Earlier this year, in Prafull Goradia v. Union of India [decided January 28, 2011], the Supreme Court of India considered the constitutional validity of the Haj Committee Act, 2002, and in particular, the air fare …
Continue readingTag: Indian Secularism

Potpourri
1.Shekhar Hattangadi’s comment in Afternoon Despatch and Courier on Supreme Court’s recent ‘What the hell is going on in this country’ remark. 2.My critical comment on the Gujarat High Court’s controversial judgment holding bhoomipuja a …
Continue readingGujarat High Court’s stimulating interpretation of the demands of Indian secularism
On Feb 10, 2011, a division bench of the Gujarat High Court dismissed, with “exemplary costs” of Rs 20,000, a PIL filed by a Dalit activist challenging the performance of Hindu religious functions during a …
Continue readingIdols in Law
The current issue of the Economic and Political Weekly carries a special section of articles on the Ayodhya judgment. Anupam Gupta, one of the counsel who appeared before the Lieberhan Commission, does a close reading …
Continue readingSummary of the Babri Masjid -Ram Janm Bhoomi Decision
My summary of all the opinions in the Babri Masjid decision can be found here. The judgment poses a fascinating array of questions. There has already been strident criticism as well as cautious praise for …
Continue readingBangladesh Supreme Court bans religious parties
The full text of the historic judgment delivered by the Bangladesh Supreme Court banning religious parties and upholding secularism in that country is here.
Continue readingFrom the latest Frontline….
*My post on the dyslexic student failing to get interim relief from the Supreme Court invited quite a few insightful comments. My thanks to all the commentators, though my article does not reflect all the …
Continue readingFrontline: content alert
*T.Jayaraman’s review of Meera Nanda’s book, God Market. *My review of Anirudh Krishnan and Harini Sudersan’s recent book on reservations.*My article on how the principle of absolute liability, cornerstone of Bhopal jurisprudence, is being diluted. …
Continue readingBeard, Burqas and Bias: Message from Maldives
Thanks to my colleague’s alert on Twitter, I found this debate in Maldives extremely interesting. While the author of the article is certainly against the widespread inclination to grow beard among the people of his …
Continue readingMinority Rights and Religious Identity
The judgment delivered by Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Gurleen Kaur vs. State of Punjab is of profound significance.(Readers can access the judgment on the High Court’s site (CWP14859/2008.Date:30/05/2009)Although the Court …
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