As the UPA Government settles down to the business of governance in its second term, there are competing demands for its mindshare. While the neoliberals, emboldened by the UPA’s parting of ways with the Left, are pushing for big ticket economic reforms, the champions of grand pro-poor interventions, who ascribe the UPA electoral gains to such initiatives during the UPA’s Government’s first term, are pressing for another round of populist measures. Hopefully, the Government wil... Read More

Common Cause has always believed that police reforms constitute the spearhead of the campaign for governance reforms. The common man has to interact with the police on a daily basis in the course of carrying out his multifarious activities. He also looks up to the police for ensuring the security of his life and property and upholding the rule of law. One would readily agree that the common man’s interaction with the police is far from satisfactory and that his expectation of protection of... Read More

Recognizing that it is the inalienable duty of the state to preserve the rule of law and provide internal security and easy access to effective criminal justice to all its citizens, we commit ourselves to a comprehensive programme of reforms aimed at transforming the police into a truly independent, citizen friendly public service. The reform agenda will comprise the following measures, which will be given a statutory backing by enacting a new police law for contemporary needs within the next tw... Read More

* Anumeha Jha Criminalization of politics has greatly vitiated the socio-political fabric of our country. Elections in the world’s largest democracy have been attracting an ever larger number of criminal elements and this trend is discernible across all political parties. It is ironical that while Indian citizens have the power to change their government democratically, they have not been able to stem the criminalization of politics and the consequent erosion of civil liberties. Despite... Read More

*Lalit Mathur An interesting issue arises from the recent controversies regarding the performance of the judiciary. What happens when the court itself appears to come in the way of dispensing justice? Does contempt of justice constitute contempt of court – since the court exists essentially for the dispensation of justice? According to the law of the land, of course. My grandfather retired from the Supreme Court in the mid sixties after having spent thirty years pronouncing judgment... Read More

*Kavitha Chalakkal “Thirty years ago, modern health technology had just awakened and was full of promise. Since then, its expansion has surpassed all dreams, only to become a nightmare. For it has become over sophisticated and over costly. It is dictating our health policies unwisely, and what is being useful is applied to too few.” - Dr. Halfdran Mahler, Director General, WHO (1973- 1988). The impact of the intellectual property regime and practices on the health of poor ... Read More

* Narendra Ahuja Every now and then, you see on the TV heart-rending images of the widows of victims of terrorist attacks in New York , Mumbai, Delhi, London and elsewhere They tell stories of untold hardships, of coping with shattered lives and confused, upset children and of impending financial distress at a time when their grief makes it difficult to complete the most ordinary tasks, let alone sort out the estates of their husbands. Fortunately, there was no dearth of volunteers to help s... Read More

As indicated in the report on the above subject published in the January-March 2009 issue of this journal, an affidavit has been filed on behalf of Mrs. Sangeeta Srivastava in pursuance of the order of the Delhi High Court dated November 4, 2008. In her affidavit, which is reproduced below, Mrs. Srivastava has narrated the circumstances of her victimization by the management of Arun Modern Public Sr. Secondary School, Brijpuri, Delhi. The school is managed by Mr. Bhisham Sharma, who was a member... Read More

‘Commonwealth Games: Citizens for Workers, Women & Children’, Common Cause has been striving to ameliorate the condition of construction workers in Delhi. The latest bulletin of the coalition, which is reproduced below, provides an update on the ongoing struggle for securing their right to work in conditions of dignity and safety. -Editor ... 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... Read More