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J&K Becomes First State to Criminalise ‘Sextortion’ by Public Servants: What...
In a first, the Jammu and Kashmir administration, currently under Governor’s rule, instituted amendments to state laws, making “sexual exploitation of women by people in positions of authority, having...
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Close Relatives Only, No Payment: What You Should Know About the New...
In a significant development, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016. Among other things, the bill allows for only altruistic surrogacy by infertile couples, who have...
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10 Path-Breaking Verdicts That Made 2018 a Pivotal Year For India
It has been a remarkable year for the Supreme Court of India, the highest court in the land. From four of the senior-most judges coming out in protest against the Chief Justice over issues of judicial...
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Fancy Vehicle Modifications Are Now Illegal: 8 Facts to Know About SC’s...
Modified cars, complete with added silencers and fancy doors, made to look like a different make than the original, are now illegal. Even bikes that are modified to abandon their original look will be...
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Republic Day 2019: 9 Constitutions That Inspired The Ideals That Define...
Did the Constitution of India borrow ideas and many of its stand out features from the constitutions of other countries? Yes, after intense scrutiny, it turns out that our founding fathers liberally...
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How Secular Should we be in 2019? Here’s How India of 1950 Answered That...
72 years ago, this week, 284 elected members of independent India ceremonially signed a magisterial hand-written tome. They were putting the final touches – literally – on a document they hoped would...
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Just Bought a Home? Here’s Why A Debate in 1950 Means You Can Be Evicted in 2019
72 years ago, this week, 284 elected members of independent India ceremonially signed a magisterial hand-written tome. They were putting the final touches – literally – on a document they hoped would...
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Republic Day: Meet Nani Palkhivala, The Legendary Lawyer Who Saved Our Democracy
In his treatise on political theory ‘Hind Swaraj’, Mahatma Gandhi heavily criticised lawyers for being instruments of British colonial rule and sucking the lifeblood of the poor. A strange criticism...
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Republic Day: Do You Know These 5 Key Ways The Constitution Shapes Your Life?
What was life like for an ordinary citizen of India before the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950? How does it affect the everyday lives of citizens today? As Republic Day approaches,...
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Are You a Citizen or a ‘Migrant’? These Heated Debates From 1949 Have The Answer
72 years ago, this week, 284 elected members of independent India ceremonially signed a magisterial hand-written tome. They were putting the final touches – literally – on a document they hoped would...
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What Defines 2019? How About a 1950 Debate on National Language That Unites Us
72 years ago, this week, 284 elected members of independent India ceremonially signed a magisterial hand-written tome. They were putting the final touches – literally – on a document they hoped would...
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This Brave Lady’s 9-Year-Fight Stopped Convicted Criminals From Being MLAs, MPs!
In 1919, the Southborough Committee on Franchise, which the British colonial government had set up to design a system of electoral representation for the Dominion of India, called upon Dr BR Ambedkar...
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2.9 Lakh Await Justice: Meet the Orgs Providing Free Legal Aid to Needy...
He took a single step out of the tall metal door and embraced his new life. After years of waiting and languishing behind the iron bars, he was finally free. This is the story of the under-trials of...
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‘We Asked for Gifts, Not Dowry’: A Lawyer on What Defines Dowry & How You Can...
Dowry is a taboo now. Everybody is modern. People make travel plans, shop in well-built modern malls, wear the latest fashion couture. Most girls today are educated till graduation. And dowry is...
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Expert Speak: Slavery Still Exists in India, And Here’s How You Can Help End It!
In 1939, Symington, a British civil servant visiting Central India, reported that abnormal rent, usurious rate of interest, veth or forced/bonded labour, and severe economic coercion had reduced a vast...
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Witch-Hunts Can Still End With Murder Across India. Here’s How The Law Can Help!
The countless fans of the Harry Potter series are fascinated by the mystery and witchcraft, but how many of us have ever wondered that the term ‘witchcraft’ can be used to provoke a person to commit...
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Family Stopping You From Working After Marriage? A Lawyer Shares What You Can...
As a lawyer, I’ve been approached by many women for advice on balancing life and career after marriage. They ask me several questions, “Is working after marriage illegal? How am I supposed to manage...
