Witness Protection Under Section 398 of BNSS: A Milestone or a Missed Opportunity?

-Preet Chawla The enactment of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, marks an important development in the Indian criminal justice system. Under this list of provisions, the only one which is distinctly different is that of Section 398, which introduces an express reference to witness protection under general criminal law. Limited safeguards for witnesses have … Continue reading Witness Protection Under Section 398 of BNSS: A Milestone or a Missed Opportunity?

Committed Crimes And Over-Committed Courts: How Far Can My Lord Bend The BNSS – Part I

-Mayank Khichar “Jurisdiction is not given for the sake of the judge, but for that of the litigant.”- Blaise Pascal Introduction This article examines one of the core and contentious issues often involved in criminal trials. Namely, it centres around the focal point that (a) which forum may call ‘the accused’ to answer, and (b) when … Continue reading Committed Crimes And Over-Committed Courts: How Far Can My Lord Bend The BNSS – Part I

Inherited Guilt? Criminal Liability of Acquiring Companies for Pre-Merger Wrongs Under Indian Law

-Arham Anwar When one company absorbs another through a merger or amalgamation, the acquiring entity inherits a great deal of assets, contracts, employees, and often, reputation. But what about sins of the past? If the target company committed criminal offences before the deal closed, does the acquirer step into the dock as well? Under Indian … Continue reading Inherited Guilt? Criminal Liability of Acquiring Companies for Pre-Merger Wrongs Under Indian Law

Between Text and Purpose: Interpreting “Public Servant” Under POCSO

-Bhushan Raut Introduction The most difficult cases in criminal law are not the ones where the law is silent, but where it speaks and it produces an answer that feels normatively unsatisfying. The Delhi High Court’s order in the Unnao rape case is one such instance. Few cases more starkly demonstrate the abuse of power, … Continue reading Between Text and Purpose: Interpreting “Public Servant” Under POCSO

ADMISSIBILITY OF DNA EVIDENCE BEYOND DNA PROFILING: IS EVIDENCE PROCURED USING NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING ADMISSIBLE?

-Ritwik Sharma, Gurdeep Rai Introduction The use of advanced forensic genomics can expedite trials and has necessitated modernising existing procedural and evidentiary laws in India. Currently, classical DNA Profiling methods involving identification via fingerprinting are used in criminal investigations, and the evidence collected is admissible under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (‘BSA’). However, it remains … Continue reading ADMISSIBILITY OF DNA EVIDENCE BEYOND DNA PROFILING: IS EVIDENCE PROCURED USING NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING ADMISSIBLE?

From 375 to 377: right to orientation conflicting with right to consent? Part- I

-Dhruv Madan and Maya Sarmah Introduction The law on sexual offences in India has witnessed substantial doctrinal shifts, yet certain judicial interpretations remain anchored in outdated binaries. Despite reforms via the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 and Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, Indian High Courts continue to inconsistently distinguish between ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ … Continue reading From 375 to 377: right to orientation conflicting with right to consent? Part- I

Trading Shadows: Money Laundering & Insider Deals in the Metaverse’s Legal Void

-Advait Sharma and Bhadra Anil “In a world coded without consequence, shadows become the currency and silence the law.”  Introduction In any society where substantial transactions occur, be it in markets, industries, or the virtual world, in the absence of robust regulatory oversight, crime inevitably concurs to exploit the system or leverage it for greater … Continue reading Trading Shadows: Money Laundering & Insider Deals in the Metaverse’s Legal Void

From Mandate to Discretion: How Imran Pratapgadhi Reconfigures the Understanding of FIR Jurisprudence

- Kush Taparia, Hanshita Sharma “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” - Justice Louis D. Brandeis Introduction The recent ruling of the Supreme Court ["SC"] in Imran Pratapgadhi v. State of Gujarat [“Imran Pratapgadhi”] has once again brought into focus the ambiguity and uncertainty … Continue reading From Mandate to Discretion: How Imran Pratapgadhi Reconfigures the Understanding of FIR Jurisprudence

Criminalising Critique: Sedition and the Ashoka Professor Controversy

-Sarah Unhelkar and Hitanshi Jain The Supreme Court recently granted interim bail to Ashoka Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad with specific conditions. Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18th, following two FIRs being registered against him with the Haryana Police for his social media posts. While sharing his thoughts via his X (earlier “Twitter”) account, he applauded … Continue reading Criminalising Critique: Sedition and the Ashoka Professor Controversy

Penalising Adolescent Bodily Agency: Is It Time to Revisit Consent under the POCSO Act?

