Access To Justice For Rural People And Entrepreneurs: Challenges & Legal Reforms

The meaning of the phrase "access to justice" varies depending on the society in question and is therefore ambiguous. Regardless of how it is defined, there is always a connection to conflict resolution because the latter's sole goal is to uphold justice. Therefore, having access to the state's dispute settlement mechanism is synonymous with having access to justice. More people are realizing that expanding access to justice is a necessary component of inclusive growth and a strategy for...

Blockchain And Online Dispute Resolution: Reshaping Access To Justice

The emergence of Online Dispute Resolution ('ODR') has brought about a revolution in conflict resolution by utilising advanced digital platforms to enable negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Unlike simple technological enhancement, ODR goes beyond traditional mechanisms by embracing video conferencing, electronic document exchange, and AI-enhanced dispute resolution to override the needs of physical adjudication. This piece urges the institutionalisation of an Indian...

Legal Reforms And Access To Justice: Addressing Infrastructural Challenges In The Judiciary

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramanna in September 2021 had expressed his concern regarding the dilapidated state of judicial infrastructure in India. Three complete years have passed and we are yet to witness any visible changes. It is not to say that the infrastructure has not been improved at all. The Department of Justice is currently administering various schemes for making the Judicial System well quipped and robust. However, the pace and scale of implementation remains...

Exploring Vicarious Liability Of Office Bearers In Criminal Matters

A company, no doubt, is a separate legal entity from its members distinguished by the corporate veil. Being an artificial person, however, it does not have a mind or a will of its own, and it cannot function on its own. The state of the mind of a company is derived from the state of the mind of the office bearers of the company, mainly directors. For attribution of the criminal liability, the two primary essentials of a criminal offense must be seen, i.e., mens rea and actus reus. A corporation...

A Federal Dilemma: How The New Income Tax Bill 2025 Threatens State Revenues And Fiscal Autonomy

The New Income Tax Bill 2025 is regarded as a significant reform intended to streamline tax systems and enhance compliance. Nonetheless, its effects reach well beyond individual taxpayers and businesses, as it poses serious implications for state finances and the structure of federalism. While income tax is an exclusive Union subject under Entry 82 of the Union List (Seventh Schedule), states rely heavily on their portion of central taxes as provided in Article 270 of the Constitution. Any...

Sexual Assault Against Transgender: The Definitional Void And The Absurdity Of Indian Penal Provisions

Every year in the month of June, the world witnesses a plethora of parades. The internet is filled with pictures of people advocating for LGBTQ rights, celebrating it as Pride month and this also echoes in the heart of India. In fact, in India, this joyful crescendo extends to early July, as India celebrates Indian Coming Out Day on July 2 to commemorate Naz Foundation vs Government of NCT Delhi[1], a Delhi High Court judgment decriminalizing homosexual sexual activity, which was later affirmed...

AI And Personhood: Navigating Legal Rights And Responsibilities In The Age Of Intelligent Machines

The rapidly evolving world of Generative Artificial Intelligence has sparked a debate about the legal status of Artificial Intelligence[1]. Artificial Intelligence has broadened its capabilities, built upon human-made algorithms and machine learning, exponentially increasing its potential. As AI has grown from being Narrow - AI (designed to perform specific tasks) to Strong - AI (designed to possess Human-Level Intelligence), the question arises: should Artificial Intelligence be granted...

Emerging Technology Trends And Its Effect On Criminal Justice System

The then Chief Justice of India Dr D.Y Chandrachud, while delivering the 20th DP Kohli memorial lecture on the Central Bureau of India Raising Day April 1st 2024, remarked that “In the era of digital transformation, the interplay between law and technology can result in better crime detection and also ensure criminal justice reform”. In the age of intelligence, technology is involved in almost every sphere of human life,[1] the criminal justice system is no exception to it.Intelligent...

Share Application Money Can't Be Treated As Financial Debt

The NCLT in the judgment of Rajeev Kumar Jain vs Uno Minda Limited Formerly, defined financial debt, as to entail debt plus interest, if any. The understanding between the parties is important and relevant to determine the existence of the time value of money, which can take many forms other than the simple payment of interest. This means that interest is not a necessary condition, so the corporate debtor may or may not be required to pay interest. The NCLAT noted that the phrase "disbursement...

Navigating The Neo-Banking Wave: Insights Into India's Digital Financial Future

The novel point of neobanks is that they operate sans physical branches, utilizing dynamic business models and upscale technological tools to improve customers' ease of use, transparency, and service efficiency. The concept of neo-banking emerged in the UK and Germany in 2013 and 2015. It is disputed over when the neo-banks entered the Indian market. Key players like NIYO[1] and PayQ[2] claim to be the initial neobank in the industry. Irrespective of the first entrant, the neo- banking sector in...

Additional Documents In Commercial Suits: How Order XIIIA Circumvents The Bar Created By Order XI

Order XI of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (the “CPC”) as applicable to commercial disputes defined under the Commercial Courts Act 2015 (the “2015 Act”), imposes stringent conditions on the disclosure and production of documents. Unlike ordinary civil suits, parties in commercial suits must disclose all documents within their control and provide a declaration on oath regarding the completeness of this disclosure at the time of filing of the plaint. Introducing additional documents after...

Arbitral Award, Is It Unchallengeable?

The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 regulates arbitration in India and deals with the arbitration procedure. Arbitration is the process of solving disputes outside the walls of the judicial system. According to this Act, an arbitral award determines the issues in controversy made by the arbitral tribunal. Thus, it has adopted the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration to enforce the arbitral awards ...