Criminal trial -- Acquittal terminology and relief - Where courts find no evidence against accused, appropriate order is an honourable acquittal and not an acquittal by giving "benefit of doubt" or by stating "in absence of evidence" since such phraseology would affect future career prospects - High Court modified revisional judgment, expunging the words "in absence of..........
Criminal trial -- Acquittal on merits vis-a-vis benefit of doubt - An honourable acquittal is one where Court, upon full-fledged appreciation of evidence, reaches a definitive conclusion that accused had not committed the offence - This stands in contrast to an acquittal arising from lacunae in the prosecution case or non-availability of credible evidence where the benefit..........
Rent and Eviction -- Bona fide need - Trial Court had passed a decree for eviction on the basis of evidence on record which was reversed by Appellate Court - It was therefore necessary for High Court to have taken into consideration the entire material available on record including affidavit of defendant which denied bona fide need of plaintiffs - Thus, by failing to do..........
Civil Procedure Code, 1908, Order 14, Rule 1, 2 -- Issues - Test for finding as to omission to frame issues have caused prejudice to parties or not can be laid down on touchstone as to whether parties that go to trial had knowledge that (i) a particular question is in issue and; (ii) had opportunity to lead evidence on that issue...........
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Section 483 -- Bail - Jurisdiction of a Court while considering bail is confined to assess whether accused should be released pending investigation or trial and to impose conditions to ensure fair investigation or trial and as such it does not extend to adjudicate in civil rights or directing recovery of alleged dues...........
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Section 482 -- Defence material at quashing stage - Consideration of defence material including sale deeds or other title documents at the stage of S.156(3) Cr.P.C. would necessarily involve adjudication on disputed questions of fact and would amount to conducting a mini-trial which is wholly impermissible...........
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, Section 8, 20, 25, 29 -- Contraband - Quashing of proceedings - Substantial quantity of contraband (ganja) has been recovered - No categorical material on record at this stage to conclusively establish that recovery was pre-planned, foisted or fabricated - Plea of false implication constitute matters squarely falling..........
Criminal trial -- Right of accused to rely upon material in support of his defence does not ordinarily arise at the pre-trial or charge stage and such entitlement crystallizes only during stage of defence evidence...........
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Section 311 -- Recall of a witness - Trial Court has passed the impugned order of allowing application after a proper analysis of relevant facts and circumstances of case on the basis of sound reasons - Filing and allowing of application u/s 311 Cr.P.C. cannot be said to be an abuse of process of law and there is no error or illegality in..........
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Section 311 -- (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, S.348) - Recall of material witness for cross-examination - PW9 is stated to be an eye witness of occurrence - Denial of an effective opportunity to cross-examine a prime witness, particularly an eyewitness would amount to a palpable infraction of right to fair trial and would strike..........
