Articles
Protecting Well-Known International Trademarks In India: Judicial Approach On Transborder Reputation And Squatting
Well Known Trade Mark is defined under Section 2(1)(zg) of the Act[1]. A Well Known Trademark is a mark which has become so to the substantial segment of public that the use of such trade mark in relation to other goods or services would be likely to be taken as indicating a connection between those goods and services and a person using the mark in relation to the first mentioned goods or services.The registrar has to take into consideration the principles laid down in Clauses (6) and (7) of...
Analysing Constitutional Validity Of Gujarat Disturbed Areas Act, 1991
The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, 1991 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) was enacted by the Congress government in 1991 to prevent distress sales in riot-affected areas. The Act primarily focuses on regulating immovable property transactions in notified disturbed areas...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...