Criminal law

Normally, quashing of criminal proceedings would be sought and done in exercise of the inherent power of the High Court under Section 482 Code of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC). But, that does not mean that it could not be done in invocation of the extraordinary power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, says the Supreme Court ( SC) in Kim Wansoo v State of Uttar Pradesh & Others [2025 INSC 8].

The Supreme Court says in Naresh Kumar & Anr. v The State of Karnataka & Anr [2024 INSC 196] that the High Court should not hesitate in quashing such criminal proceedings which are essentially of a civil nature.

The prosecution of the offence of perjury or forgery coming under Section 195 Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) as the part of judicial proceedings can be done by a special procedure provided under 340 of the Criminal Procedure code, 1973 (CrPC).

The Supreme Court, in Arjun s/o Ratan Gaikwad v The State of Maharashtra & Another [2024 INSC 968], says preventive detention is a harsh measure, which cannot be invoked against every alleged breach of peace. The power can be invoked only when the act of the proposed detainee had a tendency of disturbing "public order”.

The Supreme Court (SC) Issued detailed procedural guidelines to be followed by the executive as well as the judiciary for handling mercy petitions and execution of death sentences so as to prevent delays in the process, in its judgement in State of Maharashtra and Others v Pradeep Yashwant Kokade and Another with Connected Case [ 2024 INSC 947].

The Supreme Court (SC) says, in Priya Indoria v State of Karnataka, that High Courts and Sessions Court have power to grant interim/transit anticipatory bail even when the First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in another State.

An Original Petition (OP) under Article 227 of the Constitution is not possible against an appellate order issued by the Court of Session under Section 29 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (DV Act), but what is possible is a Criminal Revision Petition under Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) as stated in Kunjumon C K v State of Kerala [ 2024 (6) KHC 45].

While considering discharge of an accused, the documents which form part of the charge sheet alone can be used, but not the ones which were never part of it, says the Supreme Court (SC) in Rajnish Kumar Biswakarma v State of NCT of Delhi & Another.

A person’s simple refusal to marry a lady would not amount to instigation to commit suicide, says the Supreme Court (SC) in Kamaruddin Dastagir v State of Karnataka [2024 INSC 908]. The broken relationships, while emotionally difficult, do not necessarily amount to abetment of suicide unless there is evidence of intent to commit a criminal act.

Two different versions of the same incident resulting into two criminal cases are described as “case and counter case” by some High Courts or just “cross cases” by some others, says the High Court of Kerala in Faizal v State of Kerala [2024 (3) KHC 322].