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Sedition Law

This article is based on “Why the sedition law must go” which was published in The Indian Express on 12/06/2021. It talks about the...

12 Jun 2021 Fundamental Rights
Time to Define Limits of Sedition: SC

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) while protecting two Telugu (language) news channels from coercive action by the Andhra Pradesh...

01 Jun 2021 Fundamental Rights
World Press Freedom Day 2021

Why in News The World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) is an annual celebration of press freedom, observed on 3rd May every year. The main celebration is...

05 May 2021 Fundamental Rights
Fundamental Rights (Part-2)

Fundamental Rights (Part-1) Right Against Exploitation (Article 23 and 24) Prohibition of Human Trafficking and Forced Labour: Forced labour in...

05 Apr 2021 Fundamental Rights
Uniform Civil Code

Why in News Recently, a petition has been filed in Supreme Court against Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on divorce and alimony. Key...

01 Apr 2021 Fundamental Rights
Fundamental Rights (Part-1)

Introduction About: The Fundamental Rights are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution (Articles 12-35). Part III of the Constitution is...

23 Mar 2021 Fundamental Rights
Group of Ministers: Media Strategy

Why in News The Editors Guild of India flagged the Group of Ministers (GoM) report on the government’s media strategy as an example of the...

10 Mar 2021 Fundamental Rights
Right To Education

Why in News Delhi High Court asked the Central government to respond to a petition against the authorities for not deciding upon extension of free...

04 Mar 2021 Fundamental Rights
Freedom in the World 2021 Report

Why in News The Freedom in the World 2021 report has downgraded India’s status from ‘Free’ to ‘Partly...

04 Mar 2021 Fundamental Rights
Right To Dissent

This article is based on "The pressing need to adjudicate, not mediate" which was published in The Hindu on 19/02/2021. It talks about...

23 Feb 2021 Fundamental Rights
Sedition Law

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court protected a political leader and six senior journalists from arrest in multiple sedition FIRs registered...

10 Feb 2021 Fundamental Rights
Rights to Freedom

This article is based on “Beating down critical journalism, creative freedom” which was published in The Hindu on 02/02/2021. It talks...

06 Feb 2021 Fundamental Rights
Right to Privacy & Legitimate State Interest

Why in News Recently, the Central government has stated that though the right to privacy is held to be a sacred fundamental right, the veil of...

06 Feb 2021 Fundamental Rights
Whatsapp and Violation of Privacy

Why in News? Whatsapp, one of the most popular messaging apps, has updated its privacy policy and has asked its users to accept the new terms...

02 Feb 2021 Fundamental Rights
Special Marriage Act, 1954

Why in News Recently, the Allahabad High Court has struck down the provisions under Section 5 of the Special Marriage Act that required parties to...

14 Jan 2021 Fundamental Rights
Scandalising the Courts: A Ground for Contempt

Why in News The Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the Union government on a PIL petition, challenging the constitutional validity of a...

13 Jan 2021 Fundamental Rights
World Minorities Rights Day

Why in News The National Commission for Minorities celebrated World Minorities Rights Day on 18th December 2020. The United Nations on 18th...

19 Dec 2020 Fundamental Rights
Threats to Freedom of Press

Why in News According to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a record number of journalists were imprisoned during 2020. The...

17 Dec 2020 Fundamental Rights
The Big Picture: Special Marriage Act

Why in News? The Allahabad high Court has recently expressed its concern over the issue of one changing his/her faith just for the sake of...

02 Dec 2020 Fundamental Rights
UP Ordinance on Unlawful Conversions

Why in News The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has recently passed an ordinance to deal with unlawful religious conversions, which are in opposition...

