Employment Agreement Is Valid Proof of Right: Delhi High Court Sets Aside Patent Rejection After Inventor's Death

The Delhi High Court has set aside a Patent Office order that refused a patent application filed by Nippon Steel Corporation for a “high-strength steel sheet and its manufacturing method.” The court held that the Patent Office wrongly rejected the application on the ground that Nippon Steel had failed to establish “proof of right.” It also found fault with the Patent Office's view...

Common Resolution Professional For Group Companies Not Barred Under IBC: NCLT Mumbai

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) at Mumbai recently held that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 does not prohibit the appointment of a single resolution professional for companies belonging to the same corporate group. According to the tribunal, such an appointment does not by itself create a conflict of interest. A coram of Judicial Member Lakshmi Gurung and Technical...

SEBI Cancels Research Analyst Registration After Holder Says He Runs Grocery Shop, Not Market Activities

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has cancelled the registration of a research analyst who told the regulator that he runs a small grocery shop and is not engaged in securities market activities, after proceedings relating to the misuse of his SEBI registration details by an unregistered investment advisory firm. The noticee had been registered with SEBI as a...

Business Law Daily Round-Up: December 31, 2025

TAX Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Accused Caught In ₹5,000 Land Tax Bribery Trap By VigilanceCustoms | I-STAT Blood Gas Cartridges Are Accessories Of Analyser And Not Diagnostic Reagents; No Differential Duty Payable: CESTAT MumbaiNo Interest On Excise Duty Payable In Revenue-Neutral Situation Even Though Duty Demand Attained Finality: Calcutta High CourtCustoms | Barcode Scanners...

"Health Security Se National Security" Cess On Pan Masala, Tobacco Manufacturing Enforceable From Feb 01

The Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue has notified February 01, 2026, as the date for enforcement of the Health Security Se National Security Cess Act, 2025 levying a Health Security se National Security Cess on machines used in manufacture of pan masala and similar items. The Health Security Se National Security Cess Act, 2025 (the Act) requires a manufacturer to...

Income Tax Act | Long Term Capital Gains Exemption Available Even If Residential House Was Demolished Before Sale: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court held that the Long-Term Capital Gains exemption under Section 54 of the Income Tax Act cannot be denied merely because the residential house was demolished before its sale. The bench stated that since the sale took place later and the assessee reinvested the capital gains in another house within the prescribed time, the exemption is allowable. Section 54 of...

MCA Extends Deadline For Filing Financial Statements, Annual Returns Under Companies Act Till January 31, 2026

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, on 30th December, 2025, extended the deadline for filing Financial Statements and Annual Returns under the Companies Act, 2013, up to 31st January, 2026. Initially, the due date for filing financial statements and annual returns for F.Y. 2024-25 was till 31st December, 2025. The decision was taken after representations were received from...

Kerala High Court Asks Centre To Decide Whether SNDP Yogam Is Governed By Companies Act Or Kerala NTC Act

The Kerala High Court, in a recent decision, directed the Union government to comply with a 2009 Delhi High Court order and decide if the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP Yogam) is governed by the Companies Act or the Kerala Non-Trading Companies Act.The Division Bench comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha set aside the Single bench judgment, which had...

IBBI Makes Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Mandatory for Insolvency Resolution Applicants

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has made it mandatory for companies bidding to take over insolvent firms to clearly disclose who ultimately owns or controls them, also known as their beneficial owners.The change was notified on December 22, 2025, and applies to bidders taking part in the corporate insolvency resolution process. The amended rules were published in the...

GST Demand Stayed As Audit Report Issued By Unauthorised Officer: Orissa High Court Finds Prima Facie Jurisdictional Defect

The Orissa High Court has stayed further proceedings arising from a Goods and Services Tax (GST) demand-cum-show cause notice issued under Section 73 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, after finding a prima facie jurisdictional defect in the audit process that formed the basis of the demand. The interim order was passed in a writ petition which challenged an audit notice...

Arbitration Annual Digest 2025- Part 2

Gauhati High Court Mere Existence Of Arbitration Clause In Agreement Does Not Oust Jurisdiction Of Civil Court To Entertain Suit: Gauhati High Court Case Title: M/S J.M.B. Construction And 2 Ors. Versus Dr. Somesh Dhar And 3 Ors. Case No:Arb.A./8/2024 The Gauhati High Court bench of Justice Malasri Nandi has held that merely because there is an arbitration clause providing...

ITAT Delhi Approved Amalgamation And Consistent Expense Allocation Cannot Be Used To Deny Section 80-IC Deduction

The Delhi Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal has upheld substantial tax relief granted to Mahle Filters Systems (India) Ltd. for Assessment Year 2010–11, rejecting the Revenue's challenge to the company's deduction claimed under Section 80-IC of the Income Tax Act. A Bench comprising Vice President Mahavir Singh and Accountant Member Krinwant Sahay, while deciding...