TOP25JUDGEMENTSOFTHESUPREMECOURT

I
N2017
1.Just
iceKSPut
taswamyv
s.Uni
onofI
ndi
a 
  I
nahi
stor
icalv
er cton24th 
di August
,20179JudgeBenchconsi
sti
ngofCJI
Jagdi
shSi
nghKhehar
,Just
ice 
JChel
ameswar
,SABobde,RKAgr
awal
,Rohi
nton
Fal
iNar
iman,
AbhayManoharSapr
e,DrDYChandr
achud,
Sanj
ayKi
shanKaul
,and
SAbdulNazeerdecl
aredr
ightt
opr
ivacyaf
undament
alr
ightwi
thi
ntheambi
tof
Ar
ti
cle21oft
heConst
it
uti
on.
Thej
udgmentonbehal
foft
heHon’
bleChi
efJust
iceShr
iJust
iceJagdi
shSi
ngh
Khehar
,Shr
iJust
iceRKAgr
awal
,Shr
iJust
iceSAbdulNazeerandDrJust
iceDY
Chandr
achud was del
i
ver
ed byDrJust
ice D Y Chandr
achud.Shr
iJust
ice J
Chel
ameswar
,Shr
iJust
iceSABobde,Shr
iJust
iceAbhayManoharSapr
e,Shr
i
Just
iceRohi
ntonFal
iNar
imanand Shr
iJust
iceSanj
ayKi
shanKauldel
i
ver
ed
separ
atej
udgment
s.
Li
fe and per
sonall
i
ber
ty ar
einal
i
enabl
eri
ght
s.These ar
eri
ght
s whi
ch ar
e
i
nsepar
abl
efr
om a di
gni
fi
ed human exi
stence.The di
gni
tyoft
he i
ndi
vi
dual
,
equal
i
tybet
weenhumanbei
ngsandt
hequestf
orl
i
ber
tyar
ethef
oundat
ional
pi
l
lar
soft
heI
ndi
anConst
it
uti
on.Pr
ivacyi
stheconst
it
uti
onalcor
eofhuman
di
gni
ty.Pr
ivacyhasbot
hanor
mat
iveanddescr
ipt
ivef
unct
ion.Atanor
mat
ivel
evel
pr
ivacysub-
ser
vest
hoseet
ernalv
aluesuponwhi
cht
heguar
ant
eesofl
i
fe,l
i
ber
ty
andf
reedom ar
efounded.Atadescr
ipt
ivel
evel
,pr
ivacypost
ulat
esabundl
eof
ent
it
lement
sandi
nter
est
swhi
chl
i
eatt
hef
oundat
ionofor
der
edl
i
ber
ty.
Pr
ivacyi
ncl
udesati
tscor
ethepr
eser
vat
ionofper
sonali
nti
maci
es,
thesanct
it
yof
f
ami
l
yli
fe,mar
ri
age,pr
ocr
eat
ion,t
hehomeandsexualor
ient
ati
on.Pr
ivacyal
so
connot
esar
ightt
obel
eftal
one.Pr
ivacysaf
eguar
dsi
ndi
vi
dualaut
onomyand
r
ecogni
sest
heabi
l
ityoft
hei
ndi
vi
dualt
ocont
rolv
italaspect
sofhi
sorherl
i
fe.
Per
sonalchoi
cesgov
erni
ngawayofl
i
fear
eint
ri
nsi
ctopr
ivacy
.Pr
ivacypr
otect
s
het
erogenei
tyandr
ecogni
sest
hepl
ural
i
tyanddi
ver
sit
yofourcul
tur
e.Whi
l
ethe
l
egi
ti
mat
eexpect
ati
onofpr
ivacymayv
aryf
rom t
hei
nti
mat
ezonet
othepr
ivat
e
zoneandf
rom t
hepr
ivat
etot
hepubl
i
car
enas,i
tisi
mpor
tantt
ounder
scor
ethat
pr
ivacyi
snotl
ostorsur
render
edmer
elybecauset
hei
ndi
vi
dual
isi
napubl
i
cpl
ace.
Pr
ivacyat
tachest
otheper
sonsi
ncei
tisanessent
ialf
acetoft
hedi
gni
tyoft
he
humanbei
ng.
Li
feandper
sonall
i
ber
tyar
enotcr
eat
ionsoft
heConst
it
uti
on.Theser
ight
sar
e
r
ecogni
sedbyt
heConst
it
uti
onasi
nher
ingi
neachi
ndi
vi
dualasani
ntr
insi
cand
i
nsepar
abl
epar
toft
hehumanel
ementwhi
chdwel
l
swi
thi
n;
Pr
ivacyi
saconst
it
uti
onal
l
ypr
otect
edr
ightwhi
chemer
gespr
imar
il
yfr
om t
he
guar
ant
eeofl
i
feandper
sonall
i
ber
tyi
nAr
ti
cle21oft
heConst
it
uti
on.El
ement
sof
pr
ivacyal
soar
isei
nvar
yingcont
ext
sfr
om t
heot
herf
acet
soff
reedom anddi
gni
ty
r
ecogni
sedandguar
ant
eedbyt
hef
undament
alr
ight
scont
ainedi
nPar
tII
I.
Thi
sCour
thasnotembar
keduponanexhaust
iveenumer
ati
onoracat
alogueof
ent
it
lement
sori
nter
est
scompr
isedi
nther
ightt
opr
ivacy
.TheConst
it
uti
onmust
ev
olv
ewi
tht
hef
eltnecessi
ti
esoft
imet
omeett
hechal
l
engest
hrownupi
na
democr
ati
cor
dergov
ernedbyt
her
uleofl
aw.Themeani
ngoft
heConst
it
uti
on
cannotbef
rozenont
heper
spect
ivespr
esentwheni
twasadopt
ed.Technol
ogi
cal
changehasgi
venr
iset
oconcer
nswhi
chwer
enotpr
esentsev
endecadesagoand
t
her
api
dgr
owt
hoft
echnol
ogymayr
enderobsol
escentmanynot
ionsoft
he
pr
esent
.Hencet
hei
nter
pret
ati
onoft
heConst
it
uti
onmustber
esi
l
ientandf
lexi
ble
t
oal
l
ow f
utur
egener
ati
onst
oadapti
tscont
entbear
ingi
nmi
ndi
tsbasi
cor
essent
ial
feat
ures;
Li
keot
herr
ight
swhi
chf
orm par
toft
hef
undament
alf
reedomspr
otect
edbyPar
t
I
II
,incl
udi
ngt
her
ightt
oli
feandper
sonall
i
ber
tyunderAr
ti
cle21,pr
ivacyi
snotan
absol
uter
ight
.Al
aw whi
chencr
oachesuponpr
ivacywi
l
lhav
etowi
thst
andt
he
t
ouchst
oneofper
missi
bler
est
ri
cti
onsonf
undament
alr
ight
s.I
nthecont
extof
Ar
ti
cle21ani
nvasi
onofpr
ivacymustbej
ust
if
iedont
hebasi
sofal
aw whi
ch
st
ipul
atesapr
ocedur
ewhi
chi
sfai
r,j
ustandr
easonabl
e.Thel
aw mustal
sobe
v
ali
dwi
thr
efer
encet
otheencr
oachmentonl
i
feandper
sonall
i
ber
tyunderAr
ti
cle
21.Ani
nvasi
onofl
i
feorper
sonall
i
ber
tymustmeett
het
hree-
fol
drequi
rementof
(
i)l
egal
i
ty,whi
chpost
ulat
est
heexi
stenceofl
aw;(
ii
)need,def
inedi
nter
msofa
l
egi
ti
mat
e st
ate ai
m;and (
ii
i)pr
opor
ti
onal
i
tywhi
ch ensur
es a r
ati
onalnexus
bet
weent
heobj
ect
sandt
hemeansadopt
edt
oachi
evet
hem;and(
I)Pr
ivacyhas
bot
hposi
ti
veandnegat
ivecont
ent
.Thenegat
ivecont
entr
est
rai
nst
hest
atef
rom
commi
tt
ingani
ntr
usi
onupont
hel
i
feandper
sonall
i
ber
tyofaci
ti
zen.I
tsposi
ti
ve
cont
enti
mposesanobl
i
gat
ionont
hest
atet
otakeal
lnecessar
ymeasur
est
o
pr
otectt
hepr
ivacyoft
hei
ndi
vi
dual
.
I
n a unani
mous decisi
on,a ni
ne -Judge Consti
tut
ion Bench ov
errul
ed the
j
udgmentsi
nMPShar maandKharakSinghcases.ThePeti
ti
onsweredisposedof
i
nthef
oll
owingt
erms:
Thedeci si
on in M P Sharmathatpr i
vacyisnotaf undament
alrightstands
overr
uled.
Thedeci si
oninKhar akSinghthatpr i
vacyisnotaf undament
alrightstands
overr
uled.
Righttopri
vacyispr
otect
edasintr
insi
cpartofri
ghttol
if
eandli
ber
ty.
Alldecisi
onssubsequenttoKhar
akSi nghmakest heposi
ti
oncl
earandwillhold
thefi
eld.
2. Shay
araBanov
.Uni
onofI
ndi
a 
The5JudgeBenchoft heSupremeCour tofCJIJ.S.Khehar ,AbdulNazeerJ. ,
Rohi nt
onNar imanJ.,U.U.Lal
i
tJ.,andKurienJosephJ.pr onouncedi tsdecisi
oni n
theTr ipleTalaqCase,declari
ngt hatthepracti
cewasunconst i
tuti
onalbya  3:2
maj ori
tyand gav eIndia’sparl
iamentsixmont hs“to considerl egisl
ati
on”f or
handl i
ngt ri
ple 
ṭal
āq. Whil
eJust i
cesNar imanandLal i
thel dt hatinstantTriple
Talaqi sunconst i
tut
ionalandv i
olati
veofAr ti
cle14(Rightt oEqual ity
),Justice
Josephst r
uckdownt hepract
iceont hegroundthati
tgoesagai nstShar i
atandthe
basict enetsoftheQuran.

I
ssues
(
1) Whet
hert
hepr
act
iceof
 t
alaq-
e-bi
dat
 (
ormor
especi
fi
cal
l
yinst
ant
aneous
t
ri
plet
alaq)i
sessent
ial
pract
icesoft
heI
slami
crel
i
gion?
(
2) Whet
hersuchpr
act
icev
iol
atesanyf
undament
alr
ight
sguar
ant
eedunder
t
heI
ndi
anConst
it
uti
on?
Judgmentbegi
nswi
tht
hedi
ssent
ingopi
nionof
 JSKhehar
,CJandSANazeer
,
Jwher
ethej
udgesaskedt
heUni
onofI
ndi
atoconsi
derappr
opr
iat
elegi
slat
ion,
par
ti
cul
arl
ywi
thr
efer
encet
o‘t
alaq-
e-bi
ddat
’andr
equest
edt
hedi
ff
erentpol
i
tical
par
ti
es t
o keep t
hei
rindi
vi
dualpol
i
ticalgai
ns apar
t,whi
l
e consi
der
ing t
he
necessar
ymeasur
esr
equi
ri
ngl
egi
slat
ion.
CJI
,wr
it
ingt
hej
udgmentf
orhi
msel
fandNazeer
,Jsai
dthatt
il
lthet
imeal
aw
comesi
ntof
orce,t
heMusl
i
m husbandsshoul
dbei
njunct
edf
rom pr
onounci
ng
‘
tal
aq-
e-bi
ddat
’asameansf
orsev
eri
ngt
hei
rmat
ri
moni
alr
elat
ionshi
p.Thei
nst
ant
i
njunct
ionwi
l
lbeoper
ati
vef
oraper
iodofsi
xmont
hsandi
fthel
egi
slat
ivepr
ocess
commencesbef
oret
heexpi
ryoft
heper
iodofsi
xmont
hs,
andaposi
ti
vedeci
sion
emer
gest
owar
dsr
edef
ini
ng‘
tal
aq-
ebi
ddat
’(t
hreepr
onouncement
sof‘
tal
aq’
,at
oneandt
hesamet
ime)–asone,oral
ter
nat
ivel
y,i
fiti
sdeci
dedt
hatt
hepr
act
ice
of‘
tal
aq-
e-bi
ddat
’bedoneawaywi
thal
toget
her
,thei
njunct
ionwoul
dcont
inue,t
il
l
l
egi
slat
ioni
sfi
nal
l
yenact
ed.Fai
l
ingwhi
ch,
thei
njunct
ionshal
lceaset
ooper
ate.
St
ati
ngt
hatwhi
l
eexami
ningi
ssuesf
all
i
ngi
nther
eal
m ofr
eli
giouspr
act
icesor
‘
per
sonall
aw’
,iti
snotf
oracour
tto makeachoi
ceofsomet
hingwhi
chi
t
consi
der
sasf
orwar
dlooki
ngornon-
fundament
ali
st.
Thet
woJudgessai
d,
“
Iti
snotf
oracour
ttodet
ermi
newhet
herr
eli
giouspr
act
iceswer
epr
udentor
pr
ogr
essi
veorr
egr
essi
ve.Rel
i
gionand‘
per
sonall
aw’
,mustbeper
cei
ved,asi
tis
accept
ed,
byt
hef
oll
ower
soft
hef
ait
h.Andnot
,howanot
herwoul
dli
kei
ttobe.
”
Nar
iman,J,
 
