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Role of IRDA

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This article is written by Ayushma Sharma of Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University in which she has discussed the Role of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA).

Introduction

IRDA Full Form

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, commonly known as, IRDA, is the supreme authority that authorizes the insurance business in India. It was established by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India Act, 1999 after the declaration made by the former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on Insurance Laws (Amendment) Ordinance of 2014. 

Establishment of IRDA

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India was established on the recommendations made by the Malhotra Committee in its report. This committee was headed by Mr. R.N. Malhotra (retired Governor of the Reserve Bank of India). It was finally set up at New Delhi on April 2000, but later on, it was shifted to Hyderabad, Telangana in 2001. The main recommendation made by this committee was to allow the entrance of private sector companies and foreign promoters and independent regulatory authority for the Insurance sector in India.

Objectives of IRDA

Following are the objectives of the IRDA:

  • To carry forward the interests of the policyholders.
  • To uphold the development of the Insurance industry.
  • To ensure speedy resolution of claims.
  • To prevent frauds and malpractices.
  • To ensure fair conduct on the part of the financial market and transparency when dealing with insurance. 

Composition of IRDA

According to Section 4 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development of Authority Act, 1999, the members of the Authority will consist of the following :

  • a chairman
  • not more than five full-time members
  • not more than four-part time members

And together they are supposed to work as a team, work cooperatively and not individually.

These members are to be appointed by the Government of India from amongst the persons exhibiting qualities that would be useful to the Authority like, exceptional knowledge in the field of life insurance, financial markets, economics, law, accountancy, general insurance. They should have good experience in these fields, too. Though, the chairman and each of the five full-time members are expected to have knowledge and experience in life insurance, general insurance, or actuarial science respectively. The current chairman of the Authority is Subhash Chandra Khuntia. He was appointed in 2018.

It has the right to sue the other party on its name. It can also be sued in its name. Also, if any of the members dies or resigns, the Authority will continue to work.

Powers of IRDA / IRDA Functions

As per Section 14 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development of Authority Act, 1999 the Authority has to ensure the regulation, development and promotion of the insurance business and reinsurance business. Following are the other powers, duties and functions of the Authority:

  • To avail the applicant a certificate of registration, renewal, modification, withdrawal, suspension or cancellation of such registration.
  • To protect the interests of the policy holders in cases related to assigning and nomination of policy holders, understanding of insurance claims, insurable interests, surrendering of the value of the policy and other terms and conditions of the insurance contract.
  • To specify the necessary qualifications, code of conduct and practical training for intermediary or insurance intermediaries and agents.
  • Explaining the required code of conduct to the surveyors and loss assessors.
  • To ensure that the proficiency and efficiency of the conduct of the business of insurance.
  • To encourage and regulate the relationship between the professional organisations and the insurance and reinsurance businesses. 
  • To levy charge to carry out the purpose of the Act.
  • To call for the information, undertaking an inspection of, conducting enquiries and investigations including the audit of insurers, intermediaries, insurance intermediaries and other organisations connected with the insurance business.
  • To control and regulate the rates, benefits, terms and conditions which are offered to the insurer in respect of general insurance business that is not controlled and regulated by the Tariff Advisory Committee under Section 64U of the Insurance Act of 1938 (4 of 1938).
  • To specify the manner in which the books are to be maintained and the way in which the statement of accounts shall be rendered by insurers and other insurance companies.
  • To maintain the investment funds by the insurance companies.
  • To regulate the maintenance of margin solvency.
  • Deciding the disputes between the insurers and the intermediaries of insurance intermediaries.
  • Administering the functioning of the Tariff Advisory Committee. 
  • To set down the percentage premium income of the insurer of finance schemes for promoting and regulating the professional organisations.
  • To protect the interests of the policyholders in cases related to assigning and nomination of policyholders.
  • To set out the percentage of life insurance business and general insurance business to be taken forward by the insurer in the rural or social sector.
  • Exercising other powers as may be prescribed.

Chairman of IRDA 

The Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development of Authority of India is appointed by the collegium (consisting of three members) in consultation with the President of India. The present (as of August 2019) Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development of Authority of India is Subhash Chandra Khuntia. He was appointed in 2018. The Government had short-listed eight candidates for the appointment.

As per the Insurance Regulatory and Development of Authority Act, 1999, the salary of a Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development of Authority of India is Rs. 4.5 lakh per month. He holds office for a term of five years, according to Section 5 Insurance Regulatory and Development of Authority Act, 1999.

Role of IRDA

The role of IRDA includes:

  • To ensure interests and fair treatment to the insurance policy holders.
  • To ensure the development of the insurance industry or sector and to impart benefits to people and long-term funds to increase the growth of the economy.
  • To promote and apply high standards of integrity, fair dealing, the ability of all those companies that it administers.
  • To ensure clarity and accuracy while contracting with the insurance policyholders. The Authority has to ensure that true information has been rendered regarding products and services. Also, to make policyholders aware of the different plans and policies that are being implemented by the Insurance sector.
  • To provide speedy trials in case of disputes and to prevent fraud or any other misconduct.
  • To initiate new standards where they are needed or where there is lack of such standards.
  • To promote self-regulation in daily activities with the necessary regulations

IRDA Effect

Effects of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority are as follows:

Effects over-regulation of Insurance Sector

IRDA has a huge impact on the Insurance sector of India. The Authority has to keep a close check on the Insurance sector to ensure that the interests of the policyholders remain intact. It regulates every activity of the insurance sector.

Effects over Policyholders Interests Protection 

The main purpose of this Authority is to protect the interests of the policyholders and it has kept up with its purpose.

Effects over Awareness to Insurance

The IRDA, in order to ensure that the interests of the policyholders are protected, has to make sure that policyholders are aware of all the latest policies and plans of the Authority that would benefit them. 

Effects over Insurance Market

There is a great transformation in the market due to the effects of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority be it with respect to marketing, insurance products, competitions and customer awareness.

Effects over Development of Insurance Product

In order to ensure the growth of the insurance market, IRDA has to introduce new methods that would help in increasing its efficiency. The development of Unit-Linked Insurance Plans is the result of privatization of the insurance sector, a step taken by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India.

Effects over Competition in the Insurance Sector

Initially, when there was no privatisation there was no competition. The different companies in the Insurance sector had to compete amongst themselves. But, after the advent of privatization of the Insurance sector the competition has increased, now it means international competition. It has increased the level of competition.

Effects over Government Responsibility

It is because of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) that the government is doing everything possible to ensure uniformity, accountability and responsibility in the Insurance sector.

Effects over Banks and Post Offices

Insurance has resulted in giving security against any kind of uncertainties or risks, so the Insurance sector has become a popular medium for savings and investments. Thus, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has helped in diverting the flow of funds from banks and post offices to the insurance industry.

Effects over individual Life’s 

Now, because of the awareness created by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority and the policies introduced by it has resulted in a great impact on the life of an individual.

Effects over Share Market

Since the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has introduced Unit-Linked Insurance plans (an insurance plan in which the policyholders get investment and insurance in a single plan) more and more people are trying out the plan. Therefore, with the help of insurance products can now be raised more easily for the companies and has attached many persons indirectly with the activities of the share market.

Effects over the Economy of India 

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority effects over the economic development of the country because money invested by the investors or the individuals in various types of insurance products has channelized the funds of a country for a non-economic activity to economic activity and has made available to the government of a country in order to implement the various developmental activities in the country.

IRDA Complaint

In case the insurer is not happy with the workings of the insurance, then he can seek redressal by following the steps mentioned below:

Step 1 – file your complaint in writing and attach the required documents

Step 2 – take a written acknowledgement of your complaint with the date

The insurance company is supposed to resolve the problem of the applicant within 15 days from the date of filing the complaint. In case, the applicant is not satisfied with the redressal, then, in that case, he can approach the Grievance Redressal Officer of its branch or any other office that he can deal with.

  • Send an email to complaint@irda.gov.in to approach the Grievance Redressal Cell of the Consumer Affairs Department of IRDA.
  • By using an Integrated Grievance Management System the applicant can register and track the complaint at www.igms.irda.gov.in.
  • The applicant can then send a letter or fax to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority with the complaint.

IRDA Guidelines 

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IRDA Guideline and Rules for Health and Mediclaim Insurance

India has seen a high rise in the growth of the health insurance sector for the past few years. The reason behind this growth can be considered as an increase in the awareness amongst the people regarding the importance of health and insurance and also, rise in the disposable income of the people. The main purpose of the insurance of the health industry is not only to sell health insurance policies but also to effective and speedy remedy in case of any necessity. But some complaints have been made by the customers about denial by the insurance companies on perky grounds. Therefore, the Authority decided to introduce reforms that would help people in making successful claims and getting the appropriate remedies.

New Rules to standardize Health Insurance Sector by IRDA

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India aims at increasing the efficiency and protecting the interests of the policyholders. To avoid any kind of misunderstanding the Authority has decided to introduce guidelines. This also helped in standardizing the health insurance policies. The guidelines include some provisions that are necessary to be fulfilled by every health insurance policy and the policyholders.

The guidelines introduced by the IRDA aims to reduce fraudulent cases and provide contentment to the policyholders. Normally, the policyholders don’t trust the insurance policies, so the Authority tried to work on this aspect, too. It has tried to increase the level of trust between the policyholder and the insurer. Through this the policy seekers will be able to understand different clauses which in turn help them in investing in only those policies which will satisfy their requirements. 

Below mentioned is the link that will provide you with all the guidelines of the issued by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India.

https://www.irdai.gov.in/ADMINCMS/cms/frmG

IRDA Regulations 

According to section 26 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India Act, 1999, the Authority after consulting the Insurance Advisory Committee can introduce some new regulations under the Act which will help in achieving the objectives of the Act. The Authority make regulations in the following matters:

  1. The time and place of the meetings and the manner in which they are to be held.
  2. In the provisions mentioned in section 10(4) of the Act.
  3. The conditions of service of officers and other employees.
  4. The powers entrusted in the hands of the committees of the members under section 23(2).
  5. In any other matter that requires new rules. 

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA) Act, 1999

Some of the important provisions of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India Act, 1999 are as follows:

  • Section 5 – Tenure of office of chairperson and the other members.

The Chairperson and all the whole- time members shall remain in office for a term of five years from the date on which they first entered their office. Also, they will be eligible for re-appointment. The Chairperson can not remain in the office after they have attained the age of sixty-five years and the whole-time members shall not hold the office once they have the age of sixty-two years. The part-time members can hold their position for a term not more than five years from the date on which he entered his office.

Any member of the Authority can be removed from his office if:

  1. He has been declared as insolvent.
  2. He has lost his ability to work mentally or physically.
  3. He has committed any offence which in Central Government’s opinion involves moral turpitude.
  4. He has developed any financial interest which in turn will jeopardize his position in the office.
  5. He has used his position in such a way that it is no longer in the interest of the public.

Though the removal of a member under the 4th and 5th point mentioned above cannot be done unless the accused person has been given an opportunity to explain his conduct.

  • Section 9 – Administrative powers of the Chairperson.

The Chairperson will have the powers related to general superintendence and direction in respect of all the administrative matters of the Authority.

  • Section 13 – Transfer of assets, liabilities, etc., of Interim Insurance Regulatory Authority  

On the appointed day:

  1. All the assets and the liabilities of the Insurance Regulatory Authority will be transferred to the Authority. The assets of the Interim Insurance Regulatory Authority will include assets like movable and immovable property, rights and powers, cash balances, deposits, interests that arises out of the property possessed by the Interim Insurance Regulatory Authority, and all the books and documents. The liabilities in such cases will include all kinds of debts and any kind of liability.
  2. Irrespective of the fact mentioned in the above point, all the activities that involved the participation of the Interim Insurance Regulatory Authority and were related to the Insurance Authority will be deemed as having been constituted and engaged by the Authority.
  3. All the amount of money that was due to the Interim Insurance Regulatory Authority exactly before such an appointed day will be presumed to be due to the Authority.
  4. All those legal proceedings (either by or against the Interim Insurance Regulatory Authority) that were supposed to be constituted before that day will be continued or constituted by or against the Authority.

According to this provision, a fund will be constituted which will be known as ‘the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India Fund’. This fund will be credited to:

  1. All the government grants, fees that the Authority receives.
  2. The amount received by the Authority from the sources agreed by the Government.
  3. The percentage of the minimum premium income that the insurers receive.

The fund constituted will be used for meeting the salaries, allowances, and remuneration of all the members of the Authority and also, to meet the expenses incurred by the Authority to fulfil its daily functions.

  1. The Authority will have to maintain accounts and annual statements in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Government. 
  2. The accounts and the annual statements of the Authority will be maintained by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. If any expense is incurred by the Comptroller and Auditor General in maintaining such accounts then, the Authority will have to pay the Comptroller and Auditor General. 
  3. Any person appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India concerning the maintenance of the accounts and annual statements of the Authority will have the same rights and privileges as that of the Comptroller and Auditor General. These rights include the right to demand the production of books of accounts, connected vouchers, and other relevant documents and papers.
  4. The audit report prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the other person appointed by him will be forwarded annually to the Central Government. The Government, in turn, will present it before each House of the Parliament. 
  • Section 18 – Powers of the Central Government to issue Directions.

The Central Government can issue directions to the Insurance Regulatory Authority on matters related to questions of policy. Such directions will bind the Authority to act according to the Government’s directions. But, all this will happen only when the Authority will also be given the chance to present its views before the Government before the directions are issued. 

Whether a question is one of the policies or not, will be decided by the Central Government.

  • Section 19 – Powers of Central Government to supersede the Authority.

In case of any fault on the part of the Authority, the Government has the right to intervene in the matter. If not satisfied by the functioning of the Authority the Government will appoint a person to act as the Controller of Insurance under section 2B of the Insurance Act, 1938 (Act 4 of 1938). But before appointing Controller of Insurance the government will have a reasonable amount of time to the Authority to make corrections in its functioning. 

But first, the Government will issue a notification of superseding the Authority. Though the Government can only supersede for a period specified in the notification and this period shall not be more than six months. 

  1. If the Central Government realises that the Authority is not able to discharge its functions properly like it was supposed to perform. 
  2. If because of the functioning of the Authority the financial condition or the administration of the Authority has suffered. 
  3. If the circumstances are such that it becomes necessary for the Government to intervene to ensure public interest.
  • Section 20 – Furnishing of Returns, etc. to the Central government.
  1. The Authority will have to furnish all those documents, returns, statements and other particulars that the Government demands from the Authority. 
  2. The Authority will  provide the Government a report consisting of all the activities it performs, expenses incurred, assets formed, cash generated, promotion and development of the insurance business during the previous financial year. The accounts should be correct. This report is to be submitted within nine months after the close of every financial year. 
  3. The copies of the report submitted by the Authority to the Government will have to present before each House of the Parliament by the Government. 
  • Section 22 – Protection of Action taken in Good Faith.

If any action is taken by the Authority or the Central Government in good faith under the provisions of the Act, then, no suit can be filed against them. But if any step is taken which is not in accordance with the provisions of the Act, and is against some person, then, the person has the right to file a suit against the Authority or the Central Government. 

This provision entitles the Central government to make rules regarding the provisions of the Act. These provisions include salaries and allowances payable to the members of the Authority, the format of the annual statements accounts prepared by the Authority, powers that may be exercised by the Authority in accordance with Section 7(2) of the Act, etc. 

IRDA List 

Click here to check the list of life insurers. 

https://www.irdai.gov.in/ADMINCMS/cms/NormalData_Layout.aspx?page=PageNo129&mid=3.1.9

Conclusion 

Insurance is an important aspect of the economy which requires changes from time to time according to the needs of the people. An individual should be aware of the opportunities that are available to him in the form of health and life insurances. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India plays a significant role in ensuring that the interests of the policyholders remain secured. Though competition has increased with necessary changes, the objectives of the insurers and policyholders can be achieved. 

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All about Imprisonment under Various Laws

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The article is wriiten by Shruti Singh. The author has enumerated the provisions of imprisonment specified under the relevant sections of IPC, CrPC and Indian Constitution.

Imprisonment 

Imprisonment is the word which means taking away the freedom of prisoners when they are punished by a court of law. They are locked up in prison and all the rights are taken away they are not given any rights which are under Article 21 or 32 of the Constitution of India. They have to stay in jail till the end of the imprisonment given by the court of law before that they are not allowed to be released from the jail. 

Types of Imprisonment  

  1. Mandatory imprisonment- When any person commits a crime it becomes mandatory to give him/her punishment for that crime because if the person who commits crime are left with no punishment he will become dangerous to society it harms whole public. This is the reason criminals are not kept free after he commits any crime they have to face imprisonment. 
  2. Maximum sentences- The person who commits crime they got life imprisonment and the duration of life imprisonment is decided by a court of law. The minimum life imprisonment is 14 years but it can extend upto 30 years of life imprisonment.
  3. Minimum life imprisonment- The minimum life imprisonment is for 14 years. It is decided by the Supreme Court of India.
  4. False imprisonment- Many times people unlawfully caught by the police and get imprisonment because of false crime. 

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Life Imprisonment Meaning

Life imprisonment means the whole life in prison. Prisoners has to end up their life in prison. They have no other options of release. According to the Supreme Court life imprisonment means jail term for the prisoner for entire life. 

  •  There will be no release before fourteen or twenty years of life imprisonment. 
  • The prisoner has no such right as to release.
  • The period of life imprisonment cannot be reduced. It cannot be less than 14 years.

Under what cases life imprisonment can be granted under IPC?

The report is based on the punishment of imprisonment for life in the Indian Penal Code. Itdeals with the sentence of imprisonment for life which is rigorous or simple. The State Government has clarified the law on imprisonment for life in this report. This report is made by the Law Commision of India for the clarification of law. According to this report, the offences under Indian Penal Code have come into effect in the year 1956 on 1st of january. And the Code of Criminal Procedure came into Existence in the year 1955. After this report two old laws were replaced namely punishment of transportation for life.

life imprisonment
Image Source – http://www.thedailystar.net/law-our-rights/life-imprisonment-verdict-contextual-reading-1405858

Purpose of Imprisonment

There are five purposes of Life imprisonment:

  1. Punishment: when any person commits a crime, they are punished by a court of law then put in the jail that deprives them of all their freedom and removes them from their society. Punishment may change the person into a good person and return their fundamental freedoms and also give them a chance to live in society freely with their family members. Sometimes it also provides them work so they again, don’t commit a crime. So punishment is important for the criminals. 
  2. Deterrence: deterrence is another type of punishment for the offenders so that they don’t repeat their crime again because punishment teaches values to the offender and give them an opportunity to change themselves and transform them into a law-abiding citizen. 
  3. Public protection: when any person commits big crime like murder or rape, they have to face life imprisonment as ordered by the judge. This is the only reason we can protect the public from these criminals. 
  4. Rehabilitation: rehabilitation means when a prisoner is ready to accept the crime he has committed and take some necessary steps to change themselves in that case the government chooses to give them an opportunity, in prison itself, to change.  
  5. No other choice: after committing crime prisoner have no choice of release they have to face imprisonment.

Case laws

The  High Court of Jammu and Kashmir vs State of J&K & others 

  1. The details of the petitioner about the period of the sentence was given in paragraph 1 which petitioner has undergone till 31.05.2012
  2. If we want to deal with the issue of the case in the right way and reach to the conclusion of the case.

Here are some of the questions to discuss through which we can deal with the case in the right manner. 

  • Whether life imprisonment means entire natural life or 20 years of life imprisonment?
  • Whether a life convict can be released automatically after completion of twenty years without any orders from the state, including the jail authorities?

When I went through the provisions of the law, I reached the conclusion that life imprisonment means imprisonment for life and it does not automatically come to an end without any order from the competent authority.

Some more related cases with a similar matter came up for consideration before a division bench of this court. 

Md. Munna vs Union Of India & Ors on 16 September, 2005 

Facts of the case:

The writ petition is filed under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution. The petitioner was found guilty of murder.  And previously he has already got imprisonment for life for 21 years. In this petitioner claimed that life imprisonment should be equivalent to 20 years and further subject to remission admissible under law.   

Life imprisonment in India

Under article 72 and 161 CrPC life imprisonment means the entire life in prison which is guaranteed under the Code of Criminal Procedure. The minimum duration of life imprisonment is of 14 years and also commuted the death sentence to the prisoner.     

Judicial precedents on duration of Life imprisonment

Case laws:

Maru Ram Etc. Etc vs Union Of India & Anr on 11

Facts of the case:

This case is based on the power of remission act under article 72 and 161. Revisiting the law on remission – The Hindu. In this case the Constitutional Validity of Section 433-A of the Criminal Procedure court, 1973 was upheld. Petitioner has filed a case alleging the provisions of Article 14, 20(1), 72, and 161 of the Constitution of India.Landmark judgment

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case

Facts of the case:

On the date of 25.5.1991 Rajiv Gandhi with his former Prime Minister of India faced a terrorist attack with a human bomb. There were more than 15 persons and 9 policemen including 43 persons get severely injured by this terrorist attack. When the investigation started, police officials found some footprints of the criminals. Criminals are caught after the testing of footprints and they are punished under Terrorist and Disruptive activities act, Indian Penal code, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, Passport Act, Foreigners Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy act. 26 persons has to face the criminal trial and others are commited suicide because of threat of trial. The court has 288 witness against those terrorists during the trial. All the terrorist has to face death sentence.    

Case law on power of remission

Gautam Dutta vs State of Jharkhand 10 Feb, 2016

Facts of the case-

The boy named Atif Mustafa get kidnapped intentionally and the kidnappers murdered him and disposed of his body to protect themselves from the criminal trial. M.D Safique is already in the court trial. During the court trial court find about his second crime of kidnapping a boy with his three friends. Court find them and convicted them for the offense of kidnapping which is punishable under section 364a ,120b ipc.

Case laws

Kehar Singh And Anr. Etc vs Union Of India And Anr on 16 December …

Facts of the case:

Kehar Singh filed a petition against his conviction and death sentence because of the murder. But on the 14th of october his brother presented a petition to the president of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi for the grant to pardon the death sentence by proving his innocence.

Union of India vs Sriharan

The apex court held that,  when we refer to the punishment provided for the offense under 376A or 376D while prescribing life imprisonment as the maximum punishment that can be imposed, it is specifically stipulated that such life imprisonment would mean for the remainder of that period.

Gopal Vinayak Godse vs The State of Maharashtra 

The Hon’ble SC held that a sentence of transportation for life or imprisonment for life must prima facie be treated as transportation or imprisonment for the whole of the remaining period of the convicted person’s natural life.  

Double Life Imprisonment in India

 Like everyone human being has one life, as prisoners has also one life to live so prisoners cannot serve consecutive sentences of life imprisonment. But according to Supreme court constitutional bench life sentence would be twice or thrice of the heinous crimes like rape murder, etc. The court said that multiple life imprisonment will be served consecutively. Chief Justice of India has interpreted the law that in multiple imprisonment prisoners would be anomalous and irrational. 

In a first, rare double-death and double-life sentence for man who raped, murdered 2-year-old girl. 

In Nagpur city the 21 year old man raped her 2 year niece and murdered her. The case was filed in the Bombay high court. The sentence was the first of its kind, given under Section 376A of the Indian Penal Code, under an amendment made in light of the gruesome Nirbhaya rape case in delhi( 2012 Delhi gang rape). The Nagpur bench confirmed the rare double-death and double-life sentence to the 21 year old man. In the Divison Bench, comprising Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Prasanna Varale confirmed the verdict of a Yavatmal sessions court sentencing Shatrughan Masaram to death for raping and murdering his two year child.  

Report On The Punishment Of Imprisonment For Life 

This is the thirty-nine report of the law commission on the subject of life imprisonment for life under the Indian penal code. Some time ago the Ministry of Home Affairs asked question to the Law Commission of India about the punishment of life imprisonment in India. This question was asked because the State governments wanted clarification on this subject matter and because IPC and CrPC were under revision.  

What is in the Constitution?

In the Constitution of India it is now mentioned that the sentence of life imprisonment will be of 14 years. In any crime culprit will be punished according to their crime and it will be decided by the court that punishment will be given to which culprit. For the serious crime like murder and rape, culprit will get life imprisonment or death sentence in any manner. There will be no pardon of life imprisonment and death sentences.

This decision is taken in the year 2012 by the Supreme Court of India and life imprisonment is not limited it can extend upto 25 years. Culprits cannot claim regarding their release from the prison and neither their family or friends. Constitution of India mentioned rules and regulations regarding life imprisonment

  1. Life imprisonment is 14, 20 or 25 years. 
  2. It can extend upto whole life. 
  3. Life imprisonment can go till the end of life. 
  4. After the life imprisonment culprit has to face all the circumstances in the jail.
  5. They cannot claim about their release. 
  6. Life imprisonment cannot be pardon. 

There are some reasons behind 14 years of life imprisonment.

Under section 432 and 433 of the CrPC it is mentioned about the 14 years of life imprisonment. This is a very serious misconception about 14 years of life imprisonment in India. Because life imprisonment is not limited to 14 years. It can extend as much as the action of the prisoner. Life imprisonment is dependent on the action of the prisoner. Life imprisonment can be reduced if the prisoner proves themselves in prison. Death sentence can also be pardoned in the case of prisoner’s action and reaction noticed in the prison. Otherwise there life becomes hell in prison if they don’t act nicely in the prison. The convict can be released, first they have to fulfill some of the conditions of the prisons. 

List of offenses liable for Life Imprisonment 

 

SL. No

Section 

Offense 

Punishment 

1

121

Waging, abetting against the government of india. 

Life imprisonment and death sentence.

2

132

Abetment is committed in other consequences.

Death and life sentence for 10 years or fine 

3

194

False evidence shown in the court during the court proceedings.

Death sentence, life imprisonment and fine can be charged as  decided by the court. 

4

302

Murder is mentioned in this article.

Death sentence, life imprisonment.

5

6

7

303

364A

396

Dacoity in murder or more number of murders are caused.

Death sentence or life imprisonment or fine. 

 

Indian Penal code has 34 sections which talks about the offences which are punishable with imprisonment of life or death sentence or fine. For this offence there is no maximum limit for the imprisonment.

Punishment has no uniformity. It get changed, according to the crime caused. It can extend for whole life. It could be of 7 years, 10 years, 14, 20, 25, 30 or for whole life till death. Here I mentioned some more offenses:

 

SL. No

Section 

Offense 

 

1

121-A

Planning of committing crime is also an offence.

 

2

122

Use of armed war illegally without the permission of Government of India is a punishable offence.

 

3

125

Using of war in asiatic war against Government of India 

 

4

130

Prisoner try to Aiding or trying to rescue from the prison or try harbour any prisoner is an offence.

 

5

131

Trying to distract or seduce any soldier or airman from his duty is a punishable offence.

 

6

194

Showing false evidence in the court for the procure evidence of the capital offence.

 

7

222

If any person tries to omit any public servant who is under sentence or lawfully committed.

 

8

225

Try to obstruct or resist lawfully any other person is an offence. 

 

9

232

If Indian coins are counterfeited is an offence. . 

 

10

238

Importing or exporting counterfeits of Indian coin is an offence. 

 

11

255

Government coins cannot be counterfeited. 

 

12

311

Being a wrong thing of any crime is also considered as an offence.

 

13

313

Abortion or misscarriage is a serious offence. 

 

14

314

If someone killed any woman for the misscarriage. 

 

15

326

Cause damage by the weapons to any other person intentionally.

 

                                                    

How many years is a Life Imprisonment

Years are not fixed for life imprisonment. It is for whole life also. Because of Life imprisonment  prisoner can get death penalty if he or she has committed henious crimes like rape and murder. For this type of crime Supreme court said prisoners will get double-prisonment. There is no uniformity in the life imprisonment. Life imprisonment is for 14 years. It may also last for 25 years. It depends on the type of crime committed by the prisoner. Prisoner has no right of the release. This is a very big misconception in Indian law that Life imprisonment can only of 14 years it can extend by noticing the action of the prisoner in the prison. It can be  reduced if prisoner proves themselves guilty of not doing the crime. Its minimum limit is 14 years. 

Section 57 of IPC

Case laws:

  1. Lakkhi vs The State of Rajasthan

 Facts of the case

This case is based on the years of life imprisonment. Prisons Act, 1894, Prisons Rule, 1958, Rajasthan Prisons Rule, 1958 and Rajasthan Prisoners Release on Parole Rules, 1958 has some different statutes and rules different from the provisions of CrPC, IPC and Constitution of India. There are different sections of IPC like section 53, section 57, section 511 in which different types of life imprisonment are defined. And in the section 432 and 433, CrPC suspension and remission is defined. The government imposes power of remission in certain cases. Power of remission is mentioned in the section 433 and 432 in the CrPC.

 Some more cases are referred: 

 Facts of the case:

The editor of the Statesman newspaper copyright the words of the leading article of Earl of Lytton. Because of this plaintiff Subhash chandra Bose sues the defendant on this issue. 

But in the month of october Local government of Bengal has got the power from the Governor-General to arrest the person who believed to be guilty of the crime and arrest them and lodged in the jail. 

What can be the reason for the release of prisoners?

There are many reasons when prisoners can get release:

  1. When any person wrongly caught for any crime then he can get release.
  2. If any person change themselves and prove themselves in front of police that they will not commit any other crimes then he can get release.
  3. If any women in the period of life imprisonment get pregnant or she has any other reproductive problem then she can be released.
  4. Before 14 years no prisoners get released.    

Comparison with other countries

 

jurisdiction

Life imprisonment

Minimum duration

Maximum duration

Indefinite sentence

Mandatory sentence

Other crimes

Under age crminals

pardon

Death penalty

Australia 

yes

Terrorism-22 years life imprisonment. For

Murderof a police officer-25 years of life imprisonment.

none

yes

yes

   

By governor 

No 

Austria 

yes

15 years

none

yes

Genocide 

Murder, drug dealing, nazi activism, etc

Under 16 years of age- 10 years

16-17-15 years

18-20- 20 years

By president 

No 

Belgium 

yes

15 years

none

No 

None 

Murder 

Under 12- no punishment

12-15- detained till the age of 20

16-17- 30 years

Parole by conditional release, commission or pardon by king

No 

Brazil 

no

Depends on the sentence

12 and 30 years

No 

None 

No life imprisonment sentence

No 

No 

Only in times of war

Impact of Life Imprisonment

Effects of prison:

Prisoners has a very bad effect of the prison in their life. Prison’s main aim is to cure the criminals and make them a good person so they can live in the particular society with normal people with full freedom. Prisons have their own culture, rules and regulations. Prisoners has to follow the rules and regulations of the prisons and they have no choice in their life. They always have a fear of deterioration.

They lack personal choices and they have to work according to the prisons rules. They have to dedicate their lives to the prison. But some people in the prison get completely changed or unscathed by the prison experience. As we see prisons are very painful, and incarcerated persons suffer very long-term imprisonment and because of that are affected with a lot of pain, deprivation, etc. 

  • Effect of prison in children 

Thousands of children are, every day, locked up in the prison due to different reasons. They are locked up with adults. In some of the prisons youth get the quality education in the prison to make him a good person and can be relieved from the prison after a short period of time. This type of prisons are also called as schools.

Health facilities are also provided to the children in the prison. They are cared for in the prison in every manner possible. Many youths are facing solitary confinement for only 22 to 24 hours. This punishment is very harsh on children because they have to face physical injuries, emotional trauma and many more things.

The death penalty for young offender is banned by the Supreme Court of India. Because below the age of 18 youth are immature, irresponsible. This is very important for young prisoners to be treated nicely and help them to improve themselves with feelings  of happiness and joy. If they are not treated well, they can face severe mental trauma. It can also affect their life very badly.    

Case law

Raju vs. State of UP & another

Facts of the case:

This case is related to Protection of Children Act and THE JUVENILE JUSTICE (CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN. In this case there were two boys named Raju and Ashish who are bullies and goondas of the area. They ever-tested and molested the daughter of defendant. Then the brother of the girl came at the scene and tried to protect her but Raju and Ashish pushed both of them into the pool.  

  • Effect of prisons in women

According to the Criminal Justice System women are supported in the prison. They are treated well in prison. Female prison population in India is 53%. They are increasing day by day. The reason for the increase in women’s population in prison is, they get involved in drug trade. The women who belongs from lower community they generally get involved in drug trade because of shortage of money, shortage of food etc.. They don’t have houses to live so they have to get involved in this trade forcefully because of their families. This trade destroy the life of a woman because of this their children get harmed.

Difference between Women and Men Prisoners

 

Woman in prison 

Men in prison

  1. Women’s prison- 84%

Men’s prison- 76%

2. Offences- theft, involved in drug trade.

Offences- robbery, sexual offences, fraud, drugs, and motoring offences

 3. 80% theft because of shoplifting.

Because of many reasons. 

  4. 28% woman’s crimes were financially motivated.

20% of men. 

 5. Sentenced woman- 22%

Sentenced men- 12%

  6. TV licence evasion accounted-36%

Men- 6%

           

 

 

Psychological effects

The prison was originally designed to allow prisoners to rediscover themselves like conscience and better voice through conversion. Unfortunately, it was later discovered that it is a form of torture because it ended up causing many prisoners adverse psychological effects such as:

  1. Delusion 
  2. Dissatisfaction with life
  3. Claustrophobia 
  4. Depression 
  5. Feeling of panic
  6. And on many instances madness
  7. Stress
  8. Denial
  9. Nightmares and the inability to sleep
  10. Phobias 
  11. Substance abuse
  12. Criminal activity
  13. And some forms of self-destructive behavior
  14. Guilt 
  15. Shame 
  16. Suicidal tendencies

Other effects are

  1. Depend on institutional structure and contingencies
  2. Interpersonal distrust and suspicion
  3. Emotional over-control, alienation, and psychological distancing 
  4. Social withdrawal and isolation.
  5. Incorporation of exploitative norms of prison culture.
  6. Diminished sense of self-worth and personal value.
  7. Post-traumatic stress reactions are shown in the prisoner during the pain of prison.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Life Imprisonment 

Advantages

  • If a person commits a crime like rape or murder, it gives a very serious impact on the life of victim or victim’s family because of this their lives get destroyed. So accused get life imprisonment or death sentence.
  • Capital punishment means if legallly someone is  killing someone then as a punishment takeing the life of the person is not valid. 
  • Life imprisonment gives a chance to the criminals to realize their mistakes so their life imprisonment or death sentence can be pardoned or remitted. 
  • Prisons give chance to prisoner to study and explore themselves in good works they provide them employment so they can change the prisoner to release them from the prison. 
  • Prisons for youth is very favorable. They try to help them with all the facilities and guidelines to improve them and support them so they can live in the particular society with normal people. 
  • Prisons provide good food and health facilities and many more facilities to the prisoners to change themselves or to live a happy life. 
  • Many prisoners get released of their change and they are allowed to live in the particular society and with a job, so they can earn something for their own lives and change their life and their family’s life. 

Disadvantages

  • Life imprisonment cannot be given to prisoner for capital punishment as they are not only responsible for the crime. This is the biggest mistake it can make the prisoners’ life hell. 
  • Capital punishment is the way in which we can pass some messages to the normal individual. 
  • Capital punishment help to remove dangerous criminals from society making it a safer place for the people. 
  • Life imprisonment can help people from the discrimination which they are facing in the society due to their crime, which should be corrected by giving capital punishment to murderers.

Life Imprisonment vs Death Penalty

 

Life imprisonment 

Death penalty

  1. Life imprisonment is not so harsh because it also help prisoners to change themselves, it is not so cruel like death sentence. 

Death penalty is defined as the death sentence which is given to the prisoner for their crime.  

 2. Life imprisonment gives chance to prisoners to change themselves by providing them with schools and colleges in the school to explore themselves and they are also provided with health facilities, etc. and also help them to keep in touch with their families.

Death penalty is very cruel and harsh to prisoners it doesnt give any chance to proove themselves if they are given death sentence by the court. 

3. It gives chance to prisoners so they can realise their mistake and get to know what bad things are done. They get a chance to correct their mistake during life imprisonment. 

In death penalty the prisoner only get death sentence. In case if their family members or friends get a chance to prove them right then death sentence can be pardon.

   

 

Remission of Sentence in India

Power of remission is defined in the section 432 and 433 of Criminal Code of Procedure. Life imprisonment is subjected to Statutory Powers of Remission. If punishment is given with the executive process then remission can be premature release in a sentence of life imprisonment. Because of the Power of Remission Act punishment which is decided by the judiciary has the very serious. It can disturb the constitutional balance as well as separation of powers.     

Power of remission is important when we have to review the premature release. Under section 302 of Indian Penal Code prisoners can file a writ petition against Jail Authorities. If Jail Authorities for placing their case in front of  State Advisory Boards for shortening their life imprisonment. 

  • Life imprisonment without the possibility of release. 

Supreme court gives the decision of death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of release. Prisoners has to face lime imprisonment for life. They have no chance of release. They have to spend their whole life in the prison. 

Pardoning Power of the President

President of India is the head of the state. And the powers of the president is always termed as an extraordinary power which includes grant of pardon. The constitution of India also grants the power of pardon to the President of India. The power of pardon is mentioned in Article 72 of the Indian Constitution.  

Rules of pardon the death sentence:

  1. If punishment is given by the court martial the president has the power to pardon or commute the sentence of any person.
  2. The offences which is committed which is related to law or it belongs to the executive power of the union. 
  3. President can pardon death sentence.

Pardoning Power of the Governor

Meaning of discretionary power  

Discretionary means “freedom to act according to one’s judgment”. Governor has the power of discretion means he has the power or right to take decisions freely. He can exercise his power in his own individual judgement without the advice of the council of ministers.

Discretionary power is divided into two parts:   

  1. Specific Discretionary Powers:  in this Governor uses his specific powers to take the decisions of certain case. Certain responsibilities are provided to governor for the discretionary power. He is not bound to anyone. He doesn’t have to ask anyone for the decision. Powers can only be used in time of legal requirement. 
  2. Circumstantial Discretionary Power: many times the power of the Governor become circumstantial. Governor is not questionable in any manner if he doesn’t take decisions in the time of discretion. Governor decision is final in his discretion. 

Prison conditions in India 

In some major cities of the country that we visit, and probably we see some, unlucky faces who gets arrested and tortured, or worse, by the hands of the police. In many countries entirely there is lack of protections for civil liberties available in India. Though, some in linking in advance that we would find extensive police abuse of detainees. It is not yet discovered about the conditions of prisons and jails, to which detainees are sent after the police are done with them.

If incarceration is meant to punish, life inside the prisons will be worse. Though prisons are supposed to be leveling institutions in which the variables that affect the conditions of confinement are expected to be the criminal records of their inmates and their behavior in prison, other factors play a part in many countries. But India and Pakistan have retained colonial-era regulations that explicitly counter the concept of prison as a leveler.

The management of prisons falls exclusively under the domain of the State Government, as per the seventh schedule of the constitution. In every state, the prison administrative machinery works under the chief of prisons who is a senior ranking IPS officer. Indian prisons face three long-standing structural constraints, overcrowding, thanks to a high percentage of undertrials in the prison population, understaffing and underfunding. The inevitable outcome is subhuman living conditions, poor hygiene, and violent clashes between the inmates and jail authorities.

 Prison statistics India 2015 report

Prison Statistics India-2015 – National Crime Records Bureau

  • Overcrowded prisons, with an occupancy ratio of 14% more than the capacity in India.
  • More than two-thirds of the inmates are undertrials.
  • Chhattisgarh and Delhi are among the top two in the list of crime with an occupancy ratio is double than the capacity. 
  • Overcrowded –
  1. Meghalaya – 77.9%
  2. Uttar Pradesh – 68.8%
  3. Madhya Pradesh – 39.8%
  • In absolute numbers, UP had the highest number of undertrials (62,669), in comparison to Bihar (23,424) and Maharastra (21,667).
  • In Bihar, 82% of prisoners were undertrials, which is highest among the states.
  • Sixty-seven per cent of the people in Indian jails are undertrials falsely, they get falsely detained in prisons during trial, investigation or inquiry but not convicted of any crime in a court of law. 
  • The share of the prison population in trial or sentencing in India is extremely high in comparison to  international standards, 
  1. 11% in the UK
  2. 20% in the USA
  3. 29% in FRANCE.
  • More than 25% of undertrials in 16 out of 36 states and union territories have been detained for more than one year in 2014.
  • Jammu and Kashmir – 54% 
  • Goa – 50%
  • Gujrat – 42%
  • UP (18,214)

According to NCRB records:

  • 2.82 lakh inmates are undertrials, in which 55% are Muslims, Dalits, and Tribals.
  • Muslims, Dalits and Tribals communities form a population of 39% with a share of 14.2%, 16.6% and 8.6% of the population respectively, according to the 2011 census.
  • The Muslims community share of convicts is 15.8%, slightly above in the population, but their share among undertrials is 20.9% which is far higher
  •  The scheduled castes and scheduled tribes convicts have a population of 20.9% and 13.7% respectively, which is fairly higher.  

TO know more about life imprisonment in India, please Click Here.

 

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Right to Equality

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This article is written by Dhruv Bhardwaj, a student of Amity Law School, Delhi. In this article, he covers the principles of Right to Equality in the Indian Constitution which are laid out in Article 14-18. 

What is Right to Equality

Each citizen of India is guaranteed the right to equality by Articles 14 to 18 of the Constitution. Article 14 encapsulates the general standards of equality under the watchful eyes of the law and restricts nonsensical and baseless separation between people. The succeeding articles layout explicit utilization of the general standards set down in Article 14. This article goes over the Right to Equality in India covering every one of the articles that this Right exemplifies.

Equality Before Law

The idea of equality does not mean outright equality among individuals which is practically unrealistic to accomplish. It is an idea implying the absence of any extraordinary benefit by reason of birth or the like for any individual, and furthermore the equal subject of all individuals and classes to the ordinary law of the land. As Dr. Jennings puts it: “Equality before the law implies that among equivalents the law ought to be equivalent and ought to be similarly applied, that ought to be dealt with in a like manner. The privilege to sue and be sued, to prosecute and be prosecuted for a similar sort of activity ought to be the same for all residents of full age and comprehension without refinements of race, religion, wealth, societal position or political impact.”

Equality Before Law and Rule of Law

The assurance of equality before the law is a part of what Dicey calls the Rule of Law in England. It implies that no man is exempted from the rules that everyone else follows and that each individual, whatever be his position or conditions, is subject to the purview of ordinary jurisdiction. Professor Dicey gave three meanings of the Rule of Law:

  • Absence of Arbitrary Power or Supremacy of the Law:

This provision means that under no circumstances can the use of power exercised arbitrarily overshadow the supremacy of the law. To put it differently, it is also said that a person can be punished for nothing other than a breach of law.

  • Equality Before the Law:

It implies subjection of all classes to the ordinary rule administered by ordinary law courts that everyone must follow. This implies ‘nobody is exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else with the sole special case of the monarch who won’t ever be blamed no matter what’. Everyone in England, whether he is an authority of the State or a private individual, will undoubtedly comply with the same law. In this manner, public authorities don’t hold a privileged position in Great Britain. In Great Britain, there is one arrangement of law and one arrangement of courts for every citizen, i.e., for public authorities as well as private persons.

  • Predominance of Legal Spirit:

The Constitution is the aftereffect of the ordinary law of the land that everyone must follow. It implies that the pool out of which the rights of people arise isn’t the rigid Constitution but they are the standards as characterized and upheld by the Courts instead.

The first and the second provision apply to Indian framework yet the third part of Dicey’s rule of law does not make a difference to the Indian framework as the source of rights of people is the Constitution of India. The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the land and all laws sanctioned by the legislature must be steady and in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution.

Equal Protection of the Laws

The assurance of equal protection of laws is like one encapsulated in the fourteenth Amendment to the American Constitution. This has been translated to mean subjection to equal law, applying to all in similar conditions. It just implies that all people circumstanced in a similar footing will be dealt with in a like manner, both, in terms of the benefits received by them and liabilities incurred by them which is forced by the laws. Equal law ought to be connected to all in a similar circumstance, and there ought to be no separation between one individual and another. With respect to the topic of the legislation, their position is the same. In this way, the rule is that the like ought to be dealt with in a like manner and not that the unlike should be treated in a like manner. The rule of law forces an obligation upon the State to take exceptional measures to counteract the fierceness which can arise by police procedure. The Rule of Law exemplified in Article 14 is the “basic feature” of the Indian Constitution and subsequently, it can’t be crushed even by an amendment of the Constitution under Article 368.

The guarantee of the equal protection of laws is accessible to any individual which also extends to any organization or affiliation or group of people. This is signified by the words ‘any person’ in Article 14 of the Constitution of India. The protection of Article 14 of the Constitution stretches out to both the natives and non-residents and to legal as well as natural persons. The equality before the law is ensured to all without respect to race, colour or nationality. Organizations being juristic people are additionally deemed to get the benefits provided by Article 14.

Right to Equality Under Article 14

According to Article 14, it is an obligation to the State to not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection of laws within the territory of India. The concept of ‘equality before law’ is taken from the English Constitution and the concept of ‘equal protection of laws’ is borrowed from the American Constitution. Both these articulations aim at setting up what is designated “equality of status” in the Preamble of the Constitution.While both the articulations may appear to be indistinguishable, they don’t generally pass on a similar significance. While ‘equality before law’ is, to some degree a negative idea suggesting the absence of any special benefit for people and the equal subject of all classes to the conventional law. “Equal protection of law” is an increasingly positive idea inferring equality of treatment in equal conditions. Notwithstanding the aforementioned things, one overwhelming thought regular to both the articulations is that of providing justice.

Exceptions to the Rule of Law

The rule of equality given in the Constitution of India is not a straitjacketed rule without any exceptions. There are a number of special exceptions to it: Firstly, ‘equality before the law’ does not imply that the powers that are given to the public authorities will be the same as the powers given to the private citizens of the nation. To explain this better, we know that, a cop has the ability to arrest while, generally, no private individual possesses this power. This isn’t the infringement of the rule of law. In any case, the rule of law requires that these forces ought to be unmistakably characterized by the law and the maltreatment of power by public officials must be punished by common courts in a similar way as unlawful acts committed by private people.

Furthermore, the rule of law does not stop certain classes of people being liable to extraordinary rules. Along these lines, individuals from the military are constrained by military laws. Likewise, medical professionals are exposed to the guidelines confined by the Medical Council of India, a statutory body, and the jurisdiction of ordinary courts does not apply to them. The President of India and the State Governors are afforded immunity under Article 361 of the Indian Constitution. Article 361 gives that the President or the Governors of the State will not be liable to any Court for the activity and execution of the powers and obligations of the office. No criminal proceeding will be founded or proceeded against the President or the Governor of a State in any Court during his term of office. No procedure for the capture or detainment of the President or the Governor of State will be issued from any Court during his term of office.

Thirdly, Statutory Bodies in India confer really wide discretionary powers in the name of the ministers and other executive bodies. A minister is giving full autonomy to act like he wants to but with this autonomy, we also see that such power conferred is grossly misused. Today, countless enactments are passed as delegated legislations, i.e., principles, requests or statutory instruments made by ministers and different bodies and not straightforwardly by the Parliament. These standards did not exist in Dicey’s time. 

Fourthly, conduct of certain individuals of the society is administered by unique guidelines which are laid out by their professions i.e., legal counsellors, specialists, medical attendants, individuals from military and police. Such classes of individuals are dealt with uniquely in contrast to common residents.

Underlying Principle

Equality before the law or equal protection of the laws does not mean a similar treatment to everybody. As no two individuals are equal in all regards, a similar treatment to them in each regard would bring about unequal treatment. For instance, a similar treatment in all regards to a youngster as a grown-up, or to a debilitated or physically impaired individual as to a person free of any health problems, or to an affluent individual as to poor, will bring about unequal treatment or treatment which no one will legitimize or endorse.

Consequently, the basic standard of equality isn’t the consistency of treatment to all things considered equal, but instead to give them a similar treatment in those regards where they are comparable and diverse treatment in those regards in which they are not alike. Basically, it is expressed: Equals are to be dealt with in a similar manner while unequals must be dealt with in a different way. For real-life application of the principle of equality, all things considered, we should, consequently, discriminate between the individuals who are equivalent and the individuals who are not similar.

The aforementioned demarcation is known as Reasonable Classification and will be discussed throughout the article. Yet, let us explain that despite the fact that no two individuals are comparable in all regards, they are for the most part comparative in one regard, in particular, they are generally human beings. In this manner as people they require a similar treatment, they should all be treated as people. In the Ancient Indian setting, as much as in Christianity and Islam, regardless of whether we are created from various pieces of the body of that first individual or God, we are for the most part God’s children. It is in this aspect that we are all deemed as equals.

In this way, as we have noted all-around quickly and will note in a detailed and a more comprehensive manner below, particularly under Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India, the meaning of equality is not just restricted to prohibiting unequal treatment but also requires equal treatment. A prerequisite obligation for the state is to treat people unequally but in addition to that the state must also come up with steps to eradicate the existing inequalities in the system especially the inequalities which demarcate human beings within a superset of human beings.

This article does ensure equal protection of laws but that does not imply that all laws must be general in character. It doesn’t imply that similar laws ought to apply to all people. It doesn’t imply that each law must have all-inclusive application for, all people are not, ordinarily, similarly situated. The fluctuating needs of various classes of people regularly require separate treatment. From the very idea of society, there ought to be various laws in various places and the Legislature controls the strategy and orders laws to the greatest advantage of the wellbeing and security of the State. Indeed, indistinguishable treatment in inconsistent conditions would add up to be called inequality. 

In this manner, what Article 14 precludes is class-legislation however it doesn’t prohibit reasonable classification. The classification, under all circumstances, must not be “discretionary or fake or shifty” however should be founded on some genuine and significant qualification bearing a fair and reasonable connection to the objective looked to be accomplished by the legislation. Article 14 applies where people who are equal are dealt with contrastingly on no reasonable grounds. In a situation where equals and unequals are treated differently, Article 14 does not come into the picture. Class legislation is what makes an inappropriate segregation by giving specific benefits upon a class of people discretionarily chosen from countless people, each one of whom remains in a similar connection to the benefit conceded.

Legislative Classification

Article 14 of the Constitution of India which talks about the Right to Equality which has been discussed at length in the above article requires laws to be made in order to become operative and effective and to achieve the end goal which is to treat equals equally and unequals unequally. The guidelines of equality, we have noted, does not imply that each law must have all-inclusive application to all people who not essentially, accomplishment wise or conditions wise are similarly situated. The fluctuating needs of various classes of people require diverse treatment. Truth be told, the welfare of the public necessitates that people, property and occupations be characterized and be exposed to various appropriate and fitting legislation. Governance is anything but a basic exercise. It experiences and manages the issues which originate from people in a limitless assortment of relations. Characterization and classification is the acknowledgement of these relations and, in making it, the council must have a wide scope of prudence and judgment. Our statutory law is brimming with cases of unique legislation applying just to a specific class or gatherings. Legal counselors, medical specialists, money-lenders, landowners, automobile drivers, insurance agencies, minors and, without a doubt, most different classes are liable to extraordinary legislation. Such order without a doubt separates between people having a place with one class and the others, however that itself does not make the legislation offensive to Article 14. 

Test of Valid Classification

A legislative classification to be substantial must be sensible. It should consistently settle upon some genuine and significant qualification bearing a sensible connection to the requirements or reason in regard to which the classification is made. While Article 14 restricts class legislation, it doesn’t preclude sensible classification of people. However, the classification must not be “discretionary, counterfeit or sly“. It should consistently settle upon some genuine and generous refinement bearing a fair and sensible connection to the article looked to be accomplished by the lawmaking body. Classification to be sensible must satisfy the following two conditions:

  • The classification must be established on a clear differentia which recognizes people or things that are assembled from others which are not part of the group; and
  • The differentiate must have a balanced connection to the article looked to be accomplished by the Act.

