Wars in the woods

Responsible for protecting flora, fauna and the entire natural ecosystem, the rangers are a pitiable lot. Unarmed, untrained, they face poachers’ and encroachers’ superior firepower and even get ensnared in long legal tangles when they are forced to use their own firearms in self-defence. An analysis

“The preparatory work in Amrapali case will be over in six months”

Supreme Court Senior Advocate R VENKATARAMANI has established himself as one of the most erudite and astute lawyers of India, dealing in matters as varied as constitutional law, environmental law, taxation, tribal rights, child and women’s rights. He has represented several state governments, the Union government, universities and public sector undertakings in major litigation in the Supreme Court and in High Courts. A former member of the Law Commission of India, Venkatara mani was recently appointed by the Supreme Court as Receiver for the Amrapali Group, tasked with unravelling a complex web of financial issues to pave the way for thousands of anguished home buyers to finally get a roof over their heads. In an exclusive interview to INDIA LEGAL BUREAU, he spoke for the first time on his work in the complex Amrapali case and on many other issues. Excerpts:

THE TRUMP ERA ENDS, AS A TRAGEDY

It ends with Donald Trump deflated and disgraced, less a personal tragedy than a national disaster. Without social media at his fingertips, the American president appears a silent, brooding sphinx waiting out the last days of his reign. His most vocal followers promise more violence before and after president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.

The Privacy Challenge

The recent “take it or leave it” announcement by WhatsApp to introduce a new privacy policy seems to have shaken up the market, leading to a significant shift of users to other similar platforms. It could be a serious mistake by the platform.

The Electoral Experiment

The recent District Development Council election results in the state call for a sombre reflection on the nature and the drivers of our electoral politics

Office harassment over digital media

Co-workers working through digital platforms in different venues will now be part of the same workplace, and any harassment through such media will fall under workplace sexual harassment. This ruling was issued by the Jaipur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court.

Notice under Special Marriage Act now optional

In a landmark judgment, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court ruled that the mandatory publication of a 30-day notice before marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, was now optional.

More Power to Women

Last year saw many judgments which empowered the fairer sex, be it granting permanent commission to women officers in the army, rulings against sexual harassment at the workplace and reproductive choice being their fundamental right

Bitter Harvest

The apex court’s stay on the implementation of the three laws and the formation of a committee might be the first stage in resolving a complex situation where neither the government nor the farmers want to back off

SC Takes Up Yamuna Pollution Issue

The Supreme Court took suomotu cognisance of the issue of major pollution of the Yamuna and other rivers.

Liquor is Quicker

New laws to do with alcohol consumption being contemplated by the Delhi government reflect the reality of keeping the state coffers replenished

Governor versus the state

The long-standing heated exchange between the governor and the TMC government over political issues has caused a constitutional impasse. What l ies ahead?

Two sides of the coin

The agitation by farmers on Delhi’s borders has captured headlines across the world. For more than a month, the farmers have been braving the cold, rain and police barricades to raise their demands. APN ’s popular show, Loktantra, discussed the issue extensively

The Legal Ramifications

The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union is a good time to reflect on the grouping, its evolution and legal framework and its partial unraveling. What does this mean for international trade?

Faith and the law

Advertisements that promote superstition and related content have been frowned upon by the courts. Yet, in the absence of a contemporary law, there is a thin line that separates faith and superstition. Where does that leave us?

Potent News

The arrival of vaccines has spawned all kinds of fake news such as they can cause impotency and lead to death. While there are no specific laws to tackle this, other regulations can crack down on misinformation

Capital Greening

The Delhi government has notified the Tree Transplantation Policy 2020, the first of its kind in the country. Will it work?

A Sterling Example

The High Court’s verdicts have strengthened the rule of law and reminded the state government about its constitutional duties to protect people’s fundamental rights and dignity

Cost Of Rare Diseases

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced a draft National Policy for Rare Diseases 2020 on the direction of the Delhi High Court in response to a plea filed seeking free treatment of rare diseases

Dangerous Digital Sharks

In a shocking development, online fraudsters are offering easy loans and using forceful ways to humiliate customers so that they cough up the cash borrowed, leading many to commit suicide in desperation By Shivanand Pandit

“The State is Morally Bound to Uphold the Fundamental Rights of the People”

SOLI JEHANGIR SORABJEE, the eminent jurist, started his legal career in the Bombay High Court in 1953 and rose to become India's highest law officer, the Attorney General of India (AGI), first during 1989-90 and then from 1998 to 2004. Also known for championing human rights, he was appointed the UN Special Rapporteur for Nigeria in 1997. He was also a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague from 2000 to 2006. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in March 2002 for his defence of freedom of speech and protection of human rights. A prolific writer, he has written on various subjects such as the Emergency, censorship, the press, fundamental rights, the Constitution and human rights. In an exclusive interview with RAJSHRI RAI, editor-in-chief, APN News, he talks about the migrants’ plight, judicial activism and the Supreme Court. Excerpts:

AN IMMACULATE PERFORMANCE

In saying that the recent protests will deepen India’s democratic roots, the former president has played the role of a philosopher-king brilliantly, combined with the shrewdness of a drama critic

A BLOW FOR LIBERTY

Never were constitutionalism and judicial duties articulated more accurately than in the case dealing with the issue. One hopes that the judicial voice is heard by all organs of the State and representatives of the people

Patriotism Versus Nationalism

THE issue of hardcore, virulent nationalism has jumped center-stage once again as the ruling BJP has elevated the countrywide ongoing anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests as the number one danger to India’s unity and integrity.

Meat and Right

Singapore has just allowed start-up-company Eat Just to sell chicken that has been prepared in a laboratory.

Ordeal by Fire

An increasing number of cases are being filed which falsely accuse men of rape and get them arrested in the process. Only the Judiciary can give succour to such aggrieved persons

Fighting Fraud

The survey found that corporate India was anxious about the rise in scams during Covid-19 but had done little to invest in anti-fraud technology nor had faith in management to reduce this risk

The Endless Struggle: Bhopal Settlement Violated in the Labyrinth of Law

The victims of “the largest peacetime industrial disaster” have not only been deprived of full compensation, but face additional threats and new insecurities. The callous indifference of the bureaucracy and politicians has made matters worse

Hear Roshni Act pleas by December 21, says SC

The Supreme Court asked the Jammu and Kashmir High Court to arrive at a decision on December 21 on review petitions over the controversial Roshni Act.

A Well-oiled Machinery

Finding a vaccine suited to India is the least of the problems the government will face. Storing and transporting them at a certain temperature range can be a logistical nightmare, but India is adept at this