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Maratha Reservation Struck Down: SC

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) declared a Maharashtra law which provides reservation benefits to the Maratha community, taking the...

06 May 2021 Judiciary
Challenges for the New Chief Justice of India

This article is based upon “A Court in Crisis” which was published in the Indian Express on 24 April, 2021. It talks about the issues...

26 Apr 2021 Judiciary
National Commission for Minorities

Why in News Recently, the Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to fill up the vacant posts of chairperson and five other members of the National...

26 Apr 2021 Judiciary
AI Portal SUPACE

Why in News Recently, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based portal ‘SUPACE’ in the judicial...

07 Apr 2021 Judiciary
Ad-hoc Judges in High Court

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court pushed for the appointment of retired judges to battle the pendency of cases in High Courts. Key...

27 Mar 2021 Judiciary
Hate Crime

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) quashed Hate Crime proceedings initiated against a senior journalist for a Facebook post. The SC...

27 Mar 2021 Judiciary
Electoral Bonds & Its Issues

This article is based on “Here is why the electoral bonds scheme must go” which was published in The Hindu on 26/03/2021. It talks...

26 Mar 2021 Judiciary
N.V. Ramana: 48th Chief Justice of India

Why in News N.V. Ramana, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, has been recommended as the next top judge by the present Chief Justice of...

26 Mar 2021 Judiciary
The Big Picture: Reviewing 50% Cap of Reservation

Why in News Recently, a five-judge bench at the Supreme Court has decided to examine whether the 1992 verdict by a nine-judge bench capping quota...

18 Mar 2021 Judiciary
State Election Commission Appointment Issue

Why in News The Supreme Court ruled that serving bureaucrats must not be appointed as election commissioners to ensure that the independence of the...

15 Mar 2021 Judiciary
Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991

Why in News The Supreme Court asked the Centre to respond to a plea challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which freezes...

13 Mar 2021 Judiciary
Wrongful Prosecution in India

Why in News A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court highlighting the need for the government to frame guidelines for compensating victims of...

13 Mar 2021 Judiciary
The Big Picture: Accessible and Affordable Judicial System

Why in News? The Vice President of India has recently raised concerns over making the entire judicial system more accessible and understandable...

11 Mar 2021 Judiciary
Fast-track Courts to Clear Dishonoured Cheque Cases

Why In News A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has proposed setting up fast-track courts for a limited time to clear dishonoured cheque...

05 Mar 2021 Judiciary
Right of Reputation vs Right to Dignity

Why in News Recently, a Delhi court has rejected a criminal defamation case filed by former Union Minister against a journalist over her tweets...

19 Feb 2021 Judiciary
Economic Impact of Judicial Decisions

Why in News Recently, the NITI Aayog has asked research organisation ‘Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International’ to conduct...

08 Feb 2021 Judiciary
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 Judiciary
Nilgiri Elephant Corridor Case

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) appointed a conservationist as Member of a Technical Committee constituted in the October 2020 case to...

30 Jan 2021 Judiciary
India Justice Report 2020

Why in News The India Justice Report (2020) prepared by the Tata Trusts in collaboration with the Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, DAKSH,...

29 Jan 2021 Judiciary
Collegium System for the Appointment of Judges

Why in News Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) questioned the government about the delay in clearing Collegium recommendations for judicial...

