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Domestic Events & Collaborations MCI: The PACT- Poovayya Commercial Mediation Conclave

Commercial Mediation Conclave 2026: A fireside chat with Justice (Retd.) AK Sikri on Med-Arb clauses and how they can help save business relations

In a fireside chat at the Commercial Mediation Conclave 2026, curated and hosted by The PACT, Justice (Retd.) Arjan Kumar Sikri discussed with Jonathan Rodrigues why med-arb clauses remain rare in commercial contracts, when a mediator can properly go on to act as arbitrator in the same dispute, and why the caucus session is the reason the two roles are usually kept apart.

Case Briefs Tribunals/Commissions/Regulatory Bodies

Clandestine Clearance | Electronic data retrieved without compliance with Sections 9-D & 36-B, Central Excise Act, 1944 cannot sustain duty demand: CESTAT

“The case of the Revenue, which is based on documents retrieved from CPUs, computers or pen drives and various statements recorded during the course of investigation, which have been found to be inadmissible as evidence, to allege clandestine removal of goods, cannot be sustained.”

maintenance for major child with physical disability

Case Briefs High Courts

Mere completion of ITI course or ability to move independently does not establish financial self-sufficiency; Calcutta HC affirms maintenance for disabled child despite attaining majority

The petition relates to seeking continuation of maintenance under Section 127 CrPC for a son who, after attaining majority, continues to suffer from 70—75 per cent orthopaedic disability and remains unable to maintain himself.

Sole Arbitrator Justice T S Sivagnanam Kennel Club India

Case Briefs High Courts

Inside the Kennel Club of India Case: Madras HC on Section 21 Notice, Limitation and Appointment of Sole Arbitrator

The Court held that the application filed for appointment of sole arbitrator under Section 11(6), Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, is maintainable as the requirement of notice under Section 21 becomes unnecessary where the petitioner had already disclosed all details in a prior civil suit and the respondent had responded by filing a Section 8 application acknowledging that the dispute must be resolved via arbitration.

SCC Times Newsflash WATCH NOW

Passport Rules Amended; New Validity Rules for Children Below 15

The Ministry of External Affairs has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending the Passports Rules, 1980. The amended Rule 12(1A) provides

Op Eds OP. ED.

When the Supreme Court Speaks in Two Voices: Neeraj and the Doctrine of Precedent

by Kumar Kartikeya* and Aadesh Kumar Singh**

GST classification of copyright licensing

Case Briefs High Courts

GST on Copyright Licensing of Films: Bombay HC Says Digital Content Cannot Be Equated with “Software”

A GST classification dispute arose over the licensing of copyright in cinematographic films and whether such film content could fall within “information technology software” for taxation purposes.

S&R Associates Apurv Sharma Mohnish Mathew

Law Firms News News

S&R Associates announces Apurv Sharma as retained partner, Mohnish Mathew as counsel

S&R Associates has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with approximately 170 lawyers, including 44 partners and counsel.

Investigating Officer as Prosecutor in Court Martial

Case Briefs High Courts

Investigating Officer can act as Prosecutor in Court Martial proceedings; Regulation 178(3), Navy Regulations not violative of Article 21: Kerala HC

Kerala High Court observed that the appointment of an Investigating Officer as Prosecutor, by itself, does not violate the right to a fair trial, particularly in view of the special statutory framework governing court-martial proceedings and Article 33 of the Constitution.

Law Firms News News

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas advises Morgan Stanley on sale of shares by ADIA in Lenskart

The team was led by Gokul Rajan, Partner (Regional Co-Head – Capital Markets – North); with the support from Adwait Deshmukh, Senior Associate; and Archit Jain, Associate.

SCC Times Newsflash WATCH NOW

Lessons for a Lifetime in Law: Sanjoy Ghose’s Advice to the Next Generation of Lawyers

Senior Advocate Sanjoy Ghose shares four enduring lessons for the next generation of lawyers: precision and meticulousness, patience, humility and the courage to retain one’s individuality in an increasingly AI-driven legal profession.

Case Briefs High Courts

UAPA Property Attachment: Jharkhand HC Distinguishes Legitimate Assets from Alleged Terror Proceeds

The Court held that the purchase of the scooty cannot be said to be from the proceeds of crime on account of the self-acquired financial prowess of Appellant 1 and merely because Appellant 1 is the wife of Accused 1. The Court observed that there was a total dearth of evidence and found no reason to interfere with the earlier order and affirmed the attachment.

Appointments & Transfers News

Supreme Court Collegium recommends repatriation of Justice T. Vinod Kumar to Telangana High Court

The decision was taken in view of Justice T. Vinod Kumar’s ensuing retirement in November 2026.

Law Firms News News

Khaitan & Co advises Aditya Infotech and Lead Managers on INR 15,000 million QIP

Khaitan & Co advised Aditya Infotech Limited and the Lead Managers, ICICI Securities Limited and IIFL Capital Services Limited, on its Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) aggregating to INR 15,000 million.

Legislation Updates Notifications

Employees’ Pension Scheme 2026 amended to expand coverage for more EPF members

Government has amended the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 2026, to include certain EPF members within the pension scheme where their wages fall within the newly notified wage ceiling.

Delhi High Court 38 government hospitals

Case Briefs High Courts

Delhi HC Directs GNCTD to Fill Vacancies, Ensure Round-the-Clock Referral Coordinators and Proper Utilisation of Medical Equipment in 38 Government Hospitals

Delhi HC directs GNCTD to strengthen staffing, referral coordination and utilisation of medical equipment across 38 government hospitals.

Integral Law Review Volume VI Call for Papers

Call For Papers Law School News

Call for Papers | Integral Law Review, Volume VI, April 2027

The Integral Law Review is the flagship legal periodical of the Faculty of Law, Integral University, Lucknow.

Domestic Events & Collaborations

From hybrid dispute resolution mechanisms to judicial lawmaking: Experts discuss building blocks and hurdles in the road to Viksit Bharat 2047 at Nyaya Nirmaan 2026

The General Counsels’ Association of India (GCAI) organised the fifth edition of Nyaya Nirmaan 2026: India @ 2047 on 24 September 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, on the theme “Building the Legal Architecture for a Connected Global Economy”.

Law Firms News News

Khaitan & Co. advises RBL Bank on maiden USD 1 billion MTN Programme and issuance of USD 350 million notes

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Emirates NBD Bank (P.J.S.C.), Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., MUFG Securities Asia Limited Singapore Branch and Standard Chartered Bank acted as managers.

Case Briefs Supreme Court

Mere conduct of arbitral proceedings at a place does not make it the “seat” of arbitration: Supreme Court restores Section 34 petitions before Sundargarh Court

Supreme Court held that merely conducting arbitral proceedings at Cuttack did not make it the seat of arbitration, and upheld the maintainability of the Section 34 petitions before the Sundargarh Court.