India Intelligence Report
 

Democracy, Politics and Judiciary

 

 
 
  • Child Welfare Continues to be Neglected (March 12, 2007)
    Despite children forming one-third of India's population and continued independent reports on their neglected state, programs that hope to prevent and protect their rights received a paltry allocation of Rs. 90 crore (USD 20 million).<More>

  • WB, Orissa, Assam Most Hungry (March 05, 2007)
    A recent survey of household consumer expenditure in India by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) for the period July 2004-June 2005 found that West Bengal, Orissa, and Assam have the most households without enough food.<More>

  • Congress Party Loses State Elections (February 27, 2007)
    Main coalition partner of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) governing the federal government, the Congress Party, lost several key states including economically rich Punjab and militarily rich Uttarakhand.<More>

  • EU Monitors Say 4000 Dead in Lanka (February 26, 2007)
    European Union cease-fire monitors project that nearly 4,000 people have been killed in the past 15 months in Sri Lanka and called on the government and rebels to adhere to the cease-fire and avoid unnecessary killing.<More>

  • Myanmar Arrests Protestors (February 26, 2007)
    Protestors demanding better health care, education, and economic conditions were arrested on the outskirts of Yangon and state-run media warned that other protests that break the law will trigger a crackdown.<More>

  • UN Peacekeepers for Chad (February 19, 2007)
    Oxfam and Human Rights Watch called on urgent action by the United Nations to consider dispatching peacekeepers to Chad to prevent a spillover of Darfur crisis and furthering the humanitarian tragedy.<More>

  • Fake Encounters for Personal Gain (February 05 , 2007)
    Elements of the Indian army and paramilitary cooperated with rogue police officers to perpetrate several cold-blooded murders of innocent civilians in Kashmir and faking them as counter-insurgency encounters for personal recognition and awards.<More>

  • SC Allows TV Evidence (January 30 , 2007)
    In a significant move, the Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that it will allow television interviews by accused “shall be considered at the appropriate state in the trial” and thereby affecting ongoing trials.<More>

  • Political Color to Religion through Sachar Report (January 30 , 2007)
    With elections coming up in Uttar Pradesh, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is reportedly reading democratic statistics to execute minority welfare schemes even as Muslims accuse the Sachar Report of ignoring their women.<More>

  • UN Lauds Role of Women in Governance (January 29, 2007)
    A UN report noted the increasing participation of women in politics and governance in India and lauded government policies for reserving up to a third of seats for women in local-level administration to promote gender equality and empowerment.<More>

  • SC Stays Sidhu Conviction (January 23, 2007)
    In a surprising verdict, the Supreme Court (SC) stayed a High Court verdict convicting Navjot Singh Sidhu of third-degree murder of an old man in a fit of road rage and allowing him to contest in the by-election for the Amritsar constituency.<More>

  • ICDS Needs Overhaul (January 18, 2007)
    Concern over poor implementation of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has prompted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to write to all States and Union Territories asking them to set up a process of dealing with child development.<More>

  • SC Upholds MP Expulsion (January 17, 2007)
    The Supreme Court (SC) upheld the Parliament’s controversial expulsion of 11 Members of Parliament (MPs) caught in a media sting over the cash for query scandal and said that the expulsion was in accordance to law. The Constitutional bench voted 4-1 upholding the expulsion but the dissenting judge said that the MPs should have been tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act.<More>

  • NHRC Orders Compensation for STF Victims (January 17, 2007)
    In a landmark verdict, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) found the Special Task Force (STF) charged to capture now-dead criminal Veerappan guilty of perpetrating atrocities on civilians and order an interim compensation of Rs. 2.8 crore. <More>

  • Longest Rock Art Chain (January 08, 2007)
    The Rock Arts Society of India (RASI) has claimed that Madhya Pradesh hosts the world’s longest rock art chain near Mandsaur district near Malwa for 12 kilometers (kms) with most of its petroglyphs intact.<More>

  • Child Trafficking Lacks Focus (December 28, 2006)
    Campaign Against Child Trafficking (CACT), an umbrella organization of various groups working on the issue of child rights protested against the Karnataka government’s lack of focus to stem trafficking in women and children.<More>

  • Indian Art in Beijing (December 28, 2006)
    For the first time and marking an end to India-China friendship year, India is showcasing 100 ancient antiquities of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain art dated from the 3rd Century BC to 18th Century AD in China and one of the largest show showcasing of heritage outside India.<More>

  • NCW Rejects Adultery Proposal (December 26, 2006)
    The National Commission on Women (NCW) citing social disempowered position of women, has reportedly recommended that a woman, even if she is involved in an illicit relationship, cannot be punished for adultery and be treated as the victim under law. It has asked the government not to amend Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).<More>