01 Dec 2020 Fundamental Rights

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		'title' => 'Sedition Law',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/why-sedition-law-must-go-7355073/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Why the sedition law must go&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 12/06/2021. It talks about the associated issues with the Sedition Law.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court decision quashed the sedition charges against a senior journalist. Civil society hailed this as a heartening development, especially in the context of the increasing number of sedition cases filed.</p>
<p>Increasing number of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sedition-law-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sedition</strong></a> cases reflects the repressive approach to dissent and criticism of the government.</p>
<p>Moreover, a report by Freedom House (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-in-the-world-2021-report#:~:text=The%20Freedom%20in%20the%20World,deterioration%20over%20the%20last%20year." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Freedom in the World 2021: Democracy Under Siege</strong></a>) downgraded India&rsquo;s status from a free country to a partly free country. One of the reasons for the fall is the rise in sedition cases against dissenters.</p>
<p>Therefore, as the sedition law is often used to stifle democracy, it should be removed from the statutes.</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Historical Background of Sedition Law</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Sedition laws were enacted in 17<sup>th</sup> century England when lawmakers believed that only good opinions of the government should survive, as bad opinions were detrimental to the government and monarchy.</li>
<li>This sentiment (and law) was borrowed and inserted into the Section 124A of IPC in 1870, by the British.</li>
<li>British used Sedition law to convict and sentence freedom fighters. It was first used to prosecute Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1897.</li>
<li>Mahatama Gandhi, too, was later tried for sedition for his articles in Young India.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Relevance of Sedition Law</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasonable Restrictions:</strong> The constitution of India prescribes reasonable restrictions (under Article 19(2)) that can always be imposed on this right in order to ensure its responsible exercise and to ensure that it is equally available to all citizens.</li>
<li><strong>Maintaining Unity &amp; Integrity:</strong> Sedition law helps the government in combating anti-national, secessionist and terrorist elements.</li>
<li><strong>Maintaining Stability of State:</strong> It helps in protecting the elected government from attempts to overthrow the government with violence and illegal means. The continued existence of the government established by law is an essential condition of the stability of the State.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Reasonable restrictions are mentioned under Article 19(2) Constitution of India i.e. interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Associated Issues With Sedition Law</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Relic of Colonial Era:</strong> Colonial administrators used sedition to lock up people who criticised the British policies. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Stalwarts of the freedom movement such as Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, etc., were convicted for their &ldquo;seditious&rdquo; speeches, writings and activities under British rule.</li>
<li>Thus, rampant use of the sedition law recalls the colonial era.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stand of Constituent Assembly:</strong> The Constituent Assembly did not agree to include sedition in the Constitution. The members felt it would curtail freedom of speech and expression. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They argued that the sedition law can be turned into a weapon to suppress people&rsquo;s legitimate and constitutionally guaranteed right to protest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disregarding Supreme Court&rsquo;s Judgement:</strong> Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar case 1962, limited application of sedition to &ldquo;acts involving intention or tendency to create disorder, or disturbance of law and order, or incitement to violence&rdquo;.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, invoking sedition charges against academicians, lawyers, socio-political activists and students is in disregard of the Supreme Court&rsquo;s order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Repressing Democractic Values:</strong> Increasingly, India is being described as an elected autocracy primarily because of the callous and calculated use of sedition law.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Scrapping Sedition Law:</strong> There are enough laws in our country to deal with external and internal threats to India and there is no need to continue with the sedition law.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, there is a need to abolish the sedition law on the ground that it is used to curb freedom of expression and speech.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of Judiciary:</strong> Until the sedition law is scrapped by the parliament, the higher judiciary should use its supervisory powers to sensitize the magistracy and police to the constitutional provisions protecting free speech.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, to avoid overuse of sedition law, the higher judiciary can narrow down the definition of sedition, to include only the issues pertaining to the territorial integrity of India as well as the sovereignty of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Raising Civil Society Awareness:</strong> Civil society must take the lead to raise awareness about the arbitrary use of Sedition law.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Now that the Supreme Court has quashed sedition charges slapped on a journalist, we as the citizens of the Indian Republic should demand the quashing of the sedition law in its entirety to fulfil the vision of the Constituent Assembly, which rejected sedition while framing the Constitution.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #e8fff3;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>There is a need to abolish the sedition law on the ground that it is used to curb freedom of expression and speech. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8496,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Time to Define Limits of Sedition: SC',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court (SC)</strong> </a>while protecting two Telugu (language) news channels from coercive action by the Andhra Pradesh government noted that <strong>it is time to define the limits of sedition.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Presently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/committee-on-criminal-law-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws</strong></a> constituted by the Union Home Ministry to suggest reforms to the British-era <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-379" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Penal Code (IPC)</strong></a>, is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/defining-hate-speech" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>attempting for the first time to define Hate speech.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Case:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Channels blamed the state government for <strong>suppressing the right to freedom of speech</strong> by <strong>obstructing the media</strong> coverage and reportage of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a> in the State.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/fundamental-rights-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 19</strong> </a>guarantees freedom of expressing one&rsquo;s own views, opinions, beliefs and convictions freely by word of mouth, writing, printing, picturing or in any other manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Channels urged the SC to <strong>initiate<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contempt-of-court-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> contempt</a> proceedings against the senior officials of the State government</strong> for violating its previous order.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The previous order of SC directed the<strong> state government to immediately cease any direct and indirect threats</strong> of prosecution and arrest to citizens, who air their grievances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>SC&rsquo;s Ruling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indiscriminate Use of Sedition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SC flagged <strong>indiscriminate use of the sedition law against critics,</strong> journalists, social media users, activists and citizens for airing their<strong> grievances about the government's Covid-19 management.</strong></li>
<li>Even for seeking help to gain medical access, equipment, drugs and oxygen cylinders, especially during the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reasons-for-rising-covid-19-infections-second-wave" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>second wave</strong></a> of the pandemic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Interpretation of &lsquo;Sedition&rsquo;:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The ambit and parameters of the provisions of <strong>Sections 124A</strong> (sedition), <strong>153A</strong> and <strong>505</strong> of the<strong> IPC</strong> would require interpretation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>IPC Section 153 A:</strong> Punishes<strong> acts promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race,</strong> <strong>place of birth, residence, language, etc,</strong> and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.</li>
<li><strong>IPC Section 505:</strong> Makes the<strong> publication and circulation of content</strong> which may cause ill-will or hatred between different groups an offence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Particularly in the <strong>context of the right of the electronic and print media to communicate news,</strong> information and the rights, even those that may be critical of the <strong>prevailing regime in any part of the nation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rights of Media:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Acknowledged the argument that the<strong> media was well within its rights to air critical programmes</strong> about a prevailing regime without attracting sedition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sedition (Section 124A of IPC)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sedition-law-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sedition</strong> </a>is a <strong>crime under Section 124A, IPC.</strong></li>
<li>Section 124A, IPC <strong>defines sedition </strong>as<strong> an offence</strong> committed when "any person by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite <strong>disaffection towards the government established by law in India".</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Disaffection<strong> includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.</strong> However, comments without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, will not constitute an offence under this section.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Punishment for the Offence of Sedition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sedition is a <strong>non-bailable offence.</strong> Punishment under the Section 124A ranges from <strong>imprisonment up to three years to a life term, to which fine may be added.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>person charged</strong> under this law is<strong> barred from a government job.</strong></li>
<li>They have to <strong>live without their passport and must produce themselves in the court at all times as and when required.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Section 124A of the IPC has its <strong>utility in combating anti-national, secessionist and terrorist elements.</strong> However, <strong>Dissent and criticism of the government are essential ingredients of robust public debate in a vibrant democracy.</strong> They should not be constructed as sedition.</li>
<li>The higher judiciary should <strong>use its supervisory powers to sensitize the magistracy and police to the constitutional provisions protecting free speech.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>definition of sedition should be narrowed down,</strong> to include only the issues pertaining to the territorial integrity of India as well as the sovereignty of the country.</li>
<li>Civil society must take the lead to<strong> raise awareness about the arbitrary use of Sedition law.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/its-time-to-define-limits-of-sedition-says-sc/article34688053.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8302,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Press Freedom Day 2021 ',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>World Press Freedom Day (WPFD)</strong> is an annual celebration of press freedom, observed on <strong>3<sup>rd</sup> May</strong> every year.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The main celebration is organized by the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.drishtiias.com/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unesco-5&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1620204411209000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0aaEiDu7LA2r44L8JnxyWY" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).</strong></a></li>
<li>The <strong>theme for WPFD 2021</strong> is <strong>&ldquo;Information as a Public Good".</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The day was proclaimed by the <strong>UN General Assembly</strong> in 1993, following the recommendation of <strong>UNESCO&rsquo;s General Conference</strong> in 1991.</li>
<li>The day also <strong>marks the 1991 Windhoek Declaration</strong> (adopted by UNESCO).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It aimed towards the &lsquo;development of a free, independent and pluralistic press&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Three Key Highlights of WPFD 2021:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Steps to ensure the <strong>economic viability of news media.</strong></li>
<li>Mechanisms for ensuring <strong>transparency of Internet companies.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Enhanced Media and Information Literacy (MIL) capacities</strong> that enable people to recognize and value, as well as defend and demand, journalism as a vital part of information as a public good.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Press Conference 2021:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2021 Global Conference was <strong>hosted by UNESCO</strong> and the Government of <strong>Namibia.</strong></li>
<li>It called for <strong>urgent attention to the threat of extinction faced by local news media</strong> around the world, a crisis worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.</li>
<li>It <strong>put forward ideas</strong> to tackle the challenges of our online media environment, push for more transparency of internet companies, strengthen safety of journalists, and improve their working conditions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Freedom of Press in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom of press is <strong>not expressly protected by Indian legal system</strong> but it is <strong>impliedly protected under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution</strong>, which states - "All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression".</li>
<li>In <strong>1950</strong>, the Supreme Court in <em><strong>Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras</strong></em> observed that freedom of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organisations.</li>
<li>However, <strong>Freedom of press is also not absolute.</strong> It faces <strong>certain restrictions under Article 19(2)</strong>, which are as follows-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Matters related to interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Rankings/Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has been <strong>ranked 142<sup>nd</sup> out of 180 nations</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-press-freedom-index-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Press Freedom Index, 2021</strong></a>, published by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders.</li>
<li>Reports such as &lsquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-in-the-world-2021-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Freedom in the World 2021</strong></a> (Freedom House, US)&rsquo;, &lsquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/human-rights-report-2020-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2020 Human Rights Report</strong></a> (US State Department)&rsquo;, &lsquo;<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/autocratisation-goes-viral-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Autocratisation Goes Viral</strong></a> (V-Dem Institute, Sweden)&rsquo; have all highlighted <strong>intimidation of journalists in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/africa/as-press-freedom-continues-to-struggle-in-kenya-alternatives-keep-hope-alive-76770" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
		'posturl' => 'world-press-freedom-day-2021',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8078,
		'category_id' => (int) 27,
		'title' => 'Fundamental Rights (Part-2)',
		'description' => '<p><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/fundamental-rights-part-1#:~:text=The%20Fundamental%20Rights%3A%20The%20Constitution,exploitation%20(Articles%2023%E2%80%9324)" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fundamental Rights (Part-1)</strong></a></p>
<h3>Right Against Exploitation (Article 23 and 24)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Prohibition of Human Trafficking and Forced Labour: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bonded-labour-in-india#:~:text=Article%2023%20of%20the%20Constitution,years)%20in%20factories%2C%20etc." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forced labour in India</a></strong> was imposed by landlords, moneylenders and other wealthy persons in the past. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bonded-labour-system-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 23</strong></a> of the Indian Constitution prohibits human trafficking and begar (forced labour without payment) to protect the millions of underprivileged and deprived people of the country.</li>
<li>The right is available to<strong> citizens</strong> of India as well as to <strong>non-citizens.</strong></li>
<li>The right provides against human trafficking in the form of: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Selling and buying of men, women and children.</li>
<li>Prostitution</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/devadasis-system-still-prevalent" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Devadasis</strong></a></li>
<li>Slavery.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/analysing-the-new-anti-trafficking-bill#:~:text=The%20Immoral%20Traffic%20(Prevention)%20Act,1986%2C%20and%20Juvenile%20Justice%20Act." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 13, 1956</strong></a> has been enacted to deal with violations of this fundamental right.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition of Child Labour: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-day-against-child-labour-2020#:~:text=Article%2024%3A%20Prohibition%20of%20employment,years)%20in%20factories%2C%20etc." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 24</a></strong> of the Indian Constitution forbids employment of children below the age of 14 years in dangerous jobs like factories and mines. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, it did not prohibit their employment in any harmless or innocent work.</li>
<li>The <strong>Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986</strong> (renamed as <strong>Child &amp; Adolescent Labour</strong> (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 in 2016) specifically deals with the violations of related to this right. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/world-day-against-child-labour-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2016 amendment</strong></a> of this act completely prohibited employment or of children below 14 years of age in all occupations and processes.</li>
<li>It also prohibited the employment of adolescents (14-18 years of age) in hazardous occupations or processes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Right to Freedom of Religion (Article 25-28)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Freedom of Conscience, Profession, Practice and Propagation: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/regulating-right-to-freedom-of-religion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 25</a></strong> of the Constitution of India provides the freedom of conscience, to profess, to practice and to propagate any religion. These rights are <strong>available to citizens as well as non-citizens.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Conscience:</strong> A person may or may not choose to follow any religion.</li>
<li><strong>Right to Profess:</strong> One can declare his/her religious beliefs and faith openly and freely.</li>
<li><strong>Right to Practice:</strong> Performance of religious worship, rituals, ceremonies and exhibition of beliefs and ideas.</li>
<li><strong>Right to Propagate:</strong> Persuading people to convert from one religion to another. However, the Constitution does not allow forcible conversions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It only gives us the right to spread information about our religion and thus attract others to it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Limitations:</strong> The government can impose restrictions on the practice of freedom of religion in order to protect public order, morality and health.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government can interfere in religious matters for rooting out certain social evils. For example: banning practices like sati, bigamy or human sacrifice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Such restrictions cannot be opposed in the name of interference in the right to freedom of religion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Freedom to Manage Religious Affairs:</strong> The <a href="/pdf/sabarimala-and-secularism-in-india.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 26</strong> </a>of the Indian Constitution provides every religious denomination (or any section of it) the <strong>right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also empowers the religious denominations to manage their own affairs in matters of religion.</li>
<li>Moreover, the right to own and acquire movable and immovable property and the right to administer such property is also provided to every religious denomination.</li>