The differentia which is the premise of the classification and the object of the Act are two particular things. What is important is that there must be a nexus between the premise of classification and the object of the Act which makes the classification. It is just when there is no sensible reason for a classification that legislation making such classification might be proclaimed oppressive. In this manner, the Legislature may fix the age at which people will be considered skillful to contract between themselves however nobody will guarantee that competency. No agreement can be made to rely on the stature or shade of the hair. Such a classification will be subjective. 

A substantial classification does not require numerical calculation and impeccable equity. Nor does it require the identification of treatment. In the event that there is comparability or consistency within a group, the law won’t be denounced as biased, if because of some serendipitous conditions emerging out of a specific circumstance, some people incorporated into a class gets a bit of leeway over others, and as long as they are not singled out for unique treatment. In this manner, the law does not allow a person to appeal who has not deposited the tax that he is supposed to clear. The person is also not able to convey to the judge that in case he clears the dues(which will obviously be by arranging a hefty sum of money) he will face a major financial crunch. This does not result in the creation of two distinct classes whose main object is to treat them differently.

If we talk about the primary purpose of demarcation of the individuals into different groups, it must be noted that the purpose cannot be random or arbitrary. 

The Supreme Court in various cases has built up certain significant standards which further explain the extent of permissible segregation. These might be expressed as underneath:

  1. A law might be sacred despite the fact that it identifies with a solitary individual if, because of some uncommon conditions, or reasons pertinent to him and not appropriate to other people, that solitary individual might be treated as a class without anyone else. In any case, such laws are seen with doubt, particularly when they influence private privileges of a person.
  2. There is consistently an assumption for the legality of sanctioning, and the weight has arrived on the shoulders of who assaults it to demonstrate that there has been an unmistakable transgression of the established standards. The individual, in this manner, who argues that Article 14 has been abused, must make out that not just he has been dealt with uniquely in contrast to other people, yet he has additionally been dealt with uniquely in contrast to people likewise circumstanced with no sensible premise, and such differential treatment has been outlandishly made. 
  3. It must be assumed that the law-making body comprehends and effectively acknowledges the need of its subjects, that its laws are coordinated to issues made manifest by experience, and that its differential treatment depends on sufficient grounds. 
  4. The lawmaking body is allowed to perceive the degrees of mischief and may restrict its restriction to those situations where the need is considered to be the clearest. 
  5. So as to support the assumption of the constitutionality of the nation , the court may mull over issues of basic information, matters of basic report, the historical backdrop of the occasions and may expect each set of facts which can be imagined existing at the time of lawmaking.
  6. While good faith and knowledge of the existing conditions on the part of the legislature are to be presumed, the presumption of constitutionality cannot be carried to the extent of always holding that there must be some undisclosed and unknown reasons for subjecting certain individuals or corporations to hostile or discriminatory legislation.
  7. For a classification to be considered appropriate, it does not need to be perfect from a scientific angle or be logically sound.
  8. The legitimacy of a standard must be made a decision by surveying its general impact and not by grabbing cases which are exceptional in nature. What the court needs to see is: Whether in the wake of thinking about all perspectives, the order is viable or not.
  9. The court must look past the apparent characterization and to the motivation behind the law, and apply the test of “unmistakable randomness” with regards to the felt needs of the occasions and societal exigencies.
  10. It must be seen that the right to equality does not extend to illegal acts. 
  11. The right to equality is available in the grant of favours as well as the imposition of burdens. 

Every one of these arrangements, although valid, should be read in conjunction with the new advancements under Article 14.

Application of Article 14

Having clarified the importance and extent of the privilege of the right to equality epitomized in Article 14, we will see as to how Article 14 has been brought into action in countless cases in the Supreme Court and the High Courts. By using the method of illustration, we have grouped them under different categories for discussion as follows:

Single Person Laws

In Charanjit Lal Chowdhury v. Union of India, the applicant moved towards the Supreme Court for the insurance of his fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 31 against the implementation of the Sholapur Spinning and Weaving Co. (Crisis Provisions) Act, 1950. The applicant was a customary shareholder of the Sholapur Spinning and Weaving Co. Ltd. The organization through its directors had been overseeing and running a cloth mill of a similar name. In 1949, fumble and disregard of the undertakings of the organization prompted the closure of the factory. The activity of the organization preferentially influenced the creation of a fundamental product, aside from causing joblessness and agitation. The Central Government immediately issued a statute which was later supplanted by the previously mentioned Act. The Act put the administration and organization of the advantages of the organization under the control of the designated directors which were appointed by the government. The old directors were expelled and the assets of the organization, including the cloth factory, were given over to the care, of the new administration. The Act likewise pronounced that the shareholders could neither name another executive, nor might they be able to take procedures for the ending up of the organization. The solicitor battled that the reviled Act encroached Article 14, in light of the fact that a solitary organization and its shareholders were exposed to inabilities as opposed to different organizations and their shareholders. The Supreme Court expelled the request and held the enactment substantial. It set out that a law might be established despite the fact that it applies to a solitary individual if, because of some uncommon conditions or reasons pertinent to him and not appropriate to other people, that solitary individual might be treated as a class without anyone else and that except if it was demonstrated that there were organizations comparably circumstanced, the enactment could be ventured to be protected. The Sholapur Company shaped a class within itself without anyone else on the grounds of mismanagement of the organization’s issues. 

Classification Without a Difference

There are cases where laws have been held violative of Article 14 in light of the fact that either there was the classification of people without any difference or the premise of characterization was insignificant to the motivations behind the Act. Suraj Mall Mohta and Co. v. A.V. Vishvanath Sastri is an endeavour to isolate people who had no extraordinary properties when contrasted with others similarly situated. In 1947, the Central Legislature passed an Act-the Taxation of Income Act-the object of which, as expressed in its Preamble, was to determine whether the genuine episodes of tax assessment of pay as of late had been as per the arrangements of law, and whether the method for appraisal and recuperation was sufficient to avert its avoidance. Section 5(1) of the Act enabled the Central Government to allude to the Commission anytime before the first day of September 1948 for examination and report any case or points of a situation where the Central Government had evidence that an individual had considerably avoided the tax which was imposed on his salary. Section 5(4), in regards to which the debate of constitutionality was going on, provided as follows:

In the event that over the span of examination concerning any case alluded under sub-section (1), the Commission has reason to believe-

That some individual other than the individual whose case is being explored has sidestepped installment of tax collection in which case, the Central Government will, despite anything contained in sub-section(1), forthwith allude to the Commission for examination.

It was said that Section 5(4) of the Act was hostile to the assurance of equal protection of the laws under Article 14. The court originally called attention to Section 5(4) saying that it was not really constrained to benefits made within a specific period, and it brought inside its range all people whether dealers, specialists, individuals doing professional service, whatever they may be, who had whenever evaded tax on income for whatever reason. The section managed a similar class of people who fell within the ambit of Section 34, Income Tax Act, 1922 and were managed under sub-section (1) of that section and whose genuine income could be interpreted by proceedings under that section. Assessees who had failed to reveal completely, all material facts essential for the appraisal under Section 34, could be compared with people who were found over the span of their examination led under Section 5(1) of the Act of 1947, to have evaded installment of tax on their incomes. The outcome would be that at the decision of the Commission, a portion of those dodgers could be managed under the arrangements of Section 34 of 1947, however, they could likewise be continued with under the arrangements of Section 34, Income Tax Act, 1922. It was impractical, as the court called attention to the fact that, to hold that such people who had avoided installment of income tax and did not really reveal all points of interest or material facts fundamental for the evaluation and against whom a report was made under sub-section (4) of Section 5 of the criticized Act without anyone else’s input framed a class particular from the individuals who sidestepped installment of income tax and came under Section 34 of the Act.

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Special Courts and Procedural Inequality

In various cases, the lawfulness of enactment setting up, or approving the executive to set up, Special Courts applying an uncommon procedure for trial of criminal offenses has been opposed. The first among them is State of W. B. v. Anwar Ali Sarkar. Under this case law, the Supreme Court by a majority rule refuted Section 5(1), West Bengal Special Courts Act, 1950 on the grounds that it gave discretionary powers to the government to group offenses or classes of offenses or classes of cases or cases at its pleasure, without setting out any arrangement or rules for the activity of discretion by the legislature in grouping offenses or cases. Reference in the Preamble to the requirement for “speedier trial of offenses“, was observed to be excessively dubious, questionable and elusive to afford a basis of rational classification. Somewhat later, the same Bench of the court in Kathi Raning Rawat v. Province of Saurashtra, upheld Section 11, Saurashtra State Public Safety Measures (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 1949, which likewise approved trial in Special Courts of offenses, classes of offenses, cases and classes of cases which the State Government coordinated to be taken up by the special courts established under the statute. The majority held that the Preamble to the mandate which alluded to the need to give the public safety and wellbeing, maintenance of public mandate and the protection of harmony and peacefulness in the State of Saurashtra together with the oath documented by the State Government, clarifying the conditions under which the reviled request was passed, managed a reason for differentiating this case from the Anwar Ali Sarkar Case since unmistakably the legislature had adequate direction for grouping offenses, classes of offenses or classes of cases for being tried by the special procedure. In this manner, as per the dominant part, Section 11 of the law to the extent that it approved the State Government to coordinate offenses, classes of offenses or classes of cases to be tried by the Special Court was not violative of Article 14.

Procedural Fairness

Aside from the general rule that procedural segregation contravenes Article 14, the courts have likewise developed some broad standards of fair procedure from Article 14. In Erusian Equipment and Chemicals Ltd. v. State of W.B., the Supreme Court suppressed the request for boycotting the applicant whose name showed up on the approved list of D.G.S. and D without giving any notice, as it had the impact of denying an individual of equality of opportunity when it came to public contracts. The Chief Justice underlined that the facts confirm that a native has no option to go into an agreement with the government, however,H he is qualified for equivalent treatment with others offering quotation. The activities of the legislature have a public element and, along these lines, reasonableness and fairness must be seen in their activity.

Administrative Discretion

As has been noted in the extensive discussion on extraordinary courts and the special procedure that they follow, an enactment may either itself make a characterization for its application or non-application, or may leave the order to be made by the official incharge. Enactment generally pursues the latter course. In deciding the topic of legitimacy of such an enactment, the court will analyze and find out if the enactment has set out any rule or approach for the direction of activity of discretion by the official, or for the administration in the matter of determination or characterization. The court will strike down the enactment on the off chance that it doesn’t set out any rule or approach for the direction of exercise of discretion by the executive, or for the organization in the matter of classification or grouping. The explanation behind illegality is that the enactment gives discretionary and uncontrolled capacity to the authority which would empower it to separate between people or things that are similarly arranged. Discrimination at the end of the day is inborn in the enactment itself. It is, in any case, futile that the enactment should explicitly set out the standards, strategies or definite guidelines for the direction of the assigned authority which is to practice the discretion. In the landmark case Jyoti Pershad v. U T, Delhi, it was held that:

Such guidance may thus be obtained from or afforded by: 

  1. The preamble read in conjunction with the circumventing circumstances which made the legislation necessary in the first place, again taken in conjunction with well-renowned facts of which the Court might take judicial notice or of which it is appraised by evidence before it in the form of affidavits.
  2. Indeed, even from the policy and reason for the legislation which might be assembled from other employable provisions relevant to comparable situations or generally from the object sought to be achieved by the enactment.

Basis of Classification

The characterization on which statutory provision might be established might be referable to various contemplations. A characterization, for instance, may appropriately be made on topographical or regional premise if that is germane to the reasons for enactment. Along these lines, a tenancy law might be important just for a part of the State in light of the fact that the conditions of inhabitants vary from region to region, and, in that capacity, occupants in different territories may not challenge the legitimacy of the law. Legitimate grouping may likewise be made between the tenancy of residential and commercial premises. Likewise, a provision isn’t violative of Article 14 on the off chance that it forces a capitation fee on the non-resident students of a State and exempts the students having a domicile from the installment thereof, in light of the fact that the State needs to contribute for the upkeep and running of its educational organizations. In the matter of recovery of land revenue, various States have recommended distinctive machinery, methodology and punishment. Area 46(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1922 approved the Collectors in various States to employ the State methodology for recovery of land income and the recovery of back payments of tax on the income. The legitimacy of this section was assaulted on the ground that in approving the utilization of various machinery in various States, the defaulters were not treated similarly in various States. The court held that:

  1. Each state had the right to employ a piece of machinery that suited it in order to recover its own public demand.
  2. A person belonging to one state does not have to right to complain that the law prevalent in the state where he lives is more rigorous than the law of the neighbouring states. 

The reason for the aforementioned order was really sensible, the people belonging to one state were not similarly situated as the people belonging to the other states. The legislature of the states thought that, because they weren’t similarly situated, their needs were not the same as people who were based in other states. Moreover, along the same lines, Section 46(2), Income Tax Act, 1922 was held to not be invalid if it grouped the defaulters State-wise, and proceeded with the same method for recovery of its demands which were existing in the State for the recovery of land revenue. In the landmark ruling State of M.P. v. G.C. Mandawar, it was held that a law cannot be called invalid on the ground of it being different from the law in a different state. It was held that territory, is not always a sure shot correct method of classification.

Tax Laws and Equality

The power of the State to group for reasons for tax assessment is of wide range and adaptability. The ability to force and collect taxes is viewed as one of the most significant sovereign power and capacity of the State. It might choose the people or the articles to be taxed. A resolution isn’t available to be attacked on the ground that it imposes a few people or items to be burdened with tax. In V.M Syed Mohammad and Co. v. State of Andhra, the Supreme Court maintained a law that connected sales tax to hides and not to other products. In Khyerbari Tea Co. Ltd. v. State of Assam, the Assam Taxation (on Goods Carried by Road or on Inland Waterways) Act, 1961 was assaulted inter alia on the ground that the Act had singled out just tea and jute as objects of tax assessment. The Supreme Court disproved the contention and stated, “The lawmaking body that is able to levy a tax should unavoidably be given full opportunity to figure out which articles ought to be burdened, in what way and at what rate.” It would be idle to battle that the State may impose a tax on everything so as to tax something. In tax assessment matters, the State is permitted to pick and choose districts, objects, people, strategies, and even rates of tax collection on the off chance that it does all these things sensibly. A classification for purposes of tax collection or fixing of lease among private and municipal structures does not violate the provisions of Article 14. Various rates of taxation on stage carriage and goods carrier just as on tourist buses and different vehicles have additionally been upheld. Also, dynamic graduation of income tax applying to groups having different incomes is not discriminatory in nature, in light of the fact that the governing body is capable to group people into various classifications and tax them in the way that they like. A sales tax on Virginia tobacco however not on country tobacco has been upheld.

Expanding Horizons of Equality

Since the mid-1970s, equality in Article 14 has gained new and significant dimensions. Up to that point, as we have noted in the above paragraphs, the necessities of Article 14 were met if a law or authoritative activity fulfilled the reasonable classification test. In the latter half of 1973, in any case, In E.P. Royappa v. State of Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court has floated from the conventional idea of equality which depended on reasonable classification and has set out another idea of equality. It was held that “Equality is a dynamic idea with numerous perspectives and measurements and it can’t be ‘cribbed, cabined and bound’ inside conventional and dogmatic cutoff points.” From a positivist perspective, equality is an absolute opposite to arbitrariness. Actually, equality and arbitrariness are sworn enemies: one has a place with the rule of law in a republic while the other, to the whim and caprice of a monarch. Where a statute is arbitrary, it is verifiable that it is inconsistent both as per political rationale and constitutional law and is along these lines violative of Article 14.

The basic guideline is that Article 14 denies class legislation however allows reasonable classification, the classification being established on an intelligible differentia which recognizes people or things that are grouped together from those that are let well enough alone and that the differentia must have a rational nexus to the item looked to be accomplished by the resolution being referred to. The general public is comprised of unequals and a welfare State needs to strive by both executive and authoritative activity to help the less fortunate and to improve their condition with the goal that social and monetary imbalance in the general public might be bridged. This would require a law to be made applicable to that gathering so as to improve their condition. So as to meet that situation the court had developed the rule of classification. The principle of classification was advanced to continue a legislation of State activity so as to help more fragile areas of the general public or whatever portions of the general public requiring aid. The State, in this way, must intimate to the court that the twin tests have been satisfied. Applying this test, the court held that the beneficiaries shaped a class and the classification between them based on a specific date, viz., those retiring before they were qualified for liberalised rates of pension and those retiring after that date, did not depend on any rational rule nor identified with the object that was to help the retired government workers. 

Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation

The doctrine of legitimate expectation in the substantive sense has been acknowledged as a component of our law and that the chief can ordinarily be constrained to offer impact to his representation with respect to the expectation dependent on past training or past conduct except if some abrogating public interest comes in the way. The doctrine necessitates that dependence probably should have been put on the said representation and the representee must have in this manner endured a disadvantage. Subsequently, the more significant viewpoint is whether the chief can support the change in approach by returning to Wednesbury standards of reasonability or whether the court can go into the inquiry whether the leader has appropriately balanced the legitimate expectation as against the requirement for change? In the latter case, the court would clearly have the option to go into the proportionality of the adjustment in the policy. The Wednesbury sensibility test might be connected to see if the change starting with one arrangement then onto the next was justified. The court isn’t to pass judgment on the value of the chief’s strategy. The public authority being referred to is the judge of the issue in the case of “superseding public interest” legitimizes such an adjustment in policy. Be that as it may, the difference in approach like any optional choice by a public authority must not violate the Wednesbury standards. While the policy is the approach of the maker alone, the court’s concern is to see whether there has been equity in his decision.

Article 15 of the Constitution of India

Clause(1)

By clause(1) of Article 15, the State is precluded to segregate between citizens on grounds just of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. The word ‘discrimination’ signifies to make an unfriendly demarcation or to recognize the less fortunate from others. On the off chance that a law makes segregation on any of the above grounds, it tends to be proclaimed invalid. The word ‘just’ used in Article 15(1) shows that separation can’t be made simply on the ground that one is from a particular caste, or is of a particular sex, and so forth. At the end of the day, if the capabilities are equivalent, caste, religion, sex, and so forth ought not be a ground for inclination or dismissal. It stems from this that separation on grounds other than religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth isn’t denied. It implies that a segregation dependent on any of these grounds and furthermore on different grounds isn’t hit by Article 15(1).

Clause(2)

Article 15(2) talks of a particular use of the general restriction contained in Article 15(1). Article 15(2) pronounces that no citizen will be exposed to any disability, limitation or condition on grounds only of religion, race, caste, place of birth or any of them concerning (a) entrance to shops, public eateries, lodgings and places of leisure, or 

(b) the utilization of wells, tanks, showers, streets, and places of public hotel, kept up completely or halfway out of State assets or dedicated for the utilization of the overall population. A ‘place of public hotel’ signifies places which are frequented by the general public like an open park, a public street, public transport, ship, open urinal or railway, a medical clinic, and so on.

It is to be noticed that while clause (1) of Article 15 disallows discrimination by the State, provision (2) restricts both the State and private people from making any discrimination. The object of Article 15(2) is to kill the maltreatment of the Hindu Social System and to proclaim a unified country. The Madras Removal of Civil Disabilities Act rebuffs social disabilities. No law, custom or use could approve any individual to avoid any Harijans, discouraged classes or the like from approaching the public places referenced in the Act.

Clause (3)

Article 15(3) is one of the two exemptions to the general principle set down in clauses (1) and (2) of Article 15. It says that nothing in Article 15 will keep the State from making any extraordinary arrangements for ladies and children. Ladies and children require exceptional treatment by virtue of their very nature. Article 15(3) engages the State to make exceptional arrangements for them. The reason is that ladies’ physical structure and the role of maternal capacities place her off guard in the battle for subsistence and her physical prosperity turns into an object of public interest and care so as to safeguard the strength and vigour of the race. Along these lines, under Article 42 of the Constitution of India, women workers can be given exceptional maternity alleviation and a law with this impact won’t encroach Article 15(1). Furthermore, it would not be an infringement of Article 15 if institutional organizations are built up by the State only for ladies. The reservation of seats for ladies in a school does not go against Article 15(1).

In Yusuf Abdul Aziz v. State of Bombay, Section 497 of Indian Penal Code which only punishes a man for infidelity and exempts the lady from culpability despite the fact that she might be equally blameworthy as an abettor was held to be valid since the classification did not depend on the ground of sex alone. Comparative arrangements apply to children. The provision of free training for children or measure for avoidance of their exploitation would likewise not come within the purview of Article 15(1). It has, in any case, been held that Article 15(3) accommodates just extraordinary arrangements for the advantages of ladies and children and does not necessitate that totally indistinguishable treatment as those appreciated by males in comparative issues must be accrued to them.

Quantum and Impact of Reservation

Article 15(4) is another special case which is an exception to provisions (1) and (2) of Article 15, which was included by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951, because of the judgment in State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan. The arrangement made in clause (4) of Article 15 is just an empowering arrangement and does not force any commitment on the State to take any specific action under it. A writ can’t be issued to the State to make reservation. The standard behind this specific provision of Article 15 is that a particular treatment can be given legitimately where socially and educationally backward classes require it. Article 15(4) isn’t an exemption however just makes a unique implementation of the standard of reasonable characterization. The class examined under the provision must be both socially and educationally backward.

Thus, under clause 15(4), two things are to be determined:

  • Socially and educationally backward classes;
  • The limit of reservation.

Backward Classes

The term ‘Backward Classes’ does not have a definition in the Constitution but by virtue of Article 340, the President is empowered to appoint a Commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes. Based on the discoveries of the report of the Commission, the President may indicate with respect to who is to be considered as Backward Classes.

Special Provisions for Women and Children and SC ST and Backward Classes

Article 14 of Indian constitution law says that all are equivalent according to law. It’s not possible for anyone to shield the state from making any exceptional developments for ladies and young children. For instance, unique seating plan for women in vehicles, trains, metro trains isn’t unlawful. 

According to Section 497 of Indian Penal Code, Adultery is considered as an offense when it is done by men, and not considered an offense when it is done by women. Clearly, it makes exceptional provision for women which is significant under Article 15(3). In Choki v. State of Rajasthan, the Court held that it considerable on the grounds to make unprecedented arrangement for women and as such, it is verified under this Article.

 Article 15(4) has been embedded by the Constitution ( First Amendment ) Act, 1951. This amendment has been changed in the preeminent court case State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan. For this situation, the booking of seats for admission to state medicinal and building universities was made on the ground of caste and religion. The court said that it was unconstitutional on the ground that it depended on a communal issue. State has made numerous uncommon arrangement for the more fragile segments, for example, ST,SC and instructively and socially in reverse classes of natives of India. Meaning of ” Scheduled caste” signifies such castes, race, or tribes or parts of or bunches inside Such castes, races or tribes as are esteemed under article 341 to be scheduled castes for the motivations behind this Constitution. Article 341(1) gives extra security to the individuals from the scheduled castes having respect to the social, affordable, instructive, backwardness from which they endure in light of their caste.

New Concept of Equality for the Protection of People of India

Because of the Air India v. Nargesh Meerza case, the guidelines give that an air Hostess will leave the organization in the wake of achieving the age of 35 years or on marriage within 4 years of Service or on first pregnancy, whichever happens earlier. It was held by the court that the ground of pregnancy was absurd and self-decisive, it was the encroachment of Article 14 under the Constitutional Law of India. The guideline did not restrict marriage following four years and if an air hostess in the wake of having fulfilled the condition ended up being pregnant, there was no ground why first pregnancy ought to hinder her work.

Article 16

Article 16(1) guarantees equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters of ‘employment’ or ‘appointment’ to any post under the State.

Clause (2) says that no citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State. Clauses (1) and (2) of Article 16 lay down the general rule of equality of opportunity or appointment under the State and that no citizen can be discriminated against or be ineligible for any employment or office under the State on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth or residence. Article 16 (1) and (2) applies only in respect of employment or office under the State. Clauses (3), (4), (4-A), (4-B) and (5) of Article 16 provides four exceptions to this general rule of equality of opportunity.

Article 16(3) provides:

Nothing in this Article shall prevent Parliament from making any law prescribing, in regard to a class or classes of employment or appointment to any office under the Government of, or any local or other authority within, a State or Union territory, any requirements as to residence as to residence within that State or Union territory prior to such employment or appointment.

Article 16(4) enables the State to make provision for the reservation of posts in government jobs in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services of the State.

Prescription of Qualifications and Selective Tests

Article 16 ensures equality of opportunity in issues of selection in State services. However, this does not keep the State from recommending the threshold for enrollment for Government administrations. The capabilities other than mental abilities, incorporate physical wellness, discipline, moral integrity and loyalty to the State. Where the arrangement requires a knowledge threshold, specialized requirements might be asked for.

The specific test, be that as it may, must not be subjective. It must be founded on sensible ground and have a nexus between the qualifications and the object that is, post or the very essence of the governmental service.

Article 17

Article 17 places a total ban on “untouchability” and forbids its practice in any manner whatsoever. If by virtue of untouchability, any disability arises, it will be an offence which will be punishable under law. It doesn’t stop with a simple assertion yet declares this prohibited ‘unapproachability’ isn’t to be consequently practised in any manner. On the off chance that it is so practised, it will be managed as an offense culpable as per the law. 

‘Untouchability’ is neither characterized in the Constitution nor the Act. The Mysore High Court has, notwithstanding, held that the term isn’t to be comprehended in its exact sense yet to be comprehended as the ‘practice as it had grown verifiably’ in this nation. Comprehended in this sense, it is a result of the Hindu caste framework as indicated by which specific segment among the Hindus had been looked down upon as untouchables by different segments of the general public. An exact development of the term would incorporate people who are treated as untouchables either briefly or generally for different reasons. In either case, such people can claim the security or advantage both of Article 17 or the 1955 Act.

It ought to be noted that Article 15(2) likewise helps in the annihilation of untouchability. Along these lines on grounds of untouchability, no individual can be denied access to shops, public eateries, lodgings and spots of amusement or the utilization of wells, tanks, washing ghats, streets and places of public hotel kept up completely or somewhat out of State assets or committed to the utilization of general population.

In State of Karnataka v. Appa Balu Ingale, the respondents were tried after the offenses under Sections 4 and 7 of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and were condemned to undergo basic detainment for one month and a fine of Rs. 100 each. The charge against the respondents was that they limited the complainant party by show of power from taking water from a recently uncovered borewell on the ground that they were untouchables. The High Court absolved them. The Supreme Court maintained the conviction. The Court held that the object of Article 17 and the Act is to free the general public from visually impaired and ceremonial adherence and customary conviction which has lost all legitimate or typical base. It tries to set up new thoughts for society-equity to the Dalits at par with the overall population, absence of limitations or restrictions on grounds of caste or religion.

Article 18

Article 18 discusses the topic of Abolition of Titles. It precludes the State to give titles to anyone whether a citizen or a non-citizen. Military and scholarly refinements are, in any case, excluded from the preclusion for they are the motivating force to advance endeavors in the flawlessness of the military power of the State so important for its existence.

Clause(2) prohibits a citizen of India from accepting any title from any foreign State. 

Clause(3) provides that a foreigner holding any office of profit or trust under the State cannot accept any title from any foreign State without the consent of the President. This is to ensure loyalty to the Government he serves for the time being and to shut out all foreign influence in Government affairs or administration. 

Clause(4) provides that no person holding any office of profit or trust under the State shall accept, without the consent of the President any present, emolument or office of any kind from or under any foreign State.

The conferment of titles of “Bharat Ratna“, “Padma Vibhushan“, “Padma Shri”, and so on are not precluded under Article 18 as they simply indicate State acknowledgment of good work by natives in the different fields of life. These honors appear to fit inside the class of ” scholastic qualifications“. These national honors are given on the Republic Day in acknowledgment of exceptional and recognized administrations of high respectability in any field.

These National Awards were officially started in January 1954 by two Presidential Notifications. The Presidential Notifications likewise give that any individual without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex, will be qualified for these honors and furthermore that these awards might be granted after death. It was additionally clarified that these civilian honors can’t be utilized as titles and ought not to be connected as postfixes or prefixes to the name of the honors. In 1977 these honors were stopped however were again restored in 1980. From that point onward, the National Awards are presented every year on the Republic Day.

In Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India, the candidates questioned the legitimacy of these National Awards and mentioned the Court to keep the Government of India from presenting the Awards. It was battled that the National Awards are titles within the purview of Article 18 of the Constitution. It was additionally contended that these honors are as a rule horribly abused and the reason for which they were founded has been weakened and they are conceded to individuals who do not deserve them. 

The Supreme Court held that the National Awards, for example, Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri are not violative of the rule of uniformity as ensured by the provisions of the Constitution. The National Awards don’t add up to “titles” within the purview of Article 18 and, in this manner, not violative of Article 18 of the Constitution. Article 51-A of the Constitution talks about the major obligations of each native of India. In perspective of proviso (f) of Article 51-A, it is fundamental that there ought to be an arrangement of honor and enrichments to recognize excellence.

Be that as it may, the Court condemned the Government for its “disappointment” to practice adequate limitation in the issuance of these National Awards. The Court said that the rules contained in the communique from the Ministry of Home Affairs towards the choice of plausible beneficiaries are very wide, uncertain, agreeable to abuse and entirely unsatisfactory for the significant target that they try to accomplish.

Justice Kuldip Singh in his separate but concurring judgment make a scathing attack in, what he called non-application of mind by successive governments in granting the “Padma Awards”. It has already reached a point where political or narrow group interests are being rewarded by those in office for the time being.

The Court proposed that a high-level advisory group might be appointed by the Prime Minister in meeting with the President of India to investigate the issue. The Judges clarified that the panel may keep in view Court’s uneasiness that the number of honors ought not to be so huge as to weaken their worth. It is to be noticed that there is no punishment recommended for the encroachment of the above restrictions. It is open to Parliament to make a law for managing such people who acknowledge a title disregarding the disallowance recommended in Article 18. No such law has been passed by Parliament up until this point.

Designation of Senior Advocate

In Indira Jaising v. Supreme Court of India, with respect to the designation of ” Senior Advocate“, the Supreme Court held that it was merely an acknowledgment and barely a title. Section 16 of the Advocates Act sets out a parameter to be passed for such designation. Exercise of the powers by the Supreme Court and the High Courts to assign as Senior Advocates is outlined by necessity of the satisfaction that the concerned Advocate satisfies the conditions stipulated under Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961.

Putting together everything, Right to Equality is not as simple a concept it is perceived to be. The aforementioned postulates clearly depict that.

 

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Hierarchy of Courts

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This article is written by Shatakshi Pathak of DME, GGSIPU. In this article, she has done a detailed study of the judicial system of India, functions of the judiciary, the jurisdiction of the courts in India and discussed the hierarchy of courts. 

What is judiciary?

According to the “Rule of law”, all individuals whether they are rich or poor, men or women, from forward or backward caste are subjected to the same law. Judiciary ensures the supremacy of law and the rule of law. The law is interpreted by the judiciary but the judiciary cannot make the law. Judiciary resolves the disputes and ensures justice by applying the laws.

Judicial Meaning

The meaning of judicial is to make judgements in a court of law. Judicial is related to the legal system.

Judiciary in India

India has a single integrated system of Judiciary in view of a single Constitution. The judiciary in India acts as the custodian of the Indian Constitution and the protector of the Fundamental Rights. The Indian Judicial System is one of the oldest legal systems of the World. The Indian legal system was majorly influenced by the local customs and the religion.The judicial system in India is integrated and pyramidal in structure with the Supreme Court at the top and the High Court and the other Subordinate Courts at the lower levels. The adversarial litigation system is followed by the Indian Judicial System in which the impartial neutral party and both the sides present arguments before the Court of law. The Common law system which is followed in England influenced the Indian Judicial System. The laws were developed by the judges through the judgements delivered by courts and these judgements were followed as precedents. The specific feature of the Indian Judicial System is “judicial review”. The judicial review is the power given to the judiciary to determine the validity of law. Article 137 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Supreme Court with the judicial review through which it can declare any law as void when it is unconstitutional or in derogation with the Fundamental Rights. The power of judicial review is given to the High Courts also through which it can overrule the decisions of the lower courts.

According to Article 13 of the Indian Constitution, the laws which are contrary to the Fundamental Rights are declared as void by the judiciary.  

Our Constitution ensures the Independence of Judiciary which means that the other organs of the Government must not restrain the functioning of the judiciary in such a way that it would not be able to do justice. Other organs of the Government should not interfere with its decision and judges must be able to perform their functions without fear or favour. The Constitution of India had granted rights to citizens to ensure equality and protects them from any partial judgement. The power to resolve disputes and to give judgements is based on the rules of law, is given to judiciary.

According to the members of the Constituent Assembly, “ This is the organization which will safeguard those fundamental rights which have been given to every citizen under the Constitution. Therefore, it must be above all obstruction by the Executive. The Supreme Court is considered as the “watchdog of democracy.”  

Indeed, the Independence of the Judiciary is entailed not to favour judges. It is crucial to maintain the pureness of justice and to acquire the trust of people in the administration of justice.

Article 50 of the Indian Constitution ensures the separation of powers of the judiciary from the executive.Our Indian Constitution has granted fundamental rights to people and to sustain these rights the judiciary is made independent by it.

Types of Judiciary 

There are so many countries and each one of them follow different types of the judicial system and follow system according to their own governance.

The United States of America follow the judicial system in which there is a two-court system. The State Court system and the Federal Court system are the two types of court in the USA. These courts are not totally independent from each other as they usually interact with each other. The main objective of every judicial system is to solve legal issues and to vindicate legal rights.

The Article III court is followed in various countries. The Supreme Court, District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal are the courts which are included in Article III Courts. There are other special courts like the International Courts and the Court of Claims are also included in the Article III courts.

There are second type of court system in various countries which may include the Bankruptcy Courts, Tax courts, Magistrate courts, Court of Veterans Appeals and the Court of Military. There are various types of State Court Systems and most of them are composed of the two types of trial courts, Traffic and Family courts which are included in the trial courts having limited jurisdiction. The general jurisdiction courts are also there which includes the intermediate appellate courts, the main trivial courts and the highest state courts also. In contrast to the Federal Courts, a large number of the State Court Judges are either elected or appointed not permanently but for a specific number of years. 

The Trial Courts of limited jurisdiction manage certain sorts of particular cases. Generally, these courts are located near the courthouse of the country or inside the country and usually presided over by one judge. The Municipal Court, family court and probate court are the few types of trial courts having limited jurisdiction. The Trial Courts of general jurisdiction are the principal trial courts in the state’s system. These Courts hears the cases which are beyond the jurisdiction of the trial courts of limited jurisdiction. These courts deal with both civil and criminal cases. In most of the states of the U.S., there are intermediate appellate courts in between the highest court of the State and the trial courts of general jurisdiction. There are some kinds of highest courts in all the States and these are referred to as the Supreme Courts in some States. 

The common tradition law system is followed in England and this system is followed in the colonized countries of England also.

There are several countries and each country has a different organization of courts of law which includes the District Courts, the Supreme Court, the Magistrate Courts, Regional Labour Courts and National Labour Courts. The Magistrate Courts are considered as the primary trial courts. These courts have jurisdiction to deal with criminal matters. The District Courts are the courts at a middle level and these courts deal with the matters which are not under the sole jurisdiction of the other courts. The Supreme Court has the authority to hear criminal and civil appeals from the District Courts.   

Functions of Judiciary

The judiciary played an eminent role in a modern democratic state. It performs various functions, like:

  • Interpretation of law

The foremost function of the judiciary is to interpret the law and use them in a particular case by applying the principles of customs, statutes and various provisions of the Constitution. They go through the facts of the case and analyse what legal rights of parties in the case are affected and what law should be applied in this situation. When the law is lacking, judiciary applies the principle of justice, equity, and morality.

  • Guardian of the Constitution

Our Constitution gives the right to all citizens to protect themselves from inequality and the Court protect these rights. The power of judicial review is also given to the Supreme Court of India and it enjoys the power to declare a law passed by the legislature as unconstitutional if that law conflicts with the Constitution. It is not only the guardian of the Constitution but it also modifies the Constitution with the changing conditions. It has also expanded the Constitution through inference of its original provisions. The Indian Supreme Court had also pronounced some laws as “ultra vires” on the rationale of “procedure established by law”.

  • Custodian of Civil Liberties

The judiciary protects individual liberty by punishing those who intrude against it. It also safeguards people against tyrannical action of the Government. Article 32 which is known as the “heart and soul of the Indian Constitution” provides right to the people that they can directly approach the Supreme Court in the case of the infringement of the fundamental rights. A writ can also be filed in the High Court under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution to protect these rights.

  • Resolves the disputes of jurisdiction between the Centre and State Governments in Federations

  The Constitution of India establishes a federal structure to the Indian Government, so the powers are divided between the Centre and the States. There are chances that disputes may arise between the Centre and the State over the jurisdiction. Therefore, the Supreme Court is given the right to decide these disputes.

  • Advisory Function

In India, the Supreme Court acquires the right from the Constitution to advise the President on the legal issues. Article 143 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Supreme Court with the advisory jurisdiction.

  • Administrative Functions 

The Supreme Court and the High Courts have the authority to appoint their local officials and subordinate staff.

Indian Judiciary Chart 

Hierarchy of courts and their jurisdiction should be properly defined to deal with the disputes which arise every day in a big country like India. The Supreme Court of India deals with the cases at the National level, the High Court deals with cases at the State level and Subordinate courts (Civil and Criminal) deals with the cases at the District and Subordinate level. 

 

hierarchy of courts in India
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Types of Courts in India – 7 types of Courts in India

There are various types of Courts in India, each has different powers depending on the tier and jurisdiction conferred on them. They function according to the set hierarchy of the courts.

Supreme Court 

In our country, the Constitution lays down the foundation of an integrated judiciary having Supreme Court as the highest and final court of appeal. Article 124(1) of the Indian Constitution states that there shall be a Supreme Court of India constituting of a Chief Justice of India. Initially, the Supreme Court of India consists of the Chief Justice of India and seven other judges. The Parliament may, by law, increase or decrease the number of judges of the Supreme Court when it is required. Now, the Supreme Court has 31 judges including the Chief Justice of India. In our Constitution, there is a provision of appointment of judges on an ad hoc basis, whenever it is required. Article 127(1) of the Indian Constitution deals with the appointment of ad hoc judges. Ad hoc is a Latin term which means “for this”. It means for a particular purpose. When a quorum of judges is not available to continue or hold the sessions of Court then ad hoc judges were appointed. The Chief Justice of India can appoint a High court judge as an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court after consultation with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.

The President of India appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and the later can consult with the Chief Justice of India and also with existing judges of the Supreme Court regarding such appointment. In case of appointment of the Chief Justice of India, the President shall consult such judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

  1. For a person to be eligible as a judge of the Supreme Court, he/she must be a citizen of India, and should have been for at least five years a judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession, or
  2. should have been an experience of practicing as an advocate of High Court for the last ten years or of two or more such courts in succession or
  3. should in the opinion of the President be an eminent jurist. 

The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of appeal and is vested with various powers, it exercises original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction.

Powers of the Supreme Court

  1. The Supreme Court has the power to punish for contempt of Court under Article 129 of the Indian Constitution.
  2. The power of Judicial Review is given to the Supreme Court under Article 32 and Article 136 of the Indian Constitution. They have the power to examine the legislative enactments and executive orders whether they are consistent with the provisions of the Constitution or not.
  3. Supreme Court is a deciding authority in the election of the President and the Vice President and enquiring authority in conduct and behaviour of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) members.
  4. Article 134 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to withdraw the cases from the High Court.
  5. Article 126 of the Indian Constitution states that when the office of the Chief Justice of India is vacant or when the Chief Justice is by reason of absence or otherwise unable to perform his duties of the office, then the President of India may appoint a judge of the Supreme Court to dispense the duties of the office.
  6. Article 127 of the Indian Constitution states that the Chief Justice of India can appoint a judge of High Court as an ad hoc judge in the Supreme Court with the consent of the President if at any time there is a lack of quorum of judges in the Supreme Court.
  7. Article 128 of the Indian Constitution states that the Chief Justice of India at any time with the prior consent of the President and the person to be so appointed can appoint any person who had previously held the office of a judge of the Supreme Court.
  8. The Supreme Court has the power of revisory jurisdiction under Article 137 of the Indian Constitution through which Supreme Court can review its judgements.

The Supreme Court is a court of record because its judgements are of evidentiary value and cannot be questioned in any court.

The Procedure to remove the Chief Justice of India and the judges of the Supreme Court is given under Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India. The President of India appoints the judges of the Supreme Court of India, so the power to remove them from their post is vested upon him. But, according to the Constitution of India, the judiciary is independent of the legislative and executive organs of the Government. So the judges of the Supreme Court can be removed only on the basis of proven incapacity or misbehaviour.

High Court              

Article 214 of the Indian Constitution states that there shall be a High Court for each State. The High Court consist of one Chief Justice and other judges. The President appoints the Chief Justice of the High Court in consultation with the Chief Justice of India while other judges were appointed by the President in consultation with the Governor of the state, Chief Justice of the High Court as well as the Chief Justice of India. If in the High Court the office of the Chief Justice falls vacant due to some reasons then the President can ask any of the Judge to look after the duties of the Chief Justice.

A person may be appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court:

  1. If the person is an Indian citizen, and
  2. If he had held the judicial office in the territory of India, or
  3. At least an advocate for 10 years in the High Court or two or more High Courts in succession, and
  4. The age should be below 62 years.

A judge can remain in the office until he has attained the age of 62 years and can also resign before the retirement by giving a resignation letter to the President. He can also be removed if the Parliament passed a resolution which is supported by the majority of the total membership of the House in which the motion of removal has been passed and by a majority of not less than two-third members of the House present and voting has been presented before the President, on the grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity. He can also vacate the office of the Court when the President appoints him as the judge of the Supreme Court. 

Powers of the High Court

  1. Under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution, a person can directly file a petition in the High Court in case of infringement of the Fundamental Rights. 
  2. Election-related cases or marriage/divorce related cases can be directly filed in the High Court.
  3. The High Court has the power to give punishment for the contempt of the Court.
  4. The High Court has the power to review the cases of the lower Court and give its judgement accordingly.
  5. The High Court exercises original, appellate, supervisory and administrative jurisdiction.
  6. The High Court is a court of record and its judgements are of evidentiary value for the Subordinate Courts and its decision is binding on the Subordinate Courts and no Subordinate Courts can challenge them.
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Civil Courts Meaning

Civil courts deal with the cases or offences that are committed against a private individual and not against the State unlike in criminal cases where the offence is committed against the State. Civil wrongs include tort, breach of contract etc. In India, the hierarchy of Civil Courts is based on the territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction of the courts. Civil Courts can deal with the cases which have been committed within its territory and also which is within the pecuniary limits of the court. 

The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal for entertaining civil cases and these cases can not be filed directly in the Supreme Court, the appeal can be filed against the order of the High Court but in case of infringement of the fundamental rights one can directly approach to the Supreme Court.The appeal against the order of the District Court can be filed in the High Court and the cases above the value of Rs. 20 lakhs can directly be filed in the High Court of the State. District Court deals with the cases which lie between the value of Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh. The cases up to Rs. 3 lakhs were entertained by the Civil Judge the junior division and the original cases were entertained by him. Small Causes Courts are the lowest Court of appeal in the hierarchy of Civil Courts and it deals with the cases of value below Rs. 3 lakh. The Civil Courts are governed by the Civil Procedure Code. The Civil Courts can award damages or compensation to the party whose legal rights have been infringed. Plaintiff and Defendant are the parties to a civil case.

District Court and Additional District Court

The State Government in India has established the District Courts in every district by considering the number of cases and population  in that district. The District Courts of India are presided by a district judge and these courts administer justice at a district level. These courts are under administrative and judicial control of the High Court of the State to which that district belongs. The District and Sessions Judge is the highest Court in each district. The Governor after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of that State appoints the judges of the District Court and the eligibility criteria to become a judge of District Court is at least seven years of practice as an advocate. The District Court is the highest Civil Court in a district. Civil and Criminal Courts are two types of Courts in every district. Civil Courts exercise the power of subject matter jurisdiction, territorial Jurisdiction, pecuniary jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction.   

Powers of the District Court

  1. The District Court hears criminal cases, domestic related cases and civil cases.
  2. The District judge in case of criminal cases has the power to give any punishment including capital punishment.
  3. The Chief Judicial Magistrate can deal with the cases which are punishable with imprisonment for a term up to seven years.

When the District Court exercises its jurisdiction in criminal cases under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), it is referred as sessions court. The Court is presided by a judge who is appointed by the High Court of that particular State. Additional Sessions Judges and Assistant Sessions Judges in this Court can also be appointed by the High Court of that State. Additional Sessions Judges can be appointed in POCSO cases, electricity cases, NDPS, FTC etc. The appeal can be filed in the High Court against the decision of the District Court.

Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division)

The Court of Civil Judge of Senior Division comes at the middle of the hierarchy on the civil side. Civil Judge or Senior Division has the authority to try civil cases of any value. There are many additional courts of Additional Civil Judge(senior division). These additional courts have the same jurisdiction as exercised by the principal court of Civil Judge or Senior Division. A Senior Division or Civil Judge exercises pecuniary jurisdiction without any limit.

Court of Civil Judge (Junior Division)

The Court of Civil Judge of Junior Division is at the lowest level in deciding civil cases. It has the power to impose any sentence in accordance with the law and it can provide capital punishment also. Civil Judge of Junior Division can extend its jurisdiction in all the original suits and proceedings. 

Eligibility to become Civil Judge of Junior Division:

  • An applicant must have done LL.B(Bachelor of Laws)/LL.M.(Master of Laws) with 55% from any university which was recognized by the State Government/Central Government.
  • Age limit is 21-35 years and relaxation in age is provided to reserved candidates. 

Court of small causes for metropolitan cities 

Under the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act, 1882, the court of small causes for metropolitan cities were established in India. This Act empowered the State Government that it can establish a Court of Small Causes anywhere within its territory. These courts have the authority to decide small value civil cases only.

Munsiff court or court of sub judge III class

Munsiff court is the lowest court of appeal for civil cases in the district. It has the authority to try the offence under certain pecuniary limits. Munsiff Magistrate/ Judicial Collector have control over these courts. 

The territorial jurisdiction of the District Munsiff Court was prescribed by the State Government. The judge and presiding officer of the District are Munsiff Magistrate who keep a charge on all the tax inspectors.

Criminal Court Meaning

Criminal wrong is a wrong against the whole society not only against the victim. Criminal Courts deal with criminal matters which are considered as a crime against the State.

The Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction through which it has the power to withdraw cases from the High Court regarding criminal matters. The appeal against the order of the District Court can be filed in the High Court of the State. 

The hierarchy of the Criminal Courts in India is given in Section 6 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 which is given as follows:

  1. Session Court
  2. Judicial Magistrate of the first class
  3. Judicial Magistrate of the second class
  4. Executive Magistrate

Session Court

The lowest court of appeal in the hierarchy of Criminal Court is the Court of sessions where the sessions judge conducted the trial. Section 9 of CrPC empowers the State Government to establish a Session Court for every sessions division. The High Court appoints the judge of Session Court. Additional Session Judges and Assistant Session Judges can also be appointed by the High Court to exercise jurisdiction in a Session Court. 

This Court deals with cases related to theft, murders, dacoity etc. Session Court is empowered to provide a sentence of death and can impose fines for a criminal offence.

The High Court can appoint the Sessions Judge of one division to be an Additional Sessions Judge of another division. When the office of the Sessions Judge left vacant due to some reasons then the High Court has the power to do arrangements for the disposal of any urgent case. If any case is pending before the Session Court then Additional or Assistant Sessions Judge shall have jurisdiction to deal with such a case and in a situation where there is no Additional or Assistant Session Judge then Chief Judicial Magistrate in the sessions division can deal with such application.

Subordinate Judge Class I

Section 11 of the CrPC provided that the State Government can establish the Court of Judicial Magistrate of the first class in the district and any number by consulting with the High Court of the respective State.

It is given in Section 15 of the CrPC that a Judicial Magistrate is subordinate to the Chief Judicial Magistrate and it is subject to the control of the Sessions Judge.

Section 29 of the CrPC empowered the Judicial Magistrate of First Class that he may impose a fine not more than ten thousand rupees or may pass a sentence of imprisonment for not more than three years.

Subordinate Judge Class II

Section 11 of the CrPC empowered the State Government that it can establish the Court of Judicial Magistrate of the second class in the district and in any number by consulting with the High Court of the respective State.

Section 29(3) of the CrPC empowered the Judicial Magistrate of Second Class that he may impose a fine of not more than five thousand rupees or may pass a sentence of imprisonment for not more than one year or both. 

It is incorporated in Schedule I and Schedule II of the Cr.P.C. that the offences which are triable by either “Any Magistrate” or “Judicial Magistrate of the Second Class” such offences can be tried by a Judicial Magistrate.

Executive Magistrate

Section 20 of CrPC empowered the State Government to appoint Executive Magistrates in every metropolitan area and in every district. It has the authority to appoint one of the Executive Magistrate as the District Magistrate and it can appoint any Executive Magistrate as the Additional District Magistrate and such magistrate has the same power as enjoyed by the District Magistrate under CrPC.

If the office of a District Magistrate left vacant then any officer who is succeeding temporarily to the executive administration of the district shall exercise the same power as enjoyed by the District Magistrate under CrPC. The State Government is empowered to give charge of a sub-division to the Executive Magistrate. The Executive Magistrate who got the charge of a sub-division shall be called as Sub-divisional Magistrate.  

Jurisdiction of Courts in India 

Civil Courts

  1. Subject matter jurisdiction

Under this Court, the Civil Court has the authority to deal with the cases of a particular type and concerning a particular subject matter. For example- cases related to family matters can only be dealt with by the Family Courts and not by NCLT that specifically deals with company matters only.

Territorial Jurisdiction

When a court exercises its powers within its territory then it is called the territorial jurisdiction. This Court can decide within a geographical limit of the jurisdiction of the court and it can not exercise its powers outside the geographical limit. For example, Madhya Pradesh will have jurisdiction to decide matters arising within Madhya Pradesh only and not outside. 

Pecuniary Jurisdiction

Under this jurisdiction, the Court has the authority to hear and decide the cases on the basis of the monetary value or the amount of the case or the suit in question.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Courts with higher authority have the power to exercise appellate jurisdiction. Under this jurisdiction, the court with higher authority can review the case that has already been decided by a lower court. In our country, cases are brought in the form of appeal in the Supreme Court and the High Court, both these courts have the power of appellate jurisdiction. They have the power to overrule the decisions of the lower court.

Criminal Courts

The procedure to conduct the trial in the criminal courts is provided in the Criminal Procedure Code. 

  • According to Section 177 of the CrPC, the Court has the authority of the trial of the case only if the offence has been committed under the jurisdiction of that court.
  • Section 178 of the Crpc, deals with the following matters:
  1. When the offence has been committed in several places and the place of the offence is doubtful.
  2. When the offence is partly at one place and the rest at another place.
  3. When the offence is committed at different places and comprises of several acts.

If any of the above situations are fulfilled, then such offence may be tried in a court having jurisdiction over any of such local areas. 