28 Jan 2021 Judiciary

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		'article_id' => (int) 8313,
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		'title' => 'Maratha Reservation Struck Down: 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> declared a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maharashtra-assembly-passes-bill-for-reservation-for-marathas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maharashtra law</strong></a> which provides <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/maratha-quota" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reservation benefits to the Maratha</strong></a> community, taking the quota limit in the State in excess of 50%, as unconstitutional.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>2017:</strong> A 11-member <strong>commission headed by Retired Justice N G Gaikwad</strong> recommended <strong>Marathas should be given reservation</strong> under <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-to-obc-sub-categorisation-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2018:</strong> Maharashtra Assembly passed a Bill proposing <strong>16% reservation for Maratha community.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2018:</strong> The Bombay High Court while upholding the reservation pointed out that instead of 16% it should be <strong>reduced to 12% in education and 13%in jobs.</strong></li>
<li><strong>2020:</strong> The SC stayed its implementation and <strong>referred the case to Chief Justice of India for a larger bench.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Current Ruling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Violation of Fundamental Rights:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A separate reservation for the Maratha community violates <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/fundamental-rights-part-1#:~:text=Equality%20Before%20Law%3A%20Article%2014,within%20the%20territory%20of%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (due process of law)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Reservation breaching the 50% limit <strong>will create a society based on &ldquo;caste rule&rdquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Maratha reservation of 12% and 13% (in education and jobs) had <strong>increased the overall reservation ceiling to 64% and 65%, respectively.</strong></li>
<li>In the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/creamy-layer-for-sc-s-st-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Indira Sawhney judgment</em></a> 1992</strong>, SC had categorically said <strong>50% shall be the rule</strong>, only in certain <strong>exceptional and extraordinary situations</strong> for bringing far-flung and remote areas' population into mainstream said 50% rule can be relaxed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Further Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Appointments made under the Maratha quota</strong> following the Bombay High Court judgment endorsing the State law <strong>would hold</strong>, but <strong>they would get no further benefits.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Deprived States of the Power to Identify SEBCs:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There will <strong>only be a single list of SEBC with respect to each State and Union Territory notified by the President</strong> of India, and that <strong>States can only make recommendations</strong> for inclusion or exclusion, with any subsequent change to be made only by Parliament.</li>
<li>The Bench unanimously <strong>upheld the constitutional validity</strong> of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-reviewing-50-cap-of-reservation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>102<sup>nd</sup> Constitution Amendment</strong></a> but differed on the question whether it affected the power of states to identify SEBCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Direction to NCBC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Asked the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)</strong></a> to expedite the <strong>recommendation of SEBCs</strong> so that the President can publish the notification containing the list of SEBCs in relation to States and Union Territories expeditiously.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>102<sup>nd</sup> Amendment Act of 2018</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It introduced <strong>Articles 338B and 342A in the Constitution.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 338B</strong> deals with the newly established National Commission for Backward Classes.</li>
<li><strong>Article 342A</strong> empowers the President to specify the socially and educationally backward communities in a State. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It says that it is for the Parliament to include a community in the Central List for socially and backward classes for grant of reservation benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-declares-maratha-quota-law-unconstitutional/article34487043.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8242,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Challenges for the New Chief Justice of India',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based upon <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-court-in-crisis-7286542/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A Court in Crisis&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in the Indian Express on 24 April, 2021. It talks about the issues in the judiciary and what is the way forward for the new CJI, Justice NV Ramana to fulfill his oath.</p>
</div>
<p>Justice is the concept of making decisions based on moral rightness, rationality, equity and fairness and the onus of delivering timely justice to the citizens of a country lies majorly on the shoulders of the supreme judge of the country.</p>
<p>In India, this role is played by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cji-under-the-rti-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Chief Justice of India (CJI)</strong></a>; the<strong> &lsquo;Paterfamilias&rsquo;</strong> of the Judiciary and the<strong> &lsquo;Master of the Roster&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<p>Recently, Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/n-v-ramana-48th-chief-justice-of-india#:~:text=Ramana%2C%20the%20senior%20most%20judge,till%2026th%20August%2C%202022." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NV Ramana</strong></a>), the most senior judge 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> after former CJI, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/47th-chief-justice-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Justice S A Bobde</strong></a>, took his oath as the 48th CJI.</p>
<p>Designated as CJI at such a time when India is going through a major crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of potential challenges stand in the path of fulfilling his oath of delivering timely justice to all.</p>
<h3>Current Issues with the Judiciary</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Inefficiency of the Supreme Court:</strong> The SC has not only <strong>stopped being the protector of the fundamental and other constitutional rights,</strong> but has also failed to act as the guardian of the rule of law. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the context of politically sensitive cases involving citizens, opposition parties, and activists, the Court has virtually deferred to the executive instead of stepping in to restore constitutional rights and values in letter and spirit.</li>
<li>The recently retired, 47th CJI was perhaps the only Chief Justice to have not made a single recommendation of a judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Low Judge to Population Ratio:</strong> The judge-population ratio in the country which stands at only<strong> 20 judges per million people</strong> is not very appreciable.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While for the other countries, the ratio is about 50-70 judges per million people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pendency and Vacancies in High Courts:</strong> The numbers both in respect of pendency of cases and vacancies in the High Courts are quite concerning &mdash; a backlog of <strong>over 57 lakh cases, and a vacancy level of 40%.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Madras High Court has 5.8 lakh cases against a relatively low level of vacancy at 7%.</li>
<li>As many as 44% of the posts in the Calcutta High Court are vacant, but the cases in arrears stand at 2.7 lakh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recruitment Delays:</strong> The posts in the judiciary are not filled up as expeditiously as required. For a country as populous as 135 million, the <strong>total strength of judges is only around 25000.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Almost 400 posts are vacant in the high courts.</li>
<li>Around 35% of the posts are lying vacant in the lower judiciary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Representation of Women and Minorities:</strong> The<strong> apex court</strong> currently has only <strong>one woman as judge</strong> despite the fact that virtually half the population comprise women and gender sensitive cases have also seen a sharp rise.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Supreme Court has only one Muslim judge and no Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or a person from tribal community as a judge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lesser Strict Actions Taken for Judicial Delay:</strong> Though there is widespread acknowledgement of the problem of judicial delay, there is only limited effort within the judiciary taken to understand, through research, the nuances of the problems and ways to resolve it.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Challenges for the New CJI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Keeping the court functioning during the present unprecedented crisis</strong> due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.</li>
<li><strong>Revamping the administrative machinery of the apex court</strong> and streamlining the functioning of the collegium.</li>
<li>Strengthening the judicial infrastructure and <strong>clearing the massive backlog of cases.</strong></li>
<li>The Supreme Court will have around 13 vacancies during Justice Ramana&rsquo;s tenure as many judges are due to retire by the end of 2021. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The biggest challenge will be to <strong>streamline the appointment process in the Supreme Court as well as in the High Courts</strong> which have been struggling with the pendency of a huge number of cases due to a lack of judges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The possibility of courts reopening for physical hearing, at such a time, looks bleak now, given the massive spike in Covid-19 infections in the Capital.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>hearings of courts will have to be digitised which is further criticised by lawyers</strong> on multiple instances due to technical faults.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Role of the Supreme Court:</strong> A country of a billion+ population needs its highest court to stand for the people as the power of the judiciary, just like the legislature and the executive, comes from the people of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SC is expected to <strong>seek strict accountability from the legislature and executive</strong> and any infraction of the Constitution and laws must be corrected.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court collegium of the five senior-most judges should act more transparently and be made more accountable in order to inspire confidence and trust in the judiciary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of CJI:</strong> The new Chief Justice must<strong> stringently introspect and review the actions of his immediate predecessors,</strong> free himself of the bias in constituting benches and allocating cases and take concrete steps to revitalise the administration of justice. Only then will the rule of law be restored and the Constitution served.</li>
<li><strong>Streamlining the Appointment System:</strong> The vacancies must be filled without any unnecessary delay.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A proper time frame for the appointment of judges must be laid down and the recommendations must be given in advance.</li>
<li>The Constitution of the<a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-accessible-and-affordable-judicial-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> All India Judicial Services (AIJS)</strong></a> is also an important factor which can definitely help India establish a better judicial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fair Representation of All:</strong> Women and the minority communities deserve a fair representation in the Apex Court. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The collegium is duty-bound to diversify the Bench to give adequate representation to all sections of society so that public trust, which is the greatest strength of the judiciary, could be restored.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Chief Justice of India on account of the position he holds as the Paterfamilias of the judicial fraternity is bound to deliver undelayed and unbiased justice to its citizens in order to restore and maintain the faith of the people in the judicial system of India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, besides the challenges inside the court, surge in Covid cases remains as of the biggest challenges in his way, outside the court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A sound judicial system is one based on an objective enquiry, practical and unbiased analysis of evidence and delivery of timely and even-handed justice to all citizens.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Time has come for the Supreme Court collegium to assert its primacy in judicial appointments of judges and thus reduce the pendency of cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Discuss the role of the Chief Justice of India (a) as the Paterfamilias of the judicial fraternity and (b) in delivering a sound and timely justice to the citizens and restoring their faith in the judicial system of the country.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8238,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'National Commission for Minorities',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Delhi High Court has directed the Centre<strong> to fill up the vacant posts of chairperson and five other members of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)</strong> by 31<sup>st</sup> July 2021.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Genesis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>In 1978,</strong> setting up of the <strong>Minorities Commission (MC)</strong> was envisaged in the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs Resolution.</strong></li>
<li><strong>In 1984,</strong> the<strong> MC</strong> was detached from the Ministry of Home Affairs and placed under the newly created <strong>Ministry of Welfare,</strong> which excluded linguistic minorities from the Commission&rsquo;s jurisdiction <strong>in 1988.</strong></li>
<li><strong>In 1992,</strong> with the enactment of the<strong> NCM Act, 1992,</strong> the <strong>MC</strong> became a statutory body and was <strong>renamed as the NCM.</strong></li>
<li><strong>In 1993,</strong> the first Statutory National Commission was set up and five religious communities viz <strong>the Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists </strong>and<strong> Zoroastrians (Parsis)</strong> were notified as <strong>minority communities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>In 2014, 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 <strong>a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and five members</strong> and all of them shall be from <strong>amongst the minority communities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Total of 7 persons</strong> to be nominated by the <strong>Central Government</strong> should be from amongst persons <strong>of eminence, ability and integrity.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Tenure:</strong> Each Member holds office for a period of three years from the date of assumption of office.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Functions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Evaluation of the <strong>progress of the development of minorities</strong> under the Union and States.</li>
<li><strong>Monitoring of the working of the safeguards for minorities</strong> provided in the Constitution and in laws enacted by Parliament and the state legislatures.</li>
<li>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 for the Welfare of Minorities</strong></a> is implemented and the programmes for minority communities are actually functioning.</li>
<li><strong>Making recommendations</strong> for the effective implementation of safeguards for the protection of the interests of minorities by the central or state governments.</li>
<li><strong>Looking into specific complaints</strong> regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of minorities and taking up such matters with the appropriate authorities.</li>