<li>The rights provided under Article 26 are also <strong>subjected to public order, morality and health. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Freedom from Taxation for Promotion of a Religion:</strong> The Indian Constitution under<strong> Article 27</strong> lays down that <strong>no person shall be compelled to pay any taxes for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion</strong> or religious denomination. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It says that no public money, collected through taxes, shall be spent for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Favouring, patronising or supporting any religion over the other is prohibited.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It prohibits only levy of a tax and not a fee. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The purpose of a fee is to control secular administration of religious institutions and not to promote or maintain religion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Freedom from Attending Religious Instruction: Article 28</strong> states that no religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution wholly maintained out of State (the territory of India) funds.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the provision is not applicable to educational institutions administered by the State or established under any endowment or trust.</li>
<li>Moreover, no person is required to attend any religious instructions or worship without his consent in any educational institution recognised by the State or receiving aid out of State funds.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In case of a minor, the consent of his guardian is needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29 and 30)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Protection of Interests of Minorities: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/identification-of-minorities#:~:text=Article%2029%3A%20It%20provides%20that,as%20well%20as%20linguistic%20minorities." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 29</a></strong> provides that every section of citizens residing in any part of the country have the right to protect and conserve its own distinct language, script or culture (it provides the right to a group/section/community of people). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, it says that <strong>no citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution on grounds only of religion, race, caste, or language</strong> (it provides the rights to an individual citizen).</li>
<li>Article 29 grants protection to both religious, linguistic as well as cultural minorities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the rights are <strong>not necessarily restricted to minorities only,</strong> as it is commonly assumed to be. It includes minorities as well as the majority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right of Minorities to Establish and Administer Educational Institutions: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/state-can-regulate-minority-institutions-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 30</a></strong> grants all the minorities the following rights: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.</li>
<li>The compensation amount fixed by the State for the compulsory acquisition of any property of a minority educational institution shall not restrict or abrogate the right guaranteed to them. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This provision was added by the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>44<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act, 1978</strong></a> to protect the right of minorities in this regard.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The State shall not discriminate against any educational institution managed by a minority.</li>
<li>Thus, the protection under Article 30 is confined only to minorities (religious, cultural or linguistic) and does not extend to any other section of citizens (as under Article 29).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Article 31, 31A, 31B and 31C</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Originally, the <strong>right to property was one of the seven fundamental rights</strong> and provided that <strong>no person shall be deprived of his property except by authority of law.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, being one the most controversial rights, the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-2#:~:text=Forty%2DFourth%20Amendment%20Act%2C%201978&amp;text=Omitted%20the%20reference%20to%20the,Parliament%20and%20the%20state%20legislatures." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> 44<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act of 1978</strong></a> abolished the right to property as a Fundamental Right and made it a legal right (constitutional right) under<strong> Article 300A in Part XII</strong> of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Article 31 led to a number of Constitutional amendments; 1<sup>st</sup>, 4<sup>th</sup>, 7<sup>th</sup>, 25<sup>th</sup>, 39<sup>th</sup>, 40<sup>th</sup> and 42<sup>nd</sup> Amendments. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendment-part-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>First Amendment Act, 1951</strong></a> inserted Articles 31A and 31B to the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Article 31C was inserted in the Constitution by 25<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act, 1971.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 31A:</strong> It saves five categories of laws from being challenged and invalidated on the ground of contravention of the fundamental rights conferred by Article 14 and Article 19. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It includes: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Acquisition of estates and related rights by the State;</li>
<li>Taking over the management of properties by the State;</li>
<li>Amalgamation of corporations;</li>
<li>Extinguishment or modification of rights of directors or shareholders of corporations</li>
<li>Extinguishment or modification of mining leases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It also provides the guaranteed right to compensation in case of acquisition or requisition of the private property by the state.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 31B:</strong> It <strong>protects the acts and regulations included in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inclusion-of-reservation-laws-in-ninth-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ninth Schedule</a></strong> from being challenged and invalidated on the ground of contravention of any of the fundamental rights. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> scope of Article 31B is wider than Article 31A</strong> as it immunises any law included in the Ninth Schedule from the Fundamental Rights (unlike article 31A that protects only five categories).</li>
<li>However, the Supreme Court in its judgement in the<strong> I.R. Coelho case (2007)</strong> ruled that <strong>even laws under the Ninth Schedule would be open to scrutiny</strong> if they violated Fundamental Rights or the basic structure of the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Supreme Court first propounded the doctrine of &lsquo;basic structure&rsquo; of the constitution in the Kesavananda Bharati on April 24, 1973.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 31C:</strong> It contained two provisions: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It says that <strong>no law that seeks to implement socialistic directive principles specified in Articles 39 (b) and (c), shall be declared void</strong> on the grounds of contravention of the fundamental rights conferred by Article 14 or Article 19.</li>
<li>Moreover, no law containing a declaration that it is for giving effect to such policy shall be questioned in any court on the ground that it does not give effect to such a policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><em><strong>Articles 31A, 31B and 31C have been retained as exceptions to the fundamental rights.</strong></em></p>
<h3>Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-32-of-the-constitution#:~:text=Article%2032%20of%20the%20Constitution%20(Right%20to%20Constitutional%20Remedies)%3A,rights%20recognised%20by%20the%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 32</strong></a> is considered the most important article of the Constitution as it provides that the <strong>right to get Fundamental Rights protected is itself a fundamental right.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It confers the<strong> right to remedies for the enforcement of the fundamental rights</strong> of an aggrieved citizen.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Supreme Court has ruled that Article 32 is a basic feature of the Constitution. Hence, it<strong> cannot be abridged or taken away even by way of an amendment</strong> to the Constitution.</li>
<li>It contains the following four provisions: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court shall have power to issue directions or orders or <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/constitutional-rights-judicial-review-and-parliamentary-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>writs</strong></a> for the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights.</li>
<li>Parliament can empower any other court to issue directions, orders and writs of all kinds.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any other court here does not include high courts because <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-32-of-the-constitution#:~:text=Article%2032%20of%20the%20Constitution%20(Right%20to%20Constitutional%20Remedies)%3A,rights%20recognised%20by%20the%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Article 226)</strong> </a>has already conferred these powers on the high courts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The right to move the Supreme Court shall not be suspended except as otherwise provided for by the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the case of national emergency, the right can be suspended by the President (<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/emergency-provisions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 359</strong></a>).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Only the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution can be enforced under Article 32 and not any other right like non-fundamental constitutional rights, statutory rights, customary rights etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The violation of a fundamental right is the <em><strong>sine qua non</strong></em> (absolutely necessary condition) for the exercise of the right conferred by Article 32.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Article 33, 34 and 35</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 33:</strong> It empowers the <strong>Parliament to restrict or abrogate the fundamental rights of the &lsquo;Members of the Armed Forces&rsquo;, paramilitary forces, police forces, intelligence agencies and analogous forces.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The objective of this provision is to <strong>ensure the proper discharge of their duties</strong> and the maintenance of discipline among them.</li>
<li>The <strong>power to make laws under Article 33 is conferred only on Parliament</strong> and not on state legislatures. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any such law made by Parliament cannot be challenged in any court on the ground of contravention of any of the fundamental rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The &lsquo;members of the armed forces&rsquo; also covers non-combatant employees of the armed forces such as barbers, carpenters, mechanics, cooks, chowkidars, bootmakers and tailors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 34:</strong> It provides for the <strong>restrictions on fundamental rights while martial law is in force</strong> in any area within the territory of India. The expression &lsquo;martial law&rsquo; has not been defined anywhere in the Constitution but literally, it means &lsquo;military rule&rsquo;. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The martial law is <strong>imposed under extraordinary circumstances</strong> like war, invasion, insurrection, rebellion, riot or any violent resistance to law.</li>
<li>Article 34 <strong>empowers the Parliament to indemnify (compensate) any government servant</strong> or any other person for any act done by him in connection with the maintenance or <strong>restoration of order in any area where martial law was in force.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Act of Indemnity made by the Parliament cannot be challenged in any court on the ground of contravention of any of the fundamental rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 35:</strong> Article 35 lays down that the power to make laws, to give effect to certain specified fundamental rights shall vest only in the Parliament and not in the state legislatures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Powers of Parliament (only) to Make Laws:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Prescribing residence as a condition for certain employment or appointments in a state/UT/local or any other authority.</li>
<li>Empowering courts other than the Supreme Court and the high courts to issue directions, orders and writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights.</li>
<li>Restricting or abrogating the application of Fundamental Rights to members of armed forces, police forces, etc.</li>
<li>Indemnifying any government servant or any other person for any act done during the operation of martial law in any area.</li>
<li>The Parliament has powers to make laws prescribing punishment for offences such as untouchability and traffic in human beings and forced labour.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Article 35 extends the competence of the Parliament to make a law on the specified matters even those matters which may fall within the sphere of the state legislatures (i.e., State List).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Fundamental Rights, despite having a lot of exceptions &amp; restrictions and lack of permanency, are a crucial part of the Constitution of India as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They provide necessary conditions for the material and moral protection of man and ensure the liberty of every individual.</li>
<li>These rights protect the interests of minorities and weaker sections of society and also strengthen the notion of India as a secular State.</li>
<li>They ensure the dignity and respect of individuals by laying down the foundation of social equality and justice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
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		'title' => 'Uniform Civil Code',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a petition has been filed in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>against <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/uniform-civil-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uniform Civil Code (UCC)</strong></a> on divorce and alimony.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617275102_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1617275102_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UCC is one that would <strong>provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters</strong> such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.</li>
<li><strong>Article 44</strong> of the Constitution lays down that the <strong>state shall endeavour to secure a UCC</strong> for the citizens throughout the territory of India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Article 44 is one of the<strong> Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).</strong></li>
<li>DPSP as defined in<strong> Article 37,</strong> are not justiciable (not enforceable by any court) but the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Status of Uniform Codes in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil matters such as<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/22-05-2020#:~:text=In%20India%2C%20contract%20farming%20is,farming%20sponsors%20and%20dispute%20settlement." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Indian Contract Act 1872</strong></a>, Civil Procedure Code, Transfer of Property Act 1882, Partnership Act 1932, <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/right-to-information-master-key-to-good-governance-2nd-arc#:~:text=Section%20123%20of%20the%20Indian,abundant%20discretion%20in%20the%20matter." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Evidence Act, 1872</strong></a> etc.</li>
<li>States, however, have made hundreds of amendments and, therefore, in certain matters, there is diversity even under these secular civil laws. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Recently, several states refused to be governed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-motor-vehicles-bill-for-road-safety#:~:text=The%20Motor%20Vehicles%20(Amendment)%20Bill%2C%202019%20is%20based%20on,while%20dealing%20with%20transport%20departments." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>uniform Motor Vehicles Act, 2019.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The origin of the UCC dates back to colonial India when the British government submitted its report in 1835 stressing the need for <strong>uniformity in the codification of Indian law relating to crimes, evidence, and contracts,</strong> specifically <strong>recommending that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims be kept outside such codification.</strong></li>
<li>Increase in legislations dealing with personal issues in the far end of the British rule forced the government to form the<strong> B N Rau Committee to codify Hindu law in 1941.</strong></li>
<li>Based on these recommendations, <strong>a bill was then adopted in 1956 as the Hindu Succession Act</strong> to amend and codify the law relating to intestate or unwilled succession, among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, there were separate personal laws for muslim, chirstian and Parsis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In order to bring uniformity, the courts have often said in their judgements that the <strong>government should move towards a UCC.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The judgement in the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/criminalising-triple-talaq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shah Bano case</a> (1985)</strong> is well known.</li>
<li>Another case was the<strong> Sarla Mudgal Case (1995),</strong> which dealt with issue of bigamy and conflict between the personal laws existing on matters of marriage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>By arguing that practices such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/muslim-women-rights-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>triple talaq</strong> </a>and<strong> polygamy</strong> impact adversely the right of a woman to a life of dignity, the Centre has raised the question whether constitutional protection given to religious practices should extend even to those that are not in compliance with fundamental rights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Implications of Uniform Civil Code on Personal Laws:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Protection to Vulnerable Section of Society:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The UCC aims to provide protection to vulnerable sections as envisaged by Ambedkar including<strong> women and religious minorities,</strong> while also promoting <strong>nationalistic fervour through unity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Simplification of Laws:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The code will <strong>simplify the complex laws around marriage ceremonies, inheritance, succession, adoptions</strong> making them one for all. The same civil law will then be applicable to all citizens irrespective of their faith.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Adhering to Ideal of Secularism:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Secularism is the objective enshrined in the Preamble, a <strong>secular republic needs a common law for all citizens</strong> rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gender Justice:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>If a UCC is enacted, all personal laws will cease to exist. It will<strong> do away with gender biases in existing laws.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Exceptions in Central Family Laws:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The preliminary sections in all central family law Acts enacted by Parliament since Independence declare that they will apply to &ldquo;the whole of India except the state of <strong>Jammu and Kashmir.&rdquo;</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A Second exception was added in 1968 in all these Acts, pronouncing that &ldquo;nothing herein contained shall apply to the Renoncants in the<strong> Union Territory of Pondicherry.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>A third exception, none of these Acts applies in Goa, Daman and Diu.</li>
<li>A fourth exception, relating to the north-eastern states of Nagaland and Mizoram, emanates from <strong>Articles 371A and 371G</strong> of the Constitution, decreeing that no parliamentary legislation will replace the customary law and religion-based system for its administration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Communal Politics:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The demand for a uniform civil code has been framed in the context of communal politics.</li>
<li>A large section of society sees it as <strong>majoritarianism under the garb of social reform.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Hurdle:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/regulating-right-to-freedom-of-religion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 25</strong></a> of Indian constitution, that seeks to preserve the <strong>freedom to practise and propagate any religion</strong> gets into conflict with the concepts of <strong>equality enshrined under<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-i#:~:text=Context%20%2D%20The%20Muslim%20Women%20(Protection,the%20violative%20of%20Article%2014." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Article 14</a></strong> of indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government and society will have to work hard to <strong>build trust, but more importantly, make common cause</strong> with social reformers rather than religious conservatives.</li>
<li>Rather than an omnibus approach, the <strong>government could bring separate aspects</strong> such as marriage, adoption, succession and maintenance into a UCC <strong>in stages.</strong></li>
<li>Need of the hour is the<strong> codification of all personal laws</strong> so that prejudices and stereotypes in every one of them would come to light and can be tested on the anvil of fundamental rights of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/plea-in-sc-against-bid-to-take-away-muslim-womans-right/article34208540.ece#:~:text=Petitioner%20says%20it%20is%20against%20fundamental%20right%20to%20religion,-A%20petition%20has&amp;text=In%20December%20last%20year%2C%20the,and%20alimony%20for%20all%20religions." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'tag' => 'Fundamental Rights',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7989,
		'category_id' => (int) 27,
		'title' => 'Fundamental Rights (Part-1)',
		'description' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Fundamental Rights are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution (Articles 12-35).</li>
<li>Part III of the Constitution is described as the<em><strong> Magna Carta</strong></em> of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>&lsquo;Magna Carta&rsquo;, the Charter of Rights issued by King John of England in 1215 was the first written document relating to the Fundamental Rights of citizens.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Fundamental Rights:</strong> The Constitution of India provides for six Fundamental Rights:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Right to equality (Articles 14&ndash;18)</li>
