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MACT: Standardized principles for assessing the annual income of deceased persons

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In the matter of Rashmirekha Tripathy and Anr. vs. The Branch Manager (Legal Claims), Sriram General Insurance Company Limited and Ors. (2026 INSC 661), the Supreme Court of India established standardized principles for assessing the annual income of deceased persons/claimants when computing “just and fair compensation” under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The Court ruled that while Income Tax Returns (ITRs) are vital, they must be assessed differently based on employment status: for salaried individuals, the previous year’s ITR is generally sufficient, whereas for self-employed individuals, an average of up to the previous three years’ ITRs should be used, alongside consideration of business-specific factors like growth patterns and the nature of the industry.

Background and Legal Issue

  • Case Origin: The appeals arose from motor vehicle accident claims where the assessment of the deceased’s annual income—based on varying interpretations of ITRs—led to disputes over the quantum of compensation.
  • Core Question: The Supreme Court addressed whether the previous year’s ITR is sufficient for income assessment or if an average of the past two to three years is required.
  • Guiding Principle: The Court reiterated that the objective of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, is to provide “just and fair compensation” that restores the dependents to their financial position prior to the accident, acknowledging that compensation is a “rough estimate” and not an exact science.

Principles Established for Income Assessment

  • Salaried Individuals: The Court held that the ITR of the preceding year is generally sufficient, as it often reflects the immediate financial impact of promotions or salary increments.
  • Self-Employed Individuals: The Court directed that an average of up to the previous three years’ ITRs should be used as a reference point, given the fluctuations inherent in business income.
  • Qualitative Factors: Beyond simple arithmetic averages, courts must consider:
    • The nature and geographic location of the business.
    • Growth patterns and the impact of the death on the business.
    • Potential for future scale/profitability, especially for capital-intensive ventures.
    • Instances of negative or low income in initial years.
  • Post-Death Filings: If ITRs are filed after death, courts should exercise caution and examine supporting financial statements to ensure income has not been artificially inflated.

Adjudication of Specific Appeals

The Court applied these principles to three separate appeals:

  • Rashmirekha Tripathy vs. Sriram General Insurance: The Court fixed the annual income of the deceased (a construction business owner) at Rs. 14,00,000/-, resulting in a total compensation of Rs. 1,97,81,505/-, modifying the High Court’s award.
  • Rajani & Ors. vs. Mukesh & Ors.: Considering the deceased was an Insurance Agent, the Court took the average of three years of ITRs and fixed the annual income at Rs. 6,87,802/-, raising the total compensation to Rs. 87,09,282/-, which corrected the High Court’s erroneous four-year average.
  • Rekha & Ors. vs. Dinesh Porwal & Ors.: Addressing the exclusion of post-death ITRs, the Court fixed the annual income of the grocery store owner at Rs. 3,25,000/-, resulting in a final compensation of Rs. 60,79,550/-, significantly enhancing the award.

Final Order

  • The Supreme Court allowed all three appeals and modified the respective compensation awards.
  • The Court directed the respondents to remit the enhanced compensation amounts directly into the bank accounts of the claimant-appellants within four weeks.

2026 INSC 661

Rashmirekha Tripathy And Anr. V. Branch Manager (Legal Claims), Sriram General Insurance Company Limited And Ors. (D.O.J. 01.07.2026)

2026 INSC 661 click here to view full text of judgment

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Release of Life Convicts: More liberal policy exists on the date of consideration, convict is entitled to its benefits.

July 3, 2026 No Comments

In the matter of Parveen Kumar @ Parveen Chauhan vs. State of Haryana & Ors. (2026 INSC 667), the Supreme Court of India held that the ‘Policy Regarding Release of Life Convicts 2002’ (2002 Policy) is an exercise of the Governor’s constitutional power under Article 161 of the Constitution of India, and therefore, it cannot be superseded or overridden by the statutory ‘Premature Release of Life Convicts 2008’ (2008 Policy) issued under Section 432 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Consequently, the Court set aside the rejection of the appellant’s remission application, ruling that he is entitled to be considered under the more beneficial 2002 Policy.

Background and Legal Issue

  • Case Origin: The appellant, convicted for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, sought premature release based on the 2002 Policy, having served 14 years of actual imprisonment.
  • The Dispute: The State of Haryana rejected the representation, contending that the 2008 Policy superseded the 2002 Policy and that the appellant did not meet the stricter eligibility criteria of the 2008 Policy.
  • Conflicting Precedents: The Court had to reconcile the application of these policies in light of two conflicting judgments: State of Haryana v. Jagdish, which held that policies under Article 161 cannot be overridden by statutory policies, and State of Haryana v. Raj Kumar, which treated the 2002 Policy as a statutory memorandum and held that it was superseded by the 2008 Policy.

