1. Mansoor.Alam.v..State.of.Utar.Pradesh.&.ANR.

[.Criminal.Appeal.No..91.of.2015.arising.out.of.SLP.
(CRL).no..9247.or.2013]
Criminal.Law-.Grant.of.Bail.Indian.Penal.Code.Section.302,.34.and.120.B-.In.inst
ant.case.accused.shot.a.bullet.and.killed.another,.the.High.court.granted.bail.to.accu
sed.on.the.ground.that.there.were.only.two.fatal.injuries.and.the.rest.were.injuries.on
.nonvital.parts.of.the.body-.Held,.that.order.of.high.curt.is.set.aside.and.accused.to.remai
n.in.prison.-.Bail.refused.
1. Dilip.Kumar.vs..State.of.West.Bengal.
[.Criminal.Appeal.no..82.of.2015.arising.out.of.SLP.(Crl).No..9447/2012
Criminal.Law-.Sentence.of.Life.imprisonment.is.reduced.to.10.years.rigorous.i
mprisonment.In.the.instant.case.the.accused.attacked.the.complainant.and.others
.while.they.were.working.in.the.paddy.field.and.caused.the.death.of.one-.court.held.i
n.this.case.that.it.would.fall.under.the.fourth.exception.of.Section.300.of.sudden.fight
.without.any.premeditation.and.without.taking.any.undue.advantage.of.the.situation-.
held.that.the.accuseds.conviction.under.302/34.of.IPC.is.modified.to.304.and.hence.
the.sentence.reduced.to.10.years.of.rigorous.imprisonment
15MAY
CBI.v..ARAL.KUMAR
Sub-section.
(2).of.Section.306.makes.it.clear.that.this.Section.applies.even.to.those.offences.whi
ch.are.triable.exclusively.by.the.Court.of.Session.or.by.the.Court.of.a.Special.Judge.
appointed.under.the.Criminal.Law.Amendment.Act,.1952..Thus,.even.where.the.cas
es.are.triable.by.a.Special.Judge,.the.Metropolitan.Magistrate.is.authorised.to.grant.t
ender.of.pardon
Holding.that.magistrate.would.not.be.powerless.to.decide.on.applications.under.Sect
ion.306.CrPC,.the.Court.said.In.those.cases.where.charge.sheet.is.filed.before.the.
Magistrate,.he.will.have.to.commit.it.to.the.Special.Judge..In.this.situation,.the.provis
ions.of.Section.306.of.the.Code.would.be.applicable.and.the.Magistrate.would.be.e
mpowered.to.exercise.the.power.under.the.said.provision.
BALVEER.Vs..ST.of.RAJASTHAN.(10.MAY)
The.Supreme.Court.has.refused.to.interfere.with.a.Sessions.Court.Order.which.had.t
aken.cognizance.of.new.offences.and.added.new.Accused.under.section.193.of.Cod
e.of.Criminal.Procedure,.though.the.Magistrate.rejected.the.prayer.at.Committal.Stag
e.
Appellants.are.parents.of.a.person.who.was.accused.of.instigating.his.wife.to.suicide
.and.was.charge.sheeted.under.Section.306.IPC..The.complainants.had.filed.an.app

lication.before.the.Magistrate.Court.for.taking.cognizance.against.the.appellants.and.
their.son.under.Sections.304-B.and.498A.IPC..The.Magistrate.Court.rejected.their.applications.and.committed.the.case.to.S
essions.Court,.where.they.again.preferred.the.application..This.application.was.allow
ed.by.the.Sessions.Court,.and.the.High.Court.upon.revision,.refused.to.interfere..Th
e.appellants.hence.approached.the.Apex.Court.
Referring.to.Dharam.Pal.&.Ors..v..State.of.Haryana,.the.court.observed.that.,.since.t
he.Court.of.Session.is.acting.as.the.Court.of.original.jurisdiction.under.Section.193.o
f.the.Code,.after.the.committal.of.proceedings.to.it.by.the.Magistrate,.it.is.empowere
d.to.take.cognizance.and.issue.summons.and.it.cannot.be.treated.as.taking.second.
cognizance.of.the.same.offence.

http://www.livelaw.in/acquittal-of-man-accused-of-rape-and-murder-of-12-year-oldgirl-upheld-by-sc-read-jt/
http://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/page/26/
http://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/page/89/

july.2015
he.Court.held.that.even.if.the.couple.was.not.validly.married,.they.had.been.living.to
gether.since.1976..This.conferred.legal.rights.on.the.wife..It.hence.directed.pension.t
o.be.paid.from.the.date.of.death.of.the.husband.within.a.period.of.12.weeks..It.also.d
irected.the.authorities.to.pay.monthly.pension.to.the.second.wife..A.divorce.petition.
was.filed.by.the.first.wife,.Suganthi,.before.the.District.Judge,.Erode..She.was.grante
d.divorce.in.November,.2003..Suganthi.passed.away.in.December,.2005.
Kalpana.vs.Gorakhnath.Govinda.(july)
Accepting.the.contentions.put.forward.by.the.wife,.the.High.Court.observed,.It.is.righ
tly.stated.on.behalf.of.the.wife.that.it.was.necessary.for.the.Family.Court.to.have.fra
med.the.issue.of.jurisdiction.and.if.the.same.was.answered.in.favor.of.the.husband,.t
hen.only.the.Family.Court.ought.to.have.proceeded.to.decide.the.Hindu.Marriage.Pe
tition,.on.merits...The.Court.hence.set.aside.the.Family.Courts.judgment.and.reman
ded.the.case.back.to.the.Family.Court.for.framing.and.deciding.the.issue.of.jurisdicti
on.and.then.proceeding.to.decide.the.Hindu.Marriage..Petition.if.the.issue.is.answer
ed.in.favor.of.the.husband.
Snatosh.Yadav.vs..BCI

