Politics

Defectors & Democracy: A critique of the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution

The right of voters to recall representatives who defect—as seen in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh—and the requirement of intra-party democracy could form part of a broader institutional redesign. Such measures would deepen democratic values and, above all, signal a refusal by citizens to accept the corruption of their mandate. These may be among the reforms that India's Parliament and democracy most urgently need

‘The Elephant Whisperers’ & the banality of Hindu American Foundation’s Attempt to co-opt Adivasis

The Hindutva protagonists’ fixation to designate indigenous tribes of India as “Hindus” goes back to the times of their founder, M.S. Golwalkar.

How Do We Talk About The State Of India Today?

A write up in Art Review Asia on 24 March 2023, that addresses both Devanura Mahadeva’s RSS: Aala mattu Agala and the BBC documentaries- By Deepa Bhasthi.

M’tra d’ty CM Devendra Fadnavis defends rallies against ‘love jihad’, promises law against mixed marriages

Speaking within the state legislative council he also said that his government would decide on ‘love jihad’ law soon even while his minister, Mangal Prabhat Lodha faces a privilege motion for grossly exaggerating numbers of cases before this ‘Committee’

Remembering Bhagat Singh, Reclaiming the Right to be A Free Thinker

It is quite a striking experience when, in Europe – including in France which is the historical birthplace of secularism –, one gets automatically told, for example, "Oh, you are a Hindu!" if one says one is Indian, or "Oh, you are a Muslim! if one says one is Algerian.

Freedom from Communalism & Religious Intolerance was Bhagat Singh’s Ideal, Never Hindu Rashtra

Hindu Communalists have forever sought to appropriate the young and fiery martyr in Goebbellsian ways perpetuating lies and falsehoods that include falsely promoting February 14 (Valentine’s Day) as his Death Anniversary rather than March 23, when he was actually hanged

No NCRB data on journalist, media personnel arrested under UAPA and other penal laws: IBM

As another Kashmiri journalist gets detained, Centre shrugs off any responsibility of maintaining data on journalists that have been booked over the years

Right to Same Sex Marriages is not a right that can be claimed: Union to SC

The obdurate rejection of this right by the union of India throttles the very concept of constitutional morality in evolving jurisprudence

Selling One’s Soul – The betrayal of Christ and Constitution

For the past couple of days, electronic and print...

Even after 3 months, zero cases filed before the Maha Inter-faith Marriage-Family Coordination Committee: Maharashtra Women and Development Ministry

SP president files privilege motion against BJP leader Lodha for making false claims of having received 152 cases in the state assembly, Bombay HC allows PIL by Rais Shaikh against the Maha GR

Central Ministries employ just 11% women: Ministry of Women and Child Development

The statistics were presented before the Lok Sabha when questions about representation of women in various government sectors were asked

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Who owns Mumbai’s streets? The Bombay High Court, street vendors and a decade of regulatory failure

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Defectors & Democracy: A critique of the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution

The right of voters to recall representatives who defect—as seen in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh—and the requirement of intra-party democracy could form part of a broader institutional redesign. Such measures would deepen democratic values and, above all, signal a refusal by citizens to accept the corruption of their mandate. These may be among the reforms that India's Parliament and democracy most urgently need

A regressive 2026 amendment to rights of Trans persons is under legal challenge even as pride month is celebrated

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The what’s & why’s of Data Centres and how are they hijacking the India Story

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Telegram before NEET: When governance fails, censorship takes its place

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Yes, Savarkar did file 10 Mercy Petitions before the British, revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh refused to Compromise: Grandnephew tells Pune Court

Savarkar’s grandnephew who had lodged a criminal defamation case against LOP Rahul Gandhi, stated and admitted during his testimony that while there were other freedom fighters who refused to file clemency petitions before the British, his uncle Vinayak Savarkar  had filed as many as ten!

Court recognises mob lynching as aggravating factor, sentences seven to life for 2022 cow-vigilantism killing

By expressly recognising mob lynching as an aggravating circumstance, the judgment strengthens accountability for vigilante violence and underscores the application of collective liability principles under Section 149 IPC