Firstly, the US does protect moral rights to a limited extent, through VARA. Secondly, and more importantly, should we base all law making only on economic rationales. What about morality? Fairness? Justice? Shouldn’t these be legitimate ends to be pursued by law and law making? Or should our lens be a predominant economic one, ala the US?

The Law and Other Things blog takes a look at the 3 Idiots copyright controversy.

The fact of the matter is, Bhagat is complaining that he did not get a proper story credit, but was mentioned only in the credits in the end. The fact of the matter also is, Chetan Bhagat is an MBA from India’s top school, and worked many years as an investment banker. And no matter what the other failings of i-bankers are, they are expected to understand contracts. To read and interpret contracts. And to realize, that if you are not happy with something in the contract, you don’t sign it.

Gaurav Sabnis takes a simpler stance and faults Chetan Bhagat for not ensuring he signed a stronger contract.

Joel Elliott, an American freelance journalist working as a “staff writer” at Caravan magazine in Delhi since May this year, has been the subject of a bizarre torture incident. According to a signed statement issued by Elliott, a recipient of the Payne Award for courage, he was assaulted by Delhi police personnel on the morning of October 6, allegedly for “trying to steal a taxi”, while in fact he was only seeking cover from the rampaging cops who were pounding some other person.

San Serif points us to a shocking torture incident of a U.S. journalist. Beware! Graphic pictures [via Gautam John on Twitter]

Section 377 may have been overthrown but Sam says that homophobia is still thriving. Coming out of the closet still isn’t as feasible when you consider the stigma that people still carry in their minds and the very real attacks on the gay community.

Last week in Delhi, an openly homosexual man was slashed by a guy representing a religious group, in front of everyone at a gay party. (You can read the write up of the victim’s partner here.) Even though homophobia was rampant in Indian society, the recent advancements in the gay rights movement has angered many and in turn raised this hatred to an entirely new level.

So the judgement has not come in your favour.
What can you do when the judge does not even taken notice of what you have put forth as evidence? There is just one paragraph in connection with the averments made by us. There is massive propaganda from the other side, that they are being harassed under 377. In my 35 years in the IPS I saw not a single case registered under 377 and no case of police harassment.

If it is not used what’s the point in having it?
It is a paper tiger. It inhibits people from freely becoming homosexuals.

Shivam Vij talks to Bharatendu Prakash Singhal, a retired IPS officer and a former BJP Rajya Sabha MP who is preparing to appeal against decriminalization of gay sex by the Delhi High Court in the Supreme Court.

I CAN SAFELY—and with some amount of pride— say that I belong to one of India’s most emancipated and socio-economically advanced communities. As a Parsi, especially one born and bred in South Bombay (most Indian Parsis live in Bombay, and…

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The reporter reports whatever the cop says. The entire report is based on opinion. One cop’s opinion. No doctors are quoted. Further details of the post-mortem report are not revealed. The girl’s family is not quoted, not even with reference to the child’s history of heart disease.

Annie reveals the horrific negligence of duty, ethics, and good ‘ol journalism in the story of seven-year-old girl found dead inside a politician’s car.

Shilpa Phadke, Anjali Monteiro and K P Jayasankar ask why the reportage of the recent sexual assault of a young woman plumbs new depths in insensitive, unethical and sleazy journalism.
THE PRINT MEDIA has, on many occasions, been a good friend…

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THE PEOPLE’S Union for Civil Liberties, Karnataka (PUCL-K), has put together a very comprehensive report on Cultural Policing in Dakshin Kannada. The fact-finding team (which included our contributor Usha BN) traveled to Mangalore and conducted extensive interviews with key groups,…

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Popularly known as the Anti-Defection Law, the Tenth Schedule was written into the Constitution by the government of Rajiv Gandhi in 1985. The schedule mandates the disqualification from parliament of any member who votes against his party’s whip. Supported by many Indians, this law was originally conceived to control rampant defections by members of India’s parliament and state assemblies in order to save or bring down governments.

Why are Indian elections so different from rest of the world? Kunal points to the Anti-Defection Law and its consequences, intentional or not.

By Maraa
Seven attacks in the last ten days! In response to the recent attacks against women in the city of Bangalore, many individuals and organisations have come together to form FEARLESS KARNATAKA or Nirbhaya Karnataka to reclaim public spaces and…

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