The Legal Laureate

15/05/2026

The Supreme Court in Mitesh @ T.V. Vaghela v. State of Gujarat reiterated that a truthful, voluntary and reliable dying declaration can independently form the sole basis for conviction without corroboration. A Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Prasanna B. Varale upheld the conviction in a 28-year-old murder case, holding that the deceased’s statements consistently implicated the accused and were corroborated by surrounding circumstances and witness testimony.

15/05/2026

The Allahabad High Court acquitted three accused in a 43-year-old gang r**e case in Hetram and Others v. State of U.P., holding that vagueness in the FIR, unexplained delay in lodging it, and absence of medical evidence created serious doubt in the prosecution case. Justice Avnish Saxena observed that the medico-legal report showed no signs of gang r**e or injuries, entitling the accused to benefit of doubt and acquittal under Section 376 IPC.

15/05/2026

The Delhi High Court has held that repeated taunts to a wife over a “small car” and “insufficient gold” cannot be dismissed as casual remarks at the stage of framing charges under Section 498A IPC. In State (GNCTD) v. Manoj Kumar & Connected Matter, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma restored cruelty charges against the husband, observing that persistent dowry-related taunts prima facie disclosed harassment connected with unlawful dowry demands. However, discharge under Section 304B IPC was upheld for lack of evidence showing harassment “soon before” death.

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15/05/2026

In Padam Mehta and Another v. State of Rajasthan and Others, the Supreme Court of India held that the right to receive education in one’s mother tongue forms part of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed the State of Rajasthan to recognise Rajasthani as a regional language and progressively introduce it in schools.

15/05/2026

In Kailash Chandra Kapri v. State of Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court of India quashed a 35-year-old criminal case involving minor offences under Sections 323 and 506 IPC, holding that such enormous delay violated the accused’s right to speedy trial under Article 21. The Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan criticised judicial apathy, remarking that courts routinely ignore guidelines on expeditious disposal due to lack of accountability.

15/05/2026

In Fakir Mamad Suleman Sameja and Ors. v. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones Ltd. and Ors., the Supreme Court held that only the signed and uploaded order reflects the Court’s final opinion, while dictation made in open court remains a draft subject to corrections before signing. The Bench of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Atul S. Chandurkar dismissed the plea challenging modifications in the signed order and imposed costs on the applicants.

15/05/2026

The Supreme Court of India in ASD v. LCSIBD held that a wife pursuing her career and professional identity cannot be treated as committing cruelty merely because it hurts the sentiments of the husband or in-laws. The Court deprecated the Family Court’s “archaic and regressive” approach, expunged findings of cruelty and desertion against the wife, but upheld the divorce decree on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.

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15/05/2026

The Bombay High Court in Geeta Kampani v. State of Maharashtra & Anr. held that investigating agencies cannot freeze bank accounts or properties under Section 102 CrPC without establishing a direct nexus between the property and the alleged offence. The Court observed that Section 102 is only an investigative tool for collecting evidence and cannot be used to secure disputed financial claims or provide compensatory relief to complainants pending trial.

15/05/2026

The Supreme Court of India in Narayana Health & Ors. v. The State of West Bengal & Ors. quashed criminal proceedings against a hospital and its officials, holding that billing discrepancies and delay or non-supply of medical records do not constitute criminal offences. The Court observed that such grievances may at best give rise to civil claims or statutory remedies under the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act, but ingredients of cheating, criminal breach of trust, or conspiracy were absent.

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15/05/2026

In Uttarakhand High Court, the Court in Mohit Tyagi v. State of Uttarakhand acquitted the accused in a POCSO case after finding serious inconsistencies regarding identification of the perpetrator. The Court observed that the victim admitted it was dark at the time of the incident and he did not previously know the accused. Since no proper test identification parade was conducted and forensic evidence was unreliable, the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

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