Neosky India Limited & Anr. v. Mr. Nagendran Kandasamy & Ors. Court – Delhi High Court Citation – O.M.P.(I) (COMM.) 183/2024 Date – 11.08.2025 The Hon’ble Delhi High Court has held that Restrictive Covenants after termination of Employment Contract are void as per the Section 27 of the Indian Contract Act 1872. The Court vacated…
Introduction Trademark disputes frequently raise complex issues involving the rights of prior use, the procedures prescribed for registration, and the scope of third-party intervention at different stages of the trademark application process. One recurring point of controversy relates to whether a third party is entitled to be heard by the Registrar before the advertisement of…
Understanding Form G in IBC
- August 22, 2025
Introduction The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as “IBC”) has reshaped India’s approach to insolvency by establishing a clear, time-bound, and transparent mechanism aimed at protecting stakeholder interests, ensuring fair outcomes, and supporting economic stability. Within this framework, Form G occupies a pivotal position in the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP), acting…
Cross Border Intellectual Property Enforcement
- August 22, 2025
INTRODUCTION In today’s interconnected global economy, intellectual property (hereinafter referred to as “IP”) is no longer confined by national borders. Businesses operate in multiple jurisdictions, supply chains span continents, and products and services are accessible worldwide via digital platforms. While globalization has expanded market opportunities, it has also made IP rights more vulnerable to cross-border…
Proceedings between Expiry of Arbitrator’s Mandate and its Extension are not Void if Mandate is Extended
- August 22, 2025
Glen Industries Private Limited v. Oriental Insurance Company Limited Court – Calcutta High Court Citation – AP-COM/540/2025 Date – 12.08.2025 The Hon’ble Calcutta High Court has held that the proceedings between Expiry of Arbitrator’s Mandate and its Extension are not Void if Mandate is Extended. The Court held, “13. The legislative intent was that…
The 2025 Online Gaming Bill Explained
- August 22, 2025
INTRODUCTION The online gaming industry in India is growing at an unprecedented rate. It fulfills the criteria of a very dynamic branch of the digital economy. Affordable smartphones, cheap data plans, and youth with technology knowledge have converted casual plays into a full-fledged industry. Real-money platforms such as fantasy sports, poker, rummy, and other skillful…
Role and Responsibilities of the Committee of Creditors
- August 21, 2025
Introduction In India’s insolvency ecosystem, the Committee of Creditors (CoC) occupies a pivotal position within the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) framework established by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). After the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admits a company into the CIRP, the interim resolution professional collects and validates claims and forms the…
Arbitrability of Frauds in India: Evolving Jurisprudence
- August 21, 2025
Introduction In India, arbitration is one of the most preferred methods of resolving commercial disputes because it upholds party autonomy, procedural flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. In complex and document-intensive cases, specialized tribunals and streamlined processes frequently offer more efficient and reliable outcomes compared to traditional litigation. A critical question in this domain is whether disputes involving…
Indraprastha Power Generation Co. Ltd. v. EM Services (I) Pvt. Ltd. Court – Delhi High Court Citation – O.M.P 717/2010 Date – 13.08.2025 The Hon’ble Delhi Court has held that an Arbitral award refusing to frame an issue for the counter claim is patently illegal and would be against the fundamental policy of…
DPDP Act: Challenges and Business Impact for SMEs and Startups
- August 20, 2025
INTRODUCTION In the digital era, the term data has evolved for businesses spread across various economic sectors. The rise of e-commerce, fintech, and digital startups has led to massive personal data collection, making privacy a central concern. In a landmark step and paramount legislation, Indian legislators have passed the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (hereinafter…
GST Penalty Quashed for Breach of Natural Justice
- August 19, 2025
The Gujarat High Court, in Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd. & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. , Special Civil Application No. 22073 of 2019, decided on 03.07.2025, quashed the penalty imposed under Section 129 of the Goods and Services Tax (hereinafter referred to as “GST”) Act, 2017, on the ground that the authorities…
Gender Pay Gap & Pay Transparency in India – 2025 Outlook
- August 18, 2025
INTRODUCTION The gender pay gap continues to be a prominent challenge in India’s labor market, reflecting disparities in remuneration not only for comparable work but also across roles, seniority levels, sectors, and career trajectories. These gaps are influenced by a combination of systemic factors such as occupational segregation, differences in access to leadership roles, interruptions…
Introduction On a contemporary scale, India’s financial markets have greatly evolved, accompanied by swift technological upgrades. One of the most important invention influencing market participation is algorithmic trading (hereinafter referred to as “algo-trading”). If in the distant past, it was a highly technical and sophisticated tool used by large institutional players, nowadays, it has gone…
Non-signatories cannot participate in Arbitration proceedings
- August 14, 2025
Kamal Gupta & Anr. v. L.R. Builders Pvt. Ltd. & Anr. Court – Supreme Court Citation – 2025 INSC 975 Date – 13.08.2025 The Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that non-signatories to an arbitration agreement cannot be allowed to participate in arbitration proceedings as it waters down the concept of confidentiality. The Court held,…
Group of Companies Doctrine in Indian Arbitration
- August 14, 2025
Introduction Arbitration is a popular method of dispute settlement in India, particularly in commercial transactions. Traditionally, arbitration agreements have been binding only on the signatories to the contract. However, modern commercial realities often involve complex corporate structures where multiple entities, though legally distinct, form part of a larger business group and are closely involved in…