- Vaani Negi Introduction Adolescence, the latest four-episode miniseries on Netflix, has been rapidly gaining acclaim, and deservedly so. The series delves into the harrowing aftermath of a 13-year-old boy being accused of murder.  The narrative reveals school-going children looking for direction from a digital world that warps their perceptions, rather than from teachers no … Continue reading Penalising Adolescent Bodily Agency: Is It Time to Revisit Consent under the POCSO Act?

CRUELTY; BUT NOT FOR THE SECOND WIFE

-Ishan Vijay Introduction There is a lot of uproar of Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or Sections 85 and 86 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) i.e. cruelty, and its misuse, from activists to courts. And while that remains to be an existing challenge, this article seeks to focus on a less … Continue reading CRUELTY; BUT NOT FOR THE SECOND WIFE

Digital Platforms and Dirty Money:  Addressing Financial Non-Regulation within Social Media Platforms

-Tanya Sara George Introduction As per a 2024 FATF report, most domestic money laundering operations are conducted through open sources and social media networks. Initially designed as neutral forums for communication under Section 2(w) of the IT Act of 2000, these platforms have evolved into dual-purpose entities, facilitating not just digital interactions but financial transactions. … Continue reading Digital Platforms and Dirty Money:  Addressing Financial Non-Regulation within Social Media Platforms

Adnan Nisar v. Directorate of Enforcement: Highlighting the Cross-Border Implications of the PMLA

~ By Akshat Patria The Delhi High Court recently, in the case of Adnan Nisar v. Directorate of Enforcement, passed a significant verdict expanding the scope of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as the PMLA) to the offences committed outside India. The Hon’ble High Court has clearly held that an … Continue reading Adnan Nisar v. Directorate of Enforcement: Highlighting the Cross-Border Implications of the PMLA

REAFFIRMING THE LIBERAL BAIL JURISPRUDENCE

-Mohamed Thahir Sulaiman                                                                                                 INTRODUCTION In its recent judgment in Jalaluddin Khan v. Union of India, the Supreme Court has reemphasized the well-established principle that "bail is the rule, jail is the exception," even in cases arising under special statutes like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (‘UAPA’). However, this ruling conflicts with the Court's earlier … Continue reading REAFFIRMING THE LIBERAL BAIL JURISPRUDENCE

E-SAKSHYA APPLICATION: STREAMLINING JUSTICE WHILE ADDING LAYERS OF COMPLEXITIES

- Insha Pani While the nation’s historic overhaul of the three major criminal laws captured national and international attention, another significant development is breathing its way quietly but powerfully is the introduction of the E-Sakshya Mobile application—part of a broader digital transformation within the criminal justice system. The E-Sakshya app, developed in consonance with Sections … Continue reading E-SAKSHYA APPLICATION: STREAMLINING JUSTICE WHILE ADDING LAYERS OF COMPLEXITIES

REDEMPTION AND REFORM: ANALYSING THE ‘SECOND CHANCES’ LEGISLATION IN AMERICA’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE LANDSCAPE

-Yash Sharan Introduction In the first half of 2024, the lawmakers of the United States of America (“US”) have taken cognizance of the cases involving prisoners undergoing long-term sentences. For instance, the state of Oklahoma in the US passed a law that would reduce sentences for those criminals who are victims of domestic violence. This … Continue reading REDEMPTION AND REFORM: ANALYSING THE ‘SECOND CHANCES’ LEGISLATION IN AMERICA’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE LANDSCAPE

Beyond Technicalities: A Call for Judicial Sensitivity in Indian Rape Cases

-Sharnam Agarwal Introduction Every day in India, 86 women are reported as victims of rape, according to the National Crime Records Bureau [“NCRB”]. Among these harrowing statistics, the most disturbing trend is the 96% increase in child rape cases from 2016 to 2022. A recent judgment by the Rajasthan High Court in Suwalal v. State … Continue reading Beyond Technicalities: A Call for Judicial Sensitivity in Indian Rape Cases

From Untrustworthy to Trustworthy? The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’s Mandatory Corroboration of Accomplice Evidence

- Yushmita Sidar. Introduction “When the only proof against a person charged with a criminal offence is the evidence of an accomplice, uncorroborated in any material particular, it is the duty of the judge to warn the jury that it is unsafe to convict any person upon such evidence, though they have a legal right … Continue reading From Untrustworthy to Trustworthy? The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’s Mandatory Corroboration of Accomplice Evidence

