Sansa Law Desk

The Telangana High Court has held that the protections afforded to advocates under the Telangana Advocates Protection Act, 2026 cannot be invoked to shield lawyers from criminal investigation when they are accused of committing illegal activities. Justice T Madhavi Devi dismissed a petition filed by an advocate who sought protection from arrest in connection with a case involving allegedly forged government orders. The ruling clarifies the scope and limitations of the state's

Public Interest Litigation, commonly known as PIL, is one of the most significant innovations of the Indian judiciary. Unlike conventional civil suits where only aggrieved parties can approach the court, PIL allows any public-spirited citizen or organization to file a petition on behalf of those who are unable to access the courts themselves. Rooted in the principles of social justice and constitutional accountability, PIL has been instrumental in addressing issues ranging fr

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear two separate petitions alleging excessive police force against students protesting the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana will take up the matter, which arises out of the events surrounding the "Sansad Chalo" march on July 20, 2026. The petitions seek guidelines to regulate police action during public protests, an independent investigation into the us

In what is being hailed as India’s first substantive judicial pronouncement on AI training and copyright law, Justice Amit Bansal of the Delhi High Court on July 24, 2026, refused to grant news agency ANI (Asian News International) an interim injunction against OpenAI. The Court held that OpenAI’s storage and use of ANI’s copyrighted news articles to train ChatGPT does not, at the prima facie stage, amount to copyright infringement. The 135-page judgment lays down an analytic

Property disputes are among the most protracted forms of litigation in India, with cases often taking years or even decades to resolve through the conventional court system. The Mediation Act, 2023 (Act No. 32 of 2023) introduces a comprehensive statutory framework for mediation in India, offering parties a faster, confidential, and cost-effective alternative to litigation. Mediated settlement agreements under this Act are enforceable as judgments of a court, giving them sign

An e-stamp certificate is a digitally generated document that serves as proof of stamp duty payment for legal and financial transactions. Introduced as part of India's push towards digitisation of government services, e-stamping has largely replaced the traditional system of physical stamp papers in most states. The system is operated by the Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), which functions as the authorised Central Record Keeping Agency. Each e-stamp certif

The Supreme Court of India, in M/S Birla Corporation Limited v. The State of Madhya Pradesh (2026 INSC 738), has ruled that stamp duty payable on mining lease agreements executed in statutory Form K must be calculated on the basis of anticipated royalty, and not on the dead rent specified in the lease deed. The judgment, delivered by a Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Augustine George Masih, resolves a long-standing dispute over the correct method of computing stamp

The Bombay High Court, in Ajay Kisan Dungarshi @ Pintu v. State of Maharashtra (Writ Petition No. 3475 of 2026), has upheld the Maharashtra Government's decision to classify a life convict under the stricter 26-year imprisonment category. The convict had been sentenced for murdering a woman who had refused to marry him. The Court held that the nature of the crime, characterised by "exceptional violence," warranted placement in the more stringent remission category rather than

The Uttarakhand High Court has issued a circular permitting service of summons through electronic modes, including email and WhatsApp, in cases filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The circular, issued on January 5, 2026, directs criminal courts across the state to adopt electronic service as a means of addressing the chronic delays that have plagued cheque bounce litigation in India. The move is in line with recent directions from the Supreme Cour

The Commercial Court at Shahdara, Delhi has decreed a trademark infringement suit filed by Havells India Limited, permanently restraining the defendant from manufacturing, printing, marketing, or dealing in counterfeit packaging material bearing the HAVELLS trademark. District Judge Sanjay Sharma-II also directed the defendant to pay over Rs 26 lakh towards damages, punitive damages, and litigation costs. The judgment reinforces the judiciary's robust approach to combating co

In a significant ruling reinforcing data privacy protections for students, the Supreme Court of India in Abhishek Baxi v. Union of India (2026 LiveLaw SC 719) directed the Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to amend the consent form under the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) scheme. The Court mandated the inclusion of an explicit opt-out option for parents and guardians, while also barring unauthorised third-party sharing of studen

Rent control in India is a state subject, and each state has enacted its own legislation to regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants. These laws serve a vital protective function: they prevent arbitrary eviction, regulate rent increases, and provide tenants with a mechanism to seek fair rent fixation through a designated authority. While the central government approved the Model Tenancy Act, 2021 as a framework for reform, its adoption by states remains uneven.

Stamp duty is a statutory tax levied by state governments on legal documents, most prominently on instruments relating to property transactions. Governed by the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, stamp duty serves as legal evidence that a transaction has been formally recognised by the state. Failure to pay the correct stamp duty renders a document inadmissible as evidence in court, which can have significant consequences in property disputes. In addition to stamp duty, the Registration

Remission of sentence is a legal mechanism that allows a convicted person to be released from prison before completing the full term of imprisonment. It is an exercise of executive discretion by the appropriate government, whether Central or State, typically on grounds such as good conduct, health conditions, or rehabilitation. Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the provisions governing remission are found in Sections 473 to 475, replacing the earlier

Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on fixed deposit interest is one of the most common concerns for individual investors in India. If your interest income from fixed deposits exceeds a certain threshold, the bank or financial institution is required to deduct TDS before crediting the interest. However, if your total income falls below the taxable limit, you can submit a self-declaration form to avoid this deduction. For FY 2025-26, this is done through Form 15G or Form 15H. From FY