South Asia

Exploring the inherent patriarchal attitudes that govern Indian government policies on family planning, the author, a renowned specialist argues how the focus, timing and methods must be on encouraging men to perform vasectomies rather than the more commonly performed intrusive tubectomy on women and specifically advocates more robust all-round efforts than the token November 21-December 4, government observed Vasectomy Fortnight

To affirm that God transcends gender is not merely a doctrinal statement. It is a spiritual and ethical commitment.

A concrete case of allegations of criminality and violation of election law and rules, especially related to the Form 7 method of ‘mass deletions’ has come to light from Uttarakhand, with a BLA-2 (Ikram Ali himself petitioning the court for registration of an FIR after his identity and email were misused for 28 deletions: Ali had also approached the Haldwani judicial magistrate for directions to register an FIR which the court has directed on October 6.

Across cities, Diwali celebrations brought severe pollution, excessive noise, fires, deaths and violence, the events raise questions about civic responsibility and enforcement: when existing rules repeatedly fail, what measures can ensure celebrations do not endanger others?

Faced with a narrow defeat last week --a Congress-led panel had won 13 seats to Mahayuti’s 12 seats last week, the Fadnavis government in a widely criticised move, altered rules to nominate members and give them voting rights; this tilted the balance in Mahayuti’s favour after a courtroom drama that first directed elections and thereafter refused to stay or scrutinise the hastily changed rules; Fadnavis Govt alters rules & Voila(!), Mahayuti Candidate is Chairman of Gokul Dairy after a courtroom drama also unfolds last week