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New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Democracy in danger under BJP rule, says Prashant Bhushan
BENGALURU: If a judge has a spine, comes from a minority community, or does not toe the BJP-RSS line, the current BJP-led government simply refuses to appoint them even when the Collegium reiterates the recommendation, said senior advocate and public interest lawyer at the Supreme Court, Prashant Bhushan, during a public talk organised by the All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ) on Saturday. Speaking on the theme of 'Judicial Accountability and Independence', Bhushan argued that the very foundation of constitutional democracy is under threat, as the judiciary, especially at the higher levels, is being systematically compromised by the executive. While the Constitution intended for the judiciary to be protected from legislative and executive pressure, Bhushan said this protection has failed in practice, particularly over the last decade. He recalled how the Supreme Court once limited the government's role in appointments through the Collegium system, but alleged that the BJP government has found ways to sabotage that very process. 'Whenever the Collegium recommends a name they don't like — someone too honest, too independent, or simply not aligned with their ideology — the government just sits on the file. They won't reject it, and they won't return it. They just keep it pending for years,' he said. Bhushan called this a direct attack on judicial autonomy. 'Sometimes, even when the Collegium reiterates the recommendation — which, as per the law, makes it binding — the government still refuses to issue the notification. The courts, meanwhile, are too timid to act,' he said.
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘At least 30 witnesses and 30 assailants': civil society groups release report on Mangaluru mob lynching
Civil society groups have released a 'fact-finding report' on an incident in which a mob beat a Kerala man to death in Mangaluru on April 27 claiming that he raised a pro-Pakistan slogan near a cricket field. The civil society groups, including the People's Union for Civil Liberties, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, and the All India Lawyers Association for Justice, released the report in Bengaluru on June 28. Alongside its findings, the 164-page report explains the background of the situation in Dakshina Kannada and includes a detailed timeline of the incident as well as testimonies from locals, those who knew the victim, and police officers. The report stated, 'This mob lynching did not happen in the wee hours of the night in stealth. Based on the testimonies, it is starkly clear that the mob lynching of Mohammed Ashraf took place in broad daylight with at least 30 witnesses and 30 people beating him to death. Those who undertook this lynching had no fear of consequences. They acted with absolute impunity as self-appointed vigilantes who are not held accountable either by law or the people.' Pointing out that it was not certain that Ashraf had actually raised slogans mentioning Pakistan as it might have been misinformation spread by the accused, the report went on to question whether this could at all be a justification for murder. Mavalli Sankar, convener of the Dr Ambedkar Dalitha Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkarvaada), stated that in such cases officials must at least visit families of the affected to ensure trust in the rule of law. He also highlighted a demand of the brother of Mohammed Ashraf, the victim, that this ought to be the last such lynching incident. According to Maitreyi Krishnan of the All India Lawyers Association for Justice, the incident was not a mere murder but a hate crime. She noted that in the Tehseen Poonawalla judgment, the Supreme Court had described hate crimes as a 'product of ideological dominance and prejudice which ought not to be tolerated, lest it result in a reign of terror'. The report said the local law enforcement agencies were not aware of the mandates of the Tehseen Poonawalla judgment.
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘At least 30 witnesses and 30 assailants': civil society groups release report on Manguluru mob lynching
Civil society groups have released a 'fact-finding report' on an incident in which a mob beat a Kerala man to death in Mangaluru on April 27 claiming that he raised a pro-Pakistan slogan near a cricket field. The civil society groups, including the People's Union for Civil Liberties, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, and the All India Lawyers Association for Justice, released the report in Bengaluru on June 28. Alongside its findings, the 164-page report explains the background of the situation in Dakshina Kannada and includes a detailed timeline of the incident as well as testimonies from locals, those who knew the victim, and police officers. The report stated, 'This mob lynching did not happen in the wee hours of the night in stealth. Based on the testimonies, it is starkly clear that the mob lynching of Mohammed Ashraf took place in broad daylight with at least 30 witnesses and 30 people beating him to death. Those who undertook this lynching had no fear of consequences. They acted with absolute impunity as self-appointed vigilantes who are not held accountable either by law or the people.' Pointing out that it was not certain that Ashraf had actually raised slogans mentioning Pakistan as it might have been misinformation spread by the accused, the report went on to question whether this could at all be a justification for murder. Mavalli Sankar, convener of the Dr Ambedkar Dalitha Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkarvaada), stated that in such cases officials must at least visit families of the affected to ensure trust in the rule of law. He also highlighted a demand of the brother of Mohammed Ashraf, the victim, that this ought to be the last such lynching incident. According to Maitreyi Krishnan of the All India Lawyers Association for Justice, the incident was not a mere murder but a hate crime. She noted that in the Tehseen Poonawalla judgment, the Supreme Court had described hate crimes as a 'product of ideological dominance and prejudice which ought not to be tolerated, lest it result in a reign of terror'. The report said the local law enforcement agencies were not aware of the mandates of the Tehseen Poonawalla judgment.
New Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Fact-finding report released on Mangaluru mob lynching
BENGALURU: A fact-finding report on the mob-lynching of Mohammed Ashraf at Kudupu, Mangaluru, titled 'Lost Fraternity: A mob lynching in broad daylight, A betrayal of the promise of the Constitution' was released. It was done by People's Union for Civil Liberties, Karnataka, All India Lawyers Association for Justice, Karnataka, and Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Karnataka. Mavalli Shankar, State Convenor, DSS (Ambedkarvada) pointed to the larger failure on part of the state administration in ensuring impartial investigations into incidents in the oppressed communities. He also added that in such cases, it is important that officials and elected representatives make a visit, at least to the family, to inspire public trust in the rule of law which has not happened in the case of Ashraf and killing of a Dalit. Advocate Vinay Sreenivasa said how bails have been granted to the accused on technical grounds which are indicative of the laxity displayed by the police. He also called on the state administration to organise a meeting with various civil society groups on how best to uphold law and order. He expressed his concerns over the governments' action of bringing new laws to counter hate and fake news.
