Central or state labour laws updates

Switching of ESIC domains

ESIC has merged all its domains to https://esic.gov.in and has unified its portals https://esic.nic.in and https://esic.in.  All existing domains have been moved to https://esic.gov.in.

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Madhya Pradesh Labour Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022

The Government of Madhya Pradesh vide notification dated 30th January, 2023 has amended the penal provisions under the Madhya Pradesh Shram Kalyan Nidhi Adhiniyam, 1982 and Madhya Pradesh Slate Pencil Karmkar Kalyan Nidhi Adhiniyam, 1982.

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Madhya Pradesh Udyogon Ki Sthapna Evam Parichalan Ka Saralikaran Adhyadesh, 2023

The Governor of Madhya Pradesh vide notification dated 27th January 2023 has promulgated the ordinance - Madhya Pradesh Udyogon Ki Sthapna Evam Parichalan Ka Saralikaran Adhyadesh, 2023, to provide for exemption from obtaining specified approvals and inspections for establishing and operationalizing industrial units in Madhya Pradesh and matters connected therewith.

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The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Service) (Gujarat) (Amendment) Rules, 2023

According to the amended Rules registration and license should be granted by the authority within forty five days of receipt of application, failing which it will be considered as deemed approval.

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Environment laws updates

E-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2023

Every producer shall provide the detailed information on the constituents of the equipment and their components or consumables or parts or spares along with a declaration of conformance to the reduction of hazardous substances provisions as and when required by the Central Pollution Control Board. Prior to the amendment, this information had to be included in the product user documentation. The amendment will come into force with effect from 1st April, 2023.

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Direction issued to Airline Operators for phasing out single use plastic and obtaining registration as per Extended Producer Responsibility Guidelines

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) by direction dated 17th February, 2023 has directed the airline operators to ensure that banned single use plastic (SUP) items, thin plastic sheets / bags are not sold/stocked/used in any form by the airline and also obtain registration as a brand owner/ producer/ importer under the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, if using plastic packaging more than 50 micron thickness in any form.

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Corporate laws updates

Extension of time for filing of 45 company e-Forms, PAS-03 and SPICE+PartA in MCA 21 Version 3.0 without additional fee

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs vide Circular dated 21st February, 2023 has extended the time for filing 45 forms and Form PAS-03 till 31st March, 2023.

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Industry related laws updates

Central Electricity Authority (Flexible Operation of Coal based Thermal Power Generating Units) Regulations, 2023

The Regulations notified vide notification dated 25th January, 2023, will be applicable to all coal based thermal power generating units owned or under control of the Central Government, State Governments or owned by any private company, connected with the grid and to the load dispatch centers.

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De-recognition and de-notification of in-house testing laboratories of Food Business Operators - FSSAI Order

The Food Authority has decided that in-house testing laboratories of any Food Business Operator (FBO) shall not be notified by FSSAI because of reasons like conflict of interest, location of such labs within manufacturing area of FBO, presence of Directors of FBO in the constitution of Board of Management and difficulty in regular monitoring and verification of minor details of the in-house laboratory.

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Extension of requirement of health certificate to be accompanied with import of food consignments

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued an Order dated 3rd August, 2022 and subsequent order dated 10th January, 2023 regarding the requirement of Health Certificate for import of milk and milk products, fish and fish products and pork and pork products. The date of implementation of the Order has been extended till further Order.

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Guidelines for submission of applications for endorsement of vegan logo and formats thereof

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has revised the guidelines for submission of application for endorsement of vegan logo and formats.

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Miscellaneous laws updates

Punjab Ground Water Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023

The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority vide notification dated 27th January 2023 notified the Punjab Ground Water Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023. All users permitted to extract groundwater shall pay volumetric Groundwater Extraction Charges and such charges shall be utilised in part for conserving water. In addition, the Users shall have the option of conserving water themselves with the approval of the Authority, and such Users (who conserve water) shall be entitled to Water-Conservation Credits as described in the Directions.

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Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Amendment (Amendment) Rules, 2023

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution vide notification dated 27th January, 2023 has extended the date of enforcement of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities), Amendment Rules, 2022, from 1st February, 2023 to 1st April, 2023.

