1. The testimony of the minor victim, if found cogent, consistent, and trustworthy, is sufficient to form the basis of conviction without the need for independent corroboration. Where the evidence withstands cross-examination and inspires confidence, it must be accorded full evidentiary value.

2. Acquittal of accused in a mass attack on CRPF personnel upheld due to lack of direct evidence, incomplete circumstantial proof, procedural lapses in investigation, and failure to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, despite the gravity of the offence.

3. In a claim case filed under the Employee’s Compensation Act, 1923, the purpose of wage determination under the said Act is to arrive at a realistic and fair compensation and not to confine it artificially to outdated ceilings, particularly when contemporaneous material indicates higher prevailing wages.

4. Capital punishment can be imposed only in the rarest of rare cases. Where this stringent threshold is not met, the sentence of death is required to be commuted to imprisonment for life, with a further direction that such imprisonment for life shall continue for the entirety of the convict’s natural life.

5. In absence of a proven nexus between the accused and the alleged offence, and where the evidence only raises suspicion without establishing essential ingredients of the crime, conviction cannot be recorded and the benefit of doubt would go to the accused.

6. Non-compliance with Sections 42, 50 and 52-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, by itself does not vitiate the prosecution case unless prejudice is shown or the recovery itself becomes doubtful. Procedural safeguards cannot override substantive proof, and where recovery, possession and chain of custody stand duly established through cogent evidence, conviction can be sustained not with standing such lapses.

7. A "related" witness, who is also an injured witness, who may be naturally present at the scene of the crime, his testimony should not be dismissed simply because of his relationship to the victim and the Court must assess the reliability, consistency, and coherence of his statement rather than labeling him as untrustworthy.

8. Where a DNA test has been conducted following due procedure, with proper sampling and preservation, and there is no material to suggest tempering, contamination, or procedural irregularities, the result thereof carry significant evidentiary value and ought to be accepted. Mere conjectures or unfounded doubts are insufficient to discard DNA test findings. Court must accord due primacy to reliable scientific evidence unless its credibility is substantially dented.

9. Where the prosecution fails to conclusively establish the minority of the victim, the provisions of the POCSO Act may not be attracted. However, if the evidence on record, particularly the consistent and trustworthy testimony of the victim, duly corroborated by medical evidence (MLC) and forensic science laboratory (FSL) report indicating presence of seminal stains and human sperm on the victim’s body and clothing, establishes that she was abducted and subjected to sexual assault by multiple accused acting in furtherance of a common intention, conviction under Sections 366 and 376D IPC is fully sustainable. Absence of injuries or a conclusive medical opinion does not negate the offence, and each accused, being part of the group, is constructively liable for the act of gang rape irrespective of individual role.

10. Properties acquired prior to the alleged offence are not automatically immune from attachment under the PMLA. The definition of “proceeds of crime” under Section 2(1)(u) includes not only tainted property but also its equivalent value, reflecting a broad legislative intent. Where the actual proceeds are unavailable or untraceable, authorities may attach other properties of equivalent value, even if lawfully acquired or purchased earlier. Such attachment aims to prevent offenders from retaining the economic benefits of crime.