Counterview

By Sudhir Katiyar*  The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene in the ban imposed by multiple state governments on visits to government schools by outsiders—a response to the CJP's School Thik Karo campaign—suggests that the campaign has raised concerns within the Indian establishment. This reaction is understandable, as education serves purposes beyond acquiring basic numeracy and literacy skills.  It can be a liberating force, freeing minds from superstition and irrationality toward scientific temper. However, improving infrastructure in government schools is only a first step. Physical upgrades do not automatically improve schooling quality or reduce dropout rates, as illustrated by Delhi's experience during the AAP government.

By Vikas Meshram*  It is an old Indian political tradition for opposition parties to question the impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI) following an electoral defeat. Lately, however, the Commission’s own actions have given genuine cause for concern, threatening not just its credibility but the very standing of the country’s democracy. Conducting transparent elections and safeguarding every citizen’s right to vote are the fundamental duties of this constitutional body. Yet, the glaring inconsistencies in the controversial "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) campaign have raised profound questions about whether the ECI is fulfilling its mandate.

By R.K. Singh*  Do you want India to remain a democracy? If the answer is yes, then you must understand what Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), and his bosses are doing in the so-called Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.  Simply put: They are violating the law. Here is a detailed breakdown of the illegalities being committed and why we must act now to save our democracy.

By A Representative   The Lok Swashasan Andolan, a Madhya Pradesh-level campaign of Adivasi, forest dweller organizations, and other democratic forums, has strongly condemned a letter dated August 6, 2026, issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HOFF) of Madhya Pradesh.  The letter, sent by the Working Plan and Forest Land Records Cell to regional forest officials, directs them to receive and process Community Forest Resource (CFR) claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The campaign group alleges that this directive is a blatant attempt to bypass the legal process and undermines the authority of Gram Sabhas. In a formal submission to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), the organization has demanded immediate action against the PCCF for "instigating forest officials to violate the law." A copy of the complaint has also been sent to the Director of the FRA division, Ministry ...

By Syed Khalique Ahmed*  Can a Muslim woman become a mufti —a qualified Islamic scholar authorized to issue fatwas (legal opinions) and guide the community in matters of Sharia ? Can she shape Islamic jurisprudence , or lead educational assemblies attended by both men and women? 

By Guillermo R. Barreto  This month, like every year, the United Nations General Assembly takes place. Heads of State take the floor to send messages to the world. These messages are broadcast on TV, transcribed, and recorded in official documents and the press. We have heard denunciations of violations of international law, calls for peace and coexistence, and also cynical remarks from leaders of genocidal entities. A month of speeches that surely generates revenue for the media and benefits the local economy of New York City. A month that also entails significant expenses for the delegations of the 193 nations that are part of the Organization, in addition to the numerous delegations from nongovernmental organizations present at or around the event.

By Bharat Dogra  Kabaddi is an interesting sport that is growing in popularity in an increasing number of countries beyond its main area of origin in South Asia and neighboring countries such as Iran. The International Kabaddi Federation already has 31 member countries on its rolls and is making efforts to extend this number to as many as 80 countries.

By A Representative   Demonstrations were held in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Brighton on 26 September in solidarity with individuals detained in India under what organisers described as a politically motivated conspiracy case, according to a statement issued by the Joint Committee to Stop Repression in India (JCSRI).

By Jatin Sheth*  Ahmedabad’s selection as host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games should have been a moment of civic pride. Instead, it exposes the uncomfortable truth that the city, in its present state, is nowhere near ready to shoulder an international event of this scale. The gap between the celebratory rhetoric and the lived reality of Ahmedabad’s civic infrastructure is so wide that only a sustained, time‑bound overhaul can bridge it—and even that will require political will of a kind we have not seen in years. The most basic functions of urban governance have been compromised. Roads cave in with frightening regularity—two hundred collapses this year alone, each one a reminder of the absence of engineering supervision and the dominance of politically connected contractors. Resurfacing is done as if it were a ritual, not a technical process, and the result is predictable: waterlogging, accidents, and financial losses for ordinary citizens. The city’s engineers, a...