Acquitting a former Railway Protection Force officer convicted of taking bribes for transfers and postings through intermediaries, the Supreme Court held that proof of money reaching an intermediary does not, by itself, establish that the public servant demanded or accepted it. It stressed that approver testimony needs independent corroboration, and that the Section 20 presumption arises only once the foundational facts of demand and acceptance by the accused are proved.
The Supreme Court held that injuries caused by a falling tree branch on a stationary autorickshaw do not automatically qualify as a motor vehicle accident. However, invoking Article 142, the Court enhanced compensation for the claimant, emphasizing that a proximate connection between the vehicle and accident is necessary.
N Kotiswar Singh of the Supreme Court of India said India’s nearly 5 crore pending cases reflect the country’s “legal health” and highlight deep systemic challenges in the justice system. Speaking at a conference, he stressed the need to analyse the causes of pendency and push reforms, while also highlighting the growing role of arbitration in dispute resolution.