In.the.absence.of.a.specific.provision.in.IPC.covering.effigyburning,.police.invariably.charge.persons.who.burn.effigies.only.for.an.offence.punis
hable.under.Sec.285.which.prohibits.rash.and.negligent.handling.of.fire.or.combustib
le.matter,.he.said..
The.honourable.bench.was.dealing.with.the.case.of.Santhos.Yadav,.whose.applicati
on.for.enrollment.as.an.advocate.was.put.on.hold.by.the.Bar.Council.of.Tamil.Nadu.a
nd.Puducherry.in.November.2014,.as.his.name.figured.in.a.criminal.case.registered.
In.short,.the.question.is.whether.the.participation.in.an.agitation.for.a.political.cause,.
and.the.burning.of.an.effigy.as.part.of.the.agitation,.could.be.taken.to.be.something.t
hat.will.make.the.offender.a.person.with.criminal.background.so.as.to.disentitle.him.f
rom.getting.enrolled.as.an.advocate,.asked.the.judge..Answering.in.the.negative,.an
d.perusing.the.origins.of.the.effigyburning.protests.from.the.17th.century.days.of.MeghaBhagat.of.India.and.Guy.Fawk
es.of.England,.the.judge.told,.Persons.charged.with.the.allegation.of.burning.effigies
.of.political.leaders.to.advance.either.the.cause.of.a.political.party.or.a.political.philos
ophy,.cannot.be.said.to.belong.to.the.category.of.persons.whose.entry.into.the.profe
ssion.should.be.barred..We.are.of.the.view.that.Santhos.Yadav.cannot.be.stated.to.b
e.a.person.with.criminal.background..He.subsequently.asked.the.Bar.Council.to.enr
oll.Santhos.Yadav.as.an.advocate
July.-.he.Delhi.High.Court.today.refused.to.prevent.city.government.from.airing.publi
city.campaign.and.advertisements.allegedly.glorifying.Chief.Minister.Arvind.Kejriwal.
and.his.Aam.Aadmi.Party.
(AAP).by.wasting.public.funds..A.bench.of.Chief.Justice.G.Rohini.and.Justice.Jaya
nt.Nath,.asked.the.Central.governments.counsel.to.take.instruction.on.what.steps.th
ey.have.taken.on.the.Supreme.Court.guidelines.issued.in.its.judgement.in.May.this.y
ear
Bombay:.While.examining.the.question.as.to.whether.the.woman.had.enquired.abo
ut.the.marital.status.of.the.man,.the.Court.observed.that.since.they.had.been.in.a.rel
ationship.for.almost.15.years,.common.sense.required.that.she.should.have.made.e
nquiries.about.his.marital.status..The.Court.then.inferred.that.the.woman.knew.about
.the.marital.status.of.the.man..The.Court.also.noted.that.the.woman.had.not.been.ab
le.to.give.a.single.instance.where.they.had.appeared.as.husband.and.wife.in.the.soc
iety.on.any.occasion.of.marriage.or.party..The.Court.hence.ruled.that.such.a.relation
ship.cannot.be.relationship.in.the.nature.of.marriage..She.and.her.daughters.were.th
erefore,.not.entitled.for.any.relief.under.the.Protection.of.Women.from.Domestic.Viol
ence.Act,.2005...The.Court.however.noted.that.the.daughters.may.be.entitled.for.reli
ef.under.Section.125.of.the.Code.of.Criminal.procedure.
Bombay:.According.to.complainant.paper.having.stamp.of.Rs.5/-is.a.counterfeit.cu
rrency.and.the.act.of.nonpaying.Rs.5/-.in.currency,.amounted.to.cheating..The.High.Court.found.that.no.offen

ce.is.made.out.against.the.accused..It.said.on.mere.look.of.the.coupon,.at.any.stret
ch.of.imagination.wedo.not.think.that.the.said.coupon.is.a.counterfeit.currency.note.o
rbank.note.nor.it.is.resemblance.of.currency.note.or.imitation.ofcurrency.note.or.valu
able.security...Holding.that.nothing.is.on.record.to.prove.the.offence.of.cheating,.the
.Court.held:.At.the.most,.it.can.be.said.that.the.waiter.or.staff.of.the.hotel.adopted.i
mproper.practice.to.refund.the.amount.
August.
Supreme.Court.on.Friday,.in.Nizam.vs.State.of.Rajasthan,.held.that.the.if.the.gap.b
etween.the.time.of.occurrence.and.the.time.when.the.accused.was.last.seen,.is.cons
iderably.long,.it.would.be.unsafe.to.base.the.conviction.on.the.last.seen.theory..Set
ting.aside.the.conviction.which.was.confirmed.by.High.Court,.the.Apex.Court.said.In
.the.absence.of.definite.evidence.that.appellants.and.deceased.were.last.seen.toget
her.and.when.the.time.gap.is.long,.it.would.be.dangerous.to.come.to.the.conclusion.t
hat.the.appellants.are.responsible.for.the.murder..
In.this.case.the.deceased.was.travelling.with.the.accused.in.a.truck..Dead.body.of.d
eceasedManoj.was.found.on.26.01.2001.under.suspicious.circumstances.in.a.field.near.villag
e.Maniya..During.the.trial.21.witnesses.were.examined.and.the.accused.were.convic
ted.for.murder..The.High.Court.had.upheld.the.conviction.applying.the.Last.Seen.Th
eory.
In.Maneka.Gandhi.v.Union.of.India,.AIR.1978.SC.571,.Justice.Krishna.Iyer.once.a
gain.spoke.against.the.unfair.system.of.bail.that.was.prevailing.in.India..No.definition
.of.bail.has.been.given.in.the.code,.although.the.offences.are.classified.as.bailable.a
nd.non-bailable
In.view.of.the.settlement.the.High.Court.relied.on.the.Judgments.of.Supreme.Court.i
n.Gian.Singh.Vs..State.of.Punjab.and.Another,.
(2012).10.SCC.303,.and.in.Narinder.Singh.&.Ors..Vs..State.of.Punjab.&.Anr.,.
(2014).6.SCC.466,.quashed.the.proceedings

Power.conferred.under.Section.482.of.the.Code.is.to.be
.distinguished.from.the.power.which.lies.in.the.Court.to.
compound.the.offences.under.Section.320.of.the.Code.
.No.doubt,.under.Section.482.of.the.Code,.the.High.Co
urt.has.inherent.power.to.quash.the.criminal..proceedings.e
ven.in.those.cases.which.are.not.compoundable,.where
.the.parties.have.settled.the.matter.between.themselve

s..However,.this.power.is.to.be.exercised.sparingly.and.
with.caution.
When.the.parties.have.reached.the.settlement.and.on.t
hat.basis.petition.for.quashing.the.criminal..proceedings
.is.filed,.the.guiding.factor.in.such.cases.would.be.to.se
cure:
(i)ends.of.justice,.or.
(ii)to.prevent.abuse.of.the.process.of.any.court..While.e
xercising.the.power.the.High.Court.is.to.form.an.opinion
.on.either.of.the.aforesaid.two.objectives.
Such.a.power.is.not.to.be.exercised.in.those..prosecuti
ons.which.involve.heinous.and.serious.offences.of.ment
al.depravity.or.offences.like.murder,.rape,.dacoity,.etc..
Such.offences.are.not.private.in.nature.and.have.a.seri
ous.impact.on.society..On.the.other.hand,.those.crimina
l.cases.having.overwhelmingly.and.predominantly.civil.c
haracter,..particularly.those.arising.out.of.commercial.tr
ansactions.or.arising.out.of.matrimonial.relationship.or.f
amily.disputes.should.be.quashed.when.the.parties.have.res
olved.their.entire.disputes.among.themselves
Sessions.Court.has.no.Power.to.Order.Investigation.:.Gujarat.HC
The.respondent.lodged.a.private.complaint.in.the.Court.of.the.learned.Additional.Chi
ef.Metropolitan.Magistrate,.Ahmedabad.against.the.applicants.for.an.offence.punish
able.under.the.Indian.Penal.Code..The.complainant.prayed.that.the.complaint.be.se
nt.for.police.investigation.through.the.P.I..of.the.Maninagar.Police.Station.under.Secti
on.156(3).of.the.Code.of.Criminal.Procedure,.1973..However,.the.learned.Metropolit
an.Magistrate.thought.fit.to.take.cognizance.upon.the.complaint.thereafter,.ordering.
police.inquiry.under.Section.202.of.the.Code..On.receipt.of.the.report.of.the.police.as
.regards.the.inquiry,.the.learned.Magistrate.thought.fit.to.issue.process.under.Sectio
n.204.of.the.Code.for.the.offence..The.applicants.herein,.being.dissatisfied.with.the.o

