LawLoveLegal

Introduction India’s rich built heritage—palaces, forts, colonial mansions, temples, ghats—is under serious stress from neglect, institutional fragmentation and inadequate funding. As you outline, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and adaptive reuse have emerged as a possible route to reviving this heritage. The question arises: can the government mandate that eligible companies direct their statutory CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) obligations under the Companies Act 2013 towards heritage revival projects? This article examines the statutory CSR regime, constitutional and jurisprudential constraints, and the feasibility of directing CSR funds specifically to heritage preservation. The CSR Regime in India – Statute and Rules Applicability and key features Under section 135(1) of the Companies Act 2013, every company which, in the preceding financial year, satisfies any of the following criteria must comply with CSR obligations: net worth of ₹500 crore or more, or turnover ...

Introduction The Delhi High Court has permitted JTNL Consumer Health , a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson , to continue marketing its electrolyte drink under the registered trademark “ORSL” , despite the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issuing a ban on the use of the term ‘ORS’ in beverage branding. The High Court order places the FSSAI directive in temporary suspension only with respect to JTNL , until the authority decides on the company’s representation. This interim protection addresses concerns surrounding regulatory compliance, consumer protection, and market impact. Background: FSSAI’s Prohibition on Use of “ORS” On October 14 and 15, 2025 , the FSSAI issued orders directing Food Business Operators (FBOs) to refrain from using the term ORS : In product names On packaging labels In advertisements As part of trademarks The regulator reasoned that electrolyte drinks marketed as “ORS” or similarly named alternatives misled consumers i...

Case Background A 29-year-old contractual government doctor posted in Satara’s Phaltan region was found hanging in a hotel room on the night of her death. A note left on her palm, written in Marathi, alleged that she had been raped four times by the Phaltan City Police Station sub-inspector Gopal Badane and harassed by her landlord’s son Prashant Bankar for five months. Both the accused have been arrested. Key Revelations Relationship with Accused (Prashant Bankar): Investigators found evidence of a months-long relationship between the doctor and Prashant Bankar (landlord’s son and software engineer). Call and chat records show more than 150 calls since January of the year. Marriage Proposal & Emotional Fallout: The doctor reportedly proposed marriage; Bankar refused, claiming he considered her a sister. This allegedly led to emotional escalation and frequent arguments. Rape Charge against Police Officer: The suicide note named sub-inspector Gopal Badane, alleging h...

Case Background: Pratibha Tower and Its Controversial History Pratibha Tower was originally a 36-storey luxury residential project in Breach Candy, Mumbai, launched in 1984. It later became the center of a major real estate fraud scandal when authorities found that the developer had overstated the plot area to gain unauthorized Floor Space Index (FSI) benefits. This resulted in illegal additional construction and regulatory intervention. Among the early apartment purchasers were well-known personalities, including Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale , highlighting the project’s high-profile nature. Litigation Timeline and Demolition 1989 – BMC ordered demolition of the top eight floors . 2019 – The remaining structure was demolished after the cooperative society resolved to redevelop the land. 2022 – Society selected Crest Residency Pvt Ltd (JV: RA Enterprises + Crest Venture) as the new developer. June 2025 – Society member Devyani Gulabsi filed a suit challe...

Introduction The abetment of suicide case registered by the Rohtak police following the death of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sandeep Lathar has raised serious questions regarding the legal sustainability of the FIR, particularly against deceased Haryana IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar’s wife Amneet P. Kumar , an IAS officer, and her brother, Amit Rattan , an AAP MLA. The FIR also names two police personnel, Sushil Kumar and Sunil Kumar. Legal experts argue that the allegations, as recorded, may not satisfy the essential legal requirements for establishing abetment of suicide. Background of the Case The FIR was registered on October 15 based on a complaint by ASI Lathar’s wife, who alleged that administrative and political pressure exerted by Amneet P. Kumar and her brother contributed to her husband’s suicide on October 14 . These developments unfolded shortly after IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar himself died by suicide on October 7 , leading to intense scrutiny of internal departmenta...

Introduction: A Novel Step Toward Linguistic Precision in Justice In a landmark administrative reform, the Supreme Court of India has launched an unprecedented initiative to address one of the judiciary’s long-standing challenges — the poor quality of English translations of judicial records originally written in Indian languages . Recognising the direct impact of inaccurate translations on the dispensation of justice, the apex court has decided to engage practising lawyers as translators . This move seeks to combine legal acumen with linguistic accuracy , ensuring that translations of pleadings, judgments, and other documents preserve the “true meaning and spirit” of the original records. Background: The Problem of Inaccurate Judicial Translations The problem of inaccurate translations has persisted for decades in the Indian judicial system. Many trial court records, particularly from lower courts in states where proceedings are conducted in regional languages, reach the Supreme...

