[Wikimediaindia-l] Wikipedia quoted in Indian Supreme court case
More stories on this Times of India : Can Wikipedia be the basis of SC ruling? http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Can-Wikipedia-be-the-basis-of-SC-ruling/articleshow/6806187.cms Outlook India blog : http://blogs.outlookindia.com/default.aspx?ddm=10pid=2358eid=5 Thanks Tinu Cherian On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 4:20 PM, Anirudh Bhati anirudh...@gmail.com wrote: Hi, The judgment can be accessed here.[1] Please refer to para 33. There have been over 50 instances in the past where the courts of India (including the Supreme Court and High Courts) have cited Wikipedia in their judgments.[2] The Supreme Court of India has commented on Wikipedia as a source of information[3]: Wikipedia, like all other external aids to construction, like dictionaries etc, is not an authentic source, although the same may be looked at for the purpose of gathering information. Where an express statutory definition of a word exists, a Wiki definition cannot be preferred. It cannot normally be used for the purpose of interpreting a taxing statute or classification of a product vis-a-vis an entry in statute. However, as a source of authority, Wikipedia is frequently cited by judges around the world. This is not restricted to India alone. The New York Times reports that beginning in 2004, more than 100 opinion in the States have cited Wikipedia, including 13 from federal appeals courts. Is this a good thing? There's a split of authority. As for the use of Wikipedia links and summaries in courts, this practice is not exclusive to India. US judges have been citing Wikipedia in their orders and judgements all over including up to the level of the Federal Circuit Courts.[4] Mention in liveMINT: Wikipedia Justice[5] Status on WORLD DOMINATION? Almost there. :) Anirudh Bhati 00 91 9328712208 Skype: anirudhsbh [1] http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1521881/ [2] http://www.indiankanoon.org/search/?formInput=wikipedia%20doctypes:%20judgmentspagenum=1 [3] Supreme Court judgement in M/s Ponds India Ltd. vs Commissioner of Trade Tax (2008) http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1358324/ [4] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/technology/29wikipedia.html [5] http://www.livemint.com/2010/10/5322/Quick-Edit--Wikipedia-justice.html?h=B On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 2:39 PM, Arun Ram arunra...@gmail.com wrote: Dear all, The following media reports of wikipedia being quoted a recent Indian Supreme court case may be of interest to some of you. Supreme court Judge Justice Markandey Katju referred to some of the common tenets of the *Common Law Marriage*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common-law_marriage - quoting from a Wikipedia entry. The judgement turned controversial with the only woman Additional Solicitor-General attached to the Supreme Court, Indira Jaising, taking exception to the use of certain words to refer to women in the Supreme Court judgment. Links to media stories: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article843120.ece http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2010/10/indias_changing_sex_mores_and_the_supreme_court.html References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markandey_Katju http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/sitting/mkatju.htm This is FYI. regards Arun ___ foundation-l mailing list foundatio...@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Wikipedia quoted in Indian Supreme court case
Heya guys, This is my opinion about the issue: Wikipedia can be quoted only if the text being quoted has been backed by a verified, reliable reference. Thus, the authenticity of the content depends on the reference. In this case, if the SC is referring to Wiki, it should have a ref behind it. If we can zero in on WHAT they have quoted and WHICH article it comes from, we can maybe give the article more reliability, (if it doesn't) . Regards, Srikanth Ramakrishnan (rsrikanth05) On 25 October 2010 12:16, CherianTinu Abraham tinucher...@gmail.com wrote: More stories on this Times of India : Can Wikipedia be the basis of SC ruling? http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Can-Wikipedia-be-the-basis-of-SC-ruling/articleshow/6806187.cms Outlook India blog : http://blogs.outlookindia.com/default.aspx?ddm=10pid=2358eid=5 Thanks Tinu Cherian On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 4:20 PM, Anirudh Bhati anirudh...@gmail.comwrote: Hi, The judgment can be accessed here.[1] Please refer to para 33. There have been over 50 instances in the past where the courts of India (including the Supreme Court and High Courts) have cited Wikipedia in their judgments.[2] The Supreme Court of India has commented on Wikipedia as a source of information[3]: Wikipedia, like all other external aids to construction, like dictionaries etc, is not an authentic source, although the same may be looked at for the purpose of gathering information. Where an express statutory definition of a word exists, a Wiki definition cannot be preferred. It cannot normally be used for the purpose of interpreting a taxing statute or classification of a product vis-a-vis an entry in statute. However, as a source of authority, Wikipedia is frequently cited by judges around the world. This is not restricted to India alone. The New York Times reports that beginning in 2004, more than 100 opinion in the States have cited Wikipedia, including 13 from federal appeals courts. Is this a good thing? There's a split of authority. As for the use of Wikipedia links and summaries in courts, this practice is not exclusive to India. US judges have been citing Wikipedia in their orders and judgements all over including up to the level of the Federal Circuit Courts.[4] Mention in liveMINT: Wikipedia Justice[5] Status on WORLD DOMINATION? Almost there. :) Anirudh Bhati 00 91 9328712208 Skype: anirudhsbh [1] http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1521881/ [2] http://www.indiankanoon.org/search/?formInput=wikipedia%20doctypes:%20judgmentspagenum=1 [3] Supreme Court judgement in M/s Ponds India Ltd. vs Commissioner of Trade Tax (2008) http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1358324/ [4] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/technology/29wikipedia.html [5] http://www.livemint.com/2010/10/5322/Quick-Edit--Wikipedia-justice.html?h=B On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 2:39 PM, Arun Ram arunra...@gmail.com wrote: Dear all, The following media reports of wikipedia being quoted a recent Indian Supreme court case may be of interest to some of you. Supreme court Judge Justice Markandey Katju referred to some of the common tenets of the *Common Law Marriage*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common-law_marriage - quoting from a Wikipedia entry. The judgement turned controversial with the only woman Additional Solicitor-General attached to the Supreme Court, Indira Jaising, taking exception to the use of certain words to refer to women in the Supreme Court judgment. Links to media stories: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article843120.ece http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2010/10/indias_changing_sex_mores_and_the_supreme_court.html References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markandey_Katju http://www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/bio/sitting/mkatju.htm This is FYI. regards Arun ___ foundation-l mailing list foundatio...@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l -- Regards, ME. Wear a Lungi, Support the Movement My infrastructure invasion... plus other images too.. on Wikimedia Commons. http://bit.ly/d50SIq ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Wikipedia quoted in Indian Supreme court case
