In a recently pronounced judgement, the Supreme Court said that a mother-in-law cannot be the accused of the offence of pronouncement of Triple Talaq under the Act of 2019, as the offence can only be committed by a Muslim man. However, while granting final direction in the judgement, the Court has bound the same mother-in-law […]
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Torture, an issue ignored – Published in the Indian Express
In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court stated that “when the protector of people and society himself instead of protecting the people adopts brutality and inhumanly beat the person who comes to the police station, it is a matter of great public concern”. A recently-reported case of torture is of Jayaraj in Tamil Nadu. Very […]
Tale of Two Protests – Published in the Indian Express
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) was passed on December 12, 2019. The law excluded Muslims from its scope of grant of citizenship and led to hundreds of protests being organised in different parts of the country, starting from two universities in New Delhi and later, at Shaheen Bagh in the national capital, which became an inspiration for […]
It is Not for the Law to Decide on Any Other Matter Concerning Marriage of Two Adults – Published in the Indian Express
Contemplating laws to regulate matrimonial relationships between two consenting adults would not be just against the constitutional guarantees but would offend the very notion of individuality and basic freedoms. Many state governments have announced that they are considering enacting an appropriate law to stop marriages which they term as “love jihad” — essentially a part […]
Police needs to be made accountable, and freed from grip of politics – Published in The Indian Express
Whenever the criminal justice process fails, there is an outcry for new laws. We have enough laws. What we lack is the honest implementation of existing laws. The Hathras case has once again put the spotlight on our criminal justice process. The facts of the crime and subsequent support from powerful interests in favour of […]
Babri Verdict: Is Rule Of Law At The ‘Mercy Of Those In Power’? – Published in The Quint
Babri Masjid was demolished on 6 December 1992. It was not a general criminal incident. The Supreme Court said that ‘a five-hundred-year-old structure which was defenceless and whose safety was a sacred trust in the hands of the State Government was demolished’. This had the effect of shaking faith in the rule of law and […]
Criminal contempt? Not now, My Lords – Published in Frontline
The Supreme Court has found lawyer Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt of court for two tweets. It has recorded that “the tweet has the effect of destabilising the very foundation of this important pillar of the Indian democracy”, it “tends to shake the public confidence in the institution of judiciary” and undermines the dignity and […]
Ayodhya — History will be the judge – Published in The Indian Express
In 1994, the Supreme Court of India said that, “within a short time, the entire structure was demolished and razed to the ground. Indeed, it was an act of ‘national shame’. What was demolished was not merely an ancient structure; but the faith of the minorities in the sense of justice and fair play of […]
Delhi Riots: Could Courts Have Handled the Crisis Differently? – Published in The Quint
When we look back at the Northeast Delhi riots of 24-26 February, one question that will continue to be asked is – could the judiciary have intervened? As things stand today, Muslim victims are finding it difficult even to get FIRs registered, or to avail the compensation that is due to them. Victims are being […]
Why This Report Says The Delhi Riots Were A Pogrom – Published in Article 14
The violence was ‘planned and targeted’ against Muslims, and the police, who played a partisan role, are deciding what should be investigated and when, says the head of a committee inquiring into the Delhi riots of February 2020 New Delhi: The narrative was changed to “one of violence on both sides rather than a pogrom […]