WARFARE AND LEGISLATION: IPC SECTION 125’S STANCE ON ASIATIC POWER CONFLICTS

- Adeeba Hasan, Asad Naushad Khan ABSTRACT The intersection of warfare and legislation poses significant challenges in balancing national security with legal and ethical standards. Section 125 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalizes waging war against an Asiatic power allied with or at peace with India, epitomizes this complexity. Rooted in colonial-era concerns, … Continue reading WARFARE AND LEGISLATION: IPC SECTION 125’S STANCE ON ASIATIC POWER CONFLICTS

UNCERTAINTY UNDER-TRIAL: DISCRETION IN DENIAL OF BAIL U/S 436A 

-Jugaad Singh INTRODUCTION Overflowing and overburdened prisons are often a consequence of either an increased crime rate or an increased conviction rate. However, in India, the situation is neither. It is the consequence of a delayed judicial process, as more than 75% of the in-mates are under trial prisoners. While the overflow of prisons is … Continue reading UNCERTAINTY UNDER-TRIAL: DISCRETION IN DENIAL OF BAIL U/S 436A 

Capital Punishment: Mitigating Factors in Light of The Biopsychosocial Model 

- This blog has been authored by Anmol Yadav. The author is 3rd year student of B.A. L.LB. (Hons.) at Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.  In the complex discourse surrounding capital punishment, the consideration of mitigating factors becomes paramount, particularly when viewed through the lens of the Biopsychosocial Model. This interdisciplinary framework, encompassing biological, … Continue reading Capital Punishment: Mitigating Factors in Light of The Biopsychosocial Model 

Can Companies Commit Homicide: Navigating Corporate Criminal Liability in Cases of Homicide

- This blog has been authored by Vansh Bhatnagar and Gunjan Sharma. The authors are 4th and 2nd year students of B.A. L.LB. (Hons.) at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab, respectively. Introduction The world today is governed by the centers of economic power. In the modern format of heavy reliance on private companies in … Continue reading Can Companies Commit Homicide: Navigating Corporate Criminal Liability in Cases of Homicide

The Section 187 Dilemma in the New CrPC

-Prasun Nabiyal Last week, the centre presented its revised version of the new CrPC Bill (also known as the “Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 ”) in the Parliament. The purpose of such revised editions is to incorporate changes suggested during the legislative process. These changes may arise out of any phase of the legislative … Continue reading The Section 187 Dilemma in the New CrPC

The 283rd Law Commission Report – Better If Not Implemented

- Vedant Choudhary The Law Commission of India in its 283rd report, titled, ‘Age of Consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012’ has recommended against amending the age of consent under the POCSO Act. This negative recommendation comes in light of growing cases of romantic relationships between minors, where de facto … Continue reading The 283rd Law Commission Report – Better If Not Implemented

SEDITION IN THE NEW PENAL CODE: A COMPARISON

This blog has been authored by Anshuman Jhala and Vatshal Raval. The authors are 3rd year BSc LLB students at Gujarat National Law University. Introduction The Indian Penal Code [“Code”] can trace its origins back to the British colonial era. The necessity for the establishment of a complete and standardised criminal law system in British India … Continue reading SEDITION IN THE NEW PENAL CODE: A COMPARISON

Right to Counsel During Police Interrogation: An Analysis

~By Paras Khetan The right to counsel of an accused has been constitutionally guaranteed under Article 22 of the Constitution of India. This right is available to the accused during the trial. However, the question arises whether the same is available to the accused at the time of police interrogation. There is ambiguity with regards to the … Continue reading Right to Counsel During Police Interrogation: An Analysis

Bail in Cases of Cyber-Crimes under the Information Technology Act, 2000: A Critical Re-Evaluation of the Penal Framework.

~By Parth Kantak INTRODUCTION This piece deals with the issue of bail in the cases of the cyber-crimes given in the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. It has been a relatively muted issue however a really pertinent one due to the impact that it has on the investigation of cyber-crimes, which is an extremely crucial stage … Continue reading Bail in Cases of Cyber-Crimes under the Information Technology Act, 2000: A Critical Re-Evaluation of the Penal Framework.

