-The Indian Express Chandigarh: Even as the Group of Ministers (GoM), led by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, will meet on Tuesday to review once again the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill-2011, Haryana is hoping that it will not be made mandatory for the Congress-led states. Severely critical of the proposals, officers involved in the process of land acquisition in the state point out that the Bill is “retrograde” and...

-The Times of India The Supreme Court on Monday said the common man in India felt cheated as the authorities preferred to demolish illegal slums and hutments of the poor while sparing unauthorized constructions put up by the affluent. The court said the failure of the authorities to take prompt demolition action against illegal and unauthorized constructions owned by the rich gave out a loud message that "planning laws are enforced only...

-The Hindu The Supreme Court’s unyielding criticism of the government for not eradicating the practice of manual scavenging was the springboard for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to introduce the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012 in the Lok Sabha on September 3. Welcomed as a panacea for the historically iniquitous, caste-ordained practice of manually handling human waste, the new Bill indicates renewed commitment...

-The Economic Times After one failed attempt in 2009, the Delhi government is making yet another effort to make plastic bags history in Delhi. This time the proposed blanket ban comes with zero tolerance to even plastic used to cover school books, magazines and invitation cards. These are some of the provisions of a proposal of the environment department for imposing a ban on not just sale and use but even...

-The Hindu Laws count for nothing when some of the worst offenders are government-run bodies, agencies and enterprises. The Central government is trying to push through the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012, under pressure from the Supreme Court; but, going by the experience of the past few decades, there is no cause to assume the dehumanising practice of manual removal of human excreta will soon...