LIJDLR

Volume IV Issue I

COMPETITION LAW IN DIGITAL ECONOMY

Volume IV Issue I /

COMPETITION LAW IN DIGITAL ECONOMY Divyanshi, VIII semester student/ BA-LLB, Student at Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad (India) Prakriti Raghuvanshi, VIII semester student/ BA-LLB, Student at Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad (India). Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.49 India’s digital economy has rapidly transformed market structures, creating new opportunities while simultaneously raising complex competition law concerns. The Competition Act, 2002, originally designed for traditional industries, does not fully account for digital market characteristics such as network effects, platform ecosystems, and data-driven algorithms. This paper examines how the Competition Commission of India (CCI) applies the Act to digital marketplaces through case studies involving Amazon, Flipkart, Google, and WhatsApp. Using doctrinal and case-based analysis, the study evaluates the effectiveness of existing competition law tools in addressing platform dominance, self-preferencing, and data-driven market power. The findings indicate that while the Act has demonstrated interpretative flexibility, reliance solely on ex-post enforcement remains insufficient in rapidly evolving digital markets. The paper therefore argues for a balanced regulatory approach combining strengthened merger scrutiny, recognition of data as a source of market power, and targeted ex-ante obligations for dominant digital enterprises. Such a framework would help ensure fair competition, promote consumer welfare, and support sustainable innovation in India’s digital economy.

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JUDGEMENT COMMENT: SUPRIYO CHAKRABORTY & ANR V. UOI

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JUDGEMENT COMMENT: SUPRIYO CHAKRABORTY & ANR V. UOI Saanjh Inuganti, Third Year B.A.LL. B student of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.48 The present article critically examines the landmark decision of the Supreme Court of India in Supriyo Chakraborty & Anr v. Union of India (2023), which addressed the question of legal recognition of same-sex marriages in India. The case arose from petitions filed by several same-sex couples seeking recognition of their unions under existing statutory frameworks, particularly the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969, and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The petitioners contended that the exclusion of same-sex couples from the institution of marriage violates fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India, including equality before the law, non-discrimination, personal liberty, and the right to dignity. The Union of India opposed the petitions, arguing that the existing statutory scheme governing marriage was designed to regulate heterosexual unions and that recognition of same-sex marriage would involve complex policy considerations affecting multiple legislations. It was further argued that such a socio-legal transformation falls within the legislative domain rather than the judicial sphere. A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict (3:2) on 17 October 2023, declining to recognize same-sex marriages under existing law. While the majority held that there is no fundamental right to marry and that any recognition of same-sex marriage must come through legislative action, the Court unanimously affirmed the constitutional rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ individuals. The decision nevertheless left open the possibility of future legislative reform. This article analyses the competing constitutional arguments presented before the Court, evaluates the reasoning adopted in the majority and minority opinions, and offers critical observations on the implications of the judgment for the evolving discourse on marriage equality and LGBTQIA+ rights in India.

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ADMONITION AND NON-CUSTODIAL SENTENCING IN INDIA AFTER THE NEW CRIMINAL LAWS – CONTINUITY, REFORM AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

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ADMONITION AND NON-CUSTODIAL SENTENCING IN INDIA AFTER THE NEW CRIMINAL LAWS – CONTINUITY, REFORM AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS Swetketu Das, Asst. Professor, School of Legal Studies, The Neotia University (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.47 The transition from the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) marks a significant moment in India’s criminal justice reform. Yet, while procedural architecture has evolved, the foundational philosophy of non-custodial sentencing, particularly release after admonition and probation remains substantially rooted in the Probation of Offenders Act 1958 (POA). This article critically examines the concept of admonition as a sentencing response within Indian criminal law, tracing its philosophical, historical and statutory evolution. It analyses the present legal framework under the POA and BNSS, evaluates judicial trends, identifies structural and doctrinal lacunae, and situates admonition within contemporary debates on prison overcrowding, victim compensation and restorative justice. The article argues that although admonition remains normatively relevant in a reformative penal system, its practical marginalisation and institutional weaknesses undermine its transformative potential. It concludes with proposals for statutory harmonisation under BNSS, mandatory pre-sentence assessment mechanisms, integration with victim compensation schemes, and the institutional strengthening of probation services.