  • Under the provisions of Section 179 of the CrPC, it is postulated that any act which becomes offence due to any emanating consequences it is valid for trial in the court of proficient jurisdiction.
  • According to the provisions of Section 180 of the CrPC, when the act committed is an offence because it is related to another offence then the place of trial of the court is according to the offence which has been committed first has to be inquired into or tried by either of the courts under whose jurisdiction the act has been committed.
  • According to the provisions of Section 181(1) of the CrPC, the trial not only commenced in where the offence was committed, but it can also be commenced where the accused is found. It also deals with the cases when the offence is not committed in a single place.  It deals with the following situations:
  1. The trial of the court is commenced where the accused is found or the offence is committed while performing the act of dacoity, dacoity with murder, thug etc. the thug, or murder has committed.
  2. In the case of abduction or kidnapping of a person, the trial is commenced where the person has abducted/kidnapped or where the person was conveyed or concealed or detained.
  3. In case of robbery, extortion or theft, the trial of the court is commenced where the stolen property is possessed, delivered or received or the court where the offence has been committed. 
  4. In the case of criminal breach of trust or criminal misappropriation, the trial has been committed where any part of the property which is the subject matter of the offence has been received or retained, required to be returned or accounted for, by the accused or where the offence has been committed.
  • Section 182 of the CrPC has provided the provisions for the offences which are committed by letters etc. If the victim has been deceived by telecommunication messages or by means of letters or if any offence committed includes cheating then the trial of the court has been commenced where the messages or letters have been sent or received and under the local jurisdiction of the court where the property has been received by the accused person or where the property has been delivered by the person deceived.
  • Section 183 of the CrPC has provided provisions for the offences which have been committed during voyage or journey. During the journey, when a person commits an offence against a traveller or the thing in respect of which the offence has been committed is in due course of its voyage or journey, the trial of the court has been commenced under the local jurisdiction where the person or thing has been passed.
  • Section 185 of the CrPC empowered the State Government to direct any cases or class of cases can be tried in a Sessions Court for which the trial has been committed in any district.
  • Section 186 of the CrPC empowered the High Court to resolve the confusion when the cognizance of a particular offence has been taken by more than one court and confusion arises that which of the Courts shall inquire into or try that offence.
  • Section 187 of the CrPC empowers the Magistrate to issue warrant or summons for offences which do not come under the local jurisdiction of it. In this condition, the Magistrate has the power to order such a person to be produced before him and then send him to the Magistrate of proficient jurisdiction.      
  • Section 188 of the CrPC has provided provisions for the offences which are committed outside the territory of India. According to the provisions of this section, if an offence is committed outside the territory of India:
  1. By an Indian citizen, whether on the high seas or elsewhere.
  2. By a person, not being a citizen of India, on any ship or aircraft registered in India.

This offence is considered as such offence which had been committed at any place within the territory of India and at a place where such person may be found.

  • Section 189 of the CrPC provides the authority to the Central Government that it can take the receipt of evidence for the offences which are committed outside the territory of India.  
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Jurisdiction of Supreme Court in India

Original Jurisdiction

Under this jurisdiction, the Court refers to a matter for which that particular court is approached first. Article 131 of the Indian Constitution gives power to the Supreme Court to resolve the dispute which arises between the States of India or between the State Government and the Union Government.

Article 32 of the Indian Constitution empowered the Supreme Court to exercise original jurisdiction in case of infringement of the Fundamental Rights.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The power to exercise appellate jurisdiction lies with the Higher Courts. Through this jurisdiction, courts have the power to review, amend and overrule the decisions of the lower courts. Article 132, Article 133 and Article 134 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in appeals from the high courts in these cases:

  1. If the High Court certifies that the substantial question of law is raised in the case and it needs interpretation of the Constitution in Constitutional matters.
  2. If the High Court certifies that the substantial question of law of general importance involved in the case in civil matters.
  3. If in criminal matters, the High Court has withdrawn the case from the Subordinate Court and on appeal reversed the order of acquittal of an accused and sentenced him to death.
  4. If the High Court certifies that the case is a worth appeal to the Supreme Court.

In any of the cases, whether it is of criminal, civil or any other proceeding, if the case involves the interpretation of the Constitution then the Supreme Court has the final authority to elaborate the meaning and the intent of the Constitution. 

Advisory Jurisdiction

Under this jurisdiction, the President of India can plea the advice of the Supreme Court to give its opinion on any issue of law or act. Article 143 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President of India to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on any issue of public importance. But the Supreme Court can only advise on that issue, that opinion is not binding on the President.

Special leave petition

Article 136 of the Indian Constitution empowered the Supreme Court to grant special leave against the judgement or the order passed by any court within the territory of India. Article 262 of the Indian Constitution prohibits the Supreme Court from hearing the issues related to inter-state riparian disputes and power of special leave petition granted to the Supreme Court has been frequently used to prevent this bar.

Court of record

In India, the Supreme Court is considered as a “Court of Record”. The judgements or acts passed by the Supreme Court of India are apprehended as legal references and legal precedents. The Supreme Court is a court of record because its judgements are of evidentiary value and cannot be questioned in any court.

Jurisdiction of High Court in India

Original Jurisdiction

In several cases, people can directly approach to the High Court of India without appeal and this is known as original jurisdiction. The High Court enjoys the power of the original jurisdiction in the following cases: 

  1. If there is a dispute between the Legislative Assembly and the Members of the Parliament.
  2. In matters related to contempt of court, marriage etc.
  3. In case of the infringement of the Fundamental Rights.
  4. If the case involves the question of law which the court itself transferred from the other court.

Writ Jurisdiction

Article 226 of the Indian Constitution grants powers to the High Court to issue directions, writs or orders in the name of Certiorari, Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition or Quo Warranto. The High Court can issue writs in the matter of the Fundamental Rights and other matters also which lie within its territorial jurisdiction. 

Appellate Jurisdiction

The High Court is considered as the primary court of appeal because it is empowered to hear appeals against the judgement given by the Subordinate Courts within its territorial jurisdiction. It can exercise appellate jurisdiction in the matters of criminal jurisdiction and civil jurisdiction. The judgements related to Sessions Court and Additional Sessions Court comes under the criminal jurisdiction and the cases involving confirmation of death sentence, imprisonment for seven years awarded by session court before execution. The orders and the judgements of the District Courts, Additional District Courts and other Subordinate Courts come under the civil jurisdiction.  

Supervisory Jurisdiction

Article 227 of the Indian Constitution empowered the High Court with the power of superintendence over all the courts which come under its territorial jurisdiction except tribunals or military courts which deals with armed forces. The High Court covers both judicial and administrative superintendence. It is not necessary that the appeal came before the High Court on the application of a party only, it can be “suo moto” which means “on its own motion”.

Jurisdiction of District Court and Additional District Court

The District Court or Additional District Court empowered with both original jurisdictions as well as appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases which lies within that district. Civil Courts are governed by the procedure of the Civil Procedure Code and Criminal Courts are governed by the Criminal Procedure Code. In some cases, District Courts have the power of original jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters, these cases cannot be tried by a lesser court than the District Court.

Civil Courts exercise the power of Subject Matter Jurisdiction, Territorial Jurisdiction, Pecuniary Jurisdiction and Appellate Jurisdiction. As per the Criminal Procedure Code, a sessions judge of District Court can reward a maximum sentence to the convict is capital punishment.

The District Court exercises the power of appellate jurisdiction over the Subordinate Courts in both the criminal as well as civil cases. Senior Civil Judge Court, Principal Junior Civil Judge Court and Junior Civil Judge Court are the Subordinate Courts in civil cases. Chief Judicial Magistrate, First Class Judicial Magistrate Court and Second Class Judicial Magistrate Court are the Subordinate Courts in criminal cases. The appeal against the order of the Supreme Court can be filed in the High Court of the concerned state.  

Jurisdiction of Subordinate Court

The Code of Criminal Procedure provided provisions for the jurisdiction in criminal matters.

Section 14 of the CrPC deals with the local jurisdiction of Judicial Magistrates. This section empowers the Chief Judicial Magistrate, who is subjected to the control of the High Court that he can define the local limits of the areas from time to time, within which the Magistrates exercise all or any of the powers with which they are invested under this code:

  1. It is provided that the Special Judicial Magistrate Court may hold its sitting at any place within its local jurisdiction.
  2. If the exception is provided by such definition then the powers of the Magistrate and its local jurisdiction shall extend throughout the district.
  3. Where the local jurisdiction of a Magistrate has been extended beyond the district of its jurisdiction or the metropolitan area, as the case may be in which he generally holds court, any reference in this code to the Court of Session, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or the Chief Judicial Magistrate, in relation to such magistrate, throughout the area which comes under his local jurisdiction, be interpreted, unless the circumstances otherwise requires, as a reference to the Court of Session, Chief Judicial Magistrate, or Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be exercising jurisdiction in relation to that district or metropolitan area. 

Section 22  of the CrPC deals with the local jurisdiction of Executive Magistrates. This section empowered the District Court, which is subjected to the control of the State Government, that it can draw the local limits of the areas under which the Executive Magistrates may use all or any of the powers with which they may be endowed under this code but there are exceptions when the powers and jurisdiction of such Magistrate shall extend throughout the district.

Section 27 of the CrPC deals with the jurisdiction in the case of juveniles. If the accused is under the age of sixteen years then the case is tried by the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate or by any court which is tried under the Children Act, 1960.

Section 177 to Section 189 of the CrPC deals with the provisions related to inquiries and trials of the jurisdiction of the Criminal Courts.

Section 177 of the CrPC provides that the court which comes under the local jurisdiction where the offence has been committed then that offence must be inquired and tried by that court.

Section 178 of the CrPC deals with the provisions related to the place where trial or enquiry of offence should be commenced when there is uncertainty regarding the place of commencement of offence.

Section 179 of the CrPC provides that the trial of the offence is commenced at the place of the act where it is done or the place where the consequence ensues.

Section 180 of the CrPC provided the provisions for a place of trial in a situation where an act becomes offence due to another offence.

In case of certain offences, Section 181 of the CrPC provides provisions for the place of trial for such offences.

Section 182 of the CrPC deals with the offences which are committed by telecommunication messages or by letters etc. 

Section 183 of the CrPC deals with the offences which are committed during journey or voyage.

Section 184 of the CrPC deals with the offences which are triable together and provide provisions for such offences.

Section 185 of the CrPC empowered the State Government to direct any cases or class of cases can be tried in a Sessions Court for which the trial has been committed in any district.

Section 186 of the CrPC empowered the High Court to decide the district where the trial or inquiry of offence should be commenced in cases where there is confusion regarding the place of trial.

Section 187 of the CrPC empowers the Magistrate to issue warrant or summons for the offence which is committed beyond the local jurisdiction. 

Section 188 of the CrPC describes the offences which are committed outside the territory of India.

Section 189 of the CrPC provides the authority to the Central Government that it can take the receipt of evidence for the offences which are committed outside the territory of India.

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, provided provisions for the jurisdiction in case of civil matters.

Section 15 of the CPC provides that the suit for the offence firstly have to be instituted in the Court of the lowest grade competent for the trial.

Section 16 of the CPC provided that where suits have to be instituted, should be based on the subject matter which is subject to the pecuniary or other limitations prescribed by the law.

Section 17 of the CPC provided that the suits for the immovable property have to be filed within the local limits of whose jurisdiction where any part of the property is situated.

Section 18 of the CPC provided provisions for the place of institution of the suit where local limits of the jurisdiction of Courts are uncertain.

Section 20 of the CPC provided provisions for the place of institution of other suits. It states that suits for the offence have to be instituted where the cause of action arises or at the place where the defendants reside.

Conclusion

It is evident from this article that the Constitution of India played a crucial role in the rules and laws which are enforced from time to time to strengthen the judicial system of the country. The three-layer judicial system is necessary for the proper functioning of the judiciary in a big country like India to ensure proper justice to the citizens of a country. Every day a lot of disputes were raised, so proper hierarchy of courts and their jurisdiction should be properly defined to deal with such disputes.   

 

  

    

  

        

           

  

 

   

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Indian Evidence Act : Confession by co-accused

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This article is written by Shruti Singh, a student Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida. In this article, she discusses about confession, different types of confession and also different type of evidence. 

Introduction

Confession

The term Confession is defined in Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act. It says that no person has to confess his offence in front of the police. 

Importance of confession

Confession is an important form of evidence and it is used to prove a case in a court of law. Based on documents of things we collect during the evidence is not helpful to prove the case with. It is not always feasible or adequate to base a case only on documentary evidence collected. This is where confession comes as a vital form of evidence. The importance of confession is defined in the case of Palvinder Kaur vs The State Of Punjab.

What is Evidence?

Evidence is the part of the investigation which is used to prove the case. During the investigation when police officials find something related to the incident that is considered as a piece of evidence. Evidence has many forms like a confession. Evidence is not about believing, it’s about reliability on a fact that is true, that the court of law can consider it admissible. Evidence in layman language means a fact, belief or proposition that can be said to be true and which can prove the existence of something in a court of law. If anyone is confessing about the incident he or she has to prove his or her confession in a court of law. 

Case laws

Palvinder Kaur vs The State Of Punjab

Facts:

The poison name Potassium Cyanide is given to Jaspal Singh by the Mahinder Pal. It is found that Mahinder Pal, is the accused, who has given poison to Jaspal Singh and had dumped him in the large trunk and kept it in the room in the house of Ambala City. Then the writ petition has been filed by the father of Jaspal Singh. Palvinder Kaur, the wife of Jaspal Singh convicted for the murder and sentenced for the transportation of life. 

Judgment of the case:

Supreme court has given the judgment stating that when any person takes admission in the confession to confess the crime must admit the crime with all the facts which is relevant to this case which constitute the crime. If any statement contains an exculpatory sentence that statement is not considered as evidence. 

Nishi Kant Jha vs The State Of Bihar

Facts:

The appellant was traveling on the train and then he noticed that one boy is washing blood-stained clothes and bathing in the river. Because of some misconception, the appellant was charged for the murder of a fellow student in a railway compartment. In the statement, he admitted that he is present at the scene of the murder but stated that he was trying to prevent the crime. Someone else has committed the crime, he was injured by the knife when he is trying to prevent the crime. 

Judgment of the case:

The Supreme Court held that if any statement is made and not proved that the statement is not valid will be rejected by a court of law.

Evidence Act under Indian law

Section 30 in The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Section 30 of the evidence act says that the confession which is already proved in a court of law can affect the person or affect another person also who are involved in the case. If the confession is made for both the person who is involved in the case but the statement is given by only one person then the person who confesses will be taken by a court of law. 

Tried jointly

This is an underlying principle of Confession.

The following persons may be charged and tried together, namely:

  1. Persons who are accused of the same offense committed in the course of the same transaction. 
  2. Persons accused of an offense or accused of abetment, or attempt to commit such offense.
  3. When people are accused of more than one offense of the same kind, within the meaning of Section 219 of tried jointly committed by them jointly within twelve months. 
  4. Persons accused of different offenses committed in the course of the same transaction.
  5. Persons accused of an offense which includes theft, extortion, cheating, or criminal misappropriation, and persons accused of receiving or retaining, or assisting in the disposal or concealment of, property possession of which is alleged to have been transferred by any such offense committed by the first-named persons, or of abetment of or attempting to commit any such last-named offense. 
  6. Persons accused of offenses under sections 411 and 414 of the Indian Penal Code IPC 410, 411, 412, 413, 414 Indian Penal Code | Stolen Property.
  7. Or either accused in respect of stolen property the possession of which has been transferred by one offense.
  8. Persons accused of any offenses under the Indian Penal Code relating to counterfeit coin or persons accused of any other offense relating to the same coin, or of abetment or of attempting to commit any such offense and the provisions contained in the former part. So far as may be, apply to all such charges.

May take into consideration 

Consideration of proved confession affecting person making it and others jointly under trial for some offense.

When more persons are accused than one are being tried jointly for the same offense, and a confession made by one of such persons are affected by himself and some other of such persons is proved, the Court may take into consideration such confession as against such person as well as against the person making such confession.

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Evidentiary value of confession 

A confession when proved and declared relevant it is called an evidentiary value of confession.

Evident must be proven in court in front of judges during court hearings. Evident must be proof in written as well as oral. The confession of the victim and accused is the most valuable in court. 

What is its evidentiary value? 

No hard and fast rule can be laid down.

It is the duty and responsibility of the judge to determine the confession of the accused and victim and even confession of the family members as well as friends and the other persons who are involved in the case. It is easy to determine the evidentiary value of a confession. When confession of the accused is taken forcefully or taken in a wrong, it creates a problem with the exculpatory portions. Statement some inculpatory portions that can be relied upon by the court along with other evidence. 

Admissibility

Section 136 in The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Admissibility is also the form of evidence which is accepted in a court of law. The evidence must be relevant for the acceptance in a court of law. It must have some relevance to prove the case in court. The fact must be certain but at least it must tend to increase and decrease the fact. The person who finds the facts must determine the weight to give a particular piece of evidence. A given piece of evidence is considered material if it is offered to prove the fact that is in dispute in a case. Evidence is considered competent if it complies with certain traditional notions of reliability. Courts are gradually diminishing the competency rules of evidence by making them issues related to the weight of evidence.

Relevancy

Relevancy of Facts – Section 5-16 of Evidence Act

The evidence which holds the value in a court of law or proves the case in the court that holds relevancy. The fact which is legal that is only accepted in a court of law. Confession is the most relevant form of evidence in a court of law. 

Case laws

Pravin vs Ghanshyam

Facts of the case:

The petitioner has filed the petition on 12.07.2017 under article 65 of the evidence act which gets rejected. The petitioner has filed the suit for declaration and permanent injunction concerning the land. The L.T.Sitaram has owned land which expires on 29.08.2013. According to the Petitioner, he made a will on 29.05.2003 in favor of LTE.Sitaram. So according to the will, after the death of Sitaram, the petitioner becomes the owner of the land and also agreed to sell his land to Parasram and Prakash. The agreement is done on 04.09.2013. The plaintiff is still in the possession of the land and then also the respondent tries to destroy the crops of the land of the petitioner.

Judgment of the case:

The court ordered to prove the document which the petitioner makes that document by making a photocopy of the document and presented in a court of law. The photocopy of the document court has rejected the application of the petitioner.

Oral confession

Oral confession means the confession is taken orally or partly written. This is the fact which reduced the writing. The defendant oral confession is taken in the court during the hearing. But the victim’s oral confession is more valuable in court during the hearing. Oral confession cannot be denied. Once the oral statement is taken by the victim, it can’t be changed. Because in written statement people may make false documents and can show in court. But during the oral confession statement get proved in the court by the lawyers. There are some rules for taking oral confession. If during the confession police official or anyone tries to torture or force the victim to confess the wrong statement then he or she can file a PIL against the police officials. There is a case explaining oral confession. 

Case laws

State Of Uttar Pradesh vs Singhara Singh And Others

Facts of the case:

As per the law, any person who is not in the post of police-oficer and if we recorded any statement or confession and tried to torture or harash the accused then he will be inquired and put into the trial case. His record will not be taken as a record and could not be put in evidence to prove the confession. Singhara Singh, Bir Singh, and Tega Singh were prosecuted for the murder of the shopkeeper Raja Ram. 

Judgment of the case:

The additional sessions court judge of Bijnor has convicted Singhara Singh for the murder under the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to death. 

Confession should affect the maker as well as co-accused

When a victim has to confess her incident in front of the whole community, this affects the victim’s image in front of the whole community. She has to face every bad circumstance in every point of her life. She loses the support from everyone. If any offence is committed than only one person has to face all the trials. He tried jointly in the court. The confession of one person affects himself and some other of such persons is proved. The court takes the confession against the one person or the other person. But the confession of the co-accused is undoubtedly and admissible in court. The court cannot start the confession of the co-accused. If there is substantial evidence then the only confession is taken into consideration to set the doubt at rest. 

Statement of the victim

Section 164 CrPC

When a statement is given by the victim related to the incident to the police, it is called a statement of Victim. The statement of the victim is defined in section 164 of CrPC. Victim statement has relevance in a court of law. It gives an opportunity to the victim to speak up in front of the whole community so that no one can make a bad statement about the victim. 

Surinder Kumar Khanna vs Intelligence Officer

According to the prosecution:

On the specific information, police officials notice that the narcotic drugs were going to be transported from Jammu to Chandigarh via Hoshiarpur with the white colour Indica. The officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence laid pocket at toll barrier at Hoshiarpur road.

Judgment of the case:

The High Court of Punjab and Haryana held that the offences which are held by the appellant are punishable under Section 21(c) which is read under Section 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Act, 1985.

Conclusion

Confession is an important form of evidence which is used for proving the case in a court of law.  Based on documents of things we collect during the evidence is not helpful to prove the case with. It is not always feasible or adequate to base a case only on documentary evidence collected. This is where confession comes as a vital form of evidence. There are other forms of evidence which are used to prove the case but confession is the most valuable form of evidence which cannot be rejected in the court of law.   

 

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Sweat Equity Shares: Explained

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This article is written by Isha Sharma, a 5th-year student at Bharati Vidyapeeth, New Law College, Pune. This article will lay out what actually constitute in all the sections and provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and all the rules of Companies(Share and Debenture)Rule which states about the issuing of Sweat Equity Shares.

Introduction

It’s been said by Nina Agdal  ‘What you sweat is what you get’. In a similar way, sweat equity shares are shares which are  provided only to those employees and directors of the company who are hardworking and immensely dedicated towards their organisation or who have an idea of technical know-how of the business, or the employees who have an expertise or have contributed significantly to the intellectual property rights of the company. 

The top-grade employees or directors get the privilege of sharing a part of the profit in a way of ‘securities’ in return for the investment made by the investors. The shares are issued in the way of discount or consideration other than cash. 

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Meaning of Sweat Equity Share

In simple words, Sweat Equity Share is a reward given to employees by way of discount or consideration. Suppose an employee ‘A’ has contributed towards making a software for his/her company for the betterment and expansion of the company and as a result of it the company was rescued from paying the cost of the software, he ought to benefit. In this case, due to ‘A’ immense contribution towards the welfare of the company, the Sweat Equity Share is issued in lieu to ‘A’.

Sweat Equity Shares under the Companies Act, 2013

Section 2(88) of the Companies Act, 2013 states that Sweat Equity Share is a share which is issued by a company to its directors or employees at a discount or for consideration other than cash for providing them know-how or making available rights in the nature of intellectual property rights or value addition, by whatever name called.

Employees

Rule 8 of Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2017, defines ‘employee’ as an individual, who is a permanent employee of the company, working in India or outside India, for at least one year.

Value Addition

Rule 8 (1) of the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2017 defines Value Addition as the benefit which is derived from an expert or professional for furnishing know-how or for Intellectual Property Rights that belong to them for which the consideration is not paid then the sweat equity share is issued to them. (1)

Importance of Sweat Equity Share

  • The importance of sweat equity shares is majorly noticed by the start-up companies, as when a company is new or has freshly started up, it requires lots of funds to hire employees, or funds for promotion of the company, for marketing purposes and many more such services which are required for the expansion of the companies. The start-up companies usually lack funds to raise their capital due to which many times the startup company fails to survive in the long run. As the funds are low so it’s hard to provide any monetary rewards to the employees working in the start-up company which may sometimes be little demotivating for the employees who are putting their effort and toil. In such cases, sweat equity shares provide the shade to the start-up companies which help them grow through the market competition and survive in the long run. 
  • The sweat equity shares also play an important role in large, well-settled companies as these companies have large funds to invest in the market and get securities in return, and these return can be shared with the hard-working employees of the company who are entitled to  such rewards exclusive of their remuneration. It also helps in boosting the morale of such employees for a better working environment in the company. Employees with special knowledge, having technical know-how deserve to be rewarded apart from their basic remuneration.

Conditions for issue of Sweat Equity Share

Section 54 of the Company Act, 2013 lays down conditions to be complied with while issuing sweat equity shares. When the shares are issued to the employees under Rule 8 (1) of the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rule, 2014 whereby passing a special resolution  as mentioned under Section 54 of the Company law, then following details like  number of shares, the consideration price, the market price and the class of employees have to be specified.

In the case of listed companies, SEBI guidelines have to be followed and in the case of an unlisted company, Rule 8 will be complied with. Rule 8 states that the special resolution will be valid only for 12 months, and within that time span the sweat equity shares may be issued.

Sweat equity share can be issued only when the following terms are fulfilled:

  1. A special resolution is needed to be passed with the permission of  3/4th members entitled to do so. The allotment is required to be made within the set period of 12 months from the date of passing the special resolution.
  2. The company is not allowed to issue the share for more than fifteen percent of the existing paid-up equity share capital in a year.
  3. The number of shares, current market price, consideration price, class of directors and employees is required to be specified in the resolution.
  4. In the case of listed companies where the equity share of the company is listed then the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s Regulation,2002 will be followed and in case of non-listed companies, the securities are issued according to the rules prescribed. [Section 54(1)(d)]
  5. The sweat equity share shall be locked in and non-transferable for a period of three years from the date of allotment when issued to employees or directors.
  6. The company is required to be incorporated at least for a year.
  7. Proper justification has to be given for the value of sweat equity share when determined by a registered valuer.
  8. For the purpose of sections 197 and 198 of the Act, the amount of sweat equity share will be treated as part of managerial remuneration, if the following conditions are fulfilled:
  1. When the sweat equity shares are issued to any director or manager.
  2. When they are issued for consideration other than cash which will be carried to the balance sheet of the company. (2)

Quantum of Sweat Equity

The company is allowed to issue only 15% of the existing paid-up equity capital in a year or shares of the value of rupees 5 crore, whichever is higher and in case of any exceeding of the percentage or in the value of shares prior permission has to be obtained from the central government.(3)

Provided that in the case of issuance of the sweat equity share shall not exceed 25% of paid-up capital at any time in the company and also provided with an exception where sweat equity share can be exceeded up to 50% and not beyond that of its paid-up capital up to five years from the date of its incorporation in case of start-up companies recognized by the Government of India(4)

Valuation of Sweat Equity Shares

The procedure for valuation of sweat equity shares are as follows:

  1. A registered valuer is required to determine the price limits of the sweat equity shares that are to be issued.
  2. After determining, he is required to submit a proper valuation report justifying the reason for such valuation to the Board of Directors.
  3. The valuer is required to take account of all the details of intellectual property rights and know-how of any value additions made by the employee for which the sweat equity shares are being issued.
  4. After taking account of all the information mentioned under points (A), (B) and(C) a copy of gist has to be sent to the shareholders providing the notice of the general meeting.

Procedure for issuing

The first step to issue the sweat equity share is by passing a special resolution at a general meeting which is held by summoning the board meeting in order to consider the proposal on the issue of sweat equity shares and to fix up the date, time, place, and agenda for the same.

Second, the resolution is passed by the majority votes of the shareholders through postal ballot as specified under companies(Passing of the resolution by Postal Ballot) Rules,2001 which shall also be adopted and this Special Resolution will be filed with the Registrar of Companies (ROCs) in Form. No. 23.

Third, after the Special Resolution has been passed the Explanatory Statement is maintained consisting of the following details:

1.The time, date and venue of the meeting

2.Reasons or justification for the issues;

3.Numbers of shares, consideration and the class of persons to whom such equity shares to be issued

4.Value of the Sweat Equity shares along with the valuation report.

5.Name and details of the person to whom the equity share will be issued and his/her relation with the company.

6.The rate of sweat equity share

7.The issuance of such equity which may affect the ceiling of managerial remuneration. 

8.The accounting policies specified by the Central Government affecting the company’s statement.

9. Diluted earnings per share shall be calculated in accordance with the Accounting Standards specified by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Fourth, in the case of any shares to be issued on the day of a grant of sweat equity share is equal to or exceeds 1% of the issued capital (during any one year, to identify employees and promoters) then a separate resolution shall be passed.

Fifth, once the approval is made by the shareholders, sweat equity shares are issued and allotted by the Board of Directors to the respective directors or employees then the company is required to file e-form-2 and e-form 3 with the ROC in due course. 

Sixth, once the resolution is filed with the registrar in Form MGT-14, a board meeting is called up with the way of due notice to approve the allotment of sweat equity shares accordingly.

Seventh, once the resolution is passed for the allotment of the shares the company is required to file Form PAS-3  within 30 days of passing of the Board resolution for the allotment of sweat equity share.

Eighth, on allotment the company is required to maintain a register of Sweat Equity in Form SH-3 at the registered office of the company or any other place as the board may decide.

Ninth, the entries made in the register has to be authenticated by the Company Secretary appointed by the company or any such other person appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company. (5)

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Issue by a listed company 

 

Sweat equity share is issued to employees and directors in the way of discount or consideration other than cash by the companies whose equity shares are listed on a recognized stock exchange in accordance with section 79A of the Companies Act, 1956. Nothing contained in these regulations can be applied to any unlisted company. 

General Meeting is held by calling Board of Directors with at least 7 days prior notice to propose the purpose of passing a special resolution for considering the issue of sweat equity shares clause (a) of subsection (1) of Section 79A of the Companies Act, 1956 in which explanatory statement to be annexed. The promoters will be subjected to the requirement according to the procedures specified in Regulation 6 of these Regulations; the promoters to whom such sweat equity shares are to be issued are not allowed to participate in such resolution.

Pricing of Sweat Equity Share by the listed company

The price set up for the sweat equity share shall not be less than the higher of the average of the weekly high and low of the closing prices of the related equity shares during the last six months preceding the relevant date or during the two weeks preceding the relevant date, whereas ‘Relevant Date’ here means the date which is thirty days prior to the general meeting held by the shareholders.

In case where the shares are listed in more than one stock exchange but shown by only one on the given date of the stock exchange then the price of that stock exchange will be considered; also when the shares are repeated(quoted) in more than one stock exchange then the stock exchange with the highest trade volume during that day will be considered.

If the shares are not shown on the given date then the next day of quoting that share will be considered.

Valuation of Intellectual Property by the listed company

The valuation of intellectual property rights of know-how of other value addition is done by the merchant banker.The duty of a merchant banker is to consult such experts and valuer as he deems fit in regard to the nature of the industry and property or other value addition.

The merchant banker is also required to get a certificate from an independent chartered accountant to make sure that the valuation of intellectual property or any other additional valuation is made in accordance with the relevant accounting standards.

Accounting Treatment

Sweat Equity shares are issued for non-cash consideration it is usually treated in the form of depreciable or amortizable assets (amortizable and depreciable is a method of spreading the cost of an asset over a specified period of time), which is to be carried by the balance sheet according to the relevant accounting standards.

When not treated as an amortizable asset it will be mentioned as expenses (as when it is issued for non cash then the capital side gets increases and asset side remains the same so just to maintain the balance of both the side, we nullify and give the reverse effect in the balance sheet), as provided by relevant accounting standards.

Placing of Auditors before Annual General Meeting:

The Board of Directors is required to place a certificate regarding the issue of sweat equity share before the shareholders to make sure that the sweat equity share has been issued in accordance with the Regulations and Resolution of the issue of sweat equity share by the company.

The Ceiling on Managerial Remuneration

For the purpose of section 198, 309, 310, 311 and 387 the amount of sweat equity share will be issued as a part of Managerial Remuneration only on the following grounds:

  • The sweat equity share is issued to any director or manager; and
  • They are issued as consideration other than cash.

Lock-in of sweat equity shares

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Disclosure and Investor Protection) Guidelines, 2000 will make a contribution after the issuing of sweat equity shares only if a company makes a public issue; The Sweat Equity share shall be locked in for a period of three years from the date of allotment.

Listing

The sweat equity share will be listed by the company only if it has complied with all the Regulations and Resolutions.

Applicability of Takeover

It will be applicable only if it has acquired with all the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers)Regulations 1997.(6)

listed company

Issue by an unlisted company

The sweat equity share of the unlisted company is issued by the way of writing 7 days prior notice to all the directors mentioning the agenda and venue to address a Board Meeting for the proposal of issue of sweat equity shares( 79A of the Companies Act, 1956).

The company is required to ensure that the share capital of the company is increased by the proposed issue of sweat equity shares and if not then necessary steps have to be taken to increase the authorized share capital of the company; The company can issue share capital only after the expiry of one year in which the company was entitled to commence.

Pricing of Sweat Equity Share by the Unlisted Company

The company is not allowed to issue sweat equity share more than 15% of the existing paid-up equity share capital in a year of shares issued in the value of Rupees 5 crores, whichever is higher.

In case of issuance of sweat equity shares in the company shall not exceed 25% of the paid-up equity capital of the company at any time.(Rule 8(4) of the Companies Share Capital and Debenture Rules,2014).

Valuation of Intellectual Property by the unlisted company

To determine the fair price for the issue of sweat equity share, valuation report is obtained by the registered valuer to keep a record of valuation of intellectual property rights or of know-how provided or other value additions for which sweat equity shares are to be issued and also a proper justification is required to be given for the same. [Rule 8(6) and 8(7) of the companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014] 

Accounting Treatment

When a sweat equity share is issued for non-cash consideration it takes the form of depreciable or amortized asset which is required to be carried to the balance sheet according to the accounting standards, or if it’s not issued for non-cash consideration then it will be expensed off  just to nullify the effect (as when it is issued for non cash then the capital side gets increases and asset side remains the same so just to maintain the balance of both the side, we nullify and give the reverse effect in the balance sheet) , as provided in the accounting standards.

When a sweat equity share is issued during an accounting period, the accounting value of it will be treated as a part of the compensation to the employee or the director in the financial statements of the company, if it’s not issued according to the acquisition of an asset. [Rule 8(11) of the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014]

The ceiling of Managerial  Remuneration in an unlisted company:

The amount of sweat equity share will be treated as a part of managerial remuneration in accordance with the purpose of section 197 and 198 of the Companies Act, 2013 if the following conditions are fulfilled:

  1. The sweat equity share shall be issued to any director or manager; and
  2. They are issued for consideration other than cash. [Rule 8(10) of the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014]

Lock-in of sweat equity shares

The sweat equity shares issued to employees and directors are required to be locked in/non-transferable for a period of 3 years from the date of allotment, and the share certificate of lock-in has to be stamped in bold or mentioned in a prominent manner the expiry of the lock-in period of the sweat equity shares.[Rule 8(5) of the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2104].

Disclosures in the Director’s Report

For the fair valuation of the sweat equity share it is important to make a proper disclosure of the Director’s report. The director is required to disclose all the financial statement of the year and Report of Directors should be attached to the Balance Sheet laid before the AGM.

The intention of the Director’s report is to provide the shareholder with the overall financial statement, operation and business scope of the company in a detailed form. Many previous provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 makes it mandatory to disclose the Director’s Report which was later amended by the Central Government in the Companies Act, 2017.(7)

The following are the details of the Sweat Equity Share which is required to be disclosed in the Director’s report of the year:

  1. Detailed information of the class of directors and employees to whom the sweat equity shares are to be issued.
  2. Detailed note of the class of shares issued as Sweat Equity Shares ;
  3. Numbers of shares issued to employees and directors and as well as key managerial personnel showing the number of such shares issued to them as consideration other than cash and names of the individuals holding one per cent or more of than one per cent of the issued share capital.
  4. Proper justification of the issue of shares to be mentioned.
  5. The terms and conditions for the issue of the shares to be mentioned along with the price formula.
  6. A total number of shares arising as sweat equity shares and the percentage of the shares of the total post issued and paid-up share capital is to be mentioned.
  7. Any sort of amount of benefit received to the company in accordance with the issue of sweat equity shares.
  8. The diluted earnings per share (EPS) is calculated to gauge the quality of the Company’s earning per share for the issuance of sweat equity shares. (8)

Sweat Equity Shares Accounting Treatment

When the sweat equity share is issued for a non-cash consideration the following steps are required to be taken according to the valuation report thereof obtained from the registered valuer :

Firstly, when the sweat equity shares are issued for non-cash consideration it is treated as a  depreciable or amortizable asset and shall be carried to the balance sheet according to the accounting standards, whereas if not issued for non-cash consideration then it will be expensed off as per the accounting standards.

Secondly, as per the Sections 197 and 198 of the Act the amount of sweat equity share will be treated as a form of managerial remuneration if the following conditions are fulfilled:

  1. If the sweat equity shares are issued to any director or manager; and
  2. If they are issued by the way of consideration other than cash which does not take the form of an asset that can be carried to the balance sheet of the company as per the accounting statement.

Thirdly, when the sweat equity shares issued in an accounting period the amount of sweat equity share will be treated as a form of compensation to the employees or the directors in the financial statements when the shares are not issued pursuant to the acquisition of an asset.

Fourth, In case when shares are pursuant to the acquisition of an asset, whose value is determined by the valuation report will be carried in the balance sheet as per the Accounting Standards and such amount of the accounting value which exceeds the amount of assets acquired will be treated as a form of compensation to the employee or the director in the financial statement as per the valuation report of the company. (9)

Startups and sweat equity

Startup companies in India has been a platform for the many new digital businesses with the intention of the government to set up a new digital economy which has achieved great success like UPI,BHIM, e-KYC etc, but still there are many startup companies who have been struggling to make an impactful entry due to the high and increasing competition it is facing many obstacles as a founder.Starting out company can be the biggest challenge for that company to survive in the long run.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the Finance Minister Arun Jaitely announced their Budget of the year 2016 which intended to provide multiple benefits to startup companies and a  clean environment for them to set up and prosper in the compex Indian regulatory setup. The relaxation was provided to the two provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 regarding inability to accept Employee Stock Options (ESOPs) and the limited leeway to startups for issuing sweat equity.

ESOPS and sweat equity shares play an important role as startup company were dependent to seek equity funds from investors (seed funder, angel investors, venture capitalists, and private equity funds, in that order) where there was a chance of natural consequences for the founders to dilute in their own equity holding, which could lead to losing the principal control over their startup and also cut the benefits of the startup’s success.

The position after the Amendment made under the Companies (Share and Debentures) Third Amendment Rules 2016 for the norms of ESOPs and sweat equity for startups have been very helpful as:

  1.  ESOPs now allowed companies that qualify as ‘startups’ to issue ESOPs to founders or even to those directors that hold more than 10 percent of the share capital which was previously not permitted. 
  2. Whereas the Amendment liberalised the issuance of sweat equity shares by increasing the limit up to 25 percent of the paid-up equity share capital to 50 percent to the companies qualifying as ’startups’.

After 16 January 2016 when the Government intended to make a digital economy by helping out with tremendous benefits to promote the startup companies, new Amendments were added in the Companies (Share and Debentures) Rules,2014 which lead to the benefits like where any employee joining the company was able to issue a sweat equity shares, which was an advantage to the employees as they were duly awarded for any  ‘value addition’ from the time of joining the company.

The startup companies can issue sweat equity shares within one year of commencement of business which was not the case earlier as many restrictions prevailed with the issue of sweat equity share.

The impact of this Amendment has been very powerful to many Indian startups as they are externally funded which helped them to figure out legitimate means of maintaining their shareholdings at meaningful percentages of the fully diluted share capital, which advantaged them in seeking better growth for their company and faster exit. Both the changes helped in providing a leeway to founders for the better structuring their cap tables. (10)

Taxability of sweat equity shares 

To make the sweat equity shares taxable in the hands of employees at the time when the shares are transferred or allotted the following conditions are required to be satisfied:

  1. The security is required to be either a specified security or sweat equity shares as defined in Section 2(h) of the Securities Contract (Regulation) Act, 1956.
  2. Such security are required to be allotted or transferred on 1st April 2009 or after and any security allotted or transferred before April 1, 2009 will lie under Fringe Benefit Tax.
  3. Such security are allotted either directly or indirectly to the employee or former employee.
  4. Such security or sweat equity shares are allotted by the employer or former employer to the employee.
  5. The security allotted may be either free of cost or at a concessional rate.

Calculation of Fair market value

After the above conditions are satisfied the taxable amount is calculated by the valuation of fair market value of securities at the date of exercise of an option by the employee.

Whereas, fair market value will be calculated as:

 Quoted Shares

  1. If the share of the company are listed on any stock exchange then  –  average of opening price and closing price
  2. If the share of the company are listed on more than one stock exchange then  – average of opening price and closing price in the stock exchange in which highest volume is traded.
  3. If the share is not traded on the date of exercise of option then the fair market value be the closing price of the shares on any stock exchange on a date closest to the date of exercise of option will be taken as fair market value. 

Unquoted Shares:

In case where the shares are not listed on any stock exchange then the Merchant Bankers are required to determine the fair value of shares on the specified date; Specified date is a date where the option is exercised or any date earlier to it and not being a date which is 180 days earlier than the date of exercise of that option.

Conclusion

Sweat equity share has been a great help to all those employees who have contributed immensely towards their services and provided some sort of benefits to the company in a way of intellectual property rights or any other value addition. Sweat equity share is provided to such employees apart from their remuneration, where they’re able to hold a part of share in the investment made by the companies. 

The post scenario of 2016 was very impactful as the Government of India also come up with some new amendments for the issue of sweat equity shares in the Companies (Share and Debentures) Third Amendment Rules, to include some special provisions for startup companies in India. Overall an effective step has been provided till now for the welfare of the employees who has just joined the company.

 

 


   

  

  

      

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Nidhi Amendment Rules, 2019 – Everything You Need to Know

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This article has been written by Anubhav Garg, a student of Delhi Metropolitan Education. In this article, he has talked about recent amendments made in NidhiRules and its implications on already existing and under formalities companies seeking the status of Nidhi.  

What are Nidhi companies?

The word Nidhi means ‘Treasure’ in Hindi. As the name suggests, it relates to finance and funds. Nidhi Companies are governed by the Nidhi Rules, 2014 (the ‘Rules’) and are incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 (the ‘Act’). As per Section 406 of the Act, Nidhi companies are incorporated with the goal of inculcating the habit of thrift and savings among its members. Nidhi companies accepts deposits and lends to its members exclusively, for the purpose of their mutual benefit. Also referred to as ‘Mutual Benefit Society’, the core business of Nidhi companies is borrowing and lending from its members. In addition to the Nidhi Rules, Nidhi companies are also governed by the Central Government, who has the power to issue notifications, in accordance with the Act, pertaining to any modification, exception and/or adaptations for Nidhi Companies.

Nidhi companies are one kind of Non-Banking Finance Companies and only public companies can be declared as Nidhi companies under Rule 4(1) of  the Rules and enjoy the freedom from central provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (RBI Act) like mandatory registration,creation of reserve fund, maintenance of liquid assets and other RBI instructions under Section 45-IA of the RBI Act. However, there are certain provisions of the RBI Act which Nidhi companies have to comply with. These provisions include interest per cent on deposits, prohibition from paying brokerage on deposits, ban on advertisements and the requirement of submission of certain returns. It is pertinent to note that while certain provisions of the RBI Act are applicable to the Nidhi companies, it doesn’t mean that the RBI is the regulatory authority for Nidhis. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is the regulatory authority for Nidhi companies.

What are the amendments made to Nidhi Rules, 2014?

Nidhi Rules is the code which regulates the functioning of the Nidhi compani,es. Recently, on 1st July, 2019 the Ministry of External Affairs issued an official gazette introducing certain amendments to the Rules,naming it Nidhi (Amendment) Rules, 2019. Discussed below are the major amendments and its implications made in the Rules. 

1. Application

A new clause 2(d) has been inserted which further elucidates the applicability and jurisdiction of Nidhi Rules, The clause provides, “every company declared as Nidhi or Mutual Benefit Society under sub-section(1) of section 406  of the Act”. The substantial amendment is that now, any company declared as ‘Mutual Benefit Society’ under section 406(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 will also come under the purview of NIdhi Rules.

2. Definition of Nidhi Companies 

Definition of Nidhi companies has been added as section 3(da) to give a clarity of what kind and nature of companies fall under the definition of Nidhi and under the jurisdiction of Nidhi Rules. Section 3(da) provides that “Nidhi” are those companies which have been incorporated with the aim of inculcating the habit of rational utilization of money and savings amongst its members,and accepting deposits and lending the same to its members in need only, in order to mutually benefit its members. This class of companies are governed by the Ministry of External Affairs, which acts under the authority of an agent on the behalf of the Central Government.This is the same text from section 406(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 but in this amendment it has been moved to the definition clause of Nidhi Rules for the sake of comprehension and clarity.

3. Form NDH-4

A new application form NDH-4 has been introduced for those companies, which wish to get the status of Nidhi by the way of insertion of a new section namely 3A. It is one of the major alterations which have been introduced under these amendments. On receiving an application of a public company under Form NDH-4 along with the prescribed fees, if fully convinced that the company has complied with all the requirements under these Rules, the Central Government may declare the company as a Nidhi company In the official gazette.

All the Nidhi companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 on or after the commencement of the amended rules, are required to mandatorily file Form NDH-4 within sixty days from:

  • The last date of the one-year time span from the date of its incorporation; or 
  • The stipulated time period put to which extension of time has been granted by the Regional Director under sub(3) of Rule 5.

It is envisaged in section 3A that nothing contained in it stops Nidhi companies from filing Form NDH-4. It is also been laid down in the new provisions that the Nidhi Company not abiding the Nidhi Rules shall not be allowed to fill form SH-7 (Notice to Registrar of any alteration of share capital) and Form PA93 (Return of Allotment) form.

4. Particulars pertaining to incorporation and its incidental matters

Some parts of Rule 4 of the Rule have been omitted under the amendment. This rule relates to the incorporation and incidental matters pertaining to the Nidhi companies. Rule 4 lays down the provisions including, the kind of company which can be incorporated as Nidhi, the minimum equity share capital for Nidhi, when can Nidhi issue preference shares, Memorandum of Association of Nidhi and Nidhi Limited’ after Nidhi company’s name.

In sub-rule (1) of Rule 4 of the Rules, “to be incorporated under the act” has been removed and in sub-rule(2) of Rule 4 of the Rules, “company incorporated as a” has been stroked-off.

The said amendment has been done to give better clarity of the applicability of the Rules and to cut-off the ambiguous and unnecessary information and make it more subject friendly the Rules.

5. Time frame provided to ensure compliance of prescribed requirements 

Under Rule 5(1) of the Rules, the words “from the commencement of these rules” have been substituted with “from the date of its incorporation”. In this way, Nidhi companies have been given a period of one year from the date of incorporation instead of the date of commencement (which was unviable) to ensure that they have:

  • A minimum two-hundred members;
  • Net Owned Funds of INR Ten lakhs or more; and 
  • Unencumbered term deposits of at least ten per cent of the total outstanding deposits as prescribed in Rule 14 of the Rules and a ratio of Net Owned Funds to deposits of not more than 1:20.

Further, Rule 5(3) of the Rules has been expanded and has been made more comprehensive. When a Nidhi company fails to gather minimum two-hundred members or arrange a Net Owned Fund of Ten lakhs or more, they have to apply to the Regional Director in Form NDH-2 along with fee specified in Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 for more time within thirty days from the close of the first financial year. The Regional Director has to pass the order considering the said application within thirty days of its receipt. But before, there was no specified limit about how much extension the regional director can grant. With these amendments, it has been made one year maximum from the date of receiving the application of extension.

In Rule 5(4) of the Rules, after “contained in sub-Rule (1)”, “and gets itself declared under sub-section (1) of Section 406” has been inserted. This means that, when a Nidhi company fails to comply with the Rule 5(1) of the Rules, beyond the extended time of one year. Such company shall not accept any further deposits from its members until it has complied with the required provisions and also gets itself declared as a Nidhi company under Section 406(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, if not declared already.

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6. Issue of equity shares

Under Rule 7(1) of the Rules, after “shall issue”, the words “fully paid-up” have been added. It means that, now Nidhi companies can issue only fully paid-up equity shares of the minimum value of INR ten each. This means that Nidhis can’t issue the equity shares on a pro-rata basis etc.

Rule 7 of the Rules provides the provisions relating to the minimum nominal value of equity shares it issues, the minimum amount of equity shares every Nidhi has to allot to the deposit holders and the minimum amount of equity shares every savings account holder and recurring deposit account holder shall retain.

7. Application form for placing a deposit

Rule 12(1) of the Rules states that every application form for placing a deposit with Nidhi, must contain certain particulars. In addition, 12(1)(ba) has been inserted, which provides that the application shall also contain the date of declaration or notification as Nidhi.

Further, in Rule 12(2)(a) of the Rules, the “Registrar of Companies” has been replaced with “National Companies Law Tribunal”. This means that the depositor will now approach National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT) instead of Registrar of Company in case of non-payment (in whole or partly) as per the terms and conditions of such deposits. This provision will give depositors of Nidhis’ more confidence as the NCLT has wider jurisdiction to grant reliefs and remedies.

9. Power of the Central Government 

Under Rule 23(2) of the Rules, the word “Regional Director” has been replaced with “Central Government”. Hence, now if any Nidhi fails to comply with the provisions of the Rules or to operate in terms of Article of Association (AOA), then the Central Government will be will appoint and direct a special officer and not the Regional Director to take over the control of that Nidhi company. Also, the Central Government will be the one to hear the plea under such circumstances.

Rule 23 of the Rules provide for the enforcements and powers of the Central Government over the Nidhi companies to make them comply with Nidhi Rules. These powers include calling for   information or returns from Nidhi as government may deem necessary and may engage the services of chartered accountants, company secretaries, cost accountants, or ant firm from time to time to assist itself in carrying out its duties. It also provides the appointment of special officer by the Central Government when a Nidhi company fails to comply with its Memorandum of Association or AOA. 

10. Declaration as Nidhi company

Rule 23A states that:

  • Every company functioning as Nidhi or Mutual Benefit Society but which hasn’t yet applied or not yet notified as Nidhi; and
  • The companies which have been incorporated under section 406 of the Companies Act, 

have to get themselves declared as Nidhi in accordance with the newly inserted Rule 3A. This is to be done within the period of one year from its incorporation or within six months from the commencement date of these Rules i.e. 15th August, 2019, whichever is later.

Further, it has been mentioned that the company not abiding the said provision will not be allowed to file Form No. SH-7 (Notice to Registrar of any alteration of share capital) and Form PA9-3 (Return of Allotment).

11. Form to be filled by already registered Nidhis

The companies which have already been declared as Nidhi under Section 620A(1) of the Companies Act, 1956, they are required to file Form NDH-4 along with the fees prescribed in Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, in order to update their status under the new provisions.

No fees will be charged if the said companies make their registration within six months from the incorporation of the new Rules i.e. 15th August, 2019. The consequences for non compliance is again, not being allowed to file Form No. SH-7 (Notice to Registrar of any alteration of share capital) and Form PA9-3 (Return of Allotment).

Conclusion

Nidhi (Amendment) Rules, 2019 has focused on comprehending the regulations and smooth functioning of corporate machinery and statutory framework by way of elucidating and introducing provisions pertaining to definition, applicability and jurisdictional authority for Nidhi companies. Further, it has also emphasized on provisions pertaining to raising capital, appointment of Special Officer, requisites for incorporation of a Nidhi company and other provisions. All the amendments are likely to contribute positively towards achieving better legal enforceability of the Rules and for the smooth functioning of companies assisting the rural and conservative people to manage their finances more effectively.

References

For your reference, check out the following links: 

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Law of Patent: Securing Intellectual Property

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This article is written by Monika Verma, Student of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly. Here she has discussed on Law of Patent.

The human mind is a hub of creativity and his creative work is protected through several measures. There are several forms of protecting the creative activity which is a definite measure of encouragement for innovations, one such protection is Patenting.

As we know Patents are basically, monopolistic rights granted by the Government of the country to the owner of the invention in any field whatsoever, to make, use, manufacture and market the invention, provided the invention satisfies certain conditions stipulated in the law and such rights are granted for a limited period of time (for 20 years).

patent
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Patentability: Applying For Patent

As we know that not every invention get patented, Patent is granted to the owner of the Patent when his/her invention satisfies the conditions for Patentability. Such conditions are as follows:

  • Novelty
  • Inventive step or non-obviousness
  • Industrial Application

Section 3 and Section 4 deals with the list of exceptions that do not fall under the invention and hence are non-patentable.

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Procedure for Grant of Patent

Persons entitled to apply for patents

—(1) Subject to the arrangements contained in section 134, an application for a patent for an invention might be made by any of the accompanying persons, in other words,— 

(a) By any individual professing to be the valid and first creator of the invention; 

(b) By any individual being the assignee of the individual professing to be the valid and first innovator in regard of the privilege to make such an application; 

(c) By the legitimate agent of any deceased individual who is preceding his demise and is qualified to make such an application. 

(2) An application under sub-section (1) might be made by any of the persons alluded to in that either alone or mutually with some other individual.

