The enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, 2002, since replaced by the Right to Information Act, 2005, is an important milestone in the citizen's struggle to secure information about the way he is governed. It has been a long and painful struggle and the state apparatus seems to have been embittered by it. Accustomed to operating under the protective shadows of the Official Secrets Act, it tends to regard the outcome as a major defeat, which has to be avenged in a million skirmishes wi... Read More

The enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, 2002, since replaced by the Right to Information Act, 2005, is an important milestone in the citizen's struggle to secure information about the way he is governed. It has been a long and painful struggle and the state apparatus seems to have been embittered by it. Accustomed to operating under the protective shadows of the Official Secrets Act, it tends to regard the outcome as a major defeat, which has to be avenged in a million skirmishes wi... Read More

Readers will recall Mr. Prashant Bhushan's article on the subject in the last issue of COMMON CAUSE. In their separate judgments, the two judges, who concurred in dismissing the petition of COMMON CAUSE on Road Safety Measures, expressed divergent views on the scope of public interest litigation and the capacity of the Court to give directions to the executive to subserve the public interest where the field meant for the legislature and the executive is left unoccupied. These pronouncement... Read More

eaders will please recall Dr B. P. Mathur's article of this title in the last issue of COMMON CAUSE and the reference made in the lead article to the PIL filed by the Public Cause Research Foundation on the subject in the Supreme Court. The matter came up for hearing on July 14, 2008 and after hearing the parties, the Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India decided to dismiss the petition. The Solicitor General of India, who put in an appearance on behalf of the Respondent, took the pl... Read More

Readers will recall that despite the categorical and time-bound directions given by the Supreme Court in its landmark judgment dated September 22, 2006 in "Prakash Singh, Common Cause and Another Vs Union Of India and Others" (2006(8) SCC1), the Union of India and most of the states have failed to comply with the letter and spirit of the orders of the Supreme Court. Mr. Prakash Singh, who has been spearheading the campaign for police reforms, has assiduously followed the developments i... Read More

G. C. Katoch, Life Member No. TLR- 4227 I think it is remarkable how (unexpectedly) well COMMON CAUSE has continued to perform since the passing away of Founder Director H. D. Shourie first with late P. K. Dave and now with Director K. K. Jaswal at the helm. Previously, the Common Cause quarterly magazine used to have a number of light-hearted or humorous anecdotes or snippets thrown in between solid articles, reproduction of writ petitions, etc. This served a serious purpose and we found ... Read More

The Supreme Court has provided some relief to senior citizens who are often refused renewal of their mediclaim policies by insurance companies, whether in the private sector or in the public sector, on the ground that they require frequent hospitalization, leading to higher reimbursement claims.  The nurse motioned to one of the expectant fathers and announced, "You have a son." Another man dropped his cigarette, jumped up and cried, "Say, what's the idea? I was here befo... Read More

1. Name:2. Father's name:3. Mother's name :4. Date of birth:5. Educational Qualification:6. Occupation:7. Permanent Address:8. Mailing Address:  8(a) Email ID :9. Next of kin (Name & Address):10. Membership sought. ( Tick any one block ):   Individual : Ordinary Life (with voting rights) (Rs.500/- p.a.) (Rs.2,500/-)   Associate : Ordinary Life (without voting rights) (Rs.100/- p.a.) (Rs.500/-) 11. Why do you wish to join COMMON CAU... Read More

Under the Rules & Regulations of COMMON CAUSE as amended by the Governing Council on March 8, 2007, The membership of the Society is open to individuals, irrespective of caste, creed or community. Organisations, which were members of the Society as on March 8, 2007, shall continue as Honorary members without voting rights.   The membership fee for new Individual members (with voting rights) is Rs.500 for one year and Rs.2,500 for life. New Associate members (without vo... Read More