Regulatory & Compliance

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Bar Council of India (BCI) on a public interest litigation seeking strict regulation of advocates' use of social media for advertising, client solicitation, and promotional activities. The PIL, filed by advocates Anil Pandey and A.R. Tripathi under Article 32 of the Constitution, alleges that the rapid proliferation of digital solicitation by lawyers through platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook violates the Advocates Ac

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a cumulative penalty of Rs 138.85 crore on HP India Sales Private Limited for engaging in bid rigging and cartelisation in Government e-Marketplace (GeM) tenders. In two separate orders dated July 13, 2026, issued under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002, the CCI found HP India guilty of manipulating public procurement processes for personal computing systems and printer supply products, in violation of Section 3(3)(d

The Bombay High Court has sharply criticised the Maharashtra government for its failure to enact a law protecting advocates from violence, observing that the state's approach has been "parochial and pedantic" in the face of a serious problem. A Division Bench of Justices Madhav J. Jamdar and Pravin S. Patil, hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Kolhapur District Bar Association, is now considering the issuance of 21-point interim guidelines to fill the legislativ

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has notified Notification No. 62/2026-Customs (N.T.) dated July 3, 2026, published as G.S.R. 560(E), establishing the Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between India and the United Kingdom) Rules, 2026. Issued under Section 5(1) of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, these rules take effect on July 15, 2026. The no

On June 30, 2026, the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers issued Notification S.O. 3516(E), introducing significant amendments to the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. The amendment order, effective from the date of its publication, establishes new compliance requirements for pharmaceutical manufacturers relating to drug launch intimation, pricing transparency, record retention, and overcharging liability. These changes reshape key

The legal profession operates on a foundation of trust. When an advocate breaches that trust through professional misconduct, clients and affected parties have the right to seek accountability through the disciplinary mechanisms established under the Advocates Act, 1961. The process involves filing a complaint with the State Bar Council, with the Bar Council of India (BCI) serving as the appellate authority. Recent developments, including a landmark Supreme Court direction in

The Delhi High Court has designated 85 advocates as Senior Advocates under Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, following a Full Court Resolution dated July 9, 2026. The designations include 11 women advocates and represent a rigorous selection from 231 applicants.

The Supreme Court on July 10, 2026, declined to interfere with a Bombay High Court order that refused to reopen a Goa mining e-auction conducted by the State Government through the Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited (MSTC) platform for the Cavorem-Maina Mineral Block. Background The e-auction was conducted by the Goa Government for the allotment of mining rights over the Cavorem-Maina Mineral Block. The petitioner, who was an unsuccessful bidder, challenged the outcome of

On July 7, 2026, the Supreme Court held that external agencies such as the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) cannot declare advocates professionally negligent or maintain 'caution lists' blacklisting lawyers. The jurisdiction to examine professional misconduct lies exclusively with the Bar Council of India and the State Bar Councils under the Advocates Act, 1961. In the same judgment, the Court directed the BCI to undertake a comprehensive performance audit of its disciplinary

Lucknow Coaching Fire: Allahabad HC Flags Regulatory Failures, Demands Safety SOP On 24 June 2026, a devastating fire broke out at a three-storey commercial building in the Puraniya locality of Aliganj, Lucknow, housing an animation coaching centre. The blaze claimed the lives of at least 15 students, most of them aged between 16 and 25 years, with some reports placing the toll as high as 18. The majority of deaths were caused by suffocation, as students found themselves trap

Supreme Court Pulls Up Pharmacy Council for Failing to Meet Approval Deadlines On July 3, 2026, the Supreme Court of India sharply criticized the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) for repeatedly seeking extensions for the approval and admission schedule of pharmacy institutions. A bench of Justices Manmohan and K. Vinod Chandran observed that regulatory authorities themselves were responsible for the deterioration in educational standards by failing to adhere to court-prescribe

Filing a life insurance claim in India is the process by which a nominee or legal heir receives the sum assured after the death of the policyholder. When handled correctly, a genuine claim should be settled quickly, because the insurance regulator sets firm timelines for insurers. This guide explains how to file a life insurance claim in India, the documents you need, how long settlement should take, and what the law says about claims that are investigated or rejected. Intima

A fire NOC, or fire safety certificate, is a no objection certificate issued by the State Fire Services Department confirming that a building meets fire prevention and life safety standards. If you are constructing or operating a high rise, hospital, school, hotel, mall, factory or assembly building, knowing how to get a fire NOC in India is essential: municipal authorities typically insist on it before granting an occupancy certificate, and many trade and operating licences

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 has introduced significant changes to railway penalties by amending the Railways Act, 1989. Effective from July 2026, these amendments double the minimum penalty for ticketless travel and introduce new monetary penalties for activities such as unauthorized hawking, vending without a licence, and begging within railway premises. The changes reflect a broader legislative philosophy of replacing criminal prosecution with admini

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has revised Indian passport fees for the first time in 14 years. The new rates, introduced through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, took effect on July 1, 2026, replacing the fee structure that had remained unchanged since 2012. The revision covers all categories of passports, Police Clearance Certificates, and related services, with increases ranging from 60% to 75% depending on the document type. This article breaks down the new