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Home / Author / Gautam Bhatia

Gautam Bhatia

Gautam Bhatia

Articles by Gautam Bhatia

A legal band-aid on a much deeper wound

The Andrabi judgment is consistent with constitutional principles and seeks to introduce humanity within the UAPA framework. (HT Archive)

Updated on May 26, 2026 14:52 IST

Ending the culture of impunity in policing

The death penalty solves nothing, other than providing a brief moment of catharsis and — possibly — comfort for the families of the victims. (PTI)

Updated on Apr 15, 2026 15:16 IST

In the gig economy, law and labour are at odds

It is no coincidence that Indian platform companies call their workers “delivery partners” instead of “employees”. They do so because they can then claim that the labour law framework does not apply to them. (PTI)

Updated on Jan 19, 2026 15:34 IST

Court, executive and the test of constitutionality

The Court stands as a body whose task it is to review legislation and executive action for constitutionality, and to strike them down if they unjustifiably encroach on citizens’ rights. (HT Archive)

Updated on Dec 8, 2025 15:30 IST

Why India’s judiciary needs to defend free speech

It is worth remembering that our courts are meant to function as courts of law, not courts of moral, or public opinion. (HT Archive)

Updated on Nov 13, 2025 15:43 IST

In the denial of bail, a miscarriage of justice

At the time of writing, three of the accused have approached the apex court against the Delhi High Court order. (HT Archive)

Updated on Sep 11, 2025 14:30 IST

A Bill for Big Brother to weaponise speech

The issue with this bill is that the line between “fact” and “opinion” is nowhere near as clear as the Bill would have us believe. This is especially true in contexts of political speech or public dissent, where the freedom of speech is particularly important. (PTI)

Updated on Jul 17, 2025 15:12 IST

Crossing the red lines on the right to free speech

The judiciary does not have the power to gag or silence someone; it is only empowered to determine whether the government’s decision to do so is constitutional or unconstitutional (Hindustan Times)

Updated on May 22, 2025 13:51 IST

What the court is not expected to tell media

The Indian judiciary should avoid becoming a forum of choice for people to have critical or unflattering analysis about themselves on Wikipedia be taken down by a judicial orde (Hindustan Times)

Updated on May 16, 2025 16:25 IST

How the Supreme Court spoke out for free speech

In the Imran Prataphgarhi judgment, the Court clearly set its teeth against the heckler’s veto (Hindustan Times)

Updated on Apr 5, 2025 14:33 IST

What the Court missed in the Allahbadia case

New Delhi, Jan 27 (ANI): Supreme Court of India complex illuminates in Tricolour as part of 76th Republic Day celebrations, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo/Ritik Jain) (Ritik Jain)

Updated on Feb 24, 2025 15:02 IST

Draft data protection rules can be improved

Children sit and play games on a mobile phone along the banks of river Ganges on a foggy evening in Kolkata, India, November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary (REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 8, 2025 14:48 IST

India’s constitutional tenets, structure may need reflection

The Constitution was framed over a period of three years, during the tumult of the Partition (HT Archive)

Updated on Nov 30, 2024 23:36 IST

How SC read the right to property and its limits

Justice Chandrachud was quite clear that certain kinds of private property would fall within the meaning of “material resources” (REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 20, 2024 14:50 IST

When the Supreme Court takes on the bulldozer

Ayodhya: A bulldozer being used to demolish the bakery of Moid Khan who is accused of allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl, in Ayodhya, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (PTI Photo) (PTI)

Updated on Sep 16, 2024 15:27 IST

K’taka Bill misses gig workers’ primary ask

Gig workers prepare to deliver orders outside Swiggy's grocery warehouse at a market area in New Delhi, India, May 6, 2024. REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh (REUTERS)

Updated on Jul 29, 2024 15:38 IST

The importance of being the Speaker

The Parliament House in New Delhi, India, on Monday, June 24, 2024. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vast domestic agenda is in jeopardy after his party failed to win an outright majority in parliament for the first time in a decade, forcing it to work with a coalition of parties and grapple with an expanded opposition bench. Photographer: Prakash Singh/Bloomberg (Bloomberg)

Updated on Jun 24, 2024 14:40 IST

The Bombay high court strikes a blow for liberty

The Bombay high court. (HT File Photo)

Updated on May 3, 2024 17:23 IST

Apex court muzzles a media silencing tool

Supreme Court of India. (File Photo)

Updated on Apr 15, 2024 16:30 IST

A restatement of the basic law on obscenity

The Supreme Court (HT FILE PHOTO)

Updated on Apr 1, 2024 16:30 IST

Code that is neither uniform nor lawful

The Uttarakhand UCC is best understood as a continuation of an existing legal framework, rather than something new and unprecedented (PTI Photo)

Updated on Feb 25, 2024 07:49 IST

Heed the advice of justices on evictions

A recent order of the Allahabad high court (HC) is important in its reaffirmation of the progressive ethos of the Constitution.. (HT Archive)

Updated on Jan 31, 2024 16:30 IST

In Bilkis Bano order, the rule of law is upheld

A protest rally in support of Bilkis Bano in Kolkata in August 2022. (AFP/File)

Updated on Jan 9, 2024 16:45 IST

New Bill casts a cloud over EC appointments

Election Commission of India (Representative Photo)

Updated on Dec 22, 2023 16:47 IST

Will Big Brother be watching?

One hopes that as the Bill progresses through Parliament, the focus will shift from control to regulation

Updated on Nov 28, 2023 16:41 IST

State regulation of film reviews is a risky business

Between a nuanced critique of a film, and a crude and intentional attempt to blackmail or extort money from a director, there is an entire spectrum that belongs in a grey area.

Updated on Nov 3, 2023 17:10 IST

Gig workers law deepens industrial democracy

The term gig workers refers to those who are engaged in any income-generating activity as freelancers or on a temporary basis. (Shutterstock)

Updated on Oct 17, 2023 16:52 IST

Safeguard the election panel’s independence

A few months ago, the Supreme Court held that the selection of the CEC must be done by a three-member committee comprising the Prime Minister (PM), the Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India (CJI) (Representative Photo)

Updated on Aug 17, 2023 16:25 IST

Bhima Koregaon bail curbs State impunity

Supreme Court of India (File Photo)

Updated on Aug 2, 2023 16:36 IST

Bail hearings in Delhi riots cases can be a test for liberty under UAPA

A prominent case is that of Umar Khalid, whose denial of bail by the trial court and the Delhi high court was on flimsy grounds, resting primarily on his being part of a WhatsApp group whose stated task was to coordinate protests, and a speech that he gave

Updated on Jul 11, 2023 15:39 IST

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