MP Police Treat Reading Political Ideology as Evidence of Crime
Madhya Pradesh Police have cited books on fascism and communism as evidence in a chargesheet against a youth collective founder accused of hurting religious sentiments. If political literature can be treated as criminal evidence, then any citizen engaging with dissenting ideas risks being branded a threat to public order.
Judge With Civil Rights Record Shifted to Lower Rank After Govt Request
The Supreme Court collegium has reportedly altered its earlier recommendation on the transfer of Justice Atul Sreedharan, a senior High Court judge known for pro-civil rights rulings, following a request from the Union government. This suggests that the judiciary’s internal decisions remain vulnerable to executive pressure, and the collegium has willingly accommodated that pressure rather than defending its own independence.
Ladakh Protest Curbed by Internet Ban and Police Deployment
A planned silent march by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Oct. 18 was blocked in Leh, Ladakh, by police deployment and a mobile internet shutdown. In a democracy, a demand for statehood and constitutional safeguards must be heard, not silenced.
Is Uttar Pradesh’s Crackdown on ‘I Love Muhammad’ Just and Wise?
Uttar Pradesh has launched a series of criminal and administrative actions after banners reading “I Love Muhammad” appeared during a Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur. Following complaints that the banners had been placed in new locations and that some other posters were allegedly removed, police registered FIRs, made arrests and moved to demolish properties linked to those accused. The government’s response raises serious concerns about proportionality, neutrality and wisdom in governance.
Punjab’s Anti-Sacrilege Bill Could Trigger Repression, Violence: Former Civil Servants
A group of 79 retired civil servants has raised alarm over a draft law in Punjab that seeks to criminalise sacrilege, warning that it could open the door to repression, religious strife, and misuse of power. In a joint letter, they urged the state’s legislature to scrap the proposed Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Act, 2025 entirely.
Supreme Court to Review UAPA Bail Denials in Delhi Riots Case
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether several individuals accused in the 2020 Delhi riots “conspiracy” case, including Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, who have been in jail for over three years, should be granted bail. The Court will examine how the right to liberty should be upheld in the face of serious criminal allegations, especially under laws like the UAPA that impose strict limits on bail.
Uttar Pradesh’s Ban on Caste-Based Gatherings Could Silence the Marginalised
The Uttar Pradesh government has issued a directive banning caste-based political rallies, describing it as a step to preserve national unity and public order. However, the measure restricts democratic rights for communities that depend on public assembly to resist caste discrimination. It also represents a significant expansion of state power in ways that appear aligned with political interests.
New Rajasthan Bill Creates Unequal Rules for Religious Conversion
The Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025, on Sept. 9. One of its most troubling features is how it redefines religious conversion, saying that returning to one’s “ancestral religion” is not considered a conversion at all. This definition, also found in similar laws in other states, creates an uneven legal standard that protects some religious identities while exposing others to state scrutiny, criminal charges and harsh punishment.
New Maharashtra Law May Allow State to Declare Any Group ‘Unlawful’
Maharashtra has passed a new law that grants sweeping powers to the state to outlaw organisations and criminalise various forms of dissent. While presented as a response to Left-wing extremism, the law signals a deeper shift in how the state defines threat, power, and democratic opposition.
Uttarakhand Targets ‘Fake Sadhus,’ Risking State Overreach into Religious Identity
The Uttarakhand government has launched Operation Kalanemi, a state-wide police campaign to identify individuals posing as saints and Kanwariyas. The stated aim is to preserve the religious and cultural sanctity of the state. This raises a serious constitutional concern, because it suggests the government is stepping into the role of deciding who counts as a legitimate religious figure, a function it has no authority to perform in a secular democracy.
ED Summons Lawyers for Giving Legal Advice to Accused
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently summoned two senior advocates over legal opinions given to a client under investigation, then withdrew the summons following widespread criticism from legal bodies across India for violating attorney-client privilege and undermining the independence of the legal profession. The move also suggests that once the ED opens an investigation, legal advice given to the accused itself becomes grounds for suspicion.