The 2019 general elections are still a while away. But the talk of whom to vote has already started — at least on social media. And many who voted for Narendra Modi and the BJP in 2014 are starting to have doubts. The disappointment of Modi not having met expectations is leading some to get disillusioned and... Continue Reading →
An Analysis of the Lingayat Demand for Minority Religion Status
Link to my article, published by the kind folks at MyInd, on the recent controversy in Karnataka with the Lingayat community demanding a separate minority religion tag from the Government of India. Why are the Lingayats in Karnataka demanding a ‘minority religion’ status? Also read this excellent analysis by RealityCheckIndia on the same issue. Lingayat... Continue Reading →
Festivities: Opening the Door to Moksha
The ultimate goal of every individual following the path of sanatana dharma is to obtain moksha — salvation — mukti. To be free from samsara — the cycle of birth and death. To be part of HIM. Or be a part of HIS abode. Or be like HIM. Or just be close to HIM. But then, not everyone gets moksha. Not... Continue Reading →
From Saifai to Ayodhya: The Right Shift
For decades now, the people of Uttar Pradesh have been under rulers who made it difficult, even shameful, to think of themselves as Hindus. The people of the land of Kashi, Mathura and Ayodhya used to wonder whether it was safe for them to even engage in their religious practices. The rulers spent Government money... Continue Reading →
Issues with Constitutional Interpretation Styles
In the judiciary, various techniques or styles are deployed when it comes to interpretation of the Constitution. A study of these 'Constitutional Interpretation' methods help understand the approach taken, and the reasoning behind, the judgement arrived at in any particular case. Although interpretation styles can be attributed to any judgement, they become especially relevant in... Continue Reading →
Abdicating Legislation to Judiciary?
I was recently reading the book - "The Vision of the Anointed" by Thomas Sowell. While discussing the issue of "Judicial Activism", the author briefly makes a point about how, in the US, the "anointed" deliberately blur the concept of separation of powers and leave some parts of legislation unclear so that they could use... Continue Reading →
A Legal Case for Shared Parenting
Provisions in the Indian Constitution related to Children’s Rights There are not too many provisions in the Indian Constitution which talk explicitly about the rights of children, and the rights & duties of parents towards children. Article 39(f) briefly touches upon this topic, but only in passing reference. “Article 39(f) That children are given opportunities... Continue Reading →
Difference in interpretation between Religious Establishment Rights & Educational Rights
I want to highlight a strange difference in interpretation, by our executive and judiciary, of the Rights guaranteed under our Constitution for running our temples (religious establishments) and a section of our citizenry running educational institutions. Common structure between religious establishment rights and educational rights There is considerable similarity in the way rights related to... Continue Reading →
Educational Rights for Hindu Minority Communities
This post is part 2 of a 2-part series. Read the 1st one here. Article 23 in the Draft Constitution When the Constitution was being drafted, the Rights under Articles 29 and 30 were clubbed under a common Article 23. This Article had 3 clauses. Clause 3 had 2-sub-clauses. The entire Article consisted of clause... Continue Reading →
Evolution of Minority Cultural & Educational Rights
This post will be part of a 2-post series where I aim to prove that the makers of our Constitution very much intended to provide Educational Rights to all communities, INCLUDING THOSE WITHIN THE HINDU RELIGION. The deduction of that intention will be made in the 2nd post of this series. However, in order to... Continue Reading →
