The Plea of Limitation XIV: Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards / The Revival of Ray LIII

The issue of limitation for enforcement of Foreign Awards, being procedural in nature, is subject to the law of the forum where the Foreign Award is sought to be enforced. The Arbitration Act, 1996 does not specify any period of limitation for filing an application for enforcement of a Foreign Award. Section 43 provides, The […]

13 Kilograms of Charas / The Revival of Ray LII

“On 18.06.2001, the Intelligence Officer in the Narcotics Control Bureau, Chandigarh was proceeding to Theog from Shimla. He was travelling along with other Officials. In transit, they stopped near Nangala Devi Temple. When they ordered meals and tea and were waiting for the food to be served, the Intelligence Officer could smell the odour of […]

The Sadanand Sharma Trophy for Extramural Excellence

NLSIU, Bangalore has been in existence for some time now. The number of people who display the University, as, at least, a footnote in their identity, is distinctive. I came across my Super-Senior, Ruchika Chanana, while discussing on ‘Quirkier’, The NLSIU Alumni Newsletter. I am happy to have found a spot in ‘Quirkier’, Issue 1. […]

Disciplinary Proceedings III

Pravin Kumar (‘Kumar’) joined the Central Industrial Security Force in January, 1995 as a Sub-Inspector. Eventually, he was deployed in the Crime and Intelligence Wing. As evidenced, Kumar was specifically entrusted with conducting surprise searches and taking strict action against anyone indulging in corruption. On 28.02.1999, Constable Ram Avtar Sharma (‘Sharma’) was commuting in a […]

Disciplinary Proceedings II

Muthukumar is said to be the kingpin involved in this crime and is absconding. Ashoo appears to be a victim of Muthukumar’s plot. The standard of proof in a departmental proceeding, being based on preponderance of probability, is somewhat lower than the standard of proof in a criminal proceeding where a case has to be […]

Lord Buckmaster

“Diwan Bros. v. Central Bank of India, (1976) 3 SCC 800 referred to the well-known dictum of Lord Buckmaster in Barras v. Aberdeen Steam Trawling and Fishing Company, 1933 AC 402. “It has long been a well-established principle to be applied in the consideration of Acts of Parliament that where a word of doubtful meaning […]

Section 195 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 II

“At this stage, it is important to understand the difference between the offences mentioned in Section 195(1)(b)(i) and Section 195(1)(b)(ii). Where the facts mentioned in a complaint attracts the provisions of Section 191 to 193 of the IPC, Section 195(1)(b)(i) applies. What is important is that once these sections of the IPC are attracted, the […]

Referred to Larger Bench XIV Answered Again: Mohan Lal

“Mohan Lal observed, in a case where the informant and the investigator is the same, trial is vitiated and accused is entitled to acquittal. Varinder Kumar held, decision in Mohan Lal shall be applicable prospectively. The NDPS Act does not specifically bar an informant/complainant to be an investigator. Therefore, as such, there is no reason […]

Contempt Jurisdiction VI / Childish Magnanimity

Pusan raised questions and submitted letters about Busan’s company and his other employees, present and former. Busan was obviously upset. Busan: Pusan, apologize. That’s it. Pusan: No; neither my questions nor my submissions are incorrect. I will happily undergo punishment. Pusan’s Senior Colleague: Pusan has been under your employment for years now. Sir Busan, be […]

Section 100 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

“The existence of a ‘substantial question of law’ is the sine qua non for the exercise of jurisdiction under Section 100. The principles for deciding when a ‘question of law’ becomes a ‘substantial question of law’, have been enunciated by a Constitution Bench of this Court in Sir Chunilal V. Mehta & Sons Ltd. v. […]

Life of Numbers

“We cannot obviously feed into a judicial computer all such… astrological imponderables in an imperfect and undulating society.” – Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab, (1982) 3 SCC 24. _____ Rule 55A of The Motor Vehicles Rules, 1994, framed and published by Madhya Pradesh, prescribes ₹ 10,000/- for reservation of a large series of registration […]

Act of Transformation

Most jurists draw distinction between ‘direct application’ of treaties in domestic law, and national legal systems that mandate and require ‘act of transformation’ for an international treaty to apply and be a part of domestic law; ‘direct application’ means and mandates that the treaty norms, either wholly or to some extent, are directly treated as […]

Aggrieved Person I / The Revival of Ray LI

“In A. Subash Babu v. State of A.P., (2011) 7 SCC 616 this Court held, “The expression ‘aggrieved person’ denotes an elastic and an elusive concept… Its scope and meaning depends on diverse, variable factors such as the content and intent of the statute of which contravention is alleged, the specific circumstances of the case…” […]

The Importance of Being Earnest III

“The matter relates to the unnatural death of Actor, Sushant Singh Rajput on 14.6.2020. He was in a live-in relationship with Rhea. But, on 8.6.2020, Rhea shifted to her own residence… The legal process must be focused upon revelation of the correct facts through credible and legally acceptable investigation. It must be determined whether the […]

Contempt Jurisdiction V / The Revival of Ray L

Justice Krishna Iyer, in his inimitable style, has observed, a wise economy of use of the contempt power by the Court is the first rule. The Court should act with seriousness and severity, where justice is jeopardized by a gross and/or unfounded attack on the Judges, where the attack is calculated to obstruct or destroy […]

Section 4 of The Arbitration Act II

Konkan Railway Corporation v. Rani Construction (P) Ltd., (2002) 2 SCC 388 held, Section 16 empowers the Arbitral Tribunal to rule on its own jurisdiction; the Arbitral Tribunal’s authority under Section 16 is not confined to the width of its jurisdiction, but goes to the very root of its jurisdiction. Konkan Railway was decided on […]

The Revival of Ray XLIX

When it comes to the penalty of blacklisting, the classic formulation of principles in regard to blacklisting have been laid down in Erusian Equipment & Chemicals Ltd. v. State of West Bengal, (1975) 1 SCC 70. “Equality of opportunity should apply to matters of public contracts. An ordinary individual can choose not to deal with […]

Order 7, Rule 10-A of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

“The parties clearly indicated, it was only a Court at Delhi which shall have exclusive jurisdiction with regard to any dispute and no other Court would have jurisdiction over the same. In that view of the matter, the presentation of the plaint at Gurgaon was certainly not before a Court having jurisdiction in the matter. […]

No Reservations, Lebanon

A. “West German Consul said, he had received information that, similar charges had been made against Hans Muller in Lebanon and in Egypt.” – Hans Muller of Nurenburg v. Superintendent, Presidency Jail, Calcutta, AIR 1955 SC 367. B. “On 15-9-1963, he left Delhi for Beirut under the name Donze Jean Claude, a French national. It […]

The Nature of Judicial Power: Short Tenure of Supreme Court Judges

The importance of statistical data, in interpreting careers, is often highlighted. It hides as much as it reveals. It’s not without reason Wilfred Rhodes had a Test career which lasted more than 30 years! We aren’t discussing sports, though. Hon’ble Justice P.N. Bhagwati still holds the record for the longest tenure [4905 days; DoA, 17.07.1973 […]

The Last Word

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Judges, Judgments & Lawyers