Court’s Analysis

  • Constitutional vs. Statutory Power: The Court analyzed the text and history of the Haryana remission policies. It determined that the 2002 Policy, like the 1993 Policy, explicitly required orders to be passed by the Governor under Article 161, making it a constitutional exercise of power, distinct from the 2008 Policy which operates under the statutory framework of the CrPC.
  • Rejection of Raj Kumar Reasoning: The Court held that the reasoning in Raj Kumar, which categorized the 2002 Policy as merely a statutory memo, was inconsistent with the larger bench decision in Jagdish. Consequently, the Court found Raj Kumar to be per incuriam regarding this aspect, as it failed to respect the superior constitutional mandate identified in Jagdish.
  • Entitlement to Liberal Policy: Reaffirming the principle set in Jagdish, the Court held that if a more liberal policy exists on the date of consideration, the convict is entitled to its benefits.

Final Order

  • Appeal Allowed: The Court allowed the appeal and directed the State of Haryana to decide the appellant’s remission application based on the 2002 Policy within four weeks.
  • Prospective Application: The Court clarified that this judgment applies prospectively and shall not be used to reopen remission applications that have already been finalized.
  • Policy Functionality: The Court noted that the State now effectively has two distinct and separate policies (constitutional and statutory) operating simultaneously, and it is for the State to determine how to proceed with them.

2026 INSC 667

Parveen Kumar@ Parveen Chauhan V. State Of Haryana & Ors. (D.O.J. 01.07.2026)

2026 INSC 667 click here to view full text of judgment

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Default Bail: Failure to file additional copies of the charge-sheet

July 3, 2026 No Comments

In the matter of Shaurya Sunil Kumar Singh vs. Central Bureau of Investigation (2026 INSC 666), the Supreme Court of India ruled that the failure of the investigating agency to file additional copies of the charge-sheet, as required under Section 193(8) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, does not entitle an accused to “default bail”. The Court clarified that the right to default bail is extinguished the moment a charge-sheet containing the requisite details is filed within the statutory period, and that procedural requirements concerning the supply of copies are directory rather than mandatory for the purpose of defeating a default bail claim.

Background and Legal Issue

  • Case Origin: The appellant was arrested on July 13, 2025, in connection with an FIR involving cyber fraud, money laundering, and corruption offenses.
  • The Dispute: The prosecution filed a charge-sheet against the appellant on September 2, 2025. The appellant argued that because he was not supplied with the necessary copies of the charge-sheet and documents within the statutory period, he became eligible for default bail under Section 187(3) of the BNSS.
  • Lower Court Rulings: Both the Special Judge (CBI) and the Bombay High Court dismissed the appellant’s applications, holding that the non-supply of copies does not constitute a valid ground for granting default bail.

Court’s Analysis

  • Statutory Interpretation:
    • The Court compared Section 167 of the CrPC with Section 187 of the BNSS, finding them substantially identical regarding the provision for default bail.
    • It noted that while Section 193(8) of the BNSS introduces a requirement for the police to submit additional copies of the report for the accused, this does not alter the fundamental criteria for default bail—which is the timely filing of the police report.
    • The Court reaffirmed that Section 193(8) and the associated supply requirements under Section 230 of the BNSS are directory in nature, serving to facilitate the accused’s defense rather than providing a loophole for bail.
  • Precedent and Principles:
    • The Court relied on established principles, noting that default bail is a conditional right that exists only while the investigation is pending. Once the charge-sheet is filed in compliance with the required form, the right to default bail ceases.
    • Referring to CBI v. R.S. Pai and CBI v. Kapil Wadhawan, the Court held that the absence of certain documents or copies does not vitiate the charge-sheet or invalidate the commencement of cognizance by the Magistrate.

Final Order

  • The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the order of the Bombay High Court.
  • The Court clarified that the appellant’s pending regular bail application must be considered independently by the appropriate court on its own merits, as the dismissal of the default bail plea does not preclude the assessment of a regular bail application.

2026 INSC 666

Shaurya Sunil Kumar Singh V. Central Bureau of Investigation (D.O.J. 01.07.2026)

2026 INSC 666 click here to view full text of judgment

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Representation of the People Act: Does not apply to municipal elections

July 3, 2026 No Comments

In the matter of Chandrikaben Kishor Dafda vs. State of Gujarat & Anr. (2026 INSC 665), the Supreme Court of India addressed a challenge to a criminal proceeding initiated against an electoral candidate for failing to disclose certain immovable properties owned by her spouse in her election affidavit. The Court clarified that candidates are legally obligated to disclose assets owned by their spouses, and while the trial magistrate erred by taking cognizance solely under the Representation of the People Act (RPA)—which does not apply to municipal elections—this was deemed a curable irregularity under Section 465 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Consequently, the Court remanded the matter to the Magistrate for fresh consideration of cognizance while affirming that filing a false affidavit in an electoral process is an offense against society requiring investigation.

