With over three-quarters of India’s prison population awaiting trial and thousands more languishing behind bars after completing their sentences, the country’s jails reveal a harsh truth—in India, freedom often depends not on guilt or innocence, but on the ability to pay
Last week, the Supreme Court quoted “inexplicable delays” in disposal of cases, of which a majority are to do with absence of counsel. This is a chronic problem and one that the judiciary needs to control with a firmer hand
From Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Karan Johar, India’s biggest names are battling a new villain—AI-enabled deepfakes. Their courtroom fights highlight how technology is outpacing the law in protecting celebrity identity and dignity
After the sudden death of billionaire entrepreneur Sunjay Kapur last June, his widow, Priya Sachdev Kapur, is embroiled in a high-profile legal battle over his estate. The case has been filed by his ex-wife Karisma Kapoor’s children, Samaira and Kiaan, with their mother, acting as legal guardian. They, along with Sunjay’s mother and sister, have raised questions about the authenticity of his will
The extraordinary saga of whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi and a string of judicial recusals exposes a widening faultline in India’s legal system—where silence over reasons for stepping aside raises more questions than answers
The recent elevation of three High Court judges to the Supreme Court restored the apex court’s full strength of 34 judges, but it also reignites debate over how the Collegium applies its own criteria—seniority, merit, integrity, diversity, and fairness—in practice
Six decades after it was officially banned in India, the spectre of dowry still hangs over many corners of the country. Last week, a 28-year-old woman living less than an hour from the nation’s capital was burnt alive, allegedly by her husband and mother-in-law, over an additional dowry demand. Such cases are reported with alarming frequency, laying bare one of Indian society’s gravest failings
The Latin term meaning “on its own motion”, refers to a court or other authority taking action without a formal request or petition from a party involved. In essence, it means the entity is acting on its own initiative. The judiciary has not hesitated to act on its own when it sees an issue involving public interest or individuals being wronged
With over five crore cases pending across Indian courts—including three dating back to 1952—the crisis has reached staggering proportions, eroding trust in governance and the rule of law
From plane crashes to soldiers’ families, National Legal Services Authority’s efforts reveal both the reach and the limitations of India’s constitutional commitment to equal access to justice