Conviction under pre-amendment SC/ST Act S. 3(2)(v) requires proof that the victim’s caste identity was a ground for the offence, not merely known.

 RAJU @ UMAKANT

Vs.

THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

( Before : Sanjay Karol and K. V. Viswanathan, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No…..of 2025 (@ Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 17398 of 2024)

Decided on : 01-05-2025

Penal Code, 1860 — Sections 366, 376(2)(g), 342 — Evidence Act, 1872 — Section 114A — Rape — Testimony of Prosecutrix — Corroboration — The testimony of a prosecutrix in a sexual assault case, if found to be credible, consistent, and confidence-inspiring despite minor contradictions or variations from initial reports, is sufficient for conviction without corroboration — A victim of sexual assault is not an accomplice, and her evidence should be evaluated keeping in mind she is an interested witness, but trustworthiness remains the primary test — The statutory presumption under S. 114A of the Evidence Act regarding absence of consent applies where the prosecutrix deposes she did not consent.

Abetment of suicide (Sec 306 IPC) requires proof of direct/indirect proximate instigation; remote harassment allegations alone insufficient, justifying quashing under 482 CrPC as abuse of process.

 SHENBAGAVALLI AND OTHERS

Vs.

THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KANCHEEPURAM DISTRICT AND ANOTHER

( Before : Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No. 4268 of 2024 and Criminal Appeal No. 4269 of 2024

Decided on : 30-04-2025

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 306 — Abetment of Suicide — Ingredients — To constitute an offence under Section 306 IPC, the essential ingredients of abetment as defined under Section 107 IPC must be established — There must be proof of a direct or indirect positive act of incitement to the commission of suicide by the accused, reflecting a mens rea to instigate or aid the deceased to end their life

Payments by an importer to an Indian agent of a foreign supplier, if contractually stipulated as a condition of sale, are includible in customs assessable value under CVR 9(1)(e).

 M/S. COAL INDIA LIMITED

Vs.

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (PORT), CUSTOMS HOUSE, KOLKATA

( Before : Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, JJ. )

Civil Appeal No. 8028 of 2010

Decided on : 01-05-2025

A. Customs Act, 1962 — Section 14 — Customs Valuation (Determination of Price of Imported Goods) Rules, 1988 — Rule 9(1)(e) — Assessable Value — Payments to Third Party (Indian Agent) — Payments made by an importer (Appellant) to an Indian agent/distributor (M/s Voltas Ltd.) of a foreign supplier, stipulated as a percentage of the FOB value and payable in addition to the price paid to the foreign supplier, are includible in the assessable value of the imported goods under Rule 9(1)(e) of the Customs Valuation Rules, 1988, when such payment is found to be a condition of sale of the imported goods.

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 499, Exception 9 & Section 500 — Defamation — Imputation in Good Faith for Protection of Interests

 SHAHED KAMAL AND OTHERS

Vs.

M/S A. SURTI DEVELOPERS PVT. LTD. AND ANOTHER

( Before : K. V. Viswanathan and N. Kotiswar Singh, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No. 2033 of 2025 (@ Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 9942 of 2024)

Decided on : 17-04-2025

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 499, Exception 9 & Section 500 — Defamation — Imputation in Good Faith for Protection of Interests — Exception 9 to S. 499 IPC engrafts the principle of qualified privilege, stating it is not defamation to make an imputation on the character of another, provided it is made in good faith for the protection of the interest of the person making it, or of any other person, or for the public good — Good faith requires due care and attention but, unlike Exception 1, does not mandate proving the absolute truth of the imputation — In a business relationship like that between homebuyers and a developer, airing specific, fact-based grievances via a banner, using mild and temperate language without malice, to protect their collective interests, falls squarely within this exception. (Relied on: Chaman Lal v. State of Punjab, (1970) 1 SCC 590; Harbhajan Singh vs. State of Punjab, 1965 SCC OnLine SC 118; Kuruppanna Goundan vs. Kuppuswami Mudaliar, 1935 MWN 365; Queen-Empress vs. E.M. Slater, (1891) ILR 15 Bom 351; Valmiki Faleiro v. Mrs. Lauriana Fernandes, 2005 SCC OnLine Bom 1584)

Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 — Section 2(17) — ‘Principal Employer’ — Scope and Determination

 AJAY RAJ SHETTY

Vs.

