FLAIR TALK Magazine - December 2015

In this issue

Why the Humanity?
The terrorist attacks in France last month shook the world and brought forth the eternal debate ‘Terrorism vs Human Rights’. While it cannot be denied that every person on this planet is vested with Human Rights owing to his mere existence as a human being, their availability to this separate class of persons, who disregard and disrespect Human Rights of everyone else is a big question. There is no doubt that the terrorists cannot be tortured or subjected to inhuman behaviour while they are imprisoned, their ultimate punishment should never be considered as violation of human rights. This is where a large number of Indian human rights’ organisations fall foul. Every time a terrorist is convicted and sentenced to death, such organisations flood the Courts with petitions alleging that capital punishment is in violation of human rights of the accused. Whether or not capital punishment is interference with human rights of an individual is a different question, but what our cover story, on the occasion of Human Rights Day (10 December), seeks to address is the extent to which terrorists deserve protection under human rights. This and more is discussed in the cover story by Albuquerque couple: Dr Olav and Deborah.

The first female Senior Advocate designated by the Bombay High Court, Indira Jaising has recently filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court, challenging the system of designation of advocates as ‘Seniors’. As the debate continues in the Supreme Court, FLAIR TALKed to the legal fraternity about their opinion on the archaic distinction. Justice HL Dattu retired this month and made way for his successor and the new Chief Justice of India TS Thakur. In ‘Showcase’, go through the outgoing CJI’s life, work and landmark judgments.