<li>Investigates <strong>matters of communal conflict and riots.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For example, the 2011 Bharatpur communal riots, as well as the 2012 Bodo-Muslim clashes in Assam, were investigated by the commission and their findings were submitted to the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Observes the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/no-state-wise-minority-classification-sc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minorities Rights Day</strong></a> every year on <strong>18<sup>th</sup> December</strong> which marks the adoption of the &ldquo;Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities&rdquo; by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations</strong></a> in <strong>1992.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Constitutional and Legal Provisions Related to Minorities</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>NCM Act</strong> defines a minority as <strong>&ldquo;a community notified as such by the Central government.''</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Government of India has declared <strong>six religions</strong> namely, <strong>Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists</strong> and <strong>Parsis</strong> (Zoroastrian) and <strong>Jain</strong> as religious minorities in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/identification-of-minorities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Commission for Minority Education Institution (NCMEI) Act, 2004</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It gives the minority status to the educational institutions on the basis of six religious communities notified by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The term <strong>"minority"</strong> is not defined in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution <strong>recognises religious and linguistic minorities.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 15 and 16:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Prohibition of discrimination against citizens on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.</li>
<li>Citizens&rsquo; right to &lsquo;equality of opportunity&rsquo; in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State, and prohibition in this regard of any discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 25 (1), 26 and 28:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>People&rsquo;s freedom of conscience and right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion.</li>
<li>Right of every religious denomination or any section to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes, manage its own religious affairs, and own and acquire property and administer it.</li>
<li>People&rsquo;s freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in educational institutions wholly maintained, recognized, or aided by the State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 29:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>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.</li>
<li>It <strong>grants protection to both religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities.</strong></li>
<li>However, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> held that the scope of this article is not necessarily restricted to minorities only, as use of the word &lsquo;section of citizens&rsquo; in the Article includes minorities as well as the majority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 30:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>All minorities shall have the<strong> right to establish and administer educational institutions</strong> of their choice.</li>
<li>The protection under Article 30 is<strong> confined 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><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>7<sup>th</sup> Constitutional (Amendment) Act 1956</strong></a> inserted this article which provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President of India.</li>
<li>It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/fill-up-vacant-post-of-ncm-chairperson-hc-tells-centre/article34409636.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8099,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'AI Portal SUPACE',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/n-v-ramana-48th-chief-justice-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chief Justice of India (CJI)</strong> </a>launched an <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artificial Intelligence (AI)</a> based portal &lsquo;SUPACE&rsquo;</strong> in the judicial system aimed at assisting judges with legal research.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>SUPACE</strong> is short for <strong>Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court&rsquo;s Efficiency.</strong></li>
<li>Earlier, the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-virtual-courts-and-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>E-Courts Project</strong></a> was conceptualised on the basis of<strong> "National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary - 2005"</strong> submitted by the <strong>e-Committee of the Supreme Court.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About SUPACE:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a tool that collects relevant facts and laws</strong> and <strong>makes them available to a judge.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>not designed to take decisions, but only to process facts and to make them available to judges</strong> looking for an input for a decision.</li>
<li>Initially, it <strong>will be used on an experimental basis by the judges of Bombay and Delhi High Courts</strong> who deal with criminal matters.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will <strong>produce results customized to the need of the case</strong> and the way the judge thinks.</li>
<li>This will be <strong>time saving.</strong> It will <strong>help the judiciary and the court in reducing delays and pendency of cases.</strong></li>
<li><strong>AI</strong> will present <strong>a more streamlined, cost effective and time bound</strong> means to the <strong>fundamental right of access to justice.</strong></li>
<li>It will make the <strong>service delivery mechanism transparent and cost-efficient.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenge:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Redundancy of certain posts</strong> after introduction of SUPACE. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Since it is intended to do what the human mind can do, but much more efficiently and methodically, there is apprehension in the generation of unemployment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>E-Courts Project</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was conceptualized with a vision<strong> to transform the Indian Judiciary by ICT (Information and Communication Technology) enablement of Courts.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>a pan-India Project,</strong> monitored and <strong>funded by the Department of Justice,</strong> Ministry of Law and Justice, <strong>for the District Courts</strong> across the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives of the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To provide efficient &amp; time-bound citizen-centric services delivery.</li>
<li>To develop, install &amp; implement decision support systems in courts.</li>
<li>To automate the processes to provide transparency and accessibility of information to its stakeholders.</li>
<li>To enhance judicial productivity, both qualitatively &amp; quantitatively, to make the justice delivery system affordable, accessible, cost-effective, predictable, reliable and transparent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cji-launches-top-courts-ai-driven-research-portal-7261821/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8030,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Ad-hoc Judges in High Court',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Supreme Court pushed for the appointment of retired judges to battle the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/judicial-pendency-justice-delayed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pendency of cases</strong> </a>in High Courts.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616840152_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1616840152_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Supreme Court Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Guidelines for Appointment of an Ad-hoc Judge:</strong> The court orally<strong> outlined prospective guidelines</strong> for the appointment and functioning of an ad-hoc judge.</li>
<li><strong>Pendency Beyond a Certain Limit:</strong> If in a particular jurisdiction, the <strong>pendency goes beyond a certain limit, say eight or 10 years,</strong> the <strong>Chief Justice may appoint a certain [retired] judge</strong> with expertise in those fields of laws as an ad hoc judge. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> term of such a judge could be extendable.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Position:</strong> The appointment of ad-hoc judges would not be a threat to the services of other judges as the <strong>Ad-hoc judges will be treated as the junior most.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Selection:</strong> The retired judges would be chosen <strong>on the basis of their expertise in a particular field of dispute</strong> and allowed to retire once the pendency in that zone of law was over.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arguments for Appointing Retired Judges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The retired judges who had handled certain disputes and fields of law for over 15 years<strong> could deal with them faster</strong> if brought back into harness as ad-hoc judges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Constitutional Provisions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The appointment of retired judges was provided for in the<strong> Constitution under Article 224A (appointment of retired judges at sittings of High Courts).</strong></li>
<li>Under the Article, the Chief Justice of a High Court for any State may at any time, with the <strong>previous consent of the President, request any person</strong> who has held the office of judge of that court or of any other High Court to sit and act as a judge of the High Court for that State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons For Pendency:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>The Government is the Biggest Litigant:</strong> According to the <strong>Economic Survey 2018-19</strong> poorly drafted orders have resulted in contested tax revenues equal to 4.7% of the GDP and it is rising.</li>
<li><strong>Less Budgetary Allocation:</strong> The budget allocated to the judiciary is between 0.08 and 0.09% of the GDP. Only four countries &mdash; Japan, Norway, Australia and Iceland &mdash; have a lesser budget allocation and they do not have problems of pendency like India.</li>
<li><strong>Practice of Seeking Adjournments:</strong> Usually the lower courts seek adjournment ad infinitum.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Assessment:</strong> When a new legislation is formed, there is no judicial impact assessment done by the government on how much burden is going to be casted on the judiciary.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The probabilities of generating more litigations or requirement of more judges is not taken into account.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Delay in Judicial Appointment: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/collegium-system-for-the-appointment-of-judges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Collegium</a></strong> recommendations have been<strong> pending with the government</strong> for over seven months to a year to get approval in order to fill vacancies in High Courts.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The total sanctioned judicial strength in the <strong>25 High Courts is 1,080.</strong> However, <strong>the present working strength is 661 with 419 vacancies</strong> as of March 2021.</li>
<li>The government has countered that it's the fault of the Collegium and the High Court for delaying the process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Streamlining the Appointment System:</strong> The vacancies must be filled without any unnecessary delay.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A proper time frame for the appointment of judges must be laid down and the recommendations must be given in advance.</li>
<li>The Constitution of the<strong> All India Judicial Services</strong> is also an important factor which can definitely help India establish a better judicial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Technologies:</strong> People are becoming more and more aware of their rights and which is why the number of cases filed in court are also increasing.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To deal with that judicial officers need to be trained, vacancies for the judges must be filled up expeditiously and in addition the use of technology particularly <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>artificial intelligence</strong> </a>must be encouraged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Out of Court Settlement:</strong> Resolving every case within the court premises is not mandatory; other possible systems must also be accessed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is also a need to promote the alternate dispute resolution mechanism for which the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arbitration-and-conciliation-amendment-bill-2021#:~:text=Objective%3A%20The%20Arbitration%20and%20Conciliation,other%20alternative%20dispute%20redressal%20mechanisms." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>arbitration and conciliation</strong></a> act has been amended three times to ensure that people go for commercial litigation mode and sort it out either by mediation, conciliation or arbitration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-for-posting-retired-judges-to-clear-backlog-in-hcs/article34163270.ece#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20on%20Thursday,of%20cases%20in%20High%20Courts.&amp;text=there%20are%20all%20kinds%20of,Prahari%2C%20on%20the%20mounting%20backlog." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8026,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Hate Crime',
		'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> quashed <strong>Hate Crime</strong> proceedings initiated against a senior journalist for a Facebook post.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The SC ruled that petitioners' social media post was only an <strong>expression of truth</strong> in the face of persecution.</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 decision came in Petitioners appeal against the Meghalaya High Court&rsquo;s refusal to quash the proceedings against her under <strong>Sections 153a</strong> (hate), <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/misuse-of-criminal-defamation-law-madras-hc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>500 (defamation)</strong></a> and <strong>505(c)</strong> (incite a community or caste to commit an offence against another) of the <strong>Indian Penal Code (IPC).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Section 153a:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.</li>
<li>It shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Section 505c:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community.</li>
<li>It shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hate Crime</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hate crime refers to <strong>criminal acts which are motivated by bias against an individual or social group</strong> because of certain differences, majorly in their religious practices and customs.</li>
<li>In contemporary times its meaning has proliferated beyond lynching, discrimination and offensive speeches and now <strong>encompasses speech that is insulting, derogatory or incites and violence.</strong></li>
<li>In totality, Hate Crimes could be <strong>defined as an attack on a person&rsquo;s rights entrusted to him thereby affecting not only him but the social structure as a whole</strong> which in many ways makes it more heinous than many other Criminal Offences.</li>
<li>Most <strong>common grounds</strong> of hate speech are <strong>race, ethnicity, religion or class.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hate Crime in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Hate Crime in India is <strong>defined in terms of the harm done to a community at large</strong> rather than an individual&rsquo;s right to freedom of speech and expression and the harm done as a result of hate speech.</li>
<li>In India, <strong>hate speech is prohibited</strong> which is <strong>based upon religion, ethnicity, culture or race.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Laws Against Hate Crimes:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Though the term is <strong>nowhere mentioned in any statute</strong>, its different forms are identified across the laws.</li>
<li>The <strong>IPC</strong> under <strong>Sections 153A, 153B, 295A, 298, 505(1) and 505(2)25</strong> declares that word, spoken or written, that promotes disharmony, hatred, or insults on basis of <strong>religion, ethnicity, culture, language, region, caste, community, race etc</strong>., is punishable under law.</li>
