Legal Analysis - The Legal Chamber

Supreme Court Ends Confusion, Sets Uniform Rule for Accident Payouts

20Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Ends Confusion, Sets Uniform Rule for Accident Payouts

The Supreme Court held that the application of a "split multiplier" in motor accident compensation cases is impermissible. Relying on the structured formula from Sarla Verma and Pranay Sethi, the Court ruled that compensation must be calculated using a single multiplier based solely on the victim's age, as superannuation does not constitute an exceptional circumstance justifying a deviation from this settled method. Facts Of The Case: On 3rd August 2012, T.I. Krishnan, aged 51, died in a road accident on the Pala-Thodupuzha Road when his car was hit by a rashly driven bus. His surviving family—his wife and children—filed a claim petition before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT), Pala, seeking compensation. The Tribunal, in April 2014, awarded approximately ₹44 lakhs, determining...

Supreme Court Revives Forgery Case: Fake Stamp Paper Probe Must Go On

19Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Revives Forgery Case: Fake Stamp Paper Probe Must Go On

The Supreme Court held that a Magistrate's referral under Section 156(3) CrPC for police investigation is justified when a complaint discloses a cognizable offence and such a direction is conducive to justice. The High Court's orders quashing the referral were set aside, emphasizing that the police must be allowed to investigate prima facie allegations of forgery and fabrication of documents. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, Sadiq B. Hanchinmani, filed a civil suit claiming ownership of a property via an oral gift from his father, challenging a registered sale deed in favour of accused No. 1, Veena. The suit was dismissed in 2013. During the pendency of his appeal (RFA No. 4095/2013) before the High Court, a status quo order on the property's title and possession was initially granted b...

Understanding the Supreme Court’s Verdict on Interstate Bus Permits and State Schemes

19Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Understanding the Supreme Court’s Verdict on Interstate Bus Permits and State Schemes

The Supreme Court ruled that an inter-state reciprocal transport agreement under Section 88 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, does not override an approved nationalization scheme under Chapter VI. A notified route for a State Transport Undertaking prevails, prohibiting private operators from plying on any overlapping portion, even if part of an inter-state route. Facts Of The Case: The case centered on disputes arising from an Inter-State Reciprocal Transport (IS-RT) Agreement of 2006 between Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP). The agreement reserved certain inter-state routes for the Madhya Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (MPSRTC). After MPSRTC reportedly stopped operations, private operators obtained temporary permits from MP's transport authority to p...

“Demand & Acceptance” Not Proved: Supreme Court Acquits Official in Anti-Corruption Case

13Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

“Demand & Acceptance” Not Proved: Supreme Court Acquits Official in Anti-Corruption Case

The Supreme Court reiterated the established principle that an appellate court should not reverse an acquittal unless the trial court’s view is perverse or based on a manifest misreading of evidence. The prosecution must prove the foundational facts of demand and acceptance of a bribe beyond reasonable doubt, and mere recovery of money is insufficient for conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, an Assistant Commissioner of Labour, was accused of demanding a bribe of ₹9,000 from a labour contractor for renewing three licences. The prosecution alleged that a partial payment of ₹3,000 was made on 25.09.1997, with the balance demanded the next day. The complainant reported this to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which laid a trap on 26.09.1997. ...

Supreme Court Clarifies Law on Witness Intimidation: Victims Can Go Straight to Police

6Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Clarifies Law on Witness Intimidation: Victims Can Go Straight to Police

This Supreme Court judgment clarifies the procedural conflict regarding offences under Section 195A IPC (threatening to give false evidence). The Supreme Court holds that Section 195A IPC is a cognizable offence. Consequently, the police have the independent power to register an FIR and investigate under Sections 154/156 CrPC, and the restrictive complaint procedure under Section 195(1)(b)(i) CrPC is not applicable. Facts Of The Case: The case originated from two separate sets of proceedings. In the first, from Kerala, an FIR was registered under Section 195A IPC after a de facto complainant, who had turned approver in a murder case, was threatened with dire consequences to give false evidence. The accused sought bail, arguing the mandatory procedure under Section 195(1)(b)(i) CrPC—requi...

