Dec
22
Opinion Piece: Prevention of Terrorism Act
December 22, 2003 | Leave a Comment
Along the lines of our posts from December 19, Today’s Indian Express has an opinion piece by Rakesh Shukla on the Supreme Court’s recent judgment regarding the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA):
The distance of the judiciary from the life of an ordinary citizen is nowhere clearer than in the upholding of the pernicious provision penalising [...]
Dec
20
Nanavati Commission: Watch for news in Jan 2004
December 20, 2003 | Leave a Comment
The Nanavati Commission has summoned key politicians and police officers, accused of perpetrating violence against the Sikhs in Delhi during the anti-Sikh pogroms of November 1984, to the Commission in January. Outlook India writes:
The Nanavati Commission, probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, today asked senior Congress leaders Jagish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar and Pondicherry IGP U [...]
Dec
19
POTA Amendment Bill Passed
December 19, 2003 | Leave a Comment
An article in today’s Hindu covers the passage of the POTA Amendment Bill:
The Rajya Sabha today passed the Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2003, to amend the Prevention Of Terrorism Act, 2002, (POTA) after the entire Opposition led by the Congress walked out and the AIADMK insisted on a vote to register their protest against [...]
Dec
19
Supreme Court judgment on Prevention of Terrorism Act
December 19, 2003 | Leave a Comment
On December 18, 2003, the Supreme Court of India held that state governments cannot withdraw cases brought against accused under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). The Central government must consent to the withdrawal of the case.
The Hindu has written an editorial on this judgment titled “POTA reinterpreted:”
While upholding the constitutional validity of the [...]
Dec
18
Communalism Combat–India: Where Mass Murderers go Unpunished
December 18, 2003 | Leave a Comment
The cover feature of the latest issue of Communalism Combat, a monthly magazine published for ten years, is “India: Where Mass Murderers Go Unpunished.” Written by Teesta Setalvad, who is leading the campaign for justice in Gujarat, the article focuses on three regions of state impunity: Gujarat, Punjab and Kashmir. She outlines the different problems [...]
Dec
17
The Two Versions of “Hawayein”
December 17, 2003 | Leave a Comment
“Hawayein” was recently released, and it looks like there are at least two versions going around in the US on DVD. The 3 hour version (by Megstar) has an hour on Sarabjit (Ammtoje Mann) becoming a farmer in Punjab, and later experiencing police harassment. There’s even a scene where the police, after detaining Mann, take [...]
Dec
15
10 cops summoned in ‘fake encounter’ case
December 15, 2003 | 1 Comment
Today’s Tribune, published in Chandigarh, India, has a news story titled “10 cops summoned in ‘fake encounter’ case.”
The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) has summoned 10 policemen for allegedly killing a youth of Budha Bhora village of Ropar 10 years ago….In the evening when Paramjit Singh [victim] entered Mohinder Kaur’s house, a team of policemen comprising [...]
Dec
15
NHRC Case
December 15, 2003 | Leave a Comment
I’m curious about what readers think about the Punjab case before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). How closely do you follow it? What would you like this blog to write about so that readers can be better informed? Please post your comments!
Given that India’s judiciary—lower and high court—has failed to provide relief, why are [...]
Dec
14
Speak Up, Gun Down: The Man Who Knew Too Much
December 14, 2003 | 2 Comments
This Dec 14, 2003 article from Indian Express describes the cases of people who have attempted to speak up against corruption and human rights violations in India. The second case discussed is of Jaswant Singh Khalra:
[Sanjay Kumar] Singh’s body was later found in the Kaimur forest.
CBI investigations led to the filing of Bihar’s [...]