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High Court Acquits Appellants in a Circumstantial Murder Case Due to Flawed “Last Seen” Evidence

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These criminal appeals were filed by the appellants, Kabir Khan and Irshad, challenging the judgment and order of conviction dated November 3, 2020, passed by the Trial Court, wherein they were sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and seven years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 201 IPC. The prosecution case alleged that the informant’s 12-year-old son, Prince, was taken away by the accused Irshad on November 5, 2013, and his half-burnt dead body with tied legs was discovered the next morning in a garbage heap near the railway ground in front of the informant’s house. The Division Bench, comprising Hon’ble J.J. Munir, J. and Hon’ble Vinai Kumar Dwivedi, J., scrutinized the circumstantial evidence, the unnatural conduct of the witnesses, and glaring contradictions in the “last seen together” theory. Holding that the prosecution failed to establish a complete chain of circumstances or prove any motive, the Court allowed the appeals, set aside the conviction, and ordered the immediate release of the appellants unless wanted in any other case.

  • Nature of the Case: The case rested entirely on circumstantial evidence, specifically banking on the “last seen together” theory to connect the appellants to the brutal murder and burning of a 12-year-old boy.
  • Unnatural Conduct of the Informant: The father and informant (PW-1) claimed his son was taken away at 7:00 PM, searched for him until late night, but then slept peacefully, woke up at 6:30 AM the next day, and sat outside drinking tea without lodging any missing person report or informing the police until he casually noticed a crowd near his house. The Court found this behavior completely unnatural and indicative of a fabricated timeline.
  • Contradictory “Last Seen” Witnesses: Multiple prosecution witnesses (PW-1, PW-2, PW-3, and PW-4) gave conflicting, inconsistent versions regarding who saw whom, and failed to explain why they never alerted the family or authorities immediately if they genuinely witnessed the child being taken away.
  • Absence of Motive and Recovery: The prosecution completely failed to prove any motive, enmity, or history of hostility between the accused and the victim. Furthermore, the investigating officer failed to recover any incriminating material or objects from the appellants or the crime scene linking them to the offence.
  • Legal Precedents Applied: Relying on landmark apex court rulings such as Gambhir v. State of Maharashtra and Kanhaiya Lal v. State of Rajasthan, the High Court reiterated that the “last seen” circumstance alone cannot lead to an automatic inference of guilt without robust supporting connectivity.
  • Final Verdict: The trial court’s judgment was deemed unsustainable due to a failure to properly evaluate evidence, resulting in the acquittal of both appellants and directions for their immediate release.

J.O. (Web) 2026 ALL 49

Kabir Khan v. State of U.P. (Along with Criminal Appeal No. 12 of 2021: Irshad v. State of U.P.) (D.O.J. July 01, 2026)

J.O. (Web) 2026 ALL 49 click here to view full text of judgment

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Land Acquisition: Unraveling the Court Fee Conundrum in Appeals

August 1, 2026 No Comments

The Supreme Court of India addressed whether an appeal filed under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, which challenges exclusively the statutory benefits (such as solatium, additional amount, and statutory interest) rather than the basic market value of land, requires an ad valorem court fee under Section 8 of the Court Fees Act, 1870, or a fixed court fee. The Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the Uttarakhand High Court’s directive, ruling that statutory additions form an integral, inseparable part of a composite compensation award. Consequently, any appeal seeking to reduce or exclude these components is an appeal relating to compensation, thereby mandating payment of an ad valorem court fee.

  • Nature of Statutory Benefits: The additional amount under Section 23(1-A), solatium under Section 23(2), and statutory interest under Section 28 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, are mandatory incidents of compensation and inseparable components of the award, rather than independent claims.
  • Interpretation of Section 8, Court Fees Act, 1870: Section 8 governs appeals against orders relating to compensation under land acquisition laws, computing fees based on the difference between the amount awarded and the amount claimed. The provision makes no distinction between market value and individual statutory components.
  • Deemed Decree Status: Under Section 26(2) of the Land Acquisition Act, every award by a Reference Court is deemed to be a decree. An appeal under Section 54 seeking to avoid, reduce, or exclude any component of this decree directly attracts ad valorem court fees.
  • Binding Precedents: Authoritative rulings such as Indore Development Authority v. Tarak Singh and the Constitution Bench decision in Sunder v. Union of India establish that compensation components cannot be compartmentalized. Older High Court views treating statutory benefits separately are no longer good law.
  • Fiscal Statute and Lack of State Amendment: The Court Fees Act is a fiscal statute to secure public revenue. In the absence of any specific legislative amendment in the State of Uttarakhand exempting statutory benefits from computation, the plain text of Section 8 applies fully.

