Musings on India, the law, and policy
Posted in Constitution, Court, Human Rights, Politics, Rights on May 31st, 2009
When Sonia Sotomayor ascends those marble steps to assume her seat on the highest court of the land, America will have taken another important step towards realizing the ideal that is etched above its entrance: Equal justice under the law. Judge Sotomayor’s nomination was bound to (re)generate debate on the plausible influence of race/gender on [...]
Recently, the New York Times published the results of a survey (conducted by Harris Interactive for the International Herald Tribune and France 24) on the rise of political extremism in Western Democracies during the financial meltdown. An overwhelming majority of people surveyed (65% in Britain & Germany; 53% in the U.S and Italy; 60% in [...]
Posted in Constitution, Democracy, Politics, Rule of Law on Feb 15th, 2009
A referendum is currently under way in Venezuela where voters are to decide on a proposal that would assist elected officials in seeking as many terms as they wish. Mooted by the Hugo Chavez-led Government, the proposal is set to be a watershed in the political landscape of this South American country. A similar referendum [...]
Posted in Constitution, Court, Democracy, india, Politics on Feb 4th, 2009
The Supreme Court has now stated in an Order that strikes and bandhas are a part of the freedom of expression. As reported by the Times of India, this despite a Supreme Court ruling in 1998 that the calling of a bandh is not permitted by the Constitution. This post may be treated as explaining [...]
Posted in Constitution, Democracy, india, Politics on Jan 25th, 2009
This comes as news to all the politicos in Andhra Pradesh wanting to form Telangana. The AP High Court has now reserved its order on a PIL on whether the government has the power to divide a state into smaller states. The petition is based on the contention that a state cannot be bifurcated without [...]
Posted in Democracy, Politics, Terrorism, Uncategorized on Jan 25th, 2009
Amidst all the hype and hoopla that surrounds Obama’s first days in Office, it maybe worthwhile to take a step back and evaluate the implications of the Bush Presidency. Seldom has the post-Cold War world seen such tectonic shifts in many matters of global concern. These eight years, starting right from the doorstep of the [...]