Retrospective v. Retroactive I

“Two ­Judge Bench in State Bank’s Staff Union (Madras Circle) v. Union of India, (2005) 7 SCC 584 had occasion to examine the concept. Further in Jay Mahakali Rolling Mills v. Union of India, (2007) 12 SCC 198 following has been laid down: “Retrospective means looking backward, contemplating what is past, having reference to a […]

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A Fasid Marriage

“Muslim Law clearly distinguishes between a valid marriage (sahih), void marriage (batil), and invalid/irregular marriage (fasid). Thus, it cannot be stated that a batil (void) marriage and a fasid (invalid/irregular) marriage are one and the same. The marriage of a Muslim Man with a Hindu Woman is neither a valid (sahih) nor a void (batil) […]

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4 Kilograms of Opium

“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 […]

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Morality of Gambling

“It needs to be borne in mind, there may be certain activities which society perceives as immoral per se. It may include gambling (though that is also becoming a debatable issue now), prostitution et cetera. It is also to be noted, standards of morality in a society change with passage of time. A particular activity, […]

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Review of Death Penalty V

Appellant was a driver working with Swargate S.T. Depot, Pune. On 25.01.2012 he had requested for changing his ‘night out duty’ to ‘single day duty’. After his request was declined, he ‘hijacked’ a S.T. Bus; ‘crushed to death’ 2-3; ‘killed’ 6; ‘grievously injured’ / ‘permanently disabled’ 36; ‘damaged’ public property. Appellant was not in a […]

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Successive Presentations of Cheque

“The correctness of the decision in Sadanandan’s case was doubted. Three-Judge Bench of this Court in MSR Leathers v. S. Palaniappan held that there is nothing in the provisions of Section 138 of The Act that forbids the holder of the cheque to make successive presentation of the cheque and institute the criminal complaint based […]

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Extra Judicial Confessions II

“It is true, an extra-judicial confession is used against its maker but as a matter of caution, it is advisable for Court to look for a corroboration with other evidence on record. In Gopal Sah, (2008) 17 SCC 128 this Court held, an extra-judicial confession is, on the face of it, weak evidence and Court […]

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Setting Aside, Acquittal Orders II

Stories, Locking Key, Weapons, Blood Stains, Fingerprints, Hair, Robbed Items, Murdered Bodies, Accused: Recovered. Trial Court: Capital Punishment. 2:1 High Court: Acquittal. Hon’ble Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar, Ashish Jain v. Makrand Singh, [Criminal Appeal No. 1980 of 2008]: Acquittal “We have re-appreciated the entire evidence. No whisper of an important fact / crucial piece of […]

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Euclid’s Theorem II

“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 […]

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Principles of Natural Justice IV

Security Clearance is Mandatory – The Cable Television Network (Amendment) Rules, 2012.  My Lord, Principle of Natural Justice, Fair Play Overlooked? “In similar circumstances, in Ex-Armymen’s Protection Services Private Limited, (2014) 5 SCC 409 following was laid down: “What is in ‘interest of national security’ is not a ‘question of law’. It is a ‘matter […]

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Monsanto v. Nuziveedu: Patent Battle

My Lord, Nuziveedu infringed Monsanto’s Patent ? “Technically complex suit. We leave open all questions of fact and law to be urged for consideration in appropriate proceedings. The suit involved complicated mixed questions of law and facts with regard to patentability and exclusion of patent which could be examined in the suit on basis of evidence. There is no […]

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Relief of Specific Performance

“The material questions, which are required to be gone into for grant of the relief of specific performance, are first, whether there exists a valid and concluded contract between the parties for sale/purchase of the suit property; second, whether the plaintiff has been ready and willing to perform his part of contract and whether he […]

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