Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case, Big Calendar Fixtures, Data Protection & More

"A fortress is built to defend, to guard against disorder and uncertainty. In its earliest conception, law resembled such a structure, erected to protect society from arbitrariness and chaos… But in a constitutional democracy, law cannot remain a fortress alone. It must transform into a forum where differences are debated, rights articulated and power reasoned with.” 

— Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at an university convocation.

Courts: 

• Delhi High Court dismisses petition that challenged SEBI approval for NSE IPO

• Bombay High Court bars unauthorised online use of the phrase “Khamosh” noting that it is tied to actor Shatrughan Sinha’s personality rights

• Anil Ambani files an affidavit in Supreme Court with an assurance that he will not leave the country without the court’s prior permission. The affidavit is filed in line with the court order

• Delhi High Court seeks a response from the central government on a petition filed against the Digital Personal Data Protection Act

• Vijay Mallya, declared defaulter, tells the Bombay High Court that he cannot say when he will come to India owing to restrictions imposed on him

• Social media platforms tell Delhi High Court that Baba Ramdev is using his suit on protection of personality rights as a tool to censor criticism against him

• Karnataka High Court quashes defamation case filed against Rahul Gandhi by a BJP leader for his comments in the run up to 2023 assembly polls in the state

• Supreme Court seeks a roadmap for filling vacancies in tribunals in four weeks

• Actor Rajpal Yadav granted bail, walks out of Tihar prison in a cheque bounce case

• A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court will consider whether the definition of “industry” under labour laws applies to state activities

Quasi Courts: 

• The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal sets aside a revision order by the tax department against Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi for assessment year 2020-21

The Big Listings:

• Feb 23: Supreme Court to hear WhatsApp, Meta and CCI appeals in data sharing policy case 

• Feb 26: NCLT Allahabad to continue hearing case relating to Jaiprakash Associates insolvency case

• Feb 25: Securities Appellate Tribunal to hear appeal by Jane Street challenging SEBI’s move to allegedly refuse access to important documents to the firm in the case against it

• Feb 25: Supreme Court to hear a review petition filed by Jane Street on the legal question of protection of privileged communication under the new criminal code BNSS

• Mar 19: Delhi High Court to hear Apple Inc.’s plea against India’s competition law’s provisions on global turnover-based penalties on MNC

• Apr 7: Supreme Court constitution bench to hear Sabarimala temple reference case

• Apr 8: Delhi High Court to hear Indigo’s petition seeking 9 billion rupees in refund from customs over re-imports

• May 5: Supreme Court to hear challenge to Citizenship Amendment Act

* The dates of hearing can change and a concrete list is prepared just a day before

Legal Moves: 

• Naval Kastia returns to Lall & Sethi as partner

• Amit Vyas of Vertices sets up Vedanta Law Chambers

• Mohit Kapoor joins DBS Bank as Executive Director & Head Legal

• Aditya Swarup to join Outer Temple Chamber as Professional Associate

• Gaurav Ajmani of Amazon joins Snapchat as Assistance General Counsel

• Anmol Jain of AZB joins CoinDCX as Associate Director, Legal

• Garima Shahni moves from CAM to SAM in Delhi

• Manish Lamba of DLF joins Sembcorp India as Head of Legal