THE THIRD VOICE REALITY AND VISION
Vol No-8 | Issue No-1 | June 2026

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Judicial Review of Governor’s Discretionary Powers: A Political Analysis of Supreme Court Interventions in India

Sunita Meena

Abstract: India is constitutionally a federal democratic countrydesigned to balance regional autonomy with national unity in a highly diverse society. The Constitution distributes powers between the Union and State governments with strong centralizing powers to the Union Government in order to maintain country’s unity and integrity. Within this constitutional framework, the office of the Governor plays an important role in maintaining the balance between the Union government and State government while protecting federalism, democratic values and constitutional morality. However, the Governor’s discretionary powers, along with the process of appointment by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministershave frequently become a source of political controversy.During periods of intense political rivalrybetween the Union government and the State governments, gubernatorial discretionary powers, particularly in matters of forming state governments, giving or delaying assent to bills, and reserving bills for the President, have often been seen as an instrument of the Union government to influence or control opposition-ruled states. Such actions haverepeatedly invited Supreme Court scrutiny and judicial review. This article examines the judicial review of gubernatorial discretion from a political angle. It emphasizes the Supreme Court’s role in checking the political use of constitutional authority and resolving Centre-State tensions. The article further highlightsthe judiciary’s evolving role as an arbiter of federal conflicts. Special attention is given to recent landmark decisions onthe State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor of Tamil Nadu (2025) of the Supreme Court in addressing delays and inaction by Governors in the legislative process. The paper argues that judicial review of the Governor’s discretion is not merely a legal exercise but a political process through which the Supreme Court seeks to preserve federal balance and democratic accountability.

Keywords: Gubernatorial discretion, Judicial review, Centre–State relations, Federalism, Supreme Court of India

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Geriatric population in India, vulnerabilities and healthcare challenges: A Theoretical Perspective

Mamata Khandayatray

Abstract: India is undergoing a dramatic demographic shift. Driven by declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy, the country’s population of adults aged 60 and older is growing at an unprecedented rate. While this longevity dividend reflects advances in healthcare and socio-economic development, it also poses profound vulnerabilities and healthcare challenges. The rapid expansion of the geriatric population places immense pressure on an already strained healthcare system that historically prioritized maternal and child health. This paper provides a theoretical exploration of the multifaceted vulnerabilities and healthcare challenges confronting older adults in India. It analyses how the intersection of physical decline, financial insecurity, social isolation, and institutional gaps diminishes the quality of life for elderly individuals. Drawing upon gerontological theories—including Cumulative Disadvantage Theory, Activity Theory, and the Capability Approach—this paper highlights the structural, systemic, and societal factors that exacerbate geriatric vulnerability. The erosion of the traditional joint family system, compounded by the lack of comprehensive geriatric healthcare infrastructure and limited social security coverage, leaves many older adults vulnerable to physical, emotional, and economic neglect. Additionally, this study identifies critical gaps in India’s existing healthcare framework, such as the shortage of trained geriatric professionals, inadequate specialized facilities, and the urban-rural divide in healthcare accessibility. The paper concludes by emphasizing the urgent need to integrate geriatric care into the primary healthcare network and expand social welfare programs to foster active, healthy, and dignified aging.

Keywords: Old Age, Vulnerability, Deprivation, Geriatric, Demographic Change

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A Study on Challenges for Women Journalists in Electronic Media

Aparna Rastogi

Abstract: No nation can endure without its essential cornerstone, the media, whether print or electronic. When discussing the communication of government programs and schemes to the public, the media is paramount. Media is the fourth pillar of democracy, but do women in journalism receive equal opportunities? Even in the 21st century, journalism remains male-dominated, and soft news or feminine news is allocated to female journalists. Despite several opportunities in the realm of electronic media for women, several barriers persist for female journalists. This paper seeks to determine whether the pronounced disparity in the numbers and roles of female journalists exists throughout various regions of India. It examines hard and soft news articles disseminated by prominent regional English and Hindi newspapers. The analysis has been conducted about several characteristics, including the ratio of male to female reporters, the beats given to female journalists, the position of stories in newspapers, and the subject matter of news items. The findings demonstrate a clear underrepresentation of female journalists in hard news coverage.

