Common Cause Events
Discussion on Legal Remedies Addressing Racism in India
On February 28, 2026, Divya Chauhan participated in an X (Twitter) Forum discussion organsied by Yawol Chanura. Divya was a guest speaker alongside Dr Junmoni Devi Khaund, a Northeastern film producer and lawyer, and Elizabeth Khumallambam, National Coordinator of National Platform for Domestic Workers (NPDW). The open forum discussion focused on the issue of racism in India, particularly in light of recent incidents of racial abuse reported in Malviya Nagar, Delhi. The conversation explored the legal framework addressing racism, remedies available in cases of racial abuse, actionable steps for victims, and the broader socio-cultural question of why people from Northeast India are often perceived as “others” in mainland India.
Workshop on Police Torture and Accountability
On 23 February, the Criminal Justice Clinic, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) hosted Ms Radhika Jha from Common Cause India for a detailed and engaging session on the Status of Policing in India Report 2025: Police Torture and (Un)Accountability. During the discussion, Ms Jha guided students through the report’s key findings, highlighting concerns around custodial deaths, gaps in accountability, and the urgent need for policing reforms grounded in rights and evidence. The session prompted thoughtful reflection on institutional responsibility and the role of law in upholding constitutional safeguards. Students participated actively throughout and described the discussion as both insightful and intellectually stimulating.
The Impact of Election Commissioners’ Appointments on Electoral Credibility
On 10 March 2026, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) convened a high-level Stakeholder Discussion on Electoral and Political Reforms at the India International Centre, New Delhi. Bringing together former constitutional authorities, parliamentarians, jurists, civil society actors, academics, journalists, and students, the programme created an important forum for deliberating on institutional reforms critical to India’s democratic health.
While the broader consultation engaged with multiple aspects of electoral reform, the discussions were anchored around the session on “The Impact of Election Commissioners’ Appointment Procedures on Electoral Credibility”, chaired by Dr Vipul Mudgal, Director Common Cause, Trustee of ADR and NEW. Drawing upon the long-standing advocacy of Common Cause for transparency and accountability, this session foregrounded the appointment process of the Election Commissioners as a core determinant of public trust in electoral institutions.
The panel, comprising Justice Madan B. Lokur, former Supreme Court Judge; Ashok Lavasa, former Election Commissioner of India; Sasikanth Senthil, Member of Parliament; and Anjali Bhardwaj, social activist, examined how opaque and executive-dominated selection processes risk weakening the perceived independence of the Election Commission. Speakers repeatedly underlined that electoral credibility does not rest solely on procedures on polling day, but on the integrity of institutions tasked with overseeing the entire electoral cycle.
National Consultation on Prison Overcrowding and Reforms
On February 10, 2026, India Justice Report (IJR) and Prayas, a field action project of TISS, jointly organised a National Consultation with civil society organisations on prison overcrowding and reforms at the Prof. Armaity Desai Conference Hall, TISS Mumbai Campus. The consultation brought together over 30 civil society organisations and actors from across the country, including Common Cause among others.
Ms Maja Daruwalla, Chief Editor of IJR, opened the consultation by setting the context and emphasising the importance of approaching prison reforms as a collective and collaborative exercise. This was followed by a presentation by Ms Madhurima Dhanuka and her colleagues from IJR, who shared data highlighting the on-ground realities of prisons in India and the scale of the challenges posed by overcrowding. Radhika Jha, project lead, Rule of Law, and one of the authors of India Justice Report, attended the event and provided her valuable inputs on the subject matter at hand.
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