-Mayank Khichar “Jurisdiction is not given for the sake of the judge, but for that of the litigant.”- Blaise Pascal Introduction This article examines one of the core and contentious issues often involved in criminal trials. Namely, it centres around the focal point that (a) which forum may call ‘the accused’ to answer, and (b) when … Continue reading Committed Crimes And Over-Committed Courts: How Far Can My Lord Bend The BNSS – Part I
Tag: supreme court
From 375 to 377: right to orientation conflicting with right to consent? Part- I
-Dhruv Madan and Maya Sarmah Introduction The law on sexual offences in India has witnessed substantial doctrinal shifts, yet certain judicial interpretations remain anchored in outdated binaries. Despite reforms via the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 and Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, Indian High Courts continue to inconsistently distinguish between ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ … Continue reading From 375 to 377: right to orientation conflicting with right to consent? Part- I
From Mandate to Discretion: How Imran Pratapgadhi Reconfigures the Understanding of FIR Jurisprudence
- Kush Taparia, Hanshita Sharma “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” - Justice Louis D. Brandeis Introduction The recent ruling of the Supreme Court ["SC"] in Imran Pratapgadhi v. State of Gujarat [“Imran Pratapgadhi”] has once again brought into focus the ambiguity and uncertainty … Continue reading From Mandate to Discretion: How Imran Pratapgadhi Reconfigures the Understanding of FIR Jurisprudence
Criminalising Critique: Sedition and the Ashoka Professor Controversy
-Sarah Unhelkar and Hitanshi Jain The Supreme Court recently granted interim bail to Ashoka Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad with specific conditions. Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18th, following two FIRs being registered against him with the Haryana Police for his social media posts. While sharing his thoughts via his X (earlier “Twitter”) account, he applauded … Continue reading Criminalising Critique: Sedition and the Ashoka Professor Controversy
WHO GOT IT WRONG—THE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT OR US?
-Aarya Dubey & Kush Shanker. INTRODUCTION Recently, in a judgement delivered by the Hon’ble Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra J. of the Allahabad High Court, it was observed that groping breasts, snapping off the girl’s pyjama strings and dragging her beneath the culvert prima facie do not constitute an attempt to rape under the relevant provisions … Continue reading WHO GOT IT WRONG—THE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT OR US?
Beyond Technicalities: A Call for Judicial Sensitivity in Indian Rape Cases
-Sharnam Agarwal Introduction Every day in India, 86 women are reported as victims of rape, according to the National Crime Records Bureau [“NCRB”]. Among these harrowing statistics, the most disturbing trend is the 96% increase in child rape cases from 2016 to 2022. A recent judgment by the Rajasthan High Court in Suwalal v. State … Continue reading Beyond Technicalities: A Call for Judicial Sensitivity in Indian Rape Cases
UNCERTAINTY UNDER-TRIAL: DISCRETION IN DENIAL OF BAIL U/S 436A
-Jugaad Singh INTRODUCTION Overflowing and overburdened prisons are often a consequence of either an increased crime rate or an increased conviction rate. However, in India, the situation is neither. It is the consequence of a delayed judicial process, as more than 75% of the in-mates are under trial prisoners. While the overflow of prisons is … Continue reading UNCERTAINTY UNDER-TRIAL: DISCRETION IN DENIAL OF BAIL U/S 436A
Unconstitutionality of Premature Release: Examining the Abuse of Remission Policies
-Shruti Mishra Introduction Premature release entails a prisoner’s release before the completion of his judicially ordained sentence. States may grant premature release to convicts owing to several factors, as laid down in the case of Bir Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh, which includes good conduct by the prisoner, no commission of jail offence, prisoner’s … Continue reading Unconstitutionality of Premature Release: Examining the Abuse of Remission Policies
Right to Counsel During Police Interrogation: An Analysis
~By Paras Khetan The right to counsel of an accused has been constitutionally guaranteed under Article 22 of the Constitution of India. This right is available to the accused during the trial. However, the question arises whether the same is available to the accused at the time of police interrogation. There is ambiguity with regards to the … Continue reading Right to Counsel During Police Interrogation: An Analysis
Denial of Sanction under Prevention of Corruption Act: A case for Expansive Interpretation
~ By KV Kailash Ramanathan & Vasishta Ganapathi K Introduction Incurring the ire of stakeholders prejudiced by their actions is an inexorable professional hazard in the life of public servants. Whether these acts are rectitudinous or condemnable, someone is aggrieved in the oft zero-sum game of governance. Mercy, while being a quality worthy of Shakespearian … Continue reading Denial of Sanction under Prevention of Corruption Act: A case for Expansive Interpretation
NUTRITION BEHIND BARS: ELIMINATING FOOD AS A MEANS OF PUNISHMENT [Part II]
