Citizens for Justice and Peace
When rights weigh down laws and bail is granted When courts invoke discretionary jurisdiction to uphold right to liberty
02-Mar-2021
The grant of bail to 82-year-old Telugu Poet Varavara Rao on medical grounds has highlighted that a prisoner is not denuded of his fundamental rights, just because he has been remanded to custody through due procedure of law. It is relevant to examine how courts have upheld the rights of prisoners despite the crimes alleged…
Bail under UAPA: Does the new SC judgment offer a ray of hope? CJP compares two SC judgements on bail under UAPA: Watali, 2019, and Najeeb, 2021
19-Feb-2021
The Supreme Court recently passed a judgment upholding Kerala High Court’s order granting bail to an accused charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This judgment has set a new precedent for consideration of bail of persons charged under UAPA, the number of which has been on the rise since the 2019 amendment…
CJP’s Love Jihad amendment petition allowed by SC Now, love jihad laws of MP and HP will also be included
17-Feb-2021
On February 17, the Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde and also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, admitted CJP’s amendment to its original petition to include the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019. The order reads, “I.A. No. 21146 of 2021…
Ordinances that mocked the Constitution Were they promulgated as per prescribed procedure?
15-Feb-2021
In Indian Constitution, the power to enact laws has been primarily given to Parliament and state legislatures as they enjoy the mandate of the public vote in their respective territories. At the same time, to meet the extraordinary situations demanding immediate enactment of laws, the Constitution empowers the President and Governors to enact laws in…
CJP moves SC to include MP, HP in its ‘Love Jihad’ petition Seeks amendment to original petition to add laws by other states
12-Feb-2021
Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has filed an application before the Supreme Court of India seeking to amend its original writ petition that challenged the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand anti-conversion laws. CJP now also seeks to incorporate the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019…
NRC for Assam: A flawed design A process with an inherent potential to exclude millions of genuine citizens
07-Jan-2021
The exercise for preparation and updating of NRC for the state of Assam was directed and also monitored by Supreme Court Bench consisting of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Rohinton Fali Nariman (in the ongoing matter, the judgement dated December 17, 2014 in the case of Assam Public Works Vs. Union of India & Ors (Writ…
CJP’s Love Jihad Petition: SC issues notice to UP and Uttarakhand It has agreed to test the constitutionality of the anti-conversion laws enforced the two states
07-Jan-2021
The three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice S.A Bobde and Justices V Ramasubramanian and AS Bopanna heard the petitions challenging the validity of the newly enacted Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 and the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018, and issued notices to the respective states. It said, “Issue notice…
Hathras Horror: Tracking the trauma A timeline of shocking events surrounding the case
15-Dec-2020
The Hathras gangrape and murder case is one of the most shocking examples of crimes against Dalit women, not only because the alleged perpetrators were “upper caste” men, but also given how police first ignored and then allegedly tried to cover-up the matter. Here’s a look at the events as they transpired in the case.…
SCI turns the spotlight on custodial torture A discussion with senior counsels and human rights advocates
11-Dec-2020
In wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling, of CCTV cameras to be installed in investigating agencies and police stations, Teesta Setalvad moderates this discussion with Senior Counsels and human rights advocates Nitya Ramakrishnan and Mihir Desai and veteran Rights Advocate Henri Tiphagne. Related: TN custodial death report establishes complicity of police, hospital staff and…
Ramifications of SC judgment on CCTVs in Police Stations Teesta Setalvad in Facebook Live conversation with Nitya Ramakrishnan, Mihir Desai & Henri Tiphagne
04-Dec-2020
A Facebook Live discussion was organised by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) with Senior Counsels and human rights advocates Nitya Ramakrishnan and Mihir Desai and veteran Rights Advocate Henri Tiphagne on December 3, 2020. It was moderated by CJP secretary Teesta Setalvad. The exclusive discussion started with welcoming the recent judgment of Paramvir Singh Saini…