Legal Blend: Issue 1 - June 15 2024

📣 Welcome to the First Issue of Legal Blend!

Dear legal enthusiasts, aspiring lawyers, and law students,

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Legal Blend, your gateway to becoming the smartest lawyer in the room! We are excited to have you join our community and embark on this journey with us. This newsletter is designed to provide you with the latest legal news, expert insights, career guidance, thought-provoking articles, and information about exclusive events and webinars. Let's dive into the first issue!

1. Madras High Court Directs TN and Puducherry to Implement Lawyers' Welfare Schemes 

In a landmark move, the Madras High Court has mandated Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to roll out welfare schemes for lawyers, ensuring junior advocates receive a minimum monthly stipend. This directive, stemming from a writ petition by Farida Begam, enforces the Advocates' Welfare Fund Act, 2001. The court highlighted that roughly 200 applications from lawyers seeking benefits under the Tamil Nadu Advocate's Welfare Fund were pending, stressing the importance of protecting advocates' rights.

Key Takeaways:

- Senior lawyers must pay junior advocates a minimum stipend: ₹20,000/month in major cities, ₹15,000/month in other areas.

- The State Bar Council is tasked with safeguarding advocates' rights and interests.

- The court condemned the exploitation of junior lawyers, emphasizing that work without pay violates fundamental rights.

The Bar Council has been given time to draft guidelines ensuring compliance. This move aims to bolster the livelihood of young lawyers, fostering a more supportive legal community.

For more details, check out the full story here

2. Supreme Court Extends Time for AAP to Vacate Office Premises 

The Supreme Court of India has extended the deadline for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to vacate its office at Rouse Avenue, New Delhi, moving the date from June 15 to August 10, 2024. This decision comes amidst the court's insistence on reclaiming the space for judicial infrastructure, originally designated for the Delhi High Court’s expansion. The court reiterated AAP's lack of lawful right to the premises and required the party to provide undertakings that this would be the final extension. Additionally, the AAP has been advised to seek alternative office space from the Land and Development Office (L&DO).

For more details, check out the full story here

3. Supreme Court’s First Online AoR Exam Crashes and Burns

In an unexpected turn of events, the Supreme Court’s inaugural computer-based Advocate on Record (AoR) Examination on June 10, 2024, was marred by severe technical glitches. The “Practice and Procedure” exam, held at the Guru Hargobind Institute of Management & Technology in Delhi, faced server outages, system crashes, and issues with answer uploads, leaving around 120 candidates stranded mid-exam.

The technical fiasco led to the Supreme Court Registry canceling the online exam, much to the dismay of candidates, some of whom couldn't write a single word, while others experienced failures after 2.5 hours of effort. The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) voiced deep concern over the switch to a physical format, highlighting candidates’ unpreparedness and inadequate venue facilities.

Responding to the chaos, the Supreme Court mandated a return to pen-and-paper exams for the remaining dates—June 11, 14, and 15—adding an extra hour to each session to compensate for the inconvenience.

For the complete breakdown, click here

4. Jharkhand High Court Upholds Conviction Based Solely on Police Testimony

In a landmark ruling, the Jharkhand High Court has affirmed a conviction for assaulting police personnel, relying exclusively on police testimony. The court dismissed a petition challenging the conviction, stating that police testimony alone is sufficient to sustain a conviction without needing independent witnesses.

For more details, read the full story here

5. Supreme Court Denies Bail to Former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in Liquor Policy Scam

In a significant decision, the Supreme Court has denied bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the liquor policy scam case. Sisodia, who has been embroiled in legal battles related to the alleged scam, saw his plea for bail rejected despite mounting pressures and widespread media attention.

For further details, you can read the full story here

1. Conference on Development and Energy Needs of Global South 

Date: December 6th to 8th, 2024

Venue: Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies, IIT Bombay

Themes: Climate policy inequities, low-carbon development, agriculture, and sustainability.

read more

2. 6th International Conference on Leveraging Digital Transformation for Environmental Sustainability:

Date: June 21-22, 2024

Theme: Digital transformation's impact on law, management, and social science.

read more

Thank you for reading! This concludes the first issue of Legal Blend

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Stay tuned for our next issue, coming your way soon. Until then, keep blending knowledge and passion to achieve greatness.

Yours in law,

Adithya Menon

Founder, Legal Blend

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