articles
Corporate
Limitation for filing of appeals under Section 37 of Arbitration and Conciliation Act
15 June 2021
Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (‘Act’) provides for an appeal against orders passed under Sections 9, 34, 16 and 17 of the Act. The Act does not provide any specific limitation for filing such appeals, however, Section 43 of the Act provides that the Limitation Act, 1963 (‘Limitation Act’) shall apply to arbitrations as it applies to proceedings in Court.
International Trade & WTO
De-minimis dumping margin: Termination of an anti-dumping investigation?
01 June 2021
On 7 May 2021, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (‘DGTR’) concluded the anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of ‘Plain Medium Density Fibre Board having thickness 6mm and above’ (‘subject goods’) produced by Kim Tin MDF Joint Stock Company, Vietnam (‘Kim Tin’) by terminating the investigation. Though the termination of this investigation is not unusual, the reasons for the termination of the investigation are interesting.
Insolvency
License dues trump the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code?
01 June 2021
The NCLAT, in its recent decision in Union of India v. Vijaykumar V Iyer, has arguably created a new class of creditors, not previously known to the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (‘IBC’). The Appellate Tribunal effectively found that licenses granted by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India (‘DoT’) to private players for the use of spectrum can override provisions of the IBC.
Goods and Services Tax
Improved system of e-way bill and its implications on the business
25 May 2021
Implementation of e-way bill system under the Goods and Services Tax regime has been an excruciating exercise for the Government as well as the taxpayers. While Government was initially grappling for timely enforcement of e-way bill system due to inherent constraints in the portal, the taxpayers were finding it difficult to cope up with the frequent amendments in the e-way bill related rules.
Competition and Antitrust
Blockchain technology on the CCI’s radar
25 May 2021
Businesses constantly seek to innovate to obtain an edge over their competition and sometimes this leads to particularly noteworthy innovations that become disruptive forces within the market segment. This allows the innovator to determine their own price for their products and operate independent of the market forces of supply and demand
Direct Tax
Managing the impact of Covid-19 – Navigating cross-border tax questions in India
21 May 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed catastrophic outcomes. The limited experience of handling such a crisis in India has already revealed its overbearing effect on business and industry, while the tax landscape has also faced significant transformation. In an interconnected world, some of the issues that have arisen in the context of cross-border taxation have created concern, with the potential of leading to far-reaching implications. Some of these issues are considered in detail in this article.
Direct Tax
Redesigned taxation upon exit from Partnership Firm – New jeopardy for taxpayers?
18 May 2021
Taxation upon exit of a partner from a partnership firm has been a contentious issue since long. Till Financial Year 1987-88, distribution of capital assets on dissolution of partnership firm was specifically excluded from capital gain taxation . Resultantly, as a tax planning exercise, taxpayers used to convert partnership assets into individual assets either upon retirement or dissolution, contending that no capital gains tax was payable in relation to the same
Corporate
Extension of limitation by Apex Court due to second wave of Covid-19
17 May 2021
The sudden onset of the pandemic Covid-19 in March 2020 had pushed litigants across the country into hardships with respect to the filing of petitions/ suits/ appeals/ applications etcetera and initiating and continuing legal proceedings before the various Courts and Tribunals.
Corporate
Contract labour – New dynamics under new Labour Code
17 May 2021
In the recent past, the engagement of contract labour has witnessed a spike across various sectors, both in the manufacturing as well as service sectors. Presently, the framework of the contract labour is regulated by Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 (‘CLRA Act’). This may continue for one more year, as implementation of new Labour Codes may get delayed due to the massive second wave of Covid-19 across the country.
Intellectual Property
Exploring TRIPS Covid-19 waiver: Is the remedy effective?
14 May 2021
The unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc by not only taking countless lives but also by robbing the families of their means to livelihood. Countries across the world are grappling with both economic and social breakdown. While vaccinations have started in most countries, there is a glaring difference in accessibility and affordability of vaccines, drugs and other resources required to combat Covid-19 pandemic between the developed, developing and least developed countries.
