Legal Notes - July 2019

In this issue

Does a track record of only four death penalties since the inscription of the Constitution of India create the fear of the law in the eyes of the citizens? While countries across the world are banning this form of punishment, why is India still practicing it? With figures nowhere near the countries that give out the death penalty, is it time to question the validity of such sentences? But then how would a balance be maintained in providing justice to a victim's family and the collective conscience of a society? The cover story in the July issue of Legal Notes presents these and many other complex issues giving a complete scenario about the death penalty in India. In addition, a PIL has been filed for the protection of endangered lions dying unnatural deaths in the Gir sanctuary. Legal Notes traces this PIL and another filed last year (for elephants), giving a perspective on the inhumane approach used by authorities in "protecting" these endangered species. On the international front, California passed a new act that prohibits discrimination based on hair and the Pakistan judiciary is going through its déjà vu moment where a reference has been made against the proposed Chief Justice of Pakistan. Plus all the regular features.

No Fishy Business

Belief, they say, moves mountains or in this case cures asthma. The annual Fish Prasadam jamboree in Hyderabad – that has been going on for the last 174 years – attracts asthmatic patients in thousands from all over the world. Legal Notes peeps in to provide a low-down on the hugely popular ‘fishy business’.

1 min

Full-Stop To Toothless Death Penalty?

The one question that troubles law-makers and law-enforcers alike is: death or life imprisonment. While law-makers often hesitate and ponder before passing the final sentence, human rights activists and pacifists simply say no to the death sentence. Shweta Menon presents the views of the two sides and wants you to take a stand.

10+ mins

No Kingdom For Lions

A new in the list of PILs seeking to address and act on the issues of wildlife conservation is the one filed by wildlife activist Biren Pandya. This time it is for the protection of Asiatic lions. With the primary concern being around their unnatural deaths, the PIL finds resonance with a similar one filed last year for elephants. But the question that one needs to ask is where are we headed with these individual PILs and suo moto cases, if all that is being done on the ground is the shooting of these animals to drive them away.

7 mins

Auditing The Auditors

Chartered accountants and auditing firms in the country – especially the big four – are in the spotlight for their transgressions that have largely gone unnoticed. Now that the government has introduced the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) under the Companies Act, 2013, CA firms and CAs can be investigated. A special report on the government's determination to hold auditors accountable and the tightening of the regulatory framework.

10+ mins

That's Life - But It Could Be Much Better

If Delhi is there, Paris is not far behind! In a first, a French court has faulted the country over air pollution.

1 min

Fixing The Judiciary, Pak Style

Pakistan’s judicial community is up in arms against what could best be described as a government-judiciary stand-off, where Justice Qazi Faez Isa, one of its most cited judges – and slated to take over as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 2023 – is being hounded by the government and the army. His crime: Delivering independent judgements and remarks in cases against the government and the powerful army.

5 mins

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Legal Notes Magazine Description:

Legal Notes, the latest addition in the Newsline Publications group, proposes to bring a fresh perspective to legal issues.
On any given day, there could be 40 different items in the news with respect to courts – right down from the Supreme Court to the district court on a range of issues from Blue Whale to NEET to Love Jihad and Blackberry messages. It’s as bewildering as it is exhilarating. In fact, it’s liberating that in this democracy of ours we have the ability to debate agree or dissent as we continue our march onwards.
Legal Notes will seek to assess, analyse, debate and dissect how the business of law impacts our lives in a hundred different ways. LN hopes to record the business of law each month for your reading pleasure.