2026 INSC 773

Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd. v. S.P. Singh & Ors. (D.O.J. 31.07.2026)

2026 INSC 773 click here to view full text of judgment

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Income Tax: Why Cruise Ship Operations Qualify for Presumptive Taxation under Section 44B

July 31, 2026 No Comments

The Supreme Court addressed whether international cruise operations—specifically round-trip voyages offering on-board hospitality and entertainment—qualify as the “carriage of passengers” under Section 44B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for the purpose of presumptive taxation. The Revenue contended that such round-trip cruise excursions were primarily entertainment and hospitality services rather than transport, warranting a higher estimated deemed income of 25% instead of the statutory presumptive rate of 7.5%. The Supreme Court dismissed the Revenue’s appeals, holding that ancillary hospitality and entertainment services on a cruise do not strip the voyage of its primary character as the carriage of passengers. The Court ruled that a restrictive interpretation requiring movement strictly from point A to point B is unwarranted, and concurrent findings confirming the applicability of Section 44B at the 7.5% presumptive rate do not warrant judicial interference.

1. Factual and Procedural Background

  • Nature of Operations: Superstar Libra Ltd. (SLL), a non-resident entity, operated a cruise ship named “Superstar Libra” originating from and terminating at Mumbai Port, with M/s Star Cruises (India) Pvt. Ltd. acting as its local agent to collect revenues and handle passenger bookings.
  • Dispute on Tax Assessment: For assessment years 2006-07 through 2008-09, the Assessing Officer concluded that because the cruises were round trips providing entertainment and hospitality, they did not constitute the “carriage of passengers or goods” under Section 44B of the Income Tax Act. Consequently, the Assessing Officer estimated the deemed taxable income at 25% of the gross cruise fares rather than the 7.5% statutory presumptive rate claimed by the assessee.
  • Appellate Journey: The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)] set aside the assessment order and accepted the 7.5% rate. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and subsequently the Bombay High Court both dismissed the Revenue’s appeals, affirming that the operations fell squarely within Section 44B.

2. Core Legal Issues

  • Whether a round-trip cruise operation involving on-board hospitality and entertainment qualifies as the “carriage of passengers” under Section 44B of the Income Tax Act.
  • Whether the High Court and ITAT were justified in applying the statutory presumptive rate of 7.5% instead of the 25% estimated by the Assessing Officer.

3. Observations and Findings of the Supreme Court

  • Rejection of Restrictive Interpretation: The Court disapproved of the Assessing Officer’s narrow construction that “carriage” necessitates a point-to-point movement from place ‘A’ to place ‘B’.
  • Nature of Cruise Operations: The competent appellate authorities and the tribunal correctly noted that round-trip voyages involve distinct acts of carriage, passengers had options to de-board at intermediate ports, and primary fees collected were for cabin and transport fares.
  • Ancillary Services: The provision of on-board amenities, hospitality, and entertainment is merely incidental to the main commercial enterprise of operating ships and transporting passengers, and does not alter the core nature of the activity under Section 44B.
  • Concurrent Findings: Finding no perversity or legal error in the concurrent factual findings of the lower forums, the Supreme Court upheld the application of the 7.5% presumptive tax rate.

4. Final Outcome

  • The civil appeals filed by the Revenue against M/s Star Cruises (India) P. Ltd. as well as the companion appeal against Superstar Libra Ltd. were dismissed.

2026 INSC 771

The Director of Income Tax (International Taxation) v. M/s Star Cruises (India) P.(D.O.J. 30.07.2026)

2026 INSC 771 click here to view full text of judgment

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Why Revisions, Not Appeals, Govern First-Time Convictions by Appellate Courts

July 31, 2026 No Comments

The Supreme Court addressed a crucial legal question concerning the maintainability of a criminal appeal when an accused, initially acquitted by a trial court, is convicted for the first time by a Sessions Court in an appeal against acquittal. The appellant husband, who faced charges under Section 498-A of the IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, was acquitted by the Trial Court but subsequently convicted by the Sessions Court. When he challenged this conviction via a criminal appeal before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, his appeal was dismissed as non-maintainable, holding that only a revision petition lies. Upholding the High Court’s view, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court held that since the right of appeal is strictly a creature of statute, Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (corresponding to Section 415 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023) does not contemplate a second appeal or an appeal against a judgment delivered by an appellate court. Consequently, the proper remedy against such a first-time appellate conviction is a criminal revision under Section 397 read with Section 401 of the CrPC. However, to prevent any prejudice due to the absence of a statutory first appeal, the Supreme Court clarified that High Courts must exercise their revisional powers with greater circumspection and can invoke powers akin to an appellate court under Section 401(1) to ensure comprehensive scrutiny.

1. Factual Background and Procedural History

  • Matrimonial Dispute: The marriage between the appellant (Vishnu Kumar Gupta) and respondent No. 2 took place in 2013, following which they moved to the US. After returning to India separately, the wife lodged a Zero FIR alleging cruelty and dowry demands, which led to a charge sheet and subsequent trial before the Judicial Magistrate First Class.
  • Trial Court Acquittal: The Trial Court thoroughly evaluated the evidence and acquitted the appellant and his family members by a judgment dated December 20, 2024.
  • Sessions Court Conviction: The complainant appealed under Section 378 CrPC (Section 419 BNSS). The Sessions Court partly allowed the appeal, acquitting the parents but convicting the appellant under Section 498-A IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, sentencing him to rigorous imprisonment.
  • High Court Dismissal: The appellant’s subsequent criminal appeal before the High Court under Section 374 CrPC was dismissed as non-maintainable, prompting the appeal before the Supreme Court.

