All courts - 1959 December

Criminal law-Murder—Misdirection and non-direction—Ambiguous dying declarations—No direction as to absence of opportunity for cross-examination of statements-Reference in judgment to depositions which were not put in evidence—Evidence Ordinance (Cap. 9), s. 30 (U.). 

Criminal law—Evidence—Admissibility—Deposition—Deponent not available to give evidence at trial—Admissibility of deposition-Whether deposition is included in the words "testimony of a witness" in Evidence Ordinance (Cap. 9), s. 155 (U.). 
 

Criminal law-Practice-Irregularity—Neither complaint nor charge sheet signed by magistrate—Summons signed by magistrate with copy of charges annexed thereto served on accused—Whether irregularity is fatal to conviction-Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 27), s. 89 (3), s. 89 (4) and s. 381 (K.).

Building contract-Contract specifying the amount for labour but subject to final check of measurement of building area—Whether the contract is an entire contract or a lump sum contract—Whether cause of action accrues before the final check of the measurement. 
Building contract—Alleged defective work—Onus of proof-Completion required within a certain date—Additional work ordered later-Waiver—Indian Contract Act, 1872, s. 63

Practice-Review-Application for summary judgment attendance of defendants- Judgment entered- Judgment set aside by magistrate exercising powers of review under O. 44-Civil Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 5), s. 80 and s. 81 (1) (K.)—Civil Procedure (Revised) Rules, 1948, O. IX r. 10 and r. 24, O. XXXV, O. XLIV r. 1 (K.)—Indian Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, s. 114, O. 47, r. 1. 
 

Criminal law-Murder—Trial—Assessors—Accused not asked if he objected to any assessor-Whether opportunity to object should be given.

Contract-Unenforceable transaction—Credit to an African—Claim by building contractor for work done and materials supplied. Whether work done constituted “services of a professional nature” — Credit to Natives (Restriction) Ordinance (Cap. 75) (T.). 
 

Mohamedan law-Wakf—Adopted daughters and their issue named as bene- ficiaries Whether words “divided” and “take" constitute absolute gifts of income-No specific mention that income was for maintenance and support of beneficiaries—Illusory nature of gift to religion and charity—Whether court has jurisdiction to declare wakf void ab initio or order wakf property to revert to settlor's estate—Whether adopted child included in the word “family” in s. 4 (1) (a) of Wakf Commissioners Ordinance, 1951—Meaning of "either wholly or partly”—Wakf Commissioners Ordinance, 1951, 
3 (1), s. 4, s. 4 (1) (a), s. 13, s. 16, s. 18, and s. 21 (K.)—Mussalman Wakf Validating Act of India, 1913, s. 3. S. 
Evidence-Wakf—No specific mention in deed that gift of income was for maintenance and support of beneficiaries—Whether extraneous evidence admissible to prove intention of settlor—Indian Evidence Act, 1872, s. 91. Judgment-Judicial decision as authority—When a decision is per incuriam. 

Criminal Law-Murder-Misdirection—Provocation—Burden of proof-Intent -Penal Code s.202 (T.). 
 

Discovery-Interrogatories-Action against many defendants-Failure to state which defendants required to answer interrogatories-Whether all defendants would answer all interrogatories, costs likely to be saved-Whether the procedure adopted was reasonable-Discretion of judge-Civil Procedure (Revised) Rules, 1948, O. X, r. 1, r. 2 and r. 3 (K.). 
 

purchase-Amount of compensation-Existence of railway line in vicinity of land acquired-Re-alignment of railway line in prospect-No evidence produced by objectors to challenge Collector's award—Burden of proving award incorrect—Indian Land Acquisition Act, 1894, s. 18, s. 23, s. 24, s. 26 (2)—Civil Procedure Ordinance, s. 2, s. 66 and s. 75 (K.). Practice-Compulsory purchase—Appeal—Whether award of court on reference、 
by Collector is a decree or order—Whether leave to appeal from award necessary-Indian Land Acquisition (Amendment) Act, 1921-Civil Procedure (Revised) Rules, 1948, O. XLII, r. 1 (K.).

Street traffic-Public service vehicle—Joint owners -Evidence of ownership— Traffic Ordinance, 1953, s. 106 (K.). 
Street traffic-Public service vehicle-Order of prohibition issued by inspector of vehicles-Condition of vehicle dangerous-Vehicle used on road —Owner charged with permitting use and using—Scienter-When offence absolute— Traffic Ordinance, 1953, s. 2, s. 52 (1), s. 55 (1), s. 92, s. 103, s. 106 (K.)— Transport Licensing Ordinance (Cap. 237), s. 21 (K.)—Indian Evidence Act, 1872, s. 105. 
 

Mohamedan law—Divorce—Divorce by “Khoola”—Onus of proof of divorce–
Non-registration of divorce-Jurisdiction of Cadi's Court-Mohamedan Marriage and Registration Ordinance (Cap. 147), s. 9 and s. 24 (K.)— Civil Procedure (Revised) Rules, 1948, O. XVII, r. 6 (K.)

Landlord and tenant-Crown lease containing terms that the building should be erected by a specified time—Whether term is a covenant or condition—Whether the court can grant relief against forfeiture-Crown Lands Ordinance (Cap. 155), s. 3, s. 5, s. 14, s. 15, s. 16, s. 17, s. 21, s. 36, s. 37, s. 38, s. 39, s. 47, 
s. 63, s. 64, s. 76, s. 77, s. 83, s. 84, s. 86, s. 157 (K.)—Registration of Titles Ordinance (Cap. 160), s. 1 (2), s. 2, s. 20, s. 21 (K.)—Crown Lands Ordinance, 1902, s. 12, s. 13, s. 14, s. 15, s. 16, s. 18 (K.)—Conveyancing Act, 1881, s. 14.