wri
ti
ngdownt
hemaj
ori
tyj
udgmentf
orhi
msel
fand 
Lal
i
t,J 
not
edt
hat
gi
vent
hef
actt
hatTr
ipl
eTal
aqi
sinst
antandi
rr
evocabl
e,i
tisobv
ioust
hatany
at
temptatr
econci
l
iat
ionbet
weent
hehusbandandwi
febyt
woar
bit
ersf
rom t
hei
r
f
ami
l
ies,whi
chi
sessent
ialt
osav
ethemar
it
alt
ie,cannotev
ert
akepl
ace.I
twas
hel
dthatt
hisf
orm ofTal
aqi
smani
fest
lyar
bit
rar
yint
hesenset
hatt
hemar
it
alt
ie
canbebr
okencapr
ici
ousl
yandwhi
msi
cal
l
ybyaMusl
i
m manwi
thoutanyat
tempt
atr
econci
l
iat
ionsoast
osav
eit
.Thi
sfor
m ofTal
aqmust
,ther
efor
e,behel
dtobe
v
iol
ati
veoft
hef
undament
alr
ightcont
ainedunderAr
ti
cle14oft
heConst
it
uti
onof
I
ndi
a.TheCour
t,hence,hel
dthatt
heMusl
i
m Per
sonalLaw (
Shar
iat
)Appl
i
cat
ion
Act
,1937,i
nsof
arasi
tseekst
orecogni
zeandenf
orceTr
ipl
eTal
aq,i
swi
thi
nthe
meani
ngoft
heexpr
essi
on“
lawsi
nfor
ce”i
nAr
ti
cle13(
1)andmustbest
ruck
downasbei
ngv
oidt
otheex
tentt
hati
trecogni
zesandenf
orcesTr
ipl
eTal
aq.Af
ter
goi
ngt
hrought
heHanaf
ijur
ispr
udence,t
heCour
tnot
icedt
hatv
eryj
uri
spr
udence
cast
igat
esTr
ipl
eTal
aqasbei
ngsi
nful
.
Joseph,J,wr
it
ing down asepar
atej
udgmentbutagr
eei
ng wi
tht
hemaj
ori
ty
opi
nion,
sai
d,
“
Mer
elybecauseapr
act
icehascont
inuedf
orl
ong,t
hatbyi
tsel
fcannotmakei
t
v
ali
difi
thasbeenexpr
essl
ydecl
aredt
obei
mper
missi
ble.
”
Hesai
dthatt
hepur
poseoft
heMusl
i
m Per
sonalLaw (
Shar
iat
)Appl
i
cat
ionAct
,
1937wast
odecl
areShar
iatast
her
uleofdeci
sionandt
odi
scont
inueant
i-
Shar
iat
pr
act
iceswi
thr
espectt
osubj
ect
senumer
atedi
nSect
ion2whi
chi
ncl
udet
alaq
andt
her
efor
e,i
nanycase,af
tert
hei
ntr
oduct
ionoft
he1937Act
,nopr
act
ice
agai
nstt
he t
enet
s ofQur
an i
s per
missi
ble and hence,t
her
e cannotbe any
Const
it
uti
onal
prot
ect
iont
osuchapr
act
ice.

3. I
nRe,
Hon’
bleShr
iJust
iceC.
S.Kar
nan
Thepr
esentcasei
nvol
vedt
hei
ssueofcont
emptagai
nstt
heHi
ghCour
t
j
udgeC.
S.Kar
nanf
orhi
simpr
operbehav
iouri
nmaki
ngal
l
egat
ionsofcor
rupt
ion,
bi
aset
c.
Maj
ori
tyJudgment
 Del
i
ver
ed byCJIJagdi
shSi
nghKhehar
,J.Di
pakMi
sra,J.
MadanB.Lokur
,J.Pi
naki
Chandr
aGhose,
J.Kur
ianJosephon9t
hMay
,2017.
Themaj
ori
tyoft
hej
udgeshel
dthatt
heconductoft
heHi
ghCour
tJudgei
n
maki
ng al
l
egat
ions ofcor
rupt
ion and compl
aintunderSC/
ST (
Prev
ent
ion of
At
roci
ti
es)Actagai
nstt
heot
hercol
l
eaguesandt
heSupr
emeCour
tJudgesand
passi
ngor
der
srest
rai
ningt
hej
udgesf
rom di
schar
gingt
hei
rjudi
cialf
unct
ionsand
conv
ict
ingt
hem f
orcont
emptofcour
tet
c.amountt
ocont
emptoft
heSupr
eme
Cour
t.
Separ
ateandConcur
rentor
der
 r
ecor
dedbyJ.J.Chel
ameswarandJ.Ranj
an
Gogoi
Thi
s case,i
n ouropi
nion,has i
mpor
tance ext
endi
ng bey
ond t
he i
mmedi
ate
pr
obl
em.Thi
scasehi
ghl
i
ght
stwot
hings,(
1)t
heneedt
orev
isi
tthepr
ocessof
sel
ect
ionandappoi
ntmentofj
udgest
otheconst
it
uti
onalcour
ts,f
ort
hatmat
ter
anymemberoft
hej
udi
ciar
yatal
llev
els;and(
2)t
heneedt
osetupappr
opr
iat
e
l
egalr
egi
me t
o dealwi
th si
tuat
ions wher
ethe conductofa Judge ofa
const
it
uti
onalcour
trequi
rescor
rect
ivemeasur
es–ot
hert
hani
mpeachment–t
o
bet
aken.
Whatappr
opr
iat
emechani
sm woul
dbesui
tabl
eforassessi
ngt
heper
sonal
i
tyof
t
hecandi
dat
ewhoi
sbei
ngconsi
der
edf
orappoi
ntmentt
obeamemberofa
const
it
uti
onalcour
tisamat
terwhi
chi
stobei
dent
if
iedaf
teranappr
opr
iat
e
debat
ebyal
ltheconcer
ned–t
heBar
,theBench,t
heSt
ateandCi
vi
lSoci
ety
.But
t
heneedappear
stobeunquest
ionabl
e.

4. Abhi
ram Si
nghv
.C.
D.Commachen(
2017)2SCC629
The7-
JudgeBenchdel
i
ver
edal
andmar
kver
dictbyamaj
ori
tyof4:
3bygi
vi
ng
a br
oad and pur
posi
ve const
ruct
ion t
othe wor
ds ofSect
ion 123(
3)oft
he
Repr
esent
ati
onoft
hePeopl
eActof1951,
whi
chpenal
i
ses“
cor
ruptpr
act
ice”i
nan
el
ect
ion.Theconst
it
uti
onali
ssuei
nthecasedeal
swi
tht
hei
nter
pret
ati
onofwor
d
‘
hi
s’i
n Sect
ion 123(
3).The maj
ori
tyv
iew r
uled i
nfav
ourofa pur
posi
ve
i
nter
pret
ati
on,st
ati
ngt
hat“
his”woul
dmeanr
eli
gionofcandi
dat
e,hi
sagent
s,
v
oter
saswel
lasanyot
herper
sonwho,wi
tht
hecandi
dat
e’sconsent
,br
ingsup
r
eli
gioni
nanappealf
ort
hef
urt
her
anceoft
hepr
ospect
soft
heel
ect
ion.The
el
ect
ionswi
l
lal
sobeannul
l
edwhensuchanappealhi
ngesonr
eli
gionofv
oter
sor
candi
dat
e’sel
ect
ionagent
sorbyany
bodyel
sewi
tht
heconsentoft
hecandi
dat
e.
Her
e“any
bodyel
se”wi
l
lincl
uder
eli
giousandspi
ri
tuall
eader
s,of
tenengagedby
candi
dat
est
o mobi
l
iset
hei
rfol
l
ower
s.Thej
udgementi
ssi
gni
fi
cantnotonl
y
because i
tst
rengt
hens t
he const
it
uti
onalet
hos i
nter
ms ofsecul
ari
sm and
democr
acybutal
soi
tref
lect
sther
ightsoci
alcont
extandi
ntent
ionofpar
li
ament
.
5. Kr
ishnaKumarSi
nghv
.St
ateofBi
har7JudgeBench
A sev
en-
judge Const
it
uti
on Bench oft
he Supr
eme Cour
tby
 maj
ori
ty
j
udgementdel
i
ver
edbyJust
iceD.
Y.Chandr
achud,
int
her
ati
oof5:
2, hashel
dthat
r
e-pr
omul
gat
ionofor
dinancesi
saf
raudont
heConst
it
uti
onandasubv
ersi
onof
democr
ati
clegi
slat
ivepr
ocesses.Thecour
tal
sohel
dthatt
hesat
isf
act
ionoft
he
Pr
esi
dentunderAr
ti
cl
e123andoft
heGov
ernorunderAr
ti
cle213whi
l
eissui
ng
or
dinancesi
snoti
mmunef
rom j
udi
cial
rev
iew.
Wi
thr
egar
dst
otheconst
it
uti
onalv
ali
dit
yoft
heor
dinancemaki
ngt
hepowerof
t
hepr
esi
dent
,thr
eei
mpor
tantj
udgement
scannotbei
gnor
ed-AKRoyv
.Uni
onof
I
ndi
a(1982)
,TVenkat
aReddyv
.St
ateofAndhr
aPr
adesh(
1985)
,DCWadhwav
.
St
ate ofBi
har(
1987)
.In A K Roy v
.Uni
on ofI
ndi
a whi
l
e exami
ning t
he
const
it
uti
onalv
ali
dit
yofNat
ionalSecur
it
yor
dinance,t
he cour
thel
dthatt
he
or
dinancemaki
ngpoweri
snotbey
ondt
hescopeofj
udi
cialr
evi
ew.Agai
nint
he
caseofT Venkat
aReddy
,thecour
thel
dthatt
heor
dinanceenact
ed byt
he
pr
esi
denti
s on parwi
tht
he l
egi
slat
ion passed byt
he st
ate and t
he uni
on
l
egi
slat
ure,
andt
husi
tcannotbequest
ioned.Whi
l
eint
hecaseofDCWadhwa,
the
cour
thel
dthati
tcanst
ri
kedownt
her
e-pr
omul
gat
edor
dinance.
Thesev
en-
judgebenchanswer
edt
woquest
ionswhi
chwer
erai
sedi
nthedi
sput
e-
whet
hert
heor
dinancepassedbyt
heBi
hargov
ernmentwer
elegal
l
yval
i
dand
whet
hert
hepet
it
ioner
swer
eent
it
ledt
oanyl
egalr
ightaf
tert
het
ermi
nat
ionoft
he
or
dinance.Answer
ingt
hef
ir
stquest
ion,
themaj
ori
tyopi
nionoft
hecour
thel
dthat
ev
eryor
dinar
ypr
omul
gat
edi
ssubj
ectt
ojudi
cialr
evi
ew.Thebenchpl
acedr
eli
ance
upont
hedeci
si
onr
ender
edbyni
ne-
judgebenchi
nthecaseofS.R.Bommaii
nthe
y
ear1994.Wi
thr
egar
dst
othesecondquest
ion,
thecour
tdi
dnotgi
veanyheedt
o
at
heor
yof
 endur
ingr
ight
s.Thecour
trul
edt
hatsi
nceor
dinancei
sdi
ff
erentf
rom
l
egi
slat
ion,i
tdoesnotaut
omat
ical
l
ycr
eat
eri
ght
sandl
i
abi
l
iti
est
hatgooutofi
ts
t
erm ofoper
ati
on.Thus t
her
e exi
stsav
italdi
ff
erence bet
ween t
empor
ary
l
egi
slat
ionandor
dinance.Just
iceChandr
achudment
ionst
hatwhent
hequest
ion
ofwhatef
fect
s wi
l
lsur
viv
e af
tert
he or
dinance i
srev
iewed,t
he cour
tmust
exami
net
hatwhet
heranundoi
ngofsuchanactwoul
druncount
ert
othepubl
i
c
i
nter
est
.Thusat
estofpubl
i
cint
erestwasaddedbyJust
iceChandr
achudi
nhi
s
anal
ysi
sofmai
ntenanceofr
ight
soncet
heor
dinanceceasest
ooper
ate.Thusby
v
irt
ueoft
his7j
udgedeci
sion,
thecour
tensur
edt
hatt
heexecut
ivedoesnotabuse
t
hepowerv
est
edupont
hem undert
heI
ndi
anConst
it
uti
onandensur
edt
hatt
he
del
i
cat
e bal
ance ofpower
s bet
ween t
he di
ff
erentbr
anches oft
he St
atei
s
mai
ntai
ned.

