-Governance Now Professor Sanjay Kumar, co-director of Lokniti, a research programme of the New Delhi-based think-tank Centre for the Study of Developing Societies and one of our leading ‘election watchers', maintains that we must not read too much in the higher voting numbers and credits the election commission for preparing more accurate voter rolls. Excerpts from an interview with Trithesh Nandan: * What do you make of the phenomenon of higher turnouts? Everybody...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The debate over Section 377 (unnatural sex) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) continues to dominate discussions in public forums. Author Vikram Seth, who has been vocal about his views since the Supreme Court verdict recriminalized gay sex last week, on Saturday used the platform of the Rashtrapati Bhavan to slam Section 377. In the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee on the dais and senior leaders...

-Outlook The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has refused to disclose communications exchanged between former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chief Minister Narendra Modi during the 2002 Gujarat riots even after 11 years. Responding to an RTI application, the Prime Minister's Office cited section 8(1)(h) of the transparency law, which exempts information that would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders. Nearly 2,000 people were killed in the...

-Outlook Today's Supreme Court judgment that reverses the Delhi High Court judgment of 2009 is both constitutionally preposterous and morally egregious "If there is one constitutional tenet that can be said to be underlying theme of the Indian Constitution, it is that of ‘inclusiveness'. This Court believes that Indian Constitution reflects this value deeply ingrained in Indian society, nurtured over several generations... Where society can display inclusiveness...

-Outlook Indian Inc today said the outcome of elections in the four states should be seen as a strong message to the government as well as political parties for ensuring corruption-free rule and good governance. "Congress has been shown the door for poor political leadership and unconvincing approach to corruption," said businesswoman Kiran Mazumdar Shaw in a stern message as the poll results pouring in showed rout-like situation for the party in...