Filing of Application- Provisional/Complete: The Patent Application should be filed in form 1 accompanied by either provisional or complete specification in form 2 (If an applicant is not ready with the complete invention and need some more time for it then filing for the provisional application is recommended).  

Publication of Application: The publication of the application is made after the expiry of 18 months from the priority date and no fees are required by the inventor. A prior- request for publication can be made (Rule 24A) under section 11A(2) in form 9 (optional step).

Request for Examination(REF): The request for examination to examine the patent application is made in form 18 (including fee) within 48 months from the filing date by the applicant.                              

Examination issue of First Examination Report(FER): The controller sends the patent application to the examiner who checks for patentability as per the patentability criteria and creates the first examination report (FER). 

Any objection raised regarding the patentability requirements during examining the patent application has to have complied within 12 months.                              

Grant of Patent: Once the application meets all the requirements of patentability, the patent is granted to the inventor with the seal form patent office and is notified in the journal from time to time.

Opposition: Section 25 of the Act deals with the opposition to grant of patents and are of two types: Pre Grant (before the patent is granted) and Post Grant (after 1 year of grant of the patent). The opposition can be filed by anyone interested in the field of the invention in form 7 with the prescribed fee within 12 months from the date of publication of the patent.

Grounds of Opposition to Patent

  • Obtained wrongly or fraudulently.
  • The invention has been already published and known.
  • Not involved in any of the inventive step.
  • Not completed within 12 months.
  • No clear and explicit description of the invention.
  • Not considered an invention based on the subject matters for the invention.

Types of Patent Application

There are four types of Patent Application namely:

Provisional Application: This application is filed when the inventor is not quite ready with the invention and needs more time for the development of his invention and also don’t want to lose the priority date. After 12 months of filing the provisional application, the complete application should be filed otherwise the patent application will not be considered. The provisional certificate may or may not have claimed.

Complete Application: Filing of the complete application, describes that the invention is complete. The complete application have claims.

Elements of complete application:

  • Description of invention

  • The best method of performing

  • Claims 

  • Abstract 

Convention Application: When an inventor or an applicant files the patent application in Indian Patent Office claiming for a priority date based on a similar application filed in convention countries, such applications are convention application.

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) – International Application: A PCT application is an international application governed by the Patent Cooperation Treaty further administered by the World Intellectual Property Rights (WIPO).

Divisional Application: When an applicant feels that he has come across an invention which is a slight modification of the invention for which he has already applied for or has obtained the patent, the applicant can go for the patent of addition if the invention does not involve a substantial inventive step. There is no need to pay the separate renewal fee for the patent of addition during the term of the main patent and it expires along with the main patent.

Patent of Addition:  when application made by applicant claims more than one invention, the applicant on his own files two or more applications, as applicable for each of the inventions. This type of application, divided out of the parent one, is called a Divisional Application. The priority date for all the divisional applications will be the same as that claimed by the Parent Application.

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Documents Required For Patent Application

    • Application for grant of the patent in form 1
    • Proof of right to file the application from the inventor. 
    • Provisional/complete specification in form -2
    • Statement and undertaking under section 8 in Form 3
    • Declaration as to inventorship
    • Power of authority in form 26
    • Applicant’s signature and an appropriate date
    • If application pertains to a biological material obtained from India, submission of the permission from the National Biodiversity Authority
    • Request for Examination- Form 18
    • Requisite Statutory Fees

Rights of Patentee

Section 48 of the Act deals with the rights of conferring upon the patentee after the grant of the Patent.

  • Exclusion of the third party to use, sell, or import the patented product without the patentee’s consent.
  • Exclusion of the third party from using, selling or importing the patented product (if the subject matter is the process) without the patentee’s consent.

Infringement and Remedies for patent

Infringement of patent refers to the violation of the rights of the patent holder that is whenever a person exercises the rights of the patent holder without the patent owner’s consent, he causes infringement.

Types of Patent Infringement:

  • Direct Infringement – Directly selling, marketing, or using commercially, any product which is substantially close to the patented product without the consent of the patentee.

  • Indirect Infringement- Deceitful and accidental patent infringement in any incident is an indirect infringement.

  • Contributory infringement- If the person knowingly infringes the rights of the patent holder, it refers to contributory infringement.

Some acts that would not lead to infringement are as follows.

  • Government use: As per Section 100 a patented invention can be used by the central government for its own use and as per section 47, the patented invention can be imported by the government.
  • Exemption on experiments and research: the use of a patented invention for experiments and teaching purposes does not come under infringement.
  • Patented inventions on drugs and medicines can be imported by the government.
  • Any patented invention on foreign vessel/ aircraft/ vehicle comes to India is not an infringement.

Filing suits for infringement

Section 104 of the Patent Act, 1970 deals with the filing of the suit by the patentee against the infringement. The patentee can file a suit in a district court or directly in the high court. Suit for patent infringement can be filed after the grant of patent yet the patentee can also claim for damages committed between the publication of patent application to the grant of the patent.

The burden of proof is on the patentee after the grant of the patent but if the invention is a process than the burden to prove for infringement lies on the defendant.

Remedies for patent

Section 108 deals with relief or remedies against the infringement. 

Injunction

The injunction is the most common form of Remedy granted in Patent infringement proceedings. The injunction is the order of the court restricting a person from beginning or continuing a course of action (infringing in this case) threatening or invading legal rights of a person.

Types of Injunction

There are two types of an injunction-

  1. Interim Injunction
  2. Permanent Injunction

Interim Injunction restricts the person temporarily from doing act and is granted before the full-fledged trial.

Permanent Injunction, on the other hand, restrains a person from doing a specified act and can be granted after the full-fledged trial. 

Injunctions are preventive, prohibitive or restrictive that is restricting someone from doing a specified act or mandatory that is, they compel or orders a person to do something.

The plaintiff can obtain interlocutory order in the form of a temporary injunction whenever a case of patent infringement occurs from the court by proving the following facts:

  1.  The prima facie case of infringement
  2. The balance of convenience in his favour
  3. If the injunction is not granted he/she shall suffer irreparable damage.

Damages and account of profit

If the suit is in favour of the plaintiff, the court can award either damages or directs the defendant to render an account of profits but not both.

Exceptions and Limitations of Patent in India

Types of Exceptions & Limitations

Article 30 of TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) allows for limited exceptions to the exclusive rights conferred by a patent.

  • Exception on Non-Commercial use

The exclusive rights conferred by a patent does not allow the private or commercial activity.

The Government has the power to grant a license, known as Compulsory License (CL) , to a third party to use the patented invention (when the patentee is not using the invention for profit) so as to restrict the rights of the patentee for the purpose of preventing the abuse/ misuse of the rights by the property holder and to prevent the negative effect of such action on the public.

When the patented invention is not commercialized in India or the invention is not available to the public at reasonable prices or the invention is not manufactured in requisite amount, then the government grant such license. 

  • Exception on Experimental / Scientific Research

Section 47 of the Act subsection 3 deals with the exception on  experimental and scientific use of Patented invention, the grant of a patent is subject to the condition that any product or process, in respect of which the patent is granted, may be made or used by any person for the purpose merely of experiment or research including the imparting of instructions to the students.

This form of exception grants third parties to carry out experiments and scientific processes for teaching students without infringing the rights of the patent holder.

  • Exception on Regulatory use or Private use

Section 107A of the Indian Patent (Amendment) Act, 2005  deals with the exception of regulatory and private use also referred as bolar Provision, this exemption allows the manufacturers of generic drugs to undertake steps reasonably related to the development and submission of information required for obtaining marketing approval anywhere in the world in respect of a patented product without the consent of the patentee.

This provision allows the generic producers to market and manufacture their goods before the expiration of the term of the patent. Bolar Provision has been upheld as conforming to the TRIPS agreement and is used in several countries to advance science and technology

  • Exception on Foreign Vessels, Aircraft or Land Vehicles 

Section 49 the Indian Patents Act deals with the said exception, when the foreign vessels, aircraft, or land vehicles accidentally or temporarily comes to India, the patent rights are not infringed when the patented invention is used exclusively for the needs of foreign vessels, aircraft, or land vehicles and other accessories.

Conclusion

Patenting in India has protected the intellectual property of many innovators and has been useful in the growth of commerce and technology in India. One has to go through a certain process for the grant of Patent. Grant of Patent confers monopolistic rights upon the Patentee excluding the third party to sell, use, manufacture or import of the patented product without the consent of the patentee. If someone tries to use, sell, manufacture or import such patented products leading to the infringement of the rights of the patentee, the patentee can sue the person. 

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Ambit of Article 21 under Indian Constitution

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This article is written by Shruti Singh, a student at Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida. In this article, she discusses the Constitution of India, Article 21. 

Introduction 

The article prohibits the deprivation of rights according to procedures established by law. Article 21 is the heart of the Indian Constitution. It is the most organic and progressive provision in our Indian Constitution. Fundamental rights are protected under the charter of rights in the Constitution of India. Article 21 talks about equality before the law, freedom of speech and expression, religious and cultural freedom, etc. Article 21 is valid for every citizen of India. It is also valid for foreign citizens. 

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution 

Article 21 has two types of rights: 

  1. Right to life 
  2. Right to personal liberty

Right to life

Every citizen has the right to life, liberty, and security of person. The right to life is the fundamental right in the Indian constitution. Human rights are only attached to living beings.  The right to life is the most valuable rights to citizens. There would have been no Fundamental Rights, worth mentioning if Article 21 had been interpreted in its original sense. This article examines the right to life which is interpreted by the Supreme Court of India in numerous cases.

Right to life is a fundamental aspect of life without which we cannot live as a human being and it includes all those aspects of life which go to make a human being’s life meaningful, complete, and worth living. It is only the article in the constitution that has received the widest possible interpretation. Under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, the right to shelter, growth, and nourishment are mentioned. Because it is the bare necessity, minimum and basic requirements that are essential and unavoidable for a person for the right to life and other rights.  

Case law

Kharak Singh vs State of Uttar Pradesh

Facts of the case

By the terms of the life, the existence of animals is more important. The inhibition against deprivation extends to all those limbs and faculties by which life is enjoyed. The provision equally prohibits the mutilation of the body by amputation of an armored leg or pulling out of an eye, or the destruction of any other organ of the body through which the soul of our body communicates with the outer world. 

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The Judgment of the case:

The apex court held that the right to privacy is not a fundamental right in the Constitution of India

Right to personal liberty

“No person shall be deprived of personal liberty according to the procedure established by law”.

 The protection of our liberty is the mere responsibility of our law as our Constitution of India quoted. As we see the Supreme Court is the guardian of the Constitution of India. So according to this Supreme Court has the mere responsibility to protect and guarantee fundamental rights. As a citizen of India, we have all the fundamental rights which are established by law. So we can enforce it through the Supreme Court whenever our fundamental rights get violated.

Right to constitutional remedy is the part of fundamental rights so it is the responsibility of the Supreme Court to exercise the Judicial Review through writs or orders for the enforcement of fundamental rights. The Supreme court has made the judicial process as a bulwark of personal liberties. 

“The Article 32 of the Constitution is the soul of the constitution of India and it is also considered as the heart of the Indian Constitution because in case of Right to life or any right which belongs to human beings we only refer Article 32 of the Indian Constitution”.

 The Constitution of India is the most valuable law. Personal liberty is developed from the Magna Carta. Personal liberty is not subjected to imprisonment, arrest, or other physical coercion in any manner. Positivity is the basic element of personal liberty. 

Case law

Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India

Facts of the case

In this case, Manenka Gandhi issued a passport for the foreign tour from the passport office. But the Regional Passport officer Delhi has informed the petitioner about the passport that this decision is taken by the Government of India for the acceptance of passport. Because of this reason the petitioner had to surrender her passport within 7 days. After some time the Government rejected the passport saying it is against the interest of the general public. Then the petitioner filed a writ petition challenging the government for impounding the passport and declining from doing so.  

The Judgment of the case:

In the case of Maneka Gandhi the Supreme Court gave a new direction to Article 21 and said that the right to live is not merely a physical right but includes the ambit of the right to live with human dignity.

Right to Equality

Right to equality is also the part of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution which is the fundamental right. This right includes equality before the law, the prohibition of discrimination, etc.  No citizen can be discriminated against based on sex, caste, colour, creed or religion. And it is a fundamental right which cannot be violated by anyone. If this right is violated then it is the dishonour of Article 21. 

Equality before law: 

The state shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of laws within the territory of India. 

The rule of law is governed by the State Government or the people who are appointed by the law. Equality before the law means every person has to follow the rules and regulations of law that are implemented under the Constitution of India. No law should be violated by any person. If anyone violates the rule of law they are punishable by a court of law. Rule of law also confers that every person is protected within the territory of India. No person can be discriminated against related to sex, gender, caste or religion. Every citizen of India has the right to life under Article 21. The person who came from other countries to India is also guaranteed the right under Article 21.

Supremacy of law

It is a fundamental concept of Rule of Law which requires both citizens as well as governments to understand the concept of law. It gives generality in the concept of law. In past days, it is the principle of Equality before the Law. No person can make their law because the law is governed by the established laws. The rule of law is not easily changeable. Rule of law is the stable laws that are an essential part of individual freedom and security.

Equality before law

The principle of supremacy of law is used in cheques and balances which is under government for making and administering the law. The law does not discriminate between people about sex, religion, race, etc. this concept is codified in the Indian Constitution under Article 14 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights under the preamble and article 7.  

The Predominance of a legal spirit

This is a requirement for the rule of law because it was insufficient to simply include the above two principles in the Constitution of the country or in its other laws for the state to be one in which the principles of rule of law are being followed. There must be an enforcing authority and it is believed that this authority could be found in the courts. The courts are the enforcers of the rule of law and they must be both impartial and free from all external influences. Thus the freedom of the judicial becomes an important pillar to the rule of law. 

Right against discrimination: This is defined under Article 15 of the Indian Constitution. No person can be discriminated based on:

  1. Religion, race or caste
  2. Sex 
  3. Place of birth 
  4. Creed
  5. colour

Every citizen has the right to life, education, work, speech, and expression, etc. even the weaker section of the society has the right to education or work in the reputed institution with higher caste people. They have full right to get marks based on merit, not based on caste or religion.

Every person has the right to respect. No one can be humiliated or tortured based on caste or religion. Today in many places low caste people have to face many difficulties based on caste. Higher caste people torture them and kill them because of the caste system. Because in India maximum peoples are unaware of law prescribed in our Indian Constitution. This happens because of low education standards. The person who belongs to the lower caste is not allowed to study in schools with the higher caste people and even they have no money to get an education.

This is a reason high poverty in India. Every person has the right to worship in the temple as well as a masjid or any god house they want to pray  Because god is the same for everyone. So no person is discriminated against based on religion or caste. Even lower caste people have the right to enter the temple to pray to god. Even Muslims can celebrate all the festivals of any religion and celebrate together.    

  1. Right of opportunity to employment: No person can be unemployed after pursuing higher education. Even the person who is not educated and belongs to a lower society has the right to work according to their area of interest. If any person knows and if he is from low caste than also they have the right to work and earn money. And everyone has the right to choose their area of interest where they want to work.

It is not enforceable by law. Even a woman has the right to work in reputed companies and institutions. Because women are also educated so they have the right to employment too. Weaker section of society has also the right to work with normal people in the same company as well. There should be no discrimination. Every child has the right to get marks in the examination based on their merit and select the student for higher studies based on their merit and it cannot be violated.

Even after education anyone can move to foreign for employment and get a higher paid in the company. Employment also includes promotion. Anyone can start their business as per and requirements. Employment also includes reservation for the special persons. Note: rephrase  

 

  1. Right against untouchability: Untouchability is abolished by Supreme Court. So no one gets discriminated based on caste and untouchability. Even today in small cities the person who belongs to the low caste has to work in houses for cleaning the dustbins and toilets. They have to face untouchability. Even when the government has provided free education for these people then also they don’t pursue education and work in houses and have to face these problems. They have to live with their community people in a  separate place. They are not allowed to live with high-class people. 

 

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and Environment protection 

This is recognized by our legal system that it is a very old invention of our judiciary. It is also part of our Fundamental right. There were some judicial pronouncements for this right. Environmental protection is the most important duty of the Government as well as a citizen of India. If we do not protect our environment we can’t live in it. The most important thing for the protection of the environment is growing more and more trees in our area. Because trees give us oxygen, food, water, etc. and if we don’t plant trees, birds and animals don’t get food to eat and they can die. Birds and animals make our environment healthy and beautiful. Pollution is the reason why our environment is getting polluted. People cut down trees to make buildings and complexes. Birds are not getting shelter to live and they are getting extinct.    

Judicial pronouncements on Right to clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right of Article 21 of the Constitution of India

Article 21 of the Constitution of India states that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedures established by law. The state and its citizens have to take responsibility for the right to clean the environment because we live in this environment. It gives us shelter, food, water, light, etc. so we keep our environment safe and clean and pollution-free.  

Case law: 

Subhash Kumar v. The State of Bihar.

In this case of Subhas Kumar vs. The State of Bihar, the Court observed that the right to life guaranteed by Article 21 includes the right to the enjoyment of pollution-free water and air for a healthy life. 

Judgment of the case:

From this case, the Court recognises some of the rights related to environmental rights that are:

  1. The right to a healthy environment is a part of the fundamental right to life. 
  2. Municipalities and a large number of other concerned governmental agencies have no content and unimplemented measures for the abatement and prevention of pollution. The government may take some positive measures to improve the environment.    

  Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra Dehradun and others.

The petitioner alleged that illegal limestone mining in the Mussoorie-Dehradun region causing damage to the fragile ecosystem in the area in the Supreme Court of India. This petition is considered as the public interest litigation under Article 32 of the Constitution. 

Judgment of the case:

After the petition filed Supreme has given the order to inspect the illegal mining sites. After the inspection, it is noticed that the illegal mining site has a very adverse effect on the environment.

Right to clean environment

Every citizen has the right to live in a clean and healthy environment. Under the Indian Constitution, every person in this world has responsibility for a healthy environment and they have to take some appropriate measures to prevent any kind of environmental harm so they can maintain a healthy environment. They also work to prevent environmental destruction and aim to preserve nature and its natural resources. There are many treaties registered under the UN environmental program for the protection of the environment. 

Stockholm 1972 – Declaration of the United Nations Conference.

Stockholm Declaration was the first international conference on the human environment held   1972 which emphasises on the right to a healthy environment. 

Principles of Stockholm Declaration:

  1.  Stockholm Declaration is established for the foundation of human rights and environmental protection, it declares that man has a fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life in an environment that permits a life of dignity and well-being. 

The resolution is held for the enhancement to give efforts towards ensuring a better and healthier environment. The conference issued the Declaration on the Human Environment stating 26 principles.   

M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India

Facts of the case- 

There is a company named Birla Textile in Calcutta. There were 2800 workers who worked for 30 years. Their services were in jeopardy upon the closure of the industry in Delhi. They claimed that they should get full back wages with effect from December 1, 1996. And they also claimed that they should get a 1-year bonus as a shifting bonus. 

Judgment of the case:

When workers claim the work period of 30 years then the court gives the order to the relief sought:

  1. Payment of wages to the workers
  2. Treat all the workers as regular employees. 
  3. It also gives the order to give a 1- year wage as a shifting bonus. 

M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India

 Facts of the case

In this case, the Supreme court has removed the vehicle named BS-IV. Since this vehicle created a high amount of pollution in the city and destroyed nature as well. So for the right to clean environment, the court decided to remove the vehicle from the country as well. 

Judgment of the case:

The court brings the decisions on the issue as to whether such a vehicle is a two-wheeler, four-wheeler, or a commercial vehicle, etc. 

Right against Noise Pollution 

Noise is defined as unwanted sound that forces our ears and it causes pain and annoyance. Section 2 in THE AIR (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION). Pollution means the destruction of the environment because of various reasons like solid, liquid or gaseous substance including the presence of noise. It may cause injury to human beings as well as plants and animals. Noise is described as unpleasant and irritating to the ear. If we see the measurement of noise, a decibel is a standard for the measurement of noise. The zero on a decibel scale is at the threshold of hearing, the lowest sound pressure that can be heard, on the scale. 

Sources of noise pollution 

  1. Road traffic– The noise which is created by the vehicles on the road is the most disturbing element which causes noise pollution in comparison to all types of noise. Because the population of vehicles is increasing day by day. People all the time uses vehicles to roam around. So it creates noise 24 hours a day.  
  2. Aircraft noise: This is the type of noise which is created by airplanes. In today’s time, people prefer to travel from airplanes to save time. So it creates very high noise pollution in society. These noises distract people from their work. Many times kids get attracted to this sound.
  3. Noise from railroads: The noise which is created from the vehicles which move on the road. Horns and whistles and switching and shunting operation in rail yards can impact neighboring communities and railroad workers.  
  4. Construction noise: many times in society, construction works are done to make the buildings in which machines are used for cementing which creates very serious noise pollution. That machine creates a lot of noise in society and it becomes a very serious issue for everyone. It goes on for many days. 
  5. Noise in the industry: Noise which comes from industry does not create so much noise because industries are not established everywhere in the city. Factories and industries in some particular places far from societies. But the person who works in the industry face some problems with the industrial noise. Their ears get highly affected by the sound of machines which are used in factories and buildings. 
  6. Noise in building: This is a type of noise pollution which is created by the home appliances which are used in the home for the personal use of families like generator, motor, coolers, mixers, etc. noise is also created from the music player, T.V which we play in our homes for our entertainment. In the time of marriage, people use a DJ in their homes for entertainment, it also creates noise pollution. In metropolitan cities, the government restricts DJ at night after 10 pm. But in smaller cities, this rule must be followed for public safety from noise destruction.     
  7. Harmful effects: all the people are affected by noise pollution like human animals, birds, etc. noise pollution could make irritational to anyone. 
  8. Legal control: noise pollution can be prevented by the limited use of the products from which noise pollution is created. All the products which create noise pollution are to be used in only specific times.   

Right to pollution-free water and air 

Environment and life are interrelated with each other.  Life exists on the earth depends on the environment. Human beings are responsible for the environment. Human beings are at the center of sustainable development and they are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. Pollution becomes a very serious issue in the case of the environment. The overuse of petrol and diesel in the vehicle creates excessive pollution. Every year a new vehicle is launched. Because more and more are used in the roadside it creates pollution. Because of this reason plants, birds, and animals are getting adversely affected. They are getting extinct day by day. Plants are getting polluted. Human beings are also getting affected and they are caused by different types of diseases. Water is also get affected. In many states, water was scarce by which people are dying. All the persons, animals, birds need fresh air and water and shelter to live. 

Case law:

  1. Chhabil Das vs. State & others.

Facts of the case:

Bhartiya Kisan Singh filed a Writ petition before the court for the issue of pollution of water in a minor canal, which passes through the Sri Ganganagar district. After some time this case transferred to National Green Tribunal after giving some directions. After some days again Bhartiya Kisan Singh filed a writ petition for other canals of Sri Ganganagar district claiming that water in these canals is polluted. 

Judgment of the case:

The first decision was issued by the Division Bench and the division bench transferred the case to the National Green Tribunal. Second, the High Court of Jodhpur passed the report to the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board. 

Right to privacy under article 21 of the Indian Constitution

Meaning and concept of the right of life

The right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 and as a part of the freedoms guaranteed by part III of the Constitution.

India’s Supreme Court Upholds Right to Privacy as a Fundamental …

The right to privacy is developing from the past 60 years. And it is the most consistent right in the Constitution of India. After two judgments right of privacy becomes the fundamental right. Privacy is the necessary condition of guaranteed freedom. The supreme court has not guaranteed the right to privacy as an explicit fundamental right to the citizens.

The Supreme Court has constructed the right to privacy as a part of life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. At last Supreme court declares “The Right of Privacy” as a Fundamental Right that does not need to be separately articulated but can be derived from Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India.

The fundamental right to privacy is not absolute and always subject to reasonable restrictions. The State imposes some restrictions on the right to privacy to protect the public interest. If we talk about the right to information in the case of the right to privacy, both are related to each other in holding, they complement each other in holding governments accountable to individuals. Law provides information to the people who are held by the government bodies. 

The relation between Privacy and RTI 

  • The relation between privacy and RTI, they are the two sides of the same coin means both acts as complementary rights that promote an individual’s right to protect themselves and to promote government accountability. 
  • This is a type of considerable debate. Around 50 countries adopted these laws.
  • Privacy is challenged by new technologies and practices but RTI laws have access to new information and communications technologies, and web sites containing searchable government records.

  Case laws

  Kharak Singh vs The State Of UP & Others.

Facts of the case:

 This case is related to dacoity, the petitioner was challenged in the dacoity but he gets released because there was no evidence against. But police opened the history sheet against and put him under surveillance. Surveillance means involving in secret pickpocketing of the house or approaches to the houses of the suspects, domiciliary visits at night. The petitioner filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution, in which he challenged the constitutional validity of U.P police regulations. 

Judgment of the case:

The court gives separate judgment and put the enquiry on the police officials. And said petitioner right gets violated. 

 Sunil Batra vs Delhi Administration

Facts of the case:

In this case, the petitioner is the prisoner,  he has been tortured. 

Judgment of the case:

judges of the court alleges that torture was practiced by other prisoners to recover money from the victim. Because of the letter, this case is converted into Habeas Corpus.  

Rajagopal vs State Of T.N

Facts of the case:

There were three petitioners in the case the first petitioner is the editor, printer and publisher of a Tamil weekly magazine Nakkheeran, published from Madras. The second petitioner works as the associate editor of the magazine. 

Judgment of the case:

All the petitioners were challenged for more than 6 murders. He was convicted and sentenced to death. The petitioner has appeared in court but judges dismissed his petition.  

Scope and content of Right to Privacy

  • Impact of Right to Privacy in the case of Aadhaar, freedom of expression and sexuality

The privacy of the individual is the duty and responsibility of the government. In the case of aadhar card, it is the government id proof for the individual. Aadhar card should be biometric and is fully protected so no fraud can cause.

  • Tapping of telephone

To protect the country from crime or fraud and for the protection of national security of the country, the government has started tapping the phone calls, texts, and emails of people. But this is a very serious question raised against the Right to Privacy. Their fundamental rights are being violated through this phone tapping.

There must be some limitations in the phone tapping of people. Because the right to privacy is guaranteed by the Constitution of India. As the right of tapping the phone of people is mentioned under the Union list so the Government has the right to tapping. The authority needs the permission of the Home Minister to tap the phone of the people during the investigation of any crime.  

  • Safeguards against phone tapping 

Phone tapping is a very serious issue coming around. Many scandals have come regarding the issue of phone tapping. It has become a political agenda. It is a rule that phone tapping can be done by the government officials only and not by a normal person. The apex court has said that tapping of phones or wiretaps is a very serious invasion of privacy of an individual, and also recognized as the right to privacy which falls under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

The Right to Privacy is also under ICCPR in article 17. India is the party of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The conversation of the people is considered as the freedom of speech and expression which is also coming under article 19(1)(a).  

  •   Remedies 
  1. Unauthorized tapping of the phone and interception is the violation of the right to privacy, and it is the rule that if anyone gets tapped fraudulently than he can make a complaint against them with the National Human Rights Commission. 

 

  • Disclosure of diseases

Diseases can be disclosed in front of doctors. Because the relationship  between doctor and patient is a trusting relationship. So, there was no privacy between doctor and patient in the case of healthcare. This is the duty of the patient to share all the information related to their health problems like bodily functions, physical and sexual activities and medical history so the doctor can protect the patient from severe diseases or any other severe problem related to health. There were female as well as male doctors so women can comfortably share their sexual issues in front of a female doctor.

Medicines are also available for the protection of health. Doctors help the patient to gain knowledge about some of the diseases that create in the body due to genetic issues. They are the big informer of the patient. In today’s world, many schools and colleges give sex education to the students so they can protect themselves from harmful diseases that   due to reproductive parts of the body. But there are some limitations in the privacy of the information which is provided by the doctor to the patient related to pregnancy.  

  • Legislation of health privacy
  1. Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897

Epidemic diseases include all infectious diseases like chikungunya, dengue fever, and many infectious diseases. There were many severe infectious health diseases in India as well as foreign countries through which threat is increased to the public health security of India. Legal frameworks are very important in the case of public health security. So that the government has to respond in case of health issues and duties and rights of the citizen. Then this act came into existence in the year 1897. This act is invoked in many states of India. 

  • Limitations of this act:

This act is made about 118 years ago and has many limitations.                      

Woman’s right to make reproductive choices

In the case of reproductive choices, abortion and surrogacy is the major issue in India nowadays.Many times due to some medical issues people are preferring surrogacy mother for the child and they don’t try to adopt the child. People usually try to threaten people with the help of money and force women to become surrogacy mothers against their choice. Women are seriously affected by this abortion and surrogacy.

In the case of abortion, many times families force women to abort their child because of a girl child. Families fraudulently get to know the gender of the child and force women to abort their child. This becomes a very serious crime in India. This crime mainly happens in village areas. Many women get tortured due to girl child if abortion doesn’t happen. Reproductive rights are the personal autonomy of a woman’s privacy.

Women have the full right to make a reproductive choice even after marriage. Even after marriage if the husband tries to force their wife for the sex then it is considered as the marital rape and the woman can file a petition against her husband. Consent is very important in the case of reproductive choices. Because it is the most sensitive part of the female body.  

Right to privacy to private medical test

The term privacy means about to with concerning medical is called domestic legislation in the context of a doctor and patient relationship. This relationship is established from the Indian Medical Council Act of 1952, under section 20(a). Section 20(a) says that the doctor has to adhere all the time. 

Privacy of health care includes some of the privacy:

  1. Informational privacy which means confidentiality, anonymity, secrecy and data security.
  2. Physical privacy means modesty and bodily integrity.
  3. Associational privacy means intimate sharing of death, illness ,and recovery.
  4. Proprietary privacy means self-ownership and control over personal identifiers, genetic data, and body tissues. 
  5. Decisional privacy means autonomy and choice in medical decision-making. 
  • Medical confidentiality

It is a set of rules which say that medical problems are only shared with doctors or other medical practitioners. It is the responsibility of the doctor to keep all the details of his or her patient confidential. If because of some reasons patient has to change the doctor for their medical issue so they have to share their medical report to the new doctor in case patient must take consent from the previous doctor so they can share their confidentiality report to a new doctor. 

  • Privacy violations about to with concerning policy and information.

The policy of health care privacy is that the report of the medical health cannot be shared with the third party without the consent of the patient. It is the issue of breach of the privacy of health care. 

Here are some issues which violate the privacy of medical health:

  1. Inadequate information to the patient related to data.
  2. Data is collected unlimited and unnecessary related to personal health data.
  3. Collection of health data which is inaccurate or irrelevant.
  4. Doctor’s refusal in providing the medical records.
  5.  Disclosure of personal health information is caused by embarrassing the patient.
  • Mental Health Act, 1987

The provisions of the Mental Health Act,1987 is to protect the privacy of the medical health of the patient and medical report is to be kept confidential. Medical health data cannot be disclosed. 

Statements and objects of the Mental Health Act:

  1. Mental ill persons are to be treated from the early period. They are to be treated like a normal person so it will help them to cure fast at an early stage. 
  2. In the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912 it says that, with the advancement of medical science, there is a provision in this act for the treatment of mentally ill persons by following per under the new approach.
  3. Many times mentally ill persons become dangerous to society if they are not in the early stages of life. 
  4. Maintenance charges to be paid for the admission of a mentally ill person if in any case, they try to harm people in the mental hospital.
  5.   has the power to regulate the license to control psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric nursing homes. 

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution right to life 

Prisoners right is also a fundamental right. They have the right to life as a normal being, no matter if they are in prison. They have full rights in the prison as well.

  •  Article 14 of the Indian Constitution cannot deny to any person for equality before the law or the equal protection of laws within the territory of India.
  • Article 19 of the constitution of India mentions six freedoms to all citizens of India. 
  • Article 21 of the Constitution of India mention about Right to Life and Personal and personal liberty

These articles that all persons, as well as prisoners, have the right to life, right to equality, and the right to personal liberty. In the prisons as well.  

There are more following rights which are especially for prisoners:

Prisoners are also considered as the normal human beings as they convicted crime and they have to stay in prison for whole life this does not mean they have no right. They have an equal right to life and personal liberty. Prisoners have their rights which is provided by our Government of India. Prisoners should not be treated as in-humans in prison. They are to be treated nicely in prison.

They have the full right to get a chance to change themselves, so prisons provide them with all the facilities in the prison-like food, schooling ,and medical facilities as well. In all the rights prisoners don’t have the right to release. They have to spend their whole life in prison as the decision of the court. 

  • Right against illegal detention 

Illegal detention means the unjustifiable and unlawful imprisonment for a wrongful cause. Many times, usually the weaker sections are illegally caused detention because they have not enough money to feed their family. Most women are convicted because of their poor condition they have to forcefully involved in crime like the drug trade.

If we talk about the youth they are also convicted of the crime because of the need for money. Youth are generally involved in the crime because of money because of the financial conditions of their family they are not able to get sufficient pocket money from their family so they involved in theft, robbery, kidnapping, etc. But in prisons youth and women are supported so they can be released early from jail.

Youth are provided with school so they can study and get educated so they can earn money after they released. Women get employment so they can also earn money and they don’t have to bear money from others or to be involved in any other crime. But most times men   detention. Even if they are not involved in the crime. Because many times people try to protect themselves from the illegal detention so they involve police officials in their crime and they fraudulently detain other people who are from the weaker section who is not able to hire a lawyer for their release. And they have face in-human and torture in the jail. This mostly happens in Indian.   

  •  Right to personal liberty

In our world prisons are still considers as torture, warehouse for the prisoners in which human commodities are sadistically kept and where spectrums of inmates range from driftwood juveniles to heroic dissenters.” 

If we talk about women, they have to lead their family before marriage and after marriage according to Hindus. And because of this reason women’s get involved in illegal trade if her husband is not capable to feed their family and because of social pressure she gets involved and convicted for the crime and get prisoned for the whole life. In prison, a woman has to face torture and many more things.

Many times prisons are not safe for women they get sexually abused in the prison. So there is a rule in the Constitution of India that if any woman is convicted for the crime they only get caught by the female police officials and they questioned by the female police. Men are not allowed to detain women in prison. Women are kept in the special prison were only female prisoners can stay no men are allowed in the female prisoners. Because women have the right to personal liberty. And according to this right, women’s safety is very important everywhere as well as in prison.

Women are treated nicely so they can improve themselves and also they are provided with employment so they can lead their family after their release from prison. Women’s release has very high chances. Because they don’t involve in the crime with bad intentions.   

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and Human Rights

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 21

Human rights include the right to freedom, justice ,and peace in the world. All the members of the family have equal respect and dignity about to with concerning others. No one should be disrespected in the family. Even a new-born has the right to dignity because they are also a Citizen of India. Human right is a universal declaration. Every person has an equal right, either he/she belongs to any community. No person should face caste discrimination. Untouchability is also against the human rights declaration. Caste discrimination is very serious from historic times.

In the past, people get discriminated against because of the lower caste. They are not allowed to live in a society of higher community people. They are not even allowed to work with high caste people. They are considered as the waste material of society. Even after the Human Rights Act came into existence in many villages today also lower caste people are treated in-human and also higher caste people murder them because they are from lower communities. Because many people are not aware of rights that are provided to human beings. 

  • Right to live with Human Dignity

Human dignity includes the economic welfare of the people. The state must promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting their justice, social, economic and political institutions of life. 

Social justice means making rule of law dynamic. Social justice is very important to the citizens of India. All the citizens have equal rights to justice, even the lower community has full justice to equal opportunities for education, medical health, employment, etc. Equality of opportunity helps them to develop their personalities and help them to participate in happiness to reach the goal in life. Because education is the biggest opportunity for the people to evaluate themselves and also they can improve their personality in speaking, dressing, walking, reacting to other people.

They also get the opportunity to involve in work. Social justice helps people to gain respect in the society. The constitution gives full opportunity to the weaker section of the society in all fields by giving them reservation so they can easily get admission in colleges and so they can complete their education and get employment. The government also gives free education to students who are not capable of sufficient money to spend on education.    

 Maenka Gandhi vs Union of India

Facts of the case:

The right to move in any part of India or Abroad is also the fundamental right of the people. It is also part of the rights of human dignity. “No one can be deprived of this right except according to the procedure established by law”. 

Judgment of the case:

There is no law mentioned in the Constitution of India about the revoking of passport act. According to Article 14, 19(1) (a) and (g) and 21, article 10(3) is getting violative of Fundamental Rights.   

Francis Coraile vs Union Territory of Delhi 

Facts of the case:

This is the case of preventive detention and punitive detention. The petitioner Francis Coraile is detained and arrested and keep him in the Central Jail (Tihar Jail). The petitioner filed a petition in the court for a writ of Habeas Corpus to challenge her detention. 

Judgment of the case:

But the court has rejected her petition and she has to continue in Jail. she treated very harshly, she is not able to meet her lawyer as well as her family. She only allowed meeting her family once a month. Her daughter is only 5 years of age. To  meet her lawyer, she has to interview with District Magistrate Delhi in front of a Customs Officer. After the interview, she doesn’t get the allowance to meet her lawyer and she even doesn’t allow to meet her daughter once a month also.  

Bandhua Mukti Morcha vs Union of India

Facts of the case:

This is the case of Public Interest Litigation Under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution. The PIL was filed directly in the Supreme Court of India to take steps to end the Child Labor in Uttar Pradesh. Because of the State of Bihar, many children get kidnapped and experienced child abuse. They are working in the factories of Bihar. All the children are 14 years of age or less than 14 years. 

Judgment of the case:

During the hearing, the court has discussed the protection of child rights to education, health, and development in ensuring progress as a democracy. The court recognizes that child labor cannot be abolished but we can bring some of the changes in child labor. The court has taken some of the measures to protect the child’s rights of education and health.  

People Union of Democratic Rights vs Union of India

Facts of the case:

The Petitioner has filed the case against the Union of India for the violation of Labor Law in India. The allegations of the petitioner which he put on Union of India:

  1. The workers in Uttar Pradesh and Orissa are getting the minimum wages of only rs 9.25 per day for their work and even they deduct their one rupee for their commission. This is a violation of the minimum wages act.  
  2.  Women get 71rs per day for their work. There is a violation of the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
  3. Violation of Article 24 of the constitution. Because children below the age of 14 are getting employed by the contractor to work in the factories. 
  4. Contract Labor Act is also getting violated. 
  5. Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service Act brought into force for such violations. 

Judgment of the case:

As the rights of the labor get violated court has decided to punish the Delhi Administration and Delhi Development Authority and also said that they cannot escape. 

The State of Maharashtra vs. Chandrabhan

Facts of the case:

The petitioner Chandrabhan Tale, Vithoba ,and Baban all are convicted for different cases. They are sentenced in the court. Chandrabhan’s bail is still pending and he is released for the appeal filed in the High Court. 

Judgment of the case:

The High Court has accepted the bail of Chandrabhan give the order to release not to be lodged him in the prison. 

Right against sexual Harassment at workplace

The Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act is passed for the protection of women at the workplace. This act is passed by Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament. Employment is the right of a woman. Society has a very low perception of women. They always consider men as superior to women so they can’t work as equal to men. So in most working places, people try to harass women sexually and mentally. Because of sex determination in India women has to face sexual harassment at workplace especially in government organization. It is because of natural human behavior and harmless flirtation.

Because of fear of society or family, women do not report the matter to the police or the concerned authorities. It is considered as a violation of Human Rights. The Sexual Harassment of Woman at Workplace Act,2013. Through this act ensures that the government will ensure that they will provide a safe working place for women and build a safe work environment that will respect women’s right to equality and the right to dignity. This will also improve the economic women empowerment and inclusive growth so that they can participate in different types of work.

Case law:

Vishaka vs. the State of Rajasthan 

Facts of the case:

It is a case of sexual harassment at the workplace. One of the social activists who tried to stop the marriage of Vishaka because she was an infant and she is not in the age of marriage. Because of this the 5 family members of Vishaka including her husband raped her. And also she was taken to the police station for the encounter. The female police tortured her whole midnight and also in the morning one of the police also said her to leave her lehenga in the police station for the evidence. Then she filed a case against sexual harassment in the High court. 

Judgment of the case:

High Court has observed gang rape of Vishaka and gives the judgment that under article 14(2), 19(3)(1)(g) and 21(4) of the constitution of India that every profession, trade or occupation should provide a safe working environment for women employee.      

Apparel export promotion council vs A.K Chopra

Facts of the case:

When the petitioner filed the case against the defendant. The inquiry has started and the Enquiry officer concludes that miss X was molested by one of the people who belong to the business center. 

Judgment of the case:

The disciplinary authority gave the order to remove the defendant from the work and filed against him in the case and prove him guilty of such offense. The defendant has challenged in court against the judgment of the court. He is taken in the 34th meeting of the staff committee to prove that he is alleged or not.    

Right against Rape

Meaning and concept of Rape:

Rape is a sexual activity which is done without the consent of the woman and it is carried out forcefully by threating her and give an injury against her consent. This happens because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception of males. Male is accused of rape cases. Rape is the fourth most convicted crime in India. Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi has the highest crime rate record of rape. Mostly 18-35 years of women are the victims of rape in India. 

There were 10 reasons why rape is convicted every day in India.

  1. Less female police in India: Women don’t get a chance to do patrol duty. If they get a chance to work in the police, they are provided with other duties. In India, women don’t involve in this work generally. Because society doesn’t give them the chance to prove themselves as a protector so they can protect our country from rape. In 161 districts there was only one station police officer who is female. And the only female official can’t stop the rape of the whole country. If we see every day many rape cases are filed in the police station but nothing happens. It affects the life of the women who are the rape victims. Generally, women hesitate to share their incidents with male police officials or with anyone else. That is the reason India has the highest number of rape in India. Female police officials are seriously needed in our country for the protection of women.  
  2. Not enough actual police who are seriously involved in protecting the citizens: Many police officials are just for the money they aren’t serious or dedicated to our country. Police stations are also not safe for women nowadays. Police also become rape convicts for their needs. It is very important to first develop our protector who is employed or studied to protect our country not to make our country a rapist country. This has also become a very serious issue in our country. Female police officials are seriously needed for our country.   
  3. Because of provocative clothing: Generally, in India, society provokes clothing of girls and women. As our Indian Society generally people blame women every time for rape because they think because of the clothing issue they are facing rape. In some workplaces, women have to wear extra short clothes as their company demands. Then also people blame women for rape because of clothes. But clothes are not an issue as I think. Because kids who are in the age of 2-5 they are also becoming the rape convict. And their rape convicts are their family members, not anyone else. Even old age women are two are facing rape at late night in the road. Clothes are never a matter for rape. Because of the mental illness of male they commit rape every day.    
  4. Acceptance of domestic violence by women: Women are facing rape domestic violence in the case of marriage. Women’s marriage is caused by their consent in many families. And after marriage, they have to face domestic violence by their husband or maternal families. This domestic violence generally caused due to dowry. In the case of marriage, husband tries to do sex with their wives without her consent. They force them to do so every time. This is also considered as rape. Because without consent of both the person sex cannot happen it is considered as marital rape even in married life. Because it is the personal right of women. They can choose whether they want to be involved with their husbands or not. But women do not complain against her husband because of their family because of society. Because it harms their society and husband. This domestic violence becomes rape because of non-acceptance.   
  5. Lack of Public safety: Public places are not safe for women, especially at night. Because rape is mostly convicted at night only. In many workplaces, women have to work late at night in private companies. They have to go alone to their homes at midnight. No autos are available at night. Generally, women have to travel by bus at night because only buses roam all day and night. And they are toxicant at night. Because of the toxicity, they try to rape women because they are not in the state of mind. Even cabs or auto are also not safe nowadays. Specially in Delhi. In Delhi, most of the rape cases are filed every year. Delhi is also considered as the rape capital of India. 
  6. Encouraging rape victims to Compromise: Womenare the victims of rape they have to compromise and they are a force not to go to the police or fight against the rape victim. They are forced by their families and societies because of the image of the family. They think if they go to the police or try to fight with rapist their lives will be destroyed. And no one accepts them in society. Many girls and women facing many bad circumstances because of rape. Every person always blames women for rape. No one tries to help them to fight against rape convict. And because of this, most women commit suicide to avoid society.  
  7. A sluggish court system: India has very fewer lawyers for this type of case. Every year many cases filed in courts but very few have got justice for the rape. Maximum rape cases are filed are pending for so many years.  
  8. Few convictions: The conviction rate of India is 26 percent. 
  9. The low status of women: Maximum time women who face rape are of low community in Indian society.
  10.  Marriage: This is also the reason why a woman or her family don’t complaint related to rape. Because they think if anyone knows about it then no one accepts her as her wife or daughter in law. Parents have to feed their daughter’s lifetime and social acceptance. A maximum time woman has to marry the rapist who raped her to hide the hold the image in the society. This destroys the life of the victim. And if we see in the court, there were thousands of rape cases registered in the court and pending for many years. Even family leave hope of getting justice and rapist get freedom.   

   Sexual Violence has Long-Term Effects on Victims. 

  1.  94% of women are facing post-traumatic stress because of rape for two weeks.
  2. 30% of women report about PSTD after 9 months of rape. 
  3. 33% commit suicide because of rape.
  4. 70% of women face severe distress because of sexual harassment and rape. 

Peoples are convicted of rape are getting addicted to drugs.

  1. 3.4 times started using marijuana
  2. 6 times started using cocaine.
  3. 10 times started using other major drugs. 

Bodhisattva Godhwa  vs. Subhra Chakraborty

Facts of the case:

The petitioner is the professor of the college. And the defendant is the student of that college. One day the petitioner visits the defendant’s house to meet her and promises her to marry her and involved with her and after that when she asked him to marry her, he just ignored her and always says that his family wants him in the govt.

Services before marriage. And sexual contact continues for many days and the defendant got pregnant twice and aborted her baby twice and then also continues her relationship. And then they got married secretly and he accepted her as her legal wife. But after whenever she gets pregnant he always aborted her baby. The complaint was filed against him. He filed a returned case. 

Judgment of the case:

But his suit gets rejected by the court.  

Right to reputation 

  • Meaning and nature of the right to reputation.

Right to Reputation is the part of Freedom of Speech and Expression as fundamental rights of the Indian Constitution. It is the part of Article 21 and 19(2) of the Constitution. Because the right to reputation is correlated with the freedom of speech and expression, it is the reason for harm of reputation. People have a full right to speak in front of anyone so many times they don’t before speaking in front of any person, they just express their feelings in words it may cause to harm of reputation.

To maintain or balance the right citizens don’t have to interfere in others’ lives because it violates the fundamental rights of the citizen. It harms the dignity and reputation. For harming the reputation in public, that person has to give compensation for the violation of rights. A person cannot be held liable for slanderous or libelous- statements because it is not a criminal offence.

Media is a wide-ranging coverage who helps to explore the news and advertisements. Many times they are held liable for the harm of the reputation of citizens. A journalist covers the news of every person as well as leaders of the country like politicians, business persons. They cover all their personal as well as professional information and make a piece of news. Many times they intentionally make news to harm the reputation of celebrities or politicians. 

  • Harm to Reputation 

Any defamatory statement can harm a professional reputation. If someone made a statement about your business that you are a local business person to prove that you are dishonest to the public. It can cause your customer. Reputation can be harmed in any way. If anyone tells any bad statement about you in front of anyone.

It destroys your image. Many people commit suicide because of their reputation. There were many cases filed for the cause of harm to reputation. Even if any person shows your bad things or some small silly things it can destroy the image of the people. Because of this, many people lost their jobs from the company.  

  • When Harm is presumed

The statement which is used in a normal conversation can also presume the harm of the reputation. Any statement which is used for accusing another person of sexual misconduct or of having a sexually transmitted disease. If someone is accused of committing a crime can harm professional or personal reputation. It is also considered as defamatory. If someone in public says about any person that he/she is a racist it can cause a strong reaction. 

  • Financial Harm

If you face loss in business or if you lose your business because of someone’s defamatory statement about your business or your personal life it can harm your financial reputation.  

  • Mental or Physical Anguish

The harm which is caused by victims related to health problems like insomnia, depression, and anxiety, physical ailments. 

State of UP v Mohammad Naim

Facts of the case:

The high court directed an investigation to the investigating officer to know why this complaint filed against him. Police force apologies in front of the court for wrongly alleging him in the court. Court has accepted the apology but puts some of the remarks against the police force.  

Judgment of the case:

The High Court gives the remark for this case by saying that:

“If judges felt with some efforts that they can clear the Augean stable, which is the police force and said that I would not hesitate to wage a war single-handed because single-handed is lawless group in the whole country whose record of crimes comes anywhere near the record of the organised unit which is known as Indian police force” 

State of Bihar v Lal Krishan Advani

Facts of the case:

This is a very serious matter of death and injuries in the state of Bihar in the Bhagalpur District. This is a communal right which creates death and injuries in the Bhagalpur District.

Judgment of the case:

 It is a matter of concern in the state of Bihar for the Bihar State Government. The state government decided to put inquiry into this matter to the Commission of Enquiry under Section 3 of the Inquiry Act.  

Smt Kiran Bedi v Committee of Inquiry  

Facts of the case:

Police officers and lawyers involved together in an incident is apprehended by the students of a college and handed them to the police for committing an offence within the campus of the college. The magistrate discharged the students and take action against police officials. The report has been submitted by the inquiry officer about the conduct of the police officials. Police officials are filed before the committee under section 5(2)(a). 

Judgment of the case:

The notice is issued by the committee in the High Court Bar Association on behalf of the High Court Bar Association and the Commissioner of police together with the supporting affidavits were filed before the committee. The examination of the police will be held on 16 May 1988. Affidavit and evidence were submitted to the inquiry officers.

Right to livelihood

The right to livelihood is not under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. It is not the Fundamental Rights of the Indian Constitution. Because already right to life is mentioned under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. But Right to Livelihood is mentioned under Article 19 and 16 of the Indian Constitution.   

Case law 

Olga v municipal corporation

Facts of the case:

The petitioner has filed a writ petition about the conditions of the shelter they are living in. They said that they are living on the pavements and in the slums in the city. Other petitioners also complained about the condition of their area of Kamraj Nagar, Basti where they live. This case is filed about the conditions of the slums and Basti of Bombay City. they filed a case against the municipal corporation of Bombay about the conditions of Bombay.

Respondents must take some actions related to this issue but they are not even responding in this matter. This case is filed for the violation of Article 32, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. Because this is the duty of the government to protect the rights of the citizen of India. 

Judgment of the case:

The court has given a decision that all the pavement dwellers and the slum or busty dwellers in the city of Bombay will be evicted forcibly and deported to their respective places of origin or removed to places outside the city of Bombay.     

D.T.C v D.T.C mazdoor congress

Facts of the case:

The Writ Petition is filed for the condition of the Delhi road transport. And also allegation put on the authority that they are not working properly on road development, not performing their duties properly in case of road development. After the Writ petition filed many of the employees of the authority has to resign from their job as they are not performing their jobs. Then the three respondents filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the Constitutional Validity of Regulation 9(b), which gave the management right to terminate the services of an employee by giving one month notice or pay in lieu thereof. 

Judgment of the case:

It is a violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.      

Chameli singh v state of UP

Facts of the case:

The land which the petitioner owned is not the agriculture land and it is not amended by the U.P state legislation who provides power to take possession of the case lands and waste lands or arable lands where the land is acquired for the sanitary improvements for the development of society in a planned manner. The state government is empowered to give the possession of the land to the Dalits, a building houses. The appellant has challenged the validity. 

Judgment of the case:

The three contentions put by the division bench, the first contention is that our land is not a waste of arable land, secondly, there is no urgency to the Dalits for the possession of the land. Third contention is that property is the only source of their livelihood. They have no other work for feeding themselves. 