International Trade & WTO
ADD and CVD on goods removed from SEZ to DTA – ‘Missing link’ filled by Finance Act, 2021
28 April 2021
Union Budget 2021-22 (‘Budget’) was one of the most anticipated budgets given that it was the first Union Budget to be presented after the onset of the COVID pandemic. In the Budget, while the Finance Minister announced the repeal/suspension of a number of existing anti-dumping duties (‘ADD’) and countervailing duties (‘CVD’), the Finance Minister also proposed several legislative measures for strengthening the existing ADD and CVD mechanisms. With the recent enactment of the Finance Act, 2021
Goods and Services Tax
Untangled indirect tax web in automotive sector – Whether proposed PLI scheme will do justice?
26 April 2021
The automotive industry is a major contributor to the Indian economy. Currently, it is the fourth largest automotive sector in the world and is expected to come under top 3 automotive sectors in the world by 2026. The sector also accounts for about 15% of the country’s total tax collections.
Intellectual Property
Comparative advertising of soaps – No violation of trademark law if backed by science: Bombay High Court
21 April 2021
Comparative Advertising is an aggressive form of marketing involving direct or veiled comparisons of one brand with one or more competing brands. Comparative advertisements may often lead to a legal tussle under the Indian Trademark Law.
Corporate
Definition of ‘Wages’ – Confusion worse confounded
16 April 2021
The National Commission on Labour (‘NLC’), in its vast Report submitted in the year 2002, acknowledged the need to have separate definitions of the two terms ‘wages’ and ‘remuneration’, to avoid endless litigation. It proposed to include only basic wages and dearness allowance under ‘wages’, and all other payments including other allowances as well as overtime payment together with wages under ‘remuneration’ .
Direct Tax
Tribunal’s power to grant stay: The case of Pepsi Foods
14 April 2021
In the current bureaucratic setup of taxation systems in India, the right to appeal is an important right. The right of appeal against the Orders by the Income Tax authorities under the Income Tax Act, 1961 (‘Act’) has been expressly conferred on the taxpayers. In disposing of these appeals, the appellate authorities have inherent power to grant stay against the tax demands raised by Income Tax officers.
International Trade & WTO
Quality Control Orders – The recent surge and challenges
30 March 2021
The article discusses the recent surge in Quality Control Orders and the various challenges being faced by the industry. The author notes that at present import of raw material for use in manufacture of finished goods which would be exported, is also being denied if the imports are not in compliance of these quality control orders. He also discusses the applicability of such Orders on stock in hand.
Competition and Antitrust
CCI’s market study into the telecom sector in India: Key observations
30 March 2021
Recently, on 22 January 2021, the Competition Commission of India (‘CCI’) released its key findings and observations from a study exploring the evolution of the sector and the present regulatory challenges relating to the sector. Through the study, the CCI assessed the market dynamics within the sector and highlighted developments in the sector which could lead to competition concerns in the present and foreseeable future
Intellectual Property
Acquiescence: Being vigilant and not blind sided
25 March 2021
A registered proprietor of a trademark is required to remain cautious on misuse of the trademark by others, failing which he may be disentitled from taking any legal action against the alleged offenders. Such disentitlement, referred to as ‘acquiescence’, therefore is a concept that every trademark owner must know. The article discusses Section 33 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 while also analysing elements of acquiescence, burden of proof and various SC and HC decisions clarifying the concept.
Goods and Services Tax
Topsy-turvy state of taxation on distribution of electricity
24 March 2021
The article attempts to discuss the dispute on the scope of distribution of electricity services by DISCOMs. The issue was ignited when CBIC issued a circular in 2018 stating that specified services provided by DISCOMs shall attract GST liability. Recently, the Rajasthan High Court relying upon a Gujarat High Court decision has quashed the circular and held that such services are exempted from GST. The article analyses the precise issue and the reasoning given by the High Courts.