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Markandey Katju

Markandey Katju

Former Judge, Supreme Court of India

mkatju@gmail.com

Former Judge, Supreme Court of India and former Chairman, Press Council of India.

By Markandey Katju

Five Points on Triple Talaq: Critics like Arfa Khanum Sherwani opposing Triple Talaq Bill have no real ground

Instant divorce among Muslims is a barbaric practice that's been effectively banned. Naysayers to the Triple Talaq Bill have no real stand, except for an apparent dislike of the BJP.

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Ban Fatwas - These have no place in a secular, modern state

The latest fatwa against MP Nusrat Jahan shows why it is imperative to come down heavily on these despicable judgements.

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Why I think Pakistan was, is and will always remain a terrorist state

Just establishing terror camps and sending jihadis to India isn't terrorism. Terrorising a section of your own people is also terrorism. And Pakistan, by its very nature, cannot stop doing that.

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Seven Reasons Why Asaduddin Owaisi is wrong on Triple Talaq

Mr Owaisi's arguments do not hold real ground. As I see it, if he was really concerned about the plight of Muslim women, he would support the govt's Bill against Triple Talaq.

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Muslim 'protests' too little, too late: What were ‘prominent’ Bengali Muslims doing before Lok Sabha polls 2019?

The letter written by ‘prominent’ Bengali Muslims to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee only highlights their silence in several earlier cases.

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Gone with the icy wind: Four reasons why Kashmiri Pandits will never return to Kashmir

The sanctimony around 'the return of the Kashmiri Pandits' is just that: sanctimony. The locals are actually not unhappy they left. And the KPs, who know this, know they cannot return.

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Silver lining: The one way Indian Muslims have benefited under right-wing rule

Their political marginalisation has helped them realise, and fight, the isolationalism clerics and others subjected them to.

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Yogendra Yadav's La-La Land gambit

His latest pronouncement shows the unbearable lightness of being an academic in politics.

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There is nothing wrong about Justice Kurian Joseph speaking his mind now

Don't shove judicial corruption under the carpet. It's been done long enough, with terrible results.

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Why I say to Pakistanis, hum Hindostani bilkul tum jaise nikle

With our continuing communalism, violence and superstition, we are no better at all than our neighbour.

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Why I think modern Hindi literature looks woefully poor before Urdu

At a literary gathering, I expressed my disappointment with Hindi. Instead of positive engagement, my views caused a furore.

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Why not smash the myths around 'Brahminical patriarchy' first?

Twitter head Jack Dorsey held up a 'Smash Brahminical Patriarchy' placard. How accurate even is he?

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Indian liberals and their illiberal ignorance

Intellectuals are meant to fearlessly question and critique everything. In India, they are seen doing the opposite.

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Eight steps to a revolution that can clean up the mess India is in right now

We must work for reunification of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh under a secular government.

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Shashi Tharoor at sea: The 'liberal intellectual' falters on Sabarimala 

His latest argument shows the Congress politician cares more for vote banks, and less for logic.

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Why the judiciary needs to stop legislating

If judges are free to make laws, it would go against the principle of separation of powers.

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Why I think Nehru fans and Modi bhakts are really the same

Both claim to be at opposite ends. But when it comes to ignoring what's holding India back, they unite.

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Why India doesn't need Sardar Patel's Statue of Unity

Political figures who played a hand in India's devastating Partition were flawed figures. Why should we commemorate them?

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Abhijit Iyer Mitra's case merits bail, not jail

There is sufficient precedence for the CJI to reconsider and grant a law-abiding citizen, whose crime is a joke, relief.

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CBI vs CBI: Why we should analyse the situation in the light of Lok Sabha Elections 2019

Is Alok Verma right and Rakesh Asthana wrong? Or, vice versa? No, there is no reason to jump to those conclusions right now.

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Why India's #MeToo movement is silent about sex workers

Do sex workers not undergo sexual harassment — of a more horrendous kind?

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AMU sedition row: Why Kashmiri students calling for azadi is no crime

Raising of azadi slogans is part of the freedom of speech guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

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Just a moment: Why I believe little will come out of #MeToo

The movement against sexual harassment is welcome. But given the backdrop, it will not have meaningful impact.

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Why it was wrong to pronounce law on adultery unconstitutional

Invalidating a statute means thwarting the will of the people.

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Why 'modern minded' Supreme Court judges need to exercise restraint

It is well settled that a law cannot be declared unconstitutional merely because it is not sufficiently inclusive.

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Is a civil war about to commence in South India?

A tide is building up against the recent Sabarimala judgment.

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Why Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi's grand plans for the judiciary will be difficult to execute

The new CJI has vowed to overhaul the judiciary and resolve the huge pendency of court cases.

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Why India needs to shun religion for science and progress

The truth only lies in science. If we have to progress, we must let go of all superstitious and religious beliefs.

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Why the burqa should be banned

Burqa is a feudal practice and to progress, we must suppress feudal practices, not give freedom to them.

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Sabarimala temple verdict: Bravo, My Lords! But what about these?

Several religious places in the country either bar women or allow them only at certain times. Is the Supreme Court looking their way?

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