Introduction: The Apex Court Steps In The Supreme Court of India has raised a critical question — can online gaming and betting platforms be completely banned in India? This came after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) alleged that several betting websites and gambling platforms continue to operate under the garb of “e-sports” or “social gaming.” The bench, comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan , directed the Union Government to assist the court in determining the legality and practicality of a nationwide ban on online gaming. Background of the Case The PIL , filed by advocate Vishal Arun Mishra on behalf of CASC, calls for a complete prohibition of online betting and gambling. It further seeks clarity on the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 , which was enacted to regulate the online gaming ecosystem. The court asked CASC to share its entire case file with V.C....

Introduction: Supreme Court Highlights Crisis in Execution of Decrees In a significant observation highlighting one of the most persistent issues in India’s justice delivery system, the Supreme Court of India has expressed deep concern over the massive pendency of execution petitions across the country. The apex court lamented that over 8.82 lakh execution petitions remain pending in district courts nationwide — a figure that renders judicial decrees “meaningless” and amounts to a “travesty of justice.” An execution petition is a plea filed by a decree-holder seeking enforcement of a judgment — such as recovery of money, transfer of property, or ensuring compliance with a court order. Despite judgments being delivered, the prolonged enforcement process often denies effective relief to the litigant. Background: Pendency and Supreme Court Monitoring The bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Pankaj Mithal made these remarks while monitoring compliance with its March 6, 2025 dire...

The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark judgment settling a long-standing ambiguity in property law concerning minors’ rights over property sales executed by their guardians without prior court approval. The decision, pronounced by a bench comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice PB Varale , establishes that minors, upon attaining majority, are not required to move the court to cancel such transactions — repudiation through their actions or conduct is sufficient under the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 . Case Background: The Dispute Over Two Plots in Karnataka The judgment arose from an appeal filed by KS Shivappa , who purchased two adjoining plots in Davanagere, Karnataka, from two brothers after they attained majority. These plots were originally purchased in 1971 by their father and natural guardian, Rudrappa , in the names of his minor sons. Soon after, Rudrappa sold both plots without obtaining the mandatory court permission required under Section 8(...

Background of the Case The Karnataka High Court has directed the Bengaluru Police not to harass Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal and other company officials in connection with a case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for abetment to suicide . The order came in response to a petition filed by Aggarwal , Ola Electric , and Subrat Kumar Dash , head of Vehicle Homologation, challenging the FIR filed against them after the death of a 38-year-old Ola Electric engineer , who allegedly died by suicide on September 28, 2025 . The High Court bench of Justice Mohammad Nawaz , in an order passed on October 17 , restrained the police from taking coercive action or harassing the petitioners “under the guise of investigation.” Facts of the Case The deceased, who worked as a Homologation Engineer at Ola Electric since 2022, allegedly consumed poison at his Bengaluru residence. After his death, his family discovered a 28-page handwritten note accusing senior company offi...

Supreme Court Restores Murder Conviction After 27 Years In a significant ruling reaffirming the importance of accountability in serious criminal offences, the Supreme Court of India has cautioned against adopting a “pedantic” or excessively rigid interpretation of the burden of proof principle in criminal jurisprudence. The apex court stressed that overemphasis on procedural rigidity could allow offenders in grave crimes to escape justice, thereby making “society the casualty.” The judgment came in a case involving the murder of a daughter-in-law, Pushpa , in Madhya Pradesh 27 years ago. The bench, comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe , restored the conviction of the accused, Janved Singh , reversing the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s 2010 acquittal . Case Background: Dowry Death Disguised as Electrocution Pushpa, who was married to Mahesh Singh, was found dead in her home in December 1997 . Her father-in-law, Janved, reported to police that she had died of electrocuti...

The Incident: Allegations of Harassment and Financial Exploitation A shocking case from Bengaluru has raised troubling questions about workplace culture and mental health in India’s corporate sector. An Ola Electric engineer , aged 38, allegedly died by suicide on September 28, 2025 , after consuming poison at his residence. The engineer, who worked as a Homologation Engineer at Ola Electric since 2022, reportedly left behind a 28-page handwritten note accusing his superiors — including Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal and Subrat Kumar Das , Head of Vehicle Homologations and Regulations — of mental harassment and financial exploitation . His friends discovered him in distress and rushed him to a hospital, but he succumbed the same day. Initially, an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) was filed. Later, his brother found the suicide note and approached the police, leading to a formal FIR against Aggarwal, Das, and other senior officials. The FIR and Legal Proceedings The Karnataka Poli...