  • Massive Aid for J&K (December 26, 2006)
    The Prime Minister's Special task force on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has proposed a Rs 8,302-crore (USD 1.8 billion) aid package to develop that state and proposed another Rs. 200 crore (USD 43.47 million) to develop a satellite business city satellite business city..<More>

  • SC Criticizes Domestic Violence Bill (December 25, 2006)
    The Supreme Court severely criticized the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act for “clumsy” drafting of definition of terminology that could easily be exploited by some to appropriate property of a husband and his family.<More>
  • Tighter Child Marriage Laws (December 20, 2006)
    Minister for Women and Children said the new Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill 2006 has tighter regulations that would heap jail terms and fines on priests, police, and local leaders if they willfully permit child marriages.<More>
  • India Lost 10 Million Girls (December 15, 2006)
    A senior Indian official acknowledged a “national crisis” of parents in richer states choosing boys over girls using technology to identify and abort female fetuses resulting in the loss of 10 million girls in the last 20 years.<More>

  • Armed Forces Act Amendment (December 07, 2006)
    Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visiting Manipur said that his government will amend the Armed Forces Act withdrawing extraordinary provisions such as shoot-to-kill thus complying with demands made by many politicians of the North East (NE).<More>

  • Siddhu Guilty of “Culpable Homicide” (December 05, 2006)
    Former cricketer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Navjot Singh Sidhu was found guilty by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for his role in a road-rage incident resulting in the death of a middle-aged man in 1988.<More>

  • Federal Minister Convicted (November 29, 2006)
    Finding him guilty of conspiracy to kidnap and murder of a private secretary was allegedly demanded a cut in a large bribe transaction, a lower Delhi court convicted Federal Minister for Coal and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo Shibu Soren.<More>

  • Japan Loan for Buddhist Circuit (November 23, 2006)
    Japan and Singapore have offered the Bihar State Government loan of Rs. 5.8 billion (USD 126 million) to develop the cultural Buddhist circuit Nalanda-Bodhgaya-Rajgir as an international tourist destination.<More>

  • ASI to Reconstruct 843 Year Old Temple (November 21, 2006)
    The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is planning to start reconstruction of a 1000 pillared hall of a Kakatiya temple dedicated to Shiva build in 1163 A.D. by King Rudra Deva as its foundation was sinking.<More>

  • Pakistan Changes Hudood Ordinances (November 17, 2006)
    After years of global and national criticism over laws governing rape, Pakistan ’s National Assembly adopted the Women’s Protection Bill 2006 even as religious fundamentalists allege that the change will make the Islamic nation a “free sex zone.”<More>

  • Judiciary Accountability Law (November 13, 2006)
    The Federal Cabinet approved in principle to introduce a Judges (Inquiry) Bill 2006 aimed at making High Court (HC) and Supreme Court (SC) judges accountable for actions inconsistent with their position including corruption charges and incapacitation.<More>

  • Govt Survey Finds 41% OBC (November 07, 2006)
    The Government’s premier statistical body found that India has 41.1% population belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and not 52% as asserted by the Government wanting to create a vote-bank by granting them reservation in premier educational institutions.
    <More>

  • Marginal Press Freedom Improvement (October 30, 2006)
    The Paris-based “Reporters Without Borders” rated Indian press freedom marginally higher to 105 (from 106) in a list of 168 nations and most South Asian nations to pathetically low numbers while North Korea and Eritrea rated the worst.<More>

  • J&K Autonomy Working Group DoA? (October 27, 2006)
    The Hindu reported that the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Autonomy Working group promised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 5 months ago may be dead on arrival (DoA) because of a lack of suitable leadership to lead the group and procedural issues.<More>

  • SC Creamy Layer Definition (October 25, 2006)
    Introduced first in 1992 by the Supreme Court (SC), the creamy layer concept was defined as those who were children of the elite of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and has now been extended to cover those who are in the Scheduled Castes and Tribes too.
    <More>

  • SC Verdicts Cuts Up Political Plans (October 23, 2006)
    In far-reaching verdicts, the Supreme Court (SC) asked the Government for “compelling reasons” for including particular castes that are entitled for reservations and “quantifiable” data to retain those castes in the list has created churn in the caste-politics.<More>

  • Justice Vs Judiciary Vs Legislation (October 18, 2006)
    Conviction of rapists, murderers, and terrorists 10 years late and politically-motivated illegal cover-up commission, quota plans, and clemency for some facing death row raise numerous questions and concerns on the Indian democracy.<More>

