Service Description

Indiankanoon.org is a website that provides access to Indian legal "documents". It also provides a state of art "search functionality" over these documents. It also shows portions of a given document that contains a query that we call "document fragments".

IKanoon Application Programming Interface (API) refers to providing a programmatic way to access "search functionality", "documents" and "document fragments" as provided on the website IndianKanoon.org. The Application Programming Interface allows anyone to show these "documents", "search functionality" and "document fragments" on to their own website or product. It will be called "API Services" in short from now on.

Search features:
You can ask for any new search filter or ranking features to be incorporated in the API. Depending on the scope of work and the utility of the feature, IKanoon reserves the right to implement it or not. IKanoon will not be liable for any refusals.

Non-exclusive features:
IKanoon would neither provide you nor any other user of "API services" any exclusive search feature. Any new search filter or ranking feature ll be available to all users of IKanoon "API Services" as well as to the users of Indian Kanoon website. IKanoon will keep search filters and ranking features available through the API always updated on Indian Kanoon search tips page..

Authentication:
Every request to "API services" will be authenticated using public-private key crypto as explained in the documentation page. It is your responsibility to secure your private key. In case you lose the private key, it is your responsibility to update it on the profile page of "API Services". In case your key is mis-used, You will not be eligible for any refund.

Usage evidence:
IKanoon will provide you evidence of your usage of "API services" for last 30 days. You can view IP address, query and the signed certificate for that period.

Consideration

Attribution and logos:
Whenever you use IKanoon's search results, documents, or any of our document classifiers to show information to users—whether directly, for building context for a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system, or for fine-tuning Large/Small Language Models—you must provide clear and conspicuous attribution. This is a requirement for using our "API Services."

To fulfill this requirement, you must show the 'powered by IKanoon' logo as shown in the table below. The placement of this graphic should be appropriate to the specific use case:

For Direct Display: When our information is displayed directly to a user, such as in search results, the graphic must be shown on top of the results, with consideration for desktop or mobile clients.

For Integrated Use (RAG, Fine-tuning): For products that leverage our data for purposes such as building context for a RAG system or fine-tuning an LLM, the attribution must be included in a prominent location. This could be in the product’s 'About' section, documentation, or another location where the user can easily see the source of the data used."

Desktop
Mobile

The above mentioned attribution is used in order to maintain consistency and preserve the IKanoon brand identity. Make sure the logo is full and clearly visible, never altered, resized or partially covered.

Do not use the IKanoon logos in ways that (1) imply an association with or endorsement of any other product, service, event, sponsorship, or organization; (2) can be reasonably interpreted to suggest editorial content was authored by Ikanoon; or (3) represent the views or opinions of IKanoon personnel.

Never display a IKanoon logo in a manner that is misleading, unfair, defamatory, infringing, libelous, disparaging, obscene or otherwise objectionable to IKanoon.

Pricing:
You agree to the charges of various types of calls to the "API services" as shown on the pricing page. Your balance will be deducted regularly as per the charges outlined there.

You understand and agree that the price as laid down in the schedule may be subject to revision by IKanoon at will. Any change in price shall be notified to the user at least one week in advance and you shall be at a liberty to renew the service at the revised rate or terminate the agreement.

Refusal on non availability of funds:
You understand that the service is available on a pre-paid mode, i.e., if your balance runs out then the "API service" will not return any result.

Representations and warranties

Service Availability:
IKanoon would take best efforts in providing highly available "API services". But due to unforeseen circumstances the service may go down. IKanoon will not be liable for any loss of availability of the service.

Quality:
IKanoon will ensure that all users of "API Services" and the users of Indian Kanoon would see the same search results for the same query barring inadvertant issues like caching of results that can cause differences. There will not be any systematic bias against any user of the API service.

Liability Limitations:
You understand that any data provided by IKanoon are sourced through public websites including but not limited to decisions, statutes, orders and notifications made available through government websites. All the service and the data provided by IKanoon are provided "AS IS," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, about the warranty of accuracy, reliability or fitness for a particular purpose, and IKanoon shall not be liable for any claim, damages or other liability, whether in action of contract, tort or otherwise, arising from, out of or in connection with the use of the data or service.

Termination

This agreement shall be valid until and unless terminated by any one of the party. Either party can terminate the agreement at will by notifying other through registered email or phone at least one month in advance.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. The Parties hereby agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the competent Courts at Bangalore.

The Parties agree that any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with or in relation to this agreement shall be attempted to be settled amicably failing which it shall be referred to Arbitration to be conducted as per the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The arbitrator shall be jointly appointed by the parties. The venue of Arbitration shall be Bangalore.

The parties agree that any failure or omission by any party to carry out or observe any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement as a result of or arising from any extraneous cause entirely beyond the control of that party, shall not be subject to any claims for damages, termination or performance by the other party.

Neither Party shall assign or agree to assign this Agreement in whole or in part, including any assignment to an Affiliate or Associate, without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.