Privacy Policy
Last updated:
This Privacy Policy explains how Learned Counsel collects, uses, stores, and protects personal information when you use this website. It applies to information submitted through our contact form, newsletter, comments, and general site operations.
1. Scope of this policy
This policy applies to personal information collected through this website. It does not apply to third-party websites or services that we do not control. Please review the privacy policies of those services before providing personal information to them.
2. Information we collect
Information you provide
- Contact form: your name, email address, optional subject, message, and any information you choose to include.
- Newsletter: your email address and, if you provide it, your name.
- Comments: your name, email address, comment text, and related metadata.
Information collected automatically
- IP address, browser type, device information, referring page, and user agent;
- the page from which a contact form was submitted;
- server logs and security logs maintained by us or our hosting provider;
- essential session information used to operate CAPTCHA and comment features.
Please do not submit sensitive personal data, confidential legal documents, or information about another person without authority.
3. Cookies and sessions
We use essential cookies and session information to operate the website. These include:
- EWS_CONTACT: a session cookie used to validate the contact form CAPTCHA and expires when the browser session ends.
- ews_comment_token: a cookie that helps a commenter view their own pending comments.
- ews_comment_name and ews_comment_email: optional cookies that remember commenter details for future comments.
We do not currently use advertising cookies or third-party analytics cookies. If this changes, we will update this policy and, where required, ask for consent.
4. How we use information
- respond to enquiries and messages;
- manage newsletter subscriptions and send updates;
- publish and moderate comments;
- operate, maintain, and secure the website;
- prevent spam, abuse, and unauthorised access;
- maintain records and comply with legal obligations; and
- understand general site usage and improve content.
5. Legal basis for processing
We process personal information on the basis of your consent, our legitimate interests in operating and improving the website, and compliance with applicable legal obligations. Where consent is the basis, you may withdraw it at any time, subject to lawful processing that has already occurred.
We aim to handle personal data in accordance with applicable Indian law, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, where it applies.
6. Sharing and disclosure
We do not sell personal information. We may share information with:
- service providers that help us host the website, store data, deliver email, prevent spam, or maintain security;
- professional advisers and service providers who need the information to support our operations;
- courts, regulators, or law-enforcement authorities where required by law or necessary to protect rights and safety; and
- a successor entity in connection with a merger, acquisition, or transfer of the website or related assets.
Service providers are expected to process information only for the purposes for which it was shared and subject to appropriate safeguards.
7. Data retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including responding to enquiries, maintaining records, resolving disputes, preventing abuse, and complying with legal obligations.
- Contact enquiries: retained while the enquiry is being handled and for a reasonable period afterwards for record-keeping.
- Newsletter subscriptions: retained until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete your details.
- Comments: retained while published or as needed for moderation and legal compliance.
- Email queue and logs: retained for operational, security, and troubleshooting purposes and then deleted or anonymised when no longer needed.
8. Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or alteration. However, no internet transmission or storage system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Your privacy rights
Subject to applicable law, you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information, withdraw consent, or object to certain processing. You may also ask us to stop sending newsletter communications.
To make a request, contact us at contact@learnedcounsel.in. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.
10. Children’s privacy
The website is intended for adults and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal information, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.
11. Third-party links
The website may link to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their policies before providing personal information.
12. International processing
Our service providers may process information in countries other than India. Where this happens, we take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place and that information is handled consistently with this policy and applicable law.
13. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. The revised policy will be posted here with a new effective date.
14. Contact and privacy requests
For questions, privacy requests, or concerns about this policy, contact contact@learnedcounsel.in or use our contact page.
