INTRODUCTION In a remarkable judgment passed by B.V. Nagarathna, J. and Satish Chandra Sharma, J., the Hon’ble Apex Court on 04.06.2025 acquitted a youth convicted under Section 302 and 201 IPC, 1860 by holding that the circumstantial evidence on record was not consistent and left a reasonable possibility of an alternate outcome i.e. of innocence...

Punjab Customary Law, a legal tradition rooted in colonial policy and agrarian patriarchy, occupies a peculiar position in the Indian legal system. Oscillating between statutory law and living custom, its enduring relevance continues to shape property rights, succession, and marital relations, particularly in rural Punjab. This article undertakes an in-depth historical and analytical study of...

In a democratic polity founded upon constitutional morality and rule of law, the protection of individuals who expose corruption, maladministration, and illegality is not merely a statutory duty but a civilizational imperative. The Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2011 (hereinafter “the Act”), was envisaged as a cornerstone in India’s fight against entrenched corruption. However, over a...

The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) emerged from a pressing necessity to combat the exodus of high-profile economic offenders who exploited legal lacunae to escape Indian jurisdiction. In a globalised financial ecosystem increasingly prone to complex frauds, the Act stands as a pivotal legislative initiative aimed at reining in wilful defaulters and economic fugitives...

Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) forms the procedural backbone for claiming compensation arising out of motor vehicle accidents. The provision is remedial in nature and must be interpreted liberally to advance the purpose of social justice underlying the statute. It empowers affected parties—including victims, legal representatives...

Bail is an integral element of the Indian criminal justice system that reconciles the fundamental right to personal liberty with the broader interest of societal justice. It embodies the legal process through which a person accused of a criminal offence is released from custody, subject to conditions that ensure their participation in judicial proceedings. The...