~By Jugaad Singh Part I of the Blog dealt with the historical context and the legal background pertaining to prison food in India. Part II of the blog will be tackling the introduction of the Modern Prison Manual of 2016 as well as providing a global perspective of the problem along with possible solutions. THE … Continue reading NUTRITION BEHIND BARS: ELIMINATING FOOD AS A MEANS OF PUNISHMENT [Part II]
NUTRITION BEHIND BARS: ELIMINATING FOOD AS A MEANS OF PUNISHMENT [Part I]
~By Jugaad Singh "No one can understand the reality of the prison experience until they've actually walked in the shoes of those who are incarcerated." - Bryan StevensonExecutive Director, Equal Justice Initiative INTRODUCTION Considerations about the quality, quantity and nutritional value of prison food are not something a person who has never been incarcerated loses sleep … Continue reading NUTRITION BEHIND BARS: ELIMINATING FOOD AS A MEANS OF PUNISHMENT [Part I]
Evaluating the Judicial Interpretation of Section 102(3) of Cr.P.C
~By Mansi Pandey Introduction Section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Code (hereinafter referred to as ‘Cr.P.C.’ or the ‘code’), deals with the power of the police officers to seize “any property” that is either stolen or creates a suspicion of commission of the offense. Further, the police shall report the seizure to the Magistrate forthwith. It … Continue reading Evaluating the Judicial Interpretation of Section 102(3) of Cr.P.C
Bail under PMLA: Comprehending the SC’s Imprimatur in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs UOI
~By Devvrat Singh and Nishita Gupta Introduction The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (hereinafter referred to as PMLA) was enacted in 2002 and since then it has undergone several amendments. The stated object of PMLA was to combat money-laundering activities and confiscate the properties involved in or connected to the act of money laundering. Several … Continue reading Bail under PMLA: Comprehending the SC’s Imprimatur in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs UOI
Of Old Wine in New Bottles – The Judgement in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary (Part One)
~By Abhinav Sekhri After marathon hearings, the Supreme Court finally pronounced its judgment on 27.07.2022 in a batch of over 200 petitions where the legality of various provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 ["PMLA"] had been challenged. This judgment — bearing the title Vijay Madanlal Choudhary & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [SLP Crl No. 4364 … Continue reading Of Old Wine in New Bottles – The Judgement in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary (Part One)
The Most Recent Clarifications to the Supreme Court Bail Guidelines
~By Abhinav Sekhri On July 11, 2022, the most recent clarifications were issued by the Supreme Court in respect of the bail guidelines which it had first issued in October, 2021 [MA No. 1849 of 2021 in SLP (Crl) 5191 of 2021, titled 'Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI' (Order dated 11.07.2022)]. This blog had covered the guidelines in October, … Continue reading The Most Recent Clarifications to the Supreme Court Bail Guidelines
End of Justice? The Supreme Court’s Order in Hitesh Verma v State of Uttarakhand
by Prannv Dhawan & Ishwar Singh The Supreme Court’s recent judgment in Hitesh Verma v. State of Uttarakhand [decided on 05.11.2020] reversed an order of the Uttarakhand High Court and quashed the case with respect to allegations under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 (‘the Act’). The Court held that insulting or intimidating a person belonging … Continue reading End of Justice? The Supreme Court’s Order in Hitesh Verma v State of Uttarakhand
Has the Supreme Court set an erroneous precedent by transferring Sushant’s death probe to the CBI?
By Shikhar Aggarwal Introduction The recent Supreme Court judgment, transferring the probe into the unnatural death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and the surrounding circumstances, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is being hailed as a victory for the public sentiment attached with the aftermath of his death. On the other hand, some believe … Continue reading Has the Supreme Court set an erroneous precedent by transferring Sushant’s death probe to the CBI?
The Supreme Court, 65-B Certificates, and Electronic Evidence
By Abhinav Sekhri A Three Justices' Bench of the Supreme Court delivered a much-awaited decision in Arjun Panditrao Khotkar v. Kailash Kushanrao & Ors. [Civil Appeal Nos. 20825-26 of 2017, decided on 14.07.2020 ("Arjun Panditrao")]. The issue referred to the Three Justices was an apparent conflict that had emerged in the position of law on the … Continue reading The Supreme Court, 65-B Certificates, and Electronic Evidence
Snippet: “Unlawful Activity”, the 1967 UAPA, The Attorney General, and a “Ministry of Astrology”
By Abhinav Sekhri India's primary anti-terror legislation, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967 ["UAPA"] continues to make headlines as a legislation reportedly used to stifle dissent and legitimate criticism of India's central government, even as the world grapples with the Coronavirus. This has, justifiably, prompted a rise in the conversations around the UAPA. "Unlawful Activity" … Continue reading Snippet: “Unlawful Activity”, the 1967 UAPA, The Attorney General, and a “Ministry of Astrology”



















