Two Papers on Judicial Bias in India

Data-driven research into the Indian judicial system is still at a nascent phase but Ash et al and Bharti and Roy’s papers suggest exciting possibilities.

The Delhi High Court Roster Review: A Step Towards Judicial Performance Evaluation

Evaluation of the Delhi High Court’s performance in 2018 and limitations in conducting such an evaluation.

Suggestions on Proposed Amendments to the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992

Submission made to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Cow Slaughter Laws as State-Sanctioned Violence

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020 is the most recent attempt of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state to make for harsh cow slaughter laws

Supreme Court on Wildlife Conservation: Kaziranga- Karbi Anglong Landscape

Consistent usage of environment principles in wildlife conservation

Alternative Credit Scoring – A Double Edged Sword

Leveraging alternative data for credit scoring - understanding opportunities and risks

Summons in the Digital Age: Integrating Information and Communication Technology in the Process of Serving Summons

Roadmap to expedite and streamline the service of summons through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration

Supreme Court on Air Pollution: The Case of Green Firecrackers

A cautious precautionary approach?

Courting the Environment

Tracking environmental justice on ground

Enforcing Caveat Venditor

An evaluation of Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions in Karnataka

Draft Framework for Recognition of a Self Regulatory Organisation for Payment System Operators – Vidhi’s Submission to RBI

Summary of Vidhi's comments & recommendations on RBI’s Draft Framework

Appointment of Judges to the Higher Judiciary During the Pandemic—II

This is the second part of a two-part series that examines how the pandemic has affected the process for appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.

Understanding Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) as a Tool for Compensation and Remuneration

First report under Vidhi’s ‘Taxation of Tomorrow’ series

An Integrated Framework for the Study of Digital Platforms

Attuning regulation to the complexities of digital platforms

Changing Contours of the Sharing Economy

E-commerce platforms, infrastructure and value in the Indian economy

Deconstructing Digital-Only Banking Models | A Proposed Policy Roadmap for India

Deconstructing digital-only banking models, assessing their value propositions and suggesting a phased policy roadmap for India

Appointment of Judges to the Higher Judiciary during the Pandemic – I

How the Supreme Court collegium has functioned during the pandemic.

Primer for an Information Technology Framework Law

Summary of the approach proposed to be adopted in the formulation of a new legislation to replace the Information Technology Act, 2000

Sikkim’s Alternative Model to Tackle Drug Abuse: An Analysis of the Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act, 2006

How a health-based approach to drug abuse has ushered a positive change in Sikkim

Criminalisation Leads To Exploitation: The Mumbai Story No One Knows About

In 2014, drug cases in Mumbai spiked by almost 500%, for no discernible reason. We study the data to see why, and what it can tell us about the broken justice system in India.

Case for Decriminalising Cannabis Use in India

A curtain-raiser to an in-depth study on the effect of criminalising drug use in Mumbai

The Weight of Secrets: Assessing the Regulatory Burden for Informational Privacy in India

On regulatory design aspects for India's proposed Data Protection Authority

ODR: The Future of Dispute Resolution in India

How can online dispute resolution (ODR) be integrated into the dispute resolution ecosystem in India?

Domicile Reservations in National Law Universities

On the constitutionality of domicile reservations—why any argument proceeding from the constitutional right to equality is unlikely to succeed in the courts

Supreme Court’s Caseload During COVID-19 (April 2020): A Look at the Numbers

An empirical analysis of the cases prioritised by the SC during the lockdown

Towards a Post-COVID India: 25 Governance Challenges and Legal Reforms

Strengthening public health systems, protecting the vulnerable, making governance smart, kick-starting the economy and thinking digital first

Comments on the Draft Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020

Submissions to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

A Survey of Advocates Practicing Before the High Courts

The first ever detailed survey of advocates practising before High Courts

Virtual Courts in India: A Strategy Paper

A roadmap for technology integration in the Indian judiciary.

Towards an Inclusive Education Framework in India

An analysis of the rights of children with disabilities and the RTE Act

The Future of News in India

Sustaining credible print journalism and orienting digital news to the public good

Recommendations to the Maharashtra Task Force to Manage Critically Ill Covid-19 Patients

Managing end of life care during a pandemic

Back to Basics: A Call for Better Planning in the Judiciary

Delving into issues with financial planning and autonomy in the judiciary

The Management of Environment Relief Fund

Tracking funds to provide relief to victims of industrial disasters

How do we boost technological innovation in financial services?

Harnessing the full potential of regulatory sandboxes

Resolving Insolvency Faster by Recognising Out-of-Court Workouts under the IBC

Providing a detailed road map for implementing a framework for pre-packaged and pre-arranged insolvency resolution (pre-packs) in India

Violence Against Healthcare Professionals in India: Recent Legal and Policy Issues

Identifying causes and exploring structural solutions

The Implementation of Environmental Judgments

A docuseries assessing the on-ground impact of landmark Supreme Court environmental cases

Schooling the Judges: The Selection and Training of Civil Judges and Judicial Magistrates

A review of the appointment and training process of entry level judicial officers

Primer on All India Judicial Services

All India Judicial Services is not a panacea to the problems affecting Indian judiciary

Reforming the Governance of Co-operative Banks: A Study of State and District Central Co-operative Banks in 10 States

A consultative assessment and identification of issues pertaining to the governance framework of state and district central co-operative banks.