<li>Some other laws which contain provisions concerning hate speech and its prevention are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/representation-of-people-s-act-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Representation of People Act, 1951.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-laws-and-blocking-of-internet-content-centre-vs-twitter#:~:text=Information%20Technology%20Act%2C%202000%3A,computer%20resources%20and%20electronic%20records." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Information Technology Act 2000.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unlawful-activities-prevention-act-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/hate-crime-proceedings-against-shillong-times-editor-patricia-mukhim-quashed/article34160913.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8023,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Electoral Bonds & Its Issues',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/here-is-why-the-electoral-bonds-scheme-must-go/article34163851.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Here is why the electoral bonds scheme must go&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on 26/03/2021. It talks about the associated issues with the electoral bonds.</p>
</div>
<p>In less than three years of their introduction, by virtue of the anonymity they offer to donors,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electoral-bonds-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> electoral bonds</strong></a> have become the most popular route of political donation.</p>
<p>However, many political experts are of the opinion that electoral bonds in their design and operation, allow for limitless and anonymous corporate donations to political parties. This violates the basic tenets of India&rsquo;s democracy by keeping the knowledge of the &lsquo;right to know&rsquo; from citizens and voters.</p>
<p>Due to this, in the wake of the upcoming State elections, the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a stay in the electoral bond. The Supreme Court has reserved orders on the question of whether or not to stay the electoral bond scheme.</p>
<h3>Associated Challenges With The Electoral Bonds</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>A Blow to Democracy:</strong> Through an amendment to the Finance Act 2017, the Union government has exempted political parties from disclosing donations received through electoral bonds. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This means the voters will not know which individual, company, or organization has funded which party, and to what extent.</li>
<li>However, in a representative democracy, citizens cast their votes for the people who will represent them in Parliament and have the right to do so on the basis of full and complete information.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Compromising Right To Know:</strong> The Indian Supreme Court has long held that the &ldquo;right to know&rdquo;, especially in the context of elections, is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression under the Indian Constitution. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>By keeping this knowledge from citizens and voters, the electoral bonds scheme violates fundamental tenets of our democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Against Free &amp; Fair Elections:</strong> While electoral bonds provide no details to the citizens, the said anonymity does not apply to the government of the day, which can always access the donor details by demanding the data from the State Bank of India (SBI). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This implies that the government in power can leverage this information and disrupt free and fair elections.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Opposition by Election Commission of India:</strong> The Election Commission, in May 2017, objected to the amendments in the Representation of the People (RP) Act, which exempt political parties from disclosing donations received through electoral bonds. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It described the move as a &ldquo;retrograde step&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Institutionalizing Corruption:</strong> The electoral bonds scheme removes all pre-existing limits on political donations and effectively allows well-resourced corporations to fund elections and subsequently paving the way for crony capitalism.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, as the electoral bonds scheme allows even foreign donations to political parties (which can often be made through shell companies) the prospects of institutional corruption increase with the electoral bonds scheme, instead of decreasing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Transparency in Elections Funding:</strong> In many advanced countries, elections are funded publicly. This ensures principles of parity and there is not too great a resource gap between the ruling party and the opposition.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>2<sup>nd</sup> ARC, Dinesh Goswami committee, and several others have also recommended state funding of elections.</li>
<li>Further, until the elections do not get publicly funded, there can be caps or limits on financial contributions to political parties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Judiciary Acting as an Umpire:</strong> One of the most critical functions of an independent judiciary in a functioning democracy is to referee the fundamentals of the democratic process. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Electoral bonds have raised questions on the electoral legitimacy of the government and thus the whole electoral process has become questionable.</li>
<li>In this context, the courts should act as an umpire and enforce the ground rules of democracy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transition Towards Civic Culture:</strong> India has been working well as a democracy for nearly 75 years. Now in order to make the government more accountable, the voters should become self-aware and reject candidates and parties that violate the principle of free and fair elections.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>It is essential that if democracy is to thrive, the role of money in influencing politics ought to be limited. Thus, it is imperative that the scheme of the electoral bonds should be revised.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fcfbf2;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Electoral Bonds violates the basic tenets of India&rsquo;s democracy by keeping the knowledge of the &lsquo;right to know&rsquo; from citizens and voters. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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		'article_id' => (int) 8016,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'N.V. Ramana: 48th Chief Justice of India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>N.V. Ramana,</strong> the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, has been recommended as the next top judge by the present Chief Justice of India (S A Bobde).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Justice Ramana will take over as the <strong>48<sup>th</sup> Chief Justice of India (CJI)</strong> from <strong>24<sup>th</sup> April 2021.</strong> He would be the CJI till <strong>26<sup>th</sup> August, 2022.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Appointment of the CJI:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court</a> (SC)</strong> are appointed by the President under<strong> clause (2)</strong> of <strong>Article 124</strong> of the Constitution.</li>
<li>As far as the CJI is concerned, the <strong>outgoing CJI recommends his successor.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Union Law Minister forwards the recommendation to the Prime Minister who, in turn, advises the President.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>SC in the<strong> Second Judges Case (1993),</strong> ruled that the senior most judge of the Supreme Court should alone be appointed to the office of the CJI.</li>
<li>The<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/collegium-system-for-the-appointment-of-judges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Supreme Court collegium</a> is headed by the Chief Justice of India</strong> and comprises four other senior most judges of the court.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The collegium system is the<strong> system of appointment and transfer of judges</strong> that has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court (Judges Cases), and not by an Act of Parliament or by a provision of the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Administrative Powers of CJI (Master of Roster):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is common to refer to the office as primus inter pares &ndash; <strong>first amongst equals.</strong></li>
<li>Besides his <strong>adjudicatory role,</strong> the CJI also plays the role of the<strong> administrative head of the Court.</strong></li>
<li>In his administrative capacity, the Chief Justice <strong>exercises the prerogative of allocating cases to particular benches.</strong></li>
<li>The Chief Justice<strong> also decides the number of judges that will hear a case.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thus, he can influence the result by simply choosing judges that he thinks may favour a particular outcome.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Such administrative powers <strong>can be exercised without collegial consensus,</strong> and without any stated reasons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recent Development:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2019, the SC ruled that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cji-under-the-rti-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>office of Chief Justice of India (CJI) comes under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cji-bobde-recommends-justice-ramana-as-successor/article34148064.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7958,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Reviewing 50% Cap of Reservation',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4jAznfPUufo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a five-judge bench at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong> </a>has decided to examine whether the 1992 verdict by a nine-judge bench capping quota at 50% (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reservation-review-sc#:~:text=Indra%20Sawhney%20%26%20Others%20vs%20Union,classes%20among%20the%20higher%20castes." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indra Sawhney case</strong></a>) needed to be revisited in view of subsequent constitutional amendments and changed social dynamics.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reservation for Marathas:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The court&rsquo;s observation came in a case where a <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/reservation-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>reservation</strong></a> for Marathas in Maharashtra caused a breach in the 50% ceiling.</li>
<li>The Maharashtra government decided to grant 16% reservation of total seats to the Marathas.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, it was reduced by the Bombay High Court to 12% in govt jobs and 13% in educational institutions.</li>
<li>When the decision was challenged before the Supreme Court, it stayed the former&rsquo;s order.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Review of 1992 Judgement:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the Supreme Court's five-judge bench accepts that the judgment in the Indra Sawhney case should be modified, the case will have to be<strong> referred to an 11 or 13-judge bench.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Only a bench of larger composition can modify a previous judgment of the Supreme Court.</li>
<li>Besides, the extension of the creamy layer concept not just to OBC but also <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-scheduled-castes-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Schedule Caste (SC)</strong> </a>and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Schedule Tribe (ST)</strong></a> is to be reviewed too.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Questions Raised by Supreme Court:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the purview of increasing reservations by the states, the bench has framed six questions and has issued notices about the same to all the states and UTs. It includes:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Whether the 1992 verdict needs to be referred to a larger bench in the light of subsequent constitutional amendments, judgements and changed social dynamics of the society.</li>
<li>Other five questions relate to the constitutional validity of the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">102<sup>nd</sup> amendment</a> of the constitution.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Whether Article 342A of the Constitution abrogates states&rsquo; power to legislate or classify in respect of &ldquo;any backward class of citizens&rdquo; and thereby affects the federal policy/structure of the Constitution of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Constitution and Reservation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>77<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 1995:</strong> The Indra Sawhney verdict had held there would be reservation only in initial appointments and not promotions.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, addition of the<strong> article 16(4A)</strong> to the Constitution, empowered the state to make provisions for reservation in matters of promotion to SC/ST employees, if the state feels they are not adequately represented.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>81<sup>st</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2000:</strong> It introduced Article 16(4B), which says unfilled SC/ST quota of a particular year, when carried forward to the next year, will be treated separately and not clubbed with the regular vacancies of that year.</li>
<li><strong>85<sup>th</sup> Constitutional Amendment Act, 2001:</strong> It provided for the reservation in promotion can be applied with &lsquo;consequential seniority&rsquo; for the government servants belonging to the SCs and STs with retrospective effect from June 1995.</li>
<li><strong>102<sup>nd</sup>, 103<sup>rd</sup> and 104<sup>th</sup> Amendments:</strong> In the last couple of decades, there have been several amendments to the constitution like the <strong>102<sup>nd</sup> </strong>amendment, <strong>104<sup>th</sup></strong> amendment.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/constitution-bench-for-ews-quota#:~:text=Key%20Points,and%20Article%2016%20(6)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>10% reservation for EWS.</strong></a> was made by the <strong>103<sup>rd</sup></strong> amendment to the Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Article 335:</strong> It says that the claims of SCs and STs shall be taken into consideration constituently with the maintenance of efficacy of the administration.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The 1992 Judgement and States&rsquo; Adherence</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indra Sawhney &amp; Others vs Union of India, 1992:</strong> The judgement on Indra Sawhney case was passed on 16 November, 1992.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was a<strong> nine-judge verdict</strong> which decisively laid down several landmark propositions such as 50% threshold in reservations.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It said, &rdquo;Reservation being an extreme form of protective measure should be confined to a minority of seats even though the constitution does not lay down any specific bar, the principle of balancing equality; reservation of any manner shall not exceed 50%&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The concept of<strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/creamy-layer-for-sc-s-st-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;creamy layer&rsquo;</a> </strong>also gained importance through this judgment and provision that reservation for backward classes should be confined to initial appointments only and not extend to promotions.</li>
<li>Earlier, the reservation was meant to be only for SCs and STs. It was the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/30-years-of-mandal-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mandal Commission case</strong></a> that brought <strong>Other Backward Classes (OBCs)</strong> under reserved category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Adherence of the Limit by the States:</strong> Notwithstanding the judgement passed by the Supreme Court, since 1992, many states have passed laws breaching this limit of 50% such as Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Besides, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Chhattisgarh, have also passed similar laws, causing them to exceed the 50% reservation mark.</li>
