DAKSH Podcast

• The India Justice Report

  In this episode, Valay Singh of the India Justice Report (IJR) delves into the critical state of justice capacity in India, highlighting key findings from the India Justice Reports from 2019 and 2022. Access to justice, a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of India, is as essential as health, education, and water for the country's social and economic development. The IJR reveals significant challenges within the Indian justice system, from an overwhelming backlog of pending cases to overcrowding in Indian prisons, where the majority of inmates are undertrials, and the systemic issues across legal, police, judiciary and prisons that hinder effective justice delivery. References: Approaches to Justice in India https://www.dakshindia.org/approaches-to-justice-in-india/ Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) https://bprd.nic.in/ India Justice Report https://indiajusticereport.org/ National Judicial Data Grid (District and Taluka Courts of India) https://njdg.ecourts.gov.in/njdgnew/index.php CREDITS: Host: Valay Singh  This is a Maed in India production. Producer: Sean D’mello  Sound Design & Mixing:  Lakshman Parsuram Project Supervisor: Shaun Fanthome

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• Police Violence in Films

  In this episode, we explore the depiction of custodial violence in films with Deepanjana Pal. Deepanjana Pal is a journalist and author. She writes about culture and society. Her film writing has appeared in a range of publications and she was most recently the managing editor of the website Film Companion.  Films about cops in India often sensationalise and normalise police brutality, possibly desensitising audiences to the suffering of real people. In this episode, we critically examined how these films reflect societal attitudes toward power, authority, and justice. We also discussed whether they contribute to meaningful discourse or merely exploit trauma for entertainment.  References: K Chandru, What The Sathankulam Custodial Murders Reveal https://article-14.com/post/what-the-sathankulam-custodial-murders-reveal Kalpana Nair, Five Films that Don’t Glamorise Police Violence https://www.filmcompanion.in/fc-lists/jayaraj-bennix-5-films-that-dont-glamorise-police-violence-visaranai-vetrimaran-sooryavanshi-singham Omkar Khandekar, Rethinking the angry young cop in Indian cinema https://lifestyle.livemint.com/how-to-lounge/movies-tv/rethinking-the-angry-young-cop-in-indian-cinema-111634476144273.html Karthik Kumar, Sathankulam custodial deaths: Singam director Hari regrets making films glorifying police https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/sathankulam-custodial-deaths-singam-director-hari-regrets-making-films-glorifying-police/story-2NxchO4mslUFz2s68NkW4H.html Rohit Shetty reacts to claims of glorifying police brutality with his films: ‘Darr hona zaruri hai, okay to get trolled' https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/rohit-shetty-reacts-to-claims-of-glorifying-police-brutality-with-his-films-101704964787324.html   CREDITS: Host: Leah Verghese This is a Maed in India production. Producer: Sean D’mello  Sound Design & Mixing:  Lakshman Parsuram Project Supervisor: Shaun Fanthome

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• Case Scheduling and Institutional Reforms

  In this episode, Ninni Susan Thomas speaks with Ajay Shah about systemic challenges in the Indian legal system, particularly around case hearings, scheduling, and potential solutions. They question whether the focus on issues like pendency and the number of judges overshadows the correctness of decision-making. Emphasising a first principles perspective, the discussion stresses addressing root causes, rather than symptoms such as high case pendency and delays. Other key areas discussed include timely justice, case resolution predictability, and courts' accountability as service providers. Reducing judges' administrative burdens to improve adjudication efficiency was also highlighted. The conversation explored the potential of IT reforms and AI in judicial processes, advocating for efficiency while cautioning against superficial implementation. References: Evaluating courts from a Litigant’s Perspective: https://papers.xkdr.org/papers/2023Manivannanetal_evaluatingCourtsFromLitigantPerspectiveReport.pdf Administrative workload management of courts: https://macrofinance.nipfp.org.in/PDF/icts_concept_note-2019.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybvwp9qhJqY CREDITS: Host: Ninni Susan Thomas  This is a Maed in India production. Producer: Sean D’mello  Sound Design & Mixing: Vijay Doiphode Project Supervisor: Shaun Fanthome

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• Bulldozer Justice

  In this episode, Ninni Susan Thomas discussed the controversial practice known as Bulldozer Justice in India. What drives the sudden demolitions of homes and businesses across various regions? How does this form of enforcement reflect on the rule of law in the country? Join us as we trace the origins of Bulldozer Justice, examining the role of state machinery in these aggressive actions. We’ll dive into the legal framework surrounding these demolitions, questioning their legality and the often dubious justifications provided. A pattern surrounding these demolitions and instances of where these have been carried out are discussed,  highlighting the communities most affected by these forceful measures. Through this episode, we aim to shed light on the connection between Bulldozer Justice and the broader Rule Of Law in India. Is this practice a necessary step for maintaining public order, or does it signify a troubling drift towards authoritarianism? References: Bulldozers as a symbol: https://time.com/6303571/how-bulldozers-became-a-symbol-of-anti-muslim-sentiment-in-india/ Bulldozers and Rule of Law: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm4uqipWEtA Bulldozers as vehicles of injustice: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61837134 Ignorance of a pattern in demolitions by courts: https://indconlawphil.wordpress.com/2022/07/13/home-demolitions-and-george-orwells-supreme-court/ CREDITS: Host: Ninni Susan Thomas This is a Maed in India production. Producer: Sean D’mello  Sound Mixing: Lakshman Parsuram Project Supervisor: Shaun Fanthome

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• Switching Sides: The Intricacies of Anti-Defection in Politics

  After the nail-biting election results in India on June 4, 2024, with margins fluctuating dramatically, many contemplated the possibility of defections of elected politicians to other parties. Defections have become such a staple in Indian politics that social media was rife with memes about politicians being sequestered in resorts. Against this backdrop, this episode where Ninni Susan Thomas interviews MR Madhavan would offer some valuable insights. MR Madhavan is the co-founder and President of PRS Legislative Research. PRS was established to deliver high-quality, independent research to legislators, aiming to help them grasp the complexities of various issues and understand the impact of policies through data analysis. After exploring the history of the anti-defection law in India, the discussion in the episode moves to the repercussions of defection, the influence of the anti-defection law on parliamentary democracy, and its impact on legislative debates. The conversation also touches on the roles of the Speaker and the courts during defection crises, and Madhavan shares his perspectives on the future of the anti-defection law.   References: Explanation of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/understanding-the-tenth-schedule-explained/article67746169.ece Effectiveness of the anti-defection law: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/anti-defection-law-doesnt-work-at-crunch-time-it-needs-to-be-scrapped/ Anti-defection law in practice: https://prsindia.org/articles-by-prs-team/the-absurdity-of-the-anti-defection-law Gaps in the anti-defection law: https://theleaflet.in/defects-writ-large-in-the-anti-defection-law/ Resort politics in India: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61905894 Summary of Nabam Rebia judgement : https://www.scobserver.in/reports/nabam-rebia-deputy-speaker-arunachal-pradesh-presidents-rule-judgment-in-plain-english/ CREDITS: Host: Ninni Susan Thomas  This is a Maed in India production. Producer: Sean D’mello  Sound Design & Mixing:  Vijay Doiphode Project Supervisor: Shaun Fanthome

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