The Supreme Court of India has issued nationwide guidelines to prevent arbitrary demolitions of properties, aiming to curb the practice of ‘bulldozer justice’. The court emphasized the importance of due process and the right to be heard, stating that the executive cannot replace the judiciary in determining guilt and ordering demolitions.
The Supreme Court of India has delivered a significant ruling on the practice of ‘bulldozer actions’ by state governments, where properties belonging to individuals accused of crimes are demolished without due process. The court emphasized the importance of constitutional rights guaranteeing protection from arbitrary state action and the rule of law. This decision has implications for the balance between law enforcement and individual rights.
House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed to retaliate for the guilty verdict against former President Trump on Sunday, saying House Republicans would use “everything in our arsenal.” Johnson clarified, however, that Republicans must remain within the “rule of law.”
Three recent Supreme Court decisions have granted electoral bonds unconstitutional, granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and granted bail to the founder of NewsClick, Prabir Purkayastha. These decisions have challenged state excesses and harmed the ruling party’s interests. However, they have also been met with criticism and attacks on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. These attacks are part of a larger trend of abuse of the judiciary, which is being exploited by those who seek to subvert the legitimacy of the court. The judiciary and the wider legal fraternity must counter these online threats by dispelling misinformation and exposing bad faith propaganda. Public trust is the judiciary’s greatest ally, and it must be restored by improving service delivery, increasing diversity in appointments, and improving the Court’s counter-majoritarian spine.
For years, the progressive left has demonized deportations as inhumane and racist, falsely portraying them as a severe form of punishment. This narrative has been debunked by Supreme Court rulings since 1893, which have consistently held that deportation is a civil matter, not a criminal one, and is simply a mechanism for returning non-citizens to their home countries when they lack a lawful basis to remain in the U.S. Deportation proceedings involve multiple layers of due process, including ample opportunities for appeal, ensuring fairness and adherence to the rule of law.
Former Pakistan Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry expressed his views on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s release from Tihar jail after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the Delhi excise policy case. Chaudhry termed the release as a loss for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that Kejriwal’s release was good news for a ‘moderate India.’ He also lamented the state of the rule of law in Pakistan, saying that civil society and other organizations had become inactive.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed Canada’s commitment to the rule of law and its independent justice system following the arrest of three Indian nationals in connection with the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The three individuals, identified as Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karan Brar, have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Former President Donald Trump faces trial in New York, accused of violating campaign finance laws and falsifying business records to conceal an affair. Critics allege that Trump’s actions aimed to manipulate elections and suppress information crucial to informed voter decision-making. Despite his claims of persecution, Trump is subject to the rule of law like any other citizen. A jury of his peers will determine his guilt or innocence, demonstrating that no one, not even a former president, is above accountability.
North Macedonia is holding presidential elections on Wednesday, with EU accession and the rule of law being key issues. Seven candidates are running for the largely ceremonial position, with no candidate expected to exceed the 50% threshold for outright victory. A second round of voting is likely to follow on May 8th. The latest poll shows opposition-backed Gordana Siljanovska Davkova leading incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski by 3.6 percentage points.
Historian Jon Meacham, who assisted in the drafting of President Biden’s speeches during his campaign in 2020, expressed a sense of reassurance upon seeing images of former President Donald Trump on trial. Meacham emphasized that the appearance of Trump in court signifies the upholding of the rule of law, where even powerful individuals are subject to legal processes regardless of their status.
