Right to be defended

Sunday 9 December '07

Recent calls by bar associations of Jammu & Kashmir and Allahabad high courts directing lawyers not to appear and defend suspected militants...

Catastrophe in Pakistan

Sunday 11 November '07

Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make them mad. General Musharraf has done what no military ruler in Pakistan has been mad enough even to attempt.

Just like Bihar, Guv

Saturday 3 November '07

The governor under our constitutional scheme is not an ornamental figure. He has an important role to play.

Tardy justice

Sunday 28 October '07

Recent convictions establish that the wheels of justice do move in our country, albeit slowly.

Political rationalisation

Sunday 14 October '07

Rationalising one’s inexcusable actions is a common phenomenon. Politicians have mastered this art.

Benchmarking comment

Thursday 4 October '07

Bandhs had become a way of life in Kerala. There is no legislative definition of the expression ‘bandh’.

Right to convert

Sunday 16 September '07

Debate on the topic of conversion frequently generates heat. One main reason is that conversion has acquired a sinister connotation on account of aggressive proselytisation practised by Muslim and Christian state authorities in the past.

Everywhere a mob

Sunday 2 September '07

Violence seems to have entered our blood stream. Schoolchildren are mercilessly beaten, a thief in Bhagalpur, chained and tied to a police motorcycle, is dragged for over 200 metres...

Deplorable parliamentary behaviour

Sunday 19 August '07

The Indo-US nuclear agreement has aroused serious concerns across the board about its impact on our national interests.

The agony of Sanjay Dutt

Sunday 5 August '07

Sanjay Dutt’s conviction and imprisonment have understandably caused anguish to his family members and his numerous fans.

And justice is reborn

Tuesday 24 July '07

The Pakistan Supreme Court takes on the military regime, rules against a sitting military ruler. There is public acclaim for the judgment. So what are the implications for the doctrine of military supremacy that has divided Pakistan along several lines?

Let’s not lecture Australia over Haneef

Sunday 22 July '07

Mohd Haneef, a suspected terrorist, was granted consular access to the Indian High Commission in Australia, was allowed to speak to his wife, had the services of a competent Australian lawyer who successfully got him bail which is exceptional in Australia in case of a terrorism-related offence.

Media under fire

Sunday 8 July '07

When a country flaunts its democratic credentials, I request its spokesperson to send me its national dailies and the law reports in order to assess...

With utmost respect, Mr Speaker

Wednesday 2 May '07

Alas, we do not live in a perfect world in which there would be no occasion for the judiciary to order the executive to perform its duty of implementing the laws

Perennial fallacies

Sunday 29 April '07

The Supreme Court’s March 27 stay order on reservations for OBCs has provoked DMK supremo Karunanidhi to question how two or three judges could rule against the wishes of the majority of people.

Equality is a fine balance

Saturday 14 April '07

Except in the case of some PILs, judicial interventions cannot be termed overreach

No witch-hunting in Punjab

Sunday 4 March '07

Three months ago there was gloom in the Parkash Singh Badal camp. The Supreme Court had dismissed their appeals and refused to quash the prosecutions launched against them by the erstwhile Amarinder Singh government.

Horse-trading mantra

Friday 23 February '07

Imposition of President’s rule in UP would have been patently unconstitutional

Human rights matter

Sunday 4 February '07

There was a time when the world listened to India with respect when Nehru declared our nation’s stand on critical issues like the Vietnam war and the Anglo-French invasion of the Suez.

The right to offend

Tuesday 30 January '07

Non-screening of ‘Parzania’ in Gujarat is a shocking curb on freedom of expression

Criticism and contempt

Sunday 21 January '07

Justice Markandey Katju’s recent forthright exposition of the law of contempt has helped to remove some cobwebs surrounding the subject.

Tibetans in Exile

Sunday 26 November '06

Our country has throughout the ages provided refuge to people of different religions and races fleeing persecution in other countries.

Before we tender clemency

Friday 6 October '06

Mercy is a noble aim, but it must be kept in strict line with the rule of law

To sing or not to sing Vande Mataram

Sunday 3 September '06

The controversy about the compulsory singing of Vande Mataram misses the real point.

Relief for Prisoners:

Sunday 20 August '06

Parliament at long last has redressed the plight of undertrial prisoners rotting in jails for years. The Criminal Procedure Code has been amended...