POLITICS
In 2024, Supreme Court has big hearings and verdicts coming
In a sense, 2024 will see Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud commence his second innings in his two-year-term. Much like the keenly awaited same sex marriage and Article 370 verdicts this year, 2024 will see SC benches pronounce their rulings on electoral bonds, sedition and money bills
TRENDS
Why Supreme Court has ruled Article 370 removal as constitutionally valid
Supreme Court opined that Article 370 was a feature of asymmetric federalism and was temporary and not a signifier of Jammu and Kashmir’s sovereignty
TRENDS
The silver lining to SC’s no to same sex marriage: Concurrence that queerness not an urban elite concern
The Supreme Court was clearly hamstrung in reading meaning into the Special Marriage Act in a manner that would have intruded into Parliament’s turf. The onus is on the legislature to act on the SC judgment and ensure that the LGBTQI+ community can live with dignity and the same rights that heterosexual persons enjoy
INDIA
Why we are failing to eliminate judicial pendency
A two-pronged, bottom-up approach that involves recruiting more judicial officers in the district judiciary and ramping up the supporting structural components they need like more courtrooms, court staff, basic amenities and technology cannot wait any longer. There are more than 4 crore cases pending in the lower judiciary
BUSINESS
AI in legal practice still has many hoops to jump through
Amid 5 crore cases pending in the Indian justice system, there is hope that judges, lawyers, law firms and even cops can leverage Artificial Intelligence capabilities to generate and extract relevant information which improves their efficiencies. But fears of AI replacing humans or triggering job losses is overstated at this point
BUSINESS
Uniform Civil Code: Ending gender injustice perpetuated by religion is a goal worth achieving
Personal laws that entrap citizens in religious heterodoxy have no place in a modern society governed by constitutional rights and the rule of law. The right to a dignified life should be extended to each citizen irrespective of her religion or gender. Pursue extensive debate and discussion to enact Uniform Civil Code
BUSINESS
Entry of Foreign Law Firms: A 1991 moment for the Indian legal industry
The BCI notification allowing foreign law firms to operate in India will stimulate healthy competition and impel extraordinary growth. Government must negotiate and remove barriers that prevent Indian and foreign law firms and lawyers from practising in each other’s jurisdictions
