The Legalizer

July 7th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Can dwarfs be classified as physically handicapped to allow them the benefits of reservation? While the dwarf community in Kerala is demanding job quota benefits, the state government has passed the buck to the central government to decide whether they merit reservation. State Health Minister P.K.

June 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A day after he threatened to consume poison inside the Lok Sabha over the women's reservation bill, Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav Saturday said that "no quota will help" unless the scourge of casteism is addressed. Yadav told reporters here that he would continue to protest against the women's reservation bill - which aims to reserve 33 percent seats for women in the parliament and state legislatures - in its present form.

May 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A candidate from a reserved category has cleared the civil services exam without using any quota. Can he now use quota to improve his chances in the services? The Supreme Court Thursday decided to examine this question.

June 23rd, 2009 KOCHI - A special court here Tuesday issued summons to Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Kerala unit secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and eight other accused after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet in the Rs.374 crore (Rs.3.74 billion) scam in a deal with Canadian firm SNC Lavalin. All the accused have been summoned to appear before the special CBI court Sep 24.

July 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Civil society groups working for women's rights Thursday urged the MPs to keep the issue of the women's reservation bill alive in parliament and push for its speedy passage. Ranjana Kumari, director of Women Power Connect, while welcoming the increase in women's numbers at 'panchayat' (village council) level, said the bill for 33 percent reservation for women in parliament must be passed and should be a priority for all parliamentarians.

August 13th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Foreign remittances to Kerala increased 135 percent during 2003-08, making it one of the major pillars of the state's economy, says a study conducted by the city-based Centre for Development Studies (CDS). The report, "Decade of Kerala's Gulf Connection, Migration Monitoring Study, 2008", said foreign remittances increased from Rs.184,000 crore ($38 billion) in 2003 to Rs.433,000 crore in 2008.

August 2nd, 2009 KOCHI - Got a legal query or grievance but confused who to talk to? You could do as many in Kerala are doing by calling a phone-in programme which was telecast Sunday in which high court judges are participating. The programme "Adalat" is a phone-in programme where judges of the Kerala High Court S.R.

July 6th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Monday told the state assembly that a comprehensive law is being prepared to tackle the increasing number of cyber crimes being reported in the state. "We are working with the legal department to see that a comprehensive law is worked out.