rder.passed.by.the.learned.Metropolitan.Magistrate.challenged.the.legality.and.validit
y.of.the.order.passed.by.the.learned.Magistrate.
A.bare.perusal.of.the.Section.itself.indicates.that.in.a.complaint.which.prima.facie.di
scloses.an.offence.exclusively.triable.by.the.court.of.sessions,.then.in.such.circumst
ances,.the.Magistrate.has.no.power.to.direct.police.investigation.under.Section.202.
of.the.Code..In.a.case.where.it.appears.to.the.Magistrate.that.the.offence.complaint.
of.is.triable.exclusively.by.the.court.of.sessions,.then.he.shall.have.to.call.upon.the.c
omplainant.to.produce.all.his.witnesses.and.examine.them.on.oath,.Honourable.Mr..
Justice.J.B..Pardiwala.stated
In.the.present.case,.after.quashing.the.order.passed.by.the.learned.Metropolitan.M
agistrate,.the.learned.Sessions.Judge.should.have.stopped.at.that.stage..At.best,.th
e.learned.Sessions.Judge.should.have.remitted.the.matter.to.the.learned.Magistrate.
with.appropriate.directions.to.proceed.further.in.accordance.with.law..
The.question.is.whether.there.is.any.provision.in.the.Code.of.Criminal.Procedure.or.i
n.any.other.statute.giving.specific.powers.to.the.court.of.sessions.to.order.investigati
on.under.Section.156(3).of.the.Code..
It.is.clarified.that.if.the.complainant.is.of.the.view.that.his.complaint.should.be.investi
gated.under.Section.156(3).of.the.Code,.then.it.shall.be.open.for.him.to.avail.of.appr
opriate.legal.remedy.before.the.appropriate.forum.in.accordance.with.law..
From.post-.cognizance.stage,.the.matter.cannot.go.back.to.the.pre-.cognizance.sta
ge.

Discharge.is.no.bar.for.Further.Investigation:.DHC.(V.Imp)
Delhi.High.Court,.in.Surender.Kumar.Sharma.vs.State,.observed.that.discharge.of.th
e.accused.would.not.prevent.further.investigation.by.police.and.submission.of.charg
e-sheet.also.thereafter,.if.a.case.for.the.same.is.made.out.
It.is.settled.law.that.the.power.of.further.investigation.undoubtedly.exists.in.the.first.st
age,.may.exist.at.the.second.and.Section.311.Cr.P.C..permits.to.examine.any.witnes
s.during.the.course.of.trial..But.at.the.third.
(intermediate).stage,.this.power.has.not.been.conferred.on.a.court..All.that.has.to.be.

done.at.that.stage.is.to.look.into.the.materials.already.on.record.and.either.frame.ch
arge,.if.a.prima.facie.case.is.made.out,.or.discharge.the.accused.bearing.in.mind.rel
evant.provisions.relating.to.the.same.incorporated.in.Chapter.XVII.of.the.Code,.titled.
'The.Charge'..Of.course,.the.discharge.would.not.prevent.further.investigation.by.poli
ce.and.submission.of.chargesheet.also.thereafter,.if.a.case.for.the.same.is.made.out.
The.court.further.observed.that.the.case.in.hand.falls.in.the.second.stage.as.in.the.p
resent.case.though.cognizance.has.been.taken.but.the.accused.has.not.been.asked.
to.put.appearance..So.the.Court.rejected.the.argument.of.the.petitioner.that.the.Trial.
Court.has.committed.serious.error.of.law.in.ordering.further.investigation.of.the.case.
as.the.Metropolitan.Magistrate.has.no.power.to.switch.back.the.case.from.postcognizance.stage.to.pre-.cognizance.stage.has.no.substance..The.Court,.however,.s
aid.that.the.investigation.should.not.prima.facie.be.indicative.of.a.biased.mind.and.e
very.effort.should.be.made.to.bring.the.guilty.to.law.as.nobody.stands.above.law.de.
hors.his.position.and.influence.in.the.society.
Madhya.Pradesh.High.Court.upheld.the.Trial.Court.judgment.awarding.Death.pena
lty.to.three.staffers.of.a.Private.Bus.involved.in.Sendhwa.Bus.burning.case.in.which.
15.passengers.were.charred.to.death.and.more.than.20.sustained.severe.injuries..H
owever.the.Court.acquitted.the.owner.of.the.bus.who.was.sentenced.to.life.imprison
ment.by.the.Trial.Court,.because.no.conspiracy.was.attributable.to.the.owner.of.the.
bus.
Supreme.Court
The.facts.of.the.case.in.a.nutshell.are.that.the.plaintiffrespondents.filed.a.civil.suit.for.perpetual.injunction.against.the.defendantappellant.seeking.a.decree.restraining.him.from.alienating.the.suit.property..After.a.f
ullfledged.trial,.the.suit.was.dismissed..As.against.the.judgment.and.decree.passed.by.
the.trial.court,.the.plaintiff.preferred.an.appeal.before.the.District.Judge.which.was.al
so.dismissed.by.upholding.the.judgment.of.the.trial.court..Aggrieved.by.the.same,.th
e.plaintiffrespondents.filed.second.appeals.in.the.High.Court..The.High.Court.without.formulati

ng.substantial.question.of.law.heard.the.appeals.and.reversed.the.judgment.and.dec
ree.passed.by.the.trial.court.as.also.of.the.appellate.court..Consequently,.the.suit.wa
s.decreed..Hence,.these.appeals.by.special.leave..Held,.in.no.circumstances.the.Hig
h.Court.can.reverse.the.judgment.of.the.trial.court.and.the.first.appellate.court.withou
t.formulating.the.substantial.question.of.law.and.complying.with.the.mandatory.requir
ements.of.Section.100.CPC..(Ashok.Rangnath.Vs..Srikant).(October.2015)

Bombay.High.Court,..In.other.words,.the.order.directing.investigation.made.by.the
Magistrate.in.the.proceeding.u/s.156(3).of.the.Code.would.be.final.insofar.as.the.Ma
gistrate.is.concerned..The.court.further.held.that,.after.making.of.order.u/s.156(3).of.
the.Code,.the.Magistrate.has.further.nothing.to.do.andthe.proceeding.u/s.156(3).of.t
he.Code.gets.terminated.and.nothing.remains.pending.before.the.Magistrate.after.su
ch.order.is.made..Despite.termination.of.the.proceeding.u/s.156(3).of.the.Code.of.Cri
minal.Procedure,.1973.and.in.the.light.of.the.principleubi.jus.ibiremedium,.the.petiti
oners./.applicants.cannot.be.denied.the.statutory.remedy.of.revision,.the.court.said.
The.court.also,.referring.to.Apex.Court.ruling.in.Suresh.vs..State.of.Haryana,.said.t
hat.is.that.there.must.be.uniformity.in.the.matter.of.fixing.compensation.in.terms.of.th
e.provisions.of.Section357A.of.CrPC.between.States.and.there.shall.not.be.arbitrariness.in.awarding.comp
ensation..The.Court.added.that.this.decision.rendered.by.the.Apex.Court.is.a.binding
.precedent.under.Article21.of.the.Constitution.of.India.for.all.the.Courts,.authorities.concerned.and.therefore,.
this.Court.expects.that.the.State.of.Karnataka.would.make.its.endeavour.to.comply.
with.the.obligation.caused.upon.it.in.the.above.case..Case.of.kidnapping.and.deman
ding.ransom.of.50.lac..Wife.and.daughter.could.not.collect.50....only.10.was.collecte
d..Husband.and.brother.murdered..Discovery.of.weapons..Sect.27.of.IEA.attracted..
Section.106.of.IEA.attracted..Supreme.court.upheld.Conviction..With.regard.to.Comp
ensation.under.357-a,.it.said.that
While.the.award.or.refusal.of.compensation.in.a.particular.case.may.be.within.the.C
ourts.discretion,.there.exists.a.mandatory.duty.on.the.Court.to.apply.its.mind.to.the.
question.in.every.criminal.case..Application.of.mind.to.the.question.is.best.disclosed.
by.recording.reasons.for.awarding/refusing.compensation..It.is.axiomatic.that.for.any

.exercise.involving.application.of.mind,.the.Court.ought.to.have.the.necessary.materi
al.which.it.would.evaluate.to.arrive.at.a.fair.and.reasonable.conclusion..It.is.also.bey
ond.dispute.that.the.occasion.to.consider.the.question.of.award.of.compensation.wo
uld.logically.arise.only.after.the.court.records.a.conviction.of.the.accused..Capacity.o
f.the.accused.to.pay.which.constitutes.an.important.aspect.of.any.order.Under.Secti
on.357.Code.of.Criminal.Procedure.would.involve.a.certain.enquiry.albeit.summary.
unless.of.course.the.facts.as.emerging.in.the.course.of.the.trial.are.so.clear.that.the.
court.considers.it.unnecessary.to.do.so..Such.an.enquiry.can.precede.an.order.on.s
entence.to.enable.the.court.to.take.a.view,.both.on.the.question.of.sentence.and.co
mpensation.that.it.may.in.its.wisdom.decide.to.award.to.the.victim.or.his/her.family.
Punjab.and.Haryana:.Here.the.petitioner.under.Sections.279,.304A,.427.IPC.and.Section.177.of.the.Motor.Vehicles.Act.for.his.rash.and.negligent.drivi
ng.which.resulted.in.death.of.one.person..The.petitioner.claimed.that.he.has.settled.t
he.issue.with.the.legal.heirs.of.the.deceased..The.state.prosecutor.opposed.the.appli
cation.on.the.ground.that.section.304-A.IPC.is.noncompoundable.and.that.a.compromise.cannot.be.effected.on.behalf.of.a.dead.perso
n..The.court.observing.that.Information.of.the.incident.was.given.by.an.independent.
person,.said.that.the.neither.informant.nor.the.legal.heirs.of.the.deceased.have.any.r
ight.to.enter.into.compromise.on.behalf.of.the.deceased..It.is.inexplicable.how.they.
can.be.allowed.to.do.so.on.behalf.of.a.dead.person..Possibility.that.they.have.acted.
under.pressure.or.for.some.consideration,.cannot.be.ruled.out..the.court.remarked.
In.State.of.Punjab.vs..Saurabh.Bakshi.2015(2).RCR.
(Criminal).495..In.that.case,.High.Court.had.held.that.payment.of.compensation.is.a.
factor.for.reduction.of.sentence.to.24.days..On.Appeal,.the.Supreme.Court.said.that.
such.a.stand.taken.by.the.High.court.is.misplaced.sympathy.and.mockery.of.Justic
e.
Facts:..2.maruti.car.going..1st.maruti.deceased.and.his.nephew.going.to.finalise.neph
ews.wedding..2nd.maruti.car.brother.in.law.of.deceased..One.indica.came.from.oppo
site.side..head.on.collision-.maruti.dragged.for.some.feets-.critical.injuries.to.both-.b
oth.died.in.hospital.
Issue:.whether.rash.and.negligent.driving?.AND.whether.legal.heirs.of.the.deceased.
can.compromise.with.ccused?

Held:.In.the.instant.case.the.factum.of.rash.and.negligent.driving.has.been.establish
ed..This.court.has.been.constantly.noticing.the.increase.in.number.of.road.accidents.
and.has.also.noticed.how.the.vehicle.drivers.have.been.totally.rash.and.negligent..It.
seems.to.us.driving.in.a.drunken.state,.in.a.rash.and.negligent.manner.or.driving.wit
h.youthful.adventurous.enthusiasm.as.if.there.are.no.traffic.rules.or.no.discipline.of.la
w.has.come.to.the.centre.stage.
In.our.opinion,.it.is.a.fit.case.where.we.are.constrained.to.say.that.the.High.Court.ha
s.been.swayed.away.by.the.passion.of.mercy.in.applying.the.principle.that.payment.
of.compensation.is.a.factor.for.reduction.of.sentence.to.24.days..It.is.absolutely.in.th
e.realm.of.misplaced.sympathy..It.is,.in.a.way.mockery.of.justice.
No.question.of.compromise.between.accused.and.officials.of.the.State.
The.Court.however.observed.that.petitioners.assaulted.the.complainant,.who.was.po
sted.as.Head.Constable.in.the.police.station.itself.and.had.torn.his.uniform.when.he.
was.conducting.investigation.on.the.direction.of.the.Station.House.Officer.pursuant.t
o.a.complaint.lodged.against.them.and.threatened.to.kill.the.investigating.officer.as.
well.as.complainant..Instant.dispute.is.not.personal.in.nature..Petitioners.committed.
an.offence.against.the.State..There.can.be.no.question.of.compromise.between.acc
used.and.officials.of.the.State,.the.Court.said
Bom.HC:
Umakant.Kisan.Mane.had.approached.the.Bombay.High.Court.in.2002.complaining.
about.negligence.of.the.doctors.and.the.nurses,.who.were.treating.him.in.the.hospita
l,.which.resulted.in.his.loss.of.fingers.on.his.right.hand
The.court.perusing.the.medical.and.inquiry.reports.observed.that.that.the.consent.of.
the.father.of.the.patient.was.obtained.for.performing.the.operation.but.the.forms.wer
e.not.signed.by.the.doctors.and.the.signature.of.the.father.of.the.petitioner.was.in.M
arathi.but.the.consent.is.in.English.language..The.court.added.that.there.was.no.sign
ature.of.the.witnesses.showing.that.the.father.was.explained.the.nature.of.the.ailmen
t.and.the.operation.in.the.language.that.he.knows.and.there.was.some.kind.of.comm
unication.gap.between.the.physicians.who.were.treating.the.petitioner.and.the.petitio
ners.relatives.
21.Lakh.Compensation.to.victim.by.hosp.and.Municipality.
Referring.to.Apex.Court.ruling.in.K.Srinivas.vs..K.Sunita,.
(2014).16.SCC.34.the.Court.said.that.it.is.settled.that.if.a.false.criminal.complaint.is.
preferred.by.either.spouse.it.would.invariably.and.indubitably.constitute.matrimonial.
cruelty.and.would.entitle.the.other.spouse.to.claim.a.divorce..Discussing.various.judg
ments.of.the.Apex.Court.and.High.Courts,.the.court.said.that,.if.the.complaint.filed.by

