The RTI Amendments: Constitutional Statutes In Precedent And Practice

In the previous two posts, Malavika Prasad and I have developed the concept of a "constitutional statute", in the context of the recent amendments to the Right to Information Act. In the first post, I argued that a constitutional statute provides a statutory framework towards implementing a fundamental right, thereby fulfilling the State's positive obligation to do so. This is what justifies the status of the Information Commissioners under the RTI, and the requirement of...

Doubts Over Accuracy Of 1951 NRC And Its Updation Process In Assam

The NRC process is going on even when the challenge against constitutionality of Sec.6A of Citizenship Act is pending in SC.

Rajya Sabha Passes Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill With Two Amendments By Union Minister

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019 with two amendments introduced by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The Lok Sabha had cleared the Bill containing 93 clauses on July 23. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh declared the Bill as amended passed based on 108 'yes' votes as against 13 'no' votes....

Liberties Are At An End

"I will for ever, at all hazards, assert the dignity, independence, and integrity of the English Bar, without which impartial justice, the most valuable part of the English constitution, can have no existence. From the moment that any advocate can be permitted to say that he will or will not stand between the Crown and the subject arraigned in the court where he daily sits to practise, from that moment the liberties of England are at an end". --Thomas Erskine, 1792, address to the jury defending Thomas Paine

Can Arbitration Clause Be Invoked In A Dispute Arising After Parties Compromise? SC Explains [Read Judgment]

"Since the respondent has raised the plea that the compromise decree is vitiated by fraud, the merits of such a plea could be decided only by the Civil Court upon consideration of the evidence adduced by the parties.”

Breaking : Parliament Passes Bill To Penalize Triple Talaq [Read Bill]

After intense discussion which lasted nearly five hours, the Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the "Muslim Women(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2019", commonly known as Triple Talaq Bill. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on July 25 with 303 'yes' votes against 82 'no' votes. The Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu declared the Bill passed with 99 'yes' votes and 84 'no' votes.BSP, TRS,...

Lok Sabha Passes Consumer Protection Bill 2019 [Read Bill]

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday unanimously passed the Consumer Protection Bill 2019, which seeks to wholly replace the Consumer Protection Act 1986. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan who tabled the Bill said that a new law for strengthening consumer rights was necessary in view of the modern day challenges.The Bill with 109 clauses seeks...

'Suspension Cannot Be A Form Of Punishment'; CAT Orders Reinstatement Of Ex- Kerala Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas IPS [Read Judgment]

In a set back to the LDF government in Kerala, the Central Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam bench on Monday set aside the suspension of Jacob Thomas IPS, former Vigilance Director and ordered his reinstatement.If the Government does not find him fit to work in police force due to the nature of allegations against him, he should be accommodated in any other post of the rank equivalent...

NCW Takes Suo-Moto Cognizance Of Unnao Rape Case Victim's Accident

The National Commission for Women took suo-moto cognizance of the so-called accident of the infamous Unnao Rape Case victim. The matter was reported by the newspaper Indian Express on July 29, 2019, disclosing that her car was hit by a truck in the Rae Bareli area, injuring the victim and her lawyer and killing two of her aunts. The rape victim had, in 2017, accused an MLA of sexually...

Jairam Ramesh's Statements Hurt Business, Vivek Doval Tells Court In Caravan Defamation Case

Vivek Doval was cross-examined before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal in a criminal defamation case he has filed against Jairam Ramesh and Kaushal Shroff, a former Union Minister and a Caravan journalist respectively. The cross was conducted by Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid who is representing Jairam Ramesh, and Mr Bhavook Chauhan who is the counsel for...

RTI Amendments: Open Letter To Three Chief Ministers By Former Information Commissioner

Dated: 26.7.2019 Respected Chief Ministers: Shri K Chandrasekhar Rao (TRS-Telangana), Shri Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy (YSRCP-Andhra Pradesh) and Shri Naveen Patnaik (Biju Janata Dal- Orissa) I am surprised when you have supported the RTI (Amendment) Bill 2019, and asked your MPs in Rajya Sabha to vote for this Bill. I do not know whether you or your MPs have read the Bill and understand...

UAPA Amendment : Why Giving Govt Power To Declare Individuals 'Terrorists' Is Problematic?

Without following any formal judicial process, a person can be labelled terrorist, and can be thrown to the 'mob' to suffer extra-judicial punishments.