Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill
Context: Rajya Sabha passed The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which seeks to amend the constitutional list of Scheduled Tribes as recommended by Arunachal Pradesh. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions), GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Issues related to Minorities, Government Policies and Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: Definition of STs Constitutional […]
Report on rights abuse in J&K and Kashmir militancy
Context: In their latest report, former Supreme Court (SC) judge and former Kashmir interlocutor, who head the Forum for Human Rights in J&K, have warned that “human rights abuses will continue unchecked till J&K remains under a Lieutenant-Governor administration and without an elected government”. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Centre-State relations), GS-II: Governance (Government Policies […]
Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021
Context: The Tribunal Reforms Bill, 2021 was passed in Lok Sabha amid opposition demanding further discussion on the Bill. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Quasi-Judicial Bodies), GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: The Tribunal Reforms Bill, 2021 The Need for the Tribunal Reforms bill Key Issues with the Bill […]
SC on Section 433A and Governor’s pardoning power
Context: The Supreme Court held that the Governor of a State can pardon prisoners, including death row ones, even before they have served a minimum 14 years of prison sentence. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Constitutional Provisions, Union and State Executive) Dimensions of the Article: Section 433A in The Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973 President’s […]
SC: Preventive detention only to prevent public disorder
Context: Preventive detention, the dreaded power of the State to restrain a person without trial, could be used only to prevent public disorder, the Supreme Court held in a judgment. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions, Fundamental Rights), GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: About Preventive Detention in India Criticisms […]
Law and lawmakers
Context The LDF government in Kerala has suffered a setback as it strongly favoured the withdrawal of cases against six members sought to be prosecuted for creating a ruckus in the Assembly on March 13, 2015, when they boisterously tried to interrupt the presentation of the Budget presented by the erstwhile UDF regime. Relevance: GS […]
No Parliamentary Immunity for Vandalism: SC
Context: Kerala government had appealed to the Supreme Court to withdraw a criminal case against their leaders who destroyed public property and disrupted a Budget speech on the State Assembly floor in 2015, but, the Supreme Court has rejected Kerala government’s plea. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Constitution (Legislature, Constitutional Provisions) Dimensions of the Article: Arguments […]
Plea invokes ‘Right to be Forgotten’ in Delhi HC
Context: Recently, a person has approached the Delhi High Court with a plea saying that his videos, photographs and articles etc., should be removed from the internet, citing his “Right to be Forgotten”. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions, Fundamental Rights, Government Policies and Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) […]
Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021
Context: Recently, the Minister of State for Defence introduced the Essential Defence Services Bill in the Lok Sabha. Relevance: GS-III: Internal Security Challenges, GS-II: Polity and Governance (Government Policies and Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: What is the Essential Defence Services Bill? Understanding Strikes and the punishments in this context: Industrial Disputes Act 1947 What […]
SC upholds NGT ban on firecrackers
Context: The Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to a National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on the sale and use of firecrackers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the National Capital Region (NCR) and all cities and towns where the ambient air quality is in the poor or above categories. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution, […]