DIRECTOR AND ANOTHER

( Before : Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No. ….of 2025 [@ Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 3743 of 2024]

Decided on : 17-04-2025

Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 — Section 2(17) — ‘Principal Employer’ — Scope and Determination — The definition of ‘principal employer’ under Section 2(17) is wide and includes not only the owner or occupier of a factory (or head of department in government establishments) but also the managing agent or any person responsible for the supervision and control of the establishment — Designation is immaterial if the person functions as a managing agent or supervises/controls the establishment — Where concurrent findings of fact by the Trial Court, First Appellate Court, and High Court, based on company records (which were not controverted by the appellant with evidence like appointment letter/payslips), established that the appellant was functioning as General Manager/Principal Employer/Managing Agent, he falls within the ambit of S. 2(17) and is liable for offences under the Act. (Distinguished: Employees’ State Insurance Corpn., Chandigarh v Gurdial Singh, AIR 1991 SC 1741; J K Industries Limited v Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers, (1996) 6 SCC 665)

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 438 — Anticipatory Bail — Habitual Offender/Criminal Antecedents — Consideration of Nature of Current Offence

 ANKIT MISHRA

Vs.

THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND ANOTHER

( Before : Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No(s). ....of 2025 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.) No(s). 14566 of 2024)

Decided on : 17-04-2025

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 438 — Anticipatory Bail — Habitual Offender/Criminal Antecedents — Consideration of Nature of Current Offence — While the criminal antecedents and alleged status of an accused as a habitual offender are extremely relevant factors that ordinarily weigh against the grant of anticipatory bail, the High Court’s discretion in granting such bail may not warrant interference if (i) the High Court has demonstrably considered the criminal history, and (ii) the specific offences alleged in the present FIR are not heinous in nature — The consideration might differ if the present allegation involved a heinous offence. (Distinguished from principles in Neeru Yadav v. State of U.P., (2014) 16 SCC 508)

Circumstantial Evidence — Murder (Filicide) vs. Suicide

 SUBHASH AGGARWAL

Vs.

THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI

( Before : Sudhanshu Dhulia and K. Vinod Chandran, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No. ….of 2025 (@ Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No. 1069 of 2025)

Decided on : 17-04-2025

Criminal Law — Circumstantial Evidence — Murder (Filicide) vs. Suicide — In cases based on circumstantial evidence where the question is whether the death was homicidal (filicide) or suicidal, the prosecution must establish a complete chain of circumstances that points exclusively to the guilt of the accused and is inconsistent with any hypothesis of innocence — Conviction upheld where circumstances, including (i) gunshot residue (GSR) found on the accused father’s dominant (right) hand, (ii) the accused being the first to discover the body and propounding a false theory of suicide (by screwdriver), (iii) absence of blood on the alleged suicide weapon (screwdriver), (iv) medical and ballistic evidence indicating a close-range (but not contact) gunshot wound inconsistent with typical suicide patterns (location on chest, weapon not found in hand), (v) false and contradictory explanations by the accused under S. 313 Cr.P.C. regarding the weapon and GSR, formed a complete chain pointing solely to the accused’s guilt. (Relied on: Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra, (1984) 4 SCC 116

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 307 — Attempt to Murder — Ingredients — Nature of Injury vs. Intention/Knowledge

 STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Vs.

SHAMSHER SINGH

( Before : Pankaj Mithal and S.V.N. Bhatti, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No. 476 of 2015

Decided on : 17-04-2025

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 307 — Attempt to Murder — Ingredients — Nature of Injury vs. Intention/Knowledge — To attract S. 307 IPC, the crucial element is the intention or knowledge to cause death with which the act is done, irrespective of the nature or severity of the injury actually caused. S. 307 uses the word ‘hurt’, not ‘grievous hurt’ or ‘life-threatening hurt’ — Therefore, an accused cannot be acquitted merely because the injury inflicted was not grievous or dangerous to life, if the evidence establishes that the act was done with the requisite intention or knowledge to cause death. (Relied on: State of Madhya Pradesh vs. Kanha @ Omprakash, (2019) 3 SCC 605; State of M.P. vs. Saleem, (2005) 5 SCC 554)

A notice invoking arbitration under S. 21 is mandatory (unless otherwise agreed by parties) as its receipt fixes the date of commencement of arbitral proceedings, which is crucial for determining limitation (S. 43), applicable law

 ADAVYA PROJECTS PVT. LTD.