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: LEGAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Volume IV Issue I /

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: LEGAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS Nilisha Gupta, B.A L.L.B 3rd year 6th Semester at GLA University, Mathura (India) Shweta Singh, B.Com L.L.B 3rd year 6th Semester at GLA University, Mathura (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.46 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the landscape of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), raising fundamental questions regarding ownership, inventorship, and the adequacy of existing legal frameworks. Intellectual property rights have traditionally been designed to protect human creativity and innovation, ensuring economic benefits and incentivizing further research and development. However, the increasing autonomy of AI systems in generating inventions, artistic works, trademarks, and trade secrets challenges this human-centric structure. The study traces the evolution of IPR from early copyright and patent laws to international treaties and modern digital protection, demonstrating that legal systems have historically adapted to technological change. Yet AI introduces unprecedented complexities in determining originality, authorship, and enforceability. Several jurisdictions including the US, UK, and EU currently deny assigning IP rights directly to AI systems, though select legal decisions, such as the Australian DABUS ruling, suggest emerging flexibility. These inconsistencies highlight a growing global divide. Key concerns include whether AI-generated output meets originality standards under copyright law, how inventive contribution is assessed in AI-assisted patent filings, and the risk of widespread infringement where AI training uses copyrighted data without consent. Additionally, uncertainty persists surrounding economic impacts such as content devaluation and cross-border enforcement of digital works. The study emphasizes that while AI enhances innovation, efficient IP management, and market competition, it simultaneously threatens traditional creative industries if legal protections are not restructured. Ultimately, the document argues for adaptive global reforms that balance innovation incentives, public access, and ethical governance ensuring that both human and AI-driven creativity can coexist and thrive.

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UNIVERSITY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICIES IN TRANSITION: LESSONS FROM THE BAYH-DOLE ACT AND THE CASE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE INDIAN FRAMEWORK

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UNIVERSITY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICIES IN TRANSITION: LESSONS FROM THE BAYH-DOLE ACT AND THE CASE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE INDIAN FRAMEWORK Mohan Kumar N, LLM Student, School of Law, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.45 This research paper examines the critical relationship between university intellectual property (IP) policies and innovation outputs, with particular focus on the Indian higher education and research landscape.  It investigates how statutory frameworks, judicial interpretations, and institutional policies collectively shape ownership, commercialization, and benefit-sharing of academic innovations.  The study adopts doctrinal legal research methodology, systematically analyzing Indian IP statutes, case law, regulatory guidelines, and university policy documents, while drawing selective comparative insights from international models such as the Bayh-Dole Act in the United States and European university IP regimes.  The analysis aims to identify gaps and inconsistencies between legislative provisions, judicial reasoning, and institutional practices, and to evaluate their impact on technology transfer, startup creation, and industry collaboration.  By highlighting tensions between centralized ownership and academic freedom and assessing the effectiveness of revenue-sharing and commercialization mechanisms, the study seeks to propose context-specific reforms for Indian universities.  Rather than offering empirical findings, the paper provides a normative and policy-oriented evaluation of university IP governance, contributing to legal scholarships and offering practical recommendations for institutional administrators, policymakers, and legislators.  Ultimately, it argues that well-designed, legally robust, and innovation-friendly IP policies can strengthen India’s academic innovation ecosystem while preserving its educational mission and public interest.

