-The Hindu     Governments have ritually abused the latitude granted by the Indian Penal Code and the Constitution to harass, intimidate and arrest scores of writers, journalists and artists It is common knowledge that Article 19 (1) (a) of the Indian Constitution lays down that "all citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression"; it is also common knowledge that this fundamental right is not absolute, as the immediately following...

-The Hindu The United Progressive Alliance has brazened it out on another piece of legislation aimed at cosseting and mollycoddling the political class. The Representation of the People (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance, 2013, which overturns a Supreme Court order mandating the disqualification of lawmakers immediately upon their conviction, offends for two reasons. First, the ordinance marks the backdoor entry of a bill that faced opposition in the monsoon session of Parliament....

-FirstPost.com It's a daily scene at the busy Gariahat crossing in Kolkata. Traffic is barreling down in all directions. Minibuses make screeching right turns at breakneck speed. The tramline in the middle of the street has been dug up and is a giant crater occupying half the road, marked by corrugated metal walls and little red flags. Taxis and autos dodge buses to try and squeeze by the construction onto a...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Congress said Aadhaar should not be mandatory till its penetration reaches a satisfactory level, aligning itself with the Supreme Court which on Monday said unique identification number could not be the pre-requisite for providing government services. It said Aadhaar was facing teething problems in many states and its issuance had not reached a stage where it could be used as testimonial for identity. "Congress will go by...

-The Times of India Aadhaar, the 12-digit unique identification number issued to individuals, is an ambitious attempt to marry advances in technology to governance. If Aadhaar works, the state's capacity to deliver public services efficiently will increase significantly. Today, however, its efficacy stands undermined on account of the flippant attitude of the Centre and the Supreme Court's decision to venture into an area that is best left to the government. A Supreme...