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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.
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More From Vineet Bhalla
CJI Gavai: A tenure marked by many milestones, and some road bumpsSubscriber Only
November 23, 2025 19:24 IST
Only the second Dalit to hold CJI post, Justice B R Gavai was part of judgments from demonetization to Waqf Act cases, tricky bail petitions, and “intra-court” appeals.
Mon, Nov 24, 2025
How India’s juvenile justice system is failing its children
November 23, 2025 15:10 IST
The India Justice Report (IJR) released a report titled ‘Juvenile Justice and Children in Conflict with the Law: A Study of Capacity at the Frontlines’ on November 24. It paints a picture of a system grappling with structural deficits, high pendency and opaque data.
Sun, Nov 23, 2025
Justice denied, justice delivered: Nithari accused Koli’s long walk to freedomSubscriber Only
November 22, 2025 08:15 IST
This was a basket case to begin with. He was branded the 'Nithari cannibal', the man who allegedly lured children to their death at his employer’s house in Noida. Two decades and 13 death sentences later, Surender Koli is a free man
Sat, Nov 22, 2025
Why SC struck down the Tribunals Reforms Act and what it means
November 21, 2025 15:46 IST
This week, the SC struck down the Tribunals Reforms Act – a 2021 law that restructures the functioning of tribunals to give the executive greater strength in their functioning. Here’s all about the law that the court calls an impermissible ‘legislative override’ of its previous judgments.
Fri, Nov 21, 2025
SC clarifies Governor’s powers: How it answered 14 questions referred by PresidentSubscriber Only
November 20, 2025 14:38 IST
Supreme Court Governor powers, SC on Bill assent: The Supreme Court verdict addresses 14 specific questions of law referred to the court by President Droupadi Murmu. Here's a breakdown of each.
Fri, Nov 21, 2025
Supreme Court to pronounce verdict on Governor’s power to withhold Bills today
November 19, 2025 22:45 IST
The case stems from a ruling in April in which a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court held that the Tamil Nadu Governor’s delay in granting assent was unconstitutional and set specific timelines for action.
Wed, Nov 19, 2025
Allahabad HC grants bail to UP man arrested for conversion
November 19, 2025 07:00 IST
HC while hearing his brother's case had said that the “unsaid words” and “subtle message” in a WhatsApp message can amount to promoting enmity between religious communities, even if the message does not explicitly mention religion.
Wed, Nov 19, 2025
Bijnor conversion case: Muslim man at centre of ‘unsaid words’ WhatsApp row gets bail
November 18, 2025 12:20 IST
During the bail hearing, the Bijnor man’s lawyer argued his client had been falsely and fraudulently implicated in the case as part of a conspiracy born out of enmity.
Tue, Nov 18, 2025
Explained: US Supreme Court, Trump tariffs and the ‘major questions doctrine’ conundrumSubscriber Only
November 17, 2025 18:11 IST
The conservative majority US Supreme Court is hearing arguments on the legality of Trump’s tariffs – including on India. Here’s what’s at stake.
Tue, Nov 18, 2025
Why growing a cannabis plant in your balcony is a crime, but buying bhang isn’tSubscriber Only
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
Mon, Nov 17, 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 CourtSubscriber Only
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, 2025Journalism of Courage
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