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Vineet Bhalla
Vineet Bhalla is a senior correspondent at The Indian Express. He writes primarily for the Explained page. He has previously worked as a legal correspondent at Scroll and as an assistant editor at The Leaflet. Prior to shifting towards journalism, he had stints working in legal policy research, governance consulting, and at a legal education non-profit. He is a lawyer by training and holds a B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) degree from the W.B. National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata.
More From Vineet Bhalla
Why growing a cannabis plant in your balcony is a crime, but buying bhang isn’t
November 15, 2025 13:08 IST
Bhang Legal Status, Cannabis Laws in India: A Kerala High Court ruling clarified a common confusion regarding the plant in India: while certain parts of cannabis are technically exempt from the definition of a 'narcotic drug', the act of growing the plant remains strictly prohibited
Sat, Nov 15, 2025
Dog bite cases rise across India, states report infrastructure gaps to Supreme Court
November 15, 2025 12:46 IST
Dog bite cases have surged across 21 states, with a Supreme Court report flagging major gaps in India’s animal birth control infrastructure, data systems and on-ground resources.
Sat, Nov 15, 2025
Sentenced to death in Nithari killings, why Surendra Koli walked free after 20 years
November 13, 2025 12:25 IST
Nithari killings case, Supreme Court verdict Surendra Koli: This week, the Supreme Court acquitted Surendra Koli in the Nithari killings two decades after he was first arrested in the case. Here’s how the case unravelled.
Thu, Nov 13, 2025
Explained: The discord between Supreme Court and the Centre over tribunals, why it mattersSubscriber Only
November 11, 2025 15:31 IST
The ongoing case has impacted the functioning of tribunals across India, with the SC earlier remarking that the quasi-judicial bodies were left “virtually defunct”.
Wed, Nov 12, 2025
Supreme Court dismisses plea against demolition of mosque in Ujjain
November 08, 2025 04:25 IST
The land on which the mosque stood was acquired by the MP government to expand the parking facility for the adjoining Mahakal Temple complex. The structure was demolished in January this year.
Sat, Nov 08, 2025
Rs 33.25 lakh deposited by intervenors as Supreme Court reviews states’ disclosures on stray dog management
November 05, 2025 13:14 IST
Uttar Pradesh reported the largest consolidated action, listing 5,32,687 dogs caught, sterilised, dewormed and vaccinated across 630 urban local bodies (ULBs) over the last five years
Wed, Nov 05, 2025
With upcoming film ‘Haq’, recalling the landmark Shah Bano case and what it held on Muslim women’s rightsSubscriber Only
November 04, 2025 16:45 IST
Shah Bano case 1985, Yami Gautam Haq film: In addition to its legal significance, the Shah Bano case also impacted the dispute regarding the Babri Masjid, and national politics. Here's what it was all about.
Fri, Nov 07, 2025
A judge and an executor: Why Justice (retd) Ranjana Desai is Govt’s go-to personSubscriber Only
October 31, 2025 20:20 IST
Lokpal selection panel and Press Council head for several years now, with UCC committees and Delimitation Commission behind her, the 76-year-old now has Central Pay Commission on her table
Sat, Nov 01, 2025
Why Kerala High Court held qualifications, and not caste, as basis for appointing priestsSubscriber Only
October 27, 2025 18:57 IST
The dispute centred on a shift in how temple priests are appointed. By upholding rules that favour institutional certification over traditional tutelage, the court effectively delinked priesthood from caste or lineage.
Thu, Oct 30, 2025
The other massive pendency in Indian courts: Why it can take years to obtain ‘execution petitions’Subscriber Only
October 24, 2025 17:08 IST
The Supreme Court has expressed concern about a deep-rooted malaise in the judicial system, where people who have already spent years successfully fighting their cases are stuck in a second battle — to get what a court has held they are legally owed.
Fri, Oct 24, 2025
Even ‘unsaid words’ in WhatsApp message can promote enmity, says Allahabad High Court
October 23, 2025 04:20 IST
The HC Bench noted that while the message “may not speak per se about religion”, it “definitely conveys an underlying and subtle message that his brother has been targeted in a false case because of belonging to a particular religious community”.
Thu, Oct 23, 2025
Can match-fixing in cricket be legally considered ‘cheating’? Here’s why the issue is before Supreme CourtSubscriber Only
October 19, 2025 12:59 IST
India, despite being a cricketing powerhouse, does not have a specific law that criminalises match-fixing. The BCCI has thus argued for a wider interpretation of the offence of cheating.
