SPECIFIC RELIEF (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2018: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ITS LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND PRACTICAL ENFORCEMENT

This article critically evaluates the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018, and its impact on the legal framework governing contractual remedies in India. It examines the shift of specific performance from a discretionary remedy to a general rule, the introduction of substituted performance, timelines for disposal of suits, amendments relating to recovery of possession, infrastructure projects, special courts, and expert opinions. Through judicial interpretations and statutory analysis, the article assesses the practical implications and challenges of these reforms in strengthening contract enforcement, reducing delays, and improving the effectiveness of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, in contemporary commercial transactions.