M.J. Sivani v state of Karnataka

Facts of the case:

The petitioner has filed a petition for the license of Video Games requires to be regulated under the Mysore Police Act, 1963. 

Judgment of the case:

The petitioner has got the permission of video games and ordered her to get a license to play video games.

Right to shelter

The shelter is important because it helps humans to grow physically and mentally. It is not for the protection of life but it is for adequate life, space, safety, sufficient light, pure air and water, electricity, sanitation, etc. 

The right to shelter is an important component of the right to life under the Indian Constitution. Because if a person has a life then they need shelter because without shelter no can survive in this world. The shelter is defined as the home where human beings live. Even animals, as well as birds, need shelter to live, they also can’t survive without shelter. The shelter provides us food, water, sunlight, etc. and without all this, we can’t survive.

It helps us develop ourselves. The weaker section of our society such as Dalits, SC or ST who have no shelter to live they have to live in the huts which are made on the roadsides. Cases were coming related to the weaker section of the society that they are dying because of no proper shelter. They don’t get proper food or water. They even have to stand in lines to collect water for their daily needs and drinking. They have so many children who are crying all the time for food. They have to work in fields or on the roadside by holding their child.

They are getting so much affected. Because of the caste issue, no one is ready to give them jobs, Because they are not even educated so they can get the job or they can’t get involved in any type of work because of their less education and lower caste. They are helpless in every condition.

In the case of Chameli Singh vs State Of U.P.

It is the case that is concerning the allotment of land or flats to the weaker sections of the society. The Right to shelter is the Fundamental Right of every citizen of India. So the Government must provide them shelter, proper food, and water. The government has enacted the Slum Areas Improvement and Clearance Act of 1956. Citizens have to change their minds related to caste so the lower caste can also explore themselves.

Chameli Singh v state of UP

Facts of the case:

The land which the petitioner owned is not the agriculture land and it is not amended by the U.P state legislation who provides power to take possession of the case lands and wastelands or arable lands where the land is acquired for the sanitary improvements for the development of society in a planned manner. The state government is empowered to give the possession of the land to the Dalits, a building houses. The appellant has challenged the validity. 

Judgment of the case:

The three contentions put by the division bench, the first contention is that our land is not a waste of arable land, secondly, there is no urgency to the Dalits for the possession of the land. Third contention is that property is the only source of their livelihood. They have no other work for feeding themselves. 

Right to social security and protection of family

  • Meaning of Social Security 

Social Security means the security of the citizen of India. Security can be of many types like unemployment, maternity, accident, illness, disability, old age or other such life. State guarantees protection to everyone. It promotes the welfare of the people by securing and protecting them in the social order, social, economic, and political.

Features of the right to social security and protection of families.

  1. Availability: the insecurity of the state is required for the social security system and provides benefits for the relevant impact on livelihood.  
  2. Social risk and contingencies: social security provides coverage for health care, sickness, old age, unemployment, injury, family, and child support, maternity, disability, survivors and orphans.
  3. Adequacy: some benefits and arrangements are done for the protection of family and to provide them an adequate standard of living and adequate access to health care. When a person is involved in social security he might lack in earnings, paid contributions and the amount of relevant benefit. 
  4. Accessibility: it has five elements that are directly accessible to social security. The key elements are coverage, eligibility, affordability, participation and information and physical access. There are two types of schemes one is a non-contributory scheme which is necessary for ensuring universal coverage.   

Right to health

The Right to health is a public interest. It is guaranteed under the Fundamental Rights of the Indian Constitution. It is also the part of the Right to Life. Health should be maintained. If we don’t take care of our health if we cannot survive. Our body parts can get damaged due to some of the diseases. There were several private and public hospitals for health treatment. Hospitals provide us health facilities for our treatment.

Doctor and patient relationships are very important for the right of health. Because if any person gets sick he/she has to go to the doctor only for their treatment. But if we talk about the conditions of the hospital, government hospitals cost very low for the treatment but the conditions of the government hospitals are very bad.

Hospitals are very unhygienic and in very bad condition, especially in Bihar and Jharkhand. Private Hospitals are very costly with full facilities available. Weaker sections of society cannot afford private hospitals because of the high amount of treatment. And the condition of government hospital is so bad their treatments are done correctly. The right to health implies that every person can get appropriate conditions for the enjoyment of health without any discrimination. 

  • Violations of Human Rights in Health. 

Attention is very important in the case of health. If we ignore our health problems we will cause by some severe diseases which cannot be cured if it comes at the last stage. Every disease is to be cured at the very first stage of life. The people who are suffering from disabilities, indigenous populations, a woman living with HIV, sex workers, people who use drugs, transgenders, and intersex people contribute and exacerbate poor health. This is also a violation of Human Rights in Health.

The world health organization is the biggest organization for the health rights of human beings as a fundamental right of every human being. Health care is always affordable and cheap so everyone can take care of health and everyone gets the opportunity to gain the health facilities in the hospitals and nursing homes. Water, food, housing, should be maintained so that no one caused health diseases. All appropriate conditions are taken to maintain the health and there should no discrimination. A Doctor must have the freedom to control the body of the patient to cure diseases and health-related problems. 

  • Approach to human rights related to health. 

Some of the approaches is done for the human rights to provide health facilities settings is done to evaluate health policy and service delivery which mainly targets for practices which are the heart of health outcomes. Programmes related to health are performed for the enjoyment of all people to the right to health.

  • Principles of human rights for the health policy

There are three types of principles:

  1. Accountability: Accountability means duties which are performed for the human rights for the health policies. Movements are also establishing to perform for the right of human health. For evaluating the health policies for human rights different types of events and movements are organized to maintain the health rights of human beings. From this type of event, people get entertained and become happy. And being happy is the most useful to keep human beings healthy and strong in every sense.  
  2. Equality and non-discrimination: This principle is exercised to remove discrimination which is done based on race, caste, creed, religion, color, sex, etc. mostly in small towns or villages people do discrimination with the person who is suffering from HIV, Aids or mental disease. They try to distance from them. Most people abuse those persons who are mentally ill. They don’t allow their family members to talk to them or meet them or even roam around them. The World Health Organization is the biggest principle which is formed to fight against discrimination related to health services. 
  3. Participation: Participation means all the persons who are involved in the program for evaluating health-related issues like all the stakeholders including non-state actors who have ownership of the program and event for the assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring ,and evaluation. 
  • Universal, indivisible and interdependent

Human rights are equal to everyone, it does not do discrimination between anyone they apply to everyone without any distinction. Human rights are the right to food, the right to health, the right to education, free from torture, etc. 

  • Core elements and components of a right to health 

There are two types of core elements of health: 

  1. Progress the realization to use the resources: This means the government is taking some important measures for the fulfillment of the rights of human beings. The Government, as well as our Judicial system, has taken some of the measures for the development of the state so that every human being can live a safe and healthy life.     
  2. Non-decreasing measures: Non-retrogressive measures cannot be taken in every situation. It is only valid in some situations like free education to children below the age of 5. Retrogressive measures are not to be taken in case of economic, social, and cultural rights. 
  3. Availability: People have some sufficient need for public health and health care facilities, goods and services for their protection and care of health. Availability includes age, sex, location, and socio-economic status and qualitative surveys to understand our health needs.  
  4. Accessibility: Everyone has access to good health, facilities, goods, and services. Accessibility has four dimensions:
  • Non-discrimination
  • Physical accessibility
  • Economically accessibility
  • Information accessibility  
  1. Acceptability: Respect others related to medical ethics and gender. Acceptance is very important in the case of medical facilities and every sense. Without we accept our problems we can’t fight with our problems.  
  2. Quality: Quality of health facilities should be evaluated scientifically. 

Right to medical care

Every person has the right to medical care as it is mentioned under the fundamental rights in the Constitution of India. And the very important part is doctor-patient relations. Patients right is the basic right or basic rule between medical care and patient. This is the duty of the governmental organizations like hospitals, health care personnel as well as insurance agencies or any payors of medical-related costs has to take care of the patient as their medical issues.

No patient should get discriminated based on sex, colour, creed, and religion. Every patient should be treated equally in all hospitals like in private as well as governmental hospitals. Medical care includes good hygienic food, housing facilities are provided to all human beings so they can live safe. 

Right to Die

The Right to die is a right that totally depends on human beings. In this choice, no one has to get involved to make the decision. This decision all depends on the illness of a person like mental or physical illness. The right to die means a human being is entitled to end their life in any circumstances or can go under voluntary euthanasia.

But forcefull suicide does not come under the right to die. Because many times people have to commit suicide because of mental pressure because of someone in case family pressure or because of love life or because of any situation.

In those days youth suicide is increasing day by day because of study pressure and because of their family pressure because their family pressurizing their child for good marks from the very beginning of their school life. Because of so much high mental pressure, they are not able to focus on their studies so they aren’t able to score marks in their exams. 

There is data on youth suicide in India.

2016- 230,314 The number of suicide increased. 

Suicide is very common for this age 15-29 years and 15-39 years. 

People die every year- 800,000

If we see the total residents of India is only 135,000 means 17%.

In the year 1987-2007, the suicide rate is increased from 7.9 to 10.3 per 100,000 with the highest suicide in Southern and Eastern states of India. 

Tamil Nadu – 12.5%

Maharashtra- 11.9%

West Bengal- 11.0%

2012- Kerala and Tamil Nadu have the highest suicide rates. 100,000 have committed suicide. 

Mens- 100,000, 16.4%

Women- 25.8% 

Reasons for Suicide in India 

 

Causes 

No. of People

Marriage 

6,773

Non-settlement of Marriage

1096

Dowry 

2261

Extramarital affairs

476

Divorce 

333

Others 

2607

Failure in exams 

2403

Impotency 

332

Family problems 

28,602

illness

23,746

AIDS

233

Cancer 

582

Paralysis

408

Insanity 

7,104

 

 

Prolonged illness

15,419

Death of dear person

981

Drug abuse

3647

Fall in social reputation

490

Ideological causes

56

Worshipping 

56

Love affairs

4,168

Poverty 

1699

Unemployment 

2207

Property dispute

Suspected  

1067

458

 

  • Reason for youth Suicide in India

India has the highest suicidal rate. If we see the suicide rate of youth which is 35.5 per 100,000. It is increasing every year. Parents are the biggest reason for the suicide of youth. Because today’s parents are very conscious of their children in case of study they think that if we don’t pressurize our children they are not able to score good marks in the exam but this is the biggest mistake of parents.

Everyone needs some space in their life for their improvement. If they are allowed to live their lives by their own choice in some limits. Because everyone has the right to live their life with full freedom. There are more reasons for the suicide which is academic pressure, workplace stress, social pressures, modernisation of urban centers, the relationship these are also very serious issues for the youth suicide.   

Factors include which is the reason for suicide

  1. Mental health disorder (disorder)
  2. Previous Suicide Attempts
  3. Abuse 
  4. Burden 
  5. Family pressure
  6. Financial problem
  • How suicide can be prevented 

In India suicide is attempted every 40 seconds. The very first and foremost prevention is to bring some resources to maintain mental health. We must speak to advocates and must discuss this issue in front of everyone so we can work on this issue. First, our parents have to change and understand the mental issue of children they are facing nowadays. If they try to work on these issues so we can prevent suicide.

Right to work under article 21 of Indian constitution

Right to work is important because it is an effective way of development, make effective provision for securing the right to education and public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, and disablement. The Right to work is defined under article 41 of the Indian Constitution. And under Article 43 of the Indian Constitution mention about the welfare of the people.

The welfare of the state means to secure a living wage and a living standard to all the workers. Under article 38 and 40 states must put some effort into the people so they can put all their capacity in their work so they earn fairly for their living. They can work upon their own choice there is no restriction in choosing their field of work.    

Violation of article 21 of Indian constitution

The violations of human rights mean if any citizen rights get violated which is a fundamental right of the Indian citizen then it is considered as a violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.  

Rights are violated in many forms:

  • Harassment 

When women’s get harassed at the workplace or a public place or home or anywhere else it is a violation of the fundamental right of women. Women’s fundamental rights get violated every day anywhere in any form. They have to face many problems and even her  society doesn’t listen to her in this case they blame women for harassment caused daily. Many women don’t even speak about this in front of anyone and continue to face this type of problem. To protect women government has some major prevention to protect women from violating their fundamental rights. 

Death by hanging not violative of article 21

This is declared by the apex court that death by hanging is not violative of Article 21 of the Indian constitution. Because if a person has committed any crime and violated the fundamental rights of the citizen, he is not liable for any fundamental right. So hanging is not violative of fundamental rights. The Supreme Court held that public hanging “even if permitted, under the rules would violate Article 21 of the Indian Constitution being barbaric, disgraceful as seen in any civilized society”.. Death penalty is given only if any deterrent crime is committed by the criminal.

The criminal will get 20 years of life imprisonment and in case he doesn’t get changed he is given the death penalty. “One of the reports which are made in the year 1960 which is made by Great Britain has mentioned this line “we were impressed by the argument than the greatest deterrent to crime is not the fear of punishment but the certainty of detection”. Each court has the hanging judges who give decisions related to the death penalty to the prisoners. The error of judgment is not ruled in case of the death penalty. In the Rajiv Gandhi case, 26 criminals got the death penalty for the crime.

Through education, we get to know that poor persons mostly get the death penalty for the crime. In many international Countries, death penalties get abolished for Human Rights. And the Indian Constitution protects the Human Rights of the Indian Citizen.

Right against public hanging

Lichma Devi Case

Judgment of the case:

it is held that the death sentence is unconstitutional and violative of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Death by public hanging is considered as the barbaric practice in India. 

Right against Sexual Harassment 

Vishaka vs. the State of Rajasthan 

Facts of the case:

It is sexual harassment at workplace cases. One of the social activists who tried to stop the marriage of Vishaka because she was an infant and she is not in the age of marriage. Because of this the 5 family members of the Vishaka including her husband raped her. And also she is taken to the police station for the encounter.

The female police torture her whole midnight and also in the morning one of the police has also said her to leave her lehenga in the police station for the evidence. Then she filed a case against sexual harassment in the High court. 

Judgment of the case:

High Court has observed gang rape of Vishaka and gives the judgment that under article 14(2), 19(3)(1)(g) and 21(4) of the constitution of India that every profession, trade or occupation should provide a safe working environment for women employee.      

Apparel export promotion council vs A.K Chopra

Facts of the case:

When the petitioner filed the case against the defendant. The inquiry has started and the Enquiry officer concludes that miss X was molested by one of the people who belong to the business center. 

Judgment of the case:

The disciplinary authority has given the order to remove the defendant from the work and filed against him in the case and prove him guilty of such offense. The defendant has challenged in court against the judgment of the court. He is taken in the 34th meeting of the staff committee to prove that he is alleged or not.

Right against Rape 

Bodhisattva Godhwa  vs. Subhra Chakraborty

Facts of the case:

The petitioner is the professor of the college. And the defendant is the student of that college. One day the petitioner visits the defendant’s house to meet her and promises her to marry her and involved with her and after that when she asked him to marry her, he just ignored her and always says that his family wants him in the govt.

Services before marriage. And sexual contact continues for many days and the defendant got pregnant twice and aborted her baby twice and then also continues her relationship. And then they got married secretly and he accepted her as her legal wife. But after whenever she gets pregnant he always aborted her baby. The complaint was filed against him. He filed a returned case. 

Judgment of the case:

But his suit gets rejected by the court.

Right to Reputation

State of UP v Mohammad Naim

Facts of the case:

The high court directed an investigation to the investigating officer to know why this complaint filed against him. Police force apologies in front of the court for wrongly alleging him in the court. Court has accepted the apology but puts some of the remarks against the police force.  

Judgment of the case:

The remarks of the High Court are: if I had felt that with my lone efforts I could have cleaned this Augean stable, which is   the police force, I  would not have  hesitated to wage this war single-handed. That  there is not,  a single lawless, the group in the whole of the country whose record of crime comes anywhere near the  record of that  organised  unit which is  known as the Indian Police Force. Where  every fish barring perhaps a few stinks, it is idle  to pick out one or two and say  that it stinks.”

State of Bihar v Lal Krishan Advani

Facts of the case:

This is a very serious matter of death and injuries in the state of Bihar in the Bhagalpur District. This is a communal right which creates death and injuries in the Bhagalpur District. It is a matter of concern in the state of Bihar for the Bihar State Government. 

Judgment of the case:

The state government decided to put inquiry into this matter to the Commission of Enquiry under Section 3 of the Inquiry Act.  

Smt Kiran Bedi v Committee of Inquiry  

Facts of the case:

Police officers and lawyers involved together in an incident is apprehended by the students of a college and handed them to the police for committing an offence within the campus of the college. The magistrate discharged the students and take action against police officials. The report has been submitted by the inquiry officer about the conduct of the police officials. Police officials are filed before the committee under section 5(2)(a). 

Judgment of the case:

The notice is issued by the committee in the High Court Bar Association on behalf of the High Court Bar Association and the Commissioner of police together with the supporting affidavits were filed before the committee. The examination of the police will be held on 16 May 1988. Affidavit and evidence were submitted to the inquiry officers. 

Cases on right to livelihood

Case law 

Olga v municipal corporation

Facts of the case:

The petitioner has filed a writ petition about the conditions of the shelter they are living in. They said that they are living on the pavements and in the slums in the city. Other petitioners also complained about the condition of their area of Kamraj Nagar, Basti where they live. This case is filed about the conditions of the slums and Basti of Bombay City. they filed a case against the municipal corporation of Bombay about the conditions of Bombay. Respondents must take some actions related to this issue but they are not even responding in this matter. This case is filed for the violation of Article 32, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. Because this is the duty of the government to protect the rights of the citizen of India. 

Judgment of the case:   

D.T.C v D.T.C mazdoor congress

Facts of the case:

The Writ Petition is filed for the condition of the Delhi road transport. And also allegation put on the authority that they are not working properly on road development, not performing their duties properly in case of road development. After the Writ petition filed many of the employees of the authority has to resign from their job as they are not performing their jobs. Then the three respondents filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the Constitutional Validity of Regulation 9(b), which gave the management right to terminate the services of an employee by giving one month notice or pay in lieu thereof. It is a violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.

Judgment of the case:

Chameli Singh v the State of UP

Facts of the case:

The land which the petitioner owned is not the agriculture land and it is not amended by the U.P state legislation who provides power to take possession of the case lands and waste lands or arable lands where the land is acquired for the sanitary improvements for the development of society in a planned manner. The state government is empowered to give the possession of the land to the Dalits, a building houses. The appellant has challenged the validity and put three contentions in front of the court that our land is not a waste of arable land, secondly, there is no urgency to the Dalits for the possession of the land. The Third contention is that property is the only source of their livelihood. They have no other work for feeding themselves. 

M.J. Sivani v State of Karnataka

Facts of the case:

The petitioner has filed a petition for the license of Video Games requires to be regulated under the Mysore Police Act, 1963. 

Judgment of the case:

The petitioner has got the permission of video games and ordered her to get a license to play video games.  

 Right to shelter

Chameli v state of UP

Facts of the case:

The land which the petitioner owned is not the agriculture land and it is not amended by the U.P state legislation who provides power to take possession of the case lands and wastelands or arable lands where the land is acquired for the sanitary improvements for the development of society in a planned manner. The state government is empowered to give the possession of the land to the Dalits, a building houses.  The appellant has challenged the validity. 

Judgment of the case:

The three contentions put by the division bench, the first contention is that our land is not a waste of arable land, secondly, there is no urgency to the Dalits for the possession of the land. Third contention is that property is the only source of their livelihood. They have no other work for feeding themselves.

Shantistar Builders  v Narayan Khimlal Totame

Facts of the case:

The Respondent files a petition challenging the Shantistar builders in respect of construction related to the rate of the building. His main aim to change government policy. 

Judgment of the case:

The high court has rejected the petition because the respondent tried to change the government policy. The court has dismissed the petition. By the order of the High Court petitioner has challenged the respondent.  

Right to social security

N.H.R.C v State of Arunachal Pradesh

Facts of the case:

The National Human Rights Commission has filed a writ petition against the state of Arunachal Pradesh challenging that the citizen of Arunachal Pradesh is prosecuting the tribals of Arunachal Pradesh. This petition is filed for the violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. There were a total of 65000 Chakma tribals in Arunachal Pradesh. More facts came around that a large number of Chakmas from Pakistan and Bangladesh are removed from Kaptai Hydel Power Project. After they removed from their work.

They settled in Assam and taken the citizenship of India. The State of Arunachal Pradesh has allotted them some lands and provide 4,200/- per family. The Chakmas has submitted his report of citizenship that they previously submitted to the Arunachal Pradesh Police officials for their Citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955. But they have not got any reply from the Commissioner. And the relation between Chakmas and Arunachal Pradesh has deteriorated. NHRC put this issue and issue a letter to the Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh and Home Secretary and Government of India to enquire about this issue. 

Judgment of the case:

The first reply came from the Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh stating that our Police officials will give protection to the Chakmas.    

Right to health 

Case laws: 

Municipal Council, Ratlam vs Shri Vardhichand & Ors.

Facts of the case:

The petitioner is prosecuted by the petitioner related to not clearing the garbage from society. Because garbage can cause diseases that can affect every citizen of the state. But the petitioner has filed the plea saying that we don’t have money. 

Judgment of the case:

But the Supreme court has rejected the petition of the petitioner. And give the decision in favour of the defendant that steps must be taken for the improvement of the health of the public. It is very important for public safety. 

C.E.S.C. Ltd. Etc vs Subhash Chandra Bose And Ors.

Judgment of the case:

In this case, the Supreme Court ordered that the Right to health is a Fundamental Right and it cannot be violated. Health is protected in every case not in case sickness only. And Medical care is valid for every citizen of the state. Even weaker sections of society have a right to medical care. They are eligible to get all the facilities regarding health. So they can live their life safe and happy. 

Mahendra Pratap Singh vs State Of Orissa And Ors.

Facts of the case:

The petitioner has filed the case for the effective measures to be taken to run the Primary Health Center at Pachhikote in the District of Jaipur. For providing all the facilities to the health center for the local people. 

Judgment of the case:

The court issued the order relating to this matter that in every District there should be hospitals and primary health centers for the people’s health and care.    

Right to die

Common Cause (A Regd. Society) vs Union Of India

Facts of the case:

 The petitioner has filed the case for legalizing the living will under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution. The petitioner also wrote a letter to the Ministry of Law and Justice about this issue regarding concerning with the living will. But the petitioner has got no response from the Government of India related to this issue. 

Judgment of the case:

The Supreme Court has put the decision into it that Right to Die is the Fundamental Right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The court held some regard to the patient that medical treatment is necessary for any of the ill-treatment before you think of dying. Because Euthanasia suicide is unlawful in India means you cannot commit suicide because of any ill-treatment.  

 Right to work 

Bandhua Mukti Morcha vs Union Of India & Others

Facts of the case:

This case is filed to stop the child labor under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution to the State of Uttar Pradesh because some children get kidnapped from the State of Bihar and brings to Uttar Pradesh for the Child Labor and involve them in factory works. The children are of less than 14 years and also that children are facing child abuse in Uttar Pradesh during the work. This is the case that violates the Right and Protection of Child Rights.

Judgment of the case:

 The Supreme Court has discussed the protection of child rights and the right to education. But automatically we cannot abolish child labor because of a lot of work. But we can take some steps related to child abuse which is happening in Uttar Pradesh. The court held that the children should get some facilities and provide them education as well as food to them so they can stay healthy to work in the factories. And also take care of them so that they can stay safe.  

Sodan Singh v New Delhi municipal committee

Facts of the case

The petitioner has filed a writ petition against Municipal Committee because their right of trading business gets violated. They do business on the pavement of the roads in certain areas in the city of Delhi. And also claim that they were not so rich and this is the only way of their income. 

Judgment of the case

But Delhi High Court dismissed their petition. But according to Article 19(g), everyone has the right to trade and business in any area. But according to Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 has the right to permit Hawkers and Squatters on the sidewalks. 

Secretary, State of Karnataka v Umadevi

Facts of the case:

The respondent works as an employee in the Commercial taxes Department. Her work is related to the daily wages in some of the districts of the State of Karnataka. She claimed that she has been working for 10 years. And claimed that she should get all the facilities of the regular employee of the Department. She approached Administrative Tribunal with all her claims. 

Judgment of the case:

But the Administrative Tribunal rejected her claim saying that she has no right to get equal wages as a regular employee or for regularization. Then she again filed a petition in the high court of Karnataka challenging the decision of the Administrative Tribunal. The high court has accepted the claim and order to give equal wages to her as a regular employee.     

Violation of article 21

Mansing Surajsingh Padvi vs The State Of Maharashtra

 Judgment of the case:

This appeal is filed against the judgment of the Bombay High Court which is issued by the Government of Maharashtra in exercise of the powers under sub-para (1) of the Para 5 of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and the West Khandesh Mehwassi Estate Regulation, 1961 issued by the Governor of Maharashtra under sub-para (2) of para (5) of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.The fundamental right of the respondent is violated by the High Court.   

K.P Hussain Reddy And Ors. vs Executive Engineer

Facts of the case:

The petitioner filed the case related to the compensation is not paid by the respondent. The petitioner gives the letter to the requesting the respondent to pay the amount of 4,67,622 for land acquisition charges. But the respondent failed to pay the amount. 

Judgment of the case:

The court issued a notice to the defendant for the land amount. In  March, the court dismissed the petition saying that in the matter of land acquisition proceeding will be completed within six months.  

Conclusion 

At last, I conclude that the right to life is the fundamental right of every citizen of India. And fundamental rights cannot be violated by anyone. If anyone’s fundamental right gets violated by any public official or government official then that person can file a petition in the Supreme court. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution is going from the past period from the time of the Magna Carta period. Firstly our Indian Constitution is under Magna Carta. That time Judiciary has a limited role in the Constitution. But in today’s time, the Judiciary has an important role in our Indian Constitution.

The law is implemented by the Indian Judiciary which is mentioned in the Indian Constitution. The Constitution of India makes every person equal who is a citizen of India. All are eligible for each right which is provided by the constitution of India. No person shall be discriminated against based on caste, creed, and religion. Protection of rights is the fundamental duty of the Government of India.   

 

 

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Adoption in India : Family law

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This article is written by Shruti Singh, a student at Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida. In this article, she discusses the adoption, Family Law.  

Introduction

Section 5 in The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956

Adoption means a legal transfer. Generally, new couples prefer to adopt a child not to give birth to a new child. If we see, in India, orphanages are full of children, as they have no parents to take care of them. Today many parents give birth to a girl and throw her in the dustbin and don’t even think twice. This crime is increasing day by day. In today’s generation also people don’t understand the value of a girl child after so high education qualifications. Half of the population of children is alone, they don’t have legal parents to take care of them. Adoption is the best way to give them a good life. It also helps in maintaining the population of the country. Hence, new couples of our generation are working in this matter by adopting the child and give them a better life. 

Adoption under English law

  •  U.N adoption program

 According to the United Nations, every state has the right to adoption so that adoption may come in the effect. International Conventions has its own general rules and principles and acts for the adoption right. 

  1. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child, 1924 is the first and foremost principle for the protection of child rights. It is also known as the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the child. This right is adopted by the League of Nations in 1924. Geneva has taken this quote to define the protection of child and child rights under English Law. the quote is “International Save the Children Union”. 

The main objective of this quote is:

  1. For the protection of a child and give them a good life. 
  2. For the development of their mental and physical health.
  3. The children who have no one to feed them and the children who are sick and they don’t get medical health facilities can get adopted and give them all these facilities. Take care of them in all cases. 
  4. They are provided with good education even in the orphanages. And most importantly the children who stay on the roadside also get adopted by orphanages and feed them with good food and health facilities. 

World Child Welfare Charter is the first welfare program which is established and perform in the established institution by the League of Nation on 26 November 1924. This is the first human rights document that is approved by the governmental institution to perform the welfare program. 

  • The second right which is established by the United Nations is The Declaration of the Rights of the Child is the second document which is established in the year 1959. It gave the children official recognition of the human rights of the children. There are some Declarations, Covenants, and Conventions for the children who did not get parental care. The two summits of UN Convention which was established by the United Nation and India has become a signatory of those summits. The summit is the Declaration of the World Summit for Children. This summit’s main intention is to work for the survival and development goals in the year 2000. 
  • The seventeenth session of the UN is the Hague Conference on Private International Law and Hague Adoption Convention(Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption) which is adopted for the protection of children and the interest of their parents and adoptive parents so they can adopt children by their own choice and feed them. 
  • Person Competent to Adopt under English Law
  1. Children domiciled in the United Kingdom
  2. Couples are the citizens of the United Kingdom
  3. Couples must have their residents to stay.
  4. They must be employed so they can give their child a good life.
  5. Couples must be married. 
  6. Adoption is not allowed for unmarried couples.
  7. Couples must adopt the child with the permission of their parents so if any condition they become incapable to feed their children so their parents can feed their children.
  8. Couples must be age 21 or above. 
  • A person competent to give their child for adoption

In case natural parents died, the Guardian of that child can give the child for adoption. Guardians have the right to give the children for adoption under Guardians of Minor Act. in case of a child is admitted in the hospital, asylum or any other place, in case institution permission is important for giving the child for adoption as well as guardian permission is also required. Children who are only attended 6 weeks of age, their adoption is only valid after the permission of their parents or adoptive parents or guardian.     

  • Who may be adopted

Children attended the age of 6 weeks they can be adopted or up to the age of 18. The children who already attend the age of more than 18 years cannot be adapted according to the English law. 

  • Effects of Adoption 
  1. Adoptive children can’t marry in their own natural parent’s family.
  2. Adoptive children can only marry with adoptive children.
  3. Adoptive children have rights in the property of their parents.
  4. All the rights are the same for adoptive children and natural children.
  5. Adoptive children is a citizen of the United Kingdom only.
  6. Natural parents can only adopt children. 
  7. Adoptive parents cannot adopt children.
  8. Adoption is revocable.
  9. Adoption is registered under Registrar General. 
  10. Records of the adoption are always kept a secret from the public.

Modern Adoption Law

Modern adoption law is established in the nineteenth century for some new changes and development in the society for the betterment of children’s future. Modern adoption promotes the welfare of children for the new ideological framework. The first act which is established in the modern adoption law is The Massachusetts Adoption of Children Act which was enacted in the year 1851. 

Rules of Massachusetts Adoption of Children Act:

  1. Prove themselves suitable and fit to adopt the child in front of judges.
  2. The birth relatives didn’t get terminated because of adoption.
  3. A person who has legitimate descendants cannot adopt a child. 

In the year 1881 New Zealand has introduced the Adoption of Children Act. New Zealand is the first country under Common Health to introduced this act. 

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Adoption in India

“Every child has a Right of Adoption”

This quote brings great change related to adoption in India. It is a very sensitive issue in India that children have no one for their care in a very high population. In comparison to all other countries, India has the highest population. And every day, many children are pushed into the orphanages because of their family problems. Even we see children on roadsides roaming around and they have to beg on the roadside for the food and dresses and they cry for the food maximum time. And after seeing these conditions also people don’t even try to feed them when they are capable of feeding them. This is the reason why maximum children have to stay alone. 

Principles to govern the Adoption Process in India

Orphan and abandoned child

  • Adoption is legally free under section 31, 32, 33, 36, 40.
  • If any child gets adopted without the involvement of the child welfare committee that child has to stay 24 hours with the committee and also has to submit the reports and other documents of adoption to the local police station. 
  • Committee issue an order for the interim care of the child. 
  • Documents and reports of the adoption are submitted to the local police station as well as entered online in the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System in the format as prescribed. 

Eligibility of adoption in India

  1. Parents should be stable for adoption.
  2. Parents should economically, physically and financially capable of adoption.
  3. Parents must be married.
  4. A single male is not eligible to adopt a girl child.
  5. Composite age will count.
  6.  The age difference between parents and child be 25 years.
  7. Step-parent adoption is not allowed.
  8. If any couple has 3 children or more than that they cannot adopt a child. 

Age perspective:

Age of child

Maximum composite age of prospective adoptive parents (couple)

Maximum age of single prospective adoptive parents.

1-4 years

90 years

45 years

4-8 years

100 years

50 years

8-18 years

110 years

55 years

 

  • The adoption process in India 

The procedure of Adoption In India:

Child registration: 

  • Parents have to register themselves in the organization from where they want to adopt a baby. 
  • Documents are submitted for the adoption of a child. 
  • The documents required photographs of the current family, Pan card of the parents, birth certificate of the parents, proof of residency, proof of income of last year, medical report of the parents, reference letter, consent of older children.
  1. Home inquiry and counselling of parents: when couples registered themselves for the adoption of the child first they have to submit all their documents as required for the adoption according to the adoption agency and then the next process of adoption is the home enquiry of parents where they live. The social worker of the organization where the parents have registered themselves to adopt the child, from that organization some of the social workers visit the house of registered parents and study the home and check all the things in the house for the satisfaction that the parents are capable to adopt the child. And also they do counselling session with parents to know their strength, motivation, and preparation for the adoption of a child.  
  2. The child is referred: after every process of the adoption done from the parent’s side then the organization shares medical reports, physical examination reports and other relevant information with the couple and also allow them to spend time with the child so they get comfortable with each other.   
  3. Acceptance by parents: finally parents accept the child and take their child with themselves by signing the petition in the court.   
  4. A petition filed: the documents of the adoption to the lawyer to present in front of the court for the adoption process and at last, after the end of the process, parents have to sign the petition for the completion of the adoption. 
  5. Pre-Adoption foster care: this process is done when the petition is signed. In this process, adoptive parents can take their child to the child nursing home for the pre-adoption foster care centre and help to understand the habits of the child. 
  6. Court hearing for the process of Adoption: after parents take adoptive child home after that they have to take their child to attend the court hearing for the adoption process with the child but this hearing is happened in the closed room with judge and the judge some of the questions to the parents and mention the amount which needs to be invested in the name of the child. 
  7. Follow up: at last agency has to submit the following report of the child’s well being in 1-2 years. 
  • Adoption Coordinating Agency

The functions and duties of the Adoption Agency are as follows:

  1. Care, protection, care of their well-being, health needs, emotional, and psychological needs, education, training.
  2. Training needs like leisure and recreational activities.
  3. Protect from child abuse, neglect, and exploitation, social mainstreaming and restoration.
  4. All cases must be for the children related to admissions, restorations, transfers, death, and adoption of children, children missing. 
  5. All committees like Child Welfare, District Child Protection Unit, State Adoption Resource Agency, and the Authority through Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System are designated for the post of a missing child to file to the police. 
  6. The report of orphanages of children is submitted to the Child Adoption Resources information and Guidance System through the website of CARA.

Hindu law

According to the Hindu Law, it legalises the adoption in India. It defines the adoption under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956. It teaches the parents to treat the adoptive children as their natural child. There must be no discrimination between the adoptive children and natural children. If any parents adopted girl child they must take care of their girl child by giving her all the facilities which she is eligible for as they give to their natural child. There will be no discrimination between a girl child and a boy child. Even girl child get all the facilities they give to their natural son. 

The landmark case on Hindu Law:

Bal Gangadhar Tilak vs Shrinivas Tilak

Facts of the case: 

In this Privy Council observed that adoption among Hindus is not only for the legalise the children but also it is a religious means to make obligations and sacrifices which would permit the soul of the deceased father passing from Hades to paradise. 

Amarendra Mansingh vs Sanatan Singh

Facts of the case:

In this case, the Privy Council observed about the foundation of the Brahmanical doctrine of adoption is the duty which every Hindu owes with his ancestors to provide for the continuance of the line and the solemnization of the necessary rites.

  • Adoption is a part of the customs and burden of proving the validity of adoption depends on the person who claims it under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956.    

Binapani Samanta vs Sambhu Mondal

Facts of the case:

The petitioner has filed a petition challenging the defendant who is the probate of the will on the ground that she was the adopted daughter of the deceased who died and the probate is fraudulent. But she fails to prove the burden of proof of the validity of the adoption. It was held that she could not challenge the probate.

Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956

This act was enacted in the year 1956 for the maintenance of children who don’t have legal parents and they have to live in an organization. 

  • Features of the Act 
  1. Females can adopt a child and even give for adoption. 
  2. Female can adopt the child with the consent of his husband
  3. A widow can also adopt the child.
  4. The male has to take the consent of his wife if he wants to adopt the child.
  5. Female can adopt the child which was not permissible in pre-act
Capacity to adopt
  1. Unmarried males can also adopt the child.
  2. An unmarried female can also adopt the child after the HAMA act, 1956
  3. If any married male wants to adopt a child he has to take the consent of his wives.
  4. If any married woman want to adopt the child she has to take the consent of her husband.
  5. Divorced and widow can also adopt the child.

Capacity to give for adoption

  1. If in case parents died then the guardian can give for adoption.
  2. If only the father is alive then he can alone give for adoption without any consent. 
  3. If the mother becomes unsound mind then her/his father can give for adoption. 

Effect of adoption

When children get adopted he/she gets right in the property of their parents. They become part of the natural family. All the rights and obligations of a natural-born child of the family fall on the adoptive child with some exceptions. These exceptions are as follows:

  1. An adopted children can only marry  the adopted child. He cannot marry anyone who is not adopted.
  2. Any property which is vested in the adopted child before adoption continues to vest in him subject to the obligation, if any, attaching with the ownership of the property, including the obligations to maintain relations of his/her birth.
  3. The adoptive child cannot divest any person of any estate which vested in him or her before adoption. 

If any parents give their property to their adoptive child they lose power to dispose of the property or transfer the property. They don’t have any rights in the property of the adoptive child. If any male is already married and his wife has adopted a child she will be the actual mother of that child and if the male was married another girl she will become the step-mother of the adoptive child. If any unmarried male adopted a child before marriage and after some time he gets married then his wife becomes the step-mother of that child. She will not consider as a legal mother of that child. And if any unmarried woman or a widow or divorced woman has an adopted child and if she married someone then he will become the step-father of that child. Because of this many times dispute is caused between adopted child and step-father. The reason behind this adopted son has no right in the property of his step-father. 

Case law:

Gender bias 

Comparison between male and female in case of adoption.

  1. Married women cannot adopt the child even though she cannot adopt the child with the consent of her husband.
  2. If any female wants to adopt the child, in case she can only adopt the child if she widow or divorced or a single mother. 
  3. A married male can adopt the child with the consent of her wife. 
  4. Unmarried males can also adopt the child. 

In the case of giving in adoption father has a better right:

  1. If the father is alive he can give his child for adoption with the permission of his wife.
  2. But a mother cannot give their child for adoption even with the consent of her husband she cannot give for adoption. 
  3. Mother can give the child for adoption if her husband died. 

Case laws:

Malti Roy Chowdhury vs Sudhindranath Majumdar

Facts of the case:

This case is filed by the petitioner for the right of married women for adoption because according to HAMA act married women cannot adopt a child and not even with the consent of her husband. This case is related to gender discrimination. The court marked for this judgment is “Adoption has to be taken factually or legally by the male in case of marriage, and not by the wife. In other words, the wife cannot adopt even with the consent of the husband”. 

Brijendra Singh vs The State of M.P

Facts of the case:

This case overruled the case Malti Roy, in this case, it is observed that this case came as a big disappointment. In this case, disabled lady was married with the village custom, a virgin girl must get married, her husband left her and after that, she adopted a son after 22 years of her marriage. In the other case, disputes are under the agriculture land ceiling law. She sought a declaration that the appellant was her adopted son. The suit was decreed by the trial court and affirmed by the first appellate court. On second appeal to the Madhya Pradesh High Court it was held that, given the provisions of section 8(c) of the HAMA Act, 1956, the adoption was not valid. The argument she said that she is leading a life like a divorced woman was not accepted because this was a great deal of difference between a female Hindu who is divorced and one who is leading a life like a divorced woman, the court observed. 

After this new Act is established in favour of married women, the Gender Discrimination Act which is a personal law amended in the year 2010, which gives right to the married women to adopt a child with husband’s consent but that is not likely to change the fate of married female placed in the position of the disabled, deserted, “divorced-like” lady in this case. 

Factum and proof of adoption

Case law:

Ram Das vs Gandiabai 

Facts of the case:

In this case, petitioner filed a suit for partition against the deceased father’s brother. The latter alleged that the petitioner had no right over the properties, as he was no longer a member of the family because he had been given away in adoption to the man whom his mother later married and who maintained him. The court did not accept this plea. It held that simply because the step-father spent money on his maintenance does not by itself imply that he had been adopted by the step-father. It was accordingly held that even though he was brought up by the step-father, he continued to be a member of his deceased father’s family, with all the rights of a son of that family. 

Nilima Mukherjee vs Kanta Bhusan Gosh

Facts of the case:

In this case plea of adoption was taken based on joint accounts with the alleged adoptive father, the court held that the mere fact of having a joint account is no proof of adoption. 

Dhanno vs Tuhi Ram

Facts of the case:

This is the case of the property dispute based on the claims of the virtue of adoption, but the court refused to accept the claim because there was a valid adoption. The son claimed to be the adoptee of his parents, but he treats him as his biological father, rather than the alleged adoptive mother, as his parent. Besides, there was no other evidence on record to show any ceremony regarding adoption. In these circumstances, a mere placing of a registered adoption deed on record, without proving the factum of adoption, was held to be not enough evidence of adoption. 

The judgment of the case:

The court observed that evidence in support of adoption must be sufficient to satisfy the heavy burden that rests upon any person who seeks to displace the natural succession by alleging the adoption. 

Ram Chandra vs Banwari Lal

Facts of the case:

In this case the validity of adoption deed is challenged where the alleged adoption deed did not bear the signature/thumb impression of the natural father of the adoptee or any of his guardians nor was there any indication of presence of parents and guardians of the adoptee at the time of execution or registration of the adoption deed.   

Prafulla Bala Mukherjee vs Satish Chandra Mukherjee

Facts of the case:

In this case, the adoptive mother sought a declaration of absolute right, title, and interest in respect of the property built by the adopted son, and also a decree for a perpetual injunction restraining his relatives, the defendants, from interfering with occupation and possession of the property. According to the court, the mere fact that an allegedly adopted son permitted his adopted son, adoptive mother, and her family to live in his house, was no proof of adoption. On the contrary, there were several facts to disprove the adoption like the adopted son treating his natural mother as his mother till his death, appointing her as his nominee in the insurance policy, provident fund, etc. performing the shraddha ceremony of his natural father, and his own death, his shraddha ceremony being performed by his brother.   

Suma Bewa vs K.B. Nayak

Facts of the case:

The plea of adoption is rejected in this case because there was proof of the adoption. There was no document executed by the parties in support of the alleged adoption, no contemporaneous document recording name of adopted son as the son of the adoptive father, nor any document to show that the name of the adoptive father was recorded in the service book of the adopted son. On the contrary, the voter’s list indicated the name of the natural father. Besides, oral evidence was found to be suspicious, no independent witnesses were examined to prove adoption ceremony nor a single neighbour examined to testify that adoptive father and adoptive son were living together and addressing each other as such. 

Oriental Insurance Co.Ltd vs Lalita Sharma 

Facts of the case:

In this case, the mere fact that the child was living with his father and step-mother, who claimed to be the adoptive mother, in the same house was held not enough to prove adoption. 

Chandan Bilasini vs Aftabuddin Khan

Facts of the case:

In this case where there was enough evidence of adoption, the mere fact that the adoptive mother, who was an old lady of 86, and some other persons who were present at the adoption ceremony, could not be produced in the court for giving evidence, was held not to be enough to assail the validity of the adoption. Also, where all rituals of adoption as per Hindu Law were followed the adoption deed was registered and photographs and negatives of photographs which had been taken at the time of adoption were produced, the adoption cannot be challenged. It is significant to note that registration of an adoption deed is not mandatory and there is no presumption in law against the validity of an unregistered adoption. However, when the same is registered, there is a strong presumption under section 16 of the act that the adoption has been made in compliance with the provisions of the act unless and until it’s disproved. Such presumption, however, is not irrebuttable and the court may refuse to accept an alleged adoption as legal despite it being registered if there is evidence of circumstances indicating that there was no valid adoption. Such presumption, cannot, however, be rebutted by minor discrepancies in the evidence. For instances where there was enough evidence of adoption, the mere fact that the adoptive mother, who was an old lady aged 86, and some other persons who were present at the adoption ceremony, could not be produced in the court for giving evidence, was held not to be a sufficient ground to assail the validity of the adoption.   

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Siddalingaiah vs H.K. Kariappa

Facts of the case:

This is the case challenging the adoption which was raised 40 years after the adoption the court held that the moment the adoption deed was registered parties to the adoption would have constructive notice of the same and challenging it after such a long gap would be barred by limitation. The court further clarified that even if the bar of limitation is not set up as a defence the court must take note of this and dismiss the suit.

Age requirement 

Case law:

Uma Prasad vs Padmavati

Facts of the case:

The claim of an adopted son to properties was sought to be challenged on grounds that the boy was above the age of 15 when he was adopted, and so the adoption was not valid. The parties, who were Agarwals by caste, however, succeeded in proving that they were governed by ancient and well-established custom and usage, which permitted the adoption of boys over the age of 15. The adoption was, consequently held to be valid.    

Khagenbam Sadhu vs Khagembam Ibotial Singh

Facts of the case:

Where the fact of adoption was proved, the challenge that the child was above 15 years, and Manipur custom did not allow such adoption, was held to be not sustainable as the alleged Manipur custom against such adoption was not proved. Adoption was therefore held to be valid. However, in a case where a plaintiff who was not.

Amit Chandubhai Chauhan vs Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

Facts of the case:

In this case, the alleged adopted son sought a compassionate appointment after the death of his mother, his case was rejected as he was aged 23 at the time of the alleged adoption and he could not prove cogent evidence of the existence of a custom permitting adoption of the child over 15 years. 

Parvathamma vs Shivakumar

Facts of the case:

In this case, the child is over the age of 15 is allegedly adopted and it was not established that there was a judicially recognised custom amongst the lingayats of Karnataka permitting such adoption, the same was held to be void under Sec5(1) violation of section 10(iv) of the Act. 

Atluri Brahmananda(dead) through L.R. vs A.S. Bapuji

Facts of the case:

This is the case where the petitioner succeeded in proving the custom in the Kamma community to which he belonged, recognising the adoption of a boy over the age of 15 and this custom and fact of adoption was also recorded in the registered adoption deed which was not disproved, the adoption was held to be valid.  

Patel Mukesh Kumar vs Regional Passport Authority

Facts of the case:

The petitioner’s application before the passport authorities for the inclusion of his adoptive father’s name in his passport was rejected on the ground that the appellant was aged 34 at the time of adoption and hence the adoption was not valid. On appeal against this rejection, it was held that the passport authority has no power to render a finding regarding the legality or otherwise of the adoption of such findings could be given only by a competent court. Further, the adoption was affected by a registered deed. There is a legal presumption that the same has been made in compliance with the statutory requirements unless it is proved otherwise. In this case, it was not the case of the respondent passport authority that the adoption has been disproved, hence the presumption of validity of the adoption would apply, the court held.  

Adopted child to be Hindu

Case law:

Kumar Sursen vs The State of Bihar

Facts of the case

The issue of the adoption of a Muslim child came up before the court. The child was admittedly brought up by Hindu parents since his every tender age and they also treated him like their son. The court, however, declined to give him the status of an adopted child because of the specified provision of section 10(i) of the Act.

Consent of Wife

Case law:

Siddaramappa vs Gouravva 

Facts of the case:

The court invalidated an alleged adoption by a male without seeking his wife’s consent. The plea that the relations between the husband and wife were stained, and therefore her consent could not be taken was not accepted, as there was documentary evidence to establish that they were living together at the time of the alleged adoption. There was nothing to indicate that it was impossible to have a wife’s consent. Apart from that, when the conditions under which such consent may be dispensed with are specified in the Act, taking any other plea would be adding words to the statute. 

Ghisalal vs Dhapubai

Facts of the case:

This is the case based on the significant judgment of the Supreme Court. It was a property dispute where the issue of the validity of an adoption by a male, even though by a registered deed, was raised. The focal point was, the consent of the wife in the adoption while the petitioner claimed that he is the adopted son was entitled to the properties of the adoptive father, the latter denied the factum of adoption and also absence of the wife’s consent. The trial court, the lower appellate court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court were all of the opinion that the adoption was valid and the consent of the wife of the adopted male can be inferred from the circumstances of the case, that she was present in the ceremonies of adoption and did not question the adoption till the stage of filing the written statement in the suit filed by the petitioner. On appeal, however, the Supreme Court analysed the facts and circumstances of the case in detail and set aside the judgment of the courts below, adoption was held to be invalid.  

Deen Dayal vs Sanjeev Kumar 

Facts of the case:

In this case, the mother’s consent is equally mandatory in giving and taking of a child in adoption. Thus, an adoption, even through, registered, where the child was given in adoption by the natural father but without the consent of the mother, was held to be invalid. 

Consent of the father

Consent of the father is equally important when the mother wants to give or take a child in adoption unless he suffers from the statutory disabilities mentioned in sections 8 and 9 of the Act.

Case laws:

Teesta Chattoraj vs Union of India

Facts and judgment of the case:

In this case, the parents had a divorce by mutual consent and as per the settlement the father gave up all the claims and duties of their daughter. Two years later, the mother remarried and by a registered adoption, deed gave the daughter to the second husband without seeking the consent of the biological father. When the child applied for a passport with step father’s name as the father, the application was turned down because the adoption was invalid. Hence, the child’s petition through her mother under Article 226 of the Constitution. Her plea that the natural father had, in a way “finally renounced” the petitioner’s world since, at the time of obtaining a divorce by mutual consent, he gave up all his rights, responsibilities and claims over the child, was not accepted. On the other hand, a Government Circular of 2009 by the Ministry of External Affairs which provides that relationship of the child with his biological parents subsists even after divorce and the name of the stepparent cannot be written in the passport of the children from a previous marriage was relied upon. While there is logic to this provision, too technical an interpretation may go against the interest of the child. A recalcitrant parent may have abdicated himself/herself of all the responsibilities towards the child yet out of sheer vindictiveness may hold requisite consent which could cause psychological, emotional, social and practical problems as also embarrassment to the child. Each case needs to be assessed on its own merits and facts. 

Guardians and wards Act, 1890

This act is established in the year 1890. The main intention of this act is to define the guardianship of the child. Parents are the real and natural guardian of children but after the death of parents, grandparents or other members of the family becomes the guardian of the children but they are not considered as the natural parents of children. This act is applicable when any couple adopts children and after some because of some reasons they died then child responsibility comes over guardians so they can feed their child or if they are not capable of adoption they can give their child for adoption under this act. Guardians have full rights on the child-related to the right to education, employment, etc. 

Duties, Rights and Liabilities of Guardians

  1. Fiduciary relation of guardian to ward- The Guardian and children relation is considered as the fiduciary relation. This relation is for the protection of will and other instruments. But the guardian cannot make any profit in the will and property of children.   
  2. The capacity of minors to act as guardians- Minors is considered incompetent so he or she cannot become the Guardian of the children. He could be parents of his children but not a guardian.
  3. Control of collector as guardian- if the Guardian is minor then the court appoints the collector for the care and protection of children. The collector is connected with the Guardian. The collector is paid by the government officials.
  4. Remuneration of Guardian- when an officer appoints any person for the guardianship of children then that person’s duties towards children is decided by the court.  

Guardian of the Person

Title of guardian to custody of wards- if ward leaves or is removed from the custody of a guardian of his person by the court then the welfare of the ward is transferred to the guardian by making the order for his return by the court and before the transfer of the ward to the guardian the ward gets arrested.  

Duties of guardian of the person- the duties and responsibilities are charged to the guardian after the child is transferred to the guardian by the court. 

