Alternative Law Forum

April 2015

Forced into marriage by social pressures

In order to combat the problems that arise out of such relationships, it is necessary to first
address and question marriage as it is perceived today. The contours of relationships
within marriages or otherwise are set a priori outside of the lives, interests
and habits of the individuals concerned. The ideals
of how a
marriage ought to be are prescribed by
sociocultural
norms
dictated
by
heteronormativity and patriarchy, thus leaving no
scope for individuals to set their own terms for the
relationship. This situation is aggravated by the
institution of arranged marriages, which provides
little or no space for conversations between the
man and woman. Read Gowthaman's full article.

Transgender rights: One year of NALSA

On April 15, 2014, a division bench of the Supreme Court
passed a judgement that constituted a veritable charter of
transgender rights. National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
v Union of India became an instant landmark, not just for the
specific remedies that it crafted for a deeply vulnerable
community, but also for its revitalisation of a constitutional
promise that the court seemed to have forgotten just four
months ago in the Suresh Kumar Koushal case.One year down
the line, what does one make of this celebrated judgement? Or, to put it differently, how
does one evaluate its impact?
Read Danish's full article

Net Neutrality for a Web of Equals

In the past few weeks, net neutrality has spiralled from an
obscure term of concern only to telecom and Internet
companies to a major topic that sparks off innumerable
passions about peoples' personal perception of the
Internet. A public debate on net neutrality is much
needed. As most popularly understood, net neutrality is the principle that says that all
traffic on the Internet must be treated equally, irrespective of its source or content. This is
also what underpins the basic architecture of the Internet. A fair amount of public
discussion on the issue has concentrated upon how the presence of net neutrality is
essential to keeping the Internet free and democratic, whereby everyone can access all
Internet content with the same ease. Read Smarika's full article

For those marked 'Other'

On April 24, the Rajya Sabha passed a private member's bill which provides a
comprehensive rights framework for transgender persons. This is a victory of staggering
magnitude - not only was it voted in unanimously, it is
also the first time in 46 years that a private member's
bill has been passed. The bill articulates a range of
substantive rights for the community. Negative rights
such as protection from torture and abuse are placed
alongside positive obligations of the state, through the
recognition of the rights to education and healthcare..

Read the Bill

Danish's full Article

No Going Back! Violence & Discrimination

against LGBT Indians since the 2013 Section 377
Ruling
There should be no prioritisation of one brand
over another: Baijayant Jay Panda on Net
Neutrality
#BlrLitFest - 14 | 377 Stories - The Queer Lives

of the Law

Net Neutrality Debate Hots up

Activists, satire groups and even politicians have joined the fight to save the internet from
what they see as a continuing assault on its neutrality. Smarika Kumar, a lawyer at the
Alternate Law Forum, said there should be a thorough discussion before any decision on
net neutrality is taken. The argument for net neutrality is the freedom to access all
content and information on the internet. "It allows healthy competition as well," she
says. ...Read more

Lawyers Express Disgust Over Sharma's Comments

The comments made by lawyers A P Singh and M L Sharma in BBC's documentary, India's
Daughter, against women have sparked massive outrage and condemnation.
The Bar Council of India issued a show cause notice to the two defence counsel, giving
them three weeks' time to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against
them for their remarks.
Gowthaman Ranganathan of Alternative Law Forum, however, differs. While he says that
the comments made by the two lawyers are 'horrible', he's not sure about how he feels
about the Bar Council issuing them a notice.
"Nevertheless, it's great that the Bar Council wants to hear the lawyers out. And maybe
this is too early a stage to comment about it," he adds.
Read More

Rajya Sabha passes private bill for transgender rights

In a historic legislative action, the Rajya Sabha approved a private member's bill on the
rights of transgenders on Friday.
The bill was passed unanimously by voice vote in the upper house of Parliament. Usually a
private member's bill-introduced by a legislator who is not a member of the cabinet-is
withdrawn after discussion in the upper House.
The bill was introduced by Rajya Sabha member Tiruchi Siva of the Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam on 12 December. It came up for discussion in February and March before being
put to vote on Friday. Read More

First Worldwide Alumni Conference at NLSIU

Gowthaman Ranganathan attended the National Law School of India University as a panelist
on 'Access to Justice' in the first NLSIU Alumni Conference. He spoke on the informal
restrains of the structure of law and how these act as obstacles to access. The conference
spanned across the 25th and 26th of April, 2015.

World YWCA Day at the YWCA 'Aarthi' Center

Darshana Mitra was invited as a panelist to commemorate World YWCA Day at the YWCA of
Bangalore City's 'Make it Happen' on the prevention of violence against women, which took
place on the 24th of April, 2015. Darshana reflected on the law, policy and often detrimental
impact of patriarchy.
'Freedom of Expression in a Digital Age'
Effective Research, Policy Formation, & the Development of
Regulatory Frameworks in South Asia
Smarika Kumar spoke as a panelist on learning from past experiences of free speech
governance for framing regulatory architecture for the digital age, including for net
neutrality. The conference was a discussion on highlighting the challenges in promoting and
strengthening online freedom of expression and evaluating the application of existing
regulatory frameworks in South Asia

Consultation on Net Neutrality in the Indian Context: Reality v. Rhetoric

Organised by Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore with support of Centre
for Internet and Society, Bangalore
After TRAI released its Consultation Paper on regulation of OTT services in late March, ALF
initiated a discussion on the issue with experts in the area to understand the issues
surrounding net neutrality better. Accordingly a Consultation was designed to identify
relevant academic, policy and research themes in the area, which will be important in order
to develop a position on the issue from the citizen-internet-user perspective.

Status Update: Research for an Indian

Comprehensive Anti-discrimination Statute
Garry Hartlieb from the United States of America, joins ALF as an
intern for the summer of 2015. His research has concentrated on
anti-discrimination laws, net neutrality, freedom of speech, and
competition law. Since arriving at the Alternative Law Forum nearly a
month ago, his research efforts have focused primarily on how India
might approach unifying existing laws that provide redress for
marginalized groups. Read Garry's Blog

Casting out caste crime

Guest feature, Pushpa Achanta describes the unrelenting efforts of the
Karnataka Dalit Mahila Vedike (KDMV) in educating members of the Dalit
and Adivasi communities in the state about their legal entitlements and
helping them wage battles for justice in cases involving caste atrocity and
discrimination. Read Pushpa's full article.

Alternative Law Forum with collaborative Networks and Organisations

Forum for Urban Commons and Governance
Imagine a few rich people deciding what is good for the society. Unfortunately from the
time of Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) from 1990s, an elite few in Bangalore are
consistently using their wealth, muscle power and global connectedness to bypass elected
council in Bangalore to bulldoze their vision of the city as being good for all the residents of
city. Current versions of these entities include BPAC, Vision group etc. The increasing
numbers of task forces led by corporate honchos are appropriating governance to suit their
needs and business interests. This total disregard for the people of Bengaluru and for the
elected representatives of BBMP by the elite smacks of arrogance worthy of a dictatorial
regime. Read More

Want your research, activism and strategic

experience to reach a dynamic audience?
Would you like to exhibit your latest performance
piece in an intimate space?
We are your Alternative!
Write to us at contact@altlawforum.org with the
subject line 'Friday Forums'

Talks that took place in February and March 2015

15 April - Danish Sheikh - Marking one year

of the Supreme Court's landmark
judgment in the National Legal Service
Authority v. Union of India case.
24 April - Gowthaman Ranganathan Troubled Marriages: Socio-Legal
Implications, A Discussion
28 April - Conversations with Medha Patkar

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