Missing the mark

AFTER a delay of almost two decades and a few false starts, the National Assembly and the Senate have both passed the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Bill, which, at the time of writing, was awaiting presidential assent. It is important that the president not rush into signing it.

Meghalaya Police Accountability Commission: Starting on the Wrong Foot

Shillong, March 22: The newly constituted Police Accountability Commission of Meghalaya not only contravenes existing legal standards but also defies common sense. This body was created as eyewash and given its flawed composition, will probably fail.

Making our secrets public

The Right to Information Act (RTIA), which turns seven tomorrow, is a remarkable piece of legislation. It is lauded regularly at the international level where India has to frequently deflect attacks on its human rights records, un-progressive voting patterns and appalling social indicators.

Long, long rope for Lanka

The Commonwealth secretariat recently confirmed that Colombo will be the venue for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting due to happen at the end of 2013.

Let's regulate police powers to use guns

Police reforms have been in the spotlight in the last few months. News items and reports have stressed the dire need for the fast and effective implementation of the police reforms, particularly in relation to reducing police shootings and torture.

J & K Needs Immediate Police Reforms - Problems in policing arise from uncertain delineation of powers and political interference

The debate around police reform for years has revolved around on how to satisfactorily separate police functioning from undue and illegitimate political control and yet keep the police wholly accountable to civilian authority.

How the RTI Amendment Bill was stopped

It is indeed “Sweet September” for an enthusiast of Right to Information. The struggle and sustained advocacy paid off when the government decided to refer the RTI amendment bill to the parliamentary standing committee on personal, public grievances, law and justice.

Foreign & Forgotten

Afghan national Meer Vize, 65, has been a prisoner in India since 1999. His 12-year sentence in Jodhpur Central Prison on conviction of a drug-related offence was extended when he could not pay the accompanying fine.

Extra-judicial killing: Strong Police Complaints Commission needed

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) is powerful. And, though the saying goes that with great power comes great responsibility, this is not the case with Rab. Officers have been accused of human rights violations and the use of excessive force, and most importantly, for extrajudicial killings.

Every suspicious death must be investigated

A family is grieving and looking for answers, thousands of people are protesting on the streets of Kolkata and Delhi, and the Opposition is up in arms over the tragic death of student leader Sudipta Gupta in police custody. The Kolkata Police is trotting out its own dubious version of events.