Supreme court
Supreme Court Commutes Death Penalty Of Man Convicted For Killing Wife, Four Children; Cites Mental Health & Good Conduct In Jail
The Supreme Court today (April 22) commuted the death sentence of a man to life imprisonment who was convicted for killing his wife and four children. “considering the facts that the convict-appellant had no prior antecedents; good conduct for the past 16-17 years of incarceration; difficulties in mental health and consistent efforts at being a model prisoner, we find that the imposition of death penalty would be unjustified.”, the bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol and Sandeep...
High Courts Must Check S. 313 CrPC/S.351 BNSS Compliance At Earliest To Avoid Acquittals: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court today (April 22) flagged concern about the acquittal of the accused in cases where the prosecution's vital evidence is not presented to the accused to afford him an opportunity to explain the allegations labelled against him.To address this legal defect, the Court recommended that High Courts must adopt a proactive approach by checking compliance of Section 313 Cr.P.C. at the outset of the criminal appeals and remanding the matter to the trial court for complying with the...
Supreme Court Issues Directions To Ensure Direct Bank Transfer Of Compensation To Road Accident Victims & Workmen
The Supreme Court has passed a set of directions to ensure that the compensation paid to claimants under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 or the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 are directly credited to their bank accounts.The Court passed these directions after noticing that huge amounts of compensation passed under these laws are lying unclaimed before Courts. Based on a letter received from BB Pathak, a retired District Judge from Gujarat, the Court had initiated a suo motu case last year title...
Muslim Member Of State Bar Council Can't Continue In Waqf Board After End Of Term In Bar Council : Supreme Court
The Supreme Court held that a person appointed as a member of the State Waqf Board by virtue of being a Muslim member of a State Bar Council can no longer continue to be a member of the State Waqf Board after he ceased to be a member of the Bar Council.As per Section 14 of the Waqf Act(before the 2025 amendment), a Muslim member of the Bar Council of a State/UT can be appointed as a member of the Waqf Board of the said State/UT.The question before the Court was "Whether a Muslim Member of the...
Supreme Court Upholds Hospital's Vicarious Liability For Doctor's Negligence
The Supreme Court today (April 22) upheld the NCDRC's finding of the hospital being vicariously liable for the medical negligence of the doctor, which caused the death of a patient. The NCDRC imposed a total compensation of ₹20 lakhs (₹15 lakhs on the hospital and ₹5 lakhs on the doctor), leading to an appeal before the Supreme Court by the Hospital. Affirming the NCDRC's findings, the bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih held in favor of the claimants, whose son was operated in...
RFCTLARR Act | Market Value Of Acquired Land Must Be Determined Based On Date Of Section 11 Notification : Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Monday (April 21) ruled that the market value of the land acquired under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (“2013 Act”) should be determined from the date on which the acquisition notification is issued under Section 11. Holding thus, the bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan set aside the Gujarat High Court's decision, which determined the valuation date as January 1, 2014, i.e.,...
Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act | Writ Court Shouldn't Interfere With Deemed Conveyance Order Unless Manifestly Illegal : Supreme Court
In a significant judgment related to the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963 (“MOFA”), the Supreme Court on Monday (April 21) held that the competent authority under MOFA has the power to grant an order of deemed conveyance. It further emphasized that High Courts should not interfere with such orders unless they are found to be illegal. The bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan heard an appeal challenging the Bombay High Court's refusal to intervene in an order passed by the...
Legal Heirs' Suit Against Compromise Decree Not Maintainable When Original Party Didn't File Recall Application : Supreme Court
The Supreme Court yesterday (April 21) reiterated that the only option to assail the correctness of the compromise decree passed under Order 23 Rule 3 CPC is to file a recall application. “The only remedy against a compromise decree is to file a recall application.”, the court said. Holding thus, the Court dismissed an appeal where the Appellants were aggrieved by the impugned decision dismissing their suit to declare the compromise deed as null and void. The Court relied upon Order 23 Rule 3A...
Absence Of Motive No Ground For Acquittal When There Exists Strong Circumstantial Evidence : Supreme Court
The Supreme Court observed that the absence of motive will not be fatal to the prosecution's case if there exists strong circumstantial evidence proving the guilt of the accused beyond a cavil of doubt. The Court said that “when the circumstances are very convincing and provide an unbroken chain leading only to the conclusion of guilt of the accused and not to any other hypothesis; the...
ESI Act | Person In Supervisory Role Liable For Non-Remittance Of Contributions Regardless Of Designation : Supreme Court
The Supreme Court observed that a person, irrespective of their official designation, may be deemed a 'principal employer' under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 (“ESI Act”), if they act as an agent of the owner or occupier of a factory, or if they supervise and control the establishment in question. Holding thus, the bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and...
Supreme Court Flags Long Submissions In S.34/37 Arbitration Act Proceedings, Says Timelimit Needs To Be Imposed
On April 21, the Supreme Court expressed its displeasure over the prolonged arguments and submissions made by members of the Bar in arbitration proceedings under Sections 34 and 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.The Court noted that excessively long oral submissions force judges to invest significant time in reviewing extended arguments, often supported by a large volume of...