Rule of Law

“Even a Murderer Wouldn’t Do This”: Ajith Kumar’s custodial death and Tamil Nadu’s shameful culture of impunity

A 29-year-old temple guard was tortured to death in custody over a flimsy theft allegation with his body bearing 44 injuries, his last hours recorded on video. As Tamil Nadu reels, data shows a damning pattern: custodial deaths rise, convictions remain zero

A Question of Rights: Supreme Court backs teacher in maternity leave dispute

In a recent judgement where the SC upheld maternity relief to a teacher, for the first child of a second marriage (when she previously had had two children) balanced Tamil Nadu state’s policy on population control with fundamental rights like reproductive rights and child birth that cannot be interpreted in a vacuum

Andhra Pradesh High Court rules Trans woman is a ‘woman’

A recent judgement of the AP High Court, in Viswanathan Krishna Murthy is a significant step forward for the legal recognition of transgender rights in India, in much as it establishes a clear precedent that the protections against domestic cruelty apply to Trans women in heterosexual marriages.

Ajith Kumar’s custodial death exposes Tamil Nadu’s unbroken chain of police impunity

In the temple town of Madappuram, Sivagangai district, 27-year-old B. Ajith Kumar, a contractual security guard at the Badrakaliamman temple, was allegedly tortured to death by police officials on June 28, 2025, after being picked up in connection with a missing gold complaint. The case has sparked public outrage, judicial scrutiny, and brought back uncomfortable memories of the Jeyaraj-Bennix custodial deaths of 2020 in Sathankulam

97,000 persons convicted in UP under ‘operation conviction’: State Govt

Of this significant if not staggering number, 68 accused persons were sentenced to death, 8,172 received life imprisonment, 1,453 were sentenced to over 20 yrs., and 87,465 were sentenced up to 20 years’ states a report in The Hindustan Times.

“Bulldozer Justice” rebuked: Orissa High Court orders 10 lakh compensation for illegal demolition of community centre

In a searing indictment of executive overreach, the High Court slams the State for razing a publicly funded community centre in defiance of judicial orders, holding a Tahasildar personally liable and warning against the dangerous rise of “bulldozer justice.”

SC stays deportation of woman declared foreigner, issues notice on challenge to Gauhati HC Order

Granting interim relief to Jaynab Bibi, the Supreme Court halts deportation and questions the mechanical findings of the Tribunal and Gauhati High Court amid rising concerns over arbitrary expulsions in Assam

Doyjan Bibi not in Holding Centre, but handed to BSF: State tells Gauhati HC, taking departure from earlier stand

State counsel admits earlier claim that she was at Kokrajhar Holding Centre was based on incorrect telephonic instruction; Court directs verification from BSF Panbari if she has not been deported

No breach, no recall, yet detained again: Gauhati HC seeks affidavit from State for re-detentions of COVID-era released detainees

Admissions on bail compliance recorded in Abdul Sheikh and Majibur Rehman cases; High Court demands clarity on legality of renewed detention without recall of earlier orders

Pushed Back, Let Down: How the state has let down the marginalised in Assam

Assam is witnessing a sweeping and arbitrary deportation drive targeting "suspected" illegal immigrants. Justified through selective readings of Supreme Court orders, the campaign bypasses due process and violates fundamental rights under the Constitution and international law. This piece examines the legal flaws behind the drive and the troubling role of Foreigners Tribunals in enabling it.

Contradictory Calls: SC halts one Tamil refugee’s deportation, denies another citing ‘not a Dharamshala’

While the Viswanathan-Kotiswar bench of the Supreme Court on June 24 stayed the deportation of a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee and entertained his plea to approach the Swiss Embassy, a different bench led by Justice Dipankar Datta had, on May 19, refused similar relief while asserting India cannot host refugees from across the globe

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“Even a Murderer Wouldn’t Do This”: Ajith Kumar’s custodial death and Tamil Nadu’s shameful culture of impunity

A 29-year-old temple guard was tortured to death in custody over a flimsy theft allegation with his body bearing 44 injuries, his last hours recorded on video. As Tamil Nadu reels, data shows a damning pattern: custodial deaths rise, convictions remain zero

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How the Delhi riots case remains stagnant with close to a dozen student leaders incarcerated

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Development or dispossession? 1,188 days of defiance against forced land acquisition in Devanahalli, Karnataka

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