Reservation under Article 16(4) of our Constitution: Placing a ‘Power plus Duty’ upon the State

With reservation being made an enabling provision in the latest jurisprudence in Mukesh Kumar, this article argues that the provisions of the Constitution in fact place a “power plus duty” upon the state to provide them. By reiterating the position of reservation as part of the extended right to equality, the article argues that theContinue reading “Reservation under Article 16(4) of our Constitution: Placing a ‘Power plus Duty’ upon the State”

Restricting Free Speech: Kaushal Kishore and the Increasing Confusion

The piece critically analyses the Kaushal Kishore judgment and points out its inadequacies and flip-flops with respect to balancing Art.21 and Art.19(1)(a) rights. The author also points out the error in the Court’s interpretation of the Sakal Papers judgement and critiques the Court’s holding that Art.19 and 21 rights can be enforced even against personsContinue reading “Restricting Free Speech: Kaushal Kishore and the Increasing Confusion”

The Need to Legally Recognise the Right To, and the Right Not To: An Appraisal of the American Verdict Obergefell v. Hodges

The author posits that ‘rights-not-to’ must be construed along a private-public spectrum in the context of its social impact. The article illustrates this by comparing Prof. Nan Hunter’s more behavioural conception of the ‘right not to marry’ versus Justice Hansaria’s more socially significant recognition of the ‘right not to live’. As such, the article alsoContinue reading “The Need to Legally Recognise the Right To, and the Right Not To: An Appraisal of the American Verdict Obergefell v. Hodges”

Beyond Criminalization: How Criminal Law Marginalizes through Invisibility

Drawing on Professor B.B. Pande’s framework on marginalisation, the article explores how criminal law marginalises communities through their invisibility. It illustrates this through the ambiguity in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 which leaves the community without the protection of a provision that penalises rape. The post Beyond Criminalization: How Criminal Law MarginalizesContinue reading “Beyond Criminalization: How Criminal Law Marginalizes through Invisibility”

Press Note- The Courts and The Constitution Conference, 2023.

The Courts and the Constitution Conference, 2023 took place on March 11-12 at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, in collaboration with Law and Other Things and Azim Premji University. This press note presents a summary of the ideas discussed at the conference, and has been prepared by the Rapporteuring Team comprising Eeshan Sonak, Harsh Jain,Continue reading “Press Note- The Courts and The Constitution Conference, 2023.”

Can Judges Deliver Marriage Equality?

The article examines the possibility of the Supreme Court of India legalising same-sex marriage. Through an analysis of the four legislations invoked by various petitioners: The Hindu Marriage Act, the Special Marriage Act, the Foreign Marriage Act and the Citizenship Act, Prof. Saptarshi Mandal finds the interpretive scope favoring such a reading to be slim.Continue reading “Can Judges Deliver Marriage Equality?”

Persecuted by Birth: The Status of DNTs After 70 Years of Being De-Notified

Netflix’s Delhi Crime Season 2 highlights the manner in which the De-Notified Tribes (“DNTs”) are perceived by different institutions of the Indian state and society. A re-examination of the condition of these tribes becomes all the more relevant after the COVID-19 outbreak, since the pandemic has disproportionately affected the most marginalised sections of the society.Continue reading “Persecuted by Birth: The Status of DNTs After 70 Years of Being De-Notified”

Registrations Open to Attend Courts and Constitution Conference, 2023

The Law and Other Things blog is delighted to invite interested students, professionals, and academics to this year’s Courts and Constitution Conference. The detailed programme and concept note for the same can be accessed here, and the registrations can be made by signing up this form. Please contact Sukrut Khandekar (+91 70454 20572) for anyContinue reading “Registrations Open to Attend Courts and Constitution Conference, 2023”