Legal Moralism and the Case for Decriminalising Abortion in India

~By Niveditha K Prasad Introduction The recently introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (‘BNS’) has been touted for introducing wide-scale changes in the penal statute. Disappointingly, the Bill, under Section 86 and the corresponding Explanation, retains the criminalisation of abortion. As I argue in this piece, the Section ought to be revised as the criminalisation of abortion has … Continue reading Legal Moralism and the Case for Decriminalising Abortion in India

Right of the Dead: Analysing the Legal Framework for Necrophilia in India

~By Tanya Verma Necrophilia, characterized by the pursuit of sexual satisfaction through engaging in sexual acts with corpses, has undergone a significant transformation in societal perception. The recent acquittal by the Karnataka High Court (HC) of a man accused of sexually assaulting the lifeless body of a 21-year-old woman following her murder highlights the concern regarding the … Continue reading Right of the Dead: Analysing the Legal Framework for Necrophilia in India

Unfettered power of police to conduct investigation: can police be obligated to seek magistrate’s permission while conducting further investigation

-Navjot Punia Section 173 (8) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (“1973 Code”) deals with the discretion of the police with respect to conducting further investigation even after a report has been forwarded to the magistrate under sub-section (2). Though no such specific requirement of taking prior permission of court while conducting further investigation is … Continue reading Unfettered power of police to conduct investigation: can police be obligated to seek magistrate’s permission while conducting further investigation

Machine Culpabilis: Assessing the Viability of Holding AI Criminally Liable

-Vedant Saxena Introduction ‘M3gan’, short for ‘Model 3 Generative Android’, is the latest in the line of movies involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) models going rogue. ‘M3gan’, hailed as a ‘marvel of artificial intelligence’, is an AI humanoid doll created by a skilled roboticist, Gemma, to give her recently-orphaned niece, Cady, a human-like companion to fill … Continue reading Machine Culpabilis: Assessing the Viability of Holding AI Criminally Liable

Justice in Courts of Inquisition? The Delhi High Court on UAPA Remand Extensions

A person should not be condemned without knowing why. One would think that this precept is not a point of debate in the legal system of a constitutional, democratic, republic. After all what personifies the shift from a culture of impunity and subservience to one of justification than the ability of individual citizens to ask … Continue reading Justice in Courts of Inquisition? The Delhi High Court on UAPA Remand Extensions

EXECUTION OF DEATH SENTENCE AFTER TREATING MENTAL ILLNESS

-Madhav Aggarwal INTRODUCTION The Supreme Court in its recent judgement in the case of Manoj v. State of MP laid down guidelines to be adhered to in cases pertaining to offences that can lead to a death sentence. It held that for sentencing, the jail authorities must produce a contemporaneous psychological and psychiatric report of … Continue reading EXECUTION OF DEATH SENTENCE AFTER TREATING MENTAL ILLNESS

A Not So ‘Fair’ & Lovely Criminal System

-Sofia Dash & Ahan Gadkari Introduction The recent Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 (“CP Act”) has spurred nationwide debates amongst human rights activists and the government officials. The CP Act, which aimed at replacing the archaic Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920,permits law enforcement officers to collect identifiable information of all convicts, arrested persons, and detainees, … Continue reading A Not So ‘Fair’ & Lovely Criminal System

MISTAKE OF LAW DEFENSE: A TOOL FOR SAVING INNOCENTS FROM INCARCERATION

-Srinjoy Debnath INTRODUCTION             For an act to be criminal, a person should not only commit an offense but should also have mens rea or guilty mind; but what happens when someone commits an illegal act but did not have the knowledge that it was criminal or illegal? The maxim Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat which … Continue reading MISTAKE OF LAW DEFENSE: A TOOL FOR SAVING INNOCENTS FROM INCARCERATION

“Uncovering the Implications of Recording Information in Criminal Justice System: An Analysis of Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code “

-Himanshu Ranjan Introduction The recording of ‘information’ under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code (hereinafter referred to as Cr.P.C) is one of the most important procedures, which  inter alia sets in motion the criminal justice system as and when a cognisable offence is committed. Section 154, Cr.P.C is the inaugural provision of Chapter XII- … Continue reading “Uncovering the Implications of Recording Information in Criminal Justice System: An Analysis of Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code “

Judicial Quandary on ‘Police Officers’ Under Section 25 IEA and Special Statutes

-Aarushi Jain Recently, the apex court in Tofan singh v. State of Tamil Nadu held that the horizons of Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (hereinafter 'IEA') extend to the statements recorded under Section 67 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (hereinafter 'NDPS Act'). The definition of 'police officer' under … Continue reading Judicial Quandary on ‘Police Officers’ Under Section 25 IEA and Special Statutes

