72 Legal Experts Urge CJI to Retract Remarks on Environmental Activism A group of 72 legal professionals, including lawyers, law students, faculty, researchers, and activists, has written an open letter to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, demanding the retraction of recent Supreme Court remarks that cast doubt on the legitimacy of environmental activism. The letter, released on May 21, 2026, argues that the court’s observations undermine the role of public interest litigation (PILs) in holding authorities accountable for developmental decisions. The signatories are members of the National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights (NAJAR), a collective of legal professionals. The letter criticizes a Supreme Court bench, led by CJI Surya Kant and Justice [name redacted], for its May 11 remarks questioning the validity of environmental activists’ claims. The bench had stated, “Show us even a single project in this country where these alleged environmental activists have said that we welcome this project.” The legal experts argue that these comments unfairly stigmatize citizens and communities who use legal mechanisms to protect ecological interests. They contend that the remarks represent a broader shift in judicial philosophy, moving away from viewing environmental litigation as a constitutional duty toward treating it as an obstruction to development. The letter emphasizes that the court’s stance risks marginalizing citizens who act as enforcers of statutory obligations. It highlights a perceived judicial trend of dismissing environmental activists as “so-called” advocates rather than recognizing their role in upholding environmental laws.#surya_kant #chief_justice_of_india #national_green_triputial #ngt_act
ICSI Unveils Global ADR Centre to Tackle Court Backlog and Speed Up Justice The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has announced plans to establish an international centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to address the growing backlog in courts and expedite the resolution of commercial and civil disputes. The initiative, aimed at creating a parallel mechanism to the formal judicial system, was highlighted by ICSI national president Pawan Chandak, who emphasized the urgent need for systemic alternatives due to the overwhelming workload of courts. Chandak cited remarks by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, noting that the judiciary’s current overload could result in cases taking decades to resolve. The proposed ADR centre will initially be based in Noida, with plans to expand to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, as well as international hubs like Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and London. Chandak described the platform as a "structured ecosystem" for arbitration and mediation, designed to complement the judicial system by diverting disputes to specialized forums. This approach is expected to reduce delays and provide more efficient solutions for parties involved in legal conflicts. Beyond dispute resolution, ICSI is broadening its engagement with emerging businesses through initiatives like the Startup and MSME Catalyst programme. This programme aims to equip company secretaries with expertise in business registration, financing, and compliance, supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises. The institute is also strengthening its global outreach in collaboration with the ministry of external affairs, focusing on corporate governance frameworks that address environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, sustainability disclosures, and global risk management.#delhi #noida #surya_kant #icsi #pawan_chandak
Why Michel Danino's Scholarship Must Be Cherished And Celebrated The Supreme Court recently drew attention to Michel Danino’s work amid a controversy involving a Class 8 NCERT textbook chapter on "corruption in the judiciary." On 11 March, the court ordered the blacklisting of three experts, including Danino, for their involvement in drafting the chapter. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, criticized the NCERT director’s response to the controversy, calling it "disturbing" after the chapter was rewritten without disclosing new experts or approval processes. The court directed the Union government and states to disassociate from Danino, Suparna Diwakar, and Alok Prasanna Kumar, citing concerns about their alleged misrepresentation of the Indian judiciary’s image to students. However, the three individuals were given the option to seek a modification of the order. Danino, a French-born Indian scholar and author, has been a subject of scrutiny in academic and media circles for years. Born in 1956 in Honfleur, France, he has lived in India since 1977 and holds Indian citizenship. Influenced by Sri Aurobindo and Auroville, he has dedicated his career to studying India’s ancient heritage. A visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar, he has authored works such as The Lost River: On the Trail of the Sarasvati (2010) and Indian Culture and India’s Future (2011). He has also co-edited textbooks on Indian knowledge traditions and edited Sri Aurobindo and India’s Rebirth (2018). Critics have accused Danino of promoting an ideological agenda, particularly for his sympathetic portrayal of ancient India’s civilisational achievements, his defense of the Sarasvati river’s physical existence, and his questioning of the Aryan invasion theory.#supreme_court #ncert #michel_danino #surya_kant #joymalya_bagchi
