Bare acts are the bedrock of legal practice: crisp, authoritative, and indispensable. Whether you’re in court or class, having the right set of laws at your fingertips makes all the difference. This list features 10 must-have bare acts, ideally from trusted publishers like EBC, known for their clear formatting, reliable text, and handy pocket editions. Consider this your legal survival kit, no frills, just law.
What is The Constitution of India?
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the country, which lays down the framework defining the political principles, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also guarantees fundamental rights and duties to the citizens of India. Adopted on November 26, 1949, and coming into effect on January 26, 1950, it is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world.
1. The Constitution Of India
Significance of the Bare Act
The bare act refers to the exact, unannotated text of the Constitution, including all articles, schedules, and amendments as enacted by the Parliament. It is crucial for legal professionals, scholars, and courts as it provides the authoritative source without any interpretation or commentary. The bare act allows precise understanding, legal analysis, and application of constitutional provisions in judicial decisions.
What is the Consumer Protection Act, 2019?
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is an Indian law enacted to protect the interests of consumers by establishing authorities for timely and effective resolution of consumer disputes. It replaced the earlier Consumer Protection Act of 1986 and introduced stronger provisions to address unfair trade practices, defective goods, and deficient services.
2. Consumer Protection Act, 2019
Significance of the Bare Act
Referring to the bare act is essential for lawyers, judges, and scholars to interpret the exact provisions regarding consumer disputes, product liability, and consumer rights enforcement. It provides the legal framework for establishing consumer commissions, defining unfair trade practices, and detailing penalties — all critical for accurate legal practice and judgments under the 2019 Act.
What is the Contract Act, 1872?
The Contract Act, 1872 is a fundamental legislation in India that governs the law relating to contracts. It defines the legal framework for the formation, performance, and enforcement of contracts between parties. The Act outlines essential elements such as offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity to contract, and consequences of breach of contract.
3. Contract Act, 1872
Significance of the Bare Act
The bare act of the Contract Act, 1872 provides the exact, unannotated legal text of the law, including all sections and provisions as enacted by the legislature. This bare act is essential for lawyers, judges, and students as it offers a direct reference to the statutory language without commentary.
What is the Companies Act, 2013?
The Companies Act, 2013 is a comprehensive law enacted by the Indian Parliament to regulate the incorporation, management, and functioning of companies in India. It replaced the Companies Act, 1956, and includes provisions related to corporate governance, duties of directors, shareholder rights, and compliance requirements to ensure transparency and accountability in company operations.
4. Companies Act, 2013
Significance of the Bare Act
This bare act contains the exact legal text as passed by the Parliament, including all sections, rules, and schedules, without any explanatory notes or commentary. For legal professionals, this bare act is the authoritative source for understanding statutory obligations, drafting corporate documents.
What is the Transfer of Property Act, 1882?
The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 is an Indian legislation that governs the transfer of property between living persons. It defines and regulates the various types of property transfers such as sale, mortgage, lease, gift, and actionable claims. The Act outlines the rights and liabilities of parties involved in property transactions and ensures legal clarity in ownership transfer.
5. Transfer of Property Act, 1882
Significance of the Bare Act
The bare act contains the exact wording of all sections, such as Section 54 (sale of immovable property), Section 58 (types of mortgage), and Section 5 (limitations on property transfer). It is essential for legal professionals to access the precise statutory text for accurate drafting, interpretation, and litigation without any commentary or bias.
What is the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996?
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is an Indian law that provides a framework for resolving disputes through arbitration and conciliation, avoiding lengthy court trials. Based on the UNCITRAL Model Law, it governs the appointment of arbitrators, conduct of arbitration, conciliation processes, and enforcement of awards. The Act aims to offer a faster, effective alternative dispute resolution mechanism in line with international standards.
6. Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
Significance of the Bare Act
The bare act is the exact text of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 as passed by the legislature, without any commentary or explanation. It serves as the official legal authority for understanding and applying the law. Lawyers, arbitrators, and courts rely on the bare act to interpret provisions accurately and ensure uniformity in arbitration and conciliation practices.
What is the Information Technology Act, 2000?
The Information Technology Act, 2000 is India’s primary law dealing with cyber activities. Enacted on 17th October 2000, it gives legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures and addresses cybercrimes like hacking, identity theft, and data breaches. The Act also facilitates e-governance and electronic commerce, and was significantly amended in 2008 to cover emerging cyber threats.
7. Information Technology Act, 2000
Significance of the Bare Act
The bare act is the unaltered legal text of the Information Technology Act, 2000, without any commentary. It serves as the core reference for courts, legal professionals, and enforcement agencies to interpret and apply the law. It ensures uniform understanding of provisions related to digital communication, electronic evidence, and cybercrime. The bare act is essential for drafting compliant legal documents and for understanding the legislative intent and scope of the Act.
What is the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023?
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 is a modern Indian law that replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and came into effect on 1st July 2024. It updates the rules of evidence to reflect current technological and legal developments, especially recognizing electronic and digital records. With 170 sections, the Act aligns evidence law with modern court procedures, ensuring relevance, efficiency, and fairness in legal proceedings.
8. Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
Significance of the Bare Act
The bare act of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam is the official and unaltered text of the law as enacted by Parliament. It serves as the primary legal reference for judges, lawyers, and law enforcement agencies. The bare act ensures accurate interpretation of key provisions, particularly new ones related to digital evidence, admissibility of electronic records, and protection against coerced confessions.
What is the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023?
The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 is India’s new criminal code, enacted to replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860. Passed by Parliament in December 2023 and in force from 1 July 2024, this Act introduces modern definitions of offences, revised punishment structures, including community service and mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes, and defines new offences like terrorism, organised crime, and acts endangering India’s integrity.
9. Bhartiya Nyaya Sahita
Significance of the Bare Act
The bare act is the exact, unannotated text of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita as enacted by Parliament. It functions as the definitive legal authority for courts, lawyers, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders. The bare act clarifies offence definitions, procedural requirements, sentencing norms, and newly introduced provisions such as those for treason and organised crime.
What is the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?
The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) is India’s updated criminal procedure law, replacing the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Passed by Parliament in December 2023 and effective from 1 July 2024, it comprises 531 sections that streamline arrest, investigation, bail, and trial procedures.
10. Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sahita
Significance of the Bare Act
The bare act of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is the authoritative legal text enacted by Parliament, free of commentary or interpretation. It serves as the definitive legal reference that courts, prosecutors, police, and legal practitioners use to interpret provisions accurately—whether on mandatory forensic use, rights in detention, police custody rules, or reporting via electronic means.
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