Customs and GST Alert – December 2025

We are pleased to share with you our latest Customs and GST Alert, covering recent judgments and regulatory updates.

We trust that you will find the same useful.

Looking forward to receiving your valuable feedback.

For any clarification, please write to:

Mr. Shammi Kapoor
Senior Partner
[email protected]

Mr. Arnab Roy
Partner
[email protected]

India Notifies Four Transformative Labour Codes Consolidating 29 Central Laws – A Landmark Reform in Labour Governance

In a major structural overhaul of India’s labour regulatory regime, the Government of India has announced the enforcement of the four consolidated Labour Codes, Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Social Security Code (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020), effective 21 November 2025.

These reforms streamline 29 existing Central labour laws into a modern, unified framework aimed at strengthening worker welfare, enhancing social security coverage (including for gig and platform workers), boosting women’s workforce participation, and simplifying compliance through single registration and licensing systems. Importantly, the existing labour laws and subordinate rules will remain in force during the transitional period, until corresponding rules and schemes under the new Codes are notified.

This marks a pivotal shift towards a more formal, secure and future-ready labour ecosystem aligned with evolving work structures and economic growth priorities.

For any clarification, please write to [email protected]

SEBI Notifies AIF Amendment Regulations, 2025

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), vide its notification dated November 18, 2025, has notified the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (“AIF Amendment Regulations”), thereby amending the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 (“AIF Principal Regulations”). SEBI has outlined a framework for Alternative Investment Funds (“AIFs”) catering only to accredited investors.

The key amendments are as follows:

  • The definition of ‘Accredited Investors only fund’ has been introduced which means an AIF or scheme of the AIF in which each investor other than the manager, sponsor, employees or directors of the AIF or employees or directors of the manager, is an accredited investor. Accredited Investors only fund shall include large value fund for accredited investors.
  • An AIF or a scheme of an AIF, launched prior to the notification of the AIF Amendment Regulations, may be permitted to convert to Accredited Investors only fund, subject to the conditions as may be specified by SEBI.
  • The minimum investment threshold for an accredited investor in a large value fund has been reduced to INR 25,00,00,000 from INR 70,00,00,000.
  • The requirement of at least 1 key personnel of the key investment team of the manager of the AIF having relevant certification as may be specified by SEBI from time to time (Regulation 4(g)(i)) shall not apply to Accredited Investors only fund.
  • Under the AIF Principal Regulations, no scheme of an AIF shall have more than 1000 investors. AIF Amendment Regulations has added a proviso to the said regulation which states that accredited investors shall be excluded while computing the number of investors in a scheme of an AIF.
  • The term ‘large value fund for accredited investors’ has been replaced by ‘Accredited Investors only fund’ in Regulation 13(5) pertaining to the proviso on the extension of tenure of the AIF.
  • The provision on responsibility of the members of the investment committee to ensure that the decisions of the investment committee are in compliance with the policies and procedures laid down in the AIF Principal Regulations shall not apply to large value fund for accredited investors.
  • The requirement that rights of investors of a scheme of an AIF, other than that specified in Regulation 20(21), shall be pari-passu in all aspects shall not apply to Accredited Investors only fund. The term ‘large value fund for accredited investors’ has been replaced by ‘Accredited Investors only fund’.
  • The responsibilities and obligations of a trustee of an AIF specified under the AIF Principal Regulations shall, in case of an Accredited Investors only fund, be carried out by the manager of the Accredited Investors only fund.

To read the AIF Amendment Regulations click here

For any clarification, please write to:

Mr. Yatin Narang
Partner
[email protected]

Legalaxy – Monthly Newsletter Series – Vol XXX – November, 2025

In the November edition of our monthly newsletter “Legalaxy”, our team analyses some of the key developments in securities market, banking and finance, labour, environment and information technology.

Below are the key highlights of the newsletter:

SEBI UPDATES

  • SEBI eases disclosure norms on RPTs by listed entities
  • SEBI relaxes timeline for disclosure of allocation methodology by angel funds

RBI & IFSC UPDATES

  • RBI allows opening of foreign currency account in International Financial Services Centre
  • RBI extends investment in corporate debt securities by persons resident outside India through Special Rupee Vostro Account
  • IFSCA amends the IFSCA (Listing) Regulations, 2024
  • IFSCA launches the foreign currency settlement system for IFSC banking units
  • IFSCA expands the scope of video-based customer identification process

LABOUR UPDATES

  • Launch of special scheme – Employees’ Enrolment Campaign, 2025

ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATES

  • MoEFCC notifies revised list of white category industries

OTHER UPDATES

  • Intermediary Amendment Rules 2025: Enhancing transparency, accountability and safeguarding intermediaries

We hope you like our publication. We look forward to your suggestions.

Please feel free to contact us at [email protected]

Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of “Urgent Interim Relief” under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act

In Novenco Building and Industry A/S v. Xero Energy Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd. & Anr. (2025 INSC 1256), the Supreme Court held that in cases of continuing infringement, urgency must be assessed based on the nature of the alleged wrong and its ongoing impact, not merely on the time taken to file the suit.

The Court clarified that while pre-institution mediation under Section 12A is mandatory, plaintiffs facing continuous infringement and potential irreparable harm may seek direct judicial relief without it.

This decision provides clarity on interpreting “urgent interim relief” and reinforces the right to prompt legal protection in ongoing IP disputes.

We hope you like our publication. We look forward to your suggestions.

Please feel free to contact us at [email protected]

Bombay High Court Clarifies Scope of ‘Eligible Assessee’ under Section 144C of the Income Tax Act

The Bombay High Court, in Classic Legends (P.) Ltd. v. ACIT, held that an assessee cannot be treated as an “eligible assessee” under Section 144C(15)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, where no variation in income arises pursuant to a Transfer Pricing Officer’s (TPO) order.

Upholding the Gujarat High Court’s ruling in Pankaj Extrusion Ltd., the Court clarified that the draft assessment procedure under Section 144C applies only when there is an actual variation in income resulting from the TPO’s findings. The High Court held that I n the absence of any such variation, the Assessing Officer was not empowered to issue a draft assessment order under Section 144C(1).

The final assessment order was also quashed holding that as a consequence to the above, there was no occasion to pass the same by invoking the provisions of Section 144C(3).

We hope you like our publication. We look forward to your suggestions.

Please feel free to contact us at [email protected]