Author: Niyati Nirvan Sahoo

Abstract Valuation of dutiable baggage items has become a complex subject in the administration of customs law. The determination of value, particularly in the context of second-hand goods, gifts, and personal effects, raises serious interpretational and procedural challenges. While the Customs Act, 1962, and the Baggage Rules, 2016, lay down the framework for assessment and exemption, the absence of explicit valuation norms has left much to administrative discretion. This paper analyses the valuation principles applicable to baggage items in India, examines the problems faced in assessing second-hand goods, gifts, and personal effects, and evaluates how judicial pronouncements have guided the…

Abstract The right of a child to family and care lies at the heart of any civilized society. Adoption, as a social and legal institution, ensures that children deprived of parental care are placed in safe, nurturing environments conducive to their holistic development. India’s adoption regime has evolved significantly, transitioning from personal law-based adoption under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, to a secular and rights-oriented framework under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The establishment of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) as the nodal regulatory body marked a milestone in standardizing adoption procedures…

Academic Literature on Live-in Relationships Academic literature emphasizes that the legitimacy of live-in relationships rests on several factors including duration of cohabitation, mutual commitment, shared household responsibilities, pooling of resources, and social recognition as a couple. Legal scholars have drawn parallels with the concept of common law marriage recognized in certain jurisdictions, where prolonged cohabitation coupled with mutual intent creates legal presumptions of marriage. Constitutional Foundations The constitutional basis for recognizing live-in relationships derives from Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. The Supreme Court, through expansive interpretation, has held that personal…