Legal System

The regulatory state's fault lines: India must restore separation of powers

Regulators operate as mini-states within their domains, simultaneously exercising quasi-legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial powers

BCI warns law firms against foreign tie-ups, clarifies cross-border limits

Bar Council reiterates that foreign law firms cannot practise Indian law, warns against joint branding or alliances that create the appearance of integrated operations

Justice in India: Cost, language, and distance keep millions unheard

Justice in India remains unequal as cost, language, and distance exclude millions - but reforms in legal aid, technology, and regional languages can make the system more inclusive

Summonses issued to Saluja's lawyers cause unrest among legal fraternity

The legal fraternity raises alarms after ED summons senior advocates Datar and Venugopal over advice in the Religare-Care Health ESOP case, citing threats to legal independence

Centre drafts new rules for gas meters under legal metrology framework

These rules make it mandatory for all gas meters used for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes to undergo testing, verification and stamping prior to their use in trade and commerce

Trump sues Iowa newspaper, alleges fraud in pre-election polling results

Trump alleges election interference and fraud over Des Moines Register poll

SC to hear matter related to effect of stay orders on trials' pace on Dec 9

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a suo motu matter related to adverse effect of stay orders granted by the appellate courts on the pace of trials. As per the cause list of December 9 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar is slated to hear a matter titled "In Re: Adverse effect of stay orders granted by appellate courts on the pace of trials, despite parameters for grant of such stays, laid down by this court". The apex court, while dealing with a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in November 2021, had flagged the issue of stay orders granted by the appellate courts and the pace of trial getting adversely affected. "The second aspect with which we find ourselves concerned is the stay orders granted by the appellate courts and thus the pace of trial getting adversely affected, despite this Court having laid down parameters for grant of such stays," the top court had said in

National Legal Services Day 2024: Celebrating equal access to justice

Every year on November 9, we celebrate National Legal Services Day. It emphasises on the value of equitable access to justice and the empowerment of marginalised populations

Legal system reform: Kerala HC's '24x7 ON Court' an important early step

We may hope for deeper process transformation over many years through the journey of political economy, consultation, and scientific research

China Evergrande liquidators sue PwC for 'negligence', 'misrepresentation'

China Evergrande defaulted on more than $300 billion of its international debts in 2021, triggering a financial crisis within China's property sector

Over 11.3 million cases settled in first National Lok Adalat of 2024

In a significant stride towards fostering an accessible and inclusive justice system, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) successfully organised the first National Lok Adalat of 2024 in the taluks, districts and high courts of 34 states and Union territories on Saturday. According to information from the state legal services authorities from across the country as of 6 pm on Saturday, a total of 1,13,60,144 cases were settled at the first National Lok Adalat, including 17,14,056 pending cases and 96,46,088 pre-litigation cases. "The approximate value of the total settlement amount in these cases was Rs 8,065.29 crore. The number of settled cases will rise as reports are awaited from some State Legal Services Authorities," a release said. It added that the figures show the effectiveness of alternative mechanisms for dispute resolution, reflecting the success of the National Lok Adalat in achieving its objectives. "This National Lok Adalat marks a pivotal moment in NALSA's .

Attorney General Venkataramani calls for Indo-US collaborative law platform

He was of the view that Indians have been playing a significant role in the American economy and also have taken up major roles in the country's legal sector

Need to make justice system flexible to deal with new challenges: PM Modi

Noting that criminals have been using the latest technology for funding and operating across regions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday pitched for expanding cooperation between countries for investigation and justice delivery. He also said cooperation can happen even while respecting each other's jurisdiction and asserted that when nations work together, jurisdiction becomes a tool to deliver justice, not delay it. The rise of cryptocurrency and cyber threats presents new challenges and there is a need for making the justice delivery system more flexible and adaptable, he said. Speaking at the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) - Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference (CASGC) here, he said countries already work with each other in the domain of air traffic control and maritime traffic, and advocated extending this to investigation and justice delivery. "When we work together then jurisdiction becomes a tool to deliver justice and not to delay