Vs.

M/S VISHAL STRUCTURALS PVT. LTD. AND OTHERS

( Before : Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Manoj Misra, JJ. )

Civil Appeal No. 5297 of 2025 Arising Out of SLP (C) No. 25746 of 2024

Decided on : 17-04-2025

  Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — Section 21 — Notice Invoking Arbitration — Mandatory Nature and Effect of Non-Service — A notice invoking arbitration under S. 21 is mandatory (unless otherwise agreed by parties) as its receipt fixes the date of commencement of arbitral proceedings, which is crucial for determining limitation (S. 43), applicable law (including amendments to the Act), and fulfilling a prerequisite for filing a S. 11 application — However, the non-service of a S. 21 notice on a person does not, by itself, preclude the arbitral tribunal from impleading that person if they are found to be a party to the arbitration agreement — The primary purpose of S. 21 relates to commencement and time-related aspects, while other functions like informing about claims or potential arbitrators are incidental. (Relied on: Milkfood Ltd. v. GMC Ice Cream (P) Ltd., (2004) 7 SCC 288; State of Goa v. Praveen Enterprises, (2012) 12 SCC 581; BSNL v. Nortel Networks (India) (P) Ltd., (2021) 5 SCC 738. Partially agreed with, but distinguished on conclusion: Alupro Building Systems Pvt Ltd. v. Ozone Overseas Pvt Ltd., 2017 SCC OnLine Del 7228)

Divergent Opinions

 N. ESWARANATHAN

Vs.

STATE REPRESENTED BY THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE

( Before : Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ. )

SLP (Criminal) Diary No(s). 55057 of 2024

Decided on : 17-04-2025

Divergent Opinions — Where there is a divergence of opinion between judges on a Bench regarding the acceptance of an apology tendered by advocates for misconduct and the appropriate consequential orders, the matter should be placed before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India for appropriate orders.

 PINKI

Vs.

STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND ANOTHER

( Before : J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No. 1927 of 2025 (Arising Out of SLP (Criminal) No. 4658 of 2025) with Criminal Appeal No. 1928 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.) No. 592 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1929 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.) No. 590 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1930 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4660 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1931 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4661 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1932 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4662 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1933 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4664 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1934 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4665 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1935 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4666 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1936 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4667 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1937 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4668 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1938 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4670 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1939 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4671 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1940 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4672 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1941 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4673 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1942 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4674 of 2025), Criminal Appeal No. 1943 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4675 of 2025) and Criminal Appeal No. 1944 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (CRL.) 4676 of 2025)

Decided on : 15-04-2025

  Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — S. 439 — Bail — Cancellation of Bail — Factors for Consideration — Child Trafficking — Appeals preferred by victims (kith and kin of trafficked children) assailing High Court orders granting bail to accused involved in a large-scale, organized, interstate child trafficking racket — The offences alleged involve kidnapping, buying, and selling of minor children primarily from impoverished backgrounds, punishable under Ss. 363, 311 & 370(5) IPC — High Court granted bail citing factors such as accused not being named in FIR, disclosure of name by co-accused, non-recovery of victim from the specific accused, grant of bail to similarly situated co-accused, and the principle of ‘bail is rule, jail is exception’ — Such exercise of discretion by the High Court, in cases involving grave offences like organized child trafficking with interstate ramifications, requires deeper scrutiny concerning the serious nature of the crime, modus operandi, societal impact, and potential threat posed by accused if released — The High Court’s approach found to be callous, overlooking critical aspects including the organized nature of the crime and the subsequent absconding of several accused post-bail, thereby jeopardizing the trial.

Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 16(c) — Specific Performance — Readiness and Willingness — Effect of Accepting Refund

 SANGITA SINHA

Vs.

