Supreme Court mulls limit to role as policy watchdog
Context: The resolve voiced by a Division Bench of the Supreme Court recently to “examine” the extent to which the judiciary can question the government’s COVID-19 policies drifts from the court’s three-judge Bench judgment previously in May 2021 which held that courts cannot be “silent spectators when constitutional rights of citizens are infringed by executive […]
Failure to act against hate speech at Centre and in states is the real ‘double engine effect’
Context: Following a Supreme Court directive in the case of Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan v. Union of India, the Law Commission, in its 57-page report, made concrete recommendations in 2017 to the government on “prohibiting incitement to hatred” and “causing fear, alarm, or provocation of violence in certain cases.” Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Indian Constitution—Historical […]
Akalis to move adjournment motion in LS on Farm Laws
Context: Ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has decided to move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha against the government on the three controversial farm laws. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions, Legislature) Dimensions of the Article: Adjournment Motion Calling Attention Motion Other Important Motions in the […]
Sedition law- Developments in SC: Strong message to Govt.
Context: The Chief Justice of India indicated that Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code may have passed its time asking the government what was the need for the ‘colonial law’ of sedition after 75 years of Independence. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Judiciary, Important Judgements, Constitutional Provisions – Fundamental Rights, Government Interventions and […]
Assam-Mizoram border dispute: Baggage of the past
Context: Recently, several IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blasts were carried out inside Cachar district of Assam allegedly by miscreants from Mizoram. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Inter-State Relations) Dimensions of the Article: Background to the Assam – Mizoram Border Dispute Other Boundary Issues in Northeast Way Forward Background to the Assam – Mizoram Border Dispute […]
SC to examine plea challenging sedition law
Context: The Supreme Court agreed to examine a fresh plea by a former army officer challenging the Constitutional validity of the sedition law on the ground that it causes “chilling effect” on speech and is an unreasonable restriction on free expression, a fundamental right. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions – Fundamental Rights, Government […]
HC on compassionate appointment and personal laws
Context: Children born from all void or voidable marriages, irrespective of the personal laws applicable to their parents, are eligible for compassionate appointments in government service, said the High Court of Karnataka. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Welfare Schemes), GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions) Dimensions of the Article: About the Karnataka HC Judgement What is […]
Drop cases filed under Section 66A: Centre
Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asked the States and Union Territories to immediately withdraw the cases registered under the repealed-Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, days after the Supreme Court expressed shock that it was being invoked even six years after the apex court had struck it down. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and […]
Assam’s cow protection Bill
Context: Assam’s Assembly said its primary objective was to check the smuggling of cows to Bangladesh and tabled the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions, Government Interventions and Policies, Issues arising out of the design and implementation of policies) Dimensions of the Article: Cattle slaughter in India What is […]
A Kerala model for an anti-discrimination law
Context: Shashi Tharoor, MP, has urged the Kerala State government to enact an anti-discrimination law. Mr. Tharoor has written to the Minister for Law in this regard with a draft Bill, saying that a State legislation will help plug gaps in the legal framework on discrimination. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions, Fundamental Rights, […]