What a 38-Year-Old Turmeric Scandal Says About Business in India
- 38-year journey highlights India’s slow, clogged court system
- India ranks 163rd out of 190 countries in enforcing contracts
This article is for subscribers only.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is eager to convince global companies and investors that India is a business-friendly alternative to China. A top court ruling this summer told another story, highlighting the infamous judicial delays that threaten to stymie businesses and scuttled deals.
The Supreme Court ended the 38-year saga of an alleged turmeric forger, who was arrested in 1982 and, eventually, sentenced to a month in jail and a 500 rupee ($6.70) fine. After a decade, the top court reversed his conviction; the two lower courts took around 14 years each to render verdicts.