  • UN Wants to Stop Violence against Women (October 12, 2006)
    A study sponsored by the UN Secretary General concluded that it has found “compelling evidence that violence against women (VAW) is severe and pervasive throughout the world” but there is no “knowledge base to inform police and strategy development.”<More>

  • Child Labor Law Becomes Active (October 10, 2006)
    Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cajoled, threatened, and entreated the nation to “stop employing children as workers and actively encourage them to join schools” and that “Firm action will be taken against those violating the law.”<More>

  • Quota Panel Report (October 09, 2006)
    The Oversight Committee submitted their proposals to the Federal Government proposing that the contentious 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) be reviewed in another 5 years and again after a decade to determine the relevance of the policy.<More>

  • Judiciary vs Legislature Judgment Reserved (October 03, 2006)
    The Supreme Court (SC) has reserved its verdict on cash-for-query (CFQ) case and the subsequent judgment will essentially define the scope of the judiciary over Legislature or over the Executive.<More>

  • SC Allows Haj Subsidy for This Year (September 28, 2006)
    While allowing the Government to continue with its Haj plans for lakhs of Muslim pilgrims this year, the Supreme Court (SC) questioned the Government’s continued “largesse” to one community while denying others of similar facilities.
    <More>

  • Child Labor Targets Missed, Enforcement Tightened (September 22, 2006)
    Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, has said that it will most likely miss child labor targets but has promised that the new federal law aiming to curtail this inhuman practice will be enforced strictly and more vigor<More>

  • Congress Expels Natwar’s Son (September, 07 2006)
    In a major blow to Natwar Singh’s hopes of rescue by the Gandhi family, the Congress Party expelled Natwar’s son Jagat Singh even as Jagat’s friend’s petition in the Supreme Court (SC) for absolution from Justice RS Pathak Inquiry commission’s indictment.<More>

  • Disappearances on Rise in South Asia (September, 06 2006)
    As nations of South Asia fight terrorism, Amnesty International (AI) says that “enforced disappearances” of people is growing and while “new patterns” are emerging from Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.<More>

  • Left Assault on EC (August 31, 2006)
    Bruised from stricter enforcement of electoral norms by the Election Commission in the recently concluded elections in West Bengal (WB), the Communist Party of India (Marxist)  have launched a campaign aimed at culling the EC’s authority and control.<More>

  • SC Panel to Examine Extra-Constitutional Legislation (August 31, 2006)
    The Supreme Court (SC) said that a 9-judge panel will examine extra-constitutional legislation through legislation under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution which makes these laws beyond judicial scrutiny and convenient politically motivated policies.<More>

  • ‘Cash-for-query’ MPs Pardoned? (August 23, 2006)
    Rendering its ire over corruption a sham, the Parliament is planning to pardon the 11 Members of Parliament (MP) suspended for taking cash to asking questions in the Parliament. <More>

  • SC Demands Identity of Person Withholding Pay (August 23, 2006)
    The Supreme Court (SC) rebuked the Federal Government in harshest terms over the non-payment of salaries to doctors who went on strike over the reservation quota issue and demand that the name of the individual stopping the payment be disclosed. <More>

  • Afghan Widows Prefer Suicide (August 22, 2006)
    A recent survey by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) found that 50,000 Afghan windows in Kabul prefer suicide to overcome the hardships they continue to face. <More>

  • Use Arbitration Mechanism to Limit RTI Disclosure (August 21, 2006)
    Capitulating to pressure from non-government groups that had political support from communist allies and opposition
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Federal Government has placed on hold its plan to amend the Right to Information Act (RTI). <More>

  • SC Stays TN Temple Ordinance (August 17, 2006)
    The Supreme Court (SC) has stayed a politically motivated ordinance by the Tamil Nadu (TN) Government that would allow it to appoint priests in temples without discrimination of caste, creed, custom, or usage. <More>

  • RTI Amendments Face Opposition (August 17, 2006)
    The opposition to proposed controversial amendments to The Right to Information (RTI) Act seems to have gained momentum with most political parties supporting efforts by political rights activists to stop dilution of the Act.<More>

  • The Hindu’s Dubious Survey Analysis (August 14, 2006)
    Left-leaning national and well-respected newspaper The Hindu, published a survey it conducted on national perception of Government performance with dubious analysis slanted to favor Sonia Gandhi and anti-National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
    <More>

  • Women Judges to Try Rape (August 09, 2006)
    A new legislation has been cleared by the Federal Cabinet that provides for rape victims to be tried by women judges, witnesses provided a protection program, and victims’ right to appeal against acquittal of the accused, and acceptance of video as evidence.
    <More>

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