The non- disclosure agreement is
entered between parties to prevent the disclosure of any information shared
between them. The agreement can be both unilateral or bilateral. The agreement
template below is a unilateral agreement, between the Advocate and the client.
The Non-Disclosure Agreement is also
called “Confidentiality Agreement”.
There are certain pre requisites to this agreement.
1) All
information which is not to be disclosed, has to be clearly and unambiguously
mentioned.
2)
The agreement must be understood and
consented by the parties.
3)
The agreement must not be too rigid
and should be reasonable.
4)
In order to prevent long years of
court battle in the case of a dispute, the clause of arbitration or mediation
should be added.
Non-Disclosure
Agreement
The Non- disclosure agreement
(the “Agreement”) is made on 22 July 2020 between John Doe ("Disclosing
Party") who is arrested under sections ___ of Indian Penal Code
AND
The
Advocate Jane Smith ( “receiving party”)
who is the counsel for the defendant in the case of _____ v _______ ( AIR 2020 SC 455).
The disclosing party
and the receiving party shall be hereinafter be referred to as Doe and Smith
respectively.
The
parties enter into an agreement to prevent the disclosure of any sensitive
information by the Smith, that she receives during the course of her duty.Therefore,
the parties agree as follows;
1.
“Confidential Information” for the purpose of this
agreement, the confidential information shall mean and include any information disclosed by one Party (Disclosing
Party) to the other (Receiving Party) either directly or indirectly, in
writing, orally, or by inspection of tangible like documents, media etc.
Confidential Information may also include information disclosed to the
Receiving Party by third parties on behalf of the Disclosing Party.
2.
“term of Confidentiality”: The term of confidentiality is
for an indefinite period and Smith is never allowed to reveal any information
that is not in the public domain and which she has received in lieu of her
position as the defending counsel of Doe.
3.
Parties clause: Any confidential information
received by Smith, shall be deemed to be known to the employees of Smith and
they will be held to be equally bound by the terms of this Agreement. (Section
127 of Indian Evidence Act)
4. Use
of Confidential Information:
4.1
Smith
can use the information received, to defend Doe during trials. However, no
information received can be used against him in Court proceedings.
4.2
Smith
is not allowed to divulge any information to the opposite party in the case
that she receives during the course of her duty.
4.3
Smith
is not allowed to use the information in anyway which favours the case of the
opposite party.
5.
Exclusionary clause : The
Confidential information shall not include;
·
Information that is
already public knowledge.
·
Information that is
independently developed or discovered by the receiving party in the course of
his employment in regard to any crime of fraud committed since the commencement
of his employment (Section 126 of Indian Evidence Act)
·
Any information made
in furtherance of any Illegal Act. (Section 126 of Indian Evidence Act)
·
Information that the
disclosing party has already given the recipient consent to disclose.
·
Any other information
that both parties agree in writing is not confidential.
·
If the party calls
upon the Advocate or the receiving party to be a witness and Court and
questions her on the subject matter.
6.
NDA Arbitration clause :
This Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of India. Both parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Courts in Delhi, for any action or proceeding regarding
this Agreement. Any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection herewith,
or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, shall be settled by
arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Procedure of the Indian
Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996, including any amendments thereof. The
arbitration tribunal shall be composed of a sole arbitrator, and such
arbitrator shall be appointed mutually by the Parties. The place of arbitration
shall be Delhi, India and the arbitration proceedings shall take place in the
English language.
7.
Severability
The parties agree that
if any portion of this agreement is held to be unenforceable or considered by
Court to be invalid, then the said clause shall be struck down and the
remaining provisions shall remain in force.
8.Return of Confidential Information received
The receiving party
shall return all papers, documents, recordings received in relation to the
case, once all appeals are exhausted and the final decree of the Court is
received.
8.
In case of termination of contract of employment
In a situation where
the contract of employment between the Advocate and the client is frustrated,
Smith shall not the have authority to reveal any information received during
the period in which she was employed.
9.
In case there is an escape of information
Where, the information
is given to Smith in confidence, and it happens to escape out of her office,
whether or not she has notice of it, she will be held liable and will be
responsible for any damage that occurs due to the leak of information.
10. Strict Liability
Smith will be held
liable for any information, which is transferred by her employees, in the
course of their employment. The
liability will be governed by the principle of “Employer- Employee”
relationship.
11.Non-Obstante clause
Nothwithstanding anything contained in clause 6, incase Smith is
of the opinion that, the disclosure of certain information is beneficial to the
case of Doe, then any information revealed, shall not be held to be a breach of
agreement.The act of good faith shall be determined by the Court of Appropriate
jurisdiction.
This Agreement and
each party's obligations shall be binding on the representatives, assigns, and
successors of such party. Each party has signed this Agreement through its
authorized representative.
Disclosing Party
By:
____________________
Printed Name:
___________
Title:
__________________
Dated:
_________________
|
Receiving Party
By:
___________________
Printed Name:
__________
Title:
__________________
Dated:
_________________
|