Author: Anvita Dwivedi
In a significant ruling addressing disputes arising from the 2016 demonetization exercise, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has held Axis Bank guilty of deficiency in service for refusing to accept demonetized currency deposits from a customer despite the account being fully KYC-compliant. The Commission directed the bank to compensate the complainant company to the tune of ₹3.19 crore along with interest, marking one of the notable consumer rulings related to the demonetization period. The order was passed by a bench comprising Presiding Member AVM J. Rajendra and Member Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, which held that a bank cannot…
In a recent development arising from protests during the India AI Impact Summit, a Delhi court has granted interim protection from arrest to a designer accused of creating T-shirts used by demonstrators during the event. The order came from the Patiala House Courts, where the accused approached the court seeking anticipatory bail amid an ongoing investigation by the police. Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal of the Patiala House Courts granted interim relief to Umesh Chandra Padala, who allegedly designed the T-shirts worn by protestors at the summit. The case is titled State of Delhi v. Umesh Chandra Padala & Anr.…
In a significant ruling clarifying the functioning of tribunal benches in corporate disputes, the Supreme Court of India has held that an order passed by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) cannot be declared invalid merely because the bench deciding the matter had a majority of technical members. The Court emphasised that the present statutory framework governing the tribunal does not mandate that judicial members must outnumber technical members. The ruling came while the Court was hearing appeals arising from a dispute relating to the reduction of share capital of Bharti Telecom Limited, where minority shareholders had challenged the…
In a development that has sparked a significant debate on academic freedom and institutional integrity, the Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of a controversial chapter in a Class 8 Social Science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) which referred to “corruption in the judiciary.” The Court’s intervention has led to contempt proceedings and a nationwide withdrawal of the textbook, highlighting the judiciary’s concern over how institutional credibility is portrayed in school curricula. The issue came to light when senior lawyers flagged the contents of the textbook before the Court. Disturbed…
In a significant ruling touching upon the delicate intersection of constitutional rights, medical ethics and end-of-life care, the Supreme Court of India has permitted the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for a man who has remained in a permanent vegetative state for more than a decade. The decision is being viewed as one of the most concrete applications of the constitutional principle that the right to live with dignity under Article 21 also encompasses the right to die with dignity in exceptional circumstances. The case concerned Harish Rana, a resident of Ghaziabad who suffered severe brain injuries in 2013 after a…
Legal technology platform Case Mine has announced the launch of “AMICUS AI -Advanced,” an upgraded artificial intelligence model designed to assist lawyers with complex legal research, document analysis, and drafting tasks. The new system represents the company’s most sophisticated AI tool so far and reflects the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern legal practice. The upgraded model builds on CaseMine’s earlier AI assistant, AMICUS AI, which enables lawyers to interact with legal databases through conversational prompts. By analysing case law, statutes, and legal documents, the platform aims to provide structured insights that help practitioners navigate complex legal questions more…
In a fresh development in the high-profile Delhi excise policy litigation, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to expunge certain adverse observations made by a trial court while discharging the accused in the alleged liquor policy corruption case. The matter was heard by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who directed the respondents to file their replies and indicated that the issue would be considered along with connected proceedings relating to the discharge order. The controversy stems from a February 27 order passed by a special court at Rouse Avenue,…
In a significant development concerning free speech and criminal prosecution arising from social media commentary, the Supreme Court of India has made absolute the interim protection from arrest granted to folk singer Neha Singh Rathore in connection with a criminal case registered over her social media posts following the Pahalgam terror attack. A bench comprising J. K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar confirmed the protection while hearing Rathore’s plea challenging the refusal of anticipatory bail by the Allahabad High Court. The Court directed that the singer shall continue to cooperate with the investigation, noting that she had already appeared before…
In a significant hearing touching upon the intersection of personal laws, gender equality, and constitutional principles, the Supreme Court of India observed that the issue of alleged discrimination against Muslim women in inheritance under Shariat law raises serious concerns but may ultimately require legislative intervention through a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The remarks came while a bench comprising Surya Kant, Joymalya Bagchi, and R. Mahadevan heard a writ petition challenging provisions of Muslim personal law governing inheritance as discriminatory against women. The petition before the Court challenges aspects of inheritance governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937,…
Recent developments in trade relations between India and the United States have highlighted the complex strategic calculations that shape modern economic diplomacy. While both countries continue to describe their partnership as a cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific order, the ongoing tariff disputes and negotiations reveal deeper economic and geopolitical undercurrents influencing bilateral trade policy. A Trade Relationship Marked by Cooperation and Tension The United States and India share one of the world’s fastest-growing economic partnerships, with trade in goods and services expanding rapidly over the past decade. Yet the relationship has also been punctuated by periodic trade disputes, particularly over tariffs…