6. Bi
noyVi
swam v
.Uni
onofI
ndi
a,(
2017)7SCC59
Di
vi
sionBenchcompr
isi
ngJust
iceA.
K.Si
kri
andAshokBhushanon9t
hJune,
2017r
eject
edt
hechal
l
enget
othel
i
nki
ngofAadharandPAN.TheSupr
emeCour
t
sai
dthatt
heSect
ion139AAi
snoti
nvi
olat
ionofAr
ti
cle14oft
heConst
it
uti
on
becausei
tful
fi
lst
het
wint
estofAr
ti
cle14i
.e.t
her
easonabl
ecl
assi
fi
cat
ionand
nexust
obeachi
evedbyt
hecl
assi
fi
cat
ion.Ther
easonabl
ecl
assi
fi
cat
ioni
sther
e
andt
hepur
poseoft
hecl
assi
fi
cat
ioni
sal
soqui
tel
oudi
.e.t
odet
ectandpr
event
t
he gener
ati
on ofbl
ack money
,moneyl
aunder
ing and t
axev
asi
on et
c.The
cl
assi
fi
cat
ionbet
weent
hecompl
aintandobj
ect
ort
othepr
ovi
sioni
nquest
ionas
suggest
edbyt
hepet
it
ioner
sisf
all
aci
ousbecauseev
eryl
egi
slat
ionwi
l
lbepr
onet
o
chal
l
engeont
hisgr
oundast
her
ewi
l
lbeobj
ect
iont
olawbyacer
tai
npeopl
eoft
he
soci
ety
.
Thecour
tal
soobser
vedt
hatt
hepr
ovi
sioni
nquest
ioni
sal
sonotv
iol
ati
veof
Ar
ti
cle19(
1)(
g)oft
heConst
it
uti
on.

7. Nat
ional
Insur
anceCompanyLi
mit
edv
.Pr
anaySet
hiandOt
her
s
The const
it
uti
onalbench compr
isi
ng ofChi
efJust
ice Di
pak Mi
sra,and
Just
iceA.
K.Si
kri
,A.
M.Khanwi
l
kar
,Dr
.D.
Y.Chandr
achudandAshokBhushanon
Oct
ober31,2017r
esol
vedt
heconf
li
ctbet
weent
hepr
evi
ousj
udgment
sont
he
i
ssueofcal
cul
ati
ngcompensat
ionkeepi
ngi
nmi
ndt
hef
utur
epr
ospectoft
he
deceasedwhodi
edi
nmot
oracci
dent
.Theconst
it
uti
onalbenchsai
dthatwhi
l
e
det
ermi
ningt
hei
ncome,anaddi
ti
onof50%ofact
ualsal
aryt
othei
ncomeoft
he
deceasedt
owar
dsf
utur
epr
ospect
s,wher
ethedeceasedhadaper
manentj
oband
wasbel
owt
heageof40y
ear
s,shoul
dbemade.Theaddi
ti
onshoul
dbe30%,
ift
he
ageoft
hedeceasedwasbet
ween40t
o50y
ear
s.I
ncaset
hedeceasedwas
bet
weent
heageof50t
o60y
ear
s,t
headdi
ti
onshoul
dbe15%.Act
ualsal
ary
shoul
dber
eadasact
ual
sal
aryl
esst
ax.
I
ncaset
hedeceasedwassel
f-
empl
oyedoronaf
ixedsal
ary
,anaddi
ti
onof40%of
t
heest
abl
i
shedi
ncomeshoul
dbet
hewar
rantwher
ethedeceasedwasbel
owt
he
ageof40y
ear
s.Anaddi
ti
onof25%wher
ethedeceasedwasbet
weent
heageof
40t
o50y
ear
sand10% wher
ethedeceasedwasbet
weent
heageof50t
o60
y
ear
s shoul
d be r
egar
ded as t
he necessar
y met
hod ofcomput
ati
on.The
est
abl
i
shedi
ncomemeanst
hei
ncomemi
nust
het
axcomponent
.
Fordet
ermi
nat
ion oft
he mul
ti
pli
cand,t
he deduct
ion f
orper
sonaland l
i
ving
expenses,t
het
ri
bunal
sandt
hecour
tsshal
lbegui
dedbypar
agr
aphs30t
o32of
Sar
laVer
mawhi
chwehav
erepr
oducedher
einbef
ore.Thesel
ect
ionofmul
ti
pli
er
shal
lbeasi
ndi
cat
edi
ntheTabl
einSar
laVer
mar
eadwi
thpar
agr
aph42oft
hat
j
udgment
.Theageoft
hedeceasedshoul
dbet
hebasi
sforappl
yi
ngt
hemul
ti
pli
er.

8. Sant
hini
v.Vi
j
ayaVenket
esh
I
nthepr
esentcase,t
hei
ssueofuseofv
ideo conf
erenci
ng i
ntr
ansf
er
pet
it
ionsofmat
ri
moni
aldi
sput
eswasi
nvol
ved.Thej
udgeswer
edi
vi
dedi
nthei
r
opi
nion.Bot
hthemaj
ori
tyandmi
nor
it
yopi
nionar
edi
scussedbel
ow:
Maj
ori
tyOpi
nion
CJIDi
pakMi
sraandJust
iceA.
M.Khanwi
l
kardel
i
ver
edt
hemaj
ori
tyopi
nion.They
t
ookar
egr
essi
veappr
oachont
hei
ssueofper
mit
ti
ngt
hepar
ti
est
ousev
ideo
conf
erenci
ng i
ntr
ansf
erpet
it
ions ofmat
ri
moni
aldi
sput
es.Bot
hthe j
udges
emphasi
sedont
hephy
sicalpr
esenceoft
hepar
ti
esasani
ndi
spensabl
efact
ort
o
maket
heconci
l
iat
ionpr
oceedi
ngssuccessf
ul.Fol
l
owi
ngdi
rect
ionswer
eissued:
(
i)I
nvi
ewoft
heschemeoft
heFami
l
yCour
tsAct
,1984andi
npar
ti
cul
arSect
ion
11,
thehear
ingofmat
ri
moni
aldi
sput
esmayhav
etobeconduct
edi
ncamer
a.
(
ii
)Af
tert
heset
tl
ementf
ail
sandwhenaj
ointappl
i
cat
ioni
sfi
l
edorbot
hthe
par
ti
esf
il
ethei
rrespect
iveconsentmemor
andum f
orhear
ingoft
hecaset
hrough
v
ideoconf
erenci
ng bef
oret
he concer
ned Fami
l
y Cour
t,i
tmay exer
cise t
he
di
scr
eti
ont
oal
l
owt
hesai
dpr
ayer
.
(
ii
i)Af
tert
heset
tl
ementf
ail
s,i
ftheFami
l
yCour
tfeel
sitappr
opr
iat
ehav
ingr
egar
d
t
othef
act
sandci
rcumst
ancesoft
hecaset
hatv
ideoconf
erenci
ngwi
l
lsub-
ser
ve
t
hecauseofj
ust
ice,
itmaysodi
rect
.
(
iv)I
nat
ransf
erpet
it
ion,
videoconf
erenci
ngcannotbedi
rect
ed.
Mi
nor
it
yOpi
nion
Just
iceD Y Chandr
achud,howev
erdel
i
ver
edt
hepr
ogr
essi
vej
udgmenti
nhi
s
di
ssent
ingopi
nion.Hesai
dthatt
heFami
l
yCour
tsAct
,1984hasbeenenact
edata
poi
nti
nti
mewhenmoder
ntechnol
ogy(atl
eastasweknow i
ttoday)whi
ch
enabl
esper
sonssepar
atedbyspat
ialdi
stancest
ocommuni
cat
ewi
theachot
her
f
acet
ofacewasnott
heor
deroft
hedayor
,inanycase,wasnotasf
ull
y
dev
eloped.
Appr
opr
iat
e depl
oymentoft
echnol
ogyf
aci
l
itat
esaccesst
ojust
ice.Li
ti
gat
ion
undert
heFami
l
yCour
tsAct1984i
snotanexcept
iont
othi
spr
inci
ple.Thi
scour
t
mustbeav
erset
ojudi
cial
l
ylay
ingdownar
est
rai
ntonsuchuseoft
echnol
ogy
whi
chf
aci
l
itat
esaccesst
ojust
icet
oper
sonsi
nconf
li
ct,i
ncl
udi
ngt
hosei
nvol
ved
i
nconf
li
ctswi
thi
nthef
ami
l
y.Moder
ntechnol
ogyi
sabov
eal
laf
aci
l
itat
or,enabl
er
andl
evel
er.
Ani
n-camer
atr
iali
scont
empl
atedunderSect
ion11i
ntwosi
tuat
ions:t
hef
ir
st
wher
etheFami
l
yCour
tsodesi
res;andt
hesecondi
fei
theroft
hepar
ti
esso
desi
res.Ther
eisaf
all
acyi
nthehy
pot
hesi
sthatani
n-camer
atr
iali
sinconsi
stent
wi
tht
heusageofv
ideoconf
erenci
ngt
echni
ques.At
ri
ali
n-camer
apost
ulat
est
he
excl
usi
onoft
hepubl
i
cfr
om t
hecour
troom andal
l
owsf
orr
est
rai
ntsonpubl
i
c
r
epor
ti
ng.Vi
deoconf
erenci
ngdoesnothav
etober
ecor
dednori
sitaccessi
blet
o
t
hepr
essort
hepubl
i
c.Thepr
operadopt
ionofv
ideoconf
erenci
ngdoesnot
negat
ethepost
ulat
esofani
n-camer
atr
ialev
eni
fsuchat
ri
ali
srequi
redbyt
he
cour
torbyoneoft
hepar
ti
esunderSect
ion11.
Ther
emayar
iseav
ari
etyofsi
tuat
ionswher
eint
oday
’sageandt
imepar
ti
esar
e
unabl
etocomef
acet
ofacef
orcounsel
l
ingorcandosoonl
yatsuchexpense,
del
ayorhar
dshi
pwhi
chwi
l
ldef
eatj
ust
ice.Oneorbot
hspousesmayf
acegenui
ne
di
ff
icul
ti
esar
isi
ngf
rom t
hecompul
sionsofempl
oyment
,fami
l
yci
rcumst
ances
(
incl
udi
ng t
he needs ofy
oung chi
l
dren)
,di
sabi
l
ity and soci
aloreconomi
c
handi
capsi
naccessi
ngacour
tsi
tuat
edi
nal
ocat
iondi
stantf
rom wher
eei
theror
bot
hpar
ti
esr
esi
deorwor
k.I
twoul
dbei
nappr
opr
iat
etodepr
ivet
heFami
l
yCour
t
whi
chi
svest
edwi
thsuchwi
depower
sandpr
ocedur
alf
lexi
bil
i
tyt
oadoptv
ideo
conf
erenci
ngasaf
aci
l
itat
ivet
ool
,wher
eiti
sconv
eni
entandr
eadi
l
yav
ail
abl
e.