<li>The apex court has decided to look into Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s 69% quota law after deciding the Maratha quota case.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The 69% quota in the state pre-dates the Indra Sawhney judgement.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In January 2000, the Governor of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh declared 100% reservation to Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates in posts of school teachers in Scheduled Areas. However, it was ruled as unconstitutional by the apex court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>50% Reservation Not a Law:</strong> Although the limit of 50% is not set by any statute but it is laid down by the apex court and hence was binding to all the authorities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, the judgement itself said that in <strong>exceptional circumstances,</strong> the percentage can be increased.</li>
<li>The issue that arises with the <strong>&lsquo;exceptional circumstance&rsquo;</strong> is that if it actually exists in a given case or not and if yes then by how much can the limit exceed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reviewing the 1992 Judgement:</strong> The Supreme Court shall go a step further and look into the Indra Sawhney case to clear the issues that have arised due to various judgements given by the high courts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reservation facility should be aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the marginalised in keeping with their standing in the caste-based census.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Maintaining the Federal Structure:</strong> While deciding the reservation issue, it is also important to take into account whether the states providing reservations to different communities are maintaining the federal structure of the government or destroying it.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under Article 341 and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes#:~:text=342(1)%3A%20The%20President,to%20that%20State%20or%20Union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 342</strong></a>, declaring a particular community as Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) it is the power that vests in parliament.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Balancing the Reservation and Merit:</strong> While giving reservation to the communities, the efficiency of the administration has to be looked upon too.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reservation beyond the limit will lead to the ignorance of the merit, which will disturb the entire administration.</li>
<li>The sole purpose of reservation is to address the issue of historical wrong done to the less-advantaged communities but the merit beyond a certain point must not be neglected too.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7931,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'State Election Commission Appointment Issue',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> ruled that <strong>serving bureaucrats must not</strong> be appointed as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/election-commissioner" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>election commissioners</strong></a> to ensure that the <strong>independence of the office of the election commissioner is not compromised.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A Bench of the Supreme Court was hearing an appeal by the Goa government against an order of the <strong>Bombay High Court.</strong></li>
<li>The Bombay High Court had earlier castigated the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/state-election-commission-s-autonomy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>State Election Commission (SEC)</strong></a> for not acting independently to ensure that the mandate of the Constitution was followed before issuing an election schedule.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Also, the Court had issued a<strong> stay on certain municipal election notifications issued by the Goa State Election Commission.</strong></li>
<li>The territorial jurisdiction of Bombay High Court extends to <strong>Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>During the proceedings it came to notice that the<strong> law secretary of the Goa state</strong> was given <strong>&lsquo;additional charge&rsquo; of the State Election Commission. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supreme Court&rsquo;s Ruling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Independent persons and not government employees</strong> should be appointed Election Commissioners.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Giving government employees additional charge as Election Commissioners is a <strong>mockery of the Constitution.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Directed States to comply with the<strong> constitutional scheme of independent and fair functioning of election commissions.</strong></li>
<li>If they hold any such office (under the state government), then they have to <strong>resign before taking charge of the office of the election commissioner.</strong></li>
<li>Ordered all state governments to <strong>appoint whole-time election commissioners</strong> who will act independently and fairly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About State Election Commissions (SECs):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The State Election Commission has been entrusted with the function of conducting <strong>free, fair and impartial elections to the local bodies in the state.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 243K(1):</strong> It states that the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, <strong>all elections to the Panchayats</strong> (Municipalities under Article 243ZA) shall be vested in a State Election Commission consisting of a <strong>State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Article 243K(2):</strong> It states that the <strong>tenure and appointment</strong> will be directed as per the <strong>law made by the state legislature.</strong> However, State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Suggestions</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Second Administrative Reforms Commission Recommendation (2<sup>nd</sup> ARC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constitution of the State Election Commission:</strong> According to <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/ethics-in-governance-2nd-arc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2<sup>nd</sup> ARC</strong></a>, the State Election Commissioner (SEC) <strong>should be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a collegium,</strong> comprising the Chief Minister, the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly and the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.</li>
<li><strong>An institutional mechanism should be created</strong> to bring the Election Commission of India and the SECs on a common platform for coordination, learning from each other&rsquo;s experiences and sharing of resources.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Law Commission 255<sup>th</sup> Report on Electoral Reforms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It<strong> recommended, to add a new sub-clause to Article 324</strong> of the Constitution to provide for <strong>a separate independent and permanent Secretariat for the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/election-commission-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Election Commission of India (ECI)</a></strong> along the lines of the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariats under Article 98 of the Constitution.</li>
<li>Similar provisions can also be made for the State Election Commissions to ensure autonomy, and free and fair local body election.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/officials-associated-with-govts-cannot-work-as-state-election-commissioners-sc/article34050251.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7926,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Supreme Court asked the Centre to respond to a plea challenging the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/places-of-worship-act-1991#:~:text=The%20Act%20was%20passed%20in,of%20the%20same%20religious%20denomination." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991</strong></a> which <strong>freezes the status of places of worship</strong> as it was on <strong>15<sup>th</sup> August, 1947.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In agreeing to examine the law, the court has opened the doors for litigation in various places of worship across the country including Mathura and Varanasi.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It seeks to<strong> maintain the &ldquo;religious character&rdquo; of places of worship</strong> as it was in 1947 except in the case of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/liberhan-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute</strong></a>, which was already in court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Section 3 of the Act <strong>bans the conversion of a place of worship</strong> or even a section of it into a place of worship of a different religious denomination or of a different segment of the same religious denomination.</li>
<li>Section 4(2) says that<strong> all suits, appeals or other proceedings</strong> regarding converting the character of a place of worship (that were pending on 15<sup>th</sup> August, 1947) will <strong>come to end when the Act commences</strong> and no fresh proceedings can be filed.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, legal proceedings can be initiated if the change of status took place after the cut-off date of 15<sup>th</sup> August, 1947 (after enactment of the Act).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Act also <strong>imposes a positive obligation on the State to maintain the religious character</strong> of every place of worship as it existed at the time of Independence.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This legislative obligation on the State to preserve and protect the equality of all faiths is an essential secular feature and one of the basic features of the Indian Constitution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exemption:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The disputed site at<strong> Ayodhya was exempted</strong> from the Act. Due to this exemption, the trial in the Ayodhya case proceeded even after the enforcement of this law.</li>
<li>Besides the Ayodhya dispute, the Act also exempted:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Any place of worship which is an <strong>ancient and historical monument or an archaeological site</strong> covered by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/noc-online-application-processing-system-noaps" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.</strong></a></li>
<li>A suit that has been finally settled or disposed of.</li>
<li>Any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that took place by acquiescence before the Act commenced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Penalty:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Section 6 of the Act prescribes a punishment of <strong>maximum three-years imprisonment</strong> along with a fine for contravening the provisions of the Act.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supreme Court&rsquo;s View (in 2019):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the <strong>2019 Ayodhya verdict,</strong> the Constitution Bench referred to the law and said it manifests the secular values of the Constitution and strictly prohibits retrogression.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Petition Arguments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been challenged on the ground that the Act violates secularism. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been argued that the cut-off date of 15<sup>th</sup> August, 1947 is<strong> &ldquo;arbitrary, irrational and retrospective&rdquo;</strong> and <strong>prohibits Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs</strong> from approaching courts to &ldquo;reclaim&rdquo; their places of worship which were &ldquo;invaded&rdquo; and &ldquo;encroached&rdquo; upon by &ldquo;fundamentalist barbaric invaders&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is argued that the Centre has no power to legislate on <strong>&ldquo;pilgrimages&rdquo; or &ldquo;burial grounds&rdquo;</strong> which is under the state list. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, the government had said it could make use of its <strong>residuary power</strong> under Entry 97 of the Union List to enact this law.</li>
<li><strong>Entry 97</strong> confers residuary powers to the Centre to legislate on subjects that are <strong>not enumerated in any of the three lists.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-reading-the-law-that-maintains-status-quo-in-places-of-worship-7226020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7921,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Wrongful Prosecution in India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court highlighting the <strong>need for the government to frame guidelines for compensating victims of wrongful prosecution</strong> by the police or authorities.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The petition said the government had not bothered to implement the recommendations made by <strong>the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/law-commission-of-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Law Commission of India</a> in its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/law-commissions-report-on-wrongful-prosecution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">277<sup>th</sup> report on the miscarriage of justice in 2018</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wrongful Prosecution</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It refers to the cases where the accused was not guilty of the offence, and the police and/or prosecution engaged in some form of misconduct in investigating and/or prosecuting the person.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/protesting-is-a-fundamental-right-un" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)</strong></a>, which is ratified by India creates an obligation on the State parties to enact a law to compensate the victims of such miscarriage of justice.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Wrongful Prosecution in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has no effective statutory/legal Mechanism for the wrongful prosecutions due to police and prosecutorial misconduct which has resulted in a pandemic of false cases.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to no fear of being prosecuted by courts and growing tendency to frame innocents for ulterior motives, there has been an unprecedented surge in filing of false cases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The petition said <strong>innocents fell victim to the malice of the authorities</strong> who used the <strong>criminal justice system</strong> to settle scores.</li>
<li>It has not only <strong>destroyed the social fabric</strong> of the nation but also affected the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/judicial-pendency-justice-delayed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>over-burdened judiciary</strong></a> with alarming pendency of <strong>over 40 million cases.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Judicial Pronouncement About Wrongful Prosecution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier in May, 2017 the <strong>Delhi High</strong> <strong>Court</strong> in the case of <em><strong>Babloo Chauhan vs. State Govt. of NCT of Delhi</strong></em>, expressed grave concern about the state of innocent persons being wrongfully prosecuted.</li>
<li>It also asked the Law Commission to undertake a comprehensive examination of the issue and make a recommendation to the Government of India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations of the Law Commission of India - 277<sup>th</sup> Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recommended <strong>amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC)</strong>, to give compensation in cases of miscarriage of justice resulting in wrongful prosecution of persons. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Miscarriage of justice refers to wrongful or malicious prosecution, regardless of whether it leads to conviction or detention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Designation of <strong>special courts in each district</strong> for adjudicating upon the claims of compensation for wrongful prosecution.</li>
<li>The <strong>claim for compensation</strong> can be brought by the accused person so injured; or by any agent duly authorized by the said accused person; or where the accused person died after the termination of the wrongful prosecution, by all or any of the heirs or legal representatives of the deceased.</li>
<li><strong>Guiding principles</strong> to be followed by the Court while determining the amount of compensation. These include <strong>seriousness of the offence, severity of punishment, length of detention, damage to health, harm to reputation, and loss of opportunities.</strong></li>
