Sikkim High Court
Mere Technicalities Ought Not To Impede Justice: Sikkim HC Condones Delay In Filing Appeal By Accused Who Were Unable To Engage Private Counsel
The Sikkim High Court has condoned the delay in filing a criminal appeal which was caused due to the petitioners seeking services of a private counsel and being unable to secure the same within the requisite time.Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai was considering a criminal revision petition preferred by the petitioners/revisionists against the order of the Session Court which rejected their...
Defence Failed To Challenge Genuineness Of Birth Certificate: Sikkim High Court Upholds Trial Court's Determination Of POCSO Victim's Age
The Sikkim High Court concurred with the Trial Court's determination of a POCSO victim's age upon holding that the defence did not challenge the genuineness of the victim's birth certificate during cross-examination. Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai was hearing an appeal against the conviction of the appellant by the Specia Trial Court under Section 7 of the POCSO Act for sexual assault on...
3-Yr-Old Child Would Barely Understand Import Of Person Touching Her Private Part, Unbelievable She Would Panic: Sikkim High Court
The Sikkim High Court while deciding on a criminal appeal against the conviction of the appellant under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) observed that “…in our considered opinion, a child of three and half years would barely be able to understand the import of a person touching her private part, how she would be in a state of panic having comprehended...
Sikkim High Court Upholds POCSO Conviction, Says 6-Yr-Old Victim's Deposition Was Of Sterling Quality Despite Tender Age
The Sikkim High Court has upheld a conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) stating that the victim's deposition during the trial was truthful and consistent with her statement recorded by the Magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC).A Division Bench of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai And Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan...
State's Negligence To Not Appeal An Incorrect Sentencing Order Does Not Preclude High Court From Exercising Its Revisional Powers: Sikkim High Court
The Sikkim High Court has observed that it can exercise its power of revision under Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.PC), when the Trial Court has wrongly sentenced the accused below the minimum prescribed sentence for an offence.The division bench of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan were considering the petition of the accused/appellants...
Mere Lack Of Injuries On Rape Victim Who Was Examined Days After Incident Not A Reason To Doubt Her Credibility: Sikkim High Court
The Sikkim High Court has held that lack of injuries on a victim of rape would not disprove the prosecution's case if the victim's testimony is found to be credible and trustworthy. The division bench of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan observed that “mere lack of injuries on the victim's body who was examined after five days of the incident, would not...
[Arbitration Act] Court Can't Modify Arbitral Award While Hearing Challenge Under Section 34: Sikkim High Court
The Sikkim High Court bench of Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan held that Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 gives no power to the court to modify an award while hearing a challenge to an arbitral award. The bench held that the court under Section 34 would have no jurisdiction to modify the arbitral award, and any attempt to do so, even if...
Sikkim High Court Stays GST Show Cause Notice Against Casino And Online Gaming Company, Delta Corp.
The Sikkim High Court has stayed the GST demand against casino and online gaming company Delta Corp.The bench of Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan has mandated that the department and respondents maintain the status quo regarding the show cause notice. This means that no coercive or precipitous action should be taken against Delta Corp. in the interim. A hearing on the subject has been scheduled...
'Several Disputed Facts': Sikkim High Court Dismisses Sikh Body's Plea To Restore Guru Granth Sahib, Religious Articles In Gurudwara
The Sikkim High Court on Tuesday dismissed a writ petition filed by Sri Guru Singh Sabha, a Sikh body, seeking the restoration of Guru Granth Sahib and other religious articles in a Gurudwara which were removed from the Gurudwara in 2017 and have been at the centre of a heated legal battle.Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai said the case raised multifaceted questions of fact and legality that...
Unit Undergoing Relocation, Expansion And Change Of Ownership Not Eligible Under Budgetary Support Scheme: Sikkim High Court
The Sikkim High Court has held that if the unit undergoes relocation, expansion, or change of ownership, it will not be eligible under the scheme of budgetary support.The bench of Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan has observed that the intention of the Government of India in providing the Budgetary Support Scheme was to support those "eligible units" for the "residual period" not exceeding ten years...