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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Section 16 of The Hindu Marriage Act / Compassionate Appointment I

“The policy of compassionate appointment is premised on the death of an employee while in harness. The death of an employee is liable to render the family in a position of financial hardship and need. Compassionate appointment is intended to alleviate the hardship that the family of a deceased employee may face upon premature death […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Principle of Parity II / The Revival of Ray XI

45 Years of E.P. Royappa Determination of Equation of Pay Scales: Government, Experts; Not Courts [SAIL, (2011) 11 SCC 122; S.C. Chandra, (2007) 8 SCC 27]. Determinative Factors in Equation of Posts: a) Prescribed Minimum Qualification; b) Nature and Duty [E.P. Royappa, (1974) 4 SCC 3]; c) Responsibility and Power; Salary [P.K. Roy, AIR 1968 SC […]

Order 33, 44 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

“The question of entitlement to file a suit under Order 33 provided plaintiff is able to prove that he is not possessed of sufficient means to pay the requisite fees is required to be decided by holding an inquiry as prescribed under Order 33, Rules 4-7. Rule 9 empowers the Court to withdraw the permission […]

Section 2(e) of The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972

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 […]

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 […]

Section 452 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

“A claim of title to the goods which have been seized is a relevant consideration while passing an order under Section 452. Where there are conflicting claims of entitlement to the property, the Magistrate may deal with them or, where it is found that the rival claims need to be resolved after an evidentiary trial, […]

Compound the Non-Compoundable

“Offences under Sections 307, 294 read with Section 34, IPC are non-compoundable. Accused fired twice by a country-made pistol. High Court has committed a grave error in quashing the criminal proceedings solely on the ground, Complainant and Accused have settled the dispute. In Gulab Das, (2011) 12 SCALE 625 this Court has specifically observed that […]

Section 15(2) of The Arbitration Act III

“The present case is governed by The Pre-Amended 1996 Act [See, Section 15(2)]. This Court in ACC Ltd. v. Global Cements Ltd., (2012) 7 SCC 71 held that the procedure agreed upon by the parties for the appointment of the Original Arbitrator is equally applicable to the appointment of a Substitute Arbitrator, even if the […]

Section 26 of The Arbitration Act

“Section 26 of The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015 has to be construed literally first, and then purposively and pragmatically. Section 26 is indeed in two parts, separate and distinct. Whereas the first part refers only to Arbitral Proceedings before an Arbitral Tribunal, the second part refers to Court Proceedings “in relation to” Arbitral […]

The Nature of Judicial Power: Chief Justice of India No. 51

Comprehension means the unpremeditated, attentive facing up to, and resisting of, reality. The Supreme Court of India (‘SC’) has 26 Hon’ble Judges. It is difficult to comprehend the Highest Court of the Land and its Judges. The Supreme Court of the United States has 9 Judges who enjoy an appointment for a lifetime. In contrast, […]

The Law on Compensation for Breach of Contract III

“Every breach of contract gives rise to an action for damages. Innocent party is to be placed, so far as money can do so, in the same position as if the contract had been performed. The aforesaid proposition remains to hold the field. This rule is more qualified when it comes to the real estate […]

Murder of Mahatma

My Lord, Who Killed Mahatma? Mahatma Gandhi: Dead. Accused: Dead. Unseen Hand? Issue: Gross. Truth: Well Known. Hearsay. New Fires of Controversy: No. – Hon’ble Justice S.A. Bobde – Hon’ble Justice L. Nageswara Rao, Dr. Pankaj Kumudchandra Phadnis v. Union of India Ministry of Law and Justice, [SLP (Civil) 8293 of 2018].

Foreign Lawyers in India

My Lord, Practice Permissible for Foreign Law Firms / Lawyers in India? The ‘practice’ of law includes litigation as well as non-litigation. A casual visit isn’t practice. It isn’t possible to hold, there are no bars on Foreign Lawyers conducting Arbitration in India. It is true, subject to regulations, Foreign Lawyers can practice Foreign Law […]

Investigation Transfer

My Lord, Transfer Investigation by West Bengal Police to NIA/CBI/Independent Investigation Agency? Power of Transferring Investigation: When, Rare and Exceptional Case; When, Investigation by State Police: No Credibility; When, Confidence in Public Mind: Necessary. Not a Fit Case. – Hon’ble Justice Ashok Bhushan, Bimal Gurung v. Union of India, [Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 182 of […]

The Last Word

A Diversion for Lawyers and Others