9. I
ndependentThoughtv
.Uni
onofI
ndi
a2017SCCOnl
i
neSC1222
Di
vi
sionBenchofJust
i aon11th 
ceMadanB.LokurandDeepakGupt Oct
ober
,
2017 decl
ared t
he Except
ion 2 ofSect
ion 375,I
ndi
an PenalCode,1860
unconst
it
uti
onal
.TheBenchopi
nedt
hatwhi
l
ethehusbandofamar
ri
edgi
rlchi
l
d
mi
ghtnothav
e commi
tt
ed r
ape f
ort
he pur
pose oft
he I
PC buthe woul
d
nev
ert
hel
ess hav
e commi
tt
ed aggr
avat
ed penet
rat
ive sexualassaul
tfort
he
pur
posesoft
hePOCSOAct
.Thehusbandi
snotgi
vent
hei
mmuni
tyi
nanyot
her
penalpr
ovi
sionsexcepti
nExcept
ion2t
oSect
ion375I
PC.I
tdoesnotst
andt
o
r
easonst
hatonl
yfort
heof
fenceofr
apet
hehusbandshoul
dbegr
ant
edsuchan
i
mmuni
tyespeci
all
ywher
ethe“
vict
im wi
fe”i
sagedbel
ow18y
ear
si.
e.,bel
owt
he
l
egalageofmar
ri
ageandi
sal
sol
egal
l
ycapabl
eofgi
vi
ngconsentt
ohav
esexual
i
nter
cour
se.
The except
ion car
ved outi
nthe I
PC cr
eat
es an unnecessar
y and ar
ti
fi
cial
di
sti
nct
ionbet
weenamar
ri
edgi
rlchi
l
dandanunmar
ri
edgi
rlchi
l
dhasnotr
ati
onal
nexuswi
thanyuncl
earobj
ect
ivesoughtt
obeachi
eved.Thear
ti
fi
cialdi
sti
nct
ioni
s
cont
rar
ytot
hephi
l
osophyandet
hosofAr
ti
cles15(
3)oft
heConst
it
uti
onaswel
l
ascont
rar
ytoAr
ti
cl
e21oft
heConst
it
uti
onandourcommi
tment
sini
nter
nat
ional
conv
ent
ions.I
tisal
socont
rar
ytot
hephi
l
osophybehi
ndsomest
atut
es,
thebodi
l
y
i
ntegr
it
yoft
hegi
rlchi
l
dandherr
epr
oduct
ivechoi
ce.

10. St
ateofGuj
aratv
.IRCG
  I
nthei
nst
antcase,t
her
espondentappr
oachedt
heGuj
aratHi
ghCour
t
cl
aimi
ngcompensat
ionf
ort
hedamagecausedt
orel
i
giouspl
acesofwor
shi
p
dur
ingGuj
aratr
iot
sin2002.Ther
espondentheav
il
yemphasi
zedont
hef
ail
ureof
t
heSt
ateGov
ernmenti
nmai
ntai
ningl
awandor
derdur
ingt
hatper
iod.
TheGuj
aratHi
ghCour
tpassedt
hef
oll
owi
ngor
derandgav
eadi
rect
iont
othe
st
ategov
ernmentt
oawar
dcompensat
ionaccor
dingl
y.
Or
derofGuj
aratHi
ghCour
t
“
We,
accor
dingl
y,passdi
rect
ionupont
heSt
ateGov
ernmentt
ogi
vecompensat
ion
i
nfav
ouroft
heper
sonsi
nchar
geofal
lther
eli
giouspl
acesi
ncl
udi
ngt
hoseof
wor
shi
p,whi
chwer
edamageddur
ingt
hecommunalr
iotoft
hey
ear2002f
or
r
est
orat
iont
otheor
igi
nalposi
ti
on,
ast
hoseexi
stedont
hedat
eofdest
ruct
ion.We
f
indt
hatdur
ingt
hel
ongpendencyoft
hisl
i
tigat
ion,manyoft
hosepl
acesof
wor
shi
phav
ebeenr
epai
red.
Nev
ert
hel
ess,t
heper
sonsi
nchar
geoft
hosepl
aceswoul
dbeent
it
ledt
oget
r
eimbur
sementoft
heamountspentf
orr
est
orat
ionoft
hosepl
acesbypr
oduct
ion
ofev
idenceofexpendi
tur
eincur
redbyt
hem f
ort
heabov
epur
pose,ast
her
eisno
wai
veroff
undament
alr
ight
.We,
howev
er,
makei
tcl
eart
hati
fatt
het
imeofr
epai
r,
f
urt
heraddi
ti
onalconst
ruct
ionhasbeenmadei
nexcessoft
heoneexi
stedatt
he
t
imeofdamage,f
orsuchaddi
ti
onalconst
ruct
ion,no3amountshoul
dbepay
abl
e
byt
heSt
ateGov
ernment
.”
Af
tersost
ati
ng,t
heHi
ghCour
thasappoi
ntedal
lthePr
inci
palDi
str
ictJudgesof
t
hev
ari
ousdi
str
ict
sint
heSt
ateandi
nthear
eaundert
hej
uri
sdi
cti
onoft
heCi
ty
Ci
vi
lCour
t,t
hePr
inci
palJudge,
Cit
yCi
vi
lCour
tast
heSpeci
alOf
fi
cer
sfordeci
ding
t
heamountofcompensat
ionf
ort
her
est
orat
ionoft
hoser
eli
giousandpl
acesof
wor
shi
psi
tuat
edwi
thi
nthet
err
it
ori
all
i
mitoft
hei
rrespect
ivecour
t.
Af
tersodi
rect
ing,t
heHi
ghCour
tfur
therpr
oceededt
ost
atet
hatt
heaggr
iev
ed
per
sonsshoul
dlodget
hei
rrespect
ivecl
aim wi
tht
hoseSpeci
alOf
fi
cer
swi
thi
ntwo
mont
hsf
rom t
hedat
eofj
udgmentsuppor
tedbyt
hedocument
aryev
idencet
hey
pr
oposet
orel
yinsuppor
toft
hei
rcl
aim ofdamages;andt
hatapar
t,t
heywi
l
lbe
ent
it
ledt
oadduceor
alev
idencet
opr
ovet
heexactposi
ti
onoft
hest
ruct
ureasi
t
st
oodatt
het
imeofcausi
ngdamages.
TheSt
ateofGuj
arat
,howev
er,wenti
n appealagai
nstt
hej
udgmentoft
heHi
gh
Cour
tandcont
endedt
hatt
hecompensat
ionsoawar
dedwi
l
lbeagai
nstt
heet
hos
oft
heconst
it
uti
onalpr
ovi
sionssi
ncet
hecompensat
ionhasbeenawar
dedbyt
he
const
it
uti
onalcour
tsonl
yfort
hev
iol
ati
onoff
undament
alr
ight
sunderAr
ti
cle21
oft
heConst
it
uti
on.Mor
eov
er,
itcompensat
ionsoawar
dedwi
l
lal
sobev
iol
ati
veof
t
heconceptofsecul
ari
sm.
TheSupr
emeCour
tsetasi
det
hej
udgmentoft
heHi
ghCour
t 
asf
arast
heHi
gh
Cour
tappoi
ntedt
heCi
tyCi
vi
lCour
tast
hepr
inci
palOf
fi
ceri
ndeci
dingt
hecl
aims
andsai
dthat
Thepur
poseofr
efer
ri
ngt
otheaf
oresai
daut
hor
it
iesi
sthatt
hel
ear
nedseni
or
counselhascanv
assedt
hatt
hebenef
itundert
hepubl
i
clawr
emedyi
sav
ail
abl
eto
t
hebodi
esori
nst
it
uti
onst
hatl
ookaf
tert
her
eli
giouspl
acesofwor
shi
pofeach
andev
eryr
eli
gion.
 Thehy
pot
hesi
sthati
scanv
assedi
sthatt
hedamagecaused
af
fect
sthedi
gni
tyoft
hatpar
ti
cul
arcommuni
tyoragr
oup.
 Thest
andoft
heSt
ate
i
sthatkeepi
ngi
nvi
ew t
heconceptofsecul
ari
sm andt
her
oleoft
heSt
ate,i
tis
i
nappr
opr
iat
etodi
rectt
heSt
atet
ospendt
heamountf
rom t
heSt
ateexchequerf
or
t
hesepur
poses.I
nthi
scont
ext
,asst
atedear
li
er,
Art
icl
e27becomesr
elev
ant
.
TheSt
ateofGuj
arathasf
ormul
atedaschemet
oawar
dcompensat
iont
ori
ot
af
fect
edr
eli
giouspl
acesandi
nst
it
uti
onsont
hel
i
nesof
 Pr
aful
lGor
adi
av.Uni
onof
I
ndi
a(2011)2SCC568 
and 
Archbi
shopRaphael
Cheenat
hS.
V.D.v
.St
ateofOr
issa
andanot
her(
2009)17SCC87.
I
nthef
ir
stcase,t
het
wo-
JudgeBenchhasopi
nedt
hatobj
ectofAr
ti
cle27i
sto
mai
ntai
nsecul
ari
sm andt
hesai
dAr
ti
clewoul
dbev
iol
atedi
fthesubst
ant
ialpar
t
oft
heent
ir
eincomet
axcol
l
ect
edi
nIndi
a,orasubst
ant
ial
par
toft
heent
ir
ecent
ral
exci
seort
hecust
omsdut
iesorsal
est
ax,orasubst
ant
ialpar
tofanyot
hert
ax
col
l
ect
ed i
nIndi
a,wer
eto be ut
il
ized f
orpr
omot
ion ormai
ntenance ofany
par
ti
cul
arr
eli
gionorr
eli
giousdenomi
nat
ion.
TheCour
thasmadea di
sti
nct
ion bet
ween t
her
elat
ivel
ysmal
lpar
tand t
he
subst
ant
ialpar
t.I
nAr
chbi
shopRaphaelCheenat
hS.
V.D.v
.St
ateofOr
issaand
anot
her(
2009)17SCC87t
heCour
temphasi
zedont
hecr
eat
ionofat
mospher
e
wher
ether
eshal
lbecompl
etehar
monybet
weent
hegr
oupsofpeopl
eandt
he
dut
yoft
heSt
atet
ohav
edi
scussi
onswi
tht
hev
ari
ousgr
oupst
obr
ingaboutpeace
andgi
vepossi
blehel
ptot
hev
ict
ims.I
nAr
chbi
shopRaphaelCheenat
hS.
V.D.v
.
St
ateofOr
issaandanot
het
heCour
tdi
rect
edt
heGov
ernmentt
ofor
mul
atea
schemer
egar
dingt
her
eli
giouspl
aces.
I
nthepr
esentcase,si
mil
ardi
rect
ionwasgi
venandt
heSt
atehasf
ramedt
he
scheme.Onacl
osescr
uti
nyoft
hescheme,
wehav
enot
icedt
hatt
heGov
ernment
hasf
ixedt
hemaxi
mum amountundert
hecapt
ionofexgr
ati
aassi
stanceandal
so
conf
err
edt
hepoweront
heDi
str
ictCol
l
ect
oroft
heDi
str
ict
swher
erel
i
giouspl
aces
ar
esi
tuat
edt
odet
ermi
neaboutt
heowner
shi
poradmi
nist
rat
ionr
ight
sofr
eli
gious
pl
acesconcer
ned.Ther
ear
ecer
tai
ncondi
ti
onspr
ecedentf
orcl
aimi
ngt
heamount
.
The t
erms and condi
ti
ons whi
ch ar
eincor
por
ated i
nthe scheme ar
e qui
te
r
easonabl
e.I
tisal
sowor
thyt
onot
ethatwhi
l
efi
xi
ngt
hemaxi
mum l
i
mit
,the
Gov
ernmenthasequat
ed t
he same wi
th houseswhi
ch hav
e been gi
ven t
he
assi
stance.When t
hei
ndi
vi
dual
’
sgr
iev
ancesper
tai
ning t
o pr
oper
tyhasbeen
conf
err
ed t
he si
mil
arassi
stance,we ar
e di
sposed t
othi
nk,t
he assi
stance
r
ender
edf
orr
epai
ri
ng/r
est
orat
ionofpubl
i
cpl
acesofwor
shi
pwi
l
lcomewi
thi
nthe
gui
del
i
nes ofPr
aful
lGor
adi
a and Ar
chbi
shop RaphaelCheenat
h S.
V.D.case.
Ther
efor
e,weacceptt
hesai
dscheme.
The cl
aimant
s who f
ulf
ilt
he condi
ti
ons oft
he scheme shal
lappr
oach t
he
aut
hor
it
iest
her
einwi
thi
nei
ghtweeksandt
hesai
daut
hor
it
iesshal
ldet
ermi
net
he
samewi
thi
nthr
eemont
hsf
rom t
her
ecei
ptoft
hecl
aims.I
fanypar
tyi
saggr
iev
ed
byt
hedeni
aloft
hebenef
it
,hecant
akeappr
opr
iat
est
epsi
naccor
dancewi
thl
aw.

