Women Officers

Air Force has continually opened new Combat Air Force Roles for Women as Fighter Pilots, Helicopter Pilots, et cetera. It does not stand to reason, when Women Officers like Captain Ojaswita Shree, Major Dwipannita Kalita and Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh can operate behind enemy lines with all expected risks, why Women Officers in times of […]

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Where Eagles Dare

The Chief Justice of India bears a significant moral responsibility to ensure, Judiciary functions in a transparent, efficient and constitutionally appropriate manner. The Chief Justice of India is clearly an important person in maintaining institutional interest and credibility. The Chief Justice of India owes a duty to keep our justice delivery system pure, clean and […]

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Stigma

A ‘stigma’ is indicative of a blemish, disgrace indicating a deviation from a norm. Where there is a discharge from service after prescribed probation period was completed and discharge was not based solely on assessment of employee’s work and conduct during probation, termination was held to be ‘stigmatic’ and punitive [Jaswantsingh Pratapsingh Jadeja v. Rajkot […]

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The Nature of Judicial Power: Caste in Prison Manuals

Our interpretation of the Constitution must fill silences in its text. Framers could not have anticipated every situation to arise in future. They also intentionally left certain decisions to discretion of future generations. However, choices we make today must align with broader constitutional framework and values. The fight against caste-based discrimination is not a battle […]

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Contempt Jurisdiction XII

Parashuram Detaram Shamdasani v. King-Emperor, (1945) A.C. 264; M.Y. Shareef v. Hon’ble Judges of High Court of Nagpur, (1954) 2 SCC 444; Pushpaben v. Narandas Badiani, (1979) 2 SCC 394; Babu Ram Gupta v. Sudhir Bhasin, (1980) 3 SCC 47; Reliance Petrochemicals Limited v. Proprietors of Indian Express Newspapers, Bombay Pvt. Ltd., (1988) 4 SCC […]

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Assessment of Statute

For over 50 yrs., High Court has been disposing of Writ Petitions raising claims or challenges to exercise of powers or dereliction of duties under The Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971. The propensity and proclivity of 1971 Act to generate litigation are worrisome. The exasperation of High Court is understandable. Court […]

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The Doctrine of Intergenerational Equity

“Earth teaches us patience, love; Air teaches us mobility, liberty; Fire teaches us warmth, courage; Sky teaches us equality, broad-mindedness; Water teaches us purity, cleanliness.” State of Bihar v. Murad Ali Khan, (1988) 4 SCC 655, speaking through Venkatachaliah J, observed, “‘Every source from which man has increased his power has been used to diminish prospects of […]

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Tender Law VI

State abused its position under a misconceived notion, all its actions, such as award of contracts or tenders, were nothing but a generosity which it could, at its own whims, choose to deny, alter, modify, or take away without any consequences. Law cannot afford to remain static [M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, (1987) 1 […]

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The Revival of Ray XCIII

In matters of appointment of Judicial Officers, opinion of a High Court is not a mere formality because a High Court is in best position to know about suitability of candidates as District Judges. Constitution therefore expects Governors to engage in ‘constructive constitutional dialogue’ with High Courts before appointing persons to a post of a […]

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Deep Association of Money and Politics

The fear of reprisal and vindictiveness does not evaporate. The so-called protection exists only on paper. – Hon’ble Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India, [Writ Petition (Civil) No. 880 of 2017]. Constitution guarantees a right to informational privacy of political affiliation. Can such right be extended to contributions to political […]

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Pardon Jurisprudence IV

“The finest hour of rule of law is when law disciplines life and matches promise with performance.” A woman deserves respect. Bilkis Yakub Rasool, being an unfortunate victim of heinous crimes, is challenging en-masse remission granted to Respondent Nos. 3 to 13. The place of occurrence of an incident or place of imprisonment are not […]

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Adani Group of Companies

‘Acceptance of a Brief by a Lawyer’ in 2007 cannot be construed to reflect ‘bias’ or even a ‘likelihood of bias’ in 2023. There is an absence of proximity both in terms of time and subject matter. Writ Petitions filed before this Court raised concerns over precipitate decline in investor wealth and volatility in share […]

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The Fundamental Right to Marry

Supriyo @ Surpiya Chakraborty v. UoI Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1011 of 2022 My Lord, LGBTQ persons have a right to marry a person of their choice regardless of religion, gender and sexual orientation? No. A thing, an occurrence, or a practice is ‘Indian’ when it is present in India, takes place here, or is […]

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The Writ of Mandamus IV

The role of Judiciary is to ensure, Legislature and Executive function within constitutional limits. Court has held, effect of Judgments can be nullified. However, nullification of Mandamus would be an impermissible legislative exercise. Respondent No. 1 could not have issued Orders, dated 17.11.2021 and 17.11.2022, in breach of Mandamus issued. – Hon’ble Justice B.R. Gavai, […]

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