BHAWANA BHARDWAJ AND OTHERS

( Before : Dipankar Datta and Manmohan, JJ. )

Civil Appeal No. 4972 of 2025 (Arising out of Special Leave Petition (C) No.28460 of 2024)

Decided on : 04-04-2025

Specific Relief Act, 1963 — Section 16(c) — Specific Performance — Readiness and Willingness — Effect of Accepting Refund — A buyer's continuous readiness and willingness to perform their part of an Agreement to Sell, a prerequisite for seeking specific performance, is negated by their conduct of accepting and encashing a substantial portion of the refunded earnest money/advance consideration sent by the seller along with a cancellation notice, especially when such encashment occurs during the pendency of the specific performance suit — Such conduct demonstrates an unwillingness to proceed with the contract.

Education Law — Teacher Qualification — Diploma in Elementary Education (D. El. Ed.) — NIOS 18-Month ODL Programme — Purpose and Scope

 KOUSIK DAS AND OTHERS

Vs.

STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND OTHERS

( Before : B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih, JJ. )

Civil Appeal No….of 2025 (Arising Out of SLP(C) No. 19139 of 2024)

Decided on : 04-04-2025

 Education Law — Teacher Qualification — Diploma in Elementary Education (D. El. Ed.) — NIOS 18-Month ODL Programme — Purpose and Scope — The 18-month Diploma in Elementary Education (D. El. Ed.) programme conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode, pursuant to the NCTE Recognition Order dated 22.09.2017, was a specific, one-time measure necessitated by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2017 — This programme was designed exclusively to enable untrained elementary teachers, who were already in service as on 10.08.2017, to acquire the minimum required qualification by the statutory deadline of 31.03.2019, thereby safeguarding their continued employment.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 — Section 61(2) — Limitation Act, 1963 — Section 12 — Appeal to NCLAT — Limitation Period

 A RAJENDRA

Vs.

GONUGUNTA MADHUSUDHAN RAO AND OTHERS

( Before : Abhay S. Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Augustine George Masih, JJ. )

Civil Appeal Nos.11070 - 11071 of 2024 (@ Diary No. 10029 of 2024)

Decided on : 04-04-2025

 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 — Section 61(2) — Limitation Act, 1963 — Section 12 — Appeal to NCLAT — Limitation Period — Commencement and Calculation — The statutory limitation period for filing an appeal before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) under Section 61(2) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) is thirty days, commencing from the date of pronouncement of the order by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) — The NCLAT possesses discretion to condone delay for a further period not exceeding fifteen days, upon satisfaction of sufficient cause — The scheme of Section 61 IBC does not postpone the commencement of limitation until a certified copy is made available, distinguishing it from provisions like Section 421(3) of the Companies Act, 2013.

Service Law — Recruitment — Eligibility Qualification — Interpretation of Rules — West Bengal School Teachers Recruitment Rules, 2016, Rule 6(2)

 SOUMEN PAUL AND OTHERS

Vs.

SHRABANI NAYEK AND OTHERS

( Before : Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Manoj Misra, JJ. )

Civil Appeal No….of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (C) No. 12660 of 2023 with Civil Appeal No….of 2025 Arising Out of SLP (C) No….of 2025 Arising Out of Diary No. 25090 of 2023 with Civil Appeal No…..of 2025 Arising Out of SLP (C) No. 25324 of 2023

Decided on : 04-04-2025

Rule 6(2) WB Primary Teacher Rules incorporates prevailing NCTE norms, not fixing a qualification acquisition cut-off date.

 Service Law — Recruitment — Eligibility Qualification — Interpretation of Rules — West Bengal School Teachers Recruitment Rules, 2016, Rule 6(2) — Rule 6(2) of the West Bengal Primary School Teachers Recruitment Rules, 2016 (as amended on 22.12.2020), which requires candidates to possess the minimum educational and training qualification prescribed by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) "prevailing as on date of publication of recruitment notification," primarily functions to incorporate the NCTE qualifications applicable at the time of recruitment — It does not, by its text or intendment, establish a rigid cut-off date by which such qualification must be possessed by the candidate — An interpretation treating the phrase "prevailing as on date" as fixing a cut-off for obtaining the qualification is erroneous, particularly when the recruiting body itself did not espouse such an interpretation.

