Kochhar & Co. Represents Air Liquide in Arbitration Against Vedanta; Arbitral Tribunal Grants Relief To Air Liquide

The Arbitration and Disputes Team at Kochhar & Co. represented Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions India Private Limited, the Claimant, in an arbitration against Vedanta Limited, arising out of contractual disputes relating to the setting up of an Air Separation Unit (ASU) at Vedanta's Copper Smelter Plant at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. The dispute arose following Vedanta's invocation of Force Majeure and suspension of contractual obligations under a series of agreements executed between the...

Explainer : Appointment Of Ad-Hoc Judges Under Article 224A

Article 224A(appointment of retired judges at sittings of High Courts) of the Indian Constitution was recently invoked to appoint five retired judges as ad hoc judges of the Allahabad High Court. So far, Article 224A has only been invoked thrice, the last back in 2007.What is Article 224A?Known as a “dormant provision” of the Indian Constitution, Article 224A was inserted by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963. It is activated to deal with the unprecedented situations arising from...

Ensure Day-To-Day Recording Of Testimony In POCSO Trials To Prevent Witness Pressure: Delhi High Court To Trial Courts

The Delhi High Court has directed all trial courts in the national capital to ensure that testimony of witnesses already being examined should be recorded on day-to-day basis till its conclusion, in order to minimise the possibility of pressurising witnesses .Justice Girish Kathpalia said that the trial courts should also ensure that such trials should preferably be conducted on day-to-day basis. “….it is directed that copy of this judgment be sent to all Principal District and Sessions...

UAPA | Order Barring Disclosure Of Witness Statements Must Record Reasons For Each Witness: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has clarified that an order passed under Section 44 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act barring disclosure of witness statements must separately consider materials relating to each witness and record reasons for its decision.The Division Bench of Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice P.V. Balakrishnan was considering a petition preferred under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita challenging orders passed by the Special Court for NIA...

Bombay High Court Seeks 'Blueprint' From Administration Over Recruitment Of 2863 Judicial Officers Against Newly Sanctioned Posts

The Bombay High Court has sought from its Administration a 'blue print' for recruitment of nearly 2800 judicial officers against the newly sanctioned posts by the Maharashtra Government for the State's lower judiciary. A division bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Sarang Kotwal emphasised that the State as well as the High Court on the Administrative side will have to act 'expeditiously' to aim its goal of 'speedy justice' for the citizens. "We are cautious that the...

Supreme Court Grants Bail To Woman Accused Of Duping Builders By Impersonating As SC Lawyer

The Supreme Court granted bail to a nearly 60-year-old woman accused of cheating multiple persons by falsely projecting herself as a lawyer practising before the Supreme Court and collecting money from them on that representation.A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan allowed the Special Leave Petition filed by Poonam Charandas Khanna, setting aside a Bombay High Court order that had refused her regular bail.The appellant was arrested in connection with FIR No. 34 of 2020...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Asks Centre To Expeditiously Clear Punjab Mental Health Act Rules

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Central Government to ensure that the approval process for Punjab Mental Health Act Rules is completed as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six weeks. The Court further expected the State of Punjab to actively expedite and assist the Central Government in the approval process.A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Chandigarh based Pushpanjali...

The Legal Shadow Of Digital Arrests: Analysing Procedural Loopholes In The BNS And IT Act

As cyber fraud continues to dominate national headlines, one peculiar specimen stands out as its sophisticated evolution. 'Digital arrests' creatively merge psychological coercion and technical spoofing, relying on a chain of hijacked telecom nodes, mule bank accounts, and senior citizens as favoured targets. In a typical digital arrest scam, the scammers call victims and pose as a government or law enforcement authority, or a 'virtual court'. They're clad in official uniforms, armed with...

Three-Fourths Of Supreme Court & High Court Judges Appointed Since 2021 From Upper Castes : Law Ministry Tells Parliament

Nearly three-fourths of the Judges appointed to Supreme Court and High Courts between January 1, 2021 and January 30, 2026 belong to upper castes, the Union Law Ministry informed Parliament on Wednesday in a written response to a question by Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson.According to the data shared by the Government, out of 593 judges appointed to various High Courts during the period, 157 belonged to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes or minority communities, while the...

'Totally Uncalled For': Allahabad High Court Deprecates Practice Of Trial Judges Citing Names Of Supreme Court Judges In Orders

The Allahabad High Court last week deprecated the practice of trial court judges mentioning the names of the Judges of the Supreme Court in their orders while relying on a precedent from the Top Court. The Court termed the system as "totally uncalled for" and one which could not be appreciated. It reminded judicial officers that only the citation, case number and the relevant text should be quoted in their orders. "It is reminded that while citing the judgments their citation and/or...

Indiscriminate Freezing Of Bank Accounts Of Non‑Accused Violates Articles 19(1)(g), 21: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that blanket and disproportionate freezing of bank accounts, especially where the account holder is neither an accused nor even a suspect, is “manifestly arbitrary” and violates Articles 21 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India.“….any blanket or disproportionate freezing of bank accounts, particularly where the account holder is neither an accused nor even a suspect in the offence under investigation, is manifestly arbitrary, and in the teeth of the fundamental...

Allahabad High Court Issues Notice On Plea Challenging Vires Of 'UP X-Ray Rules' For Non-Inclusion Of BMRD Degree For Technician Post

The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) last week issued notice to the Advocate General on a petition challenging the vires of the Uttar Pradesh X-Ray Technician Service Rules, 1986, which currently exclude degree holders from appointment to the post of X-Ray Technician. Finding a prima facie case for consideration, a Bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai posted the matter for February 27. Briefly, the writ petition has been filed by 4 candidates who hold a...