Open Courts in the Digital Age: A Prescription for an Open Data Policy

An analysis of open courts in India, with recommendations for a policy to ensure data accessibility

Sunshine in the Courts- Ranking the High Courts on Their Compliance With the RTI Act

A two-volume study on High Court compliance with RTI Act and ranking of High Court on determined parameters

How Can We Meaningfully Regulate Payment Gateways and Aggregators?

A renewed approach towards regulating key intermediaries in a payments transaction

The Liability Regime for Non-Executive and Independent Directors in India: A Case for Reform

An examination of the current legal framework demonstrates the need to create safeguards for non-executive and independent directors.

Budgeting Better for Courts- An evaluation of the Rs 7460 crores released under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Judicial Infrastructure

An audit of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme in an attempt to decode budgeting process in the judiciary

Building Better Courts

A survey of physical, digital and human infrastructure of 665 district courts in India

Commercial Courts Act, 2015: An Empirical Impact Evaluation

A legislative impact assessment of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015

Towards the Rule of Law – 2019

Twenty-five legal reforms for India

Blueprint of a National Health Insurance Law

Creating a constitutionally valid and rights-based statutory basis for the Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana

Private Control with Public Money: How Far Can We Go?

An evaluation of the viability of introducing shares with differential voting rights (DVRs) in India.

Appointment of Judges to the Supreme Court of India: Transparency, Accountability and Independence

Judicial appointments in India: Law, politics and comparative Perspectives

Legislative Changes to Strengthen the GST Regime

Issues of concern to the taxpayer in the dispute resolution mechanism, and the anti-profiteering measures under the GST law.

Taxation of Digital Economy in India

Gaps in the current system that prevent digital economy to be adequately taxed

Examining the Regulatory Framework for Pensions in India

An analysis of the regulatory framework governing some of India’s largest pension schemes.

The Need for Social Boycott Laws in India

How do we harness technology to protect users of payment wallets?

Building a case for greater technology interventions in designing efficient consumer grievance redressal systems

Submissions on the Karnataka Draft Solid Waste Management Bye Laws and the Karnataka Draft Solid Waste Management Policy

Submissions to the Directorate of Municipal Administration, Karnataka

Discretion & Delay – Challenges of Becoming a District & Civil Judge

Study identifying ambiguities in the drafting of state judicial service rules that leads to uncontrolled discretion, ad-hocism, and uncertainty in the judicial service examination process.

The Vidhi Handbook on the IBC

A collection of legal materials on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code – The Journey So Far and the Road Ahead

A stock-taking report of the implementation-journey of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code that highlights the successes and future challenges of the Code.

A Proposal to Reform the University Grants Commission

Re-imagining a Pan-India Regulator for the Higher Education Sector

Suggestions on the Draft Creche Rules of the Labour Department, Government of Karnataka, under Section 28 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961

Highlighting shortcomings in the draft crèche rules under the Maternity Benefits Act proposed by the state government

Competitive Neutrality in Corporate Governance Norms for CPSEs

The governance framework of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) distorts competitive neutrality and creates and unequal playing field when compared to private companies.

From Addict to Convict

The Working of the NDPS Act (1985) in Punjab

Rethinking- “Non-Arbritariness”

Role of Indian Regulatory Authorities in Integrating Environmental Justice into Industrial Siting Decisions

Reforming the Tribunals Framework in India: An Interim Report

A detailed look at the issues plaguing the tribunals systems in India

Securing our Future: Analysing the Regulatory Framework for Pensions in India

A study of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India (PFRDA) and the key schemes and regulations under it.

Status of Physical Infrastructure in Lower Judiciary

A first of its kind survey assessing physical infrastructure of district courts in National Capital Region

Comments on the draft New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019

Submissions to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Comments on the draft New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2018

Submissions to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Money and Elections: Necessary Reforms in Electoral Finance

Electoral finance in India: Tracing problems, unearthing solutions

A Law for Waste Pickers in Karnataka

Recognising waste picking as a profession and ensuring that the rights and needs of waste pickers are addressed

A Study of Karnataka High Court’s Writ Jurisdiction

Data-driven study of culture of writ petitions in Karnataka

How Karnataka’s Urban Local Bodies Can Be Made Financially Self-Reliant

Need for legislative reforms to ensure better collection of property, advertisement and water tax

Vidhi Bengaluru Briefing Book: Fifteen legal reforms for a progressive Karnataka

Fifteen legal reforms for a progressive Karnataka

Government Litigation: An Introduction

A literature review of current debates and policies to address the challenges arising from government litigation

Comments on the Draft Uttar Pradesh Self-Financed Independent Schools (Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2017

Submissions to the Uttar Pradesh Government on fee regulation in private schools

Tilting the Scale: Gender Imbalance in the Lower Judiciary

Findings from state and district-wise data on the gender composition of the lower judiciary