Much ado about nothing?

In a landmark decision, India’s Supreme Court upheld the rejection of a patent covering Novartis’s famed anticancer drug Glivec on the ground that it was no more than an insignificant variation over an existing pharmaceutical substance.As expected, the decision fuelled an already polarized debate around pharmaceutical patents, innovation and public health. While industry enthusiasts decried the decision for its wanton disregard of innovation incentives; public health activists and patient groups...

Banking System: Catching Up With The New Age Methods

IntroductionEmpowered by the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) Act, 1934 and the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, RBI has taken several initiatives in the recent past for ensuring development of technical and institutional infrastructure to meet the electronic payment system and banking needs of the country. With the increasing usage of mobile phones, mobile banking has become the latest banking method. In addition, for e-commerce transactions a gradual shift to cashless and online payments...

Two out of Thirty; What Ratio is it My Lord?

On 17th March 2013, PTI reported a news item from Allahabad under the caption, “A nation that does not respect its women can never prosper: Chief Justice of India”. The report quotes, “A nation which cannot ensure respect for its women, can never prosper. It is heartening to see that women are coming to the forefront in all walks of life”. The Chief Justice of India said this on the sidelines of a function organized by the Allahabad High Court on the 150thbirth anniversary of renowned...

I contradict myself, I am large, I contain the multitude

Assurance of a fair trial is the first imperative of the dispensation of Justice. An accused is entitled to a fair trial which is a part of his fundamental right as guaranteed under Art.21 of the Constitution of India. Fairness in trial is also a human right recognized by Art. 10 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Art.14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 and Art.6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms...