Lawwatch : Legal Resources for Learners -

Laws are Prospective but Case Laws are Retrospective

By K Rajasekharan 6 March 2025Criminal lawNo Comments

A law made by the legislature is always prospective in nature unless it has been specifically stated in the statute itself about its retrospective operation. But the reverse is true for the law which is laid down by a Constitutional Court, or law as it is interpretated by the court. The judgment of the court will always be retrospective in nature unless the judgment itself specifically states that the judgment will operate prospectively, says the Supreme Court (SC) in Kaniskh Sinha v State of West Bengal [2025 INSC 278].

Conviction Solely on the Evidence of Handwriting Expert Would be Hazardous

By K Rajasekharan 5 March 2025Criminal lawNo Comments

The Supreme Court (SC) reaffirms that basing a conviction solely on the opinion of a handwriting expert’s evidence without substantial corroboration would be hazardous, in C. Kamalakkannan v State Of Tamil Nadu [2025 INSC 309].

In DV Act, the Party need not be Personally Present

By K Rajasekharan 4 March 2025Family, Marriage & DivorceNo Comments

The proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (DV Act) is basically civil in nature. Therefore there is no requirement for a party to be personally present as such proceedings are quasi-criminal in nature, says the SC in Vishal Shah v Monalisha Gupta & Others.

Law Relating to Conversion of Paddy or Wetland in Kerala

By K Rajasekharan 4 March 2025Civil lawNo Comments

The owner or the person in custody of any paddy land or wet land in Kerala shall not have any power to convert or reclaim such lands, since the enactment of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 (2008 Act) on 12th August 2008 and the allied rules enacted in 2008. The removal of sand from wetland is also prohibited by the 2008 Act. However, there are two exceptions to this general rule. One is that the owner of the land can seek permission to convert paddy land and construct a residence, and the other is conversion of land for public purposes.

No Deemed Sanction u/s 197 CrPC but it is there under BNSS

By K Rajasekharan 27 February 2025Criminal lawNo Comments

BNSS has the concept of deemed sanction The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), unlike the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), provides for the concept of deemed sanction for prosecuting a public servant.

SC Summarises the Law relating to Child witnesses

By K Rajasekharan 24 February 2025Evidence lawNo Comments

The Supreme Court (SC), in The State of Madhya Pradesh v Balveer Singh [2025 INSC 261], says that the testimony of a seven-year-old child witness cannot be dismissed outright because, under Section 118 of the Evidence Act, and a child is competent to testify if they can understand the questions and provide rational answers.

Attachment of Property under BUDS Act

By K Rajasekharan 16 February 2025Civil law

The delay in filing application for confirmation of the provisional attachment of property by the Competent Authority, under Section 14(1) of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes (BUDS) Act, 2019 (BUDS Act), to the Designated Court cannot be condoned, as Section 5 of the Limitation Act is not applicable to the Section, says the High Court of Kerala, in paragraph 19 in the judgement in Highrich Online Shoppe Private Limited v The Competent Authority.

If Reason for Arrest not Informed Court must Grant Bail

By K Rajasekharan 13 February 2025Criminal law

Informing an arrested person clearly and effectively of the grounds for his/her arrest is a fundamental right under Article 22(1) of the Constitution and the right to live with dignity is a part of the rights guaranteed under Article 21, says the Supreme Court (SC) in Vihaan Kumar v The State of Haryana & Another [2025 INSC 162].

Principles to Prove Execution & Validity of a Will: SC

By K Rajasekharan 12 February 2025Property & Succession

The Supreme Court (SC) has laid down following requirements for the execution of a valid Will, under Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (ISA), in Meena Pradhan & Others v Kamala Pradhan & Another [2023INSC847].

Indigence is the Sole Criteria for Compassionate Appointment

By K Rajasekharan 12 February 2025Constitutional law

The Supreme Court (SC), in Canara Bank v Ajithkumar G K [2025 INSC 184], says indigence of the dependants of the deceased employee is the fundamental condition to be satisfied under any scheme for appointment on compassionate ground.

SC will Decide Whether the Court can Modify the Arbitral Award u/s 34 of the A C Act

By K Rajasekharan 11 February 2025Civil law

The issue whether the Principal District Courts can modify arbitral awards under Section 34 and Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (A C Act) has led to conflicting decision of the Supreme Court.

If the Appellant Accused dies the Imprisonment Abates but the Fine Survives

By K Rajasekharan 8 February 2025Criminal law

The Supreme Court (SC), in Ramesh (deceased) v The State of Kerala, says if the accused-appellant dies during the pendency of a criminal appeal against a composite sentence of imprisonment and fine, the appeal does not abate. The Section 394 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) deals with abatement of appeals.