Justice Markandey Katju writes: Recently, numerous Indian journalists raised a hue and cry when the police investigated the website Newsclick for its alleged Chinese connection. Indian journalists, assuming a ‘holier than thou’ stance, have strongly opposed the action of the authorities, saying it it is an attack on freedom of the media guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, and they have been supported by some so-called ‘intellectuals’ of India.
Justice Markandey Katju writes: Governor Gavin Newsom of California has vetoed the caste discrimination bill passed by the California legislature. I submit that laws made in America against caste discrimination will just be gimmicks unless caste is destroyed in India by a mighty people’s struggle.
Justice Markandey Katju writes: A long time has passed since 1950 when the Indian Constitution was made, and it has now become necessary to frame and promulgate a new Constitution in view of the changed circumstances. Hence, this new Constitution has been drafted by the best legal minds of India, and is being submitted today, 15th August 2023 Independence Day, to the people of India for their approval.
The city of Seattle, which passed a law to ban caste-based discrimination earlier this year, is facing a lawsuit from an Indian-origin man which describes the move as unconstitutional and a violation of the right to exercise religion. The plaintiff, who describes himself as a first-generation Hindu American, has urged the court to repeal the legislation.
Protestors gathered outside the residence of Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington on Tuesday following the arrest of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.
Justice Markandey Katju says, “On May 2, it was announced that the talks between the ruling PDM and the opposition PTI for agreeing to a fresh date for holding the Punjab Assembly elections in Pakistan have broken down.”
I submit that this crisis and imbroglio can be directly attributed to the Pakistan Supreme Court’s failure to do its duty of upholding the country’s Constitution.
Today, 19th April, will be the High Noon for the the Pakistan Supreme Court, the day when it will be tested for its wafaadaari (faithfulness) to the Pakistan Constitution, the day when it will be seen whether it will either enforce the Constitution, or whether it will chicken out, and show it was only paying lip service to it in its earlier verdict that elections to the Punjab Provincial Assembly must be held on 14th May?
Justice Markandey Katju says: In my judicial career of 20 years, I had never heard of such an order that has been issued Pakistan SC. I thought the petition was premature, and should have been dismissed forthright as such. But on deeper thinking, I concluded that extraordinary situations require extraordinary remedies, and therefore the order was correct and justified.
A new poll has revealed that majority of Americans (60 per cent) approve of former President Donald Trump’s indictment in a hush money case involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
The Congress on Friday said that it will take legal recourse in the matter of party leader Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha but noted this takes time and it is not surprised the way things have moved fast in this particular case. Party leader and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, citing the Lok Prahari case, said that there is no automatic disqualification as Article 103 of the Constitution states that only the President has to power to disqualify after taking advice of the Election Commission.
