“The article explores the constraining and expanding power of legal rights discourse in movements of social transformation through an analysis of Deepa Dhanraj’s two documentaries- The Advocate and Democracy Dialogues – A Tribute to Balagopal”.
Continue readingIn a recent op-ed in the Mint, I lament the lack of public consultation in Indian law and policy making. I argue that its high time we moved from representative to deliberative democracy. I note …
Continue readingThe debate on how we make laws has intensified in light of the disagreements on the Jan Lokpal Bill. Shamnad made an important point earlier on this blog that there is a democratic deficit in …
Continue readingDAKSH, a group I am associated with released its 2009 report on Democracy and Governance in Karnataka. The summary reports and part of the full reports are available here. The final full report will also …
Continue readingWhatever might be the implications for the individuals involved in the current controversy over the Election Commission, the CEC’s second letter to the President raises a very important point. Under the current scheme of things …
Continue readingWith the Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh having been hospitalised, he will be virtually absent from office on health grounds for a month at least. My friend, Manoj Mitta has suggested in Today’s Times of India …
Continue readingVillagers in some villages in Maharashtra are casting votes to state their opinion on an SEZ, and the government has promised to take their verdict ‘into account’ in making its decision. Issue based referenda, quite …
Continue readingToday’s Indian Express has an editorial that is sharply critical of this action. Here is how the Express sees the issue: Constitutional authorities like the Election Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General perform a …
Continue readingI didn’t notice this earlier, but today’s issue of the Indian Express carries another tribute to Justice JL Sinha, authored by Yogendra Yadav of CSDS. Like that of Shanti Bhushan, which was the subject of …
Continue readingTwo interesting developments, both initiated by the Chairs of the two Houses of Parliament, are worth noting. First concerns the an issue referred to the Committee of Privileges by the Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson …
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