Dr Ashwani Kumar

War signals a reversal of civilisational progress. India must be a peacemaker

March 31,2026 06:30:56 AM

Debate foreign, defence policies, but tempered dissent is heard louder than vitriol.

Robert Badinter’s humanism, opposition to death penalty, will inspire generations to comeSubscriber Only

October 29,2025 07:01:47 AM

Honour of a cenotaph for him in the Pantheon in Paris is a befitting homage to an exceptional humanist for his relentless crusade against capital punishment

Presidential Reference to SC can help redraw boundaries between institutionsSubscriber Only

July 29,2025 07:54:20 AM

The nation trusts the sagacity of the highest court to configure a just constitutional equilibrium of power so that the country’s democratic order is not held hostage to the unfettered impulses of any single branch of the Indian state

Truth and due process in Justice Varma caseSubscriber Only

March 31,2025 07:06:37 AM

It must be followed

Manmohan Singh had a healing touch that was humblingSubscriber Only

January 02,2025 07:25:42 AM

He remained above the harshness of politics and the cold power games around him

Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir poll results show the people’s mandate is for humilitySubscriber Only

October 11,2024 03:41:21 AM

Both the victors and the vanquished in these two state elections should realise that democracy has no place for hubris.

Delhi services ordinance: Unending conflict between the Union and states does not augur well for our democracySubscriber Only

July 03,2023 19:25:44 PM

Judicial review of the constitutionality of the ordinance need not be viewed as adversarial but as part of an ongoing dialogue between democratic institutions to deepen democracy and constitutionalism

EWS reservation: Recognising the poorSubscriber Only

November 30,2022 07:41:02 AM

Dr Ashwani Kumar writes: Economic deprivation, with its attendant consequences, must be addressed as part of the government's affirmative action policies for empowerment of the poor, not covered by caste-based reservation. The verdict in the EWS case is in keeping with the vision of a dynamic Constitution with equity at its heart.

On sedition, the Supreme Court has aligned itself with the collective conscience of IndiaSubscriber Only

May 18,2022 04:00:18 AM

Dr Ashwani Kumar writes: Hopefully, the nation will be rid of the last vestiges of colonialism that defy the will of the Age, the promise of our national charter and are at best a painful reminder of the injustices inflicted on our people

India wants a different politics – and a leader to deliver itSubscriber Only

March 24,2022 04:15:03 AM

The nation yearns for an accommodative democratic politics, based on conciliation and consensus

State cannot ignore incidents of vigilante justiceSubscriber Only

January 12,2022 04:00:33 AM

🔴 Dr Ashwani Kumar writes: Lynchings in Punjab are an affront to the cherished idea of constitutional justice and the Sikh ethic of mercy

In pandemic, judiciary has stood up for peopleSubscriber Only

June 15,2021 03:14:10 AM

Despite the initial missteps, judicial response in its entirety to the pandemic’s many challenges must gladden our hearts.

Farmers’ protest shows loss of trust in processes of governance, is reminder of the tyranny of lawsSubscriber Only

February 01,2021 03:31:28 AM

The government’s unwise resort to oppressive and selective enforcement of draconian laws fails the test of proportionality and democratic restraint. The increasing dysfunctionality of Parliament and the failure of accountability of other democratic institutions is an ominous signal.

Dignity lies within. Failure of our representatives and institutions cannot deter usSubscriber Only

November 09,2020 03:13:36 AM

The dignitarian Constitution’s custody is entrusted to the joint endeavours of the three branches of government, but the recent record of our liberal democracy suggests an institutional deficit in the advancement of constitutional goals.

Time to imagine and practise a politics befitting the challenge of our timesSubscriber Only

April 20,2020 01:43:03 AM

We must interrogate the inadequacies of our system, the ruinous consequences of misplaced priorities and the misconceived remedies against hunger and hopelessness.

Reading the Ayodhya verdict in its entirety shows SC was moved by desire for a pragmatic and equitable solutionSubscriber Only

November 25,2019 04:27:12 AM

Most judicial pronouncements are subject to interrogation and the Ayodhya verdict involving “complexities of human history and activity” is no exception. Even so, when read in entirety, the Court’s decision — based on a “preponderance of evidence” — does answer the doubts raised by its critics.

Kashmir, beyond legalities: Modi govt needs to recognise the essential dignity of its peopleSubscriber Only

September 10,2019 02:33:13 AM

The challenge before the government, therefore, is to win an uncoerced allegiance of the Kashmiri people by recognising their dignity and identity — the “ultimate driver of history”, as Hegel said. Whether the government can do enough to assure the Kashmiri people of its sincerity in this regard is the question.

This election, we must reject the onslaughts on freedomSubscriber Only

March 28,2019 02:45:48 AM

While navigating our politics in these troubled times, we cannot forget the lesson of history that the majority vote does not guarantee freedom unless the majority stands up for freedom.

A nation’s moment of reckoningSubscriber Only

September 07,2018 00:03:02 AM

The arrest of human rights activists is a test for India’s people and its institutions

Dear prime minister, we must enactSubscriber Only

March 14,2018 00:05:05 AM

To live up to constitutional values, commitments made in international fora, India needs standalone legislation against custodial torture.

Evidence vs perceptionSubscriber Only

December 26,2017 00:30:42 AM

The 2G verdict asserts inviolability of procedural justice and is a triumph for principles of fair trial.

Failing the fairness testSubscriber Only

March 20,2015 00:00:14 AM

The legality of Manmohan's summoning order will be tested on the touchstones of our constitutional and criminal jurisprudence.