Succession Certificates: Why Everything People Know about Them is Probably Wrong & Why that May be a Good Thing

We all know what succession certificates are, or at least we think we do. The words ‘succession certificate’ brings to mind a document in nature of probate or letters of administration. Therefore, on the death of a member of a co-operative housing society, the society will usually require legal heirs to obtain a succession certificate, before entering their names as members of the society. Even statutory bodies like MIDC or CIDCO also follow the same practice. Even companies at the time of transmission of shares request legal heirs to produce a succession certificate before entering their names in the company’s register.

Annihilation of Caste: The Best Solution? (Part - II)

(This is the second part of a two-part article. First part can be found here.)

Relevance in Modern Times

Dr. Ambedkar refers to caste as an “anti-social spirit” i.e.  the “spirit of protecting its own interests.” Although the Constitution of India itself does not provide a definition of ‘caste’ there are just under a hundred references to it in the Constitution. The Constitution uses the term caste in two senses. Firstly, it is used in the term “Scheduled Caste,” usually along with ‘Scheduled Tribes‘, ‘weaker sections,‘ or ‘backward classes'. In this sense, caste consists of several groups and tribe. It includes those who endured social or economical discrimination at for centuries. These groups or tribes are those for whom certain special provisions of representation were made due to inter alia inadequate representation during British administration and to make up for  past social, economical and political inequalities as well. Secondly, the Consititution uses caste in articles prohibiting “discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex” and also, ‘class,’ ‘place of birth,’ ‘language,’ ‘descent,’ and ‘residence.’ In the first sense, caste is a curative measure to make up for historical inequalities. In second sense, seeks to bring about equality in society, with its focus on present and future scenarios, irrespective of the historical inequalities. However, in both senses, the word ‘caste’ functions, as an anti-social spirit protecting its own interests.

Annihilation of Caste: The Best Solution? (Part - I)

(This is the first part of a two-part article. Second part will be coming soon.)

“...Turn in any direction you like, caste is the monster that crosses your path. You cannot have political reform, you cannot have economic reform, unless you kill this monster.”

-         Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Introduction

Some of the profound issues of caste discrimination were raised for the first time by Dr. Ambedkar in his undelivered presidential speech “Annihilation of Caste”. The speech was prepared for the annual conference of the Jat-Pat Todak Mandal, a society for abolition of caste system, at Lahore. Prior to the date of the conference, Dr. Ambedkar wrote the speech and sent it to the anti-caste organization to enable them to print and distribute the same. The Mandal insisted on deletion of some passages of the speech, however, Dr. Ambedker declared that he "would not alter a comma”. The conference was withdrawn owing to the “unbearable” views expressed in the speech. In May 1936 Dr. Ambedkar self-published and distributed 1,500 copies of the text. The second edition includes a preface; a prologue, including the correspondence between him and the Mandal; and two appendices, which includes Mahatma Gandhi's review, “A Vindication of Caste” and Dr. Ambedkar's reply to Mahatma Gandhi.

Critical Review of the Lokpal and Lokayuktha Bill, 2011

Corruption is a malevolent practice that has to be dealt with very strictly, but  India is one of the most corrupt nations on the globe. Corruption has been a part of the society since the beginning. The fundamental idea of lokpal is borrowed from ombudsman, which has proved to be very effective in keeping a check against corruption.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act is perhaps the main enactment ever, which has been so broadly talked about, both inside and outside Parliament. Thus, generated so much awareness in the public regarding the need to have an effective organization of Lokpal to handle corruption. However, the act passed hitherto is verbose, loaded with negatives and has various cross references.

Buy Back of Shares by Private or Unlisted Company

The provisions relating to buy-back of securities, under the Companies Act 2013 namely sections 68 to 70, which have been notified, have now repealed the provisions relating Companies Act, 1956.

Points to be noted:

1. A company may buy-back its own shares or other specified securities out of—

             (i) its free reserves; or

             (ii) the securities premium account; or

            (iii) the proceeds of any shares or other specified securities:

Scope of Re-examination under Indian Evidence Act

With increasing trend of appointment of Court commissioners to overlook witness examinations, lawyers are required to be more vigilant during depositions. Earlier, if any question beyond the scope of re-examination was put to a witness, the Judge would generally not permit such question to be asked, notwithstanding a lack of objection from the opposing party. While reading a commissioner’s report, such a fact may not strike the Judge at all. If an objection to the question by the opposing party has not reflected in the report, rejecting such portion of the deposition may slip the Judge’s mind entirely and that portion of the evidence may remain on record till the proceedings are disposed of. Thus, it is essential to properly understand the scope of re-examination of witness.

Procedures you need to know: Voluntary Winding Up of LLP

STEP 1 (CONSENT OF CREDITORS AND MAKING OF DECLARATION):-

A. Making of Declaration

Ø  The majority of its designated partners (being not less than two) must make a declaration in Form No. 2 verified by an affidavit to the effect that the LLP has no debt or that it will be able to pay its debts in full within such period, as may be specified in the declaration, but not exceeding one year from the commencement of the winding up.

Ø  However, such declaration shall have no effect for the purposes of Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (“the Act”) and the Limited Liability Partnership (Winding up and Dissolution) Rules, 2012, (“the Rules”) unless —

Over 750 Office Space Leases in Mumbai to Expire in 2016

The year 2016 is the year for taking up offices on lease basis. As per research conducted by PROPSTACK, a commercial real estate information and analytics company, the sums involved in the lease renewal, consisting of an average period of thirty-six months, will be approximately Rupees 50 Crore a month. Although, 77% of 750 office lease renewal are below 5,000 sq. ft., the leases range from as low as 500 sq. ft. to 2,35,000 sq. ft.

The Information Technology sector (which includes Information Technology enabled Services sector) and Banking, Financial services and Insurance sector continue to dominate the leasing activity in Mumbai. “Mumbai has remained a financial capital hub where IT-ITeS and BFSI companies have continued to dominate the office space take-up. Last year BFSI, manufacturing and pharmaceutical sector played a major role in leasing apart from the technology firms. This trend is expected to continue in 2016 as well,” said the director of PROPSTACK, Raja Seetharaman.