Referring to former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid withdrawing his bail plea in the Supreme Court in February in connection with the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, he said that it was done as "the lawyer knew the fate of that case."

The authorities who chose not to act despite knowing about the horrors in Manipur too are guilty, but who will hold them to account? 

We are reliving those sordid days of judges being superseded, which prompted the resignation of several Supreme Court judges 50 years ago. But now, it is happening at the high court level.

Recent developments suggest that the Collegium has decided to be more transparent than it has been in the past, which is very good. The government should also match that level of transparency.

Recent developments leave no doubt that with the exercise of naked power, the government is attempting to suborn the independence of the judiciary, a basic feature of the constitution and one of the pillars of democracy.

It is clear to see that Mohammed Zubair will be chased, humiliated and kept in confinement for one reason or another for as long as possible.

Quite clearly, the entire proceedings against Saibaba are null and void without the previous sanction to prosecute him. Despite this, the SC took the unprecedented step of suspending the Bombay HC order to discharge him.

Justice Lokur looks at how the Supreme Court has interpreted hate speech and the laws around it over the years, and why it is important to think about this question urgently and find solutions within the constitution.

How often are observations as strong as what we heard in this judgment made? The consequence was an activist's arrest in a city outside her normal place of residence.

Appointment and transfer of judges are now beyond the control of the collegium. It has been reduced to nothing more than a non-statutory body.

Yet we see inaction is condoned even if there is a loss of life – as happened in the Mundka fire – and high-handed action is acceptable even if it means loss of livelihood and shelter – as in the case of the Jahangirpur demolitions.

There are a few steps might mitigate the problems of millions of litigants.

When reparations are considered, we shouldn't overlook the impact of wrongful arrest and imprisonment manifesting as mental trauma in the acquitted and their families.

The entire episode leaves behind a feeling that Stan Swamy was virtually thrust a sentence of death without charges being framed against him and without a trial.

The process has shown scant respect for human rights, rule of law and justice.

The cases of Stan Swamy, K.R. Krishnam Raju and the Narada Scam accused are terrible aberrations that the judiciary must not tolerate or else personal liberty will become an alien concept.

Data shows that over the last 15 years, there has been an astounding increase of about 14.2 million cases pending in high courts and district courts – an increase of almost one million per year.

The 'powers that be' do not want an independent judiciary but should we let this happen? Is it in our interest to have a supine or subservient judiciary? I don’t think so.

The law is meant to provide justice and not harass citizens, and if it does so, it must be struck down or read down to a more pragmatic interpretation, as was done with cheque bouncing matters.

It is time for the establishment to realise that the people of this country mean well and as in any democracy, there are bound to be different points of view.