Under WBPT Act, non-spouse heir tenancy expires after 5 years. Admitting facts proving expiry justifies O.12 R.6 eviction decree. Party cannot approbate/reprobate Act's applicability.

 RAJIV GHOSH

Vs.

SATYA NARYAN JAISWAL

( Before : J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, JJ. )

Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 9975 of 2025 (Diary No. 8323 of 2025)

Decided on : 07-04-2025

West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1997 — Section 2(g) — Inherited Tenancy — Limitation — The definition of "tenant" under S. 2(g) extends tenancy rights to specified heirs (including son/daughter) of a deceased tenant for a maximum period of five years from the date of the tenant's death (or the Act's commencement, whichever is later), provided they were ordinarily living with and dependent on the tenant and meet other conditions — This five-year limitation does not apply to the dependent spouse — After the expiry of this statutory period, such heirs (other than the protected spouse) cease to be tenants under the Act.

Penal Code, 1860 — Sections 498A & 306 — Cruelty & Abetment of Suicide —

 JAGDISH GOND

Vs.

THE STATE OF CHHATTISGARH AND OTHERS

( Before : Sudhanshu Dhulia and K. Vinod Chandran, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No.2605 of 2024

Decided on : 07-04-2025

Penal Code, 1860 — Sections 498A & 306 — Cruelty & Abetment of Suicide — Allegations supporting charges under Sections 498A and 306 IPC must be specific and substantiated — Vague complaints about the deceased being lazy or sick, without evidence of physical violence or persistent harassment meeting the threshold of cruelty likely to drive suicide, are insufficient for conviction under these sections.

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR — Insufficient Allegations

 UNION TERRITORY OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Vs.

BRIJ BHUSHAN

( Before : Sudhanshu Dhulia and K. Vinod Chandran, JJ. )

Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No.12026 of 2024

Decided on : 07-04-2025

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR — Insufficient Allegations — An FIR registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and S. 120-B IPC concerning a decades-old land transaction was rightly quashed under S. 482 Cr.P.C. against the Managing Director of the beneficiary cooperative society where the allegations amounted merely to a “bland allegation of connivance” with state officials, without specifying his role in the alleged criminal conspiracy or corruption, and where no personal benefit was alleged to have accrued to him.

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 376 — Rape — Consent — False Promise of Marriage

 JASPAL SINGH KAURAL

Vs.

THE STATE OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANOTHER

( Before : B. V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No…of 2025 Arising Out of SLP (Criminal) No. 4007 of 2024

Decided on : 07-04-2025

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 376 — Rape — Consent — False Promise of Marriage — For consent to sexual intercourse to be vitiated by a “misconception of fact” arising from a promise to marry, the promise must be false ab initio, made without any intention of being adhered to, and must have a direct nexus to the complainant’s decision Where the complainant was aware that the accused was married at the inception of the relationship, and the relationship was prolonged (spanning several years, even after both parties obtained divorces from their respective spouses), the consent given by a mature complainant is deemed reasoned and conscious, negating the element of “misconception of fact” — A subsequent breach of promise does not automatically convert the initial consent into one obtained by deceit under S. 375 IPC.

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 376 — Rape — Consent — Misconception of Fact — Promise to Marry

 BISWAJYOTI CHATTERJEE

Vs.

STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ANOTHER

( Before : B. V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ. )

Criminal Appeal No….of 2025 Arising Out of SLP (Criminal) No. 4261 of 2024

Decided on : 07-04-2025

Penal Code, 1860 — Section 376 — Rape — Consent — Misconception of Fact — Promise to Marry — Consent to sexual intercourse given by a mature individual, fully aware from the outset that the promisor is already married (though separated), cannot be deemed to be vitiated by a “misconception of fact” under Section 375 IPC merely based on a promise to marry after obtaining a divorce — Such knowledge precludes the necessary “misconception” and indicates a reasoned decision to engage in the relationship, especially when the relationship is prolonged and consensual.