Topic
Bombay HC suspends life imprisonment of a murder convict during appeal after 22 years on bail, citing excessive trial duration and prior bail status. Court grants parity bail to accused despite serious charges, emphasizing procedural delays and equitable considerations.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court suspended the life sentence of an appellant convicted under Sections 302/149 IPC, finding a prima facie case of over-implication and reasonable prospects of success on appeal. This reinforces that suspension under CrPC 389 is not barred by the gravity of conviction alone, especially where evidence suggests misattribution of fatal injury to a co-accused and no direct link to the homicide.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that no demolition can proceed while an appeal against a municipal order is pending, directing the District Magistrate to decide the appeal within three months. This reinforces that procedural fairness under the U.P. Municipalities Act requires suspension of coercive action until appellate review, protecting property rights against arbitrary enforcement by local bodies.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that executing a possession warrant under Section 250 of the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code before the appellate authority hears the stay application violates natural justice. The SDO must decide the stay application within 15 days, and possession cannot be disturbed until then - protecting landholders from irreversible dispossession during pending appeals.