THE CONCEPT OF LEGAL PERSONALITY: ITS EVOLUTION AND APPLICATION IN INDIAN JURISPRUDENCE

AUTHOR – SOUVAGYO BANERJEE, SCHOOL OF LAW, CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY), BENGALURU

BEST CITATION – SOUVAGYO BANERJEE, THE CONCEPT OF LEGAL PERSONALITY: ITS EVOLUTION AND APPLICATION IN INDIAN JURISPRUDENCE, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 169-176, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

To be a legal person is to be the subject of rights and duties.

To confer legal rights or to impose legal duties, therefore, is to

confer legal personality.^[1]

The concept of legal personality is a foundational principle in jurisprudence, determining who or what can possess rights and duties under the law. This paper examines the evolution of legal personality, its theoretical underpinnings, and its application in Indian jurisprudence. It explores how Indian law recognizes legal personality, including its extension to non-human entities such as idols, corporations, and rivers. Through an analysis of case laws, the paper critically evaluates the adequacy of existing legal frameworks in addressing contemporary challenges. The study concludes with recommendations for legal reforms to better accommodate emerging issues, such as the recognition of artificial intelligence and environmental entities as legal persons.

Keywords: Legal Personality, Indian Jurisprudence, Idols, Corporations, Rivers, Artificial Intelligence.

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[1]Gray, The Nature and Sources of The Law (2d Ed. 1921) 27; Salmond, Jurisprudence (5th Ed. 1916) 272; Holland, Jurisprudence (9th Ed. 1900) 88; Pollock, A First Book of Jurisprudence (1923) 114.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICITS IN INDIA’S FORENSIC LABS: CHALLENGES AND REFORMS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DELIVERY

AUTHOR – AHARSHINI REITA J J* & MS. HEMAVATHY**

* STUDENT AT THE TAMILNADU DR.AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW

** PROFESSOR AT THE TAMILNADU DR.AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW

BEST CITATION – AHARSHINI REITA J J & MS. HEMAVATHY, INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICITS IN INDIA’S FORENSIC LABS: CHALLENGES AND REFORMS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DELIVERY, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 155-168, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

Forensic science serves as the backbone of modern criminal justice, providing scientific evidence essential for conviction and exoneration. However, India’s forensic infrastructure remains critically underdeveloped, posing significant hurdles to effective justice delivery. This assignment examines the systemic infrastructure deficits plaguing India’s forensic laboratories, analysing their profound impact on the judicial process. Despite Supreme Court directives to strengthen forensic capabilities, a stark disparity exists between the volume of cases and available resources. Key challenges identified include severe case backlogs, outdated technological equipment, inadequate funding, and a chronic shortage of trained personnel. These deficits are compounded by regional imbalances, where state-level laboratories often lack the capacity to handle complex DNA or digital evidence, leading to reliance on overwhelmed central facilities. Consequently, prolonged investigations delay trials, erode public trust, and increase the risk of wrongful convictions or acquittals due to insufficient evidence. The lack of standardisation further complicates admissibility in court. To address these issues, the study proposes comprehensive reforms including substantial budgetary allocation for modernisation, the establishment of a unified national forensic network to streamline case processing, and mandatory upgrading of technical standards aligned with international norms. Ultimately, strengthening forensic infrastructure is not merely a technical necessity but a constitutional imperative to uphold the rule of law and ensure equitable criminal justice delivery in India.

Keywords: forensic laboratories, NABL accreditation, case backlog, BNSS 2023, conviction rates, criminal justice reform, forensic independence, rural-urban disparity, DNA evidence, chain of custody.