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SHADOW DIRECTORS AND DE FACTO CONTROL OF INDIAN CORPORATE GROUPS: RE-EVALUATING ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013

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SHADOW DIRECTORS AND DE FACTO CONTROL OF INDIAN CORPORATE GROUPS: RE-EVALUATING ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE COMPANIES ACT, 2013 Danny Varghese, LL.M (Business Law), Amity University, Noida (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.44 The concept of shadow directors fills a vital yet underdeveloped place in corporate governance jurisprudence. In certain countries, including the United Kingdom, shadow directorship has been recognised in statute as a tool to hold persons actually in real influence or control over the board of a company liable, even though the person is not formally appointed to the board. Indian Company law under Companies Act, 2013, in its turn, does not give a detailed statutory definition of shadow directors, or de facto control in corporate groups. The exclusion is especially given to the Indian business world where the promoter-based structure, holding-subsidiary structure, and informal sources of power often allow directorship to become indistinguishable with effective control. This paper aims at providing a doctrinal study of the legal issues that shadow directors and de facto controllers have in Indian corporate groups. It looks into the aspects of whether the current provisions which deal with directors’ responsibility, key managerial staff sections, and fraud responsibility are adequate to deal with those who wield control without being formally in office. The study assesses the effectiveness of existing accountability mechanisms through the construction of statutory provisions, judicial precedents and regulatory developments. The study adopts a limited but deliberate comparative analysis of the United Kingdom where shadow directorship is statutorily recognised as a methodological tool to illuminate structural gaps in the Indian framework. The paper concludes that the absence of a clearly articulated doctrine of shadow directorship in India creates a structural accountability gap, particularly in promoter-dominated corporate groups and related party contexts. It argues that existing statutory mechanisms are insufficiently integrated to address sustained de facto control, and advocates for a principled doctrinal framework judicially evolved and, where necessary, legislatively clarified to align effective control with fiduciary responsibility and strengthen corporate governance standards in India.

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LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN INDIA A SOCIO-LEGAL ISSUE

Volume IV Issue I /

LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN INDIA A SOCIO-LEGAL ISSUE Yashasvi Khattry, BA.LLB (H) /5th year/Semester 10th Student at Amity Law School Lucknow (India) Dr. Rohit Kumar Shukla, Assistant Professor at Amity Law School Lucknow (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.43 This research paper examines the position of the LGBTQ community in India as a socio legal issue, with a specific focus on constitutional guarantees, judicial developments and gaps in public policy. It traces the journey from colonial criminalisation under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to the recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity as protected facets of dignity, privacy and equality under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21. It analyses key decisions such as NALSA, Puttaswamy and Navtej Singh Johar, and evaluates how far they have transformed access to education, work, family life and public spaces for LGBTQ persons. A central focus of the study is the constitutional architecture of reservation in higher education and the scope for inclusion of LGBTQ communities, especially transgender and gender nonconforming persons, within vertical and horizontal affirmative action frameworks. Using a socio legal method and drawing on reports, case law and policy documents, the paper maps continuing discrimination, implementation deficits and economic costs of exclusion. It then offers constitutionally viable recommendations for reform of higher education reservation policy and for a more coherent anti discrimination regime, aimed at realising substantive equality and inclusive citizenship for LGBTQ persons in India.

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A STUDY ON ECONOMIC COSTS OF OVER-INCARCERATION IN INDIA: A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH

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A STUDY ON ECONOMIC COSTS OF OVER-INCARCERATION IN INDIA: A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH Tejasviya.R, Undergraduate Law Student, II year – B.C.A LL.B(Hons.), School of Excellence in Law, The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai (India) Dr. M.D Chinnu, Assistant. Professor, Dept. of Economics, School of Excellence in Law, The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.42 This study examines over-incarceration not merely as a criminal justice concern but as a significant economic issue affecting the nation at large. It analyses the direct and hidden economic costs imposed on the State’s exchequer, including infrastructure, administrative, medical, and opportunity costs. The research adopts a mixed methodology combining doctrinal analysis with empirical (non-doctrinal) research based on stratified random sampling of 135 respondents. Statistical tools such as percentage and average methods were employed for analysis. The empirical findings reveal a broad consensus that over-incarceration burdens national finances. However, the hypothesis that recidivism constitutes the primary hidden economic cost was rejected, with respondents identifying loss of family income and inter-generational economic impact as the most significant hidden cost. The study concludes that continued reliance on incarceration is economically unsustainable and calls for greater emphasis on cost-effective and reform-oriented alternatives.