<li>Right to freedom (Articles 19&ndash;22)</li>
<li>Right against exploitation (Articles 23&ndash;24)</li>
<li>Right to freedom of religion (Articles 25&ndash;28)</li>
<li>Cultural and educational rights (Articles 29&ndash;30)</li>
<li>Right to constitutional remedies (Article 32)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Originally the constitution also included <strong>Right to property (Article 31).</strong> However, it was deleted from the list of Fundamental Rights by the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/major-constitutional-amendments-part-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>44<sup>th</sup> Amendment Act, 1978.</strong></a> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is made a <strong>legal right under Article 300-A&nbsp;</strong>in Part XII of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Provision for Laws Violating Fundamental Rights: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/basic-structure-of-constitution#:~:text=Article%2013(2)%20reads%2C,of%20contravention%2C%20be%20void.%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 13</a></strong> of the Indian constitution declares that all laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of any of the fundamental rights shall be void. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This power has been conferred on the Supreme Court <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/article-32-of-the-constitution#:~:text=Article%2032%20of%20the%20Constitution%20(Right%20to%20Constitutional%20Remedies)%3A,rights%20recognised%20by%20the%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(Article 32)</strong></a> and the high courts (Article 226).</li>
<li>Further, the article declares that a constitutional amendment cannot be challenged (as it is not a law). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the Supreme Court in the<strong> Kesavananda Bharati case (1973)</strong> held that a Constitutional amendment can be challenged if it violates a fundamental right.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Writ Jurisdiction:</strong> A writ is a legal order given by a court of law. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court (Article 32) and the High courts (Article 226) can issue the writs of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/constitutional-rights-judicial-review-and-parliamentary-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, certiorari and quo-warranto.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Features of the Fundamental Rights:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Protected by Constitution:</strong> Fundamental Rights, unlike ordinary legal rights, are protected and guaranteed by the constitution of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Some of the rights are available only to the citizens while others are available to all persons whether citizens, foreigners or legal persons like corporations or companies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Not Sacrosanct, Permanent, or Absolute:</strong> They are not sacrosanct or permanent and the Parliament can curtail or repeal them but only by a constitutional amendment act.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The rights are not absolute but qualified.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The state can impose reasonable restrictions on them, however, the reasonability of the restrictions is decided by the courts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rights are Justiciable:</strong> The rights are justiciable and allow persons to move the courts for their enforcement, if and when they are violated. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any aggrieved person can directly go to the Supreme Court in case of violation of any fundamental right.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suspension of Rights:</strong> The rights can be suspended during the operation of a National Emergency except the rights guaranteed by Articles 20 and 21. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the six rights guaranteed by Article 19 can be suspended only when there is an external emergency war or external aggression) [and not on the ground of armed rebellion (i.e., internal emergency].</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Restriction of Laws:</strong> Their application to the members of armed forces, paramilitary forces, police forces, intelligence agencies and analogous services can be restricted or abrogated by the Parliament (Article 33).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Their application can be restricted while martial law (military rule imposed under abnormal circumstances) is in force in any area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 35px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #140a3d; text-align: center; border-color: #ffffff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Fundamental Rights (available to citizens as well foreigners) (except enemy aliens)</strong></span></td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 35px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #140a3d; text-align: center; border-color: #ffffff;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Fundamental Rights available to citizens only</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 36px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 36px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Equality before law.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 36px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<p>Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 10px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Protection in respect of conviction for offences.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<p>Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 37px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 37px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Protection of personal life and liberty.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 37px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<p>Protection of the six fundamental rights of freedom mentioned in article 19.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 45px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 45px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Right to elementary education.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 45px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">Protection of language, script and culture of minorities.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 35px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 35px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 35px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 29px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 29px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Prohibition of human trafficking and forced labour.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 29px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 10px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Prohibition of employment of children in factories.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 10px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 45px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 45px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom to manage religious affairs.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 45px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any religion.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 89px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom from attending religious instruction or worship in certain educational institutions.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 89px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #fff7fd;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>The Fundamental Rights</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616481225_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616481225_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Right to Equality (Article <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener">14, 15, 16</a>, 17 and 18):</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Equality Before Law: Article 14</strong> says that no person shall be denied treatment of equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The right is extended to all persons whether citizens or foreigners, statutory corporations, companies, registered societies or any other type of legal person.</li>
<li><strong>Exceptions:</strong> As per article 361, the President of India or Governor of states is not answerable to any court for the exercise of their powers/duties and no civil or criminal proceedings can occur or continue against them in any court during their term of office.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per article 361-A, no civil or court proceedings can occur for a person for publishing any substantially true report of either House of the Parliament and State Legislature.</li>
<li>No member of Parliament (article 105) and State Legislature (article 194) shall be liable to any court proceedings in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any committee.</li>
<li>The foreign sovereigns (rulers), ambassadors and diplomats enjoy immunity from criminal and civil proceedings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prohibition of Discrimination: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lok-sabha-passes-the-constitution-124th-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 15</a></strong> provides that no citizen shall be discriminated on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Exception:</strong> Certain provisions can be made for the women, children, citizens from any socially or educationally backward class for their upliftment (such as reservation and access to free education).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Equality of Opportunity in Public Employment: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lok-sabha-passes-the-constitution-124th-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 16</a></strong> of the Indian constitution provides for equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters of employment or appointment to any public office. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Exceptions:</strong> There are provisions for reservation in appointments or posts for any backward class that is not adequately represented in the state services. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, an incumbent of a religious or denominational institution may belong to the particular religion or denomination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abolition of Untouchability: Article 17</strong> abolishes &lsquo;untouchability&rsquo; and forbids its practice in any form. The enforcement of any disability arising out of untouchability shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A person convicted of the offence of &lsquo;untouchability&rsquo; is disqualified for election to the Parliament or state legislature. <strong>The acts of offences include:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Preaching untouchability directly or indirectly.</li>
<li>Preventing any person from entering any shop, hotel, public place of worship and place of public entertainment.</li>
<li>Refusing to admit persons in hospitals, educational institutions or hostels established for public benefit.</li>
<li>Justifying untouchability on traditional, religious, philosophical or other grounds.</li>
<li>Insulting a person belonging to scheduled caste on the ground of untouchability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Abolition of Titles: Article 18</strong> of the constitution of India abolishes titles and makes four provisions in that regard: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It prohibits the state from conferring any title on any citizen or a foreigner (except a military or academic distinction).</li>
<li>It prohibits a citizen of India from accepting any title from any foreign state.</li>
<li>A foreigner holding any office of profit or trust under the state cannot accept any title from any foreign state without the consent of the President of India.</li>
<li>No citizen or foreigner holding any office of profit or trust within the territory of India can accept any present, emolument or office from or under any foreign State without the consent of the president.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Right to Freedom (Article <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/rights-to-freedom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">19</a>,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-double-jeopardy-bar-if-there-was-no-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 20</a>, 21 and <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/17-09-2019#:~:text=Article%2022(2)%20states%20that,the%20authority%20of%20a%20magistrate.'" target="_blank" rel="noopener">22</a>):</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Protection of 6 Rights: Article 19</strong> guarantees to all citizens the six rights of freedom including: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Right to freedom of speech and expression.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Expressing one&rsquo;s own views, opinions, belief and convictions freely by word of mouth, writing, printing, picturing or in any other manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to assemble peaceably and without arms.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Includes the right to hold public meetings, demonstrations and take out processions which can be exercised only on public land.</li>
<li>It does not protect violent, disorderly and riotous assemblies or strike.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to form associations or unions or co-operative societies.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It includes the right to form (and not to form) political parties, companies, partnership firms, societies, clubs, organisations, trade unions or any body of persons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to move freely throughout the territory of India.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The freedom of movement has two dimensions, viz, internal (right to move inside the country) (article 19) and external (right to move out of the country and right to come back to the country) (article 21).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The right of outsiders to reside and settle in tribal areas is restricted to protect the distinctive culture and customs of scheduled tribes and to safeguard their traditional vocation and properties against exploitation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It doesn&rsquo;t include the right to carry on a profession that is immoral (trafficking in women or children) or dangerous (harmful drugs or explosives, etc,).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection in Respect of Conviction for Offences: Article 20</strong> grants protection against arbitrary and excessive punishment to an accused person, whether citizen or foreigner or legal person like a company or a corporation. It provides that: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the act or subjected to a penalty greater than that prescribed by the law.</li>
<li>No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.</li>
<li>No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection of Life and Personal Liberty: Article 21</strong> declares that no person shall be deprived of his<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fundamental-rights-and-oci-cardholders#:~:text=Article%2021%3A%20It%20declares%20that,both%20citizens%20and%20non%2Dcitizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> life or personal liberty</strong></a> except according to procedure established by law. This right is available to both citizens and non-citizens.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The right to life is not merely confined to animal existence or survival but also includes the right to live with human dignity and all those aspects of life which go to make a man&rsquo;s life meaningful, complete and worth living.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Education:<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/right-to-education-2#:~:text=The%2086th%20Constitutional%20Amendment,Right%20to%20Education%20Act%202009." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Article 21 (A)</a></strong> declares that the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This provision makes only elementary education a Fundamental Right and not higher or professional education.</li>
<li>This provision was added by the <strong>86<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002.</strong></li>
<li>Before the 86<sup>th</sup> amendment, the Constitution contained a provision for free and compulsory education for children under <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education#:~:text=Originally%20Part%20IV%20of%20Indian,as%20equitable%20and%20accessible%20education.&amp;text=The%2086th%20amendment%20to,part%2DIII%20of%20the%20Constitution." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 45 in Part IV</strong> </a>of the constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Against Arrest and Detention:</strong> Article 22 grants protection to persons who are arrested or detained. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Detention is of two types, namely, <strong>punitive</strong> (punishment after trial and conviction) and <strong>preventive</strong> (punishment without trial and conviction).</li>
<li>The first part of Article 22 deals with the ordinary law and includes: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Right to be informed of the grounds of arrest.</li>
<li>Right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner.</li>
<li>Right to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, excluding the journey time.</li>
<li>Right to be released after 24 hours unless the magistrate authorises further detention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The second part of Article 22 deals with preventive detention law. Protection under this article is available to both citizens as well as aliens and includes the following:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The detention of a person <strong>cannot exceed three months</strong> unless an advisory board (judges of high court) reports sufficient cause for extended detention.</li>
<li>The grounds of detention should be communicated to the detenu.</li>
<li>The detenu should be afforded an opportunity to make a representation against the detention order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7897,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Group of Ministers: Media Strategy',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Editors Guild of India</strong> flagged the <strong><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/22-02-2020/print" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Group of Ministers (GoM) </a>report</strong> on the <strong>government&rsquo;s media strategy</strong> as an example of the government's <strong>&ldquo;increasingly draconian attitude&rdquo;</strong> towards any criticism.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The GoM, whose members include five Cabinet Ministers and four Ministers of State, was set up in mid-2020.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Editors Guild of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Editors Guild was founded in 1978 with the<strong> twin objectives of protecting press freedom</strong> and for <strong>raising the standards of editorial leadership</strong> of newspapers and magazines.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Recommendations from Group of Ministers (GoM) Report on Media Strategy:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Identifying and engaging <a href="/to-the-points/paper4/ethics-in-journalism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">journalists</a></strong> - who had lost jobs but have been &ldquo;supportive or neutral&rdquo; to the present government - in various ministries so that their services could be used to project the government&rsquo;s image positively.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Further, the government should have an <strong>increased engagement with journalism schools</strong> as part of its long-term strategy since present students are future journalists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Engaging with Foreign Media and NRIs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There should be <strong>regular interaction with foreign media journalists</strong> as part of the government&rsquo;s global outreach so that &ldquo;its perspective&rdquo; is put out correctly in the international forum.</li>
<li>An <strong>effective system of communication with the NRI community</strong> should be established so that they can raise their voice against negative narratives in foreign countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Highlighting Government&rsquo;s Work:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It calls for <strong>mass circulation of positive stories</strong> and testimonials to highlight the work done by the government and the difference they have made in people&rsquo;s lives.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>And <strong>rebuttal of negative stories,</strong> ensuring advertisements and outreach programmes in regional languages for better &lsquo;connect with local people&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Physical copies of the government magazine, <strong>New India Samachar,</strong> should be distributed to 6 lakh people and the e-version to 8 crore people.</li>
<li>Tasking different ministries with different outreach goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Using Social Media:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It calls for<strong> engaging with platforms</strong> such as <strong>Twitter and Google</strong> to increase the government&rsquo;s outreach positively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Countering False Narratives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Tracking<strong> 50 &lsquo;negative influencers&rsquo;</strong> who discredit the government &amp; encouraging <strong>50 &lsquo;positive influencers&rsquo;</strong> who project government work in 'right perspective'.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615375623_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615375623_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Concern of Editors Guild:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The media strategy illustrates the government&rsquo;s <strong>increasingly draconian attitude</strong> against any critique and inquiry by the press.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The suggestions from the GoM report hint at <strong>increased surveillance and targeting of writers and journalists</strong> who depart from the government&rsquo;s narrative.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The guild said the GoM prepared its report &ldquo;with an <strong>embedded toolkit to control the narrative</strong> about the government in the media&rdquo;.</li>
<li>Among the more disturbing suggestions was to develop a &ldquo;strategy to neutralise the people who are writing against the government without facts and set false narratives/spread fake news&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Suggestion revealed an intention to<strong> &ldquo;muzzle any criticism of the government&rdquo;,</strong> in the absence of clarity on what constitutes <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/fake-news-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fake news</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is supposed that the<strong> government should safeguard constitutional values of freedom of expression</strong> for media as well as journalists and should make it clear that it is committed to the plurality of views in the media.</li>
