Rule of Law

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.

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

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.

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.”

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

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

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

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.

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

Court invokes humanitarian grounds and constitutional duty to direct urgent return of Long-Term Visa holder Rakshanda Rashid, citing her decades-long residence in India and deteriorating health