On 25 October 2010 14:23, Srikanth Ramakrishnan rsrikant...@gmail.com wrote: Wikipedia can be quoted only if the text being quoted has been backed by a verified, reliable reference. Thus, the authenticity of the content depends on the reference. In this case, if the SC is referring to Wiki, it should have a ref behind it. If we can zero in on WHAT they have quoted and WHICH article it comes from, we can maybe give the article more reliability, (if it doesn't) . I'm pretty sure this is the page referenced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common-law_marriage Two things to note: 1. I agree with the criticism that the Judge could have cited it better, after all, it is possible to cite a particular page version and that will never change. 2. I do not agree with the criticism that because it is Wikipedia it is inherently less reliable because it can be edited. That is a fundamental mistake in saying what is printed is better than what is editable and changeable. 3. I am curious as to why they are arguing the source rather than the facts - was what was cited wrong in law? And that is criticism that can be leveled at printed works too - at the Times of India too. 4. As with all sources, check your facts and mistakes and omissions do happen. 5. I'm also curious as to how the media have established that the case was based on a Wikipedia article. A little much exaggeration, IMHO. Thank you. Best, Gautam http://social.prathambooks.org/ ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
[Wikimediaindia-l] mobile editing reading of Wikipedia
Hi Everyone, I wanted to introduce myself and also use this listserv for recruiting for a study that I am doing to understand the user experience of reading the Wikipedia on the mobile phone and understand the possibilities/feasibilities of using the mobile phone as a platform for editing the Wikipedia. I am Mani Pande, and I recently joined the Global Development team at Wikipedia to do research that will help Wikipedia grow in the global south. I work closely with other folks in the global development team (Barry, Kul etc) who many of you probably know. I have worked as a researcher for the last 6 years, and have a PhD in Sociology. Before joining Wikipedia, I worked for Institute for the Future, a forecasting research company, based in Palo Alto, CA. I would like to recruit both Wikipedia readers and editors in India. I am looking to speak with folks who either read the Wikipedia on the phone (at least once a week) or have made some edits (two or more) on the phone in the last six months. I would like to conduct an interview over Skype. The interview would be about an hour. It would touch on the questions listed below. If you are interested in participating in the study, please email me at mpa...@wikimedia.org. Or if you believe someone else will be a great fit for this study then please feel forward this email. Thanks in advance Mani Interview Objectives Find out whether mobile phone can be used as a platform for reading, editing contributing, to the Wikipedia (English other Indian regional languages like Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam etc.) Research questions: How is mobile phone being used as a platform for contributing to Wikipedia? What kinds of contributions are users making to the Wikipedia on the mobile phone currently? Editing already existing content, contributing new content, uploading pictures etc. What are the benefits? What are the pain-points? What are the drivers? How will the role of mobile phone as a platform for contributing content change in the next one year? What will be different about mobile devices and networks in India? How will the role of mobile phone as a platform for contributing content change in the next five years? What will be different about mobile devices and networks in India? How is mobile phone being used for reading Wikipedia content? What kind of content is accessed on the phone? What are the benefits? What are the pain-points? What are the drivers? How will the role of mobile phone as a platform for reading content change in the next one year? What will be different about mobile devices and networks in India? How will the role of mobile phone as a platform for reading content change in the next five years? What will be different about mobile devices and networks in India? How do outside trends/shifts in society, technology. Economy, environment and politics (STEEP) affect the emergence of mobile phone for reading and editing Wikipedia? How do they affect user behaviors? ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] mobile editing reading of Wikipedia
Hi Arjuna, Thanks for your feedback. It is a good point that data cost continue to be prohibitive. But our preliminary research has shown that users in India are using mobile phones (not just smart phones) which have a data plan (pre-paid or post paid) to access the Wikipedia. I am interested in speaking with these users. I am planing to do qualitative interviews with a small sample of users, it is not a survey. I will keep your advice in mind, if we take the survey route, in the coming year. Thanks Mani On Oct 25, 2010, at 5:23 PM, arjuna rao chavala wrote: On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 10:27 PM, Mani Pande mpa...@wikimedia.org wrote: Hi Everyone, I wanted to introduce myself and also use this listserv for recruiting for a study that I am doing to understand the user experience of reading the Wikipedia on the mobile phone and understand the possibilities/feasibilities of using the mobile phone as a platform for editing the Wikipedia. Consumer price level smart phones which can support reading and editing Indian languages have started appearing in the scene just now (Nokia C3 at 6500/-approx is available for Hindi and three other devanagari type languages). The data access prices have not yet fallen unlike voice communication and sms prices. It will be better to do the survey after six months. Cheers Arjun ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] mobile editing reading of Wikipedia
Arjuna makes a good point on language support. As for the data costs, don't some providers (I know MTS does) provide access to Wikipedia for free? Thank you. Best, Gautam http://social.prathambooks.org/ ___ Wikimediaindia-l mailing list Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