11. PawanKumarv
.St
ateofH.
P
Ev
eteasi
ngaf
fect
sthef
undament
alconceptofgendersensi
ti
vi
tyandj
ust
ice
andt
her
ight
sofawomanunderAr
ti
cle14,15and21oft
heConst
it
uti
on.A
womanhasherownspaceasamanhas.I
thast
obekepti
nmi
ndt
hatshehasa
r
ightt
oli
feandent
it
ledt
olov
eaccor
dingt
oherchoi
ce.Shehasani
ndi
vi
dual
choi
cewhi
chhasbeenl
egal
l
yrecogni
zed.I
thast
obesoci
all
yrespect
ed.Noone
cancompel
awomant
olov
e.Shehast
heabsol
uter
ightt
orej
ect
.

12. Ar
junGopal
v.Uni
onofI
ndi
a
Ar
junGopalandot
her
shav
efi
l
edPubl
i
cInt
erestLi
ti
gai
tonunderAr
ti
cle32of
t
he Const
it
uti
on seeki
ng wi
de r
angi
ng r
eli
efs agai
nstt
he use off
ir
ewor
ks
(
incl
udi
ngf
ir
ecr
acker
s),pr
event
ionofhar
mfulcr
opbur
ning,dumpi
ngofmal
ba
andot
herf
urt
herst
epst
owar
dsenv
ironment
alpur
it
y.Var
iousor
der
swer
epassed
byt
hecour
tdur
ing2017.Howev
er9t
hOct
ober
,2017or
deri
specul
i
ari
nthesense
t
hati
tpr
ohi
bit
edt
hesal
eoff
ir
ecr
acker
sinDel
hi–NCRt
il
lNov
ermber1,
2017.
AFul
lBenchconsi
sti
ngofJust
iceA.
K.Si
kri
,AbhayManoharSapr
eandAshok
Bhushanon9t
hOct
ober
,2017passedt
hef
oll
owi
ngor
der
:
Wear
eoft
hev
iew t
hatt
heor
dersuspendi
ngt
hel
i
cencesshoul
dbegi
venone
chancet
otesti
tsel
finor
dert
ofi
ndoutast
owhet
hert
her
ewoul
dbeposi
ti
ve
ef
fectoft
hissuspensi
on,par
ti
cul
arl
ydur
ingDi
wal
iper
iod.I
nsof
arasadv
erse
ef
fect
sofbur
ning ofcr
acker
sdur
ing Di
wal
iar
econcer
ned,t
hosehav
ebeen
wi
tnessedy
earaf
tery
ear
.Theai
rqual
i
tydet
eri
orat
esaby
smal
l
yandal
armi
ngl
y
andt
heci
tychokest
her
eby
.Itl
eadst
ocl
osi
ngt
heschool
sandt
heaut
hor
it
iesar
e
compel
l
edt
otakev
ari
ousmeasur
esonemer
gentbasi
s,whenf
acedwi
th“
heal
th
emer
gency
”si
tuat
ion.Thi
sver
ysi
tuat
ionhadoccur
redont
hev
erynextmor
ning
af
terDi
wal
iint
hey
ear2016.I
tresul
tedi
npassi
ngt
heor
derdat
edNov
ember11,
2016.Thi
sor
derpr
evai
l
eddur
ingt
hey
earbutt
hei
mpactandef
fectoft
hisor
der
r
emai
nst
obet
est
edonDi
wal
iday
s.Thel
i
cencesar
esuspendedf
ort
hwi
thsot
hat
t
her
eisnof
urt
hersal
eoft
hecr
acker
sinDel
hiandNCR.Fur
theror
der
sint
his
behal
fcanbepassedonassessi
ngt
hesi
tuat
iont
hatwoul
demer
geaf
tert
his
Di
wal
iseason.

13.  
NikeshTar
achandShahv
.Uni
onofI
ndi
a,2017SCCOnl
i
neSC1355
Sect
ion45(
1)i
mposest
wocondi
ti
onsf
orgr
antofbai
lwher
eanof
fence
puni
shabl
eforat
erm ofi
mpr
isonmentofmor
ethan3y
ear
sunderPar
tAoft
he
Schedul
etot
heActi
sinv
olv
ed.Thecondi
ti
onsar
ethatt
hePubl
i
cPr
osecut
or
mustbegi
venanoppor
tuni
tyt
oopposeanyappl
i
cat
ionf
orr
eleaseonbai
landt
he
Cour
tmustbesat
isf
ied,
wher
ethePubl
i
cPr
osecut
oropposest
heappl
i
cat
ion,
that
t
her
ear
ereasonabl
egr
oundsf
orbel
i
evi
ngt
hatt
heaccusedi
snotgui
l
tyofsuch
of
fence,andt
hathei
snotl
i
kel
ytocommi
tanyof
fencewhi
l
eonbai
l
.Theset
wo
condi
ti
onswer
echal
l
engedt
obev
iol
ati
veofAr
ti
cle14and21oft
heConst
it
uti
on.
Di
vi
si
onBenchconsi
sti
ngofJust
iceR.
F.Nar
imanandS.K.Kaulon23rd 
Nov
,2017
hel
dSect
ion45(
1)oft
hePr
event
ionofMoneyLaunder
ingAct
,2002,i
nsof
arasi
t
i
mposest
wof
urt
hercondi
ti
onsf
orr
eleaseonbai
l
,tobeunconst
it
uti
onalasi
t
v
iol
atesAr
ti
cles14and21oft
heConst
it
uti
onofI
ndi
a.Al
lthemat
ter
sbef
oreusi
n
whi
chbai
lhasbeendeni
ed,becauseoft
hepr
esenceoft
het
wincondi
ti
ons
cont
ainedi
nSect
ion45,wi
l
lnow gobackt
other
espect
iveCour
tswhi
chdeni
ed
bai
l
.Al
lsuchor
der
sar
esetasi
de,andt
hecasesr
emandedt
other
espect
ive
Cour
tst
obehear
donmer
it
s,wi
thoutappl
i
cat
ionoft
het
wincondi
ti
onscont
ained
i
nSect
ion45oft
he2002Act
.Consi
der
ingt
hatper
sonsar
elangui
shi
ngi
njai
land
t
hatper
sonall
i
ber
tyi
sinv
olv
ed,
allt
hesemat
ter
sar
etobet
akenupatt
heear
li
est
byt
her
espect
iveCour
tsf
orf
reshdeci
sion.
 
14. Ms.I
ndi
raJai
singv
.Supr
emeCour
tofI
ndi
athr
oughSecr
etar
yGener
al
Apet
it
ionwasf
il
edcl
aimi
ngt
hatt
hepr
esentsy
stem ofdesi
gnat
ionofSeni
or
Adv
ocat
es i
nthe Supr
eme Cour
tofI
ndi
aisf
lawed and t
oissue necessar
y
di
rect
ionst
odesi
gnat
etheseni
oradv
ocat
esi
ntheConst
it
uti
onal
Cour
ts.
Ful
lBenchconsi
sti
ngofJust
iceRanj
anGogoi
,R.
F.Nar
imanandNav
inSi
nhaon
12th 
Oct
ober
,2017i
ssuedt
hef
oll
owi
ngdi
rect
ions:
 Thedesi
gnat
ionofSeni
orAdv
ocat
esi
ntheSupr
emeCour
tofI
ndi
aandi
n
al
ltheHi
ghCour
tsoft
hecount
ryshal
lbedeal
twi
thbyaPer
manentCommi
tt
ee
t
obeknownas 
“Commi
tt
eef
orDesi
gnat
ionofSeni
orAdv
ocat
es”
.
 ThePer
manentCommi
tt
eewi
l
lbeheadedbyt
heHon’
blet
heChi
efJust
ice
ofI
ndi
aandconsi
stoft
woseni
or-
mostJudgesoft
heSupr
emeCour
tofI
ndi
a
(
orHi
ghCour
t(s)
,asmaybe)
;thel
ear
nedAt
tor
neyGener
alf
orI
ndi
a(Adv
ocat
e
Gener
aloft
heSt
atei
ncaseofaHi
ghCour
t)wi
l
lbeaMemberoft
hePer
manent
Commi
tt
ee.The abov
efourMember
s oft
he Per
manentCommi
tt
ee wi
l
l
nomi
nat
eanot
herMemberoft
heBart
obet
hef
if
thMemberoft
hePer
manent
Commi
tt
ee;
 Thepr
oposal
sshal
lbeputont
hewebsi
te.Thedat
ashal
lbecompi
l
edi
n
r
esponset
othatpr
oposal
.Ther
ecommendednameshal
lbeputont
hewebsi
te
i
nvi
ti
ngsuggest
ionsbyt
heot
herst
akehol
der
s.Ther
eaf
tert
hepr
oposalshal
lbe
 putbef
oret
hePer
manentCommi
tt
ee.
 ASeni
orAdv
ocat
ewhoi
sfoundgui
l
tyofmi
sconductmayber
ecal
l
edbyt
he
Ful
lCour
t.

15. I
ndi
anYoungLawy
ersAssoci
ati
onv
.St
ateofKer
ala
I
YLAf
il
edwr
itpet
it
ionunderAr
ti
cle32oft
heConst
it
uti
onseeki
ngi
ssueof
wr
itoranydi
rect
iont
oGov
ernmentofKer
ala,Dewaswom Boar
dofTr
avancor
e,
Chi
efThant
hriofSabar
imal
aTempl
etoensur
eent
ryoff
emal
edev
oteesbet
ween
t
heagegr
oupof10t
o50att
heLor
dAy
appaTempl
eatSabar
imal
a(Ker
ala)whi
ch
hasbeendeni
edt
othem ont
hebasi
sofcer
tai
ncust
om andusage;
todecl
areRul
e
3(
b)oft
heKer
alaHi
nduPl
acesofPubl
i
cWor
shi
p(Aut
hor
isat
ionofEnt
ry)Rul
es,
1965f
ramedi
nexer
ciseofpower
sconf
err
edbySect
ion4oft
heKer
alaHi
ndu
Pl
acesofPubl
i
cWor
shi
p(Aut
hor
isat
ionofEnt
ry)Act
,1965asunconst
it
uti
onal
bei
ngv
iol
ati
veofAr
ti
cl
es14,
15,
25and51A(
e)oft
heConst
it
uti
onofI
ndi
a
Af
ullbenchcompr
isi
ngofCJIDi
pakMi
sra,Just
iceR.Banumat
hiandAshok
Bhushan r
efer
red t
he mat
ter t
othe const
it
uti
onalbench because of t
he
si
gni
fi
canceoft
hei
ssuei
nvol
vedaf
terf
rami
ngt
hef
oll
owi
ngquest
ion:
Whet
hert
he excl
usi
onar
y pr
act
ice whi
ch i
s based upon a bi
ologi
calf
act
or
excl
usi
vet
othef
emal
egenderamount
sto“
discr
imi
nat
ion”and Whet
hert
he
pr
act
iceofexcl
udi
ngsuchwomenconst
it
utesan“
essent
ialr
eli
giouspr
act
ice”
underAr
ti
cle25?

