Articles
Beyond The Void: The Vanishing Art Of Friendship In A Hyper-Connected World
My childhood friend recently forwarded me a message from a social media platform titled “The Friendship Recession” discussing the decline in meaningful friendships. Around the same time, during a casual chat, my wife brought up an important issue raised by our son. At 21 years old, he expressed frustration over his inability to form emotionally binding friendships despite his best efforts over the last three years in college. He shared that those he considered close friends had moved on to...
The Supreme Court Can Reduce Its Pendency: Here's How
Livelaw is starting a series on the pendency of cases in the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, Tribunals and Trial Courts. This article is one of the first in the series with regard to the Supreme Court of India. Livelaw invites stakeholders to participate in this endeavour by submitting their articles to – columns@livelaw.inCurrently, 81,712 cases are pending in the Supreme Court of India. The Court's immense pendency increases the time citizens must wait for their...
Amidst The Rush Of Robes, She Remains: The Story Of Usha Devi At Allahabad High Court
While waiting for my case to be heard at the Allahabad High Court, I met Usha Devi in the court corridors—a woman whose kindness has touched countless lives. For years, she has been selflessly serving free water to everyone who passes by, from advocates, litigants and even to judges. Last week, I had the opportunity to appear in a matter before the Allahabad High Court, which has a grand structure which stands in the heart of Allahabad (now Prayagraj). The route to the High Court is...
Balancing Protection And Autonomy: Rethinking POCSO's Approach To Adolescent Relationships
On February 17th, this year, Bombay High Court granted bail to an accused under POCSO Act on the ground that the sexual act was consensual and the fourteen year old victim was fully capable to consent. The order rationalizes the statutory provisions of POCSO to make space for sexual autonomy of minors.On February 17th this year, the Bombay High Court passed an order granting bail to an accused charged under sections 4, 6, 8 of the POCSO Act for raping a minor girl. Notwithstanding the fact that...
Launch Of Status Of Policing Report In India Report 2025: Police Torture And (Un)Accountability- Event Report
Common Cause in joint efforts with Lokniti – Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) released the 6th edition of the Status of Policing Report in India Report 2025: Police Torture and (Un)Accountability (SPIR) at India International Centre- Annexe on 26th March. The report launch was followed by a panel discussion on “Police Torture and Accountability: Where are the Safeguards?”. Justice S. Muralidhar, former Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court, delivered the keynote address. Ms...
The Inimitable Supreme Court Practice
We Advocates on Record seem to be going through an existential crisis these days. We are being subject to lot of criticism and are facing a lot of flak in the courts, among the other advocates, in the social media and among the public. Every day we are faced with questions like 'Why is it that we require an Advocate on Record?' Why can't all Advocates be permitted to file directly in the Supreme Court? Why have another class of Advocates? These are very relevant questions regarding the...
Hidden Cost Of Algorithms: Addressing Supra-Competitive Prices In Non-Collusive Settings
If you've ever tried booking a flight or a cab online, only to make a mistake and go back to the first step to reselect your option, you might notice that the prices suddenly differ from what you started with a few minutes ago. What you've experienced is the effect of an advanced pricing algorithm in action.Flights and cab services like Uber extensively use algorithmic pricing. This allows them to quickly react to the changing dynamics of the market in real-time, based on factors like supply and...
Balancing Reform And Responsibility: Rethinking Land Conversion Policies
The Gujarat Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1948 (hereinafter referred as “the Act”) was enacted with the primary objective of protecting the rights of the tenants by ensuring equitable land distribution in the state. The act regulates the use of agricultural land in Gujarat. Section 63 of the Act bars the transfer of agricultural land to non-agriculturists. However, there is an ongoing discussion regarding the relaxation of agricultural land laws in Gujarat, and whether non-agriculturists...
Grabbing Breasts, Breaking Clothes And Dragging Into A Culvert Is Not Enough For Attempt To Rape?
On 26th March 2025, the Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognizance [Suo Moto Writ Petition Criminal No. 01 of 2025] against a recent insensitive judgment of the High Court of Judicature ('HCt') at Allahabad, which arose after a letter was written by the “We the Women of India”. The bench comprising Justice B.G. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih, while granting a stay on the concerned paragraphs of the judgment, held that “observations are unknown to the cannons of law and depict totally...
A (Cautious) Case For AI In Legal Research
G. K. Chesterton in Miscellany of Men, offers the readers an insight of a modern intellectual (a character in the story) contemptuously speaking of a creature called 'Man' with 'no fur or feather' in the following words,“I doubt if such an animal is worth preserving,” he says. “He must eventually go under in the cosmic struggle when pitted against well-armoured and warmly protected species, who have wings and trunks and spires and scales and horns and shaggy hair. If Man cannot live without...
Legal Battles Faced By Punjab Government Under Former Advocate General Gurminder Singh's Tenure
During the 18-month tenure of former Advocate General Gurminder Singh(who recently resigned as the AG), the Punjab government witnessed several significant developments and challenges in the Courtroom. From the farmers' protest to the accusation of abuse of power by ruling party in Elections, Singh played a pivotal role in the state's legal battles. Here is a look back at the legal developments during the former AG's tenure and the challenges that lie ahead.ElectionsOne of the most challenging...