.the.wife.against.the.husband.under.section.498-.A.of.IPC.and.other.related.provisio
ns.is.dismissed.on.merits.and.the.husband.and.his.family.members.are.acquitted,.th
en.it.is.clear.that.the.complaint.filed.by.the.wife.against.the.husband.was.a.false.com
plaint.
January:
The.Supreme.Court.has.observed.that.if.no.deliberation.about.marriage.between.the
.prosecutrix.and.the.accused.took.place.before.the.alleged.sexual.contact.which.was
.consensual,.it.cannot.be.said.that.the.consent.has.been.given.under.misconception.
of.marriage..Apex.Court.bench.of.Chief.Justice.T.S..Thakur.and.Justice.V..Gopala.G
owda.made.this.observation.in.Tilak.Raj.vs..State.of.Himachal.Pradesh,.while.acq
uitting.the.accused.from.all.the.charges.against.him.
Apex.Court.ruling.in.State.of.Maharashtra.v..Dr.Praful.B..Desai.:.AIR.2003.
(4).SCC.601,.wherein.it.was.held.that.the.term.presence.in.Section.273.of.CrP
C,.cannot.be.it.interpreted.to.mean.actual.physical.presence.in.Court,.was.also.referr
ed.to,.by.the.Division.Bench.in.this.context..The.Constitution.and.existing.laws.have.
to.be.looked.into.for.discerning.challenges.thrown.up.due.to.emerging.technological.i
nnovations..They.have.to.be.interpreted.keeping.this.dynamic.in.mind,.the.Bench.sai
d..Delhi.HC.moots.pragmatic.&.liberal.approach.in.allowing.witnesses.to.depose.thr
ough.Video.Conferencing
STATE.OF.ASSAM.Vs..Ramen
Victim.DD-.sexual.Intercourse,.when.she.said.she.will.narrate.to.mother,.they.set.fire
..Other.witness.confirmed.this..Brother.saw.the.act.and.narrated.as.it.is..She.was.yo
ung.and.had.no.such.power.to.overcome.these.chutiyas..SC.held,.not.a.case.of.con
sensual.SeX..RAPE..One.person.acquitted.on.benefit.of.doubt.as.no.mention.in.DD.
as.having.sex.or.witness.saying.that.he.also.did.sex..Restoring.the.Trial.court.order.
of.conviction.under.Section.302.IPC,.the.Court.said.the.shameful.method.and.mann
er.in.which.the.incident.has.taken.place,.leaves.no.room.for.any.doubt.that.the.accus
ed.wanted.to.eliminate.the.deceased.for.all.time.to.come..He.intended.to.cause.deat
h.by.setting.her.ablaze.so.that.commission.of.offence.of.rape.does.not.see.the.light.
of.the.day..The.Court.added.Men.may.lie.but.the.circumstances.do.not.is.cardinal.p
rinciple.of.evaluation.of..9.evidence..The.circumstances,.the.oral.evidence.and.dying
.declarations.of.the.deceased.unerringly.pointed.out.that.it.was.not.a.case.of.consen

sual.sexual.intercourse..The.dying.declarations.have.to.be.read.together.immediate.
conduct.of.victim.takes.it.out.to.be.a.case.of.consensual.sexual.intercourse.
Whether.a.person.convicted.under.Section.376.IPC.for.raping.a.then.14.year.old.gir
l,.be.released.from.prison,.by.reducing.his.sentence.to.period.already.he.underwent.i
n.custody,.because.he.married.the.victim?.Delhi.High.Court,.on.Thursday,.has.appar
ently.answered.this.question.in.the.affirmative..HERE.the.girl.deposed.that.she.was.i
n.love.and.it.was.the.case.of.elopement..It.was.this.striking.feature.that.distinguished
.it.from.other.cases.
February
Delhi.High.Court,.on.Wednesday,.upheld.the.conviction.of.Serial.Killer.ChandrakantJ
ha..In.three.separate.judgments,.Division.Bench.comprising.of.Justices.Sanjiv.Khann
a.and.R.K..Gauba,.however.did.not.confirm.the.death.sentence.awarded.by.the.Trial.
Court,.but.sentenced.him.to.life.imprisonment.without.release.on.remission.The.Cour
t.upheld.the.conviction.holding.that.the.Similar.Fact.Evidence.admissible,.RTI.replies
.cannot.be.used.to.discard.evidence.on.record,.confessionary.letters.to.police.officer
s.not.hit.by.Section.25.and.26.of.Evidence.Act.
In.a.landmark.ruling,.the.Delhi.High.Court.recently.held.that.the.eldest.woman.of.a.Hi
ndu.Undivided.Family.can.be.its.Karta,.a.term.which.denotes.the.managership.of.an
.HUF.
SC:.On.the.allegation.that.the.father.of.the.accused.Husband.made.a.demand.of.Rs.
20,000/-.for.the.purchase.of.agricultural.land,.the.court.observed.that.it.is.apparent.th
at.the.same.was.allegedly.made.when.Husband.was.in.Dubai..The.said.demand.wa
s.allegedly.made.by.Ningesh.
(respondent..accused.no.2),.the.father.of.Dattaraj,.when.he.had.gone.to.leave.Savit
a.at.her.maternal.home..Dattaraj.is.stated.to.have.returned.to.India.from.Dubai.eight.
to.ten.months,.after.the.above.demand..A.female.child.was.born.to.Savita.about.a.ye
ar.after.the.return.of.Dattaraj.to.India..After.the.birth.of.the.female.child,.Savita.had.r
emained.in.her.maternal.house,.for.about.four.to.five.months..Therefore,.even.if.the.
above.oral.allegation.is.accepted.as.correct,.it.was.a.demand.made.about.two.years.
before.the.occurrence..The.same.was.too.remote.to.the.occurrence,.and.therefore,.
would.not.satisfy.the.requirement.of.soon.before.her.death.contemplated.under.Se
ction.304B.of.the.Indian.Penal.Code,..the.Bench.said.