<li>Countering content manipulation and fake news to restore faith in the media without undermining its freedom will require public education, strengthening of regulations and effort of tech companies to make suitable algorithms for news curation.</li>
<li>On the other hand, it is important for the <strong>media to stick to the core principles</strong> like truth and accuracy, transparency, independence, fairness and impartiality, responsibility and fair play so that they can gain credibility.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/group-of-ministers-report-points-to-draconian-attitude-of-government-says-editors-guild/article34029064.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7843,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Right To Education',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Delhi High Court asked the Central government to respond to a petition against the authorities for <strong>not deciding upon extension of free education under the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/right-to-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Right To Education (RTE) Act</a> to children of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) beyond Class 8 and up to Class 12 in school.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions for Right To Education:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Originally Part IV of Indian Constitution, <strong>Article 45 and Article 39 (f) of DPSP,</strong> had a provision for state funded as well as equitable and accessible education.</li>
<li>The first official document on the Right to Education was the <strong>Ramamurti Committee Report</strong> in 1990.</li>
<li>In 1993, the Supreme Court&rsquo;s landmark judgment in the <em><strong>Unnikrishnan JP vs State of Andhra Pradesh &amp; Others</strong> </em>held that <strong>Education is a Fundamental right flowing from Article 21.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tapas Majumdar Committee (1999)</strong> was set up, which encompassed insertion of Article 21A.</li>
<li>The <strong>86<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment in 2002,</strong> provided Right to Education as a fundamental right in Part-III of the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>inserted Article 21A</strong> which made Right to Education a fundamental right for children between 6-14 years.</li>
<li>It provided for a follow-up legislation <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/faulty-education-guidelines-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Right to Education Act 2009</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Feature of Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The RTE Act aims to provide primary education to all children<strong> aged 6 to 14 years.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Section 12(1)(c)</strong> mandates that <strong>non-minority private unaided schools should reserve at least 25% of seats in entry-level grades for children from economically weaker</strong> and disadvantaged backgrounds.</li>
<li>It also makes <strong>provisions for a non-admitted child</strong> to be admitted to an age appropriate class.</li>
<li>It also states about<strong> sharing of financial and other responsibilities</strong> between the Central and State Governments.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Education in the Indian constitution is <strong>a concurrent issue</strong> and both centre and states can legislate on the issue.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It lays down the<strong> norms and standards</strong> related to: Pupil Teacher Ratios (PTRs), Buildings and infrastructure, School-working days, Teacher-working hours.</li>
<li>It also <strong>provides for prohibition of deployment of teachers for non-educational work,</strong> other than decennial census, elections to local authority, state legislatures and parliament, and disaster relief.</li>
<li>It provides for the <strong>appointment of teachers with the requisite entry and academic qualifications.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It prohibits</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Physical punishment and mental harassment.</li>
<li>Screening procedures for admission of children.</li>
<li>Capitation fee.</li>
<li>Private tuition by teachers.</li>
<li>Running of schools without recognition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It focuses on making the child free of fear, trauma and anxiety through a system of <strong>child friendly and child centred learning.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Argument for Extension of Free Education under RTE beyond Class 8 for EWS:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>parents of children are required to pay hefty fees to unaided private schools in classes 9</strong> and onwards which they can not afford.</li>
<li>Changing school from unaided private to government after class 8<strong> may affect the children&rsquo;s state of mind and education</strong> and thus, an extension of the RTE benefits will ensure continuity in the education.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Reservation for Economically Weaker Section in Higher Education</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/08-01-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>103<sup>rd</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act</strong></a> introduced an economic reservation (10% quota) in jobs and admissions in education institutes for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) by amending Articles 15 and 16.</li>
<li>It inserted<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lok-sabha-passes-the-constitution-124th-amendment-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Article 15 (6) and Article 16 (6).</strong></a></li>
<li>It was enacted to promote the <strong>welfare of the poor</strong> not covered by the 50% reservation policy for SCs, STs and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Socially and Educationally Backward Classes</strong></a> (SEBC).</li>
<li>It enables both Centre and the states to provide reservation to the EWS of society.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/education/no-decision-yet-on-extending-rte-benefits-delhi-hc-pulls-up-govt-7213165/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7842,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Freedom in the World 2021 Report',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/freedom-in-the-world-2020-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Freedom in the World</a> 2021</strong> report has downgraded India&rsquo;s status from <strong>&lsquo;Free&rsquo; to &lsquo;Partly Free&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pointing to a decline in global democracy over the last 15 years, the report said that nearly<strong> 75% of the world&rsquo;s population lived in a country that faced deterioration</strong> over the last year.</li>
<li>The <strong>most free countries</strong> in the world, with a score of 100, are<strong> Finland, Norway and Sweden,</strong> while the <strong>least free with a score of 1 are Tibet and Syria.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614846196_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1614846196_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="426" height="344" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Published By:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>USA based human rights watchdog <strong>Freedom House,</strong> which is largely<strong> funded through USA government grants,</strong> has been<strong> tracking the course of democracy since 1941. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Scores are Based on:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Political rights</strong> indicators such as the electoral process, political pluralism and participation and government functioning.</li>
<li><strong>Civil liberties</strong> indicators related to freedom of expression and belief, associational and organisational rights, the rule of law and personal autonomy and individual rights.</li>
<li>Countries are declared as <strong>&ldquo;free&rdquo;, &ldquo;partly free&rdquo; or &ldquo;not free&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Score:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>score was 67, a drop from 71/100 from last year</strong> (reflecting 2019 data) downgrading it from the free category last year (i.e., based on 2020 data).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for India&rsquo;s Fall:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Freedom of Media:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Attacks on press freedom have escalated dramatically, and reporting has become significantly less ambitious in recent years, citing the use of <strong>security, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/misuse-of-criminal-defamation-law-madras-hc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defamation</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sedition-law-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sedition</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contempt-of-court-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contempt of court</a></strong> laws to quiet critical media voices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Elevation of Hindu Nationalist Interests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India appears to have abandoned its potential to serve as a global democratic leader, <strong>elevating narrow Hindu nationalist interests</strong> at the expense of its founding values of inclusion and equal rights for all.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Internet Freedom:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In a year when <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/society-and-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>social media</strong> </a>censorship has been hotly seated, while the government shut down<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-refuses-to-restore-4g-services-in-j-k#:~:text=In%20August%202019%2C%20the%20Central,internet%20speed%20restricted%20to%202G." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Internet connectivity in Kashmir</strong> </a>as well as on Delhi&rsquo;s borders, <strong>India&rsquo;s Internet freedom score dropped to just 51.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Covid Response:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Response to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/comprehensive-action-plan-for-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19</strong></a> included a hamfisted lockdown that resulted in the dangerous and unplanned <strong>displacement of millions of internal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/database-of-migrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">migrant workers.</a></strong></li>
<li>It added that <strong>Muslims were disproportionately blamed</strong> for the spread of the virus and faced attacks by vigilante mobs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Crackdown on Protesters:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government intensified its crackdown on protesters opposed to a discriminatory<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/citizenship-amendment-act-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> citizenship law</strong></a> and arrested dozens of journalists who aired criticism of the official pandemic response.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Laws:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/up-ordinance-on-unlawful-conversions#:~:text=UP%20Unlawful%20Religious%20Conversion%20Prohibition,religious%20conversion%20is%20two%20months." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s law prohibiting forced religious conversion</strong></a> through interfaith marriage was also listed as a concern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-is-partly-free-says-us-thinktank/article33981116.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7762,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Right To Dissent',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<strong>&nbsp;"<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-pressing-need-to-adjudicate-not-mediate/article33874422.ece">The pressing need to adjudicate, not mediate</a>"&nbsp;</strong>which was published in The Hindu on 19/02/2021. It talks about the significance of the Right to Dissent in a democracy.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, in the pretext of farmer&rsquo;s protest, a review petition on the Shaheen Bagh protest has been filed in the Supreme Court. The court refused to review its earlier verdict which declared that there is no absolute <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/right-to-protest-in-a-free-society" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>right to protest</strong></a>, and it could be subjected to the orders of the authority regarding the place and time.</p>
<p>This brings into focus the tug-of-war between morality and state security, freedom, and responsibility. On one hand, it is the government&rsquo;s responsibility to ensure that any protest should not turn into violent chaos. On the other hand, public protests are the hallmark of a free, democratic society, whose logic demands that the voice of the people should be heard by those in power and decisions be reached after proper discussion and consultation.</p>
<p>In spite of this dilemma, in order to preserve the democratic fabric of the Indian society, it is the responsibility of stakeholders in a democracy that all freedoms under Article 19 of the Constitution shouldn&rsquo;t be seriously impaired.</p>
<h3>Significance of Right to Dissent</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Fundamental Right:</strong> The Right to protest peacefully is enshrined in the Indian Constitution&mdash;Article 19(1)(a) guarantees the freedom of speech and expression; Article 19(1)(b) assures citizens the right to assemble peaceably and without arms.</li>
<li><strong>Historical Context:</strong> The background of the Indian Constitution is formed by its anti-colonial struggle, within which the seeds of a political public sphere and democratic constitution were sown.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian people fought hard and long to publicly express their views on colonial policies and laws and form a public opinion against them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Checking Abuse of Power:</strong> The Right to the association is required to form associations for political purposes &mdash; for instance, to collectively challenge government decisions and to even aim, peacefully and legally, to displace the government, to not merely check abuse of power but to wrest power.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Right to peaceably assemble allows political parties and citizenship bodies such as university-based student groups to question and object to acts of the government by demonstrations, agitations and public meetings, to launch sustained protest movements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>People as Watchdogs:</strong> People act as watchdogs and constantly monitor governments' acts, which provides feedback to the governments about their policies and actions after which the concerned government, through consultation, meetings and discussion, recognizes and rectifies its mistakes.</li>
<li><strong>Supreme Court&rsquo;s Observation:</strong> In Ramlila Maidan Incident v. Home Secretary, Union Of India &amp; Ors. case (2012), the Supreme Court had stated, &ldquo;Citizens have a fundamental right to assembly and peaceful protest which cannot be taken away by an arbitrary executive or legislative action.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenge to Right to Dissent</h3>
<p>Any form of public action to challenge the government&rsquo;s proposals or decisions is also constitutionally legitimate, as long as it is done peacefully. Article 19(2) imposes reasonable restrictions on the right to assemble peaceably and without arms.</p>
<p>These reasonable restrictions are imposed in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offense.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, in the recent review petition, the petitioners apprehended that the observations in the Shaheen Bagh judgment against the indefinite occupation of public space may prove to be a license in the hands of the police to commit atrocities on the legitimate voice of protest.</li>
<li>Recently, not only the protesting farmers but also their supporters, including comedians and journalists, were charged with the Sedition.</li>
<li>Further, any arbitrary restraint on the exercise of such rights &mdash; for instance, imposing Section 144 &mdash; shows the inability of the government to tolerate dissent.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pro-Active Judiciary:</strong> A fair and effective adjudicative mechanism in constitutional matters can meaningfully prevent agitation on the street.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Studies have shown that social movements could be less radical and less oppositional when the issues could be effectively sorted out by way of fair litigation means.</li>
<li>Further, courts need to ensure timely agitation, because had there been a timely adjudication of the validity of the laws which was questioned by the process recognized by the law, the agitation on the street could have been probably reduced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Establishing Public Enquiry System:</strong> In the United Kingdom there exists a robust public enquiry system that processes ecological demands, integrates them into the political system, and minimizes radicalization of the movement arising out of exclusion and marginalization.</li>
<li><strong>Imbibing Civic Culture:</strong> On part of citizens, there is a need to imbibe a civic culture that is characterized by the acceptance of the authority of the state and a belief in participation in civic duties.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In order to participate in public protest, the right to freedom of speech &amp; expression, association, and peaceful assembly are necessary. In this context, there is a need for debate in public discourse that it is time when reasonable restrictions outlined in Article 19(2) should be brought under review.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fafaf2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Freedom of assembly is an essential element of a democratic system and that the public streets are the &lsquo;natural&rsquo; places for expression of opinion and dissemination of ideas. Critically analyze.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ORcHl1RU_Nc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/time-and-perseverance-the-hindu-editorial-on-nasas-mars-perseverance-rover/article33897256.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Time and perseverance: On NASA&rsquo;s rover on Mars&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on February 22<sup>nd</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7659,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Sedition Law',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>protected a political leader and six senior journalists from arrest in multiple <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sedition-law-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sedition</strong></a> FIRs registered against them.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Historical Background of Sedition Law:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sedition laws were <strong>enacted in 17<sup>th</sup> century England</strong> when lawmakers believed that <strong>only good opinions of the government should survive,</strong> as bad opinions were detrimental to the government and monarchy.</li>
<li>The law was originally drafted<strong> in 1837 by Thomas Macaulay, the British historian-politician,</strong> but was <strong>inexplicably omitted when the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/a-road-map-for-criminal-justice-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Penal Code (IPC)</a> was enacted in 1860.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/why-indias-sedition-law-needs-to-be-buried" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Section 124A</a> was inserted in 1870</strong> by an amendment introduced <strong>by Sir James Stephen</strong> when it felt the need for a specific section to deal with the offence. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was one of the many draconian laws enacted to stifle any voices of dissent at that time.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612950997_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612950997_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="617" height="353" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sedition Law Today:</strong> Sedition is <strong>a crime under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code</strong> (IPC).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 124A IPC:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It defines sedition as an offence committed when <strong>"any person by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred</strong> or contempt, or excites or attempts to <strong>excite disaffection towards the government</strong> established by law in India".</li>
<li>Disaffection includes <strong>disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.</strong> However, comments without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, will not constitute an offence under this section.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Punishment for the Offence of Sedition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sedition is a <strong>non-bailable offence.</strong> Punishment under the Section 124A ranges from <strong>imprisonment up to three years to a life term,</strong> to which fine may be added.</li>
<li>A person charged under this law is<strong> barred from a government job.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They have to live without their passport and must produce themselves in the court at all times as and when required.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Supreme Court Decisions on Sedition Law:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SC highlighted debates over sedition in<strong> 1950</strong> in its decisions in <em><strong>Brij Bhushan vs the State of Delhi</strong> </em>and <strong><em>Romesh Thappar vs the State of Madras.</em></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In these cases, the court held that a law which <strong>restricted speech on the ground that it would disturb public order was unconstitutional.</strong></li>
<li>It also held that <strong>disturbing the public order will mean nothing less than endangering the foundations of the State</strong> or threatening its overthrow.</li>
