Counterview

By A Representative   A recent decision of the Gujarat Information Commission declining disclosure of a Gram Sabha attendance register under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has triggered a debate among transparency advocates, with former Madhya Pradesh State Information Commissioner Rahul Singh urging the Commission to reconsider its legal interpretation.

By Dr. P.K. Gupta*   India proudly claims a doctor-to-population ratio of 1:811—better than the WHO benchmark of 1:1,000. We have 812 medical colleges churning out over 126,600 MBBS graduates annually. Yet, millions remain without adequate care, while hundreds of thousands of trained doctors and nurses are either unemployed, underemployed, or fleeing abroad.

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ*  Exactly five years ago, on 5 July 2021, Jesuit Father Stan Swamy was murdered. He was killed not for a crime, but for his convictions. He was killed because he refused to bow to a brutal, fascist regime. He was killed because he took an unwavering stand for justice and truth. He was killed because he chose to accompany the Adivasis and other subaltern communities in their struggle for a more dignified, equitable, and humane existence. He was killed because he would not compromise with corrupt, communal, and anti-people forces that subvert our constitutional order. Above all, he was killed because he believed in humanity and the power of ordinary people.

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur*  In June 2026, much of Europe found itself in the grip of a brutal and unrelenting heat wave. Across the continent, temperatures soared past 40°C, with the Spanish city of Andújar recording a staggering 45°C. According to the World Health Organisation, between June 21 and 29 alone, this extreme weather claimed at least 1,300 lives. France bore the heaviest toll, with over a thousand deaths. Tragically, 40 to 50 of those victims drowned while trying to cool off in lakes and rivers—a desperate act that proved fatal.

By Harsh Thakor*  On June 25, 2026, Wang Quanying, believed to be the last surviving veteran of China's historic Long March, celebrated her 105th birthday in Sichuan Province. The occasion was marked by a tribute that bridged history and memory: she was presented with two digitally restored portraits depicting her as a teenage Red Army soldier. Smiling warmly at the images, Wang gave a thumbs-up, a simple gesture that reflected a life shaped by extraordinary hardship, resilience and commitment.

By A Representative   The International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) joined Indigenous Peoples, human rights defenders and civil society groups worldwide on July 3 in observing the Global Day of Action Against Terror Laws, using the occasion to criticize counter-terrorism legislation that it says has been used to suppress Indigenous communities and rights defenders rather than combat terrorism.