Chief Justice Gavai and the question of judicial propriety https://frontline.thehindu.com/columns/cji-b-r-gavai-roster-controversy-vanashakti-judgment-supreme-court/article69897117.ece Aug 05, 2025 By excluding the original bench in the Vanashakti matter, the CJI draws attention to the unchecked reach of roster powers.
On May 16 this year, a Supreme Court bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan delivered what might be one of the most important environmental rulings of the decade. They struck down a 2017 government notification and a 2021 Office Memorandum that had together systemised a backdoor for ex post facto environmental clearances—essentially, allowing projects that started without mandatory environmental approval to legalise their sins later by obtaining clearance post hoc.
If CJI Gavai chose to exercise his extraordinary powers to direct the Registry to list the two MAs before his bench—and to exclude Justice Bhuyan from the process—then that written administrative order ought to be part of the public record, just like how the Registry’s Office Report is available on the court’s website. The reasons for such a decision should be clearly stated and made publicly accessible.
As far as the Vanashakti judgment is concerned, the court must ensure that it is not nibbled away by requests for “modifications”, “exceptions”, and “clarifications”.
Mati: Chhattisgarh में पहली बार नक्सलवाद पर बस्तर के लोगों ने बनायी फ़िल्म, सरेंडर नक्सलियों ने… IAN24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chzyKUpJbek
India badly needs a ceasefire with Trump on the trade front. This ceasefire is far more critical for lndia’s economy and its millions of unemployed and partially employed. Trump seemed to have started a trade war primarily targeting China early April which resulted in the US arbitrarily imposing high import tariffs on all its major trade partners, including India. https://thewire.in/trade/modi-needs-a-trade-ceasefire-with-trump
India today faces one of the highest tariffs of 25% which Trump announced on Wednesday (July 30). Most other major trade partners of the US such as EU, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia have managed to sign reasonable deals with tariffs ranging between 15% to 20%, which gives them a clear edge over India. China too has done a reasonable deal with much lower duties than originally imposed.
So as of August 1, which is Trump’s deadline for deals with nations, India stands quite isolated with one of the highest tariffs slapped on her. There is a double whammy as Trump has said more penal tariffs could come if India continues her special relationship with Russia in regard to crude oil purchases and defence imports. India’s national interest dictates she cannot afford to dilute relationship with Russia, especially on critical co-production of high tech defence items such as Brahmos missiles etc.
M K Venu
01/08/2025