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Law books publisher LexisNexis India will contribute a sum of Rs. 1 Lakh each to the Allahabad High Court Bar Association and the High Court Advocates' Association as a 'good gesture' on account of wrong publication of one of its Bare Acts. It will also supply one set of all the Bare Acts published by it to both the Associations.

During the hearing of a case in the month of February this year, it came to light that the bare Act titled 'The Societies Registration Act, 1860' with the State amendment published in the year 2020 by LexisNexis India, did not reflect the insertion of Section 4-B in the Act by amendment carried out vide U.P. Act No. 23 of 2013.

Owing to this, an Allahabad High Court bench had to go through different books to find out whether the amendment was there or not. Therefore, taking serious note of the wrong publication, the High Court issued notice to the publisher to show cause as to why appropriate action be not taken against it for misleading the Court and members of the Bar.

On April 12, in response to the notice issued, an affidavit was filed on behalf of LexisNexis India stating that the error was not intentional, however, it submitted before the court that it will be more careful in the future. Court was also informed that an exercise had also been started for updating the Bare Acts.

Apart from this, Senior Advocate Navin Sinha with Advocate Siddharth Singhal, appearing for LexisNexis India, also apprised the court about the 'good gesture' as proposed by the publisher. 

Considering the same, Court directed the publisher to do the needful by May 31 and closed the proceedings initiated against it. Court posted the matter on May 19 for further hearing.

On May 19, the case got adjourned on the request of the counsel for the parties, however, the bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice JJ Munir directed the registry to obtain information from both the Bar Associations as to whether the Publisher has complied with the statement made before the Court.

The matter will be next heard on July 12. 

Case Title: Committee of Management, Arya Vidya Sabha, Budhana, Muzaffarnagar and another v. State of U.P. and others