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AGENTIC ALGORITHMS AND ANTITRUST: RETHINKING COLLUSION IN THE AGE OF AUTONOMOUS AI

Volume IV Issue I /

AGENTIC ALGORITHMS AND ANTITRUST: RETHINKING COLLUSION IN THE AGE OF AUTONOMOUS AI Rishabh Sisodiya, 4th Year Student at National Law Institute University, Bhopal (India) Ayush Agrawal, 4th Year Student at National Law Institute University, Bhopal (India) Adarsh Jain, 4th Year Student at National Law Institute University, Bhopal (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.41 The proliferation of agentic artificial intelligence in digital markets presents an unprecedented challenge to established competition law frameworks. Unlike conventional pricing software, agentic AI systems powered by deep reinforcement learning and Q-learning autonomously observe market conditions, adapt strategies, and converge on supra-competitive equilibria without any explicit human instruction or inter-firm communication. This paper argues that this technological evolution creates a critical enforcement vacuum: foundational antitrust statutes, including Section 1 of the Sherman Act (US) and Article 101 TFEU (EU), are premised on identifying a human ‘meeting of the minds’ or explicit agreement, evidentiary standards that are wholly inadequate when collusion emerges as a machine-discovered, profit-maximising strategy. Drawing on Ezrachi and Stucke’s taxonomy of algorithmic collusion messenger, hub-and-spoke, predictable agent, and digital eye the paper demonstrates that existing jurisprudence across the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and India successfully captures only the first two categories, while remaining structurally blind to emergent, autonomous collusion. Through an interdisciplinary analytical framework combining antitrust law, game theory, and computer science, the paper further identifies three core doctrinal failures: the impossibility of proving explicit intent against a black-box algorithm, an unresolved agency and liability gap between developers and deployers, and the risk of ‘superhuman collusion’ that surpasses the durability of any human cartel. To remedy these failures, this paper proposes a two-pronged normative framework: first, the formal recognition of ‘algorithmic agreement’ as a distinct category of anti-competitive conduct, shifting the evidentiary burden from intent to sustained, machine-driven parallel pricing outcomes; and second, a hybrid liability model holding both developers and deployers accountable across the algorithmic supply chain. These proposals are complemented by recommendations for mandatory ex-ante algorithmic auditing, regulatory sandboxes, and international harmonisation through the OECD and ICN, alongside specific legislative amendments to India’s Competition Act, 2002.

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OFFENCES RELATING TO MARRIAGE IN INDIA: A DOCTRINAL AND SOCIO-LEGAL ANALYSIS OF STATUTORY FRAMEWORK AND JUDICIAL TRENDS

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OFFENCES RELATING TO MARRIAGE IN INDIA: A DOCTRINAL AND SOCIO-LEGAL ANALYSIS OF STATUTORY FRAMEWORK AND JUDICIAL TRENDS Ishita Singh, BA.LL.B (hons)/5th year/10th semester Student at Amity University Lucknow Campus (India) Download Manuscript doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2026.v04.40 This study examines the doctrinal and socio-legal framework governing offences relating to marriage in India, with particular focus on the statutory consolidation introduced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and its interaction with procedural and evidentiary regimes. Marriage is analysed not merely as a personal or cultural institution but as a legally regulated status that generates enforceable rights and corresponding vulnerabilities. The paper maps the statutory architecture covering deception-based relationships, bigamy, fraudulent ceremonies, cruelty, and inducement offences, and situates them within a broader enforcement matrix shaped by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. It argues that matrimonial offences function as a composite regulatory domain rather than isolated penal provisions, requiring courts to engage simultaneously with questions of civil marital status, criminal intent, and evidentiary reliability. Judicial precedents reveal a calibrated interpretive approach that balances victim protection with safeguards against misuse, particularly through strict proof requirements and intention-based tests. The analysis concludes that effective enforcement depends on integrated statutory reading, digital-evidence competence, and procedural proportionality, and recommends doctrinal clarification and investigative reforms to strengthen justice delivery in marriage-linked offences.

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