-The Hindu Ongoing agitation in Kudankulam illustrates how State criminalises popular protest To what extent will the State go to criminalise an agitation, especially a prolonged popular struggle against a project seen by the government as a vital necessity, but as a hazard by the people living in its vicinity? It will charge the protesters with grave offences such as “waging war” and “sedition” regardless of whether there is any basis. The ongoing...

-The Hindu Continued self-education is indispensable to honing the skills of lawyers in emerging areas of practice and to their social relevance in a changing world The Indian legal profession has grown over a short period of less than 50 years to become the world’s largest and most influential in the governance of the country. At the same time, it reflects the diversity of Indian society, its caste structure, inequalities and urbanised...

-PTI The passage of the Lokpal bill is set to be delayed further with a Parliamentary committee examining the legislation likely to seek an extension till the beginning of the Winter session of Parliament. The Rajya Select Committee on Lokpal/Lokayukta Bill which met today is learnt to have decided to seek an extension of its term to complete the Examination of the measure. The term of the panel ends on September 3 and...

-The Hindu No adverse short- or long-term health effects from emissions, government tells Parliament The Union government has told Parliament that the exposure limit of radio frequency fields (base station emissions) will be brought down to one-tenth of the existing level from September 1. This was to have been implemented from April 1. However, on an Examination of the impact of the revised Electric and Magnetic Field (EMF) exposure limit on area coverage...

-The Hindu Advocate-General asked to file affidavit in this regard by September 7 The Karnataka High Court on Monday sought the view of the State government on measures that could be taken for preventing the misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in dowry harassment case. Observing that this provision of the IPC is being misused in many cases, a Division Bench comprising Justice K. Bhaktavatsala and Justice B.S. Indrakala...