Articles

CRITICISING A GOVT OR ITS POLICIES ISN'T SEDITIOUS: SC

Our PIL on sedition was taken up by  the Supreme Court on September 5, 2016. It  passed an order stating that  in their considered opinion the authorities while dealing with the offences under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code shall be guided by the principles laid down by the Constitution Bench in Kedar Nath Singh vs. State of Bihar [1962 (Suppl.) 3 SCR 769]. As per the...Read More


PETITION ON SEDITION BY COMMON CAUSE

There has been an increase in the number of cases of sedition against intellectuals, activists, students, with the latest being the sedition charge on Amnesty India for organizing a debate on Kashmir. In this regard, a petition has been filed by us in the Supreme Court to address the misuse and misapplication of Section 124A (sedition law) by the Centre and various State Government leading to...Read More


VISITORS’ LOGS GENUINE- SC

A contention made by Common Cause that former Central Bureau of Investigation Director Mr. Ranjit Sinha’s meetings with the accused may have influenced and possibly subverted the agency’s investigation into coal scam case, has been vindicated after the visitor diaries at his official residence have been found to be genuine by a Supreme court-appointed high level committee headed...Read More


MISUSE OF ELECTION SYMBOL

    The Delhi High Court, on a Common Cause petition,“requested” the Election Commission to issue guidelines within three months to prevent political parties from misusing public places & public funds to propagate their symbols/ leaders and suggested de-recognition if they violated norms. The court said it was necessary for “conducting free, fair and peaceful...Read More


RIGHT TO DIE WITH DIGNITY

Hearing a Common Cause writ petition, a five-judge Constitution bench felt prolonging a patient's life by putting him on ventilator or life support system against his will could amount to torture of the patient and be financially draining for his family, according to media reports. After nearly eighteen months, the matter came up before a Constitutional Bench on January 15, 2016. The...Read More


COLLEGIUM SYSTEM - CIVIL SOCIETY SUBMISSIONS

Common Cause, in consultation with Vidhi Centre of Legal Policy and Inclusive Media for Change has put forth suggestions for improvement of the Collegium System for appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the High Courts. The suggestions were given a final shape after a brainstorming session held on November 10, 2015 at the India International Centre in which several of India’s...Read More


CVC SELECTION CHALLENGED

Common Cause and many renowned citizens have filed a PIL challenging the arbitrary appointments of India's new Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioner as illegal and void, and violative of the principles of 'impeccable integrity' and 'institutional integrity' laid down by the Apex Court in the landmark Vineet Narain Vs Union of India case of 1998. The...Read More


BIGWIGS' CONTEMPT OF COURT

Common Cause has filed a contempt petition against the State Govts of UP, TN & Delhi for publishing public-funded advertisements in violation of the letter and spirit of the Apex Court's guidelines regarding large scale advertisements. The Court on May 13, 2015, had inter alia banned images of politicians in ads at the taxpayer's expense, except for the PM, President, & the CJI,...Read More


END ELECTROCUTION DEATHS

Common Cause has filed a PIL in Delhi High Court to seek directions to end recurring deaths of innocent citizens due to electrocution, especially during the monsoon. The PIL highlights the sorry state of electric poles/ wires and the callous attitude of the distribution companies (discoms). The PIL seeks to safeguard the Constitutional Right to Life and to make the state agencies & discoms...Read More