Thu, Oct 23, 2025
Why SC has allowed green crackers in Delhi-NCR and what the order saysSubscriber Only
October 15, 2025 17:40 IST
SC on green crackers, Delhi NCR firecracker rules: This temporary relaxation modifies a series of previous orders by the Delhi government and the Supreme Court that had imposed a complete ban on all kinds of firecrackers in the NCR in recent years
Wed, Oct 15, 2025
MP High Court digitises 6.5 lakh case files; judges must understand tech, says SC judgeSubscriber Only
October 12, 2025 21:32 IST
The announcement of the high court’s technological leap served as a backdrop to a pressing question that dominated the conference: is the Indian judiciary equipped to handle the legal complexities of the digital age?
Sun, Oct 12, 2025
Why are bar councils barring lawyers from promoting their work on social media?Subscriber Only
October 10, 2025 08:01 IST
In India, lawyers are strictly forbidden from advertising their services or soliciting work. The foundation for this rule lies in the Advocates Act, 1961
Thu, Oct 09, 2025
SC opens door for junior judges to directly become district judges: What the ruling meansSubscriber Only
October 09, 2025 14:33 IST
District Judge (Judicial Officer) Appointment Eligibility, Process: The Supreme Court’s verdict not only reinterprets the law but also comes with a set of directions that will change how district judges are recruited across India.
Thu, Oct 09, 2025
Movie ticket price cap: Why Karnataka HC stayed the govt’s move, the larger debateSubscriber Only
October 07, 2025 06:01 IST
The final verdict in the Karnataka case, along with the ongoing proceedings in Andhra Pradesh, will be keenly watched as they are likely to have significant implications for how Indians watch movies on the big screen
Tue, Oct 07, 2025
Delhi allows loudspeakers till midnight for festivals: what does the law say?Subscriber Only
September 27, 2025 14:22 IST
The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 provide a detailed framework for regulating noise from various sources, including loudspeakers
Sun, Sep 28, 2025
Why Karnataka HC upheld Union govt’s Sahyog portal, rejected X’s challengeSubscriber Only
September 24, 2025 19:47 IST
The verdict concludes a significant legal battle in which X had characterised the Sahyog portal is a form of extra-legal 'censorship' and the government had defended it as an efficient tool for regulation.
Wed, Sep 24, 2025
UP caste-based rallies banned: The HC ruling behind the state govt orderSubscriber Only
September 23, 2025 06:26 IST
Caste Based Political Rallies Banned In Uttar Pradesh: The HC did not issue directions to ban caste-based political rallies, but the UP govt has prohibited them. The HC directions came in a case that had nothing to do with caste discrimination.
Tue, Sep 23, 2025
Why SC order on Anand Marriage Act won’t end old debateSubscriber Only
September 21, 2025 07:05 IST
The apex court has directed states and UTs that are yet to frame rules for the registration of Sikh Marriages under the 1909 Act to do so within four months. But this does little to address fundamental lacunae in the law
Mon, Sep 22, 2025
Does the cover of Arundhati Roy’s latest book violate any law?Subscriber Only
September 20, 2025 14:25 IST
The COTPA prohibits the advertisement of tobacco products, and regulates their sale. Does the cover of Arundhati Roy’s latest book, in which she is smoking a beedi, violate this law?
Sat, Sep 20, 2025
In 17 of 93 acquittals in Delhi riots cases, courts red-flag ‘fabricated’ evidence, pull up policeSubscriber Only
September 17, 2025 04:01 IST
Judges find artificial witnesses in 12 cases; ‘serious trampling’ of rights
Tue, Sep 30, 2025
Reliance’s Vantara cleared of PIL allegations: What SC’s investigation team foundSubscriber Only
September 16, 2025 20:18 IST
The apex court closed all complaints against the facility and notably barred future proceedings over the same allegations, which ranged from animal smuggling to financial irregularities.
Wed, Sep 17, 2025
SC on amended Waqf Act: What has been stayed, what remainsSubscriber Only
September 15, 2025 17:05 IST
Supreme Court Waqf Amendment: While refusing to put a blanket stay on the entire amended Waqf law, the SC temporarily put on hold certain provisions. We explain what the court said.
Tue, Sep 16, 2025Journalism of Courage
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