Tag: judicial guidelines

Supreme Court Reins in High Court’s Suo Motu CBI Inquiry in Recruitment Case
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Reins in High Court’s Suo Motu CBI Inquiry in Recruitment Case

This Supreme Court ruling clarified that High Courts cannot direct a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe merely on "doubt" or "assumption." Such an extraordinary power under Article 226 must be exercised sparingly and only in exceptional cases where material prima facie discloses a cognizable offence, ensuring investigative credibility and protecting fundamental rights. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from writ petitions filed before the Allahabad High Court challenging the 2020 recruitment process for Class-III posts in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and Assembly Secretariats. The petitioners, unsuccessful candidates, alleged the selection was arbitrary, unfair, and involved favoritism by the private external agency conducting the exams. They soug...
Supreme Court Reinstates Conviction in Cheque Bounce Case, Slams High Court’s Interference
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Reinstates Conviction in Cheque Bounce Case, Slams High Court’s Interference

This Supreme Court judgment reinforces the statutory presumptions under Sections 118 and 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, which arise upon admission of a cheque's execution. It clarifies that these presumptions are rebuttable, but the initial onus is on the accused. The ruling also establishes that a violation of Section 269SS of the Income Tax Act, 1961, does not render a debt legally unenforceable for proceedings under Section 138 of the NI Act. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, filed by the appellant, Sanjabij Tari, concerning a cheque for Rs. 6,00,000 issued by the respondent, Kishore S. Borcar. The cheque was dishonoured due to insufficient funds. The appellant contended that the amoun...
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: Supreme Court Orders Strict Timelines for Pronouncing Judgments
Supreme Court

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: Supreme Court Orders Strict Timelines for Pronouncing Judgments

This Supreme Court judgment reiterates the legal imperative for timely pronouncement of reserved judgments to uphold the right to speedy justice. The Supreme Court directed all High Courts to strictly adhere to the guidelines established in Anil Rai v. State of Bihar, mandating a monitoring mechanism by the Registrar General and the Chief Justice to ensure judgments are delivered within three months of being reserved. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, the de-facto complainant in the case, challenged interim orders from the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad concerning a long-pending criminal appeal filed by respondent no. 2 in 2008. The core grievance was the inordinate delay in the High Court's disposal of this criminal appeal. The appeal had initially been heard at length by a Div...
Supreme Court’s 15-Point Plan to Prevent Student Suicides in Coaching Hubs Like Kota
Supreme Court

Supreme Court’s 15-Point Plan to Prevent Student Suicides in Coaching Hubs Like Kota

The Supreme Court, citing investigative bias and procedural lapses by local police, exercised its extraordinary power to transfer the probe to the CBI to ensure a fair and impartial investigation. The Court emphasized that such transfers are exceptional and warranted only in rare circumstances to uphold the rule of law. Facts Of The Case: A 17-year-old student, Ms. X, from West Bengal, was preparing for the NEET examination at the Aakash Byju’s Institute in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and staying at the affiliated Sadhana Ladies Hostel. On the night of July 14, 2023, her father, the appellant, was informed she had fallen from the hostel's third floor and was taken to Venkataramana Hospital. Despite initially being conscious, her condition deteriorated and she passed away on July 16. ...