Procedure in the Trial of Counter/Cross cases

-Nehaol Sri L V Two criminal cases with conflicting versions arising out of the same incident are called as counter or cross-cases[2]  These cases represent opposing views of the same incident happening at the same time and space, and are usually seen at the level of trial courts. There is no standard definition or procedure … Continue reading Procedure in the Trial of Counter/Cross cases

A Cross-Country Caper and Constitutional Criminal Procedure

-Abhinav Sekhri "He was a humble man who shunned publicity and lived a quiet life. He was born in Cologne, Germany ... [and] came to America as an immigrant with a middle school education. ... He bought his first building in Los Angeles when he was 21, an endeavour that bloomed into a real estate … Continue reading A Cross-Country Caper and Constitutional Criminal Procedure

The Mens Rea of Fraud: Lessons from the Great White North

-By Shreyas Sinha Introduction The Latin term ‘mens rea’ refers to the mental element of a criminal act, i.e., a legally-determined state of mind required to convict an individual of a criminal offence. A person can be said to possess the requisite mens rea vis-à-vis a criminal offence when – (1) they are aware that … Continue reading The Mens Rea of Fraud: Lessons from the Great White North

Taking a Closer Look at the Criminal Procedure Identification Act & Rules 

~By Abhinav Sekhri The Criminal Procedure Identification Act, 2002 ["CPIA"] was passed this April amidst significant criticism [see, for instance, here, here and here]. The issues identified with this law were across a wide spectrum — the attack on the right to privacy, the uncertain status of the forensic 'science' at play, the lack of clarity in terms of implementation. Some … Continue reading Taking a Closer Look at the Criminal Procedure Identification Act & Rules 

Reverse Burden of Proof and its Implications on Presumption of Innocence

~By Pragun Goyal The presumption of innocence of the accused is an esteemed 'golden thread’ in the criminal jurisprudence which is fundamentally tied to a reputation-related aspect of the accused in the criminal trial. The raisons d'être of this aspect is that no one can impute guilt to the accused before he is convicted beyond … Continue reading Reverse Burden of Proof and its Implications on Presumption of Innocence

Envisioning admissibility of wearable devices in Indian Courts

Rishabh Saumya and Gayatri Singh Introduction The leap of technology from our desk to our wrist is quite remarkable. From measuring our heartbeat to calculating our footsteps, wearable devices, gradually, are becoming an essential fitness accessory among health-conscious folks. These activity tracking devices are equipped with wearable technology and are marketed for their health tracking … Continue reading Envisioning admissibility of wearable devices in Indian Courts

Reverse onus of proof: An incongruity in UAPA

-Himanshu Mishra In all countries, the laws to prevent unlawful activities that may cause harm to the sovereignty and integrity of a nation are extremely consequential. In India, a law called Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 [hereinafter, “UAPA”]was enacted for this purpose. In recent times, our country has witnessed a plethora of UAPA cases and … Continue reading Reverse onus of proof: An incongruity in UAPA

Anticipatory Bail in Offences under CGST Act: A Developing Jurisprudence

-By Nitesh Mishra The Central Goods and Services Act, 2017 (“the Act” or “CGST Act”) ushered in a novel tax regime in India. Section 132 of the Act has prescribed certain offences which attract punishment in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Owing to the recent enactment of the Act, there does not exist … Continue reading Anticipatory Bail in Offences under CGST Act: A Developing Jurisprudence

Munawar Faruqui is not an Exception: Systemic Malaise in Bail Hearings

-By Abhinav Sekhri Munawar Faruqui might have been about to crack a joke, but he was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police before he could do that. A case was registered against him which invoked offences such as Section 295-A IPC that are cognizable and non-bailable (more on that later). One court has dismissed his bail as well … Continue reading Munawar Faruqui is not an Exception: Systemic Malaise in Bail Hearings

‘Does Determinism obliterate Responsibility?’ A Critical Analysis

-By Aarchie Chaturvedi Introduction “The actual consequences which happen to proceed from any action, have a very great effect upon our sentiments concerning its merit or demerit, and almost always either enhance or diminish our sense of both.”                                                                                                                              -Adam Smith A good will is an intrinsic good, i.e., good in itself. It is like … Continue reading ‘Does Determinism obliterate Responsibility?’ A Critical Analysis