16. ManoharLal
Shar
mav
.Sanj
ayLeel
aBhansal
i
  Pr
act
ici
ngl
awy
erManoharLalShar
maappr
oachedt
heSupr
emeCour
tby
wayoff
il
ingaPubl
i
cInt
erestLi
ti
gat
ionunder
 Ar
ti
cle32oft
heConst
it
uti
onof
I
ndi
awi
tht
hepr
ayert
hataf
il
mti
tl
ed“
Padmav
ati
”shoul
dnotbeexhi
bit
edi
not
her
count
ri
eswi
thoutobt
aini
ngt
her
equi
sit
ecer
ti
fi
cat
efr
om t
heCent
ralBoar
dofFi
l
m
Cer
ti
fi
cat
ion(
CBFC)and f
urt
hert
oissueawr
itofmandamust
otheCent
ral
Bur
eauofI
nvest
igat
ion(
CBI
)tor
egi
steranFI
Ragai
nstSanj
ayLeel
aBhansal
iand
hi
steam member
sfor of
fence puni
shabl
e under Sect
ion 7 of t
he t
he
Ci
nemat
ogr
aphAct
,1952r
eadwi
thSect
ions153A,
295,
295A,
499and500oft
he
I
ndi
anPenalCoder
eadwi
thSect
ion4oft
heI
ndecentRepr
esent
ati
onofWomen
(
Prohi
bit
ion)Act
,1986andt
oinv
est
igat
eandpr
osecut
ethem i
naccor
dancewi
th
l
aw.
TheSupr
emeCour
tBenchconsi
sti
ngofCJIDi
pakMi
sra,Just
iceA.
M.Khanwi
l
kar
andDr
.D.
Y.Chandr
achudopi
nedt
hat
:
Thi
sisamostunf
ort
unat
esi
tuat
ionshowi
nghowpubl
i
cint
erestl
i
tigat
ioncanbe
abused.
Whenamat
teri
spendi
ngorgoi
ngt
obedeal
twi
thbyt
heCBFC,noonewhoi
s
hol
dinganypostofpubl
i
cresponsi
bil
i
tyshoul
dcommentonhowt
heappl
i
cat
ion
f
orcer
ti
fi
cat
ioni
stobepr
ocessed.Thatt
ant
amount
stocr
eat
ingasenseof
pr
ejudi
cei
nthemi
ndoft
heCBFC.
Asf
arasSect
ions499and500oft
heI
PCi
sconcer
ned,
pol
i
cehasnor
ole.Asf
ar
ast
heot
herof
fencesar
econcer
ned,i
tisunf
athomabl
ehowanyof
fencei
smade
out
.Ther
eisnobasi
sfort
hisCour
ttodi
rectr
egi
str
ati
onofanFI
Randwehav
eno
hesi
tat
ioni
nst
ati
ngt
hatt
hepr
ayeri
sabsol
utel
ymi
sconcei
ved.
Regar
dingt
hef
reedom ofspeechandexpr
essi
ont
heFul
lbenchendor
sedi
nthe
i
nst
antcaset
hef
oll
owi
ngobser
vat
ionmadeby3JudgeBenchoft
heSupr
eme
Cour
tin 
Nachi
ket
aWal
hekarv
.Cent
ralBoar
dofFi
l
m Cer
ti
fi
cat
ion&Anot
her
 W.
P.
(
C)No.1119of2017wi
thr
espectt
omov
ie 
“AnI
nsi
gni
fi
cantMan”
:
Bei
tnot
ed,
afi
l
m oradr
amaoranov
elorabooki
sacr
eat
ionofar
t.Anar
ti
sthas
hi
sownf
reedom t
oexpr
esshi
msel
finamannerwhi
chi
snotpr
ohi
bit
edi
nlawand
suchpr
ohi
bit
ionsar
enotr
eadbyi
mpl
i
cat
iont
ocr
uci
fyt
her
ight
sofexpr
essi
ve
mi
nd.Thehumanhi
stor
yrecor
dst
hatt
her
ear
emanyaut
hor
swhoexpr
esst
hei
r
t
hought
saccor
dingt
othechoi
ceoft
hei
rwor
ds,phr
ases,expr
essi
onsandal
so
cr
eat
echar
act
erswhomayl
ookabsol
utel
ydi
ff
erentt
hananor
dinar
ymanwoul
d
concei
veof
.At
houghtpr
ovoki
ngf
il
m shoul
dnev
ermeant
hati
thast
obedi
dact
ic
ori
nanywaypur
it
ani
cal
.Itcanbeexpr
essi
veandpr
ovoki
ngt
heconsci
ousort
he
sub-
consci
oust
hought
soft
hev
iewer
.Ift
her
ehast
obeanyl
i
mit
ati
on,
thathast
o
beaspert
hepr
escr
ipt
ioni
nlaw.
TheSupr
emecaut
ionedt
hepet
it
ionerbutdi
dn’
timposecost
sforabusi
ngt
he
j
udi
cialpr
ocessbywayoff
il
ingaPI
Ltosensat
ional
i
zet
hemat
terofr
eleaseof
mov
iePadmav
ati
.

17. Kami
niJai
swal
v.Uni
onofI
ndi
a
 
Fact
ual
Backgr
ound
Pr
asadEducat
ionTr
ustwasdeni
edper
missi
ont
ogi
veadmi
ssi
ont
omedi
cal
st
udent
sfort
woconsecut
iveacademi
cyear
si.
e.2017-
18and2018-
19.Agai
nst
t
hisor
der
,thet
rust
eesappr
oachedf
ewpeopl
ewhogav
eassur
ancei
nret
urnt
hat
t
heywi
l
lgetaf
avour
bal
eor
derf
rom t
heSupr
emeCour
t.Manyhi
ghpr
ofi
l
epeopl
e
wer
einv
olv
edi
nthi
scase.aJudgeofOdi
shaHi
ghCour
tal
sof
oundi
nvol
vedi
nal
l
t
his.AnFI
R wasr
egi
ster
edbyCBIi
nthi
smat
ter
.
Twowr
itpet
it
ionswer
efi
l
edi
nthemat
terandt
wodi
ff
erentor
der
swer
epassedby
t
wodi
ff
erentbenches.
Onapet
it
ionf
il
edi
nthi
smat
ter
,theSupr
emeCour
tor edon9th 
der Nov
ember
,
2017t
hatt
hismat
terbehear
dbyt
heConst
it
uti
onBenchoft
hef
ir
stf
iveJudgesi
n
t
heor
derofseni
ori
tyoft
hisCour
t.
eron10th 
Lat Nov
ember
,anot
herbenchpassedanor
dert
hatt
hemat
terbel
i
sted
bef
oret
heChi
efJust
iceofI
ndi
a.TheCJIconst
it
uteda5-
JudgeConst
it
uti
on
Benchwhi
chconsi
stedofandpr
esi
dedov
erbyHon’
bleChi
efJust
iceofI
ndi
a.
Anomal
ous si
tuat
ion was cr
eat
ed by t
hese t
wo conf
li
cti
ng or
der
s. The
Const
it
uti
onalbenchr
ely
ingupon 
Stat
eofRaj
ast
hanv
.Pr
akashChand& Or
s.
(
1998)1SCC1,t
heSupr
emeCour
tsai
dthatt
hought
heHon’
bleChi
efJust
icei
s
t
hef
ir
stamongequal
sasf
arast
her
ost
eri
sconcer
ned,
theHon’
bleChi
efJust
ice
ofI
ndi
ahast
hepr
erogat
ivet
oconst
it
utet
heBenchesoft
heCour
tandal
l
ocat
e
casest
otheBenchessoconst
it
uted.
I
nex
erci
seoft
hepowersoi
nfer
red,t
heCJIconst
it
uted3Judgecompr
isi
ngof
Just
iceR.
K.Agr
awal
,Ar
unMi
shr
aandA. karon14th 
M.Khanwi
l Nov
ember
,2017
Cont
ent
ionsoft
hePet
it
ioner
I
twascont
ent
edbyt
hepet
it
ionert
hatJust
iceA.
M.Khanwi
l
karshoul
drecuse
hi
msel
ffr
om t
hepr
esenthear
ingbecausehewasoneoft
heJudgewhodi
sposed
oft
hemat
terr
elat
ingt
oPr
asadEducat
ionTr
ust
.Itwasal
soav
err
edt
hataj
udi
cial
or
dercannotbev
iol
atedbyanot
herbenchasi
tisabi
ndi
ngl
awbyv
irt
ueofAr
ti
cle
144oft
heConst
it
uti
on.
Cont
ent
ionsofUni
onofI
ndi
a
On t
he ot
herhand i
twas cont
ended byt
he At
tor
neyGener
alt
hatbymer
e
al
l
egat
ion,t
heent
ir
ejudi
ciali
nst
it
uti
oncannotbebl
amedorbr
oughtdi
sreput
e.
Addi
ti
onalSol
i
cit
orGener
alTusharMeht
asai
dthati
tisnot
hingmor
ethanf
orum
hunt
ingandt
heconductoft
hepet
it
ioneri
shi
ghl
ycont
empt
uous.
Supr
emeCour
thel
d
TheSupr
emeCour
tsai
dthatt
hepr
esentbenchsoconst
it
utedi
npur
suanceoft
he
or
deroft
heConst
it
uti
onal
Benchhasal
ll
egal
aut
hor
it
ytoheart
hepr
esentpet
it
ion
becauseConst
it
uti
onalBenchhasal
readyhel
dthatt
heCJIi
sonl
yaut
hor
it
yto
const
it
utet
hebenchesont
headmi
nist
rat
ivesi
deandanyor
derpassedcont
rar
y
t
otheor
derofCJIwi
l
lbei
nef
fect
iveandv
oid.
Hencei
tist
hel
aw sodecl
aredwhi
chwi
l
lbebi
ndi
ngonal
ltheaut
hor
it
iesunder
Ar
ti
cle144oft
heConst
it
uti
on.
Rel
yi
ngupon 
Dr.D C Saxenav
.Chi
efJust
iceofI
ndi
a(1996)5SCC 216,
 