<li>Compensation under this framework will include <strong>both pecuniary</strong> (monetary) <strong>and non-pecuniary assistance</strong> (form of services such as counselling, mental health services, vocational/employment skills development, and such other similar services).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/wrongful-prosecution-plea-in-supreme-court-seeks-framing-implementation-of-guidelines/article34044500.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7906,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: Accessible and Affordable Judicial System',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G1uSp1lLAtE" 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>The Vice President of India has recently raised concerns over making the entire judicial system more accessible and understandable for the common man.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>He said that &ldquo;inordinate delay, cost of legal processes and inaccessibility are impeding the effective delivery of justice to the common man&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Equal Justice:</strong> Accessible and Affordable Justice has been enshrined in DPSP under <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-articles-from-indian-constitution-compilation-part-i#:~:text=Committee%20has%20given%20recommendations%20to,or%20in%20any%20other%20way." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>article 39 (A)</strong></a>.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, due to various structural and systematic challenges, the aspiration to meet this objective looks blur.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Pendency of Cases:</strong> The total pendency of cases in the several courts of India at different levels, sums up to a total of <strong>about 3.7 crores</strong> thus increasing the demand of a better and improved judicial system.</li>
<li><strong>Inferences from Pendency of Cases:</strong> In 2010, Justice VB Rao (Andhra Pradesh HC) estimated it to take <strong>320 years to clear the backlog of 31.28 million</strong> (3.12 crore) pending cases (the then rate of pending cases) in various courts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> National Court Management,</strong> a report 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> in 2012, studied the data of pendency of cases and vacancy of judges.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It showed that in the last 3 decades, the number of cases increased by 12 folds while the number of judges increased only by 6 folds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Widening Gap:</strong> The gap between the number of judges and cases is widening.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the next 3 decades, the number of cases is expected to rise by approximately <strong>15 crores requiring a total no of judges about 75000.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In fact, currently the 25 high courts have the strength of <strong>less than 1200 judges.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Article 39 (A)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Article 39 (A) of the Constitution directs the State to ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>The Poor Judicial System of India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Judge to Population Ratio:</strong> The judge-population ratio in the country is not very appreciable.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While for the other countries, the ratio is about 50-70 judges per million people, in India it is<strong> 20 judges per million heads.</strong></li>
<li>Although it is an increase from 12 judges per million people in the past, it does not make us anywhere close to an affordable judicial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Involvement of Technology:</strong> It is only since the pandemic that the court proceedings have started to take place virtually too, earlier the role of technology in the judiciary was not much larger.</li>
<li><strong>Recruitment Delays:</strong> The posts in the judiciary are not filled up as expeditiously as required.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is a country with a population of more than 135 million and total strength of judges with only around 25000.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Almost 400 posts are vacant (40%) in the high courts.</li>
<li>Around 35% of the posts are lying vacant in the lower judiciary.</li>
<li>However, there are not too many vacancies in the Supreme Court. The total number is 34 with only 2-3 vacancies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Procedural Delays:</strong> Frequent adjournments are granted by the courts to the advocates which leads to unnecessary delays in justice.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The process of judicial appointment is delayed due to <strong>delay in recommendations</strong> by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/collegium-system-for-the-appointment-of-judges#:~:text=The%20SC%20collegium%20is%20headed,CJI%20and%20the%20SC%20collegium." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>collegium</strong></a> for the higher judiciary.</li>
<li><strong>Delay in recruitment</strong> made by the state commission/high courts for lower judiciary is also a cause of the poor judicial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenges Associated</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>More Awareness More Cases:</strong> As far as increasing awareness of the citizens about their rights and laws is concerned, it is undoubtedly very necessary and appreciable but more knowledge of rights means an increased number of cases.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The increasing awareness can and must not be discouraged but the increasing cases should be dealt with efficiently.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Overlapping of Laws:</strong> A number of laws exist in India at central and state levels many of which are quite similar in nature.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This creates clumsiness and chaos, these laws must be codified and the redundant ones must be repealed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Complex Language of the Laws:</strong> Language used in the laws are responsible for most of the litigations.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In case the legislations are drafted in a simpler language, probably the number of cases being filed in court specifically related to taxation matter can also be reduced.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Assessment:</strong> When a new legislation is formed, there is no judicial impact assessment done by the government on how much burden is going to be casted on the judiciary.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The probabilities of generating more litigations or requirement of more judges is not taken into account.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Streamlining the Appointment System:</strong> The vacancies must be filled without any unnecessary delay.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A proper time frame for the appointment of judges must be laid down and the recommendations must be given in advance.</li>
<li>The Constitution of the <strong>All India Judicial Services</strong> is also an important factor which can definitely help India establish a better judicial system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Technologies:</strong> People are becoming more and more aware of their rights and which is why the number of cases filed in court are also increasing.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>To deal with that <strong>judicial officers need to be trained, vacancies for the judges must be filled up expeditiously</strong> and in addition the <strong>use of technology particularly <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artificial intelligence</a></strong> must be encouraged.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dispute Resolution:</strong> The adjudication of disputes within a<strong> short time frame</strong> is important to ensure the trust of the people within the judicial system.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Delayed justice erodes faith in the system and it can lead to <strong>vigilantism.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Out of Court Settlement:</strong> Resolving every case within the court premises is not mandatory; other possible systems must also be accessed.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is also a need to promote the alternate dispute resolution mechanism for which the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/arbitration-and-conciliation-amendment-bill-2021#:~:text=Objective%3A%20The%20Arbitration%20and%20Conciliation,other%20alternative%20dispute%20redressal%20mechanisms." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> arbitration and conciliation</strong></a> act has been amended three times to ensure that people go for commercial litigation mode and sort it out either by mediation, conciliation or arbitration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use of Local Languages:</strong> For making the entire judicial system more understandable to the common man, one way the use of the local languages in courts.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The use of local language in court provides the common man a better understanding of his rights, the laws created and the hearings of court proceedings too.</li>
<li>The local languages in the court is already permissible right upto the district level. Some of the high courts are also working in the local languages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>All India Judicial Services (AIJS):</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government is in the process of finalising a bill to establish an <strong>All-India Judicial Service to recruit officers for subordinate courts through an entrance test.</strong></li>
<li>Those who clear the <strong>pan-India</strong> test would be appointed by high courts and the State governments.</li>
<li>The AIJS exams will be conducted in four zones; East, West, North and South.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Constitutional Provision:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The provision of AIJS was included in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/role-of-rajya-sabha#:~:text=Special%20Powers%20of%20Rajya%20Sabha,India%20Services%20(Article%20312)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 312</strong></a> of the Constitution through the <strong>42<sup>nd</sup> Amendment in 1976.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The move is in line with the present<a href="/prelims/about-civil-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UPSC examination</strong></a> pattern, where such exams are conducted in multiple languages.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Language:</strong> The government plans to conduct AIJS examinations in <strong>22 languages.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Related Issue:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since cases in lower courts are argued in local languages, there have been apprehensions as to how a person from a particular state can hold hearing in another state that has completely different language.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>But the government is of the view that even IAS and IPS officers have served in different States overcoming the language barrier.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A sound judicial system is one based on an objective enquiry, practical and unbiased analysis of evidence and delivery of timely and even-handed justice to all citizens.</li>
<li>The government must take hard and fast actions on reducing the pendency of cases as the justice delayed is justice denied.</li>
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		'article_id' => (int) 7854,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Fast-track Courts to Clear Dishonoured Cheque Cases',
		'description' => '<h3>Why In News</h3>
<p>A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has proposed setting up<strong> fast-track courts</strong> for a limited time to clear <strong>dishonoured cheque cases.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier the Supreme Court has suggested forming a committee to resolve the<strong> problem of pendency of cheque bounce cases.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Supreme Court Proposal:</strong> Set up fast-track courts under <strong>Section 138 of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lok-sabha-passes-bill-on-cheque-bounce-cases" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Negotiable Instruments Act, 2018</a>.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Power to establish additional courts:</strong> The government has both power and an obligation under <strong>Article 247 of the Constitution</strong> to set up &ldquo;additional courts&rdquo; to better the administration of<strong> laws enacted by Parliament,</strong> including the Negotiable Instruments Act, which deals with cheques.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Article 247:</strong> It gives power to Parliament to establish <strong>certain additional courts</strong> for the better administration of laws made by it or of any existing laws with respect to a <strong>matter enumerated in the Union List.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pendency of Dishonoured Cheque Cases:</strong> The pendency of cheque bounce cases <strong>forms 30% to 40% of the backlog in trial courts</strong> and a sizable chunk of the pile-up in High Courts.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Negotiable Instrument</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are signed documents that promise a sum of payment to a specified person or the assignee.</li>
<li>It is <strong>transferable in nature,</strong> allowing the holder to take the funds as cash or use them in a manner appropriate for the transaction or according to their preference.</li>
<li>Promissory notes, bills of exchange, and cheques are categorised as the negotiable instruments.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Dishonoured Cheque</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A cheque is said to be<strong> honoured,</strong> if the banks give the amount to the payee. While, if the bank refuses to pay the amount to the payee, the cheque is said to be <strong>dishonoured.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In other words, dishonour of cheque is a condition in which the bank refuses to pay the amount of cheque to the payee.</li>
<li>The dishonour of cheque is a <strong>criminal offence</strong> and is punishable by imprisonment up to two years or with monetary penalty or with both.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cheque:</strong> It is a <strong>negotiable instrument.</strong> Cheques are not negotiable by any person other than the payee. The cheques have to be deposited into the payee's bank account.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The author of the cheque is called &lsquo;drawer&rsquo;, the person in whose favour, the cheque is drawn is called &lsquo;payee&rsquo;, and the bank who is directed to pay the amount is known as &lsquo;drawee&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Pendency of Cases in Judiciary</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to the <strong>Economic Survey 2018-19</strong> there are about<strong> 3.5 crore cases pending in the judicial system,</strong> especially in <strong>district and subordinate courts.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>About 87.54% of the total <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/judicial-pendency-justice-delayed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pendency of cases</strong> </a>is in the district and subordinate courts.</li>
<li>More than<strong> 64% of all <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-pending-cases-way-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cases</a></strong> are <strong>pending for more than 1 year.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>average disposal time</strong> for civil and criminal cases in Indian District &amp; Subordinate courts in 2018 was 4.4 fold and 6 fold higher respectively when compared with the <strong>average of Council of Europe members (2016).</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>Case Clearance Rate of 100%</strong> (i.e. zero accumulation) can be achieved with the addition of merely 2,279 judges in the lower courts, 93 in High Courts and only one in the Supreme Court, which is<strong> already within sanctioned strength and only needs filling of vacancies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reforms Suggested:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increased number of <strong>working days.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Establishment of Indian Courts and Tribunal Services</strong> to focus on the administrative aspects of the legal system.</li>
<li><strong>Deployment of technology</strong> to improve efficiency of the courts, e.g. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-courts-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>eCourts</strong></a> Mission Mode Project and the National Judicial Data Grid being rolled-out in phases by the Ministry of Law and Justice.</li>
<li><strong>Better Case and Court Management:</strong> Professional Court Managers as suggested by the 13<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission. Court managers or equivalent professionals are the need of the hour and justice delivery can improve only if the courts accept and adopt <strong>professional help in their administration.</strong></li>
<li>Setting up of<strong> Tribunals, Fast Track Courts and Special Courts</strong> to dispense important cases at the earliest.</li>
