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Governance And Policy

Comprehensive coverage, analysis, and breaking news on governance and policy.

Deportation sans law: International and domestic legal framework on compensation in cases of wrongful expulsion – Part 4

Deportation sans law: International and domestic legal framework on compensation in cases of wrongful expulsion – Part 4

Editor's Pick•17 Feb 2026

Deportation sans law: International and domestic legal framework on compensation in cases of wrongful expulsion – Part 4

Fourth part of the five-part series examining the forcible expulsion of Indian citizens to Bangladesh based on unverified suspicions of illegal migration, conducted without due process

South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre

Staff Writer

Latest in Governance And Policy

Deportation sans law: Compensation in cases of forced expulsion – Part 3

Law and Citizenship•11 Feb 2026

Deportation sans law: Compensation in cases of forced expulsion – Part 3

Third part of the five-part series examining the forcible expulsion of Indian citizens to Bangladesh based on unverified suspicions of illegal migration, conducted without due process

Why PMO’s instructions to Lok Sabha Secretariat raises serious questions on the Speaker’s autonomy

Governance and Policy•10 Feb 2026

Why PMO’s instructions to Lok Sabha Secretariat raises serious questions on the Speaker’s autonomy

Amidst eroding trust on the Speaker’s impartiality, a recent instruction by PMO to block discussions on PM-CARES fund is constitutionally worrisome.

General Naravane Memoir Row: Understanding Rule 349(i) of Lok Sabha's Rules of Procedure

Governance and Policy•8 Feb 2026

General Naravane Memoir Row: Understanding Rule 349(i) of Lok Sabha's Rules of Procedure

A Lok Sabha face-off over excerpts from General M.M. Naravane’s memoir has renewed debate on Rule 349(i) and the limits of what can be cited in Parliament.

Deportation sans law: Collective expulsion and non-refoulement – Part 2

Law and Citizenship•7 Feb 2026

Deportation sans law: Collective expulsion and non-refoulement – Part 2

Second part of the five-part series examining the forcible expulsion of Indian citizens to Bangladesh based on unverified suspicions of illegal migration, conducted without due process

Deportation sans law: Indian citizens forcibly expelled to Bangladesh – Part 1

Law and Citizenship•3 Feb 2026

Deportation sans law: Indian citizens forcibly expelled to Bangladesh – Part 1

First part of the five-part series examining the forcible expulsion of Indian citizens to Bangladesh based on unverified suspicions of illegal migration, conducted without due process

How the G RAM G Bill marks the end of India’s rural employment revolution

Governance and Policy•23 Dec 2025

How the G RAM G Bill marks the end of India’s rural employment revolution

The question of whether the VB G RAM G bill ushers in a new era of rural employment guarantee or completely dissolves its future is a weighty one.

Kerala Vice Chancellor appointments settled after CM–Governor talks; Supreme Court records appreciation

Leaflet Reports•19 Dec 2025

Kerala Vice Chancellor appointments settled after CM–Governor talks; Supreme Court records appreciation

In a detailed order passed today, the Bench formally recorded its appreciation for the manner in which the dispute was resolved and commended the role played by the committee headed by Justice Dhulia.

The Rohingya question before the Supreme Court of India

Law and Citizenship•18 Dec 2025

The Rohingya question before the Supreme Court of India

With a batch of petitions seeking to answer whether Rohingyas are refugees, and a habeas corpus enquiring about the custodial disappearance of five people in May, the Court in January must address crucial issues on the fate of the world’s most persecuted minority in India.

Supreme Court declines to interfere with Delhi government’s decision to suspend physical classes up to Class 5 amid pollution

Leaflet Reports•17 Dec 2025

Supreme Court declines to interfere with Delhi government’s decision to suspend physical classes up to Class 5 amid pollution

Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for a group of parents, argued that the suspension of physical classes adversely impacted children from economically weaker sections.