the
Supr
emeCour
tsai
dthatt
her
eisnoconf
li
ctofi
nter
esti
nsuchamat
ter
.Incase
Judge i
s hear
ing a mat
terand i
fhe comes t
o know t
hatany par
tyi
s
unscr
upul
ousl
ytr
yingt
oinf
luencet
hedeci
sionmaki
ngori
ndul
gingi
nmal
pract
ices,
i
tisi
ncumbentupon t
heJudget
otakecogni
zanceofsuch amat
terunder
Cont
emptofCour
tsActandt
odealwi
thandpuni
shsuchper
soni
naccor
dance
wi
thl
awast
hati
snott
heconf
li
ctofi
nter
estbutt
hepur
posef
orwhi
cht
heent
ir
e
sy
stem exi
sts.Sucht
hingscannotbei
gnor
edandr
ecusalofaJudgecannotbe
askedont
hegr
oundofconf
li
ctofi
nter
est
,itwoul
dbet
hesaddestdayf
ort
he
j
udi
cialsy
stem oft
his count
ryt
oignor
e such aspect
s on t
he unf
ounded
al
l
egat
ionsand mat
eri
als.I
twashi
ghl
yimpr
operf
ort
hepet
it
ionert
o al
l
ege
conf
li
ctofi
nter
esti
nthepet
it
ionf
il
edt
hatt
heHon’
bleChi
efJust
iceofI
ndi
a
shoul
dnothearonj
udi
cialsi
deoral
l
ocat
ethemat
teront
headmi
nist
rat
ivesi
de.I
t
appear
sthati
nor
dert
oachi
evet
hisendt
hepar
ti
cul
arr
equesthasbeenmadeby
f
il
ingsuccessi
vepet
it
ionsdayaf
tert
heot
herandpr
ayerwasmadet
oav
oidt
he
Hon’
bleChi
efJust
iceofI
ndi
atoexer
ciset
hepowerf
oral
l
ocat
ionofcaseswhi
ch
wascl
ear
lyanat
temptatf
orum hunt
ingandhast
obedepr
ecat
edi
nthest
rongest
possi
blewor
ds.Maki
ngsuchscandal
ousr
emar
ksal
sot
ant
amountt
oint
erf
eri
ng
wi
thadmi
nist
rat
ionofj
ust
ice.
I
twast
hedut
yoft
heChi
efJust
icet
oassi
gnj
udi
cialwor
ktobr
otherJudges.By
doi
ngso,
hedi
dnotbecomeaJudgei
nhi
sowncause.I
tiscont
emptt
oimpl
ythat
t
heChi
efJust
icewoul
dassi
gni
ttoaBenchwhi
chwoul
dnotpassanor
der
adv
erset
ohi
m.I
tisal
socont
emptt
oimpl
ythatt
heJudgeswoul
dbesoamenabl
e
t
ocompl
ythatt
heBenchwhi
chhear
dthesecondwr
itpet
it
ioncoul
dnothav
e
hear
dit
.
Ther
eisnoquest
ionofr
egi
ster
inganyFI
Ragai
nstanysi
tt
ingJudgeoft
heHi
gh
Cour
toroft
hisCour
tasi
tisnotper
missi
bleaspert
hel
aw l
aiddownbya
Const
it
uti
onBenchof5Hon’
bleJudgesoft
hisCour
tint
hecaseof
 K.Veer
aswami
v
.Uni
onofI
ndi
a(1991)3SCC655.
I
twasanat
temptofchoosi
ngaf
orum bysubmi
tt
ingt
hatHon’
bleChi
efJust
iceof
I
ndi
ashoul
dnothav
efor
medt
heBench.
Thoughi
tist
rue,
thatnoneofusi
sabov
elaw;
noper
soni
nthehi
gherechel
onsi
s
abov
ethel
awbut
,att
hesamet
ime,
iti
sthedut
yofbot
htheBarandt
heBench,
to
pr
otectt
hedi
gni
tyoft
heent
ir
ejudi
cial
syst
em.Wef
indt
hatf
il
ingofsuchpet
it
ions
andt
hezest
,wi
thwhi
chi
tispur
sued,
hasbr
oughtt
heent
ir
esy
stem i
nthel
astf
ew
day
stounr
est
.Anef
for
twasmadet
ocr
eat
eri
ppl
esi
nthi
sCour
t;ser
iousand
unwant
edshadow ofdoubthasbeencr
eat
edf
ornogoodr
easonwhat
soev
erby
wayoff
il
ingt
hepet
it
ionwhi
chwaswhol
l
yscandal
ousandoughtnott
ohav
ebeen
f
il
edi
nsuchamet
hodandmanner
.
18. Ms.
 Eer
a Thr
ough 
Dr.
 Manj
ula 
Kri
ppendor
fv.
Stat
e(Gov
t. 
of 
NCT 
of 
Del
hi)
Di
vi
si
onBenchcompr
isi
ngofJJDi
pakMi
sraandR.
F.Nar
imanon21stJul
y,2017
r
eject
edt
hecont
ent
ionofi
mpor
ti
ngt
heconceptofment
alagewi
thi
nthemeani
ng
oft
he t
erm age as def
ined undert
he Juv
eni
l
elegi
slat
ion.I
tobser
ved t
hat
Par
li
amenthasdel
i
ber
atel
yfi
xedt
heageoft
hechi
l
dandi
tisi
nthepr
ism of
bi
ologi
calage.Thesi
tuat
ioncanbev
iewedf
rom anot
heraspect
.ThePOCSOAct
hasi
dent
if
iedmi
nor
sandpr
otect
edt
hem bypr
escr
ibi
ngt
hest
atut
oryagewhi
ch
hasnexuswi
tht
hel
egalel
i
gibi
l
ityt
ogi
veconsent
.Bysay
ing“
age”woul
dcov
er
“
ment
alage”hast
hepot
ent
ialt
ocr
eat
eimmenseanomal
oussi
tuat
ionswi
thout
t
her
ebei
nganygui
del
i
nesorst
atut
orypr
ovi
sions.Needl
esst
osay
,theyar
ewi
thi
n
t
hespher
eofl
egi
sl
atur
e.Toel
abor
ate,anaddi
ti
onoft
hewor
d“ment
al”byt
aki
ng
r
ecour
se t
o i
nter
pret
ati
ve pr
ocess does not come wi
thi
n t
he pur
posi
ve
i
nter
pret
ati
onasf
arast
hePOCSOActi
sconcer
ned.Respectf
ort
hedi
gni
tyofa
per
son,as submi
tt
ed,has i
ts own pedest
albutt
hatconcept
ion cannotbe
subsumed and i
ntegr
ated i
nto a def
ini
ti
on wher
ethe pr
ovi
sion i
s cl
earand
unambi
guousanddoesnotadmi
tofanyot
heri
nter
pret
ati
on.

19. Re:Expl
oit
ati
onofChi
l
dreni
nOr
phanagesi
ntheSt
ateofTami
lNaduv
.
Uni
onofI
ndi
aandOt
her
s
On suo mot
u cogni
zance byt
he Di
vi
sion Bench oft
he Supr
eme Cour
t
compr
isi
ngJust
iceMadanB.LokurandDeepakGupt
aon5t
hMay
,2017,t
he
Supr
emeCour
tsai
dthatt
hedef
ini
ti
onofchi
l
dinneedofcar
eandpr
otect
ion
underSect
ion2(
14)ofJJAct
,2015i
sil
l
ust
rat
iveandnotexhaust
ive.I
twi
l
lal
so
i
ncl
udet
hechi
l
drenv
ict
im ofsexualabusei
nchi
l
dcar
einst
it
uti
ons.TheCour
t
emphasi
zedont
hei
mpl
ement
ati
onaspectoft
hei
dealpr
ovi
sionsoft
hel
aw.The
cour
tal
sohi
ghl
i
ght
edt
hei
ssueoft
rai
ningofper
sonnel
.Theneedoft
hedayi
sde-
i
nst
it
uti
onal
i
zat
ionr
atheri
nst
it
uti
onal
i
zat
ionoft
hechi
l
dreni
nneedofcar
eand
pr
otect
ion.Thesoci
alaudi
ti
ngoft
hechi
l
dcar
einst
it
uti
onswassuggest
edt
o
br
ingt
ranspar
encyandef
fi
ciencyi
nthef
unct
ioni
ngoft
hesei
nst
it
uti
ons.

20. Re–I
nhumanCondi
ti
onsi
n1382Pr
isons
Di
vi
sionBenchoft
heSupr
emeCour
tcompr
isi
ngJust
iceMadanB.Lokurand
aon15th 
DeepakGupt Sept
ember
,2017del
i
ver
edl
andmar
kjudgmentoncust
odi
al
v
iol
ence.I
tsai
dthatt
her
eisnor
easonatal
ltoexcl
udet
hei
rnextofki
nfr
om
r
ecei
vi
ngcompensat
iononl
ybecauset
hev
ict
im ofanunnat
ural
deat
hisacr
imi
nal
.
Humanr
ight
sar
enotdependentont
hest
atusofaper
sonbutar
euni
ver
sali
n
nat
ure.TheSupr
emeCour
tsai
dthatt
her
eisnecessi
tyofhav
ingcounsel
orsand
suppor
tper
sonsi
npr
isons;v
isi
tst
opr
isonbyt
hef
ami
l
yofapr
isonershoul
dbe
encour
aged,t
he t
ime orf
requency ofsuch meet
ings shoul
d be ext
ended;
per
for
manceaudi
toft
hepr
isonsshoul
dbedoner
egul
arl
y,medi
calassi
stance
shoul
dbepr
ovi
dedt
oal
lpr
isoner
sandest
abl
i
shmentof‘
openj
ail
s’or‘
open
pr
isons’
iscer
tai
nlywor
thconsi
der
ing.

21. Hussai
nandAnot
herv
.Uni
onofI
ndi
a
TheDi
vi
si
onBenchoft
heSupr
emeCour
tconsi
sti
ngofJust
iceA.K.Goel
and
U. ton9th 
U.Lal
i Mar
ch,2017i
ssuedgui
del
i
nesi
nthecasei
nvol
vi
ngt
hei
ssueof
deni
alofbai
lpendi
ngt
ri
al/
appealwher
eappel
l
ant
shav
ebeeni
ncust
odyf
ora
l
ongper
iod.Gui
del
i
nesar
e:
(
i)TheHi
ghCour
tsmayi
ssuedi
rect
ionst
osubor
dinat
ecour
tst
hat–
(
a)Bai
lappl
i
cat
ionsbedi
sposedofnor
mal
l
ywi
thi
noneweek;
(
b)Magi
ster
ialt
ri
als,wher
eaccusedar
eincust
ody
,benor
mal
l
yconcl
udedwi
thi
n
si
x mont
hs and sessi
ons t
ri
als wher
e accused ar
ein cust
ody be nor
mal
l
y
concl
udedwi
thi
ntwoy
ear
s;
(
c)Ef
for
tsbemadet
odi
sposeofal
lcaseswhi
char
efi
vey
ear
sol
dbyt
heendof
t
hey
ear
;
(
ii
)TheHi
ghCour
tsar
erequest
edt
oensur
ethatbai
lappl
i
cat
ionsf
il
edbef
ore
t
hem ar
edeci
dedasf
araspossi
blewi
thi
nonemont
handcr
imi
nalappeal
swher
e
accusedar
eincust
odyf
ormor
ethanf
ivey
ear
sar
econcl
udedatt
heear
li
est
;
22. Raj
eshShar
mav
.St
ateofU.
P
Taki
ngnot
eofr
isi
ngi
nci
dent
soff
alsecompl
aint
sunderSect
ion498-
A,I
PC,
t
heDi
vi
sionBenchoft
heSupr
emeCour
tconsi
sti
ngofJust
iceA.K.GoelandU.
U.
ton27th 
Lal
i Jul
y,2017i
ssuedf
oll
owi
nggui
del
i
nes:
 Af
ami
l
y Wel
far
e Commi
tt
ee shoul
d be const
it
uted t
he Di
str
ictLegal
Ser
vicesAut
hor
it
iesi
nev
erydi
str
ict
.
 Ev
ery compl
aintunderSect
ion 498A r
ecei
ved by t
he pol
i
ce ort
he
Magi
str
ateber
efer
redt
oandl
ookedi
ntobysuchcommi
tt
ee.
 Repor
tandopi
nionofsuchcommi
tt
eebegi
vent
otheAut
hor
it
ybywhom
t
hecompl
ainti
sref
err
edt
oitl
atestwi
thi
nonemont
hfr
om t
hedat
eofr
ecei
ptof
compl
aint
.Noar
restshoul
dnor
mal
l
ybeef
fect
edbef
oret
hat
.
 I
fabai
lappl
i
cat
ioni
sfi
l
edwi
thatl
eastonecl
earday
’snot
icet
othePubl
i
c
Pr
osecut
or/
compl
ainant
,thesamemaybedeci
dedasf
araspossi
bleont
he
sameday
.

23. Pr
ady
umanBi
shtv
.Uni
onofI
ndi
a
TheDi
vi
si
onBenchoft
heSupr
emeCour
tconsi
sti
ngofJust
iceA.K.Goel
and
U. ton 28th 
U.Lal
i Mar
ch,2017 or
der
ed t
hatatl
easti
ntwo di
str
ict
sin ev
ery
St
ate/
Uni
onTer
ri
tor
y(wi
tht
heexcept
ionofsmal
lSt
ates/
Uni
onTer
ri
tor
ieswher
eit
maybeconsi
der
edt
obedi
ff
icul
ttodosobyt
heconcer
nedHi
ghCour
ts)CCTV
camer
as(
wit
houtaudi
orecor
ding)maybei
nst
all
edi
nsi
det
hecour
tsandatsuch
i
mpor
tantl
ocat
ionsoft
hecour
tcompl
exesasmaybeconsi
der
edappr
opr
iat
e.
Moni
tort
her
eofmaybei
ntheChamberoft
heconcer
nedDi
str
ictandSessi
on
Judge.Locat
ionoft
hedi
str
ictcour
tsandanyot
heri
ssuesconcer
ningt
hesubj
ect
maybedeci
dedbyt
her
espect
iveHi
ghCour
ts.Wemakei
tcl
eart
hatt
hef
oot
age
oft
heCCTVcamer
awi
l
lnotbeav
ail
abl
eundert
heR.
T.I
.andwi
l
lnotbesuppl
i
ed
t
oany
onewi
thoutper
missi
onoft
heconcer
nedHi
ghCour
t.I
nst
all
ati
onmaybe
compl
etedwi
thi
nthr
eemont
hs.