Removal of Ward from Jurisdiction- the guardian is appointed by the will or another instrument by the court. If a guardian is adopted with the permission of the court then the guardian should be removed from the responsibility of children.

Guardian of property

Duties of guardian of property– child are transferred to the guardian with some restrictions and bounds under the act. He can only do those acts which are reasonable and proper for the realisation, protection or benefit of the property.

Powers of testamentary guardian– When guardian adopt a child for the care and protection of the child they have some limited powers on childlike mortgage or charge, transfer by sale, gift, exchange, etc. guardian can adopt a child with the help of the will or another instrument which are legal. There are restrictions on the immovable property which belongs to ward is subject to restrictions which may be imposed by the instrument, unless they are declared guardian and the court which made the declaration permits them by an order in writing to dispose of any immovable property specified in the order in a manner permitted by the order.

Limitation of powers of guardian of property appointed or declared by the court– When the person is appointed as a guardian or collector by the court for the protection of the child than he shall not without the previous permission of the court mortgage or charge, transfer by sale, gift, exchange, or otherwise, any part of the immovable property of his ward.

Other than he can lease any part of that property for a term exceeding five years or for any term extending more than one year beyond the date on which the ward will cease to be a minor.

Voidability of transfers made in contravention of section 28 or section 29– A disposal of immovable property by a guardian in contravention of either of the two last foregoing sections is voidable at the instance of any other person affected thereby.

Practice concerning for permitting transfers under section 29– This section mentioned that the guardian has permission to do any acts which are mentioned in this section but it is not granted by the court except in case of necessity or for an evident advantage to the ward. The grant the permission from the court, shall recite the necessity or advantage, as the case may describe the property with respect to which that act permitted is to be done, specify such conditions, if any, as the court may see fit to attach to the permission and it shall be recorded, dated and signed by the judge of the court with his hand, or when from any cause he is prevented from recording the order with his hand, shall be taken down in writing from his dictation and be dated and signed by him. The court may in its discretion attached to the permission the following among other conditions. 

  1. That a sale shall not be completed without the sanction of the court.
  2. When some people are specially appointed by the court then the sale shall be made to the highest bidder by public auction before the court and the time and place is specified by the court. After such proclamation of the intended sale as the court subject to any rules made under this act by the High Court. 
  3. That a lease shall not be made in consideration of a premium or shall be made for such term of years and subject to such rents and covenants as the court directs.
  4. According to the court, direction guardian shall be paid to the court on prescribed securities.

Variations of powers of guardian of property appointed or declared by the court– if any guardian is appointed by the court and if such a guardian is not the collector then the court may from time to time restrict or extend his powers with respect to the property of the ward in such manner and to such extent as it may consider being for the advantage of the ward and consistent with the law to which the ward is subject.

Right of guardian so appointed or declared to apply to the court for opinion in management of property of ward– A guardian appointed or declared by the court may apply by petition to the court which appointed or declared him for its opinion, advice or direction on any present question respecting the management or administration of the property of his ward.  

The obligation on Guardian of property appointed or declared by the court– Where a guardian of the property of ward has been appointed or declared by the court and such guardian is not the collector than he shall:

  • If a guardian is required to give the bound in the prescribed form to the judge of the court to ensure the benefit the judge for the time being with or without sureties for engaging duly to account for what he may receive in respect of the property of the ward. 
  • A guardian is required to deliver to the court in every six months from the date of his appointment or declaration by the court as the direction of the court. The statement of the immovable property which belongs to the ward related to money and other movable property which the guardian has received on behalf of the ward up to the date of delivering the statement, and of the debts due on the date to or from the ward. 
  • Guardian have to exhibit his account in front of court when court requires and in such form as the court from time to time directs.
  • A guardian has to pay the due balance from his account to the court if court is required as the court directs. 
  •  If the guardian apply for the maintenance, education, and advancement of the ward and the ward is dependent on the guardian then such portion of the income of the property of the ward as count from time to time directs, and if the court directs, the whole or any part of that party.   

Power to award remuneration for auditing accounts– when accounts are exhibited by a guardian of the property of a ward in pursuance of a requisition made under clause (c) of section 34 or otherwise, the court may appoint a person to audit the accounts and may direct that remuneration for the work be paid out of the income of the property.

Suit against guardian where administration-bond was taken– Where a guardian appointed or declared by the court has given a bond duly to account for what he may receive in respect of the property of his ward, the court may on application made by petition and on being satisfied that the engagement of the bond has not been kept, upon such terms as to security, or providing that any money received be paid into the court, or otherwise as the court thinks fit, assign the bond to some proper person, who shall thereupon be entitled to sue on the bond in his own name as if the bond had been originally given to him instead of to the judge of the court, and shall be entitled to recover thereon, as trustee for the ward, in respect of any breach thereof.

Suit against guardian where administration-bound was not taken– Where a guardian appointed or declared by the court has not given a bond as aforesaid, any person with the leave of the court, may, as next friend, at anytime during the continuance of the minority of the ward, and upon such terms as aforesaid, institute a suit against the guardian, or, in case of his death, against his representative, for an account of what the guardian has received in respect of the property of the ward, and may recover in the suit, as trustee for the ward, such amount as may be found to be payable by the guardian or his representative, as the case may be.

General liability of guardian as trustee– Nothing in either of the two last foregoing sections shall be constructed to deprive a ward or his representative of any remedy against his guardian, or the representative of the guardian, which, not being expressly provided in either of those sections, any other beneficiary or his representative would have against his trustee or the representative of the trustee. 

Termination of guardianship

Right of survivorship among joint guardians- On the death of one of two or more joint guardians, the guardianship continues to the survivor or survivors until a further appointment is made by the court. 

Removal of guardian- The court may, on the application of any person interested, or of its motion, remove a guardian appointed or declared by the court, or guardian by the court, or a guardian appointed by will or another instrument, for any of the following causes namely:

  1. For abuse of his trust.
  2. For continued failure to perform the duties of his trust.
  3. For incapacity to perform the duties of his trust.
  4. For ill-treatment, or neglect to take proper care of his ward.
  5. For contumacious disregard any provision of this act or of any order of the court.
  6. For conviction of an offence implying, in the opinion of the court, a defect of character which unfits him to be the guardian of his ward.
  7. For having an interest adverse to the faithful performance of his duties.
  8. For ceasing to reside within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the court.
  9. In case of a guardian of the property, of bankruptcy or insolvency.

Discharge of Guardian- If a guardian appointed or declared by the court desires to resign his office, he may apply to the court to be discharged.

Muslim Law

Adoption is the transfer of a child to the parents. Under Muslim law Islam does not recognise the adoption, it is very different from Hindu law. In Muslim law, adoption is recognised as “Acknowledgment of paternity”. 

Acknowledgment of Paternity is the principle that establishes the legitimacy of the child. In this principle child gets acknowledges to become a legitimate child means paternity of the child is established upon him. 

Case law in which the Supreme Court gave judgment related to the adoption, to extend the right of adoption to Muslims also.

Shabnam Hashmi vs Union of India, (2014) 4 SCC 1

Facts of the case:

The judgment of the case, the Supreme Court of India declared that the right to adopt the child by a person as per the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act would prevail over all personal laws and religious codes in the country. The three judges bench consisting of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Shiv Kirti Singh, however, maintained that 

personal laws would govern any person who chooses to submit himself until such time that the vision of a uniform civil code is achieved.

The Hon’ble Court also stated that adoption was a matter of personal choice and there was no compulsion on any person to adopt or adopt a child.

According to the Act, Juvenile Justice Act, 2002 defines Adoption in section 2(aa). This act confers that the adoptive parents and the child rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to a normal parents child relationship.  

Parsi law

“Parsi law” is the only personal law that is defined under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. There is no other laws governing people belonging to other religions or communities.  The Parsi who are governed in their law by Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936, and PT III of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 has no provision for adoption. The customary form of adoption amongst the Parsi is known as “Palak”. In the Parsi Law widow can adopt the child on the fourth day of her husband’s death, simply to perform certain annual religious ceremonies. The adopted child does not have the right to property. 

Christian law

“Christians have no Adoption Laws” because the personal law of these communities does not recognize adoption and adoption can take place from an orphanage by obtaining permission from the court under the Guardians and Wards Act. if any Christians want to adopt a child then has to take permission from the court under the Guardians and Wards Act. National Commission on Women has stressed on the need for uniform adoption law. With the help of the National Commission Christians can adopt a child under foster care. If any child is adopted under foster care and when he becomes major he can break all the connections with his family. This type of child has no right of inheritance. 

Case laws:

Philips Alfred Malvin vs V.J. Gonsalves

Facts of the case:

In this case, the court give the judgment that in spite of any absence of any law or alleged existence of any custom enabling Christians to adopt a child, the court legally recognised the validity of an adoption. 

Uniform Civil Code for Adoption

If we talk about Personal Laws in Indian, all are codified to bring social justice, equality among classes and uniformity. This personal law is simple easy and it attempts to make personal faith. It applies to the particular religion. In the case of Uniform Civil Code is also called UCC is a personal lawmaking system that creates a system for adoption for different religions with different rules and regulations. It makes the process of adoption uniform and easy. If we talk about the past situation of the adoption our forefathers do not know UCC but in the present situation, there is a choice to include the provision for UCC to help the future government to implement the law for adoption under UCC. 

Conclusion

The only statute governing adoption in India is the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act or Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act, 2000. The Juvenile Justice Act has provisions of adoption but in a different context. HAMA has liberalised the law in several aspects like:

  1. Clear religious bias
  2.  Hindu can only be adopted.
  3. Hindu can take and give for adoption

The act has an interest in the care and protection of the child as well as the welfare of the child. Since there is no provision to investigate and look into the suitability and antecedents of the family seeking to adopt, nor any follow-up to ascertain how the child is being treated. Other than that if a foreigner wishes to adopt a child in India he cannot adopt under this act. He can adopt the child under guardian and wards act for being appointed guardian of such a child, has to seek court permission to take the child out of India. Moreover, under this act, the rights which children get are very limited. They have no inheritance rights. Similarly, those who adopt are only guardians and no parents. There is a need for a uniform law on adoption. Thousands of abandoned, orphaned and neglected children need families and innumerable couples wish to adopt, but in the absence of satisfactory legal provisions, the children remain homeless and people desiring to adopt cannot adopt. All attempts to enact such laws are futile. 

Inter-country Adoption

The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act applies only to the Hindus. There is no law governing adoption by a different religion, nor is there any statutory provision providing for the adoption of a child by foreigners living abroad.   

CARA

Definition of CARA

Central Adoption Authority is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It functions as the nodal body for the adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions.  

CARA Adoption Guidelines and authorities for adoption in India

  1. Photograph of the current family for adopting the child.
  2. Pan card of the adoptive parents.
  3. Birth certificate of adoptive parents.
  4. Residence proof of adoptive parents.
  5. Proof of income of the family.
  6. Medical certificate from a medical practitioner.
  7. Marriage certificate.
  8. Divorce decree.
  9. Reference letter from relatives in support of adoption.
  10. Consent of the old siblings.
  11. Home study report valid for 3 years only. 
  12. Parents should be declared legal.
  13. Parents can file a suit against the adoption agency for the rejection of adoption.
  14. The appeal referred to in sub-regulation 14 shall be disposed of within 15 days and the decision of the Authority in this regard shall be binding. 

State Adoption Resource Agency 

State 

Name of the SARA

Address

Andaman and Nicobar Island

Directorate of Social welfare

Directorate of Social Welfare, Golghar, Port Blair, South Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Andhra Pradesh

Women and Development and Child Welfare Department 

Government of Andhra Pradesh 4th floor Jampani Towers, Lodge Center, Amravati Road, Guntoor Andhra Pradesh- 522006

Arunachal Pradesh 

Women and Child Development Department

Social Welfare Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh post box no- 227, Naharlaguan, Arunachal Pradesh.

Assam 

Social welfare department 

State Child Protection Society, house no- 46, near Sarvey Bus Stop, Beltola, Guwahati- 781028

Bihar 

SARA Bihar 

SARA, 2nd Floor Apna ghar behind Lalit Bhawan Bailey Road Punaichak, Patna- 8000023

Chandigarh 

Department of social welfare

Union Territory Child Protection Society, Near Vatika School, Sector- 19B, Chandigarh

Chhattisgarh 

Directorate Women and Child development department 

State Adoption Resources Agency, Directorate of Women & Child Development Department, 2nd floor, block A Indrawati Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Raipur-492001 Chhattisgarh

Daman and Diu 

SARA Dadar and nagar Haveli

Social Welfare Department ICPS Unit 1st floor Government Quarters, Dholar, Moti, Daman-396220

Delhi 

Dept. of Women and Child Development

Department of Women and Child Development, ICPS unit 1st floor of Adharshila Observation Home for Boys Sewa Kutir Complex Kingsway Camp, Delhi – 110009

Goa 

Directorate of Women and Child Development

Directorate of Women & Child Development, 2nd Floor Old Education Building 18th June Road, Panji, Goa 403001.

Gujarat 

Department of Social Defence 

Gujarat State Child Protection Society Government of Gujarat, Block 19 3rd Floor, Dr. Jivraj Mehta Bhavan, Sector-10/A, Gandhinagar, Gujarat-382010.

Haryana 

Social Justice and Empowerment Department

Women and Child Development Department, Government of Haryana, Bays No. 15-20, Sector 4, Panchkula, Haryana. 

Jharkhand 

Social Welfare Department 

Jharkhand State Child Protection Society(JSCPS) FFP Building, 3rd Floor Room No 313, Dhurwa Ranchi, Jharkhand-834004.

     

Specialised Adoption Agency 

  1. The parents responsibility towards children is to take care, protect them and take care of their well-being and shall cater to their health needs, emotional as well as psychological needs, educational and training needs, leisure and recreational activities, protection from any kind of abuse, neglect and exploitation, social mainstreaming and restoration or as the case may be and follow-up.
  2.  The cases related to admission, restorations, transfers, death, and adoption of children is to be reported in the institutions like Child Welfare Committee, District Child Protection Unit, State Adoption Resource Agency and the Authority through child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System. These are also the designated portal for child and police.
  3. Status of the child orphan abandoned and surrendered child on the Child Adoption Resources Information and Guidance System, is to be submitted on the website www.cara.nic.in.
  4. Certificates are issued of the children by the Child Welfare Committee to declare the child legality free for adoption in Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System within forty-eight hours from the receipt of such certificate and must be uploaded. 
  5. Child study report must be prepared by the social worker and upload it in Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System, within seven days from the date, such children are declared legally free for adoption by the Child Welfare Committee.
  6.  The medical tests of the child are to be submitted or uploaded in the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System as provided in schedule IV and it is prepared in the home by the parents or orphanage.
  7. Prepare individual care plan for each child in the following order: restoration to the biological family or legal guardian, inter-country adoption, foster care, and institutional care. 
  8. Album of the children is to be made after the adoption by the parents.
  9. Make efforts to place each child in adoption, who has been declared legally free for adoption by the Child Welfare Committee. 
  10. Ensure that siblings and twins are placed in the same family, as possible. 

Authorised Foreign Adoption Agency

  1. Register the prospective adoptive parents interested to adopt children from India and to complete their home study report.
  2. Follow-up with Specialised Adoption Agency for ensuring early adoption after receipt of No Objection Certificate for the Adoption from the authority. 
  3. Give orientation to the prospective adoptive parents on culture, language, and food of the place to which the adopted child belongs.
  4. Ensure the submission of post-adoption follow-up of the progress of adopted children and to address the cases of disruption, as specified in regulation 19.
  5. Arrange get-together of children of Indian origin and their adoptive families from time to time with the involvement of the Indian diplomatic missions concerned.
  6. Facilitate root search by older adoptees.
  7. Upload attested copies of the adoption application of the prospective adoptive parents in the Child Adoption Resources Information and Guidance System and forward the original of the same to the allotted Specialised Adoption Agency.
  8. Fulfill the legal requirements of the host country as well as the terms and conditions of the authorisation given by the Authority. 
District child protection unit

The district child protection is introduced by the Government of India in the year 2009-10. The main aim to bring this Child Protection Unit:

  • Bring some programs for child protection with some improved norms.
  • Incorporate other interventions that aim to address issues that were so far not covered by earlier schemes.
  • Based on principles of protection of child rights and the best interest of the child.
  • Every District has a child protection unit.
  • The district child protection unit is under the Chairperson of the Chairperson.
  • District Magistrate, District Child Protection Unit has been established in District Panipat from July 2012.

The District Child Protection is set up by ICPS envisages in each district as a fundamental unit for the implementation of the scheme. This unit is under the chairperson of the chairperson. The District Magistrate is the chairperson has been established in District Panipat from July 2012.

Name of the office

Address 

Phone No

District Child Protection unit

District Child Protection Unit Room No- 407, Fourth Floor Mini Secretariat, Panipat

0180-2641574

 

S.no 

Designation 

Name 

Phone no 

 

District Programme Officer Cum Member Secretary

District Child Protection unit

Smt. Usha Arora 

9896179209

      2.

District Child Protection Officer

Smt. Nidhi Gupta

9255644002

Rights of Adopted Child in India

The child has all the rights, as well as the adopted child have all the rights after adoption. The adopted child becomes legal as the normal child. This is defined in the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. If the parents die without making the will of the property then the property always goes to the Class-1-heirs. An adopted children also have rights in the will of the parents.  

Conditions for Adoption

According to the Hindu Law, below the age of 15 years if he/she is not adopted previously. But if any child already gets adopted then he cannot get adopted twice. In the Guardianship Law and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, if any child is not Hindu and if he is above 18 years of age then he/she can also be adopted. In other religions like Islam, Christianity, Parsis and the Jews, if they want to adopt a child then they can adopt a child under section 8 of Guardians and Wards Act because they have no personal law for adoption. There are some rules and regulations for the adoption which adoptive parents have to follow. 

Conclusion

At last, I conclude this topic by saying that adoption of the child is the biggest development process. Because of this process, the children who are not legalised are to be legalised after the adoption and they also get all the care and protection from their family. It also maintains the population of the country. If we see, in India, orphanages are full of children, as they have no parents to take care of them. Today many parents give birth to a girl and throw it in the dustbin and don’t even think. This crime is increasing day by day. In today’s generation also people don’t understand the value of girl child after so high education. Half of the population of children is alone they don’t have legal parents to take care of them. Adoption is the best way to give them a good life. It also helps in maintaining the population of the country. But new couples of our generation are working in this matter by adopting the child and give them a better life. 

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Provisions relating to Bail

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This article is written by Suryansh Singh, a 3rd-year law student from Indore Institute of law. This article mainly discusses the concept of bail and provisions relating to it. 

Introduction

In general, the term bail means the temporary release of an accused person on a temporary basis. As the term bail has been derived from the French word bailer which means to deliver or to give. The term bail has been used for a long time.  As defined in the oxford dictionary bail is the absolution of an accused person temporarily awaiting the trial or a sum of money is lodged by the accused person as a guarantee for his appearance in the court.

The provisions regarding the bail and bonds have been specified from section 436 to 450 of the Criminal Procedure Code. These provisions envisaged in the code gives the brief regarding the provisions of the bail.

The concept of bail is that it acts as security lodged by the accused person on the basis of which he can be released on a temporary basis but needs to appear in court whenever required by the court. The process of bail takes place while the trial of the accused person is still pending. Generally, a person seeks this option in order to get himself released from the police custody. The process of bail is a legitimate process.

Basic Rule

India is a democratic country and the basic concept of democracy is that every individual must have personal liberty and freedom. It is the basic right of an individual which is protected by the state. Thus the concept of bail and personal liberty goes hand in hand and therefore every individual including the accused person has the right to seek bail in order to get himself released from custody until and unless proven guilty by a court of law. As enshrined under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution that the life and personal liberty of a person can’t be deprived except by the procedures laid down by the law.

Object

The basic goal behind arresting and detaining a person behind the jail is that when the accused is required by the court during the trial he must appear in court for the trial. The process of bail is a complex mechanism, it is considered to be very delicate and conflicting at the same time. The reason it is very delicate is that an accused seeks for bail when the trial is pending in the court and it can’t be said that the accused is innocent or culprit. Sometimes when the bail is not granted to the accused person it may curtail the liberty of the innocent accused or while granting bail may result in giving extra-liberty and freedom to the actual culprit.

It is a comprehensive statement used in general that an accused person may escape his crimes but an innocent shall not pay the price of some other person’s deed. Based on this ideology the code of criminal procedure has bifurcated the offences into two categories.

Types of offences

  • Bailable offence
  • Non-bailable offence

Bailable offence

The bailable offence is the type of offence in which an accused person is granted bail. This type of offences is generally punishable by the court with less than three years of imprisonment. In the case of bailable offence the chances of getting bail are much higher.

Under section 2(a) of the code, the term bailable offence has been described as the offence which has been specified in the first schedule of the code or if the offence is considered to be bailable by the law in force during the time.

Non-bailable offence

The non-bailable offence is the type of offence for which an accused person is not entitled to get bail. These are the offences which are non-bailable nature and are not shown as bailable under the first schedule of the code. These offences are grievous in nature when compared to bailable offences. In the case of non-bailable offences the punishment is three years or more.

Cases in which bail may be granted (whether release on bail is mandatory?)

In the case of bailable offence it is mandatory to grant bail to the arrested person and in case of non-bailable offence it depends upon the discretion of the court. Section 436 of the code talks about the cases in which bail can be taken and section 437 of the code talks about the cases in which the bail may be taken in case of  non-bailable cases.

Cases in which bail to be taken (section 436 of CR.PC)

In this case, if a person who is not guilty of any non-bailable offence and gets arrested without a warrant by the police authority and is prepared to give bail, then it is the duty of the police authorities to release him. The person arrested may be released on the bond without submitting any sureties.

Appealability of the order (section 439 of the code)

Section 439 of the code states that any orders passed under section 436 of the code shall be appealable.

  1.   The order made by the magistrate to the session’s judge is appealable.
  2.   In case when the court of sessions passes an order to the court where an appeal lies from an order made by such court.

Investigation incomplete (section 167 of the code)

Under section 57 of the code states that a person arrested or taken into custody has to be released after 24 hours. Within those 24 hours, he has to be presented before the magistrate with a notice. The period of 24 hours can be extended if the investigation regarding the offence or crime committed has not been completed. Section 167 states that in order to extend the period of 24 hours for the purpose of investigation prior order has to be obtained from the magistrate. If the investigation is not completed the person arrested or detained shall be released. The period of detention shall not exceed 90 days (in case where the offence is punishable with the death penalty or life imprisonment) and 60 days (in case where the offence is punishable for a term less than ten years).

The maximum period for which an under-trial prisoner can be detained (section 436-A of the code)

Under section 436 A of the code states that the detention period for an undertrial prisoner other than the one who is accused of the criminal offences punishable with death or life imprisonment shall be released from detention if the person has been detained for one half of the maximum sentence provided for the offence committed by him.

When may bail be taken in case of non-bailable offences (section 437 of the code)?

It depends upon the discretion of the court or the police officials that they may release the person arrested for non-bailable offences until and unless there exists any reasonable grounds or apprehension that person arrested has committed any crime and is not guilty of any criminal liabilities which is punishable with life imprisonment or the death penalty.

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Bail to require accused to appear before the next appellate court (section 437 A of the code)

Under section 437A of the code, it has been stated that in order to appear in the higher court as and when the higher court issues the notice against the judgment of the court it becomes mandatory for the trial court or the appellate court which requires the accused to execute the bail bond with sureties.

What do you mean by the Anticipatory Bail?

Under section 438 of the code, it has been stated that the term anticipatory bail can be understood through the expression anticipatory. Anticipatory bail is the bail granted by the court in anticipation of the arrest. When this bail is granted to a person it ensures that in case if the person is arrested in the near future then such person shall be released on this anticipatory bail. No questions can be raised on the release unless the person executing this bail is arrested and therefore it totally depends upon the arrest that the order granting such bail becomes operative.

The following provision of section 438 of the code was recommended by the law commission. On its 48th report, they expressed their observations regarding the provision of anticipatory bail and stated that such provision is a useful addition to the code but it should be used in extraordinary or exceptional cases only.

Section 438 of the code runs as follows:

When any person having the reasonable apprehension that he may be accused of committing the offence of non-bailable nature then such person can apply for anticipatory bail in the high court or the sessions court. The role of the court having competent jurisdiction shall give him direction under section 438 of the code that during the time when he gets arrested he shall be released on bail after taking into consideration the following conditions shall accept or reject the application filed for anticipatory bail by the person getting arrested.

Following are the factors:

  • The accusation made shall be grave and serious
  • Likelihood of the applicant to flee or abscond from justice
  • When the accusation is made with the intention of humiliating or injuring the person by making him arrested through that accusation.

Conditions under section 438 of the code involve the following things.

  • The applicant filing for the anticipatory bail shall have the reasonable apprehension of getting arrested
  • The arrest of such person shall be in respect of the accusation of him committing non-bailable offence or cognizable offence and the courts having competent jurisdiction shall direct that in the event of the arrest the person shall be released.

Following conditions are imposed on the person seeking the anticipatory bail by the courts having competent jurisdiction

  • It is the duty of the person to appear or make himself available whenever required by the police officials for the investigation.
  • He must not induce or threat for dissuading him from disclosing facts of the case.
  • The applicant shall not go outside the territory of India without taking the prior permission of the court.
  • Or if the following conditions stated in point one and two are fulfilled and such person is ready to give bail, he should be released from custody subject.

Amiya kumar v. state of west Bengal 1978 Cri.LJ 288

In the instant case, it was held that section 438 of the code empowers both the high court and the session’s court to grant the anticipatory bail. Both the high court and the Sessions court have the competency to grant this bail. If the Sessions court rejects the petition filed by the applicant for the anticipatory bail then he can’t file the petition for the same in the high court.

D.R. Naik v. the State of Maharashtra, 1989 Cri.LJ 252

In the instant case, it was held that if a person files an application for anticipatory bail and it is rejected by the sessions court, this will not put the bar over the person filing the petition to approach High court. But if the person first approaches the high court and the petition filed by him gets rejected, then he can’t approach the session’s court for filing the petition on the same ground.

Malimath Committee Report

The Malimath committee gave its observation regarding the provision of anticipatory bail. They stated that the provision of section 438 is often misused by the people. Such misuse of the provision is illegal. The committee after the following observation suggested two conditions or requirements for the purpose of retaining the provision.

The following conditions are as follows:

  • Before granting the anticipatory bail the court shall hear the public or the government prosecutor
  • When a person files a petition of anticipatory bail it must be heard by a court having competent jurisdiction.

Distinction between Bail and the anticipatory bail

Under section 437 of the code, it has been stated that a regular bail is available and granted to a person after the arrest when he is in the judicial or police custody,  however in the case of an anticipatory bail is available to a person before the arrest or if the person has reasonable apprehension of arrest.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that the concept of bail is that it acts as security lodged by the accused person on the basis of which he can be released on a temporary basis but needs to appear in court whenever required by the court. The process of bail takes place while the trial of the accused person is still pending. Generally, a person seeks this option in order to get himself released from police custody. These provisions envisaged in the code gives the brief regarding the provisions of the bail. The process of bail is a legitimate process.

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Constitutionalism: Theoretical Perspective and Practical Application

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This article is written by Gautami Pradhan, a student at Symbiosis Law School, Noida. In this article, she discusses about Constitutionalism in the Indian scenario and the extent of its practical application.

Introduction

The constitution of a democracy consists of certain arrangements and provisions that control or ascertain the legal, social and political framework of a society and how it needs to be governed. Thus, constitutional laws or provisions are considered to be the supreme law of the land as they govern the decision making powers of the three organs of a democracy. Now considering these circumstances, inefficiency and inadequacy of the constitution may result in the rule of law of the land getting affected. Most modern societies or countries follow the practice of power separation of their governments into legislature, executive and judiciary. These bodies do not function exclusively but rather work interdependently while maintaining their autonomous nature.

Constitutionalism, in a general sense, is a concept or a complex of ideologies whose essence is limitation of power of the government and supremacy of law. Thus, the basic idea of constitutionalism is that the government should have limited powers and that the constitution provides the nation with the moral and legal framework which limits the powers of the state. The will of the citizens of that nation must govern this framework and must be reached through their consensus. The state is not free to do whatever it wants and has to follow the rule of law of the land.

According to the contemporary jurist Louis Henkin, Constitutionalism has the following 9 elements, these are:

  • Government based off of the constitution
  • Sovereign will of the people
  • Power separation
  • Democracy
  • Independence of the judiciary
  • Constitutional review
  • Limited power of the state to amend or suspend some parts of the constitution.
  • Civil control of the police and military
  • Limited power of the government in relation to bills and laws regarding individual rights

These elements can be broadly divided or classified into two groups: One concerning power structure and the other, concerning the protection of rights. These two groups of elements work interdependently to safeguard the authority of the constitution, the freedom and limitations of the state and the protection of the people’s liberty.

State which does not abide by its limitations loses all its legitimacy and authority. In this manner, to safeguard the fundamental opportunities of the individual, and to keep up his/her character and dignity, the Constitution ought to be saturated with ‘Constitutionalism’, it ought to have some inbuilt confinements on the forces given by it to these legislative organs.

Jurisprudence and Background

The underlying foundations of constitutionalism go way back. It didn’t simply come into existence out of nowhere, instead evolved and advanced into what it is currently. In the year 1215, England’s King John was constrained or rather forced by a gathering of affluent nobles to sign a record called the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta set certain points of limitations on the lord’s capacity/powers. The practical importance of the Magna Carta has been overstated throughout the years, however, it did set a point of reference for limited powers of the state.

Moving forward, in the year 1689, King William III of England signed the English Bill of Rights. William III came into power through a movement of depositioning and replacement of King James II which came to be known as the Glorious Revolution. Essentially, the citizens of England were worn out and fed up of James’ pro-catholic strategies and welcomed William, who was a Protestant, to come attack their nation and become their new lord. The English Bill of Rights sketched out what rights English residents had, and put restrictions on the powers of the ruler and Parliament. The English Bill of Rights is a foundational document that inspired the American Bill of Rights.

English philosopher and theorist John Locke assumed an immense role in establishing the way of thinking of constitutionalism. Locke was English scholarly who built up the idea of Social Contract Theory. In talking about the history and nature of constitutionalism, a correlation is frequently drawn between Thomas Hobbes and John Locke who are thought to have safeguarded, separately, the idea of constitutionally boundless power versus that of sovereign constrained by the provisions of the social contract containing limitations on the power of the sovereign authority.

Hobbes and Locke both gave secular social contract theories. In other words, there was no place for God in them. Thus, these theories were in complete contrast to the theories of divine right. Divine Right theories held that all citizens must abide by the King’s order because he was the emissary of God, and hence disobeying him meant disobeying God. Nevertheless, these theories were sharply different from each other. 

The Social Contract Theory as per the British jurist Thomas Hobbes was mentioned in his book Leviathan and he believed that human beings were evil by nature. Thus, he was of the view that they required a supreme/sovereign authority to keep in check their evil ideas, impulses and acts, otherwise it could result in a state of perpetual war and humans would rob, kill, rape and disobey law and order. Thus, there would be impossibility of a peaceful life. Subsequently a ruler is required to keep up peace and maintain law and order, and that is the reason a sovereign is fundamental and he should be complied with. Although apparently this hypothesis gave outright power to the lord, there was actually a catch which came to be seen later on. Since, as indicated by Hobbes, a ruler was required as an authority to look after law, order and harmony in the public eye, it pursues that if the sovereign by his deeds or oversights neglects to keep up the lawfulness, the individuals hold the power to expel him. Subsequently, the privilege of upheaval or revolution was intrinsic in Hobbes’ hypothesis, however not explicitly referenced, and that is the reason the lord’s supporters, who at first acclaimed the hypothesis, later ended up condemning of it as they understood its revolutionary potential. 

The hypothesis of the British jurist John Locke as mentioned in his 2nd treatise on Civil Government in the year 1690 is that even though the ruler is sovereign, his power is restricted and not total (as Hobbes had declared). It is restricted by the common rights which each person has by the very virtue of being an individual. The ruler can’t infringe on, or meddle with, these characteristic rights which incorporates the right to speak freely, opportunity to practice one’s religion, opportunity to claim or procure property, and freedom.

These ideologies, theories and documents influenced the Constitutionalism in India. Our Indian Constitution is inspired by the western models of constitution. Our establishing fathers obtained the Parliamentary type of government and independent and autonomous judiciary from Britain, the directive principles from the Irish model, the fundamental rights from its US counterpart and so on. In this manner, the fundamental standards and state organizations set up in our constitution were not of our own creation. We acquired present day western ideas and current foundations from western nations and imposed them on our retrogressive, semi-medieval society.

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Critical Analysis

In order to identify the position of Constitutionalism in India and to what extent is it present in the Indian legislative system, one must analyse the following provisions laid down under the Indian Constitution. These can be analysed on the basis of the provisions of the Constitution which limits the powers of the Government and establish the position of the sovereign. The first provision is found in the Preamble.

Preamble

The Indian Constitution was enacted on 26th November,2019 and the question whether the Preamble is a part of the Indian Constitution or not has been a great matter of concern. However, in the famous case of Keshavnanda Bharti v. State of Kerala, the 13 judges bench held that it was indeed a part of the Constitution.

According to Justice Subbarao in the Golaknath v. State Of Punjab case “Preamble is the soul of the constitution, without which a body in the form of state cannot be survived. The objectives of constitution ensure the dignified conditions for the people of India and provide them all rights and liberties within ambit of fundamental spirit of constitutionalism embodied in entire body of the Constitution” One of the objectives explained in the preamble is to constitute the Republic of India into a sovereign and secular nation. Secularism, which mirrors no state religion, implies each resident has a right or a privilege to practice religion of their own decision, which advances naturally freedom of worship and faith. Along these lines, It can be induced that preamble holds the soul of constitutionalism.

Judicial Review

The second provision is judicial review. Justice Marshall in Marbury v. Madison case, introduced the doctrine of Judicial Review and clearly stated that it is the duty of the judiciary to annul any law or order passed by the legislature which violates the provisions of the constitution and takes away from the individual rights of the citizens.

In the Indian Constitution the spirit of this ideology has been expressed in Article 13(2) –“Laws which are inconsistent to Part III of the Constitution shall be declared null and void.” I.R. Coelho V. State of Tamil Nadu (2007) case cemented this doctrine and established the superiority of basic structure theory which has in turn enhanced the Constitutionalism spirit.

Rule of Law

The first question that comes to our minds when we talk about the Rule of law is ‘what is law?’ The appropriate response of this inquiry lives in two rules that are- 

Due Process – it stands for judicial supremacy and furthermore there is a peril for legal or judicial absolutism in light of the fact that the court if not self-controlled may go past the limitations set by the constitution. 

Procedure set up by law- In India, there is a “Procedure set up by law” doctrine which prevails, embraced from Constitution of Japan. It is clearly stated in Article 21 of Indian Constitution. It demonstrates parliamentary sovereignty in light of the fact that in India, law is made by the council, it confines the judicial supremacy and just deduces the right to do literal interpretation of the laws, rules and regulations and not statutory development of laws.

Separation of Powers

The Constitution of India demarcates between the powers of the organs of Government. Articles 245 and 246 along with Schedule VII of the Constitution deal with the demarcation of law making powers between the Union and State governments. Now, under the Articles 256-263, the administrative relations between the two governments is clearly defined. Articles 264 to 291 deal with fiscal relations between the centre and state. This reduces the risk of clash between the centre and the state resulting in the smooth co-dependent functioning of the legislature. As the powers of the centre and the state are clearly demarcated, there is no scope for the use of arbitrary powers over any of the subjects.
Subjects having National importance come under the Union List whereas the subjects having regional importance come under the State List. Subjects In which both the centre and state have interest comes under the Concurrent list. Central Government made laws come under this but the State government can amend these laws depending upon the requirements of that particular region. This way, the separation of powers also promotes constitutionalism in India. 

Rights of the Citizens

Article 12-35 deal with the fundamental Rights which are guaranteed to all the Citizens of India and violation of which gives the Individual a right to approach the court under Articles 32 and 226 of the Indian Constitution. This shows that the citizens of a country also have the right to protect themselves from the arbitrary powers of the State. These Provisions ensure that Constitutionalism in India is practised extensively and the Constitution of India has certain provisions laid down that enable the proper functioning of the organs of the government so that they can serve the citizens of the country better with limited powers and supremacy of law of the land. Constitution of India also guarantees the people of India with rights which safeguard them against exploitation by the state.

Conclusion 

This brief discussion about the provisions of the constitution provides us with a vision to see the process going on in the political system of our country. Through our study we’ve found that there description of powers of organs of government are extremely detailed and are extensively laid down in the Indian Constitution , so that they can exercise their powers within the boundaries of constitution. This results in the Government acting within the boundaries of Limitations of their powers. In this way, In India, constitutionalism is undoubtedly present but there is only one exception that the doctrine of Rule of Law does not prevail in India as in England (regarding parliamentary sovereignty). It exists in India in form of natural justice principles to govern administrative functions. Judges are to promote the value of constitutionalism arising from a legal draft, drafted by constituent assembly constituted of representatives expressing their public opinion. Each provision has its own significance and if any provision isn’t expressly present in a constitution however its appearance is found in certain provisos or clauses, at that point it will be adequate to advance the spirit of constitutionalism.

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BarHacker: Brace Yourself about Corporate Social Responsibility for AIBE

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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) carries 2 marks in the bar exam. Students are advised to refer to the Companies Act, 2013 bare act while answering questions on the subject. 

Introduction

CSR initiatives have only been taken on a voluntary basis. In 2009, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs had released ‘voluntary guidelines’ on CSR, which were optional for companies to follow. However, CSR activities have been made mandatory under the Companies Act for certain classes of companies. Under the Companies Act, 2013, every company (including a foreign company which has its branch or project office in India) which has:

i) net worth of at least Rs. 500 crores,

ii) turnover of at least Rs. 1000 crores

iii) a net profit of at least Rs. 5 crores during any financial year, is required to mandatorily allocate at least 2 percent of its profits (calculated as per the average net profits for the past three financial years) to CSR initiatives. (Section 135, Companies Act) 

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Which initiatives qualify as CSR initiatives? 

The activities enumerated in Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013 qualify as CSR initiatives and are listed below: 

  1. eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition, promoting preventive health care and sanitation and making available safe drinking water.
  2. Promoting education, including special education and employment enhancing vocation skills especially among children, women, elderly, and the differently abled and livelihood enhancement projects; 
  3. Promoting gender equality, empowering women, setting up homes and hostels for women and orphans; 
  4. Setting up old age homes, day care centres and such other facilities for senior citizens and measures for reducing inequalities faced by socially and economically backward groups; 
  5. Ensuring environmental sustainability, ecological balance, protection of flora and fauna, animal welfare, agro-forestry, conservation of natural resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and water; 
  6. Protection of national heritage, art and culture including restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art; setting up public libraries; promotion and development of traditional arts and handicrafts.
  7. Measures for the benefit of armed forces veterans, war widows and their dependents. 
  8. Training to promote rural sports, nationally recognised sports, para-olympics sports and Olympic sports; 
  9. Contribution to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund or any other fund set up by the Central Government for socio-economic development and relief and welfare of the Scheduled Caste, the Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes, minorities and women; contributions or funds provided to technology incubators located within academic institutions which are approved by the Central Government; 
  10. Rural development projects salaries paid to the company’s regular CSR staff and volunteers will be considered as part of CSR expenditure. 

The scope of the above-listed initiatives must be interpreted liberally, taking into account the broad essence of the above-enlisted initiatives. 

What initiatives do not count as CSR contributions? 

The Act excludes certain kinds of activities from the ambit of CSR, as follows: 

  • Any contribution made to a political party, either directly or indirectly will not be considered as CSR contribution. 
  • CSR contributions cannot be made in respect of activities which are undertaken by the company in the normal course of its business. 
  • Any contribution made only for the benefit of the employees of the company or their family will not be considered as CSR contribution. 
  • Any one-off event like marathons/ awards/ charitable contribution/ advertisement/ sponsorships of TV programmes, which is not part of the CSR project/programme will not be considered as CSR contribution. 
  • Expenses incurred by the company for the fulfilment of any Act/Statute or regulations (such as labour laws, land acquisition laws) will not be considered as CSR contribution. 

How should a company which is required to make CSR contributions comply with its obligations under the law?

Step 1: The Company should establish a CSR Committee of the Board of directors comprising of at least 3 directors, of which at least 1 must be an independent director. A private or an unlisted public company which is not required to appoint an independent director is exempted from appointing an independent director, or if it is a private company having only two directors, they are allowed to appoint only two such directors to the Committee. 

Step 2: The Company should create a CSR Policy specifying the following: 

  •  List of activities (from amongst those specified in Schedule VII of the Companies Act which can be undertaken) 
  • A monitoring process for such activities.
  • The policy must also specify 

Step 3: Preparation of Annual Report on CSR activities and inclusion of the must disclose the composition of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, CSR Policy, activities undertaken and expenditure as part of the Board’s report. The CSR policy of the company should also be disclosed in the report. Foreign companies operating in India should include the CSR report as an annex to their balance sheet. 

Step 4: In case the company has a website, the CSR policy (and activities) of the company should be disclosed on the website. 

Is it necessary for the company to execute the CSR activities by itself?

Note that as per the Companies Act, it is not necessary for a company to actively participate in CSR initiatives by itself – it is only required to make a financial contribution of 2 percent profits to CSR initiatives. It has the option to implement CSR activities through associated entities, but CSR initiatives it can also merely make a financial contribution towards CSR initiatives of other unrelated entities. It can even collaborate with other companies while running its initiatives. 

Note: That any project will be considered to be a CSR project only when it is undertaken through a registered society, a registered trust or a section 8 company (non-profit company). 

Such entities can be created by the company itself or its parent / sister companies (in case the CSR activities are proposed to be carried out through related entities). The entity must exclusively be created for the purpose of undertaking CSR activities or a special corpus has been created for executing a CSR initiative (as mentioned earlier). 

If the company is only interested in making a financial contribution to CSR initiatives of other entities, the company should ensure that the third party has an established track record of undertaking similar projects for at least three years. 

Can a company channelize profits from the CSR activity into its own business activities?

CSR activities may also generate profits. However, as per the rules, the surplus from any CSR activities cannot be part of business profits of the company – therefore, they must be kept separately. They cannot be ploughed back into the business of the company and must only be utilized in furtherance of the CSR responsibilities of the company. 

What are the consequences of non-compliance? 

In case of failure to provide details of CSR policies developed and implemented by the company (or in case of misstatements) in the report of the Board of Directors, the company and its officers who are responsible for the omission will also be liable to pay fine ranging from INR 50,000 to INR 25,00,000. In addition, they may face imprisonment of upto 3 years. 

Though there is no specific penalty provided for non-compliance with the spending requirement on CSR under Companies Act, 2013. However, Section 450 of the Companies Act, 2013 which is an overarching provision for punishing a company or its officers in case no specific punishment is provided for a particular offence in the Act states, any company or every officer of the company who are responsible for the omission will be liable to pay a fine of INR 10,000 along with INR 1,000 per day after the first day of non- compliance.

This provision can be applicable for not spending the mandatory contribution to be made for CSR under Companies Act, 2013. Though the applicable penalty is quite low in comparison with the liability under the Act; non-spending of mandatory contribution might lead to reputational risks for an organisation. 

Quiz

1.) In what year did the provisions for Corporate Social Responsibility came into force in India? 

A.) 2012 

B.) 2013 

C.) 2014 

D.) None of the above 

2.) Section 135 of the Companies Act requires every company whose turnover is above _______ to undertake Corporate Social Responsibility. 

A.) Rs. 100 crore or more 

B.) Rs. 1000 crore or more 

C.) Rs. 5000 crore or more 

D.) Rs. 2000 crore or more 

3.) What part of the net profit does a company need to spend on CSR activities? 

A.) at least 2% of its average net profit for the immediately preceding 4 financial years 

B.) at least 5% of its average net profit for the immediately preceding 2 financial years 

C.) at least 5% of its average net profit for the immediately preceding 3 financial years 

D.) at least 2% of its average net profit for the immediately preceding 3 financial years 

4.) How many Board of Directors are requred to constitute the CSR Committee? 

A.) At least 5 

B.) Only 4 

C.) At least 3 

D.) Maximum 2 

5.) Which of the following is not a function of the CSR Committee 

A.) recommend to the Board a policy which shall indicate the activities to be undertaken 

B.) recommend ways to increase net profit so as to increase the amount spent on CSR activities 

C.) recommend the amount of expenditure to be incurred on the activities referred 

D.) monitor the CSR Policy of the company 

6.) Would CSR activities undertaken outside India be taken into consideration as per the Companies Act? 

A.) Yes 

B.) No 

C.) Only for Public Companies 

D.) Only for One Person Companies 

7.) What is the maximum amount of penalty leviable on a company failing to fulfil its CSR responsibility? 

A.) 20 lakhs 

B.) 15 lakhs 

C.) 25 lakhs 

D.) None of the above 

8.) What is the maximum amount of penalty leviable on an officer of the company, who fails to fulfil its CSR responsibility? 

A.) 7 lakhs 

B.) 5 lakhs 

C.) 8 lakhs 

D.) 6 lakhs 

9.) Does a foreign company need to follow CSR laws of India? 

A.) Only if it falls under Section 380 of the Companies Act 

B.) Only if it falls under Section 2 (42) of the Companies Act 

C.) Both (1) and (2) are true 

D.) Neither (1) or (2) is true 

10.) Whether contribution to a political party be considered a valid activity under CSR Rules? 

A.) Yes, if the contribution is direct 

B.) Yes, only if the contribution is indirect 

C.) No 

D.) Both (1) and (2) are true 

11.) What is the maximum amount of net profits that a company can spend on CSR activities in a year? 

A.) 5% of profits of one yea

B.) 2% of profits of two years 

C.) 5% of profits of two years 

D.) None of the above 

12.) What is the minimum amount of penalty leviable on a company failing to fulfil its CSR responsibility? 

A.) 40000 

B.) 50, 000 

C.) 60000 

D.) 70000 

13.) What is the minimum amount of penalty leviable on an officer of the company, who fails to fulfil its CSR responsibility? 

A.) 10000 

B.) 20000 

C.) 30000 

D.) 50000 

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Role of National Courts in the International Commercial Arbitration

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This article is written by Suryansh Singh, a 3rd-year law student from Indore Institute of law. This article mainly discusses the role of domestic courts in influencing the International Commercial Arbitration process.

Introduction

As it can be seen that the colossal and radical boom in international trade and investment sector around the globe has resulted in the staggering growth of our economy. Though such tremendous growth in international trade and investment has tended to propel our economy, it most certainly gives rise to various contractual and trade disputes. Globalization has become one of the reasons which have triggered various countries of the world to take appropriate measures of dispute resolution.

One such mechanism is the International Commercial Arbitration which tends to resolve investment or trade disputes. Generally, people are in favor of the resolution through arbitration instead of getting it done by litigation, which is considered to be more time consuming and expensive.

However, judicial independence and intervention is also required in order to ensure fairness in the functioning of the arbitral process and for the protection of the interest of the public. The court’s supervision is required so that the arbitral system should not be damaged. Both the arbitral system and the judicial control should go hand in hand and the balance is to be maintained.

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Arbitration

In general, the term ‘Arbitration’ is used comprehensively in order to resolve disputes between the parties without the intervention of courts. It is a mechanism that is used as an alternative dispute resolution by the parties through there in order to get the dispute resolved. In the case of arbitration, the matter is presented before one or more arbitrators acting as a competent authority and the decision of the arbitrators is binding.

In India, the concept of Arbitration has been embedded under ‘The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996’. Section 2(1)(a) of the Act states that the term arbitration means any arbitration whether or not administered by a permanent arbitral institution.

International commercial arbitration

International Commercial Arbitration

International Commercial Arbitration is the mechanism used by parties to resolve any contractual or trade disputes arising out of international trade or investment. The process of this mechanism is free from the proceedings of the court. The mechanism of the International Commercial Arbitration is opted by parties in order to avoid the various technicalities and long procedures of the court.

This form of dispute resolution aims to resolve the matter economically or cost-efficiently and avoids unnecessary delays in its proceedings. The consent of the parties plays an important role in resolving the dispute arising on the matter referred to a competent authority who produces an award which can be enforced by the domestic courts.

Under section 2 (1)(f) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 the term International Commercial Arbitration means a mechanism of resolving disputes which arises out of legal or business relationships, whether possessing contractual character or not, considered as commercial, in the eyes of law in force in India and where one of the parties to the agreement who is not a  resident of India, any corporate body situated outside India, any association whose central authority or headquarter is situated in any other country or the government of any other country.

This process of dispute resolution tends to resolve any matter arising between the parties residing in different territories. They opt for this method to avoid the long procedure of the court and can get the matter resolved on their terms. This procedure is considered to be cost-efficient and less time-consuming.

This process of the arbitration includes all the terms and conditions that were already specified in the arbitration agreement and the award is produced on the basis of this arbitration agreement.

Indian perspective regarding international     commercial arbitration

As stated above, the mechanism of the International Commercial Arbitration is the process which deals with the contractual or trade dispute where the parties residing in different countries. This concept of International Commercial Arbitration is followed by  Indian law. When one of the parties involved in the matter is residing in a different country or is of foreign nationals and the arbitration seat is of India then in such case, the matter falls under the ambit of International Commercial Arbitration (Part I of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act). However, the matter falls under part II of the arbitration and conciliation Act if the seat is outside India.

What are the types of arbitration?

There are two types of International Commercial Arbitration popularly known as Ad Hoc and Institutional. Parties involved in the dispute have the liberty to choose either of the methods. Both Ad hoc and institutional commercial arbitration tend to resolve disputes on the basis of facts and circumstances of the matter with certain advantages and disadvantages to it.

Ad hoc arbitration

This type of dispute resolution is used by the parties involved in the matter free from arbitral assistance. The parties are obligated to specify all the aspects of this arbitration, for example, the procedure of conducting this arbitration, the number of arbitrators appointed for this matter, etc. 

Options available to parties who seek this type mechanism of arbitration in which the parties proceed without the rules drawn for them contains

  • Alteration in rules drawn by any arbitral institution.
  • Including or incorporating various procedures enacted by statute.
  • Including rules drawn with the very purpose of dealing with the matters (international or national disputes) of ad hoc arbitration.

Institutional arbitration

This type of dispute resolving mechanism is used by the parties involved in the matter in which there is an institution specialized with a character which aids the arbitration process as drawn and provided by such institution. It is essential to understand that it is the arbitrators that possess the power to arbitrate and not the institution.

The procedural structure regarding the arbitration process has been enshrined under the institutional rules. These institutional rules also lay down certain important factors which authorizes the arbitral institution to be the appointing authority in case if the parties involved in the matter can’t agree, aid or help arbitrators whenever required, chalk out the timetable for the proceedings of the matter and decide the place of arbitration, sets or decides the fees to be charged by the parties involved in the matter by the arbitrators and in certain conditions review the arbitral award in order to avoid the unenforceability.

These institutions provide assistance to the arbitrators chosen by the parties involved in the matter.

What are the basic features of institutional arbitration?

Following are the essential features of an institutional arbitration

The agreement to arbitrate

The institutional arbitration is formed on the consent of the parties involved in the matter. There exist two forms of agreements regarding arbitration.

(1)   Arbitration agreement enshrined with the arbitration clause referring the future disputes to arbitration.

(2)   A submission agreement formed after the dispute has arisen.

Generally, without a legally sanctioned arbitration agreement, the award may not be enforced under the New York convention.

The choice of the arbitrators

The parties involved in the matter are conferred with the power and are at full liberty to appoint their own arbitrators who may possess extraordinary skills and knowledge regarding the subject matter of the dispute.

The decisions of the arbitral tribunal

The decision of the arbitral tribunal is in the form of an award which is final and binding on the parties involved in the matter. These arbitral awards are not subjected to any formal appeal, though the decision of the arbitral tribunal can be questioned.

