What comes first? Monuments or people’s jobs? In this episode of The Longest Constitution, we take a look at yet another MC Mehta petition (there were several!) and how the PIL went from being a tool for the poor to an unaccountable weapon wielded by the Supreme Court. We also look at a case where a serial killer petitioned for his right to privacy and consent when it came to his autobiography being published. The case raised the question of whether a ‘public figure’ can file for defamation? And lastly, we look into electoral bonds and their unconstitutional nature, more deeply.

On electoral bonds:

1. https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/electoral-bonds-rti-arun-jaitley-law-ministry_in_5e2eccb1c5b6d6767fd8733f?utm_hp_ref=in-electoral-bonds

2. Sondhi, Aditya, “Elections”, in Choudhry, Sujit (et al), The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution, OUP: New Delhi.

On the Taj Mahal and environmental litigation:

1. Divan, Shyam and Armin Rosencraz, (ed) (2001), Environmental law and policy in India, New Delhi: OUP. Chapter 13.

On Auto Shankar and defamation:

1. https://globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/cases/r-rajagopal-v-state-of-t-n/

2. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai//article60429828.ece

3. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/infosys-slaps-defamation-notice-on-three-newspapers/article6098717.ece

4. Bhatia, Gautam, 2016, Offend, Shock, or Disturb: Free Speech under the Indian Constitution, New Delhi: OUP. Chapter 8.

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