24. Amar
deepSi
nghv
.Har
veenKaur
TheDi
vi
si
onBenchoft
heSupr
emeCour
tconsi
sti
ngofJust
iceA.K.Goel
and
U.
U.Lal
i
ton12t
hSept
ember
,2017sai
dthatcool
i
ngof
fper
iodunderSect
ion
13B(
2)i
s notmandat
ory
.Iti
s a di
rect
orypr
ovi
sion and af
terf
oll
owi
ng t
he
bel
owment
ionedpr
ocedur
e,t
hecour
tmaywai
veof
fthi
sper
iodf
orgr
ant
ingt
he
decr
eeofdi
vor
ce:
 t
hest
atut
oryper
iodofsi
xmont
hsspeci
fi
edi
nSect
ion13B(
2),
inaddi
ti
ont
o
t
hest
atut
oryper
iodofoney
earunderSect
ion13B(
1)ofsepar
ati
onofpar
ti
esi
s
al
readyov
erbef
oret
hef
ir
stmot
ioni
tsel
f;
 al
lef
for
tsf
ormedi
ati
on/
conci
l
iat
ioni
ncl
udi
ngef
for
tsi
nter
msofOr
der
XXXI
IARul
e3CPC/
Sect
ion23(
2)oft
heAct
/Sect
ion9oft
heFami
l
yCour
tsAct
t
oreuni
tet
hepar
ti
eshav
efai
l
edandt
her
eisnol
i
kel
i
hoodofsuccessi
nthat
di
rect
ionbyanyf
urt
heref
for
ts;
 t
he par
ti
es hav
e genui
nel
y set
tl
ed t
hei
rdi
ff
erences i
ncl
udi
ng al
i
mony
,
cust
odyofchi
l
doranyot
herpendi
ngi
ssuesbet
weent
hepar
ti
es;
 t
heCour
tcanal
souset
hemedi
um ofv
ideoconf
erenci
ngandal
soper
mit
genui
ner
epr
esent
ati
onoft
hepar
ti
est
hroughcl
oser
elat
ionssuchaspar
ent
sor
si
bli
ngswher
ethepar
ti
esar
eunabl
etoappeari
nper
sonf
oranyj
ustandv
ali
d
r
easonasmaysat
isf
ytheCour
t,t
oadv
ancet
hei
nter
estofj
ust
ice.

25. DeepaE.
V.V.Uni
onofI
ndi
a
Di
vi
sionBenchofR.Banumat
hiandA. karon06th 
M.Khanwi
l Apr
il
,2017hel
d
t
hatacandi
dat
eforanempl
oymentpost
,whoappl
i
edunderOBC cat
egor
yby
av
ail
i
ngOFager
elaxat
ionandal
soat
tendedt
hei
nter
view underOBCcat
egor
y,
cannotcl
aimr
ightt
obeappoi
ntedundergener
alcat
egor
y.

[
12:
22PM,
5/4/
2018]Hi
manshiDi
:Read25I
mpor
tantJudgmentOfSupr
eme
Cour
tOfI
ndi
aDel
i
ver
edI
n2017

1.
RightToPr
ivacyI
sAFundament
alRi
ght

Set
tl
ingt
hedecadesl
ongdebat
eont
hei
ssueoft
her
ightt
opr
ivacybei
nga
f
undament
alr
ight
,theSupr
emeCour
thel
dthatr
ightt
opr
ivacyi
spr
otect
edunder
Ar
ti
cle21oft
heConst
it
uti
onofI
ndi
a.I
naunani
mousdeci
sion,ani
ne-
Judge
Const
it
uti
onBenchov
err
uledt
hej
udgment
sinMP Shar
maandKhar
akSi
ngh
cases.ThePet
it
ionswer
edi
sposedofi
nthef
oll
owi
ngt
erms:
 Thedeci
si
oni
nM PShar
mat
hatpr
ivacyi
snotaf
undament
alr
ightst
ands
ov
err
uled.
Thedeci
si
oni
nKhar
akSi
nght
hatpr
ivacyi
snotaf
undament
alr
ightst
ands
ov
err
uled.
Ri
ghtt
opr
ivacyi
spr
otect
edasi
ntr
insi
cpar
tofr
ightt
oli
feandl
i
ber
ty.
Al
ldeci
si
onssubsequentt
oKhar
akSi
nghmakest
heposi
ti
oncl
earandwi
l
l
hol
dthef
iel
d.

2.
Tri
pleTal
aqUnconst
it
uti
onal

I
nal
andmar
kdeci
sion,
Supr
emeCour
tofI
ndi
adecl
aredt
hepr
act
iceofTr
ipl
e
Tal
aqasunconst
it
uti
onalbya3:
2maj
ori
ty.Whi
l
eJust
icesNar
imanandLal
i
thel
d
t
hati
nst
antTr
ipl
eTal
aqi
sunconst
it
uti
onalandv
iol
ati
veofAr
ti
cle14(
Rightt
o
Equal
i
ty)
,Just
iceJosephst
ruckdownt
hepr
act
iceont
hegr
oundt
hati
tgoes
agai
nstShar
iatandt
hebasi
ctenet
soft
heQur
an.

3.
Placi
ngOr
dinanceBef
oreLegi
slat
ureMandat
ory
;Re-
Promul
gat
ionFr
aud
OnTheConst
it
uti
on

Asev
enJudgeConst
it
uti
onBenchoft
heSupr
emeCour
tinKr
ishnaKumar
Si
nghv
.St
ateofBi
harhel
dthatr
e-pr
omul
gat
ionofor
dinancesi
saf
raudont
he
Const
it
uti
onandasubv
ersi
onofdemocr
ati
clegi
slat
ivepr
ocesses.Thecour
tal
so
hel
dthatt
hesat
isf
act
ionoft
hePr
esi
dentunderAr
ti
cle123andoft
heGov
ernor
underAr
ti
cle213whi
l
eissui
ngor
dinancesi
snoti
mmunef
rom j
udi
cial
rev
iew.

Wi
thr
egar
dtot
hequest
ionofpl
aci
ngt
heOr
dinancebef
oret
heLegi
slat
ure,
t
he maj
ori
tyj
udgmentaut
hor
ed by Just
ice D.
Y.Chandr
achud hel
dthatt
he
r
equi
rementi
smandat
ory
.Just
iceM.
B.Lokur
,howev
er,opi
nedt
hati
tisdi
rect
ory
i
nnat
ure.Fur
ther
,Chi
efJust
iceofI
ndi
aT.
S.Thakur
,inhi
ssepar
ateconcur
ri
ng
opi
nion,obser
ved,“
Iwoul
d,i
nthatv
iew,l
eav
ethequest
ionofi
nter
pret
ati
onof
Ar
ti
cles123(
2)and213(
2)i
nsof
arast
heobl
i
gat
ionoft
heGov
ernmentt
opl
ace
t
heor
dinancebef
oret
hePar
li
ament
/l
egi
slat
ureopen.
”

4.
SexWi
thMi
norWi
feI
sRape
 At
woJudgeBenchofSupr
emeCour
thel
dthatsexual
int
ercour
sewi
thmi
nor
(
bel
ow18y
ear
s)wi
fei
srape.Just
iceDeepakGupt
ainhi
sJudgmentCl
ari
fi
edt
hat
Sect
ion198(
6)oft
heCr
PCwi
l
lappl
ytocasesofr
apeof“
wiv
es”bel
ow18y
ear
s,
andcogni
zancecanbet
akenonl
yinaccor
dancewi
tht
hepr
ovi
sionsofSect
ion
198(
6)oft
heCode.Tot
hisend,t
heCour
treaddownexcept
ion2t
oSect
ion375
(
whi
chdef
inesr
ape)oft
heI
PC(
asamendedbyt
heCr
imi
nalLaw (
Amendment
)
Act
,2013)whi
chal
l
owedsuchasexual
act
.Theageofconsenthasbeenmade18
f
rom 15i
nthesecases.

5.
Seeki
ngVot
eInTheNameOfRel
i
gion/
Cast
eIsCor
ruptPr
act
ice

Del
i
ver
ingal
andmar
krul
i
ng,t
heSupr
emeCour
thel
dthatseeki
ngv
otesi
n
t
henameofr
eli
gion,
cast
eorcommuni
tyamount
…
 

Landmar
kjudi
ci
alv
erdi
ctshav
echangedt
hecour
seoft
heConst
it
uti
onas
wel
lasdai
l
ybasi
sli
feofeachandev
eryci
ti
zenoft
hiscount
ry.Thei
mpactof
t
hesej
udgment
sst
il
lcr
eat
esr
ever
ber
ati
on.Ther
efor
ewear
epr
esent
ingy
out
he7
si
gni
fi
cantj
udgmentoft
hey
ear2017:
-

1. Ri
ghtt
oPr
ivacy(
Just
iceKSPut
tuswamyvUOI

Thi
swasal
andmar
kjudgmentf
rom t
heper
spect
ivet
hati
thasset
tl
edt
he
l
ongt
imedebat
eont
hesubj
ectmat
terofr
ightt
opr
ivacybei
ngaFundament
al
r
ightornot
.In a unani
mous Ni
ne j
udge Const
it
uti
on bench ov
err
uled t
he
j
udgement
sinMPShar
maandKhar
akSi
nghandhel
dthatRi
ghtt
oPr
ivacyi
s
pr
otect
edunderAr
ti
cl
e21ofConst
it
uti
onofI
ndi
a. 

2. Tr
ipl
eTal
aqcase(
Shay
raBanovUOI
)

Thei
ssuewhi
chper
tai
nswi
thTr
ipl
eTal
aqi
.e.Tal
aq-
i-
biddati
sthatwi
tht
his
pr
act
icehusbandi
sabl
etodi
vor
cehi
swi
febysi
mpl
yut
ter
ingt
hewor
d‘t
alaq’
t
hree-
ti
me consecut
ivel
y whi
ch was qui
te bar
bar
ict
o Musl
i
m women.The
Honor
abl
eSupr
emeCour
tver
dictal
thoughi
sdi
vi
dedi
nter
msofpoi
ntsofl
awand
r
easons,
howev
er,
thi
sdeci
sionmustbeconst
ruedasami
l
est
onef
ort
hecauseof
genderj
ust
icei
nIndi
a.

3. I
nter
cour
sewi
thMi
norwi
fei
sRape(
IndependentThoughtVUOI
)

I
nthi
slandmar
kjudgement
,itwashel
dbyTwoJudgeBenchofSupr
eme
Cour
tthatSect
ion198(
6)oft
heCr
PCwi
l
lappl
ytocasesofr
apeof“
wiv
es”bel
ow
18y
ear
s,andcogni
zancecanbet
akenonl
yinaccor
dancewi
tht
hepr
ovi
sionsof
Sect
ion198(
6)oft
heCode.Consequent
ly,t
heCour
treaddownexcept
ion2t
o
Sect
ion375oft
heI
PCwhi
chconsi
dersuchsexualactasl
egalandt
heageof
consenthasbeenchangedf
rom 15t
o18i
nsuchcases.

4. Ni
rbhay
aJudgement(
MukeshandAnrvSt
atef
orNCTofDel
hi)

Thet
hree-
JudgeBenchofSupr
emeCour
thasdi
smi
ssedt
heAppeal
sfi
l
edby
t
heconv
ict
sandconf
ir
mingt
hecapi
talpuni
shmentawar
dedt
othem byt
heTr
ial
Cour
t.

5. Di
rect
ionf
orSpeedyDi
sposal
ofBai
lpl
ea(
Hussai
nandAnr
.VUOI
)

Supr
emeCour
thasdi
rect
edhasdi
rect
edl
owercour
tst
odi
sposebai
lpl
ea
wi
thi
ntheper
iodof1week.Honor
abl
eCour
thasal
soi
ssuedr
espect
ivedi
rect
ion
t
ounder
takependencyofcases.I
tisal
sobeenr
einst
atedt
hatspeedyt
ri
ali
spar
t
ofr
easonabl
eandj
ustpr
ocedur
eguar
ant
eedunderar
ti
cle21ofConst
it
uti
onof
I
ndi
a.

6. Casesr
elat
edt
oChequebouncecanbecl
osedi
fthecompl
ainanti
s
compensat
ed(
M/sMet
ersandI
nst
rumentPv
t.Lt
d.VKanchanMeht
a)

I
nthi
slandmar
kjudgment
,Supr
emeCour
thascl
ari
fi
edt
hatanaccused
underSect
ion138ofNegot
iabl
eInst
rument
sActcanbedi
schar
gedev
enwi
thout
t
heconsentoft
hecompl
ainanti
ftheCour
tissat
isf
iedt
hatt
hecompl
ainanthas
beendul
ycompensat
edbyaccused.I
twasal
soappr
ehendedt
hatt
henor
malr
ole
ofcr
imi
nall
aw i
.e.composi
ti
onofof
fencei
spossi
bleonl
ywi
tht
heconsentof
compl
ainanti
snotappl
i
cabl
eforcasesunderSec.138ofNIAct
.

7. BanonBS-
II
Icompl
i
antv
ehi
cle(
M CMeht
avUOI
)

I
nthi
scase,Honor
abl
eSupr
emeCour
thasst
atedt
hat“
theheal
thoft
he
publ
i
cis mor
eimpor
tantt
han any commer
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