News Updates
Forcing Company Secretary To Continue In Service After Resignation Is 'Bonded Labour': Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has recently observed that financial issues or financial emergency cannot be a reason to force a Company Secretary to work for an incorporated Company against his will and without his consent. The court further observed that if the employer refuses to accept resignation of an employee, it would amount to bonded labour prohibited under Article 23 of the Constitution of India. Justice N Nagaresh allowed writ petitions filed by Greevas Job Panakkal, Company Secretary of...
Delhi Court Orders Takedown Of YouTube Shorts Infringing Karl Rock's Copyright
A Delhi Commercial Court has recently granted an ex parte ad interim injunction restraining UK-based YouTuber Adam El-Megrisi, who operates the channel “VidBrew”, from reproducing or monetising content belonging to Karl Edward Rice, also known as Karl Rock, in a copyright infringement and passing off suit. District Judge Vinod Yadav held that a prima facie case of infringement of copyrighted works and passing off was made out against El-Megrisi. “In view of the above discussion, this Court is...
GSTN Activates Withdrawal Facility For Small Taxpayers To Opt Out Of Simplified Registration Option
As of 21 February 2026, the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has activated the facility to file Form GST REG-32 for taxpayers who wish to opt out of registration under Rule 14A of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Rules.To mitigate compliance burdens, as part of the 'Next Generation GST Reforms', a Simplified GST Registration Scheme for Small and Low-Risk Businesses under Rule 14A was introduced in 2025.Rule 14A provides a simplified registration option for small and low-risk...
United Breweries Secures Trade Mark Registration For Kingfisher Sound Mark “Oo La La La La Le O”
United Breweries Limited has secured a registration for the sound trade mark associated with its Kingfisher brand, with the Trade Marks Registry issuing a certificate of registration for the jingle popularly rendered as “Oo La La La La Le O” under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The registration, granted by the Trade Marks Registry, Mumbai, confers statutory exclusive rights on United Breweries Limited over the auditory brand asset, which has been extensively deployed in advertising and brand...
NCLT President Submits Enquiry Report After NCLAT Calls Chennai Bench Order “Rather Dubious”
Outgoing NCLT President Chief Justice (Retd.) Ramalingam Sudhakar has firmly rejected allegations of impropriety against the Chennai Bench, stating that “no material has emerged suggesting any impropriety, bias or departure from judicial discipline.” The report was submitted pursuant to an enquiry ordered by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal in an appeal filed by Asset Reconstruction Company (India) Limited in the insolvency proceedings of Regen Powertech Private Limited. While...
Kerala Court Grants Temporary Injunction Against Reporter TV In Kitex MD's Defamation Suit
A court in Perumbavoor, Kerala has recently passed an ad-interim injunction restraining Reporter TV, its directors, and reporters from publishing or republishing defamatory content against Sabu M. Jacob, Managing Director of Kitex Garments Limited.A coram of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Annie Varghese observed that a prima facie case had been made out and held that issuing notice would delay and defeat the purpose of the petition.“ I am satisfied that a prima facie case had been made out that...
Former District Judge Deep Chandra Joshi To Serve As Acting President Of NCLT
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs on Friday has notified that Shri Deep Chandra Joshi, Former District Judge, has been appointed as the Acting President of the National Company Law Tribunal with effect from 14 February 2026. He is currently the senior-most member of the NCLT.As per the notification, this follows after the tenure of Justice (Retired) Ramalingam Sudhakar as President of NCLT on 13 February 2026. Invoking Section 415 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013, the Ministry clarified that Deep...
SAFEMA Tribunal Sets Aside Forfeiture Of Property Bought Nine Years Before Smuggling Offence
A property purchased nine years before a smuggling offence cannot be forfeited on mere assumption that it was funded through illegal earnings, the Appellate Tribunal under SAFEMA has held, setting aside a 2023 forfeiture order against a Karaikal resident. The tribunal held that the competent authority failed to establish any “link or nexus” between the 1990 purchase of the property and a 1999 smuggling case. Member V. Anandarajan observed that the authority had acted on assumption without...
Telangana High Court Restrains Ex Karix Mobile Employees From Sharing Trade Secrets With Competitor
Holding that the sudden loss of a major client gave rise to an “unshakable inference” of breach of confidence, the Telangana High Court has set aside a trial court order and granted interim protection to Karix Mobile Private Limited against its former senior employees who joined competitor OneXtel Limited. A Division Bench of Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice Gadi Praveen Kumar allowed the appeal and overturned the October 6, 2025 order of the trial court, which had rejected Karix's...
CA Prasanna Kumar Becomes 74th President Of ICAI
CA Prasanna Kumar D has assumed office as the 74th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the council year 2026-27.A Fellow Member of ICAI, CA Prasanna Kumar qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1984 and brings over four decades of professional experience to the role. He previously served two consecutive terms on the Central Council (24th and 25th Councils) and continues as a member in the 26th Council.He has held several leadership positions within ICAI,...
New RBI Directions Raise Collateral-Free Loan Limit For MSEs From ₹10 To 20 Lakh
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently doubled the collateral-free loan limit for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.This change was made through the Lending to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector (Amendment) Directions, 2026, and the revised limit will take effect from 1 April 2026.The move aims to strengthen last-mile credit delivery to smaller businesses with limited assets. By raising the ceiling to Rs. 20 lakh, the RBI aims to ease access to...