Compelling School Children To Recite Religious Words In National Pledge & To Salute National Flag Unconstitutional: Zimbabwe Constitutional Court

The judgment makes references to Indian Supreme Court judgments viz. Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala and Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala.

Two Finger Test On Rape Victims Unconstitutional,Violates Personal Dignity Of Woman, Holds Lahore High Court, Quotes Indian Precedents

The Lahore High Court has held that two finger test and the hymen test carried out for the purposes of ascertaining the virginity of a female victim of rape or sexual abuse is unconstitutional.The court held that such tests are unscientific having no medical basis and also offends the personal dignity of the female victim.Justice Ayesha A. Malik held that such tests are discriminatory and...

Argentina Legalizes Abortion In A Move Towards Securing Reproductive Rights

Argentina passed a law permitting abortions until the 14th week of pregnancy after several years of pro-choice advocates demanding for legalization of abortion. The move faced strong opposition of the Catholic Church. The voting on the Bill saw large numbers of people on the streets from both sides of the debate despite the pandemic. The government of Argentina supplemented the move...

Showing 'Grave Concern', Pakistan Supreme Court CJ Takes Cognizance Of Burning Of Hindu Temple

Direction has been given to the Minority Commission to submit a report after site visit by January 4.

'Discriminatory': Austria Constitutional Court Holds 'Headscarf' Ban In Elementary Schools Unconstitutional

The Constitutional Court of Austria has held that headscarf ban in elementary schools is unconstitutional.The Court held that the regulation violates the principle of equality in connection with the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.The School Education Act prohibited pupil from wearing ideologically or religious clothing that involves covering their heads until the end of...

Vagrancy Laws are Reflection Of An Outdated And Largely Colonial Perception: African Rights Court

The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights in an advisory opinion dated 4th December 2020 declared the national vagrancy laws criminalizing the homeless, poor, unemployed person having no means of subsistence to be incompatible with the provisions of African Children's Rights Charter and the Women's Rights Protocol. The Court comprising of 12 Members (9 judges, President, Vice...

US Supreme Court Rejects Trump-Backed Texas State's Suit To Invalidate Results In Favor Of Joe Biden

In a major set back to Donald Trump's bid to overturn the election results against him, the Supreme Court of the United States of America rejected a legal challenge attempted by the State of Texas backed by Trump to undo the election results in favour of Joe Biden in four states.The suit sought to invalidate the election results in the states of Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.In...

While Three US Supreme Court Judges Dissenting, Execution Of Brandon Bernard Was Carried Out After 21 Years Of Crime

The federal government of the United States of America carried out the execution of 40-year old Brandon Bernard via lethal injection on Thursday, December 10 2020 despite wide spread call for commutation of the death sentence from human rights activists, celebrities, and a large social media campaign. Notably, five of the nine surviving jurors who originally found Bernard guilty as well...

Right To Freedom Of Expression Is The Lifeblood Of A Genuine Constitutional Democracy: South Africa Constitutional Court Reads Down Its Riotous Assemblies Act

The Constitutional Court of South Africa has held that the section 18(2)(b) of the Riotous Assemblies Act is unconstitutional to the extent that it criminalises the incitement of another to commit "any offence".We should always lean in favour of respecting, protecting and promoting [ the fundamental] rights rather than settle for the easy and more deleterious option of taking them away, the...

Even In A Pandemic, Constitution Cannot Be Put Away: US Supreme Court Restrains Enforcement Of Strict Restrictions On Religious Services

The Supreme Court of the United States of America has restrained the authorities from enforcing the severe restrictions imposed by the New York Governor on attendance at religious services in areas classified as "red" or "orange" zones.The restrictions by effectively barring many from attending religious services, strike at the very heart of the First Amendment's guarantee of religious...

UAE Decriminalizes Attempted Suicide, Alcohol Consumption & Cohabitation Of Unmarried Couples; Amends Personal & Succession Laws

United Arab Emirates has amended various personal, succession and criminal laws, the leading UAE daily 'The National' reported.UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, approved federal law decrees to amend these laws.The amendments, according to the media, is one of the biggest overhauls of the legal system in years. Attempted suicide and Alcohol consumption is no longer a...

Johnny Depp Loses Libel Suit Against 'The Sun'; UK Court Says Article Calling Him 'Wife Beater' Substantially True [Read Judgment]

High profile Hollywood actor Johhny Depp has lost his libel suit filed against UK newspaper 'The Sun' for calling him a 'wife-beater'.The Queen's Bench Division of the London High Court dismissed the suit filed by Depp holding that the article published by 'The Sun' was 'substantially true'."The Claimant has not succeeded in his action for libel. Although he has proved the necessary elements...