June 2024

Arbitrability of Disputes: Indian Jurisprudence

[Continued from Part I]

The Vidya Drolia Case: Redefining Arbitrability

In 2019, aiming to solve the conundrum and marking a significant milestone in Indian arbitration, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Vidya Drolia and Ors v. Durga Trading Corporation,[1] (“Vidya Drolia”) laid down the contours of arbitrability. While analysing thearbitrability of Landlord-Tenant disputes governed by the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (“TPA”), the Supreme Court elucidated that the mere existence of a special statute dealing with certain disputes does not ipso facto render them non-arbitrable, thereby widening the scope of arbitrability and increasing the access to arbitration in complex legal contexts. Continue Reading Arbitrability of Disputes: Indian Jurisprudence (Part 2)

The Uphill Battle of Challenging a Compromise Decree

Introduction:

Judicial pendency has been a roadblock in India’s quest to becoming a leading global economy. Although attributable to numerous factors, addressing the floodgate of litigation in the country is undoubtably the need of the hour[1]. Accordingly, various approaches have been adopted to promote the amicable settlement of pending litigation, including through alternate dispute redressal forums such as mediation, national lok adalats, etc., or by the volition of the State through numerous schemes such as Vivad se Vishwas[2].Continue Reading The Uphill Battle of Challenging a Compromise Decree

Navigating OFAC Sanctions: Insights for Indian Businesses and Banks

As sanctions regimes become highly objective oriented, the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) is focused on ensuring enforcement and targeting entities involved in violating the sanctions, irrespective of their nationality. The inherent complexity, supplemented by an objective-focused approach, makes sanctions compliance even more important in today’s geopolitical climate. On June 12, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) unveiled a comprehensive set of anti-money laundering measures aimed at enhancing transparency and preventing illicit financial activities. These measures, along with the OFAC advisory, bring significant implications for financial institutions worldwide by expanding grounds for imposing sanctions against Foreign Financial Institutions (FFIs) and limiting the provision of certain software technologies to Russia.[1]Continue Reading Navigating OFAC Sanctions: Insights for Indian Businesses and Banks

Arbitrability of Disputes: Indian Jurisprudence [Part I]

Introduction

Arbitrability plays a pivotal role in dispute resolution, determining if a particular dispute can be resolved through arbitration. Several key factors, including, among other things, procedural/curial laws, governing law and actual text of the arbitral agreements, identity of the parties, etc., help establish arbitrability.[1] Continue Reading Arbitrability of Disputes: Indian Jurisprudence [Part I]

Summoning additional accused in criminal trial: When, why and how

OVERVIEW

Can a person who is neither named in the first information report (“FIR”) nor mentioned in the chargesheet, be summoned by a trial court later to face trial as an accused in respect of the very same FIR and chargesheet? If so, what would be the threshold and under what circumstances can such power be exercised?Continue Reading Summoning additional accused in criminal trial: When, why and how