<li>Mechanisms such as <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/alternative-dispute-resolution-adr-mechanisms-paper-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ADR (Alternate Dispute Resolution)</strong></a>, Lok Adalats, Gram Nyayalayas should be effectively utilised.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There should be wide introspection through extensive discussions, debates and consultations to identify the<strong> root causes of delays in our justice delivery</strong> system and provide meaningful solutions to improve the justice delivery system in India.</li>
<li>Judicial reforms, if taken seriously, expeditious and effective justice can see the light of day and improve <strong>India&rsquo;s standing in the reports of the World Bank</strong> and other institutions and organisations that study judicial processes.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-orders-panel-formation-on-pendency-of-cheque-bounce-cases/article33979962.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7725,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Right of Reputation vs Right to Dignity',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a Delhi court has rejected a criminal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/misuse-of-criminal-defamation-law-madras-hc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>defamation</strong></a> case filed by former Union Minister against a journalist over her tweets accusing him of <strong>sexual harassment.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Consideration by the Court:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Court took consideration of the systematic abuse at the workplace due to the <strong>lack of mechanism to redress the grievance of sexual harassment</strong> at the time of the incident of sexual harassment against the accused journalist took place.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was prior to the issuance of the<a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/important-judgements-of-independent-india#:~:text=The%20right%20to%20life%20and,to%20procedure%20established%20by%20law%E2%80%9D." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Vishaka Guidelines</strong></a> by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Supreme Court</strong></a> and enactment of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/j-s-verma-committee-on-sexual-harassment-at-workplace-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Court's Ruling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> right of reputation</strong> cannot be protected at the cost of the <strong>right of life and dignity of women.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Right to Reputation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the SC, the right to reputation is an integral part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fundamental-rights-and-oci-cardholders#:~:text=Article%2021%3A%20It%20declares%20that,both%20citizens%20and%20non%2Dcitizens.&amp;text=We%20were%20unable%20to%20load%20Disqus." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Article 21</strong></a> of the Constitution.</li>
<li>Further, existence of <strong>Section 499 (Criminal Defamation) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860</strong> is not a restriction on the freedom of speech and expression because it ensures that the social interest is served by holding a reputation as a shared value of the public at large.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Life (Article 21):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.</li>
<li>It confers on every person the fundamental right to life and personal liberty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Right to Live with Dignity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/evolution-of-indian-judiciary#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20in%20Maneka,miscellaneous%20grouping%20of%20constitutional%20guarantees." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India 1978</strong></em></a>, the SC gave a new dimension to Article 21 and held that the <strong>right to live is not merely a physical right but includes within its ambit the right to live with human dignity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Woman has a<strong> right to put her grievance at any platform</strong> of her choice and <strong>even after decades.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Defamation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In India, <strong>defamation</strong> can both be a<strong> civil wrong</strong> and a <strong>criminal offence.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> difference</strong> between the two lies in the<strong> objects they seek to achieve.</strong></li>
<li>A <strong>civil wrong</strong> tends to provide for a<strong> redress of wrongs</strong> by awarding compensation and a<strong> criminal law seeks to punish</strong> a wrongdoer and send a message to others not to commit such acts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Laws for Defamation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In Indian laws,<strong> criminal defamation</strong> has been specifically defined as an offence under the <strong>section 499 of the <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-379" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Penal Code (IPC)</a></strong> whereas the<strong> civil defamation is based on tort law</strong> (an area of law which does not rely on statutes to define wrongs but takes from ever-increasing body of case laws to define what would constitute a wrong).</li>
<li><strong>Section 499</strong> states <strong>defamation could be through words, spoken or intended to be read, through signs, and also through visible representations.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These can either be published or spoken about a person with the<strong> intention of damaging the reputation of that person, or with the knowledge or reason to believe that the imputation will harm his reputation.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exceptions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 499</strong> also cites <strong>exceptions.</strong> These include <strong>&ldquo;imputation of truth&rdquo;</strong> which is required for the <strong>&ldquo;public good&rdquo;</strong> and thus has to be published, on the public conduct of government officials, the conduct of any person touching any public question and merits of the public performance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Punishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Section 500 of IPC,</strong> which is on punishment for defamation, reads, &ldquo;Whoever defames another shall be <strong>punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>Moreover, in a <strong>criminal case, defamation has to be established beyond reasonable doubt</strong> but in a <strong>civil defamation suit, damages can be awarded based on probabilities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Validity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The SC of India, in the <em><strong>Subramanian Swamy vs Union of India, 2014,</strong> </em>upheld the constitutional validity of the criminal defamation law.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/metoo-delhi-court-quashes-mj-akbars-defamation-case-against-priya-ramani/article33860324.ece#:~:text=Photo%3A%20Special%20Arrangement-,%22Women%20have%20the%20right%20to%20put%20their%20grievances%20at%20any,accusing%20him%20of%20sexual%20harassment." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7642,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Economic Impact of Judicial Decisions',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/niti-aayog-national-institution-for-transforming-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>NITI Aayog</strong></a> has asked research organisation <strong>&lsquo;Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International&rsquo;</strong> to conduct a study on the<strong> &ldquo;economic impact&rdquo;</strong> <strong>of various judgments delivered by courts and tribunals</strong> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/when-judges-legislate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;judicial activism&rsquo;</strong></a> of such courts and tribunals.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Judicial Activism:</strong> It implies the<strong> assertive role played by the judiciary</strong> to force the other two organs of the government (legislature and executive) to discharge their constitutional duties. It is<strong> also known as &ldquo;judicial dynamism&rdquo;.</strong> It is the<strong> antithesis of &ldquo;judicial restraint&rdquo;,</strong> which means the self-control exercised by the judiciary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Conducting Organization:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The study is to be undertaken by the Jaipur-headquartered <strong>CUTS (Consumer Unity and Trust Society)</strong> Centre for Competition, Investment and Economic Regulation, that also has an international presence.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is a<strong> registered, recognised, non-profit, non-partisan, non-government organisation (NGO)</strong> pursuing social justice and economic equity both within and across borders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objective:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The objective of the study aims a<strong> &ldquo;narrative building for sensitising the judiciary on the economic impact of their decisions&rdquo;.</strong></li>
<li>It is to do an objective <strong>cost-benefit analysis of the economic impact of the decisions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Projects to be Studied:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Study intends to examine<strong> five major projects that have been &ldquo;impacted&rdquo; by judicial decisions of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court (SC)</a></strong> or the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Projects to be analysed include the construction of an<strong> airport in Mopa, Goa;</strong> cessation of<strong> iron ore mining in Goa,</strong> and the shutting down of the <strong>Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.</strong></li>
<li>The others are decisions by the NGT involving <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/unep-report-on-sand-mining" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sand mining</a>, and construction activities in the National Capital Region.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Process:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It plans to do this by <strong>interviewing people who have been affected</strong> by the closure of the projects, environmental campaigners, experts and assessing the business impact of closure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The findings will be used as a <strong>training input for judges</strong> of commercial courts, NGT, High Courts and SC.</li>
<li>It would contribute to public discourse among policymakers for promoting an <strong>&ldquo;economically responsible approach by judiciary&rdquo;</strong> in its decisions.</li>
<li>The study is also a <strong>part of the larger umbrella project</strong> undertaken by NITI Aayog under which it wants to establish a<strong> judicial performance index,</strong> which would measure the performance of judges at district courts and subordinate levels.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Previous Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2017, the same CUTS International had also conducted an assessment study on the economic impact of the SC&rsquo;s decision to <strong>impose a ban on the presence of liquor shops within 500 m of any highway.</strong></li>
<li>The study showed that <strong>cases which involve substantial social and economic dimensions need to be studied in detail</strong> to assess whether they are implementable in the first place and whether the loss to the economy outweighs the gains envisaged.</li>
<li>This could be done <strong>if Courts set up expert committees</strong> to study these aspects which can also engage economists to analyse the cost/benefits before a judgment is pronounced.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Supreme Court had established such expert group committees for cases in the past like the <strong>Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety</strong> under the Chairmanship of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan in 2014 and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sc-alters-lodhas-bcci-proposals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justice Lodha Committee</a> set up in 2015</strong> for reforms within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), amongst others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612782274_image6.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1612782274_image6.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/niti-aayog-orders-study-on-economic-impact-of-judicial-decisions-7178976/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => 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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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7581,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Nilgiri Elephant Corridor Case',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/supreme-court-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court (SC)</a> appointed a conservationist as Member of a Technical Committee</strong> constituted in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/right-of-passage-of-the-animals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>October 2020 case</strong></a> to hear complaints by landowners against sealing of their buildings infringing the <strong>Nilgiri Elephant Corridor</strong> in Tamil Nadu by the state authorities.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the October 2020 Case:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In October 2020,<strong> SC had upheld the Tamil Nadu government&rsquo;s authority to notify an &lsquo;elephant corridor&rsquo;</strong> and protect the migratory path of the animals through the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biosphere-reserves-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nilgiri biosphere reserve</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The SC had said it was the State&rsquo;s duty to protect a <strong>&ldquo;keystone species&rdquo;</strong> such as elephants, immensely important to the environment.</li>
<li>The SC also <strong>allowed the formation of a committee</strong> led by a retired HC judge and two other persons to hear the individual objections of resort owners and private landowners within the corridor space.</li>
<li>The SC judgment was based on <strong>appeals filed by resorts/private landowners, against a Madras High Court decision of July 2011. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Madras HC Judgement:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In 2011, the Madras HC <strong>upheld the validity of the Tamil Nadu government&rsquo;s notification (of 2010) declaring an &lsquo;Elephant Corridor&rsquo;</strong> in the Sigur Plateau of Nilgiris District.</li>
<li>It said that the government is fully empowered under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/elephant-undercounting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>'Project Elephant'</strong></a> of the Union government as well as<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fundamental-duties#:~:text=All%20the%20eleven%20duties%20are,and%20to%20their%20fellow%2Dcitizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Article 51 A(g)</strong></a> of the Constitution to notify the elephant corridor in the state&rsquo;s Nilgiris district.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Article 51 A(g):</strong> It shall be the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fundamental-duties#:~:text=The%20idea%20of%20Fundamental%20Duties%20is%20inspired%20from%20the%20Constitution%20of%20Russia.&amp;text=The%20fundamental%20duties%20serve%20as,and%20to%20their%20fellow%2Dcitizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fundamental duty</strong></a> of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further, it upheld directions to the resort owners and other private landowners to vacate lands falling within the notified <strong>Nilgiri elephant corridor.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nilgiris Elephant Corridor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The corridor is situated in the ecologically fragile<strong> Sigur plateau, which connects the Western and the Eastern Ghats</strong> and sustains elephant populations and their genetic diversity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is situated near the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudumalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mudumalai National Park</strong></a> in the Nilgiris district.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has the Nilgiri hills on its southwestern side and the <strong>Moyar river valley</strong> on its northeastern side. The elephants cross the plateau in search of food and water.</li>
<li>There are about 100 elephant corridors in India of which almost 70% are used regularly.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>75% of the corridors are in the southern, central and north-eastern forests.</li>