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Firm news

1. Link Legal (currently Dentons Link Legal) has been ranked across practice areas in the latest Chambers and Partners Global 2023 Rankings. Read more
2. Our Executive Chairman, Atul Sharma and Managing Partners, Nusrat Hassan and Anand Srivastava have been highly ranked in their respective practice areas in the prestigious Chambers and Partners Global 2023 Rankings. Read more
3. Link Legal (currently Dentons Link Legal) has been ranked in Aviation, Banking & Finance, Corporate and M&A, Dispute Resolution: Litigation, Projects & Energy, Antitrust and Competition, Restructuring & Insolvency, TMT, Private Equity and Investment Funds, Life Sciences & Healthcare. Labour & Employment practice is also recognized as a Firm to Watch in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023 Rankings. Read more
4. Our Executive Chairman, Managing Partners, Partners and Associate Partner have been recognised as “Recommended Lawyers” in their respective practice areas in The Legal 500 (Legalease) Asia-Pacific 2023 Rankings. Read more
5. Our Partner, Abhishek Sharma and Associate Partners, Ambuj Sonal and Pradnesh Warke have been recognised as “Next Generation Partners” in their respective practice areas in The Legal 500 (Legalease) Asia-Pacific 2023 Rankings. Read more
6. Our Executive Chairman, Atul Sharma, Managing Partners, Nusrat Hassan and Anand Srivastava and Partner, Milind Jha have been recognised as “Leading Individuals” in their respective practice areas in The Legal 500 (Legalease) Asia-Pacific 2023 Rankings. Read more
7. A warm welcome to Prashanth Sabeshan who has joined as a Partner in the Firm’s Infrastructure and Corporate practice groups in Bangalore. Read more
8. Our Partner, Dr Rajesh K Sehgal has been featured in the ALB India Magazine, January/February 2023 issue. Read more
9. Our Partner Ketan Mukhija shares his expert views with ET Legalworld on the landmark NCLT decision against Mcleod Russel. Read more
10. Our Partner Ketan Mukhija shares his expert views in the story “Budget 2023: Amendments in Banking law, move to empower SEBI by the FM” published by ETLegalWorld. Read more

Awards & recognition

1. Ranked highly in various practice areas such as Aviation, Projects, Infrastructure, Energy, Construction, Banking & Finance, Corporate and M&A, Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, Competition/ Antitrust, Restructuring & Insolvency, Capital Markets, Labour & Employment, Private Equity, Real Estate and TMT by Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, RSG, Benchmark Litigation, India Business Law Journal, Asian Legal Business, IFLR1000, Asialaw, among others.
2. Partners of the Firm are highly ranked by leading global publications including Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, India Business
3. Law Journal, Asian Legal Business, IFLR1000, and Asialaw, among others.
4. Ranked in Construction, Energy, Infrastructure, Aviation, Banking & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Restructuring & Insolvency, Corporate and M&A,
5. Dispute Resolution, Capital Markets, Competition/ Antitrust, Private Equity, Real Estate and TMT by Asialaw Profiles 2023.
6. Winner in Aviation, and Infrastructure & Project Finance at India Business Law Journal’s 2022 Indian Law Firm Awards.
7. Top Law Firm (Above 10 years’ experience) across practice areas including Alternate Dispute Resolution – Arbitration/ Mediation, Infrastructure & Projects,
8. Project Finance, Joint Venture, M&A, PE & VC, and Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy in the Forbes India Legal Powerlist 2021.
9. Recognized as one of the Largest Law Firms in India in Asian Legal Business Asia's Top 50 Largest Law Firms 2021 list.
10. M&A Law Firm of the Year and Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code Law Firm of the Year Awards at The IDEX Legal Awards 2021.
11. Infrastructure & Project Finance Law Firm of the Year Award at Legal Era Indian Legal Awards 2020-21.
12. Ranked as one of the Top 10 Law Firms in India in the M&A League Table by VCCEdge.
13. Ranked as one of the Top 10 Law Firms in India in the M&A League Table by Venture Intelligence.
14. Ranked #13 in Top Ranked Law Firms: India by Top Ranked Legal 2020 for Aviation, Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Competition/ Antitrust, Corporate/
15. M&A, Dispute Resolution, Labour and Employment, Projects, Restructuring and Insolvency, and TMT.

Disclaimer

The contents of this newsletter are intended for information purposes only. Parts of this newsletter are based on news reports and have not been independently verified. The newsletter is not like a legal opinion or advice and should not be treated as such. Dentons Link Legal (formerly Link Legal) does not warrant the accuracy and completeness of this newsletter, and readers are encouraged to seek professional advice before acting upon any of the information provided therein. In no event will Dentons Link Legal (formerly Link Legal) be liable for any loss whatsoever arising out of the use of or reliance on the contents of this newsletter. This newsletter is the exclusive copyright of Dentons Link Legal (formerly Link Legal) and may not be circulated, reproduced, or otherwise used by the intended recipient without the prior permission of its originator.