The enforcement of the award

Awards issued by the arbitral tribunal courts are enforceable and binding on the parties involved in the matter. It can be enforced at an international parameter under the New York convention.

What is the role of the judiciary in the International Commercial Arbitration?

The question always arises on whether the intervention of the judiciary in the process of arbitration is required. Parties seek the process of arbitration in order to resolve the matter promptly, economically. It is argued that the arbitral process shall be free from any kind of judicial intervention in order to remain effective, but it is also contended that the role of courts in the arbitral process is necessary in order to impart just and fair decision. So in order to neutralize the following contentions, various laws and rules were formulated.

What are the theories behind judicial intervention?

In order to ascertain the level at which judicial intervention should take place must depend upon the essential nature of the arbitration. There are three different theories formulated on the particular issue. The first theory emphasizes the arbitration agreement and the arbitral award which should be considered similar to a court judgment. The second theory states that the award generated from an arbitration agreement is inseparable.

Thus an arbitral award falls under the ambit of contract and is slightly different from a court judgment. The third theory states that an arbitral award is similar to a court judgment only when the order of the court is needed for the enforcement, thus theory is considered to be a compromise between the first and second theory.

These three theories are popularly known as “jurisdictional theory”, the “contractual theory” and the “mixed theory”. Later on, a fourth theory was also developed which was known as the autonomous theory.

The jurisdictional theory

According to this theory arbitral process lies under the ambit of law, and a state is conferred with the power to regulate its process. While the theory states that the arbitral process in an independent process and is formed on an agreement between the parties involved in the matter but the validity of the agreement and the award, the powers conferred on the arbitrators and the enforceability of the award depends upon the law.

The parties to the matter are permitted by the law to resolve the matter through arbitration. Even after having extremely similar functions the only distinction between the arbitral process and the function of the court is that the arbitrators are appointed by the parties involved in the matter and judges are appointed by the state. This theory mainly focuses on the power of state law over the arbitral process.

 Contractual theory

This theory states that arbitration is based on an agreement formed between the parties involved in the matter in order to resolve the dispute. It gives importance to the contractual character of the arbitration agreement. Without an agreement, no parties can compel another to arbitrate a dispute however there certain situations in which the parties can be compelled to arbitrate for example compulsory arbitration.

Issues relating to the constitution of the arbitral tribunal is to be decided through an arbitration agreement. It is due to the arbitration agreement that the award issued by the arbitral tribunal is enforced and recognized.

 Fixed or hybrid theory

This theory is considered to be a compromise between the jurisdictional theory and the contractual theory. According to this theory, arbitration is a private agreement between the parties with the exclusive jurisdiction of the court in the dispute.

 Autonomous theory

This theory establishes a new perception regarding the process of arbitration. According to this theory, arbitration is an independent system. In order to remain effective and retain its true nature, it shall remain autonomous and free from any kind of judicial intervention.   

What is the role played by domestic courts in International Commercial Arbitration?

Courts play an important role in modern commercial arbitration and it’s as the involvement of the court in the arbitral process is necessary to protect evidence and to avoid damages. It recognizes the arbitration agreement between the parties involved in the matter and enforces the arbitral award. The role of domestic courts in International Commercial Arbitration is considered to be very crucial.

The Arbitration agreement

An arbitration is formed on an agreement between the parties involved in the matter which is legally sanctioned and binding on the parties. Under the New York Convention and the UNCITRAL model law requires that in order to take recourse of arbitration parties must initiate an agreement which then is referred to the court in order to determine its validity and whether to enforce it.

Arab African energy corp. ltd v. Olieproduckten Nederland BB.

In the instant case, the courts adopted a more progressive and comprehensive approach in interpreting the legality of an arbitration agreement.

Courts while determining the validity of the arbitration clause emphasizes the substance rather than on form. New York conventions and the model law directs the courts of contracting states to refer the matter for the arbitral process in order to resolve the dispute. The arbitration agreement is generally enforced by the courts, where the matter is of public policy.

Mitsubishi v. Solar Chrysler Plymouth Inc. 42 U.S 614(1985)

In the instant case the US Supreme Court in spite of public policy issues, by sustaining appeal where the federal court assumes exclusive jurisdiction in the matters in spite of arbitration agreement.

The domestic courts play a crucial role in validating the parties autonomy requiring them to resolve the dispute by referring the matter for arbitration where they have mutual consent to accept the terms of the valid arbitration agreement. Under certain situations, if a party to the valid agreement goes to the court for litigation and another party invokes the jurisdiction of the agreement then the court is bound to stay any action brought before it.

Boart Sweden AB v. NYA Stromnes AB(1992), 50 C.L.R.74(B.C.S.C.)

In the instant case it was stated that parties giving their consent in a contract where the claim is to be decided by the arbitrators instead of taking the assistance of the court, the parties shall be bound to hold that contract.

Chastain v. Robinson-Humphrey Co.957 F. 2d 851(11th Cr. 1992)

In the instant case, the Chastain court held that a contract signed by the parties under the normal circumstances within the purview of an arbitration provision becomes a sufficient ground for the court to send any dispute for arbitration. Under these circumstances, the parties mutually agree to resolve any dispute through the arbitral process including the from the validity of the contract.

Challenges to the arbitrators

Arbitrators are the authorities appointed by the parties involved in the matter in order to give an independent and unbiased performance in order to resolve the dispute. The arbitrators can be challenged by the parties if they failed to execute their functions properly. Generally, the courts intervene to set aside the awards issued if any question is raised regarding the decision of the tribunal which is considered to be partial or biased

Szilard v Szaz

In the instant case, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that parties involved in the matter must enjoy a sense of confidence and suspicion that the arbitrator is partial which will render an award being set aside.

There is a distinction between the term impartiality and independence. As enshrined under the English arbitration act 1996 impartiality becomes the ground for the parties involved in the matter to challenge the appointment of the arbitrators.

 AT&T Corporation v. Saudi Cables corp.

In the instant case, the court set aside the award issued by the arbitrator due to the nondisclosure of the business even though actual impartiality was not established.

The domestic court in order to maintain a fair and independent arbitral process keeps a check on the arbitrators. The domestic courts generally perform their supervisory jurisdiction to ensure impartial resolution of the disputes.

The island territory of curacao v. solitron device Inc.

In the instant case, the court decided not to set aside award even when the grounds of objection were known but were not taken promptly.

Interim measures by the domestic court

Domestic court possesses the power of taking interim measures on application by the parties under certain circumstances including such measures that may appear fair and convenient to the courts.

Domestic courts assistance while taking the evidence

Article 27 enshrined under the model law states that either the arbitral tribunal or the parties involved in the matter after taking the approval of the tribunal can approach the court seeking its assistance in taking evidence. After the request made by the arbitral tribunal or the parties, the court may under its jurisdiction execute the request to its rules on taking evidence. Under the model law parties to the matter are not at liberty to give consent to preclude the court’s competence in taking evidence.

If the domestic court’s assistance promotes International Commercial Arbitration instead of emphasizing the national arbitration laws then the scope of article 27 and other various provisions remains narrow in the ambit of national arbitration laws.

Recognising and enforcement of awards by domestic courts

An arbitration agreement and the award becomes binding when it is enforced by the courts. The party satisfying the award shall invoke powers of the courts in order to enforce the award and make it legally sanctioned like a courts judgment.

Under the New York Convention, the court’s intervention to enforce an award is regarding the matter related to public policy.

In the instant case of Soleimany v Soleimany, the English court under its competence denied enforcing the award based on the grounds of public policy as the contract between the parties was subject to the criminality of tax evasion.

Any sort of uncertainty or ambiguity in the arbitral process can be challenged by the parties to the matter or the parties are conferred with the power to appeal if there is any substantial question of law arising out of the award. In order to become an effective resolution mechanism, the arbitration recognizes the role of domestic courts. It is the duty of the domestic court to preserve the integrity of the arbitral process.

The concept of Arbitrability

The concept of arbitrability generally deals with the matters which are to be settled through arbitration and which is closely linked to the state policy. It depends upon the court to decide whether the dispute is arbitrable nature or not.

The concept of Separability

The concept of separability means an agreement of arbitration which retains its contractual character and exists independently. Domestic courts acting as a direct source for arbitral tribunals authority has also been recognized by the concept of separability.

Heyman v. darwins ltd.(1942) AC 356

In the instant case, the court held that even if the contract fails the arbitration clause relating to the matter will survive in order to resolve the dispute.

The concept of competence- competence

The principle of competence-competence is loosely based on article 16 of the UNCITRAL under which it has been stated that the arbitral tribunal may operate from its own jurisdictional competence with compliance to the existing arbitration agreement. For this instance, an arbitration clause consisting of a part of a contract shall be treated as agreement free from other contractual terms. Coming down from the concept of separability, the arbitral tribunal is conferred with the power to determine their own competence to determine the matter. Following international conventions and standards confer rights on the tribunal which is recognized by the courts.

The foundation of this concept is based on the tribunal’s competence to rule on its own jurisdiction even though the decision of the tribunal may be altered or cancelled by the court.

 Dalmia dairy industries v. National bank of Pakistan,(1978) 2 Lloyds’ Rep.223

In the instant case, the English court of appeal validated the rule of ICC conferring power on the arbitrators to decide the dispute or matter in their own competence.

SNE v. Joc oil case

In the instant case, the arbitral tribunal issued the award over the matter by assuming its competence through the concept of competence-competence. This decision was backed up by the court of appeal of Bermuda.

By conferring the right over the arbitral tribunal to determine their competence decreases the intervention of domestic courts and promotes International Commercial Arbitration. 

Conclusion

It can be concluded that arbitration is an alternative mechanism used by the parties involved in the matter in order to resolve the dispute. Under this process the parties through mutual consent enter into an agreement and award is issued by the arbitral tribunal which is to be enforced by the court. Thus arbitration needs the assistance of the court in order to remain effective. As it can be seen that with the colossal and radical boom in the international trade and investment around the globe has resulted in the staggering growth of our economy.

Though such tremendous growth in international trade and investment has tend to propel our economy it most certainly gives rise to various contractual and trade disputes. Globalization has become one of the reasons which have triggered various countries of the world to take appropriate measures of dispute resolution.

One such mechanism is the International Commercial Arbitration which tends to resolve investment or trade disputes. Generally, people are in favour of the resolution through arbitration instead of getting it done by litigation, which is considered to be more time consuming and expensive.

However, judicial independence and intervention are also required in order to ensure fairness in the functioning of the arbitral process and for the protection of the interest of the public. The courts supervision is required so that the arbitral system should not be damaged. Both the arbitral system and the judicial control should go hand in hand and the balance is to be maintained.

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Important Pointers about the Sources & Schools of Hindu law

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This article is written by Suryansh Singh, a 3rd-year law student from Indore Institute of law. This article mainly discusses the schools of Hindu law acting as the major source in developing the roots of Hindu law.

Introduction of Hindu Law

Hindu law is considered to be the most ancient and prolific law in the world. It has been around every phase. It is about 6000 years old. Hindu law has been established by the people, not for the purpose of removing any crime or transgression from society but it was established so that the people will follow it in order to attain salvation. Originally Hindu law was established so that the need of the people gets fulfilled. The concept was initiated for the welfare of the people.

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Sources of Hindu law

There is the two-fold classification of the sources of the Hindu law

  • Ancient sources

  • Modern sources 

Sources of hindu law
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Ancient source 

Ancient sources are the source that developed the concept of Hindu law in ancient times. It is further classified into four categories

  • Shruti
  • Smriti
  • Customs
  • Digest and commentaries

Shruti 

The term Shruti means what has been heard. It contains the sacred words of the god. This source is considered to be the most important and essential source of all. Shruti’s are the sacred pure utterance that has been enshrined in the Vedas and the Upanishads. They have religious nexus with a person and helps him in a way to attain the knowledge of salvation and incarnation. It is considered to be the primitive source containing the knowledge of the law.

Smritis

Smritis are considered as text which has been remembered and then interpreted by the rishis throughout the generation. There is a further classification of the term Smrities which are as follows

  • Dharma Sutra (Prose) 
  • Dharmashastras (Poetry).

Commentaries and digest

The third ancient source of Hindu law is commentaries and digestives. Commentaries and digestives have expanded the scope of Hindu law. It played a very major role in developing the very concept of Hindu law. It helped in the interpretation of the smritis. Single interpretation of the smritis is called as a commentary while different interpretations of the smritis is known as digestive. Dayabhaga and Mitakshara are considered to be the two most important commentaries.  

Customs 

Customs is the tradition that has been practiced in society since ancient times. It is the type of practice which is under the continuous observation of the people has been followed by the people. 

Further, the customs have been classified into two categories-

  • Legal customs 
  • Conventional customs

Legal customs

Legal custom is those customs which are enforceable or sanctioned by law. It can’t be deemed invalid until the law itself declares it invalid. There are two types of legal customs.

Local customs 

Local customs are the customs that are practiced in a local area. This type of custom is not highly recognized.

General customs

General customs are the customs or traditions which are practiced in a large area. This type of custom is highly recognized by people.

Conventional customs

Conventional customs are customs that are related to the incorporation of an agreement and it is conditional. 

What are the essentials of a custom?

Following are the essential points which constitute a custom-

  • A customs must be continuous in practice
  • A custom should not be vague or ambiguous
  • A  custom must have time antiquity
  • There must be a complete observation of the custom
  • It should be certain and clear
  • A custom must not oppose the public policy which will affect the interest of the general public.

Deivanai Achi v. chidambaram (1954) Mad. 667.

In the instant case it was held that in order to become legally sanctioned by law and binding on the people a custom must be continuous in practice, it should not be vague and ambiguous and should not oppose the well established public policy. A customary rule must be in the complete observation of society.

Laxmi v. bhagwantbuva AIR 2013 SC 1204

In the instant case, the supreme court stated that a custom becomes legally enforceable when the majority of people make the continuous use of such practice.

Onus 

Generally when a custom attains the judicial recognition no further proof is required, however in certain cases where the customary practices do not attain the judicial recognition, the burden of proving lies on the person who alleges its existence.

Munna lal v. Raj Kumar AIR 1972 SC 1493

In the instant case the supreme court stated that a custom brought before a court several times, the court might hold that such custom has been enforced by the law with the necessity of its proof.

Modern sources

Judicial Decisions 

judicial decisions are considered to be the most important ingredient of modern sources. Judicial decision is considered to be authoritative and binding. The doctrine of precedent was established and it was applied in the cases resembling the same facts and circumstances of a case already decided.

The legislation is considered to be the codification of customs which plays an essential role in expanding the concept of Hindu law. Legislations are enacted by the parliament.

Justice equity and good conscience

Justice equity and good conscience is the basic rule of law. This rule of law applies when an existing law doesn’t apply in a case before the court decides the particular matter by applying its rationality and the concept of justice equity and good conscience.

This rule is considered to be the fairest and reasonable option available to a person.

In Gurunath v Kamlabai the supreme court held that in the absence of any existing law the rule of justice equity and good conscience was applied.

Kanchava v. girimalappa (1924) 51 IA 368

In the instant case, the privy council barred the murderer from inheriting the property of the victim.

Legislation

The legislation is considered to be the most important source of Hindu law. It is considered as a base for the growth of Hindu law in the modern world. It has been stated that in order to meet the new conditions of the society it became a necessity to codify the law. 

schools of hindu law

Schools of Hindu law

Schools of Hindu law are considered to are the commentaries and the digestives of the smritis. These schools have widened the scope of Hindu law and explicitly contributed to its development.

The two major schools of Hindu law are as follows-

  • Mitakshara 
  • Daya Bhaga

Mitakshara 

Mitakshara School: Mitakshara is one of the most important schools of Hindu law. It is a running commentary of the Smriti written by Yajnvalkya. This school is applicable in the whole part of India except in West Bengal and Assam. The Mitakshara has a very wide jurisdiction. However different parts of the country practice law differently because of the different customary rules followed by them.

Mitakshara is further divided  into five sub-schools namely

  • Benaras Hindu law school
  • Mithila law school
  • Maharashtra law school
  • Punjab law school
  • Dravida or madras law school

These law schools come under the ambit of Mitakshara law school. They enjoy the same fundamental principle but differ in certain circumstances.

Benaras law school

This law school comes under the authority of the Mitakshara law school and covers  Northern India including Orissa. Viramitrodaya Nirnyasindhu vivada are some of its major commentaries.

Mithila law school

This law school exercises its authority in the territorial parts of tirhoot and north Bihar. The principles of the law school prevail in the north. The major commentaries of this school are Vivadaratnakar, Vivadachintamani, smritsara.

Maharashtra or Bombay law school

The Maharashtra law school has the authority to exercise its jurisdiction over the territorial parts including Gujarat Karana and the parts where there is the Marathi language is proficiently spoken. The main authorities of these schools are Vyavhara Mayukha, Virmitrodaya, etc.

Madras law school

This law school tends to cover the whole southern part of India. It also exercises its authorities under Mitakshara law school. The main authorities of this school are Smriti Chandrika, Vaijayanti, etc.

Punjab law school

This law school was predominantly established in east Punjab. It had established its own customs and traditions. The main commentaries of this school are viramitrodaya and it established customs.

Dayabhaga school

Dayabhaga school predominantly prevailed in Assam and West Bengal. This is also one of the most important schools of hindu laws. It is considered to be a digest for the leading smritis. Its primary focus was to deal with partition, inheritance and joint family. According to Kane, it was incorporated in between 1090-1130 A.D.

Dayabhaga school was formulated with a view to eradicating all the other absurd and artificial principles of inheritance. The immediate benefit of this new digest is that it tends to remove all the shortcomings and limitations of the previously established principles and inclusion of many cognates in the list of heirs,  which was restricted by the Mitakshara school.

In Dayabhaga school various other commentaries were followed such as:

  • Dayatatya 
  • Dayakram-sangrah 
  • Virmitrodaya
  • Dattaka chandrika

What is the difference between Mitakshara and Dayabhaga school?

The difference in relation to the joint property

  1. Under Mitakshara school right to ancestral property arises by birth. Hence the son becomes the co-owner of the property sharing similar rights as of fathers. While in Dayabhaga school the right to ancestral property is only given after the death of the last owner. It does not recognise the birth right of any individual over an ancestral property.
  2. Under the Mitakshara school the father does not possess the absolute right to alienate the property but in daya bhaga the father has absolute right of alienation of the ancestral property as he is the sole owner of that property during his lifetime.
  3. Under Mitakshara school the son attains the right to become the co-owner of the property he can ask for the partition of the ancestral property even against the father and can demand for his share but in case of Dayabhaga school son has no right to ask for the partition of ancestral property against his father.
  4. Under Mitakshara school the survivorship rule is prevalent. In case of the death of any member in the joint family, his interest shall pass to other members of the family. While in case of Dayabhaga school the interest of the member on their death shall pass on to their heirs like widow, son, daughters.
  5. Under the Mitakshara school the members can’t dispose of their share of property while undivided while in daya bhaga the members of the family enjoys absolute right dispose off their property.

The difference as regards to inheritance

  • Under Mitakshara the rule of blood relationship or consanguinity is followed in case of inheritance whereas in case of Dayabhaga school the inheritance is governed by the rule of the offering of pinda.
  • Under Mitakshara school the cognates are postponed to agnates or not preferred upon agnates while in case of Dayabhaga cognates are preferred upon the agnates.
  • Mitakshara school expanded its recognition to a very limited extent in regards to the recognition of the doctrine of factum valet but Dayabhaga, on the other hand, has expanded it recognition to the full extent.
  • Under the Hindu law the difference between the Mitakshara school and the Dayabhaga school is not recognised as in the present scenario there exists one uniform law of succession for all the Hindus.

The doctrine of factum valet

The doctrine of “factum valet quod fieri non debuit” means what ought not to be done becomes valid when done. This principle was formulated by the authors of the Dayabhaga school and was recognised to a limited extent by the followers of the Mitakshara school. The doctrine of factum valet states that once an act is done or a fact is accomplished it can’t be altered by the written texts of laws. As the fact is considered to be a concrete establishment and is deemed to be legally binding.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that Hindu law is considered to be the most ancient and prolific laws in the world. It has been around every phase. It is about 6000 years old. Hindu law has been established by the people, not for the purpose of removing any crime or transgression from society but it was established so that the people will follow it in order to attain salvation. Originally Hindu law was established so that the need of the people gets fulfilled. The concept was initiated in for the welfare of the people. There is the two-fold classification of the sources of the Hindu law

  • Ancient sources
  • Modern sources 

Schools of Hindu law are considered to be the basic source of Hindu law which constituted in the development of the Hindu law from its roots. It is also known as the commentaries and the digestives of the smritis. These schools have widened the scope of Hindu law and explicitly contributed in its development.

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Marriage under Muslim Law

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This article is written by Khushi Rastogi, a student at Symbiosis Law School, Noida. In this article, she discusses various types of Muslim marriages, registration and dissolution of marriages under Muslim law.

Introduction

Marriage under Islam is a matrimonial relation and an institution which legalizes the sexual activities between a male and female for the object of procreation of kids, promotion of love, mutual support and creation of families which are considered an essential unit in a society. Just like Hinduism, Islam is also a strong advocate of marriage. However, the Muslim conception of marriage differs from the Hindu conception according to which marriage is not a mere civil contract but a sacrament. According many philosophers, marriage in Islam is a religious duty. Everyone must marry in order to fulfil one’s desire of procreation of kids legally.

Muslim law has been derived from various codified and uncodified sources like- Quran, Ijma, Qiyas, customs, urf, precedents, equity and various legislations. There are 4 major sunni school of thoughts- hanifa, hamabli, maliki and shafai. These four schools recognize each other’s validity and they have interacted in legal debate over the centuries. In India, Hanifa school of Islamic law is dominant.

The general essentials of a Muslim Niqah are:

  • Parties must have capacity to marry.
  • Proposal (ijab) and acceptance (qubool).
  • Free consent of both the parties.
  • A consideration (mehr).
  • No legal Impediment.
  • Sufficient witnesses (different in shia and sunni).

Classification of Marriage

Valid (sahih)

When all the legal requirements are fulfilled and there are no prohibitions affecting the parties, then the marriage is correct or ‘sahih’. The prohibitions can be permanent as well as temporary, in case of  permanent prohibitions: the marriage will be void and if the prohibitions are temporary then the marriage is irregular.

Effects of a valid marriage

  •  The cohabitation between the husband and the wife becomes lawful.
  • The children born out of a valid marriage are legitimate and they have right to inherit their parent’s properties.
  • Mutual rights of inheritance between husband and wife are established. That is to say, after the death of the husband, the wife is entitled to inherit the husband’s properties and after the wife’s death, husband may also inherit her properties.
  •  Prohibited relationship for purposes of marriage is created between the husband and wife and each of them is prohibited to marry the relations of the other within prohibited degrees.
  • The wife’s right to claim dower is fully established just after the completion of marriage.
  • The marriage gives to the wife also the right of maintenance from her husband with immediate effect.
  • After the dissolution of the marriage, the widow or the divorced wife is under an obligation to observe the Iddat, during which she cannot remarry.

Void (Batil)

The marriage being void ab initio creates no rights or obligations and the children born out of such marriage are illegitimate. A marriage forbidden by the rules of blood relationship, affinity or fosterage is void. Similarly, a marriage with the wife of another or a divorced wife during iddah period is also void.

Irregular (Fasid)

Due to lack of some formality, or the existence of an impediment which can be rectified, a marriage becomes irregular, However, this irregularity is not permanent in nature and can be removed. Thus, the marriage itself is not unlawful. It can be made valid once the prohibitions are rectified. Marriage in such circumstances or with following prohibitions are called ‘Fasid’.

  1. A marriage contracted without required number of witnesses;
  2. A marriage with women during her Iddat period;
  3. A marriage with women without the consent of her guardian when such consent is considered necessary;
  4. A marriage prohibited on account of difference of religion;
  5. A marriage with a woman who is pregnant, when the pregnancy was not caused by adultery or fornication;
  6. A marriage with a fifth wife.

Muta or Nikah mut’ah

The term literally means “pleasure marriage”. Muta marriage is a temporary agreement for a limited time period, upon which both the parties agreed. There is no prescribed minimum or maximum time limit, it can be for a day, a month or year(s). The marriage dissolves itself after the expiration of the decided period, however if no such time limit was expressed or written, the marriage will be presumed permanent. This type of marriage is seen as prostitution by the Sunni Muslims and thus, is not approved by Sunnis. 

However, it is considered legitimate by the Twelver Shia sect, which is predominant in Iran and constitutes 90% of India’s Shia population. In Iran, the word mut’ah is only from time to time utilized and this practice is called ‘sigah’. The rules for sigah are fixed for eg- the contract for temporary marriage can be attracted for one hour to 99 years; it can’t be for an indeterminate period. This provision distinguishes mut’a from nikah or lasting marriage, which has no time limit. However, just like in nikah, in sigah too, the bride must get some monetary benefit.

No witnesses are required for mut’ah. And just like in any other contract, the woman being a party can lay down conditions for her sexual union throughout this time limit, this can also include her daily maintenance. Her temporary husband must respect these conditions. The marriage automatically dissolves at the end of the stated period. No matter how short the duration was, the woman has to practice abstinence lasting up to two menstrual cycles.

Interesting part is that, the temporary husband and wife can renew the contract but the husband must regardless of this pay the amount to the bride. Husband has a unilateral right to revoke the marriage-mark of his superior position in the relationship. But the woman can refuse to be intimate with him or even leave him, but in such case, she must return back the amount she received from him.

India is a country that has partially approved live-in relationships; However, it will still be quite difficult for the Supreme Court to constitutionally invalidate this form of marriage. In modern day era, where feminists all across the globe see this arrangement equivalent to prostitution. There are many advocates of Nikah mut’ah who believe that being a contract, this arrangement is superior to the live- in relationships.

Registeration of Marriage under Muslim Law 

Registration of marriage in Muslims is compulsory and mandatory, as a Muslim marriage is treated as a civil contract. According to section 3 of Muslim Marriages Registration Act 1981- “Every marriage contracted between Muslims after the commencement of this Act, shall be registered as hereinafter provided, within thirty days from the conclusion of the Nikah Ceremony”. Nikahnama is a type of legal document in Muslim marriages which contains the essential conditions/details of the marriage.

According to this act, a Nikahnama contains:

  1. Place of marriage (with sufficient particulars to locate the Place.)
  1. Full name of the bridegroom
  2. Age
  3. Address
  4. Full name of bridegroom’s father
  5. Whether father is alive or dead
  6. Civil condition of the bridegroom at the time of marriage whether – Unmarried Widower Divorced Married, and if so, how many wives are alive
  7. Signature or thumb impression of the bridegroom/Vakil/ Guardian according as the Nikah was performed in person by the bridegroom or through his Vakil or Guardian
  8. Full name of Nikah-Khan (that is the person conducting the Nikah Ceremony.)
  9. Signature of the Nikah-Khan (i.e person conducting the Nikah Ceremony with date.) 
  10. Amount of dower fixed
  11. Manner of payment of dower 
  12. Name of witnesses with parentage, residence and address
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Dissolution of Marriage

There are 2 categories of divorce under Muslim law:

  • Judicial 
  • Extra-Judicial

The Extra-judicial mode of Divorce can further be divided into 3 subdivisions:

  1. By husband- talaaq, ila, and zihar.
  2. By wife- talaaq-i-tafweez, lian 
  3. By mutual agreement- khula and mubarat

A divorce falls into 2 categories:

Talaaq-i-sunnat

It can further be divided into two categories:

i) Talaaq-i-ahsan

A single pronouncement of divorce is made during the period of tuhr (the period of purity between two menstrual cycles), followed by abstinence from sexual intercourse during the period of iddat. Here, the divorce can be revoked at any time before the completion of iddat, thus preventing hasty and unreasonable divorces.

ii) Talaaq-i-hasan

A husband is required to pronounce a formula of Talaaq three times, during three successive tuhrs. It is important that pronouncements are made when no intercourse takes place during any period of tuhr. The marriage is dissolved irrevocably, regardless to the period of iddat.

Talaaq-i-Biddat

It is a form of Islamic divorce which is instant in nature. It allows any Muslim man to legally divorce his wife by stating the word “Talaaq” three times in oral, written, or more recently, electronic form. This is prevalent among the Muslims in India, especially among the adherents Hanafi school of Islam. This is also known as “Triple Talaaq” and has been a subject to debate and controversy.

In Shayara Bano V. Union of India and Ors. It was submitted that:

“This practice of talaq-e-biddat (unilateral triple-talaq) which practically treats women like chattel is neither harmonious with modern principles of human rights and gender equality, nor an integral part of Islamic faith, according to various noted scholars. Muslim women are subjected to such to such gross practices which treats them as chattel, thereby violating their fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution. The practice also wreaks havoc to the lives of many divorced women and their children, especially those belonging to the weaker economic sections of the society.”

There have been many cases in High courts and the supreme court, where the court invalidated the instant triple talaaq. In Shamim Ara V. State of U.P, the court observed that:

The correct law of Talaaq as ordained in Holy Quran is that:

  1. There must be a reasonable cause for the divorce.
  2. The declaration of divorce must be preceded by attempts of reconciliation between husband and wife by 2 arbitrators. If the attempts fail, then only the divorce will come into effect.

Supreme court in August 2017 declared Triple Talaaq as “unconstitutional”. The Modi Government introduced a bill called The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 and presented it in the Parliament which was passed on 28 December 2017 by the Lok Sabha. The bill makes moment triple (talaq-e-biddat) in any structure spoken, recorded as a hard copy or by electronic methods, for example, email, SMS and WhatsApp unlawful and void, with as long as three years of imprisonment for the husband. 

However, one of the principle conflicts against the proposed enactment has consistently been its acknowledgment of a common offense as a cognisable and non-bailable offence.

Conclusion

The notions of Muta marriage can be evidently seen in our country. In India, temporary marriage is not recognized, although there exists few who contract Muta marriage but such marriages are not enforceable in court. Hyderabad is considered to be the epicentre of the practice where marriage can be instituted for time span as short as one or two days. In a Hyderabad case it was held that there is no difference between muta for an unspecified period and a muta for life; a permanent nikah marriage for life can be contracted by the use of word muta also; specification of the period for which a muta marriage is contracted alone makes a marriage a temporary marriage for the period specified.

The practice of Temporary “Muta” marriage is widespread in the modern times and often arranged by Imams and other Islamic leaders in Europe, America (Shia parts of Dearborn, Michigan), and in the Middle east. It is commonly the destitute widows and orphaned girls that are within the clutches of temporary marriage who are often sold to old men. For the women, there is no desire or pleasure that drives them into such misery; it is the extreme means to pay the rent and feed themselves and their children. As a result, this arrangement has received widespread criticism by various countries as it impliedly encouraging legalization of prostitution.

The conflicts over the rights of minority women are best dealt with by creating new representative bodies which have special provisions to ensure that women are sufficiently represented. In the Shah Bano case, this would have meant creating a new mechanism to administer Muslim personal law instead of simply recognizing the Muslim Personal Law Board as the legitimate representative of the Muslim community. Creating a new mechanism is more sensitive to the political reality of Muslims in India, which is that they consist of widely dispersed groups characterized by significant differences. It would also make some provision to ensure that Muslim women have some access to the institutions which make the rules which govern their lives. 

References

  • Ahmed, Akbar S. Discovering Islam: Making Sense of Muslim History and Society.
  •  New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul Inc., 1988. Brass, Paul.
  • R. Ethnicity and Nationalism: Theory and Comparison. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 1991.
  • Language, Religion and Politics in India. London: Cambridge University Press, 1974. 
  • The Politics of India since Independence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990. 
  • Brydon, Lynne and Sylvia Chant. Women in the Third World. London: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 1989.
  •  Bumiller, Elisabeth. May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons: A Journey Among the Women of India. New Delhi: Penguin Books India, 1990. Carroll, Lucy. 
  • “Muslim Family Law in South Asia: Important Decisions Regarding Maintenance for Wives and Ex-Wives.
  • Women and Society in India. Delhi: Ajanta Publications, 1987. Everett, Jana M. Woman and Social Change in India. 
  • New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1979. Engineer, Asghar Ali. (ed.)The Shah Bano Controversy. Hyderabad, India: Orient Longman, 1987.

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BarHacker: Leading Cases & Quiz on Professional Misconduct

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BarHacker: Professional Misconduct. Find out the leading cases on professional misconduct and brace your concepts by solving an exhaustive quiz.

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  1. Noratanmal Chaurasia vs. M.R. Murli (2004) 5 SCC 689– The Supreme court has held that misconduct has not been defined in the Advocates Act, 1966 but misconduct envisages breach of discipline, although it would not be possible to lay down exhaustively as to what would constitute misconduct and indiscipline which however, is wide enough to include wrongful omission or commission, whether done or omitted to be done intentionally or unintentionally. 
  1. Narain Pandey vs. Pannalal Pandey (2013) 11 SCC 435 – An advocate who is found guilty of having filed vakalatnamas without authority and then filing false and fictitious compromises on behalf of the client without any authority deserves punishment proportionate to the degree of misconduct. Such punishment must meet two objectives- deterrence and correction. The Court referred to the Preamble of the BCI Rules- Chapter II while adjudging the misconduct. 
  2. Shambhuram Yadav vs. Hanumandas Khatri AIR 2001 SC 2509- The lawyer suggested that his client give bribe to the judge to get the suit decided in his favour. The Supreme Court held the lawyer guilty of professional misconduct. (Violation of Rule 3 and 4 of BCI Rules- – Chapter II)
  3. Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh vs. Kurapati Satyanarayana AIR 2003 SC 178– Lawyer misappropriated his client’s money. BCI acquitted him on the ground that there was no intention. Supreme Court held this decision of BCI to be “unfounded and perverse” and lacking the serious thought which was required to be given to the disciplinary committee of the BCI in the discharge of quasi-judicial functions while probing into such grave instances. (Rule 23 and 25 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II)
  4. Harish Chandra Tiwari vs. Baiju 2002 (2) SCC 67- Misappropriation of client’s money is a grave misconduct to be committed by a legal practitioner, and must be punished accordingly under the Advocates Act. (Rule 23 and 25 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II)
  5. Smt. Siya Bai vs. Sita Ram BCI Tr. Case No. 8/1987– The advocate withdrew the decretal amounts paid and did not make the payment to the client, in violation of Rule 27 of the BCI Rules on Professional Ethics. The Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council of India ordered the advocate to refund the money to the complainant along with the 10% interest per annum and also ordered suspension of advocate for a period of one year. 
  6. In Re: An Advocate vs. Unknown AIR 1961 Ker 209- It is the imperative duty of the counsel on receipt of the client’s decretal money, to inform the client thereof and pay him without the amount under receipt without any delay. The Kerala High Court suspended the respondent for a period of six months, for non-fulfillment of this duty under Rule 27 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II.
  7. Bar Council of Maharashtra vs. V. Dabholkar and others AIR 1976 SC 242- The Bar Council functions in a dual capacity, one as the prosecutor through its Executive Committee and the other quasi-judicial performed through its Disciplinary Committee. Hence, being the prosecutor, the State Bar Council would be an ‘aggrieved person’ and therefore, the appeal under section 38 of the Advocates Act, 1961 would be maintainable.
  8. PD Khandekar vs Bar Council of Maharashtra 1984 SCR (1) 414- It is professionally improper for a member of the bar to prepare false documents, or to draw pleadings knowing that the allegations made are untrue to his knowledge. Thus, giving of improper legal advice may amount to professional misconduct, which may not be so by the giving of wrong legal advice. (Violation of Rule 11 of the BCI Rules-Chapter II) 
  9. Hikmat Ali Khan vs Ishwar Prasad Arya AIR 1997 SC 864- The defendant assaulted his opponent with a knife. Prosecuted under Section 307 of IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act. Conviction suspended on basis of a letter from the governor. Supreme Court held that his conduct was such that his name should be removed from the state role of advocates as he was unworthy of remaining in the profession after the conviction. (Rule 7A of Chapter III of BCI Rules) 
  10. NG Dastane vs. Shrikant S. Shivde AIR 2001 SC 2028- Advocates kept seeking adjournments, and thus harassing the witnesses for the purpose of cross-examination. Guilty of misconduct. Court also analysed Section 35 of the Act and held that the requirement of “reason to believe” cannot be converted into a formalised procedural road block, it being essentially a barrier against frivolous enquiries. Violation of Rule 11 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II.
  11. In Re: Tulsidas Amanmal Karani vs. Unknown AIR 1941 Bom 228 – Section 35 envisages not only ‘professional misconduct’ but also ‘other misconducts’, not defined in the Act. In case relating to Indian Bar Councils Act 1926 the Court held that “any conduct which in any way renders a man unfit for the exercise of his profession or is ‘likely to hamper or embarrass the administration of justice by this Court or any of the Courts subordinate thereto’ may be considered to be misconduct calling for disciplinary action.” 
  12. Central Bureau of Hyderabad vs. K Narayan Rao (2012) 9 SCC 512 – For liability, there has to be moral delinquency. Mere negligence sans moral delinquency will not suffice. If negligence is culpable nature, then it may lead to prof misconduct but not necessarily criminal liability. 
  13. Harish Uppal vs. Union of India (2003) 2 SCC 45- Lawyers have no right to strike, i.e. to abstain from appearing in the court in cases in which they hold vakalat for the parties, even if it is in response to or in compliance with a decision of any association or body of lawyers. 
  14. Byram Pestonji Gariwal vs. Union Bank of India (1992) 1 SCC 31 – Supreme Court discussed the role of the counsel in compromise of suit. It will be prudent for counsel not to act on implied authority (given by vakalatnama) except when warranted by the necessity of circumstances demanding immediate adjustment of suit by agreement or compromise and the signature of the party cannot be obtained without undue delay 
  15. Rajendra Pai vs. Alex Fernandes AIR 2002 SC 1808 – The lawyer in a class action suit settled contingent fee depending on the quantum of compensation awarded to the claimant; and that he identified some claimants in opening a bank account wherein the cheque for the awarded amount of compensation was lodged and then the amount withdrawn which identification was later on found to be false. Held guilty of misconduct (as in violation of Rule 20 of the BCI Rules of Conduct) and suspended for seven years. 
  16. R.D. Saxena vs. Balram Prasad Sharma (2000) 7 SCC 264 – The advocate does not have a lien for his fees on the litigation papers entrusted to him by his client.
  17. Virendra Kumar Gupta vs. Anil Kumar Jain –The lawyer in connivance with the other party, deliberately and intentionally did not appear in the execution proceedings of his client, which were therefore dismissed in default. The lawyer did not serve the interest of his client and in fact acted against his interest. Guilty of misconduct under Rule 5 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II. 
  18. Joginder Singh vs BCI AIR 1975 Delhi 192 – Advocate had concealed facts about his conviction under Section 473 of IPC and the fact that he was out on bail. Given the high standards expected of those in the legal profession, it would definitely be a fraud/misrepresentation if the concerned advocate does not disclose the fact of his previous conviction, especially those involving moral turpitude as they help ascertain the character of a man. (Violation of Rule 43 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II) 
  19. Surendra Nath Mittal vs. Daya Nand Swaroop BCI Tr. Case No. 63 / 1987. – The advocate made manipulation in the operative part of the judgement and decree by adding the words “mai sood” i.e. including interest. Disciplinary committee held him guilty of professional misconduct. (Violation of Rule 1 and 2 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II) 
  20. Vikramaditya vs. Smt. Jamila Khatoon D.C. Appeal No. 21/1996 – The obtaining of the signature by the advocate on blank vakalatnama and blank watermarked papers for the purpose of defrauding the client’s amounts to the professional misconduct under Rule 15 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II. 
  21. Allahabad Bank vs. Girish Prasad Verma BCI Tr. Case No. 49/1993 – The advocate did not file, rather, misappropriated the sum paid to him by the client for the purpose of court fees (in violation of Rule 23 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II). U.P Bar Council disciplinary committee held him guilty of professional misconduct. 
  22. Babu Lal Jain v. Subhash Jain BCI Tr. Case No. 115 / 1996- The complainant alleged that the respondent advocate was a practising lawyer as well as was working as an editor, printer, and publisher of a weekly paper. Rule 47 of BCI rules prohibits an advocate to be engaged personally in any business. The respondent advocate was found to have been actively engaged in carrying on the business and his conduct was taken by the disciplinary committee as professional misconduct. 
  23. John D’souza v. Edward Ani 1994 SCC (2) 64 The lawyer refused to return the will he executed, in spite of two letters demanding to hand over the will. The Supreme Court held that the advocate has committed breach of his professional duty and found him guilty of profession misconduct. (Violation of Rule 15 of the BCI Rules- Chapter II) 
  24. V. C. Rangadurai vs D. Gopalan 1979 SCR (1) 1054- The lawyer failed to disclose the conflicting interests to client, and also betrayed the trust reposed in him by the client, hence violating Rule 24 of the BCI Rules of Professional Ethics. The lawyer was suspended for one year. 

Professional Ethics Quiz 1 

1.) A applied for a government job. A certain percentage of seats had been reserved for a certain backward class. A, who was keen on getting the job, and did not belong to the reserved class, submitted a false certificate in order to secure a position. Would A be able to enrol as an advocate? 

A.) Yes, because A was really keen on getting the job 

B.) No, because what A did is illegal and criminally punishable 

C.) No, because the submission of a false certificate amounted to crime of moral turpitude 

D.) Yes, because the submission of a false certificate does not amount to a crime of moral turpitude. 

E.) No, because although the submission of a false certificate does not amount to a crime of moral turpitude, he should be tried for false representation. 

2.) A, an advocate assaulted the opposing counsel B, with a knife, during the lunch interval in a Munsif’s Court. A pistol shot is also said to have been fired by A at the time of incident A was convicted of the offence, and the High Court affirmed the conviction. Can the State Bar Council take any action against A? 

Principle: The Advocates Act provides that certain persons shall not be admitted as advocates on the state rolls. These include those convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude 

A.) Yes, the State Bar Council is equivalent to the High Court in a particular State and can take action against any errant. 

B.) No, this is a criminal offence and any punishment to A must be meted out by the Courts and the Bar Council has no power whatsoever 

C.) No, because once A has served his sentence given by the High Court, any further action on him by the Bar Council amounts to ‘double jeopardy’ which is unconstitutional 

D.) Yes, because the State Bar Council is empowered to pass an order imposing punishment on an advocate found guilty of professional or other misconduct. 

E.) No, because the order of the High Court is not final and conclusive as A can still appeal to the Supreme Court. However, if the S.C. reaffirms the H.C. order, then the Bar Council can take action. 

3.) P seeks enrolment as an advocate. P, however, did not disclose prior convictions under Ss. 411 and 473 of the Indian Penal Code. However, the application had no column for the same and hence P decides not to disclose his conviction. Can P be barred from enrolling an advocate? 

Principle: An advocate must make free and honest depositions about his past convictions while applying for state rolls. 

A.) No, because the fact that there is no column for the same in the form implies that such information is irrelevant for his enrolment. 

B.) Yes, because P is a branded criminal and should not be allowed to enter the noble profession of advocacy. 

C.) No, the authorities cannot be allowed to take advantage of their own negligence in providing the relevant column. 

D.) No, because S.411 and 473 of the I.P.C. does not deal with crimes of moral turpitude 

E.) Yes, under S.17 of the Indian Contract Act, P had a duty to speak; therefore, even if there was no column in the form for disclosing previous convictions, P should have disclosed it. 

4.) A received a maintenance allowance under S.17B of the Industrial Disputes Act, whilst a workmens’ dispute involving A was pending in the higher court and was simultaneously, practicing law as an enrolled Advocate. Is he guilty of violating professional ethics? 

Principle : If a person enters the profession of law as a pleader, she must make up her mind to conduct the business of pleader and nothing else. 

A.) Yes, A is guilty of misconduct because an advocate cannot take up any other means of employment as long as he is enlisted as a practising advocate 

B.) No, the decision of the Courts are beyond A’s control and hence he should not be punished for the same 

C.) No, A cannot be held guilty of violating professional ethics as a maintenance allowance received under the IDA cannot be said be engaging in ‘another profession’ 

D.) Yes, because the receiving of maintenance allowance under S.17B is fraudulent 

E.) No, A cannot be held guilty as the matter is still sub-judice. 

5.) A, a practising enrolled advocate was serving as a chairman of the board of directors of a Company without any ordinary sitting fee, and none of A’s duties as Chairman of the Board of Directors was of an executive character. It is to be noted that A was not the Managing Director or a Secretary of the Company. Is A guilty of violating professional ethics? 

Principle: Subject to certain exceptions, an enrolled advocate may not take up any other profession 

A.) Yes, because the Advocates Act prohibits any enrolled advocates from practising any other profession. 

B.) No, because the Advocates Act allows certain exception and A’s role falls within that exception 

C.) Yes, A is guilty as he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. However, he could have escaped the liability if he was the Managing Director 

D.) No, because professional ethics is not defined in the ‘Advocates Act 1960’ 

E.) No, because in order to violate professional ethics, a person has to be criminally liable. A’s liability, in this case, does not give rise to any such liability 

6.) In a criminal case against C, C could not secure the services of any senior members of the Bar. C approached almost every member of the Bar. However, each one of them refused to represent C. All senior counsels had already been retained by the complainants. C, with no other alternative left, approached B, another senior counsel. However, B rejected the brief on grounds of her connection with the complainant. Is B entitled to act in such a fashion? 

Principle: An advocate must accept any brief in the Courts or Tribunals or any other authorities; the fee should be consistent with the advocate’s standing at the Bar and the nature of the case. An advocate may refuse to accept a particular brief in special circumstances. 

A.) Yes, B is an independent advocate and has full freedom to accept not accept any brief according to her personal choice 

B.) Yes, because it is illegal for a counsel to take up a matter when she has connections with the opposite party according to the BCI rules 

C.) No, because B is, in morals bound to take up the matter of a helpless man, although there is no legal rule compelling B to do the same 

D.) No, because a lawyer has no right to reject a brief offered to her on payment of the fee agreed upon between the parties on grounds of connection to the opposing party 

E.) Yes, because the counsel’s connections with the complainant can qualify as the ‘special circumstances’ mentioned in the principle. 

7.) A, an advocate, wanted to retire from a case. A did not, however, file any instruction providing sufficient cause to retire. A did not provide sufficient notice to the client, C. A also did not ensure the refund of the parts of fees that was unearned. Would A be allowed to retire from the case? 

Principle: An advocate cannot, subject to certain conditions, usually retire from a case 

A.) Yes, A is not legally bound to do any of the above as the sole interest of the case is with C and A has no interest in it whatsoever 

B.) Yes, A is not bound to refund the unearned money as fees to lawyers are, according to BCI rules to be treated as ‘gifts’ and once given cannot be returned 

C.) Yes, He is an independent advocate and may retire from the case if he chooses to. However, he should refund the money to C. 

D.) No, because according to BCI rules, for an advocate to retire from a case, he has to fulfil all the above three criteria, and A has not filled any 

E.) No, because that would be a breach of contract between A and C 

8.) In a partition suit, A, an advocate, was representing defendant, D. D submitted an affidavit from P, which was critical to the case. The affidavit contained identification by the advocate, A. A here is a material witness to prove the genuineness of the affidavit. Can A be disbared from appearing in the case in case an application for such withdrawal is made? 

Principle: An advocate should not accept a brief or appear in a case in which an advocate has reason to believe that she will be a witness. 

A.) Yes, because if an advocate handling the case, later becomes a genuine witness to the case, he has a duty to retire from the case 

B.) No, because the client’s interest are foremost for the advocate and his retirement would jeopardise such interest 

C.) No, because the two roles being separate and not interrelated, discharging one does not hamper discharge of another 

D.) Yes, but only because it is a partition suit and the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 makes it mandatory for advocates to act accordingly 

E.) No, because a mere verification of an affidavit is not in law enough to qualify one as ‘material witness’ 

9.Advocate A was engaged by C, the client, to file a suit on two promissory notes for recovery with interest due against a debtor, D. Advocate A knew the D for 7-8 years and has been appearing for her in succession certificate proceedings. A, however, accepted the brief and did not inform C about prior connection with D. Is A guilty of violating professional ethics? 

Principle: An advocate must disclose any interest the advocate might have, in or about the controversy, that a client would like to know to decide whether to engage the advocate, or continue the engagement of the advocate. 

A.) No, because certificate proceedings are fundamentally different from suits on promissory notes. However, had this been a suit for certificate proceeding, A would have been in violation of professional ethics 

B.) Yes, because A is under a duty to make a full and frank disclosure to C. A could only continue representing C, if C had asked A to continue after A had disclosed his connection with D. 

C.) No, because the prior cases done by A on behalf of D has no connection with this case on against D. A cannot be expected to disclose each and everyone of his past clients to C 

D.) No, because an advocate- client relationship has an underlying sense of confidentiality. In fact, revealing that D was his past client would be breach of that confidentiality and violate professional ethics. 

E.) Yes, because according to law, A cannot take up such a case as there is a presumption of unfair trade practises against him 

10.) A is retained by C, the client, to defend C from an offence C allegedly committed under S.289 of the India Penal Code. C was charged with criminal negligence in taking care of a pet which had aggressive tendencies. The pet caused serious harm to a person, J. A is very scared of aggressive pets, as he was mauled by a dog when he was a kid. He strongly feels that pets which can harm human beings have no place in society. A also believes that such pet owners should be taught a lesson. However, there is no adequate evidence against C, but A himself is sure that C is liable. A takes up the case and deliberately loses. Is A guilty of professional misconduct? 

Principle: An advocate has a duty to uphold the interest of the client, regardless of personal opinion. 

A.) Yes, because A is obligated under the BCI rules to not let his personal opinion come in the way of an effective defence for C in a criminal matter. 

B.) Yes, because losing a case, deliberately or not, amounts to professional misconduct and incompetence 

C.) No, because A stood up for what he felt is right and that should be appreciated 

D.) No, because by appointing A as his lawyer, C has impliedly accepted to abide by whatever A’s opinion is on the matter, and he is bound by whatever the consequences of such opinion is 

E.) No, because it should be appreciated that A did whatever he did as a result of the mental trauma he suffered as a kid without any ill will or motive. 

11.) P was prosecuting D in a high-profile murder case. The case received immense media attention, and P was praised for building a strong case. P had found nine witnesses, who were ready to testify that D was the murderer. As time went by, however, P found that 8 of those 9 witnesses had contradicted themselves or withdrawn their statement. P started developing serious doubts about the truthfulness of the witnesses. P also discovered that the only witness willing to testify herself had a motive to murder the victim. Under the circumstances, does P have an obligation in law to refrain from prosecuting D? Principle: A prosecutor must also ensure that there is no suppression of material that can establish the innocence of the accused. 

A.) No, because she is appointed by the State and any obligation P has is moral and not legal 

B.) No, as the correctness of the witness’s statement is for the Judge to decide and not P, so in the interest of justice, she should carry on with her prosecution 

C.) No, he not need refrain from prosecuting D. He should, however, disclose all the material in the interest of justice 

D.) Yes, because the witness’s motive to murder the victim provides a new angel f consideration in the particular case 

E.) Yes, because he is in law duty bound to make a free and fair disclosure and then refrain from prosecuting D based on statements of such witnesses. 

12.) A, being charged with embezzlement, retains B, an attorney to defend her. In the course of the proceedings, B observes that an entry has been made in A’s account book, charging A with the sum said to have been embezzled, and that this entry was not in the book at the commencement of his employment. Is this fact protected from disclosure u/s 126 of Indian Evidence Act? 

A.) Yes, because this fact is confidential between B and his client A and revealing such would lead to violation of the fiduciary relationship between them 

B.) No, because S. 126 of the Indian Evidence Act is not applicable to the present case 

C.) No, this fact, being a fact observed by B in the course of employment, shows that fraud has been committed since the commencement of the proceedings. 