<li>There are an estimated 6,500 elephants in just the <strong>Brahmagiri-Nilgiris-Eastern Ghats ranges.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges for Elephant Corridors:</strong> &lsquo;Right of Passage&rsquo;, an 800-page study released in August 2017, authored by experts and published by the <strong>Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)</strong> identifies and records details pertaining to 101 elephant corridors across India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Narrowing Passage Width:</strong> Only 22% corridors are of a width of one to three kilometres in 2017, compared with 41% in 2005, pointing to how constricted corridors have become in the past 12 years.</li>
<li><strong>Human Encroachment of Corridors:</strong> 21.8% of corridors were free of human settlements in 2017 compared with 22.8% in 2005.</li>
<li><strong>Intercepted Corridors:</strong> About 36.4% of the elephant corridors in northwestern India, 32% in central India, 35.7% in northern West Bengal and 13% of the elephant corridors in northeastern India have <strong>a railway line</strong> passing through them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Almost two-thirds of the corridors have a <strong>National or State Highway</strong> passing through them, fragmenting habitats and hindering elephant movement further.</li>
<li>11% of corridors have canals passing through them.</li>
<li>12% are affected by mining and the extraction of boulders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land-use Along Corridors:</strong> In terms of land use, only 12.9% of the corridors are totally under forest cover in 2017 compared with 24% in 2005.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Two in every three elephant corridors in the country are now affected by agricultural activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives for Conservation of Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/printpdf/electrocution-of-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gaj Yatra.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Elephant</a></strong>.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electrocution-of-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE)</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Origin:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The name <strong>&rsquo;Nilgiris&rsquo; with literary meaning &lsquo;blue mountains&rsquo;</strong> has originated from the blue flower clad mountains of the Nilgiris plateau within the State of Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>It was the<strong> first biosphere reserve in India</strong> established in the year 1986.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geography:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The total area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is 5,520 sq. km.</li>
<li>It is <strong>located in the Western Ghats</strong> and encompasses parts of<strong> Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Characteristics: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Confluence of Biotic zones:</strong> It exemplifies the<strong> tropical forest biome</strong> which portrays the <strong>confluence of Afro-tropical and Indo-Malayan biotic zones</strong> of the world.</li>
<li><strong>Biodiversity Hotspot:</strong> Biogeographically, Western Ghats is the most important region and one of the noted <strong>Biodiversity Hotspots</strong> (biogeographic regions having <strong>highest density of endemic species)</strong> for speciation in the tropics.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vegetation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The NBR harbors a wide spectrum of ecosystem types. Major parts of the core areas spread over Kerala and Tamil Nadu States, include<strong> evergreen, semi evergreen, moist deciduous montane sholas and grassland types of vegetation.</strong></li>
<li>Whereas the core area spread over the State of Karnataka contains mostly <strong>dry deciduous forests and a few patches of moist deciduous, semi evergreen and scrub jungles.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fauna:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Animals like <strong>Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, slender loris, blackbuck, tiger, gaur, Indian elephant and marten</strong> are found here.</li>
<li>Freshwater fishes such as <strong>Nilgiri danio</strong> (<em>Devario neilgherriensis</em>), <strong>Nilgiri barb</strong> (<em>Hypselobarbus dubuis</em>) and <strong>Bowany barb</strong> (<em>Puntius bovanicus</em>) are endemic to this Biosphere Reserve.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water resources:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Many of the major tributaries of the river <strong>Cauvery</strong> like the <strong>Bhavani, Moyar, Kabini and other rivers like Chaliyar, Punampuzha,</strong> etc., have their source and catchment areas within the reserve boundary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tribal Population:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tribal groups like the <strong>Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan Chettis, Cholanaickens, Allar, Malayan,</strong> etc., are native to the reserve.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protected Areas in NBR:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park</strong> and <strong>Silent Valley</strong> are the protected areas present within this reserve.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/conservationist-joins-sc-panel-on-elephant-corridor-case/article33678554.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7573,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India Justice Report 2020',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-justice-report-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India Justice Report</strong></a> (2020) prepared by the<strong> Tata Trusts</strong> in collaboration with the<strong> Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, DAKSH, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy</strong> and the <strong>Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative</strong> has been released recently.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Report <strong>assesses the capacity of various states to deliver justice.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The report <strong>analysed expenditure, vacancies, representation of women, human resources, infrastructure, workload, diversity across 18 large and medium-sized states</strong> with a population of over 1 crore and <strong>7 small states.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Overall Ranking:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The overall ranking is a result of a state&rsquo;s ranking across the<strong> four pillars of justice delivery system - Judiciary, Police, Prisons and Legal aid.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Maharashtra</strong> was ranked<strong> topmost</strong> among 18 states for the second time in a row, followed by Tamil Nadu and Telangana. <strong>Uttar Pradesh</strong> remains<strong> last.</strong></li>
<li>Amongst the<strong> smaller states, Goa</strong> remained at the<strong> top</strong> and <strong>Arunachal Pradesh</strong> at the<strong> bottom.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Women Ratio in Police Force:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Bihar</strong> leads the list of 25 states for employing most women in its <strong>police force</strong> which is 25.3%.</li>
<li>It is the only state to have more than <strong>20% women in the police force.</strong> However, women account for only <strong>6.1% in the officer category. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> has the<strong> highest percentage of women police officers</strong> (24.8%), followed by Mizoram (20.1%).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Women Ratio in Judiciary:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Overall, <strong>only 29% judges in High Courts</strong> across the country are women, but no state <strong>except Sikkim</strong> has over 20% women judges.</li>
<li>Four states - Bihar, Uttarakhand, Tripura and Meghalaya <strong>have no woman judges in high courts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Justice:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Karnataka</strong> is the only state to meet its quotas for SC, ST and OBC in both officer cadre and constabulary.</li>
<li><strong>Chhattisgarh</strong> being the only other state that meets the diversity requirements for constabulary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Finances:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In the last 25 years, only<strong> 1.5 crore</strong> people have received legal aid with the Centre spending<strong> Rs. 1.05 per capita in 2019-20.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>High Proportion of Undertrials:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Two-thirds</strong> of all prisoners are <strong>undertrials</strong> awaiting a conviction.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A person who is being held in custody awaiting trial for a crime.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes of Poor Justice Delivery:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Legal services institutions remain affected by a<strong> lack of infrastructure, uneven human resource distribution, poor utilization of central funds and an inability to effectively harness <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lok-adalat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lok Adalats</a> to ease the burden on the judiciary.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-justice-report-2020-one-in-4-cops-in-bihar-a-woman-highest-among-states-report-7165809/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7565,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Collegium System for the Appointment of Judges',
		'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>questioned the government about the delay in clearing<strong> Collegium recommendations for judicial appointments</strong> to various High Courts (HC).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Collegium System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the<strong> system of appointment and transfer of judges that has evolved through judgments of the SC,</strong> and not by an Act of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/parliament-sessions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Parliament</strong></a> or by a provision of the Constitution. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Evolution of the System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>First Judges Case (1981)</strong>: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It declared that the<strong> &ldquo;primacy&rdquo;</strong> of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/47th-chief-justice-of-india#:~:text=Justice%20Sharad%20Arvind%20Bobde%2C%20has,office%20on%2023rd%20April%2C%202021." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chief Justice of India</a> (CJI)s</strong> recommendation on judicial appointments and transfers can be refused for &ldquo;cogent reasons.&rdquo; </li>
<li>The r<strong>uling gave the Executive primacy over the Judiciary in judicial appointments</strong> for the next 12 years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Second Judges Case (1993):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SC <strong>introduced the Collegium system,</strong> holding that &ldquo;consultation&rdquo; really meant &ldquo;concurrence&rdquo;.</li>
<li>It added that it was not the CJI&rsquo;s individual opinion, but an institutional opinion formed in consultation with the two senior-most judges in the SC.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Third Judges Case (1998):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>SC on President&rsquo;s reference <strong>expanded the Collegium to a five-member body,</strong> comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> SC collegium is headed by the CJI</strong> and <strong>comprises four other senior most judges</strong> of the court.</li>
<li>A <strong>HC collegium is led by its Chief Justice </strong>and<strong> four other senior most judges of that court.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Names recommended for appointment by a HC collegium reaches the government only after approval by the CJI and the SC collegium.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed only through the collegium system and the <strong>government has a role only after names have been decided by the collegium.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>government&rsquo;s role is limited to getting an inquiry conducted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB)</strong> if a lawyer is to be elevated as a judge in a High Court or the Supreme Court. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Intelligence Bureau (IB):</strong> It is a reputed and established intelligence agency. It is authoritatively controlled by the <strong>Ministry of Home Affairs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It <strong>can also raise objections</strong> and seek clarifications regarding the collegium&rsquo;s choices, <strong>but if the collegium reiterates</strong> the same names, the government is bound, under Constitution Bench judgments, to appoint them as judges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Procedure for Various Judicial Appointments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>For CJI:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> President of India appoints the CJI and the other SC judges.</strong></li>
<li>As far as the CJI is concerned, the outgoing CJI recommends his successor.</li>
<li>In practice, it has been strictly by seniority ever since the supersession controversy of the 1970s.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For SC Judges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For other judges of the SC, the proposal is initiated by the CJI.</li>
<li>The<strong> CJI consults the rest of the Collegium members,</strong> as well as the senior-most judge of the court hailing from the High Court to which the recommended person belongs.</li>
<li>The consultees must record their opinions in writing and it should form part of the file.</li>
<li>The Collegium sends the recommendation to the Law Minister, who forwards it to the Prime Minister to advise the President.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>For Chief Justice of High Courts:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Chief Justice of High Court is appointed as per the policy of having Chief Justices from outside the respective States.</li>
<li>The Collegium takes the call on the elevation.</li>
<li>High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior-most judges.</li>
<li>The proposal, however, is initiated by the outgoing Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in consultation with two senior-most colleagues.</li>
<li>The recommendation is sent to the Chief Minister, who advises the Governor to send the proposal to the Union Law Minister.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Criticism of the Collegium System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Opaqueness and a lack of transparency.</li>
<li>Scope for nepotism.</li>
<li>Embroilment in public controversies.</li>
<li>Overlooks several talented junior judges and advocates.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Attempts to reform the Appointment System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The attempt made to replace it by a <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-94" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;National Judicial Appointments Commission&rsquo;</strong></a> was struck down by the court in 2015 on the ground that it posed a threat to the independence of the judiciary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Related Constitutional Provisions</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Article 124(2)</strong> of the Indian Constitution provides that the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President after consultation with such a number of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in the States as the President may deem necessary for the purpose.</li>
<li><strong>Article 217</strong> of the Indian Constitution states that the Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the Governor of the State, and, in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of the High Court.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Filling up of vacancies is a continuous and collaborative process involving the executive and the judiciary, and <strong>there cannot be a time frame for it.</strong> However, it is time to think of a <strong>permanent, independent body to institutionalize the process</strong> with adequate safeguards to preserve the judiciary&rsquo;s independence guaranteeing <strong>judicial primacy</strong> but <strong>not judicial exclusivity.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It should ensure<strong> independence, reflect diversity, demonstrate professional competence and integrity.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Instead of selecting the number of judges required against a certain number of vacancies, <strong>the collegium must provide a panel of possible names to the President</strong> to appoint in order of preference and other valid criteria.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hc-vacancies-sc-questions-govt-over-delay-in-action-on-collegium-recommendations-7164469/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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