‘ECI’s SIR order for 9 States and 3 UTs is a ‘Copy-Paste’ of the Bihar notification’, Tamil Nadu tells Supreme Court

Leaflet Reports•11 Dec 2025

‘ECI’s SIR order for 9 States and 3 UTs is a ‘Copy-Paste’ of the Bihar notification’, Tamil Nadu tells Supreme Court

Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran argued that the SIR order lacked application of mind, and that the ECI could not play a vigilante role.

“Weakens the moral authority of the judiciary:” Former judges, senior lawyers, academics push back against CJI Surya Kant’s comments on Rohingya refugees

Leaflet Reports•6 Dec 2025

“Weakens the moral authority of the judiciary:” Former judges, senior lawyers, academics push back against CJI Surya Kant’s comments on Rohingya refugees

The signatories of the open letter, which included the likes of the former High Court judges Justices A.P. Shah, K. Chandru and Anjana Prakash cautioned that this style of reasoning erases the lived reality of the world’s most persecuted minority.

Anatomy of a Demolition: How a High Court order erased Gurugram’s Prem Nagar Basti amid broken promises of rehabilitation

Law and Citizenship•30 Nov 2025

Anatomy of a Demolition: How a High Court order erased Gurugram’s Prem Nagar Basti amid broken promises of rehabilitation

On October 8, when over 170 huts in Prem Nagar basti were demolished, the Haryana government cited a Punjab and Haryana HC order. The residents, however, contest the grounds.

Supreme Court seeks ECI’s response on pleas challenging SIR in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

Leaflet Reports•12 Nov 2025

Supreme Court seeks ECI’s response on pleas challenging SIR in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

Issuing notice to the ECI, the Supreme Court granted two weeks’ time for its response and posted the matter for further hearing on November 26, 2025.

Supreme Court summons Chief Secretaries of States, UTs over non-compliance of orders in stray dog menace case

Leaflet Reports•28 Oct 2025

Supreme Court summons Chief Secretaries of States, UTs over non-compliance of orders in stray dog menace case

On August 22, a three-judge Bench comprising Justices Nath, Mehta, and Anjaria had modified its earlier August 11 order on stray dogs, clarifying that captured dogs must be sterilised, dewormed, vaccinated, and released back to their original localities.

The longer the wait, the weaker the Watchdog: Why the upcoming hearing on challenges to the 2023 Election Commission Act matters

Governance and Policy•23 Oct 2025

The longer the wait, the weaker the Watchdog: Why the upcoming hearing on challenges to the 2023 Election Commission Act matters

With each passing month of the 2023 law remaining under enactment, a process solidifies in which the executive imposes power on the organ charged with overseeing it.

South Asia’s revolutions and constitutional conundrums

Governance and Policy•15 Oct 2025

South Asia’s revolutions and constitutional conundrums

Reading Nepal’s Gen Z upheaval in the light of Hans Kelsen’s idea of revolution and Grundnorm, as well as Merkl’s concept of Fehlerkalkul, provides us with a better understanding of navigating legal theories in uncertain times.

Constitution Bench to hear on Oct 28–29 issue of promotions and stagnation in the lower judiciary

Leaflet Reports•14 Oct 2025

Constitution Bench to hear on Oct 28–29 issue of promotions and stagnation in the lower judiciary

The reference to the Constitution Bench stems from an earlier October 7 order in the All-India Judges Association case, where concerns were raised about limited promotional opportunities for those joining the judicial services at the entry stage.

When the draft Constitution hit railway station bookstores

History•14 Oct 2025

When the draft Constitution hit railway station bookstores

An excerpt from a new book by two legal historians documents how the draft Constitution entered public life through Wheeler bookstores, All India Radio and an outpour of initiatives to translate the Constitution into India’s many languages.

Supreme Court declines to entertain plea for SIT probe into Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Chori’ allegations in Karnataka

Leaflet Reports•13 Oct 2025

Supreme Court declines to entertain plea for SIT probe into Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Chori’ allegations in Karnataka

Refusing to entertain the PIL, the Court observed that the petitioner was free to approach the Election Commission of India (‘ECI’) instead.