D.) Yes, because account books are generally kept in custody under the instruction of the Court and it is the job for the prosecution should undertake due diligence and observe the account books 

E.) No, because such cases of embezzlement of often relate to national interest and the fiduciary relationship of a lawyer- client cannot be used to override national interest. 

13.) A, a client, says to B, an attorney: “I wish to obtain possession of property by the use of a forged deed on which I request you to sue.” Is such a communication protected from disclosure? 

Principle: Any communication made in furtherance of any criminal purpose is not protected from disclosure 

A.) No, the communication, being made in furtherance of a criminal purpose, is not protected from disclosure. 

B.) Yes, because this is a communication for the purpose of engagement made to the advocate by the client during such an engagement, thereby protected under S. 126 of the Indian Evidence Act 

C.) No, because in order to protect a communication from being disclosed, such communication must be in writing 

D.) Yes, as there is no evidence of any such communication taking place 

E.) Yes, because such disclosure depends on the free will of the advocate and he can choose not to disclose it 

14.) C is one of the three children and heirs with a one-third interest in undivided ancestral property. C approaches A, an advocate, requesting an alternative to litigation through which the share in the familial property could be settled fairly and amicably. A says to C that from twenty years professional experience, A is of the view that the person who “…goes to the court and fights really dirty gets the most in a ancestral family dispute of this nature.” Is A’s advice in accordance with professional ethics and standards? 

Principle: It should be the first duty of a member of the legal profession to compose family differences and settle dispute and controversies, by amicable settlement. 

A.) No, because by telling the number of years of his experience, A is trying to intimidate and impose his own opinion on his client 

B.) Yes, because A has given his honest opinion after due consideration, drawing from his experience as a lawyer 

C.) No, because A, here is fomenting litigation rather than proposing an amicable settlement which is violative of professional conducted. 

D.) Yes, because in cases of the nature mentioned above litigation is unavoidable and any efforts at amicable settlement is futile and a waste of time 

E.) Yes, because the litigation that might ensue from his advice can be financially very profitable for A, and the professional conduct of advocates stipulates that financial considerations should be taken into account by the advocate before giving his opinion. 

15.) A, an advocate, withdrew a suit filed by the client for declaration that she was not the lawfully wedded wife of the defendant, upon her instructions. A then filed an application for maintenance without instructions from the client by obtaining her signature on blank sheets, on a false premise. Is A guilty for professional misconduct? 

Principle: An advocate has a duty to act only on the instruction of the client, and no one else. 

A.) Yes, A is guilty of professional misconduct for acting without the client’s instructions. 

B.) No, because A is, in law, duty bound to act for the best interest of his client. 

C.) No, because A’s actions were motivated by previous instructions provided to him by his client and she has not explicitly cancelled the said instructions 

D.) No, A is not guilty of professional misconduct as his action was for his client’s best interest, but he is guilty of criminal breach of trust for obtaining her signature on a blank paper and using them without her authority 

E.) Yes, because a suit for maintenance in law cannot be filed after a suit for declaration that his client is not the lawfully wedded wife of the defendant, and this points to his professional incompetency 

16.) A, an advocate, entered into an agreement with C, the client, who was dismissed from service. The fee agreement entailed that, that if A were able to recover past salary and allowance, A would receive a fee of Rs. 5,000/-. Is this agreement legal? 

Principle: The advocate has a duty to refrain from a fee arrangement contingent upon outcome of litigation. 

A.) Yes, the agreement is a full fledged contract according to S.10 of the Indian Contract Act , being between A and C with Rs. 5000 being the consideration based on the contingency of winning the case. 

B.) No, because such a contract is wagering in nature. 

C.) Yes, because this is prevalent method of transaction between advocate and clients in India. 

D.) No, because such a contract is contingent on winning or losing of the case A is barred from agreeing to receive a fee dependent on the success of suit or agree to share the proceeds of that litigation under BCI rules. 

E.) No, because the requisite amount to be given to A is below the requisite amount for advocates mentioned in the Minimum Wages Act. 

17.) A, an advocate, purchased a property which was under litigation. The sale deed was fictitiously drawn in the name of B, to conceal the actual purchase by A. A, however, appeared as a pleader in the litigation, and succeeded. B executed a deed of relinquishment in favour of A. Is A guilty of misconduct? 

Principle: An advocate cannot purchase any property sold in the execution of a decree or order in any suit, appeal or other proceeding in which the advocate was in any way professionally engaged 

A.) Yes, A is guilty of misconduct as A acquired an interest in a pending suit, in which A was acting as an advocate. 

B.) No, because an advocate has no restrictions in buying a property in execution of a decree in whose litigation he was involved as long as he buys it in another’s name 

C.) No, because an advocate has no restrictions in buying a property in execution of a decree in whose litigation he was involved 

D.) Yes, because although the buying itself is legal, buying the property in B’s name amounts to Benami transaction 

E.) Yes, because no man should take advantage of his own mistakes 

18.) A, an advocate, owes C Rs.500/- as a debt for rent. C approaches A to draft his will. A says to C “I will draft the will; in any event, I owe you Rs.500/-, and it will be a good way to settle the debt.” Is A in violation of any rule pertaining to professional ethics of advocates? 

Principle: An advocate should separate his professional commitments from personal commitments 

A.) No, A owed C Rs. 500, and as long as both parties consent, they can choose to settle the debt in amount manner they choose to. 

B.) Yes, because A is adjusting the legal fees for writing a will against the rent money, which is a personal liability A owes to C. 

C.) No, because non definable in terms of money like ‘drafting of a will’ in law is not good consideration for settlement of a debt of a definable amount of money 

D.) Yes, because it is not in consonance with professional ethics of advocates to draft wills in such a casual manner, that too without taking a NOC for the particular will from the respective State authorities 

E.) No, because these type of settlements are encouraged by the BCI in order to simplify the relationship between advocates and clients 

19.) A, an advocate, was retained by the testatrix, T, to draft a will. A made an entry to this effect in the register of wills maintained by A, and also gave a receipt to T. After the death of her husband, T hired another advocate, B. B requested A to return the will. A denied having the will. Is a guilty of violation of the principle stated below? 

Principle: An advocate must not abuse or take advantage of the confidence reposed in her by the client. 

A.) No, because the fact that T was hiring another advocate indicates the lack of confidence reposed in him by T 

B.) No, because A’s duties are owed solely towards T and not towards B 

C.) Yes because A is the bailee of the will and T is the head bailor, whereas B is the Sub-bailor 

D.) No, because the wills, made by A himself, are his own property as long as it is in his possession. However, he should however, refund any money taken from T for drafting the same 

E.) Yes, A’s act of not returning the will that was entrusted to A by T is an abuse of trust reposed in A by T. 

20.) A, an advocate, was representing C, the client, in a criminal appeal. A received a sum of Rs.750/- from the client towards printing expenditures. A deposited the sum with the Court. Later, A withdrew the unspent balance of Rs.242/- without C’s consent, and kept it. Is A guilty of misconduct? 

Principle: An advocate should keep accounts of the client’s money entrusted to the advocate by the client. 

A.) No, because by virtue of being C’s lawyer A has an implied authorisation to withdraw money on behalf of the client and use it for settlement of his fees. However, he should record the same in books of account 

B.) No, because the A has rightfully deposited the money into Court after receiving it 

C.) Yes, A is guilty of misconduct, as he should have shown in detail how much A received in the form of expenses, and how much was refunded to A by the court. 

D.) Yes, because A needs express authorization of his client to withdraw any money on her behalf 

E.) No, as printing expenses can qualify as ‘nominal expenses’ and does not need to be recorded in books of accounts 

21.) A, an advocate, appeared for C, the complainant, in a criminal matter. Later, A accepted a brief on behalf of D, the accused in the same matter, taking the consent of the C. Is A guilty of violating professional ethics? 

Principle: An advocate who has, at any time, advised in connection with the institution of a suit, appeal or other matter or has drawn pleadings, or acted for a party, shall not act, appear, or plead for the opposite party. 

A.) Yes, as A has first appeared on behalf of the complainant and then accepted a brief from the opposite party in the same matter. 

B.) No, because the above stated rule is restricted to civil matters not applicable to criminal matters 

C.) No, because the consent of both parties were obtained 

D.) Yes, because accepting briefs of both parties gives rise to a presumption of unfairness on A’s part 

E.) No, because ‘professional ethics’ is a volatile concept and has no fixed definition 

22.) Advocate A, aggrieved by an order of the Supreme Court dismissing a matter in limine, filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court, wherein A stated that the matter was improper for the Chief Justice of India to hear, and further stated that the dismissal was totally unjust, unfair, arbitrary, and unlawful, and a flagrant violation of the mandate under A.14; that was a violation of the sacred oath of office, and to declare that the Chief Justice’s holding office was unfair. It was also asserted that since the first petition was not disposed of by a five-judge bench, the order was non-est. Does such behaviour on A’s part, amount to criminal contempt? 

Principle: An advocate should always conduct himself with dignity and self-respect before the court. An advocate should not be servile. However, whenever there is a proper ground for serious complaint, against a judicial officer, it is an advocate’s right and duty to submit his grievance to the proper authorities. 

A.) No, because A has freedom of speech and expression under Art 19 of the Indian Constitution. 

B.) No, because there is a proper ground for complaint in this case and A has a right to submit her grievances 

C.) Yes, because the assertion that the order was non est, interferes with the administration of justice, as it attacks judicial finality, and questions the authority of the court. 

D.) Yes, because constitutional matters demands more etiquette on part of an advocate than other civil and criminal matters 

E.) Yes, because the conduct and eligibility of the Chief Justice cannot be questioned by an advocate. 

Answer Key of Professional Ethics Quiz 1

1.) C 2.) D 3.) E 4.) A 5.) B 6.) E 7.) D 8.) A 9.) B 10.) A 11.) E 12.) C 13.) A 14.) C 15.) A 16.) D 17.) A 18.) B 19.) E 20.) C 21.) C 22.) C 

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Preamble of the Indian Constitution

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This article is written by Gaurav Raj Grover, a fifth-year law student at Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida. This article talks about the meaning of the preamble.

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution states:

“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this  26th day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION”.

What is the Preamble?

A preamble of a bill is an introductory part of the document which explains the purpose, rules, regulations, and philosophy of the document. A preamble gives a brief introduction of documents by highlighting the principles and fundamental values of the document. It shows the source of the authority of the document. 

The preamble of the Constitution of India is an introduction of the Constitution which includes the sets of rules and regulations to guide the people of the country. The inspiration and the motto of the citizens are explained in it. The preamble can be considered as the beginning of the Constitution which highlights the base of the Constitution. 

Historical Background of Indian Constitution

Before 1947, India was divided into two main parts – 11 provinces that were ruled by the Britishers and Princely states ruled by Indian princes under the command of Britishers. Combining these two units formed the Union of India. The preamble is based on the principles written by the Constituent Assembly. 

It provides a way of life, which includes fraternity, liberty, and equality as the notion of a happy life and which can not be taken from each other. Liberty, equality, and fraternity and connected with each other and they can not be separated, which means without equality, liberty would produce the supremacy of the minority over the majority. Equality without liberty would kill individual perception. And fraternity helps liberty and equality in their course of action. 

Who wrote the Preamble of India and Date of its Adoption

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is primarily based on the ‘Objective Resolution’ written by Jawaharlal Nehru. He introduced his objective resolution on December 13, 1946, later it was accepted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947. 

The drafting committee observed that the preamble must be limited in defining the important features of the new state and its socio-political objectives and other important matters should be refined further in the Constitution. The committee changed the motto from ‘Sovereign Independent Republic’ to ‘Sovereign Democratic Republic’ as it was mentioned in the ‘Objective Resolution’. 

The preamble can also be called the soul of the constitution as it has everything about the constitution. It was adopted on 26th November 1949 and it was started from 26th January 1950 also known as the Republic Day. 

Components of Preamble of the Indian Constitution

The components of the preamble are:

  1. The preamble shows that the people of India are the source of authority. It means power lies with the citizens to elect their representatives and they also have the right to criticize their representatives. 
  2. It comprises the date of its adoption which is November 26th, 1949. 
  3. It states the objectives of the Constitution of India, which are justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity to maintain the integrity and unity of the nation as well as the citizens.
  4. It also justifies the nature of the Indian State, which is Sovereign, Socialist, Republic, Secular, and Democratic. 

P.A. Inamdar v. the State of Maharashtra

In this case, the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous judgment declaring that the state can not impose any reservation policy on minority and non-minority unaided private colleges, including professional colleges. 

This judgment was an attempt to clear the previous judgments of the Supreme Court on the case of T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. the State of Karnataka and Islamic Academy of Education v.  the State of Karnataka

The Supreme Court discussed some topics in this judgment related to minority and non-minority unaided higher education institutions: 

  • Reservation Policy

The Supreme Court stated that neither the policy of reservation nor any quota or percentage of admission can be enforced by the State in any minority or non-minority unaided educational institutions.

The institutions are free to admit students of their own choice including students of other communities and also the students of the same communities from different states in any manner the institution wants. 

The State can not impose policies on reservation for giving admission on marks less than the criteria set by the Private Educational Institutions who do not ask for help from the state. Even if the state is providing minimum resources to the private educational institutions, that is no ground a state can implement its policies to force the institute on granting admissions to students with fewer marks than the given criteria. 

  • Admission Policy

The Supreme Court stated that the minority unaided educational institutions can enjoy total freedom until their undergraduate education. But there would be different provisions to apply for graduate and postgraduate level of education and also for technical and professional educational institutions. 

In the minority educational institutions, transparency, and merit of the institute must be assured. The state is allowed to conduct common entrance tests to provide fair and merit-based admissions and removing the wrong administration. 

The same candidate is allowed to appear in several tests. For every test, a merit list is created to identify the selected candidates who cleared the test and different institutions are allotted to the students depending on their marks and the admission is based on the score of the test and the options of the student filled in the admission form. 

  • Fee Structure

The Supreme Court stated that a reasonable fee structure is a very important component in the administration of the institution. It means that every institution is free to make its own fee structure but they can not abuse profits from the students and they can not charge capitation fees in any form. 

The fees structure depends on certain factors which determine the reasonability of the fees:

  1. The infrastructure and facilities available.
  2. The investments made.
  3. Salaries of the teachers and staff.
  4. Future plans for expansion.

The Court held that the institutions must make a reasonable surplus which should not increase 15% for their future plans and betterment of the institution. 

  • Regulation and Control by the State

The judgment of the case established some rights to administer an institution:

  • To admit students.
  • To set up a reasonable fee structure.
  • To constitute a  governing body.
  • To appoint staff (both teaching and non-teaching).
  • To take action against problems.

It is an option for the minority educational institute to choose if they want to take help from the state or not. No institute can conduct any activity which violates the law in any way. So, the state can make provisions on the quality of the teachers and the minimum qualification of their course, but they can not interfere in their day-to-day administration. The main purpose of the management is to regulate the admission of students, recruiting staff and calculation of fee-structure which can not be controlled by the state. 

  • Role of Committees dealing with admissions and fees

The Supreme Court stated that non-minority unaided educational institutions must have certain restrictions that are in favor of the students. Professional education must be available to all eligible students on merit basis and nothing else. 

So, committees must be established to regulate the admission procedure and to monitor the fee structure. Committees must look over the administration to avoid all the mal-practices which can be created by the administration. If any committee misuses their power in any individual institute, the decision can be questioned by the administration as the committee is quasi-judicial in nature. 

Objectives of the Indian Constitution

The main objective of the Indian Constitution is to promote harmony throughout the nation. As we know, the Constitution is the supreme law and it helps to maintain integrity in the society and to promote unity among the citizens to build a great nation. The factors which help in achieving this objective are:

Justice

The term ‘Justice’ comprises of three elements that complete the definition, which is social, economic, and political. Justice among the citizens is necessary to maintain order in society. Justice is promised through various provisions of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy provided by the Constitution of India. 

  • Social Justice – Social justice means that the Constitution wants to create a society without discrimination on any grounds like caste, creed, gender, religion, etc. Where people have equal social status by helping the less privileged people. The Constitution tries to eliminate all the exploitations which harm equality in the society.
  • Economic Justice – Economic Justice means no discrimination can be caused by people on the basis of their wealth, income, and economic status. It means wealth must be distributed on the basis of their work, not with any other reason. Every person must be paid equally for an equal position and all people must get opportunities to earn for their living.
  • Political Justice – Political Justice means all the people have an equal, free and fair right without any discrimination to participate in political opportunities. It means everyone has equal rights to access political offices and have equal participation in the processes of the government. 

Equality

The term ‘Equality’ means no section of society has any special privileges and all the people have given equal opportunities for everything without any discriminations. It means removing all types of discriminations from society to build a healthy environment for the people to live in. Everyone is equal before the law. 

Liberty

The term ‘Liberty’ means freedom for the people to choose their way of life, have political views and behavior in society. It means no unreasonable restrictions can be imposed on the citizens in terms of their thoughts, feelings, and views. But liberty does not mean freedom to do anything, a person can do anything but in the limit set by the law. Anything which can create public disorder can not come under liberty. These limits are set by the Constitution to avoid injuries in the name of liberty.

Fraternity

The term ‘Fraternity’ means a feeling of brotherhood and an emotional attachment with the country and all the people. It refers to a feeling which helps to believe everyone is the children of the same soil and are connected with each other. Brotherhood is above social norms or regulations, it is the relationship above caste, age, or gender. Fraternity helps to promote dignity and unity in the nation. 

The preamble of the Indian Constitution does not grant any power or superiority to anyone while it gives direction and purpose to the Constitution. It only gives the fundamentals of the Constitution. It promotes equality by providing equal opportunities to the people without any discrimination. It helps in protecting all the people and maintaining the economic, social, and political justice among the citizens. Also, the preamble helps in explaining the facts which are needed to be explained. 

Is Preamble a part of the Constitution?

This is a very controversial topic as there have been many discussions about the preamble being part of the Constitution. This question can only be answered by reading two cases. 

Berubari Case

Berubari Case was used as a reference under Article 143(1) of the Constitution which was on the implementation of the Indo-Pakistan Agreement related to Berubari Union and in exchanging the enclaves which were decided for consideration by the bench consisting of eight judges. 

Through this case, the Court stated that ‘Preamble is the key to open the mind of the makers’ but it can not be considered as the part of the Constitution. 

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Kesavananda Bharati Case

This case created history as for the first time, a bench of 13 judges was assembled to hear a writ petition. The Court held that:

  1. The Preamble of the Constitution will now be considered as part of the Constitution. 
  2. The Preamble is not the supreme power or source of any restriction or prohibition but it plays an important role in the interpretation of statutes and provisions of the Constitution. 

So, it can be concluded that preamble is part of the introductory part of the Constitution. 

Amendment of the Preamble

After the judgment of the Kesavanand Bharati case, it was accepted that the preamble is part of the Constitution. So, as a part of the Constitution, it can be amended under Article 368 of the Constitution, but the basic structure of the preamble can not be amended. Because the structure of the Constitution is based on the basic elements of the Preamble. As of now, the preamble is only amended once through the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. 

42nd Amendment Act, 1976

The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 was the first act ever to amend the preamble of the Constitution. On December 18th, 1976, ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’ were added to the preamble to protect economic justice and eliminate discrimination whatsoever. Through this amendment, ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ were added between ‘sovereign’ and ‘democratic’, and ‘Unity of the Nation’ was changed to ‘Unity and Integrity of the Nation’. 

Interpretation by the Supreme Court

The preamble was added to the Constitution after the enactment of the Constitution. In the Berubari Union Case, the Supreme Court held that the preamble is not a part of the Constitution rather it was considered as the guiding principle for the provisions of the Constitution. 

In the Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court changed its previous decision and accepted preamble as part of the Constitution which means it can be amended under Article 368 of the Constitution. 

In the LIC of India case, the Supreme Court continued with its judgment on declaring preamble as part of the Constitution. 

So, in the end, the preamble of the Constitution is considered a beautiful preface to the document as it contains all the basic information like the objective and philosophy of the Constitution. 

Key Words in the Preamble

Sovereign

The preamble of the Constitution states that India is a Sovereign State. The term ‘Sovereign’ means the independent authority of the state. It means the state has control over every subject and no other authority or external power has control over it. So, the legislature of our country has the powers to make laws in the country with restrictions keeping in mind imposed by the Constitution. 

Sovereignty, in general, has two types: External and internal. External sovereignty means the sovereignty in International Law which means the independence of the state against other states while internal sovereignty talks about the relationship between the state and the people living in it. 

In the case of Synthetic & Chemicals Ltd. v. the State of Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court decided that the word ‘sovereign’ means that the state has the authority everything within the restrictions given by the Constitution. Sovereign means supreme or independence. This case helped in differentiating between external and internal sovereign. This case proposed that ‘No country can have its own constitution unless it is not sovereign’. 

Socialist

The term ‘Socialist’ was added after the 42nd Amendment, 1976, during the emergency. The term socialist denotes democratic socialism. It means a political-economic system that provides social, economic, and political justice. 

Mrs. Indira Gandhi explained socialist as ‘equality of opportunity’ or ‘better life for the people’. She said socialism is like democracy, everyone has their own set of interpretations but in India socialism is a way for the better life of the people. 

  • In the case of Excel wear v. Union of India, the Supreme Court found that with the addition of the word socialist, a portal is opened to lean the judgments in favor of nationalization and state ownership of the industry. But the principle of socialism and social justice can not ignore the interest of a different section of the society majorly the private owners. 
  • In the case of D.S. Nakara v. Union of India, the Court held that ‘the basic purpose of socialism is to provide a decent standard of life to the people living in the country and to protect them from the day they are born till the day they die’. 

Secular

The term ‘Secular’ was also added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, during the emergency. The Constitution states India as a secular state as the state has no official religion. The citizens have their own view of life and can choose their religion as they like. The state provides full freedom to the people to practice any religion of their choice. The state treats all religions equally, with equal respect and can not discriminate between them. The state has no right interfering with the people with their choice of religion, faith or idol of worship. 

Important Components of Secularism are:

  1. The right to equality is guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution. 
  2. Discrimination on any grounds such as religion, caste, etc is prohibited by Article 15 and 16 of the Constitution. 
  3. Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution discuss all the freedoms of the citizens, including freedom of speech and expression. 
  4. Article 24 to Article 28 covers the rights related to practice religion.
  5. Article 44 of the Constitution abandoned the fundamental duty of the state to enact uniform civil laws treating all citizens as equal.

In the case of S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, the nine-judge bench of Apex Courts found the concept of secularism as the basic feature of the Constitution. 

In the case of Bal Patil v. Union of India, the Court held that all religions and religious groups must be treated equally and with equal respect. India is a secular state where people have the right to choose their religion. But the state will have no specific religion. 

In the case of M.P. Gopalkrishnan Nair v. the State of Kerala, the Court stated that the secular state is different than an atheist society, which means the state allows every religion and disrespect none. 

Democratic

The term ‘Democratic’ is derived from the Greek words where ‘demos’ means ‘people’ and ‘Kratos’ means ‘authority’. Which concludes that the government is constructed by the people. India is a democratic state as the people elect their government at all levels, that means, union, state, and local or ground level. Everyone has the right to vote irrespective of their caste, creed or gender. So, in a democratic form of government, every person has a direct or indirect share in administration. 

In the case of Mohan Lal v. District Magistrate of Rai Bareilly, the Court stated that Democracy is a philosophical topic related to politics where the people elect their representatives to form a government, where the basic principle is to treat the minority the same way people treat the majority. Every citizen is equal before the law in the democratic form of government. 

In the case of Union of India v. Association of Democratic Reforms, the Court states that the basic requirement of a successful democracy is awareness of the people. A democratic form of Government can not survive without fair elections as fair elections are the soul of democracy. Democracy also improves the way of life by protecting human dignity, equality, and the rule of law. 

Republic

India has a republic form of government as the head of state is elected and not a hereditary monarch like a king or queen. The term ‘Republic’ is obtained from ‘res publica’ that means public property or commonwealth. It means the power to elect the head of the state for a fixed term lies within the people. So, in conclusion, the word ‘republic’ shows a government where the head of state is elected by the people rather than any birthright. 

15 Facts you didn’t know about the Preamble

  1. The original Constitution of India was written by Prem Bihari Narain Raizada in calligraphy with flowing italic style. 
  2. The original copies of the Indian Constitution written in both Hindi and English are present in special helium-filled cases, in the library of the Parliament of India. 
  3. The Indian Constitution consists of 25 parts with 448 articles and 12 schedules, which makes it the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world.
  4. The Constituent Assembly took exactly 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to complete the final draft of the Indian Constitution. 
  5. Around 2000 amendments were made before finalizing the Constitution. 
  6. The preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America also starts with ‘We the people’. 
  7. The concept of fundamental rights came from the American Constitution as they had nine fundamental rights for the citizens. 
  8. The 44th amendment deleted the Right to Property as the fundamental right which was given under Article 31 of the Constitution as ‘No person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law’. 
  9. The Constitution of India is considered as the best Constitution as it tries to change the errors or mistakes in it. Because of this, the Constitution had more than 100 amendments in the past. 
  10. The page of the preamble along with all the other pages of the Constitution were designed and decorated by the renowned painter Beohar Rammanohar Sinha of Jabalpur. 
  11. The Constitution of India is a handwritten Constitution that was signed on 24th January 1950 by 284 members of the Constituent Assembly, where 15 of them were women came into force on 26th January, two days later from signing. 
  12. The final draft of the Constitution was completed on 26th November 1949 and it came into force after two months on 26th January 1950 known as Republic Day. 
  13. Many provisions are adopted from various Constitutions by our drafting committee while drafting the Constitution. 
  14. The concept of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) is adopted from Ireland. 
  15. The concept of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in our Preamble was adopted from the French Motto of the French Revolution. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, it will not be wrong to say that the preamble is an integral part of the Constitution because it contains the spirit and ideology of the Constitution. The preamble highlights the fundamental values and guiding principles of the Constitution. The preamble declares that the citizens of India accepted the Constitution on 26th November 1949, but the date of commencement of the Constitution was decided to be 26th January 1950. 

Article 394 of the Constitution states that Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 60, 324, 367, 379 and 394 came into force since the adoption of the Constitution on 26th November 1949 and the rest of the provisions on 26th January 1950. The preamble of the Constitution of India is one of the best preambles ever drafted, not only in ideas but expressions as well. It contains the purpose of the constitution, to build an independent nation that protects justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity which are the objectives of the Constitution.

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Maintenance Under Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

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This article is written by Tanya Manglic, a student at Symbiosis Law School, Noida. In this article, she discusses about Maintenance given to Women Under Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

Introduction

Maintenance is covered under section 24 of the Act of 1955 which provides relief and relaxation in terms of money and litigation expenses to the spouse who is parted from the marriage and unable to maintain his living during the tenure of proceedings. It has also been provided that the sum of money and the expenses of the proceeding should be disposed of within sixty days as under the followings of the issued notice on the wife or husband. Maintenance is granted to the spouse as a financial assistance to its litigating parties by order of court if any application has been filed and she does not have any source of income.

Maintenance has certain laws under the accompanying headings and sub-headings: Maintenance of Wife under Hindu, Muslims, Christian and Parsi Laws:

(a) Analysis of the authoritative arrangements.

(b) Evaluation of the legal proclamations.

(c) Recognizable proof of traps.

(d) Advocacy of changes and enhancements.

Under Hindu Law, the maintenance for wife deals with the specific and relevant provisions of Modern Hindu Law. The area of drawback of the case has been found during the procedure of the investigation of the administrative arrangements and the assessment of the legal professions. Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 contained provisions which therein are required to discuss or to know the legislation position of wife under these Acts. The relevant provisions which are there: Section 24, and Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and Section 18 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 which contain the prescribed law. Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, manages the divorce settlement during the pendent light and the costs of the procedures. 

This Section enables the court to arrange the respondent to pay the candidate the expenses incurred at the time of the procedures, by determining that it creates the impression that either spouse or the husband has not free salary for his or her support and to meet out the important or necessary costs of the procedures. If we talk about the Section 25 then it considers the permanent alimony and maintenance, by keeping in view the respondents own income and its property.

Explanation of Maintenance Under Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

The right to claim for the maintenance under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 is an independent or absolute right and it is not being governed or maintained by the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, but the main authority i.e. the jurisdiction of the court cannot be ousted on the plea that the applicant whose rights are mentioned under the Hindu Marriage Act is already getting maintenance under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, but while fixing the quantum of maintenance that may be taken into consideration. Under the Hindu Marriage Act, it has been determined that either of the spouse can seek maintenance, but there is a special provision under the Code of Criminal Procedure and Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, where only the wife can claim maintenance under this Act.

Section 18 – Maintenance of Wife

This provision is especially created to provide a support to the married women. It doesn’t matter that the Hindu wife, whether married before or after the commencement of this Act because every wife will get maintenance by their husband during their life tenure. Section 18(1) is applicable to the wife who is living with her husband. The wife who has ceased to be Hindu cannot claim for the maintenance but an unchaste wife who has been living with her husband under the same roof has the authority to claim for the maintenance by the court. 

(2) A Hindu spouse or wife shall be entitled to live their life independently from her better half without relinquishing her to forfeit the maintenance. 

  1. If he is liable of abandonment or of stubbornly dismissing her. 
  2. If he has regarded her with so much cold-bloodedness as to cause a sensible apprehension in her mind that it will be destructive or harmful to live with her husband. 
  3. If he is experiencing a harmful type of infection or leprosy.
  4. If he has some other spouse living and can be known as extra marital affairs.
  5. If he keeps a mistress in a similar house wherein his better half is living or routinely lives with a concubine somewhere else. 
  6. If he has stopped to be a Hindu by transformation to another religion. 
  7. If there is some other reason legitimizing living independently. 

(3) (Forfeiture of the claim for the maintenance or support). A Hindu spouse will not be qualified for discrete living arrangements and support in the form of maintenance from her husband on the off chance that she is unchaste or stops to be a Hindu by transformation to another religion.

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Amount of Maintenance to the Wife

Under section 23, the power to decide whether any or not the compensation should be given to the wife as maintenance to be awarded under this Act lies on the discretion of the court. The court will consider the following:

  • The status and position of both parties.
  • The wants that are claimed by the claimant are reasonable.
  • If the claimant is separated than it is justified to do or not.
  • Number of persons who have right to claim maintenance.

Section 25 states that the amount of maintenance which has to be given whether decided by the court decree or by the agreement will be changed only if there is materialistic change in the circumstances. But under Section 24, the spouse cannot claim for the maintenance if they ceased to be Hindu by conversing their religion to another.  In the case of Kanchan v. Kamalendra where the husband claimed for the maintenance under section 24 of this Act. However, to claim for the maintenance the husband has to prove something strong like any illness or disability to earn for his livelihood. As the wife in this case was the employee earning Rs. 2000 in which she needs to run her household expenses and to maintain her child.

The court further added that mere closure of the business will not be taken as a valid or strong point for claiming the support from wife. In these matters the court will not solely rely on the facts for the approval of maintenance as the husband was capable enough to promote idleness. This will be opposed to the idea of section 24 of this Act. The trial court after considering all the facts came to the decision without any justification for providing maintenance in favour of the non-applicant husband who claimed for maintenance.

Women Issues and Laws

There are four major entitlements which women own after the divorce or separation from the husband: title; fault; need and contribution. In India we tend to follow the laws of old English system which is the separation of property where rights of person are based on its title or highly upon the economic contribution. Women are expected to be a home keeper and no they were prevented from doing any job. There are instances where women have been penalised by the court for going out for work as they are considered to be a caretaker of the family. Under the common law regime there is a notion that husband property will be treated as exclusive property. 

There is only one provision under the matrimonial statute which states the issues relating to property division is section 27 of Hindu Marriage Act “property presented at the time of marriage or after will be acquainted by both the husband and wife”. 

The famous case of Kamalakar Ganesh Sambhus V. Master Tejas Kamalakar Sambhus reads out the fact that women established that in the house construction was done with half of the amount invested by her, so the Bombay High Court held that the order of the family court on these grounds should be set aside and the woman should be given the right on the property as it was economically supported by her as well. Further, the court also expanded the provisions given under section 27 of Hindu Marriage Act and ruled by stating that it can be invoked to pass the orders regarding the rights by separating properties of the party and or even the tenanted premises. 

These steps have been taken because the provisions of maintenance were more crucial for the divorced and deserted women and the ones who have conflict in their marriage. It is the right of the women to maintenance which need to be mentioned within the citizen claims in the constitution. Despite the several changes, clause 4 and 5 of section 125 give the scope to the husband who engages to destitute and deserted women in protracting and demeaning litigation. These false and harsh interventions grab the women in circuitous legal commotion which cause them problems like emotionally charged, financially drained and very time consuming.

When it comes to matrimony it creates a number of rights and obligations on the spouses to perform against each other where maintenance is one of these obligations. A husband has the obligations towards his wife which he has to maintain during the coverture and even at the time of separation and divorce. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 applicable to only Hindus which maintain and create laws or provisions for the maintenance of wife. The wife need to file a complaint against her husband and if found there is no such litigation, than she has no right given to claim any maintenance under the personal laws.

Apart from the personal laws mentioned above, there is section 125 of the code of criminal procedure which also provides the maintenance but irrespective of any religion. There are certain provisions enacted with an idea of some object:

  1. For the speedier remedy.
  2. To avoid and prevent from vagabondage and destitution of persons.

The essentials which are needed to prove for the application of section 125 are as follows:

  1. That the husband has sufficient means.
  2. Neglects and denies to give maintenance to his wife.
  3. Wife is unable to manage her living.

On the fulfilment of these grounds the wife has the right to claim for the maintenance under this section. All the laws are independent in nature where they do not have any connection to other laws. The one law under which the wife claims will not bar upon the other law. The women’s low economic status has even restricted the court to create certain provisions for them. 

In the case of Rajeshri v. Shantibai, the first wife claim to have the right over the property of her deceased husband but she was denied to do so by his second wife and his brother. After going through the facts, the court declared the first wife as the sole heir of the property. Then the question arose by the second wife who was merely a mistress. She was neither the heir under Hindu Succession Act nor was she dependent on her own under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956. So after analysing all the given facts, Justice Masodkar declared that woman as an illegitimate wife of her husband. He further interpreted the facts and said that the measures which are given for maintenance by themselves are secular and social in character. But it has been therefore submitted by the prevalent judicial interpretation of section 25 which allows the second wife where she has right to claim for the maintenance applicable to section 125 of the code. At least, when the there should be provision where the second wife is not aware of the first wife and should get maintenance.

Conclusion

It is well said and also being recognised in Hindu law that the right of maintenance provided to the helpless women is substantive and a continuing right and also the amount of maintenance varies from time to time. The court’s responsibility is to keep into account the status of the opposite party who has claimed for maintenance and then its further amount should be decided. This is because of the Section 25 which provides the right to the party in a marriage to support them with the remedy in the form of alimony and maintenance where they pass any decree under the Act or at any time there into.

After the amendment and the changes brought down in the Hindu Marriage Act, 1976, the scope of the Act has been widened up and now this new changes make it mandatory for the court of law to grant full opportunity to the parties to affirm their rival arguments by leading proper arguments given by them. The court should also not neglect to take into consideration the other sides which may affect the grant or payment of maintenance besides the income and their conduct of behaviour during the proceedings.

Section 24 and Section 25 of the said demonstration manages the arrangements of permitting pendente light and perpetual support individually. In Dr. Kulbhushan v/s Raj Kumari and Anr, the court while choosing the measure of support, saw that it is resolved by depending on the realities of each case by following the precedent and announced that on the off chance that the court upgrades or shape the measure of maintenance, at that point such a choice would be legitimized. It was additionally held for this situation that it is reasonable to give the spouse 25% of husband’s net income as compensation for the support. 

  • Under Section 24 of the demonstrative Act if the court thinks about that fit and is fulfilled that either spouse or husband does not have a free pay, at that point it can arrange the respondent to pay the support to the applicant as per the arrangements of this Section. In this manner, the petitioner can be a spouse too. 
  • Further, as indicated by the arrangements of Section 25 of the Act, which manages the allowing of divorce settlement on a permanent basis, the court may on the application made by the respondent, request to accommodate the maintenance or alimony either as periodical instalments or a gross whole to be given. Along these lines, for this situation the respondent can either be a spouse or a husband. 
  • The motivation behind deciphering the arrangement along these lines is to stay away from the separation in light of the fact that both a couple are equivalent according to law.

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BarHacker: Important Pointers you need to know about IT Act

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It is expected that the questions will primarily be framed from the Information Technology Act, 2000 (as amended in 2008), there might be cases where questions may be asked from the associated rules as well. It is essential that the students carry a Bare Act which contains the Rules as well, which is available in the market from any law books publisher. The students should be familiar with the important concepts, definitions, offences and adjudication mechanism. 

This is a concise guide on the Information Technology Act, which can be used for a short recall and revision of the concepts and the provisions just before the exam. 

Important Provisions of the Information Technology Act and its functioning 

With the advent of the internet, various aspects of daily activity such as shopping, communication, interaction, and commercial transactions started occurring online. The IT Act was essentially passed to give recognition to electronic modes of communication, prescribe standards for the authenticity of the communication and security standards for organizations which collect data.

At the same time, those who provide online platforms (e.g. search engines, blogs, social media networks, etc.) for third parties to interact or upload and share content have additional responsibilities to ensure that such content is not harmful for the rights of others. Crimes using technology were also made punishable offences. 

A conceptual understanding of these has been explained below. 

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Legal recognition of electronically stored information or ‘electronic records’ and e-governance (Sec. 4 and S. 6, 6A, 7,8 and 9 of IT Act) 

As per the Information Technology Act, an electronic version of any document would be treated in the same manner as a written or printed version. 

The IT Act also provides for recognition and usage of electronic records for filing, issuance of receipt, or payment, retention of documents in electronic form, publication of rules, regulation in electronic gazette and treating such electronic records at par with the physical maintenance, publication, delivery or transaction of the particular event. 

Provisions for authentication of electronic communication 

  • Electronic and Digital Signature (Sec. 3 & 3A, 5) 

The relevance of digital signatures is best illustrated by the following question – when a specific communication has been sent, how does one identify whether the person who is purported to be the sender has actually despatched the communication? The IT Act prescribes authentication methods that can be applied to such communication – if these methods have been followed then it is presumed that the sender had actually sent the 

Any electronic record (i.e. information that is stored digitally) can be authenticated by using a digital signature (consisting of asymmetric crypto system and hash function) or an electronic signature (which is considered to be reliable and notified by the Central Government). Where a legal provision requires a particular document to be signed (say, for example, a declaration by the directors of the company that is required to be filed with the statutory authority), such document can be digitally or electronically signed in a manner prescribed by the Central Government. (Section 5, IT Act) 

What is the advantage of a digital or electronic signature? 

The identity of the sender of an ordinary email or the creator of an electronic document could be challenged in ordinary cases – unless a digital signature is appended. From a legal perspective, appending a digital signature to a document is considered to be reliable evidence of the following: 

  1. The genuineness of the identity of the person who created or signed the document (i.e. that there was no forgery) and that ii) the document did not tamper during transmission. 

Fraudulent or dishonest use of a digital or electronic signature is punishable with imprisonment of up to 3 years or fine of INR 1 lakh. 

Note: Governance of digital signatures and Electronic Signature Certification Authorities (Sec. 17-39) 

As per the IT Act, only ‘Certification Authorities’ can provide digital signatures which are recognized by the government. These Certification Authorities are regulated by the ‘Controller of Certifying Authorities’, which exercises supervision over the Electronic Signature Certifying Authorities and laying down the standards to be maintained by the Certifying Authorities. 

The validity of electronic contracts (Sec. 10-A) 

Are electronically executed contracts valid, or should all contracts be signed in physical form? 

As per the IT Act, contracts (except on the matters listed below) which are in electronic form will be considered valid, unless there are additional requirements imposed by another law (such as having a minimum number of witnesses, or compliance with the provisions of the Indian Contract Act) to which the contract applies, and which have not been met.

Under Indian law, for a contract to be binding and enforceable in a court, it  should be in writing and should be adequately stamped (as per the law of the appropriate state). For most ordinary contracts, no additional requirements are required. However, there are certain instruments to which the IT Act does not apply, and hence they cannot be entered into electronically. These are listed below : 

  • Negotiable Instruments 
  • Powers-of-attorney 
  • A trust deed 
  • A will 
  • Contracts for the sale or any other kind of transfer of an interest in immovable 

These instruments do not have the recognition that the IT Act grants to other instruments (discussed below). Therefore, it is advisable to execute these in physical form. 

There is no legal requirement to affix a digital/ electronic signature to such documents. 

  • Attribution, Acknowledgment and Despatch of Electronic records (Sec. 11-13) 

An electronic record or document sent can be attributed or credited to that person, if it was sent by the originator himself, or he had the authority to send the document, or was automatically sent through a programme created by the originator himself. 

A person can confirm the receipt of an electronic record, where the sender has not specified any particular manner to acknowledging the receipt, by communicating the receipt through any manner (including automated receipts) or by conduct. However, if the sender of such electronic record wants a receipt of acknowledgement, unless such acknowledgement has been given by the recipient, it will be deemed that the electronic record was never sent. 

Data protection and breach (Sec. 43-A, 72, 72-A of IT Act) 

Indian law imposes certain obligations on entities which collect certain kinds of personal information of individuals which is considered to be ‘sensitive’. The obligations may apply to e-commerce websites, banks, employers, hospitals, and other entities, if they collect personal information of users.

The obligations for data protection have been mentioned in Section 43-A, 72, 72-A the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) and the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 (SPDI Rules). The obligations under the IT Act and the SPDI Rules are applicable to body corporates, which includes companies, firms, or any association of individuals engaged in commercial activities that involve the collection of sensitive personal data or information. Thus, a partnership firm which collects sensitive data will have to comply with the SPDI Rules. 

Exceptions 

1) The rules are not applicable when data is collected or processed by an individual, e.g. a proprietorship business.

2) The SPDI Rules are also not applicable to Indian companies which collect and process data of foreign nationals – e.g. UK or US citizens. 3) Collection of information pertaining to a firm, partnership, trust, company, LLP, etc. will not attract data protection requirements under Indian law. 

Under Indian law, SPDI can be collected only: 

(i) the purpose for which the information is collected is lawful and is connected with a function or activity that the body corporate carries out, and (ii) if the collection of such information is necessary. 

Breach of confidentiality – punishment and adjudication (Section 46) 

The IT Act criminalizes the disclosure of confidential information obtained pursuant to a contract by any person (including an intermediary) with the intention of causing wrongful loss or gain with imprisonment up to three years and a fine of up to INR 500,000. Moreover, a body corporate handling any sensitive personal data or information will be liable to pay for the damages 

One can file an application before the Adjudicating Officer appointed under Section 46 of Information Technology Act, 2000 claiming breach of reasonable security procedures by a body corporate or any breach of the provisions from Section 43 to 45. The Adjudicating Officer has the power of a Civil Court to adjudicate in the matters where the claim does not exceed Rs 5 crores and give appropriate reliefs including interim orders and order for payment of damages. All appeals from the Adjudicating officer’s order lies with the Cyber Appellate Tribunal, which must be made within 45 days of receiving the certified copies of the order. 

  • Appeals process – Cyber Appellate Tribunal (Sec 48-50, 57-64) 

All appeals from the order of adjudicating officer or the Controller lies with the Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CAT). It has certain powers of civil court. The chairperson of the CAT is or has been or must be qualified to be a Judge of a High Court. Generally the members of CAT will hold office for a term of 5 years or until he enters 65 years, whichever is earlier. Civil courts will not have jurisdiction on the matters on which the Adjudicating officer is empowered. All appeals from the order of CAT will lie with the High Court, which must be filed within 60 days from the date of judgment. 

Information Technology

Offences under the IT Act (65-78, 84-A, 84-B, 84-C) 

IT Act criminalises certain acts like sending offensive messages, hacking, frauds, publication or transmitting of pornographic materials. The offences can be broadly divided into – acts against public interest, fraud, hacking and identity theft, offences and other statutory violations by intermediaries, offences related to obscenity. A list of offences under IT Act has been provided in a separate annexure. 

Responsibility of intermediaries and those who provide online platforms 

(Section 79, Information Technology Act) 

Under law, if a person’s legal rights are violated by another person (Wrongdoer), any persons who have incited, abetted, or aided the Wrongdoer in committing the violation may also be held responsible (even if it is to a lesser degree). If commission of a particular act is punishable under Indian law, it is likely that facilitating or providing the means to encourage such action may also be punishable. Usually the punishment under criminal law is fine and imprisonment for the directors or the persons in control of the entity’s affairs. 

Under the IT Act, an intermediary (Intermediary) is defined to include “any person who on behalf of another person receives, stores or transmits that record or provides any service with respect to that record and includes telecom service providers, network service providers, internet service providers, web hosting service providers, search engines, online payment sites, online-auction sites, online market places and cyber cafes.” 

Intermediaries (websites, social media networks, blogs and other platform owners) can potentially be held liable under provisions for abetment for illegal acts of third parties who have committed the act on the platform or by using the platform, even such actions have been taken without their knowledge – as per the IT Act, an intermediary must not knowingly publish, host or initiate transmission of unlawful information. The intermediary will be liable if: 

(i) it has knowingly aided or induced the commission of an unlawful act, or (ii) if after receiving actual knowledge, or being notified by a Government or its agency that information hosted on a computer resource regulated by the intermediary is being used to commit an unlawful act, it does not remove information expeditiously. 

In order to protect intermediaries from the risk of liability from illegal or unlawful activities on the internet where the intermediaries have not been actively involved, the IT Act was amended in 2008. 

An intermediary will not be liable in respect of third party information or data hosted by it under the following circumstances: 

  1. The function of the intermediary is restricted to providing access to a system where third party  information is transmitted, stored or temporarily hosted, or 
  2. When the intermediary does not a) initiate the transmission of the information, b) select the receiver of the information, and c) select or modify the information contained in the transmission, i.e. when the intermediary is merely a ‘blind’ carrier of information sent by a person to another person
  3. The intermediary observes ‘due diligence’ – this is an interesting condition (discussed later). The rules for due diligence are prescribed in the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011 (Intermediaries Rules) (discussed below). 

Bar Exam

Due diligence as per the Intermediaries Rules 

Under the Intermediaries Rules, due diligence requires the intermediary to take the following steps: 

1) Appointment of Grievance Officers: 2) Publication of privacy policy and terms of use 

3) Duty to comply to remove offending content in case of takedown notices from private entities within 36 hours of receiving the request. It should preserve records pertaining to the notice for 90 days. 4) Duty to assist government agencies with information 5) Compliance with Court Orders 6) Duty to comply with regulatory orders to block access to websites 

The IT Act has created a body called the Computer Emergency Response Team (“CERT”), which is empowered to issue instructions for blocking of websites. Intermediaries are under an obligation to block access to websites on the instructions of the CERT as per a notification issued by the Central Government (DoT Notification) pursuant to the IT Act. The CERT is empowered to act on the directions of the following persons or entities (they can be broadly classified as governmental agencies or a court) (Authorized Complainants): 

Questions around electronic evidence and investigative powers of the police 

Are digital information or records acceptable as evidence in legal proceedings? The Information Technology Act, 2000 has incorporated certain changes to Indian evidence law to accommodate acceptance of electronic information and documents in digital format in the courts as evidence. Under Indian law, the electronic record includes “any data, record or data generated, any image or sound stored, received or sent in an electronic form or microfilm or computer generated micro fiche.” 

  • How should electronic evidence be produced before the court? 

The most obvious idea that comes to mind is to present electronic evidence in its original form, that is, on the original device or on the storage medium which contains the information. For example, a cell-phone containing a call record, a hard disk, original CD records or the memory card which contains the relevant conversation. How can you produce these? When you produce the device itself, it is called primary evidence of electronic records. However, what happens when information is stored in a server or a machine? How can such information be presented before a court? How can one produce electronic records like email or information stored in a computer database or a server? 

In such circumstances, the document will have to be presented as ‘secondary evidence’. The Evidence Act lays down procedures for production and admissibility of the content of computer generated information (that is, secondary electronic evidence). As electronic records may be stored in huge servers which are hard to physically produce for examination in a court, the law permits production of computer generated electronic records by printing them on a paper, or storing recording or copying them in an optical or magnetic media, without production of the original electronic device. However, such documents will only be accepted if they meet certain standards (see Section 65B of the Evidence Act for more details) . 

Moreover, Courts will accept the above records only when they are certified (through an affidavit) by a competent officer / person who is responsible for managing or operating the relevant device. 

  • Presumptions pertaining to electronic evidence 

Parties to a legal proceeding need to establish facts by providing necessary evidence. With respect to digital and electronic evidence, courts typically go by certain ‘presumptions’, that is, a default state of affairs. These default presumptions kick in if certain preliminary conditions are met. Unless the other side indicates reasons or facts to challenge the genuineness of a particular presumption of a court, the court proceeds with the presumption and assumes that state of facts to be true. 

Presumptions with respect to electronic evidence are mentioned in Sections 85A, 85B, 85C, 88A and 90A of Indian Evidence Act – these are largely intuitive and correspond to common-sense. You are advised to refer to these. 

Expert witness: When there is an apprehension of the documents being tampered or if the parties are disputing the identity, authenticity or contents of electronic records, the court may take expert opinion of a ‘cyber forensics expert’ into consideration – typically, the opinion of an Examiner of Electronic Evidence (‘examiners’ are appointed by the Central Government u/s 79-A of the IT Act) in matters involving information stored or transmitted by a computer resource, mobile phones, or in any electronic or digital form. 

  • Power of police to search (Sec 80) 

Any police officer, not below the rank of Inspector or any other rank as notified by the Central or State Government can enter any premises for search and arrest without warrant any person who has reasonable suspected to have committed the offence, or about to commit an offence under this Act. 

Quiz on Cyber Law

1.) What section of the Information Technology Act, 2008 authorises digital signature? 

A.) Section 4 

B.) Sec on 5 

C.) Section 6 

D.) Section 7 

2.) What is the maximum fees prescribed under IT Act, 2008 for application of renewal of license? 

A.) 5,000 

B.) 8,000 

C.) 4,000 

D.) 2,000 

3.) What is the obligation on the Certifying authority regarding display of their license? 

A.) There is no explicit obligation to show license 

B.) The certifying authorities are required to carry a copy of their license at all times 

C.) The certifying authorities are required to display their license at a conspicuous place of the business premises 

D.) Every customer is to be given a copy of the license 

4.) What is the maximum term of imprisonment provided under the IT Act? 

A.) 10 years 

B.) 20 years 

C.) life imprisonment 

D.) the Act doesn’t prescribe imprisonment as a punishment 

5.) What is the maximum punishment prescribed under IT Act for a first conviction for transmitting obscene material in electronic form? 

A.) 3 years imprisonment and 5 lakhs fine 

B.) 5 years imprisonment and 5 lakhs fine 

C.) 3 years imprisonment and 7 lakhs fine 

D.) 2 years imprisonment and 5 lakhs fine 

6.) What section of the Information Technology Act, 2008 gives legal recognition to electronic records? 

A.) Section 14 

B.) Sec on 12 

C.) Section 9 

D.) Section 4 

7.) Which one of the following is not an e-governance project launched by the Indian Government? 

A.) FRIENDS 

B.) Gyandoot 

C.) YASH 

D.) Bhoomi 

8.) Which of the following Section of the IT Act was invalidated by the Supreme Court in 2015? 

A.) 66B 

B.) 67A 

C.) 66A 

D.) 66F 

9.) Which Section of the IT Act deals with cyberterrorism? 

A.) 66A 

B.) 66B 

C.) 66C 

D.) 66F 

10.) How many schedules are listed in the IT Act? 

A.) 4 

B.) 5 

C.) 6 

D.) 7 

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