AllAboutLaw Blog: a high-profile property dispute, a ban on cockfighting and more

Nov 13, 2019

Written By Tuula Petersen

This week’s edition of the AllAboutLaw blog takes a look at a property dispute in India, the ban on cockfighting in Puerto Rico, and the new hurdle facing the proposed Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam (SQE).

The Ayodhya verdict – “one of the world’s most contentious property disputes”

Following decades of disputes between Hindus and Muslims, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that the holy site of Ayodhya should be given to Hindus.

The holy site of Ayodhya is located in Northern India, in the Uttar Pradesh state. The plot of land holds significance for both religious groups because many Hindus believe it is the birthplace of Lord Ram, a Hindu deity. Muslims have argued that the land has been a place of worship for generations.

In order to determine whether the land had Islamic history, the Supreme Court was invited to assess archaeological remains at the site. The key source of reference was a 16th-century Babri mosque which was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992. This resulted in violent riots that left almost 2,000 people dead. A report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found that the remains of a building underneath the demolished Babri mosque were not Islamic.

In reaching its conclusion, the court announced the Sunni Waqf Board will be given five acres of land elsewhere to construct a temple.

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“The problem isn’t the data protection... the problem is data collection. Regulating protection of data presumes that the collection of data in the first place was proper, that it was appropriate and that it doesn’t represent a threat or danger. That it’s okay to spy on your customers or your citizens so long as it never leads, so long as only you are in control of what it is”.

Edward Snowden speaking about the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) from Russia at the Web Summit in Lisbon.

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Firm News

DWF has acquired BT law in a mysterious deal.

Gibson Dunn’s mandatory arbitration agreements as a condition of employment have encouraged law student organisations to boycott the firm.

Ashurst and two US-based law companies, Elevate and Cognia Law, are working together to provide clients with flexible lawyering as part of the New Law umbrella, Ashurst Advance.

Jerome Rith has been elected president of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA).

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The end of an era for legal cockfighting in Puerto Rico

As a result of state legislation, Louisiana was the last state in the United States to prohibit the practice of cockfighting in 2008. However, a bill passed by Congress in response to pressure from animal welfare advocates will take effect on the 20th December, thereby affecting its unincorporated and organised territories, such as Puerto Rico. Many Puerto Ricans argue cockfighting is part of the national identity and that the ban is a violation of their rights to make their own decisions and protect their cultural heritage.

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Applications are now open for vacation schemes and training contracts. Make sure to visit our jobs page to see all the legal opportunities you can apply to.

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Junior Lawyers’ Division accuses new Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam (SQE) of hindering access to legal profession

The group representing young solicitors in England and Wales has argued that the decision to remove the option of taking the SQE in Welsh goes against the guiding principle of the new exam. The SQE was designed to encourage a greater diversity of people into the legal profession. In response to the Junior Lawyers’ Division’s letter to the Welsh Language Commissioner, the regulator for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) claimed that translating the questions into Welsh would be too costly considering the “modest” number of candidates estimated to be taking the exam in Welsh.

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Recommended Reading

Despite a challenge to the ivory ban from antique dealers, the High Court deemed the ban to be legal and will go ahead as planned.

Firms are increasingly looking to use implants on their employees. But does the practice pose significant surveillance risks to the user?

How a unicorn cake found itself at the centre of a legal case.

The International Court of Justice has agreed to consider Ukraine’s allegations of treaty violations against Russia.

Does Apple’s credit card discriminate against women? The New York Department of Financial Services (NY DFS) is investigating.

30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the political divide between the East and the West seems to have emerged once again.

Despite the imprisonment for public protection (IPP) service being abolished in 2012, 93% of people serving an IPP sentence are still in prison.

“Don’t watch The Godfather on Netflix”, the jury is told during the court proceeding against Roger Stone.

Law students helped a new mother win £30,000 in compensation after having been sacked while on maternity leave.

The privacy of your Fitbit data could be at risk following Google’s acquisition of the fitness watch.

An interview with Gillian Lobo, the senior lawyer for ClientEarth, an environmental law charity.

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