PhonePe Ruling: Data Privacy Boundaries in Fintech
- August 13, 2025
In the case of PhonePe Private Limited v. State of Karnataka & Ors. (W.P. No. 3757 of 2023), (GM-Police), pronounced on 29 April 2025, the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court (“HC”) was confronted with a critical question at the intersection of fintech regulation, privacy, and police investigative powers. BACKGROUND: THE REGULATORY FLASHPOINT PhonePe Private Limited…
Exclusive Jurisdiction Place deemed as Seat of Arbitration
- August 13, 2025
Activitas Management Advisory Private Limited v. Mind Plus Healthcare Private Limited Court – Supreme Court Citation – SLP (C) No. 27714 of 2024 Date – 05.08.2025 The Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that in absence of the seat or venue mentioned in the Arbitration Agreement, the Place of Exclusive Jurisdiction shall be deemed as…
Personal Guarantor under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016
- August 13, 2025
Introduction The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) has radically transformed the corporate debt resolution framework in India by introducing time-bound processes and strengthening creditor rights. While much of the discussion around the IBC revolves around corporate debtors, a crucial aspect is its treatment of personal guarantors to corporate debtors. A personal guarantor is an…
Ground for setting aside Arbitral Award under Section 34
- August 13, 2025
Introduction Arbitration has emerged as a preferred mode of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in India and globally, particularly for commercial disputes. Its appeal lies in its flexibility, party autonomy, cost-effectiveness, and relative speed compared to traditional litigation. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (the “Act”) provides the legal framework for arbitration in India. A central…
Arbitration Basics: Understanding Seat and Venue
- August 12, 2025
Introduction The success of international arbitration hinges on the precision and clarity of the dispute resolution clause. Among the most critical, yet frequently confused, terms are ‘seat’ and ‘venue’. While they both relate to the location of an arbitration, they serve fundamentally different functions and carry vastly different legal consequences. A failure to distinguish between…
Drafting an Effective Ironclad Arbitration Clause in India
- August 12, 2025
Introduction In the Indian business context, contracts must be more than simple statements of rights and obligations; they need to be crafted to handle every eventuality. Even the most well-negotiated collaborative relationships can give rise to conflicts over performance, payments, interpretation, or other unforeseen issues. It is during such disputes that contracts are truly tested….
No response doesn’t mean consent for appointment of Arbitrator
- August 12, 2025
S. K. Builders v. CLS Construction Pvt. Ltd. Court – Delhi High Court Citation – O.M.P. (COMM) 297/2023 Date – 08.08.2025 The Hon’ble Delhi High Court has held that no response does not mean consent for appointment of Arbitrator. Appointment requires positive consent and in the absence of it, the appointment becomes unilateral and illegal….
GST Pre-Deposit Allowed Through Electronic Credit Ledger
- August 12, 2025
The Hon’ble Supreme Court, in the case of Union of India & Anr. v. M/S Yasho Industries Limited, Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No. 17547/2025, decided on 19.05.2025, upheld the view that payment of pre-deposit under Section 107(6)(b) of the Central Goods and Services Tax (hereinafter referred to as “CGST”) Act, 2017, can be validly…
Emergency Arbitration in India
- August 11, 2025
Introduction In the rapidly evolving landscape of commercial dispute resolution, “emergency arbitration” has emerged as a vital tool for parties seeking urgent interim relief before the constitution of a formal arbitral tribunal. The concept of an Emergency Arbitrator is particularly significant in cross-border commercial transactions where delays in securing urgent interim measures could lead to…
CIRP Initiation Process under the IBC
- August 11, 2025
Introduction The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s economic reforms, providing a unified and efficient framework for resolving corporate insolvency. At the heart of the Code lies the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP)—a time-bound and creditor-driven mechanism aimed at reviving distressed companies or, when revival is not possible,…
Minimal Judicial Intervention in Arbitrator Appointments
- August 11, 2025
Introduction In a significant ruling that reinforces the legislative intent of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (the ‘Arbitration Act’), the Supreme Court of India, in the case of The Managing Director Bihar State Food and Civil Supply Corporation Limited & Anr. v. Sanjay Kumar, has decisively settled the scope of judicial inquiry at the…
Principal Employer Liable for Gratuity Despite Works Contract
- August 11, 2025
The Hon’ble High Court of Telangana, in the case of Air India v. Appellate Authority & Others, Writ Petition No. 6479 of 2019 decided on 07.07.2025, held that a principal employer cannot escape liability for gratuity payments merely by labeling the arrangement as a works contract. FACTS Air India (hereinafter referred to as “the Petitioner”)…
Consolidated Multiple Years GST Show Cause Notices: Is this the Legislative Intent? I.The Issue at Stake A foundational question has long troubled India’s GST regime: Can GST authorities issue a single Show Cause Notice (SCN) covering multiple financial years and pass a composite assessment order for several years at once? While various High Courts have…
Introduction The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (hereinafter referred to as the “DPDPA” or “the Act”) 2023, alters how India looks at data privacy and compliance frameworks. One of the most talked about provisions of the Act is per-transaction, or granular, consent, which requires that a user must provide explicit consent for each and every…
Mere use of expression “Arbitration” not a binding Agreement
- August 8, 2025
Roshan Agarwal v. National Projects Construction Corporation Limited (NPCCL) & Anr. Court – Calcutta High Court Citation – AP-COM/218/2025 Date – 04.08.2025 The Hon’ble Calcutta High Court has held that the mere use of the expression “Arbitration” in a clause is not sufficient to make the Agreement binding and the intent of the parties…