Non.Wearing.of.Helmet.not.amount.to.Contributory.Negligence:.It.is.true.that,.h
ad.the.deceased.been.wearing.a.Helmet,.probably.his.life.could.have.been.saved.a
nd.the.gravity.of.the.injury.would.not.have.been.this.much.severe,.to.have.resulted.in
.the.death.of.the.deceased..But.the.consequence.because.of.the.nonwearing.of.Helmet.was.not.the.reason.for.knocking.down.the.rider.of.the.motor.cycl
e.by.the.driver.of.the.jeep.which.was.coming.from.the.opposite.side.and.this.being.th
e.position,.negligence.cannot.be.fixed.on.the.shoulders.of.the.rider.of.the.vehicle.me
rely.for.not.wearing.the.Helmet.

DHC:.Freedom.of.expression.which.is.legitimate.and.constitutionally.protected,.cann
ot.be.held.to.ransom.by.an.intolerant.group.of.people..The.fundamental.freedom.und
er.Article.19(1)
(a).can.be.reasonably.restricted.only.for.the.purposes.mentioned.in.Article.19(2).and.
the.restriction.must.be.justified.on.the.anvil.of.necessity.and.not.the.quicksand.of.con
venience.or.expediency..Open.criticism.of.government.policies.and.operations.is.not.
a.ground.for.restricting.expression..We.must.practice.tolerance.to.the.views.of.others
..Intolerance.is.as.much.dangerous.to.democracy.as.to.the.person.himself..This.was
.held.while.upholding.the.screening.of.Kashmiri.Pandits.Movie.

A.failed.Sterlization.not.necessarily.Negligence..Held.by.SCI

DHC
The.husband.relied.on.the.decision.in.Gurbax.Singh.v..Harminder.Kaur.AIR.2011.
SC.114.that.even.a.single.act.of.violence.which.is.of.grievous.and.inexcusable.natur
e.satisfies.the.test.of.cruelty..
On.hearing.the.rival.contentions.the.high.court.observed.that.there.is.nothing.on.the.
record.to.show.that.subsequent.to.the.letter,.the.wife.made.any.effort.to.intimate.her.
husband.that.the.letter.was.simply.written.in.desperation.so.as.to.unnerve.him.and.to
.remind.him.not.take.his.marriage.and.wife.for.granted..It.pointed.out.the.mental.ago
ny.caused.to.the.husband.due.to.this.sole.act.of.cruelty.that.continued.for.a.period.o
f.4-5.years..
Upholding.the.decision.of.the.trial.court.to.dissolve.the.marriage.on.ground.of.cruelty,
.Justice.Waziri.noted,.For.a.husband.living.away.from.his.wife.since.1987,.to.have.r
eceived.a.letter.from.her.intimating.him.about.her.unequivocal.decision.to.dissolve.th
e.marriage.and.marry.another.man.would.have.been.a.pain.as.grievous.as.any.to.en

dure..Such.an.element.of.rejection,.coupled.with.brunt.of.emotional.infidelity.by.the.w
ife,.can.break.the.spirit.of.the.husband.to.continue.marital.ties.the.written.intimatio
n.to.the.husband,.that.the.wife.had.found.someone.to.replace.him.as.her.husband,.w
ould.have.caused.acute.mental.agony.to.the.husband
The.Kerala.High.Court.in.G..Madhavan.Nair.v.Union.of.India.&.others.
(W.P(c).No:30342.of.2014).has.ruled.that.Kerala.High.Court.cannot.assume.Jurisdict
ion,.based.on.the.mere.fact..that.the.alleged.cause.of.action.was.communicated..thr
ough.website.and.it.was.accessed.in.Kerala.
In.a.landmark.pronouncement.of.the.Delhi.High.Court,.a.Division.Bench.of.Justice.Gi
ta.Mittal.&.Justice.PS.Teji.has.dismissed.an.appeal.filed.by.The.Pradeshiya.Industrial
.&.Investment.Corporation.of.UP.Ltd.
(PICUP).holding.it.as.beingcompletely.devoid.of.factual.or.legal.merit.
SCI:.The.Court.further.observed.that.it.is.the.duty.of.the.Court.awarding.sentence.to.
ensure.justice.to.both.the.parties.and.therefore.undue.leniency.in.awarding.sentence
.needs.to.be.avoided.because.it.does.not.have.the.necessary.effect.of.being.a.deterr
ent.for.the.accused.and.does.not.reassure.the.society.that.the.offender.has.been.properly.dealt.with..It.is.not.a.very.heal
thy.situation.to.leave.the.injured.and.complainant.side.thoroughly.dissatisfied.with.a.
very.lenient.punishment.to.the.accused..In.the.present.case.the.order.of.punishment.
imposed.by.the.High.Court.suffers.from.the.vice.of.being.overlenient.even.in.absence.of.any.mitigating.circumstance,.the.bench.said.

Karnataka.HC:.The.Bench.said.We.feel.that.when.the.husband.is.not.traceable,.it.i
s.within.the.right.of.the.wife.to.apply.for.renewal,.inasmuch.as.the.wife.could.not.wait
.for.seven.years,.as.required.under.Section.108.of.the.Indian.Evidence.Act,.1872..Sh
e.is.managing.the.estate.of.her.husband.in.his.absence..As.she.is.intermeddling.with
.his.estate,.we.hold.that.she.is.entitled.to.maintain.the.application.for.renewal.inasmu
ch.as.in.event.of.death.of.her.husband.she.is.entitled.to.maintain.such.application.for
.renewal.The.Court.asked.the.authorities.to.reconsider.the.application.submitted.by.
the.wife..If.the.original.lessee.comes.back.and.does.not.want.to.4.continue.with.the.l
ease,.it.shall.be.open.to.him.to.approach.the.authorities,.in.the.event.the.lease.is.ren
ewed,.the.Bench.said.
Allahabad.HC
Therefore,.although.the.lower.courts.had.granted.the.divorce.on.two.independent.gro
unds.of.cruelty.and.irretrievable.breakdown.of.marriage,.but.the.second.ground.of.irr

