Sansa Law Desk

Civil litigation in India has been shaped by Order II Rule 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, which prohibits the institution of two or more separate suits where a single suit would be competent to decide all disputes between the parties. This rule has long been a source of procedural challenges, with questions arising about whether courts can summarily reject a plaint based on violation of this rule. In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has clarified that the bar u

The Supreme Court of India has issued a significant clarification regarding the rights of legal heirs and representatives to challenge arbitral awards. In a recent judgment (2026 INSC 393), the Court held that legal representatives of a deceased party can mount a challenge under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, even if they were not originally parties to the arbitration agreement. This ruling resolves considerable uncertainty in arbitration law and pr

In a landmark decision, India's Supreme Court has clarified the enforceability of foreign judgments in Indian courts, establishing that a judgment rendered without a full trial on the merits cannot be enforced in India. This ruling significantly impacts cross-border litigation, international commercial disputes, and the principles governing recognition and enforcement of foreign decrees under the Civil Procedure Code (CPC). For litigants involved in international disputes, un

The Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1952 is a cornerstone of India's social security framework for organized sector workers. The Act mandates employers to contribute to a provident fund on behalf of eligible employees, creating a corpus that serves as a retirement and social security benefit. The EPF scheme has evolved significantly since its enactment, incorporating modernizations including online filing, pension provisions, and simplified withdrawal procedures. Understanding

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which replaces the Indian Penal Code, retains the law of criminal conspiracy as a fundamental criminal concept but refines and modernizes its provisions. Section 61 of the BNS (corresponding to Sections 120A and 120B of the IPC) criminalizes conspiracy, recognizing that collective criminal planning poses dangers even before any overt criminal act is committed. Criminal conspiracy occupies a unique position in criminal law, as it punishe

The SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 form the primary regulatory framework governing insider trading in India's capital markets. Insider trading involves trading in securities while possessing material, non-public information (unpublished price sensitive information or UPSI) about the company, thereby gaining unfair advantage at the expense of other market participants. The regulations impose stringent prohibitions, robust compliance requirements, and s

The Indian Constitution grants courts extraordinary jurisdictional powers to issue writs for the protection of fundamental rights and to maintain the rule of law. Articles 226 and 32 of the Constitution provide the constitutional foundation for writ jurisdiction, enabling citizens to approach courts for redressal when public authorities act unlawfully or violate rights. These provisions are among the most accessible avenues for citizens seeking judicial relief, particularly w

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is a foundational statute in Indian employment law, designed to provide a measure of financial security to workers upon retirement or termination of employment. Gratuity represents recognition of an employee's contribution to an organization over years of service. Despite being enacted over five decades ago, the Act remains relevant with recent amendments, particularly the 2024 increase in the maximum gratuity limit to Rs 25 lakh. Understandi

Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) have become one of India's most prevalent real estate development structures, enabling landowners to monetize their property while developers gain access to land without upfront capital expenditure. In a JDA, the landowner contributes the land, the developer provides construction expertise and financing, and the parties share project proceeds according to an agreed formula. However, JDAs operate at the intersection of multiple legal regimes

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has introduced significant amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016, effective in 2026. These amendments modernize the liquidation framework by mandating the use of electronic platforms for compliance filings and establishing clear timelines for critical procedural milestones. The amendments reflect the Board's commitment to efficiency, transparency, and digital transformation in in

On April 25, 2026, Justice Kirti Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court delivered an important judgment clarifying the distinction between workplace misconduct and criminal sexual harassment. The court quashed a first information report (FIR) against a private company director who had used the phrase "f*** off" in a workplace email directed at a complainant. While acknowledging that such language is "uncouth and discourteous," the court held that the remark was devoid of

On April 17, 2026, the Delhi High Court delivered a landmark judgment that fundamentally shifts the legal understanding of pet ownership in India. In a significant departure from traditional property law, the court held that pets cannot be treated on par with inanimate property in custody disputes. The judgment recognizes the emotional bond between animals and their caregivers as a legally material factor and establishes a new "best interest of the animal" standard for resolv

On April 24, 2026, the Supreme Court of India delivered a significant judgment in Chaitanya Bahuuddeshiya Shikshan Prasarak Mandal v. Auxilo Finserve Pvt. Ltd. (2026 INSC 408) that has profound implications for educational institutions facing financial distress. A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma ordered the closure of Chaitanya Public School in Kolhapur, Maharashtra from May 1, 2026, for defaulting on a debt of Rs 5.06 crore. This judgment u

The Specific Relief Act, 1963, is the foundational statute governing equitable remedies in India. When damages are inadequate, Indian courts grant specific performance (forcing a party to perform a contract) or injunctions (prohibiting a party from acting). This article provides a comprehensive guide to specific performance and injunctions under the Act, recent Supreme Court trends, and practical considerations for litigants and practitioners. Specific Performance: Concept a

On April 19, 2026, the Karnataka High Court clarified an important procedural principle: conversion of probate proceedings into a full suit enables the probate applicant to invoke the full evidentiary and procedural apparatus of civil litigation, including cross-examination of witnesses and detailed factual findings. This article explains probate proceedings, the conversion mechanism, and the implications for succession disputes and estate litigation. Probate and Its Limited