Keywords: Feminine News; Gender Disparity; Gendered Journalism; Women Journalists, Electronic Media

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Tribal livelihoodsin south-western part of Odisha: A challenge to prosperity

Parikhita Bhoi

Abstract: Among the sixty-two tribal communities, the south-west tribal are considered most of the primitive tribal groups. They were for homicidal tendencies, habitat in inaccessible forest terrains, primitive shifting cultivation and subsistence economy. In the process of modernization, their culture and economy have been deeply affected. Their pristine life has undergone a drastic transformation. The socio-economic, political, cultural, religious, and ecological aspects of their life have been affected. The traditional patterns of livelihood of the tribals in the South-western region of Odisha are deeply rooted in their intimate relationship with the surrounding forests, hills, and natural environment. For generations, these communities have depended on a multifaceted subsistence strategy encompassing shifting cultivation (podu chasa), settled agriculture, hunting, fishing, and the collection of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). However, this fragile ecosystem and their customary way of life are increasingly challenged by environmental degradation, deforestation, land alienation, and developmental interventions.

Keywords: Indigenous, Customs, Judicial, Humor, Hereditary, Panchayat Raj, God And Goddess, Sprit, Malevolent, Notorious, Mission

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Civil Society and the State: Connections and Interjections

Dr. Bijaya Krushna Bharati

Abstract: Theoretically, the paper discusses the meaning of the state and its association with civil society. It highlights the origin and development of civil society in the post-cold war era, where civil society was considered an alternative to the state and its authoritarian, totalitarian, and bureaucratic nature. Further, it analyses the theoretical aspects of the modern state and its complex relationship with civil society through diverse perspectives: liberal, Marxist, and Gramscian. It examines how civil society functions as a realm of freedom, an arena of class struggle, and a terrain where hegemony is both built and contested. The paper concludes by presenting a synthetic view of the state and civil society as interdependent yet structurally divergent entities in democratic governance.

Keywords: Civil Society, State, government, political society, association, institution

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Tracing Footprints: The Spread of Mahima Dharma Beyond Odisha

Avinash Sahu

Abstract: Mahima Dharma, defined by strict monotheism, rejection of idol worship, and opposition to the caste hierarchy, originated in the Garhjat states of Odisha in the nineteenth century under the spiritual guidance of Mahima Swami and Bhima Bhoi. While traditionally viewed as a localized heterodox movement within Odisha, this paper traces its historical footprints and expansion beyond the borders of Odisha into contiguous regions including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Bengal, as well as farther diaspora settlements. Drawing on archival records, vernacular literature, oral histories, and field observations, the study examines the transmission mechanisms—such as the itinerant wanderings of sanyasis (kaupindharis and balkaldharis), establishment of Tungis and Ashramas, and labour migration networks—that enabled Mahima Dharma to establish roots outside its core territory.

Keywords: Mahima Dharma, Religious Itinerancy, Alekh, Labour Migration, Ollek

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From Bharatiya Jana Sangh to Bharatiya Janata party: A study of evolution and growth of Bharatiya Janata party in contemporary Indian politics

Sagar Kumar Majhi, Satya Prakash Majhi, Tapash Kumar Pradhan

Abstract: Democracy is one of the most popular form of government that is follow in most of the country of our world in contemporary age because of its flexible nature, it allows political parties to participate in the democratic process. In the Indian context, after independence the Indian National Congress emerged as the dominant political party under what scholars termed the ‘Congress System’. However, alternative ideological forces were actively organizing. This study explores the ideological genesis, historical trajectory, and structural metamorphosis of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (founded in 1951 by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee) into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980, and its subsequent rise to political preeminence in contemporary Indian politics. It analyzes key inflection points including the JP Movement, the Janata Party experiment, the Ayodhya movement, the Vajpayee coalition era, and the post-2014 era of majority governance, delineating the transformation from an oppositional cadre-based party to a hegemonic electoral force.

Keywords: Political Party, Indian Politics, One Party Dominance, BJP

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Bridging Gaps in Menstrual Health: A Review on Specially-Abled Adolescent Girls