etrievable.breakdown.of.marriage.is.exclusive.within.jurisdiction.of.Honble.Apex.Cou
rt.and.is.beyond.jurisdiction.of.any.other.Court.in.India;.therefore,.second.substantial.
question.of.law.is.decided.in.affirmative.and.in.favour.of.appellant.
SUPREME.COURT.[CPC.ORDER.VIII.rule.6]
The.Supreme.Court.has.observed.that.Counter.claim.can.be.filed.even.after.framing.
of.issues,.if.the.recording.of.evidence.is.not.concluded..Apex.Court.Bench.comprisin
g.of.Justices.Jagdish.Singh.Khehar.and.C.Nagappan.made.this.observation.in.Vijay.
Prakash.Jarath.vs..Tej.Prakash.Jarath..
Background
The.Trial.Court.had.accepted.the.Counter.Claim.which.was.filed.by.the.defendants.a
fter.two.and.a.half.years.of.institution.of.Suit..Upon.challenge.by.the.Plaintiffs,.the.Hi
gh.Court,.relying.on.Rohit.Singh.&ors..vs..State.of.Bihar(2006).12.SCC.734,.conclud
ed,.that.the.counterclaim.filed.by.the.defendants.before.the.trial.court,.was.not.legally.acceptable..
The.Defendants.approached.the.Apex.Court..
The.Court.distinguished.facts.of.the.present.case.with.that.In.Rohit.Singh.case.obse
rving.that.in.the.latter.case,.not.only.were.issues.framed,.and.the.evidence.of.the.riva
l.parties,.including.the.defendant.was.recorded..Furthermore,.on.several.occasions,.
arguments.were.heard.for.the.ultimate.disposal.of.the.suit..And.more.than.once,.the.j
udgment.was.also.reserved,.but.then,.on.account.of.transfer.of.the.Judge,.and.for.ot
her.reasons,.evident.from.the.extract.recorded.hereinabove,.judgment.could.not.be.p
ronounced..It.is.in.the.aforesaid.situation,.that.the.counter.claim.filed.by.the.defenda
nts,.at.such.a.belated.stage,.was.considered.to.be,.not.sustainable.in.law,.the.Bench
.said.
.
The.Court.also.observed.that.in.the.present.case.after.the.issues.had.been.framed,.t
he.plaintiffs.evidence.had.commenced.to.be.recorded,.but.had.not.yet.been.conclud
ed..In.Rohit.Singhs.case,.evidence.from.both.sides.was.concluded,.and.even.argu
ments.had.been.heard,.whereas,.in.the.present.case,.even.though.evidence.on.beh
alf.of.the.respondentplaintiff.has.commenced,.it.has.not.yet.concluded..The.evidence.on.behalf.of.the.def
endants.is.yet.to.commence..the.Bench.said..The.court.also.observed.that.no.preju

dice.would.be.caused.to.the.plaintiff.before.the.trial.court,.if.the.counterclaim.was.to.be.adjudicated.upon,.along.with.the.main.suit.
Cause.of.Action.should.accrue.before.filing.of.written.statement.Referring.to.Subclause.
(1).of.Rule.6A.of.Order.VIII,.the.Court.observed.that.the.cause.of.action.in.respect.of
.which.a.counter.claim.can.be.filed,.should.accrue.before.the.defendant.has.delivere
d.his.defence,.namely,.before.the.defendant.has.filed.a.written.statement..Allowing.th
e.appeal,.the.Court.said.It.is.not.a.matter.of.dispute.in.the.present.case.that.cause.o
f.action.for.which.the.counterclaim.was.filed.in.the.present.case.arose.before.the.respondent-plaintiff.filed.the.suit.
(out.of.which.these.petitions/appeals.have.arisen)..It.is.therefore.apparent.that.the.ap
pellants.before.this.Court.were.well.within.their.right.to.file.the.counter-claim.

DHC:.Bull.ne.aurat.ko.Mara:
The.Court.thereafter.observed.that.the.inconsistencies.involved.in.the.case.can.be.cl
eared.only.in.crossexamination.of.the.petitioner,.and.hence,.it.opined.that.relief.cannot.be.granted.to.th
e.petitioner.in.Writ.Petition..The.cases.of.negligence.on.the.part.of.civic.agencies.ca
using.injury,.in.which.the.courts.have.generally.been.granting.compensation.in.writ.ju
risdiction.are.generally.those.in.which.the.negligence.has.been.found.in.the.investig
ation.pursuant.to.FIR.of.the.incident.and.injury.is.not.disputed..Here.there.is.nothing.
of.the.sort,.it.observed.
A.Delhi.High.Court.Division.Bench.con.Wednesday,.disposed.off.the.petition.s
eeking.stay.on.the.release.of.BomanIrani,.Veer.Dasstarrer.Santa.Banta.Pvt..Ltd.and.directed.the.Central.Board.of.Film.Certification(CB
FC).to.treat.the.petition.as.a.representation..
The.High.Court.has.observed.that.attitude.of.the.courts.of.sending.witness.bac
k.by.granting.adjournments,.is.a.major.cause.of.harassment.which.discourages.pub
lic.from.associating.in.the.investigation.of.any.criminal.case..Justice.Sunita.Gupta.m
ade.this.observation.while.dismissing.the.appeal.against.conviction.under.NDPS.Act.
\
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http://www.livelaw.in/delhi-hc-upholds-conviction-of-police-officers-in-a-19-year-oldcustodial-death-case/

Bombay.High.Court.confirms.double.death.sentence.and.double.life.imprisonment.fo
r.rape.and.murder.of.2.year.old.and.held.it.rarest.of.the.rare.
MAY.(Post.DJS.mains.original.Date)
Delhi.High.Court.on.tuesday.held.that.since.the.consent.of.a.girl.below.the.age.of.16.
years.is.immaterial,.the.same.cannot.be.treated.as.a.mitigating.circumstance.so.as.t
o.award.a.sentence.lesser.than.7.years.rigorous.imprisonment

The.Supreme.Court,.in.State.of.Rajasthan.vs..Firoz.Khan.@.Arif.Khan,.has.reitera
ted.that.a.High.Court,.while.passing.orders.rejecting.the.application.for.leave.to.appe
al.before.it.under.Section.378.
(3).of.the.Code.of.Criminal.Procedure,.should.assign.reasons.for.such.rejection..Allo
wing.the.appeal.by.State.of.Rajasthan.against.an.High.Court.order.refusing.to.grant.l
eave.to.file.appeal.before.it.against.an.acquittal.by.Trial.Courtin.a.murder.case,.the.A
pex.court.bench.comprising.of.Justices.Abhay.Manohar.Sapre.and.Ashok.Bhushan.
observed.that.the.instant.case.is.a.clear.case.of.total.nonapplication.of.mind.to.the.case.by.High.Court.