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Thrown Out By In-Laws, She Rebuilt Her World to Help Women Going Through Divorce
Almost 18 years ago, Vandana Shah was thrown out of her husband’s home in the dead of the night. All she had were the clothes on her back and Rs 750 in her bank account. She could have let life slip...
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India’s First Right-To-Healthcare Law: What It Means & Why You Should Care
Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees protection of life and personal liberty to every citizen. Under the laws of this country, the State is obligated to maintain basic health services for all...
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Chennai Lawyer Behind 18 GI Tags Explains How It Can Preserve Tamil Nadu’s...
Last month, P Sanjai Gandhi’s five-year-long effort finally came to fruition when the Thirubuvanam sari, produced by the registered weavers of the Thirubuvanam Silk Handloom Weavers Co-operative...
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This Lawyer’s Fight Is Why You Now Get Answer Sheets at Rs 2/Page Under RTI
In 2012, Paras Jain appeared for the final level of the Company Secretary examination at the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) in Delhi. A brilliant student, Paras was looking forward to...
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In Tribute: Father of Modern Legal Education In India, NR Madhava Menon,...
Dr N R Madhava, the renowned academician and father of modern Indian legal education passed away on Tuesday night (May 7). The 84-year-old had been diagnosed with liver cancer a few months ago. He is...
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Madurai Eatery Fined Rs 65K for Charging Rs 3 Over MRP: Where & How To Complain
How many times have you walked into a theatre, purchased a bottle of water, and realised that you were charged over and above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP)? And yet, how many times have you raised...
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Good News For Homebuyers: Now Claim Refund If Handover Delayed Beyond 1 Year!
The Mohans (name changed) are a middle-aged couple who have just made the payment for their first apartment complex in Gurugram. Mr Mohan finally feels like he has achieved something substantial in his...
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All Animals Are ‘Legal Persons’, Court Declares: Here’s What It Means
My four-year-old once asked me if a monkey is a person. I smiled and said no. But if he were to ask me that today, I would have to answer in the affirmative. Here’s why. Animals and birds have legal...
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Dear Women, You Have Equal Rights to Your Father’s Property: What You Need to...
Everybody aims to own a house of their own. It is a symbol of financial stability and security, especially in India. Rita was getting married, and she asked me, “Where will I stay after marriage? I...
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Planning Your Finances? Here’s Why You Need to Write a Will & How to Do It
The thought of writing a Will and discussing it openly is very uncomfortable because it involves thinking about your death and/or the death of a loved one. There is a high possibility that the Will you...
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Mother or Father, Who Gets Custody of Child After Divorce and Why?
“Custody of child shall be handed over to such a person who fosters him with care, love and affection.” -Honourable Justice Vinod Prasad As understood commonly, ‘custody’ means ‘guardianship’. This...
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Setting Up Your Own Startup? 5 Legal Basics Every Entrepreneur Should Know!
Roy L. Ash, a renowned financial wizard, once said: An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he’ll quickly learn how to swallow it. An entrepreneur must know a little bit...
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Orphans Are Citizens Too: Meet the 26-YO Woman Fighting For Them in the...
Out of the 20 million orphans in India, less than 1% are in orphanages. 117 districts in India do not have a single orphanage. (Source: MWCD Trackchild-Child Care Institutions in 2015). However, even...
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Citizen Protests in India: Rights, Duties & Permissions Needed
In this article, we look at protests in India to understand how and where a citizen can legally protest. In the case of Ramlila Maidan Incident v. Home Secretary, Union Of India & Ors., the Supreme...
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Over 100 FIRs filed: Hyderabad Law Student Ensures Women Get The Right Legal Aid
“While the faces in the seminars change, certain doubts are common pan India. Initially, I would fail to comprehend concerns of both genders but soon realised the extent of ignorance, unnecessary fear...
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‘Greatest Legal Argument Delivered in India’: How a Gujarat Lawyer Defended INA
Following the end of World War II, the British government convened a series of trials against former officers of the Indian National Army (INA), who had fought alongside the Japanese forces in the...
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India’s First Residency Fellowship for Lawyers, Law Students Launched: How To...