Arpita Nayak, Sonam Subhadarshini, Ankita Nayak, Leesa Mohanty, Mohammed Imran

Abstract: Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is a most important but under-researched aspect of adolescent health, particularly in girls with physical and mental disabilities. These girls have secondary social, cultural and structural hindrances. Menstrual health among Indians is influenced by the cultural beliefs, gender norms, and lack of access to inclusive health education. In particular, such challenges are a lot more severe in sub-urban and semi-urban places. This is an overview paper that involves the compilation of the available literature, policy frameworks, and research. It explores the concept of menstrual health awareness in physically and mentally challenged adolescent girls in suburban Odisha. The four dimensions that are interrelated, and the emphasis of the paper is knowledge and awareness about menstruation, cultural beliefs and taboos, access to sanitary products and supportive infrastructure, and the effectiveness of educational interventions in facilitating inclusive menstrual health practices. Through the interdisciplinary perspective that relies on public health, gender studies, disability studies, and education, the paper identifies areas of constant unawareness, inaccessibility, and a lack of institutional support. It further explains ethical, policy, and governance issues which can be applicable to design relationships of women-led as well as community-focused interventions. The abstract locates urgent research gaps and highlights the necessity of disability-sensitive culturally responsive and ethically informed menstrual health interventions. This paper will inform researchers, policymakers, educators, and care providers and seek to add to the creation of equitable and inclusive menstrual health policy among adolescent girls with disabilities.

Keywords: Menstrual Health and Hygiene; Adolescent Girls; Disability Inclusion; Cultural Beliefs; Sanitary Product Access; Educational Interventions; Women-Led Development; Suburban Odisha

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Impact of Odisha Millet Mission on Livelihoods of Tribal Women in Odisha

Ruturani Biswal, Subhash Kumar

Abstract: The Government of Odisha has launched the Odisha Millet Mission (OMM) for the revival of millet cultivation, enhancement of food and nutritional security and livelihood of small and marginal farmers particularly tribal community. Millets have been traditionally a fundamental component of agriculture and food system, considering their nutritional content, climate adaptability and suitability to rain-fed conditions. But over the years the cultivation and production of millets declined sharply, due to changes in agricultural practices and promotion of other types of grains. In this regard, the Odisha Millet Mission has come up as a major intervention to revive traditional millet-based farming systems. The present study basically elaborates the impact of Odisha Millet Mission on tribal livelihood in some selected tribal district of Odisha. Millets natural sources of micronutrients and can control the epidemic of nutrient deficiencies, specifically of iron and calcium and various micronutrient elements. The study investigated the modifications to agricultural production, household incomes, food security and tribal women’s participation in livelihood activities. The study is based on the secondary data such as Government reports, Directorate Of Agriculture & Food Production Govt. Of Odisha, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and published literature. The findings indicate that the Mission has led to increase in millet cultivation, better market assess, improved household income and enhanced food and nutritional security of tribal household. The Odisha Millet Mission has become a key contributor to preserving traditional agricultural knowledge which encouraging climate and smart agricultural practices and enhancing sustainable tribal livelihoods. It’s a boon for Tribal Women’s livelihood, food security, Women Empowerment and Sustainable Agriculture in Tribal Development of Odisha.

Keywords: Odisha Millet Mission (OMM), Nutritional Food Security, Livelihood Enhancement, Tribal Women, Odisha

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Climate Change, Gender and Rural Livelihoods: Understanding Women’s Pathways to Resilience in Odisha

Dipti Mayee Sahoo, Nibedita Nath, Manosmita Mohapatra, Urmila Sahoo, Rashmi Ranjan Bal, Laxmikanta Rana

Abstract: The paper examines the affiliation between climate change, gender & rural livelihoods in the ‘KBK’ region of Odisha, mainly focusing on the districts of Koraput and Nuapada. Irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, and environmental degradation have created uncertainty among rural households that continue to depend heavily on agricultural and natural resources in recent years. But these changes are experienced unevenly across their communities and rural areas. In particular, women face greater livelihood insecurity due to lack of accessibility to land, credit, institutional support, and part-taking in local administrative processes. Due to movement of men in search of work, women’s responsibilities within both agriculture and household care have led to a visible ‘feminisation of rural labour’, and it also shows that respondentsare simply left to vulnerability. Across the study area, women were actively responding to environmental stress through everyday adaptive practices rooted in local knowledge and collective support systems. In addition to adopting techniques such as millet cultivation and mixed cropping, many households have diversified their sources of income and have depended on self-help groups for social collaboration, financial support and information exchange. These tactics are crucial for maintaining household survival in the face of shifting climate conditions. Using resilience as a conceptual lens, the study argues that it should be viewed as a socially and economically structured process shaped by institutional structures, community networks, and access to resources, rather than as a fixed capacity. The study needs more inclusive & gender sensitive policy responses in rural eastern Odisha by emphasisingwomen’s lived experiences.

Keywords: Climate Change, Gendered Pathways, Livelihood, Rural Women, Resilience

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