The denial of equality, dignity and autonomy to persons with disabilities lies at the core of disability rights. “Disability need not be an obstacle to success … It is my hope that … this century will mark a turning point for inclusion of people with disabilities in the lives of their societies.” — Professor Stephen Hawking, “Foreword,” World Report on Disability. The inauguration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of...

The Assam Government on Thursday ordered an additional Chief Secretary-level probe into Wednesday's incidents in the city, where anti-eviction protesters went on the rampage and the police opened fire, resulting in the death of three persons. The government directed the administration to gather video footage of the incidents and initiate legal action against protesters who came armed with lathis and stones and indulged in Violence, causing damage to public and private...

Names 7 from mob that burnt to death his father, step-sister Mirchpur victim Tara Chand's son Amar Lal who was called to depose as a court witness by the Sessions court here hearing the Mirchpur caste Violence case on Thursday named seven members of the Jat community who he said were part of a mob of 300-400 people from Mirchpur village in neighbouring Haryana that burnt to death his father and...

-The Hindu   In a significant shot in the arm for the environmentalists, the A.P. High Court on Thursday suspended operation of Government Order 1107 alienating 972 acres of land in favour of Nagarjuna Construction Company for setting up a thermal power plant at Sompeta in Srikakulam district. Sompeta was in national focus last year when police opened fire on agitators, including environmentalists and farmers, opposed to the thermal power station on...

The basis of the Bill is not at all on the intervention of the Centre in any of the states. This was one section and even by this one section being there The National Advisory Council, led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has dropped a controversial section in a draft legislation on communal Violence that opponents have interpreted as placing too much authority on the federal government. “The basis of the Bill...