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Gautam Bhatia

Gautam Bhatia

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Blending Genres in Myriad Fascinating Ways, ‘Zoraver and the Lost Gods’ is a Page-Turner

Listen to this article: The Indian freedom struggle is an event that is both over-determined and under-determined. Books – both laudatory and...

28.03.2026 10

The Wire

Gautam Bhatia

In the gig economy, law and labour are at odds

20.01.2026 30

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

Court, executive and the test of constitutionality

The separation of powers envisaged in the Constitution asks for the three organs of State to check and regulate each other

09.12.2025 10

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

Why India’s judiciary needs to defend free speech

It is not the task of the State or the courts to force individuals to say or think the “right” or desirable things

14.11.2025 10

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

In the denial of bail, a miscarriage of justice

The Delhi High Court denied bail to nine activists linked to the 2020 riots, raising concerns over justice and the right to protest peacefully.

12.09.2025 30

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

Delhi HC Judgment Denying Bail to Umar Khalid, Others Will Stand as a Monument to Infamy

04.09.2025 20

The Wire

Gautam Bhatia

The perils of pilgrimage in the age of the spiritual bucket list

20.07.2025 30

The Times of India

Gautam Bhatia

A Bill for Big Brother to weaponise speech

One of the cardinal rules of free speech philosophy is that the law should be precisely worded, leaving little discretionary power with the executive.

18.07.2025 10

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

Crossing the red lines on the right to free speech 

The Constitution does not criminalise thoughts, emotions, feelings, and speech, patriotic or otherwise, unless they amount to incitement to violence...

23.05.2025 20

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

What the court is not expected to tell media

The Supreme Court’s remark in Wikipedia case offers a moment of clarity in the relations between two important institutions

16.05.2025 10

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

Why can’t we laugh & therefore be free?

11.04.2025 20

The Times of India

Gautam Bhatia

How the Supreme Court spoke out for free speech

The substantive and procedural aspects of the Imran Pratapgarhi judgment should reduce the ease with which speech can be criminalised in India

06.04.2025 30

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

SC Order in Ranveer Allahbadia Case Lacks Constitutional Sanction

04.03.2025 9

The Wire

Gautam Bhatia

What the Court missed in the Allahbadia case

The judiciary’s role is to test speech-restricting laws on the anvil of the Constitution’s fundamental rights — not to egg on the State to bring...

25.02.2025 20

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia

The Indian Art Fair Needs to Get Out of its Bubble and Reimagine Itself

05.02.2025 10

The Wire

Gautam Bhatia

Draft data protection rules can be improved

Issues around over-breadth, clarity, and discretionary power being placed in the hands of State agencies call for wider discussion

09.01.2025 10

hindustantimes

Gautam Bhatia