‘No place for colonial mentality in democratic country governed by rule of law' The Supreme Court on Monday deprecated the “colonial mentality” of the police in using third degree methods and said such outlawed practices had no place in a democratic country governed by the rule of law. A Bench comprising Justice Markandey Katju and Justice T.S. Thakur, dealing with a case of policemen using third degree methods and cutting off the...

The Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) on Saturday urged the Centre to coordinate with all State and local governments and also Central government departments, including the Railways, to ensure that the pernicious practice of manual scavenging is fully abolished the latest by the end of the 11th Plan period. This, it said, would require a new survey in every State and Union Territory, with wide public involvement, of the remaining...

Expressing 'deep distress' over the 'shameful practice of manual scavenging' in the country, the National Advisory Council, headed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Saturday asked the government to 'fully abolish' it by the end of 2012. It observed that despite the practice of employing scavengers being declared an offence, no one has been punished for it. The issue is seen as 'an issue of sanitation than of issue of human dignity,'...

Observing that hawkers have a fundamental right to carry on their business, the Supreme Court has asked the Delhi Government to enact a law to regulate their trade keeping in mind also the right of commuters to move freely and use the roads without any impediment. A Bench of Justice G. S. Singhvi and Justice A. K. Ganguly disposing of a batch of appeals filed by hawkers said “before June 30,...

Observing that hawkers have a fundamental right to carry on their business, the Supreme Court has asked the Delhi Government to enact a law to regulate their trade keeping in mind also the right of commuters to use roads without any impediment. “Before June 30, 2011, the appropriate government is to enact a law on the basis of the Bill mentioned [by the authorities] or on the basis of any amendment...