Supreme Court Ruling: Drug Disposal Committee Cannot Overtake Court’s Power to Release Seized Vehicles

4Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Ruling: Drug Disposal Committee Cannot Overtake Court’s Power to Release Seized Vehicles

The Supreme Court held that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Seizure, Storage, Sampling and Disposal) Rules, 2022 do not oust the jurisdiction of Special Courts to grant interim custody of vehicles seized under the NDPS Act. The statutory power of courts under Sections 60(3) and 63 of the NDPS Act, read with relevant CrPC/BNSS provisions for interim release, remains operative independently of the administrative disposal mechanism under the 2022 Rules. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, Denash, is the owner of a lorry (TN 52 Q 0315) which was lawfully hired to transport iron sheets from Chhattisgarh to Tamil Nadu. On 14th July 2024, during transit, police intercepted the vehicle and recovered a total of 6 kilograms of Ganja. The contraband was found concealed benea...

Supreme Court Rules: Non-Examination of Complainant Vitiates Departmental Inquiry

4Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Rules: Non-Examination of Complainant Vitiates Departmental Inquiry

The Supreme Court held that a departmental inquiry is vitiated if based on the unexamined statement of a key complainant, denying the delinquent employee the right to cross-examination—a violation of natural justice. Charges unsupported by conclusive evidence cannot sustain a dismissal order, warranting judicial intervention under Article 226. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, V.M. Saudagar, was a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) with Central Railway, Nagpur. On 31 May 1988, a Railway Vigilance team conducted a surprise check on his coach. He was subsequently charge-sheeted in July 1989 for alleged misconduct, including demanding illegal gratification from three passengers for berth allotment, possessing excess undeclared cash, failing to recover a small fare difference, and forgin...

Landmark Ruling Protects IP Owners: Supreme Court Says Continuous Infringement Creates Inherent Urgency

4Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Landmark Ruling Protects IP Owners: Supreme Court Says Continuous Infringement Creates Inherent Urgency

This Supreme Court judgment clarifies that under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, a suit alleging continuing infringement of intellectual property rights inherently contemplates urgent interim relief. The Court held that mere delay in filing the suit does not negate urgency, as each ongoing act of infringement causes immediate and irreparable harm, and public interest in preventing market deception also factors into the assessment. Facts Of The Case: The appellant, a Danish company named Novenco Building and Industry A/S, held patents and design registrations in India for its industrial fans sold under the brand ‘Novenco ZerAx’. It had entered into a dealership agreement with respondent No. 1, Xero Energy Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd., in 2017. The appellant later discov...

Supreme Court Unifies Patent Litigation in One Court to Prevent Conflicting Judgments

4Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Unifies Patent Litigation in One Court to Prevent Conflicting Judgments

The Supreme Court allowed the transfer of an infringement suit from Delhi to Bombay High Court under Section 25 of the CPC, prioritizing the suit filed earlier in time to avoid multiplicity of proceedings and conflicting judgments. It held that a suit for groundless threats under Section 106 of the Patents Act constitutes an independent cause of action, but consolidation is necessary when legal and factual issues substantially overlap. Facts Of The Case: Atomberg Technologies launched its "Atomberg Intellon" water purifier on June 20, 2025. Shortly after, its competitor, Eureka Forbes Limited, allegedly made oral threats to Atomberg's distributors, claiming patent infringement and threatening legal action. In response, Atomberg filed a suit for "groundless threats...

Supreme Court Rules: “Vacancies Can Increase After Advertisement” – Quashes Illegal Terminations from 2008

2Jan

By The Legal ChamberNo Comments

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Rules: “Vacancies Can Increase After Advertisement” – Quashes Illegal Terminations from 2008

The Supreme Court held that appointments made in excess of originally advertised vacancies are permissible under the rules if filled from a valid waiting list within a reasonable period, typically the recruitment year or the succeeding year. Terminations based solely on the "excess vacancy" ground were found unjustified when such appointments align with the recruitment rule's intent and the advertisement's stipulation that vacancy numbers were subject to change. Facts Of The Case: The case involved four appellants who were appointed to Class IV posts in the District Judgeship of Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, in 2001 against an advertisement that notified twelve vacancies but included a rider that the number of posts could increase or decrease. In 2008, their services were te...