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING FINANCIAL REPORTING

AUTHOR – DR. JYOTI YADAV* & TUSHAR SINGH**

* ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW, AMITY LAW SCHOOL LUCKNOW, AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH LUCKNOW CAMPUS

** STUDENT AT AMITY LAW SCHOOL LUCKNOW, AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH LUCKNOW CAMPUS

BEST CITATION – DR. JYOTI YADAV & TUSHAR SINGH, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING FINANCIAL REPORTING, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 151-154, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

Financial analysis plays a crucial role in evaluating the financial health, stability, and performance of businesses. It assists stakeholders such as investors, creditors, regulators, and management in making informed decisions. Alongside financial evaluation, legal regulations govern financial reporting to ensure transparency, accountability, and protection of stakeholders’ interests. This research paper examines the concept of financial analysis, its importance, key techniques, and the legal framework governing financial reporting and corporate finance. The study also explores the regulatory role of financial authorities and the legal provisions aimed at preventing financial fraud and mismanagement.

NAVIGATING COMPLIANCE: CHALLENGES FACED BY NEW COMPANIES UNDER COMPANIES AND INCOME TAX LAWS

AUTHOR – VANSHIKA SRIVASTAVA* & DR. RAJEEV KUMAR SINGH**

* STUDENT AT AMITY UNIVERSITY LUCKNOW

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT AMITY UNIVERSITY LUCKNOW

BEST CITATION – VANSHIKA SRIVASTAVA & DR. RAJEEV KUMAR SINGH, NAVIGATING COMPLIANCE: CHALLENGES FACED BY NEW COMPANIES UNDER COMPANIES AND INCOME TAX LAWS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 146-150, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/LANU3785

ABSTRACT

Corporate compliance has become an essential aspect of modern business governance, particularly for newly incorporated companies that must operate within a complex regulatory framework. In India, companies are required to comply with various statutory obligations under company law and taxation law, which are designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and financial discipline in business operations. However, new companies often encounter several practical and procedural challenges while attempting to fulfill these compliance requirements.

This research paper examines the major compliance obligations imposed on companies under the Companies Act and the Income Tax framework, with particular focus on the difficulties faced by newly established entities. It analyses issues such as lack of awareness of regulatory procedures, frequent changes in legal provisions, complex documentation requirements, and the burden of maintaining statutory records and timely filings. The study also highlights how non-compliance may result in penalties, legal liabilities, and reputational risks for companies.

Furthermore, the paper explores the importance of effective compliance mechanisms, professional guidance, and corporate governance practices in helping new companies navigate regulatory requirements efficiently. By examining the legal framework and the practical challenges associated with it, this research aims to provide a clearer understanding of the compliance landscape and suggests measures that may assist companies in ensuring lawful and efficient business operations.

KEYWORDS: Corporate Compliance, New Companies, Regulatory Framework, Companies Act Compliance, Income Tax Compliance, Corporate Governance, Statutory Obligations, Business Regulation.

“RECONSIDERING THE ADULT TRIAL OF JUVENILES AGED 16–18 UNDER THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT, 2015: A CRITICAL STUDY OF THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT PROCESS, JUDICIAL TRENDS, AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.”

AUTHOR – JOSHNA AISHWARYA A, STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF LAW, CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY)

BEST CITATION – JOSHNA AISHWARYA A, “RECONSIDERING THE ADULT TRIAL OF JUVENILES AGED 16–18 UNDER THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT, 2015: A CRITICAL STUDY OF THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT PROCESS, JUDICIAL TRENDS, AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.”, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 138-145, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/LEPX2544

ABSTRACT-

India’s approach to juvenile offenders was subject to a major shift with the introduction of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. For the first time, juvenile offenders between the ages of 16 and 18 could be brought to trial for the commission of “heinous offences” as adult offenders. This shift was the result of the unprecedented debate that was triggered in the wake of the Delhi gang rape incident in 2012. The mental and physical capacity of juvenile offenders to commit and understand the consequences of the commission of “heinous offences” can be analyzed through the “preliminary assessment” method that is adopted by the Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) in the country. However, there is a serious issue of due process, development science, constitutional protection, and compliance with India’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, even though it is an attempt to achieve a balance in terms of responsibility and child protection.

