ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

Articles by Prashant K TrivediSubscribe to Prashant K Trivedi

Fallacies of Triple Test Doctrine and Backward Classes Reservation in Local Self-government

The Supreme Court’s recent judgments on reservation for the backward classes in the urban local body elections are reviewed. A separation between social and political backwardness dehistoricises the notion of backwardness. Political backwardness should be understood as inadequate political representation in the context of social, educational and economic backwardness.

Identity Equations and Electoral Politics

The changes in landownership pattern, educational mobility, and occupational diversification among socio-religious groups in Uttar Pradesh provide crucial insights into the contemporary nature of political mobilisation in UP. Based on a survey of over 7,000 households, representing all socio-religious groups in 14 districts of the state, the article assesses these changes and points to the disparities between the various groups and, more importantly, to the intra-group inequalities that exist within each group. To effectively mobilise support, political parties will have to look beyond the numbers and recognise the acute differences existing within castes.

Does Untouchability Exist among Muslims?

Untouchability forms a crucial criterion for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Castes. It is rarely discussed with reference to Muslims. A household survey was conducted in 14 districts of Uttar Pradesh to examine contradictory claims about the practice of untouchability by non-Dalit Muslims and Hindus towards Dalit Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. A section of Dalit Muslim respondents report existence of untouchability in dining relations, habitation, social interaction and access to religious places. Surprisingly, a higher proportion of non-Dalit Muslims corroborate these claims.

Fallacies of a Supreme Court Judgment

A higher proportion of acquittals is often put forward as evidence to suggest that Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code has been continuously misused. This position appears to focus on interpersonal violence, overlooking the various subliminal factors governing the everyday lives of women, such as the varied forms of violence and the role of gendered state institutions in conceptualising and implementing law. This paper considers the complexities of law enforcement from the survivors' perspective to investigate the dynamics of the formation of a new perception regarding the misuse of Section 498A.

Reversal of Land Reforms

The recently notified Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code 2006 dilutes the pro-poor provisions of the UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950. It is a serious blow to attempts towards equidistribution of land resources especially in the light of the fact that the Ceiling Law has failed to make any dent in the land structure of the state.

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