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, ECI on plea seeking voting rights for undertrials

Leaflet Reports•12 Oct 2025

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre, ECI on plea seeking voting rights for undertrials

The petition seeks judicial guidelines to ensure that voting restrictions apply only under defined and proportionate circumstances.

Supreme Court grants four more weeks to the Centre to reply to pleas seeking restoration of J&K statehood

Leaflet Reports•12 Oct 2025

Supreme Court grants four more weeks to the Centre to reply to pleas seeking restoration of J&K statehood

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan, appearing for one of the petitioners, reminded the Court that the Solicitor General had made a “solemn undertaking” to restore statehood.

Supreme Court to hear plea seeking extension of deadline for registration of Waqf properties

Leaflet Reports•9 Oct 2025

Supreme Court to hear plea seeking extension of deadline for registration of Waqf properties

The application seeks an extension citing the scale and complexity of the exercise involving thousands of properties.

The Waqf Interim Judgement is a smokescreen: A (detailed) critique

Religion•7 Oct 2025

The Waqf Interim Judgement is a smokescreen: A (detailed) critique

The Supreme Court’s September interim judgement in the challenge to the Waqf Amendment Act is problematic on almost all counts – issue framing, adjudicatory reasoning, legal interpretation, and the ratio. More concerningly, in several parts, it is also guided by assumptions that lack basis, reading “lies” into the law.

Bihar electoral rolls: Supreme Court flags confusion over new voters; most add-ons are new, says ECI; most excluded are Muslims, women, alleges ADR

Leaflet Reports•7 Oct 2025

Bihar electoral rolls: Supreme Court flags confusion over new voters; most add-ons are new, says ECI; most excluded are Muslims, women, alleges ADR

Appearing for the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (‘ADR’), advocate Prashant Bhushan alleged that the most of the excluded voters were Muslims and women.

Ladakh is only seeking security within India’s constitutional framework

Governance and Policy•2 Oct 2025

Ladakh is only seeking security within India’s constitutional framework

Recent violence in the tribal majority border region has so far seen four deaths and over seventy injuries. For policymakers, this must be a reminder that the longer Ladakh’s constitutional fate hangs in limbo, the longer the risks of radicalisation remain.

A deep-dive into India’s legal regime on political accountability and the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill

Explainer•26 Sept 2025

A deep-dive into India’s legal regime on political accountability and the 130th Constitution Amendment Bill

Almost half of our legislators have criminal records. But can the solution to this be a constitutional amendment that potentially erodes constitutional safeguards? In this explainer, we break down the debate in the simplest terms.

“Himalayan region facing ‘serious existential crisis’”: Supreme Court directs Himachal Pradesh govt to furnish details on development and ecological safeguards

Leaflet Reports•25 Sept 2025

“Himalayan region facing ‘serious existential crisis’”: Supreme Court directs Himachal Pradesh govt to furnish details on development and ecological safeguards

The bench further asked whether the state has framed a climate change policy and what measures, if any, have been adopted to mitigate damages pre-emptively.

‘Farmers are important, we eat because of them. But the environment, too, has to be protected,’ SC presses for punitive measures against stubble burning

Leaflet Reports•17 Sept 2025

‘Farmers are important, we eat because of them. But the environment, too, has to be protected,’ SC presses for punitive measures against stubble burning

“Why don't you think of some penalty provisions? If some people are behind bars, it will send the correct message,” the Bench suggested.

Bihar electoral rolls: Supreme Court declines to modify order allowing Aadhaar as identity proof in Bihar SIR

Leaflet Reports•15 Sept 2025

Bihar electoral rolls: Supreme Court declines to modify order allowing Aadhaar as identity proof in Bihar SIR

The Court noted that the September 8 order was only interim and the question of Aadhar’s validity as identity proof remained open.