The institutional limitations of JJB, practical aspects of preliminary evaluation, and consequences of transfer of juveniles to adult courts are severely analyzed in this essay. To prove that the adult trial system is based on wrong assumptions about teenage guilt, without considering scientific knowledge of brain development, it evaluates factual facts, judicial interpretations, and scientific studies. It also identifies deficiencies in procedural protection, serious irregularities in judicial reasoning, and lack of standardized norms in psychological evaluation, making it prone to misuse and arbitrariness.

In fact, the article argues that despite being grounded in public opinion, the adult trial clause undermines the rehabilitative basis of juvenile justice and has the potential to breach constitutional principles of justice, proportionality, and dignity. For the creation of a truly child-centered system of juvenile justice, it suggests that there is an urgent need to review Section 15 in an integrated manner.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING DEEPFAKE & PERSONALITY RIGHTS IN INDIA : A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

AUTHOR – SONU SHAJI, STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF LAW, CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY)

BEST CITATION – SONU SHAJI, LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING DEEPFAKE & PERSONALITY RIGHTS IN INDIA : A CRITICAL ANALYSIS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 131-137, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

The emergence of deepfake technology has introduced serious legal challenges in protecting individual privacy, reputation, and identity in the digital age. Deepfakes—realistic yet fabricated audio-visual content—pose threats to established personality rights and procedural fairness, particularly under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Through landmark cases like Kunal Kamra vs Union of India (2024), Anita Kadian vs State of Haryana (2024), and Mahua Moitra vs Zee Media Corporation Ltd. (2021), Indian courts have shown adaptability by extending existing legal principles to counter the malicious use of synthetic media and protect digital dignity.

This study, using a doctrinal and analytical methodology, evaluates India’s current legal mechanisms including constitutional protections, tort law, and the Information Technology Act, 2000. It highlights the urgent need for reforms to strengthen digital evidence verification, enhance forensic capabilities, and regulate the misuse of deepfakes. While the present legal framework shows resilience, proactive legislative and institutional measures are necessary to ensure justice, preserve fair trial standards, and safeguard personal rights in an era dominated by artificial intelligence and synthetic content.

KEYWORDS:  Deepfakes, Personality Rights, Privacy, Indian Legal Framework, Information Technology Act 2000, Constitutional Law India, Digital Evidence, Right to Fair Trial, Cyberlaw, Judicial Interpretation

FEDERAL IMPLEMENTATION FAILURES UNDER THE NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT: A STUDY OF CENTRE–STATE ALLOCATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

AUTHORS – ARYAVEER SINGH, STUDENT ATCHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY), BENGALURU

BEST CITATION – ARYAVEER SINGH, FEDERAL IMPLEMENTATION FAILURES UNDER THE NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT: A STUDY OF CENTRE–STATE ALLOCATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 121-130, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/OEXB5970

Abstract

The National Food Security Act, 2013 represents one of the most significant legislative interventions undertaken by the Indian State to address food insecurity through a rights-based statutory framework. The Act seeks to secure food and nutritional security by guaranteeing access to subsidised food grains for a large segment of the population through the Public Distribution System. Notwithstanding the existence of this statutory entitlement framework, persistent concerns regarding implementation continue to arise within India’s food governance system. This paper examines the structural challenges associated with the implementation of the National Food Security Act within India’s federal administrative framework. It analyses the constitutional foundations of the right to food, the statutory architecture of the National Food Security Act, and the allocation of institutional responsibilities between the Union Government and State Governments. Drawing upon institutional assessments; particularly the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Performance Audit Report on the Food Corporation of India, the paper identifies systemic inefficiencies in procurement, storage management, and movement of food grains that affect the effective functioning of the statutory food distribution system. The paper argues that the federal distribution of responsibilities under the National Food Security Act produces fragmented accountability structures that weaken the realisation of statutory food security entitlements. It concludes by examining institutional reforms necessary to strengthen coordination, transparency, and administrative accountability within India’s food security governance framework.

