Withdrawal from Mutual Divorce after Settlement

Posted inFamily, Marriage & Divorce
Unilateral withdrawal of consent by the respondent, especially after the appellant has performed his part of the terms in the memorandum of agreement cannot be permitted or tolerated even for a moment, says the High Court of Kerala (HC) in a Matrimonial Appeal relating to Mutual Consent Divorce Such a unilateral withdrawal of consent by the respondent would shatter the faith of the litigants in the justice delivery system and make alternative dispute resolution mechanism a mockery. Such a practice is unsustainable in law.

Sanction not Required to Prosecute Public Servants in ex facie Criminal Acts Under PC Act

Posted inPrevention of Corruption Act, Sanction to Prosecute Govt Servant
No prior sanction of the government is required, under section 17A of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PC Act), for offences like falsification of accounts, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds or acts which are ex facie criminal in nature. The Kerala High Court held this in Shankara Bhat v. State of Kerala & Ors, while deciding a few connected matters.

Granting NOC by Criminal Courts for getting Passports

Posted inCriminal Laws & Procedures
The High Court of Kerala in Thadevoose Sebastian v The Regional Passport Office says that the grant of permission by the Magistrate enabling an accused to travel abroad will be of great significance, especially since it will be a process of balancing the fundamental right of a citizen to travel abroad and the need to ensure the presence of the accused during trial.

Rejection of Plaint under O 7 Rule 1 of the CPC

Posted inCivil Cases & Proceedures
The object of rejection of plaint is to weed out frivolous, vexatious and improper plaints at the very outset. Institution of a suit is by presentation of plaint in the manner prescribed by law in Order 6 and 7 of the Civil Procedures Code (CPC). A plaint shall not be duly instituted unless it complies with the requirements specified in Order 4 of the CPC. The court shall ensure entering the particulars of every suit in a register of civil suits and number them in every year in a serial order as the plaints are admitted.

Sexual Intercourse without Consent is Rape

Posted inCriminal Laws & Procedures
Sexual intercourse of a man with a woman against her will or without her free consent is rape under, Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The consent should be an unequivocal voluntary agreement of the woman by words, gesture or any form of verbal or non-verbal communication, by which she communicates her willingness to participate in the sexual act in question.