Just, but only just
Has liberal space expanded and conservative space shrunk in India’s legal arena? Perhaps yes, to the extent that there is greater transparency and accountability in governance thanks to the courts. But have things really changed in a substantive way? This only time will tell but India’s active press and judiciary have ensured that our basic and human rights are protected by not allowing the arrogance of power to go unchallenged.
In 2010, we saw a combination of action in courts and in Parliament which impacted human rights, and democratic governance and transparency. Some of it came to conclusion, while much of it is still pending adjudication or is yet in bill form. One of the most significant pieces of legislation introduced was the bill for amending the Constitution to reserve one-third of all seats in Parliament and state legislatures for women.