Keywords: National Food Security Act, Right to Food Jurisprudence, Federal Governance and Welfare Implementation, Public Distribution System, Centre–State Accountability, Food Corporation of India.

SUCCESSION OF DIGITAL PROPERTY IN INDIA

AUTHOR – JOPHEL SIMON, SCHOOL OF LAW (CHRIST UNIVERSITY) BANGALORE

BEST CITATION – JOPHEL SIMON, SUCCESSION OF DIGITAL PROPERTY IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 105-120, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT –

The digitisation of modern life has created a new category of wealth—digital property—including cryptocurrencies, cloud-based accounts, social media profiles, and digital intellectual property^[1]. These assets hold both financial and sentimental value, yet India’s succession framework, rooted in the Indian Succession Act, 1925, and the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, remains limited to tangible property^[2]. This legislative silence leaves heirs dependent on the restrictive Terms of Service of technology companies, often resulting in inaccessible assets, prolonged disputes, and irreversible financial loss^[3]. Challenges such as encryption, cross-border jurisdiction, and lack of public awareness further compound the problem, while risks of identity theft and asset dissipation persist.

This study critically examines the inadequacy of Indian succession law in governing digital property, drawing on international models such as the U.S. Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA), Germany’s Facebook inheritance ruling, and the EU’s MiCA framework for crypto-assets^[4]. Using doctrinal and comparative methods, it argues that reform is urgent and feasible. The paper recommends statutory recognition of digital assets, the introduction of digital wills and executors, integration of technological tools like blockchain-based wills and digital vaults, and greater public awareness initiatives. Modernising inheritance law to accommodate digital assets is essential to safeguard economic value, uphold family rights, and ensure dignity and posthumous autonomy in the digital age. Recent developments—including the omission of Section 213 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 via the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025 (removing mandatory probate requirements)^[5], the operationalisation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 through the DPDP Rules, 2025 (introducing the Right to Nominate for posthumous data rights)^[6], and the Madras High Court’s 2025 recognition of cryptocurrency as property^[7] provide partial tools for digital estate management. Yet a unified statutory framework recognising digital assets as inheritable property, overriding restrictive platform Terms of Service, and enabling digital wills and executors remains absent. This paper proposes blockchain-enabled reforms to bridge this gap, ensuring constitutional safeguards under Articles 14, 21, and 300A^[8].

Keywords: Digital inheritance, digital assets, Indian succession law, cryptocurrency, estate planning, comparative law.

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[1] UNIDROIT, Principles on Digital Assets and Private Law pmbl. (2022) (defining digital assets as “qualifying data assets” subject to proprietary rights).

[2] Indian Succession Act, No. 39 of 1925, India Code (Lexis) (last visited Mar. 6, 2026); Hindu Succession Act, No. 30 of 1956, § 6, India Code (Lexis) (last visited Mar. 6, 2026) (both applying primarily to coparcenary and tangible estates).

[3] Chainalysis, 2021 Crypto Crime Report 45 (2021) (estimating $3.7 billion in global crypto losses from inaccessible private keys).

[4] Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act § 6 (Unif. L. Comm’n 2015); Bundesgerichtshof [BGH] [Federal Court of Justice], July 12, 2018, III ZR 183/17 (Ger.) (Facebook case); Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), 2023 O.J. (L 150) 40, art. 3.

[5] The Repealing and Amending Act, No. 37 of 2025, sch. I (omitting Indian Succession Act § 213), India Code (Lexis) (last visited Mar. 6, 2026)

[6] Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 (notified Nov. 14, 2025), Gazette of India, pt. II, § 3(i), r. 13 (Right to Nominate), available at Min. Elecs. & Info. Tech., Gov’t of India (last visited Mar. 6, 2026).

[7] Rhutikumari v. Zanmai Labs Pvt. Ltd., O.A. No. 194 of 2025, at  45 (Madras High Ct. Oct. 2025) (India) (affirming cryptocurrency as “trust property” under art. 300A).