'Right to protest' under threat in UK, undermining a pillar of democracy

For holding a sign outside a courthouse reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants, a retiree faces up to two years in prison. For hanging a banner reading Just Stop Oil off a bridge, an engineer got a three-year sentence. Just for walking slowly down the street, scores of people have been arrested. They are among hundreds of environmental activists arrested for peaceful demonstrations in the UK, where tough new laws restrict the right to protest. The Conservative government says the laws prevent extremist activists from hurting the economy and disrupting daily life. Critics say the arrests mark a worrying departure. The government has made its intent very clear, which is basically to suppress what is legitimate, lawful protest," said Jonathon Porritt, an ecologist and former director of Friends of the Earth. A PATCHWORK DEMOCRACY Britain is one of the world's oldest democracies, home of the Magna Carta, a centuries-old Parliament and an independent judiciary. That syste

A young mind has the potential to fight the world and setup an example for the youth!

.

Parliament repealing archaic laws, enacting new statutes: Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said denial of legal aid creates an existential challenge to the vulnerable, and said affirmative initiatives and policies can help overcome such problems faced by the weaker sections. He also said that the Global South should shed the shackles of its colonial past and strive together to reverse the historical wrongs that have perpetuated injustice and inequality. "Time has come to follow India's example and emulate the same ... Our country is in the process and legislations are under consideration of Parliament that will bring about sea change in our outlook and totally curb and contain those exploitative provisions in procedure and penology," he said. The vice president was apparently referring to three bills which seek to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act. Addressing the first regional conference on "Ensuring Access to Quality Legal Aid for the Vulnerable: Challenges and Opportunities in the Global South," he said Parliament has

UK antitrust regulator to tailor rules for Big Tech with new legal power

The proposed "Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers" law, whose powers were originally intended to come into force in 2022, will give the unit the "teeth" to underpin its remit

Judges must not use protocol facilities in way that leads to criticism: CJI

Protocol facilities made available to judges should not be used in a manner which causes inconvenience to others or brings public criticism to the judiciary, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud has said in a letter to the chief justices of all the high courts. The CJI in his letter expressed displeasure over a recent incident in which a judge of the Allahabad High Court sought explanation from railway authorities for "not meeting his requirements" during a train journey. "A Judge of the High Court does not possess disciplinary jurisdiction over railway personnel. Hence, there was no occasion for an officer of the High Court to call for an explanation from the railway personnel 'to be placed before His Lordship for kind perusal'. "Evidently, the officer of the High Court in the above communication was carrying out a direction of the Judge of the High Court in this instance ('the Hon'ble Judge has desired')," the CJI said in the letter dated July 19. In his letter, Chandrachud said ...

Govt sets up panel to recommend arbitration law reforms bed by Vishwanathan

Amid a push for making India a hub for international arbitration, the government has set up an expert panel led by former law secretary T K Vishwanathan to recommend reforms in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act with an aim to reduce the burden on courts. Attorney General N Venkataramani is also part of the expert committee set up by the Department of Legal Affairs in the Union law ministry. Law ministry additional secretary Rajiv Mani, some senior advocates, representatives of private law firms, and officials of the Legislative Department, Niti Aayog, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), railways and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) are its other members. According to the terms of reference for the committee, it will evaluate and analyse the operation of the present arbitration ecosystem of the country, including the working of the Arbitration Act, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses and challenges vis-a-vis other important foreign jurisdictions. The panel ha

No legal system can keep raking up resolved issues repeatedly: SC

The Supreme Court has said that no legal system can have a scenario where someone keeps on raking up an issue repeatedly once it is resolved at the highest level and termed it a "complete wastage of the judicial time". The remarks came as the apex court dismissed with a cost of Rs 10,000 a plea filed by a man noting that he was dismissed from service and the matter stood closed in 2004. It noted that a review petition in the matter was also rejected. A bench of Justice S K Kaul and Justice Aravind Kumar said the petitioner has not filed a curative plea but a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution claiming that injustice has been done to him and the matter should be reopened. Article 32 of the Constitution gives individuals the right to move the Supreme Court for justice when they feel their fundamental rights have been infringed. "No legal system can have a scenario where a person keeps on raking up the issue again and again once it is resolved at the highest level. Th