-The Hindu Instruments that permit people to vote directly on policy and to initiate legislation can ensure that the citizen’s voice is heard   Independent India has been a large-scale experiment in democracy. Unlike many other nations that gained independence from colonial rule but descended into dictatorships and military rule, India has remained a democracy, despite its size and diversity. While we pride ourselves on this achievement, we also need to reflect more...

Supreme Court wants hazardous waste rules aligned with Basel Convention THE Supreme Court has directed the Centre to ban the import of hazardous waste. While hearing a 17-year-old case, the court also asked the government to amend the existing laws pertaining to toxic waste so that they comply with the Basel Convention, an international treaty that prohibits transboundary movement of toxic waste. India ratified the Convention in 1992. The court gave the...

-The Hindu It is time disability activism embraced language to debunk the myth that disabled people have unique skill sets A loud round of applause for Aamir Khan for bringing together diverse views on disability in his “Satyamev Jayate” programme. Sprinkled with satire and humour, the TV show was a comment about the wider world from the viewpoint of disabled individuals with exceptional achievements. That said, it is important to evaluate what...

-The Telegraph Ranchi: Jharkhand High Court today slapped fines of Rs 10,000 each on the state chief secretary and another official for failing to ensure a timely government affidavit, a nagging problem that plagues the judiciary and against which the court has spoken out earlier. While hearing a Public Interest litigation filed by Md Ashique Ahmed on reorganisation of scheduled areas, a division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Tatia and Justice Jaya...

-The Hindu The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court and the Central Information Commission on a Public Interest writ petition challenging the RTI rules framed by the High Court. A Bench of Justices A.K. Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar issued notice on the PIL filed by Common Cause, after hearing its counsel Prashant Bhushan, who submitted that the rules were unduly restrictive as it...