[8] India Const. arts. 14 (equality), 21 (life and personal liberty), 300A (deprivation of property); see also Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India, (2017) 10 S.C.C. 1, ¶ 124 (India) (extending art. 21 to privacy).

RECONSIDERING THE TENDER YEARS DOCTRINE IN INDIA: CONSTITUTIONAL INCOMPATIBILITY, CHILD RIGHTS, AND THE CASE FOR GENDER-NEUTRAL SHARED PARENTING

AUTHOR – TK ARATHI TANVI & JOHN CALEB

STUDENTS AT SCHOOL OF LAW, CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY)

BEST CITATION – TK ARATHI TANVI & JOHN CALEB, RECONSIDERING THE TENDER YEARS DOCTRINE IN INDIA: CONSTITUTIONAL INCOMPATIBILITY, CHILD RIGHTS, AND THE CASE FOR GENDER-NEUTRAL SHARED PARENTING, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 82-92, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/EMIR4802

Abstract

The child custody regulations of India for children who are under five years of age follow Section 6(a) of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, which establishes a legal presumption that mothers will typically receive custody of their children. The paper presents three related arguments. The first argument proves that Section 6(a) grants mothers preferential custody rights, which violates Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Indian Constitution because it fails to meet the requirements established by Shayara Bano v. Union of India and the constitutional anti-stereotyping principle derived from Anuj Garg v. Hotel Association of India. The second argument shows that Indian custody decisions disable the constitutional rights of children because judges disregard Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which India has ratified, and treat child welfare as an unimportant matter instead of their main focus. The third argument establishes that existing laws should create a shared parenting framework because current legal gaps force children from separated families to endure unnecessary harm.

The research develops through three components that include Indian constitutional law the Supreme Court of India and two legal codes from the United Kingdom and Australia and the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act and the research about attachment in developmental psychology. The research presents a complete reform plan which involves three main elements. The first element requires the elimination of gender-based presumption through the repeal of Section 6(a). The second element establishes a welfare assessment system which follows the guidelines of the Children Act 1989. The third element establishes joint parental responsibility as the standard legal requirement. The fourth element requires all disputed custody cases to include systems that allow children to take part.

CEDAW AND THE ENFORCEMENT GAP: WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES AND INDIA

AUTHOR – KSHEIRAJ H, STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF LAW, CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY), BENGALURU, INDIA

BEST CITATION – KSHEIRAJ H, CEDAW AND THE ENFORCEMENT GAP: WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES AND INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (3) OF 2026, PG. 69-81, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/MYVG9189

Abstract

This paper analyzes the efficacy of international legal frameworks aimed at safeguarding women’s rights, with a specific focus on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW creates a complete set of rules against gender discrimination, but its enforcement still depends on cooperation from states and implementation within those states. This study compares Afghanistan and Iran to show how authoritarian or religiously structured governments use sovereignty, cultural autonomy, and religious legitimacy to make it harder to enforce international women’s rights norms. These cases show that there is still a big gap between what international law says about protecting women’s rights and what protections are actually available to women in their own countries. In contrast, the paper examines India’s constitutional jurisprudence to demonstrate how domestic courts can convert international norms into binding legal standards. The Supreme Court of India has used CEDAW principles in its constitutional interpretation in cases like Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan, Apparel Export Promotion Council v. A.K. Chopra, Githa Hariharan v. Reserve Bank of India, Anuj Garg v. Hotel Association of India, and Joseph Shine v. Union of India. The paper contends that by juxtaposing these divergent methodologies, international women’s rights law primarily serves as a normative framework, with its efficacy contingent upon the readiness of domestic legal institutions to assimilate and implement gender equality standards.

Keywords:

CEDAW; International Women’s Rights; Gender Equality; Authoritarian Regimes; Treaty Enforcement; Constitutional Interpretation; India.