“It is a well established position, when statutes are unambiguous, Courts must adopt plain and natural meaning irrespective of consequences [Nelson Motis v. Union of India, (1992) 4 SCC 711]. On a bare reading of Section 207 of The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 no other interpretation is possible. We hold, ‘contents of the memory card/pen […]
Read more "Cloned Copy of Electronic Record"“To read Section 36, prior to 2015 Amendment Act, as inferring something negative, namely, that where the time for making an application under Section 34 has not expired and therefore, on such application being made within time, an automatic-stay ensues, is to read something into Section 36 which is not there at all. This also […]
Read more "Section 36 of The Arbitration Act"Section 2(a) of The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 defines ‘child’ as a person who, if a male, has not completed twenty-one years of age, and if a female, has not completed eighteen years of age. A ‘child marriage’ means a marriage to which either of the contracting parties is a child. Hardev Singh […]
Read more "Prohibition of Child Marriage"“Where Courts find that the words appear to have been accidentally omitted, or if adopting a construction deprives certain existing words of all meaning, it is permissible to supply additional words but Courts should not easily read words which have not been expressly enacted. Court should construct the provisions harmoniously having regard to the context […]
Read more "Word Supply II"“The rule of interpretation of Contra Proferentem has been pressed into service. As observed in United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Pushpalaya Printers, 2004 (3) SCC 694 : “It is also settled position in law that if there is any ambiguity or a term is capable of two possible interpretations, one beneficial to the insured […]
Read more "The Contra Proferentem Rule V"“Reliance is placed on Sri Nasiruddin, (1975) 2 SCC 671. Muhammed Ashraf, AIR 2009 KER 14 took support from the dictum in Holmes v. Bradfield Rural District Council, 1949 (1) All ER 381 and also in Sri Nasiruddin, (1975) 2 SCC 671 wherein this Court adopted ‘just, reasonable and sensible’ interpretation.” – Hon’ble Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, The Authorised […]
Read more "The Revival of Ray XXIX"It is, most often, not permissible to read words in a statute which are not there. But, where the alternative lies between either supplying by implication certain words which appear to have been accidentally omitted, or adopting a construction which deprives certain existing words of all meaning, it is permissible to supply the words. “In […]
Read more "Word Supply I / The Revival of Ray XXVII"“When a Court ignores the binding precedent of a Larger Bench, the Judgment so delivered is held to be per incuriam and has no precedential value. The principle of per incuriam has been developed by English Courts in relaxation of the rule of stare decisis. In practice per incuriam is per ignoratium. See, Paragraph 40, […]
Read more "Per Incuriam II"Hon’ble Justice Arun Misra, while explaining Section 108 of The Companies Act [Ram Parshottam Mittal v. Hotel Queen Road Pvt. Ltd., Civil Appeal No. 3934 of 2017], quoted Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice A.N. Ray [Mannalal Khetan v. Kedar Nath Khetan, (1977) 2 SCC 424]; My Lord, Mannalal Khetan v. Kedar Nath Khetan, […]
Read more "The Revival of Ray XXII"Appellant Nos. 1-44 – Builder-Buyer Agreement – Respondent/Builder. Respondent/Builder, Failed! Appellant Nos. 1-44, NCDRC, Consumer Complaint. “National Commission concluded, the case could not be accepted as a class action and dismissed same. The dismissal of the case as class action is questioned. In T.N. Ganapathy, (1990) 1 SCC 608 it was held, persons who may […]
Read more "Class Action, Consumer Disputes I"“Court’s task is to ascertain the intention of the parties by examining the words they used and giving them their ordinary meaning in their contractual context. It must start with what it is given by the parties themselves when it is conducting this exercise. Effect is to be given to every word, so far as […]
Read more "Well-Known Principles of Interpretation"My Lord, Courts should interpret the Constitution as it would have been understood by ordinary, reasonable citizens alive at the time the Constitution was enacted or Courts should interpret the Constitution as a living organism, one meant to evolve to suit the changing needs and values of contemporary society? A standing-room-only crowd of law students and […]
Read more "The Nature of Judicial Power: Hon’ble Justice Antonin G. Scalia"“Section 12(5) is a new provision which relates to the de jure inability of an Arbitrator to act as such. Under this provision, any prior agreement to the contrary is wiped out by the non-obstante clause in Section 12(5) the moment any person whose relationship with the parties or the Counsel or the subject matter […]
Read more "Section 12(5) of The Arbitration Act III"My Lord, Hon’ble Justice A.P. Sen View, Paragraphs 86-87, Express Newspapers v. Union of India, (1986) 1 SCC 133 = Majority View? Yes. “We, consider it apposite to refer to The Guardians of The Poor of The West Derby Union v. The Guardians of The Poor of The Atcham, (1889) 24 QBD 117. The question […]
Read more "Ratio Decidendi I"“In Dwarka Prasad v. Dwarka Das Saraf, (1976) 1 SCC 128 this Court held: “A proviso must be limited to the subject-matter of the enacting clause. It is a settled rule of construction, a proviso must prima facie be read and considered in relation to the principal matter to which it is a proviso. It […]
Read more "The Proviso II / The Revival of Ray XVI"“The NDPS Act carries a reverse burden of proof under Sections 35, 54. Section 35(2) provides, a fact can be said to have been proved if it is established beyond reasonable doubt and not on preponderance of probability. Article 21 of the Constitution would be a hollow promise if the investigation were not to be […]
Read more "4 Kilograms of Opium"“STATUTES SHOULD BE CONSTRUED NOT AS THEOREM OF EUCLID… WORDS MUST BE CONSTRUED WITH SOME IMAGINATION OF THE PURPOSES WHICH LIE BEHIND THEM”: JUDGE LEARNED HAND. Gypsum (Calcium Sulphate Dihydrate): Natural Mineral. Gypsum Board / Drywall: Cellulosic Composite Material; Primary Raw Material = Calcium Sulphate Dihydrate + Cellulose; See, George J Venta, The Athena Sustainable […]
Read more "Euclid’s Theorem II"07.01.2019 My Lord, Teachers are Employees under Section 2(e) of The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972? “No. Clearly Not. See, Ahmedabad Pvt. Primary Teachers’ Association, (2004) 1 SCC 755.” – Hon’ble Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Birla Institute of Technology v. State of Jharkhand, [Civil Appeal No. 2530 of 2012]. _____ 09.01.2019 My Lord, Teachers are […]
Read more "Section 2(e) of The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972"“Appeal arises from the Judgment of a Learned Single Judge of High Court of Calcutta by which the Respondent’s Application for condoning a delay of 514 days in filing an Application under Section 34 of The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 was allowed. This Court needs to assess whether the benefit of Sections 5 and […]
Read more "Section 34(3) of The Arbirtration Act I"There is always much to study in a dissenting opinion; dissents in constitutional law matters are remembered/revered; dissents in criminal law matters produce intense causes of concern. How best can one ensure advancement of justice, if Supreme Court Judges disagree on a crime? There would be a day surely when 5/7/9 or perhaps 13 shall […]
Read more "Section 372 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 I"
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