The.Court.has.held.that.the.law.is.settled.on.the.point.that.the.prosecution.must.stan
d.at.its.own.legs.and.it.cannot.take.the.benefit.of.weakness.of.the.defence..If.the.pro
secution.admits.the.statement.under.Section.313.Cr.P.C..then.it.has.to.be.considere
d.as.a.whole.and.it.is.not.permissible.under.law.to.accept.only.one.part.of.his.statem
ent,.which.supports.the.prosecution.and.to.exclude.the.remaining.part..The.Bench.re
lied.on.the.Supreme.Court.Judgment.in.Manu.Sao.v..State.of.Bihar.
(2010).12.SCC.310,.where.the.Apex.Court.had.examined.the.vital.features.of.Sectio
n.313.of.CRPC.and.the.principles.of.law.as.enunciated.by.judgments,.analysing.the.
guiding.factors.for.proper.application.and.consequences.that.shall.flow.from.the.said.
provision.
DHC:.t.is.not.in.dispute.that.complainant.was.34.years.of.age.while.accused.was.32.
years.at.that.time..Admitted.position.is.that.both.the.prosecutrix.and.the.appellant.we
re.well.acquainted.with.each.other.and.had.friendly.relations..Even.prior.to.the.propo
sal.for.marriage.on.12.12.12.they.had.physical.relation.with.each.other.at.her.house.
and.accused.also.used.to.sleep.in.her.house.where.her.son.and.mother.used.to.be.p
resent
If.a.fully.grown.up.lady.had.consensual.sex.with.a.person.for.long.time,.it.is.promiscu
ity.on.her.part.and.not.an.act.induced.by.misconception.of.fact;.Delhi.HC.

DHC.:EVIDENCE.be.weighed.and.not.counted
Delhi.High.Court.while.reversing.the.acquittal.of.an.Accused.for.an.Offence.U/S.354.
of.Indian.Penal.Code.has.held.that.there.is.no.legal.impediment.in.convicting.a.perso
n.on.the.sole.testimony.of.a.single.witness.
.That.is.the.logic.of.Section.134.of.the.Evidence.Act,.1872..But.if.there.are.doubts.a
bout.the.testimony,.the.courts.will.insist.on.corroboration..In.fact,.it.is.not.the.number,
.the.quantity,.but.the.quality.that.is.material..The.timehonoured.principle.is.that.evidence.has.to.be.weighed.and.not.counted..The.test.is.w
hether.the.evidence.has.a.ring.of.truth,.is.cogent,.credible.and.trustworthy.or.otherwi
se..
Justice.Sunita.Gupta.was.hearing.an.appeal.filed.by.the.State.against.acquittal.of.Ac
cused.Pratap.Singh.@Krishna.by.Metropolitan.Magistrate.(Mahila.Court),.SouthEast.District,.Saket.Courts.
.Facts

.
The.complainant.X.had.gone.to.gym.where.accused.was.an.instructor..After.10.30.
am,.when.all.the.girls.from.the.gym.had.left,.the.respondent./accused.came.to.her.an
d.wanted.to.give.massage.to.her.on.the.ground.that.she.was.having.pain.while.doing
.gym..Despite.her.refusal,.he.forcibly.started.giving.massage.to.the.complainant.and.
while.doing.so,.he.pressed.her.thighs,.touched.her.private.parts.and.her.breast.also..
Police.was.informed..Her.statement.was.recorded.which.resulted.in.registration.of.th
e.instant.FIR..During.the.course.of.investigation,.the.respondent./accused.was.got.ar
rested..After.completion.of.investigation,.chargesheet.was.submitted.against.him..The.Metropolitan.Magistrate.acquitted.the.accused
.primarily.on.the.ground.that.in.the.cross.examination.of.the.complainant.it.had.come
.that.there.was.one.more.lady.present.inside.the.gym.and.that.lady.was.not.examine
d.by.prosecution..Since.that.lady.was.an.independent.witness,.conviction.could.not.b
e.based.on.the.solitary.testimony.of.the.complainant..
Finding
.
The.High.Court.has.found.that.although.the.Trial.Court.noted.that.it.is.settled.law.that
.conviction.can.be.based.on.sole.testimony.of.the.complainant.in.such.cases,.howev
er,.went.on.stating.that.conviction.can.be.based.only.when.there.is.no.independent.w
itness.available..Rejecting.the.reasoning.of.Trial.Court,.the.High.Court.held.as.follow
s;.

This.approach.of.the.Trial.Court.cannot.be.sustained.because.the.law.is.wellsettled.that.as.a.general.rule,.the.Court.can.and.may.act.on.the.testimony.of.a.single
.witness.provided.he/she.is.wholly.reliable..There.is.no.legal.impediment.in.convictin
g.a.person.on.the.sole.testimony.of.a.single.witness..That.is.the.logic.of.Section.134.
of.the.Evidence.Act,.1872..But.if.there.are.doubts.about.the.testimony,.the.courts.will
.insist.on.corroboration..In.fact,.it.is.not.the.number,.the.quantity,.but.the.quality.that.i
s.material..The.timehonoured.principle.is.that.evidence.has.to.be.weighed.and.not.counted..The.test.is.w

hether.the.evidence.has.a.ring.of.truth,.is.cogent,.credible.and.trustworthy.or.otherwi
se
.The.testimony.of.the.prosecutrix,.in.the.instant.case,.is.not.only.natural.but.also.trus
tworthy.and.worth.being.relied.upon..In.fact,.the.testimony.of.the.prosecutrix.has.not.
been.touched.at.all.by.the.learned.Trial.Court.and.absolutely.no.reason.has.been.as
signed.as.to.why.it.should.be.discarded.altogether..Merely.on.the.ground.that.some.
other.girl.was.present.in.the.gym,.who.was.not.examined.by.prosecution.is.hardly.suf
ficient.for.drawing.an.adverse.inference.against.the.prosecution.
Moreover,.noninvestigation.regarding.presence.of.any.other.girl.in.the.gym.at.the.time.of.incident.at
.best.can.be.termed.to.be.a.lapse.on.the.part.of.Investigating.Officer.of.the.case.but.t
he.law.on.this.issue.is.well.settled.that.the.defect.in.the.investigation.by.itself.cannot.
be.a.ground.for.acquittal.and.if.primacy.is.given.to.such.design.or.negligent.investiga
tion.or.to.the.omissions.or.lapses.by.perfunctory.investigation,.the.faith.and.confiden
ce.of.the.people.in.the.criminal.justice.administrated.would.be.eroded.
DHC
The.Court.also.observed.that.namecalling.and.hurling.of.abuses.such.as.Hathi,.Mota.Hathi.and.Mota.Elephant.by.the
.wife.in.respect.of.her.husband..even.if.he.was.overweight,.is.bound.to.strike.at.his.
self-respect.and.selfesteem..The.respondent.was.sensitive.to.such.taunts,.and.it.is.not.the.appellants.ca
se.that.the.taunts.were.made.jokingly,.or.out.of.love.and.affection,.and.without.malic
e,.the.Court.observed.