Volume 1
Issue 3
1. Game of Skill vs Game of Chance – A Debate
By Priya Sharma & Nayana KB
From National Law University, Odisha
Gambling has historically been viewed as a vice in Hindu scriptures and is governed in India by the Public Gaming Act, 1867, as adapted by states. Its legality remains ambiguous, with states differing on permitting games of skill and chance. This paper analyses Indian and comparative case law, legislation, and regulatory frameworks governing gambling, betting, and fantasy sports. It examines distinctions between skill and chance, online and offline gambling, state-wise legality, fantasy sports platforms such as Dream11, moral considerations, and highlights the urgent need for comprehensive regulation of the gaming industry.
2. Political Bypassing of Fundamental Duties
By Adv. Shishira Pathak
Rights and duties are complementary, as citizens must perform duties to promote national unity and integrity. The Constitution of India guarantees Fundamental Rights under Articles 12–35, including the right to equality, freedoms, protection against exploitation, freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and the right to constitutional remedies. Enshrined in Part III, these rights are essential for individual development and are justiciable, enabling citizens to approach courts for enforcement in case of violation.
3. Taxation in Online Fantasy Sports – An Indian Perspective
By Manvee & Ananya Gauri Agarwal
From Chanakya National Law University, Patna
Fantasy sports are online multiplayer platforms where users create virtual teams of real players in sports such as cricket, hockey, and kabaddi. Introduced in India in 2001, the industry has grown to over 90 million users by 2019, making India its largest market. Although legality depends on whether fantasy sports constitute a game of skill or chance, the Supreme Court has held platforms like Dream11 to be games of skill. This paper examines state-wise legality and analyses the applicable taxation framework, including income tax under Sections 194B and 115BB and GST under Section 15 of the CGST Act and Rule 31A(3), assessing whether tax treatment differs based on the skill–chance distinction.
4. Traditional Hindu Law on Charitable & Religious Endowments
By Manvee
From Chanakya National Law University, Patna
Endowments are gifts or properties dedicated to deities or religious institutions, such as temples, for public benefit and social welfare. They commonly support causes like health, education, orphanages, and old-age homes. In Hindu dharma, endowments are believed to help attain moksha and atone for past sins. Under Hindu law, a Hindu of sound mind and majority may dispose of property by gift or will for charitable and religious purposes, including worship, idol स्थापना, feeding the poor and Brahmanas, religious ceremonies, and donations to institutions such as universities and hospitals, with religious merit being broadly recognized.
5. A Critique on Syed Asifuddin and Ors. v. State of Andhra Pradesh and Anr. [2006]
By Garima Bairagi
From Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal
A petition was filed before the Andhra Pradesh High Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking quashing of an FIR. Reliance Infocomm Ltd., Hyderabad, had lodged a complaint against the petitioners under provisions of the IPC, Information Technology Act, and Copyright Act. The dispute arose after Reliance introduced a subsidized mobile handset and service scheme, following which rival companies allegedly used unlawful means to lure customers through low-cost tariffs. As customers shifted from Reliance to TATA Indicom, Reliance claimed losses and accused TATA Indicom employees of illegally diverting its subscribers.
6. A Critique on Varun Gumber v. Union Territory of Chandigarh & Ors. [2017]
By Adv. Apurva Chodankar
[Practising Advocate, District Court of Goa]
In India fantasy games are accepted immensely, fantasy sports/games are a new kind of gaming that is played virtually having real-life players. Virtual gaming is at its peak because of the increasing use of the internet all over the world. the current online gaming user base in the country is estimated to be around 365 million. In the present case we will be focusing on the virtual gaming league, the petitioner participated in on the respondents gaming website. As the case goes ahead, we will see there is a distinction made concerning skills and game chance. There are different views given by the judges on gambling, skill, virtual gaming, and how it doesn’t come under the preview of gambling.
7. Analysis of Sameer Wadekar & Anr. v. Netflix Entertainment Services Pvt. Ltd & Ors. (2020)
By Drishik Behl
From Government Law College, Mumbai
The case concerns an ad-interim application by a film writer seeking to block the release of a film on grounds of copyright infringement and alleged plagiarism. The claim was based on a 146-second YouTube trailer, with the plaintiff asserting thirteen similarities between his fictional work and the film. The court rejected the claim, emphasizing that ideas cannot be plagiarized, the plaintiff’s unexplained delay despite the work being publicly available for ten months, and that “Betaal” is a well-known concept from Hindu mythology, making the idea part of the public domain.
8. A Critique on Gurdeep Singh Sachar v. Union of India (2019)
By Rohitkumar Rout
From Chanakya National Law University, Patna
In recent years, India has seen a tremendous surge in the number of internet users, as access to the same has become easier and cheaper than before. As part of the surge, the online gaming sector in India has also seen a drastic increase in the number of users that utilize such services, especially the fantasy sports segment. Companies like Dream11, HalaPlay, Mobile Premier League (MPL), are some of the biggest names, in terms of the number of users, that are engaged in the fantasy sports sector. But, the business of fantasy sports has also raised many doubts regarding its legality and ethics. One such case dealing with the legality of fantasy sports is that of Gurdeep Singh Sachar v. Union of India Ors.
9. C.B.I v. Arif Azim – A Critical Analysis of Cyber Crime in India
By Shubhi Shukla
From Amity Law School, Noida
During the last 90s Internet was just invented and within the next two decades, it has now become an essential part of our lives. We, humans, depend on the Internet for all our requirements whether it be online shopping, food orders, connecting with friends, studying, purchasing policies, banking, etc. It has now covered almost every aspect of our life. As the Internet’s usage and benefits grew with time so did the idea of cybercrime. Our society develops and becomes complex at the same time. The use of the Internet did not only ease our lives but also evolved different types of cybercrimes.