IN JUNE 1975, soon after the Emergency was imposed, a young student activist in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, participated in a public meeting where he spoke in favour of civil liberties. The youth’s father, afraid that his son would be arrested, asked him to leave for his maternal aunt’s house and gave him 010 for the journey. He hitched a ride on a truck for part of the way and then walked all night to reach his aunt’s home.
The student leader has come a long way and is the new chief justice of India. Justice N.V. Ramana, who recounted the anecdote at a book launch a few months ago, said he felt his father should have given him more money. On a more serious note, he said excesses like the Emergency impact generations. Ramana lost an academic year because of it, but he said he had no regrets as he had seen many youngsters sacrificing their lives to protect human rights.
As Ramana takes over as CJI on April 24, he comes with the reputation of having given the utmost importance to civil liberties and fundamental rights. This reputation is justified by his judgments. In the order lifting the internet ban that was imposed on Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370, he said that “access to the internet is a fundamental right by extension”.
A bench headed by Ramana also said that governments must ensure that the press was allowed to do its job freely, and that freedom of speech and expression included the right to disseminate information to as wide a section of the population as possible. In another judgment, the court held that even when a stringent law like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was applied, the accused could get bail when there was no likelihood of trial being completed within a reasonable time.
Denne historien er fra May 02, 2021-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 02, 2021-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict