For years the central government delays setting up a tribunal to resolve the water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, bad monsoons exacerbate issues for farmers on both sides. In 1990, the Supreme Court finally directs the centre to set up a tribunal, a quasi-judicial body to deal with the dispute. Both sides lay their claims before the tribunal and marshall expert witnesses to support their respective cases. Can a tribunal bring about a satisfactory resolution for everyone? And if the Constitution forbids such a matter from reaching the Supreme Court, what options do the states have left?

Reference

A list of archival resources used to research this episode can be found here:

The transcript and full list of resources are available here:  https://anildivanfoundation.org/episode5 

Credits:

Host:  Raghu Karnad

Guest: AK Ganguli, AS Panneerselvam, KK Lahiri, Mohan Katarki, Sharad Javali, Srinivas Chokkakula, Sugata Srinivasaraju, 

Research Manager:  Ramya Boddupalli

Legal Researcher: Vipinn Mittaal

Scriptwriter: Ramya Boddupalli 

Script editor: Bhavya Dore

Fact checker: Vipinn Mittaal

Advisors: Lawrence Liang, Ranvir Singh, Shyam Divan and Vivek Divan

Head of Production: Shaun Fanthome

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas 

Production Assistant: Sakshi Nair

Sound Design & Mix: Kartik Kulkarni

Sound Editor & Music Supervisor: Lakshman Parsuram 

Graphic Designer: Sephin Alexander

The Cauvery river, which flows through the Southern peninsula has long been the site of disagreements and negotiations. The dispute initially takes off in the 1800s when the princely state of Mysore and Presidency of Madras both lay claim to the river. With new dam building technologies, each side tries to best harness the waters to their ends. Eventually the two sides reach agreements—first in 1892 and later in 1924. The 1924 agreement seems to give one side the upper hand. After Independence, the end of the agreement approaches in 1974, the dispute starts to flare up again. Enmeshed as it is in linguistic identity politics, livelihood issues and electoral politics, the dispute continues to catch fire through the decades. 

References

The transcript and full list of resources are available here: http://anildivanfoundation.org/episode4 

Credits:

Host:  Raghu Karnad

Guest: AS Panneerselvam, KK Lahiri, Sharad Javali, Sugata Srinivasaraju

Research Manager:  Ramya Boddupalli

Legal Researcher: Vipinn Mittaal

Scriptwriter: Ramya Boddupalli 

Script editor: Bhavya Dore

Fact checker: Vipinn Mittaal

Advisors: Lawrence Liang, Ranvir Singh, Shyam Divan and Vivek Divan

Head of Production: Shaun Fanthome

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas 

Production Assistant: Sakshi Nair

Sound Design & Mix: Kartik Kulkarni

Sound Editor & Music Supervisor: Lakshman Parsuram 

Graphic Designer: Sephin Alexander

The 1996 elections loom, and a beleaguered Congress party struggles to win back power. In the meantime, the Hawala PIL is clubbed with other similar anti-corruption petitions in the Supreme court. In the lower court, LK Advani and other prominent figures, find themselves facing a trial in the Hawala corruption-related cases. As action builds inside and outside the courts, an anti-corruption campaigner switches teams. And amicus curiae Anil Divan makes a shocking discovery that will upend the course of the litigations and bring new documents to light. Ultimately, what will come of all the legal proceedings? And what will be the legacy of the Jain Hawala PIL? 

References

A list of archival resources used to research this episode can be found here:

Archive: https://documents.legalarchive.in/static/timeline/#Jain%20Hawala%20Case/AQU

Transcript: https://www.anildivanfoundation.org/episode3 

Credits:

Host:  Raghu Karnad

Guest: Ashok Kumar Panda, Kamini Jaiswal, Prashant Bhushan, Shantonu Sen

Research Manager:  Ramya Boddupalli

Legal Researcher: Vipinn Mittaal and Uday Vir Garg

Scriptwriter: Ramya Boddupalli 

Script editor: Bhavya Dore

Fact checker: Vipinn Mittaal

Advisors: Lawrence Liang, Ranvir Singh,  Shyam Divan and Vivek Divan

Head of Production: Shaun Fanthome

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas 

Production Assistant: Sakshi Nair

Sound Design & Mix: Kartik Kulkarni

Sound Editor & Music Supervisor: Lakshman Parsuram 

Graphic Designer: Sephin Alexander

The CBI’s investigation into the mysterious set of diaries has stalled, despite evidence of widespread corruption among top politicians and bureaucrats. Public-spirited citizens decide it is time to act. Journalist Vineet Narain picks up the story again and makes it a national issue through his video platform. Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani joins the crusade. Anil Divan, a formidable lawyer is approached to take on the public interest litigation, a first-of-its-kind corruption petition. The petitioners want the court to push the CBI to investigate, given the evidence it has. Divan is sceptical about the outcome, but comes on board. The first phase of the litigation plays out. 

References

A list of archival resources used to research this episode can be found here:

Archive: https://documents.legalarchive.in/static/timeline/#Jain%20Hawala%20Case/AQU

Transcript: https://www.anildivanfoundation.org/episode2 

Credits:

Host:  Raghu Karnad

Guests: Abani Sahu, Ashok Kumar Panda, Kamini Jaiswal, Justice Mukul Mudgal, Prashant Bhushan, Sanjay Kapoor, Shantonu Sen 

Research Manager:  Ramya Boddupalli

Legal Researcher: Vipinn Mittaal and Uday Vir Garg

Scriptwriter: Ramya Boddupalli 

Script editor: Bhavya Dore

Fact checker: Vipinn Mittaal

Advisors: Lawrence Liang, Ranvir Singh, Shyam Divan and Vivek Divan

Head of Production: Shaun Fanthome

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas 

Production Assistant: Sakshi Nair

Sound Design & Mix: Kartik Kulkarni

Sound Editor & Music Supervisor: Lakshman Parusuam

Graphic Designer: Sephin Alexander

It’s 1991. Rajiv Gandhi has been assassinated and PV Narasimha Rao has just been sworn in. Militancy is on the rise in Kashmir. The CBI discovers a mysterious set of diaries while investigating terror financing networks. The trail leads to the Jains, a powerful business family that in turn points to Rs 65 crore being paid to various prominent figures, including politicians and bureaucrats. The tabloid paper Blitz gets the scoop, splashing it on the front page. But the matter quickly dies down. How does the black economy work? What is the hawala system? Why is this scandal being hushed up?

References:A list of archival resources used to research this episode can be found here:

Transcript: https://www.anildivanfoundation.org/episode1

Archive - https://documents.legalarchive.in/static/timeline/#Jain%20Hawala%20Case/AQU

Credits: 

Host:  Raghu Karnad

Guest: Arun Kumar, Sanjay Kapoor, Shantonu Sen, Vineet Narrain

Research Manager:  Ramya Boddupalli

Legal Researcher: Vipinn Mittaal

Scriptwriter: Ramya Boddupalli 

Script editor: Bhavya Dore

Fact checker: Vipinn Mittaal

Advisors: Lawrence Liang, Ranvir Singh, Shyam Divan and Vivek Divan

Head of Production: Shaun Fanthome

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas 

Producer: Abbas Momin

Producer/Sound Editor: Joshua Thomas

Production Assistant: Sakshi Nair

Sound Design & Mix: Kartik Kulkarni

Graphic Designer: Sephin Alexander

Anil Divan was a senior advocate, constitutional expert and champion of public-spirited causes. With more than six decades at the bar, Divan was among India’s most respected legal minds. In Season 1 we will look at three of his most significant cases: the Jain Hawala PIL, the Cauvery River Water Dispute and the National Judicial Appointments Commission cases.

Transcript: https://www.anildivanfoundation.org/prologue

Credits: 

Host:  Raghu Karnad

Research Manager:  Ramya Boddupalli

Legal Researcher: Vipinn Mittaal

Scriptwriter: Ramya Boddupalli 

Script editor: Bhavya Dore

Fact checker: Vipinn Mittaal

Advisors: Lawrence Liang, Ranvir Singh, Shyam Divan and Vivek Divan

Head of Production: Shaun Fanthome

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas 

Producer: Abbas Momin

Producer/Sound Editor: Joshua Thomas

Production Assistant: Sakshi Nair

Sound Design & Mix: Kartik Kulkarni

Graphic Designer: Sephin Alexander