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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The disturbing incident of stabbing of a student in the University College in Thiruvananthapuram bares the dangerous dimensions student politics has acquired in Kerala.

Modi Government has come up with a Model Tenancy Act 2019 on 11 July 2019, as proclaimed by Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget presentation. In June 2015, Mr. Modi declaring a goal of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022 which would mean all would be house owners and there would be no tenants. But then the irony of his government bringing in a model law after four years to strengthen house-owners against tenants is not lost on any discerning observer!

It is sarcastic. Notwithstanding trade war between India and USA heightened with India embracing high tariff for retaliation, USA became the biggest trading partner of India in 2018-19, leaving behind China at the second position. Till then, China was holding the top position since 2013-14. Trade confrontation spurred with USA abrogating GSP benefits and imposing high tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum items. India retaliated the move by raising tariffs on 28 items of imports from USA.

The public dispute between Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is being portrayed by the mainstream media as a challenge to unity in the Democratic Party. Yet, as history continues to be made with an unprecedented number of women of color running for and winning public office, it may represent a surging social democratic grassroots trend that is increasingly challenging the party’s mainstream liberal faction for leadership. It’s seeking unity, but under a new direction, one not beholden to the status quo. And it’s a challenge being led by women of color.

On July 17 last year, the Supreme Court of India in Tehseen S. Poonawalla vs Union Of India described “lynching” as an affront to the rule of law and to the exalted values of the Constitution itself. The court termed it an extrajudicial attempt under the guise of the protection of the law – a situation that had to be nipped in the bud “lest it would lead to the rise of anarchy and lawlessness that would plague and corrode the nation like an epidemic”.

A recent proposal by the government of India to install nuclear power plants in Punjab has once again generated debate on whether the nuclear energy is a viable option for electricity generation? According to Global Energy Statistical Yearbook 2018 India is 3rd largest energy consumer. This accounts for about 6 per cent of global energy for 130 crore people which is roughly 17 per cent of total global population. The sources of electricity production include Thermal (Coal, Diesel, Gas), Hydro Electric, Renewables (Solar, wind) Residual Biomass etc.

The Congress party is going through one of its worst phases, after the disastrous election verdict in May, 2019. Its governments in few States have become immensely vulnerable to BJP’s constant attempts to bribe them, and destabilise the governments. On 1st July, 2019, the Congress-JDS led Karnataka Government fell into major crisis when 15 MLAs Congress and JD (S) MLAs resigned from their assembly seats, and sought to give the resignations to the Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly, but the Speaker refused to meet them. The MLAs had been taken to a hotel in Mumbai, and there were apprehensions that the BJP personnel were also with them and not allowing any Congress representatives to meet the rebel MLAs. Further, the Speaker rejected the resignations of the some of the MLAs and returned them to be filed in proper form. The five MLAs, whose resignations were in order, were asked by the Speaker to meet them to discuss their resignations. None of the MLAs then met the speaker. The MLAs then, 10 in number, moved the Supreme Court against the rejection of these resignations.

The 134 year old Indian National Congress, the oldest party of the country, which still remains the largest opposition party, is going through its worst phase — the party had ever seen after the independence of the country. Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections very badly despite being in opposition for the last five years with the party almost being wiped out in the Hindi heartland and its the then president Rahul Gandhi himself losing his seat from Amethi, the traditional Gandhi family burrow. Adding to that, Rahul Gandhi's resignation from the post of presidentship of the party has completely left the party headless.

The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha has begun well without much disturbance with even first timers getting an opportunity to make their maiden speeches. While the 16th Lok Sabha saw a divided and fractured Opposition, the current one has so far seen only feeble voices with no effort to speak in one voice. This could be because the Opposition is yet to recover from the blow it has received in the elections.

Weekly Round-Up of Major Decisions of the Courts in India as also Legal Policy Developments