Category: Human Rights
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Should Prisoners Have A Right to Vote?
In response to a public interest litigation, Delhi High Court in Praveen Kumar Chaudhary v. Election Commission of India has reaffirmed that prisoners do not have a right to vote, thereby upholding the constitutional validity of Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act 1951.[i] WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? Section 62(5) of the…
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Guardians of Law Goring Human Rights to Death: A tale of Encounter killings and Custodial Deaths
Introduction “If the custodians of law themselves indulge in committing crimes then no member of the society is safe and secure. If police officers that have to provide security and protection to the citizens indulge in such methods they are creating a sense of insecurity in the minds of the citizens. It is more heinous than…
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The Plight of Transgender Civil Rights Violations in the United States
(On June 12, the Federal Government released a set of guidelines that would repeal an Obama-era rule that forbids discrimination against patients who are transgender or have previously endured an abortion. It is one of many rules and regulations set forth by the Federal Government that delineates “sex discrimination” as only applying when someone faces discrimination for being…
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Can India Draw a Parallel from Costa Rica’s Affirmation on Marriage Equality?
In a recent progressive judgment, the Supreme Court of Costa Rica has legalized same-sex marriages. This decision can be perceived as a model for social inclusion which caters to the needs and desires of the sexual minorities. It has the potential to encourage other democratic countries to affirm the spirit of marriage equality. The question…
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Transgender Bill 2019: A Mockery of the Right to Self-perceived Gender Identity
“Recognition of one’s gender identity lies at the heart of the fundamental right to dignity. Gender, as already indicated, constitutes the core of one’s sense of being as well as an integral part of a person’s identity. Legal recognition of gender identity is, therefore, part of the right to dignity and freedom guaranteed under our…
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Vishakhapatnam Gas Tragedy: Are gas leaks making human rights bleak?
“Damage to the environment can impair and undermine all the human rights spoken of in the Universal Declaration and other human rights instruments.” – Judge Weeramantry, the International Court of Justice. INTRODUCTION On 7th May 2020, a major gas leak tragedy took place in LG Polymers Chemical Plant in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The incident evoked…