This issue contains five papers. The first paper, “Human Rights in India: What
Still Needs to Be Done”, by Shivanand H Lengati and C B Ranganathaiah,
displays the keenness of the Indian State in promoting human rights like many other developing countries. The authors emphasize the need for involving youth in the promotion of human rights and dwell upon the importance of organizing and facilitating training activities, including courses or seminars on international domestic law as well as international human rights. The authors suggest some means and methods through which development of human rights culture in the community can be achieved.
In the second paper, “Judicial Review of Administrative Actions: A Critical Study with Reference to the Writ of Mandamus in the Indian Scenario” the author, Sanjay S Bang, explains the judicial control of the administrative actions by way of writ of Mandamus in India and the landmark judgments given by the Apex Court in relation to it. The author elaborates the position of the doctrine in English and American legal systems and highlights the new dimensions of the writ of Mandamus in the Indian scenario. The author advocates that it is the right time for the judiciary to take active part in exercising the writ of Mandamus by repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) and directing the government to form the policy to ensure fairness in the administration and to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation, especially in the North-Eastern States of India.
K Sivanand Kumar, in the third paper, “The Non-State Actors’ Liability for Human Rights: A Challenge to State”, offers a glimpse of the complex relationship that is taking shape in the Indian legal sphere between human rights and the non-state actors. The author describes the growing perception that States may continue to be held responsible for non-state activities, including those of international organizations in the course of their activities. The author discusses the wide ambit of fundamental rights and their judicial expansion by the courts in discharging the heavy responsibility of safeguarding human rights in the light of our constitutional mandate.
The fourth paper, “Corporate Social Responsibility: The Indian Scenario”, by
V R Uma, analyzes the obligation imposed by the Companies Act, 2013 and discusses the significance of corporate social responsibility and its need in the present-day scenario. The author highlights the CSR role models from the Indian industry and indicates that effective partnerships between corporate, NGOs and the government will place India’s social development on a faster track. The author suggests steps to develop a CSR strategy and policy, and identifies the key building blocks for initiating and developing the CSR programs.
The last paper, “Global Environmental Governance: A Legal Perspective”, by
S Ravi, presents a comprehensive and stimulating introduction to the key environmental issues presently threatening our global environment. The author seeks to identify the number of practical steps and the regional initiatives taken to foster a more efficient and effective environmental regime. The author observes that concerns with regard to the field of international environmental law, have been growing, especially in recent years, parallel to the rapidly expanding field of international law.
-- V Hemalatha Devi
Consulting Editor
