What Happens to Ram Sunder Sen?

Ram Sunder Sen’s 12 year-old daughter was raped and murdered. One Narendra was arrested. Trial Court awarded Capital Punishment. Narendra filed an appeal before Madhya Pradesh High Court. HC allowed the appeal on the ground, prosecution failed to prove the chain of circumstances sufficient enough to connect Narendra with the alleged offence. Ram Sunder petitioned […]

Judges with Colorful Lives: No. 8

“In 1999, it was reported: “Ganglord Chhota Shakeel is in direct contact with a serving Additional Sessions Court Judge in Mumbai, Jaysingh Wadhu Singh.” It was alleged, the Judge had agreed to go easy on cases involving members of the Dawood or the Shakeel family. J.W. Singh was in jail for 28 months before a […]

Architecture, Structure, Bricks and Walls

In Re: Daksh The Basic Structure Doctrine has an able critic in Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran [RR]. Christmas Comedy Night with RNR RR: “When you talk of a Structure, four professions are involved – architecture, civil and structural engineering, masonry and brick laying.” RNR: Let’s see. Katrina Kaif – Architecture (God’s Contribution, Genes), Engineering (Gym, […]

Ravindra Himmatrao Patil, Who?

A lot of lives changed at 2:45 AM on 28.09.2002. Ravindra Himmatrao Patil should not be forgotten. “The evidence of Ravindra Patil is of very weak type“ “Still if he is considered as a partially reliable witness, then there is definitely a need for independent corroboration. In the considered view of this Court, apart from […]

The Principle, Rule, Doctrine of Implied Repeal I

“It is well settled that in a case where there is a repealing clause to a particular Act, it is a case of express repeal, but in a case where doctrine of implied repeal is to be applied, the matter will have to be determined by taking into account the exact meaning and scope of […]

Stare Decisis, Not Logic Intolerant

‘Stare Decisis’ is a Latin phrase which means “to stand by decided cases; to uphold precedents; to maintain former adjudication.” SC in Paragraph 26-A, Indra Sawhney, (1992) 3 SCC 217 observed, in law, certainty/consistency/continuity are highly desirable features. Doctrine of Stare Decisis is not an ‘imprisonment of reason‘. Concepts are good servants but bad masters. […]

The Public Function Test, Mr. Harish Salve

“We record our deep sense of appreciation for the valuable assistance rendered by Mr. Harish Salve. According to him, while deciding the question as to whether the Writ lies under Article 226 against any person, juristic body, organization, authority etc., the test is to examine in the first instance the object and purpose for which […]

Indian Ecclesiastical Jurisprudence

“Ecclesiastical Jurisprudence in India revolves around exposition of Constitutional Guarantees under Articles 25 and 26 as made from time to time. The development of this branch of jurisprudence primarily arises out of claimed rights of religious groups and denominations to complete autonomy and prerogative of exclusive determination of essential religious practices. A decision on such […]

Referred to Larger Bench VI: Section 11AB, The Central Excise Act, 1944

CCE v. SKF India, (2009) 13 SCC 461 & CCE v. International Auto, (2010) 2 SCC 672 – two cases with “almost identical” factual scenarios – fortuitously decided by the same Bench, do not [perhaps] correctly interpret the provisions of Section 11AB of The Central Excise Act, 1944 and “require a re-look”. What is the effect of […]

Landmark Judgment on Dowry Deaths

To convict for the offence punishable under Section 304-B, the following essentials must be satisfied: (i) The death of a woman must have been caused by burns or bodily injury or otherwise than under normal circumstances; “Section 304B IPC does not categorize death as homicidal or suicidal or accidental. This is because death caused by […]

The Prowess of Law Clerks

This one shall remain for posterity. Suggestion 24 in GS’s Collegium Submissions: “No Judge must be asked to state what he considers are his ‘best Judgments’. It is further submitted, having regard to The Prowess of Law Clerks who are presently assisting Judges, it is often difficult to find out the true ability of a Judge to […]

The Plea of Limitation V: Written Statements, District Consumer Forums I

As per Section 13(2)(a) of The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 the period of limitation for filing a written statement before a District Forum is 45 days. In J.J. Merchant, (2002) 6 SCC 635 the question arose whether the Forum can grant time beyond 45 days to the opposite party for filing its version. The Three-Judge Bench answered […]

A Review of “Dial D for Don: Inside Stories of CBI Missions”

Dial D for Don chronicles adventures of a decorated Police Officer. The facts are intense. At the centre of it all is The Don. The Don always sells. And this book too will earn from his name, for the most part. There are other stories too. “Operation Desert Safari“, detailing the rescue of Thekkat Siddique from 12/22 […]

The Writ of Mandamus II

“Writ of Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy and is intended to supply deficiencies in law and is thus discretionary in nature. The issuance of a Writ of Mandamus pre-supposes a clear right of the applicant and unjustifiable failure of a duty imposed on an authority otherwise obliged in law to imperatively discharge the same. The […]

Promissory Estoppel III

“A new class of Estoppel recognised as ‘Promissory Estoppel’ has assumed considerable significance in recent years. This principle, evolved by equity, to avoid injustice is traceable in the leading case on the subject in Central London Property Trust Ltd. vs. High Trees House Ltd., (1947) 1 KB 130. This Court in Nestle India Limited, (2006) […]

Mohandas Must Pay

Anuradha v. Mohandas, [Transfer Petition 702 of 2015] Petitioner got married to Respondent in 2010. Petitioner was a divorcee. It was a love marriage. In 2015, Respondent filed for a decree of divorce before Family Court, Bombay. Petitioner moved an application before SC for a transfer of that divorce case to Hyderabad, where she way staying. On […]

A Valuable Human Resource

Retired, Hon’ble Chief Justice of India A.N. Ray once said, as evidenced by George H. Gadbois, Jr, “An Indian Chief Justice, like the Lord Chief Justice, in England, should not take up any Post-Retirement Positions.” Hon’ble Justice T.S. Thakur believes however, “An Indian Chief Justice, should not be a Wasted, Valuable Human Resource.” 65 is […]

Family Arrangements

My Lord, Family Arrangements? “Paragraph 9 of Kale v. Deputy Director of Consolidation, (1976) 3 SCC 119 deserves full respect.” – Hon’ble Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, Rajni Sanghi v. Western India State Motors, [Civil Appeal No. 3698 of 2006]. _____________ For Interest, Paragraph 9 of Kale v. Deputy Director of Consolidation, (1976) 3 SCC 119 [By virtue […]

The Writ of Mandamus I

My Lord, What is Mandamus? “Mandamus literally means a command. The essence of Mandamus in England was, it was a royal command issued by King’s Bench (now Queen’s Bench) directing performance of a public legal duty. A Writ of Mandamus is issued in favour of a person who establishes a legal right in himself. A […]

Sen J II

Hon’ble Justice Vikramajit Sen has yet again described what “holds the field” [See, The Proverbial Chickens of Destiny & Sen J I ]. The phrase “holds the field” is to Sen J what a “means and includes” definition is to Nariman J. “A Smaller and a Later Bench has no freedom other than to apply the […]

The Last Word

A Diversion for Lawyers and Others