1 SCC 288], it is evident, legislative sanction for compounding of offences is based upon two contrasting principles: first, private parties should be allowed to settle a dispute between them at any stage (with or without […]

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Cancellation of Bail

Section 389(1), CrPC allows Court to release a convicted person on bail. The factors that govern grant of suspension of sentence under Section 389(1) have been discussed by this Court in Atul Tripathi v. State of U.P., (2014) 9 SCC 177. Ramji Prasad v. Rattan Kumar Jaiswal, (2002) 9 SCC 366 observed, in cases involving […]

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Section 482 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 V / Supremacy of Ballot v. Authority of Police

Neeharika Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Maharashtra (2021) SCC Online SC 315 reiterates parameters laid down in celebrated decision of State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal, 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335. Seven Principles enunciated in Paragraph 102 of Bhajan Lal [Two-­Member Bench] are actually quoted with approval in Neeharika [Three-M­ember Bench]. Paragraph 37 of […]

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The Revival of Ray LXVII

State of J&K v. Triloki Nath Khosa, (1974) 1 SCC 19 explained, a classification for the purpose of Article 14 based on any criteria (as the present minimum age criteria undoubtedly is), must be based on a distinct characteristic, having a rational nexus with the object of the norm, or the law. Similarly, Mohd. Shujat […]

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Be Kind Rewind, Strict Liability

“The Strict Liability Rule under Common Law is a relic of the past and should not be given effect in the Indian context.” – Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar, Taj Mahal Hotel v. United India Insurance Co. Ltd., (2020) 2 SCC 224. _____ There is certainly a phantom thread concerning the Rule of Strict Liability and […]

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Retrospective Validating Statute

A competent Legislature can always validate a law which has been declared by Courts to be invalid, provided the infirmities and vitiating factors noticed in the declaratory Judgment are removed or cured. Such a validating law can also be made retrospective. All that Legislature does is to usher in a valid law with retrospective effect […]

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