Saving the girl child

This article suggests three ways in this women can be empowered financially, and that would help tackle female foeticide.

Rehabilitation policy for development projects

The government is considering a radical departure on its rehabilitation policy for those displaced by development projects, by giving the affected people greater say.

Previous sanction necessary to prosecute police - SC

The Supreme Court has re-affirmed the requirement of prior governmental sanction before prosecution can be launched against a police officer.

RTI at work

This is an interesting case of a request filed under the Right to Information Act, where political pressure to transfer an auditor was acknowledged.

Legal age of valid marriage

The Supreme Court has taken up the issue of inconsistency in various personal and other laws over the minimum age required to contract a valid marriage.

Liberalise divorce laws: SC

The Supreme Court allowed divorce for non-consummation of marriage. It has also recommended to the Parliament to allow divorce if the marriage has irretrievably broken down. However, AIDWA expressed its reservations.

Victims' rights

Madhava Menon makes a case for recognition of victims' rights by the criminal justice system.

New UN Human Rights Council

The General Assembly of the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to establish the more effective Human Rights Council.

Judicial Accountability

The government has proposed a Bill to set-up the National Judicial Council to make the judiciary accountable.

Report on widening NHRC's powers

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended widening the powers of the NHRC. However, there is much else that is wrong with the institution that could have been set right.

Women fighter pilots

The current policy of the government discriminates against women in the Air Force by not allowing them to become fighter pilots, even though some of them perform better than men.

Zaheera sentenced for perjury

With the increased focus on hostile witnesses after the Jessica Lall case, the Supreme Court made example of the classic hostile witness Zaheera Sheikh by sentencing her to imprisonment for one year. Although largely welcomed, this has also invited some criticism.

Goa's Police Bill

Goa is mulling over its own Police Bill, but whether the reform will strengthen or weaken human rights remains to be seen.

Chhattisgarh's draconian Bill

The Chhatttisgarh legislature has passed the Public Safety Bill, 2005, which has the potential to severely impair civil liberties. It was forwarded to the President by the Governor, and would hopefully be returned unassented.

Criminal Procedure Amendments for Jessica

In light of the acquittals in Jessica Lall's case, Sonia Gandhi has suggested certain amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure the authenticity of witness testimony. The mdia has also called for a comprehensive witness protection programme and the government seems amenable to the idea.

International Human Rights enforcement

The UN proposal to set up a new and more effective Human Rights Council instead of the currently existing Commission may change the enforcement regime positively.