<li>Thus, these decisions prompted the <strong>First Constitution Amendment, where <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-court-on-right-to-protest#:~:text=Article%2019%20confers%20upon%20citizens,or%20inaction%20of%20the%20State." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 19</a> (2) was rewritten to replace &ldquo;undermining the security of the State&rdquo; with &ldquo;in the interest of public order&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>1962,</strong> the SC decided on the constitutionality of Section 124A in <em><strong>Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar.</strong></em><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It upheld the constitutionality of sedition, but <strong>limited its application</strong> to &ldquo;acts involving intention or tendency to create disorder, or disturbance of law and order, or incitement to violence&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It<strong> distinguished these</strong> from &ldquo;very strong speech&rdquo; or the use of &ldquo;vigorous words&rdquo; strongly critical of the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In <strong>1995,</strong> the SC, in <em><strong>Balwant Singh vs State of Punjab</strong></em>, held that mere sloganeering which evoked no public response did not amount to sedition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments in Support of Section 124A:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Section 124A of the IPC has its utility in <strong>combating anti-national, secessionist and terrorist elements.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> protects the elected government from attempts to overthrow</strong> the government with violence and illegal means. The continued existence of the government established by law is an essential condition of the <strong>stability of the State.</strong></li>
<li>If <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/contempt-of-court-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>contempt of court</strong></a> invites penal action, contempt of government should also attract punishment.</li>
<li>Many districts in different states face a <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/naxalism-left-wing-extremism-internal-security-threat-vulnerabilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maoist insurgency</a> and rebel groups virtually run a parallel administration.</strong> These groups openly advocate the overthrow of the state government by revolution.</li>
<li>Against this backdrop, the abolition of Section 124A would be ill-advised merely because it has been wrongly invoked in some highly publicized cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments against Section 124A:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Section 124A is a<strong> relic of colonial legacy</strong> and unsuited in a democracy. It is a constraint on the legitimate exercise of<strong> constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and expression.</strong></li>
<li>Dissent and criticism of the government are essential ingredients of robust public debate in a vibrant democracy. They should not be constructed as sedition. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Right to question, criticize and change rulers is very fundamental to the idea of democracy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>British, who introduced sedition to oppress Indians,</strong> have themselves abolished the law in their country. There is no reason why India should not abolish this section.</li>
<li>The<strong> terms used</strong> under Section 124A like 'disaffection' are<strong> vague and subject to different interpretations to the whims and fancies</strong> of the investigating officers.</li>
<li>IPC and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unlawful-activities-prevention-act-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 2019</strong></a> have provisions that penalize "disrupting the public order" or "overthrowing the government with violence and illegal means". These are sufficient for protecting national integrity. There is no need for Section 124A.</li>
<li>The sedition law is <strong>being misused as a tool to persecute political dissent.</strong> A wide and concentrated executive discretion is inbuilt into it which permits the blatant abuse.</li>
<li>In 1979, India<strong> ratified the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protesting-is-a-fundamental-right-un#:~:text=The%20ICCPR%20is%20a%20key,International%20Bill%20of%20Human%20Rights." target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)</a>,</strong> which sets forth internationally recognized standards for the protection of freedom of expression. However, misuse of sedition and arbitrary slapping of charges are inconsistent with India's international commitments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is the largest democracy of the world and the <strong>right to free speech and expression is an essential ingredient of democracy.</strong> The expression or thought that is not in consonance with the policy of the government of the day should not be considered as sedition.</li>
<li><strong>Section 124A should not be misused</strong> as a tool to curb free speech. The SC caveat, given in Kedar Nath case, on prosecution under the law can check its misuse. It needs to be <strong>examined under the changed facts and circumstances</strong> and also on the anvil of ever-evolving tests of <strong>necessity, proportionality and arbitrariness.</strong></li>
<li>The higher judiciary should use its supervisory powers to <strong>sensitize the magistracy and police to the constitutional provisions protecting free speech.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>definition of sedition should be narrowed down,</strong> to include only the issues pertaining to the territorial integrity of India as well as the sovereignty of the country.</li>
<li>The<strong> word &lsquo;sedition&rsquo; is extremely nuanced and needs to be applied with caution.</strong> It is like a cannon that ought not to be used to shoot a mouse; but the arsenal also demands possession of cannons, mostly as a deterrent, and on occasion for shooting.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/republic-day-violence-sc-stays-arrest-of-shashi-tharoor-rajdeep-sardesai-and-five-journalists/article33789972.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7636,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Rights to Freedom',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/beating-down-critical-journalism-creative-freedom/article33762947.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Beating down critical journalism, creative freedom&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 02/02/2021. It talks about the issues related to rights to freedom.</p>
</div>
<p>Farmers protesting on the borders of New Delhi and the Union Government are engaged in a tussle regarding <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/2020-12-01" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>three farms laws.</strong></a> After the protest turned into chaos on Republic day, the government has tightened the security.</p>
<p>However, the level of barricading that has been done by the government has been questioned by civil society nationally and internationally. Moreover, there have been active efforts by the government to deter critical reporting.</p>
<p>This can be reflected in instances like nine senior journalists were charged under the law of sedition, a young freelance journalist was arrested, a number of social media pages run by newspapers were blocked and executive order stating that employees of the social media company, Twitter, could face arrest for failure to comply.</p>
<p>These steps may be constituted as an assault on the &ldquo;rights to freedom&rdquo; granted under Article 19 of the Constitution.</p>
<h3>Issues Related With Rights to Freedom</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Non-Obstante Clause:</strong> Like several other articles in the Fundamental Rights chapter of the Indian Constitution, Article 19 includes a non-obstante clause, which means these rights are qualified by reasonable restrictions like law &amp; order, sovereignty &amp; security of the country, etc.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These clauses under article 19(2) were for the most part inserted by the First Amendment to the Indian Constitution.</li>
<li>However, many times when the government has to balance out the fine line between freedom of citizens and reasonable restrictions, it results in a conflicting condition and compromise on the rights to freedom.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Broad-Terms &amp; Negligence:</strong> Often the dichotomy between freedom of citizens and reasonable restrictions, result in misuse of power by the government, through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/sedition-law-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sedition law under section 124A of IPC.</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Taking this in cognizance, the Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Singh vs State Of Bihar, 1962 held that sedition will be applicable only to activities intended to create disorder or disturbance of public peace by resort to violence&rdquo;.</li>
<li>However, as these terms are vague, it leads to often misuse of sedition law and neglect of Supreme Court guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dis-Proportionate Judicial Remedy:</strong> In recent years the judicial system has emerged as a luxury, whereby rich and influential media houses &amp; journalists get bail quickly and bail gets delayed or denied to independent journalists and smaller media houses.</li>
<li><strong>New Legal Weapon:</strong> Apart from being charged with sedition and other offenses, the free press now has to deal with more stringent the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/unlawful-activities-prevention-amendment-bill-2019-and-the-related-issues" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2019</strong> </a>which could potentially result in indefinite detention.</li>
<li><strong>Angle of Religion:</strong> Even if religion finds no specific mention as reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2), the politics of religious offense constitute another clear threat to freedom of speech and expression.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This can be reflected in the recent case of the web series, whose producers and cast face charges despite multiple apologies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Active Role of Judiciary:</strong> The higher judiciary should use its supervisory powers to sensitize the magistracy and police to the constitutional provisions protecting free speech.</li>
<li><strong>Narrowing Down Sedition Law:</strong> The definition of sedition should be narrowed down, to include only the issues pertaining to the territorial integrity of India as well as the sovereignty of the country.</li>
<li><strong>Adherence to Media Ethics:</strong> Regarding the responsibility of media, it is important that the media stick to the core principles like truth and accuracy, transparency, independence, fairness and impartiality, responsibility, and fair play.</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening Institutional Framework:</strong> Rather than the government, news regulatory bodies (the Press Council of India &amp; News Broadcasters Association), should be empowered to put effective checks &amp; balances over media.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>There is the need to maintain a balance between free expression of individual rights and collective security of the society and state; this responsibility should not be borne by the government alone, but by all those who enjoy these rights.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Punitive measures as the first recourse against critical journalism are against the right of freedom enshrined under the Indian Constitution. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k2wrsqNQRKI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/et-editorials/shot-in-the-arm-for-banking-reform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Shot in the arm for banking reform&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Economic Times on February 4<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7633,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Right to Privacy & Legitimate State Interest',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central government has stated that <strong>though the right to privacy is held to be a sacred fundamental right,</strong> the <strong>veil of privacy can be lifted for legitimate State interest.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The government was <strong>responding to a petition seeking permanent halting of the Centre&rsquo;s surveillance projects</strong>- Centralized Monitoring System (CMS), Network Traffic Analysis (NETRA) and National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Centre&rsquo;s Surveillance Projects</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Centralized Monitoring System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has set up a Centralised Monitoring System (CMS) for lawful interception and monitoring of mobile phones, landlines and internet traffic through mobile networks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Network Traffic Analysis:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NETRA (or Network Traffic Analysis) is one such effort being taken by the Indian Government to filter suspicious keywords from messages in the network</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Intelligence Grid:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>First conceptualised in 2009, NATGRID (National intelligence Grid) seeks to become the one-stop destination for security and intelligence agencies to access databases related to immigration entry and exit, banking and telephone details of a suspect on a &ldquo;secured platform&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Petitioner's Arguments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government&rsquo;s surveillance projects enable<strong> government authorities</strong> to <strong>intercept, store, analyse and retain telephone and internet communications data</strong> in bulk in<strong> violation of the fundamental right to privacy.</strong></li>
<li>These systems <strong>allow the government a 360 degree surveillance of all citizens,</strong> including judges.</li>
<li>It<strong> sought creation of a permanent and independent oversight authority</strong> - judicial or parliamentary - for<strong> authorising and reviewing</strong> interception and monitoring orders or warrants issued under the<strong> Telegraph Act, 1885 and the IT Act, 2000.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government&rsquo;s Arguments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Lawful interception, monitoring or decryption of any messages or information stored in any computer resources is done by authorised agencies after<strong> due approval in each case by the competent authority.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="text-align: left;">There is<strong> no blanket permission</strong> to any agency for interception or monitoring or decryption; and <strong>permission from the competent authority (Union Home Secretary)</strong> is required.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">It contended there is <strong>sufficient mechanism of oversight</strong> in place in the form of a Review Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary at the centre and chief secretary at the state level, which examines if the approval has been given in accordance with the law.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="text-align: left;">When the<strong> Review Committee is of the opinion that the directions are not in accordance with the provisions,</strong> it may set aside the directions and <strong>order for destruction of the copies</strong> of the intercepted message or class of messages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">The grave threats to the country from<strong> terrorism, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/status-of-radicalisation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">radicalization</a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cross-border-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cross-border terrorism</a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cyber-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cybercrime</a>, organized crime, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-fighting-drug-menace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drug cartels</a></strong> cannot be understated or ignored and a strong and robust mechanism for timely and speedy collection of actionable intelligence including digital intelligence, is imperative to counter threats to the national security.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Right to Privacy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Generally understood that privacy is synonymous with the<strong> right to be let alone.</strong></li>
<li>The Supreme Court described privacy and its importance in the landmark decision of <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-judgements-of-independent-india#:~:text=Union%20of%20India%20(2017),21%20of%20the%20Indian%20constitution.&amp;text=The%20Puttaswamy%20judgement%20of%202017,fundamental%20right%20in%20Indian%20Jurisprudence." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India </strong></em></a>in<strong> 2017</strong> that - Right to Privacy is a fundamental and inalienable right and <strong>attaches to the person covering all information about that person and the choices that he/ she makes.</strong></li>
<li>The right to privacy is<strong> protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21</strong> and as a part of the freedoms guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Restrictions (as stated in the Judgement):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The right may be restricted only by state action that passes each of the three tests:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First, such state action must have a <strong>legislative mandate;</strong></li>
<li>Second, it must be<strong> pursuing a legitimate state</strong> purpose; and</li>
<li>Third, it must be proportionate i.e., such <strong>state action- both in its nature and extent,</strong> must be necessary in a democratic society and the action ought to be the least intrusive of the available alternatives to accomplish the ends.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Steps to Protect Privacy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Draft Personal Data Protection Bill 2019:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/personal-data-protection-bill-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bill</strong> </a>regulates the processing of <strong>personal data of individuals (data principals)</strong> by <strong>government and private entities</strong> (data fiduciaries) incorporated in India and abroad. Processing is allowed if the individual gives consent, or in a medical emergency, or by the State for providing benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>B N Srikrishna Committee:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Government appointed a <strong>committee of experts on data protection</strong> under the chairmanship of<strong> Justice B N Srikrishna</strong> that submitted its report in <strong>July 2018. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Information Technology Act, 2000:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The IT Act provides for <strong>safeguard against certain breaches</strong> in relation to data from computer systems. It contains provisions to prevent the<strong> unauthorized use of computers, computer systems and data stored therein.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/veil-of-privacy-can-be-lifted-for-legitimate-state-interest-centre-response-in-delhi-hc-7176694/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'Whatsapp and Violation of Privacy',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qcpotnpi0rU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Whatsapp, one of the most popular messaging apps, has <strong>updated</strong> its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/new-whatsapp-policy-privacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>privacy policy</strong></a> and has asked its users to accept the new terms and conditions by 8 February, 2021</li>
<li>The new policy has come into discussion on the issue of how user data is impacted given its <strong>integration with another social media major Facebook,</strong> which also happens to be WhatsApp&rsquo;s parent company.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There has been a huge concern over the new privacy policy due to a large population dependent on the app for various purposes of information sharing, entertainment etc.</li>
<li>On the raising concerns, Whatsapp has responded &ldquo;The <strong>update does not change WhatsApp&rsquo;s data sharing practices</strong> with Facebook and <strong>does not impact how people communicate privately</strong> with friends or family WhatsApp remains deeply committed to protecting people&rsquo;s privacy.&rdquo;</li>
<li>This is a <strong>forced consent</strong> taken from the users as it does not leave them with much of a choice. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Those who do not accept the updated policy, will no longer be able to access the chats on the messaging platform.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Besides breaching users&rsquo; privacy, the policy is also <strong>discriminatory</strong> as it is <strong>not applicable to the United Kingdom and the European Union</strong> but must be accepted by the rest of the world.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Features of the Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It requires users to consent to sharing <strong>transaction data, mobile device information, IP address,</strong> and data on how they interact with businesses with Facebook group companies.</li>
<li>The policy allows WhatsApp and Facebook to share user information with businesses and third-party service providers that transact on these platforms.</li>
<li>Besides the technical front, even on the analytics front the consent has been asked to <strong>share details such as the login details and the locational details</strong>.</li>
<li>WhatsApp&rsquo;s end-to-end encryption clause still remains intact, but this only ensures that it won&rsquo;t be able to see or share the users&rsquo; messages.</li>
<li>With the updated privacy policy, WhatsApp can now share one&rsquo;s <strong>metadata</strong> - which is essentially everything beyond just the textual conversation - with Facebook and other apps coming under the parent company.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Metadata is data of the data, provides description and context of the data and helps to organize and understand it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Whatsapp and India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Whatsapp is the most popular messaging platform in India, owned by Facebook since February, 2014.</li>
<li>India accounts for <strong>400 million</strong> of the total 2 billion <strong>WhatsApp users</strong> and <strong>310 million users on Facebook</strong> globally.</li>
