Goonj – India Law Blog & Insights on Society and Spirituality

The Shadow of the Locked Door: Kerala Single Dwelling Place Protection Bill 2025 A Human Story Behind a Landmark Law In a small, rain-soaked lane in rural Kerala, the sound of an Advocate Commissioner’s car pulling up is followed by the metallic click of a heavy lock. NARRATOR: In Kerala, every four cents of land holds a dream — a dream of veedu , of family, of security. For generations, this small piece of earth has been a sanctuary, the ultimate promise: No matter what, we will always have a roof over our heads. (The scene focuses on an elderly woman, Ammachi, standing outside a modest, color-washed home. Her hands clutch a crumpled notice. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, shimmer with heartbreak.) AMMACHI (whispering, broken): A loan for my daughter’s dowry… a debt of five lakhs. We paid, we struggled… then my son lost his Gulf job during the pandemic. They said, “The house is collateral.” We thought it was just paper. (A cold, official voice cuts through, echoing the cent...

The Hidden Injury of Poverty: Why Dignity Is the New Frontline   International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – 17 October On October 17th, 1987 over 100,000 people gathered at the Trocadero in Paris – the site where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948. They gathered to honour victims of extreme poverty, hunger and fear. Activist Joseph Wrensinki, founder of the international movement ATD Fourth World , unveiled a commemorative stone inscribed with his words “Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty.” The United Nations Mandate: From Protest to Global Pledge Five years later in 1992 the United Nations formally adopted this date transforming a single act of protest into an annual, worldwide mandate for justice. The United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) officially declared October 17th as the International Day for the Era...

Catch 22 Situation : The Struggle of Disabled Cadets An injury or illness during military training is a life altering event. While most people associate military disability with veterans who have served in the military for years. But a different and often most precarious struggle exist for those who suffered debilitating injury before they are formally commissioned. These cadets, who have dedicated years of there lives to rigorous physical and academic preparation, find themselves in a unique and difficult position. They are often stuck in a bureaucratic and legal limbo that leaves them without the institutional and financial support afforded to their veteran counterparts. No Legal Status A key struggle for these cadets is their lack of legal status as a “Service Member.” In some countries they are not considered veterans or active-duty personnel. This distinction can be devastating, as it often means that they are ineligible for many of the benefits that would otherwise provide a cruc...

  🏛️ Celebrating Minorities Rights Day in India: Upholding Dignity and Equality 🌐 Introduction Franklin Roosevelt once said, “No democracy can long survive which does not accept as fundamental to its very existence the recognition of the rights of minorities.” Minorities Rights Day in India is observed annually on November 18th , following the UN General Assembly’s 1992 declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities . This day raises awareness about challenges faced by religious, linguistic, and social minorities and emphasizes the importance of equality, dignity, and empowerment. India, with its diverse cultures and faiths, is committed to secularism and protecting the rights of all citizens, irrespective of religion, language, or identity. 📜 Definition and Legal Framework Even though the Constitution of India uses the term “minority,” it does not explicitly define it. National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 (Sect...

🪷 Sari, (All) Saree, Sorry… When “smart casuals” clash with cultural identity — a reflection on modern discrimination wrapped in colonial hangover.   “We only allow smart casuals, and saree does not come under smart casuals.” A brown girl in a posh restaurant in New Delhi prohibits the entrance of a brown lady. Yes — not a scene from the British Raj, but from our very own state capital , in free India , that attained independence at midnight on 15th August 1947 . Unknowingly, my mind wandered and started flipping the pages of India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra . I recalled the Swadeshi and Non-Cooperation Movements — potent tools to drive away the colonial yoke. But now, it seems, that phrase has turned into a twisted modern version: “Non-Swadeshi (attire), Non-Entrance.” 🕰️ History Continues — It Doesn’t Repeat Ah, how easily we forget. “Time is the best healer,” they say. How long can we remember those “crazy guys” who sacrificed their lives for this c...