With The Positive Collective, The Better India’s COVID-19 coverage is available to regional language publications for free. Write to editorial@thebetterindia.com for more details. Daksha Fellowship is...
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COVID-19 Patient Denied Treatment? Here’s What You Can Do to Get Help
Unavailability of beds in hospitals for COVID-19 patients has been one of the most discussed and debated topics off late. Many news articles have spoken about hospitals denying admissions to patients...
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In 1986, Mary Roy’s Legal Battle Ensured All Daughters Got Justice in India
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (11 August 2020) reaffirmed the equal rights of daughters on their father’s property. The three-judge Bench stated that even if their father died before the Hindu...
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I Was Given an Inflated Medical Bill. Here’s How I Got Rs 3 Lakh in Compensation
Dinesh Joshi visited a doctor for a pain in his back in 2011. While he didn’t get the treatment he needed, his determination that he has to get justice ended up with him getting so much more. It took...
View ArticleHere’s What You Can Do If Your Salary Is Delayed or Not Credited
Chetna Singh (38) has been an employee of a garment manufacturing unit in Coimbatore for over five years now. Since the beginning of 2020 there were delays in her salary getting credited and since...
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I Got a Rs 45000 Compensation From Amazon For Cancelling a Confirmed Order....
The Odisha State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission on 11 January 2021 directed Amazon to pay Rs 45,000 for cancelling a confirmed order of a laptop. How did a customer get compensated for order...
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What Happened 71 Years Ago, When the Vision of the Supreme Court Was First...
On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect. Two days later, on 28 January, the Supreme Court held its first sitting under our Constitution in the Court Chamber of Parliament House....
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Daughter’s Schizophrenia Inspired Pune Man To Help Draft India’s Mental...
On 6 August 2001, the Moideen Badusha Mental Home in Erwadi village, Tamil Nadu, caught fire. The origins of the fire remain unknown, but 45 patients housed in the facility perished. This was because...
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New Zealand’s Miscarriage Leave Is a Few Decades Behind India’s Maternity...
While the birth of a child brings joy to the entire family, and bring with it celebrations and happiness, the loss of a child, whether by way of a miscarriage or still-birth is often something that the...
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Criticism of Govt is Not Sedition: 1962 Kedar Nath Verdict Behind SC Ruling...
“Someone’s statement criticising the government does not invoke an offence of sedition or defamation.” – Supreme Court of India. Introduced by the British during the colonial era, Section 124A of the...
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Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, These Lawyers Will Fight Your Legal Cases For Free
Ravi (name changed) a resident of Mumbai, had spent over 12 years in a private organisation. At the time when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the company he was working for decided to terminate his...
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Pegasus Probe: Who Is Retired Justice Raveendran Appointed by Supreme Court?
Retired Supreme Court Justice Raju Varadarajulu Raveendran has been appointed to oversee the probe into the Pegasus snooping allegations. He will be assisted by an Indian Police Service officer (IPS)...
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Tired of Cab Drivers Cancelling Your Rides? Here’s What You Can Do
Ten days ago, a friend who was visiting me in Gurgaon from Mumbai walked into the restaurant fuming. The cause of her anger were seven consecutive cab drivers who cancelled her booking. She was to...
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Apartment’s Maintenance Fees Unfairly High or Being Misused? 7 Rules You...
At the time of buying an apartment one ascertains the cost of the house and details regarding the registration amount and process. However, do we also check the maintenance amount? The maintenance...
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Real Life ‘Jai Bhim’ Disposed 96,000 Cases in High Court, Fought for the...
Jai Bhim, the hard-hitting Tamil film on Amazon Prime starring Suriya Sivakumar, has caught the imagination of cinegoers from around the country for its stark depiction of the justice system and how...
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‘A Long Battle’: Who Is Saurabh Kirpal, Likely To Be India’s First Openly Gay...
The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana has approved the proposal for the elevation of senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal (49) as a judge of the Delhi High Court. While the...
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The ‘Mother of PIL’ Fought 100s of Cases to Provide Relief to Millions of...
On 8 and 9 January 1979, The Indian Express published two articles by KF Rustamji, who was then a member of the National Police Commission. The articles were based on information he had gathered from...
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