Ranjeev C Dubey – N South

Should Twitter even be picking a fight with the Indian government?

While media reports on Twitter losing its “intermediary status” may have misled some readers, it is increasingly clear that the government is determined to bring all social media to heel. To this end, the new Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines etc) Rules, 2021, compel “significant social media intermediaries” to implement additional…

Should hijack hoax callers and other nasty pranksters be jailed for life?

By Ranjeev C DubeyCriminal Law

If it wasn’t for the terrifying reality facing Birju Salla, one could, at first sight, be amused with the news of a lovesick businessman trying to shut down the Delhi office of a major airline in order to compel his reluctant girlfriend to quit her job. Instead, on June 11,…

Why the dance bar ban had to go

By Ranjeev C DubeyConstitutional Law

Fifteen years after the Maharashtra government decided it wanted its bar girls to dance no more, the recent decision of the Supreme Court in Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association v State of Maharashtra has delivered the reassuring message that liberal winds continue to blow through the fair corridors of the Supreme Court.…

Who’s afraid of sovereign Snoopers?

By Ranjeev C DubeyPrivacy Law

Should the government be allowed to spy on its citizens? Less than three months after the Supreme Court cut the ever-proliferating Aadhaar card down to size, individual privacy has taken another body blow. On December 20, 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs conferred powers under the IT Act 2000 to…

Are lawyers obsolete?

By Ranjeev C DubeyLegal Profession

The dynamics of the legal market continue to amaze me. India has lakhs of jobless lawyers sitting around exterminating houseflies in district courts around the country. In any random sample, less than 10% make a living wage. As has always been the case, without a daddy or uncle in the…

Why do we blame Independent Directors for every corporate fubar?

By Ranjeev C DubeyCompany Law

Given how much money went down in the IL&FS fubar, public outrage against everyone connected with the company was to be expected. That said, the sheer volume of venom that targeted Independent Directors seemed unfair. Does anyone here still think such positions are anything but a well-deserved lifetime achievement award…

Supreme Court is being transformed into a stern headmaster

By Ranjeev C DubeyConstitutional Law

When the Chief Justice of India announced on August 20 that the judges would contribute funds to help relieve Karala from the flood fury, no one protested that the judiciary is the last institution we should expect to make cash contributions to worthy causes. A cursory glance at the Union…

Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill: Cheque-mate!

By Ranjeev C DubeyCriminal Law

Amendments to curb cheque bouncing are flawed as they criminalise the victim of the crime when it should be the debtor approaching the court to find a way to stay out of jail. On July 25, 2018, the Lok Sabha approved yet another set of amendments to India’s troubled cheque…

Bury this ‘bekaar’ Aadhaar

By Ranjeev C DubeyPrivacy Law

After 38 days of hearings over 4 months in what was the second longest case to be argued in India’s constitution history, the Supreme Court finally reserved judgment in the Aadhaar case on May 9, 2018. It may be several weeks before judgement is delivered but already, it is clear…

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act: POSH Retribution

By Ranjeev C DubeyEmployment Law

Considering their impact on TRP ratings, if sexual harassment didn’t exist, advertisers would have to invent something like it. Hardly a week goes by without one celebrity or another “coming out” as a victim of sexual harassment. Last month, it was singer-actress Meesha Shafi. It’s a buzz so compelling that…

Author: Ranjeev C Dubey