The new PKK: unleashing a social revolution in Kurdistan
Excerpts In his years in solitary confinement, running the PKK behind bars as his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, Abdullah Öcalan adopted a form of libertarian socialism so obscure that few anarchists have even heard of it: Bookchin’s libertarian municipalism. Öcalan further modified, rarefied and rebranded Bookchin’s vision as “democratic confederalism,” with the consequence … Continue reading
“Redundant Laws” by VakilNo1
Source: VakilNo1 (http://goo.gl/e4NJqm) The scrapping of the concurrent list will cut down on a number of areas where State legislation, often a carbon copy of the Central Act, exist only to confuse matters. It will also clearly demarcate areas for State governance and lay down uniform rules in the rest for all states to follow … Continue reading
“Redundant Laws” by VakilNo1
Source: VakilNo1 (http://goo.gl/e4NJqm) Even after law sees the light of day, it may remain on paper due to lack of clarity in applicability. The Hire-Purchase Act of 1972, never metamorphosed into an Act. For a Bill to become an Act, it must be passed by both Houses of Parliament, but this was passed by only … Continue reading
“Redundant Laws” by VakilNo1
Source: VakilNo1 (http://goo.gl/e4NJqm) There’s a lot of repetitive legislation in India, thanks to the Concurrent List which allows laws to exist at the Central as well as the State level separately. The Indian Stamp Act or the General Court Fees Act, of which every state has individual versions. Each state also has its own civil … Continue reading
“Redundant Laws” by VakilNo1
Source: VakilNo1 (http://goo.gl/e4NJqm) By refusing to change with the times, these laws also bar the ordinary citizen’s access to justice or even right to normal behavior. Only rape is jailable offence, not sexual molestation. The Lunacy Act takes a harmless epileptic to be the same as a certified lunatic. Poor, homeless person are often harassed … Continue reading
“Redundant Laws” by VakilNo1
Source: VakilNo1 (http://goo.gl/e4NJqm) Some laws also infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens. Under section 14 of the Hindu Marriage Act, a couple cannot get a divorce within one year of the marriage, even if one of the parties is found to be insane or a warranted criminal. Even in case of divorce by mutual … Continue reading
“Redundant Laws” by VakilNo1
Source: VakilNo1 (http://goo.gl/e4NJqm) There are even laws, which go against constitutional provisions. For instance, one can prove that the economic reforms are actually against the Indian Constitution. Article 39 of the Directive Principles opposes polices that raise disparities in income and wealth. Therefore reforms, or for that matter, any policy statement, can be stayed on … Continue reading
“Redundant Laws” by VakilNo1
Source: VakilNo1 (http://goo.gl/e4NJqm) There are some laws, which are so detrimental to economic liberalization that without a wide-ranging and comprehensive change program, the entire reform process may collapse. One of these is the Agricultural and Ceiling Act, which permits non-resident Indians to invest in agriculture but does not permit absentee cultivation of holdings. By discouraging … Continue reading
“Redundant Laws” by VakilNo1
Source: VakilNo1 (http://goo.gl/e4NJqm) (a) Natural reasons- the passage of time, change of situation, over-exploitation of loopholes. The Police Act, 1861, still requires a policeman to take off his cap or helmet before a member of royalty. A ridiculous provision that nobody has thought of removing so far. The Indian Contract Act and the Specific Relief … Continue reading
‘The Flaws In Our Laws’ By Dr Bibek Debroy | Absurdities Of Indian Laws – Part I
Originally posted on Scribble and Scrawl:
? On rare occasions, it happens that a person can dig into a complex topic with remarkable ease and make perfect sense to a diverse group of listeners, while capturing their attention all along and making the subject exceptionally interesting. Dr Bibek Debroy is certainly one of those people blessed with…
Anarchy India 