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‘Read Between The Lines’ Principle Of Quashing Criminal Cases U/S 482 CrPC

The Supreme Court, in its judgment delivered today in Achin Gupta vs State Of Haryana 2024 INSC 369, while quashing an FIR registered under Section 498A IPC reiterated its ‘read between the lines’ principle of quashing criminal proceedings. Last year, in Mahmood Ali & Ors. v. State of U.P, it was observed thus: When an …

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Much Ado About Ceremony: Supreme Court Judgment In Dolly Rani vs Manish Kumar Chanchal

The Supreme Court, in Dolly Rani vs Manish Kumar Chanchal 2024 INSC 355, held that for a valid marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act, the requisite ceremonies have to be performed and there must be proof of performance of the said ceremony when an issue/controversy arises. The Court observed that though the parties may have …

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DMRC vs DAMEPL: A Classic Case Of Flip Flop Interference By Indian Courts With Arbitration Awards

In its judgment delivered allowing the curative petition filed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the Supreme Court cautioned itself that its curative jurisdiction should not be adopted as a matter of ordinary course. “The curative jurisdiction should not be used to open the floodgates and create a fourth or fifth stage of court intervention in …

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Sections 143A and 148 NI Act – Retrospective Or Not? Mandatory Or Directory?

Section 143A – Not Retrospective – Directory Section 143A to be prospective in operation and that the provisions of said Section 143A can be applied or invoked only in cases where the offence under Section 138 of the Act was committed after the introduction of said Section 143A in the statute book.  [G. J. Raja vs Tejraj …

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Arbitral Award Can Be Set Aside; But Can It Be Modified?

Can a court modify an Arbitration Award invoking its powers under Section 34 or 37 of the Arbitration and Concilitation Act? Last week, on 20 February 2024, a three judges bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta, KV Viswanathan and Sandeep Mehta noted (in Gayatri Balasamy vs ISG Novasoft Technologies Limited) that this issue is of seminal …

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Moral Of Bilkis Bano Case: Supreme Court Should Respect Its Own Precedents

 Article 141 of the Constitution of India states that the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India.  Does it bind the Supreme Court itself ? In Bengal Immunity Company Limited vs State of Bihar [1955] 2 SCR 603, the Supreme Court held that it is …

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Section 69 BNS : Good Intention Law But Prone To Gross Misuse

Last week, three bills introduced in the Parliament created a storm among the legal communities in social media. These bills viz. Bharathiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, are nothing but an intended replacement of “Codes” and “Act” which are foundational to criminal law : Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), Code of …

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