<li>Also, India is the first country for WhatsApp to launch <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/whatsapp-upi-and-npci-regulations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>payment services</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has received permission from Indian regulators to go live with 20 million users so far.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Despite such a wide user base, India has been asked for a forced consent only because India is in a <strong>dearth of a stringent data protection law</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues with Social Media Platforms</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Almost 75% of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/cyber-crime-data-deprivation-and-data-localisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyber crimes</strong></a> such as <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/child-sex-abuse" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>child sexual abuse</strong></a>, terrorist radicalisation or financial crime or disturbance of law and order with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/the-problem-of-fake-news-in-india-issues-concerns-and-regulation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fake news</strong></a>, start with either <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/multi-state-phishing-scam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>phishing</strong></a> or social engineering attack through these messaging apps or social media. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Social engineering</strong> is manipulating people in order to obtain confidential information such as usually tricking an individual into sharing crucial information such as passwords or bank information, or accessing a computer to secretly install malicious software.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Countries such as the US have provided a safe harbour to these social media service providers via <strong>section 230 (c) of its Communications Decency Act, 1996</strong>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such actions often make these platforms a breeding ground of crimes.</li>
<li>Besides, it also makes a country&rsquo;s sovereignty a subject to the company&rsquo;s policy which is a great anomaly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are encrypted messages that nobody else can access. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Encryption is beneficial but it is more about how a tool is utilised than just about a tool.</li>
<li>Encryption is used to perpetuate crimes, and in such cases, it is very difficult to obtain any evidence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Data Protection in India and Other Countries</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>128 out of 194 countries</strong> had put in place legislation to secure the protection of data and privacy.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Africa and Asia show a similar level of adoption with 55% of countries having adopted such legislations from which 23 are least developed countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India:</strong> Although the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/privacy-judgement-and-the-aftermath#:~:text=Two%20years%20ago%2C%20in%20August,and%20liberty%20under%20Article%2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Puttaswamy Judgment</strong></a> talks for privacy as a fundamental right, India for real, <strong>does not have a strict law</strong> or any specific provisions for the protection of an individual&rsquo;s data. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-personal-data-protection-bill-2019#:~:text=It%20is%20commonly%20referred%20to,which%20can%20identify%20the%20individual" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Personal Data Protection Bill (PDP)</strong></a>. that seeks to provide for the protection of personal data of individuals is <strong>still a debated topic</strong> in the Parliament of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Russia:</strong> The Russian Federation has separate legislations regarding <strong>Electronic Transactions</strong> and draft legislations for <strong>Consumer Protection</strong> as well as <strong>Privacy and Data Protection</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The key legislation is Federal Law No. 15-FZ on Personal Data 2006 (the Personal Data Law), which is supplemented by numerous additional laws, regulations and guidelines.</li>
<li>The combination of a number of Russian laws provides comprehensive privacy protection across all sectors</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>European Union:</strong> 43 countries in the European Union (out of 45) have legislation specifically for data protection.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>WhatsApp is legally bound to not share data with Facebook in the European Region because it&rsquo;s a contravention of the provisions of the <strong>General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)</strong>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>GDPR is a regulation in the European Union law on data protection and privacy in the European Union and the European Economic Area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>United Kingdom:</strong> The UK has separate laws for electronic transactions, consumer protection, privacy &amp; data protection and cybercrimes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2018, the UK's Information Commissioner&rsquo;s Office (ICO) got WhatsApp to <strong>sign an undertaking</strong> in which it has <strong>committed publicly not to share personal data</strong> with Facebook in the future until the two services can do it in a way that is compliant with GDPR.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>USA:</strong> The US has sector specific data protection laws and regulations that work together with state-level legislation to safeguard American citizens&rsquo; data such as <strong>Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), NIST 800-171</strong> etc.</li>
<li><strong>Australia:</strong> The <strong>Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act)</strong> is an Australian law which regulates the handling of personal information about individuals.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Implementation of the PDP Bill:</strong> It has been enough time since the debates on the PDP Bill have been going on, now is the high time for its implementation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Absence of a rigid law means that there is no relief that a user can get in case of a breach or misuse of data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prioritising the privacy:</strong> With shifting towards digitisation in education, entertainment, banking and almost everything, it is time now that people understand that privacy is very crucial and shall not be compromised at any cost. The way forward is <strong>more user-privacy-centered apps</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Own Apps:</strong> India shall develop its own digital sovereignty and its own Apps.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Apps would agree to the <strong>nine privacy principles</strong> as mentioned in the <strong>AP Shah committee</strong>.</li>
<li>The committee recommended an overarching law to protect privacy and personal data in the private and public spheres.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It talks about accountability, notice, consent, limitation of collection, limitation of use, access and corrections and safeguards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Uninstalling the App is not a Solution:</strong> Deleting the App does not do it all, the data that already exists, stays with the company and will still be shared among the other Apps. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The governments of various nations have to respond to these kinds of discriminations and make sure that if there are any such policies, it should either be for all or for none.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The privacy policy of Whatsapp must be a contract between the company and its users where the latter must be allowed with the rights to preserve its privacy. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The confidentiality of the information of the users that must be maintained, is clearly being violated by Whatsapp&rsquo;s new policy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is in dire need of a law that protects the sensitive information of its citizens and also prevents them from being exploited by any such organisation. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is a country with a database of 400 million users whose privacy cannot be accepted if breached.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The discriminatory policy of Whatsapp calls for India to make provisions that assert its intolerance towards any sort of discrepancies and that India prefers a more equitable approach.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>MeitY&rsquo;s letter to Whatsapp</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)</strong> has sent a strongly worded letter to the CEO of WhatsApp, asking the company to <strong>withdraw its unilateral privacy policy changes</strong> calling them unfair and unacceptable.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In its letter, MeitY has said the terms of service and the proposed privacy policy are an <strong>&lsquo;all-or-nothing&rsquo; approach,</strong> which take away any meaningful choice from Indian users.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>MeitY has also <strong>raised objections to the differential treatment</strong> accorded by WhatsApp to its users in India compared with those in the European Union.</li>
<li>WhatsApp&rsquo;s new privacy policy <strong>was to be implemented from February 8</strong> but has been<strong> put on hold till May 15</strong> due to user backlash; the policy aims to share commercial user data with parent company Facebook.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The ministry has sought details about exact categories of data that WhatsApp will collect from Indian users.</li>
<li>The App has also been asked to provide details about the difference between its privacy policies in India and other countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7453,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Special Marriage Act, 1954',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<strong> Allahabad High Court has</strong> struck down the provisions under <strong>Section 5 of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-special-marriage-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Special Marriage Act</a></strong> that required parties to give a 30-day mandatory public notice of their intention to marry.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Special Marriage Act is a <strong>central legislation</strong> made to <strong>validate and register interreligious and inter-caste marriages in India.</strong></li>
<li>It allows two individuals to solemnise their marriage through a<strong> civil contract.</strong></li>
<li><strong>No religious formalities</strong> are needed to be carried out under the Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Provisions of the Special Marriage Act:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 4:</strong> There are <strong>certain conditions</strong> laid down in Section 4 of the Act:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It says that neither of the parties should have a spouse living.</li>
<li>Both the parties should be <strong>capable of giving consent;</strong> should be sane at the time of marriage.</li>
<li>The parties shall<strong> not be within the prohibited degree of relations</strong> as prescribed under their law.</li>
<li>While <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-age-of-marriage-for-girls" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>considering the age</strong></a>, the <strong>male must be at least 21 and the female be 18 at least.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Section 5 and 6:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under these sections, the parties wishing to marry are <strong>supposed to give a notice for their marriage</strong> to the Marriage Officer in an area where one of the spouses has been <strong>living for the last 30 days.</strong> Then, the marriage officer publishes the notice of marriage in his office.</li>
<li><strong>Anyone having any objection to the marriage</strong> can file against it within a period of 30 days. If any such objection against the marriage is sustained by the marriage officer, the marriage can be rejected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Details of the verdict</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Observations:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>provision for mandatory publication of notice,</strong> derived through &ldquo;simplistic reading&rdquo; of the particular law, &ldquo;would<strong> invade the fundamental rights of liberty and privacy,</strong> including within its sphere freedom to choose for marriage without interference from state and non-state actors, of the persons concerned&rdquo;.</li>
<li>The court also noted that despite the secular law for marriage, a majority of marriages in the country happen as per religious customs. It said that<strong> when marriages under personal law do not require a notice or invitation for objections, such a requirement is obsolete in secular law</strong> and cannot be forced on a couple.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Publishing marriage details made optional:</strong> The court made it optional for the parties to the intended marriage to make a request in writing to the Marriage Officer to publish or not to publish a notice under Section 5 and 6 of the Act of 1954.</li>
<li><strong>Directives for Marriage officer:</strong> In case the parties do not make such a request for publication of notice in writing, the Marriage Officer shall not publish any such notice or entertain objections to the intended marriage and proceed with the solemnization of the marriage. However, in case the officer has any doubt, he could ask for appropriate details/proof as per the facts of the case.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Basis of Judgement is progressive rulings by the Supreme Court:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/supreme-court-upholds-aadhaars-constitutional-validity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aadhaar case (2017)</strong></a> which made the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/privacy-judgement-and-the-aftermath" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>right to privacy</strong></a> a fundamental right under <strong>Article 21</strong> of the Constitution of India.</li>
<li><strong>Hadiya Marriage Case (2018)</strong> which held that the <strong>right to choose a partner is a fundamental right.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India case (2018)</strong> in which the court decriminalised homosexuality striking down the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/to-the-point-paper-2-section-377-judgement" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Section 377 of IPC</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits of the verdict</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It would <strong>decrease the cases of conversion for marriage,</strong> as the delay under the special marriage Act 1954 was forcing many couples to marry by converting.</li>
<li>It shall <strong>remove hindrances to inter-faith and inter-caste marriages,</strong> and thus could promote ideals of<strong> secularism and egalitarianism.</strong></li>
<li>It shall provide<strong> relief to interfaith couples from being targeted by vigilante groups.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issue related to the verdict:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Doing away with the public notification of the marriage <strong>could increase the cases of cheating,</strong> for example cases of duping by a married spouse.</li>
<li>It can facilitate anti social activities such as forceful conversion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/30-day-notice-period-not-mandatory-under-special-marriage-act-allahabad-high-court-7145476/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7440,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Scandalising the Courts: A Ground for Contempt',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the Union government on a <strong>PIL petition,</strong> challenging the <strong>constitutional validity of a provision of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971,</strong> that makes <strong>&ldquo;scandalising or tends to scandalising courts&rdquo; as a ground for contempt.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/public-interest-litigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Interest Litigation (PIL)</strong> </a>stands for a legal action taken by a public spirited person in order to protect public interest (any act for the benefit of the public).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Grounds for Contempt:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/contempt-of-court-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Contempt</strong> </a>is the <strong>power of the court to protect its own majesty and respect.</strong> The power is <strong>regulated but not restricted in the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The expression &lsquo;contempt of court&rsquo; has <strong>not been defined by the Constitution.</strong></li>
<li>However, <strong>Article 129</strong> of the Constitution conferred on the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> the power to punish contempt of itself. <strong>Article 215</strong> conferred a corresponding power on the <strong>High Courts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Contempt of Courts Act, 1971</strong> defines both <strong>civil and criminal contempt.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Civil contempt [Section 2(b)]</strong> refers to<strong> wilful disobedience to any judgment of the court. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Criminal contempt</strong> can be invoked if an act:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Tends to <strong>scandalise or lower the authority</strong> of the court <strong>[Section 2 (c)(i)];</strong> or</li>
<li>Tends to <strong>interfere with the due course of any judicial proceeding [Section 2 (c)(ii)];</strong> or</li>
<li><strong>Obstruct the administration of justice [Section 2 (c)(iii)].</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Section 5 of the Act provides that<strong> &ldquo;fair criticism&rdquo; or &ldquo;fair comment&rdquo;</strong> on the merits of a finally decided case <strong>would not amount to contempt.</strong> But the <strong>determination of what is &ldquo;fair&rdquo; is left to the interpretation of judges.</strong></li>
<li>The Act was <strong>amended in 2006</strong> to include the<strong> defence of truth</strong> under Section 13 of the original legislation. Implying that the court must permit justification by truth as a valid defence if it is satisfied that it is in the public interest.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments of the Petitioners:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 2(c)(i)</strong> of the Act <strong>violates the right to free speech and expression</strong> guaranteed under<strong> Article 19(1)(a) and does not amount to a reasonable restriction under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/access-to-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 19(2).</a></strong></li>
<li>Though the petitioners have not<strong> challenged the constitutional validity of Section 2(c) (ii) and Section 2(c)(iii) of the Act,</strong> they have contended that <strong>rules and guidelines must be framed</strong> defining the process that superior courts must employ while taking criminal contempt action, keeping in mind principles of natural justice and fairness.</li>
<li>In the <strong>contempt jurisdiction,</strong> the petitioners have contended, the <strong>judges may often be seen to be acting in their own cause,</strong> thus<strong> violating the principles of natural justice</strong> and <strong>adversely affecting the public confidence</strong> they seek to preserve through the proceeding.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues that Get Highlighted:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Subjectivity:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>word &lsquo;scandalising&rsquo; is subjective</strong> and depends on the perception of the concerned person. As long as the words &lsquo;scandalising the court&rsquo; are present (in the statute book), it will be <strong>susceptible to arbitrary exercise of power.</strong></li>
<li>One of the disturbing trends is the <strong>propensity of the court to treat personal attacks on their character as contempt.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is often forgotten that the law of contempt is <strong>not meant for protecting the judges, but it is for the protection of the institution of the judiciary.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Violation of Freedom of Expression:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A<strong> strong judiciary in a democratic republic</strong> is the bulwark of masses of this country. It <strong>must work towards</strong> fulfilling the goals set out in the constitution - to secure social economic and political justice for the masses and to uphold their fundamental rights.</li>
<li>If the<strong> judiciary is not functioning keeping in mind these objectives, an individual should have the freedom to point out the same</strong> and it cannot be said to be criminal contempt. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>United Kingdom&rsquo;s Decision to abolish &lsquo;scandalising the judiciary&rsquo; as a form of contempt of court:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s contempt of court law is derived from British law,</strong> but<strong> in 2013,</strong> the <strong>United Kingdom abolished</strong> &lsquo;scandalising the judiciary&rsquo; as a form of contempt of court <strong>on the grounds that this went against freedom of expression while retaining other forms of contempt</strong> like behaviour causing disruption or interference with court proceedings.</li>
<li><strong>One of the reasons</strong> why the UK repealed scandalising judiciary as a ground for contempt is <strong>to allow constructive criticism. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Does not recognise one of the basic principles of natural justice, </strong>i.e.,<strong> no man shall be a judge in his own cause.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thus, in contempt proceedings, the court arrogates to itself the powers of a judge, jury and executioner which often leads to perverse outcomes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Freedom of speech</strong> is the most fundamental of the fundamental rights and the restrictions thereupon have to be minimal. The <strong>law of contempt of court can impose only such restrictions as are needed to sustain the legitimacy of the judicial institutions.</strong> The law need not protect the judges. It has to protect only the judiciary.</li>
<li>A contempt notice issued without proper scrutiny could cause great hardship to people who are engaged in public life. Freedom must be the rule and the restriction must be an exception.</li>
<li>In contemporary times, it is more important that <strong>courts are seen to be concerned about accountability,</strong> that allegations are scotched by impartial probes rather than threats of contempt action, and processes are transparent.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-hc-notice-to-centre-on-pil-challenging-contempt-of-courts-act/article33558927.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7252,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Minorities Rights Day',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> National Commission for Minorities</strong> celebrated <strong>World Minorities Rights Day</strong> on <strong>18<sup>th</sup> December 2020.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The United Nations on 18<sup>th</sup> December, 1992 adopted the Statement on the individual's Rights belonging to religious or Linguistic National or Ethnic Minorities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992</strong> in Section 2(c) of the Act defines a minority as &ldquo;a community notified as such by the Central government&rdquo;.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, this applies to <strong>Muslim, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhist, Parsis (Zoroastrian) </strong>and<strong> Jain religions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>As per <em><strong>TMA Pai Foundation vs. State of Karnataka case</strong></em> (2002) in the Supreme Court, a minority, either linguistic or religious, is determinable only by reference to the demography of the State and not by taking into consideration the population of the country as a whole.</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Provisions Related to Minorities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The term <strong>"Minority"</strong> is <strong>not defined</strong> in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution recognises religious and linguistic minorities.</li>