Supreme Court seeks response from Centre, ECI on plea for regulating political parties

Leaflet Reports•13 Sept 2025

Supreme Court seeks response from Centre, ECI on plea for regulating political parties

The petition alleged that “bogus political outfits” were flourishing in the absence of regulation, some even controlled by separatist elements.

Presidential Reference | Supreme Court cannot sit idle if an organ does not discharge its function, asserts CJI Gavai

Leaflet Reports•11 Sept 2025

Presidential Reference | Supreme Court cannot sit idle if an organ does not discharge its function, asserts CJI Gavai

The Solicitor General continued to press that in exercise of Article 200 powers, the governor could withhold assent to a bill, and the judiciary cannot issue mandamus in such a situation.

Presidential Reference | Supreme Court refers to happenings in Nepal; Centre opposes timelines for President, Governors on Bills

Leaflet Reports•10 Sept 2025

Presidential Reference | Supreme Court refers to happenings in Nepal; Centre opposes timelines for President, Governors on Bills

“We are proud of our Constitution. See what is happening in our neighbouring states,” CJI Gavai noted amidst rising tensions and violence in Nepal.

What will it take for India to finally innovate a legal regime for its heat-stressed outdoor workers?

Environment/Animal Rights•9 Sept 2025

What will it take for India to finally innovate a legal regime for its heat-stressed outdoor workers?

India’s construction workers find themselves at the cross hairs between lack of any protection in law and worsening climate change. Some strong policy rethinking could improve, potentially save many lives.

Supreme Court transfers to itself all pleas challenging the Online Gaming Act, 2025, pending before the High Courts

Leaflet Reports•8 Sept 2025

Supreme Court transfers to itself all pleas challenging the Online Gaming Act, 2025, pending before the High Courts

The Act, which received Presidential assent on August 22 after being passed by Parliament a day earlier, imposes a blanket ban on “online money games”.

Bihar electoral rolls: SC orders inclusion of Aadhaar card as 12th identity proof

Leaflet Reports•8 Sept 2025

Bihar electoral rolls: SC orders inclusion of Aadhaar card as 12th identity proof

“If they cannot accept Aadhar card, what kind of inclusion exercise are they carrying out?”, senior advocate Kapil Sibal posed to the bench.

Supreme Court dismisses plea challenging E20 petrol policy and its nationwide rollout

Leaflet Reports•2 Sept 2025

Supreme Court dismisses plea challenging E20 petrol policy and its nationwide rollout

“The petitioner is only a name lender. There is a huge lobby behind this,” attorney general R. Venkataramani remarked during the hearing.

Bihar electoral rolls: Claims, objections and corrections for voter registration will be considered even after Sept 1 deadline, ECI tells SC

Leaflet Reports•2 Sept 2025

Bihar electoral rolls: Claims, objections and corrections for voter registration will be considered even after Sept 1 deadline, ECI tells SC

Taking the ECI’s assurance on record, the top Court refrained from passing any order on plea seeking a two week extension till September 15 to file claims and objections.

The Home Minister called a former Supreme Court judge a ‘Naxal’. Will the Court step up?

Opinion•2 Sept 2025

The Home Minister called a former Supreme Court judge a ‘Naxal’. Will the Court step up?

From sitting chief ministers and judges to advocates and authors like Arundhati Roy, the Court has unhesitatingly used its contempt powers when it felt the need to do so. What then might be stopping the Court now, when one of its own has been alleged to be a ‘Naxal’? And beyond using its contempt powers, what else can it do?

Bihar electoral rolls: Supreme Court to hear on September 1 plea to extend deadline for filing claims, objections

Leaflet Reports•30 Aug 2025

Bihar electoral rolls: Supreme Court to hear on September 1 plea to extend deadline for filing claims, objections

Advocate Prashant Bhushan pointed out that several parties had moved applications pressing for an extension, noting more than 1.75 lakh claims had been filed.