2. Core Legal Issue

  • Whether an appeal under Section 374 CrPC (corresponding to Section 415 BNSS) is maintainable against a judgment of conviction recorded by a Sessions Court while exercising appellate jurisdiction and reversing an acquittal order passed by a Trial Court.

3. Observations and Findings of the Supreme Court

  • Appeal as a Creature of Statute: Reaffirming established jurisprudence, the Court emphasized that a right of appeal is not inherent or natural; it is strictly a creature of statute and cannot be expanded by courts on grounds of equity or convenience.
  • Interpretation of “On a Trial Held By”: Analyzing the phrase “convicted on a trial held by” under Section 374, the Court noted that it contemplates the court that originally conducted the trial (commencing with framing charges and concluding with judgment). A Sessions Court hearing an appeal against acquittal exercises appellate jurisdiction, not trial jurisdiction.
  • Overruling of Arun Sharma: The Court expressly overruled the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s decision in Arun Sharma v. State of Himachal Pradesh, which had held that an appeal against a first-time appellate conviction was maintainable under Section 374(2). The Supreme Court clarified that while an appeal is a “continuation of trial” for purposes like merger or suspension of sentence, it does not legally transform an appellate court into a court of first instance holding a trial.
  • The Correct Remedy — Revision (Section 397/401 CrPC): Since no statutory appeal is provided against an appellate conviction, the designated remedy is a criminal revision petition.
  • Safeguarding Accused Rights via Revisional Scope: Acknowledging the appellant’s concern that revision is narrower than an appeal, the Supreme Court highlighted that Section 401(1) of the CrPC empowers the High Court to exercise powers conferred on a court of appeal. Therefore, in revisions arising from a first-time appellate conviction (where the accused missed a statutory appeal stage), High Courts must adopt a more liberal and thorough approach to examine the correctness and legality of the conviction.

4. Final Outcome

  • The Special Leave Petition and the criminal appeal were dismissed, upholding the bar on filing an appeal under Section 374 CrPC against an appellate conviction.
  • The Supreme Court granted liberty to the appellant to file an appropriate criminal revision petition against the Sessions Court’s judgment.

2026 INSC 770

Vishnu Kumar Gupta v. State of Madhya Pradesh and Anr. (D.O.J. 30.07.2026)

2026 INSC 770 click here to view full text of judgment

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Validating Cooperative Rule Amendments and Reinstating Promotion Rights

July 31, 2026 No Comments

This civil appeal arose from a challenge to a promotion order dated December 30, 2010, whereby the appellant, S.P. Chandrakar, was promoted to the post of Additional Manager in the District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. The promotion was challenged via a writ petition by respondent No. 5 (Kishor Bagh), which was allowed by the learned Single Judge thirteen years later and affirmed by the Division Bench of the High Court on the ground that Rule 5(3)(a) of the 1982 Rules could not be amended by a mere executive circular or letter issued by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies without following formal legislative amendment procedures.

The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and set aside the concurrent findings of the High Court. The Apex Court held that Section 55(1) of the Chhattisgarh Cooperative Societies Act, 1960 explicitly empowers the Registrar to frame and alter rules governing terms and conditions of employment. Furthermore, interpreting Section 95(3) of the Act, the Court held that the requirement of laying rules before the Legislative Assembly is directory rather than mandatory since the statute prescribes no nullification consequence for non-tabling. Consequently, the deletion of Rule 5(3)(a) via the Registrar’s circular was legally valid, restoring the appellant’s promotion along with protected seniority, consequential benefits, and 50% back wages.

  • Statutory Power to Amend:
    • Under Section 55(1) of the Chhattisgarh Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, the Registrar possesses the statutory authority to frame and modify terms and conditions of employment in cooperative societies.
    • The exercise of this power via the circular dated August 13, 2010, deleting Rule 5(3)(a) to enable technical employees to seek promotions, was lawful and well within jurisdiction.
  • Interpretation of “Shall” and Laying Clauses:
    • Relying on established constitutional benchmarks (State of U.P. v. Manbodhan Lal Srivastava and Atlas Cycle Industries Ltd. v. State of Haryana), the Court reiterated that the use of “shall” in a laying clause (Section 95(3)) is directory when the statute specifies no penal consequence for non-compliance.
    • The failure to table rules before the legislature does not invalidate delegated legislation or executive rules framed under enabling statutory provisions.
  • Nomenclature and Authority:
    • Quoting settled principles from Kiran Devi v. Bihar State Sunni Wakf Board, a wrong reference to a procedure or improper formatting of an official communication does not vitiate an action if the competent authority possesses the substantive legal power to execute it.
  • Relief Granted:
    • The Supreme Court set aside the judgments of the High Court and Single Judge.
    • The appellant was ordered to be restored to his position and status as Additional Manager with protected seniority, entitled benefits of promotion, and 50% back wages payable within two months, failing which 6% interest per annum would apply.

2026 INSC 769

S. P. Chandrakar v. State of Chhattisgarh & Ors. (D.O.J. 30.07.2026)

2026 INSC 769 click here to view full text of judgment

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