<li><strong>Article 29:</strong> It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the same.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the Supreme Court held that the scope of this article is not necessarily restricted to minorities only, as use of the word<strong> &lsquo;section of citizens&rsquo;</strong> in the Article <strong>includes minorities as well as the majority.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 30:</strong> All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The protection under Article 30 is confined<strong> only to minorities</strong> (religious or linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as under Article 29).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 350-B:</strong> Originally, the Constitution of India did not make any provision with respect to the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities. However, the 7<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956 inserted Article 350-B in the Constitution.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It provides for a<strong> Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities</strong> appointed by the President of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Commission for Minorities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1992, with the enactment of the <strong>NCM Act, 1992,</strong> NCM was formed.</li>
<li>In 1993, the first <strong>Statutory National Commission</strong> was set up and five religious communities viz the<strong> Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians</strong> (Parsis) were notified as minority communities.</li>
<li>In 2014,<strong> Jains</strong> were also notified as a <strong>minority community.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Composition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NCM consists of a <strong>Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five members</strong> and all of them shall be from amongst the <strong>minority communities.</strong></li>
<li>Total of<strong> 7 persons to be nominated by the Central Government</strong> should be from amongst persons of eminence, ability and integrity.</li>
<li><strong>Tenure:</strong> Each Member holds office for a<strong> period of three years</strong> from the date of assumption of office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Evaluation of the progress</strong> of the development of minorities under the Union and States.</li>
<li>Monitoring of the working of the <strong>safeguards for minorities</strong> provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the state legislatures.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Example - <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/identification-of-minorities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004</strong></a>: It gives the minority status to the educational institutions on the basis of six religious communities notified by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It ensures that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/prime-minister-s-15-point-programme#:~:text=PM's%20New%2015%20PP%20is,sections%20of%20the%20minority%20communities." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Prime Minister&rsquo;s 15-point programme</strong> </a>is implemented and the programmes for minority communities are actually functioning.</li>
<li>Looking into <strong>specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of minorities</strong> and taking up such matters with the appropriate authorities.</li>
<li>It investigates <strong>matters of communal conflict and riots.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1681832" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7229,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Threats to Freedom of Press',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a report by the <strong>Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ),</strong> a record number of journalists were imprisoned during 2020.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The Committee to Protect Journalists</strong> is an <strong>independent, nonprofit</strong> organization that<strong> promotes press freedom worldwide.</strong></li>
<li>It defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highlights of the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The overall number of jailed journalists in 2020 is at<strong> record high of 272.</strong></li>
<li>Turkey remains the world&rsquo;s worst offender against press freedom with at least<strong> 68 journalists imprisoned for anti-state charges.</strong> At least <strong>25 journalists</strong> are in prison in <strong>Egypt.</strong></li>
<li>There are <strong>dozens of reporters missing or kidnapped</strong> in the <strong>Middle East and North Africa,</strong> including several held by Houthi rebels in Yemen.</li>
<li>Amid the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, authoritarian leaders tried to control reporting by arresting journalists.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance of Free Media:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Free Media<strong> promotes open discussion of ideas</strong> that allows individuals to fully participate in political life, making informed decisions and strengthening society as a result &mdash; especially in a large democracy such as India.</li>
<li>A free exchange of ideas, free exchange of information and knowledge, debating and expression of different viewpoints is important for <strong>smooth functioning of democracy.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As the free media by virtue of being the voice of masses, empowers them with the right to express opinions.Thus, free media is critical in a democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>With Free Media,<strong> people will be able to exercise their rights as questioning decisions of government.</strong> Such an environment can be created only when freedom of press is achieved.</li>
<li>Hence, Media can be rightly considered as the<strong> fourth pillar of democracy,</strong> the other three being legislature, executive and judiciary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats to Freedom of Press:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> hostility</strong> towards the media which is <strong>openly encouraged by political leaders</strong> poses a great threat to democracy.</li>
<li>Government&rsquo;s pressure in the name of <strong>regulations, bombardment of fake news and over influence of social media</strong> is dangerous for the occupation. <strong>Corruption-paid news, advertorials and fake news</strong> are threats to free and unbiased media.</li>
<li>Security of journalists is the biggest issue, <strong>killings and assaults on the Journalists covering sensitive issues are very common.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Hate speech targeting journalists</strong> shared and amplified on social networks are targeted against journalists using social media.</li>
<li><strong>Corporate and political power has overwhelmed large sections of the media,</strong> both print and visual, which lead to vested interests and destroy freedom.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Press Freedom in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 1950, the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Supreme Court</strong> </a>in <em><strong>Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras</strong> </em>observed that <strong>freedom of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organisations.</strong></li>
<li>The Constitution, the supreme law of the land, guarantees freedom of speech and expression under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/access-to-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 19</strong></a>, which deals with<strong> &lsquo;Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc.</strong></li>
<li>Freedom of press is not expressly protected by Indian legal system but <strong>it is impliedly protected under article 19(1) (a) of the constitution,</strong> which states - "All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression".</li>
<li>However, <strong>Freedom of press is also not absolute.</strong> A law could impose only those restrictions on the exercise of this right, <strong>it faces certain restrictions under article 19(2),</strong> which is as follows-<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Matters related to interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Press Council of India (PCI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a regulatory body established under the <strong><a href="/pdf/1587723916-press-council-of-india.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Press Council of India</a> Act of 1978.</strong></li>
<li>It aims to <strong>preserve the freedom of the press and maintain and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Initiative for Freedom of Press:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Paris based <strong>Reporters Without Borders (RSF)</strong> publishes annually a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-press-freedom-index-2020-reporters-sans-frontieres" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Press Freedom Index (WPFI)</strong></a> purporting to evaluate the level of freedom available to the media in 180 countries, which makes the governments and authorities aware of their policies and regulations against and for freedom of press.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has dropped to two places on the <strong>World Press Freedom Index, 2020</strong> to be ranked <strong>142<sup>nd</sup> out of 180 countries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Media freedom has been <strong>deteriorating around the world</strong> over the past decade. The threats to global media freedom are real and concerning in their own right,<strong> their impact on the state of democracy is what makes them truly dangerous.</strong></li>
<li>Countering content manipulation and fake news to<strong> restore faith in the media without undermining its freedom</strong> will require public education, strengthening of regulations and effort of tech companies to make suitable algorithms for news curation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any future<strong> legislation to curb fake news should take the whole picture into account and not blame the media</strong> and go for knee-jerk reactions; in this age of new media anyone can create and circulate new for undisclosed benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is important for the media <strong>to stick to the core principles like truth and accuracy, transparency, independence, fairness and impartiality, responsibility and fair play</strong> so that they can gain credibility.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/number-of-journalists-jailed-for-doing-job-near-record-high-report-5491726/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7112,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Special Marriage Act',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HyyYpMxxQ_s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<p>The Allahabad high Court has recently expressed its concern over the issue of one changing his/her faith just for the sake of matrimony while the two persons professing different religions can marry under<strong> the Special Marriage Act</strong> which is &lsquo;one of the earliest endeavours towards the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/uniform-civil-code-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Uniform Civil Code.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The court had made the comments after finding that a Muslim woman had converted to Hinduism, and a month later married as per Hindu rituals.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Special Marriage Act is the legislation made to validate and register interreligious and inter-caste marriages in India.</li>
<li>It allows two individuals to solemnise their marriage through a civil contract.</li>
<li>No religious formalities are needed to be carried out under the Act.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Provisions Under The Special Marriage Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Special Marriage Act came into effect in 1954 permitting any individual belonging to a faith to marry another person belonging to a different faith provided there are certain conditions. The conditions are laid down in section 4 of the act: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It says that neither of the parties should have a spouse living.</li>
<li>Both the parties should be capable of giving consent; should be sane at the time of marriage.</li>
<li>The parties shall not be within the prohibited degree of relations as prescribed under their law. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Relationship by half blood as well as by full blood</li>
<li>Illegitimate as well as legitimate blood relationship</li>
<li>Relationship by adoption as well as by blood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>While considering the age, the male must be at least 21 and the female be 18 at least.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In case all of these conditions are fulfilled, the parties are supposed to give a notice for their marriage to the Marriage Officer in an area where one of them has been living for the last 30 days.</li>
<li>Anyone having any objection to the marriage can file against it within a period of 30 days, after a 30 days period of considering the objections, the marriage is permitted with 3 witnesses required to sign the registration of marriage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Anyone who believes that either of the given parties do not fulfill all the required conditions can file an objection against the marriage and the marriage officer can reject the marriage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong> People of the same faith can also marry under this act; but separate laws for marriage also exist in their respective faith.</p>
</div>
<p><strong>Issue related to the Act</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The act only validates the marriage of two people belonging to different faiths, but there is no punishment for those who forcibly convert the other partner just for the sake of marriage.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This is a serious issue for the communities such as the Parsis which already exist in minorities, due to coerced conversion these communities will soon be vanished.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The Uniform Civil Code</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A uniform civil code here refers to a single law, applicable to all citizens of India in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, custody, adoption and inheritance.</li>
<li>The Constitution in Article 44 requires the State to strive to secure for its citizens a <strong>Uniform Civil Code (UCC)</strong> throughout India. However, no action has been taken in this regard till date.</li>
<li>Uniform Civil Code seeks to replace personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in India with a common set of rules governing every citizen.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Effective implementation and amendment:</strong> India has a strong set of laws but they are needed to be implemented strictly.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the purview of interfaith marriages, the Idea should be to eradicate the core issue; coerced conversion.</li>
<li>Moreover, the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is now a 66 years old law and it definitely needs to undergo certain changes now.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Separating religion and personal matters:</strong> Religion and personal matters are something to be dealt with separately, moreover, marriage and conversion of religion are two things and should definitely not be interconnected.</li>
<li><strong>UCC as the silver bullet:</strong> A uniform civil code for all personal matters; marriage, succession, divorce etc of all the communities including all the citizens shall be there leaving aside the religion. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Issues such as marriages are secular in nature, therefore, a <strong>uniform law can regulate them.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Articles 44, 25 and 26:</strong> Article 44 mentioning the Uniform Civil Code and articles 25 and 26 are often believed to be contradictory. The balance with these articles is something that is rarely discussed and needs more attention now.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 25</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. According to it, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate a religion.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Article 26</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Freedom to manage religious affairs. Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right to establish and maintain religious institutions and manage its own affairs in matters of religion.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Religion today has gone far beyond the faith in the almighty and has become quite antagonistic,where people want to impose their values and beliefs on others.</li>
<li>The time is right to bring in the UCC, by having consultation at a wider level with all the stakeholders.</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7109,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'UP Ordinance on Unlawful Conversions',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has recently<strong> passed an ordinance to deal with unlawful religious conversions,</strong> which are in opposition of various judgements of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> (SC).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>UP Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Ordinance, 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It makes religious conversion for marriage a <strong>non-bailable offence</strong> and the onus will be on the defendant to <strong>prove that conversion was not for marriage.</strong></li>
<li>The notice period to the<strong> District Magistrate</strong> for the religious conversion is <strong>two months.</strong></li>
<li>In case of conversion done by a woman for the <strong>sole purpose of marriage,</strong> the <strong>marriage would be declared null and void.</strong></li>
<li>Violation of the provisions of the law would invite a jail term of not less than one <strong>year extendable to five years with a fine of Rs. 15,000.</strong></li>
<li>If a <strong>minor woman</strong> or a <strong>woman</strong> from the<strong> Scheduled Caste</strong> (SC) or <strong>Scheduled Tribe</strong> (ST) converts, the jail term would be a<strong> minimum of three years</strong> and could be extended to<strong> 10 years with a fine of Rs. 25,000.</strong></li>
<li>The ordinance also lays down strict action, including <strong>cancellation of registration of social organisations</strong> conducting <strong>mass conversions,</strong> which would invite a jail term of not less than three years and up to <strong>10 years</strong> and a fine of <strong>Rs. 50,000.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supreme Court on Marriage and Conversion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SC in its various judgments, has held that <strong>faith,</strong> the<strong> state</strong> and the <strong>courts</strong> have <strong>no jurisdiction</strong> over an<strong> adult&rsquo;s absolute right to choose a life partner.</strong></li>
<li>India is a <strong>&ldquo;free and democratic country&rdquo;</strong> and any<strong> interference by the State in an adult&rsquo;s right to love and marry</strong> has a <strong>&ldquo;chilling effect&rdquo;</strong> on freedoms.</li>
<li>Intimacies of marriage lie within a <strong>core zone of privacy,</strong> which is <strong>inviolable</strong> and the choice of a life partner, whether by marriage or outside it, is <strong>part of an individual's &ldquo;personhood and identity&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The absolute right of an individual to choose a life partner is <strong>not in the least affected by matters of faith.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Previous Judgements:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/choosing-a-partner-is-a-persons-fundamental-right-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hadiya Judgement 2017:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Matters of <strong>dress</strong> and of <strong>food, of ideas and ideologies, of love</strong> and <strong>partnership</strong> are within the central aspects of<strong> identity.</strong> Neither the State nor the law <strong>can dictate</strong> a choice of partners or <strong>limit the free ability</strong> of every person<strong> to decide</strong> on these matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/privacy-judgement-and-the-aftermath" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>K.S. Puttuswamy or &lsquo;privacy&rsquo; Judgment 2017:</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Autonomy of the individual</strong> was the ability to make decisions in vital matters of concern to life.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lata Singh Case 1994:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The apex court held that India is going through a <strong>&ldquo;crucial transformational period&rdquo;</strong> and the <strong>&ldquo;Constitution will remain strong only if we accept the plurality and diversity of our culture&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>Relatives disgruntled by the<strong> inter-religious marriage</strong> of a loved one could opt to <strong>&ldquo;cut off social relations&rdquo;</strong> rather than resort to <strong>violence or harassment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Soni Gerry case, 2018:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The SC warned judges from playing<strong> &ldquo;super-guardians&rdquo;,</strong> succumbing to <strong>&ldquo;any kind of sentiment of the mother or the egotism of the father&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Salamat Ansari-Priyanka Kharwar case of Allahabad High Court 2020:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The right to choose a partner or live with a person of choice was part of a citizen&rsquo;s <strong>fundamental right to life and liberty</strong> (Article 21).</li>
<li>It also held that earlier court rulings upholding the idea of <strong>religious conversion for marriage as unacceptable</strong> are not good in law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Thus, the government implementing such laws needs to ensure that these do not curb one&rsquo;s <strong>Fundamental Rights</strong> or <strong>hamper the national integration</strong> instead, these laws need to<strong> strike a balance</strong> between <strong>freedoms and malafide conversions.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/up-religious-conversion-ordinance-challenges-sc-verdicts/article33214198.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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