Lawwatch : Legal Resources for Advocates

Corroboration of Evidence u/s 157 of IEA

By K Rajasekharan 8 May 2024Indian Evidence Act

A former statement given by a witness before any authority legally competent to investigate the case at or about the time when the fact took place, needs to be proved to corroborate any later testimony (relating to the same fact or event) given by the witness in the court. Then the former statement is admitted as corroborative evidence when it is consistent with the later testimony, under Section 157 of the Indian Evidence Act.

Solemnization Essential to make a Hindu Marriage Valid

By K Rajasekharan 2 May 2024Family, Marriage & Divorce

The Supreme Court (SC) in Dolly Rani v. Manish Kumar Chanchal [2024 INSC 355], state's that for a Hindu marriage to be valid in law, it must be performed with the appropriate rites and ceremonies, such as saptapadi (seven steps around the sacred fire) if included, and the proof of these ceremonies is essential in case of disputes.

Police Investigation & Charge Sheet u/s 173(2) CrPC

By K Rajasekharan 2 May 2024Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC)

Investigation by police is the first stage in the criminal proceedings. It is an exclusive domain of police. It serves as a crucial step in punishing the offender. The police have unfettered powers to investigate into a cognizable offence, as per Section 156 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC).

Court can Alter or add Charge anytime Before Judgement

By K Rajasekharan 28 April 2024Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC)

The Section 216 CrPC enables a court to alter or add to any charge at any time before judgement is pronounced, and an improper or erroneous charge can also be corrected under the section by reframing it properly, says the High Court of Kerala (HCK) in Johnkutty M V v State of Kerala [2024:KER:14955 : 2024 (2) KHC 397].

Stridhan Property is Wife’s Absolute Property

By K Rajasekharan 26 April 2024Family, Marriage & Divorce

Stridhan property is essentially what is gifted to a woman before marriage, at the time of marriage or at the time of bidding of farewell or thereafter and it is an “absolute property” of a woman. The husband has no control over it and it does not become a joint property of the wife and the husband. But he can use it in times of distress and he has a “moral obligation” to restore the same or its value to his wife, says the Supreme Court (SC) in Maya Gopinath v Anoop S B [2024 INSC 334].

Indian Courts can try Offences Committed Outside India

By K Rajasekharan 24 April 2024Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC)

When any offence involving an Indian citizen is committed outside of India, the trial should not be processed with, without the prior sanction of the Central Government under Section 188 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), says Telangana High Court in two Criminal Petitions No 6110 of 2022 and 6074 of 2022.

Joinder of Charges under CrPC

By K Rajasekharan 23 April 2024Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC)

The Section 218 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) insists that there would be separate trial for separate charges and that every distinct offence a person is accused of shall be charged separately, says the High court of Kerala in Santosh @ Chandu v State [2024 (1) KLD 714] .

No Easement by Necessity if Alternate Way Exists

By K Rajasekharan 16 April 2024Civil Cases & Proceedures

The claimant of an easement right wouldn't be entitled to claim the easement right by necessity when there exists an alternative way to access the claimant’s land, apart from the way over which the easement rights were claimed, the Supreme Court (SC) says in Manish Mahendra Gala v Shalini Bhagwan Avatramani [2024 INSC 293].

Power of Attorney Holder can Depose What he Directly Knows

By K Rajasekharan 13 April 2024Uncategorized

A Power of Attorney holder can depose only about the facts within his personal knowledge, but not about those facts which he himself does not know directly, or the person whom he represents alone knows, says the Supreme court (SC) in Manisha Mahendra Gala v Shalini Bhagwan Avatramani [2024 INSC 293].

No Transfer of Property Occurs If the Transferor has no Title

By K Rajasekharan 13 April 2024Property & Succession

If someone tries to transfer property rights to another person through a legal document but doesn't actually own those rights, the new owner or their successors won't have the legal right to claim those rights from that document, says the Supreme Court in Kizhakke Vatakandiyil Madhavan (D) Thr LRS v Thiyyurkunnath Meethal Janaki [Citation : 2024 INSC 287].