Background and Legal Issue

  • The Dispute: The appellant, a municipal councillor, faced a criminal complaint for allegedly suppressing the disclosure of four specific immovable properties owned by her husband in her 2015 election affidavit.
  • Procedural History: A private complaint led the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gandhidham, to issue summons for an offense under Section 125(A) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA). The High Court of Gujarat refused to quash the proceedings, leading to the current appeal.
  • Key Arguments:
    • The appellant argued that the RPA does not apply to municipal elections, the complaint was barred by limitation, and state rules did not require disclosing properties solely owned by a spouse.
    • The complainant contended that false disclosure constitutes an offense under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and that the incorrect citation of the RPA was a curable defect.

Court’s Findings

  • Disclosure Obligation: The Court examined the Gujarat Municipalities (Conduct of Elections) Rules, 1994, and clarified that the declaration form requires candidates to disclose assets held by themselves, their spouse, and dependents. The Court rejected the appellant’s interpretation, stating that properties solely owned by a spouse must indeed be disclosed.
  • Cognizance and Irregularity:
    • The Court noted that while “cognizance” is a judicial act of taking notice of an offense, taking cognizance under the wrong statutory provision is an “error, omission, or irregularity”.
    • Under Section 465 of the CrPC, such irregularities do not automatically vitiate proceedings unless they result in a “failure of justice”.
    • The Court emphasized that cognizance is taken of the offense rather than the person, and the filing of a false affidavit in an electoral process is a matter of public interest.

Final Order

  • Remand: The Court set aside the original order of cognizance and remanded the matter to the Magistrate for a fresh decision on cognizance in accordance with the law.
  • Neutrality: The Court clarified that it expressed no opinion on the merits of the case, and the remand is strictly for the purpose of correcting the procedural framework of the cognizance order.

2026 INSC 665

Chandrikaben Kishor Dafda V. State Of Gujarat & Anr. (D.O.J. 01.07.2026)

2026 INSC 665 click here to view full text of judgment

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Rejection of Plaint: Rejected on ground of limitation

July 3, 2026 No Comments

In the matter of Shobha Vasant Bhoir & Ors. vs. Soni @ Vandana Gurumukhdas Jagiasi & Ors. (2026 INSC 664), the Supreme Court of India allowed an appeal and ordered the rejection of a plaint under Order VII Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), 1908, ruling that the suit was barred by limitation. The Court emphasized that a suit for specific performance based on an unregistered agreement from 1984, filed thirty-eight years later, constitutes an abuse of the judicial process and that courts must proactively “nip in the bud” such fictitious or time-barred litigation to prevent the waste of judicial time.

  • The Subject Property: The dispute involves a plot in Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra, which was reserved for public infrastructure (a police station) in 1974, with possession handed over to authorities in 1988.
  • The Respondents’ Claim: The respondents claimed rights to the property based on an unregistered agreement to sell dated August 21, 1984.
  • Litigation History: After decades of administrative disputes regarding property allocation, the respondents filed a civil suit in 2022 seeking specific performance of the 1984 agreement.
  • Lower Court Rulings: The appellants filed applications under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC, arguing the suit was time-barred under Article 54 of the Limitation Act, 1963. Both the Trial Court and the Bombay High Court rejected these applications, prompting the current appeal.

Legal Analysis

  • Scope of Order VII Rule 11: The Supreme Court reiterated that Order VII Rule 11 serves as a “crucial filter” to terminate suits that do not disclose a cause of action or are barred by law. The Court noted that even if a plaintiff uses “clever drafting” to create an illusion of a cause of action, it is the duty of the court to “lift the veil” and reject such claims at the threshold.
  • Limitation Period: The Court highlighted that under Article 54 of the Limitation Act, the limitation period for a suit for specific performance is three years. Finding no justification for the thirty-eight-year delay in initiating the suit, the Court rejected the respondents’ argument that a recent High Court observation served as a fresh starting point for the limitation period.
  • Judicial Integrity: The Court held that a litigant who remains silent for decades cannot be permitted to file a suit as an “afterthought”.

Final Order

  • The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and set aside the High Court’s order affirming the rejection of the appellants’ application.
  • The suit filed by the respondents was dismissed as an abuse of the process of the Court.

2026 INSC 664

Shobha Vasant Bhoir & Ors. V. Soni @ Vandana Gurumukhdas Jagiasi & Ors. (D.O.J. 01.07.2026)

2026 INSC 664 click here to view full text of judgment

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