The terrorist strike in Mumbai was a grim reminder of the failure of our rulers to learn from their past mistakes. In 1993, consignments of arms and explosives used in the serial blasts in Bombay were smuggled from Pakistan by the coastal route due to the negligence or connivance of the central and state agencies responsible for surveillance and security. The operation, designed to exacerbate the communal tensions in the country and deal a body blow to its economy, was carried out by a local m... Read More

The terrorist strike in Mumbai was a grim reminder of the failure of our rulers to learn from their past mistakes. In 1993, consignments of arms and explosives used in the serial blasts in Bombay were smuggled from Pakistan by the coastal route due to the negligence or connivance of the central and state agencies responsible for surveillance and security. The operation, designed to exacerbate the communal tensions in the country and deal a body blow to its economy, was carried out by a local maf... Read More

In our April-June 2008 issue, we had reproduced the writ petition that Janhit Manch, Common Cause and others had filed in the Supreme Court with a view to setting in motion the process of comprehensive judicial reforms. The petition was taken up in April 2008 when notice was issued to the Union of India to file its reply. Nine months have elapsed, but the Union of India has not responded. The case is now listed for February 9, 2009. Hopefully, we shall then come to know the Government’s re... Read More

* Sarvesh Sharma Corruption, like water, travels from the highest point to the lowest level. Hence, to understand the gravity of the present situation in our country, the study of corruption must start from the top, viz. political corruption. The current article looks into need based and greed based political corruption. Future issues of this journal would cover corruption in other spheres of the State namely, the nonpolitical executive and the judiciary. Finally, we would consider an action ... Read More

The readers of this journal may recall the article published in its July-November 2007 issue on the exploitation of private school teachers in Delhi and the order passed by the High Court of Delhi on May 9, 2007 regarding compliance of Section10 of the Delhi Schools Education Act, 1973 in the writ petition filed by Common Cause. Even after this order, complaints of exploitation of private school teachers persisted and as per the directions of the High Court, Common Cause forwarded two specific c... Read More

The ever changing skyline of Delhi is an indication of the frenetic construction activity in the National Capital Territory. Major sporting events, such as the Asian Games of 1982, give an impetus to the construction activity, thanks to a massive investment in sports facilities and support infrastructure, as well as in new hotels, upgradation of transport networks, airport modernization and expansion of public utilities. In the run up to the Commonwealth Games slated for October 2010, Delhi will... Read More

In today’s dog-eat-dog world, our senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to the designs of those who covet their assets accumulated through the sacrifices made over their working lives. They could be at risk from their own kith and kin, servants, business associates, neighbours or professional criminals. In this article, an attempt has been made to outline the measures that the elderly may take to mitigate the risk. These measures would help them in safeguarding their life and propert... Read More

We could not resist the temptation to publish in its entirety the following letter from one of our members because of the originality of his views on the root causes of the rampant corruption in our political system. He has analysed the problem from a novel frame of reference, challenging many a dictum sacred to our legal luminaries and constitutional experts. - Editor Wg Cdr H P Misra (Retd) Life Membership No. TLR-3850, Tele : 09336131891 ‘Anand-Varsha’ MID-22... Read More

To All Members of COMMON CAUSE, The Annual General Meeting of COMMON CAUSE Society will be held in COMMON CAUSE HOUSE, located at 5, Institutional Area, Nelson Mandela Road, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110 070, on March 14, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. Agenda will be as follows: Consideration of Annual Report and adoption of the Annual Accounts alongwith the Auditors Report for the year 2007-2008. Appointments of Auditors for the year 2008-2009. Activities and Programmes. Elections It ... Read More

During the year under report, the Society continued to pursue the ideas of the founder Director, Mr. H. D. Shourie, ventilate the common problems of the people and secure redress for them. A determined effort was made during the year to forge issue-based alliances with civil society organizations sharing the ethos of the Society in order to further objectives such as openness in government, transparency in appointments to high public offices, empowerment of Panchayati Raj institutions and stream... Read More