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Research Report: International Investment Law and the Vodafone Claim

[The following
announcement comes to us from the Student Initiative to Promote
Legal Awareness (SIPLA), at the
National Law School, Bangalore]

The Research Panel on International Investment Law and
Policy, under the aegis of the Student Initiative to Promote Legal Awareness,
at the National Law School, Bangalore has recently concluded a study of
possible claims in an investment arbitration between Vodafone and India, under
the Netherlands-India Bilateral Investment Treaty (notice of dispute released
by Vodafone may be found here). 

Broadly, Vodafone has questioned the validity of the
retrospective amendment to the Income Tax Act, 1961, an amendment that has
fuelled great political controversy. The lack of clarity on India’s obligations
under the Bilateral Investment Treaty has led to great confusion in legal and
business circles. This report operates to fill that void by providing a
detailed account of possible claims in the arbitration, and their possible
treatment by an arbitral tribunal.

The Student Initiative hopes that this report
contributes to greater discussion within the legal and business community, and
helps contextualize this intriguing area of law; one that has come to be of
great significance for India.

The report may be downloaded here.