Sansa Law Desk

Linking your PAN with your Aadhaar is one of the most common compliance tasks for Indian taxpayers, and getting it wrong can freeze much of your financial life. If PAN is not linked, it becomes inoperative, which means you cannot file income tax returns, receive refunds, or carry out transactions where quoting PAN is mandatory. This guide explains why linking matters, how to link PAN with Aadhaar online, the late fee involved, and how to confirm that the link went through. Wh

The Supreme Court has reiterated that anticipatory bail, once granted, ordinarily continues in favour of the accused and does not automatically come to an end merely because a charge-sheet has been filed, cognizance has been taken, or summons has been issued. The court held that the protection should not invariably be limited to a fixed period or tied to a procedural milestone unless special reasons are recorded. The position follows the Constitution Bench ruling in Sushila A

The Supreme Court has imposed a cost of Rs 2 lakh on the State of Chhattisgarh for mounting what it called an absolutely frivolous challenge to compensation awarded to landowners whose land had been occupied by the Public Works Department for nearly twenty five years without acquisition. A bench of Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi upheld the relief granted to the landowners and underscored that the State cannot take possession of private land for public project

The Supreme Court has held that the mere surrender of an insured vehicle by its owner to a financier does not entitle the financier to claim insurance proceeds if the vehicle is later lost or stolen. A bench of Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi declined to interfere with the findings of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which had ruled in favour of the insurer, holding that there was no privity of contract between the financier and the insuran

The Gujarat High Court has reaffirmed that the opportunity of a personal hearing under Section 75(4) of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 is mandatory before an adverse order is passed, and that this requirement cannot be waived merely because a taxpayer selected the No option for a personal hearing while replying to a show cause notice. In a set of recent decisions, the court quashed tax orders that were passed without granting a hearing and remanded the matters f

The Kerala High Court has held that passport authorities cannot insist on a court issued divorce decree before deleting a spouse's name from a passport, where the marriage has already been dissolved through a recognised form of extra-judicial divorce under Muslim personal law. The ruling, delivered by Justice Murali Purushothaman, came on a writ petition filed by a divorced Muslim woman whose application to update her passport details was held up because she could not produce

Losing an original sale deed or other property document is a serious concern for property owners in India. The original sale deed is the primary evidence of ownership, and its absence can create difficulties in property transactions, loan applications, and succession proceedings. However, Indian law provides a clear mechanism for obtaining a certified copy of a registered document from the Sub-Registrar's office. Under Section 57 of the Registration Act, 1908, the registering

Applying for a passport for a minor in India involves a few extra steps compared with an adult passport, mainly because a child cannot give legal consent on their own. A minor is a person below the age of eighteen, and the application has to be supported by the consent of the parents or guardian. This guide explains the step-by-step process on the Passport Seva portal, the consent forms Annexure D and Annexure C, the documents required, and how special situations such as sing

When you resign, retire or are removed from a job in India, your employer must clear your dues through a full and final settlement. This settlement covers your pending salary and other amounts owed to you, and the law now sets a tight timeline for paying it. Many employees are unaware that the Code on Wages, 2019 requires final wages to be paid within two working days of an exit in certain situations. This guide explains what full and final settlement includes, the legal time

Couples facing a troubled marriage often ask about the difference between judicial separation and divorce in India. Judicial separation, available under Section 10 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, allows a husband or wife to obtain a court order to live apart while the marriage legally continues, whereas divorce permanently ends the marriage. Understanding this distinction matters, because the two remedies have very different consequences for status, remarriage, maintenance a

Section 396 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, which replaced Section 357A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, mandates every State Government to establish a scheme for compensating victims of crime who have suffered loss or injury and require rehabilitation. The provision, effective from July 1, 2024, covers cases where the court recommends compensation, where the offender is not traced or identified, and where a trial results in acquittal or dischar

Property tax assessments by municipal corporations in India are not infallible. Incorrect measurements, wrong classification of property use, outdated valuations, and failure to account for exemptions are common grounds on which property owners successfully challenge demand notices. The process for filing objections and appeals is governed by the relevant state municipal legislation, including the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 19

If you or a family member has suffered harm because of a doctor's or hospital's carelessness, you can file a medical negligence complaint in India and seek compensation. Medical services provided for payment fall within the definition of service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which means an aggrieved patient can approach the consumer commissions. This guide explains what counts as negligence, the forums available, the step-by-step process, the documents you need, an

An Occupancy Certificate (OC) is the document issued by a local municipal authority confirming that a building is safe and legally ready for occupation. Without an OC, occupying a building is illegal under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, state municipal laws, and the National Building Code 2016. Banks insist on an OC before approving home loans, insurance companies may deny coverage for buildings without one, and utility providers often require it befo

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is the electronic equivalent of a physical signature, legally recognised under Section 3 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, for authenticating electronic records. In India, DSCs are mandatory for filing company documents with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), filing GST returns for companies and LLPs, participating in e-tendering and government procurement, and filing patent and trademark applications with the Controller Gene