-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday outlined a three-tier, graded approach to the question whether privacy is a fundamental right by examining the issue through its intimate, private and public aspects even as it reserved its verdict in the case. Prior to completion of the two-week-long hearing that attracted arguments for and against conferring fundamental right status to privacy but which saw all parties accepting its intrinsic...

-The Hindu The political scientist on the danger to India’s checks and balances, and the perils of the democratisation of mediocrity in universities Professor of political science and a holder of the Madan Lal Sobti Chair, Devesh Kapur has been director of the Center for the Study of Contemporary India at University of Pennsylvania since 2006. Mr. Kapur, who recently co-edited Public Institutions in India: Performance and Design, says our public universities...

-The Hindu In WhatsApp case, Centre tells Supreme Court protection of data integral to a citizen's personal life is part of his fundamental right to life and dignity. New Delhi: Protection of data integral to a citizen's personal life is part of his fundamental right to life and dignity, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday. Any sharing of personal data by a service provider or a social media platform that impinges...

-Hindustan Times Supreme Court asks Centre and states not to protect any kind of vigilantism and sought their response on violent incidents related to cow protection across the countr New Delhi: The government does not support cow vigilantism and it was for the states to crack down on such self-styled groups, the country’s top law officer told the Supreme Court on Friday. Solicitor general Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, said law and...

-The Indian Express Government has an opportunity to enhance use of social audit to monitor schemes In contrast to its rhetoric, the current government’s record on transparency, accountability, and citizen participation has been uninspiring. Even essential laws such as the Lok Pal and the Whistle Blower Protection Act are yet to be operationalised. However, recent developments on social audits, the conduct of which actually finds a place in the BJP’s 2014...